Category Archives: Borgess-Pipp

Borgess-Pipp Hospital to Hold Free Stroke Screening March 13

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Posted by Lew Tysman on February 17, 2012 – 9:37 am
Filed under Borgess-Pipp

PLAINWELL, MI – To help combat the nation’s third-leading cause of death and leading cause of adult disability, Borgess-Pipp Hospital will hold a free stroke risk assessment screening on Tuesday, March 13, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on its lower level.

Funded through grants from The Perrigo Company Charitable Foundation and Borgess Health, the screening offers participants the opportunity to learn about their risk for stroke. Health care professionals will be available to talk about warning signs and assess key stroke risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes and cigarette smoking.

About 795,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means, on average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds.

Pre-registration for this screening is required. Call (269) 226.8135 or (800) 828.8135.

Borgess-Pipp Hospital To Hold Emergency Operations Drill

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Posted by Lew Tysman on December 13, 2011 – 5:06 pm
Filed under Borgess-Pipp

WHAT:

Borgess-Pipp Hospital will hold an emergency operations drill on December 21. The hospital will partner with Borgess Family Medicine, Plainwell Public Safety, Allegan County Emergency Management, Allegan County Sheriff Department, Gun Plain Fire Department, Otsego Fire Department, Plainwell Area EMS and Michigan State Police Explorers for the completion of this drill.

Given the rise in the number of violent acts inside hospitals, The Joint Commission has emphasized the training and implementation of emergency response plans associated with active shooter incidents and workplace violence. The main focus of the Borgess-Pipp Hospital exercise will be an intruder brandishing a weapon who enters Borgess Family Medicine.

Note: Residents and visitors to the community should be advised—while there will be many law enforcement and emergency personnel participating in this exercise, it is only a drill.

WHEN:

Wednesday, December 21, beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Borgess Family Medicine and Borgess-Pipp Hospital.

WHY:

To ensure the safety of hospital patients and residents of Plainwell in the event of an active shooter emergency. This exercise will test the abilities and training of medical staff to operate under this emergency threat, respond to an influx of critical patients into the emergency department, work closely with outside agencies, react in a calm, controlled manner, and follow orders using the Hospital Incident Command System.

CONTACT:

Borgess-Pipp Hospital, (269) 685.4505.

Community Invited to Celebrate Golden Anniversary of Pipp Hospital

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Posted by Lew Tysman on September 23, 2011 – 4:32 pm
Filed under Borgess-Pipp

Borgess-Pipp HospitalBorgess-Pipp Hospital invites the community to celebrate 50 years of healing with heart. The local health facility will celebrate the golden anniversary of Pipp Hospital at a special event on Wednesday, October 12, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“In 1911, two nurses established the beginning of 100 years of continuous hospital presence in Plainwell and Otsego. The legacy continued with the establishment of William Crispe Community Hospital in 1927, followed by the opening of Pipp Hospital in 1961,” said John Ryder, administrator, Borgess-Pipp Hospital. “While our building and services have changed over the years, our commitment to providing patients with warm, personalized care remains our foundation. Today, Borgess-Pipp Hospital is proud to offer close-to-home access to long-term acute care, laboratory and diagnostics, rehabilitation, and emergency medicine with a 30-minute guarantee.”

The free anniversary celebration will include a special program, hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Borgess-Pipp Hospital will also honor the milestone by hosting a staff reunion on Thursday, October 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sherwood Gardens in Plainwell, as well as an onsite health screening expo on Tuesday, October 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Funded in part through a grant from Perrigo Company, the health expo will provide free prostate-specific antigen (PSA), thyroid, stroke, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep disorders screenings. Pre-registration for the screening event is required. Call (269) 226.8135 or (800) 828.8135.

Borgess-Pipp Hospital: Historical Highlights

Pipp Ground Breaking
Reverend Chaffee, Mildred Hurlbut, Charles Lovett, Yvonne La Casse Gauthier, Les Froman (behind La Casse Gauthier), Beulah Abbott (hands on shovel), unidentified man (name unknown), Forrest Burchfield (hands on shovel), and unidentified man (name unknown).

1904-1905: Plainwell’s first hospital established

1911: New hospital established on South Main Street

1927: William Crispe Community Hospital opens with 10 beds

1961: Pipp Community Hospital opens

1980s: Borgess enters management agreement with Pipp Community Hospital

1985: First major renovation with addition of laboratory, emergency room and meeting facilities

1996: Pipp Community Hospital becomes a member of Borgess Health

1999: Second major renovation with addition of radiology and emergency room expansion/improvements

2002: Borgess-Pipp Hospital attains long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) designation from Medicare

2009: Kay Pierce leaves estate worth more than $2 million to the Borgess Foundation to be exclusively used for providing facility and equipment enhancements to Borgess-Pipp Hospital

Community Health Fair offered June 4, Borgess-Pipp Commons

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Posted by Lew Tysman on May 16, 2011 – 4:13 pm
Filed under Borgess-Pipp

Borgess Family Medicine of Plainwell presents its Sixth Annual Community Health Fair 10 am to 1 pm, Saturday, June 4 at Borgess-Pipp Medical Commons, 345 Naomi St., Plainwell.

The free event features:

  • Adult health screenings, including blood sugar and blood pressure readings.
  • Free adolescent sports physicals (10 am to 12:30 pm).
  • Face-painting, games, a dunk tank and other activities for children.
  • General safety information will also be available along with local fire trucks.
  • Bicycle helmets will be sold for $8 by Borgess Trauma Services.

Participants are encouraged to bring gently used eyeglasses for distribution to needy individuals.

For more information, please call (269) 552.0100.

Borgess-Pipp Hospital Moves to Forefront of Geriatric Care by Achieving NICHE Designation

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Posted by Lew Tysman on March 30, 2011 – 4:50 pm
Filed under Borgess-Pipp

Borgess-Pipp Hospital has been recognized as a NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) site. NICHE is the only national designation indicating a hospital’s commitment to elder care excellence.

“Improving geriatric nursing competence is more critical than ever, as older adults are becoming the core consumer of hospital care,” said John Ryder, administrator, Borgess-Pipp Hospital. “Because our long-term acute care facility is an integral part of Borgess-Pipp Hospital, employing highly qualified nurses who understand the unique needs of seniors is particularly important. The NICHE designation has enabled our nurses to receive the training and knowledge necessary to deliver exceptional elder care.”

Launched in 1992, NICHE has evolved into the only national geriatric nursing program comprising nearly 300 hospitals located throughout North America. NICHE’s mission is to provide the principles and tools to stimulate a change in the culture of health care facilities and achieve patient-centered care for older adults. Hospitals completing NICHE training have reported:

  • Enhanced nursing and interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in the treatment of older adult patients
  • Improved clinical outcomes
  • Greater patient and family satisfaction

O’Leary Legacy Fuels Nursing Success

The NICHE training and designation has been made possible through a generous grant from the O’Leary Foundation. Established in memory of Muriel and Bob O’Leary, the O’Leary Foundation is a philanthropic organization that provides funding for programs in human services, education and health care that offer significant potential support for individual development and community enhancement.

“Thanks to this wonderful grant, Borgess-Pipp Hospital can continue offering their patients access to nurses with superior leadership skills and experience,” said Tony McDonnell, executive director, Borgess Foundation. “We are so grateful for the kindness of the O’Leary family. Muriel and Bob simply lived to touch hearts and make their community a better place to live. By creating the O’Leary Foundation, their children and grandchildren have ensured that their legacy will live on.”

More information on NICHE hospital designation can be found at nicheprogram.org or by calling (212) 998.5596. Those interested in supporting the O’Leary Foundation are encouraged to visit olearyfoundation.com.

Start The New Year With a Free PAD Screening at Borgess-Pipp Hospital

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Posted by Lew Tysman on January 12, 2011 – 5:55 pm
Filed under Borgess-Pipp

PLAINWELL, Mich., January 10, 2011—For those looking for a healthier start to 2011, Borgess-Pipp Hospital will offer a free peripheral arterial disease (PAD) screening on Thursday, January 27, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Every year, vascular conditions like peripheral arterial disease claim thousands of lives,” said Kathy Russell, cardiovascular services manager, Borgess-Pipp Hospital. “Through this free event, our goal is to educate people about their risks and help detect the possibility of a condition in advance of it becoming a larger health issue.”

Affecting millions of older Americans, PAD refers to the narrowing of arteries that supply blood and nutrients to the legs. Often the result of cholesterol buildup, PAD causes difficulty walking and may even lead to stroke or heart attack. Common symptoms include leg pain, cramping, tightness or fatigue, impotence, and leg wounds or ulcers that do not heal easily.

The Risk Factors

Factors that increase one’s chances of developing PAD include advancing age, gender (men are at greater risk until age 70), cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise and uncontrolled stress. According to the American Vascular Association, despite its potential for complications like stroke, loss of limbs or death, vascular diseases like PAD tend to be under diagnosed in the U.S. However, if detected early, effective treatment options are available for many vascular conditions.

Fast, Painless and Free

PAD screening involves using blood pressure cuffs and a Doppler ultrasound probe. It is a fast and painless test. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. To register, call (269) 226.8135 or (800) 828.8135.

Borgess-Pipp Hospital delivers comprehensive health services to Plainwell, Otsego and surrounding communities, from laboratory and diagnostic imaging to long-term acute care and emergency medicine with a 30-minute guarantee. A member of Borgess Health, the largest health care provider in southwest Michigan, Borgess-Pipp Hospital also has the resources to offer specialized, nationally recognized medicine.

Specialized spine care offered at Borgess Family Medicine in Plainwell

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Posted by Lew Tysman on December 20, 2010 – 4:17 pm
Filed under Borgess-Pipp, Brain & Spine Institute

Gene Yu, DO, a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist with Borgess Spine, will offer comprehensive back and neck care at Borgess Family Medicine in Plainwell.  Services include evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for all back and neck conditions.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Dr. Yu received his medical education at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by a four-year residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, in Madison, WI.

Dr. Yu is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Directed by doctors who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Borgess Spine enables individuals with any type of back or neck condition to return to everyday activities, without surgical intervention 90 percent of the time.   For those cases where surgery is indicated, Borgess Spine works in partnership with the highly experienced neurosurgical specialists in Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo.

Based in  Kalamazoo, Borgess Spine offers clinic locations in Battle Creek and Oshtemo, as well as Plainwell.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Borgess Spine at (269) 552.BACK.  Visit spine.borgess.com to learn more.

Borgess-Pipp Hospital Urges Community to Support 25th Tree of Love Campaign

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Posted by Lew Tysman on November 12, 2010 – 1:51 pm
Filed under Borgess-Pipp, Events

Borgess-Pipp Hospital will participate in the 25th Borgess Tree of Love campaign by holding its own tree lighting ceremony on Friday, December 3 at 6 p.m. The hospital ceremony will precede Plainwell’s Christmas tree lighting and Otsego’s holiday parade.

Sponsored by the Borgess Volunteers and Borgess Foundation, the Borgess Tree of Love campaign has a goal of raising more than $40,000 this year. Proceeds from this fundraising campaign allow more than 500 low-income women without health insurance to receive free mammograms

“Since it was established in 1985, this campaign has helped countless area women receive mammograms and biopsies to detect breast cancer,” said John Ryder, administrator and chief operating officer, Borgess-Pipp Hospital. “It also gives donors the chance to get into the spirit by sponsoring lights on our holiday tree—a wonderful tribute for family, friends, coworkers and neighbors.”

Borgess-Pipp Hospital encourages the community to visit treeoflove.borgess.com to make a tax-deductible donation or learn more. Donor forms are also available by calling the Borgess Foundation at (269) 226.8100. Every $5 donation not only helps donors recognize someone special in their lives, but also enables one woman to have a lifesaving mammogram at Borgess Medical Center. Every $50 donation sponsors a mammogram and gives the donor the opportunity to honor or remember up to 10 people.

About Breast Cancer

In the U.S., one in eight women will experience breast cancer during her lifetime. It is estimated that one in every five women doesn’t have insurance to cover mammography or other breast cancer detection services. A number of studies have shown that mammograms can reduce a woman’s risk of dying of breast cancer.

Borgess-Pipp Hospital delivers comprehensive health services to Plainwell, Otsego and surrounding communities, from laboratory and diagnostic imaging to long-term acute care and emergency medicine with a 30-minute guarantee. A member of Borgess Health, the largest health care provider in southwest Michigan, the hospital also has the resources to offer specialized, nationally recognized medicine.

Borgess-Pipp Hospital Honors Kay Pierce at Community Open House

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Posted by Lew Tysman on June 22, 2010 – 3:23 pm
Filed under Borgess Foundation, Borgess-Pipp

Photo Caption: (left to right) Dr. Terry Baxter, chief medical officer, Borgess Medical Center, and Tony McDonnell, executive director, Borgess Foundation, unveil Kay Pierce’s portrait.

With about 300 staff and community members looking on, Borgess-Pipp Hospital unveiled a special portrait of Kay Pierce at an open house on Thursday, May 20.

The open house celebrated the remarkable gift Pierce left behind to help sustain the hospital she supported and loved. “We were blessed by Kay’s generosity, as well as the confidence she placed both in our hospital and the community she embraced her entire life,” said John Ryder, administrator, Borgess-Pipp Hospital. “Thanks to her extraordinary vision and $2 million gift, a renewal of our hospital’s spirit and atmosphere has been realized.”

Enhancements made to the hospital as a result of Pierce’s gift include:

  • Main floor hallway renovations
  • Inpatient room renovations
  • New nurse’s station
  • Main waiting room renovation
  • Laboratory blood draw area
  • Powered ambulance cots
  • Laboratory chemistry and hematology analyzers
  • Two bariatric specialty beds
  • Outpatient rehabilitation gym expansion and department renovation
  • Dual-head computed tomography (CT) scan contrast injector
  • Portable ultrasound system for emergency department

Along with Pierce’s portrait unveiling, the free open house also offered guests tours and refreshments.  

About Kay Pierce

Kay Pierce’s connection to Borgess-Pipp Hospital was woven into the fabric of her life.

When she passed away on March 2, 2009, the 90-year-old resident left her entire estate worth more than $2 million to the Borgess Foundation to be used exclusively for providing improvements and acquiring new equipment at Borgess-Pipp Hospital.

Pierce was the daughter of Dr. Willard “Bob” Vaughn, one of the founders of modern health care in Plainwell. Vaughn was a respected family practitioner who helped organize William Crispe Community Hospital, the precursor to Borgess-Pipp Hospital.

A 1935 graduate from Plainwell High School, Pierce enrolled in Hollins University in Virginia and then Tulane University in New Orleans. Kay and her husband, Donald, were happily married for 26 years until his death in 2000. Donald, who ran his family’s insurance business in Plainwell, was also active on the Crispe Hospital Board.

Described as gracious, caring and friendly by many who knew her, Pierce’s trademark saying was “Laughter is the best medicine.”  From her commitment to volunteering to serving as a trustee for over 20 years, Pierce’s dedication to Borgess-Pipp Hospital was loving and lifelong.

About Borgess-Pipp Hospital

Borgess-Pipp Hospital delivers comprehensive health services to Plainwell, Otsego and surrounding communities, from laboratory and diagnostic imaging to long-term acute and “no wait” emergency care. A member of Borgess Health, the largest health care provider in southwest Michigan, Borgess-Pipp Hospital also has the resources to offer specialized, nationally recognized medicine.

Borgess-Pipp Hospital Sponsors Free Men’s Health Event at Prairiewood Golf Course

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Posted by Lew Tysman on May 18, 2010 – 4:12 pm
Filed under Borgess Health, Borgess Health Screenings for Life, Borgess-Pipp, Events, Light Hearted Living

To help men lower their score and raise their peace of mind, Borgess-Pipp Hospital will host a free Men’s Health Event at Prairiewood Golf Course on Saturday, June 12, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“Men aren’t always the first in line to schedule an appointment to see their doctors or sign up for important health screenings,” said John Ryder, administrator, Borgess-Pipp Hospital. “That’s why we’re sponsoring this event. It’s a free and fun way to learn how to elevate your golf game, as well as receive some potentially lifesaving screenings.”

At the Men’s Health Event, participants will learn how to improve their golf swing from a physical therapist, and have the chance to receive a:

  • Healthy heart screening (including blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose)
  • Lung assessment (to check for signs of chronic obstructive lung disease or COPD)
  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening
  • Body mass index (BMI) analysis

Prairiewood Golf Course is located at 315 Prairiewood Drive in Otsego. There is no appointment necessary to take advantage of this one-day-only event. Those who would like more information are encouraged to call 269.226.8135 or 800.828.8135.

Borgess-Pipp Hospital delivers comprehensive health services to Plainwell, Otsego and surrounding communities, from laboratory and diagnostic imaging to long-term acute and “no wait” emergency care. A member of Borgess Health, the largest health care provider in southwest Michigan, Borgess-Pipp Hospital also has the resources to offer specialized, nationally recognized medicine.