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Magee at UPMC Passavant Expertise in Women’s Health, Close to Home “I think caring, kind, and compassionate must be a prerequisite to work there.” Amid the flurry of planning her daughter’s wedding, Susan Flowers, 58, of Gibsonia, was experiencing bouts of severe abdominal pain. When it happened for the third time, just a few days before the wedding, she was really frightened, and went to the Emergency Department (ED) at UPMC Passavant, where a mass was discovered on her ovary. The ED staff immediately called John Comerci, MD, Magee-Womens Gynecologic Cancer Program. The diagnosis was ovarian cancer, and Dr. Comerci recommended a hysterectomy. Fortunately, the surgery schedule was able to accommodate Mrs. Flowers’ plan to attend the wedding. “I was able to see my daughter walk down the aisle, and had my surgery three days later,” she says. Above: UPMC Passavant employees (left to right) — Denise Shearer, physician assistant, Martha Dunlap, RN, and Kelly Linn, RN — are part of the Magee at Passavant program. Previous page (left to right): Kiran Mehta, MD, Suketu Mansuria, MD, Halina Zyczynski, MD, and Robert Edwards, MD Shakespeare probably wasn’t thinking about health care when he wrote, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Because when it comes to your health, a name can make a world of difference. Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, ranked fifth nationally and first in Pittsburgh for gynecologic care by U.S. News & World Report, is a name long known for its expertise in women’s health. And with the Magee at UPMC Passavant program, residents of the North Hills and surrounding communities can benefit from the specialty services that Magee offers without traveling into the city. “Our goal is to provide an easy-access, patient-focused program offering the best outcomes for women’s health, where our patients have a very pleasant experience receiving their care,” says Robert Edwards, MD, professor, gynecologic oncology, Magee-Womens Gynecologic Cancer Program. 22 North Hills Monthly MAGAZINE Mrs. Flowers continues, “Dr. Comerci and all the nurses are absolutely wonderful. You can’t get better care anywhere else. Everyone was so compassionate — if you have to go through something like this, they make it much more bearable. They routinely go above and beyond what is required to help make you comfortable.” The Magee at Passavant program expands services to a new population while helping to remove many of the hurdles associated with going downtown, including traffic and parking. This convenience also can benefit a patient’s spouse and other family members who are juggling responsibilities at home. “By providing subspecialty care from the same specialists at Magee in a suburban environment, we are providing patients with the benefits of a premier women’s hospital closer to where they live,” says John Comerci, MD, associate professor, MageeWomens Gynecologic Cancer Program, and director, Gynecologic Oncology, UPMC Passavant. Situated in a community setting where many patients may feel more comfortable, April 2013 www.northhillsmonthly.com the Magee at Passavant program provides access to the following subspecialties: • Urogynecology • Gynecologic oncology • Minimally invasive surgery These services, including advanced laparoscopic tools and robotics, are usually found at larger hospitals in downtown locations. “The commitment on the part of UPMC Passavant to provide the technology as well as the support services for contemporary, state-of-the-art women’s health care has been outstanding,” says Halina Zyczynski, MD, director, Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health at Magee. is available at Magee, UPMC Passavant is second only to Magee in the number of minimally invasive surgeries performed across all UPMC hospitals. Operating room suites have new, state-of-the-art equipment, including the da Vinci® robot, specifically designed for advanced laparoscopic procedures. According to Dr. Comerci, it’s a phenomenal advantage to have this level of technology in the north — robots are based almost exclusively in city hospitals. “To have this type of resource available for all subspecialties, and particularly for gynecologic oncology and general gynecology, is really amazing,” he adds. Magee-Womens Gynecologic Cancer Program, Part of UPMC CancerCenter Specialists in urogynecology and gynecologic oncology, who are part of the Magee-Womens Gynecologic Cancer Program, see patients at the UPMC CancerCenter at UPMC Passavant, partner with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, western Pennsylvania’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. UPMC Passavant’s patient pavilion, which opened in 2010, tripled the size of the CancerCenter, allowing for expanded medical oncology services and state-of-theart operating suites designed for advanced surgical cancer care. The hospital’s strategic location provides easy access to chemotherapy treatment for patients who live north of Pittsburgh. Many patients are relieved that they can receive chemotherapy where they had their surgery, because they are familiar with the hospital and know how to get there and where to park. In the past, hysterectomies and pelvic pain surgeries, including treatment of fibroids, were handled through large open incisions. Now these procedures can be performed using laparoscopic and robotic techniques. These minimally invasive surgeries are outpatient or only require a very minimal hospital stay, and typically are less painful, result in quicker recovery times, and provide better cosmetic outcomes. Clinical protocols, particularly cooperative group trials like the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project and the Gynecologic Oncology Group, are now open at UPMC Passavant. Sanctioned and developed with the support of the National Cancer Institute, the clinical trials compare the current standard to what will likely be www.northhillsmonthly.com Operating room with the da Vinci® robot, designed for advanced laparoscopic procedures. the next new standard for the treatment of cancer. Offering clinical research north of Pittsburgh provides patients who find travel cumbersome with the ability to participate in cutting-edge clinical trials. Emphasis on Minimally Invasive Surgery Having essentially the same technology that “For many years, endometriosis was treated with a hysterectomy and removal of the ovaries, but now we can surgically remove the actual endometriosis, preserving fertility, the uterus, and ovaries,” says Suketu “I’m flabbergasted by what they did for me. I am forever grateful for them.” In September 2010, Carolyn Coffin sat down at her computer to do some research on the Web. The topic? Ovarian cancer physicians. The 57-year-old resident of Cranberry Township had just returned home from an MRI with the devastating diagnosis. Mrs. Coffin’s online research brought her to Robert Edwards, MD, Magee-Womens Gynecologic Cancer Program. She says, “He is the whole package — he performed my surgery, monitored my chemo, and I still go to see him for checkups. He takes a totally hands-on approach and is so dedicated and thorough.” Mrs. Coffin also says that all of the oncology nurses work well together as a team and are very committed to getting their patients well. “I wish that I could come up with more words to say how wonderful they are,” she adds. “I would like others in a similar situation to know that even though it’s a very scary time, you are not alone. You have a ton of support there with Dr. Edwards and his team — they take care of you.” April 2013 North Hills Monthly MAGAZINE 23 “Living with the pain for so long without any answers, I began to think that maybe I was crazy. Now I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.” Terria Dotson, 27, had always experienced very painful menstrual cycles. “The pain got progressively worse over the last few years, and I was taking medication every two to three hours with no relief,” she says. Ms. Dotson went to several physicians but was unable to find relief or even a definitive diagnosis. Spacious private rooms enable family members to stay overnight with their loved ones. Patient-Centric Care Transferring the Magee model of care to the UPMC Passavant program began with specialized training for the nurses, who are all strongly committed to women’s health. A floor at UPMC Passavant is dedicated to the program for inpatient care. Spacious private rooms enable family members to stay overnight, and the palliative care service was recently expanded to this location. “It’s a friendly, close-knit, family atmosphere where everyone goes above and beyond to deliver the best patient care possible,” says Beth Hahn, MD, obstetriciangynecologist. She recently relocated to Pittsburgh for a job, and a friend referred her to Suketu Mansuria, MD, MageeWomens Hospital of UPMC. One month later, Ms. Dotson had laparoscopic surgery at UPMC Passavant, where Dr. Mansuria removed eight different areas of endometriosis. “I just had four really small incisions, and I was up and around in a couple of days,” she says. Two months later, Ms. Dotson barely noticed any cramps and was not sick during her menstrual cycle. “Dr. Mansuria really took the time to listen and then explain my treatment options. And the care I received from the nurses at UPMC Passavant was excellent,” she adds. Mansuria, MD, assistant professor, assistant director of Gynecologic Minimally Invasive Surgery, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. Dr Mansuria adds that almost all hysterectomies can be performed laparoscopically, even ones that were once considered too difficult because of scar tissue, adhesions, or large fibroids. Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, physicians work with specialists in other areas at UPMC Passavant, including general surgery, urology, and colon and rectal surgery, to aid in diagnosis and treatment when the source of pain is not gynecologic. For many patients, being admitted to UPMC Passavant provides the opportunity for their primary care providers and specialists to help contribute to the best possible outcome after surgery. Dr. Zyczynski explains that it is a tremendous advantage to have a patient at UPMC Passavant, where members of her subspecialty team, such as her cardiologist, pulmonologist, and internist, can help care for her, round postoperatively, adjust medications, and advise on hypertension management or anticoagulation. “We are very proud of how satisfied our patients are with their physicians and care,” says Dr. Edwards. “We receive so many compliments about our patients’ postoperative care, including how impressed they are with their rooms,” he adds. Denise Shearer, a physician assistant at UPMC Passavant, says women may be more likely to take care of a health problem if they know a specialist comes to their town or a neighboring one. The Magee at Passavant program provides a resource not only for women who live in the North Hills, but also for those who live north of Allegheny County. Physicians have offices in Cranberry, Hermitage, Clarion, and Franklin, and also visit UPMC Hamot in Erie. For more information on the Magee at UPMC Passavant program, call 412-367-6454 or visit UPMCPassavant.com. This advertorial has been provided by UPMC. UPMC Passavant-McCandless 9100 Babcock Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-367-6700 UPMC Passavant-Cranberry One St. Francis Way Cranberry Township, PA 16066 724-772-5300 UPMC Passavant For more information or a physician referral, call 1-800-533-UPMC (8762) or visit UPMCPassavant.com