The Cottage Heart and Vascular Center will present a free Virtual Meet the Doctor event with Dr. Daniel B. Alfson, from 4 – 5p.m. on Monday, January 31, on preventing and treating carotid artery disease.

Carotid artery disease occurs when the main blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen to the brain are narrowed. This can often lead to stroke. Dr. Alfson will discuss causes and symptoms, strategies for prevention, and treatment. There will be time for questions after the presentation.

Dr. Alfson recently began clinical practice as a vascular and endovascular surgeon after completing his vascular surgery fellowship at Boston Medical Center and general surgery residency at Los Angeles County/USC. He brings his experience and innovation in technology for both open surgical and minimally invasive endovascular therapy for the treatment of carotid artery disease, aortic aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, and venous thrombosis or insufficiency.

To register for this virtual event, go to cottagehealth.org/heartmtd.

About Cottage Health  cottagehealth.org

The not-for-profit Cottage Health is the leader in providing advanced medical care to the Central Coast region. Specialties include the Cottage Children’s Medical Center, Level 1 Trauma Center, Neuroscience Institute, Heart & Vascular Center, Center for Orthopedics, and Rehabilitation Hospital. The Cottage Health medical staff is comprised of more than 700 physicians, many with subspecialties typically found only at university medical centers. Last year, the Cottage Health hospitals in Goleta, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley provided inpatient care for 21,000 people, treated 80,000 patients through their 24-hour emergency departments and helped deliver 2,100 newborns. Cottage Health also offers Cottage Urgent Care Centers throughout the tri-counties, as well as 24-hour access to providers via Cottage Virtual Care, an online service for common conditions.

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Staff Report

Cottage Health has named Kevin Davidson as the vice president of ambulatory services and network development. In this position, he provides leadership and direction for Cottage’s ambulatory health services, including Cottage Urgent Care, the Grotenhuis Pediatric Clinics and Cottage’s specialty clinics.

Davidson brings over 20 years of experience and demonstrated leadership skills for strategic growth, ambulatory expansion, physician alignment and digital health. He was most recently the vice president of business development and strategic services at MemorialCare Health System in Fountain Valley, where he developed an expansive ambulatory service line and led growth and innovation initiatives for its medical group and Independent Physicians Association (IPA) divisions.

Prior to his time at MemorialCare, Davidson was the chief strategy officer for PersonalCare Physicians, a concierge medical practices group in Irvine. He also held executive director roles at Banner Medical Group/Banner Health System in Phoenix and at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach.

Davidson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from UC San Diego, and Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota.

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Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH) will offer a free, drive-thru flu vaccine clinic at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel at 555 McMurray Road, Buellton, on Saturday, October 2, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Free flu vaccines will be administered to those age 12 and over from the safety and comfort of their cars. The high dose vaccine will not be available. Advance registration is required for a specific time slot, as vaccines are limited. Registrants must also fill out and bring a consent form (available on the registration link) or they may experience longer wait times. COVID-19 safety precautions will be in place, and all attendees must wear a mask to receive a vaccine.

To make a reservation and access the consent form, visit www.cottagehealth.org/syflu.

The clinic location at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel will be in the back parking lot. Vehicles need to enter at the Chumash Employee Resource Center driveway.

This event is made possible from the support of the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation.

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Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital has again earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification, a two-year designation for excellence in the care of stroke patients. The hospital earned this certification for the first time in 2019.

The Advanced Certification Gold Seal, offered in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. Stroke ranks fifth among causes of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) Certification is the most demanding of the Joint Commission’s certifications and is designed for hospitals that have specific abilities to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases. The goal of CSC certification is to recognize the significant differences in resources, staff and training that are necessary for the treatment of complex strokes.

To earn the designation, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital successfully completed a rigorous, unannounced onsite review by a team of Joint Commission reviewers who evaluated the hospital’s compliance with stroke program standards.

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is a regional destination on the Central Coast and surrounding areas for comprehensive stroke care. Specialty medical staff and resources are available at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital including neurologists, neurointerventionalists, neurosurgeons, neurointensivists, telemedicine clinicians and specialty trained staff, who are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition, specialized equipment and resources are always at the ready for the care of stroke. This includes CT scans, interventional radiology lab, intensive care units, and the stroke unit on 1 Ridley Tree.

Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital transfer patients with complex stroke cases to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for a higher level of treatment and care.

Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, which is approximately an hour’s drive from SBCH, has recently earned re-certification as a “Stroke-Ready Facility” by Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services. This official designation allows paramedics to deliver North County stroke patients directly to Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital where they can begin receiving treatment immediately. Some stroke patients at the Santa Ynez facility can be stabilized with a de-clotting drug therapy called “tissue Plasminogen Activator” (tPA) within the vital 45-minute window to reduce brain damage, before they are transferred to Santa Barbara.

“The certifications for Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Stroke-Ready Facility at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital are testaments to the exceptional clinical teams we have at Cottage, who are trained to provide rapid, effective treatment for stroke patients,” said Lisa Moore, executive vice president and COO for Cottage Health. “Earning these designations demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest standard of clinical service that can lead to better outcomes.”  

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Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital has earned the Environmental Services Department of the Year Award for 2021, from the Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) of the American Hospital Association.

The hospital received the AHE award in the 500+ beds category. AHE’s award provides recognition to hospitals nationwide for the outstanding achievements of a cutting-edge environmental services team in maintaining high levels of performance in cleaning, disinfecting, infection prevention, environmental sustainability and stewardship, technology use, patient satisfaction, education and training in critical areas.

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s EVS department earned the AHE’s top award for its high patient survey scores for cleanliness of environment, adaptability to cleaning and disinfection protocols during COVID-19 surges, and high employee retention during a challenging year.

In addition to the AHE award, the EVS staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital will be featured as the cover story in the September issue of Health Facilities Management magazine.

“Our team of 151 professionals in the EVS department at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is committed to the highest standards for protecting the environment and health of all patients, staff and visitors,” said Nick Henderson, vice president of support services at Cottage Health. “Despite all the challenges from COVID-19, our EVS team has consistently set the bar higher to create new ways to enhance its performance for the benefit of our community.”

A Professional Membership Group of the American Hospital Association, AHE promotes awareness of more than 2,300 professionals working to ensure a clean and safe healthcare environment and quality outcomes.

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The back-to-school season is here and student athletes are preparing to return to fall sports. Along with clothing and gear, they will likely have another necessity: a sports clearance physical exam.

A sports physical exam is required by many schools and organizations before students can secure a spot on a team, and oftentimes it’s needed ahead of tryouts. Why are these exams so important?

“The most important thing we look for is cardiac anomalies, which could be a problem when athletes are over-exerting themselves,” said Amanda Tuel, nurse practitioner lead at Cottage Urgent Care. “We listen to the heart to check for murmurs and irregular beats. We also check their pulse for any asymmetry.”

Clinicians will examine joints and reflexes, review the student’s medical history and note any recent health changes and concerns.

“We also look for signs of Type 1 diabetes,” Tuel said. “The symptoms of being overly thirsty, hungry and tired can masquerade as nothing out of the ordinary for athletes doing rigorous training.”

To help meet the demand for sports physicals ahead of the fall season, Cottage Urgent Care is offering a reduced rate of $49 for the exam until Sept. 30.

Nurse practitioners at Cottage Urgent Care are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 365 days a year. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. For appointments and more information, visit cottagehealth.org/urgentcare. 

The not-for-profit Cottage Health is the leader in providing advanced medical care to the Central Coast region. Specialties include the Cottage Children’s Medical Center, Level 1 Trauma Center, Neuroscience Institute, Heart & Vascular Center, Center for Orthopedics, and Rehabilitation Hospital. The Cottage Health medical staff is comprised of more than 700 physicians, many with subspecialties typically found only at university medical centers. Last year, the Cottage Health hospitals in Goleta, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley provided inpatient care for 21,000 people, treated 80,000 patients through their 24-hour emergency departments and helped deliver 2,100 newborns. Cottage Health also offers Cottage Urgent Care Centers throughout the tri-counties, as well as 24-hour access to providers via Cottage Virtual Care, an online service for common conditions.

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Summer is the best time for having fun in the sun, but beware of getting too many rays that can cause sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer.  

Sunburns cause the skin to become red, swollen and warm to the touch, and can bring mild to severe pain.  

“The acute inflammation of a sunburn is the skin’s reaction to UV rays from the sun or artificial sources such as tanning beds,” explains Tina Sary, nurse practitioner with Cottage Virtual Care. “Recurring exposure over time can trigger skin cells to turn into cancer cells.”  

Children and adolescents who get frequent sunburns are at higher risk of developing skin cancer later in life, she adds. 

The first signs of a sunburn are reddening of the skin about 3 to 5 hours after exposure, and burns can last from one day to one week, according to Sary.

Most sunburns are “self-limiting,” meaning they resolve on their own, she adds. There are ways to ease the discomfort and speed up the healing process.  

“Cool compresses, aloe-based lotions and calamine lotion are the best ways to treat a sunburn,” Sary said. “Apply these at the first sign of a sunburn and continue for the next few days as needed.” 

To reduce the risks of sunburn and skin damage, Sary advises to stay out of the sun especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun’s rays are strongest. Always use sunscreen and make sure to reapply every two hours.  

For sunburns that need more attention, relief is just a click away. With Cottage Virtual Care, a clinical provider is available online from the comfort of anywhere, 24/7, 365 days a year. No insurance is required, and, in most cases, treatment plans are ready in minutes. 

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Staff Report

Cottage Health has announced that, effective Wednesday, Aug, 11, its hospitals in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley will implement the recent California Department of Public Health order requiring visitors to either verify completed COVID-19 vaccination, or verify a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours prior each visit.

Staff at the hospital entrances will assist visitors with this screening process. To prepare, hospital visitors are now being asked to arrive with their vaccine record card (printed or saved as image on phone), their immunization record from MyChart, or the digital QR code available at myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov.

If vaccination has not been completed, visitors will need a printed or digital copy of a negative COVID test within 72 hours prior to arrival.

All visitors and staff within the hospitals, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask at all times within all Cottage Health facilities. 

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Staff Report

The emergency departments at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital have achieved the Silver Level 2 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

The GEDA program recognizes emergency departments that provide excellent care for older adults, defined as age 65 and up. The voluntary designation, valid for three years, acknowledges that all three Cottage emergency departments have successfully met or exceeded specific criteria and benchmarks for providing outstanding care to older patients.

Approximately one out of three patients visiting a Cottage emergency department is age 65 and up. In addition to common reasons to visit the emergency department, older adults frequently need emergency care for issues such as falling, confusion, weakness or problems with their medications, according to Dr. Patrick Glynn, who specializes in emergency medicine at Cottage Health.

“An emergency department visit for an older patient often brings about significant life changes that require attention beyond treating the illness or injury,” Dr. Glynn said. “Our emergency team considers a patient’s physical, mental and social needs to provide the highest standards of care. ACEP’s GEDA program recognizes that our policies are directed at the evolving needs of our geriatric patients, to keep them comfortable and safe.”

The Silver Level 2 designation means Cottage provides expertise in geriatric care, has geriatric-friendly equipment and supplies, and screens for vulnerabilities such as delirium, dementia and fall risk. Cottage emergency staff also help with resources needed to assure geriatric patients are able to return home safely or transition to different levels or locations of assisted care.

A team of physicians, nurses, emergency department technicians, social workers and community emergency medical services personnel worked for over two years to create and perfect protocols and policies to develop the Geriatric Emergency Department program.

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Cottage Health opened its newest Cottage Urgent Care Center on May 25 in Santa Maria at 3596 Skyway Drive, with the goal of providing complete care within 45 minutes. The new facility provides the community with convenient access from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 365 days a year.

The Cottage Urgent Care at Skyway is the third center for the Santa Maria area. Other Santa Maria locations include North Broadway and the Orcutt Hills Plaza. Cottage Urgent Care has other convenient locations in Buellton, San Luis Obispo, Goleta, Oxnard, Camarillo and Ventura. An additional center will open soon in Ventura at Poinsettia Plaza.

Cottage providers staffing the Urgent Care Center include a licensed nurse practitioner, a radiology technician and clinical concierges who are dedicated to providing the highest quality care that distinguishes Cottage Health. Patients arriving at the Cottage Urgent Care at Skyway Drive will be welcomed with modern and comfortable amenities.

Conditions treated include cold and flu symptoms, scrapes and minor cuts, minor burns, sprains, allergies, earache, urinary infection, skin conditions, rash, poison oak and other minor ailments and injuries. Patients who require attention for more serious medical conditions may be referred to a local emergency department or physician.

Available services onsite include X-rays and point of care lab services. The center also offers physical exams for student sports participation. Walk-ins are welcome and online appointments are available. Carside COVID-19 testing by appointment is offered at select locations with results in 45 minutes.

For more information and appointments, visit www.cottagehealth.org/urgentcare.

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