Category: News

Boardman, Ohio (September 20, 2022) — For over 25 years, Southwoods Health has focused on delivering important healthcare services to the tri-county area through its growing network of facilities and providers. We are proud to announce that many of those services will now be conveniently available in your home, and delivered with the same Southwoods quality and care you have come to know and trust.

Southwoods Health at Home is skilled care delivered directly to you. Services include physical, occupational and speech therapy, skilled nursing and social work services.

“We all know the best place to recover from an illness, injury or procedure is in the comfort of your own home,” explained Ed Muransky, Southwoods Chief Executive Officer. “Our goal is to provide patients with expert care done the Southwoods Way – offering compassionate support, encouragement and genuine peace of mind for you and your family.”

Additional benefits of home health care include:

• Improving or maintaining a patient’s current condition and/or level of function
• Helping manage medications
• Assessing current living environments for safety
• Recognizing signs and symptoms, which can reduce avoidable hospital re-admissions and expensive hospital bills
• Understanding how to appropriately manage chronic conditions
• Regaining independence (over time)
• Assistance following discharge instructions and/or physician orders

“Home health services are so very important to the overall continuum of care for patients,” said Muransky. “We are providing care that lets patients safely remain at home – helping them recover faster, with fewer complications.”

To learn more, visit www.SouthwoodsHealthAtHome.com.

Since 1964, the United States has recognized American Heart Month in February as a time to bring awareness to heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.

Many people are either unaware they have suffered a heart attack or just ignore the signs as they’re experiencing one. So how do you know if what you’re experiencing is a heart attack and when should you reach out for help?

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. But most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Pay attention to your body and call 911 if you experience any of the following warning signs:

• Chest discomfort. One of the most obvious symptoms is discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts a few minutes – or goes away and returns. It’s usually described as uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. In addition to your chest, discomfort in other areas of the upper body including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach are common.
• Shortness of breath. This can happen with or without chest pain.
• Other signs. Other possible signs include lightheadedness, nausea, or breaking out in a cold sweat for no apparent reason.

Health conditions, your lifestyle, and your age and family history can increase your risk for heart disease. While some of these cannot be controlled, such as age or family history, you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control. Ways to reduce your risk and help improve your heart health include:

• Annual visits to your Primary Care Physician
• Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes a week)
• Control your blood pressure
• Eat a healthy diet
• Keep your cholesterol in check
• Limit alcohol
• Sleep 7 hours or more every night
• Quit smoking and avoid being around second-hand smoke
• Manage stress

It’s also recommended you maintain a healthy weight and eat foods low in saturated and trans fats while avoiding foods high in sodium and added sugars. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s very important to take your prescribed medication while monitoring your blood sugar levels.

February is a great reminder of the importance of heart health, ways to prevent heart disease and increase awareness of its effects. Southwoods Cardiology is committed to providing high quality, comprehensive care. Southwoods’ cardiologists work with your primary care physician to ensure that care is coordinated. If you are in need of cardiovascular care and are interested in an evaluation, contact your primary care physician for a referral.

If you don’t have a Primary Care Physician or it’s been a while since your last regular check-up, Southwoods Health has a network of Primary Care Physicians with offices conveniently located around the Mahoning Valley. Visit Southwoods Primary Care to schedule an appointment today.

Heart Disease Stats & Facts

Infographic (source: American Heart Association)

Boardman, Ohio (November 17, 2021) — Southwoods Health is pleased to announce The Surgical Hospital at Southwoods has once again earned the Guardian of Excellence Award® and Pinnacle of Excellence Award® from Press Ganey. These awards represent an important acknowledgement from the industry’s leader in healthcare consumer and workforce engagement.

The Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award® is presented annually and recognizes hospitals and health systems that sustain high performance in the top percentile for patient satisfaction. Very few health systems achieve this threshold and consistently maintain it for the one-year reporting period. Southwoods is one of nineteen hospitals in Ohio to receive this award, and has received it every year since its inception in 2013.

Additionally, Press Ganey honored Southwoods with the Pinnacle of Excellence Award® for maintaining high levels of excellence for at least three consecutive years in patient experience. This award is highly competitive and specifically recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations nationwide. Southwoods is one of only two hospitals in Ohio to receive this award, and has received it every year since its inception in 2016.

“These awards reflect our staff’s dedication to a positive patient experience,” said Ed Muransky, Southwoods Chief Executive Officer. “Even through last year’s unimaginable challenges, their commitment to improving the safety, quality and experience of patient care at Southwoods never wavered.”

Southwoods is one of just 40 hospitals nationwide to receive both awards. The full list of recipients can be found at the Press Ganey website www.pressganey.com.