Aurora in the news

Courtney Finley's Infertility Struggle
Jan. 27, 2012
WGBA 26, NBC
Aurora fertility specialist Dr. Mark Severino, talks about the fertility program at Aurora BayCare Medical Center.

Sinai is not going away, but changes have to occur
Jan. 19, 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dr. Nick Turkal, Aurora Health Care president and CEO, discusses the future of Aurora Sinai Medical Center.

Healthy potential seen for cardiac monitoring device
Jan. 7, 2012
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dr. Jasbir Sra, electrophysiologist at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, tests a new hand-held device that provides a fast way to diagnosis atrial fibrillation.

Dementia patients suffer dubious hospitalizations
Sept. 28, 20112
Associated Press
Dr. Michael Malone, Aurora’s medical director of senior services, comments on a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine and the proper care for seniors needing to transition from the hospital to a nursing home.

Twitter surgery
Sept. 27, 2011
WISN-TV 12, ABC and WTMJ-TV 4, NBC
Drs. Chip Morris and Shekhar Dagam collaborated on a temporal lobectomy on patient Geoff Nestor. This surgery was broadcast via Twitter to raise awareness of this option for people who suffer from seizures.

Priceless preemies, costly care
Sept. 24, 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Aurora neonatologist Dr. Ricardo Mastrolia explains the complex condition that triggered the premature birth of the Navarro twins in this story examining the cost of pre-term birth. The story is one of a series looking at the financial and emotional impact of Milwaukee’s high infant mortality.

Recall of birth control pills
Sept. 16, 2011
WTMJ-TV 4, NBC
Aurora Advanced’s Dr. Amy Miller-McCarthy explains the reason for a national recall on birth control medications and explains why the public should not panic over the recall.

Heart valve trial gives man new lease on life
Sept. 14, 2011
WTMJ-TV 4, NBC
Richard Ehlers was told he had six months to live. He beat the odds by participating in a heart valve clinical trial at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Medicines running short across the United States
Aug. 25, 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Aurora Health Care’s Tom Woller comments on the national shortage of medication.

Cancer survivors, Jensen triumph in Danskin Triathlon
Aug. 22 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Kansas City Star, Miami Herald
Dr. Judy Tjoe leads a group of cancer survivors through triathlon training and competitions.

Knowledge is the key to a healthy pregnancy
Aug. 20, 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Patient education is one part of a health pregnancy.

Focusing on heart care: Aurora recruits doctors for cardiac care at St. Luke’s
Aug. 10, 2011
Business Journal of Milwaukee
Dr. Jamil Tajik discusses his leadership of Aurora Cardiac Services, as well as the new cardiac specialty centers.

Group pregnancy class educates, empowers women
Aug. 4, 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Eileen Nyholt, nurse midwife at Aurora’s Midwifery and Wellness Center, explains the benefits of group pregnancy classes and the positive impact these classes have had on infant outcomes.

The Ultimate Gift
Aug. 1, 2011
M Magazine - page 55
Harry Scrap got a second chance at life at 71, with a heart transplant at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Student battles through chiari malformation
July 11, 2011
WITI-TV 6, FOX
Samantha Del Principe, has chiari malformation, a condition that affects more than one in every 5,000 people. It disrupted her swimming career, but not for long with the help of Dr. Arvind Ahuja at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center.

Considering alternate routes
June 26, 2011
Modern Healthcare
Sue Buettner, Aurora senior vice president, explains how Aurora’s pharmacy operations help make Aurora Health Care’s diversified business model more attractive to patients.

Dr. Nick Turkal: health care rules should move away from fee-for-service
June 15, 2011
Madison.com
Aurora CEO Nick Turkal’s letter to the editor discusses some of the new accountable care organization rules’ weak points and opportunities to strengthen them.

Health no, we won’t ACO
June 6, 2011
Modern Healthcare
Aurora is one of 17 health systems that co-signed a letter to CMS suggesting a major reworking of accountable care organization regulations.

Health-care initiative draws fire
June 3, 2011
Wall Street Journal
Aurora CEO Nick Turkal is the only health care provider quoted in this article examining the government’s accountable care organization pilot and widespread criticism of the pilot’s structure.

ACO plans draw criticism from top execs
May 30, 2011
Modern Healthcare
Nick Turkal, Aurora’s CEO, says the draft accountable care organization rules put too much risk on health care providers with little reward.

Empty cradles: confronting our infant mortality crisis, a legion helping out
May 21, 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Volunteer Robin Thompson shares how supporting families and nursing staff at Aurora Sinai’s NICU brings value to her life. Article includes a photo slide show and online video.

Aurora believes it has improved image
May 20, 2011
Business Journal of Milwaukee
The Aurora system has successfully improved its image and reputation, according to area business leaders.

Aurora Health balks at ACOs under proposed rules
May 18, 2011
HealthLeaders Media
Nick Turkal, Aurora’s CEO, explains that Aurora will not take part in the government’s accountable care organization pilot but fully supports the accountable care concept.

Kenosha woman donates a kidney to save the life of a co-worker's son
May 15, May 16, 2011
WITI-TV 6, FOX
Aurora St. Luke’s abdominal transplant team successfully transplants a kidney from a living donor into a patient whose family has been ravaged by genetic kidney disease.

Easing ER wait times
May 8, 2011
Wall Street Journal
Aurora Sinai’s Dr. Paul Coogan explains how Sinai has reduced ER visits by 23 percent by matching nonurgent patients with same day appointments with primary care physicians.

Hospitals work to reduce ER wait times
May 5, 2011
MarketWatch
Dr. Paul Coogan of Aurora Sinai Medical Center’s Emergency Department was interviewed on the efforts his team has taken to reduce ER wait times.

Aurora Sinai is ACE of elderly care
April 30, 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
This story takes a detailed look at Aurora Sinai’s Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) unit and why it has been so successful.

Mapping patient data
April 17, 2011
CIO Insight
Aurora Health Care announces its biorepository.

Remote monitoring improves mortality rate for Aurora’s ICUs
March 28, 2011
WUWM 89.7 FM Radio, Milwaukee Public Radio
eICU^™ Director Dr. David Rein explains how Aurora uses a sophisticated monitoring system to bring a second pair of eyes to the ICU.

Not so fast IT
March 16, 2011
Modern Healthcare
Judy Murphy, RN, Aurora Health Care's vice president information services, discusses HHS timelines for enacting Stage 2 criteria for the “meaningful use” of electronic health record systems.

Aurora Health Care to use Oracle informatics to run more efficient clinical trials
February 2011
CIO Insight
Aurora’s announces a collaborative relationship with Oracle that should speed the clinical trial and research process.

ACOs forging the links
Jan. 27, 2011
Hospitals and Health Care Networks
Aurora’s chief information officer, Patrick Falvey, discusses the steps to take to prepare for accountable care.

For Milwaukee’s Children, an Early Grave
Jan. 22
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Aurora experts, Dr. Tina Mason and Jackie Tillet, nurse midwife, both at Aurora Sinai Medical Center, discuss Milwaukee’s high infant mortality rate and efforts underway to turn the situation around.

Forty Under 40
Jan. 14, 2011
The Business Journal of Milwaukee
Dr. Jeff Smith, vice president of medical affairs at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, is among Milwaukee’s 40 under 40.

ACOS forging the links
January 2011
Hospitals & Health Networks
Patrick Falvey discusses Aurora’s efforts to become an accountable care organization.

Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
January 2011
Milwaukee Magazine
Milwaukee Magazine interviewed Dr. Niezgoda and a patient on reconstructive plastic surgery and the benefits of hyperbaric medicine in the healing process from traumatic injuries.

Midwifery services at Aurora Sinai
January 2011
Milwaukee Magazine
Jackie Tillett, director of the Midwifery and Wellness Center at Aurora Sinai Medical Center; Dr. Stephen McAvoy, an AMG obstetrician, and Lisa Hanson, a midwife with the Midwifery and Wellness Center and a founder of the practice at Aurora, are featured in this story.

Couple soldiers on
Jan. 1, 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
This front page, above-the-fold story follows up on the Caudle family, whose story launched them into the national spotlight in 2009. Last year, Bill Caudle joined the military after being laid off so his wife would continue to have health insurance as she fought ovarian cancer. Bill is now based in Washington State, while Michelle has stayed in Wisconsin. Aurora’s Dr. Peter Johnson explains the cancer has come back as he works with Michelle to maintain her quality of life.

Cardiac rehab in Grafton
Dec. 28, 2010
WITI-TV 6, FOX
FOX 6 reporter Gus Gnorski, a cardiac rehab patient at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, explains what cardiac rehab is all about.

Premier quality demonstration garners $2 billion in savings for 157 hospitals
Dec. 13, 2010
American Medical News
Premier Healthcare Alliance released results from QUEST, a pilot program that links quality and patient outcomes. The results were overwhelmingly positive, with Aurora Health Care among the top performers. Aurora Sinai stood out as an urban hospital that made significant strides and is mentioned by the national health care trades covering the story as well as Milwaukee media.

Patient does well on first FDA-approved oral multiple sclerosis drug
Dec. 8, 2010
WDJT-TV 58, CBS
Louann Schrieber, a patient at the Regional MS Center at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center, was a participant in the clinical trial for the drug and shares her positive experience with the medication.

Health care at the end of life
Nov. 21, 2010
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A Dartmouth Atlas study examines regional variations in health care treatment for cancer patients at the end of their lives. Aurora Advanced Healthcare’s Dr. Divgi discusses how he makes palliative care part of his conversation with patients from the start.

Aurora Sinai distributes vitamin D to caregivers, sees health benefits
Nov. 10, 2010
WISN-TV 12, ABC
Aurora Sinai Medical Center provides free vitamin D to employees and reports anecdotal benefits, including a reduction in sick time.

Strengthening primary care will combat physician shortages (PDF)
November 4, 2010
Green Bay Press-Gazette
This is the sixth in a series of guest columns discussing the health care reform act. Executive Vice President Brad Hahn discusses the physician shortage and how to limit its impact on health care acess, quality and costs.

Health Care Reform Act promotes making educated decisions (PDF)
October 14, 2010
Green Bay Press-Gazette
This is the fifth in a series of guest columns discussing the health care reform act. Administrator of Clinical Operations Jane Root, R.N., discusses how the act will help us make educated health choices.

Your Move: Hospitals are Predicting, Adapting to Change
Oct. 14, 2010
HealthLeaders Media
Hospitals and health systems are taking the first steps toward becoming accountable care organizations even before anyone knows for sure what an ACO will look like. Aurora Health Care's Patrick Falvey weighs in how to reduce costs while improving quality and efficiency, which are key elements to being a successful ACO.

Prostate cancer treatment minimizes side effects
Oct. 14, 2010
WDTJ-TV 58, CBS
Prostate cancer patients have a new option for treatment that minimizes the side effects. Doctors at Aurora St. Luke's in Milwaukee are the only ones in the region with a system called Calypso. It allows them to give higher doses of radiation by targeting the tumor more accurately.

Health Care Reform turns focus to prevention (PDF)
October 7, 2010
Green Bay Press-Gazette
This is the fourth in a series of guest columns discussing the health care reform act. Vice President of Clinic Operations Mary Beth McDonald discusses how the act turns the focus to prevention.

Medicine and miracle save liver cancer patient
Sept. 22, 2010
WISN-TV 12, ABC
James Day was at death's door when his family made the drive from Chicago to Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee. Complications from liver cancer treatment in Chicago left him with a deadly infection. Drs. Jeffrey Steers and Ajay Sahajpal were able to successfully perform a liver transplant and today James is cancer free and back to work.

Health Care Act to increase access for Wisconsin residents (PDF)
September 2, 2010
Green Bay Press-Gazette
This is the third in a series of guest columns discussing the health care reform act. Executive Vice President Brad Hahn discusses how individuals will gain increased access to health care through the act.

Aurora St. Lukes helps heart failure patients get a new lease on life
September 1, 2010
WDJT-TV 58, CBS
Dr. Andrew Boyle at Aurora St. Lukes is helping heart and kidney failure patients gain access to artificial heart pumps.

Health Care Reform Can Improve Quality, Reduce Cost (PDF)
August 5, 2010
Green Bay Press-Gazette
This is the second in a series of guest columns discussing the health care reform act. CEO Nick Turkal, M.D., discusses the importance of cost and quality.

Health Care Reform, Now What? (PDF)
July 29, 2010
Green Bay Press-Gazette
This is the first in a series of guest columns discussing the health care reform act. CEO Nick Turkal, M.D., discusses what needs to happen next, now that the health care reform act is here.

Some states say they're not receiving the Medicaid services they're paying for
July 8, 2010
The Washington Post
Health care reform could add 16 million people to Medicaid rolls across the nation. In states that outsource Medicaid, businesses are rushing in to get a share of the market. But the experience in some states suggests pitfalls ahead. Aurora President Nick Turkal pointed to a broader issue: Managed care in Wisconsin is falling far short of the ideal, with too little done to get enrollees the primary care they need and keep them out of the emergency room.

trIUMPH program trains med students to work in low-income areas
June 12, 2010
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The program, known as trIUMPH, for Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health, is designed to provide University of Wisconsin medical students with experiences in low-income urban areas. trIUMPH is a collaborative program between the university and Aurora Sinai Medical Center to train more doctors who will practice medicine where there is the greatest need – rural and low-income urban areas.

Annual hospital system survey shows a strong financial comeback (PDF)
June 7, 2010
Modern Healthcare
David Eager, senior vice president and CFO of Aurora Health Care, shares how Aurora has successfully weathered the 2009 financial storm.

Aurora BayCare is making the cancer journey easier (video)
May 26, 2010
WFRV CBS 5, Green Bay
Aurora BayCare is making the cancer journey easier for patients by offereing one point person to help answer questions and attend doctor visits.

Aurora St. Luke's ventricular assist device program among top in nation
May 18, 2010 WUWM 89.7 FM radio
Dr. Andrew Boyle is a cardiovascular disease specialist and the medical director of the Ventricular Assist Device program at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center. He spoke with Mitch Teich of WUWM 89.7 FM radio about advances in technology that allow more people to have access to treatment with artificial heart pumps.

Platelet-rich plasma treatment brings athletes relief
April 4, 2010
WISN-TV 12, ABC
Several professional athletes are touting the benefits of a growing medical treatment. It is now spreading to everyday people, who are opting for a needle instead of a knife.

The job done on health care? Don't bet on it
March 27, 2010
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel question and answer with Nick Turkal, Aurora Health Care's president and CEO

He's in the Army now
Wife's cancer prompts man to enlist
October 18, 2009
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dr. Peter Johnson offers life-giving ovarian cancer treatment.

Treatment can allow birth despite dangerous disorder - Doctor devises strategy for pulmonary hypertension
October 2, 2009
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dr. Diane Zwicke treats pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension.

MS treatment shows promise - But clinical trials that might prove therapy's effectiveness may never be done
September 6, 2009
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dr. Bhupendra Khatri offers MS patients a range of treatment options including a blood-filtering process known as plasma exchange.