Rush Oak Park Hospital

Providing health care services for over 100 years

Rush Oak Park Hospital

Life from the heart pg. 2 | Radiation therapy at ROPH pg. 4 | The best of both worlds pg. 5

The importance of a primary doctor pg. 6 | Knowledge packs a punch against women’s heart disease pg. 7

Former Rush Oak Park Hospital patient Chris Gruber with his wife, Carrie, and son Thomas.

DAVID PEIRINI/Staff photographer

In partnership with Wednesday Journal

2 2014

Life from the heartCollaborative care leads

to second chance after heart attack

Former Rush Oak Park Hospital patient Chris Grubert is able to enjoy quality time with his wife, Carrie.


2014 3

Oak Parker Chris Grubert never misses an opportunity to say goodnight to his young son. Something traumatic would have to occur to keep the doting father

from tucking in little Thomas. But on a warm summer evening a few months ago, Chris’s heart stopped.

It began a typical Sunday evening. Feeling a bit stressed from the recent purchase of a home and the impending move, the fit and slim 37-year-old stay-at-home father told his wife, Carrie, he was going out for a jog. Carrie, who was cooking a usual healthy meal of salmon and broccoli, advised her husband to be home by 6:30 p.m.

But it would be weeks before Chris Grubert

returned home. Chris has no memory of the days leading

up to the incident and the three or so weeks following it. What he’s been told, essentially, is that he died, maybe more than once.

Chris was found unconscious, not breath-ing and with no pulse near the steps of Blue Max Coffee Shop on Lathrop Avenue in River Forest. A helpful stranger began CPR. River Forest paramedics used a defibrillator to re-start his heart, which quit again in the emergency room at Rush Oak Park Hospital. A strong and determined collaboration between the ER department, the intensive care unit, the hospital’s cardiologists, thera-pists and nursing staff helped Chris Grubert

get back on his feet and return home healthy. Chris had suffered cardiac arrest. In the

ER, doctors intubated him and restored his heartbeat. They then began the therapeutic hypothermia protocol to lower his body tem-perature.

“The use of therapeutic hypothermia turned out to be a great success for this patient who was in critical condition,” says Dr. Donald Tanis, a cardiologist and one of the doctors who treated Chris that day. “It helped preserve neurological function.”

Chris also underwent an emergency cardiac catheterization where Dr. Tanis determined he had a 95 percent blockage in one of his coronary arteries. Tanis and his team opened the artery up with a balloon and inserted a stint. They then placed an intra-aortic balloon pump in the artery from Chris’s upper leg to help keep the blood pressure up and improve flow to his coronary arteries.

“This was an example of our excellent team approach here at Rush Oak Park Hospital,” says Dr. Tanis. “Everyone had an important role: the ER team, the ICU team, the nursing staff, our lab team, and the techs. We were all very instrumental with helping this patient. Things did look pretty bleak there for a while, but the team and the group of specialists that included Dr. (Anthony) Marinelli and Dr. (Peter) Kurko, among oth-ers, were helpful in achieving a successful outcome for Mr. Grubert.”

For Carrie, who works in Chicago as a health insurance specialist for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, her husband’s heart attack was mind bog-gling.

“I was thinking, why us? Chris is too young for this. There was no reason this should happen to him. He ate well, he exer-cised, he was fit, and there is no history of

heart disease in his family. Thankfully, the care he received from the minute it happened to his time in the hospital was exceptional.”

The couple was still able to close on the purchase of their new house four days after the incident, right around their third wedding anniversary. Even small details of the night of the incident stick out in Carrie’s mind.

“I remember how nice it was that the hospital nurses chipped in watching my son while I visited with Chris and the doctors,” she recalls. “It was a minor thing, but it meant so much.”

After undergoing speech, physical, and occupational therapy, Chris said he’s doing great. A month after the incident, he was released to operate a motor vehicle again.

“It’s surreal still to think about,” he says of the ordeal. “It’s strange for me because I don’t remember anything. It means a lot that these people helped save my life. I realize it was routine and part of their jobs for most of them, but they’re all good people. I’m grate-ful to be alive. If it wasn’t for all of them I wouldn’t be here.”

Emergency rooms are often the front door to a hospital, and where a patient’s journey to healthy healing ultimately begins. Wait times in the ER can be critical to a person’s care.

Reducing unnecessary waiting in the ER is always a priority at Rush Oak Park Hospital. In a study of data for a Crain’s Chicago Business story published in May of last year, Rush Oak Park Hospital’s ER was found to have the fastest times among city and suburban hospitals. Crain’s anal-ysis—which contained data provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—included 176 Illinois hospitals and represented the time from check-in to discharge.

According to Lisa Wilson, Rush Oak Park Hospital’s unit director of Emergency Services, the success in low ER wait times and improved patient care is attributed to a triage system that helps identify which patients need to be treated first and a fast track method for those patients with non-life-threatening conditions.

“This helps enable us to outperform our competitors in the area,” says Wilson. “Doing what we do really well, people want to come to our ER.”

Of course, certain circumstanc-es arise where ER wait times may increase significantly and Rush Oak Park Hospital is no exception. The Emergency Department strives to pro-vide not only fast care, but the best quality care possible.

ROPH fast in ER wait times

- Chest discomfort. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain usually in the center of the chest.

- Excessive and/or unusu-al heart rate. The sen-sation that your heart is skipping a beat or beating too rapidly.

- Severe and persistent shortness of breath. Monitor your breath-ing and be aware of any extreme changes.

- Other signs associated with the symptoms above may include breaking out in a cold sweat, severe nausea or lightheadedness.

- Undo fatigue can also be a symptom of congestive heart disease that may lead to a heart attack. Dif-ficulty performing daily activities such as walk-ing or climbing stairs is a common symptom of heart failure. Contact your healthcare provider for more information.

Recognizing a heart attack

Additional source: American Heart Association

4 2014

Cancer patients in the community have an important new option: The Rush Radiation Therapy Center at Rush Oak Park Hospital. Opened in July 2014, the

$4 million facility offers state-of-the-art can-cer care—with the ease of a local commute and free parking.

But what else do you need to know about radiation therapy at Rush Oak Park Hospital? The center’s Medical Director Dian Wang, MD, and Harvard-trained Radiation Oncologist David Sher, MD, address some commonly asked questions.

Who needs radiation therapy, and what’s involved?

Radiation therapy uses high doses of radi-ation to cure, stop or slow the growth of can-cer. About 60 percent of cancer patients need radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan. Radiation therapy is offered on an out-patient basis with a typical course of treat-ment delivered five days a week for several weeks, depending on the individual’s needs.

Is radiation therapy safe?

Yes. A cancer treatment for over a century, radiation therapy today uses sophisticated imaging and computer mapping to careful-ly target tumors so that cancer cells are destroyed while leaving healthy tissue unaf-fected. At Rush Radiation Therapy Center, we run a tight ship, safety-wise, using the same quality assurance processes as Rush downtown. We provide the right treatment at the right time, the right way.

Are the latest treatment options avail-able at Rush Oak Park Hospital?

Yes. We offer the most advanced exter-nal beam therapies available. These include intensity-modulated, image-guided, and three dimensional conformal radiation therapies as well as respiratory gating, which syn-chronizes therapy with your breathing move-ments. The type of therapy depends on the location and size of the tumor. We also offer new injectable treatments that fight cancer and pain in the bones.

If I want top-of-the-line radiation treatment, isn’t it better to go to Rush University Cancer Center downtown?

If your doctor recommends the type of radiation therapy offered at Rush Oak Park Hospital, there’s no need to go elsewhere. You’re getting the same identical radiation treatment that’s offered at Rush University Medical Center, one of the nation’s premier cancer hospitals.

How similar is it? The same clinical teams—which include radiation oncologists who subspecialize in particular types of can-cer—rotate between Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush University Medical Center. The same model of linear accelerator (the machine that delivers radiation beams) is installed at both locations. And we use the same treatment protocols (step-by-step pro-cesses) at both facilities.

We also use a similar collaborative approach. Our teleconferencing cen-ter and PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) technology allow instant conferencing with surgeons, medical oncologists, pathologists and other special-ists at Rush University Medical Center and other locations.

So if you’re looking for the type of high quality radiation treatment you’d expect from a nationally recognized, top-rated aca-demic medical center, you’ve got it—in Oak Park as well as Chicago.

If I have my initial cancer treatment (surgery or chemotherapy) at another hospital, can I have my radiation therapy at Rush Oak Park Hospital?

Yes. Many local patients who start their care at Rush University Medical Center choose to finish it at Rush Oak Park Hospital. We also serve patients who receive their initial treatment at other area hospitals that lack our capabilities. Transitions are smooth because we communicate closely with refer-ring physicians and the entire treatment team.

Any other advantages to choosing treatment at Rush Radiation Therapy Center at Rush Oak Park Hospital?

Patients say several things stand out:

■ Rush Oak Park Hospital is a peaceful place to get treatment. There’s less hubbub, no waiting and the

environment is pleasant. (We physicians like it for the same reason.)

■ We get folks in to see us immediately—usually within a couple days of calling. We know that to the patient and family, every cancer is an emergency.

■ We schedule and coordinate appointments and services for you—one more way we try to make things easier on you and your family.

■ We’re easy to get to on the hospital’s lower level. And valet and reserved parking near the center’s entrance is free.

For more information, call 708-660-INFO (4636)

Ask the experts

Radiation therapy at Rush Oak Park HospitalWhat you need to know

Provided by ROPH

The centerpiece of the newly renovated radiation therapy department is the Varian Clinac iX with RapidArc technology, a linear accelerator that delivers radiation beams faster, more precisely and from any angle.

2014 5

Not many people are aware that Rush Oak Park Hospital houses some of the best cancer physicians in the busi-ness, including the following:

■ Internationally known authorities in a wide range of cancer subspecialties

■ Acclaimed researchers on the front lines of discovery

■ Teachers and mentors to the next generation of cancer doctors

■ Repeat recipients of “America’s Top Cancer Doctors,” “Patient’s Choice” and “Compassionate Doctor” awards, and much more

“We’re bringing academic medical center expertise to the comfort of the Oak Park community,” says William Leslie, MD, medical director of the Division of Hematology/Oncology and Cell Therapy (DHOC) Clinic at Rush Oak Park Hospital. “It’s the best of both worlds.”

The DHOC group consists of highly accomplished special-ists in a broad range of cancers, including breast cancer, chest and lung tumors, head and neck cancers, hematologic (blood) cancers and coagulation disorders, and gastrointes-tinal cancers. All are board certified in their subspecialties.

Located next door to the hospital at 610 S. Maple Ave., Suite

5400, the DHOC also includes an infusion center equipped to serve about a dozen patients at a time.

“It’s a small, friendly environment where patients often get to know and encourage one another,” says Dr. Leslie. Three full-time nurses staff the infusion center, providing patient and family education, symptom management and psychoso-cial support.

Proximity to Rush Oak Park Hospital and the Rush Radiation Therapy Center at Oak Park Hospital are pluses

for cancer patients, explains Dr. Leslie. Patients who are on concurrent radiation and chemotherapy can complete both without having to travel downtown. Patients also can access the hospital’s CT, pharmacy and laboratory services easily.

“Most cancer care today is performed on an outpatient basis,” says Dr. Leslie, “but when inpatient care is necessary, patients at the DHOC have the option of being admitted to Rush University Cancer Center as well as to Rush Oak Park Hospital. The two facilities work seamlessly together.”

The best of both worlds

An athlete is anyone who engages in exercise, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina. Athletes come in all shapes and sizes.

They’re young and … not so young. They compete at the professional level, the amateur level, or against themselves, against time, against unhealthiness. And because of their drive, athletes are prone to injury.

Brian Cole, MD, a renowned orthopedic sur-geon with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and chairman of the Department of Surgery at Rush Oak Park Hospital, takes care of them all, from the elite athlete to the weekend warrior.

As team physician for the Chicago Bulls and co-team physician for the White Sox, Cole has had a hand in guiding numerous injured pro athletes back to their peak per-formance levels. It’s probably most evident in the recent preseason explosiveness of Bulls guard Derrick Rose, 26, who, over the last two seasons, missed 154 regular-season games due

to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. Thanks to Dr. Cole and his medical team, the former NBA Rookie of the Year is playing like his old self again.

But Dr. Cole’s work isn’t limited solely to high-profile athletes. In fact, such elite athletes make up a small percentage of the 2009 NBA Team Physician of the Year’s patients.

“We take pride in the fact that we provide the same balanced care for everyone,” he says. “While the timing for procedures may be the only difference from a pro athlete in season to an amateur or a fitness enthusiast, the quality of the care and the decision-making and expectations are the same. We see the same problems at any athletic level and treat them the same. The objective is to reduce pain, improve function and help active people return to their active lifestyle.”

Whether it be a knee, shoulder or elbow injury, Dr. Cole’s patients have included high

school and college athletes, pitchers, swim-mers, BMX bike racers, Chicago Bulls dance team members, fitness fanatics and occasional joggers, among many others. He says the fact that he can perform most surgical procedures at Rush Oak Park Hospital is a plus for the community and for his physicians group.

“Demographically, Oak Park and the sur-rounding areas have a very active popula-tion,” he says. “That’s a positive from a health standpoint. With the local presence of Midwest Orthopaedics and the proficiency of Rush Oak Park Hospital we’re able to provide a full-service line of orthopedic care. It’s been a great hospital for us to work out of and will continue to be.”

It was back in May at Rush Oak Park Hospital that Bulls center and high-octane athlete Joakim Noah underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean out his left knee. Dr. Cole performed the surgery. Like Rose during recent preseason games, the 6-foot-11, 230-pound Noah, the reign-

ing Defensive Player of the Year, has already shown he’s likely in for another successful season on the court.

Hematology-oncology clinic brings Rush’s finest to community

Bulls doc, ROPH an important fit for communityFrom pro athletes to weekend joggers, Dr. Cole handles them all

Rush Oak Park Hospital patients can receive chemotherapy, immunotherapy and biological therapy.


Dr. Brian ColeChair of Surgery at Rush Oak Park Hospital

6 2014

They’re called many things: Primary care providers, personal physicians, family doctors, internists, or simply the “regu-lar doctors.” Whatever the term, in a

world where Internet-assisted self-diagnosis is common practice and specialization pre-vails, are these generalists still necessary?

The short answer: More than ever. “A key role of the primary care doctor is to

help you coordinate your health care” explains Michael Silver, MD, vice president of medi-cal affairs at Rush Oak Park Hospital. “Your primary care doctor can refer you to the right type of specialist when you need one and orga-nize any hospital care or procedures you may require.”

While Googling symptoms or rummaging through the medicine cabinet might make for a temporary solution to a particular ailment, your health shouldn’t be treated so carelessly.

A primary care doctor views a patient’s needs not just through the lens of a particular specialty, but from a more holistic perspective, explains Dr. Silver. As a result, they can help you sort out complex medical issues.

But what if you’re young, healthy and rarely sick?

“Even if you’re at a stage in life where more sleep, antibiotics or quitting smoking can fix most any health issue, primary care is still valuable,” says Dr. Silver. “It’s about establish-ing the relationship. It’s an investment in your lifelong health.”

Family Practitioner Lucy Fox, MD, who prac-tices with Rush Oak Park Family Medicine, says a primary care doctor helps forge through the avalanche of health information available today so the patient can focus on what’s most relevant—staying healthy.

“The health care system can be overwhelm-ing, even more so if you have chronic or com-plex issues,” says Dr. Fox. “We’re the people who can help you make sense of it. We have the big picture when it comes to your health. We can alert you to problems that your habits or family medical history may predispose you to,

and help you strategize how to stay healthier for the long term.”

Rush Oak Park Physicians Group (ROPPG) has quadrupled its primary care practitioners

in recent years, while continuing to strengthen relationships with private primary doctors.

A recent addition to the ROPPG family is Kimberly Harden, MD, who practices with Rush Oak Park Physicians Group-Elmwood Park. One of the things that drew Dr. Harden into the field of primary care, she says, was the long-term connection to patients.

“I love the variety of being a family physi-cian, being able to care for people of all ages and the opportunity to serve in a lot of capaci-ties,” she says. “I like the challenge of help-ing people stay healthy and feel better at all junctures in life, and of developing long-term relationships not only with individual patients but entire families.”

Dr. Silver says that finding the right doctor that fits your needs is vital.

“Your comfort level is important, because your primary care doctor is someone with whom you will have a relationship for years or even decades,” he says. “You should be able to talk to your doctor about most any sensi-tive topic, from depression or anxiety to child

rearing to every type of physical symptom. Your primary care doctor is a trusted personal advisor who knows you well, and a partner in keeping you healthy.

“If you don’t have a primary care doctor,” he adds, “we can help you find one.”

For a referral to a primary care doctor, call Rush Oak Park Hospital’s Physician Referral Representatives at 708-660-INFO (4636) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday or visit ROPH.org.

The importance of a primary care doctorWhen it comes to your health, everyone should have a trusted personal advisor

The Care Everywhere electronic health record (EHR) system by Epic has opened a new chapter in effective care coordina-tion, according to Family Practitioner Lucy Fox, MD.

“With the patient’s permission, it allows licensed medical practitioners to electronically access medical records from other institutions.”

This new level of portability became functional in the Chicago area about six months ago. Participating providers can tap into it securely from just about anywhere.

“We can even check a record from home—which is very handy when urgent calls come in at odd hours,” says Dr. Fox. “Your EMR, for example, shows your allergies, medications and immuniza-tions, any current conditions or previous test results or procedures, all of which can affect a medical decision.”

The system, according to Dr. Fox, is convenient for patients as well—no more physically lugging around CDs of MRIs or paper files describing a previous surgery.

No records are shared without the patient’s written consent.

The convenience of portable care

Rush Oak Park Hospital is dedicated to offering health education and fitness programs as well as health screenings and support groups to help community members become active participants in their own healthcare.

The hospital is currently planning a series of events to promote wellness in the community as part of this ongoing commitment. Also in the works is the renaming of its community outreach program (formerly Age-WISE) to better reflect the hospital’s dedication to serv-ing community members of all ages.

Through community outreach, ROPH will continue to address important health topics such as heart and vascu-lar disease, cancer and prostate health as well as diabetes and other thyroid-related disorders. In the coming year, experts from ROPH will offer lectures regarding common concerns, including how to handle household health em er-gencies and issues specifically related to women’s and men’s health.

And because keeping fit is instru-mental in maintaining a healthy weight as well as keeping hearts and minds strong, ROPH will be hosting exercise classes for the community.

To learn more, look for the calen-dar on ROPH’s website (ROPH.org) later this fall. Or follow the hospital on Facebook or Twitter.

Promoting good health in the community

Family Practitioner Lucy Fox, MD, helps patients navigate the complexities of specific health care.


2014 7

Annabelle Volgman, MD, and Susan Garrison, one of her patients, share a common enemy: heart disease.

The No. 1 killer of women, heart disease is more deadly than all forms of cancer—and yet, according to Dr. Volgman, it’s “undertreated, understudied and misun-derstood by women themselves.”

“We’ve made great strides,” says Dr. Volgman, a cardiologist at Rush Oak Park Hospital, “but much work remains to be done. Women with potential heart disease need places where they are listened to and taken seriously, where their symptoms won’t be dis-missed as stress or hormonal. This is equally

true for women liv-ing with heart dis-ease. They need as much information, encouragement and support as possible to improve their health and the confidence that goes with it.”

Toward this end, Dr. Volgman found-ed the Rush Heart Center for Women at Rush University

Medical Center 12 years ago. At Rush Oak Park Hospital, she has helped establish another type of endeavor designed to fight women’s heart disease: the Rush/WomenHeart Chicago West group, managed by Garrison and her co-leader, Alberta England.

WomenHeart is the product of the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, a support network devoted to improving the health and quality of life of women living with or at risk of heart disease. WomenHeart groups are run by “WomenHeart Champions,” women with heart disease who are selected for training at Mayo Clinic to share their sto-ries and empower their peers to take charge of their health.

For Garrison, who trained to be a WomenHeart Champion at Dr. Volgman’s urg-

ing, the fight against women’s heart disease is a deeply personal one. It began 10 years ago when she had her first heart attack, was told her by her local hospital that her artery was too small to stent, and sent home.

“I went on with my life as if nothing had happened,” she says. “I thought it was a fluke.”

But five more heart attacks over the next 10 years changed her perspective—and her mission in life. Today Garrison describes herself as “a 60-year-old who feels like a 30-year-old” thanks to lifestyle changes and Dr. Volgman.

“Surviving heart disease gave me a new purpose,” she says, and Dr. Volgman helped her find a way to channel it.

Buoyed by a week of intense training, Garrison and co-leader England established the Rush/WomenHeart group last year. Garrison said the response thus far has been positive.

“It’s been great. It can be difficult to con-vince women to make time for themselves and their health, but that is part of the pro-cess of raising awareness.”

Garrison added that women of all ages at risk or diagnosed with heart disease are wel-come to participate in WomenHeart at Rush Oak Park, no matter where any previous care may have been received.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to trade experiences, try a heart-healthy snack, bring home a recipe, an d listen to an expert talk on a women’s heart health topic,” she says. “It’s terrific. Join us!”

For more information, [email protected] or call (847) 404-2952.

Knowledge packs a punch against women’s heart diseaseRush Oak Park Hospital offers

essential support network

Wed., Nov. 12, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.Rush Oak Park Medical Office Building 610 S. Maple St., Oak Park2nd Floor, Room 2000

“Stress Management” presented by Lynn Braun, PhD, RN, CNPProfessor, Department of Adult and Gerontological NursingRush University College of Nursing

Rush/WomenHeart of Chicago West

■ Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women.

■ It causes 1 in 3 deaths each year – approxi-mately one woman every minute. (Breast cancer causes 1 in 31 deaths.)

■ For younger women, the combination of birth control pills and smoking boosts heart disease risks by 20 percent.

■ Even if you are fit and otherwise healthy, fac-tors like smoking, eating habits and cholesterol can

put you at risk – you can be thin and have high cholesterol. A family history of heart disease is another risk factor.

■ Warning signs for women may include short-ness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. Other symptoms women should be aware of are: diz-ziness, lightheadedness or fainting, extreme fatigue, and pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen.

Additional source: American Heart Association

Facts about women’s heart disease

Volunteers at Rush Oak Park Hospital play an integral role in the day-to-day operation of the hospital by supporting staff, assisting patients, their families and visitors and serving as goodwill ambas-sadors to the community.

To express interest in this rewarding experience, contact Cynthia Vasquez at 708.660.5684 or [email protected].

Volunteers make a difference

Dr. Annabelle Volgman, MDDAVID PEIRINI/Staff photographer

Heart disease survivor Susan Garrison helps run the Rush/WomenHeart Chicago West group, a support network devoted to improving the health and quality of life of women living with or at risk of heart disease

Less time driving. More time healing.

For cancer patients this is important.

The Rush Radiation Therapy Center

was created around this idea.

Rush is a not-for-profi t health care, education and research enterprise comprising Rush University Medical Center, Rush University, Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Health. 10/14

We offer:The same specialists, equipment and high standards of care as Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, including a new, state-of-the-art Varian Clinac iX Linear accelerator.

Collaborative care so you and your doctors are informed every step of the way.

Beautifully renovated $4 million facility designed for patient and family comfort.

Easy reserved parking near the center’s entrance – FREE.

All conveniently located at Rush Oak Park Hospital, 520 S. Maple Ave., Oak Park.

No matter where your initial diagnosis and treatment takes place – if external beam radiation is part of the treatment plan, we can help.

Call 708.660.INFO (4636) or visit roph.org

R U S H R A D I A T I O N T H E R A P Y C E N T E R A T R U S H O A K P A R K H O S P I T A L

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