Providence Hospitals has been recognized with two Distinction Awards by the 2009 eHealthcare Leadership Awards. The hospital received awards for “Best Overall Internet Site” and “Best Site Design” for its Web site, www.providencehospitals.com.   Providence Hospitals newly designed site provides a more interactive and informative approach to providing health care information to patients, family members and visitors.

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Providence Hospitals was presented with seven awards at the Carolina’s Healthcare Public Relations & Marketing Society (CHPRMS) Fall Conference in Asheville, NC.  The Wallie and Golden Tusk awards are given annually to recognize excellence in health care public relations and marketing. Members compete in more than a 30 categories and a panel of health care, advertising and graphic design professionals select the winners.

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Providence Heart & Vascular Institute celebrated the 25th anniversary of its cardiovascular rehabilitation program with the grand opening of a new center.  The improved Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation facility, located in PMOB 3 Suite 220 at 1655 Bernardin Avenue, has been furnished with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, including new stair masters, treadmills, stationary bicycles, elliptical trainers and rowing machines.  The space also includes a multi-station weight machine and flat screen televisions. 

Vice President of Cardiovascular Services Stephen Creech is excited about the prospect of treating patients in the new space.  “As South Carolina’s Heart Hospital, it is a pleasure to increase the capabilities of our Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation facility.  As we celebrate the program’s 25th anniversary, Providence continues to look for ways to better serve our patients and remain a leader in cardiovascular services.” 

Nationally certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the trained staff encourages lifestyle changes in program participants by providing heart-related education and nutrition information, building confidence and supervising exercise programs.

Joining the Providence Cardiac Rehab program can make a significant difference in the lives of those who have experienced heart disease.  Patients who commit to this program experience a quicker return to normal home and physical activities as well as a reduced risk of future heart problems.  For more information, call Providence at (803) 256-5463.

Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity Health System, Providence Hospitals is known statewide for its compassionate care.   This non-profit organization is licensed for 304 beds and is comprised of four entities: Providence Hospital, Providence Heart & Vascular Institute, Providence Hospital Northeast and Providence Orthopaedic & Neuro Spine Institute. A faith-based health care facility in the Midlands area of South Carolina, Providence employs more than 1,900 caring individuals.

 Providence Hospital, located in downtown Columbia, 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 Institute, 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.

Providence Hospitals has a new staff member—Annie, a four-year-old Labradoodle, has been added as part of a new pet therapy program.  Studies have shown a decrease in blood pressure and stress levels and an improvement in emotional well-being in patients during therapy dog visits. Annie, a member of Therapy Dogs International owned by retired marketing specialist John Scheble, spent her “first day on the job” visiting patients and staff in various departments throughout the hospital, including the Emergency department and recovery units.  Annie, who also volunteers at local nursing homes and the library, will begin visiting patients once a week as part of the new program.

The Sisters of Charity Health System would like to welcome Joan Ross as chief operating officer for St. Vincent Charity Hospital. 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. At Providence, which 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, Ross developed a culture of patient safety by eliminating silos and enhancing communication across departments.

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