Dr. Thomas Arntson of Chesapeake Radiologists Inc. was recently named a certified clinical densitometrist by the International Society for Densitometry. Arntson received his medical degree from Loma Linda University. He also completed an internship and residency at the Loma Linda, Calif. school.

Dr. Rodrigo Romulo recently co-authored an editorial piece that appeared in The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. Romulo practices with Infectious Disease Consultants of Hampton Roads, an affiliate of Chesapeake Regional Medical Group.

Dr. Jennifer Fortes Pagador, a board-certified family physician, has joined The Urgent Care Center Princess Anne, an affiliate of Chesapeake Regional Medical Group. Pagador received her medical degree from University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, and completed a family practice internship and residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She completed an additional residency in family practice at Great Plains Family Practice Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.

A board-certified family physician, Dr. Kevin Chou has joined The Urgent Care Center Princess Anne, an affiliate of Chesapeake Regional Medical Group. Chou received his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, and completed his internship and residency at Ghent Family Practice. He has been a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians since 1995.

Chesapeake emergency physicians return to Anthem provider network
Chesapeake Emergency Physicians, the group that provides services at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center's Emergency Department, has reached an agreement with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. These physicians returned as members of Anthem's provider network as of January 1, 2010.

In 2006, after extensive negotiations, Chesapeake Emergency Physicians terminated its contract with Anthem. Since that time, these physicians have continued to provide emergency care to Anthem patients as non-participating providers.

"We are satisfied that this contract best serves our patients by eliminating some of their concerns in seeking emergency care at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center" said Dr. Lewis Siegel, chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine.

The new Anthem contract coincides with the completion of a $6.5 million expansion and renovation project in Chesapeake Regional's Emergency Department that increased its space from 15,000 to 25,000 square feet. As part of this renovation, Chesapeake Emergency Physicians expanded its medical staff. Chesapeake Emergency Physicians has provided emergency care at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center since the hospital's founding in 1976.

"This new contract is a benefit for our patients," said Wynn Dixon, Chesapeake Regional's interim CEO. "When seeking care in an emergency, the only concern should be where to turn for the best care possible."

Chesapeake Regional's Emergency Department cares for some 65,000 patients a year, making it Hampton Roads' busiest ER.

Construction projects in the news

Lobby: Chesapeake General's lobby is now more than halfway through a renovation. Completion is targeted for early April. The renovations were made possible by a donation from the hospital's Auxiliary.Renovations began Oct. 19. The project will include updating the floors, walls and the central fountain to provide a warmer and more inviting environment. Although some visitor and patient traffic will be rerouted occasionally, the main entrance will remain open.

The project will include updating the floors, walls and the central fountain to provide a warmer and more inviting environment. The information desk will also be transformed to improve the experience of patients and visitors as they arrive at the hospital. Although the project will require some temporary rerouting of travel paths and service areas, the hospital's main entrance will remain open. Central Registration will also remain open in the lobby. During this time hospital staff and volunteers will work hard to help guests get to their destinations. The project was made possible by a donation from the hospital's Auxiliary.

Mother/Baby Unit: Construction is well underway to update patient rooms on the unit. The work will be done in four phases. Eight rooms will be renovated in each phase, and will last about 10 weeks.

Parking lot: Extra parking spaces will be added along the Battlefield Boulevard parking lot near the Brick Garden beginning in November. They will be added on either side of the brick garden to increase patient access to the front entrances.

Chesapeake Regional welcomes two neuroradiologists
Chesapeake Regional’s Radiology Department has added a new sub-specialty to its range of offerings.

Back pain reduction procedure changes lives
Spinal Cord Stimulation uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain radiating from the back to the legs or from the neck to the arms.