Staff Report

More than 360 people received free flu vaccines at the drive-thru clinic in Buellton hosted in October by Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH).

Cottage Health staff administered free flu vaccines to those age 12 and over from the safety and comfort of their cars. Participants also received gift bags filled with giveaways and snacks to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. COVID-19 safety precautions were in place, and attendees were required to wear a mask to receive a vaccine.

“We had an amazing turnout for the second year of the free drive-thru clinic,” said Katie Gorndt, vice president of Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital. “We provided free flu vaccinations to people from the Santa Ynez Valley, as well as Santa Maria and Lompoc.”

The clinic was made possible by the generosity of Valley Fresh Market, Valley Tool and Truck Rental, Chumash Employee Resource Center, and Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel, with financial support from the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation.

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Photo contributed
Learn how to save a life at Cottage Health’s local Adult CPR class on Nov. 22.

Learn how to save a life at Cottage Health’s local Adult CPR class.  Members of the community over 14 years of age are invited to attend the “HeartSaver” Adult CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) class at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH) from 12 – 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22. The training will be held in the front conference room of the hospital located at 2050 Viborg Road in Solvang.

Space is very limited. The class fee is $25 per person and pre-registration is required before November 20, 2019. Participants must be over 14 years of age. Please register in advance online at www.cottagehealth.org/classes-events/ or call (805) 569-7325.

Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital’s Adult “HeartSaver” class covers CPR as well as FBAO (Foreign Body Airway Obstruction) plus instruction of the use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) on anyone over the age of eight years old. Attendees will also learn the links in the AHA “Chain of Survival,” including the importance of dialing 9-1-1. This class is appropriate for non-professional caregivers and those who want to learn these skills. Participants will receive a course completion card upon successfully finishing the class.

“Anyone who wants to learn the special techniques necessary to help save a heart can help save a life,” said SYVCH Vice President Wende Cappetta.

Founded in 1964, the not-for-profit Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH) located at 2050 Viborg Road in Solvang, provides high quality outpatient surgical services, inpatient care, comprehensive imaging (including MRI, CT, digital mammography, ultrasound, X-ray), on-site laboratory, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, physicians specialty clinic and 24-hour emergency services to the community. SYVCH is part of the not-for-profit Cottage Health, the leader in providing advanced medical care to the Central Coast region.  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. In 2018, the Cottage Health hospitals in Goleta, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley provided inpatient care for 20,000 people, treated 79,000 patients through their 24-hour emergency departments and helped deliver 2,100 newborns. For more information, call 805-688-6431 or visit www.cottagehealth.org/syvch

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Staff Report

More than 1,200 people attended the 37th annual free Health Fair sponsored by Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital on Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel in Buellton.

More than 40 people were fitted with safety helmets by volunteers.

“No doubt this was a successful event, as many people came and got their flu shot and were able to learn about the many programs and services our area offers from senior health to bike safety. We love when we can help out the community and keep people healthy,” said hospital Vice President Wende Cappetta.

The hospital’s registered nurses administered 351 free flu vaccines. The event also provided 109 free total cholesterol and glucose finger-stick screenings and 87 free osteoporosis screenings. Participants received results to give to a doctor for follow-up and treatment if needed. 

“I come each year to get a free flu shot and see what is available. I got a great swag bag of goodies from local organizations. We had a fun time,” said Cody Goodwin of Buellton.

At the 37th annual SYVCH free Health Fair, nurses administered 351 free flu vaccines.

The hospital’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Surgical Services staff performed 85 free blood pressure checks, and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s Trauma Services team fitted 43 safety helmets for children and adults and sold them at the heavily discounted price of $10.

Dozens of exhibitors and sponsors had display booths, giveaways and free refreshments as well as free information. Prize drawings for 30 free pink tote bags filled with gifts from local businesses and exhibitors were awarded every half hour.

For more information on Cottage Health, visit www.cottagehealth.org.

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The volunteer members of the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Auxiliary provided 13,500 hours of service during 2018 to the hospital.

The organization, founded in 1962, has members volunteering in six service areas including hospital front desk, ambassadors, surgical services, emergency department and van drivers, as well operating the popular New to You Shop at 1689 Oak St. in downtown Solvang.

“We are so grateful to all of these volunteers who selflessly share their time, talents, care and, most of all, compassion,” said hospital Vice President Wende Cappetta. “These Auxiliary volunteers are an integral part of our hospital, providing thousands of hours of support each year.” 

At the annual “Thank You Picnic” held recently at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum, auxiliary members were honored for their cumulative hours of service volunteerism. 

Recognition pins and charms were given to 37 volunteers who had achieved specific levels of service during 2018. Charms recognizing cumulative lifetime service were bestowed to Judy Duffy for 5,000 hours; Kathy Erb for 4,000 hours, Lois Mark for 3,000 hours, JoAnn Taylor for 2,500, and Barry Kuntz and Janice Kuntz for 2,000 hours.  Additional charms as well as pins signifying 100, 400, 700, 1,000 and 1,500 hours or more of service were also awarded.

New auxiliary members are always needed and welcomed. For more information about auxiliary membership and volunteering, contact Martine Surey at 805-686-3971 or msurey@sbch.org.

The hospital’s volunteer website page has more information at http://www.cottagehealth.org/santa-ynez-valley-cottage-hospital/volunteer .

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Allen Anderson and Mike Sgobba have joined the board of directors of the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation.

Anderson is a retired executive, serving most recently as president of Experian’s North American Consumer Services Affinity business, providing consumer credit and information protection services to large corporations.

During his career with Experian, Anderson worked in other senior leadership roles, including president of business information services and global general auditor.

Prior to his business career and securing his MBA and CPA designations, Anderson served in the U.S. Air Force as a captain in the Strategic Air Command. He is also a member of the Vikings of Solvang.

Anderson and his wife, Jane Shade, reside in Solvang where they enjoy growing grapes, playing golf and bridge, and traveling.

Sgobba is the newly elected treasurer for the foundation. He is a Santa Ynez Valley native who graduated from San Diego State with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting.

He worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a staff auditor in the technology sector for large public companies. He also worked in the financial services division for a number of hedge funds.

Sgobba returned to Solvang in 2010 and joined C&D CPAs & Advisors, where he has focused on auditing and tax preparation for both nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses and became a partner in 2015.

He volunteers as vice president at the Solvang Lutheran Home/Atterdag Village. His hobbies include running, hiking, spending time with his wife and two children, and camping.

The officers of the 2019 foundation board are President Charles “C.J.” Jackson, Vice President Sid Goldstien, Secretary Lana Clark Schutz, and Treasurer Mike Sgobba. Returning directors are Jeff Cotter, Judith Dale, the Rev. Dr. Randall Day, Kate Firestone, Dr. William J. Heringer, Rich Nagler, Tresha Sell and Ernie Zomalt.

To make a donation or get more information about the foundation, call June Martin at 805-691-9509, send mail to SYVCH Foundation, 2050 Viborg Road, Solvang, 93463, or visit www.cottagehealth.org/syvchfoundation.

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Contributed

I never knew my grandfather because he died before I was born. He had angina, but the only treatment in the 1950s was nitroglycerin pills. He eventually died at home of a heart attack at the age of 64. Perhaps it’s my grandfather’s story that led to my interest in becoming a cardiac nurse.

In 1983, I graduated as a registered nurse from Santa Barbara City College. I started working in the intensive care unit at my local Santa Ynez Hospital (now Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital) and became certified as a critical care nurse, caring for mostly cardiac patients.

I then was offered a position in cardiac rehabilitation. What a dream come true. I had found my niche and loved everything about the job. In outpatient cardiac rehab I think of myself as a cheerleader, coach, counselor, and even a DJ when I’m playing music to make the exercises more fun.

When I was 40 years old, I was an active mother with two children in school. I played softball, rode my bike to work and exercised at the gym. But I felt that something just wasn’t quite right. I noticed that I would get dizzy during aerobics class and would need to go to the back of the room to rest.

One night, my heart went into palpitations when I was watching TV. Luckily, I listened to my body and went to see my doctor right away. After an echocardiogram and a CT scan, they found that my aortic valve was leaking. I had an aortic aneurysm.

Turns out I was born with a heart murmur that worsened over the years. Within a month, I was in the hospital for open heart surgery to get a tissue valve and aortic replacement. 

I’m blessed that my surgery went well with no major complications. After 12 weeks (and after I completed my cardiac rehab), I went back to work. I’ve just celebrated 21 years as a heart disease survivor. I’m still working in cardiac rehab at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, where I’ve been privileged to help hundreds of patients in their recovery.

On the personal side, I’ve been able to watch my children grow up and have kids of their own. I’m a grandmother. Life is beautiful!

My experience taught me the importance of listening to your body. Always report health changes early to your physician. In an emergency, seek immediate medical attention by calling 911. Let the experts in the hospital emergency department evaluate you and provide treatment if needed. All too often, many people stay home for hours, and even days, before seeking medical attention – and they end up suffering consequences from the delay.

Lastly, if you’re not trained in CPR, please consider getting certified this year so you’ll be prepared if someone needs your help. You could save a life!

Marsha Griggs is a Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital.

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The Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Auxiliary awarded a $3,000 scholarship to each of seven students, a total of $21,000, during its annual “Thank You Picnic Lunch” at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum on April 23.

Scholarships are awarded each year to Santa Ynez Valley students who have been accepted for higher education in, or are currently studying in, health or medical-related careers.

Scholarships were selected by a committee of auxiliary members co-chaired this year by Martha Nedegaard and Jacky Green, along with members Barbara Breza, Brenda Loskamp, Susan Snekvik and April Vossler. 

 Funds for five of the scholarships came from the proceeds of the auxiliary’s New to You thrift shop in downtown Solvang. The sixth award came from the Ann Bertero Scholarship Fund administered by the SYVCH Foundation.

The seventh scholarship came from the Jean Pack Scholarship Fund established through the SYVCH Foundation.

This year’s scholarship winners are:

Hannah Albrecht: A senior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Hannah attended the luncheon with her parents, Terry and Laura Albrecht. She will be attending Cal State Northridge to pursue a major in psychology with a focus on neuroscience.

Miari Costarelli: Upon graduating in May from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Miari will be attending Occidental College in Los Angeles to pursue a major in cognitive science. She attended the luncheon with her mother, Kiran Mariwalla.

Christine Dettelis: A senior at Dunn School, Christine was accompanied to the luncheon with her mother, Michelle Dettelis, and academic advisor Barbara Haig. Christine will attend UCLA to major in neuroscience.

Anna Foley: After graduating from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School in May, Anna will attend UCSB to pursue a major in bio-psychology, which focuses on the biological and psychological factors affecting behavior.

Isabella Hartley: A senior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Isabella will attend the University of San Francisco Honors College with a double major in psychology and biology. She was joined at the luncheon by her mother, Dana Di Croce. 

Emily King: Emily is a senior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and will be attending Santa Barbara City College in the fall. She plans to major in biology with a career goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. She attended the luncheon with her parents, Doug and Kristi King. 

Benjamin Blacker: Benjamin, a senior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, attended the luncheon with his parents Jeremy and Lyndsey Blacker. He will attend San Diego State University and will major in bioengineering to prepare for medical school.

 To get more information or join the auxiliary, contact Martine Surey at 805-686-3971 or msurey@sbch.org, or visit www.cottagehealth.org/santa-ynez-valley-cottage-hospital/volunteer.

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A basketball free-throw contest for a chance to win an Apple watch and other prizes will highlight “Shoot for Good Health,” an event to celebrate colon cancer awareness month and the Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA’s 30^th anniversary and recent renovation.

The event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 20 is jointly sponsored by the YMCA and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, and it will double as the annual joint mixer for the Buellton, Solvang and Santa Ynez chambers of commerce

The evening will also feature guest speaker Dr. Brent Kovacs from the gastroenterology and digestive health department at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital. 

Nutrition and healthy lifestyle tips will be offered, as well as information on genetic counseling.

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Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital has been certified as a “stroke ready” facility, which allows paramedics to deliver patients who are at risk of stroke directly to the local hospital, where they can begin receiving treatment immediately.

The road to achieving the Stroke Ready designation from Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services began in January 2016 when the hospital launched its Tele-Stroke program, which provides remote specialized neurological evaluations to patients who come to the Emergency Department with stroke or neurological symptoms.

Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services provided the final designation on Oct. 31.
When a patient arrives at Emergency Department with stroke symptoms, the “stroke protocol” is implemented with a CT scan and lab work done immediately. In collaboration with the emergency room physician, the on-call neurologist connects via a telemedicine platform using a mobile computer with medical grade video, audio and diagnostic capability, which allows the physician to conduct an acute stroke consultation to determine the patient’s treatment.

In specific instances, stroke patients can be given a de-clotting drug therapy called “tissue Plasminogen Activator” (tPA) within the vital 45-minute window to reduce brain damage. Prior to initiating this program, when the hospital did not have access to on-call neurologists for treatment of stroke, all patients with stroke symptoms were sent to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for diagnosis and treatment. This delayed or precluded treatment for blood blockages in the brain.

The Tele-Stroke Program has received major philanthropic support from the community, including generous grants from The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation and the Elaine F. Stepanek Foundation.

For more information, call 805-688-6431 or visit www.cottagehealth.org/syvch

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SYV Cottage Hospital

It’s cropping up in more grocery store food labels but most people may not be in the know when it comes to “GMO.”

GMO stands for genetically modified organisms — plants, animals and other organisms — that have had their genes, or DNA, altered in a way that does not occur naturally. This is also known as genetic engineering.

GMOs have been developed over the years to help farmers improve crop production. Through genetic engineering, seeds and plants have been bred so they can live through drought, resist disease and pest damage, and provide added nutrients.

For example, Monsanto has created soybeans with omega-3 fatty acids, which they do not contain naturally. These unique soybeans from Monsanto are called “Roundup Ready,” meaning they are designed to survive heavier doses of Roundup pesticide spraying.

Those who support GMOs say that the enhanced crops will help grow the food supply needed for the extra 2 billion people that will populate the earth by 2050.

However, critics of genetically modified foods are concerned that GMOs may cause more damage than good for people and the planet. Farmers may use more pesticides and herbicides as plants are bred to withstand greater amounts of applied chemicals.

Also, the GMO process often mixes or adds proteins that don’t exist in the original plant, and critics point out that this could create new and more potent allergic reactions and harm the digestive tract.

When the body’s defense system encounters an unfamiliar molecule, its first response is inflammation. Over time inflammation can weaken the intestinal wall and these molecules can pass through the border, leading to “leaky gut.” This in turn can increase the risk of gut diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, GERD, and other gastrointestinal infections.

Despite some concerns, GMOs are prevalent in the food supply. The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that 93 percent of soybeans grown in the nation are genetically modified. The majority of corn (86 percent) produced in 2010 was GMO, and 75 percent of rapeseed, known as canola, was also genetically enhanced.

It’s important to note that while most people don’t put large amounts of soybeans, corn and rapeseed on their plates, these ingredients are found in a wide variety of processed foods.

Many people are not aware that their food contains GMOs. There are no labeling laws or requirements in the United States for GMOs to be identified. In contrast, 64 countries around the world do require food and products to be labeled if they contain GMOs. Furthermore, the FDA requires no safety studies for GMO foods and leaves it up to manufacturers and producers to confirm that their products are safe.

Consumers who wish to avoid GMOs have one best protection: Choose foods that are certified organic or non-GMO. Organic foods are not allowed to be produced from GMO crops or other GMO ingredients. Next time you’re at the market, you may find yourself taking a closer look at the labels.

For more information on how to improve your health, visit www.cottagehealth.org/syvch.

Stacey Bailey is clinical dietitian for the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospitals.

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