Five Ways to Stay Active During Winter

Submitted by emily.griffin on

When it’s too cold, icy or cumbersome to take that walk around your block, consider this: One and a half hours of strength exercise a week in the comfort of your home can account for the walk you might be missing out on due to bad weather. A study at the University of Michigan showed that 95% of participants confirmed that adverse weather curtails their workout, which is why we suggest strength training indoors during the cold season. 

Many may have an at-home gym. For those who don’t, the weight training we refer to requires little to no equipment. It ranges from using your body weight and adding resistance bands to small dumbbells. The National Institute of Health suggests that weight training exercises performed intermittently will lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

“Patients who perform aerobic exercises have a lower risk of developing heart disease compared to those who aren’t as active,” said Duane Pool, M.D., Board-certified in Cardiovascular Disease, at Genesis Heart Lung & Vascular Institute

Before you try out our top five indoor strength exercises, check with your doctor first for the regimen that’s right and safe for you. 

Deep squats 

Squats are a great way to build your quad muscle. When muscle mass increases, it encourages oxygen circulation and alleviates the load on the heart. Start by standing with your legs shoulder-width apart and dip both hips in a downward motion as if sitting on an invisible chair. Hold the position, raise and repeat. 

Wall pushups 

Wall pushups are a great way to tone the arms. Stand arm’s length away from a wall while facing it. Stretch your arms. Keep your palms against the wall, shoulder-width apart. Using your body weight, push yourself toward and away from the wall. 

Leg lifts 

Resistance bands are budget-friendly and easy to use. Best of all, it does not take up storage space. Wear a resistance band around your ankle. 

Lie on your right side with your legs straight. Lift your left leg up and down, keeping your left leg parallel to your right. Switch to the opposite side and repeat. 

This exercise will tighten the core and lower body. 

All Fours 

This is another great workout that tones the core and lower body. 

Place your hands and knees flat on the floor. Keep your back straight and lift one leg up as if you’re stomping the ceiling. 

Bicep Curl 

Our final pick is your traditional curl with a 5-10 lb. dumbbell. Stand with your back straight and pull your forearm in toward you and away from your body. 

Five Ways to Stay Active During Winter

The National Institute of Health suggests that weight training exercises performed intermittently will lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

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A Community Win for All

Submitted by emily.griffin on

You can feel confident in choosing your healthcare close to home, right here in Southeastern Ohio. Your community hospital is one of the top 100 in the nation. 

According to Fortune Magazine and Merative, a data, analytics and technology partner for the health industry, Genesis HealthCare System is top among its peers for excellence in clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, patient experience and overall financial health. 

Merative, formerly IBM Watson Health, established the list to help identify best practices that may help other healthcare organizations achieve consistent, balanced and sustainable high performance. 

Merative has identified the top hospitals from a rigorous evaluation of 2,650 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals in the U.S. 

Winning the top award despite COVID-19 challenges 

For more than two years, we have been working as a community to battle COVID-19. We were in good company with every other health system in the nation. Challenges included the virus, supply and business disruptions and workforce shortages. Those challenges make this year’s 100 Top Hospitals list, based on 2020 data, unlike any other in the study’s 28-year history. 

“Recognition as one of the Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals demonstrates Genesis’ ongoing commitment to prioritizing patient-centered care.” -Scott Wegner, M.D. Chief Medical Officer, Genesis HealthCare System 

Quality measures reflect high performance 

According to the Merative study, when compared to similar hospitals, Genesis had better results on key clinical and operational performance indicators. These include survival rates, patient complications, healthcare-associated infections, 30-day mortality and 30-day hospital-wide readmission rates, length of stay, throughput in emergency departments, inpatient expenses and ratings from patients. 

Community health measures 

The Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list also incorporates a community health measure into its ranking process. 

Hospitals were surveyed across three components: 

  • Assessing hospital contributions to community health as a provider of critical services for community health and preventive care. 
  • Identifying ways that hospitals contribute to community health as a community partner by teaming up with local organizations to implement critical programs. 
  • Focusing on ways that hospitals promote community health through their practices as anchor institutions supporting local economic and social progress. The community health measure is weighted equally with other ranking measures. 

Genesis also won the prestigious Everest Award 

The Everest Award winners are a special group of the 100 Top Hospitals award winners that, in addition to achieving benchmark status for one year, have simultaneously set national benchmarks for the fastest long-term improvement on a national balanced scorecard. In 2022, Genesis was one of only 25 organizations to achieve this level of performance. 

Frontline employees drive quality and safety 

The High-Reliability Patient Safety Council and the Care Coordination Council empower frontline workers to implement best practices once they determine solutions to issues. Standardizing care has led to efficiencies and a higher quality of care. 

Epic, Genesis’ electronic medical record system, has propelled the health system forward by enabling the power to track results and then develop evidenced-based practices based on the scenario. 

What if all hospitals were of the highest quality? 

Based on comparisons between the 100 Top Hospitals study winners and a peer group of similar hospitals that were not winners, it was reported that if all hospitals performed at the level of this year’s winners: 

  • Over 104,000 additional lives could be saved in-hospital 
  • Over 55,000 additional patients could be complication-free 
  • Over $12.5 billion in inpatient costs could be saved 
  • The typical patient could be released from the hospital almost a half-day sooner 
  • Over 18,600 fewer discharged patients would be readmitted within 30 days 

The national award and the Everest Award are based on a set of measures that reflect performance across the whole organization. 

Using independent public data and proprietary analytics, the 100 Top Hospitals study recognizes hospitals that have clearly demonstrated top performance in care, efficiency and community value. 

Learn more at genesishcs.org/top100

Genesis Top 100 LiveWell

Genesis is a Top 100 Hospital in the nation.

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A Letter from our President and CEO | LiveWell Autumn 2022

Submitted by emily.griffin on

Recently, Fortune Magazine/Merative named Genesis a 100 Top Hospital for 2022. In addition, we were awarded the Everest Award, one of only 25 organizations selected from the 100 Top Hospital list recognized as achieving the fastest rate of improvement over the past five years. Although Genesis won these awards, this achievement would never have been possible without you, our patients, your families, local businesses and the community. In short, this achievement belongs to our whole community. 

Without your trust in our exceptional doctors and professional team members, we would not be performing at this high national level. 

We have spent the last quarter of a century listening to your needs and doing all we can to meet and surpass them. We have used your support to recruit the best physician teams. We have recruited the best physicians and team for the cancer center, heart doctors who perform innovative surgeries and other surgeons who excel in minimally invasive procedures that, in some instances, enable patients to return home the same day of their procedure. Learn more about the newest group of physicians to join Genesis starting on page 4. 

Your feedback and support also drove us to establish a culture where we constantly pursue clinical excellence, continually seek better options for treatment and find creative ways to impact community health. Learn more about these initiatives in our special 25th-anniversary section within this magazine. 

As significant as anything, you have trusted us with your health. Within this issue, you can learn how Diane Wills trusted us to help her overcome cancer and 

how Belinda Hohman came to us to improve the quality of her life with a knee replacement. 

In summation, your support and decision to choose Genesis positioned us to grow, improve and reach a level worthy of nationwide recognition. 

We thank you and wish you good health. 

Matthew J. Perry

President & CEO

 

A Community Win 

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Spotlight on Kinan Kassar, M.D.

Submitted by emily.griffin on

“One of the nice things about interventional cardiology is you can see the impact instantaneously on patients’ lives. When I open a closed artery during a heart attack or place a new valve and watch the pressure decrease, I know I made a difference,” said Kinan Kassar, M.D., who joined the Genesis Heart & Vascular Group in July, specializing in interventional cardiology. 

Cardiology is continually being divided into specialties. Dr. Kassar said the availability of a cardiologist locally with training in different areas, such as interventions, structural heart and imaging, is important. A cardiologist must be able to look a patient’s condition as a whole and interpret data to determine the best treatment plan. 

“Patient management here is about prescribing medications and helping our patients have access to them,” Dr. Kassar said. He also said it’s essential to counsel patients to help them make healthier choices. 

Part of the care includes utilizing Genesis’ advanced technology or finding innovative ways to use existing technology. “Computed tomography has been used to image the body for decades but is new for the coronary field,” Dr. Kassar said. “It’s a valuable tool for physicians to investigate coronary artery disease in low to moderate risk patients complaining of angina.” 

Dr. Kassar said computed tomography also helps determines a patient’s cardiovascular risk and guides preventative measures through coronary calcium scoring. Additionally, CT scan imaging has become the most important method for planning certain procedures. 

Dr. Kassar’s experience practicing medicine in Syria made him mindful of certain aspects of patient care, including how socioeconomic status, access to healthy food and other challenges affect medication compliance. 

“Interventional cardiology requires a full understanding of the patient’s condition,” Dr. Kassar said. “Multidisciplinary decision-making and collaboration between specialties create the best treatment plan,” he said. 

Following a workday, Dr. Kassar usually rides his bike or runs. “Spending time outdoors helps me recharge for the next exciting day in the cath lab,” he said. 

Dr. Kassar’s office is in the Genesis Heart & Vascular Institute, 955 Bethesda Drive, First Floor, Zanesville. His phone number is 740-454-0804. Dr. Kassar is accepting new patients by physician referral. 

Doctor of Medicine: 

University of Damascus, Damascus, Syria 

Residency in Internal Medicine: 

West Penn Alleghany Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Fellowships: 

Cardiology, interventional and structural cardiology at West Penn Alleghany Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Board-certified: 

The American Board of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease, the National Board of Echocardiography, Cardiovascular Computed Tomography Board Exam and the Nuclear Cardiology Board Exam 

KINAN KASSAR, M.D.

Interventional Cardiology 

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Genesis Coshocton Medical Center - opening early 2023

Submitted by Kyle.Norton on

Construction of the Genesis Coshocton Medical Center is making significant progress. The new facility at 48439 Genesis Drive, Coshocton, will open in early 2023. The Genesis Coshocton Medical Center will bring together 200+ employees, including the region’s best:

  • Physicians
  • Advanced Practice Providers (Nurse practitioners, physician assistants)
  • Nurses
  • Technologists
  • Support Staff

 

Comprehensive, high-quality healthcare

Services will include:

  • Emergency Department open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • Outpatient Surgery Center
  • Overnight Observation Unit
  • Imaging: MRI, CT, X-ray, Mammography, Ultrasound
  • Laboratory
  • Cardiac diagnostics such as echocardiograms, stress tests and vascular ultrasound
  • Respiratory Therapy, including pulmonary function tests
  • Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies
  • Medical Office Building – Physician Specialists

 

Current providers and more are on the way

While the Genesis Coshocton Medical Center is a new addition to the area, Genesis has been providing healthcare to the residents of Coshocton and surrounding counties for decades. Below is a look at the physicians currently taking care of patients in Coshocton. Some of these providers will move into the Genesis Coshocton Medical Center when it opens.

  • Genesis Heart & Vascular Group (420 DowntownerPlaza, Coshocton)
  • Genesis OB/GYN Services (410 Main St., Suite A,Coshocton)
  • Genesis Primary Care (410 Main St., Suite A, Coshocton)
  • Genesis Urogynecology (420 Downtowner Plaza, Coshocton)

 

We are also opening another Genesis Primary Care Coshocton office in late summer 2022. This new primary care and internal medicine practice will be in the shopping area near Walmart. Other Genesis services will also be available in this office in the future.

 

Watch construction as it happens

Want to see the progress of the new Genesis Coshocton Medical Center construction? Check out the camera that captures both a live image of the site and a time-lapse view dating back to the first days of construction. Visit genesishcs.org/coshocton for the camera views and more.

 

Community focused


Twenty-five years, a breadth of experience and one ambition.

To care for her community.

Tisha Babcock started at Genesis HealthCare System in 1997 as a nursing tech while still in college. Over the past quarter of a century, she held positions at Genesis in critical care, heart and vascular, nursing support services and pulmonary before becoming the Coshocton Facility Administrator for the new Genesis Coshocton Medical Center scheduled to open in early 2023.

 

“I am honored to be associated with the Genesis Coshocton Medical Center,” said Tisha. “My family attends church in the Coshocton community, so I am very connected to the area. By opening the center, we will provide quality medical care for emergencies, therapies, surgeries, testing and access to specialists. Although Genesis Hospital is not far away, being even closer to home makes a huge difference when minutes count in an emergency.”

 

When asked why she remained with Genesis for so long, Tisha said, “There was never a reason to leave. Genesis thrives on relationships that are part of the foundation for small towns. The attitude of caring for each other starts in homes and spreads to neighborhoods and into Genesis. It is a way of life. A patient is always someone’s relative or friend. So, there is always a need to provide the best care.

 

“Due to community support, Genesis has emerged among the nation’s leaders in healthcare technology. Our teams have access to the latest equipment. When you combine our technology with our culture, I am where I am supposed to be and where I can make a difference,” said Tisha.

 

Learn more about our new facility and Tisha Babcock, the Coshocton Facility Administrator.

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A history of designing around patients' needs

Submitted by Kyle.Norton on

Private rooms. Warm, inviting, open spaces. Calming colors and plenty of windows allow sunlight to brighten the interior. Nursing stations centrally located on units. These are just a few benefits our patients and visitors noticed the day the new Genesis Hospital opened on Saturday, June 27, 2015.

 

The day was historic as years of planning and construction came to fruition in a modern facility designed around the needs of patients. “When we began to plan the new hospital, we talked with patients, their families, doctors, nurses and others in the community,” said Matt Perry, President & CEO of Genesis HealthCare System. “We wanted to know what they wanted in a hospital – what was important to them. Their input drove how we designed everything, from the main lobby to surgery to every detail of patient rooms and more.”

 

An example of this approach is evident in the Genesis Cancer Care Center. Patients receiving chemotherapy sit in comfortable chairs in an area that overlooks the beautiful Gorsuch Fitness Trail.

 

Each chair has heated massage options to provide comfort. Instead of having patients make trips around the center to see members of the care team, the care team comes to them in the chemotherapy area.

 

Even with all these physical improvements, perhaps the most important feature of the new hospital was how our staff redesigned over 400 patient care processes that dramatically improved their ability to provide each patient the very best, highest quality care. After all, our dedicated team of healthcare professionals are Genesis, and we were determined to provide a facility design that enabled them to provide you the very best care.

 

Building a future in Southeastern Ohio

“The entire team of healthcare professionals at Genesis is committed to caring for you like family to exceed your expectations every day.”

 

While Genesis Hospital has been the largest construction project in Genesis’ 25 years, it is not the only one by far. Several new facilities have been built, each designed to meet the needs of the people in their community. The Genesis Perry County Medical Center opened as a 24/7 Emergency Department in Somerset in 2018.

 

All of Genesis’ orthopedic providers moved into the new Genesis Orthopedic Center located on Bell Street in Zanesville in December 2021. Patients see their orthopedic specialists, have therapies and even visit the Orthopedic Walk-in Clinic without traveling from building to building.

 

Genesis is set to open a new facility in Coshocton – the Genesis Coshocton Medical Center – in early 2023. The center will feature a 24/7 Emergency Department; an overnight observation unit, physician specialists such as surgeons; an outpatient surgery center; physical, occupational and speech therapies, a lab draw center and more.

 

“Healthcare has gone through tremendous changes in the last 25 years. Genesis has evolved through the years to meet the challenges and fulfill our Mission: We serve our community by helping each person achieve optimal health and well-being by providing compassionate, exceptional and affordable healthcare services,” said Matt. “The entire team of healthcare professionals at Genesis is committed to caring for you like family to exceed your expectations every day.”

 

 

Designing

Building a future in Southeastern Ohio.

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Evolving physician care

Submitted by Kyle.Norton on

Much has changed in healthcare in the 25 years Genesis has been in existence, including how physicians provide care. Back in the day, most physicians across the nation were in private practice. That meant they not only had to provide medical care, but they also had to worry about the business side of their practice. This was true in our community.

 

Genesis and other healthcare organizations then began to employ physicians to better support them in caring for patients. Why does this matter? And what does it mean for you?

 

In a nutshell –when your physician is employed as a member of Genesis Physician Services (GPS), your physician is aligned with the Genesis mission, vision and values to provide you with the highest-quality care possible. GPS physicians are dedicated to you. They can spend more time with you – at the bedside in the hospital and when they see you in their offices – because they don’t have to worry about running a business. They do what’s right for you, because it’s the best medical decision, not because it impacts their bottom line.

 

“We have created a culture at Genesis with highly motivated, compassionate, kind and mutually respectful providers,” said Scott Wegner, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and President of Genesis Medical Group. “We are in the top 10 percentile in the nation for physician engagement with our organization and our mission, vision and values. This directly correlates with patients being highly satisfied with the care they receive, as shown by our patient satisfaction scores.”

 

These days, chances are you also have another kind of provider who sees you – advanced practice providers (APPs). The most common APPs at Genesis are nurse practitioners and physician assistants, but there are others, such as certified registered nurse anesthetists who provide anesthesia during surgeries.

 

“In the last 10 years, Genesis has added many APPs to the medical team. They are an integral part of our team providing high-quality care to our patients,” said Dr. Wegner. “They have dramatically improved access to medical care for our community. In many of our outlying primary care clinics, APPs are the primary provider. They build important relationships with patients to ensure they get the best care possible.”

 

When Genesis Physician Services first formed in 2008, there were 24 physicians and four APPs. Today, we have 148 physicians and 158 APPs. “We saw an opportunity with GPS to make sure the people in our community get the healthcare they need, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Dr. Wegner. “As physicians, we are grateful to be able to focus on the care we provide to our patients. We give them our all, and that’s as it should be.”

 

 

Much has changed in healthcare in the 25 years Genesis has been in existence, including how physicians provide care.

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A letter from our President and CEO | LiveWell Summer 2022

Submitted by Kyle.Norton on

Together

 

A car wreck. Chest pains. Labor contractions. For a quarter of a century, you have trusted Genesis to be there for some of life’s scariest and happiest moments. You counted on our doctors to find a cure, our nurses to care for and comfort you and our clergy to hold hands with you while praying.

We have also counted on you.

It started 25 years ago when community members had the foresight and courage to bring two hospitals together to form Genesis HealthCare System. Your support helped build a new hospital in 2015 designed to meet every aspect of healing, from spacious rooms to the latest technology. It was also designed to provide our dedicated, professional caregivers a state-of-the-art facility to care for you.

This anniversary belongs to the community and is a reason to celebrate. This publication kicks off that celebration, and we hope you understand how appreciative we are of you.

Your neighbors

Jim Hodges loves to golf. Judy Medley wants more time with her family. A heart attack and stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis jeopardized their wishes. Read their stories of hope and healing within this issue.

All My Meds

Almost everyone has experienced “pill panic” at one time or another. That unsettling feeling when you can’t remember if you have taken your medicine. To ease your mind and help keep you healthy, we now have new prescription packaging choices for Northside Pharmacies customers.

In addition to traditional pill bottles, we have pill pouches and easy-to-open, color-coded, multi-dose packs. These new options for those who take more than one maintenance medication show if you have taken your medicine. The pill pouches and multi-dose packs are labeled with the time and day to take the medication. You can even have them mailed to your home. Traditional pick-up is also available. Read more about it in this issue.

You said you needed a 24/7 pharmacy in Zanesville, and we listened. We recently opened a new Northside Pharmacy at 721 Taylor Street. This new pharmacy is the only 24/7 pharmacy in Zanesville and the surrounding counties.

We look forward to improving the health of our community through the newest technology, highly trained physician teams and compassionate care from staff who are your friends and neighbors.

In good health,

Matthew J. Perry

President & CEO

 

 

Together

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One less thing to remember

Submitted by Kyle.Norton on

We often mindlessly do routine tasks. Do you ever get to work and try to recall if you shut off the coffee pot or closed the garage door? Neither instance impacts your health but trying to remember if you took your medication — and missing a dose — can.

Northside Pharmacies offers a solution with All My Meds, a way to package maintenance medication for chronic illnesses to easily see if you’ve remembered to take all your meds. Taking medications as prescribed is critical to keeping you well.

Right dose. Right time.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, COPD, diabetes and similar conditions are better controlled when people take their prescribed medications correctly. Studies show that only 50% of people with chronic conditions take their maintenance medication, and when people don’t take their medicines as prescribed, their health suffers. All My Meds packages prescribed medication by date and the time of day for 28-day cycles in easy-to-open, color-coded multi-dose packs in either tear-away blister packs or pill pouches. The question, “Did I take my medication?” is eliminated.

Who can use All My Meds

Do you take more than one medication or pill multiple times a day? Approximately 62% of adults forget to take their medication regularly. If you take two or more maintenance medications for a chronic condition(s), All My Meds is a visual reminder, so you don’t miss a dose.

You choose

• Blister pack or pouches at no additional cost.
• To have your medication mailed or available for pick-up at the Northside Pharmacy of your choice.

How it works

• The first package includes medication synchronization or getting meds filled at the same time so that all the medications you take are in a 28-day fill.
• After the machine counts the pills and places them in the appropriate time of day slot, a camera captures an image for an automated visual inspection.
• In addition, a Northside pharmacist takes multiple steps to review each package carefully.
• Each month, the pharmacy calls patients before refilling the prescriptions and will contact the prescriber for refills when needed.

For more information on Northside Pharmacies, go to northsiderx.com.

 

 

All My Meds

Learn about a new medication packaging solution from Northside Pharmacies.

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Immunotherapy extended Judy's life

Submitted by Kyle.Norton on

After mentioning a persistent cough to her primary care doctor, Judy Medley saw a lung specialist every six months. He eventually referred her to Shyamal Bastola, M.D., Fellowship-trained and Board-certified Hematologist Oncologist at the Genesis Cancer Care Center.

“When I went to see Dr. Bastola, I had no idea it was cancer,” Judy said. “Dr. Bastola spoke kindly, with truth and honesty. He said I needed to get things squared away for myself. I had stage 4 lung cancer, and without the treatment, I had about six months to live.”

Shock flooded Judy’s senses, and tears streamed down her face. She wanted to spend time with her children, grandchildren and new greatgrandchildren. She wanted to live.

Dr. Bastola told Judy that chemotherapy might extend her life. So, she went to the Genesis Cancer Care Center multiple times a week for two months. While the chemo drained her energy, she hoped it was also draining the cancer cells that swarmed her lungs and had spread to her liver. At the end of chemo, she went with her family to their favorite place, Myrtle Beach, for a celebration.

Yet the celebration took place too soon. Upon returning from the beach, Dr. Bastola reviewed the latest scans and shared the bad news that the cancer had not gone away.

“He said, ‘Judy, we have something new we can try.’ Then he told me about immunotherapy.”

“The immunotherapy approach we chose for Judy was nivolumab, which aims to enhance the immune system to fight cancer cells,” said Dr. Bastola.

Judy went to the Genesis Cancer Care Center every other week to have the medication delivered intravenously.

“After three months of treatment, we did a scan, and Dr. Bastola said to me, ‘Guess what … the tumors have shrunk by 50%.’ I jumped up and hugged him. I was so happy,” Judy said.

Judy continued immunotherapy treatment for another three years. Her tumors continued shrinking, and her body stabilized.

“At first, I went to get scans and see Dr. Bastola every three months, but now we only see each other every six months, and he’s talking about extending it to once a year.”

Judy has lived seven years longer than she first thought possible, and she’s going strong. She plans to continue celebrating life by living each day to its fullest and visiting the beach as often as possible with her eight great-grandchildren, four grandchildren, two children and Jack, her husband of 33 years.

 

 

Immunotherapy aims to enhance the immune system to fight cancer cells.

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