News reports claim Patrick Swayze to be treated with CyberKnife at Stanford. Locally, Carilion's CyberKnife has already treated more than 200 patients

Some news outlets are reporting that actor Patrick Swayze will undergo CyberKnife treatment for pancreatic cancer. CyberKnife is exciting new technology... people in Southwest Virginia have known that since late 2005, when Carilion first put its CyberKnife into operation.

In addition to treating cancer in the cranial (head) area - CyberKnife's precision robotic tracking system lets doctors treat cancer in other places on a person's body, including the spine, liver, pelvis, ovaries and lungs. The use of CyberKnife to treat lung cancer has jumped recently, with more than 5000 cases treated world-wide, and several in Southwest Virgina.

Click below for a report by WDBJ Health Report Joy Sutton.

People With Heart Attack Symptoms Need to Call 911 Sooner

Being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack is important... but that's just the first step. Calling 911 quickly can get you to the hospital for treatment before the attack causes major damage. With Carilion's Field Heart Alert program, treatment can begin as soon as the rescue squad reaches you.

Click below for a recent story by WSLS anchor Karen McNew on the subject.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

Chest pain is a major symptom of heart attack. However, some people may have little or no chest pain, especially the elderly and those with diabetes. This is called a silent heart attack.

The pain may be felt in only one part of the body or move from your chest to your arms, shoulder, neck, teeth, jaw, belly area, or back.

The pain can be severe or mild. It can feel like:

• Squeezing or heavy pressure
• A tight band around the chest
• Something heavy sitting on your chest
• Bad indigestion

Pain usually lasts longer than 20 minutes. Rest and a medicine called nitroglycerine do not completely relieve the pain of a heart attack.

Other symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Anxiety
• Cough
• Fainting
• Lightheadedness - dizziness
• Palpitations (feeling like your heart is beating too fast)
• Sweating, which may be extreme

Studies have shown that women may have undiagnosed warning signs weeks, months, or even years before a heart attack. Women's symptoms may be different than men.

Carilion Doctor, Roanoke County Firefighter Receive Medical Hero Award from American Red Cross for Heart Alert

The American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter honored local heroes this morning with Celebration of Heroes community awards breakfast. Among the honorees, Paul Frantz, MD, Medical Director of Carilion's Cardiac Services, and Paramedic Chad Wheeler, of Roanoke County Fire/Rescue's Fort Lewis Fire Station.

Dr. Frantz (second from the right) developed Carilion's Heart Alert program, which makes it possible for paramedics in the field to identify a heart attack and bypass the hospital emergency room, getting heart attack victims directly into treatment, saving valuable time. Chad (far right) used the hart alert protocol last year to save Salem resident Dave Cole (left).

To learn more about Heart Alert, and Dave Cole's story, click here.

Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital Participates in Community-Wide Disaster Drill

(This was a Drill - The patients pictured below are volunteer actors from Franklin County High School)

CFMH participated in Franklin County's community-wide disaster drill. The scenario, a shoot at Franklin County High School, comes just three weeks after reports of a gunman caused a real-life lockdown at Ferrum College. CFMH received 8 "patients" from the incident. The goal is to treat everything as if it was real - and learn how we can be better prepared.
The pictures below show the CFMH command center, and patients arriving at the Emergency Room. Click on the picture to see a larger version.














Click below to watch a short video clip of the drill as it happened inside the hospital.

JDRF 5th Annual Star City Gala honors Carilion Clinic Children's Hospital

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will honor Carilion Clinic Children's hospital at its annual Star City Gala. The event is Saturday, April 26th from 5:30 to 10:00 at Roanoke Country Club and features entertainment and silent auctions. For tickets and more info contact JDRF at 540-772-1975, or email them at greaterblueridge@jdrf.org.

Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital Disaster DRILL - update

THIS IS A DRILL

Update 11:41

Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital has recieved a total of 8 patients.
No additional patients are expected.
1 patient has been transferred to another facility.
7 patients remain in the hospital - these patients have non-critical injuries

Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital Disaster DRILL - update

THIS IS A DRILL

Update - 11:25

Carilion Franklin Memorial has received 8 patients. The hospital is expecting an additional 5 patients. All of the patients have non-critical injuries.

Disaster Drill - Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital

Friday, March 12, 10:13 a.m.

Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital is participating in a community-wide disaster drill. In the event of an actual emergency, information for the media would be posted here.

Updates on the disaster drill, including photographs and video will be posted here later today.

Carilion Roanoke Memorial & Community Enter 5th Year as Magnet Hospitals

A little more than 4 years ago, balloons rained down on a group of cheering nurses as it was announced that Carilion Roanoke Memorial and Carilion Roanoke Community Hospitals had been awarded "Magnet" designation by the American Nursing Credentialing Center.

Magnet designation is the highest level of recognition that hospitals can obtain for their nursing programs. The Magnet Recognition Program acknowledges health care organizations that deliver excellence in nursing services to patients, promote quality in an environment that supports professional practice and provide a channel for open communication in the sharing of best practices in nursing.

Carilion is proud of its two Magnet facilities – Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (CRMH) and Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital (CRCH). At both locations, the nursing staff works hard to ensure they are following the “Forces of Magnetism” outlined by the Magnet Recognition Program. By following these forces, the nurses elevate the reputation and standards of the nursing profession at CRMH and CRCH.

Below are links to videos of nurses from both CRMH and CRCH discussing their “Magnet experience” with Carilion.

Lorie Martin talks about nursing leadership


Tanya Trevillian talks about teamwork in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit



Lia Boggs talks about nursing in the Carilion Clinic Children's Hospital


Justin Lilly talks about Nursing as a "family friendly" career


Learn about the "14 Forces of Magnetism" that support nursing excellence at Magnet facilities by clicking here.

Re-live the excitement from four years ago! Click Below to view television news coverage of Carilion's Magnet announcement on November 21, 2003.

CARILION CLINIC WESTLAKE CENTER TO BREAK GROUND THIS SPRING - Media Clips, photo library added

New facility will be the beginning of a medical complex for Smith Mountain Lake Residents

FRANKLIN CO., Va. (March 3, 2008) Carilion Clinic will begin work on a medical complex to serve residents in the Smith Mountain Lake area, when it breaks ground on the Carilion Clinic Westlake Center this spring.

The new medical facility will be located on 21 acres behind Westlake Towne Center. Services initially offered in the 9000 square foot building include: Urgent Care (12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.), Imaging Services (CT and X-ray), a medical helipad, an on-site ambulance, and office space for rotating specialists. The 21 acre site is large enough to allow for future expansion as needed.

“We’ve been part of Franklin County for many years and received overwhelming support from the people here,” Said Carilion Clinic President and CEO Edward G. Murphy, MD. “We’re pleased to be able to respond to their need for additional medical services in the Smith Mountain Lake area and will be looking for opportunities to expand in the future.”

In addition, Carilion will donate 2 acres of the site to Franklin County, for the construction of a new Fire-EMS facility that will house fire and emergency medical response apparatus as well as well as living quarters for personnel who will staff the county facility 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week.

“We are pleased to partner with the region’s premier health care provider to offer quality pre-hospital care and eventually lower the insurance rates for our citizens and businesses in the area through expanded fire and emergency medical services,” said Franklin County Administrator Rick Huff.

Groundbreaking on the $4 million Carilion project is scheduled for late spring of 2008. Work on the facility should be complete in 9-12 months.

Make sure you check out the Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation blog for more information on the Westlake Center from their perspective

Click below for a larger version of the finished building, and for video of the "Ceremonial Sign-Raising"

Photo Library - click for larger pictures, right-click to download:





























Roanoke Times Article

Television News Coverage:






Here's some video of LifeGuard 10 taking off from the site if the future helipad.

Miss Virginia and Carilion Clinic's Pediatric Clinic celebrate "Reach Out And Read" and Dr. Suess' birthday

Reading is important every day at Carilion Clinic's Pediatric Clinic. Pediatricians at the clinic give free books to their young patients as part of Reach Out And Read a national program to improve early literacy by encouraging parents to read to their children.

Celebrating Dr. Suess' birthday is a great way to bring attention to the importance of reading. On Monday, March 3rd. volunteer readers, including Carilion COO Nancy Agee, Pediatric Chair Alice Ackerman, MD, and Miss Virginia, Hannah Kiefer, read to children in the clinic waiting room.

A big thanks to members of the media who joined us, including Evelio Contreras with the Roanoke Times, who produced a very nice web video of the event.

And WSET-TV who aired the story on their 11:00 p.m. newscast.

Click below for video.

MEDIA REMINDER - Announcement Today at Westlake

Just a quick reminder - an announcement regarding plans for new medical services for the Smith Mountain Lake area is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today (Monday March 3rd).
The announcement will be held on the property behind Kroger at Westlake. Take Route 122 and turn toward the green water tower.

The forecast is 70 degrees, warm and sunny... and we've given you a legitimate reason to go to the lake... you're welcome :)