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Affinity is the first to bring military medical technology to Valley

09 / 26 / 2007

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MENASHA, Wis.- Dr. Lubomyr Domashevsky, emergency room physician for Affinity Health System,  has seen the destructive force of a road side bomb. He served as an emergency physician near Tikrit, Iraq from January 2004 to January 2005.

“We took care of an estimated 25,000 patients, including about 1,000 patients seriously wounded from road side bombs, gunshot wounds, mortar and rocket fire, and car accidents,” says Dr. Domashevsky.

As part of his equipment to save patients, Dr. Domashevsky was introduced to a hemostaic hemorrhage control bandage. The bandage contains a substance that chemically stops massive bleeding, unlike traditional bandages that rely on pressure to stop the hemorrhage. The bandage is used during trauma situation, complications with surgery or any situation where massive blood loss can occur.  

“This bandage was just starting to get fielded in Iraq during the year I was there,” Dr. Domashevsky says. “We received patients who had the bandages placed by Army medics in the field with very good results.”

HemCon Medical Technologies, a medical supplier for the U.S. military, recently started providing the new bandages in conjunction with Cardinal Health to hospitals and clinics in the United States.  

Currently, only 20 hospitals and clinics use hemorrhage control bandages in the country. Affinity Health System began using the bandage in August, and it is primarily used in the emergency department, surgery and ambulatory services at all three Affinity hospitals.

“We brought the technology to Affinity after conversations we had with staff who had served in the Middle East, “says John Walsh, director, Trauma Services for Affinity Health System. “They saw the bandages effectiveness, and we’re very proud to be the first health care provider in the area to use this new trauma technology.”

What does this mean for patient care in the Fox Valley?

“Having these bandages in our facilities is an advantage for seriously injured patients,” says Dr. Domashevsky, “It will help save lives.”  

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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a Catholic mission-oriented regional health care network, is a partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Affinity Health System is the Fox Valley’s third largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and is ranked 24 among the top 100 integrated health care networks nationwide (Verispan 2008). Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent among hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Network Health Plan has achieved Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest possible level. It is ranked 37th among the 250 rated health plans in the nation in terms of customer satisfaction and clinical performance, according to the U.S. News and World Report/NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 23 family practice and specialty clinics in 13 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; Network Health Plan, Menasha; and Affinity Occupational Health.