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SATURDAY, SEP TEMBER 19, 2020 • KOKOMO TR I BUNE PROGRESS EDI T ION
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Community Howard Regional
Health is an innovator in health-
care.
Here are some of the latest
developments:
NEW LINEAR
ACCELERATOR
In February 2020 Commu-
nity Howard Regional Health
completed a multimillion dollar
investment in cancer care with
the installation of a new linear
accelerator. The linear accelera-
tor is used to deliver radiation
treatments. The new model, a
Varian TrueBeam, delivers faster,
more precise radiation therapy
treatments.
“The Varian TrueBeam is a
significant step in elevating the
fight against cancer,” said Joe
Hooper, President of Community
Howard Regional Health. “We
are committed to providing the
latest in cancer care right here
in Kokomo. This latest advance-
ment will expand the treatment
options that we can offer and will
also improve the experience for
patients by reducing the time it
takes to receive treatment.”
TrueBeam is fully-integrated
for image-guided radiotherapy
and radiosurgery. The advan-
tages for clinicians include
enhanced imaging capabilities
and the ability to treat tar-
gets with improved speed and
accuracy. TrueBeam allows the
oncologist to minimize toxicity
to normal tissues by treating a
small precise area. This trans-
lates into reduced treatment
times for patients with more pre-
cision and control.
PANDEMIC BRINGS
INNOVATION
Long before the first case of
the novel coronavirus COVID-
19 was reported in Indiana,
Community Howard Regional
Health began to prepare for the
outbreak. As the pandemic con-
tinued to spread, operations at
Community Howard shifted to a
singular focus of preparing the
hospital for a surge in COVID-19
patients, while also continuing
critical care services for other
patients.
Plans for renovation projects at
the hospital shifted to immediate
work to create additional negative
airflow rooms for patients who
need to be isolated and to expand
ICU bed capacity. Teams also
innovated to expand the hospi-
tal’s supply of ventilators and staff
were cross-trained to help work
in high demand areas. A COVID-
19 testing tent was put in to place
on campus and the hospital took
part in convalescent plasma trials
for patients with COVID-19.
EXPANSION OF
VIRTUAL CARE
One of the long lasting innova-
tions from the hospital’s response
to the ongoing pandemic was
the vast expansion of virtual
and telehealth services across
both primary and specialty
care areas as well as behavioral
health. Physician offices accus-
tomed to doing in person visits
quickly shifted to offering video
and phone visits to ensure the
community continued to have
access to care, while also protect-
ing against the potential further
spread of the coronavirus. With
the framework for virtual care
put in place, providers will now
continue to offer virtual visits
as a permanent model of care
for those who prefer the conve-
nience.
NEW IMAGING
EQUIPMENT
In 2020 Community How-
ard made another investment
in patient care in the form of a
new fluoroscope. Fluoroscopy is
an imaging technique that uses
x-rays to obtain moving images
of the interior of a patient, such
as the pumping action of the
heart. Aside from improved
imaging capabilities, the new
fluoroscope accommodates
larger patients, improving the
patient’s experience and access to
care locally.
To learn more about Commu-
nity Howard Regional Health,
visit
/
howard.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
COMMUNITY HOWARD PROVIDES LATEST IN HEALTHCARE
Nurses in PPE work in the COVID-19 unit
at Community Howard Regional Health.
(Photos provided)
HEALTH
SPOTLIGHT
The Varian TrueBeam
delivers faster, more precise radiation
therapy treatments.
