CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Patients can now make an appointment online for eight University Hospitals emergency rooms and wait their turn in the comfort of their home.
The service started a few weeks ago and is for people with non-life-threatening conditions, said Richard Hanson, president of UH community hospitals and ambulatory network. Those with life-threatening emergencies should call 911 or immediately head to a hospital. Patients waiting at home will get email and automated phone status updates from the InQuicker online system in case of delays, Hanson said, and generally the wait should be only about 15 minutes once they arrive at the emergency room. "The intent of this project is not to reduce waiting time, but to give patients the choice of waiting in line at home," he said. The software estimates available treatment times based on how many patients are in need of care; online users are subject to the same triage and queuing as others in the ER.
UH is the only hospital system in Ohio with the online appointment service, InQuicker company spokesman Chris Song said. Three Dayton-area hospitals offered the system on a trial basis earlier this year. Those medical centers are no longer using the service but are in talks with the company about renewing the licensing agreement, Song said.
While the online service is only being offered in community medical centers and one urgent care center right now, it should be "rolled out" at UH Case Medical Center's University Circle emergency department by the end of the year, Hanson said. The system is online at uhhospitals.org/inquicker. A prompt allows the user to click on one of the emergency room locations. The user then selects a treatment time and fills out a form with their name, phone number and symptoms.
The system sends an alert to the ER when a time is set by an online user and a nurse reviews the person's symptoms. InQuicker is designed to detect key words that may indicate if the person's condition is life-threatening and will not allow the appointment to be scheduled, Song said. InQuicker will instead tell the person to call 911. The ER nurse may follow-up with a call as well.
Song said InQuicker was founded in 2006 and began to grow in earnest in 2010. At that time, the Nashville company had 28 partners. Today, there are 158 emergency rooms or urgent care centers in 21 states using the InQuicker system, Song said. About 80 percent of the people using the service nationwide wait less than 15 minutes before being seen by a doctor or nurse, he said.
Hanson said UH considered the system at the suggestion of some emergency room physicians. He would not reveal how much InQuicker cost UH, but said that the service is free to patients.
Song emphasized that the service is for people who are sure that they can wait at home safely with no health risk. Examples of non-threatening ailments include: urinary track infection, fever, migraine headache, sprained ankle, back pain.
Conditions for which people should go immediately to the emergency room or call 911 include: severe chest pain; near drowning; shortness of breath or not breathing; severe injuries to eyes; severe abdominal pain; head, neck or back injuries; allergic reactions; swelling in face or neck; wheezing; seizures; fractures with exposed bone or bone deformity; suspected drug overdose or poisoning; uncontrolled bleeding; uncontrolled coughing; vomiting blood.
UH medical center emergency rooms offering the online ER scheduling service include: Bedford, Conneaut, Geauga, Geneva, Richmond, Twinsburg, Ahuja in Beachwood and St. John in West Lake (a joint venture of UH and Sisters of Charity Health System). The online system also can be used for the urgent care center in Twinsburg.
Though other area hospitals do not have similar online services, Lake Health two years ago began posting ER wait times on Twitter for its two medical centers, TriPoint and Lake West.
For further information, please contact: Patrick Garmone, 440-827-5148
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has Granted Three Year Accreditation with Commendation to the Cancer Program at St. John Medical Center
A facility receives a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation following the on-Site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrates a Commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full Scope of the cancer program (cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach, and quality improvement). In addition a facility receives a compliance rating for all other standards. Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium Of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of
Surgeons and 49 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care. The core functions of the CoC include setting standards to quality, multidisciplinary Cancer patient care, surveying facilities to evaluate compliance with the 36 CoC standards, collecting standardized and quality data from accredited facilities, and using the data to develop effective educational interventions to improve cancer care outcomes at the national, state, and local level.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that more than 1.6 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2012. There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the US and Puerto Rico, representing close to 30 percent of all hospitals. This 30 percent of hospitals diagnose and/or treat approximately 80 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients each year. In addition, a national network of more than 1,650 volunteer Cancer Liaison Physicians provides leadership and support for the CoC Accreditation program and other CoC activities at these local facilities.
The Accreditation Program, a component of the CoC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the program to ensure they conform to those standards. Accreditation by the CoC is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. To maintain accreditation, facilities with CoC-accredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years.
Receiving care at a CoC-accredited cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to:
Cancer patient data are reported by each CoC-accredited cancer program to the CoC's National Cancer Date Base (NCDB), a joint CoC/American Cancer Society program. The NCDB currently contains patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment and outcomes information for almost 28 million cancer patients diagnosed and treated at hospital cancer programs in the US between 1985 and 2004. These data account for approximately two-thirds of newly diagnosed cancer cases in the US each year.
NCDB date is regularly used to monitor and improve the quality of patient care delivered in CoC-accredited cancer programs. The CoC requires programs to implement quality improvement initiatives that promote the delivery of quality, multidisciplinary cancer care and lead to ongoing educational interventions with local providers in the CoC-accredited cancer programs.
Through an exclusive partnership with the American Cancer Society, the CoC provides the public with information on the resources, services, and cancer treatment experience for each CoC-accredited cancer program. This information is shared with the public on the American Cancer Society's Web site at www.cancer .org and though the American Cancer Society's National Cancer Information Center at 1-800-ACS-2345.
For more information about the Commission on Cancer, visit our Web site at www.facs.org/cancer/index.hthl(.)
Westlake – Work is nearing completion toward establishing a University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at St. John Medical Center by July. Located in the Family Medicine Center near Crocker Road on the St. John Medical Center campus, the cancer center will offer a wide range of services to assure that local patients and their families can receive exceptional cancer care closer to home.
The UH Seidman Cancer Center at St. John Medical Center will merge the most advanced approaches to the treatment of cancer with a beautiful healing environment. A celebration to open the cancer center will be a part of a community-wide open house featuring screening and physician talks during the upcoming Festival of the Arts.
As part of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, the UH Seidman Cancer Center is one of only a select group of centers in the country to be designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. This distinction recognizes development and use of the most effective methods of early detection, treatment and prevention of cancer, including clinical trials and advanced treatments not yet available elsewhere. Case Medical Center also is recognized by US News & World Report as one of the top hospitals for cancer care in the country.
With the latest prevention and screening programs, diagnostic techniques, treatment technologies, and valuable support services, patients will receive state-of-the-art treatment and therapies found only in the best cancer programs across America. Recognizing that many patients prefer not to travel far for treatment, the UH Seidman Cancer Center at St. John Medical Center will offer the same exceptional level of care as those found at Case Medical Center.
"While access to the most advanced treatment is a priority for people needing cancer care, so is having the emotional support of family and friends nearby – in comfortable, familiar surroundings," says William A. Young, President of St. John Medical Center.
UH Seidman Cancer Center physicians will be part of a multidisciplinary team with experts who will work together to create a personalized treatment plan that meets a patient's physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
"Team members will focus on providing an exceptional level of care as well as compassionate and supportive care," says Young. Treatment services will be carefully coordinated and personalized for each patient.
The center's design will make it easy for patients and families to find the different treatment and support areas. Patient waiting areas are in close proximity to treatments and the examination rooms and treatment areas are designed to protect and respect patient privacy.
"The opening of the UH Seidman Cancer Center complements our vision to be the provider of choice in our service area by delivering the highest quality care and the best patient experience," says Young. "This collaboration will provide the people of western Cuyahoga and eastern Lorain counties with access to the highest level of care possible." Patients at the UH Seidman Cancer Center at St. John Medical Center also will have access to continuing cancer education and information on the latest cancer treatments and clinical trials. Dedicated to innovative treatment and promising research in the fight against cancer through ongoing studies aimed at treatment and prevention, the UH Seidman Cancer Center offers cutting-edge treatments earlier than most other cancer centers and currently participates in more than 300 clinical trials. In addition, affiliation with Case Western Reserve University provides ongoing studies aimed at cancer treatment and prevention.
The opening of the Seidman Cancer Center at St. John Medical Center is part of the hospital's $100 million strategic plan. The plan more closely aligns St. John Medical Center with University Hospitals' centers of excellence and institutes, including its nationally ranked UH Case Medical Center, UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital; UH Seidman Cancer Center, and the UH Westlake Health Center. The opening of Seidman Cancer Center at St. John Medical Center will complement the existing Seidman Cancer Center services available at University Hospitals Westlake Health Center on Clague Road.
Westlake – St. John Medical Center has added a new low-dose computed tomography system (CT) that is considered one of the most advanced in the industry.
The Philips Ingenuity 128 CT system, which creates 128 slices or cross-sectional images, improves image quality up to 68 percent while reducing radiation exposure to patients by up to 80 percent.
"That's a significant increase in image quality and a huge decrease in radiation exposure," says Amy Sharp, MS, RT, Manager of the Radiology Department at St. John Medical Center.
In addition, the system's accuracy is enhanced by its speed. It can complete a head-to-toe scan in 15 seconds, compared to up to 60 seconds for many other scanners.
"Typically, a patient is asked to hold their breath to reduce motion, but even a heartbeat can distort images," says Sharp. "A quicker scan results in less distortion from motion." In addition, nearly all images are reconstructed and made available for viewing significantly faster than other scanners.
"The new CT system demonstrates our commitment to invest in the latest medical technology so that we can provide our patients with the best health care possible," says William Young, President of St. John Medical Center.
CT scans play a vital role as a diagnostic tool for adults, and they are also extremely helpful in diagnosing illnesses in children. Using a tube that rotates around a patient's body, CT cans show the most intricate details of bones, organs, arteries and additional tissues.
In pediatrics, physicians and radiologists are especially sensitive to radiation levels, and the new Philips CT system has the lowest-dose CT available. Monitoring radiation levels is important during all life stages, and it is important to obtain the absolute lowest dose for the most optimum results. This is also critical in geriatric patients.
"In pediatrics, cells are active and producing when a child is growing, and in geriatrics, that's when patients are experiencing cell breakdown," explains Sharp. "Patients from both age groups are most susceptible to radiation-damaging cells."
Individuals needing imaging or follow-up CT may be referred through their physician to St. John Medical Center.
Westlake – St. John Medical Center has added stereotactic breast biopsy to its arsenal in diagnosing breast cancer. The procedure greatly lessens the pain of a breast biopsy while increasing its accuracy and speed.
Breast biopsy, which involves the removal of a small sample of breast tissue for laboratory testing, is considered the best way to evaluate a suspicious area in the breast for breast cancer. Stereotactic breast biopsy offers the benefits of minimal scarring instead of a large incision from open surgical biopsy; reduced pain; and quicker recovery time and an immediate return to daily activities.
"Stereotactic breast biopsy uses computer-guided imagery to precisely position a biopsy needle within the breast," says Robert Konstan, MD, Medical Director of Radiology at St. John Medical Center. "The radiologist then takes a small sample of breast tissue for pathologic evaluation to determine whether a growth is benign or cancerous."
If the area of concern is benign, no further treatment is necessary. If the finding is malignant, your doctor will share further options with you.
"The procedure generally requires no stitches, and leaves virtually no scarring or disfigurement," says Dr. Konstan. "Women can resume normal activities soon after the procedure."
The addition of stereotactic breast biopsy is the latest enhancement to St. John Medical Center's new The Breast Health Center, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to women's breast health needs, including screening, diagnosis, treatment and emotional support, in one convenient space. The new center has consolidated mammography, ultrasound and bone density services in one contiguous location just off the hospital's main lobby. Advanced screening, testing and diagnostic services are all available to help women who experience breast symptoms, lumps or abnormal screening mammograms.
The Breast Health Center is led by Kathy Graham, MD, a board-certified surgeon who specializes in breast cancer and benign breast problems. Patients also have the support of Breast Health Coordinator Joyce Forristell, CBPN-IC, to help them make informed decisions and provide guidance throughout testing, treatment and recovery.
In addition to providing personalized and compassionate care, the capabilities of the Breast Health Center are enhanced through the recent acquisitions of the latest technologies, including a 2D full-field digital mammography system, a Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) system, and an Intact Breast Lesion Excision System (BLES).
"The availability stereotactic breast biopsy and these other new technologies are a distinct advantage for our patients," says Dr. Graham.
St. John Medical Center's Breast Health Center is also integrated with breast health specialists at the UH Seidman Cancer Center, which is ranked by US News & World Report as having one of the highest levels of cancer care in the United States. For a free brochure on St. John Medical Center's Breast Health Center, call Joyce Forristell at 440-827-5459, or email her at Joyce.Forristell@csauh.com. More information on the Breast Health Center can also be found at www.stjohnmedicalcenter.net.
Westlake – St. John Medical Center has received full accreditation with PCI from the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC). Hospitals with SCPC accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack.
"People tend to wait when they think they might be having a heart attack, and that's a mistake," says Roy Seitz, MD, Medical Director of St. John Medical Center's Emergency Department. "The average patient arrives in the emergency department more than two hours after the onset of symptoms, but what they don't realize is that the sooner a heart attack is treated, the less damage to the heart and the better the outcome for the patient."
According to the SCPC, St. John Medical Center and other accredited hospitals emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. These hospitals also serve as a point of entry into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems, and they help to promote a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack.
To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, St. John Medical Center engaged in a rigorous SCPC evaluation of its ability to assess, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. For residents of eastern Cuyahoga and Lorain counties, this means St. John Medical Center has processes are in place that meet strict criteria aimed at:
St. John Medical Center provides a continuum of state-of-the-art care for the heart patient, including dispatch, Emergency Medical System, Emergency Department, cath lab, quality assurance plan, and a community outreach program. By becoming an Accredited Chest Pain Center, St. John Medical has enhanced the quality of care for the cardiac patient and has demonstrated its commitment to higher standards.
The Society of Chest Pain Centers is an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction.
Westlake – St. John Medical Center is successfully using a delicate cooling technique called therapeutic hypothermia to reduce the chances of brain damage and increase the chances of survival for cardiac arrest patients. St. John Medical Center is one of the first community hospitals in the area to offer comprehensive therapeutic hypothermia therapy for cardiac arrest patients. The cooling therapy is begun immediately in the Emergency Department for cardiac arrest survivors meeting specific criteria.
Therapeutic hypothermia was first used on a patient brought to St. John Medical Center by EMS with a STEMI (Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction). A STEMI is a heart attack in which a coronary artery suddenly becomes completely blocked by a blood clot, resulting in virtually all of the heart muscle being supplied by the affected artery to begin to die. The patient had stents placed in the artery, was cooled for 24 hours, was gradually rewarmed, and remained hospitalized for three weeks. The patient has since made a full recovery.
In cases of cardiac arrest, emergency staff members stabilize a patient's heart to contain damage to the heart muscle. Only those patients revived enough to show a pulse and whose heart problems are not associated with some other trauma are eligible for therapeutic hypothermia. The cooling treatment uses ice packs, cooling pads or water immersion, and cold IV fluids or catheters to bring down the core body temperature to 92 degrees for 24 hours. After about 24 hours, the patient is slowly brought back to normal temperature.
"If patients suffer from sudden cardiac death, the best way to save their life and prevent brain damage is to immediately start basic life support and call professional help," says Roy Seitz, MD, Medical Director of St. John Medical Center's Emergency Department. "After successful resuscitation, therapeutic hypothermia may be considered to improve outcome."
Therapeutic hypotherapy is endorsed by the American Heart Association based on scientific data demonstrating significantly improved survival rates for cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia over those receiving conventional treatment.
"Mild hypothermia for those successfully revived from cardiac arrest improves survival," says Dr. Seitz. "It also decreases brain injury so that the person can go back home fully intact mentally and physically."
Not all hospitals currently have the ability to rapidly cool patients who have been successfully resuscitated. "If a family member is not at a hospital that has a cooling protocol in place, they should ask about a quick transfer to a facility that is familiar with therapeutic hypothermia," Dr. Seitz says.
St. John Medical Center is a 194-bed medical facility with 1,300 employees, 400 volunteers, and a medical staff of nearly 600. Co-owned by University Hospitals and the Sisters of Charity Health System, the medical center is a nationally recognized Catholic health care provider and a teaching hospital affiliated with the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Westlake – St. John Medical Center is the first hospital on the West Side to begin using the Impella pump, a miniature pump so small it can be threaded through an artery and placed inside the heart.
Cardiologists John Coletta, MD, and E. Dean Nukta, MD, are among the first group of St. John Medical Center physicians trained to use the pump, which offers new hope to critically ill heart attack and heart failure patients who have run out of options by assisting the heart's main pumping chamber to drive blood through the body.
"The pump can be in place for hours or days, which gives a seriously damaged heart crucial time to recover before other procedures, such as opening blocked arteries, are performed," says Dr Coletta.
Unlike left-ventricular heart-assist pumps that require open-chest surgery to be implanted, which may not be tolerated by seriously ill patients, the Impella pump is a minimally invasive procedure. The Impella – a rotary pump with a tiny motor – is inserted by way of a standard catheterization through the femoral artery, into the ascending aorta, across the valve and into the left ventricle.
"Heart attack and heart failure patients with blockages often need increased blood flow quickly, and the Impella pump helps us accomplish this," says Dr. Coletta.
"Whenever you put a stent or balloon in a high-risk patient, you have to have the artery closed while the balloon's out," says Dr. Coletta. "For some patients, this means they might not be getting any blood flow to the heart for 40 to 60 seconds. Some people couldn't survive that, so we couldn't treat them," he says.
"The Impella pump now gives us the opportunity to treat patients we couldn't treat before," Dr. Coletta says.
Abiomed, manufacturer of the pump, estimates that more than 100,000 Americans could benefit from the pump each year.
Westlake – St. John Medical Center has purchased a portable ultrasound bladder scanner to measure residual urine in the bladder and reduce the need for uncomfortable catheters.
The portable scanner, which is about the size of a laptop computer, is used to determine how much urine remains in the bladder after urination. By defining urinary volume, the scanner reduces the need for catheters in post-surgery and other patients. By using fewer catheters, the risk of urinary tract infections among hospital patients are reduced.
"Bladder scanning for estimating residual urine is faster than catheterization, carries a lower risk of infection, and results in increased patient comfort and satisfaction," says James V. Guliano, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at St. John Medical Center. "It is noninvasive, painless, quick, and accurate."
Many hospitals are adding the bladder scanner in order to achieve a new quality metric for catheter-associated urinary tract infections established by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS).
Guliano says clinical and nurse managers have already implemented bladder-scanning protocols with the goal of reducing catheterization-related infections and costs. It is estimated that the average cost of a hospital-acquired urinary tract infection is $8,000 to $10,000 per episode.
St. John Medical Center is a NICHE (Nursing Improving Care for Health Care Elders) designate of New York University Hartford Institute, a program that addresses care of the elderly population.
"The portable bladder scanner was directly cited in the NICHE curriculum as a tool to manage urinary retention and bladder shrinkage in the elderly," says Guliano.
Westlake – The National Consortium of Breast Centers has certified Joyce Forristell, Breast Health Coordinator in St. John Medical Center's Breast Health Center, as a Breast Patient Navigator. The certification validates Forristell's knowledge and skills in navigating breast patients through their breast cancer care.
The Breast Patient Navigator Certification was developed to set standards of achievement and the professional's role; enhance patient safety, improve the quality of care and delivery of services; and recognize professionals who advance beyond basic knowledge in a field of specialty. Through testing, the Breast Patient Navigator certification validated Forristell's knowledge and performance standards.
Forristell considers her position as Breast Health Coordinator to be a "calling" based on her own cancer experiences and career path. She was named to the new Breast Health Coordinator position seven years ago, and has developed a program that provides comfort, reassurance and support to women during a personal time of crisis.
Forristell provides a personal touch to St. John Medical Center's new Breast Health Center, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to women's breast health needs, including screening, diagnosis, treatment and emotional support, in one convenient space. The new center has consolidated mammography, ultrasound and bone density services in one contiguous location just off the hospital's main lobby. Advanced screening, testing and diagnostic services are all available to help women who experience breast symptoms, lumps or abnormal screening mammograms.
Forristell also holds specialty certifications as a Certified Breast Patient Navigator in Imaging, a Certified Breast Patient Navigator in Cancer, and a Certified Breast Self Examiner. She co-chairs a breast cancer support group and helps to educate women throughout the community on breast health issues.
St. John Medical Center (SJMC) is pleased to announce the appointment of William A. Young Jr. as President and CEO of St. John Medical Center. The announcement was made by Ronald W. Dees, Chairman of the Board of Directors for St. John Medical Center, which is co-owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals (UH). Mr. Young will begin his new role by December 31, 2011.
As President and CEO, Young will oversee the daily operations and lead the medical center's growth and service expansion plans as it continues to meet the needs of the west side community. Specifically, he will manage the medical center's five-year, $100-million strategic plan, which includes hospital renovations and adding specialty services and programs. Over the past year, several strategic initiatives were implemented such as opening the University Hospitals Neurological Institute at SJMC; expanding and relocating the Pain Management Center; installing digital mammography as well as adding a state-of-the-art special procedures room. In a few weeks, SJMC will open a Breast Health Center. Early next year, the campus will welcome a satellite location of the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, as well as the completion of a renovated entrance and front lobby.
"Mr. Young brings to St. John Medical Center more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry," said Thomas F. Zenty III, Chief Executive Officer, UH. "His wealth of leadership ability has demonstrated outstanding strategic planning that has produced exemplary results throughout his career. Young will be a tremendous asset to St. John Medical Center, and will strengthen its position as the health care leader on Cleveland's west side."
Prior to his appointment as President and CEO of SJMC, Young spent more than five years as Chief Operating Officer for South Pointe and Marymount hospitals. Before coming to Cleveland, Young worked at Humility of Mary Health Partners where he served four years as President of St. Joseph Health Center in Warren. There, Young had oversight of a $19-million construction project which included replacement and expansion of operating suites, expanded ancillary service areas and increased patient bed capacity. In addition, he implemented plans that increased patient volume in the emergency room, and oversaw the effort to achieve Level III trauma status.
"We are pleased that Mr. Young will serve in this critical leadership role for St. John Medical Center," said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, President and CEO, Sisters of Charity Health System. "With proven leadership and operational skills, Mr. Young will be integral to ensuring the growth and expansion of St. John Medical Center," Karam said. She added, "With his extensive background and dedication to Catholic health care, I am confident he will continue to fulfill our faith-based mission, support the provision of high quality patient-centered care in service to the community and prepare the medical center for the future of health care."
Young earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio Northern University. Young is a graduate of the Catholic Healthcare Partners Leadership Academy. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Healthcare Executives Association of Northeast Ohio. Young currently serves as a board member for Catholic Charities Health and Human Services, American Red Cross Northern Ohio Blood Services Region, Warrensville Heights Area Chamber of Commerce and Harvard Community Services Center.
"I am honored to accept the position as President and CEO of St. John Medical Center," said Young. "The medical center has an outstanding reputation and a strong future. I look forward to working with its first-rate and dedicated team of physicians, employees and volunteers to further solidify its leadership position on Cleveland's west side, and provide the surrounding communities with the high-quality, technologically advanced health care it deserves."
St. John Medical Center (SJMC) has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines(r) Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes SJMC's commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.
To receive the award, St. John Medical Center achieved of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Performance Achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care. These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.
"With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award demonstrates St. John Medical Center's commitment to being one of the top hospitals in the country for providing aggressive, proven stroke care," said Hospital President and CEO William A. Young Jr.. "We will continue with our focus on providing care that has been shown in the scientific literature to quickly and efficiently treat stroke patients with evidence-based protocols."
Get With The Guidelines-Stroke uses the "teachable moment," the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professionals' guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke. Through Get With The Guidelines-Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients' individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the Get With The Guidelines Patient Management Tool gives healthcare providers access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.
"The time is right for St. John Medical Center to be focused on improving the quality of stroke care by implementing Get With The Guidelines-Stroke. The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment is expected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence and a large aging population," said Young.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every three minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
More than $45 million in improvements at St. John Medical Center (SJMC) have received final approval from the hospital's board of directors, paving way for implementation of Phases 1 and 2 of the hospital's modernization plan. Phases 3 and 4 will cost an additional $6.4 million which still needs approval by the board of trustees.
The board's approval sets in motion the mobilization of contractors and subcontractors on the St. John Medical Center campus. The projects are the result of the hospital's 5-year strategic/modernization plans, a comprehensive assessment of the hospital and its environment. The plan also includes news services or expansion of services such as the UH Neurological Institute at SJMC (which opened in April 2011), expanded and relocated pain management center (October 2011), digital mammography (October 2010), new expanded Breast Health Center (December 2011) special procedure room (June 2011) and the opening of a West side satellite location of UH Siedman Cancer Center (opening in 2012).
"We are thankful for the physicians, staff and volunteers who have worked with our team to develop the plan over the past two years," says Steve Standley, University Hospitals' Chief Administrative Office. "We are confident these improvements will significantly enhance the patient experience."
The $45 million plan features updates to St. John Medical Center's facilities and infrastructure, providing needed modernization to the hospital that was built in 1981. Included are:
"These projects are a unique opportunity to build upon our strengths to better meet the needs of those we serve," says Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, President and CEO, Sisters of Charity Health System. "They support our vision to further strengthen St. John's position as the premier health care provider on the West Side." The board gave final approval to the improvement plan October 19.
St. John Medical Center is a partnership between University Hospitals and the Sisters of Charity Health System. The hospital's campus offers easy access from I-90 and I-480 and serves the growing eastern Lorain County communities of North Ridgeville, Avon and Avon Lake. Nearly 600 physicians are on the medical staff of the hospital, which also boasts 1,200 employees and about 300 volunteers. St. John Medical Center also serves as a teaching site for the Ohio College of Osteopathic Medicine, with 59 students, residents and interns. The hospital boasts such centers of excellence as emergency services, cardiovascular, spine and orthopedic center as well as critical care. St. John Medical Center was also recently recognized by US News & World Report as one of the best hospitals in the Cleveland area citing five areas of service distinction.
Westlake – Westshore Women's Health grows to better meet the needs of our community. Their growth includes the addition of two new OB/GYNs and a move to a new location at 29160 Center Ridge Road (Suite M), adjacent to the St. John Medical Center campus.
"Drs. Brandewie and Ferry are outstanding additions to our medical staff," says Michael Ardonetto, DO, president of of Westshore Primary Care, the umbrella organization for Westshore Women's Health and Westshore Midwives. "Their experience and training complements our excellent staff that is already bringing advanced treatments to women of all ages in our community." The new OB/GYNs will join Westshore Women's Health physicians Edwina Simmons, MD, St. John Medical Center's Director of OB/GYN; Jeff Christian, MD, medical director of Midwifery and In-Hospital Obsetrical Services; and Lourdes Falconi, MD, OB/GYN physician.
Dr. Brandewie comes to Westshore Primary Care from Wilson Memorial Hospital near Dayton, where she served in a high-volume private practice, averaged 150 deliveries per year and developed her skills in laparoscopy. She received her bachelor of science and medical degrees from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where she was the recipient of many awards and recognitions. Dr. Brandewie is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
A Bay Village resident, Dr. Ferry most recently worked with Physician Staffing, Inc., and has served as a house physician in OB/GYN since 2006. She previously was with the Cuyahoga Physician Network and University Primary Care Physicians. Dr. Ferry has a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University and a medical degree from the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. She served her residency at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center, and has held academic appointments at the Case Western Western University and at the Ohio College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Ferry is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Besides providing prenatal care to expectant mothers and delivering babies, Drs. Brandewie and Ferry provide a wide range of state-of-the-art surgical procedures including minimally invasive (laparoscopic) hysterectomies and treatment for bladder control. They also provide comprehensive gynecology services and health maintenance for women of all ages, as well as treatments for menopause and PMS.
Both physicians are accepting new patients. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (440) 835-6996.
Westshore Women's Health is committed to providing comprehensive care to women with a holistic approach that includes physical, emotional and spiritual health. A healthcare team of physicians, midwives, nurses, breast health care specialists, nutritionists and physical therapists is dedicated to meeting the unique challenges of women today.
Westlake -- St. John Medical Center received a number of positive ratings in the annual release of US News & World Report's Best Hospitals listing. In addition to making it into the "Top Ten" list of Greater Cleveland's Best Hospitals, St. John Medical Center rated as a "High Performing" hospital in gastroenterology, geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology, and urology.
U.S. News surveyed nearly 10,000 specialists and sifted through data for almost 5,000 hospitals to rank the best in 16 adult specialties, from cancer to urology. Death rates, patient safety, and hospital reputation were a few of the factors considered.
SJMC achieved "high performing" in its five specialties because of higher than expected survival rates, advanced technologies, and the availability of important services.
"The US News ratings are the latest in a long list of positive reports and outstanding rankings for St. John Medical Center over the last two years," says Cliff J. Coker, president of St. John Medical Center. "Our medical staff, employees and volunteers can be extremely proud of these recognitions."
St. John Medical Center has been named one of the nation's 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Thomson Reuters.
The study, now in its twelfth year, for the first time singled out 50 hospitals rather than the traditional practice of naming 100 winners. The study examined the performance of 1,022 hospitals by analyzing outcomes for patients with heart failure and heart attacks and for those who received coronary bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary interventions such as angioplasties.
This is the first time St. John Medical Center has been recognized with this honor. This year's winners were announced November 15 in Modern Healthcare magazine.
"We are extremely proud of this recognition," says Cliff J. Coker, president, St. John Medical Center. "Our cardiovascular services are a center of excellence, and this distinction further emphasizes the high quality of care we provide as well as our commitment to serving the community as a healthcare leader."
"We've chosen a more elite group of winners this year. These hospitals have raised the bar significantly," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals® program at Thomson Reuters. "They deliver higher survival rates, shorter hospital stays, fewer readmissions, and lower costs — which adds up to enormous value for the communities they serve. As a result, everyone benefits: patients, families, employers, insurers and the hospital itself."
The study shows that 96 percent of cardiovascular inpatients survive and approximately 93 percent remain complication-free, indicative of improved cardiovascular care across-the-board over the past decade. The 50 top hospitals' performance surpasses these high-water marks as indicated by:
The study evaluated general and applicable specialty, short-term, acute care, non-federal U.S. hospitals treating a broad spectrum of cardiology patients.
Thomson Reuters researchers analyzed 2008 and 2009 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, Medicare cost reports, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare data. They scored hospitals in key performance areas: risk-adjusted mortality, risk-adjusted complications, core measures (a group of measures that assess process of care), percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, 30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, severity-adjusted average length of stay, and wage- and severity-adjusted average cost.
Co-owned by University Hospitals and the Sisters of Charity of Health System, St. John Medical Center is a Catholic health care provider celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2011. The medical center is recognized for outstanding centers of excellence that include Emergency Services, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Women Services and Cardiovascular Services, as well as unique services such as its Kidney Stone Center, Holistic Birthing Center and Balance Center. Recognized by several national organizations as one of the country's best community hospitals, the medical center continues to expand its role as a leading provider of health care in Northeastern Ohio. St. John Medical Center is currently in the implementation stages of Vision 2015, a five-year, $100 million strategic plan that will include hospital-wide modernization and expansion. Vision 2015 also will align the medical center more closely with University Hospitals' centers of excellence and institutes, including its nationally ranked UH Case Medical Center, UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital and UH Ireland Cancer Center.
Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs 55,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. For more information, go to http://thomsonreuters.com.
Award demonstrates St. John Medical Center's commitment to quality care for stroke patients
St. John Medical Center (SJMC) has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes SJMC's commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.
To receive the award, St. John Medical Center achieved of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Performance Achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.
These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.
"With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award demonstrates St. John Medical Center's commitment to being one of the top hospitals in the country for providing aggressive, proven stroke care," said Hospital President Cliff J. Coker. "We will continue with our focus on providing care that has been shown in the scientific literature to quickly and efficiently treat stroke patients with evidence-based protocols,"
"St. John Medical Center is to be commended for its commitment to implementing standards of care and protocols for treating stroke patients," said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients."
Get With The Guidelines–Stroke uses the "teachable moment," the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professionals' guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke.
Through Get With The Guidelines–Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients' individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the Get With The Guidelines Patient Management Tool gives healthcare providers access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.
"The time is right for St. John Medical Center to be focused on improving the quality of stroke care by implementing Get With The Guidelines–Stroke. The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment is expected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence and a large aging population," said Coker.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every three minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
St. John Medical Center recently qualified for the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline Bronze Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes St. John Medical Center's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients that effectively improves the survival and care of STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) patients.
Every year, almost 400,000 people experience the STEMI type of heart attack.
Unfortunately, a significant number don't receive prompt reperfusion therapy, which is critical in restoring blood flow. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate STEMI patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline is focusing on improving the system of care for these patients and at the same time improving care for all heart attack patients.
Hospitals involved in Mission: Lifeline strive to improve care in both acute treatment measures and discharge measures. Systems of care are developed that close the gap of timely access to appropriate, life-saving treatments. Before they are discharged, appropriate patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers in the hospital and receive smoking cessation counseling.
Hospitals that receive the Mission: Lifeline Bronze Performance Achievement Award have demonstrated that eligible STEMI patients (without contraindications) are treated within specific time frames upon entering the hospital and discharged following the American Heart Association's recommended treatment guidelines.
"St. John Medical Center is dedicated to making our cardiac unit among the best in the country, and the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by making it easier for our professionals to improve the outcomes of our cardiac patients," said Cliff Coker, SJMC President. "We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care."
Officials from St. John Medical Center, University Hospitals and the Sisters of Charity Health System have jointly announced a five-year, $100-million strategic plan for St. John Medical Center that includes the modernization and expansion of the 29-year-old facility.
The plan includes a comprehensive assessment of the medical center and its environment, as well as strengthening of its vision and market share. "This is the foundation of our strategic plan," says Cliff J. Coker, President of St. John Medical Center. "It is a unique opportunity to build upon our strengths to better meet the needs of those we serve."
As part of an agreement announced earlier this year, both the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals are making equal investments in the strategic expansion and growth of St. John Medical Center. University Hospitals serves as the operating manager of the West Side medical center. The Sisters of Charity Health System remain a 50 percent owner of the medical center and serve as its religious sponsor. The medical center remains a Catholic health care provider.
"This plan heralds in a 'new era' for St. John Medical Center as it continues the legacy of Catholic health care," says Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, President and CEO, Sisters of Charity of Health System. "We remain committed to enhancing the medical center's already strong position on Cleveland's West Side and continue to work with University Hospitals on taking the medical center to higher levels of success."
"University Hospitals is responsible for the strategic planning and investment as approved by the board to ensure that the initiatives enhance the quality of services provided at St. John Medical Center," says Thomas Zenty III, Chief Executive Officer of University Hospitals. "We join the Sisters of Charity Health System in supporting the vision to further strengthen the position of St. John Medical Center as the premier health care provider on Cleveland's West Side."
The new plan will more closely align St. John Medical Center with University Hospitals' centers of excellence and institutes, including its nationally ranked UH Case Medical Center, UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital; UH Ireland Cancer Center, and the UH Westlake Health Center.
Input on St. John Medical Center's strategic plan included the leadership of the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals, administration from St. John Medical Center, and 30 physicians affiliated with St. John Medical Center. The plan includes a comprehensive five-year outline for facility growth, acquiring new technology, improving financial performance, aligning physicians, growing service lines and volumes, enhancing quality and patient satisfaction, developing marketing and branding initiatives, and expanding community benefits.
The plan features a significant investment in updating St. John Medical Center's facilities and infrastructure, providing needed modernization to the medical center that was built in 1981. Included are:
In addition to these facility enhancements, another multi-million dollar investment is targeted for the purchase of state-of-the-art surgical and imaging equipment. Plans include the opening of a new Interventional Radiology Suite later this year, the purchase of a CT scanner in 2011, and a new MRI in the next three to four years.
Another significant investment is designated toward growing a St. John Medical Center site for the Ireland Cancer Center, which consistently ranks among the top 25 cancer centers in the country.
Another investment is targeted toward the redesign of on-campus outpatient space, in response to the anticipated needs for diagnostic, pain management, neurological institute and urology services.
The strategic plan also includes proposals to grow volume and service lines by expanding the SJMC Primary Care Physician Network, increasing the number of specialty physicians, and growing services in cancer, cardiovascular, orthopedics, women and children's services, neurosciences, urology, pain management and geriatrics.
"Ultimately, we intend to be the provider of choice in our service area by delivering the highest quality care and the best patient experience," says Coker, who cited recent independent reports ranking the hospital as one of the best community hospitals in the country. "Thanks to our loyal physicians and dedicated employees and volunteers, we are well on our way."
With 189 staffed beds, the St. John Medical Center campus offers easy access from I-90 and I-480 and serves the growing eastern Lorain County communities of North Ridgeville, Avon and Avon Lake. Nearly 600 physicians are on the medical staff of the medical center, which also boasts 1,200 employees and about 300 volunteers. St. John Medical Center also serves as a teaching site for the Ohio College of Osteopathic Medicine, with 59 students, residents and interns. The medical center had 10,400 admissions, 32,000 emergency department visits and 6,800 surgeries last year.
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