Our online directory is always available, but some like to have a booklet they can save to their computer! Here is our 2022 Edition of Anderson Healthcare's Physician Direcotory in PDF Format for those who prefer the booklet format!
On April 21, 1974 when ground was broken for the construction of Anderson Hospital, the attendees could not have imagined what the hospital would look like on its 45th anniversary. It required a few years for the hospital’s financial performance to provide the funds for further growth in services and facilities but when the growth started, it never stopped! So, as we look at our hospital today and the array of services, satellite facilities and affiliated organizations serving communities throughout Madison and Macoupin counties … it is clear that the Board of Trustees, Medical staff, hospital staff and volunteers have been excellent stewards of this important community resource. 2022 will be a year of celebration and recognition of the dedication and commitment of all those who have been a part of Anderson’s success story. The hospital Board today still includes two members that were part of the hospital’s early history; Frank Flanigan and Robert Ciuferi. The Medical staff still includes one active member from the hospital’s opening in 1977; Dr. Shafique Ahmad. And Kat Bean from Material’s Management is the remaining staff member from the hospital’s opening year. Finally, the Auxiliary still includes members who joined in 1977 and earlier! While these ladies have retired from service, they continue to hold the honor as Emeritus Members: Alice Kerkmeyer, Darlene Loyet, Connie Schoenleber, Mary Lou Schultze, and Delores Stephens. Karen Phelps, who joined in 1977, continues as an active member volunteering regularly with patient services! How fortunate the hospital is to have these individuals after 45 years!
We have all heard stories about the hospital’s family atmosphere when it opened with 367 employees and although it is not quite the same with more than 1,500+ team members throughout all of the affiliated organizations, I still see a strong connection between our staff. This makes a great difference in the care we provide to our patients because it facilitates teamwork, emphasizes collaboration and promotes an environment that focuses on the quality of care of our patients. This teamwork has been so visible and important, especially during the past two years of the pandemic. I am proud to say that I have been part of this hospital team for the past 25 years and look forward to our next milestone in serving the healthcare needs of our community.
Beginning January 5, 2022, the 45th Anniversary year should provide a great start to making Anderson’s next 45 years just as successful. As always, thanks to all of the hospital and affiliated organizational staff for all you do to care for our patients and your contributions toward our success. It is clear that the years ahead will bring many further changes to healthcare but with the exceptional team members and organizations in place at Anderson Healthcare, we are stronger together to face the challenges ahead.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, people who are hospitalized with the virus have a variety of treatments to help them battle it. But misinformation is widespread, and that’s caused some confusion about these treatment options. To get a clearer idea of what treatments hospitals are using — and which ones they’re not — we spoke with critical care physician Joseph Khabbaza, MD.
COVID-19 treatments you can receive in a hospital
Treatment options for people with COVID-19 have improved greatly since the beginning of the pandemic. While they do not guarantee a quicker recovery, they may help minimize the severity of the infection and get you back to health.
Remdesivir
The anti-viral drug remdesivir was originally developed in 2009 as a potential treatment for hepatitis C and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The drug was also used to treat a number of people during various Ebola outbreaks in recent years. And it’s been tested as a treatment for other coronaviruses like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and SARS.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) of remdesivir for people with COVID-19 in the spring of 2020, and later, fully approved it after studies showed the drug could shorten recovery time for people. “It’s typically reserved for use with patients with cases requiring supplemental oxygen who are early enough in their illness that blocking virus replication could help minimize the severity of their course,” says Dr. Khabbaza.
Tocilizumab and baricitinib
A pair of anti-inflammatory drugs have recently been granted EUAs by the FDA for use in people hospitalized with COVID-19.
The drug tocilizumab was granted an EUA by the FDA in June 2021 for use in certain people with COVID-19. The drug is a monoclonal antibody that, according to the FDA, “reduces inflammation by blocking the interleukin-6 receptor.”
In other words, the drug doesn’t target the virus but does reduce inflammation caused by the virus by blocking one of the markers that drive inflammation. The drug is already used as a prescription medication for inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
Another drug, baricitinib, has also been granted an EUA by the FDA. Known as a janus kinase inhibitor, the drug blocks a specific group of enzymes that minimizes inflammation through a different pathway than tocilizumab. It has previously been FDA-approved for use in people with moderate-to-severe active rheumatoid arthritis.
Originally only given an EUA for use in combination with Remdesivir, baricitinib received an additional EUA that allows it to be administered on its own.
Steroids
The steroid dexamethasone, typically used to treat inflammation associated with conditions like asthma and arthritis, was granted an EUA by the FDA to use in a combination with other drugs to treat severe cases of COVID-19.
“Dexamethasone blunts the intensity of the inflammatory response our immune system makes when trying to fight COVID-19,” says Dr. Khabbaza. “Often, this inflammatory response is what drives severity of illness and studies have shown that minimizing it decreases the severity of disease in some patients.”
A study showed a lower 28-day mortality rate for those who received the steroid as part of their treatment, but it’s not recommended for those with more moderate cases.
Ventilators and other oxygen support
People with severe cases of COVID-19 pneumonia might require a breathing tube or ventilators for help maintaining oxygen levels. Being placed on a ventilator is one of the most extreme measures when it comes to treatment, but it’s necessary because people with severe cases are unable to maintain oxygen levels on their own.
While the mortality rate of those placed on ventilators is higher than those who don’t require a ventilator, many people survive and eventually have the ventilator removed. But, Dr. Khabbaza notes, being put on a ventilator can cause other issues that require additional recovery time, too.
“Being on a ventilator is quite uncomfortable because a tube is placed in the back of your throat and into the main windpipe that leads to our lungs,” he says.
This process, Dr. Khabbaza adds, requires a fair amount of sedation for patients so they can safely tolerate the tube, which leads to more potential complications. “Sedation in ICU patients can lead to profound muscle weakness that can often accompany an ICU stay and require a longer time of rehabilitation once off of the ventilator,” he says. “Additionally, being on a ventilator brings an increased risk of resistant bacterial pneumonia developing and trauma to our vocal cords or trachea if kept in too long.”
Treatments not used in a hospital for COVID-19
Since the onset of the pandemic, a few alleged treatments have gained traction, often promoted by dubious claims across social media platforms.
Hydroxychloroquine
The drug hydroxychloroquine received a lot of attention at the beginning of the pandemic as a possible way to treat COVID-19. At one time used as an anti-malarial drug, it’s currently used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite those early suggestions, hydroxychloroquine is not used to treat COVID-19.
“Overall, hydroxychloroquine is a safe drug. However, in extensive studies, it has never been shown to be helpful in fighting COVID-19 and that is the main reason it should not be used,” says Dr. Khabbaza.
The risk of certain side effects makes hydroxychloroquine a less than ideal choice for the treatment of COVID-19. The most concerning one is torsades de pointes, a type of ventricular tachycardia where your heart beats so fast that your blood pressure plummets and the heart can’t pump enough oxygen through your body.
Other side effects include the risk of interference with other prescription medications and causing gastrointestinal issues. It was enough that in November 2020, the National Institute of Health issued a statement saying it had “formally concluded that the drug provides no clinical benefit to hospitalized patients.”
Ivermectin
Another drug that has gained attention from misinformation on the internet is ivermectin. There is a prescription version for humans that comes in oral and topical forms, but this is only used for parasitic roundworm infections like ascariasis, head lice and rosacea, and in far lower and safer doses than being suggested inappropriately for COVD-19.
A different version of this particular drug is in formulations that aren’t meant for consumption by humans but, rather, used to prevent heartworm disease and other parasites in horses and cows in the concentrated veterinary forms.
While both have been the subject of speculation by misinformed social media participants, neither are — nor should be — used as a treatment for COVID-19. “Those higher doses can be very toxic for humans,” Dr. Khabbaza says, “and that can lead to severe side effects.”
Some of those side-effects stemming from large doses include:
Diarrhea.
Itching.
Hives.
Balance problems.
Seizures.
Low blood pressure.
Vomiting.
“This medication is intended to treat parasites, not viruses,” Dr. Khabbaza adds. While one study out of Egypt claimed to show the drug’s effectiveness against COVID-19, Dr. Khabbaza points out that not all studies are created equally. “Several other studies that are of a higher standard refute the claims it’s effective,” he says.
The importance of vaccination
The best way to protect yourself — and to drastically reduce the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 — is to get vaccinated, Dr. Khabbaza says. “All of the data we’ve gotten about the available, approved COVID-19 vaccines is that they’re highly effective in preventing serious illness from the virus,” he points out.
While there have been breakthrough cases in people who are fully vaccinated, having the vaccine has greatly reduced the severity of the virus. “No vaccine is ever perfect in completely preventing illness,” Dr. Khabbaza says. “But they do offer you immense protection against severe cases. The number of hospitalizations for vaccinated patients due to COVID-19 is incredibly low.”
The bottom line: Get vaccinated — and avoid social media for treatment advice.
Anderson Hospital Receives ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation
Anderson Hospital provides necessary care, resources to patients with heart attack symptoms
The American College of Cardiology has recognized Anderson Hospital for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain. Anderson Hospital was awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI in August based on rigorous onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 730,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are more likely to have atypical symptoms. Other heart attack symptoms include, but are not limited to, tingling or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, unusual tiredness, heartburn-like feeling, nausea or vomiting, sudden dizziness and fainting.
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is also known as coronary angioplasty. It is a non-surgical procedure that opens narrowed or blocked coronary arteries with a balloon to relieve symptoms of heart disease or reduce heart damage during or after a heart attack.
Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24/7 every day of the year. As required to meet the criteria of the accreditation designation, they have streamlined their systems from admission to evaluation to diagnosis and treatment all the way through to appropriate post-discharge care and recommendations and assistance in patient lifestyle changes. In addition, they have formal agreements with other facilities that regularly refer heart attack patients to their facility for primary PCI.
“Anderson Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to providing Madison County with excellent heart care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Anderson Hospital with Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation.”
Hospitals receiving Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves: completing a gap analysis; examining variances of care, developing an action plan; a rigorous onsite review; and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing of guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the care of patients experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to better patient education and improved patient outcomes.
“We are incredibly proud to have achieved re-accreditation as a Chest Pain Center with PCI. Anderson Hospital is committed to quality care and best outcomes for the cardiac patients we are privileged to serve. Accreditation demonstrates our efforts towards continuous quality improvement and multidisciplinary collaboration as we continuously strive to reach that goal,” said Misty Smith, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Director of Cardiovascular and Neurology Services and Chest Pain Center Coordinator.The ACC offers U.S. and international hospitals like Anderson Hospital access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including emergency treatment of heart attacks.
About the American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its 54,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.
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