Huntington Health

Congratulations to our latest Heart of Huntington award recipients, Denise Buensuceso, RN, mother baby unit, and Teri Knowlton, case manager, case management. Thank you for going above and beyond for our patients and community!

Calling all kiddos! At our Teddy Bear Clinic, Huntington's community outreach nurses help children work through fears that arise when visiting the doctor or during routine medical procedures. Your teddy bear’s checkup will include a blood pressure check, ear and nose otoscope examinations, listening with a stethoscope, medicine administration, and mock immunizations. At the end of the exam, a Certificate of Good Health will be awarded to your fuzzy friend!

It’s a fun way to make your next trip to the doctor less scary. No appointment is needed—just bring your teddy and a big smile! We can’t wait to meet you both.

That's a wrap on the 2024 Emergency Nurses Association Conference last week!

Huntington’s team of nurses had an incredible time connecting with colleagues from across the country and attending informative lectures. Our recruiters enjoyed meeting so many nurses at the exhibit hall and sharing what makes Huntington such an extraordinary workplace. It was an inspiring few days representing Huntington Health!

Visit hhcareers.com to view current opportunities to join our team.

Are you prepared to recognize the signs of a stroke? Join us on Wednesday, September 18, for an insightful Noon Hour event with Huntington Health-affiliated neurologist Adena Shahinian, DO. Learn about the different types of strokes, the latest advances in treatment, and more to help you boost your stroke knowledge and awareness.

To register for this in-person event, click here: https://bit.ly/3Zgw347. Remember to bring your ID for check-in. If you're feeling unwell, please stay home.

Just like 9-1-1, calling 988 connects you directly to trained mental health counselors ready to offer support and crisis intervention. In recognition of World Su***de Prevention Day, reshare this post to help raise awareness and connect someone to critical resources they might need.

Huntington is also here to support. For additional information about our mental health services, visit huntingtonhealth.org/dmc.

***dePreventionMonth ***dePreventionDay

This , we’re thinking of our NICU patients—brave little ones who’ve faced big challenges. Let’s spread love to all the families on this journey and the dedicated caregivers who support them every step of the way.

Last month, we had the privilege of celebrating the incredible milestones of our dedicated team members, recognizing service from 10, 15, and 20 years, all the way up to a remarkable 45 years!

Thank you to all our long service honorees for your years of excellence and unwavering dedication to our mission of compassionate community care.

Last week, Representative Judy Chu met with our President and CEO, Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, and other Huntington Health leaders to discuss important issues impacting health systems. Topics like workplace violence against health care workers and community access to the right level of care at the right time were discussed.

Our team also provided Representative Judy Chu with a tour of our emergency department, which is also home to the largest level II trauma center in the San Gabriel Valley. We are grateful for her time and hope to welcome her back in the future!

Huntington Hospital's trauma department is dedicated to preventing injuries in our
community through education.

Join trauma team members next Sunday, September 8, at Lost Parrot Café for our Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Information Booth! Walk away with essential tips and resources to stay secure while navigating life on the go.

Date: Sunday, September 8
Time: 7 a.m.
Location: Lost Parrot Café, 1929 Huntington Dr., South Pasadena, CA 91030

See you there!

Are you headed to next week? Huntington Health’s emergency department will be out in full force! Visit our booth on September 4, 5, and 6 to meet department leaders and learn what makes Huntington such a special workplace.
See you in Las Vegas!

Caring for a loved one is a big responsibility, and sometimes, things don't go as planned. At Senior Care Network, we understand the challenges caregivers face. In our recent article, "Especially for Caregivers: Caregiving Plan B," we share essential tips to help you navigate difficult moments and ensure your loved ones receive the best care possible.

Especially for caregivers: Caregiving plan B. | Huntington Hospital If you’re a caregiver, you may have wondered what would happen to your loved one if you became unable to provide care. What would you do if you suddenly got sick or if you had an accident?

We are so proud to be recognized by the readers of Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Whittier Daily News as the Best Hospital in the San Gabriel Valley!

Thank you for entrusting us with your care for the past 130 years and counting.

Kimberly Shriner, MD, FACP, medical director of infection prevention and control, Huntington Health, recently spoke on AirTalk about a breakthrough in HIV prevention. Lenacapavir, an antiretroviral medication used to treat HIV/AIDS, has been shown to prevent HIV in young women and girls.

That’s great news, especially for countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where girls and women accounted for 62% of all new HIV infections in 2023. Lenacapavir might just be the way to harness the disease there and globally. “When you control HIV, you also prevent individuals from being infectious and transmitting disease to other people,” Dr. Shriner explained. Click below to learn more about advancements and challenges in HIV.

Thank you to AirTalk for having Dr. Shriner on your show!

New study shows promising drug for HIV prevention | Huntington Hospital Kimberly Shriner, MD, FACP, medical director of infection prevention and control, Huntington Health, recently spoke on AirTalk about a breakthrough in HIV prevention. Lenacapavir…

It takes the dedication of many teams to make Huntington Health an exceptional place for care. For some, a journey to better health begins in our Emergency and Trauma Center. The Huntington emergency department (ED) provides round-the-clock services to patients at all stages of illness.

With approximately 310 dedicated professionals, the team includes board-certified emergency medicine physicians, on-call specialists, clinical directors, registered nurses, trauma specialists, pharmacists, social workers, respiratory care practitioners, and many others who work to create an ecosystem of compassionate care. And, as a Level ll Trauma Center, STEMI Receiving Center, and Comprehensive Stroke Center, our ED is equipped to handle a wide range of emergencies.

Are you interested in joining our ED team? Visit hhcareers.com for open positions today!

Planning for the future is essential, especially when it comes to health care decisions. Join us for an important conversation during our virtual Senior Care Network Noon Hour lecture, "Advance Care Planning," on August 28 at 12 p.m.

Learn how to ensure your wishes are respected and how to start these important discussions with loved ones. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights from Nurse Care Manager, Patty Watson-Swan, BSN, RN,PHN, whose expertise has helped countless members of our community navigate this phase of life. RSVP now and take the first step towards peace of mind.

Register today: bit.ly/4dIKVfA

in action.

We are proud to announce the launch of our Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC)! This council includes a diverse group of former patients, family members, and caregivers, all coming together to improve patient care. Their regular meetings will be a platform for open conversations, ensuring the voices of our patients and their families are heard loud and clear.

Associate Director of Patient Experience, Debbie Jackson shared her enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to launch PFAC. It will be instrumental in bringing the patient and family perspective to the forefront of our decision-making. Their insights will be invaluable as we create a health care environment centered around the needs of those we serve."

A heartfelt thank you to all our PFAC members for their dedication to making a difference in our community! Learn more: bit.ly/3M7bLSS

Thank you, KCAL News, for featuring Huntington Health Physicians pediatrician Stephanie Szeto, MD, who shared tips for a healthy and successful school year!

Parents look to protect children as there is an uptick in COVID-19 cases | Back to School Public health leaders say the number of positive COVID cases in Los Angeles County doubled in the last month. COVID-19 vaccines aren’t available right now in...

Huntington Blood Donor Center is experiencing a critical shortage in blood donations of all blood types, particularly type O. As the largest trauma center in the San Gabriel Valley, we rely on the generosity of blood donors to help our patients when they need us the most.

Did you know 38% of Americans are eligible to donate blood, but less than 10% actually donate each year? It’s easy to rationalize that someone else will fill the need, but when more than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day, every donation helps ensure that when someone in our community needs blood in an emergency, there’s enough supply.

How can you help today?
1. Donate blood at one of our last two August community blood drives, shared here.
2. Call 626-397-5422 and make an appointment to donate at our on-campus Blood Donor Center.
3. Spread the word and bring a friend! Please share this post with friends and family members.

Thank you for helping us save lives. Visit huntingtonhealth.org/blood for details.

Last Saturday, Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, supported the health and well-being of our community at the Arcadia Health Fair!

Several members of our Huntington Health Physicians team attended, including Sh*tal Arya, MD, pediatrician Chia-Chieh Hu, MD, who provided scoliosis screenings and otolaryngologists, Alexis Reiber, MD, and Taylor Carle, MD, with hearing screenings. Also in attendance were spinal surgeon Kevork Hindoyan, MD, and Fair Oaks Women’s Health obstetrician/gynecologist Rong Fan, MD.

It was a fantastic day to connect with our patients and community! A big thank you to the City of Arcadia for hosting such a wonderful event.

Huntington Blood Donor Center is experiencing a critical shortage in blood donations of all blood types, particularly type O. As the only trauma center in the San Gabriel Valley, we rely on the generosity of blood donors to help our patients when they need us the most.

Did you know 38% of Americans are eligible to donate blood, but less than 10% actually donate each year? It’s easy to rationalize that someone else will fill the need, but when more than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day, every donation helps ensure that when someone in our community needs blood in an emergency, there’s enough supply.

How can you help today?

1. Donate blood at one of our last two August community blood drives, shared here.
2. Call 626-397-5422 and make an appointment to donate at our on-campus Blood Donor Center.
3. Spread the word and bring a friend! Please share this post with friends and family members.

Thank you for helping us save lives. Visit huntingtonhealth.org/blood for details.

Dementia is a topic that has been studied extensively, and new studies continue to shine a light on the condition. Scientists now believe there isn’t a single cause of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It likely develops from multiple factors, such as age, family history and heredity. While these are risk factors we can’t change, we may be able to influence some through lifestyle modifications.

Some risk factors include:
• Smoking ci******es.
• Not getting enough aerobic physical activity.
• Excessive alcohol use or binge drinking.
• Being significantly overweight.
• High blood pressure.
• Diabetes.
• Being clinically depressed.
• Hearing loss.

Huntington is here to help, click https://bit.ly/3yr9O0i for additional information on how to reduce your risk of dementia and support resources through Senior Care Network.

Thank you to the Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena for hosting a great COVID vaccine clinic last month! Our community outreach team was so proud to support the health and wellness of Club families as kids get ready to kick-off the school year in a few weeks. Here’s to a healthy start!

Care

Thank you, Pasadena Star News, for recognizing Beacon and Tracey's dedication to our patients and Team USA!

Meet Beacon the therapy dog, bringing joy from Pasadena to the Olympics Beacon the golden retriever has gained acclaim as the face of pet therapy for USA Gymnastics. But the folks at Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital already knew what a gem he was.

We have some new furry friends (and their owners) at Huntington! Please welcome our newest pet-assisted therapy teams – Maebh & Nancie, Ollie & Laurie and Rumi & Lisa. They are sure to bring a bit of sunshine to our patients and staff throughout the day. We are so grateful for the incredible donor and volunteer support of our PAT program!

LAist program AirTalk recently interviewed Kimberly Shriner, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, about how to stay safe during the summer COVID-19 surge.

Shriner told AirTalk host Austin Cross that variants of the so-called FLiRT strain of the virus were the dominant variants in the U.S. as of early July. Their spread has been aided by typical human behavior we see over the summer.

“COVID really is a seasonal and social disease,” Shriner said. “It tends to increase when we gather together. It’s actually taking advantage of perhaps one of the most important things about human beings, which is the desire to be with other people.”

For more from this interview, click https://ceda.rs/3Wtdg2y

Congratulations to two-time DAISY Award winner, Jennifer Pai, RN!

Jennifer was nominated by a colleague who shared:

“Whenever a code is called, Jen follows through with anything and everything they can do until physicians and the ICU nurse arrive. Jen is one of the ICU nurses who, when she comes to the code, our staff breathe a sigh of relief. One particular code was called for a patient who very quickly became hypotensive, was in severe distress, and appeared to be fading fast. Within a matter of minutes, the patient was unresponsive. Before the physicians arrived, Jen started to delegate with clear, calm confidence, not forgetting to say please and thank you!

During the code, Jen clearly stated that the patient could not be transferred until the blood pressure was stable. Although it seemed the blood pressure may not improve, Jen was steadfast and continued to be the patient's advocate as if she were treating a loved one. While multitasking, Jen remained aware of the simultaneous interventions around her. It was clear that the patient's physical and mental well-being was at the forefront of Jen's mind. When we started packing up to move the patient to the ICU, we noticed Jen was leaning over the patient, saying his name, and asking him to open his eyes. The patient fluttered his eyes, and Jen reassured him he was safe, and she would be by his side.

While watching Jen walk down the hall with the patient, we couldn't help but feel in awe of what we just experienced and witnessed. We spoke about how there should be a long red cape on Jens's shoulders to represent the superwoman she indeed was and is!”

Superhero, indeed. Thank you, Jen, for your compassionate care for our patients!

Please join us in welcoming Elena Forouhar, MD, adult endocrinology, and VJ Lam, registered dietitian, CDCES, to Huntington Health Physicians! We are thrilled to have them join our growing team.

Dr. Forouhar and VJ are now accepting new patients. For more information about our specialty care services in the San Gabriel Valley, go to: https://bit.ly/3LF3HbB

Save the date for the Arcadia Health Fair - August 10 from 9 a.m. – noon - at the Arcadia Community Center! Please join us one week from today for this free community health event. Be sure to stop by the Huntington Health Physicians tables for scoliosis screenings from Arcadia pediatrician, Chia-Chieh Hu, MD, and otolaryngologist, Alexis Rieber, MD, will be performing audiometry screenings in conjunction with Love Hearing. See flyer for details. We hope to see you there!