Mercy Medical Center is now accepting patients at its newest facility, Mercy Primary Care at St. Paul Square. Serving the health care needs of the residents of northeast Canton, this facility at 1459 Superior Ave. NE offers family medicine and/or pediatric care.

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The Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Mercy Medical Center is now participating in the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry. The United States’ first nationwide registry of its kind, the AACVPR Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry offers an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate the positive impact of cardiac rehabilitation on the morbidity, mortality, physical function and quality of life of heart patients. “We are proud to be part of this new national registry,” said Thomas E. Cecconi, president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center. “Our involvement in the AACVPR Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry will provide an efficient means for our program to track, document, communicate and continue to improve our patient outcomes and program performance in the secondary prevention of heart and vascular disease.” Under development since 2007, the registry officially launched in June 2012. The data set was carefully developed by the cardiac rehabilitation experts on the AACVPR Registry committee, and the registry went through three months of beta testing by a select number of cardiac rehabilitation programs. The registry platform was developed by Cissec Corporation, a Canadian-based software development firm specializing in health care technology, and will be overseen by the AACVPR Registry Committee. The registry is HIPAA compliant and all data is securely encrypted using industry-standard procedures. Safeguards to protect the security of data include a combination of physical, technological and administrative security measures. Registry subscribers have access only to their program’s patient information and to aggregated data from the registry as a whole; subscribers are not able to access or view other programs’ data. Life Systems International (LSI) Inc. is providing unrestricted support of the registry as a founding sponsor. Additional unrestricted support is provided by Cardiac Science Corporation, Janssen Healthcare Innovation, the Rocky Mountain Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Association, and ScottCare Cardiovascular Solutions. AACVPR is also working with its corporate partners to provide connectivity applications to the registry to simplify data entry processes and help ensure data integrity. To learn more about the registry, click here. Mercy Medical Center is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System.

Kevin Cooper, MD, received a three-year appointment as cancer liaison physician for the cancer program at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. Cancer liaison physicians are an integral part of cancer programs accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC). Dr. Cooper is among a national network of more than 1,500 volunteer physicians who are responsible for providing leadership and direction to establish, maintain, and support their facilities' cancer programs. Dr. Cooper, who has a significant interest in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with malignant diseases, is a member of the multidisciplinary cancer committee at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, which is an institution dedicated to facilitating the delivery of comprehensive quality cancer care. Cancer liaison physicians are responsible for evaluating, interpreting and reporting their facilities’ performance data through the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) and facilitating quality improvement initiatives based on data findings. In addition, the cancer liaison physician is responsible for leading CoC initiatives within the cancer program and collaborating with agencies such as the American Cancer Society on behalf of the hospital. The CoC collects data from its accredited cancer programs and provides tools for these programs to facilitate analysis of patterns of diagnosis, treatment and quality of care for patients treated at the hospital. The NCDB is a nationwide oncology outcomes database for more than 1,500 Commission-accredited cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico. Some 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cases of cancer in the United States are captured at the institutional level and reported to the NCDB. The cancer liaison physician works with the cancer program staff to facilitate the submission, presentation, use and interpretation of NCDB data. Analyzing and sharing these data with the cancer committee can have a positive impact on cancer patient care at the facility. The CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and monitoring of comprehensive quality care. For more information on the Cancer Liaison Program, visit the CoC website. St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System.

For the fourth year in a row, Mercy Medical Center has earned ENERGY STAR certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which signifies that Mercy performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA. “Mercy Medical Center is pleased to accept EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts,” said Thomas E. Cecconi, Mercy Medical Center president and chief executive officer.” Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs.” Commercial buildings that earn ENERGY STAR certification use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  Mercy improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements to its buildings. 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.  In addition to earning the ENERGY STAR certification, Mercy Medical Center has also initiated the following green programs: • Hospital-wide recycling of glass, aluminum, #1-#7 plastics, light bulbs, cardboard and lab chemicals.• Water conservation, reusable sharps containers and reduction of pharmaceutical waste.• Replacement of most incandescent light bulbs with CFLs (compact florescent light bulbs)• Electronic charting and paystubs, and digitalized testing.• Collaboration with business and community partners that support green. In addition to the main campus, Mercy Medical Center’s satellite facility, Mercy Health Center of Carroll County, located at 125 Canton Rd. in Carrollton, also earned the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Superior Energy Efficiency certification. EPA’s ENERGY STAR energy performance scale helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a 75 or higher on EPA’s 1-100 scale may be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification. Commercial buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, data centers, financial centers, retail stores, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, houses of worship, and warehouses. ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA. Over the past twenty years, American families and businesses have saved a total of nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions with help from ENERGY STAR.

Mercy Medical Center opened its newest health care facility today in northeast Canton, Ohio, in a former convent on the site of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, which closed in 2011 when it merged with another parish. Mercy Primary Care at St. Paul Square provides family medicine and dental services to a medically underserved area. In addition, Community Services of Stark County, Inc. will be offering behavioral health services at the new facility. “After listening to the people express their needs and working in collaboration with various community agencies and organizations, we determined that bringing comprehensive care to this neighborhood was simply the right thing to do,” said Sister Carolyn Capuano, HM, vice president of Mission and Ministry at Mercy Medical Center. Canton’s northeast area is home to more than a quarter of the city’s population, yet it previously had no health care providers. The Canton Repository ran an article on November 3 about the new facility and the impact it will have on health care in the community, and how it helps fill a void left after the church closed. Mercy also believes its new facility will provide quality, convenient health care services to employees at organizations in the surrounding community. Programs will be instituted to support healthy living, prevention, early detection, treatment and navigation through the system of care. “The establishment of Mercy Primary Care at St. Paul Square allows us to provide accessible and affordable health services to this community and further carry out the hospital’s longstanding mission,” said Thomas E. Cecconi, president and CEO at Mercy Medical Center. Mercy Medical Center at St. Paul Square is based on the characteristics and principles of a medical home model. The medical home model is a best practice approach to address the health care needs of urban communities and is recognized for promoting health equity and increasing health care access.

Mercy Medical Center named Lito Espinosa, a registered nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU), Mercy’s Star Performer employee for September. The Star Performer program is the hospital’s employee recognition and rewards program. Hospital employees, volunteers and staff are nominated each month for demonstrating outstanding performance, being a team player, going above and beyond, being creative and innovative, and championing service excellence. Espinosa was nominated for showing extreme compassion and caring for his patients and their family members, including those patients with life-threatening situations.  Co-workers in Mercy’s ICU are very impressed with his dedication and exemplary patient care. Espinosa was presented the award by Mercy President and CEO Thomas E. Cecconi, ICU Clinical Nurse Manager Christina Ashcraft and Human Resources Manager Charity Davis. Mercy Medical Center is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. Pictured left to right are: Thomas E. Cecconi, president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center, Christina Ashcraft, clinical nurse manager, Lito Espinosa and Charity Davis, human resources manager.

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 appointed Judge Kenneth A. Rocco and Joseph C. Maurer, CPA, to its board of directors. [More]

Dedication to excellence. Devotion to healing. Mercy Medical Center has championed both since the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine opened the hospital September 12, 1908, in Canton, Ohio, in the former home of President William McKinley. Mercy was Stark County’s first and only Catholic hospital, and was open to everyone, rich and poor alike, regardless of religious faith or nationality. A new video highlights Mercy Medical Center’s rich history, starting in 1851 when the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine came to Cleveland from France and then Stark County in 1883, and eventually opening a hospital in 1908 in downtown Canton. It was due to the generosity of Mrs. Rosa Klorer that the Sisters were called to Canton to establish a Catholic hospital. Mrs. Rosa Klorer purchased the McKinley home at Market and 8th Street Northwest in Canton and deeded its use as a hospital. The Sisters converted the McKinley home into an 18-bed hospital named Mercy in honor of Our Lady of Mercy. Mercy eventually expanded three times to meet the needs of a growing community. In 1950, W. Robert and Henry H. Timken gave the Sisters the H.H. Timken residence along with 30 acres of land. Timken Mercy Hospital opened in 1952 as a 68-bed satellite to Mercy Hospital. Building additions in 1953, 1957 and 1970 at Timken Mercy led to the closing of the old Mercy Hospital in 1970, with all services being consolidated at the Timken Mercy campus. The Stark County District Library now stands on the old Mercy Hospital site. Timken Mercy Hospital became Timken Mercy Medical Center in 1979 to reflect its expanded role in community health care beyond traditional hospital services. The video also highlights Mercy’s ongoing mission to continue Christ’s healing ministry by providing quality, compassionate, accessible and affordable care for the whole person, as well as some of the challenges facing Mercy Medical Center and the importance of keeping employees and physicians educated in the traditions and commitments of Catholic health care. Mercy Medical Center is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. Today, Mercy has 476 beds, 620 members on its medical staff, and employs 2,500 people. Mercy continues to serve as Stark County's only Catholic hospital. To view the video, click on the links above or click here.

Providence Hospitals and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina partnered to provide the Free Medical Clinic of Columbia in Columbia, South Carolina, with a $10,000 award. The Free Medical Clinic of Columbia provides health care at no cost to individuals and families who cannot pay for services and without health insurance. It also provides medications, diabetic supplies and patient education. George Zara, president and CEO of Providence Hospitals, said, “Providence is honored to present the Free Medical Clinic of Columbia with this grant along with our Sister ministry, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. The clinic’s dedication to Columbia’s underserved residents is true to the spirit of our hospitals’ mission, which is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to God’s people.” “The foundation’s vision is for families in this state to have the resources to live out of poverty, and access to health care is often a determining factor,” said Tom Keith, president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. “The Free Medical Clinic serves families residing around both the hospital and foundation and this funding will help strengthen and support their work as they serve those in our community.” The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina and Providence Hospitals are ministries of the Sisters of Charity Health System. Pictured: Tom Keith, president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, (left) and George Zara, president and CEO of Providence Hospitals (right) present Dennis Coker, executive director of the The Columbia Free Medical Clinic, (middle) with a check for $10,000.

Nearly 1,000 friends and supporters of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center enjoyed the Pizzazz 2012 Gala October 13 at Cleveland Public Hall in downtown Cleveland. Pizzazz is the signature fundraising event supporting the mission of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. This year’s event is expected to generate more than $675,000. In addition to dinner, a live auction and dancing to the music of the Jerry Bruno orchestra, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center presented the St. Vincent de Paul Award to Jack and Mary Jane Breen (pictured to the right) and PNC Bank at the event. The honorees were recognized for their steadfast commitment to and unwavering embrace of the values exemplified by Catholic social teaching. The award is given in honor of St. Vincent de Paul, the patron saint of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center who embodied the spirit of true charity. It is given to a community leader and a corporate organization that exemplify the spirit of St. Vincent through servant leadership, friendship, counsel and community involvement toward the greater good of the Cleveland community. “It is through the generous support of individuals such as Jack and Mary Jane Breen and organizations such as PNC Bank that St. Vincent Charity can continue meeting the needs of the community,” said David F. Perse, M.D., president and CEO of St. Vincent Charity. “They truly embody the spirit and teachings of St. Vincent de Paul and their leadership serves as a great example for others.” The St. Vincent de Paul Award was presented by Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System, and Christopher M. Connor, chairman and CEO of Sherwin-Williams and chairman of the event. Proceeds from the gala support St. Vincent Charity Medical Center’s ongoing commitment to provide clinically excellent and compassionate care to all. St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. To see more photos from the event, click here.