Press Releases
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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Jonnie Banks
Director, Public Relations
Eden Medical Center
(510) 727-2720
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Healthcare Provider is One of Few in Bay Area to Actively Recruit & Train Newly Minted Nursing Grads for Its Two Hospitals
Breastfeeding Support Group Celebrates First Birthday at Eden Medical Center
Eden Medical Center Welcomes New Team of Medical Officers for 2007-2008 Term
Jack Alotto Named President & CEO of Eden Medical Center Foundation
Eden Medical Center Honors Top Two Outstanding Nurses of the Year
Art Exhibit from Eden Psychiatric Patients Promote Healthy Image, Lessens Stigma
Eden Medical Center Observes National Time-Out Day
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Eden Medical Center Looks Ahead, Builds Up Nursing Staff to Prepare For Impending Shortage
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Healthcare Provider is One of Few in Bay Area to Actively Recruit & Train Newly Minted Nursing Grads for Its Two Hospitals
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Castro Valley, Calif. (July 10, 2007)– Anticipating a generation of baby boomer nurses getting ready to retire, along with the health care needs of baby boomer patients increasing dramatically over the next decade, Eden Medical Center is actively recruiting and training new graduate nurses to meet the imminent need.
Nine new graduates, who were chosen out of 200 applicants from East Bay college nursing programs have been hired by Eden Medical Center and have begun six months of training at both Castro Valley and San Leandro campuses.
According to Marlo Johnston, employment manager for Eden Medical Center, “Many hospitals have discontinued their graduate training programs for nurses. But because nurses are gaining more responsibility for patient care and the scope of their work involves critical thinking as well as physically demanding and labor-intensive functions, our nurses in their 50s are getting ready to retire in the next five years.
“Moreover, California has the highest nursing shortage in the nation, so hiring and training new graduates is a key workforce planning strategy for us as we prepare for future staffing needs.”
Each of the nine RNs (licenses pending) will be trained in their preferred areas, including surgery, neuroscience, critical care, emergency care and post-operative care. They will complete two weeks of classroom training to reinforce the nursing concepts and theories they learned in school, as well as safety and service standards, cultural diversity training and hands-on training in medical equipment.
Directly following classroom time each nurse will have a personal mentor as they spend three to six months on the floor caring for patients and learning their medical specialties. Each mentor will be there to guide them and answer questions.
“We are happy to welcome our new grads into Eden Medical Center’s nursing organization,” added Johnston. “The consensus among the new nurses was that Eden Medical offered the variety of diagnoses and specialties that made our two hospitals exciting places to work.”
Eden Medical Center is a not-for-profit, community-based medical center that includes Eden Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, Laurel Grove Acute Rehabilitation Hospital and Baywood Court Skilled Nursing Facility. By working together, Eden Medical Center's physicians, volunteers and dedicated employees ensure that the community has access to exceptional medical, surgical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services. Eden offers a wide range of health and wellness classes, support groups and specialty services for the entire family. For a complete listing or to explore our full library of health information, visit Eden online at www.edenmedcenter.org.
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Breastfeeding Support Group Celebrates First Birthday at Eden Medical Center
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"Eden Moms" Pay Tribute to World Breastfeeding Week
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Castro Valley, Calif. – August 1, 2007 – In support of World Breastfeeding Week and the promotion of breastfeeding as the best assurance of a healthy life for newborns, Eden Medical Center is hosting the first birthday party for “Eden Moms” breastfeeding support group. The celebration takes place Saturday, August 25, from 1:00pm to 4:00 p.m., at the Eden Medical Conference Center, Room C2 in Castro Valley. Expectant and new moms are welcome. For more information call (510) 889-5045.
World Breastfeeding Week, started by UNICEF, is observed in over more than 120 countries throughout the month of August. UNICEF works with new mothers around the world to encourage them to breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first six months and give them the critical nutrients they need to be protected against deadly diseases and to foster healthy growth and development.
“In one year our group has grown in diversity, ranging in age from teens to 40 years plus,” said Esther Valenzuela, R.N., Eden Medical Center’s lactation consultant and founder of the support group. “We have moms of every racial ethnicity, born locally and from around the world, as well as single moms, lesbian couples, and married moms. The group is really representative of World Breastfeeding Week.
“At the August 25th birthday party we’ll celebrate the mothers’ successes with their one-year-olds, listen to stories and share tips. Any mom wanting support in breastfeeding their babies are is invited to drop in.”
Breast milk has been scientifically proven to prevent a range of diseases in children, including SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), allergies, asthma, obesity and diabetes type 1 and 2. Benefits to new moms are innumerable as well. Besides the fundamental joy of attachment to baby and maternal self-esteem and confidence, new moms can look forward to a rapid return to pre-pregnancy weight and reduce the risks of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. The environmental benefits are also significant: reduced waste, environmental energy costs and healthcare dollars.
Eden Medical Center established its free drop-in breastfeeding support group a year ago to help new moms and their babies who needed extra assistance after they left the hospital. The purpose of the support group is to give mothers the tools they need to get the most satisfaction from their breastfeeding experience. Valenzuela, who has been certified as a lactation consultant for more than a decade and overcame her own challenges while breastfeeding her three children, now facilitates the group.
She instructs the mothers in pumping and storing milk if they plan to return to work. She advises them on resuming birth control, or weaning and transitioning the baby from breast milk to solid foods. Valenzuela also helps new moms overcome challenges they might face during breastfeeding, including mastitis infections, engorgement, sore nipples, etc. Members chime in and share their own experience.
“The group has become so close and supportive of each other that members have spun off smaller groups for walking or getting together for coffee,” Valenzuela added. “So Eden Moms is also a place to make connections and begin new friendships.”
Eden Medical Center
Eden Medical Center is a not-for-profit, community-based medical center that includes Eden Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, Laurel Grove Acute Rehabilitation Hospital and Baywood Court Skilled Nursing Facility. By working together, Eden Medical Center’s physicians, volunteers and dedicated employees ensure that the community has access to exceptional medical, surgical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services. Eden offers a wide range of health and wellness classes, support groups and specialty services for the entire family. For a complete listing or to explore our full library of health information, visit Eden online at www.edenmedcenter.org.
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Eden Medical Center Welcomes New Team of Medical Officers for 2007-2008 Term
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CASTRO VALLEY (June 26, 2007) – Eden Medical Center welcomed the new team of medical staff officers and department chairs, led by incoming chief of staff, Miles F. Adler, M.D. The new medical leadership team will serve a one-year term, effective July 1, 2007.
Elected by their peers, Dr. Adler, a board-certified internist specializing in gastroenterology, is joined by Steven Rosenthal, M.D., board-certified in geriatric medicine, as vice-chief of staff and Michael Nickas, M.D., board-certified urologist, as secretary-treasurer.
Entering his second term as chief of staff, Dr. Adler will oversee physician credentialing and quality of care, and ensure physicians comply with medical staff bylaws. He will also serve as an ex-officio member of the board of directors for Eden Medical Center and the Eden Medical Center Foundation.
Department and assistant chairs joining the incoming team of medical officers include:
Ancillary, Mark Goldsmith, M.D.
Anesthesia, Jeffrey Do, M.D.
Emergency Medicine, Merrill Chandler, M.D.
Gail Hubbell, M.D.
Sushma Shah, M.D.
Family Practice, Herbert Weingard, M.D.
Jeffrey Mandel, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Ravi Arora, M.D.
Obstetrics/Gynecology, Benjamin Wolsztein, M.D.
Nancy Wigginton, M.D.
Pediatrics, Neil Hoglund, M.D.
Jerrilyn Johnston, M.D.
Psychiatry, Thomas Powers, M.D.
Boris Zhalkovsky, M.D.
Surgery, Lamont Paxton, M.D.
Garfield Bryant, M.D.
Gregg Pottorff, M.D.
Eden Medical Center is a not-for-profit, community-based medical center that includes Eden Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, Laurel Grove Acute Rehabilitation Hospital and Baywood Court Skilled Nursing Facility. By working together, Eden Medical Center's physicians, volunteers and dedicated employees ensure that the community has access to exceptional medical, surgical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services. Eden offers a wide range of health and wellness classes, support groups and specialty services for the entire family. For a complete listing or to explore our full library of health information, visit Eden online at www.edenmedcenter.org.
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Jack Alotto Named President & CEO of Eden Medical Center Foundation
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Castro Valley, Calif. – June 26, 2007 – Jack Alotto has taken the helm at Eden Medical Center Foundation, the fundraising arm of Eden Medical Center. Alotto brings more than 20 years in executive management and fundraising experience for foundations and non-profit organizations to his new post.
Effective immediately, Alotto will be responsible for building relationships with community members and raising funds to acquire new services, treatments and equipment. He will oversee a team of three and interface with a 27-member board of trustees on initiatives to support patient care at Eden Medical Center’s Castro Valley and San Leandro campuses.
“Eden Medical Center has a long, rich history in Alameda County, as well as state-of-the-art treatment centers, with one of the most advanced neuroscience centers and highly respected trauma centers in the East Bay,” said Alotto. “I have felt very welcomed, which is really a testament to the people who work here. Eden Medical Center also has a culture of innovation and change, and the administration is very open to new ideas.”
“Jack knows how to build relationships and trust with people; his goal is to meet every employee at our hospitals – not just senior managers and the board,” said George Bischalaney, President & Chief Executive Officer of Eden Medical Center. “Jack brings a mix of creativity from his past positions and we look forward to the fresh perspective he’ll add to our philanthropic programs.”
Alotto brings a wide range of foundation management experience in medical care, fine and performing arts, social services and most recently library fundraising and development. He was the Santa Clara City Library Foundation’s first executive director, establishing its first planned giving program with four endowed funds. Alotto also created the adjoining Friends of the Library, a used bookstore and coffee bar staffed by volunteers.
At Seton Medical Center Foundation in Daly City, Alotto raised more than $1 million and increased Seton’s employee giving campaign by 600% in his first year. During his tenure at St. Francis Medical Center in Los Angeles, Alotto helped raise funds for the hospital and affiliated Catholic elementary inner-city schools through direct solicitation and grant writing. Together Alotto and his team raised $5 million in one year for St. Francis Medical Foundation, making it number one among 11 other affiliate hospitals in California. Alotto has a Master’s degree in psychology and resides in Novato, CA.
Eden Medical Center is a not-for-profit, community-based medical center that includes Eden Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, Laurel Grove Acute Rehabilitation Hospital and Baywood Court Skilled Nursing Facility. By working together, Eden Medical Center's physicians, volunteers and dedicated employees ensure that the community has access to exceptional medical, surgical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services. Eden offers a wide range of health and wellness classes, support groups and specialty services for the entire family. For a complete listing or to explore our full library of health information, visit Eden online at www.edenmedcenter.org.
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Eden Medical Center Honors Top Two Outstanding Nurses of the Year
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Welcomes Clinical Nurse Specialist to Neuroscience Team
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Castro Valley, Calif. – May 9, 2007 -- In light of this year's theme for National Nurses Week, "Nursing: A Profession and a Passion," the nurses of Eden Medical Center singled out two RNs for their exemplary professionalism, caring and compassion at its first annual Nurse of the Year award celebration. National Nurses Week takes place annually, May 6 through 12.
Mary Ellen Shaw, daytime charge nurse at the Eden Hospital women's center and Bea Daijogo, evening charge nurse at San Leandro Hospital's emergency department were each chosen by their peers for providing outstanding customer service through patient care and personal leadership. Award ceremonies are being held today at each hospital campus.
Shaw, who walks to work from her home in Castro Valley, recently became day shift charge nurse for the women’s center, covering the entire second floor of Eden Hospital, which includes labor and delivery, the nursery and gynecology. She co-leads a team of 70-plus nurses and, according to her colleagues, treats the staff, patients and their families equally with respect, patience and warmth.
"Perhaps Mary Ellen's greatest gift is her ability to take the extra step, from helping visitors find their way to supporting our patients who are in highly emotional situations," said Rose Corcoran, RN, MBA, vice president of patient care at Eden Hospital.
"Mary Ellen makes patients and visitors feel special while also being a wonderful advocate for her fellow nurses. Her passion for helping people and her love of nursing is evident every day she works, including the days she comes in just to help out! Mary Ellen is willing and unafraid to go above and beyond."
As evening charge nurse of the San Leandro emergency department, Daijogo, who commutes from Brentwood, keeps patient flow running smoothly and quickly, and remains calm during the most hectic periods. "Under Bea’s leadership there are rarely delays in patients seeing our physicians," said Janice Ferguson, RN, MHA, assistant administrator, patient care services at San Leandro Hospital.
"Bea is a natural born nurse. She has exceptional professional, technical and organizational skills that bring high quality care and comfort to patients and work satisfaction to the staff. She conveys urgency without micromanaging and supports the staff in contributing their own strengths to make an effective team."
New Neuroscience Nurse a "Real Find"
Also this week, Irene Brown, RN, CNS, CNRN, CRRN, joined the Sutter East Bay Neuroscience Center at the Castro Valley campus. Brown hails from Edinburgh, Scotland where she began her career as a clinical nurse and her training in neuroscience.
Brown emigrated to the United States in 1968, where she continued her clinical studies and focus in neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania and Syracuse University in New York. In 1983, Brown moved to California where she received her master’s from the University of California, San Francisco -- the number one nursing school in the country.
Brown comes to Eden Medical Center from Kaiser Redwood City where she worked for 15 years in the Center for Neuroscience of Northern California. Brown is also assistant clinical professor at UCSF and a lecturer at San Francisco State University.
"Irene is a true 'find' and part of the extraordinary team we've established for neuroscience services at Eden Medical Center," said Martin Lesica, executive director of the Sutter East Bay Neurosciences Center. "Irene comes to us with a masters degree in nursing, and is licensed by the state of California as a clinical nurse specialist with training and expertise in neuroscience. We are blessed to have her."
The Sutter East Bay Neuroscience Center, which opened in 2005, treats patients with brain and spinal injuries or diseases. Its neurosurgeons use the most advanced, minimally invasive technology to perform intricate procedures. Patients are relieved of hours of surgical preparation with far less time under anesthesia and they experience less pain and much shorter recovery times.
Eden Medical Center is a not-for-profit, community-based medical center that includes Eden Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, Laurel Grove Acute Rehabilitation Hospital and Baywood Court Skilled Nursing Facility. By working together, Eden Medical Center's physicians, volunteers and dedicated employees ensure that the community has access to exceptional medical, surgical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services. Eden, celebrating 50 years of serving the health care needs of the community, offers a wide range of health and wellness classes, support groups and specialty services for the entire family. For a complete listing or to explore our full library of health information, visit Eden online at www.edenmedcenter.org.
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Art Exhibit from Eden Psychiatric Patients Promote Healthy Image, Lessens Stigma
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CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (May 8, 2007) -- Mosaic Mirrors: A Gestalt of Art and Poetry, is on display this month in the main lobby of Eden Medical Center. The exhibit celebrates works of art and poetry by the patients of Eden Medical Center's psychiatric unit, which are a testament to the universal human need to be creative, self-expressive and validated. More importantly, patients' creative endeavors are meant to overcome the myth that people with mental illness cannot contribute to society.
According to Rebecca Banta, RN, nursing director of Eden Medical Center Psychiatric Services, "The stigma of mental illness is profoundly distressing to the people who are sufferers. It permeates all areas of life from simple interactions in a grocery store to the politically charged issues of residents resisting treatment facilities and board and care homes in their neighborhoods, to personal rejection from potential employers or landlords.
"For many people with mental illness, stigma impacts how they feel about themselves and their willingness to seek out treatment. The terrible consequence of people with poor self-esteem who perceive stigma from others and self stigmatize is that they often avoid the very treatment settings which could improve the quality of their lives. By sharing this exhibit of art and poetry we hope to expose the public to the beautiful shared human experience of self-expression and creativity."
In an exploration of the mind, emotions and healing, Eden Medical Center’s patients have created art and poetry using traditional and non-traditional media. The exhibit illustrates how creating art and composing poetry in a safe emotional environment become powerful tools for healing and building self-esteem. Patients who are depressed, anxious or in crisis engage in the creative process and learn new ways to cope with life's difficulties. Most of the images and poetry represented in this exhibit were created spontaneously during group activity.
"The creative process of writing and art making can build a larger sense of self-esteem and self-assurance," said Christine Vertein, MA, ATR-BC, activity therapist for psychiatric services at Eden Medical Center. "It can stimulate awareness, self- understanding and enhance overall quality of life."
Irving Yalom, a psychiatrist respected for his work with groups, believes that there are "curative factors" in groups work together, instilling hope, facilitating interaction, decreasing isolation, and providing opportunities for patients to help one another through difficult times.
The exhibition is installed in the main lobby of Eden Medical Center at 20103 Lake Chabot Road in Castro Valley. The exhibit is open daily for self-guided viewing from
9am to 8pm, at no charge, May 1 through May 31, 2007.
Eden Medical Center provides voluntary psychiatric care that is individualized, compassionate, therapeutic and community-based. The services include mental health assessments, diagnosis and treatment for adults experiencing acute behavioral and emotional challenges. The psychiatric service comprises an acute short-term inpatient program, an intensive out-patient and a partial hospitalization day program, all supported by the hospital's full range of medical services.
Eden Medical Center is a not-for-profit, community-based medical center that includes Eden Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, Laurel Grove Acute Rehabilitation Hospital and Baywood Court Skilled Nursing Facility. By working together, Eden Medical Center's physicians, volunteers and dedicated employees ensure that the community has access to exceptional medical, surgical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services. Eden, celebrating 50 years of serving the health care needs of the community, offers a wide range of health and wellness classes, support groups and specialty services for the entire family. For a complete listing or to explore our full library of health information, visit Eden online at www.edenmedcenter.org.
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Eden Medical Center Observes National Time-Out Day
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Healthcare Provider Draws Attention to Patient Safety Before, During and After Surgery
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CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (June 18, 2007) -- Eden Medical Center is a proud sponsor of National Time Out Day, established by the American College of Surgeons (ACOS), the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and the Joint Commission national healthcare accreditation body.
Observed this Wednesday, June 20, National Time Out Day highlights the Joint Commission’s mandated “time out” to verify the correct patient, correct procedure and correct site on the patient’s body before any surgery begins.
According to Kathy Rourick, R.N., Eden Medical Center’s director of quality, “At both our Castro Valley campus and San Leandro Hospital campus patient safety is the top priority before, during and after surgery. Processes have been put in place to eliminate the risk of discrepancy between hand-offs to the different medical teams caring for the surgical patient.”
When a patient enters the pre-op holding area, the holding nurse, with checklist in hand, asks a series of questions beginning with the patient’s understanding of the surgical procedure about to be performed. The surgeon marks the site on the patient’s body with either his initials or “yes” with an indelible pen. For example, if the patient is having knee replacement surgery the surgeon marks the left or right knee accordingly.
As the patient is transferred to the operating room (OR), verification from the pre-op team is handed off to the surgical team, consisting of the surgeon, anesthesiologist, scrub nurse, circulating nurse and any other OR team members present.
Just prior to surgery, the OR team engages in an “active” time out to verify all patient identifiers. Each team member gives a verbal confirmation that the correct patient is in the OR for a left knee replacement; he or she is in the correct position for the procedure; the correct site has been marked; and the correct equipment is being used.
“Time out is aimed at making sure everything is as it should be before surgery begins, and the patient is safe throughout the entire event,” added Joyce Williams, R.N., director of peri-operative care at San Leandro Hospital. “When you have many people coming together it is crucial that all patient identifiers are correct and consistent during hand-off communication between every level of care. Communication and collaboration go hand in hand.”
“Everyone has to agree before surgery can begin,” says Corinne Casey-Lyons, R.N., Eden Medical Center’s peri-operative director. “We want our patients to know that they are safe at our hospitals; this is one less thing they have to worry about.”
Eden Medical Center also has a policy in place that clearly states if there is ever a discrepancy during time out, the team must stop, research and correct the discrepancy, collaborating with all parties involved.
The time-out process is also audited on a monthly basis to make sure both hospitals are in compliance with the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals.
Eden Medical Center patients are also encouraged to be involved in their own surgery. Through its Ask Me program they are advised to write down their questions for the surgical team so they can remember to ask them prior to the procedure. Speak Up, created by the Joint Commission, also advises patients to be actively involved in their care. For patient safety related to surgery --
- Make sure everything on the form is correct prior to surgery.
- Make sure all of your questions have been answered. If you do not understand something on the form—speak up.
- Make sure the spot to be operated on is marked correctly.
- Ask your surgeon if they will take a “time out” just before your surgery.
- After surgery let your doctor or nurse know if you have pain.
- Ask questions about medicines that are given to you, especially new medicines. What is it? What is it for? Are there any side effects? Tell your caregivers about any allergies you have to medicines.
- Find out about any IV (intravenous) fluids that you are given and how long the liquid should take to “run out.”
The complete checklist for surgical safety and other Speak Up brochures are available to patients at the Joint Commission website at www.jointcommission.org/PatientSafety/SpeakUp.
About Eden Medical Center
Eden Medical Center is a not-for-profit, community-based medical center that includes Eden Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, Laurel Grove Acute Rehabilitation Hospital and Baywood Court Skilled Nursing Facility. By working together, Eden Medical Center's physicians, volunteers and dedicated employees ensure that the community has access to exceptional medical, surgical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services. Eden offers a wide range of health and wellness classes, support groups and specialty services for the entire family. For a complete listing or to explore our full library of health information, visit Eden online at www.edenmedcenter.org.
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