Scripps Health - All News for Scripps Green Hospital

Know the Signs and Symptoms of Food Allergies

2012-05-16T15:55:41-07:00

John Kelso, MD, an allergist at Scripps Clinic discusses food allergy awareness for children with KUSI. Learn why food allergies are on the rise, what foods cause allergies and what symptoms to watch for.

As seen on KUSI.

Scripps Manager Awarded University Scholarship

2012-05-14T11:49:18-07:00

Jancie Grover, patient care manager at Scripps Green Hospital’s gastrointestinal laboratory, has been awarded the Scripps and Grand Canyon University Scholarship for Leaders.

The scholarship is a product of Scripps’ ongoing academic partnership with Grand Canyon University; the university offers tuition discounts to Scripps employees who enroll in health care-related degree programs. Based on this successful partnership, the university offered Scripps a one-time tuition scholarship for a graduate-level program. The scholarship will help support leadership development at Scripps through advanced studies and performance excellence.

Grover, who joined Scripps in July of 2005, was selected from a pool of Scripps leaders who applied for the scholarship.

“I am passionate about learning anything and everything about leadership,” said Grover, who would like to hold an executive position within Scripps someday. “I have wanted a master’s degree in nursing forever, and I am eternally grateful for this opportunity.

Dr. Anne McNamara, Dean of Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing, presented the scholarship to Grover at a ceremony on May 9, 2012 at Scripps’ administrative offices.

“I am so pleased that Grand Canyon University was able to offer this scholarship to Jancie,” said Dr. McNamara. “In meeting and talking with her, it was evident that she is highly motivated and very passionate about the field of nursing. I am excited for her and I will be rooting her on as she takes this big step in her educational journey and career.”

About Scripps Health
Learn more about Scripps Health.

Photo participants from left to right:
Joelle Cook, Learning Leader, Scripps Center for Learning & Innovation
Dr. Anne McNamara, Dean of Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing
Jancie Grover, Patient Care Manager, Scripps Green Hospital
Valerie Walsh, Vice President, Chief Nursing and Operating Executive, Scripps Green Hospital
Veronica Zaman, Scripps Corporate Vice President, Human Resources and Learning
Mary Ellen Doyle, Scripps Corporate Vice President, Nursing Operations

Scripps Doctors Study Novel New Device to Diagnose Irregular Heart Beat

2012-05-09T16:46:31-07:00

A study conducted at Scripps Health has found that a novel new heart monitoring device helped emergency room patients avoid unnecessary follow-up care. Scripps Health electrophysiologist Steven Higgins, MD, presented findings of the study, titled “Prevalence of Arrhythmias in Emergency Department Patients Discharged Using a Novel Ambulatory Cardiac Monitor,” today at the Heart Rhythm Society’s 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions in Boston.

The study focused on the use of Zio Patch, a single-use ambulatory cardiac monitor that looks similar to a 2- by 5-inch adhesive bandage and sticks to a patient’s chest. The device can continuously monitor their heart rhythm for up to 14 days.

“The availability of this new heart monitor is exciting as it improves patient care. The patch is applied and when recording is done, the patient simply drops it in the envelope and returns it through the mail — it’s like the Netflix of heart care,” said Dr. Higgins, chairman of the department of cardiology at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and a lead investigator. “Because they are infrequent, heart rhythm problems are often difficult to diagnose, even though they can be quite serious. The Zio Patch is a new digital advance that will allow us to better diagnose challenging cases so we can provide our patients the best care.”

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla was the only hospital in Southern California to participate in the study. Other study locations included Stanford Hospital and Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas.

The study followed 285 patients who had presented to emergency departments across the country with symptoms possibly related to arrhythmias, such as fainting, palpitations, dizziness and others. Patients received the unencumbering, wire-free Zio Patch prior to being discharged from the emergency room and were instructed to wear the patch until it no longer adhered to their skin – up to 14 days duration. Devices were mailed back to iRhythm Technologies, Inc., the Zio Patch’s developer and service provider, using a pre-paid postage envelope, for analysis and reporting of results to the patient’s physician.

The researchers found that 59 percent of the symptomatic patients who presented to the emergency rooms did not have arrhythmia and may not require any further work-up. “Thus, the new device has the potential to save the health care system millions of dollars,” said Higgins. “We were also surprised to learn that there was 100 percent compliance by the patient with the process, which is an amazing finding for an emergency department study.”

Monitoring leads to possible lifesaving procedure

One patient who benefited from the Zio Patch is La Jolla resident Kenneth Curzon, who fainted while at work in March. Curzon continuously wore the Zio Patch for two weeks and then mailed it back to iRhythm, where the information was downloaded and formatted into a report for Dr. Higgins to review.

The recording showed Curzon was experiencing prolonged pauses in his heart rhythm of over three seconds as well as other episodes of rapid heart beats. On April 6, he received an implantable cardiac defibrillator to correct the problem and was back to his management job within five days.

“The Zio Patch allowed me to diagnose and determine the most appropriate therapy for Ken,” said Higgins.

“I like to think of the whole experience as an adventure,” Curzon said. “Most of the time I didn’t even realize I was wearing a heart monitor, and when I peeled it off, I just put it in an envelope and sent it off in the mail. It was a very simple process.”

Zio Patch vs. Holter monitor

In addition, Dr. Eric Topol is leading a new related study at Scripps Green Hospital examining whether the Zio Patch does a better job of detecting heart arrhythmias than the Holter monitor, which has been the gold standard for rhythm monitoring since the early 1960s.

The portable Holter monitor collects its data through a series of wired electrodes that adhere to the chest. Because the device can be difficult to wear and can get in the way of normal activities such as showering, exercising and sleeping, continuous use of the monitor is typically limited to one or two days. In contrast, the Zio Patch is a small, unobtrusive device that is indicated for up to 14 days of wear, and allows the patient to exercise and shower on their normal schedule, without the hassle of a bulky monitor and multiple wires.

“This is a great opportunity to compare these two side by side for use in diagnosing important heart rhythm disturbances,” said Dr. Topol, a cardiologist who directs the Scripps Translational Science Institute and serves as Chief Academic Officer of Scripps Health. “We are trying to determine if the Zio Patch will have an increased diagnostic yield.”

The study is currently enrolling about 150 Scripps Green and Scripps Clinic adult patients who have been seen by their doctors for arrhythmia. Each of the participants will wear a Holter monitor and a Patch for up to 48 hours and then continue wearing the Zio Patch for up to 14 days. More information about the study is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Dr. Topol and his research associates will compare the data gathered from each device and report their findings later this year.

Arrhythmias affect millions of Americans each year and, if left untreated, may lead to serious consequences including stroke or sudden cardiac death.

Both studies are an extension of Scripps Health’s leadership in heart care and research. Scripps is currently building the $456 million Prebys Cardiovascular Institute, a center for innovation that will bring together top researchers, physicians and staff. The institute will incorporate leading-edge wireless technologies and individualized medicine for the best in patient care when it opens in 2015. Annually, more than 55,000 patients receive their cardiovascular care from Scripps, making it San Diego County’s largest heart care provider. Scripps is the region’s only cardiovascular program consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the country.

About Scripps Health

Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system based in San Diego, Calif.

Scripps to Host Cancer Survivors Day Celebrations in June

2012-05-08T13:03:08-07:00

Scripps Cancer Center will host free public celebrations throughout the month of June for local cancer survivors, their families, friends and the community at large at each of its four hospitals across San Diego County, in conjunction with the 25th annual National Cancer Survivors Day.

The programs are open to all residents who have a history of cancer (and their guests), regardless of where patients received their treatment. Events will include presentations on the latest advancements in cancer treatments, inspirational stories of survival, refreshments and opportunities to connect with caregivers and fellow survivors. More information on events is available by calling 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Scripps Green Hospital – Sunday, June 10, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Valerie Timken Amphitheater, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, Calif. 92037. Register by calling 858-554-8533.

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla – Tuesday, June 12, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Schaetzel Center, 9888 Genesee Ave., La Jolla, Calif. 92037. Register by calling 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas – Saturday, June 23, 10 a.m. to noon. Scripps Encinitas Conference Center, 354 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, Calif. 92024. Register by calling 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Scripps Mercy Hospital – Saturday, June 30, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Our Lady’s Chapel, 4077 Fifth Ave., San Diego, Calif. 92103. Register by calling 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Cancer care at Scripps is provided through Scripps Cancer Center, a nationally recognized leader in cancer care, providing comprehensive care at Scripps’ four hospitals and various Scripps Clinic locations. With more than 300 affiliated physicians, Scripps Cancer Center seeks to provide the best possible treatment and cutting-edge research trials for patients by coordinating medical expertise in the areas of clinical cancer care, community outreach and clinical, translational and basic research.

Scripps is the only cancer care provider in San Diego to earn network accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. Scripps Polster Breast Care Center at Scripps La Jolla, the Breast Care Center at Scripps Green Hospital and the breast care programs at Scripps Encinitas and Scripps Mercy Chula Vista have earned accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancer Centers (NAPBC). The radiation oncology department at Scripps Green Hospital has earned accreditation in radiation therapy from the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the American College of Radiology (ACR).

Scripps Participates in National Prescription Drug Take Back

2012-04-19T13:09:03-07:00

Scripps as part of the nationwide prescription drug take back day will host five drop-off locations in San Diego County. On Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., personnel will be available to accept unused prescription drugs from people who want to dispose of their medications safely and anonymously at the following Scripps Health locations:

Scripps Coastal Medical Center Carlsbad
2176 Salk Ave., Carlsbad

Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo
15004 Innovation Drive, San Diego

Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas
354 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas

Scripps Green Hospital
10666 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla

Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista
435 H Street, Chula Vista

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department offers 23 locations in the community where the public can drop off unused drugs for proper disposal anytime of year. Visit the San Diego Sheriff’s Department website to find a location near you.

Be Smart About Medication Storage and Disposal

2012-04-18T15:10:09-07:00

By Victoria Serrano Adams, PharmD, Scripps Health

When used as directed, prescription medications can save lives. However, if they are used incorrectly, they also can be deadly.

Improper use of medications—whether accidental or intentional—can be extremely dangerous. Brightly colored capsules or tiny tablets can look like candy to young children. Depending on the drug, even just a few pills can have serious consequences. An overdose of commonly prescribed sedatives or the anti-anxiety medications, such as Xanax® or Ativan®, can cause extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, coma, or death. Vicodin®, often prescribed to treat pain, can slow heart rate and breathing to dangerously low levels.

Children are not the only ones at risk. The use of drugs like Vicodin®, Ativan® and others not as prescribed—or without a prescription at all— is a serious and growing problem among both adults and adolescents.

That’s why it is vitally important to ensure your prescription medications don’t get into the wrong hands. Store all medications in a safe place; if you have any concerns about kids or adults finding them, keep them in a locked cabinet or box. Avoid potentially dangerous mix-ups by keeping drugs in their original, clearly labeled containers. Using a travel-size aspirin container to store prescription painkillers, for example, can have serious consequences if someone with a mild headache is looking for aspirin.

Do not share medications, even if family members or friends have the same symptoms. Many conditions with similar symptoms require vastly different treatment. In addition, a medication prescribed for one person can be dangerous if given to another person who has a different medical history, medication allergies or risk of side effects.Sharing prescription medications is very risky, and can be illegal.

Maintain a record of your prescriptions and the quantities you should have on hand so that you know when pills are missing. When you order refills, check with the pharmacy to ensure no one else has refilled the prescription, and ensure only the patient (or a parent) is authorized to order and pick up refills.

Examine unfamiliar packages that come to your home via the mail or a delivery service, especially if they are unmarked or from another country. Unfortunately, the explosion of unregulated Internet pharmacies has made it relatively easy to order medications online, including controlled substances, without a prescription.

Check to make sure prescription medications are not expired or damaged. All prescription drugs have an expiration date on the label, after which they can lose effectiveness or even become harmful. Expired tetracycline, for example, can cause a deadly syndrome resulting in kidney damage. Take inventory of your medicines every few months and dispose of any that are expired. Also discard any medications that are discolored, crumbly, or powdery, regardless of the expiration date.

Finally, dispose of drugs safely. Don’t just toss them into the trash, where children, animals and anyone looking for discarded drugs can find them. While flushing unwanted medications down the toilet or sink drain may seem like a safer alternative, it isn’t. Dissolved medications can contaminate drinking water, be ingested by the public, and harm natural aquatic habitats.

Instead, take unwanted medications to designated collection sites, where they will be disposed of according to state and federal laws. On Saturday, April 28, Scripps will be collecting unwanted and expired medications as part of the countywide Prescription Take Back Day. Medications will be accepted with no questions asked; however, sharps (needles) cannot be accepted. Drop off your medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at any of the following Scripps locations:

•Scripps Coastal Medical Center Carlsbad
2176 Salk Ave., Carlsbad

•Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo
15004 Innovation Drive, San Diego

•Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas
354 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas

•Scripps Green Hospital
10666 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla

•Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista
435 H Street, Chula Vista

Additional drop off sites are available at http://1.usa.gov/HLzHVq. Can’t make it on April 28? The San Diego Sheriff’s Department offers several locations in the community where the public can drop off unused drugs for proper disposal anytime of year. Visit sdsheriff.net to find a location near you.

Victoria Serrano Adams, PharmD, is a director of pharmacy with Scripps Health. “To Your Health” is brought to you by the physicians and staff of Scripps. For more information or a physician referral, please call 1-800-SCRIPPS.

Scripps Green Hospital Ranked Among Top U.S. Teaching Hospitals

2012-04-17T09:42:59-07:00

For the third consecutive year and fifth time overall, Scripps Green Hospital has been named one of the top teaching hospitals in the nation by the international business research and information firm Thomson Reuters.

The annual 100 Top Hospitals list identifies the best U.S. medical centers based on their overall organizational performance. The 2012 list was released on Monday by Thomson Reuters.

“This award underscores the achievement of the medical staff and our employees, working together as a team, in realizing the highest levels of quality performance in the nation,” said Robin Brown Jr., chief executive officer of Scripps Green Hospital. “This commitment to excellence has consistently produced high value and effective care for our patients and our community. It is my privilege to work with such a fine group of professionals that makes a positive difference in the lives of others.”

Scripps Green patients benefit from the hospital’s nationally recognized programs for heart care and heart surgery, a graduate medical education program built around patient-focused care and research, and processes for sharing best practices across the entire Scripps Health system.

The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals study used publicly available information from Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review File, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare website to evaluate the performance of 2,886 short-term, acute-care and non-federal hospitals across the country.

Thomson Reuters researchers compared the hospitals by analyzing 10 measures: mortality; medical complications; patient safety; average patient stay; expenses; profitability; patient satisfaction; adherence to clinical standards of care; post-discharge mortality; and readmission rates for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia.

“This year, the concentration of 100 Top Hospitals award winners has shifted significantly, with Texas, Florida and California housing the most winners,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president of Thomson Reuters. “A major change in performance geographically is an encouraging indication that the bar for quality of care has been raised once again.”

More information on the 100 Top Hospitals list is available at www.100tophospitals.com.

About Scripps Health
Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system based in San Diego, Calif.

New Pap Guidelines: Is The Annual Exam Gone?

2012-04-09T11:15:15-07:00

Cervical cancer was once the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American women. In the 1930s, more American women died of cervical cancer than any other kind of cancer, including breast or lung. But in 1943, a new method for cervical screening was introduced. The Babeș-Papanicolaou test (named after physicians who pioneered the method), also called a “Pap smear” or “Pap test,” became the most successful cancer screening in history. Today, according to the American Cancer Society, there are fewer than 4,000 annual deaths due to cervical cancer, mostly among women who have never been screened.

Until now, physicians recommended that women receive an annual pap test, starting sometime in the teens. So when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a set of new guidelines for cervical cancer screening on March 15, 2012, it introduced a significant change to women’s health care routines. Now, the guidelines suggest screening should begin no earlier than age 21, and for most women over the age of 30, the tests can be safely spaced three years apart. Similar guidelines released by the American Cancer Society on March 14 support that approach.

Overscreening Causes Harm

“In the case of pap tests, it turns out that more was not better,” explains Lily Tsai, MD, a Scripps gynecologist. “In recent years, as we have come to understand the natural history of HPV infection, we’ve seen convincing evidence that over-screening can cause harm to patients, both physical and psychological.”

Nearly all cervical cancers are the result of infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV)—a fact that was not established until recently. But not all HPV infections will cause cervical cancer. “It turns out that most people fight off HPV infections naturally without intervention,” Dr. Tsai says. “So annual Paps were identifying abnormal cells at a very early stage of infection or were non-diagnostic, leading anxious patients and providers to treat them more aggressively than was necessary.”

The most common diagnostic procedure for suspicious pap results is a colposcopy, or magnified examination of the cervix. If abnormal areas are visualized, additional studies such as cervical biopsy or endocervical curettage may be performed and examined in the lab for precancerous changes. A confirmed high level abnormality often leads to a cone biopsy of the cervix to remove affected tissue.

“Treatments are not always benign. An unnecessary cone biopsy, for example, may increase one’s chance of a weaker cervix, potentially leading to problems in pregnancy” says Dr. Tsai. Plus the anxiety caused by an abnormal pap test is also significant.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended spacing these screenings for appropriate women three years apart in 2009, and the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) issued similar guidelines in 2006. The recently released guidelines are now in alignment with those developed by experts in the specialty.

Women Should Not Skip Annual Pelvic Exams

This does not mean, however, that women can skip their annual gynecological examination. “Pap tests are not the only reason to have an annual exam,” Dr. Tsai emphasizes. “Women still need to be examined yearly, either by their gynecologist or their primary care physician, for the remainder of the pelvic exam and breast exam.

The new guidelines suggest:

For women with no other risk factors, pap tests should start at age 21.
Between the ages of 21 and 30, cervical cell screening should take place at three-year intervals, with no screening for HPV.
After age 30, women should have a combined cervical smear and HPV test every five years or pap test alone every 3 years.
After the age of 65, women who have had previous normal results may discontinue pap tests.
If a woman has had serious cervical pre-cancer, she should continue being screened for 20 years after that diagnosis, even if she is past 65.
Women with additional risk factors (including previous abnormal Pap tests, exposure to diethylstilbestrol [DES] in utero, or a compromised immune system), pap tests should be more frequent.
If a woman has had a hysterectomy with removal of the cervix for benign reasons, there is no need for a Pap test.

Find an OB-GYN

If you need to find a gynecologist for regular pelvic exams, Scripps can help. Call 1-800-SCRIPPS (1-800-727-4777) to get a physician referral from a member of our call center or visit our doctor finder.

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Scripps Cardiologist Weighs in on Statin Debate

2012-03-06T12:39:42-08:00

Cholesterol-lowering statins might be doing more harm than good in some patients, Scripps Health Chief Academic Officer Eric Topol, MD cautioned in a March 4 Op-Ed article in the New York Times. He called for more research into the relationship between the drugs and higher rates of diabetes. Dr. Topol also weighed in on combination therapies that mix statins with other cholesterol-lowering drugs in a March 6 New York Times article.

Read the full articles here:

New York Times – March 4
New York Times – March 6

Breast Care Center at Scripps Green Earns Prestigious Accreditation

2012-02-28T09:35:53-08:00

The Breast Care Center at Scripps Green Hospital has earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program of the American College of Surgeons.

NAPBC accreditation is awarded only to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.

During the survey process this month, the Breast Care Center at Scripps Green demonstrated compliance with all 27 standards established by NAPBC for treating women who are diagnosed with breast disease. These standards cover the areas of patient care, quality improvement, center leadership, research, community outreach and professional education.

The NAPBC survey included an inspection of the Breast Care Center at Scripps Green and observation of a multi-disciplinary committee meeting to review current patient cases. The Scripps Green survey also included a medical chart review of breast cancer patients and benign tumor cases at the facility.

The accreditation is the latest accolade for Scripps Green, which last year earned accreditation in radiation therapy from the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the American College of Radiology (ACR). Scripps is the only cancer care provider in San Diego to earn network accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. In 2009, Scripps Polster Breast Care Center also earned accreditation from the NAPBC.

Scripps is currently expanding its comprehensive range of cancer care capabilities with the construction of the Scripps Proton Therapy Center (expected to open in April 2013) and the Scripps Radiation Treatment Center (expected to open in August 2012), both of which will feature the latest technological advancements for patient care.