Sisters of Charity Health System

Statement on passage of comprehensive health reform legislation

2010-03-21T09:03:51Z

For years we have worked in collaboration toward 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 ministires, with this new law, we look forward to promoting prevention and wellness. We join 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 Promotes 2010 Census

2010-03-16T02:03:59Z

The Sisters of Charity Health System (SCHS) is an official partner of the U.S. Census Bureau this year; the healthcare system’s primary objective is to promote participation in the census to low income Northeast Ohioans to ensure the group is accurately represented in the upcoming 2010 census.

The Sisters of Charity Health System is spreading the word about the importance of the census and availability of questionnaires amongst its employees, patients and the communities it serves.

Census data is not only used to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives amongst states, it directly affects how the more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is allocated to communities for neighborhood improvements, public health, education, transportation and more.

“Historically, the lower income populations we serve are undercounted,” says Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO, Sisters of Charity Health System. “These individuals are either working several jobs and never home, have moved around a lot and been unable to establish a permanent residence, or are homeless. An inaccurate number by the census means less funding and fewer resources allocated to this group and the communities in which they live.”

She continues, “As the availability of federal money shrinks and the needs of our most vulnerable populations continue to escalate, it’s more important than ever to ensure that everyone, all incomes, is counted.”

Mercy Medical Center in Canton and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, will serve as official Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC). Each will provide a workroom for census employees to assist patients and the general public in completing the questionnaire.

“It’s important to get the message out especially to our marginalized populations and to our communities at large so that everyone has the opportunity to be included,” says Lena Grafton, director, community outreach, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. “That’s the only way everyone can accurately be represented to receive the critical health, education and human services they need.”

To promote St. Vincent Charity’s partnership with the Census Bureau and to identify it as a an official QAC site, a banner hangs on a walkway across E. 22^nd Street. From March 19 thru April 19, census workers will be on hand in the hospital’s emergency department with a variety of times and dates specifically designed to accommodate the various needs of the community. For a schedule of these dates and times, please visit stvincentcharity.com.

Beginning on March 22 until April 16, Mercy Medical Center will provide questionnaire assistance from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Afternoon sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm. Mercy will also have extra copies of the census questionnaire available in its lobbies. Interpreters will also be available to assist patients and the general public who do not speak English.

SCHS and Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland collaborated with the Cleveland Foundation to fund community organizing and outreach activities in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood; the foundation distributed census literature and promotional items at community meetings. Additionally, Robin Bachman, assistant vice president, SCHS government affairs and public policy, serves on the Governor’s Ohio Complete Count Committee’s Subcommittee of Non-Governmental Organizations, Community and Faith-based Organizations.

St. John Medical Center in Westlake hosted census employees to provide questionnaire assistance to the hospital’s staff and visitors in early March.

Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States March 15 – 17.

A Message of Hope for Cleveland

2009-12-23T04:12:51Z

A Message of Hope for Cleveland

By Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA

In the past century and a half, while other businesses, city leaders and sports teams have come and gone, and while the city has survived wars, depressions and recessions, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have remained steadfast in our devotion to this great city and its people.

Our Sisters have tended the wounds of soldiers returning from the Civil War, offered spiritual healing at times of loss, comforted and educated orphans, rescued troubled mothers, given alcoholics a second chance, taught children to be the best they can be, provided a home for the homeless, and supported broken families with love and compassion.

Our Sisters are continuously called to respond to unmet needs, which is how our organization has expanded from five hospitals and one foundation to 20 diverse health and human service organizations serving Northeast Ohio and South Carolina. Today, in partnership with our co-ministers in the laity, our Sisters have exponentially expanded our mission to touch tens of thousands of lives and provide jobs to more than 8,000 individuals through the Sisters of Charity Health System.

The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have brought hope and care to God’s people through Catholic health care provided at our five hospitals, a tradition started in 1865 when we opened St. Vincent Charity Hospital. Today, St. Vincent Charity Hospital continues this long legacy of service through its multiple centers of excellence and diverse spectrum of medical and surgical services.

With this history and legacy of service, we proudly announce yet another reason for hope in this community. St. Vincent Charity Hospital soon will be solely owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System. This momentous ownership decision symbolizes our commitment to renewal of and service to Cleveland.

In 2010, the Sisters of Charity Health System embarks upon a robust plan of transformation and growth for St. Vincent Charity Hospital. We look forward to sharing our plans as part of the larger redevelopment effort underway in the new Campus District.

With its strategically located position between Cleveland State University and Cuyahoga Community College, St. Vincent Charity Hospital serves as an important part of the economic and social fabric of Cleveland. Our more than 1,300 dedicated physicians, nurses and employees work daily to bring the healing ministry of Jesus to our patients and the Greater Cleveland community. From the beginning, nothing else has defined or distracted us from this mission.

This Christmas season gives us pause to remember that the birth of Christ symbolizes transformation of our world and the quest for peace on Earth. To me, Christmas is about hope for the future and sharing love with our neighbors. The Sisters of Charity Health System and St. Vincent Charity Hospital carry forward this Christmas message of hope, compassion and renewal.

In celebration of our new beginning as sole owners of St. Vincent Charity Hospital, we invite the community to visit our beautifully illuminated St. Vincent campus this holiday season. These lights represent a symbol of our commitment to the future of Cleveland.

We started serving the needs of the community in 1865 and 145 years later we remain here in the heart of the city, living the mission to do all that we can do to meet the needs of God’s people. That is our hope—and our commitment—for the future. Merry Christmas!

Sisters of Charity Foundation Awards $248,000 in Grants

2009-12-23T03:12:27Z

(COLUMBIA, S.C., DECEMBER 23, 2009) - The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has awarded 16 Caritas grants and seven Discretionary grants, totaling $248,000, to nonprofit and faith-based organizations across South Carolina.

Caritas grants are for organizations providing outreach services to the poor and marginalized. Designed for organizations with annual budgets of less than $250,000, these one-year grant awards do not exceed $3,000. The $35,000 awarded through the 16 grants will go to serve 15 South Carolina counties; Chester, Clarendon, Horry, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Lexington, Oconee, Richland and York.

Seven discretionary grants, totaling $213,000, were awarded to the Center for Law and Social Policy, Family Service Center, Inc., Healthy Learners, Palmetto Development Group, Palmetto Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, The Cooperative Ministry and The South Carolina Afterschool Alliance.

About the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, established in 1996, is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. The Foundation strategically uses resources to reduce poverty through action, advocacy and leadership, in hopes that families in South Carolina have the resources to live out of poverty.

December 2009 Caritas Grants

True Vine Christian Fellowship Center – ($3,000) Food for the needy. (Serving Dorchester County)

Christ Central Ministries, Inc. – ($2,000) Commercial hot water heater and metal shelving for the soup kitchen and food pantry. (Serving Richland and Lexington counties)

Christ Central Ministries, Inc. – ($2,000) Food and clothing for the needy. (Serving Chester County)

Churches Assisting People, Inc. – ($1,500) Food for the newly unemployed. (Serving Horry County)

Fields to Families – ($1,500) Growing fresh produce for the hungry. (Serving Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties)

Golden Corner Ministries – ($2,500) Food boxes for the elderly poor. (Serving Oconee County)

Good Samaritan House of Fairfield County – ($2,500) Food for low-income families. (Serving Fairfield County)

Helping Hands of Goose Creek, Inc. – ($2,500) An emergency food program. (Serving Berkeley County)

Lexington County Foster and Adoptive Parents' Association – ($1,500) Assistance to foster care families. (Serving Lexington County)

Loaves & Fishes – ($2,500) Perishable food for the hungry. (Serving Greenville County)

Pee Dee Community Project – ($2,500) Food to the hungry. (Serving Georgetown County)

Rock Hill School District Foundation – ($1,500) Nutritious nonperishable food for malnourished students to take home for the weekend. (Serving York County and South Carolina)

Rural Mission Inc. – ($2,500) Basic needs for low-income families and migrants. (Serving Charleston and Colleton counties)

St. Anne Catholic Parish Outreach Ministry – ($2,500) Personal hygiene kits for poverty stricken families. (Serving Florence County)

St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Benedict's Parish – ($2,500) Emergency assistance for those in need. (Serving Berkeley and Charleston counties)

Stella Maris St. Vincent de Paul Society – ($2,500) Nutritional supplements for elderly homebound. (Serving Charleston County)

The Clarendon County Community Development Corporation – ($2,500) Clothing and utility bill assistance for low-income families. (Serving Clarendon County)

December 2009 Discretionary Grants

Center for Law and Social Policy – ($5,000) Support for Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a foundation-led, non-partisan initiative aimed at ensuring that political leaders take significant actions to reduce poverty and increase opportunity in the United States.

Family Service Center, Inc. – ($15,000) Support to sustain the Children's and Adult Volunteer Dental Clinic, which provides free oral health care services to residents of low-income households. (Serving Richland and Lexington counties)

Healthy Learners – ($160,000) Support to provide access to medical services to uninsured children. (Serving Allendale, Dillon, Georgetown, Greenwood, Lexington and Richland counties)

Palmetto Development Group – ($3,000) Support to enhance economic development in rural and low-income communities through the growth and development of small business. (Serving Richland County)

Palmetto Volunteers in Medicine Clinic – ($10,000) Support for primary office medical care, pharmacy services and referral services for the uninsured. (Serving York County)

The Cooperative Ministry – ($15,000) Support for emergency assistance for those in need. (Serving Richland County)

The South Carolina Afterschool Alliance – ($5,000) Support for technical assistance to after school providers. (Serving South Carolina)

SC Center for Fathers and Families, local Fatherhood Programs and fathers attend White House Sponsored Event.

2009-12-22T04:12:00Z

The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition and Upstate Fatherhood Coalition participated in the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Roundtable and Community Forum on Responsible Fatherhood and Strong Communities on December 15, 2009 at Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia.

Lisa Potts, Policy Office director and Pat Littlejohn, executive director of the Center participated in a Policy and Programming roundtable discussion and had the opportunity to specifically address issues related to fathers and the child support system. Midlands Fatherhood Coalition executive director Angela Tolbert and site directors Charles Brown and Keith Ivey, three fathers, and site directors Tommy Rice and Andre McCullough of the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition joined in for the Community Forum. During the larger town-hall style meeting, three fathers from the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition, Mr. Donald Moore, Mr.Tony Bockus and Mr. Edward Harper, each addressed a Fatherhood Panel, US Attorney General Eric Holder, Joshua DuBois, executive director, White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and Mr. Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff, White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. In front of an audience nearing 300 of distinguished guests, community and national leaders and fatherhood practitioners, each father shared a personal testimony of their challenges, benefits of the fatherhood program and one father specifically addressed the need for reform of the child support system. Mr. Strautmanis recognized the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition leadership for their great work supporting the fathers who were present.

Attorney General Eric Holder briefly addressed the audience as did President Obama through a special videotaped message.

The event, co-sponsored by the While House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the US Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, is a part of a national ongoing conversation on responsible fatherhood initiated by President Barack Obama in June.

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

2009-12-16T09:12:31Z

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.”

Foundation awards $955,070 in grants

2009-12-10T10:12:35Z

Canton, Ohio (December 1, 2009) The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton’s Board has announced Responsive and Good Samaritan grants totaling $290,105 to 12 local nonprofit and faith-based organizations and 6 strategic initiative grants totaling $664,965, for a total of $955,070 in grants for the third and fourth quarters of this year.

Board chair, Jackie Bollas Caldwell stated, “The Responsive and Good Samaritan grant program allows us to be responsive to our community and provide support as needs arise. These grants help us fulfill the Foundation’s mission of providing services to the poor and underserved.”

Responsive and Good Samaritan Grants
A Community Christmas Christmas voucher and gift program over two years	$6,000

Alliance Area Habitat for Humanity Support for ¼ home in Alliance	$16,250

Coming Together Stark County Support for a collaborative network to strengthen partnering agencies	$14,100

Family Economic Success Program Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program	$15,000

Friends of the Homeless of Tuscarawas County, Inc. Program operating support for the homeless shelter	$15,000

Hammer and Nails, Inc. Support for salaries and professional development in fundraising over 2 years	$52,000

Liberty Center Connections, Inc. Part-time case manager for transitional housing program	$5,000

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) of Stark County Funding for educational programs	$5,505

New Beginnings Foursquare Church Faith House Re-entry program	$6,000

Rainbow Repertory Company, Inc. Grant from retiring board officer	$250

Salvation Army of Massillon, Ohio Support for new family life center	$125,000

SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids) Partial funding for services in Minerva	$30,000

“In addition to traditional responsive grant making, the Foundation responds to issues and needs through strategic initiatives, such as the Quality Child Care Initiative, Bethlehem Project for Oral Health and SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids),” stated Joni Close, President of the Foundation. “These initiatives represent long-term efforts to address the root causes of poverty and create systemic change.” Toward that end, the Foundation recently awarded $664,965 for the following:

Health Care Access Grants
Community Services of Stark County Expansion of oral health program to children participating in the SPARK program	$129,366

Mercy Medical Center Support and equipment for the dental clinic and General Practice Residency in Dentistry Program	$150,000

Ohio Department of Health Support for Stark County’s portion of state survey	$9,000

Early Childhood Grants
Early Childhood Resource Center Operating support for 2010	$316,679

Foundation to Advance Childhood Education Project management for Ohio’s ready schools effort	$49,920

Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families Support for the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative over 2 years	$10,000

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, established in 1996, is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. Based on the vision of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, the Foundation is committed to addressing the needs of the poor and underserved by understanding the root causes of poverty, nurturing the growth of healthy communities, emphasizing youth and family, and measuring the outcomes of these efforts.

For more information on the application process visit the Foundation’s web site at www.scfcanton.org.

Providence Hospitals honored with eHealthcare Leadership Awards

2009-11-30T04:11:21Z

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.

Providence Vice President of Marketing and Business Development John Kessler believes the hospitals’ Web site is “best in class.” “Our marketing team has developed an interactive Web site that offers new ways for existing and prospective patients to conveniently access and submit information. We are pleased to receive these awards and will continue to look for ways to improve our patients’ online experience.”

The eHealthcare Leadership Awards program was developed and first presented 10 years ago by eHealthcare Strategy & Trends, a leading Internet resource published by Health Care Communications, Rye, NY. Sites receiving the 2009 eHealthcare Leadership Awards were selected from more than 1,100 entries. A total of 116 individuals familiar with health care and the Internet judged the entries. Winners of platinum, gold, silver, and distinction awards represented 17 industry classifications, from hospitals and health systems to pharmaceutical firms and online health companies.

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 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.

For more information, visit www.providencehospitals.com.

Sisters of Charity Health System signs on as 2010 Census Partner

2009-11-30T04:11:24Z

The Sisters of Charity Health System has signed on to be a 2010 Census Partner and has offered to display and distribute 2010 Census promotional materials, allow the Census Bureau to post its organization’s name on the 2010 Census web site and highlight key 2010 Census operational events in newsletters or other publications. “Becoming a partner is very consistent with our mission and ministry advocacy and is a good relationship builder; we encourage our individual ministries to become partners as well,” said Robin Bachman, Assistant Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the Sisters of Charity Health System and sub-committee member of the Governor’s Ohio Complete Count Committee. The sub-committee’s main focus is to identify and implement outreach strategies to engage in educating and motivating Non-Governmental Organizations, community and faith-based organizations about the 2010 Census.

Providence Hospitals wins 7 awards CHPRMS Fall Conference

2009-11-24T04:11:56Z

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.

Providence Hospitals’ awards are as follows:

Gold Wallie, Writing: Speech & Position Papers – Quality Indicators
Gold Wallie, Results ROI – Providence Caring Club
Silver Wallie, External Publications - Legacy
Silver Wallie, Writing Feature or News Story – Eating Healthy During the Holidays
Golden Tusk, Recruitment – Nursing Fair
Golden Tusk, Internal Relations – Caught In the ACT
Golden Tusk, Issue Management – Heart Certificate of Need Settlement

“Providence Hospitals is pleased to be recognized by these awards from our peers in North and South Carolina,” said John Kessler, Providence vice president of marketing and business development. “Providence is blessed with a public relations and marketing team who set the highest standards of communications excellence.”

Mercy Medical Center and St. John West Shore named Thomson Reuters Top 100 Hospitals

2009-11-24T04:11:10Z

Congratulations to Mercy Medical Center and St. John West Shore Hospital on being named Thomson Reuters Top 100 Hospitals in the country for cardiovascular services. The 100 Top Hospitals study evaluated short-term, acute care, non-federal U.S. hospitals that treat a broad spectrum of cardiology patients. The top performing hospitals perform over 50 percent more cardiac surgeries than peer hospitals.

St. John West Shore to open Intermediate Care Unit

2009-11-17T03:11:36Z

St. John West Shore Hospital is pleased to announce the creation of a new Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) to officially open on Monday, December 7, 2009. The new eight-bed unit will be located on 4-North, where the former medical/surgical unit was housed. With a patient-nurse ratio of four to one, the new inpatient unit will specialize in nursing care for patients who are too ill for the general inpatient unit, yet do not need the extremely intensive level of care of the ICU or CCU.

The unit’s function is not to replace care already provided in the ICU or CCU, but rather to assist the patient flow process, especially during high volume time and/or when beds are at a premium. The Intermediate Care Unit will be staffed by nurses and other staff members competent to care for patients needing this type of care.

“We look forward to the opening of this new inpatient unit,” says Michael Dobrovich, DO, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs. “The new Intermediate Care Unit will improve patient flow and address the shortage of beds and work flow issues. With our new unit, diversion for emergency patients will be reduced, as well as the time patients are being held in the surgical and emergency areas. It will also enhance our patient and physician satisfaction.”

For more information about the IMCU, please contact James V. Guliano, RN, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services, at 440-827-5005.

Providence Hospitals Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation celebrates 25th Anniversary

2009-11-13T03:11:03Z

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.

St. Vincent Charity Hospital inducts six physicians into the Society of St. Luke

2009-10-30T09:10:39Z

CLEVELAND, OHIO--October 24, 2009—St. Vincent Charity Hospital tonight inducted six physicians into the Society of St. Luke. The Society of St. Luke was established in 2004 to recognize and honor selected members of the St. Vincent Charity Medical Staff for their distinguished service to their patients, the mission and the communities we serve.

As a physician and author of one of the four Gospels, St. Luke emphasized Jesus’ concern for humanity and wrote about the Lord’s many miracles of healing. His spirit continues today through The Society of St. Luke at St. Vincent Charity Hospital (SVCH). Membership is granted to past and current members of the St. Vincent Charity Hospital Medical Staff who must be at least 55 years old or have given 25 years of service to SVCH. The involvement of the candidate in research, patient care and community activities should be of the highest caliber.

The Society Physicians exemplify the highest standards reflected by The Society of St. Luke at St. Vincent Charity Hospital. They share a sense of responsibility, compassion and are steadfast in their love for the practice of medicine and the sense of community that is fostered through caring for others. Individually, they have given of their unique talents to make a difference.

The 2009 inductees, who were honored with a dinner at the Key Club at the Marriott Downtown, are:

Richard Chmiewlewski, M.D., Infectious Diseases

Richard E. Christie, M.D., Geriatric Medicine

John S. Collis, M.D., Neurosurgery

J. Thomas Lanning, Nephrology

Elizabeth P. Macintyre, Gastroenterology

Helen Skvaza, Cardiology

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About St. Vincent Charity Hospital

St. Vincent Charity Hospital is a 480-bed, full-service inpatient and outpatient health care 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.

Providence Hospitals begins pet therapy program

2009-10-29T09:10:03Z

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.