We Saved Lives Today

By: Dennis Dinning MPA, HSAC, Boundary Community Hospital Trustee

Bonners Ferry, ID – As a Critical Access Hospital in a rural community, many folks think Boundary Community Hospital is defined as an emergency department only. What they do not realize is that we are more than “just a hospital” but a health resource for the community with many services offered locally.

In 2016 the Hospital Board of Trustees reached out to voters with a request for a special levy to fund some much needed equipment and upgrades.  The Levy was passed by voters and the funds were collected in 2017 and in your current property taxes for 2018 for a total of $828,000 over the two years.  The Hospital received the first half of the funding in 2018 and we expect to receive the second half in 2019.

We specified when we asked for the levy funds that we would:

• 

  Dennis Dinning (far right) congratulates Shannon Rust, RN, Outpatient Surgery Manager and Orthopedic Surgeon Michael DiBenedetto, MD after the successful completion of a total knee replacement surgery in the new Surgery Suite at Boundary Community Hospital.

  Upgrade the surgery suite so that we can perform more procedures including joint replacement surgery. The surgery suite infection control system and remodeling have been completed and the endoscopy scopes have been purchased.  In 2019, we will purchase arthroscopic instruments and other medical devices for orthopedic surgery. Dr. Michael DiBenedetto has been performing total knee and hip replacement surgery since September 2018, right here in Bonners Ferry.

• Purchase new equipment for the Clinical Medical Laboratory so that testing can be done locally for faster, more accurate results. The new equipment has been installed and our local laboratory is one of the best equipped in the state including the Microscan Array to test virus and bacteria (in hours instead of days), so the correct antibiotic can be prescribed.
• Purchase Diagnostic Imaging equipment. The C-Arm Portable X-Ray machine for orthopedic surgery and emergency use has been purchased. The CT Contrast Injector is planned for 2019, so we can expand our capabilities in Computerized Tomography (CT).
• Replace the Fire Alarm panel which was originally installed in 1992 – scheduled for 2019.
• Replace the Climate Control System with a computerized control center to better regulate the HVAC system throughout the Hospital and Nursing Home – scheduled for 2019.

These equipment purchases expand the services available and is attracting more Specialists for clinics and surgery, enabling patients to recover and receive occupational and physical therapy in Bonners Ferry. This also allows the health care dollars to be spent locally, saves the patient and their family travel and lodging expenses, and keeps jobs in Boundary County, which helps the local economy.

In 2016, I had serious health issues and was forced to take early retirement. I grew up in Bonners Ferry and we had a weekend place here, so my wife and I decided we would consider moving back home, after being gone for over 40 years. One of our biggest concerns about coming back to Boundary County was my ongoing health issues and access to quality health care. This is a very common concern for many people looking to retire, as well as companies looking to relocate to a new area. I decided to research health care systems in the community and evaluate how it would fit into my situation. I saw an opportunity to serve as a Trustee for Boundary Community Hospital and although I have physical limitations, I had past education, work, and volunteer experience, which would not only allow me to serve, but to be hands on with our local health care.

Boundary Community Hospital plays a distinct and critical role by leading efforts to address the unique healthcare needs of our rural citizens. As a trustee, our vision is “Neighbors Caring for Neighbors” and I have definitely seen this vision in action since moving home and becoming part of the Boundary Community Hospital “neighborhood.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Special Article for Bonners Ferry Living Local
October 2018

WHAT IS A MAMMOGRAM? A mammogram is an x-ray study of the breast. Usually 2 views are obtained of each breast. The overall mammogram study radiation dose is approximately equal to being outside on 20 summer days. The mammogram study takes approximately 20 minutes. There is some discomfort due to compressing the breast tissue to obtain a clear diagnostic image, but it is well worth the short-term discomfort.

WHY GET A MAMMOGRAM? There are many reasons why a woman should get a mammogram. Mammograms can identify a lump up to 2 years before it can be felt. The earlier breast cancer is found the better the outcome. The best weapon against breast cancer is early detection. The 5 year relative survival rates for patients who have early breast cancer detected with mammography is 100% according to the National Cancer Institute.

WHO SHOULD GET A MAMMOGRAM AND WHEN? In the United States the Preventative Services Task Force Mammogram Guidelines recommend women begin screening at age 50 and the American Cancer Society recommends screening to begin at age 45. Other medical organizations recommend screening beginning at age 40. If the woman begins screening at age 50 annual mammograms should follow. If the woman begins at 40 or 45, depending on her family history and circumstances annual mammograms are recommended, however, every other year would also be reasonable until age 50 followed by annual mammograms. Women should continue with mammography until age 75 and thereafter it is up to the patient whether she should continue annual follow-up.

Approximately 230,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. However, mammograms are the best form of early detection and can save your life. There are more than 2.5 million survivors of breast cancer in the United States. In Boundary County I’m quite sure that you know or may know of a breast cancer survivor. Or possibly, you are a breast cancer survivor. I have been the primary physician interpreting mammograms at Boundary Community Hospital for the past 18 years and I can attest that we have discovered numerous early cancers of women who are cancer free since the diagnosis and treatment. In fact, mortality rates for breast cancer have declined in the past 20 years by 31% nationally.

Boundary Community Hospital has been performing mammograms for over 3 decades. We have state of the art digital mammography. We recommend that patients who have extremely dense breasts have a 3-D mammogram (tomosynthesis). In some cases an MRI breast study, ultrasound, or biopsy may be necessary to exclude a breast cancer.

Incidentally, men can also develop breast cancer even though it is 100 times less likely than women who develop breast cancer. Any adult male, usually older males, who develops a breast lump should see his physician to determine if a mammogram is indicated. Most male breast lumps are due to hormonal changes and or medications.

If you have any questions concerning mammography please feel free to call Boundary Community Hospital radiology at 208-267-3141, extension 4258.

Michael Melendez, MD
Consulting Radiologist
Certified by the American Board of Radiology

Successful Surgery at BCH

Surgery Team Prepped and Ready (left to right): Renee Isaacs, Scrub Tech; Diana Kempton, RN; Dustin Miller, RN; and Stu Gall, CRNA. Photo by Shannon Rust, RN, Surgery Manager

Bonners Ferry – It has been a multiyear process to get the Boundary Community Hospital Surgery Department ready to perform more complicated surgeries. Since the upgrade and expansion of the Surgery Suite was completed in June 2018, Michael DiBenedetto, MD has successfully completed two total hip replacement surgeries, as well as several knee and hand surgeries.

Upgrading the air handling and infection prevention system to ensure more precise temperature and humidity control to meet government code compliance standards, a C-Arm Portable X-Ray Machine for orthopedic surgeries, as well as new endoscopy scopes have expanded the services, efficiency and patient-safety of the surgery department.

“The first year funding from the levy passed by voters in 2016 was used to purchase laboratory equipment, new endoscopy scopes and the upgrade and enhancement of the Outpatient Surgery Suite at the Hospital,” says Craig Johnson, CEO. “Our increased capability to perform these types of procedures should expand the availability in Bonners Ferry.”

“I feel our surgery team consists of some pretty amazing professionals who make patient safety and satisfaction their top priority,” according to Shannon Rust, RN, Surgery Manager. “With the recent upgrade of our HVAC system, we, in conjunction with Dr. Michael DiBenedetto, were able to start performing joint replacement surgeries.  We now have two successful hip replacements under our belt and are very excited to continue to make these procedures available to the community.  I am truly humbled and thankful to have been a part of such a wonderful endeavor for Boundary Community Hospital!”