Mathew Sheehan, a long-time Cleveland firefighter and paramedic, has been appointed EMS coordinator at St. John Medical Center (SJMC).
Sheehan has served as a Cleveland firefighter since 1981, including 27 years working on rescue squads. He is currently a lieutenant on the Cleveland Fire Department's Rescue Squad 4, the most highly trained rescue company in the city. A paramedic since 1992, Sheehan also is a paramedic instructor, an American Heart Association instructor, and holds certifications in all aspects of technical rescue. He also is a trained rescue diver.
"We are thrilled to have found someone with Matthew's background and expertise," says Cliff J. Coker, SJMC President. "He will be a tremendous asset to the community and the medical center." As EMS coordinator, Sheehan will be responsible for providing education at St. John Medical Center, as well as providing in-service training to area fire departments.
St. John Medical Center has installed one of the latest advancements in the diagnosis of osteoporosis and the assessment of fracture risk.
The GE Lunar Prodigy® Pro bone densitometer uses breakthrough direct digital technology proven to be the most precise method for bone density testing and represents the gold standard for detecting osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass and increased risk of fracture.
"We are incredibly proud of the addition of this technology," says Amy Sharp, manager of the Radiology Department of St. John Medical Center. "In a single five-minute exam, clinicians can access critical information that will allow them to detect issues earlier, diagnose more precisely and make better treatment decisions."
Once thought to be a normal part of aging, it is now known that osteoporosis can be slowed and fractures avoided with early detection and treatment. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, it is estimated that almost 12 million individuals in the United States have osteoporosis. Approximately eighty percent of these people are women. This figure will rise to approximately 14 million by 2020 if additional efforts are not made to stem this disease, which may be largely prevented with lifestyle considerations and treatment. In 2005, osteoporosis was responsible for more than two million fractures, costing an estimated $19 billion in direct care. It is estimated that by 2025, osteoporosis-related fractures are expected to cost approximately $25.3 billion in health costs.
Recent improvements of technology in the field of bone densitometry have produced more effective ways to diagnose osteoporosis and assess patients' fracture risk. Moreover, improved technology and precision can detect bone changes in women who belong in high-risk groups years before they develop osteoporosis.
This Prodigy system provides a narrow-angle fan beam that determines bone mineral density, and an accurate measurements of bone mineral content and area. The depth and location of bone can vary significantly with the patient's size and shape. With the advanced technology Prodigy offers, it makes multiple passes across the patient, acquiring multiple, overlapping images. Then, TruView Image Reconstruction slides the images together for a perfect match. As a result, Prodigy determines the depth of the bone accurately in every patient, ensuring precise, reliable, consistent measurements of bone area and mineral content – plus key geometric measures like Hip Axis Length (HAL), which is important in predicting fracture risk.
" The precision of the GE Lunar Prodigy and its ability to detect subtle bone changes will have a positive impact on the care we give to patients," says Sharp. "It will provide us with the highest possible quality in bone densitometry available."
St. John Medical Center has opened a new Clinical Skills Lab to serve as a learning environment for doctors, nurses and ancillary staff, as well as local fire department crews.
The lab is equipped with computer-based active manikins, often referred to as virtual patients, to facilitate the training of basic physical assessment and clinical skills.
"We can engage participants in a variety of activities and case scenarios to help strengthen clinical thinking, decision-making, delegation and teamwork," says Michael Johnson, RN, emergency preparedness coordinator at St. John Medical Center.
Located near the Emergency Room, the creation of the Clinical Skills Lab received input from multiple disciplines from throughout the medical center with regard to its set-up, equipment needs and usage. The lab features state-of-the-art teaching and learning equipment, highlighted by the state-of-the-art manikin that can mimic any treatment scenario, including pulses, heart arrhythmias, respiration rate and distress, pupil movement and voice. Other equipment allows emergency responders to practice chest tube and IV insertions, endotracheal intubation, insertion of central lines, and listening to the internal sounds of the body.
A separate module purchased for the manikin allows emergency responders to prepare for scenarios involving hazardous materials, including chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological and explosive exposures due to an accidental or intentional incident.
Designed to serve as a multipurpose room, the room housing the Clinical Skills Lab can also be used as the medical center's Command Center during any incident that would warrant activation of the medical center's Emergency Operations Plan.
"All power and lights are backed up by generators, redundant communication equipment and WiFi are available, projection and monitor devices have been installed, and an interactive white board (ENO) allows for easier viewing and connectivity to educational and internet data," says Johnson.
The room is also designed for flexible use. Wheeled furniture allows for the space to be changed in minutes to a classroom, meeting space or a command center. In addition to in-house use, area fire departments and paramedics also can use the room.
The same technology used by NASA astronauts is now being used by St. John Medical Center clinicians to better assist those suffering from balance disorders.
The addition of Smart EquiTest®, a state-of-the-art computerized dynamic posturography and rehabilitation system, offers new hope for individuals with balance-related problems, a serious health concern affecting a large percentage of the population.
"These patients often get referred to many specialists with no clear resolution to their problem," says Jane Keehan, director of Rehab Services at St. John Medical Center. "This usually results in increasing frustration and mounting medical expenses."
The Smart EquiTest® System was recently installed in St. John Medical Center's Balance Center. Manufactured by NeuroCom® International, Inc., of Clackamas, Oregon, the new equipment employs the same technology used to measure equilibrium in NASA shuttle crews before and after their flights.
"It is the most advanced balance and mobility assessment and treatment equipment currently available," says Keehan.
Patients with balance, mobility and/or dizziness problems are tested on the Smart EquiTest®, which consists of a highly sensitive force plate connected to a computer. The force plate measures the patient's center of gravity and weight-bearing symmetry as they perform various tasks designed to objectively assess functional ability.
Specific tests can isolate the different senses (vestibular, visual and somatosensory) that contribute to balance control and help identify the patient's balance problem. Other performance tests objectively measure the patient's ability to safely and efficiently perform mobility tasks that are common in daily life activities.
"The data provided by these computerized tests help our clinicians in developing the best treatment for each individual patient," says Keehan.
Balance Center patients can also perform various exercises on the Smart EquiTest® as a part of their therapy. The system includes interactive technology with instant biofeedback, which is displayed on a computer screen to guide and prompt patients during rehabilitation.
An icon that follows exactly how a task is being performed represents the patient's movements. Targets may appear on the computer screen as the patient attempts to control their icon.
"The goal is to make the icon reach the targets, much like a video game," says Keehan.
The clinician can design targets to encourage specific movements by the patient, thereby helping to build physical stability, endurance and confidence. Both the patient and the clinician can see the system's computer screen in real time as the patient shifts his or her center of gravity.
"Patients find the interactive nature of the system motivating as they can see immediately how they are performing," Keehan says.
The Smart EquiTest® also has specific applications to patients recovering from stroke, head injury, and orthopedic or sports injuries. These conditions can restrict freedom of movement and expose the individual to the dangers of falling.
The equipment also helps aging patients with balance problems such as dizziness, unsteadiness and falls. According to several medical studies, one-third to one-half of the population age 65 and older fall each year and many of these individuals require costly hospital stays due to fractures or head injuries.
"We emphasize very individualized care based on each patient's specific medical condition and different needs," says Keehan. "No two patients are alike."
More information regarding the Smart EquiTest® and other advances in balance assessment or rehabilitation can be found at www.sjmcbalancecenter.net. In addition, the Balance Center regularly offers free balance screenings and community talks on balance education at the medical center's Outpatient Physical Therapy Services site located at 26908 Detroit Road in Westlake. Call 440-414-6050 for available times or additional information regarding balance assessment.
Women who undergo routine mammograms at St. John Medical Center will soon have the latest diagnostic technology available to them.
St. John Medical Center is one of the first sites in Northeast Ohio to offer breast cancer screening with a Selenia Dimensions 2D full field digital mammography system. Selenia Dimensions is the latest generation of mammography equipment from Hologic, a women's healthcare company.
"I am excited that St. John Medical Center has chosen to purchase two of these state-of-the-art digital mammography machines for our community," says Robert Konstan, MD, Medical Director Radiology. "They will help us push the boundaries of imaging technology, giving us greater power to detect subtle breast tissue changes, and ultimately enhance our ability to detect breast cancer early."
The Selenia Dimensions 2D system offers incredibly sharp images of the breast, an advanced ergonomic design that automatically conforms to the natural contour of the breast providing greater patient comfort, more even compression across the entire breast, and a flexible platform, designed to support advanced mammography applications.
"Digital mammography differs from conventional mammography in how the image of the breast is available and viewed," says Amy Sharp, RT, manager of the Radiology Department of St. John Medical Center.
With digital mammography the radiologist can magnify the images, increase or decrease the contrast and invert the black-and-white values while reading the images. These features make it easier for the radiologist to evaluate and focus on even the smallest areas of concern.
"Digital mammography is revolutionizing the practice of mammography through its ability to yield high quality images at low radiation dose," says Sharp.
Digital mammography uses traditional x-ray generators and tubes to produce an x-ray beam just like conventional film mammography. The difference is Selenia Dimensions 2D uses a direct conversion detector, eliminating the need to convert x-rays to light. The result is exceptionally sharp digital images that allow you to visualize the finest details. The digital image is available immediately resulting in shorter exam time, easier storage and retrieval, fewer repeats and the ability to transmit images over the network for remote consultation.
The digital mammography system will be available this October. For more information on breast health services at St. John Medical Center, go to www.stjohnmedicalcenter.net, or call Joyce Forristell, RN, breast health coordinator, at 440-827-5459.
The Birthing Center at St. John Medical Center is getting a major-league endorsement from one new mother. Amy Hafner and her husband, Cleveland Indians’ slugger Travis Hafner, welcomed the birth of their first child, Blake Lee Hafner, on October 14, 2009. Amy is still talking about the natural birthing experience that changed her life.
She credits her terrific experience to St. John Medical Center and the guidance she received every step of the way - from pregnancy, to birth and postpartum care.
“I had a great doula (Rebecca “Rae” Schmidt) who knew that I wanted a natural childbirth,” says Amy. A doula provides physical and emotional support beginning with prenatal care. Rebecca referred her to Colleen Brezine, CNM, MSN, Administrative Director of Nurse Midwifery at St. John Medical Center who specializes in water births and natural childbirth.
“We are advocates for women,” says Brezine, “empowering them to make informed decisions about their health and the health of their child. Our aim is to help women achieve a positive pregnancy and a truly fulfilling birth experience.” Brezine is supportive of women’s birthing decisions, whether it is natural childbirth, an epidural, narcotic pain management or water birth.
Amy was glad to have found Colleen. “She’s great,” she says, “Colleen definitely inspired me to go with natural childbirth.” Since Amy was interested in water birthing, she enrolled in a hospital-sponsored water birthing class and took a tour of the hospital’s new Holistic Birthing Center. “I saw the Center’s state-of-the-art room, and I liked it very much. I immediately knew this was the place I would have my baby.”
Housed within the Hospital’s Nursery and Family Birthing Suites, the Holistic Birthing Center at St. John Medical Center opened its door in 2009, and provides a unique environment that closes the wide gap found between home birthing and traditional hospital birthing suites. The Center is designed for healthy, low-risk mothers and healthy babies and is linked to an acute care hospital to ensure a mother or baby can get the right care needed if a complication develops.
Labor began for Amy during the morning of October 13. “The first 10-12 hours weren’t so bad,” says Amy. Then doctors became concerned about the baby’s heart rate, so Amy opted out of the water birth and transferred to another area in the Center to continue with the natural childbirth experience. At about 10 a.m. Amy began pushing, something she would continue for nearly two hours.
“I can’t tell you how reassuring it is for a first-time mother to be surrounded by happy, smiling faces. I kept asking over and over, ‘Is everything OK?’ And they would respond with a smile and a simple, ‘it’s OK, Amy.’ There must have been about 10 people in the room at the end,” she says. “That includes Travis, Colleen, the nurses and doctors. I remember Dr. (Jeffrey) Christian (OB-GYN with West Shore Women’s Health Associates) shouting out, ‘One last push, Amy.’ They were all urging me on. They were terrific.”
At 12:44 p.m. Blake Lee Hafner was born at nine pounds, six ounces. “It was an amazing, life-changing experience,” says Amy. “Colleen had faith in me and supported me at every step along the way and so did everyone at the St. John Medical Center Birthing Center.”
Blake’s birth gives Amy bragging rights among the Indians’ wives for the 2010 season. “There’s a ton of babies on this team,” says Amy, “and the joke is always to see who is going to have the year’s largest baby. Well, I won that prize by one-and-a-half pounds!”
To help with her new baby, Amy hired a postpartum doula, Lisa Waryck, who also teaches the birthing and new moms classes at St. John Medical Center. “She taught me everything from swaddling to giving Blake a bath,” says Amy. “Doulas – both birth and postpartum – are an amazing help to a new family.” She also gives credit to her lactation nurse, Deb Hernlund, L.P.N.
Amy still found the first six weeks after Blake was born to be difficult, but she was glad to have Travis around. “Thank God we had this baby in the off-season,” she says. “I was tired and trying to get a handle on nursing the baby. Travis is such a big help. He even changes diapers, although sometimes not quite fast enough.” Amy truly began enjoying being a mother after about six weeks. “I got that first smile from Blake, says Amy. “That made it all worthwhile.”
Amy recently returned to her role as a spokesperson for the Animal Protective League (APL), a “meaningful opportunity” that she sought after her marriage to Travis in November 2006. Amy can often be seen on television with an adoptable dog, and she and Travis raise awareness by hosting the APL at the ballpark during one game each year. Amy also participates with Travis in a program called “Pronk’s Peeps” reaching out to more than 550 kids in 14 area schools by promoting positive attitudes, behaviors and lifestyles. They are also involved in the “Youth of the Year” program, which recognizes three Boys & Girls Club members who excel in academics while overcoming difficult life circumstances.
Amy and Travis look forward to spring training and reuniting with the team. “We’re all very close. We’re like a family,” says Amy.
Residents of Avon Lake, the Hafners are one of a handful of Indians’ couples that make their home in Greater Cleveland year-round. “We love it here,” says Amy, a graduate of Westlake High School. “We love the people. We want to make this our home forever.”
For more information on St. John Medical Center’s Family Birthing Suites and Holistic Birthing Center, please call 1-877-597-6348.
St. John Medical Center, a Catholic Hospital that is co-owned by University Hospitals and Sisters of Charity Health System, continues to garner local and national recognition for the quality of care that it provides to our community, including a ranking as one of the nation’s top community hospitals.
The March/April issue of Becker’s Hospital Review names St. John Medical Center as one of the 20 best community hospitals in America. The list was determined by using scores from publicly available indicators, including patient safety, outcome and satisfaction, and by rankings on industry lists, including those by Thomson Reuters, US News & World Report and HealthGrades. Community hospitals were defined as having 325 or fewer beds with no or limited teaching programs.
In recognizing St. John Medical Center among the 20 best community hospitals, Becker’s cited St. John Medical Center’s recent award for the Top 100 ICUs in the nation from Thomson Reuters, its listing to the 50 Best Hospitals in America by HealthGrades; receipt of the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence and Patient Safety Excellence Award from HealthGrades; Excellence in Stroke and Pulmonary Care Award from HealthGrades; and its Level III Trauma Center and Commission on Cancer-approved community hospital program.
"We are extremely proud of these recognitions," says Cliff Coker, St. John Medical Center President. "These rankings reinforce the great work of our medical staff and employees in positioning St. John Medical Center among the best community hospitals in the country.”
Another recognition comes to St. John Medical Center from the Ohio Department of Aging, which lists the hospital’s Skilled Nursing Unit among the state’s top 10 of 955 nursing homes surveyed for resident satisfaction. St. John Medical Center received a score of 96.42 for resident satisfaction. The average nursing home satisfaction score statewide was 85.85.
The survey was conducted between August 2009 and January 2010 by an independent research firm that conducted the survey face-to-face with a sampling of residents at each facility. Residents were asked to rate their satisfaction with the facility's environment, activities, administration, direct care/nursing assistants, laundry, meals and dining, social services, therapy, laundry and general satisfaction with the facility. “The staff of our Skilled Nursing Unit can be proud that their service and care is perceived so favorably by the residents that they serve,” says Coker.
The recent recognitions come on the heels of several honors St. John Medical Center has received for the care provided to its cardiovascular patients.
St. John Medical Center is one of only 120 hospitals nationwide to receive the American College of Cardiology Foundation's NCDR ACTION Registry - GWTG Gold Performance Achievement Award. The award honors St. John Medical Center’s commitment to and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients. The adherence to guidelines set forth by the NCDR is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of heart attack patients. According to the NCDR, this will become even more important during the next decade as the incidence of heart disease is expected to grow.
The second cardiovascular recognition is the 2009 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: Cardiovascular Benchmarks Award for patients with heart failure and heart attack. According to Thomson Reuters, St. John Medical Center provides the community with extraordinary value and access to national benchmark-level cardiovascular services in superior clinical outcomes, managerial excellence, high procedure volume, great efficiency and significantly lower readmission rates.
"These recognitions demonstrate an ongoing commitment to excellence in cardiac care and our superiority in quality and positive outcomes," says Coker. "These awards reinforce our excellence in cardiovascular care and positions the hospital as a leader in this area."
To reflect the new arrangement between Sisters of Charity Health System (SCHS) and University Hospitals (UH), St. John West Shore Hospital will now be known as St. John Medical Center.
"The 'medical center' name will better represent the depth and breadth of the services that we provide to our community and beyond," said Cliff J. Coker, President of St. John Medical Center.
St. John Medical Center employees were shown the new logo and shared plans for the future at a recent employee forum with Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, President and Chief Executive Officer of SCHS, Mr. Thomas Zenty III, Chief Executive Officer of UH, and Mr. Coker.
Several weeks ago, the hospital's new name was disclosed to staff in a memorandum issued by President Coker.
"Our identity as a Catholic Hospital is represented in the new logo and name and reinforces our commitment as a faith-based hospital," emphasized Mr. Coker. "As we move forward with the new name and logo, we will have a renewed commitment to the community and the opportunity to build upon our strengths and successes to better meet the needs of those we serve."
External and internal signage at the main campus and other facilities will begin to reflect the new logo. Additional logo applications (such as stationery, printed material, and employee identification badges) will be implemented after brand identity standards and guidelines have been introduced.
In addition to the new identity, St. John Medical Center will introduce several new technological upgrades.
This week, the medical center's joint venture board approved investment in two state-of-the-art, full-field digital mammography machines for breast cancer screening. Digital mammography presents a number of benefits for the doctors, the hospital, and most importantly, the patients. The new technology conforms to the natural contour of the breast providing greater comfort for the patient. For women in general, digital mammograms are as good as film mammograms for diagnosing cancer, but significantly better for three groups of women:
As part of a new agreement announced earlier this year, both SCHS and UH will make equal investments in the strategic expansion and growth of St. John Medical Center totaling up to $100 million over five years. At that time, they announced that UH would become manager of St. John Medical Center and would more closely align the hospital with UH's centers of excellence and institutes, including its nationally ranked UH Case Medical Center, UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital; UH Ireland Cancer Center, and other UH medical centers throughout Cleveland's western suburbs.
As the manager, UH will be 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, located at 29000 Center Ridge Road in Westlake. Both members support the vision to further strengthen the position of St. John Medical Center as the premier health care provider on the West side.
New Logo for St. John Medical Center
About the New Logo
The new logo for St. John Medical Center is designed to encapsulate the strength of both Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals. Visually, it puts St. John Medical Center as the focal point supported equally by both health systems.
About the Sisters of Charity Health System
The Sisters of Charity Health System was established in 1982 as the parent corporation for the sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine in Ohio and South Carolina.
The Sisters of Charity Health System is the sole sponsor of St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio; Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio; Providence Hospitals, , which includes Providence Hospital/Providence Heart Institute and Providence Hospital Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina.
In 2009, the Sisters of Charity Health System formed a new joint venture with University Hospitals to equally own St. John West Shore Hospital which includes West Shore Primary Care. Through this equal ownership, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine continue their legacy of high quality, compassionate care that began at the time of the founding of this Hospital.
The organization also oversees three grant making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, OH and Columbia, SC. Each foundation sponsors significant community initiatives and collaborations that address causes and consequences of poverty.
Other health and human services and education-related organizations within the Sisters of Charity Health System include Cleveland's Joseph's Home, a unique residential care center for homeless men, Canton's early Childhood Resource Center for people working in childcare in all settings; and Healthy Learners, a South Carolina health care resource for children from low-income families. The Sisters of Charity Health System also provides residential eldercare services at Regina Health Center in Richfield, Ohio and Light of Hearts Villa in Bedford, Ohio. Light of Hearts Villa is jointly sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.
For more information on the Sisters of Charity Health System or its individual health care and outreach ministries, visit sistersofcharityhealth.org.
About University Hospitals
University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians. At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked second in the nation for the care of critically ill newborns; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Ireland Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information, go to www.uhhospitals.org
The 2009-2010 Flu season is in sight with many questions circulating about the differences between Seasonal Flu and the H1N1 (Swine) Flu. Public Health and Healthcare Organizations are working together to keep you informed regarding all flu types this season in a attempt to obtain the one common goal of keeping you well.
What preventative measures should you follow in order to keep you and your family well and in the event that you do become sick, what measures should you taken to ensure a full recovery?
The information below from the CDC will help to answer many of your questions. Downloadable materials and links are also provided to assist you in gathering information. If you have additional questions please consult your healthcare provider.
How can I prevent the spread of H1N1 flu or any other communicable disease?
What are the Symptoms of both Seasonal and H1N1 Flu?
* It is important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
When should I seek Emergency Medical Care?
CHILDREN – In the event your child is experiencing any of the following warning signs...
ADULTS – in the event of you or any adult is experiencing any of the following warning signs...
For more information on H1N1 (Swine Flu), please visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
Additional downloadable information and links:
St. John Medical Center christened its new Holistic Birthing Center with the birth of the unit's very first baby, Nicole Madison Cucu, on August 14, 2009. As Colleen M. Brezine CNM, MSN, Administrative Director of SJMC Nurse Midwifery attended, the new mom, Dawn Cucu, dad, Alex Cucu, and grandmother, Kay Adams, shared the joyful arrival. The Holistic Birthing Center was blessed on August 5, 2009 and is now open. As a hospital-based holistic birthing center, SJMC provides a unique environment that closes the wide gap between home birthing and traditional hospital birthing suites. SJMC helps to establish an intimate connection through personal prenatal care between the mother, the family, and the midwife, enhancing the power to give birth that lies within each woman.
St. John Medical Center is proud to announce the opening of its new Holistic Birthing Center. The Holistic Birthing Center was blessed on August 5, 2009 and is now open to the public. As a hospital-based holistic birthing center, we provide a unique environment that closes the wide gap between home birthing and traditional hospital birthing suites. We help to establish an intimate connection through personal prenatal care between the mother, the family, and the midwife, enhancing the power to give birth that lies within each woman. Our staff of midwives, nurses and physicians is experience in natural childbirth. They will assist, support, and guide the mother and family through the birthing process. The Holistic Birthing Center will not normally use medication, epidurals, or any other intervention. Instead, the mother is encouraged to utilize the birthing techniques offered, which consist of, aromatherapy, music therapy, water birthing, massage therapy, hydrotherapy, birth ball, walking, and squatting.
Click here to download the brochure.
The Sisters of Charity Health System (SCHS) and University Hospitals (UH) have jointly announced a non-binding letter of intent to modify their existing 50/50 not-for-profit ownership structures of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland and Mercy Medical Center in Canton. An equal 50/50 joint venture between SCHS and UH will remain at St. John Medical Center with the addition of UH assuming operations through a new management agreement.
According to the letter of intent, the Sisters of Charity Health System will obtain complete (100 percent) ownership and governance of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center. All three hospitals will retain their Catholic mission, identity and faith obligations as they serve the ongoing health care needs of their communities.
The Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals will make equal investments totaling $100 million for St. John West Shore Hospital. Both members also will jointly invest $30 million combined in St. Vincent Charity Medical Center to create a fundraising foundation to support the hospital to better serve the community.
"This agreement will enable University Hospitals to better serve the entire St. John West Shore community," said Thomas F. Zenty, CEO of University Hospitals. "The $100 million in new strategic investments is a clear commitment by both members to making St. John West Shore a destination hospital on the West Side. We will work closely with community leaders, physicians, clinicians, employees and volunteers to make this vision a reality.
"Meeting the community's health care needs has been an unwavering commitment of University Hospitals since our founding in 1866," continued Zenty. "In addition, we have a deep and abiding respect for the Sisters of Charity Health System, and believe this new agreement will better serve the health care needs of Northeast Ohio."
"Under the Sisters of Charity Health System leadership, St. Vincent Charity will continue in Northeast Ohio its state-of-the-art care in orthopedics; the nationally renowned Joslin Diabetes Center; its leadership position in bariatric surgery; its one of only two in the state psychiatric emergency department; and its newly renovated full-service emergency department," said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president & CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System.
"At the forefront of this decision was how we could best serve the health care needs of these three communities – Canton, Cleveland and Westlake," said Karam. "We have a long history of providing quality health care in Greater Cleveland and have developed strong areas of specialized care at St. Vincent Charity and St. John Medical Center. In Canton we have built an outstanding hospital with exceptional services and medical expertise. Our decisions on this new agreement were based on community needs and recognition that greater effectiveness in operations, critical to the success of the hospital ministries of the Sisters of Charity Health System since 1851, will be needed in today's environment."
The Sisters of Charity Health System will continue its 100-year commitment to the Greater Canton community through its return to sole stewardship of Mercy Medical Center. This hospital continues to combine the best of compassionate care with high-tech innovation. Currently, the hospital has plans for capital projects in excess of $100 million to continue its excellence in medical services. Mercy has long been a leader in emergency services and medicine, cardiovascular care, cancer care, orthopedics and rehabilitation, and has recently added innovative robotic laparoscopic surgical equipment to its full complement of modern heath care services.
"In addition to Mercy's many contributions to the community through its outreach and service, we are proud of the many accomplishments of our sponsored ministries in Stark County, including the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, Early Childhood Resource Center and Mercy Medical Center," Karam said. "The Sisters of Charity Health System continues to be committed to Stark County as evidenced by the $34.6 million we have invested through our Foundation ministry since its inception.
"Given the economic and market realities of today and evolving technology, the decision to implement this new agreement reflects how health care and the delivery system is changing," Karam explained. "This new agreement will enable the Sisters of Charity Health System to more fully integrate our four wholly owned hospitals: two hospitals in Ohio and two hospitals in South Carolina, including Providence Hospital, South Carolina's leading cardiovascular center. Also, we will be able to continue our long-standing involvement in the delivery of health care to the people in the western suburbs of Cleveland through our relationship with University Hospitals at St. John West Shore.
"We are pleased to continue Catholic health care to the Greater Cleveland and Canton communities, continuing our 158-year legacy of healing individuals, families and communities," said Karam.
While this non-binding letter of intent has been approved by the boards of both health systems, approval of the transaction is subject to preparation of final legal documents, which will occur over the next several months.
About the Sisters of Charity Health System
The Sisters of Charity Health System was established in 1982 as the parent corporation for the sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine in Ohio and South Carolina. In 1999, Sisters of Charity Health System formed two Ohio not-for-profit corporations with University Hospitals to equally own and operate St. John Medical Center, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, Cuyahoga Physician Network, and West Shore Primary Care. Through this equal ownership, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine continue their legacy of high quality, compassionate care that began at the time of the founding of these organizations.
The Sisters of Charity Health System is the sole sponsor of Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals, a leading cardiovascular center in South Carolina, which includes Providence Hospital/Providence Heart Institute and Providence Hospital Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. The organization also oversees three grant making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, OH and Columbia, SC. Each foundation sponsors significant community initiatives and collaborations that address causes and consequences of poverty.
Other health and human services and education-related organizations within the Sisters of Charity Health System include Cleveland's Joseph's Home, a unique residential care center for homeless men, Canton's early Childhood Resource Center for people working in childcare in all settings; and Healthy Learners, a South Carolina health care resource for children from low-income families. The Sisters of Charity Health System also provides residential eldercare services at Regina Health Center in Richfield, Ohio and Light of Hearts Villa in Bedford, Ohio. Light of Hearts Villa is jointly sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.
For more information on the Sisters of Charity Health System or its individual health care and outreach ministries, visit sistersofcharityhealth.org.
About University Hospitals
With 150 locations throughout Northeast Ohio, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians. At the core of our Health System is University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top hospitals in the nation; MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and Ireland Cancer Center, which holds the nation's highest designation by the National Cancer Institute of Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information, go to uhhospitals.org
St. John Medical Center has appointed Colleen M. Brezine, CNM, MSN, to the new position of Administrative Director of Nurse Midwifery.
"This position provides me the opportunity to continue and grow my midwifery services as well as assist St. John Medical Center in developing a Holistic Birthing Suite," said Brezine. "I look forward to this new relationship with SJMC and the opportunity to provide a much-needed service in the community."
Brezine is well known in Greater Cleveland nurse-midwifery circles. As a certified nurse midwife at SJMC from 1997 to 2003, she helped to institute the hospital's first nurse-midwifery practice and was instrumental in communicating and interpreting the philosophy, purpose, objectives and guidelines of the nurse-midwifery practice and its implementation to administration, physicians, staff nurses and the community.
Working in collaboration with board-certified obstetricians/ gynecologists, Brezine brings more than 11 years of midwifery experience to SJMC. Her practice offers the independent management of women's health care, focusing particularly on pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, care of the newborn, and the family planning and gynecological needs of women beginning with adolescence.
Her practice will offer gynecologic care, Pap tests, breast exams, and contraceptive management, as well as care during pregnancy, labor and birth. Brezine is supportive of women's birthing decisions, whether it is natural childbirth, an epidural, narcotic pain management or water birth. Since 1999, she has assisted women in experiencing the benefits of warm water immersion for labor and birth. An obstetrician is available for consultation and/or referral as needed.
Brezine returns to SJMC from Lakewood Hospital, where for the last two years she served as a certified nurse midwife and midwifery coordinator. Brezine also has owned and managed a solo nurse midwife practice. In addition, she worked for seven years at MetroHealth Medical Center, where she provided obstetric patient education, served as a staff nurse in the Level I Trauma Center, and provided care to low- and high-risk women as a labor and delivery staff nurse.
Brezine received her nursing degree from Kent State University and a master's degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Midwifery. Certified nurse-midwives are advance practice registered nurses who have graduated from an accredited midwifery education program, passed a national certification exam and are licensed specialists in normal pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care.
Brezine's office is located on the SJMC campus at 29101 Health Campus Drive (Building 2, Suite 250). To schedule an appointment, call Elizabeth (Jones) Rodriguez, Office Manager, at 440-827-5483.
St. John Medical Center Announces The Northeastern Ohio Kidney Stone Center
Amelia Llerena, MD Elected Medical Staff President of St. John Medical Center
Jack Burke Appointed Chairperson of St. John Medical Center's Community Board
Lake Erie Monsters Hockey Team Visit St. John Medical Center
St. John Medical Center Named Best West Side Hospital for Heart Attack Response Times
St. John Medical Center Honored Physicians with the 2008 Society of St. Luke Award
St. John Medical Center Provides Diabetes Education
St. John Medical Center Salutes Its Founding Physicians
Twenty-four hundred Americans die every day because of cardiovascular disease
2008 North Coast Challenge Presented By Celebrate Westlake To Be Held On August 30th
St. John Medical Center Receives ACR Accreditation
Cancer Program Approved By the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons
St. John Medical Center Attracts more than 25,000 to Festival
Olympic Spirit Embraces Patron Benefit
St. John Medical Center’s New Brand
St. John Medical Center Connects Community with Health and Wellness
St. John Medical Center Publishes Fall Community Event Calendar
St. John Medical Center Honors Volunteers with PRESIDENT'S CALL TO SERVICE AWARD
St. John Medical Center’s Pain Management Center Expands Services to Better Serve Patient Needs
Drs. Sertich and Hazen Appointed Co-Medical Directors of Spine Center
Spine and Orthopedic Center Grand Opening
St. John Medical Center Earns Certification As Primary Stroke Center
St. John Medical Center Hosts Evening to Honor Founding Physicians
A Life-Saving Story From the SJWS Breast Health Center!
Self-Examination Leads to Full Recovery
Cliff Coker Appointed President of St. John Medical Center
Experience Faith in Healthcare Video
New Spine & Ortho Center at SJWS will provide 5-Star Care
St. John Medical Center Blows the Whistle on Asthma
Ohio Representative Jennifer Brady Builds Relationship with St. John West Shore Hospital
Marine Corps Fund “Nita Newborn” Manikin to Save Lives
St. John West Shore Launches Only Pediatric Hospitalist Program On Cleveland’s Westside
St. John West Shore Hospital’s Announces 2007 Nurse Excellence Award Winner
St. John West Shore Hospital Appoints Manager Of Spine And Orthopedic Services
SJWS Names Medical Director of Breast Health Program
St. John Medical Center Now Offers Specialized Treatment For Patients With Lymphedema
St. John Medical Center Leadership
SJWS Women’s and Children’s Health and Safety Fair
St. John Medical Center and Avon Commons Shopping Center recently partnered to offer the community a day of health and wellness...
St. John Medical Center Receives Full Accreditation For Chest Pain Center
First Center in Cuyahoga County to Meet Stringent Standards and Receive National Recognition...
2006 Festival of the Arts: A Masterpiece
Plans underway for 2007 event...
Under The Sun Moon & The Stars
2006 Nurse Excellence Award Winner - Theresa Hammond, RN
New State-of-the-Art Center for Sleep Disorders Opens
Pain Management Center takes its place among SJWS's world-class services
A Great Place to Work: SJWS Earns "Top 99" Distinction
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