Sisters of Charity Health System

Marcia Kodish Named Director of Fiscal Services for Regina Health Center

Cleveland (January 22, 2013) – Regina Health Center, a high-quality provider of compassionate and holistic health care services for religious and lay people needing short-term rehabilitation, assisted living, respite care or residential nursing care, has named Marcia Kodish as its new director of fiscal services.

In this role, Kodish supervises and directs the day-to-day financial and business operations of the facility, which a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. In addition, Kodish will provide oversight of the fiscal and business operations of Light of Hearts Villa, an assisted living facility in Bedford, Ohio that is a joint ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System and the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.

Previously, Kodish served as a consultant for Ohio HealthCare Advocates and as financial manager for Peregrine Health Services in Canton, Ohio, where she oversaw day-to-day financial operations for three skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.

“Marcia is an accomplished accounting professional with more than 15 years of experience in providing cost effective financial management and nearly a decade of experience in working with skilled nursing facilities and hospitals,” said Brian Flannery, executive director, Regina Health Center. “Her proven ability to develop and integrate policies and procedures that impact efficiency and positively affect bottom-line productivity will be a significant benefit to Regina Health Center and Light of Hearts Villa.”

Kodish has also previously served as financial manager for Extendicare Health Services in Rittman, Ohio, as a staff accountant for PerkinElmer and Analytical Sciences in Norton, Ohio, and as a financial services representative - health care, government and nonprofit specialist at MetLife Resources in Cleveland. Kodish has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an accounting major from The Ohio State University and has taken post graduate courses in tax from the University of Akron.

About Regina Health Center

Located on 230 acres in Richfield, Ohio, Regina Health Center provides compassionate and holistic health care services for members of religious communities, clergy and lay people needing short-term rehabilitation, assisted living, respite care or residential nursing care. As one of the 20 sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Charity Health System, Regina Health Center provides a full range of quality of life programming that affirms the dignity and fullness of life for each individual resident.

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 of St. Augustine, since founding in 1851, continues a faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers, who are the heart and hands of the ministry.

The Sisters of Charity Health System solely owns four Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio; Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio; and Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a 50/50 joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also co-owns St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio.

The Sisters of Charity Health System also oversees three grantmaking foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, and Columbia, South Carolina. 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 Joseph’s Home, a unique residential care center for homeless men in Cleveland; Early Childhood Resource Center for people working in childcare in all settings in Canton; Healthy Learners, a health care resource for children from low-income families in South Carolina; and the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, a state-wide organization supporting initiatives to reengage fathers in the lives of their children.

The Sisters of Charity Health System also provides residential elder care 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.

Diversity Center honors ministry leader with humanitarian award

By Julie Minda
Catholic Health World
January 15, 2013, Volume 29, Number 1
This article originally appeared in print and on the publication's website.

The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio has recognized Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, the head of the Sisters of Charity Health System of Cleveland, with a humanitarian award for outstanding dedication to the community when it comes to diversity, and for community service.

Sr. Karam, the health system's president and chief executive, and two other honorees received the annual award at a Dec. 4 gathering in Cleveland. Peggy Zone Fisher, president and chief executive of the Diversity Center, said the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and their health system are doing God's work. The Diversity Center honored Sr. Karam and the organization because of their work improving health care access for vulnerable populations in Northeast Ohio.

Since the Sisters of Charity began serving in Cleveland in 1851, they and their health care facilities have worked to provide health care and social services to all people in need. Sr. Karam said in an awards video posted on YouTube, that the health system "has developed programs that increase access to health care in a very deliberate way because we believe health care is a basic right."

The health system founded a health services program for children in low-income families and created a network of dentists to treat the uninsured. It built a consortium to provide low-income people assistance with prescriptions.

In the video, Sr. Karam said diversity and inclusion are important to the health system because of the system's core value of respect. "Respecting the giftedness of the human person, respecting our differences and celebrating our differences as gifts is truly who we are as a religious order and also as an organization." She added, "Diversity and inclusion is important to me personally. Nobody reflects God more than the person in front of you. To me that's sacred."

The Sisters of Charity system said it promotes diversity and inclusion internally through the work of a task force that audits the diversity of the system; sets goals to make improvements; engages leaders in making changes; educates and trains employees; and works to improve the diversity of the system's workforce, governance and suppliers.

The Cleveland-based Diversity Center is a human relations organization focused on eliminating bias, bigotry and racism. Since 1949, it has honored 75 people with its humanitarian awards.

Elizabeth Hickle Named Executive Director of Light of Hearts Villa

CLEVELAND – January 9, 2013 – Elizabeth J. Hickle, MPA, LNHA has been named executive director of Light of Hearts Villa, a supportive residential community for seniors. Located in Bedford, Ohio at the former Lumen Cordium High School, Light of Hearts Villa is a joint ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System and the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.

Hickle, a licensed nursing home administrator, joins Light of Hearts Villa from St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, where she served in multiple roles. As interim director of emergency services, Hickle directed operations of the emergency department for the main campus and a satellite free standing emergency room. Responsible for managing the department’s budget, staff recruitment, compliance and policies, Betty also was involved in supporting marketing and outreach programs and implementing an electronic medical record system. As administrative director of the hospital’s medical campus in Solon, Hickle directed operations for its emergency department, radiology, laboratory, occupational medicine, rehabilitations services and hospital-based physician practices. She was also the project manager for a major remodeling of the facility.

Previously, Hickle provided more than a decade of administrative leadership at the Women & Children's Pavilion at MetroHealth Medical Center, where she was director of daily ambulatory operations. In that role, she was responsible for financial planning and analysis for hospital-based operations, National Institutes of Health research funds and grant budgets involving The MetroHealth System, The MetroHealth Foundation and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, totaling more than $80 million. Her leadership also involved recruitment, orientation, training, supervision and performance evaluations for more than 160 FTE faculty, staff, residency and fellowship training programs. Additionally, Betty served in leadership of The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Center for Skilled Nursing Care at MetroHealth.

"Betty brings to Light of Hearts Villa 14 years of progressive leadership in health care at two outstanding institutions," said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System. "Her leadership roles at St. Vincent Charity and The MetroHealth System will be a significant asset to Light of Hearts Villa and its mission of upholding seniors on their journey of aging.”

On January 14, Hickle will formally assume her new role leading Light of Hearts Villa.

"Guided by faith, Light of Hearts Villa provides an improved and enriched quality of life for older adults and their families," said Hickle. "I am very pleased to join and advance this commitment to serving seniors with grace and integrity through quality, affordable services."

Hickle is an active board member of the Rotary Club of Solon and the Solon Senior Center’s Connect4Seniors program, which connects seniors with approved residential contractors and service providers. She is active in the community through volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland, Positively Cleveland, Muscular Dystrophy Association and other nonprofit organizations.

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 of St. Augustine, since founding in 1851, continues a faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers, who are the heart and hands of the ministry.

The Sisters of Charity Health System solely owns four Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio; Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio; and Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a 50/50 joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also co-owns St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio.

The Sisters of Charity Health System also oversees three grantmaking foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, and Columbia, South Carolina. 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 Joseph’s Home, a unique residential care center for homeless men in Cleveland; Early Childhood Resource Center for people working in childcare in all settings in Canton; Healthy Learners, a health care resource for children from low-income families in South Carolina; and the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, a state-wide organization supporting initiatives to reengage fathers in the lives of their children.

The Sisters of Charity Health System also provides residential elder care 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.

Sr. Judith Ann Karam Receives Humanitarian Award from Diversity Center

CLEVELAND – December 5, 2012 – The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio honored Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System, with its 58th Annual Humanitarian Award at an event last night in Cleveland.

The Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals and corporations of outstanding dedication and community service. Selected by the Diversity Center, each recipient has contributed to the improvement of human relations among diverse groups in Northeast Ohio.

"The Diversity Center is dedicated to building communities where all are connected, respected and valued. This vision is truly aligned with the healing mission of the Sisters of Charity Health System to serve all of God's people," said Sr. Judith Ann. "I am so very grateful and humbled to be honored with the Humanitarian Award."

Sr. Judith Ann accepted the award on behalf of the Sisters of Charity Health System, which is the parent organization of five acute care Catholic hospitals, three grantmaking foundations, two assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, and six health and human service outreach organizations in Ohio and South Carolina. She also accepted the award on behalf the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, the founding congregation of the health system and its ministries.

In her remarks, Sr. Judith Ann noted the sisters' legacy of service to build a strong community and a just society, which began in 1851 when the first Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine came to Cleveland from France and became the city's first public health nurses. Among many others, examples of the sisters' efforts to welcome all people include the work of Sr. Ignatia Gavin, CSA with Dr. Bob and Bill W. to establish Alcoholics Anonymous; the sisters' provision of a safe, respectful place for unmarried mothers at DePaul Maternity Home in a different time in society; and the efforts of Sr. Henrietta Gorris, CSA to create one of the first housing development corporations in the midst of the Hough riots in the 1960s.

“Diversity and inclusion is important to the Sisters of Charity Health System and the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine because of our core value of respect for the dignity of the human person, which we so firmly believe in,” said Sr. Miriam Erb, CSA, congregational leader of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine.

Along with her leadership role at the health system, Sr. Judith Ann is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. She has served on the boards of hospitals and health care organizations since 1973. In 1971, she was inducted into the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society. Her numerous community involvements include serving as a board member of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the Greater Cleveland Partnership and the Center for Health Affairs. Her past honors include the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor from the State of South Carolina; Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice from Pope Benedict the XVI; Caritas Award from the Diocese of Charleston, SC; Distinguished Service Award from the Ohio Hospital Association; and more.

“In addition to her many accomplishments, Sr. Judith Ann’s leadership and support for creating and sustaining diversity and inclusion efforts across all levels of the health system is inspiring to many,” said Roger Mann, board chair of the Sisters of Charity Health System and retired chairman of the Huntington National Bank’s Greater Akron/Canton Region.

Since 1949, Humanitarian Awards have been presented by the Diversity Center to 75 recipients including Bob Hope, Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, Thomas Vail, Rev. Billy Graham, A.M. Luntz, Hon. Frances P. Bolton, Sam Miller, Congressman Louis Stokes, Bishop Anthony M. Pilla, John Lewis, Robert D. Gries, Carole F. Hoover, Alan D. Rosskamm, Morry Weiss, Henry L. Meyer III, Dolly and Steven Minter, William Summers Jr., Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, Christopher Connor and Robert W. Gillespie.

Last night, the Diversity Center of Northeast also honored Charles D. Fowler, CEO, and William Conway, founder and chairman Emeritus of Fairmount Minerals with the Humanitarian Award, and Jennifer Opphile of RTI International with the American Greetings 2012 LeadDIVERSITY Alumni Award.

The Diversity Center if Northeast Ohio’s mission is to eliminate bias, bigotry and racism.

About the Sisters of Charity Health System

Head of the Catholic Health Association tells City Club that opposition to health care reform is the result of inaccurate information

By Diane Suchetka
The Plain Dealer
This article originally appeared at: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2012/08/sister_carol_keehan_head_of_th.html

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One of the main reasons so many people oppose health care reform is because they're not getting accurate information about the benefits of the law.

And it's time for all of us to make sure that happens,Sister Carol Keehan told a City Club of Cleveland audience of about 120 people Friday afternoon.

Keehan is the president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the largest group of nonprofit health care providers in the nation.

The organization represents more than 2,000 Catholic hospitals, nursing homes and other health care institutions throughout the United States. Among them is the Sisters of Charity Health System, the parent organization of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, St. John Medical Center in Westlake and Mercy Medical Center in Canton.

On Friday, Keehan reminded her Cleveland audience that the distortion of the Affordable Care Act began long before it was signed into law on March 23, 2010.

"Unfortunately some opponents of reform successfully manipulated the dialogue with misinformation and even outright lies," Keehan said.

"We were told that a government panel would arbitrarily end grandma's life. We were sold falsehoods about socialism and government-controlled health care. We were asked to believe that if the ACA became law, our freedom would be sacrificed and our national values threatened.

"The opposition was organized and it was effective. But it did not ultimately succeed in derailing the greatest expansion of health care access since Medicare was passed and enacted in 1965."

Keehan, who in 2010 was named one of the 100 people who most affect our world by Time magazine, was quick to point out that the law is not perfect.

"It is, however, a major step forward in creating a just and compassionate health care system we can afford and be proud of. It is a foundation on which we can build, learning what works and what doesn't to lower cost, reduce waste, improve quality and most effectively broaden access."

While the Catholic Health Association has supported reform since the beginning, it has expressed concern about a provision that requires birth-control coverage for women and is now working with the Obama administration to find a solution that will work for both sides, Keehan said.

And she made clear that there's much more work to be done on health care reform overall.

One necessary step, Keehan said, is that states open up health insurance exchanges, websites that allow individuals and small businesses to comparison shop for the insurance that best suits their needs.

She urged Ohio Gov. John Kasich to make that happen quickly.

"I believe it is imperative for states, including Ohio, to make a decision on this as soon as possible – and then immediately begin the work of building the exchange," she said.

"States that opt not to run their own exchange will have it run by the federal government, so there will be an exchange one way or another," Keehan said.

"As you might have seen recently even some Republicans, like former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, have come out in favor of exchanges, saying they are a market-driven way to offer affordable health insurance to those who cannot afford it on their own . . . . Frist also urged reluctant states to get on board and begin building exchanges on their own because time is precious."

Kasich has not yet made a final decision on whether the state will run the exchange for Ohio, but he is leaning against it, his spokesman Scott Milburn said Friday.

Keehan ended her 30-minute speech by urging everyone in the audience to search out the truth about health care reform.

"I encourage all of you to stay involved and informed and to ask questions when something doesn't make sense and make sure you're getting accurate and up-to-date information," she said.

"As I mentioned at the beginning of my remarks, the Affordable Care Act is not a perfect law but it is a tremendous beginning for getting coverage for all."

Paul H. Jones Named Chief Technical Officer for Sisters of Charity Health System

Cleveland, Ohio (July 5, 2012) – The Sisters of Charity Health System has named Paul H. Jones as its chief technical officer. In this position, Jones will be responsible for the overall technological direction of the health system under the leadership of the chief information officer. Jones will lead the strategy for technology platforms, partnerships and external relationships, as well as build and manage the Sisters of Charity Health System technology team.

Jones previously served as the director of technology services for Parkview Health System in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he was responsible for all information systems for the multi-hospital health care system with nearly 7,500 employees.

“Through more than 30 years as an information systems leader, Paul has demonstrated his ability to lead teams in developing and implementing large-scale technology projects, while also significantly reducing operational costs,” said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System.”We are pleased that his expertise and talent will enhance our system-wide IT capabilities.”

Prior to his position at Parkview Health System, Jones was the owner of a multi-faceted construction company in Findlay, Ohio. He also served as the director of IT for Premier Health Partners in Dayton, Ohio. He began his career in information technology in 1982 at the Franciscan Medical Center (formerly St. Elizabeth Medical Center) in Dayton, where he was promoted to vice president and chief information officer, a position he held for 12 years. Jones has a bachelor’s degree in computer and information science from The Ohio State University and a master of business administration degree with a technology management emphasis from the University of Phoenix.

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 of St. Augustine, since founding in 1851, continues a faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers, who are the heart and hands of the ministry.

The Sisters of Charity Health System solely owns four Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio; Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio; and Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a 50/50 joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also co-owns St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio.

The Sisters of Charity Health System also oversees three grantmaking foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, and Columbia, South Carolina. 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 Joseph’s Home, a unique residential care center for homeless men in Cleveland; Early Childhood Resource Center for people working in childcare in all settings in Canton; Healthy Learners, a health care resource for children from low-income families in South Carolina; and the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, a state-wide organization supporting initiatives to reengage fathers in the lives of their children.

The Sisters of Charity Health System also provides residential elder care 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.

Statement by Sisters of Charity Health System President and CEO Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA upon ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Sisters of Charity Health System believes that health care is a fundamental right for all Americans and that families and communities are stronger when everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.

The leaders of the Sisters of Charity Health System, which includes five Catholic acute-care hospitals in Ohio and South Carolina, are carefully reviewing the ruling handed down today by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The Affordable Care Act has made a major difference for many hard-working Americans who have obtained needed care and greater health security. The Sisters of Charity Health System and other leaders in Catholic health care continue to support protecting human dignity by expanding coverage and access while taking concrete steps to improve quality and lower costs.

The Sisters of Charity Health System, inspired by the healing ministry of Jesus, will continue to advocate for increasing health coverage and access while protecting the dignity of life. Our hospitals will continue to be leaders in offering high quality care for all. And, we will continue to urge lawmakers to work with hospital and provider communities to ensure strong reimbursement for providers and sound health care delivery system changes.

We will, in collaboration with the Church and health care community, thoroughly review the ruling handed down today to determine our path toward good implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, FACHE
President and CEO
Sisters of Charity Health System

Cecero, Motz Join Sisters of Charity Health System Leadership

Catholic health system welcomes senior vice president of health care operations, chief procurement officer

June 20, 2012 – Cleveland – Two new executives are joining the leadership team of the Sisters of Charity Health System (SCHS), which is the parent organization of five acute care Catholic hospitals, two skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, three grantmaking foundations, and numerous health and human services organizations in Ohio and South Carolina.

David M. Cecero, FACHE, will join the health system as senior vice president of health care operations, and Andy Motz recently joined as chief procurement officer.

In his new role, Cecero will give oversight to the operations of the system’s hospitals and elder care ministries. He begins his new position June 25.

"David brings to the Sisters of Charity Health System 33 years of progressive leadership in health care," said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO, SCHS. "His distinguished leadership as a chief executive of hospitals and a regional system provides significant experience to the position he will assume. David has produced exceptional results throughout his career, and will be a significant asset to the Sisters of Charity Health System and our devotion to healing the mind, body and spirit of all we serve.”

Most recently, Cecero was regional vice president of Quorum Health Resources’ Q2 hospital division, comprised of eight large teaching and community health providers with annual net patient revenue of approximately $1.2 billion. In that position, he supervised overall operations and retention of management contracts in his region. Prior, Cecero was president and CEO of JPS HealthNetwork, a multi-hospital, $600-million-net revenue integrated delivery system including a major academic tertiary care medical center, a psychiatric hospital and a short stay surgical hospital. There, his accomplishments included managing the development and growth of an asset base from $304 million to $810 million; creating a medical manpower plan for facilitation and growth of the provider network, resulting in 17 new sites and 110 employed providers; and developing a comprehensive free-standing cancer center. He has held additional leadership positions at West Suburban Health Care in Oak Park, Illinois; Millard Fillmore Health Care System in Williamsville, New York; and St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, New York.

"More than 160 years ago, the founding sisters of this health system began a legacy of compassion and excellence in Catholic health care that lives today in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio and Columbia, South Carolina," said Cecero. "I am eager to join the ministry and continue to advance the Sisters of Charity Health System’s faith-based mission; support its provision of high quality, patient-centered care in service to the community; and prepare our medical centers for the future of health care."

David has a master’s degree in business administration and health care administration from the Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. He is a fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives, has received the senior-level health care regents award from the Greater Dallas/Fort Work Metroplex, and is a past board member of the following: Texas Hospital Association, Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council, the Texas Association of Public and Non-For Profit Hospitals, Nolan Catholic High School and Tarrant County American Cancer Society, as well as a member of the American Hospital Association’s Regional Planning Board (Region 7).

Additionally, Andy Motz joins the Sisters of Charity Health System as chief procurement officer, a position created to centralize leadership of supply chain initiatives across the system’s numerous subsidiaries. Specifically, Andy is responsible for the management, administration and supervision of collaborative acquisition programs, including non-personnel contracting services, supplies, equipment and materials. Motz began his new position May 29.

“The Sisters of Charity Health System has an outstanding reputation and a strong future,” said Motz. “I look forward to working closely with its first-rate and dedicated team of leaders across its medical centers, foundations, elder care facilities and outreach ministries.

Most recently, Motz was a senior consultant at Deloitte Consulting Healthcare Provider practice. He has more than 10 years of experience identifying and implementing supply chain savings opportunities at a variety of providers, including large health care systems, academic medical centers and community hospitals. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati.

About the Sisters of Charity Health System

The Sisters of Charity Health System solely owns four Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio; Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio; and Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a 50/50 joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also co-owns St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio.

The Sisters of Charity Health System also oversees three grantmaking foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, and Columbia, South Carolina. 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 Joseph’s Home, a unique residential care center for homeless men in Cleveland; Early Childhood Resource Center for people working in childcare in all settings in Canton; Healthy Learners, a health care resource for children from low-income families in South Carolina; and the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, a state-wide organization supporting initiatives to reengage fathers in the lives of their children.

The Sisters of Charity Health System also provides residential elder care 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.

Jones Day Partner Christopher Kelly Joins Sisters of Charity Health System Board of Directors

Cleveland (June 14, 2012) – Christopher M. Kelly, a partner at Jones Day, a global law firm practicing in the major centers of business and finance throughout the world, has joined the board of directors of the Cleveland-based Sisters of Charity Health System, one of several leading Catholic health care systems in the country.

“Chris is an excellent addition to the board. He has a strong commitment to the community and has extensive legal and business experience, which will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our health system’s leadership to provide oversight of our Catholic health ministry,” said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System.

Kelly is the partner-in-charge of the Jones Day Cleveland office. He is also the practice leader of the U.S. side of the Jones Day Capital Markets Group. His broad practice includes representing corporations and financial institutions in diverse domestic and international corporate finance matters, such as public and Rule 144A offerings, private capital raising, reorganization, restructuring, recapitalization, and acquisition transactions. Kelly has been practicing law since 1986 after graduating with honors from the Duke University School of Law. He also serves on the boards of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Northeast Ohio Region and Team NEO.

“I am honored to be part of the board of the Sisters of Charity Health System, an organization with a more than 160-year faith-based legacy of healing and helping individuals, families and communities. I look forward to helping the organization respond to the health care and economic challenges of today and tomorrow to continue that long legacy,” said Kelly.

About the Sisters of Charity Health System

Single mom with a new purpose shows what the Central Promise anti-poverty effort can accomplish: Margaret Bernstein

By Margaret Bernstein
The Plain Dealer
This article originally appeared at: http://www.cleveland.com/bernstein/index.ssf/2012/06/a_single_mom_with_a_new_purpos.html

How can someone who dropped out of school in ninth grade put her kids on the road to college?

Charlotte Robinson doesn't exactly know the answer, but she is trying to be that mom.

Last Sunday, I wrote about the Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood, an innovative effort to intervene in the lives of families living in Cleveland's Central area. One of the key challenges of Promise, a national attempt to turn selected poor neighborhoods into cradle-to-college conveyor belts, is to get parents on board to help their children break the poverty cycle.

I occasionally check in on this initiative to see if it is making tangible progress. Creating a "college-going culture" in Central will be tough -- 80 percent of the children here live in poverty, and only 6 percent of adult residents have college degrees.

I met single mom Charlotte Robinson last week while visiting Marion-Sterling School, a public elementary school in the Promise district. I wrote about her briefly Sunday, but her story deserves to be told more fully.

Talking with her, you can visualize just how this Promise experiment is supposed to work.

She is 36, with a daughter in second grade and another in fourth grade. She lives in public housing and had been ready to leave Central as soon as she moved in a few years ago. She didn't like all the violence and bad behavior outside her door.

But now her children's school has become her lifeline, and there's no way she's leaving.

Ask her how she has learned to be a better parent, and she'll tell you in an instant: Marion-Sterling School.

Promise-funded classes there are helping her learn vital life skills, and Robinson is so grateful for the attention and encouragement that she's blooming like a flower. She has stepped up to lead the school's parent organization.

She's had a chaotic life, but she's eager to undo that chaos for her girls. "I'm trying to show my kids all the love I can. I know where my kids are at all times, I put them in programs, I'm trying to save money for them for college, everything."

School is the last place Robinson expected to find stability. She dropped out of East Tech High School in ninth grade. "A lot of kids thought I was involved in a gang shooting, and they wanted to hurt me. So I left school and I never returned," she said.

At age 14, she also left her mother's home. The streets were calling her: "I was able to survive on the street -- it was like that was my family." Later, she was in and out of jail for minor offenses like writing bad checks and riding in stolen cars.

Her children's father, whom she never married, drifted off after six years. "I don't know where he's at. I get no child support, and I'm doing the best I can. My kids miss him," she said.

Once Robinson reached the end of her welfare eligibility, she lived on next to nothing for several years. She chose to be unemployed when her children were young because she doesn't trust day care providers, she admitted, saying, "I love my babies." Since her children reached school age, she has worked off and on.

When I talk to Robinson, I get the feeling she's been hungry for someone to show her the way to success, but she hadn't been able to make the right connection.
People she has met through Promise are helping her feel empowered. She's talking to school staff about completing her GED.

She founded the Princess Club, an etiquette program for girls, this year when Marion-Sterling received Promise-funded after-school programming from the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland. When her princesses graduated, she filled the school's blue-carpeted atrium with parents who watched the girls parade in dresses embellished with tissue-paper flowers. "I teach them how to be young ladies, how to take care of their bodies, keep themselves clean, and how to be respectful," explained Robinson, showing off a picture proudly.

What's working here? I think it's Promise's school-as-community-center concept that lures in parents by offering them what they want: information, connections and emotional support. It's one of many ideas borrowed from the Harlem Children's Zone, a comprehensive anti-poverty program that has no qualms about using incentives to encourage students and parents to get with the program.

The Harlem-inspired Promise initiative, funded by a mix of private foundations, corporations and government agencies, is not like other efforts we've all seen that try to stop the violence or raise test scores. Instead, it aims to address all the pieces of an at-risk child's life, especially the most influential one -- the parents.
It's a huge undertaking, requiring plenty of patience, inter-agency cooperation and money. Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, the biggest local funder of Promise, is willing to invest for the next few years but hopes to win a federal grant to take the pressure off.

Yet some of Promise's fresh ideas don't cost a lot. Next fall, Marion-Sterling School will create a welcome center with coffee, where Robinson and other parents can greet moms and dads as they drop off kids.

"We're still trying to get the parents involved. It's kind of hard. It's like they don't care," said Robinson, who is full of optimism since she landed a job last week as a CMHA maintenance worker. "There's love all through this school," she added. "And I'm about to get some more parents involved so they can see the same thing that I see."

Clearly, Promise has energized one parent.

The challenge is to create hundreds more like her.

Central's anti-poverty 'Promise' effort not letting lack of funding, name recognition deter it: Margaret Bernstein

By Margaret Bernstein
The Plain Dealer
http://www.cleveland.com/bernstein/index.ssf/2012/06/centrals_anti-poverty_promise.html

CLEVELAND, Ohio — I asked at least 10 parents inside Marion-Sterling School on Thursday if they had heard of the "Promise Neighborhood," and all shook their heads no.

They didn't recognize the name of the program that provides the computer classes they take. They didn't know the Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood is behind all of the new after-school activities for their kids, including the cooking class that culminated Thursday with a celebratory feast for moms and dads.

The only exception was Charlotte Robinson, a single mother of two. To her, the ambitious Promise Neighborhood effort that is attempting to revive Cleveland's Central community is like the supportive family she never had.

"Promise Neighborhood, they're helping me to the fullest," she said. Pamela Scott, hired in January to create and run an after-school program at Marion-Sterling, has become her go-to person. Scott steered her to computer classes, where Robinson earned a free laptop, and to a new program that will teach Robinson to save for her daughters' college education.

"When I was low on food, she helped me. She knows I'm struggling," said Robinson, who lives in public housing across the street from the school. "I have no help. Seriously. This school is it."

The Promise Neighborhood is a national effort to improve the lives of low-income children by choosing one community and weaving schools, nonprofits and public services into a seamless pipeline that carries kids from birth to college.

Three years ago, the Central neighborhood was selected as Cleveland's pilot site because within its boundaries are not only two colleges (Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State University) but also the city's largest concentration of residents in subsidized housing.

I've watched the Cleveland initiative take some lumps, twice falling just short of winning a sought-after federal grant. Clearly "Promise Neighborhood" is not yet a widely recognized phrase among the initiative's targets -- Central's parents.

Still, the effort keeps rolling on, determined to do what sounds like the impossible: end the transgenerational cycle of poverty.

The resilient coalition of foundations, nonprofits and government agencies led by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland this year moved from talking to doing and launched several high-impact projects with the money it was able to raise.

At two of Central's three elementary schools, Marion-Sterling and Stokes Academy, after-school enrichment classes to keep kids engaged were introduced in January. In other cities, keeping the school doors open after the final bell and offering quality after-school programming has improved student engagement and test scores.

A high point last week was the unveiling of the Dr. Ben Carson Reading Room at Stokes Academy. Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland kicked in $15,000 for the colorful reading space, named in honor of the famed black neurosurgeon. Books of all kinds beckoned to the children, including dozens of copies of Carson's memoir, "Gifted Hands," which tells the great story of how reading books as a boy was Carson's springboard out of poverty.

Carson sent a videotaped greeting for the occasion, and his wife, Candy, was there to explain the concept behind the pleasure reading rooms that she and her husband are establishing across the country. "The kids are reading for points, and they turn those points in for prizes. After a while they learn to love learning, and you see their comprehension levels go up. Their grades go up, they're more active in school, so they're the ones that are less likely to drop out."

Another high-profile guest at the May 23 ribbon-cutting was former Congressman Louis Stokes, who attended school in the same building when it was known as Central High. He donated a book about blacks who have served in Congress. Using his own story, he told the kids that no accomplishment is out of reach for them: Read about it, dream it and be it.

The national Promise Neighborhood movement is patterned after the well-known Harlem Children's Zone in New York, an ambitious anti-poverty effort spotlighted in the film "Waiting for 'Superman.' "

But Cleveland's organizers don't compare themselves to the Harlem effort. They have only a fraction of the funding enjoyed by the Harlem Children's Zone's charismatic founder Geoffrey Canada, who has two billionaires on his board and a budget that exceeds $75 million a year.

In Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Foundation has put in about $1.3 million to keep the effort alive, and a mix of partners have chipped in another $800,000 or so. The Cleveland, Gund and Bruening foundations are among the biggest supporters, and city and county agencies also have contributed to specific programs.
Unlike Canada, who oversees all zone-related efforts including schools, parenting classes and even an initiative aimed at reducing asthma, Cleveland's effort takes a cost-effective approach of organizing and linking schools, nonprofits and other institutions that already exist.

"We're the connector and convener that's helping them all work better together," said Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland President Susanna Krey. "That's a very different model."

Cleveland's Promise organizers are gearing up for their annual run at a federal grant. The application is due July 27, and the grant will be worth about $5 million a year if they win.

They always come tantalizingly close. In 2011 Cleveland's application was ranked sixth, but only the top five were chosen.

If they win it this time, Krey says they'll use the grant to build more connections. For instance, they'll hire a strategist to hunt for young people who have dropped out of school, to help connect them with GED programs and job training.

Quality programs abound in Central, it's just a matter of getting residents to be aware and take advantage of them. "We need to sort this out. There's not a lot of uptake of these opportunities from families," Krey said.

Groundwork laid by the Promise effort led PNC Bank to donate about $50,000 through United Way to bring a program called SPARK to Central.

She didn't instantly recognize the Promise name, but a mom at Marion-Sterling's cooking class party beamed once she realized that Promise helps provide the backpacks that assist her 4-year-old in getting ready for kindergarten. Once a month, a SPARK worker drops off a backpack filled with books at her home, reads to the child with the parent present and asks the parent to read every day.

It's not a household name yet, but Promise is already a strong force that's getting parents involved and engaged.

Marion-Sterling Principal Gerard Leslie says he's seeing many new faces among the moms and dads showing up to take advantage of after-school computer classes and other programs aimed at them.

He's one of many who believe Promise is using its limited dollars smartly by bringing all the stakeholders to the table, for once. "You have more services in the Central neighborhood than you have in some suburbs. We want to connect parents to the resources so they understand everything they need is right around the corner -- they just didn't know it existed."

SPARK Has a Positive Impact on Children in Alliance

SPARK has a positive impact on children in Alliance.

That is the message Joe French, Alliance SPARK director, is presenting today during the fourth annual SPARK Ohio Networking meeting. The all-day event is taking place at Walsh University in Canton and the keynote speaker, Harvey Alston, is giving a talk on parent engagement. Alston, an educator and author, is considered to be one of the most dynamic speakers in America.

SPARK stands for Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids.

As part of his presentation, French will go over the positive results SPARK Alliance has earned between the time it was begun in 2008 and 2011. Based on the KRA-L testing at the kindergarten level, data indicates SPARK students consistently academically outperform students that did not participate in the program. Statistics show an almost three-point difference in both 2008 and 2011 on a performance scale ranging from 18.5 to 23, meaning SPARK students consistently perform better, and by a sizeable margin.

"Research shows children who are prepared for kindergarten continue to do well in the early grades of elementary school and are more likely to graduate from high school and achieve success in life," French reports. "SPARK has been working diligently over the past four years to increase the number of 'ready kids' arriving on the doorsteps of Alliance kindergarten classrooms. The KRA-L data shows children are more prepared for kindergarten because of their SPARK experience," said French.

In addition, the 4-year-olds who were involved in the SPARK program participated with their families in group activities at a far higher rate than students who were not involved in SPARK. In October of 2011, SPARK students had a 93 percent group attendance rate, compared to 50-54 percent among nonparticipating students. In December 2011, the statistics rose to 98 percent attendance, compared to 55-56 percent, and in March of this year, the percentage was 86 percent, compared to 49-57 percent.

"Child and parent groups are an important aspect of the SPARK program," French explained. "Groups enable parents and children to interact in a social environment and engage in developmentally appropriate activities based on the Ohio Early Learning Content Standards.

French also reports SPARK Alliance has achieved success with preparing at-risk children for school. "Over and over again, research shows that children living in poverty suffer in a multitude of ways. Alliance's free and reduced lunch program is approaching 80 percent, signifying an increase in poverty within the community. Childhood poverty is associated with higher rates of academic failure, grade retention, school dropouts, teen parenthood, and smoking and illegal drug use. Children growing up in poverty are more likely to have employment difficulties as adults. Research also shows that these outcomes are preventable, and SPARK has positive impacts for children experiencing poverty," said French. "This is one of the things we're extremely proud of."

Along with his report on the success SPARK Alliance has had in impacting academic achievement and family engagement and transition, SPARK has had a positive impact on early detection of developmental delays and health issues among its students. During 2011, 33 SPARK children received speech services, and 20 were given mental health or behavioral health services. This results in more success for children as well as long-term cost savings.

"The Responsive Services Team meets monthly to problem solve and address identified needs of SPARK children and families," said French. "SPARK also works to link children to quality preschool experiences. The number of SPARK children who have had preschool experience upon entry into kindergarten is 95 percent, compared to 44 percent among children who have not been involved in SPARK. These early intervention services helped to address and prevent barriers to learning and development that often hinder children's academic and social success upon their entry to school."

French indicated Alliance also has a Get Ready For School Program, offered to both SPARK and non-SPARK children that is collaboratively funded by Alliance City Schools and SPARK. Nearly 80 percent of all incoming kindergarten children participated in this year's Get Ready For School Program, with 78 percent of those being SPARK children, compared to 40-51 percent that were non-SPARK youngsters. This strong showing of SPARK children also helped raise the Alliance attendance up to a rate of 70 percent.

"Our research also indicates by the time our SPARK kids reach kindergarten, over half are receiving enriched instruction, based on entry-level kindergarten testing that separates the learning into three different levels. This shows we're making a connection with the kids and families. This is exactly the trend we want to see," said French. "We're very proud of our results and of the support of this community as well as our working collaboration with the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton. It's been a good program, and we've seen the results, not only in the children, but we've seen them in their families too."

During the SPARK Ohio Networking Event, results were presented from each community, and Peter Leahy of University of Akron, the lead evaluator for SPARK Ohio, also discussed results from across the state. Additionally, a talk was also given by Stephanie Siddens of the Ohio Department of Education on the Race to the Top Grant Ohio recently received in the amount of $70 million, and the impact this will have on education across the state. For more information about the grant, visit www.ode.state.oh.us/GD.

The original article appears at: http://www.the-review.com/local%20news/2012/05/02/spark-has-positive-impact-on-children-in-alliance

Cleveland State University, Northeast Ohio Medical University partner for better health care

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State University and Northeast Ohio Medical University partnership to encourage minorities to become primary care doctors working in underserved Cleveland neighborhoods could become a national model, said Dr. Louis Sullivan, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

"I am very excited about what's happening," he told several hundred people Monday at the official launch of the Health Care Education and Urban Primary Care Initiative. "You are breaking ground that we will be following around the country."

Sullivan said the Sullivan Alliance to Transform America's Health Professions, which supports diversity in all health care professions, will transfer the Cleveland model to other states if it is successful.

CSU and NEOMED have devised a program meant to encourage Cleveland students, as early as middle school age, to consider medicine and other health care professions. They will be mentored and guided through high school and CSU.

Up to 35 students will enroll at NEOMED each year. Qualified students will receive full tuition scholarships in exchange for a promise to work here for five years after receiving their medical degrees.

Throughout their four years of medical school, students will work with patients, residents, businesses and community leaders in Cleveland neighborhoods to address health care issues.

For instance, in the Hough and Fairfax neighborhoods, medical students would work at the Hough Health Center, which would be affiliated with the Cleveland Department of Public Health and MetroHealth Medical Center. Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center have indicated their support and intention to collaborate.

There will be two tracks to medical school. CSU will enroll students with a bachelor's or master's degree who will take two years of prerequisite courses before moving on to NEOMED. In addition, sophomore students at CSU can apply to the joint bachelor's-M.D. program, which ensures admittance to NEOMED after they get their bachelor's degree.

The first group of CSU students will enter NEOMED in 2013. Some classes will be held at NEOMED in Portage County, but many will be at CSU in renovated space in the Union Building at 836 Euclid Ave.

In 2015, the program will move to CSU's planned $45 million Health Innovations Center, which will also house the university's College of Sciences and Health Professions. NEOMED plans to contribute $10 million toward the building, which will be at 2121 Euclid Avenue, the current site of the vacant Viking Hall dormitory.

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center announced a $25,000 gift toward student scholarships on Monday. St. Luke's Foundation has provided $100,000 for curriculum development. The Cleveland Foundation awarded a $1.5 million grant to secure clinical space in neighborhoods and create a mentoring program. It also awarded a $250,000 planning grant.

CSU and NEOMED have said they will continue to raise support for the scholarship program.

The CSU partnership differs from NEOMED's compressed program through which prospective doctors earn a combined bachelor's of science and medical degree in six years by starting at either the University of Akron, Kent State or Youngstown State universities and completing four years of medical studies. They serve their residencies at hospitals in Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Warren and other nearby cities.

Each of those universities enrolls 35 students in the BS/MD program each year. Currently, each medical school class has about 105 students. But because of attrition in the university programs, NEOMED also accepts about 30 students from more than 1,800 who apply after graduating from other colleges.

Last year, Gov. John Kasich signed legislation approving funding for NEOMED to add 35 students from CSU.

This article originally appeared in The Plain Dealer: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/04/cleveland_state_university_and.html

Cuyahoga County launches 'County Health Alliance'

CLEVELAND -- Cuyahoga County officially launched its County Health Alliance with 21 cities.

The goal of the project is to control or eradicate chronic health diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity among county residents.
Of Ohio's 88 counties, Cuyahoga ranks 65th, indicating that many residents are unhealthy.

The project allows for cities to collaborate on wellness initiatives under one umbrella instead of everyone trying to do their own program.

Several local health agencies, including the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Sisters of Charity Health System and MetroHealth Medical Center, are also providing tools and guidance for cities to start programs to initially help employees and then expand to their communities.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, diseases such as heart disease, cancer, lower respiratory disease, stroke and Alzheimer's are the leading causes of death in the county.

Twenty percent of Cuyahoga County residents smoke, which contributes to many of the health problems listed. Anti-smoking and quitting campaigns may help curb those numbers.

"You can change the culture of your own organization, for example, by not allowing the Police Chief to bring donuts to the staff meeting anymore," says Bay Village Mayor Deborah Sutherland.

The program will initially reach about 500,000 city and county employees in the participating partners.

This story originally appeared on WKYC-TV: http://www.wkyc.com/news/health/article/243330/7/Cuyahoga-County-launches-County-Health-Alliance

Traveling exhibit displays service of local nuns

Sister Jordan Haddad was fierce in her fight to garner love and respect for the poor.

“I remember one time, when someone brought a piece of clothing to donate to the poor and it was dirty,” said Sr. Mary Ann Wiesemann–Mills, a Dominican Sister of Peace. “Sister Jordan looked her in the eye and said, ‘You take that back home and wash it.’ She insisted that you give the poor the same love and respect as anyone else. She woke us up to a lot of things and reminded us that everyone deserves dignity and respect.”

Haddad, a Dominican Sister of Peace who died in 2006, is among the women whose work is highlighted in a traveling exhibit that chronicles the contributions of the area’s Catholic nuns. Haddad started the Good Samaritan Hunger Center in Kent to meet the needs of the poor. She also organized the first Salvation Army Christian Kettle in Portage County and the Center of Hope in Ravenna to provide hot meals and food for the needy.

The exhibit – Progress & Promise: Sisters Serving Northeast Ohio – is on display through May 16 in the Upper Chapel Room at the St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish church, 44 University Ave., in downtown Akron. The exhibit is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, Notre Dame College and the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland.

The exhibit was created as part of the national exhibit, Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America. The national three-year touring exhibit, sponsored by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, was hosted from May to August 2010 at the Maltz Jewish Heritage Museum in Beachwood.

When the national exhibit moved to Ellis Island, the local committee that designed Progress & Promise and representatives from the congregations of women religious decided to convert it into a traveling display and make it available to churches, universities, hospitals and other facilities. It is scheduled to appear in more than a dozen venues in Summit, Stark, Mahoning, Geauga and Cuyahoga counties.

The Rev. Dan Reed, pastor at St. Bernard-St. Mary, said it is a privilege for his parish to host the exhibit. Having been taught, as a child, by Sisters of St. Joseph, Reed said he has been personally impacted by Progress & Promise.

“Going through the exhibit brought back [fond] memories of the sisters who helped develop me, and those who have helped me along the way,” Reed said. “This is a blessing to the diocese to have all of this information that helps us relive the rich history of women religious.”

Sister Diana Culbertson, a Dominican nun, said her hope is that the exhibit will help people pay tribute to the past and help them understand that members of the religious orders are still very actively serving others.

“This is not just about the past but the present and the future. We are alive and well,” said Culbertson, a retired Kent State University professor. “We’re much more invisible than we used to be because we don’t staff large institutions, but I don’t believe there is a religious woman in the world who wouldn’t die for the Gospel.”

Donna Nickel, exhibit writer, echoed Culbertson’s sentiments, saying the goal of the exhibit is to be historical and informational.

“I don’t think people realize the back story and how many millions of people these sisters have helped,” Nickel said. “Because they have such a rich history and profound presence, we couldn’t include everything, so the exhibit focuses on the areas of healthcare, education and social service.

Nickel said two nuns who might be missed in the local exhibit are Sister Mary Ignatia Gavin, a Sister of Charity of St. Augustine, and Sister Dorothy Kazel, an Ursuline. Kazel was one of three nuns and a lay missionary murdered in 1980 in El Salvador, where she lived among the people, teaching them to read, write and nourish their children. Gavin partnered with the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous to open the first ward for alcoholics in the country at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron.

The two women are not part of the local exhibit because they are part of the national exhibit. But their stories are included in a 60-page book (Progress & Promise: Sisters Serving Northeast Ohio) that accompanies the local exhibit. The publication, which is available for a donation of $10, is a project of the Collaboration for Ministry Initiative of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland.

The exhibit consists of panels that tell the story of the nuns who began arriving in Northeast Ohio in the mid-1800s and built schools, hospitals, orphanages and homes for seniors. The story unfolds to tell how the institutions continue to thrive and how the sisters have evolved to serve current needs.

The main eight-foot historical panels include images, quotes and descriptive text. A congregational timeline outlines the arrival of the religious congregations in Northeast Ohio. Individual brochures that detail each congregation are available for visitors. Index cards are also available for visitors to share their experiences about sisters who inspired them.

Photographs of 20 historic artifacts are displayed on panels. Those include an irrigation syringe used in the 1940s at Mercy Hospital (established by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine) in Canton and a replica of a St. Peter’s Fishing Lure, which was packaged with a prayer and sold by Mother Angelica and the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Canton to establish Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Alabama.

A variety of images highlight the current ministries of the religious orders, including the Catholic Worker of Akron, which was co-founded by Sister Catherine Walsh, a Sister of Charity of St. Augustine. Walsh lives with Latino families at a restored house of hospitality where she serves to help the families work toward self-sufficiency.

The work of Crown Point Ecology Center in Bath Township and Humility of Mary Housing Inc. in Akron is also highlighted.

Started in 1987 by Sister Loretta Raff, a sister of the Humility of Mary, the housing corporation has grown to include 10 sites in five counties. The sites provide housing for low-income seniors, single parents in transition and young men with disabilities who have aged out of foster care.

Crown Point Ecology Center, a ministry envisioned by Sister Patricia Marie Sigler, a Dominican Sister of Peace, is located on 130 acres in the Cuyahoga Valley. It supports the region’s oldest community-supported agriculture program, provides hands-on education programs and hosts organic plant sales. Since 1997, it has donated more than 265,000 pounds of produce to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Research compiled by Sister Mary Ann Murphy (an Ursuline) and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland shows that 99 percent of Catholic sisters in the local area are involved in more than one ministry; 80 percent have earned a graduate degree and 71 percent are involved in collaborative ministries. One of those collaborative ministries is Regina Health Center in Richfield. The center, which is the former motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, opened in 1993. The first facility of its kind in the United States, Regina Health Center provides medical and pastoral care to women and men religious, diocesan priests and lay people.

A recent collaborative initiative between women from several religious communities and professional women is a campaign to end human trafficking. The initiative promotes awareness and supports policies that aim to prevent the illegal trade of human beings.

Progress & Promise is open seven days a week, during the hours that the St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish church is open. It can be seen 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Free parking is available on Saturdays and Sundays in the church lot and at the University of Akron parking deck across the street from the church. For more information, call St. Bernard-St. Mary Parish, 330-253-5161.

This article originally appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal: http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/religion/traveling-exhibit-displays-service-of-local-nuns-1.303431

SPARK Warren helping kids get ready for school

Warren City Schools is proud to be involved with the SPARK Program, in partnership with Community Solutions and the Raymond John Wean Foundation. SPARK helps our students build Reading, Language, Math and Social Skills before they enter Kindergarten. Those core areas are currently the main focus for all students in the District from Kindergarten through 12th grade; SPARK helps give our youngest kids a head start on their education.

Another one of our primary focuses in the Warren City Schools, is Parent and Community involvement, we encourage parents to become involved with their children’s education. SPARK provides monthly one on one interaction with the child and a Parent Partner in their homes. Parents are encouraged and supported to become part of their child’s learning. SPARK families are provided a new book, activity and art supplies each month to help promote an ongoing learning environment.

Warren’s SPARK success results are among the highest in the state, and we feel that it will continue to help our students as they progress through the Warren City Schools.

Community Solutions recently held a Press Conference to share this years results from the SPARK program.

Original article: http://www.warrenschools.k12.oh.us/news/?p=2052

Hospitals Celebrate Earth Day with Awards

To honor Earth Day, April 22, 2012, the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) is proud to announce Mercy Medical Center of Canton as the recipient of the 2012 John Chapman Award for demonstrating exceptional environmental stewardship. In addition, 10 hospitals received the 2012 Melvin Creeley Environmental Leadership Award.

“These hospitals demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship through implementing waste reduction programs, recycling initiatives and other activities to preserve the health of the planet for future generations,” said OHA President and CEO Mike Abrams.

Mercy Medical Center recognizes the importance of conservation on a daily basis and strives to be a good steward of its resources through energy conservation, recycling, buying green and building green. Results of these initiatives have been realized across the hospital. For three years in a row, Mercy has earned the U.S. EPA’s prestigious ENERGY STAR award, the national symbol for protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. Mercy recycled more than 51 tons of non-hazardous waste material in 2011 and thousands of light bulbs and batteries, plus Mercy recycles 10-15 tons of cardboard monthly. Energy conservation efforts from 2009-2011 have yielded savings of nearly $2.7 million through reductions in electricity, water and natural gas consumption.

The John Chapman Award recognizes a hospital or health system that has shown excellence in initiating or supporting pollution prevention programs. The award is named after John Chapman or “Johnny Appleseed,” who planted thousands of apple trees across the Midwest during the 19th century. The award will be presented June 12 during the OHA Annual Meeting at the Hilton Columbus at Easton.

OHA’s Environmental Leadership Council selected Mercy Medical Center to receive the John Chapman Award from a group of 10 Melvin Creeley Environmental Leadership Award honorees who are recognized for promoting sound environmental practices through environmental stewardship and exemplifying the best practices for other hospitals to follow. The award is named after the retired president and CEO of East Liverpool City Hospital, Melvin Creeley, who chaired OHA’s Environmental Leadership Council from its inception in 2001 to 2010. The 2012 Melvin Creeley Environmental Leadership

Award-winning hospitals and health systems are:

Barnesville Hospital, Barnesville
Bethesda North Hospital, Montgomery
Fairfield Medical Center, Lancaster
Firelands Regional Medical Center, Sandusky
Fisher Titus Medical Center, Norwalk
Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati
Humility of Mary Health Partners, Youngstown
Mercy Medical Center, Canton
Mount Carmel Health System, Columbus
OhioHealth, Columbus

As an ENERGY STAR partner, OHA is also working to protect the environment. OHA’s Team Green is collecting electronics such as computers, CDs, radios and other electronic devices to be recycled. OHA recently received the Ohio Alliance for the Environment Award from the Environmental Education Council of Ohio, which honors a business or industry that is dedicated to fostering a climate of cooperation for resolving environmental issues. And in an initiative begun last year, the OHA Energy Program is assisting hospitals to become more energy efficient.

Beginning with a partnership with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) in the 1990s, OHA embarked on a campaign to assist hospitals with pollution prevention and waste reduction in Ohio. OHA's Environmental Leadership Council provides leadership, support and technical resources to Ohio hospitals in their efforts to reduce waste, prevent pollution, and comply with environmental regulations. The Council consists of representatives from hospitals and organizations such as the Ohio Nurses Association and the OEPA. OHA's environmental advocacy is accomplished through the Hospital Pollution Prevention (P2) Initiative, a hands-on approach to evaluate waste systems.

Original article: http://www.ohanet.org/Press-Release/Hospitals_Celebrate_Earth_Day_with_Awards

Terrence Kessler Appointed General Counsel for Sisters of Charity Health System

Cleveland, Ohio (April 19, 2012) -- Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System (SCHS), has announced the appointment of Terrence P. Kessler as general counsel for the Cleveland-based health system. He replaces Robert Maynard, who is retiring after 50 years of dedicated service to the community.

In his new role, Kessler will oversee the SCHS legal functions, including corporate governance, contracts, leases and financial transactions, as well as state and federal tax and health care regulatory compliance. He will also oversee the legal department and serve as a member of the senior leadership staff of the health system, which includes five hospitals, two skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, three grantmaking foundations, and numerous health and human services organizations in Ohio and South Carolina.

Kessler comes from Black, McCuskey, Souers & Arbaugh in Canton, Ohio, where he has been a shareholder since 1980. He joined the law firm in 1975 after graduating from The Ohio State University College of Law. His practice has focused on business and transactional matters, business finance, and state and federal taxation.

Kessler has been on the SCHS Board of Directors since 1998 and has served as board chair since 2006. With his appointment as general counsel, he will be resigning as a member of the board. He begins his new position on June 6, 2012.

“Throughout the past 14 years of volunteer services for the health system, Terry has deeply embraced our mission and values, and he shares our vision for the future,” said Karam. “He has developed a deep understanding of the dynamic health care sector in Northeast Ohio and the values of Catholic health care. He understands poverty, as well, through the work of our foundations and community outreach ministries. Combined with his extensive legal experience at one of Ohio’s top law firms, he is a perfect fit for the role of general counsel for the Sisters of Charity Health System.”

Kessler has been active with the Stark County Bar Association since 1975, serving as president from 1994 to 1995 and chairing the association’s grievance and executive committees. He is also a past president of the United Way of Central Stark County, past president of the Catholic Charities Advisory Board of the Diocese of Youngstown and a current member of the board of directors of Canton Central Catholic High School. Kessler earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and his law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law.

“I am pleased to join the Sisters of Charity Health System and look forward to continuing the tremendous work that has been carried out diligently by my predecessor, Robert Maynard. Bob has built a strong reputation for our legal services throughout his 11 years as SCHS general counsel,” said Kessler. “I have tremendous passion and commitment to the Catholic healing mission of this organization, which has a strong future of continuing to respond to the needs of all of the communities we serve.”

About the Sisters of Charity Health System

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.

Society of St. Luke Induction Brings Leading Physicians Together

Providence Hospitals hosted local physicians and their families at a reception to honor William Baker Allen, M.D. and Charles S. Bryan, M.D., MACP, who were inducted into the prestigious Society of St. Luke on April 13.

The Society of St. Luke was established to recognize and honor selected members of the medical staff of Providence Hospitals for their distinguished service to their patients, the mission of the hospitals and the communities we serve. Candidates are nominated by fellow physicians as well as other hospital employees and past patients.

The next induction ceremony will be held in the spring of 2014. Patients and community members are encouraged to nominate Providence Hospitals physicians that they feel represent excellence in service and care. Learn more or nominate a physician today at www.providencehospitals.com/Submitting_Nominations.

The attached photos provide a snapshot of the evening, which was well attended by more than 200 guests, representing some of the most accomplished and compassionate physicians in our community.

The original article appears at: http://www.midlandsbiz.com/news/around-columbia/2113/

Our Mission: Take Care of Hearts while Taking Care of Business

by Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA

In a reflection book printed several years ago by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, I found the story of a girl who grew up in a poor community where the terrain was rugged and winters were difficult. She and the other local children never played on a nearby mountainside — they were afraid of an older woman who lived there. They could see her every day going through the ritual of slowly taking a step, bending down, digging in the uneven ground, taking a step, over and over, though it was clearly a chore for her to get around. Adults in the community described her as just plain odd, someone who didn’t fit in.

The young girl grew up, moved away, married. After many years, she happened to revisit the place of her childhood and found it transformed.All over the mountainside, flowers bloomed and children played among them. When she remarked on the lovely scene, people said that long ago,there was a remarkable old lady who planted seeds every day on the mountainside where she lived. Thanks to her, the mountain now was filled with life and new promise.

As providers of Catholic health care,we are called to transform, to plant seeds that give life and bring promise to God’s people. Always, the essence of Catholic health care is living out the healing mission of Jesus Christ. Today, we are faced with significant increases in the poverty rates and the number of uninsured. We are faced with significant need to manage the terrain of a rugged and changed economy. We cannot afford it all. At the same time, there is a huge priority in Catholic healthcare to offset the lack of will in our country to serve the poor.

CALLED TO SERVE

Our social teaching is integral to Catholic health care. We believe that individuals are made in the image and likeness of God. We believe that access to health care is directly related to the dignity of the human person. We are called to care for the poor. We are called to be responsible stewards of our resources. How to put these beliefs into practice is the challenge of our current situation.

Recently, I mentioned to a group of Catholic health care colleagues that I had come to the conclusion that we are truly countercultural in our world today. We use the term countercultural in relating to the prophetic nature of our call, our mission and our vocation. Jesus was truly countercultural, as his presence on earth was a disruptive one, going down a different path than the culture of his day.

How do I come to this conclusion when I speak of Catholic health care? Are we disruptive to the status quo as we advocate for those in need? Are we the voices of the poor even in the midst of the need to operate the ministry with business acumen? What about our controversial position in advocating that health care is a basic right of all? Are we able to sustain the ministry and our social justice values with the economic challenges and moral will or lack thereof within our country today?

The nation’s economic woes are historically dramatic. We are situated in an environment that is challenging at best for those of us responsible for successfully managing multimillion dollar organizations. The national poverty rate increased to 15.1 percent in 2010, the highest level since 1994. This results in 43.6 million Americans living in poverty — the highest number in 51 years. The number of uninsured has risen to 50.7 million, which is an increase from 42 million in 2009. In our health care institutions, the rate of increase in charity care and bad debt is in the double digits. Increased demand and reimbursement reductions are fraying our safety-net hospitals.

Simultaneously, the rate of health care spending in our country continues to increase. This increase is devastating to our economy and is not sustainable. Significant cuts in both Medicare and Medicaid have added to economic hardship,especially for safety-net hospitals and long-term care. For the past several years, market-driven competition has been the focus of public policy related to health care because of the assumption that it drives down spending. On the other hand, unnecessary spending occurs because of the need to be “full service” in order to compete with other providers.

The market-driven environment leads us to indirectly characterize health care as a commodity to be bought and sold in the market place versus a service to be provided to an individual made in the image and likeness of God. The business imperatives need to be a priority, but so does mission. If we do not take time to reflect on how all decisions relate to mission, we will move into attitudes that promote a compelling business imperative as the most important criterion. How can we, as a faith-based ministry, be in the business of buying and selling health care as a commodity when this service so intimately ties to the dignity of the human person?

MISSION-BUSINESS BALANCE

Balancing business imperatives with mission is truly a challenge in our day. In some circles, asking the mission question in the midst of a compelling business rationale can be considered naive. However, if we do not ask what Catholic healthcare is about, we cannot balance business with mission. I have a plaque in my office that one of our nurses gave me. It says, “It’s a rare person who can take care of hearts while also taking care of business.” That is Catholic health care.

Health care is a dramatic need that we have responsibility to address. In our country today, the economy has the most significant impact on the provision of health care. The need to deal with sustainability and positive operating margins has dramatically changed operations within our health care systems. Ensuring the highest quality of compassionate care and service, providing cutting-edge technology and patient-centered care, following best practices in disease management— these are the hallmarks of Catholic health care. Operating in the most cost-effective way, providing margins for re-investment in the entities to continue high quality, affording technology, providing just wages for our staff and caring for the uninsured are all integral goals of our Catholic entities and systems. Making health care affordable and accessible is our duty.

The primary goal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is to reduce the number of American citizens without access to a basic level of healthcare. The number one indicator of health status is poverty. My personal point of view as a woman religious is: What has transpired since the law’s enactment has been political warfare that I have not experienced in all of my years of ministry.

The level of energy around the attacks in Washington,D.C., coming out of both political parties is devastating to our country and to our moral fiber as a nation. As an example, budget discussions around federal taxes have resulted in accusations about “class warfare.” Is not the mean-spiritedness about the poor and underserved also class warfare? The drive to eliminate entitlement programs without replacement of transition initiatives in serving basic needs is a direct attack on the poor.

We don’t have a chance in such a confrontational environment to ask the question that has been an integral part of the fabric of our country: What do we owe each other as a nation? Our public policy regarding health care once was to increase access — witness the 1946 Hill-Burton Act, Medicare and Medicaid. In our current debate, this approach has been described by some as a movement to socialism and health care as a basic right of an individual is challenged. The curious aspect is that a right to education is highly acceptable.

Today, when we could be asking what we can afford to do as a nation to care for the least among us,given our economic constraints, the energy seems to be focused on political imperatives and not on persons. Can we pause and look at the Affordable Care Act to understand the basic tenets that would have a chance to preserve our basic beliefs as a nation, and at the same time bring down our health care costs through maintaining health versus treating illness in a more costly setting?

Consider a dream of a health care system in our country where spending could be managed much more effectively through a transformation into a new paradigm. This includes the vision for every person to have access to a basic level of healthcare, including a provider to manage needs; an ability to focus on lifestyle changes to maintain health; access to early interventions to prevent costly services; a supply of primary care physicians and physician extenders to serve as patient centered health care managers; information systems to ensure continuity and patient safety; and incentives for providers who ensure quality and value. This is the Affordable Care Act. The political debate in the marketplace makes it difficult to recognize it. Implementation is costly, but unless we are able to transform the entire health care industry, we will be hard-pressed to save money in the long haul, preserve safety-net providers and reduce the level of spending in our country.

Let’s go back to the old woman planting seeds on the side of the mountain. She had a vision of hope. She walked a different path, and was perceived as a little odd. Yet, after she died and the mountainside blossomed, the people knew where the new life came from and how she was called to plant the seeds. Here we are as Catholic healthcare, in this ministry at this time and at this place. Solutions we might have used in the 20th century will not be appropriate for the 21st.

The religious congregations who started Catholic health care could see the vision so many years ago of the life-giving mountainside of flowers and new life. So how do we sow the seeds today? Yes, we are challenged with a harsh terrain of continued reductions in reimbursement, rising levels of uncompensated care, lack of political will to address the needs of the poor, challenges as to our charity care status and our conscience clause protections, constrained capital to reinvest in facilities and more. Will the business imperatives get so difficult that our beliefs that health care can be a ministry, and that we can make a profound difference in people’s lives, wane?

As we approach the season of Lent, how can we prepare to reflect on our role as Catholic healthcare leaders? As people’s lives are transformed and continue to be made whole by this ministry,will our nation know who planted the seeds? Even in the midst of this challenging environment, can we be strengthened by belief in the covenant of our God with his people?

Lent is about preparing for resurrection. Resurrection is about God walking the journey of unconditional love with us. Jesus showed us the way. We are the Emmaus disciples walking the journey, listening to Jesus, recognizing him in the breaking of the bread. He lived the healing ministry. His journey in life was also charged with a huge agenda. He lived his call in a prophetic way, a countercultural way. Can we continue to call attention to the core of our mission? Can we direct the economic realities faced each day to be managed effectively to ensure success to the mission? Can we seek common ground regarding what we owe each other as a nation in order to advocate and care for the poor?

We can, because we are on a journey devoted to healing as Jesus did. We seek to love one another and each person we encounter because we are loved by a God who died for us so that we might live. We minister in health care to share the love of God with those around us. It is this love that gives meaning and direction with hope to our community of service as Catholic health care.

Reprinted from Health Progress, January - February 2012
Copyright © 2011 by The Catholic Health Association of the United States

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center: Caring for the heart of Cleveland since 1865

At St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, we practice medicine from the heart. As Cleveland’s Catholic hospital, St. Vincent Charity is the only hospital in Greater Cleveland to welcome all patients, regardless of faith and ability to pay. Our holistic approach to care treats body, mind and spirit.

Founded by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center opened on October 10, 1865, as the first private hospital in the City of Cleveland. Among its first patients were soldiers returning from the Civil War. We will celebrate 150 years in 2015!

Owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System, also located in the Campus District, St. Vincent Charity remains rooted in the healing mission of Jesus. As the only faith-based hospital serving the city’s downtown population, quality of care and concern for the well-being of each patient are foremost in the minds of all our Caregivers.

Serving as an anchor and economic engine in Cleveland’s Campus District, we treat an average of 125,000 patients per year through primary, specialty and surgical care and through our Centers of Excellence: Spine and Orthopedic Institute, Center for Bariatric Surgery, Department of Behavioral Health, Rosary Hall, Emergency Department, Cardiovascular Services and our Health Literacy Institute.

A Higher Level of Care

In keeping with the mission of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and its founders, we have a long-standing reputation for healthcare delivery of the highest caliber, extended to our patients with the compassion and dignity one would expect of a Catholic hospital.

We recognize that all of our patients are unique individuals who deserve to be treated not only for their illness or injury, but also as a whole person. That's why it is so important that St. Vincent Charity Medical Center offers a wide variety of clinically excellent services and programs. Sure, we’ve won awards for quality care, but high-quality means more at St. Vincent Charity.

It is estimated that nearly half of American adults--90 million people--have only basic or below-basic health literacy skills and have difficulty understanding and acting on health information. Led by our Health Literacy Institute, St. Vincent Charity works to provide easy-to-understand information for ALL patients so they can understand their health, act on that understanding, and live better.

The People of St. Vincent Charity

Our employees are known as Caregivers, no matter their department or function. Whether they are performing surgery, saying hello, delivering a meal, scheduling an appointment or giving directions, each Caregiver at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center understands that they are an extension of Christ’s healing ministry.

And that’s why we have chosen to put their faces on our banners outside the hospital.

History of For the Heart of Cleveland

This tag has historic significance for St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. It was the slogan of the capital campaign used to build the School of Nursing in the early 1920s. During that campaign, the hospital raised $1.6 million from the citizens of Cleveland in one week!

Today, For the Heart of Cleveland speaks to our location in Downtown Cleveland and our contributions to the well-being of the city, medically, economically and socially. Perhaps above all, this tag represents the very heart of our hospital: our mission to care for all with the utmost compassion and dignity.

Visit our website: www.stvincentcharity.com, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/StVincentCMC, follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/StVincentCMC and support our mission at www.stvincentcharity.com/giving.

http://campusdistrictobserver.com/read/2012/02/01/st-vincent-charity-medical-center-caring-for-the-heart-of

Providence Hospitals earns accreditation for cardiovascular care

Providence Hospitals announced that for the third consecutive year, it has received the Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers, an international not-for-profit organization that focuses on improving cardiovascular care.

Hospitals that have received SCPC accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. Staff and policies in place at these facilities emphasize 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.

To become an accredited chest pain center, Providence Hospital engaged in evaluation by SCPC for its ability to assess, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. That means processes are in place that meet strict criteria aimed at:

Reducing the time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment.
Treating patients more quickly during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved.
Monitoring patients when it is not certain they are having a heart attack to ensure that they are not sent home too quickly or needlessly admitted to the hospital.

“Since our heart program began in 1974, our staff and experienced physicians have committed themselves to providing the highest quality of care, not only on the treatment side, but everything from prevention to follow-up care as well,” said George Zara, Providence Hospitals president & CEO. “This third consecutive accreditation demonstrates to our community that unwavering commitment to exceptional heart care.”

http://www.columbiabusinessreport.com/news/42541-providence-hospitals-earns-accreditation-for-heart-care?rss=0

Effort aims to link Cleveland's many youth mentoring groups

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An effort begins Friday, Jan. 27, to link up the dozens of Northeast Ohio organizations that provide mentoring to young people, and to strategize about ways they can work together.

The drive kicks off with "A Celebration of Youth Mentoring," set for 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Friendly Inn Settlement House, 2386 Unwin Road, Cleveland. Co-sponsors are the Cleveland Foundation, its MyCom youth initiative, the Sisters of Charity Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland.

Organizers hope to get a handle on how many mentoring programs there are locally, and discuss ways to work together in the coming year, said Lisa Bottoms, Cleveland Foundation program director for human services and child and youth development.

"We in the mentoring world have not had any kind of infrastructure. We haven't looked at how we do recruitment and retention and what are the best practices," Bottoms said. "Those are things we'll be exploring."

So far, 33 youth organizations have registered, including Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland, Esperanza, City Year, America SCORES Cleveland and Adoption Network Cleveland.

Bottoms said the event will open the door to creating an umbrella group to unify and coordinate the many churches, schools and nonprofits offering mentoring, similar to Cuyahoga County's literacy cooperative, which local foundations established in 2006 to centralize efforts.

Gretchen Faro, president of Big Brothers Big Sisters, said the event will also emphasize that mentoring isn't just a "feel-good" exercise, but has a real economic value.

Businesses that encourage employees to mentor are building the workforce of the future by helping keep at-risk youths in school and focused on careers, she said.

"We have to stand up and say this is serious work," Faro said.

Continental breakfast and lunch will be served during the free event. To register, call Rebecca Kodysh at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland at 216-452-5220.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/01/effort_underway_to_link_up_cle.html

Providence Hospital Northeast to undertake $38 million renovation project

Providence Hospitals Board of Trustees has approved a $38.4 million plan for developing orthopedic care and general medical services through expansions and renovations at Providence Hospital Northeast in South Carolina, US.

The plan calls for expansion of the medical facility by adding 38 new beds, and construction of a new energy plant, an added MRI service, a new main entrance and canopy, along with an expansion of the front lobby, PACU and central sterile processing.

Areas to be renovated on the first floor include: emergency, pre-op/recovery, surgery, central sterile and admissions departments. Patient care areas on the third floor will also renovated.

Providence appointed US-based KBR Building Group to provide construction services, which account for $14 million of the project planned for the Providence Hospital Northeast building. The scheme will create employment opportunities for 100 people in the region.

http://public.worldconstructionindustrynetwork.com/news/providence_hospital_northeast_to_undertake_38_million_renovation_project_120119/

William A. Young Jr. Named President and CEO of St. John Medical Center

Westlake, Ohio - 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."

About St. John Medical Center

Co-owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals, St. John Medical Center is a Catholic health care provider. The medical center is recognized for outstanding centers of excellence such as Emergency Services, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Women’s and Children’s 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 midst of a five-year, $100 million strategic plan to include hospital-wide modernization and expansion. The plan will also align the medical center more closely with University Hospitals' prestigious centers of excellence and institutes.

About the Sisters of Charity Health System

The Sisters of Charity Health System also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, and Columbia, South Carolina. Each foundation sponsors significant community initiatives and collaborations that address causes and consequences of poverty.

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.

More information is available at www.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 among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information, go to www.uhhospitals.org.

Cleveland’s Sisters of Charity Health System to Join CliniSync Health Information Exchange

November 30, 2011 - The Sisters of Charity Health System is taking a significant step into the future of patient care in Ohio by committing three of its medical centers to join the statewide health information exchange.
Plans now will begin for St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, St. John Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center to connect electronically to other Ohio physicians, hospitals, labs and health care entities. The projected timeline for implementation for St. Vincent Charity and St. John is the summer of 2012, and for Mercy Medical Center, the fall of 2012.
“The Sisters of Charity Health System’s medical centers are advancing our high quality of care by adopting health information technology that helps caregivers focus on prevention, care coordination and quality outcomes for patients,” said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System.
“At our Ohio hospitals, this includes securely sharing data through the Ohio Health Information Partnership’s statewide electronic health information exchange, CliniSync, to better manage care, facilitate continuity and allow information access for patients,” she said.
Dan Paoletti, the chief executive officer of the Ohio Health Information Partnership, said this national movement in all states to create statewide exchanges will transform health care in Ohio and beyond. The electronic exchange of a patient’s lab results or tests reduces faxing, phone calls and other lags in care that occur because it takes so much time to communicate that information. In addition, patients will not have to go through duplicate tests and procedures already conducted by another physician, saving time and money.
“While we know that exchanging patient information can improve health care delivery, streamline workflow and cut costs, this really comes down to the patient,” Paoletti said. “Every hospital, physician and health care provider who joins the CliniSync network will be able to share critical information about a patient so they can work as a team to coordinate that individual’s care. We are thrilled that the Sisters of Charity Health System’s Cleveland and Canton hospitals will be part of that exchange.”
The Community Health Collaborative, LLC (CHC) in Northeast Ohio has also just signed contracts to join the CliniSync exchange. This includes Southwest General Hospital, Parma Community General Hospital and EMH Elyria Medical Center. The actual implementation of CliniSync is now occurring in a consortium of hospitals in the Lima area.
The CliniSync health information exchange ultimately will connect hospitals, health systems, physicians and other health care professionals involved in patient care. With patients’ permission, the exchange will allow participating organizations to access records through a secure network in real time.
Ohio received $14.8 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology to create the infrastructure for a statewide exchange. The Ohio Health Information Partnership also has signed up more than 5,800 Ohio physicians and health care professionals for the switch from paper records to electronic health records or to upgrade their existing 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 of St. Augustine, since founding in 1851, continues a faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers, who are the heart and hands of the ministry. The Sisters of Charity Health System solely owns four Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio; Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio; and Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a 50/50 joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also co-owns St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio. The Sisters of Charity Health System also oversees three grantmaking foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, and Columbia, South Carolina. 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 Joseph’s Home, a unique residential care center for homeless men in Cleveland; Early Childhood Resource Center for people working in childcare in all settings in Canton; Healthy Learners, a health care resource for children from low-income families in South Carolina; and the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, a state-wide organization supporting initiatives to reengage fathers in the lives of their children. 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. More information is available at www.sistersofcharityhealth.org.
About St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is Cleveland’s Catholic, high-quality health care provider. Our distinguished doctors and caregivers are devoted to treating every patient with clinical excellence and compassionate care. St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is home to the renowned Spine and Orthopedic Institute and the Center for Bariatric Surgery. Owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center delivers care for the heart of Cleveland. For more information, visit www.stvincentcharity.com.
About Mercy Medical Center
Mercy Medical Center, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, operates a 476-bed hospital serving Stark, Carroll, Wayne, Holmes and Tuscarawas Counties and parts of Southeastern Ohio. It has 620 members on its Medical Staff and employs 2,500 people. Mercy operates outpatient health centers in Carroll County, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Louisville, North Canton, Plain Township and Tuscarawas County. A Catholic hospital, Mercy Medical Center upholds the mission and philosophy of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and continues to be responsive to the needs of the community. For more information, visit www.cantonmercy.org.
About St. John Medical Center
Co-owned by University Hospitals and the Sisters of Charity of Health System, St. John Medical Center is a Catholic health care provider. The medical center is recognized for outstanding centers of excellence such as Emergency Services, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Women’s and Children’s 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 midst of a five-year, $100 million strategic plan to include hospital-wide modernization and expansion. The plan will also align the medical center more closely with University Hospitals' centers of excellence and institutes, such as its nationally ranked UH Case Medical Center, UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, MacDonald Women’s Hospital and UH Seidman Cancer Center. The medical center was founded in 1981, and, this year, is celebrating 30 years of service to the community.
About the Ohio Health Information Partnership
The Ohio Health Information Partnership is a nonprofit, state-designated entity responsible for establishing regional extension centers to assist physicians and hospitals with information technology and for creating the infrastructure for a health information exchange in the state. Ohio has received $44,146,199 in federal funding including $14, 872,199 for the health information exchange (CliniSync), $28.5 for regional extension centers and $774,000 for critical access hospitals. The State of Ohio contributed $8 million when The Partnership first formed. The Partnership includes the Ohio State Medical Association, Ohio Osteopathic Association, Ohio Hospital Association, BioOhio and the State of Ohio. The partnership is funded through the Office of the National Coordinator, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, grant numbers 90RC0012 and 90HT0024. Visit the Ohio Health Information Partnership at www.clinisync.org.

HHS Sec. Sebelius uses Cleveland as electronic medical records platform

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Federal officials used Northeast Ohio's success in implementing electronic health records as a platform Wednesday to argue that America's hospitals and doctors need to act faster to adopt the technology.

The best use of health information technology helps doctors and hospitals in "delivering the right care to the right patient at the right time," U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said after a round table of discussion at Cuyahoga Community College.

Sebelius eased rules Wednesday for physicians and hospitals planning to adopt the technology. She also announced a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey that found 52 percent of office-based physicians in the U.S. now intend to take advantage of the incentive payments set out in federal reforms.

The visit continued Cleveland's run the past few years of attracting national attention for its healthcare industry and related technology.

President Barack Obama visited the region and the Cleveland Clinic in 2009 as he worked to convince the nation to pass health care reform. The federal law that was eventually passed includes financial incentives totaling up to $27 billion over 10 years for clinicians and hospitals to use electronic records to improve patients' health.

Individual clinicians could get as much as $44,000 through Medicare and $63,750 through Medicaid. Even more, the federal program will penalize providers starting in 2015 if they don't meaningfully use electronic records.

Sebelius described the incentive program as "an escalator" and added that she's easing the rules to encourage more health systems, such as the Clinic, to step up to the next level of health technology before 2015. In earlier versions of the rule, health systems and doctors who adopted the first phase would then have to move forward with the next stage quickly. Wednesday's change eased that time frame -- a move that would help doctor's and physicians manage the high cost of implementing such systems.

Northeast Ohio is home to one of the strongest networks of electronic medical records in the nation. All of the big health systems -- ranging from the Cleveland Clinic to MetroHealth System -- have spent millions upgrading to electronic records.

In addition, thousands of jobs are being created within the health information technology field through a consortium led by Cuyahoga Community College -- many of those students are finding jobs at health systems in the region implementing electronic medical records.

Sebelius' visit also highlighted the variety of efforts to implement electronic medical records across the region.

Nearly 6,000 physicians and other healthcare professionals in Ohio have committed to using electronic health records in their practices, according to the Ohio Health Information Partnership. Sebelius noted that the exchange is a leader in the nation.

Sisters of Charity Health System, Southwest General Health Center, Parma Community General Hospital and Elyria Memorial Healthcare all announced this week that they will contract with the state health information partnership, allowing them to seamlessly share information about patients.

What does all of this mean to patients? Terri Rini Barber, chief information officer for Southwest explains one of the most obvious benefits: If your regular doctor is at Southwest but if you end up unconscious in the emergency room at Parma, the doctors in Parma will be able to quickly check your latest medications or health issues.

Patients "should be glad to know that the hand off is clean between hospitals. . . one of the benefits is it enhances the continuum of care," she said.

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2011/11/hhs_sec_sebelius_uses_clevelan.html

Founding President of Sisters of Charity Health System Honored by Catholic Health Association

CLEVELAND – June 7, 2011 – The Sisters of Charity Health System’s founding president, Sister Mary Patricia Barrett, CSA has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Catholic Health Association (CHA).
Presented last night at CHA’s 2011 Catholic Health Assembly in Atlanta, the award is conferred each year upon "an acknowledged leader of health ministry who has inspired and mentored numerous others. A recipient’s leadership extends past the Catholic health ministry to influence and impact the local community and beyond."
Sr. Mary Patricia was the first president of the Sisters of Charity Health System, a Cleveland-based nonprofit organization that oversees the sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, a congregation of sisters who in 1851 began an enduring legacy of responsive ministry, creative stewardship and an ongoing quest for social justice.

Establishing the Sisters of Charity Health System
Sr. Mary Patricia responded to God’s call in 1957 by entering the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. After serving in various social services positions at CSA-sponsored hospitals and in administration at a home for dependent children, Sr. Mary Patricia was elected major superior of the congregation in 1973. In 1982, Sr. Mary Patricia led the planning process that led to the formation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine Health & Human Services (now known as the Sisters of Charity Health System). As the first president of the system, Sr. Mary Patricia led its establishment, formulated its strategic vision and welcomed its first board members. Her vision engaged and inspired the boards and employees of the system’s hospitals, which laid the foundation for future growth and expansion of mission and ministry. The health system combined the hospitals’ strengths to better respond to industry fluctuations and support shared services, strategic planning and common mission initiatives.
Since its inception, the Sisters of Charity Health System has grown exponentially. Nationally recognized for high quality care, innovative initiatives in mission effectiveness programs and collaborations, the health system today serves Canton and Cleveland, Ohio and Columbia, South Carolina through more than 20 organizations responding to community needs. These ministries include five acute care hospitals, three grant making foundations, and several health and human service community outreach ministries. "The Sisters of Charity Health System continues to extend its healing mission because of Sr. Mary Patricia’s vision and encouragement of laity as co-ministers with the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine," said Terrence P. Kessler, Esq., board chair, Sisters of Charity Health System.

Addressing the Root Causes of Poverty
After successfully leading the health system as president for seven years, in 1989 Sr. Mary Patricia welcomed and supported the organization’s first lay president and accepted dual responsibilities as chair of the board of trustees and vice president of mission and ministry.
It was during her role as board chair that the Sisters of Charity Health System made a historic decision in 1995 to create three joint venture partnerships with a national investor-owned corporation. This decision led to continuing Catholic health care while also expanding the philanthropic ministry to include the Sisters of Charity Foundations in Canton, Cleveland and South Carolina (the Saint Ann Foundation merged with the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland in 2006).
Through strategic grantmaking, convenings and collaboration, each organization works to address root causes of poverty, nurture the growth of healthy communities, emphasize the needs of youth and families, and measure outcomes of these efforts. Together, the Sisters of Charity Foundations invest more than $10 million annually in grants to strengthen their communities and those most in need.
"Sr. Mary Patricia’s ongoing legacy has infused each ministry and its employees with a true belief in extending the healing ministry of Jesus to all of God’s people," said Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO, Sisters of Charity Health System. "While leading the health system and its board, she had a presence at each ministry to give support to the implementation of mission and values and service to those in need.”
Continuing the Mission
Sr. Mary Patricia's long-standing commitment to quality Catholic health care has continued long after she stepped down as president of the health system. That commitment has been demonstrated by her active participation on the boards of directors of CSA-sponsored hospitals as well as many area organizations. She also has served on the boards of Hospice of the Western Reserve; the Canton Medical Education Foundation in Canton, Ohio; and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. She remains active in ministry following her retirement in March 2011.
"At every stage of her ministry, she has been sensitive to the needs and joys of people, and is genuine in her responses," said Sr. Miriam Erb, CSA, congregational leader, Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. "For many people—employees, physicians, patients and their families, sisters, community leaders and strangers in need—she continues to be behind hundreds of handwritten notes that congratulate, express sympathy and encourage them to get well."
# # #
ABOUT THE CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION
The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), founded in 1915, supports the Catholic health ministry’s commitment to improve the health status of communities and create quality and compassionate health care that works for everyone. The Catholic health ministry is the nation's largest group of not-for-profit health systems and facilities that, along with their sponsoring organizations, employ more than 750,000 women and men who deliver services combining advanced technology with the Catholic caring tradition.
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 of St. Augustine, since founding in 1851, continues a faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers, who are the heart and hands of the ministry.
The Sisters of Charity Health System solely owns four Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio; Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio; and Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a 50/50 joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also co-owns St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio.
The Sisters of Charity Health System also oversees three grantmaking foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, and Columbia, South Carolina. 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 Joseph’s Home, a unique residential care center for homeless men in Cleveland; Early Childhood Resource Center for people working in childcare in all settings in Canton; and Healthy Learners, a health care resource for children from low-income families in South Carolina.
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.
More information is available at www.sistersofcharityhealth.org.

Sisters of Charity Health System Creates Safe Haven for Independent Physicians

Cleveland, OH — Dec. 06, 2010 — Sisters of Charity Health System, a faith-based organization, announced today the launch of its subsidiary, Independent Physician Solutions (IPS), to offer Northeast Ohio independent physicians a continuum of services, including revenue cycle management, electronic medical records (EMR), managed care contracting and a suite of a la carte consulting services for practice operations and financial management.
“What is different about IPS is that we are a physician-led organization, which will offer an equity model that physicians can invest in if they so choose and a governance structure that will have more than 50 percent of the board comprised of physicians,” said Orlando L. Alvarez, Jr., IPS CEO and Sisters of Charity Health System senior vice president for physician alignment.
Through a unique market arrangement with GE Healthcare, IPS will offer General Electric’s Centricity® Practice Solution offering as its EMR solution. The selection of this product included a robust vetting process that involved physicians from across all Sisters of Charity Health System markets as well as a physician advisory committee comprised of independent physicians.
The technology will position independent medical practitioners to demonstrate meaningful use in order to receive federal incentives as well as provide them with efficiencies and other benefits of practicing in an electronic environment. Additionally, IPS will allow independent medical practitioners to maintain their independence while keeping pace with larger, affiliated practices and meeting the new technology requirements mandated under the Affordable Care Act of 2010. IPS will also provide billing and collections services and hopes to organize physicians into an Independent Practice Association (IPA) in order to develop clinical integration strategies and group contract opportunities with health care insurance companies and other payors.
The Sisters of Charity Health System’s investment includes securing a talented management team led by Mark Wiedt, IPS president and chief operating officer. Wiedt most recently served as CEO of the largest independent multi-specialty physician group in Northeast Ohio. With decades of experience in managing physician practices, Wiedt and his team will lead the operations of the physician-focused organization.
The long-term goal of IPS is to position its physicians for the inevitable changes in health care as a result of new reimbursement models and health care reform legislation. With its technology infrastructure, IPS will be able to tackle the challenges of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and other population management models.
In spite of national trends, Northeast Ohio has a large number of independent physicians who have yet to become employed by hospital systems.
“It is really about strategy,” continued Alvarez. “We believe that independent doctors who wish to remain independent need to partner with organizations whose goal is not to control their patient records or gobble them up in an employment model. Our goal is to create a ‘safe haven’ for the independent physician and garner the collaboration of physicians who share our faith-based mission.”
IPS is aggressively recruiting from a pool of more than 4,000 independent physicians in Northeast Ohio to make them aware that they have options that will enable their practices to remain truly independent.
“My partnership with IPS provides my practice the support and expertise I need, without giving up my autonomy,” said Gregory Hall, M.D., internal medicine. “It allows me to continue doing what’s best for my patients without feeling controlled.”
Dr. Hall understands all too well the pressure that independent physicians are feeling to quickly become compliant with the pending health care reform requirements, which often means sacrificing their independence.“
Many of us own practices that are small businesses, and we have been very successful for years in treating our patients and managing our books,” continued Hall. “But with new EMR requirements, some physicians are overwhelmed with the adoption process and feel they have no choice but to completely affiliate with a large health system that can help them with new technology requirements. Now Northeast Ohio physicians have an option that actually encourages their independence.”
“We have a long legacy of collaboration and partnership with our independent physicians,” said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO, Sisters of Charity Health System. “We made it part of our faith-based mission to invest in this very important initiative to help ensure the high-quality and efficiency of health care in Northeast Ohio.”
About 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 of St. Augustine, since its founding in 1851, continue their faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry.
The Sisters of Charity Health System solely owns four Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio. The organization also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, and Columbia, South Carolina. 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. More information is available at www.sistersofcharityhealth.org.
About Independent Physician Solutions
Independent Physician Solutions (IPS) is a physician-led organization providing a robust continuum of services that enable independent physicians to meet their competitive and regulatory requirements while preserving the entrepreneurial practice of medicine. A ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, IPS is on the web at www.independentphysiciansolutions.com.

KeyCorp Vice Chair Christopher Gorman Joins Sisters of Charity Health System Board of Directors

Cleveland – Sept. 20, 2010 – Christopher M. Gorman, vice chair of KeyCorp, one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, has joined the board of directors of the Cleveland-based Sisters of Charity Health System, one of several leading Catholic health care systems in the country.
With nearly $1 billion in assets in Ohio and South Carolina, the Sisters of Charity Health System solely owns four state-of-the-art hospitals; two skilled nursing/geriatric residential facilities; numerous community outreach services in health, education and housing; and three grantmaking foundations with significant community initiatives that address the root causes of poverty. Additionally, the Sisters of Charity Health System jointly owns St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio, with University Hospitals.
“Following our transition in 2009 from a holding to operating company, the Sisters of Charity Health System continues to build a strong leadership base to provide oversight of our Catholic health ministry,” said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System. “Chris adds to our board a wealth of finance, strategic planning and operations knowledge that is essential as we lead our ministries to future growth and expansion.”
As vice chair at KeyCorp, Gorman leads the company’s National Banking business, which includes its corporate, investment banking, capital markets, commercial real estate and equipment finance businesses. Gorman, who has 27 years of experience in corporate and investment banking, also serves on Miami University’s Business Advisory Council and is actively involved in various charities and nonprofit organizations, including serving as past chairman of the KeyCorp United Way campaign.
“I am very pleased to join the board of a mission-driven health and human service organization that has a nearly 160-year legacy of service to Northeast Ohio,” said Gorman. “The board of Sisters of Charity Health System has a significant role in ensuring the organization’s ability to respond to a rapidly changing health care and economic environment, as well as leverage collective strengths for the benefit of the ministries and populations they serve.”
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 of St. Augustine, since its founding in 1851, continue their faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry. The Sisters of Charity Health System solely owns four Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio. The organization also oversees three grantmaking foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.
More information is available at www.sistersofcharityhealth.org.

Sisters of Charity Health System Welcomes Dr. Giesele Robinson Greene as Chief Medical Officer

Cleveland, Ohio, June 24, 2010 -- The Sisters of Charity Health System announces the hiring of Dr. Giesele Robinson Greene as the Chief Medical Officer of the Health System and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. Dr. Greene comes from UnitedHealthcare of Northern Ohio, where she served for the last four years as the Health Services Medical Director. In her new role, Dr. Greene will provide continued medical leadership in partnership with the medical staff in advancing best practices in clinical care, quality and safety across the health system. In addition, Dr. Greene will be responsible for overseeing St. Vincent Charity Medical Center’s role in the community in urban medicine, medical education and services to meet the hospital’s mission and vision.

“Dr. Greene has extensive experience in both administration and clinical practice,” says Sister Judith Ann Karam, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. “She is well known for championing patient-centered care and setting new standards of clinical excellence in the Cleveland community. We look forward to adding her expertise and passion to our system-wide initiatives. She is well known to our St. Vincent Charity family and we welcome her back home.”

Attracted by the mission of the Sisters of Charity Health System, Dr. Greene says she is looking forward to serving in this leadership role. “I am very excited to advance the Sisters of Charity Health System’s mission at a significant time in our nation’s realization of health care system modernization and transformation. The Sisters of Charity Health System has quality, mission-driven services that will be integral to meeting the health care needs of the communities we serve,” she says. Dr. Greene has been an active medical staff member of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center since September 1982. Prior to her position at UnitedHealthcare of Northern Ohio, Dr. Greene was the Medical Director, Midwest Region for Great-West Healthcare, where she was responsible for utilization management, credentialing, quality management and sales activity for 10 states. Dr. Greene has also been the Assistant Clinical Professor of the Department of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Greene is a board-certified internist and geriatric specialist, and currently a member of the Ohio State Medical Association, American College of Physicians, and Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio. In 2008, she received the Greater Cleveland 2008 Finalist Athena International award in recognition of her leadership in business and community service. Dr. Greene is a board member of the Benjamin Rose Institute, Health Legacy of Cleveland, and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland. Married for more than 30 years with six children, Dr. Greene resides in Cleveland Heights. She received her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and her doctorate of medicine from Howard University.

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 of St. Augustine since its founding in 1851 continue their faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry. The Sisters of Charity Health System sponsors five Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio. The organization also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.

Sisters of Charity Health System Welcomes Joanne Clark as Vice President for Corporate Affairs

Cleveland, Ohio (May 17, 2010) ¬¬- The Sisters of Charity Health System announces the hiring of Joanne Clark as vice president for corporate affairs, with a primary focus on St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. Clark comes from National City Corporation, where she was senior vice president of corporate public affairs for 12 years.
In her new role, Clark will serve as principal liaison to develop and maintain successful relationships with key constituents throughout the corporate community.
"Joanne has an extensive professional network and knowledge of the community," says Karam. "Her work at National City Bank enabled Joanne to have extensive knowledge of the corporate community in Cleveland. We look forward to her success enhancing our image and visibility by representing us through active participation in strategic corporate and community collaborative efforts."
Attracted by the mission of the Sisters of Charity Health System, Clark says she is excited to work for a mission-focused faith-based organization. "I am very excited to join Sisters of Charity Health System. The organization has an important vision to enhance the collaboration with the corporate community and to enhance our ability to partner with the community to bring critical health services to downtown Cleveland. I look forward to working with the leadership of Sisters of Charity Health System and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center to advance the mission of the organization and its healing ministries," she says.
With a Bachelor of Arts from Cleveland State University and a graduate of Leadership Cleveland, Joanne has a long-standing commitment to the Cleveland community. She is currently a member of the board of directors for the City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland Leadership Center and the Foundation Centre Advisory Board. Her previous board involvement includes: Cleveland Zoological Society, Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, Ohio Grantmakers Forum, Opera Cleveland, and Shoes and Clothes for Kids. She was also a member of the Ohio Women's Policy and Research Committee by appointment of Governor George Voinovich.
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 of St. Augustine since its founding in 1851 continue their faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry.
The Sisters of Charity Health System sponsors five Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake, Ohio. The organization also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.

Sisters of Charity Health System appoints Mercy Medical Center's Joseph Lapinski to Vice President, Managed Care

Cleveland, Ohio (April 1, 2010)¬¬ - Joseph Lapinski, Mercy Medical Center's Vice President of Managed Care has been promoted to vice president of managed care for the Sisters of Charity Health System (SCHS).
With more than 25 years of experience in managed care contract design and administration, Lapinski will be responsible for leading the five-hospital System's efforts to negotiate, execute and administer managed cared agreements with third party payers for our hospitals and associated physicians.
Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, SCHS president and CEO, believes the experience and managed care contract expertise Lapinski brings to the position will provide needed knowledge and skill to enhance the day to day management and direction of the managed care contracts throughout the system.
"I feel confident that Joe's leadership, oversight and strategic efforts will help our hospitals cultivate relationships with third party payers that enable the SCHS to meet the present and future health care needs of our community. This is a critical area as we move forward with our strategic goals that support our mission to expand the provision of Catholic health care to the communities we serve," Karam says.
At Mercy Medical Center, Joe was instrumental in the development of the Hospital's department of managed care. He led the Hospital's initiative to expand Ohio Health Choice in Canton and support Mercy Medical Center‘s market share growth in the Canton market. He has been responsible for developing Mercy's Managed Care strategy and insuring contract compliance in support of Mercy's strategic plan.
Lapinski, who began his managed care career at Community Mutual Insurance Company in 1985, came to Mercy in 1995, where he has been responsible for a variety of responsibilities including billing, reimbursement monitoring and collections, and managed care contract administration.
A graduate of Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Lapinski earned his Masters of Business Administration from Ashland University and was a Member of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society. Lapinski served seven years as a Military Policeman with the Army National Guard reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant.
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 of St. Augustine since its founding in 1851 continue their faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry.
The Sisters of Charity Health System sponsors five Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake, Ohio. The organization also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.

Sisters of Charity Health System Names Robin Stursa Vice President and Chief Information Officer

Cleveland, Ohio, March 25, 2010—Robin Stursa joined the Sisters of Charity Health System on March 15th in the newly created role of vice president and chief information officer. Stursa most recently served in the same capacity at Saint Vincent Health System in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she was responsible for the planning and managing of IT capital and operating expenses and regulatory and audit compliance measures.

As vice president and chief information officer, Stursa will be a key member of the leadership team and will direct development, integration and operation efforts relating to information technology strategy for the Sisters of Charity Health System, with emphasis on its five hospitals within the System. “Robin brings extensive years of proven success in strategic information technology system development. We look forward to her expertise in supporting the growth and expansion of our system-wide health information technology so we can continue to serve the needs of our patients and community,” says Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, SCHS president and CEO.

At Saint Vincent Health System, Stursa managed the NorthEast Healthnet, a rural health care pilot program and recipient of a $1.7 million broadband award from the FCC. She also created, directed and guided the formulation and execution of a strategic information and technology plan, and maintained relationships with physicians, nurses and vendors to coordinate and integrate services.

“Robin brings 20 years of information technology expertise and an accomplished track record to our organization,” says Patrick McMahon, senior vice president and chief financial officer of the Sisters of Charity Health System. “We look forward to benefiting from her talent, vision and skills as she takes our system-wide IT capabilities to a more efficient and cost-effective level.”

Prior to her position with Saint Vincent Health System, Stursa was director, information technology and process services for Catholic HealthCare Partners-Community Health Partners in Lorain, Ohio. Stursa is a member of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives and Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.

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 of St. Augustine, since its founding in 1851, continue their faith-based legacy of high quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry. The Sisters of Charity Health System sponsors St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, 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. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio. All are Catholic. The organization also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.

Statement by Sisters of Charity Health System President and CEO Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA upon Passage of Comprehensive Health Reform Legislation

“For years we have worked in collaboration towards a new vision for health care in this country, for health care coverage and access for everyone. This is an important day for all Americans but especially for those persons who are uninsured. Passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (H.R. 3590) and the accompanying corrections bill is an historic accomplishment. This law will help extend quality health care coverage to 32 million Americans and contains important insurance market reforms. The measure offers real health care solutions while respecting the dignity of life.

“The Sisters of Charity Health System has monitored this process closely and will continue to proactively work toward improved access as the provisions of the law take effect. We will join with other health care providers to monitor the sustainability of this plan into the future and will remain engaged as health care delivery system changes are implemented.

“As a family of Ohio and South Carolina healing ministries, with this new law, we look forward to promoting prevention and wellness and joining in the effort to end health disparities, while also encouraging prompt coverage for those without insurance and supporting access to care, which includes the preservation of strong reimbursement for providers. May God bless our nation as we journey on this new health care path.”

Sisters of Charity Health System welcomes Mark Wiedt to its business development team

Cleveland, Ohio, February 22, 2010 -- Mark Wiedt will be joining the business development team of Sisters of Charity Health System in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 1 as vice president for Physician Services and CEO of Cuyahoga Physician Network (CPN).
In these dual roles, Wiedt will provide system-wide leadership in the physician alignment and business development strategies of the health system, and serve as the executive leader for CPN. He brings a proven track record in successful physician enterprises. Most recently, Wiedt served as CEO of Premier Physician Centers, a 70-plus multi-specialty group practice in Westlake, Ohio, and one of the largest independent physician groups in Cleveland.
“This position provided a great opportunity to apply my physician market experience and make a difference in a faith-based environment,” said Wiedt. “The mission of the Sisters of Charity Health System and its support of independent physicians make this a good fit for my expertise,” he said. Wiedt’s wife Christie spent seven years as a nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at St. Vincent before joining sister hospital St. John Medical Center, where she now works in Community Outreach.
His more than 30 years of experience in healthcare and physician group practices brings a well-known leader in physician practice management to the five hospitals within the Sisters of Charity Health System. “Mark brings significant expertise in the areas of operations, budgeting, physician relations, marketing, contract negotiations and compliance,” said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. “We are looking forward to having him as an integral member of our mission-based team as we continue the vital growth of Catholic health services to the communities we serve.”
During his more than 10 years at Premier, Wiedt led the organization in executing significant growth and expansion strategies that resulted in operational efficiencies and revenue growth of more than 350 percent. Premier won the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead 100 award in five of the last six years. Previous to that post, Wiedt served in various leadership roles in hospital administration and imaging services at several area hospitals including Lakewood Hospital, where he last served as vice president of operations.
“I am so pleased to have Mark join our team,” said Orlando L. Alvarez Jr., Senior Vice President of Physician Alignment & Business Development for Sisters of Charity Health System. “He will play a critical role in our physician engagement strategies in the Greater Cleveland market. He has an impeccable reputation and a history of positive working relationships with the physician community.”
Adnan Tahir, M.D., who previously served as the CEO of CPN will transition into the role of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of CPN. Dr. Tahir also serves as the CMO of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and the Sisters of Charity Health System. Jacki Hawkins will continue in her role as Executive Director of CPN and will report to Mark Wiedt.
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 of St. Augustine, since its founding in 1851, continue their faith-based legacy of high quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry.
The Sisters of Charity Health System sponsors St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, 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. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake, Ohio. All are Catholic.
The organization also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.

Jim Assenmacher joins the Sisters of Charity Health System as the new Director of Strategy Implementation & Business Development

Cleveland, Ohio, February 3, 2010 -- The Sisters of Charity Health System announced today that Jim Assenmacher joins the strategic planning and business development team of the Sisters of Charity Health System.
A native of Toledo, Assenmacher returns to Ohio to focus on supporting the system-wide strategic planning process for the Sisters of Charity Health System and several of its hospital facilities. As a project leader, he will help to track progress of strategic initiatives from concept through planning and implementation. In addition, Assenmacher will function as a leader of enterprise initiatives that emerge from an annual strategic planning process through hospital-level planning and key initiatives prioritized by the system team.
“I worked with Jim at Abrazo Health Care in Phoenix and was impressed with his ability to lead projects and keep strategic initiatives on track,” says Orlando L. Alvarez, Jr., Senior Vice President of Business Development and Physician Alignment at the Sisters of Charity Health System. “He brings a lot of energy and expertise to this important function.”
Assenmacher comes to Sisters of Charity Health System from Paradise Valley Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, where he served as director of business development. There, he led the hospital’s physician alignment, acquisition and development strategies. Prior to that, he spent two years as manager of business planning for St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and St. John’s Regional Medical Center located in Phoenix, Arizona.
“We are pleased to have Jim join the Sisters of Charity Health System. This is another critical step in our efforts to expand the collaboration in strategic planning and business development amongst our five hospitals and to enhance our relationships with physicians. With his extensive prior experiences, we welcome him to join our team as we continue to ensure the long-term success of our health care ministry,” said Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA.
Attracted by the mission of the Sisters of Charity Health System, Assenmacher says he welcomes the opportunity to work for a strong, mission-focused organization. "I am very excited to join Sisters of Charity Health System. The organization has an important vision to enhance the collaboration within the system to execute strategies that will enhance our ability to bring critical health services to the communities we serve. I look forward to working with senior management, staff, and physicians to advance the mission of the organization and its healing ministries," he says.
With more than 13 years of experience in business development and strategy implementation, Assenmacher looks forward to contributing to the strategic plan implementation. "System Leadership has made significant investment in the strategic planning process,” he said. “My responsibilities will be in the development of the project management office to provide transparency, focus and accountability to the implementation process and ensure successful execution of strategic initiatives. Establishing performance metrics will allow us to monitor progress and ensure we are meeting our targets and timelines," he says.
A graduate of Miami University of Ohio and Xavier University, Assenmacher is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
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 of St. Augustine since its founding in 1851 continue their faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry.
The Sisters of Charity Health System sponsors five Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake, Ohio. The organization also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.

Sisters of Charity Health System Names Christina Walker Vice President, Fund Development

Cleveland, Ohio -- February 2010 -- The Sisters of Charity Health System has named Christina Walker vice president, fund development. Walker most recently served as director of development for The Cleveland Orchestra, where she oversaw record fundraising activities including a $10 million annual fund.
As vice president, fund development, Walker is responsible for ensuring the long-term growth and expansion of a comprehensive fundraising program at the Sisters of Charity Health System and its 20 hospitals and ministries in Ohio and South Carolina to support core centers of excellence and community outreach. She also provides counsel in the areas of overall strategic philanthropic planning and development, annual fund, major gifts, capital campaigns, planned giving and donor relations.
"Christina has more than 25 years of proven success in all aspects of nonprofit fundraising, including setting fundraising records with the Cleveland Orchestra where she managed a large department. She is a skilled development professional and we look forward to her expertise in matching our system-wide needs with potential funders so we can continue to respond to so many unmet community needs," says Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, SCHS president and CEO.
Prior to her position with The Cleveland Orchestra, Walker served as a senior director for the CCS Fundraising Company and as the director of development and deputy director of the National Museum of Catholic Art and History in New York City. Walker received a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a master's degree in comparative literature from New York University.
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 of St. Augustine, since its founding in 1851, continue their faith-based legacy of high quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry.
The Sisters of Charity Health System sponsors St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, 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. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake, Ohio. All are Catholic. The organization also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.

Providence Hospitals Earns Recognition for Successful Organ Donation Program

Columbia, SC, January 18, 2010 -- Providence Hospitals has been honored with the Medal of Honor for Organ Donation from the Department of Health and Human Services. The hospital is among 10 South Carolina hospitals and 428 nationwide to earn the honor in recognition for success in increasing the number of organs available for transplantation.
Providence Hospitals collaborates closely with the state’s Organ Procurement Oorganization, LifePoint, Inc., to implement best practices for honoring the final wishes of organ and tissue donors. Providence was among those hospitals to achieve and sustain national goals for donation, including a donation rate of 75 percent or more of eligible donors at their facilities. This means three out of every four medically eligible donors became donors.
Providence President & CEO George Zara believes this award is indicative of the hospitals’ commitment to honoring the intent of donors and their families. “We are pleased to receive recognition for our organ donation program,” he said. “Providence strives to carry out the wishes of our patients by providing compassionate, quality care that is consistent with our faith-based mission.”
Nancy A. Kay, LifePoint President and CEO, said, “We would like to congratulate the 10 South Carolina hospitals that have received the Medal of Honor. This prestigious award is really a credit to their hard work during very difficult situations. It shows their commitment to saving lives through transplantation by honoring the wishes of donors and their families.”
Providence Hospitals is a two hospital health care system with 304 licensed beds. It is located in downtown Columbia and was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Augustine in 1938. The facility is best known for the expertise in cardiac care it provides through Providence Heart & Vascular nstitute, which is recognized statewide as a referral center for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Providence Hospital Northeast was established in 1999 and offers a range of medical services in surgery, emergency care, women’s and children’s services and rehabilitation. Providence Northeast is home to Providence Orthopaedic & Neuro Spine Institute, which provides medical and surgical treatment of diseases and injuries of the bones, joints and spine.
For more information, visit www.providencehospitals.com.

Scott Hasselman Named Executive Director of ECRC

Canton, Ohio -- January 15, 2010 -- Scott Hasselman joins the Sisters of Charity Health System as the executive director of the Early Childhood Resource Center in Canton. Hasselman most recently served as a vice president for Pressley Ridge, Inc., a multi-state organization that provides treatment services to developmentally challenged children and their families. He had previously served as executive director for Pressley Ridge’s Ohio and Maryland operations.
Hasselman brings with him extensive leadership experience, having served in a number of executive and management positions for over 25 years at Pressley Ridge. As the executive director of the Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC), Hasselman will oversee all areas of the non-profit professional development site that provides educational programs, resources and support services to early childhood educators.
“Scott is a highly energetic, values-driven leader with a demonstrated record of excellence in more than 26 years of experience in providing community-based programs to children and their families,” says Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, SCHS president and CEO. “That’s why we are excited that he will be leading the ECRC forward in fulfilling its mission to improve the quality of early education and care in the Canton area, both of which are so important to children’s future academic success.”
“The Search Committee was very impressed with the quality of the candidates for this position,” stated Joni Close, President of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton. “Scott Hasselman, with his experience, enthusiasm and commitment to children, was clearly our first and best choice.”
Hasselman received a bachelor’s degree in social work from Slippery Rock University and a master’s degree in education from California University of PA. He is a board member of the Foster Family Treatment Association and serves as a peer reviewer on the Council of Accreditation.
Located in Canton, Ohio, the Early Childhood Resource Center’s mission is to improve the quality of early education and care in Stark County through comprehensive professional development, resources, and support services for individuals working in all early childhood settings; to promote professionalism across the state; and to advocate at the state level. For more information, visit ecresourcecenter.org.
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 of St. Augustine, since its founding in 1851, continue their faith-based legacy of high quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry. The Sisters of Charity Health System sponsors St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, 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. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake, Ohio. All are Catholic. The organization also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.

Sisters of Charity Health System Appoints Mercy Medical Center’s Nick Bagnolo to Vice President, Construction

Cleveland, Ohio -- January 8, 2010 -- Nick Bagnolo, Mercy Medical Center’s administrative director of plant engineering and facilities, has been appointed vice president of construction management for the Cleveland, Ohio-based Sisters of Charity Health System (SCHS).

With more than 22 years of experience in health care facilities management, Bagnolo will be responsible for overseeing construction projects and their related approvals and design and financial management at all SCHS facilities in Ohio and South Carolina, including Mercy Medical Center. He will continue to provide oversight to plant operations at Mercy with additional support.

Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, SCHS president and CEO, believes the experience and engineering expertise Bagnolo brings to the position will provide needed expertise and oversight for the multiple construction projects throughout the system. “I feel confident that Nick’s leadership, oversight and supervision will help our hospitals and other entities to realize more efficient and cost-effective building projects as we move forward with our strategic goals that support our mission to respond to the unmet health and human service needs in the communities we serve,” she says.

Bagnolo, who began his career at Massillon Community Hospital in 1987, came to Mercy in 1997, where he has administered building and boiler plant maintenance, construction, property management, environmental services and laundry, safety and security, courier and valet services, telecommunications and clinical engineering.

Instrumental in helping to develop Mercy’s facilities master plan—including the new I.C.U. and current emergency department construction—he has also directed several other major additions and renovations for the surgery, heart and cancer centers, radiology and offsite health centers.

A graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville, Bagnolo earned his bachelor of science in construction technology from the University of Akron. He and his wife live in North Canton with their three children.

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 of St. Augustine since its founding in 1851 continue their faith-based legacy of high-quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers who are the heart and hands of the ministry.

The Sisters of Charity Health System sponsors five Catholic hospitals: St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Providence Hospital and Providence Northeast in Columbia, South Carolina. In a joint venture with University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Sisters of Charity Health System also sponsors St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake, Ohio. The organization also oversees three grant-making foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.

Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals Finalize Restructuring of Joint Venture

CLEVELAND — January 4, 2010 — The Sisters of Charity Health System (SCHS) and University Hospitals (UH) announced the finalization of an agreement signed on December 31, 2009, to restructure the two joint ventures that originated in 1999. In March 2009, both health systems acknowledged the need to change the joint ventures to better serve the needs of the community and that greater effectiveness in operations would be critical to the success of the Catholic hospitals’ ministries in today’s economic environment.
“At the forefront of this restructuring was how we could best serve the health care needs of these three communities – Canton, Cleveland and Westlake,” said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the SCHS. “We have a long history of providing quality health care in Northeast Ohio and have developed strong areas of specialized care at St. Vincent Charity Hospital, St. John West Shore Hospital and Mercy Medical Center.”
Completion of the restructuring returns Mercy Medical Center in Canton and St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland to sole ownership by SCHS. SCHS solely owns four hospitals – St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Mercy Medical Center and two hospitals in South Carolina – all united in one mission to continue the healing ministry of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. In addition, the 50-50 joint venture by both systems will continue at St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake with both health systems equally represented at the governance level. UH will become the manager and will 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 and physician practices throughout Cleveland’s West Side suburbs. Both SCHS and UH will make equal investments in the strategic expansion and growth of St. John West Shore Hospital totaling up to $100 million over five years. UH, as the manager, will be responsible for the strategic planning and investment as approved by the Board to ensure that these initiatives enhance the quality of services provided to the West Side community. Both members support the vision to further strengthen the position of SJWS as the premier health care provider in the West Side community.
To support the mission and vision for St. Vincent Charity Hospital, both health systems will also jointly invest $30 million over three years through a newly established foundation to promote long-term philanthropic support for St. Vincent Charity Hospital’s mission of providing high-quality patient care to Cleveland and beyond.
“We value our long-standing relationship with the Sisters of Charity Health System and believe that this new structure will provide extraordinary opportunities for growth and expansion as well as greater access to the highest quality of care provided anywhere in the country,” said Thomas F. Zenty III, CEO of University Hospitals. “The $100 million in new strategic investments is a clear commitment by both owners to making St. John West Shore Hospital a destination hospital on the West Side. We strongly believe that by working closely with the excellent clinical staff and employees at St. John West Shore Hospital as well as through the support of our community leaders and our volunteers we will succeed in making this vision a reality.”
All three hospitals will have separate Federal 501 C3 nonprofit status and retain their Catholic mission, identity and faith obligations as they serve the ongoing health care needs of their communities. In addition, hospital leadership will remain under current hospital presidents: Cliff Coker at St. John West Shore Hospital; Thomas Cecconi at Mercy Medical Center; and Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA at St. Vincent Charity Hospital.
SCHS also has plans for capital projects in excess of $80 million to continue its clinical excellence in medical services at Mercy Medical Center (Mercy). Mercy has long been a leader combining compassionate care with high-tech innovation and will continue its focus on emergency services, cardiovascular care, cancer care, stroke care, orthopedics and rehabilitation. Most recently the hospital added innovative robotic surgical equipment to its full complement of modern heath care services.
“Not only does this restructuring reflect what’s best for each community, but it also demonstrates the vitality of Catholic health care and provides significant dollars for reinvestment in each of these hospitals,” said Karam. “We are pleased to continue providing Catholic health care to the Greater Cleveland and Canton communities, continuing our 158-year legacy of healing individuals, families and communities.”

Sisters of Charity Health System ministries to receive $1.6 million in federal appropriations

The Sisters of Charity Health System today announces that it is to receive $1,575,000 in federal appropriations funding for many of its ministries’ programmatic and equipment needs. The measures were included in the FY10 appropriations conference report (H.R. 3288) legislation. Among the ministries to receive federal appropriations are St. Vincent Charity Hospital and St. John West Shore Hospital in Ohio, Healthy Learners and South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families in South Carolina. Because of the leadership of Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (OH 11) and U.S. Senators George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown, St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, will receive $700,000 in Congressionally directed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funding for information technology infrastructure upgrades. Westlake’s St. John West Shore Hospital will receive $500,000 in HHS funding to update information systems, too; the appropriations were garnered by U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich (OH 10) and Senator Voinovich. In addition, $110,000 in federal appropriations funding was secured by U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (SC 6) for Healthy Learners to support children’s health programming in Columbia, South Carolina.For the fatherhood ministry, $265,000 in federal appropriations were Congressionally directed to the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families to support its program “Jobs Not Jail,” an alternative to incarceration. This project was secured by U.S. Representative John Spratt (SC 5).“Joining our private commitment, we are simply thrilled by this public investment in our healing mission,” Robin J. Bachman, Assistant Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Policy. “We are very grateful for the leadership of our federal lawmakers and the entire Ohio and South Carolina delegations.”

Study puts St. Vincent Charity Hospital among top 5 in Ohio for spine surgery

Cleveland, OH – October 13, 2009 – A study issued today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, finds that St. Vincent Charity Hospital ranks among the top 5 in Ohio for spine surgery. St. Vincent Charity Hospital achieved 5 star ratings in both Spine Surgery and Back and Neck Surgery. The nation’s nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals were all included in the sweeping study, which examined mortality rates and complication rates from government data from 2006, 2007 and 2008.
In addition to the recognition for spine, back and neck surgery, St. Vincent Charity is ranked among the top 5 hospitals in Ohio for Heart Failure, having received 5-star ratings for eight years in a row (2003-2010).
The study also recognized St. Vincent Charity Hospital’s Pulmonary care for being among the top 5% in the nation with 5 star ratings in Overall Pulmonary Services five years in a row. As a result, St. Vincent Charity Hospital receives the 2010 HealthGradesTM Pulmonary Care Excellence Award.
St. Vincent Charity’s quality of care is evident across multiple services. The Catholic community hospital also received 5-stars in the following areas:

Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Stroke - 8 years in a row (2003 - 2010)
Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - 3 years in a row (2008 - 2010)
Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Pneumonia - 8 years in a row (2003 - 2010)
Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Bowel Obstruction - 4 years in a row (2007 - 2010)
Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Respiratory Failure in 2010

“In 2001 St. Vincent Charity Hospital began building our foundation for a delivery model that would ensure high-quality care for our patients. At the core of this model is the implementation of multidisciplinary teams that rely on the knowledge of the frontline workers,” said Adnan Tahir, M.D., Chief Medical Officer. “Our focus is on patient-centered care that meets and exceeds national standards for quality and safety. This recognition of our commitment to quality demonstrates that we implemented a successful delivery system that is effective in achieving high quality outcomes in this competitive healthcare market,” he said.
“We have been working for many years on our quality initiatives and believe that these awards for excellence exemplify our commitment to providing the highest quality health care to our patients,” said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO.
The HealthGrades twelfth annual Hospital Quality in America study, the largest annual report of its kind, analyzed patient outcomes from nearly 40 million Medicare hospitalization records.
Top-performing hospitals had dramatically lower mortality rates than other hospitals, according to the study. For the 17 procedures and diagnoses for which HealthGrades analyzed mortality rates, patients at top hospitals had a 72 percent lower chance of dying when compared with the lowest-performing hospitals, and a 52 percent lower chance of dying when compared to the U.S. national average.
This recognition across service lines reflects the long-term commitment St Vincent Charity Hospital has undertaken to reach this quality achievement. Since the 2001 launch of its comprehensive quality initiatives, St. Vincent Charity Hospital has invested in the improvement of patient care through its redesigned Emergency Department that allows for quicker triage of patients; implementation of Pixys system to enable timely and accurate delivery of medication to patient floors; and Joint Commission Accreditation as Primary Stroke Center.
About HealthGrades Ratings
HealthGrades rates hospitals independently based on data that hospitals submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. No hospital can opt in or out of being rated, and no hospital pays to be rated.
For 28 procedures and treatments, HealthGrades issues star ratings that reflect the mortality and complication rates for each category of care. Hospitals receiving a 5-star rating have mortality or complication rates that are below the national average, to a statistically significant degree. A 3-star rating means the hospital performs as expected. One-star ratings indicate the hospital’s mortality or complication rates in that procedure or treatment are statistically higher than average. Because the risk profiles of patient populations at hospitals are not alike, HealthGrades risk-adjusts the data to allow for apples-to-apples comparisons.
More information on today’s HealthGrades study, including the complete methodology, can be found at www.healthgrades.com.
About St. Vincent Charity Hospital

St. Vincent Charity Hospital is a 480-bed, full-service medical center dedicated to its mission of providing high-quality, Catholic health care. The Hospital has served the Greater Cleveland community for more than 144 years. St. Vincent Charity Hospital is jointly owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals. For more information, visit www.stvincentcharity.com.

Gail Keegan named Development Manager for Joseph's Home

Cleveland, Ohio (September 21, 2009)¬¬ – Gail Keegan joins the Sisters of Charity Health System as the Development Manager for Joseph’s Home. Keegan comes to the Sisters of Charity Health System from Lake Humane Society where she served as the development director. Prior to that, she spent four years as development director for Lutheran Chaplaincy Service located here in Cleveland.
Attracted by the mission of the Sisters of Charity Health System, Keegan says she is eager to have the opportunity to work in a faith-based organization.

“I am thrilled to be associated with Joseph’s Home, because I feel it is a much-needed program providing for an underserved segment of society,” she says. Bringing more than 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Keegan’s support of collaboration, networking and partnerships will prove to be an asset to the Sisters of Charity Health System and Joseph’s Home.

“Gail’s focus is to build awareness of Joseph’s Home and engage individuals in the long-term growth and sustainability of this ministry,” says Georgette Jackson, executive director of Joseph’s Home. “We are thrilled to have her join us at this important time in our history.”

Joseph’s Home will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2010. Much of her work will focus on managing resource development functions, coordinating all fundraising activities and providing administrative support and oversight for all donor and related solicitations and special events. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, Keegan has previous accomplishments in fundraising, donor development, special events planning and public relations. She collaborated with three organizations to create an award-winning, planned giving program funded through a two-year, $100,000 grant.

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 West Shore Hospital, St. Vincent Charity Hospital, 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, Ohio, 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.

Dr. Adnan Tahir named Chief Medical Officer

Cleveland, Ohio -- September 18, 2009 -- Dr. Adnan H. Tahir has been named chief medical officer of the Sisters of Charity Health System in addition to his duties as chief medical officer at St. Vincent Charity Hospital. In this new role, Tahir, board certified in internal medicine, will oversee the System Quality Performance and Patient Safety Plans, promote service excellence philosophies and behaviors throughout the System, and provide medical leadership in promoting best practices in clinical care, quality and safety.

“The Sisters of Charity Health System is very pleased to have Dr. Tahir as its System Chief Medical Officer. Along with mission, there is nothing as critical as quality and patient safety,” said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of Sisters of Charity Health System and St. Vincent Charity Hospital.

“One of my top priorities is to learn about all the good things each facility is doing and to share that information across the System,” said Tahir. “A lot of good work is getting done at our organization and we should certainly share that knowledge and those experiences with each other.”

Tahir will provide leadership in all aspects of medical affairs with particular emphasis on giving oversight to the credentialing process, patient safety efforts, physician leadership development, clinical performance improvement, clinical care quality and standards, and medical staff strategies.

“Adnan Tahir demonstrates each day his passion for quality. His outstanding service in leading the quality initiative at St Vincent will also be used for the System working with the CMOs of all the hospitals and Regina Health Center. I am so pleased he will continue as CMO of both St Vincent and the System,” said Karam.

He will be charged with tracking the effectiveness of clinical care through continuous quality improvement, benchmarking and qualitative data measurement of physician performance, resource utilization and patient care outcomes. As a member of the Information Systems Steering Committee, Tahir represents the needs of the physician community and serving as an advocate in promoting IS in the clinical setting.

Sisters of Charity Health System welcomes Shannon Fogarty Jerse as Deputy General Counsel

Cleveland, Ohio (August 12, 2009)¬¬ – The Sisters of Charity Health System today announces the addition of Shannon Fogarty Jerse to its legal department. Jerse will serve as General Counsel to St. Vincent Charity Hospital in addition to her role as Deputy General Counsel for the health system.
“We are fortunate to have found someone with the breadth of legal expertise that Shannon brings to this new position,” says Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System. “Her nearly 20 years as an attorney with other health systems gives her a unique understanding of the issues facing health care today.”

Jerse comes to the Sisters of Charity Health System from the Cleveland Clinic where she served as in-house counsel to Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals. Prior to that, she spent eight years as in-house counsel at University Hospitals and as an associate at the Cleveland-based law firm Arter & Hadden. Attracted by the mission of the Sisters of Charity Health System, Jerse says she welcomes the opportunity to work in a faith-based organization.

“I have always wanted to work for St. Vincent Charity Hospital because I feel passionate about the mission,” she says. She has been an active member of the Diocese of Cleveland both personally and professionally, having served as a trustee of the Catholic Charities Youth Services Corp. Since 2003, Jerse has been a member of the Diocesan Review Board established under the “Policy for the Safety of Children in Matters of Sexual Abuse.” She is a member of the Holy Cross School Advisory Board and its Endowment Committee and was on the Board and a past Chairman of the Rose Mary Center. Initially, much of Jerse’s work will focus on completing the due diligence as the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals work toward finalizing the transition in ownership of Mercy Medical Center and St. Vincent Charity Hospital. However, she also will be working on physician contracting, medical staff issues and compliance at St. Vincent Charity Hospital.

A graduate of John Carroll University and Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Jerse has written extensively on end of life decisions, child abuse, medical records and risk management for physicians.

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 West Shore Hospital, St. Vincent Charity Hospital, 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, Ohio, 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.

Sisters of Charity Health System announces new leadership structure at St. Vincent Charity Hospital

Cleveland, Ohio (Aug. 10, 2009)¬¬ – The Boards of the Sisters of Charity Health System and the Cuyahoga Joint Venture today announce a change in the leadership structure at St. Vincent Charity Hospital. Under this new structure, the Sisters of Charity Health System will directly manage St. Vincent Charity Hospital with Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the health system also serving as the president and CEO of the hospital.
In collaboration with St. Vincent leadership, medical staff and caregivers, the team will move forward a new strategic vision for the hospital, developing its campus, medical staff, clinical technology and off-site network of health facilities while continuing its more than 144 years of faith-based, high-quality health care service to this community. This new leadership structure also will allow for improved efficiencies, reduced costs and access to system-level executive expertise.
Additionally, as a result of the restructuring, the Sisters of Charity Health System announces the promotion of Joan K. Ross as chief operating officer for St. Vincent. Ross comes to St. Vincent from Providence Hospitals based in Columbia, South Carolina, where she served as senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer since 2006. Providence Hospital was founded by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine in 1938 through mortgaging their motherhouse in Lakewood and is now the leading cardiovascular center in South Carolina. At Providence, Ross developed a culture of patient safety by eliminating silos and enhancing communication across departments.
As the COO, Ross will be responsible for daily operations at St. Vincent Charity Hospital and report to Sister Judith Ann Karam.
“We are excited about the dedication to high-quality patient care and service excellence that Joan will bring to St. Vincent and look forward to having her on our leadership team,” says Karam. “She has exhibited a dedication to patient care centered on compassion, respect and accountability.”
“St. Vincent has a long-standing tradition of providing quality health care as a part of the Cleveland community,” said Ross. “I embrace Sister Judith Ann’s vision for St. Vincent’s and look forward to helping to lead the renaissance. I have developed a deep fondness for the core values on which we base our delivery of care to our patients,” she said. “It is because of this commitment to patient care, which I value greatly, that I have accepted this new role within the Sisters of Charity Health System.”
A native of Lorain, Ohio, Ross returns to Northeast Ohio after having spent most of her 25-year career in nursing and health care administration at hospitals in Columbus, Virginia and at Providence. “I grew up in Northeast Ohio and am excited to return to the community where my father, siblings and extended family still live,” said Ross. She will assume her new role on Sept. 14.
With the restructuring of the president and CEO position, Jeffrey S. Jeney will be leaving the organization after years of service to both St. Luke Medical Center and St. Vincent Charity Hospital. Although Mr. Jeney was offered other positions within the health system, he chose to leave to pursue other options in his career. Under his leadership, the hospital most recently opened a new state-of-the-art Emergency Department and a year ago completed a new specialized Psychiatric Emergency Department, one of only two in the state of Ohio. He and the Capital Campaign Committee exceeded the goal for raising dollars needed for these two projects. St. Vincent was recently given a Premier Award for Quality, ranking it in the top one percent of hospitals nationally for quality.
“We are thankful for Jeff’s faith-filled commitment to the mission of the Sisters of Charity Health System and his focus on high-quality, compassionate care for all over his years of service,” said Karam. “Through all of his years of service, his care for our hospital family was outstanding. We regret deeply his departure from our healthcare system and wish him the very best in his future.”
Currently, St. Vincent Charity Hospital is a part of the joint venture between the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals of Cleveland. In March of this year, the two Members announced the signing of a nonbinding letter of intent to restructure the assets of the joint venture which, when finalized, will result in the Sisters of Charity Health System becoming the sole Member of St. Vincent Charity Hospital and Mercy Medical Center in Canton. The two Members of the current joint venture will continue their present Member relationship at St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake under the management of University Hospitals of Cleveland.
The transaction to restructure the assets of the joint venture is expected to close by the end of this year. Since April, by agreement of the joint venture and its Board, the Sisters of Charity Health System has taken an active role in planning the strategic vision for the future of St. Vincent Charity Hospital. A similar arrangement is in effect for University Hospitals of Cleveland at St. John West Shore Hospital.
The president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System and St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Karam has served in health care since 1962 as Pharmacy Technician, Pharmacist and health care administrator and as CEO of hospitals in Cleveland, Canton and South Carolina. She has been President and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System since July 1998. A Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, she serves in numerous health care and community roles. She is a 1986 graduate of Leadership Cleveland and served nine years on the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization.
Since 1851, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have been serving the Cleveland community becoming the first public health nurses visiting the sick in their homes. In 1865, they founded St. Vincent Charity Hospital, where the first open-heart surgery was performed in the Midwest. Today, St. Vincent is home to the outstanding Spine and Orthopedic Institute, Center for Bariatric Surgery, Joslin Diabetes Center, behavioral health services community outreach services, “medical home” delivery model for urban health care and graduate medical education programs in Internal Medicine, General Dentistry and Podiatric Surgery.

T.R. Reid speaking in Cleveland June 20

Noted journalist and author T.R. Reid will speak on the topic of his upcoming book, "The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper and Fairer Health Care" at 7 p.m. June 20 at Trinity Cathedral at Euclid and E. 22nd Street in downtown Cleveland. Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System will be introducing Reid.
Sisters of Charity Health System is co-sponsoring the event along with UHCAN Ohio, The Center for Health Affairs, United Church of Christ, UAW, Trinity Cathedral and the Western Reserve Presbytery.
According to the World Health Organization, the United States ranks 37th overall on health care cost, quality and coverage. After traveling the world while researching his forthcoming book, T.R. Reid offers lessons from other countries to improve the U.S. health care system.
A correspondent for National Public Radio and Health Policy for the Kaiser Family Foundation, Reid has also hosted the 2008 PBS Frontline program, "Sick Around the World."
Admission to the reception preceding the event is $50 and includes the price for the presentation. Proceeds to benefit UHCAN Ohio.
Online registration is available at www.ohioconsumersforhealth.org.

Sisters of Charity Health System appoints Orlando L. Alvarez Jr. to head physician strategy and business development

Cleveland, Ohio (May 28, 2009)¬¬ –As the Sisters of Charity Health System continues its strategic growth, it has made a significant investment in its commitment to growing its physician collaboration strategies. Key to this strategy is the hiring of Orlando L. Alvarez Jr. in the new position of senior vice president of physician strategy and business development. Alvarez begins his position May 28.

“As we move through this transition in our organization, the Sisters of Charity Health System is focused on building a strong leadership base that will help us to lead our ministries into the future,” says Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System. “A critical component of that growth is the importance of physician collaboration and integration among our five hospitals. Orlando Alvarez is going to be a key player as we look at how we link with our physician community and forge a strategic direction for the future. We are excited to have him join our team.”
“The Sisters of Charity Health System is committed to its physician relationships and is an organization with a vision of collaboration. I will help create a context for this collaboration working closely with physicians and system leadership to develop and execute strategies that will further the mission and vision of the ministry,” says Alvarez, who comes to Cleveland from Phoenix, where he was regional vice president, business development for Vanguard Health System. There he was the executive leader of business development for Abrazo Health Care, which included five acute care hospitals, five imaging centers, a Medicare and a Medicaid health plan and a multi-physician medical group. Alvarez sees his role as leveraging assets.
“How do we as an organization take our assets, be they relational, financial or physical, and leverage them into one clear strategic direction? And how do we do that with key strategic partners—our physicians? My focus will be on building the infrastructure necessary to support these relationships and linkages.” With 18 years experience in health care, Alvarez had spent nine years as vice president of marketing and development for Mercy Health System in Coconut Grove, Fla.
“The mission of the Sisters of Charity organization is in alignment with my personal philosophy. It’s a good fit. When you do what you’re passionate about you can make a difference,” he says.
Alvarez is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Society of Healthcare Strategy and Market Development. In 2007, he was a Fellow in the Hispanic Leadership Institute of Phoenix.

Application available for Caritas Nursing Scholarship

The Caritas Nursing Scholarship was established in recognition of Sr. Mary Patricia Barrett, CSA, for her role in leading the development of the Sisters of Charity Health System. The purpose of the scholarship is to enable employees and family members of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (CSA) sponsored entities the opportunity to become licensed nurses. For 157 years of its health care ministry, the CSA Congregation has valued and encouraged nursing excellence. The goal of this scholarship program is to encourage persons familiar with the mission and philosophy of Catholic health care to enter or continue in the profession of nursing. The award is granted to four individuals in the amount of $2,500, one from the Canton, Ohio and Columbia, South Carolina as well as two for the greater Cleveland, Ohio community.

Katherine Widness named director of grants and foundation relations

Cleveland, Ohio (April 3, 2009) – Katherine Widness has been named director of grants and foundation relations for the Sisters of Charity Health System (SCHS). In this new position, Widness will oversee a comprehensive grant-seeking program on behalf of SCHS.
Working closely with hospital leaders, ministry leaders and program staff, she will research and develop an annual plan for grant submissions, track and evaluate those submissions and serve as point of contact for all foundation relationships as it relates to fundraising for SCHS-sponsored ministries.
With fundraising experience in both Akron and Cleveland, Widness is very familiar with area funders and their interests, which will benefit SCHS and its sponsored ministries in Cleveland when matching projects to potential grant-makers.
“This new position represents a strengthened focus on building and maintaining foundation relationships to better serve the SCHS ministries and their communities,” said Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO. “We are very excited to welcome Katie Widness to the Sisters of Charity Health System and believe her role in leading our grants program will be a critical component to expanding our fund development efforts.”
Widness comes to the SCHS from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum where she was director of major gifts. Prior to working at the Rock Hall, Widness was a fund-raising consultant and interim development director at the Farm & Wilderness Foundation in Plymouth, VT. She spent four years as a development officer at the Akron Art Museum, has worked in development at Our Lady of the Elms School in Akron and at United Way of Summit County.
A native of Akron, Widness earned her bachelor’s degree in Italian from Kent State University and her master’s in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management from the University of Akron. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dartmouth Mary Hitchcock Medical Center—ALS Center in Lebanon, NH. She serves on a committee at the Spring Garden Waldorf School.
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 West Shore Hospital, St. Vincent Charity Hospital, 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 grantmaking foundations located in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, 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.

Sisters of Charity Health System ministries receive nearly $900,000 in appropriations

CLEVELAND, Ohio—March 13, 2009—We are pleased to announce that several ministries in the Sisters of Charity Health System will receive nearly $900,000 in federal appropriations as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act signed this week by President Barack Obama.
Working closely with ministry leadership and our congressional delegations in Ohio and South Carolina, we were able to identify and garner federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice to help with specific needs.
Mercy Medical Center will receive $404,000 toward construction of a new emergency department. St. John West Shore Hospital will receive $238,000 to update surgical pre-operative and post-operative units.
We’d like to thank the Ohio Congressional delegation, particularly former Congressman Ralph Regula, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Congressman Zachary T. Space and Sen. George Voinovich for their support.
Healthy Learners Dillon receives $95,000 to engage in outreach to poor rural children and provide basic medical services, health screenings, training of school nurses and implementation of a family focused health education campaign.
The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families will receive $140,000 to support an Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) program in Midlands Fatherhood Coalition-Fairfield. ATI allows men who are behind in child support payments to be court ordered into this rigorous, six-month program instead of being jailed. This work strengthens and reconnects fathers with their children. Comprehensive fatherhood programs such as MFC-Fairfield help non-custodial dads improve their educational status, learn life and job skills, learn and practice positive parenting skills, get and keep jobs that provide a livable wage.
We’d like to thank our South Carolina congressional delegation, particularly Congressman John M. Spratt, Jr., and Sen. Lindsey Graham for their support and leadership.

Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals Announce New Agreement for Jointly Owned Hospitals

Cleveland, Ohio – March 3, 2009 – 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 Hospital in Cleveland and Mercy Medical Center in Canton. An equal 50/50 joint venture between SCHS and UH will remain at St. John West Shore Hospital 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 Hospital 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 Hospital 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; it’s 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 and 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 West Shore. 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 West Shore Hospital, St. Vincent Charity Hospital, 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 www.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 Nation Cancer Institute of Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information, go to www.uhhospitals.org.

OP/ED: The political will to reform health care

The political will to reform health care
As appeared in the Sunday, January 18, 2009, edition of The Plain Dealer
By Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA
While the nation and our new leadership debate the way forward out of our economic challenges, it's important not to lose sight of the connection between the health of Americans and the health of the economy. Embedded in solving the problems of our economy is the will to confront our challenges in providing a basic level of health care for all.
By now, many people can recite the numbers by heart - 46 million uninsured Americans, 25 million more who are underinsured, 18,000 annual deaths as a direct result of lack of insurance. Hospitals have a mandate to provide emergency care. Beyond that policy is the deep desire to provide the very basic component of human dignity, i.e. health. The crisis in health care has created an untenable situation in which health providers are struggling to be a safety net for all in the midst of a market-driven environment. The Sisters of Charity Health System alone, which includes five hospitals in three markets in its network of 20 health and human service ministries, provides significant dollars in uncompensated care. Our belief in health care access for all is integral to our mission.
The majority of uninsured persons are working, at least for now. But there are a number of underinsured people who may have a limited health plan in which their first costs are out-of-pocket either through high deductibles or co-pays. They are worried that tests and prescriptions won't be covered.
Recently, a 41-year-old man came to our emergency department at St.Vincent Charity Hospital. He had been treated more than a year ago for a stroke, but because he lost his job and his insurance, he did not follow up with necessary medications and treatments and arrived much sicker than he should have been. We see this kind of financial versus health care choice made regularly in our ministries.
Health care spending comprises 16 percent of the gross domestic product. What is this spending? Employers who cover their workers are spending more to provide coverage and are often delaying improvements in technology, hiring additional staff or expanding a product line. Hospitals and providers are spending more to cover charity care, labor costs, supplies, technology and capital improvements. Consumers are paying more for prescriptions, co-payments, premiums and deductibles.
In addition to costs of care and insurance, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are shrinking as government struggles with reduced revenues and, at the state level, the requirement of a balanced budget. Often hospitals' public and private reimbursements are not meeting costs. Can we afford to keep delaying this public policy conversation?
The economic realities of the past few months have shifted our focus away from health care reform. But this is not the time to table reform. Exit polls conducted on Nov. 4 showed that two-thirds of voters ranked concern about affordable health care as their top concern behind the economy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
That's because Americans - the mother whose coverage ends with the death of her husband, adult children who can no longer be covered under their parents' plan and the small business owner who can't afford coverage for herself or her employees - know that the current system is too often neither affordable nor accessible. The economic situation we're in demands reform.
What will it cost to fix this problem? Some economists believe that it would cost this country $160 billion to provide health care for all Americans - a fraction of billions of bailout dollars that Congress has approved for Wall Street, banks and automakers. The New America Foundation estimates that the economic cost of doing nothing in 2007 was as much as $207 billion when one quantifies the economic impact of poor health and shortened life spans for uninsured persons.
What health care reform requires even more than money, however, is political will and courage. For the first time in memory, we're seeing participation of all the stakeholders - providers, employers, insurers and consumers - in pushing for reform. It's complex but, as we've seen in the past, Americans have never been afraid to rise up to meet tough challenges.
The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have been caring for the health of Americans since the Civil War. We believe that health care is not a product or commodity, but that it is a fundamental right in a healthy, flourishing society.
As we move through the transition of national leadership, let's remember that health care reform won't happen unless we demand that it happen. Let your voice be heard by letting your legislative leaders know that health care reform is one critical step forward in our economic recovery.
Karam is president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System.

Mercy Homecare named to HomeCare Elite

Jan. 20, 2009: Canton, Ohio -- For the second year in row, Mercy Medical Center Homecare has been named among the best-performing home health care agencies in the U.S., placing it in the nation's top 25 percent.

The 2008 HomeCare Elite list, compiled by OCS Inc., a leading post-acute healthcare information company, ranks the most successful Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States by performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance. Compiled from publicly available information, the 2008 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry.

Anne Poleon, Director of Mercy Hospice and Homecare, credits the homecare staff for their critical role in achieving this recognition.

She said, "Our qualified, experienced nurses, therapists, social workers, homecare aides and pastoral care staff work together as team to help our patients achieve maximum independence in the home setting. This designation recognizes the level of care they strive to provide every day for every patient."

Mercy Homecare offers skilled nursing for a variety of patient needs, including medical/surgical, maternal/child, pediatric, infusion therapy and wound care. Mercy Homecare was also the first in Stark County to offer telemonitoring for the management of complex medical conditions.

Rehabilitative therapy, homecare aides, nutrition counseling, social services and pastoral care are also available through Mercy Homecare. All services must be ordered by a physician and are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance.

"The 2008 HomeCare Elite winners exemplify a commitment to providing their patients with optimum care while performing at the highest level," said Nancy Buller, senior director of marketing communications at OCS. "We congratulate Mercy Homecare on being one of the top home care agencies in the country."

For more information about Mercy Homecare, call 330-492-8803.

The 2008 HomeCare Elite is brought to the industry by OCS Inc., the leading provider of healthcare informatics, and DecisionHealth, publisher of Home Health Line, home care's most respected independent newsletter. The entire list of the 2008 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS web site at www.ocsys.com/HCE.

About Mercy Medical Center

Mercy Medical Center, a nonprofit corporation of the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals Health System, operates a 476-bed hospital serving Stark, Carroll, Wayne, Holmes and Tuscarawas Counties and parts of Southeastern Ohio. It has 550 physicians on its Medical Staff and employs 2,500 people. Mercy operates outpatient health centers in Carrollton, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Louisville, North Canton and Plain Township. A Catholic hospital, Mercy Medical Center upholds the mission and philosophy of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and continues to be responsive to the needs of the community, including the provision of care to all, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information, see www.cantonmercy.com.

Mercy is Second in Nation to be Named Accredited Heart Failure Institute

Jan. 8, 2009: Canton, Ohio -- Mercy Medical Center is the first hospital in Ohio and the second in the nation to be named an accredited Heart Failure Institute by the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium.

The Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium brings quality and process improvement to the care of heart failure patients in the community and hospitals by using improvement-based continuous accreditation. The Colloquium offers an organized and systematic approach to heart failure that encompasses the entire continuum of care. The process is modeled after well-established process improvement methods used in industry. The accreditation of Mercy’s heart failure (HF) center indicates that the hospital is proficient in managing this disease, placing emphasis on both quantity and quality of life across the entire continuum of care. Examples of innovative, proactive HF initiatives at Mercy include remote HF monitoring, the Dance for Life exercise pilot program, and rapid 24/7 access to clinical data for HF patients.

The accreditation process included an analysis of current practices, a comprehensive report, in-depth interviews and an on-site review.

According to Tony Joseph, M.D. and CEO of the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium, heart failure is a growing health problem in the U.S. with 550,000 new cases diagnosed each year. “Half of these individuals will die within five years,” said Dr. Joseph. “Organizations like Mercy Medical Center recognize that heart failure is a chronic disease. Mercy is to be applauded for its innovative programs within the Community Domain of HF.”

To learn more about Mercy's HF programs, call 330-580-4764. For more information on the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium, visit www.thacinc.com.

Forefront of HF Care

James D. Johns, M.D., chairman of Mercy Family Practice and medical director of the Mercy Heart Failure Center (HFC), believes that raising the awareness of physicians, nurses, and the community to the importance of proper care of individuals with heart failure is an important goal of the institute. Close monitoring of symptoms and adjusting treatment accordingly helps patients avoid return trips to the hospital and maintain quality outpatient care.

"This accreditation means Mercy is on the forefront of heart failure care and actively contributing to the formation of best practices for this serious, long-term condition," said Johns. "In keeping with the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium's Ideal Heart Failure Institute ModelSM, 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."

The Colloquium recently asked Johns to present on HF care in the community at its upcoming multidisciplinary conference. Mercy's heart failure coordinator Teree Rice, R.N., presented during the 2008 symposium.

Ahmed A. El Ghamry Sabe, M.D., medical director of the Mercy Heart Center, believes the Mercy Heart Failure Center accreditation is added recognition of the Mercy Heart Center’s decades of achievements and leadership. Named as one of the America's 50 top heart centers by U.S. News & World Report and one of Solucient's 100 top hospitals for cardiovascular services ¬- as well as the nation’s leader in emergency chest pain centers – Mercy has demonstrated its expertise in caring for acute and chronic cardiovascular disease.

He said, "At Mercy, we believe a community hospital must strive for excellence. We have to offer the best care because the lives of those in our community depend on us."

Mercy's Heart Care Leadership

In 2006 Mercy was the nation's first to install a fully functioning cardiac catheterization lab in its Emergency Department Chest Pain Center. The cath lab has helped Mercy become one of the nation's fastest angioplasty responders and exceed American College of Cardiology goals by getting more than 90 percent of patients to catheterization in less than 90 minutes – with nearly 10 percent in 15 minutes or less.

The hospital's impressive list of other heart care firsts includes:

The world's first angioplasty in an emergency department.
The nation's first accredited chest pain center; cardiac catheterization in a community hospital; and ER use of cardiopulmonary bypass to resuscitate victims of heart attack.
Ohio's first emergency chest pain center with accreditation to perform angioplasty 24/7; drug-eluting stent angioplasty; and minimally invasive coronary bypass

About Mercy Medical Center

Mercy Medical Center, a nonprofit corporation of the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals Health System, operates a 476-bed hospital serving Stark, Carroll, Wayne, Holmes and Tuscarawas Counties and parts of Southeastern Ohio. It has 550 physicians on its Medical Staff and employs 2,500 people. Mercy operates outpatient health centers in Carrollton, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Louisville, North Canton and Plain Township. A Catholic hospital, Mercy Medical Center upholds the mission and philosophy of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and continues to be responsive to the needs of the community, including the provision of care to all, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information, see www.cantonmercy.com.