General Information: (434) 654-7000 OR 1-800-633-6353
New Offerings posts
May 15, 2013
Martha Jefferson Hospital is pleased to welcome Martha Thomas, a certified genetic counselor, to our team. Martha joined the organization in early May and will be providing both genetic counseling and genetic testing services to our community. In this week’s CBS19 Healthwise segment, Stephanie Satchell sat down with Thomas to find out why knowledge is so important if there is a history of cancer in your family.
May 1, 2013
It’s not uncommon for patients to find themselves in the Emergency Department or Hospital, and in need of a fresh change of clothes. Whether it’s due to someone getting sick, having to have their clothing cut off, or just having something become stained, the goal at Martha Jefferson is to make sure patients are comfortable. In this week’s CBS19 Healthwise segment, learn more about a new initiative called Martha’s Clothing Closet, and how it’s providing an important service to patients in need.
April 24, 2013
A new way of new things in the laboratory at Martha Jefferson Hospital is leading to better care for patients. Recently, new technology was put in place that enables caregivers to provide screening tests for sepsis (a complication from an infection). Thanks to this new test, sepsis can be detected earlier, will ultimately leads to better outcomes for patients. Learn more in this week’s CBS19 Healthwise segment.
April 22, 2013
A new treatment option is now available at Martha Jefferson Hospital for people who suffer from severe asthma. In this week’s NBC29 Martha Jefferson Monday segment, we sit down with Dr. Alex Schult, and find out more about bronchial thermoplasty, and what the benefit of the procedure is to patients.
To read the complete story, click here.
If you have a health question you’d like us to answer, email healthquestions@nbc29.com.
April 3, 2013
Martha Jefferson is participating in a national clinical study to see if a specific treatment that’s currently available for specific breast cancer patients, could possibly be expanded to a greater population. CBS19′s Stephanie Satchell interviewed Dr. Erika Struble about Targeted Breast Cancer Therapy.
To read the complete story, click here.
February 13, 2013
Martha Jefferson recently opened a new Neuroscience Center at the Outpatient Care Center at Pantops. The service provides treatment and care for patients suffering neurological disorders all under one roof and is truly built on a model of teamwork between physicians.
This week, CBS19′s Stephanie Satchell spoke with Dr. Alexander Grunsfeld, a Martha Jefferson neurologist who had a large part is creating the center, about what types of services are provided at the new center, and how patients will benefit.
January 14, 2012
On January 14, Martha Jefferson Hospital opened the doors to its brand new, state-of-the-art Neuroscience Center.
For several years, Martha Jefferson Hospital has had specially trained, exceptional neurologists and neurosurgeons on staff. Additionally, the hospital began developing a stroke program in 2008. These things were just the first steps however in developing a comprehensive Neuroscience Center, which is now a reality.
“Martha Jefferson has always provided excellent care, and so it was a natural next step to add the Neurosciences to its range of high quality service lines. There is a definite benefit to the community to have compassionate, patient-centered, neurological and neurosurgical care delivered in the community hospital setting,” said Dr. Alex Grunsfeld, Director of the Stroke Center and a leading force in the development of the Neuroscience Center.
The Neuroscience Center is conveniently located in the Outpatient Care Center at Pantops, where the Freestanding Emergency Department was previously housed. The center is equipped with the latest technology, with electromyography (EMG) and electroencephalography (EEG) diagnostic equipment, new vestibular balance rehabilitation equipment, low-dose CT imaging, and the capability to do such complex brain surgery as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).
In addition having our four neurologists, two neurosurgeons and 13 rehab therapists all under one roof ensures our patients will get all the care they need in one location.
In addition, the Neuroscience Center has rolled out multi-disciplinary subspecialty clinics that deliver a coordinated, patient-centered approach, including:
“Developing our Neuroscience Center has been a group effort, and our team has truly developed a strong, evidence-based, high-quality program that will bring the type of coordinated, specialized care that will improve the experience and better the outcomes for people with neurological disorders,” said Dr. Grunsfeld.
January 16, 2013
Martha Jefferson Hospital is pleased to announce the opening of its new Starr Hill Health Center, located at the Jefferson School City Center. This weekend, and open house will be held at the Jefferson School between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and the community is invited to attend.
The focus of the Starr Hill Health Center will be to reduce childhood obesity, as well as provide general information on how to live a healthy lifestyle to the people who call downtown Charlottesville home. CBS19′s Stephanie Satchell takes us on a tour and tells us what we can expect at the Open House in this week’s Healthwise segment.
December 5, 2012
When you aren’t feeling well, the last thing you want to have to think about is shopping for supplies, or other things you might need to help you start feeling better. In order to try to make the process simple, Martha Jefferson Hospital offers an online marketplace where you can find all your healthcare needs with just a few clicks.
In this week’s CBS19 Healthwise segment, Stephanie Satchell gives us a tour of the site.
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GPS for the Body’ system provides real-time tracking of tumors during prostate cancer treatments
November 27, 2012
Charlottesville, VA. Martha Jefferson Hospital today became the first hospital in Central Virginia to use a new technology that more accurately delivers doses of radiation to prostate cancer patients. The Calypso® system allows doctors to precisely track and target tumors while avoiding damage to healthy tissue. Patients lie still for 30 minutes while the treatment machine rotates around them and aims radiation beams at the cancerous tumors.
Martha Jefferson radiation oncologist Dr. Sylvia Hendrix says previous treatments couldn’t track natural internal changes in the body.
“Physicians used to assume the prostate didn’t move during treatment. We now know that isn’t true. The Calypso system is very precise. If the prostate or the target area moves just a millimeter we can stop the treatment, reposition the patient, and precisely target the patient’s cancer.”
The Calypso system uses three tiny Beacon® electromagnetic transponders, each smaller than a grain of rice, which are implanted into the prostate during a simple outpatient procedure. The beacons work in a way similar to GPS markers enabling doctors to monitor the movement of the patient’s prostate and his cancer in real-time during radiation treatments.
The first patient to receive the treatment, Mr. Craig LaMountain of Greene County, noted that the procedure really is painless.
“You feel nothing. If I wasn’t worried about moving, I’d fall asleep.”
Hendrix says studies show patients who undergo Calypso experience few side effects from radiation, and they’re just temporary.
“Not only will patients receive better treatment, they will also have fewer long-term side effects including bladder issues, lower digestive issues, as well as sexual function,” said Hendrix.
Calypso is currently only treating prostate cancer patients, but it could be used for women with left-side breast cancer in the future.
For more information on Calypso, or to find a urologist who is Calypso-certified, call Health Connection at (434) 654-7009.
