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FEBRUARY 2009
News
Regina Health Center ends 2008 on a high note
Quality is a primary success indicator of all the SCHS ministries, but Regina Health Center is taking that to a new level. In late December, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued RHC a five-star ranking, the highest overall possible, based upon three key areas related to quality of care for nursing home residents: health inspections, quality measures and staffing. The Ohio Department of Aging also announced the results of its family members satisfaction survey with Regina Health Center listed among the top 10 nursing homes in the state of Ohio. Congratulations to Brian Flannery and his staff!
 Mercy expands its reach into Tuscarawas County
With plans to expand its outpatient services as a feeder for hospital inpatient services, on Jan. 19 Mercy Medical Center opened Mercy Health Center of Tuscarawas County. The new facility in New Philadelphia, Ohio, offers STATCARE immediate care services, radiology and laboratory services and work health and safety services. Expansion continues this spring when Mercy plans to add a physical therapy area and cardiac diagnostics.
Diocese of Charleston, SC, has a new bishop
After more than a year without a bishop, the Diocese of Charleston has learned that the Vatican has named Robert E. Guglielmone bishop of the 183,000 Roman Catholics in South Carolina. The 63-year-old rector from St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Center, N.Y., will be ordained and installed as bishop on March 25 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston. Sisters of Charity Health System, Providence Hospitals, Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, Healthy Learners and Center for Fathers and Families have purchased a full-page ad in a commemorative issue of Catholic Miscellany welcoming the new bishop.
More than just talk
In an effort to understand people’s experiences with the health and education systems within the Central Neighborhood, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland funded Conversation Central to gather opinion and knowledge of Central’s assets and needs. A convening was held in mid-December to share information gathered from a number of focus groups. The results of that information will go toward building capacity toward a strategic plan to address the health and education disparities in the community.
Mercy Homecare ranks tops in the nation
For the second year in a row, Mercy Medical Center Homecare has been named among the best-performing home health care agencies in the country, placing it in the nation’s top 25 percent. “Our qualified, experienced nurses, therapists, social workers and homecare aides and pastoral care staff work together as a team to help our patients achieve maximum independence in the home setting,” said Anne Poleon, director of Mercy Hospice and Homecare. “This designation recognizes the level of care they strive to provide every day for every patient.”
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People
 Patrick McMahon is SCHS new CFO
A warm welcome to Pat McMahon, who started this month as the new Senior Vice President/CFO for the Sisters of Charity Health System. Pat comes from Southwest General Health Center in Cleveland and will be part of the leadership team charting the future direction and overall operations of the health system.
 Amelia Llerena elected president of St. John West Shore Medical staff
The New Year brought new duties for Amelia Llerena, M.D., when she was elected president of the hospital medical staff. She is medical director of the St. John West Shore Skilled Nursing Unit and has participated in the hospital’s Nursing Home Geriatric Care Strategies Committee and Nursing Home Council. She has also co-chaired the hospital’s Ethics Committee. “[Dr. Llerena’s] dedication, advice and counsel serving in previous leadership positions have enabled the hospital to reach higher levels of success,” said President Cliff J. Coker. “We look forward to her continued guidance and commitment to the hospital in her new role as medical staff president.”
Lights of Hearts Villa announces new leadership
Congratulations to Michael DeLuca and Annie O’Neill who have been named interim executive director and interim medical administrator respectively at Light of Hearts Villa. Mike will be responsible for conducting the business, while Annie will oversee the clinical operations. A search committee has been formed to identify a permanent replacement for Barb Hammrel, who resigned at the end of January.
Mercy names new board officers
Congratulations to the new board leadership at Mercy Medical Center. Officers are Roger Mann, chair; Judith Lancaster, vice chair; Dennis Nash, secretary; and Bill Allen, treasurer.
Dr. Wayne Sribnick is new chief medical officer at Providence Hospitals
Congratulations to Wayne Sribnick, M.D., who was recently named chief medical officer of Providence Hospitals. In this role, he will provide leadership in collaboration with executive management and medical staff in coordinating medical affairs. He will be tasked with promoting understanding and cooperation between physicians and the hospitals through communication, collaboration and education to improve clinical effectiveness and patient care.
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Honors
 Another Mercy first!
Mercy Medical Center keeps racking up recognition for its quality care. In early January it was designated an accredited Heart Failure Institute by the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium, making it the first hospital in Ohio and only the second in the nation to achieve such a designation. “Organizations like Mercy Medical Center recognize that heart failure is a chronic disease,” said Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium CEO Tony Joseph, M.D. “Mercy is to be applauded for its innovative programs within the Community Domain of HF.” James D. Johns, M.D., medical director of the Mercy Heart Failure Center said. “We strive to understand the disease process from the patient’s point of view and continue to implement patient-focused programs that improve quality and length of life.” Ahmed A. El Ghamry Sabe, M.D., medical director of the Mercy Heart Center, said this designation is an extension of the excellence required at a community hospital.
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Events
 Mission impossible? Not for Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina hosted an information session on Jan. 28 for nonprofit organizations on “Mission Effectiveness in Transitional Times.” Speakers included Tom Keith, president of the SOCF SC, Nell Walker from Winthrop University, Martin Lehfeldt, former president and CEO of the Southeastern Council of Foundations, CPA Jackie Breland and Charles Weathers. “We wanted to hear what was on people’s mind and share ideas about what could be done now,” said Katrina Spigner, senior program officer for the foundation. “We are here for organizations, not only with money, but also with convening and discussing complicated challenges.”
 Jeff Jeney on Catholic social teaching and health insurance
What is the connection between Catholic social teaching and the right to affordable health insurance? That was the topic of St. Vincent Charity Hospital President and CEO Jeff Jeney when he addressed the First Friday Club of Cleveland on Feb. 5. The First Friday Club is a forum for men and women to make a connection between their work, faith, values and issues that affect our daily lives.
 Foundations dive into ideas for effective grantmaking in a down economy
Staff of the three foundations gathered in Columbia, South Carolina, Jan. 22-23 to share information about our work, challenges in building capacity and opportunities for telling our collective story. Themes emerging from the session included, taking the long view on important issues, collaboration, the power of research and the importance of technology in tracking initiatives and sharing information.
Light of Hearts learns about laughter as medicine
What are the therapeutic benefits of laughter? Health care professionals attending “Laughter for the Health of It” at Light of Hearts Villa learned the history of therapeutic humor and how to use it appropriately at a Jan. 7 program. Led by Janice Kopec of the Hospice of the Western Reserve, this is the first in a series of continuing education programs sponsored by Light of Hearts Villa, Hospice of the Western Reserve and Home Instead Senior Care. Other programs include, “Grief in the Workplace” and “Bridging the Family Communication Gap.”
St. Vincent Charity Hospital hosts moving Martin Luther King Jr. celebration
The day before we inaugurated our first African-American President, Holy Trinity Chapel was filled with music, scripture and words of hospital staff and the Central neighborhood community who joined together to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and look forward to the future of our nation under President Barack Obama. There was also a call to action: “Community is not just where we live, but a description of how we live. … You can and should expect to chip in,” said Gregory Hall, M.D., of St. Vincent’s Community Outreach Department. With that he encouraged everyone to sign a banner as a commitment to volunteer wherever God needs our help.
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