St Joseph News

Walking Benefits Hearts of Many

user.org (User) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

St. Joseph Health Center at Shelbourne Square is offering a complimentary 10-week Walking Program in conjunction with the Medical Fitness Association and AARP for those 50+.

The kick-off for the 10-Week Walking Program is August 3, 12:30 � 2:30 pm, at Shelbourne. The first 100 participants will receive a free pedometer, which they may use to log their own steps. Participants meet weekly to hear various exercise tips from Shelbourne's exercise physiologists, as well as have opportunity to ask questions. Progress charts will be posted at Shelbourne, as well, to encourage some healthy competition.
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�Our primary goals are to promote healthy activities and a healthy lifestyle for those fifty and over," said Lisa Lindenmuth, Exercise Physiologist at Shelbourne.

The program will culminate with the 2010 Berks County Start! Heart Walk, held at St. Joseph Medical Center. The Start! Heart Walk involves more than a million people in 300+ cities across America taking a stand against heart disease and helping save lives!

Funds raised in Start! Heart Walk supports projects such as, putting up-to-the-minute research into doctors' hands so they can better prevent and treat heart disease among patients, groundbreaking pediatric heart and stroke research, and getting life-saving information to those who need it most � information that can save a life, like how to eat better, how to recognize the warning signs of heart attack, and how to talk to a doctor about critical health choices.

�The 10-Week Walking Program is a great way to promote physical activity while learning more about heart healthy living. Take the first step to a heart healthy life." said Monica Rush, MS, RN, Cardiac Rehab Manager. �Join us for the walking program in August. Join the rest of Berks County for the finale at the Start! Heart Walk - an event that is fun for the entire family. Please call (610) 404-2230 to register, or for additional information."

Exercise Physiologists, Lisa Lindenmuth, MS, and Cheryl Tutella, MS, C.E.S, will be available for additional questions concerning the program, as guests on BCTV's Health Today, Thursday, July 15, 7:30 pm.

Walking gets the feet moving, the blood moving, the mind moving. And movement is life. ~Carrie Latet

Penn State Hershey Expands Care for Children

user.org (User) — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

PENN STATE HERSHEY AND ST. JOSEPH EXPAND CARE FOR CHILDREN AND CANCER PATIENTS IN BERKS COUNTY

Pediatric specialties services now open; radiation oncology service opens July 19

Reading, PA - Berks county children and families now have increased access to pediatric specialty care and enhanced cancer services through the growing partnership between St. Joseph Regional Health Network and Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Health System.

On Monday, July 5, Penn State Hershey opened the new Penn State Hershey Medical Group at St. Joseph Medical Center, located on the St. Joseph medical campus in Bern Township. By the fall, approximately two dozen Penn State Hershey Children‟s Hospital physicians in15 pediatric specialties and sub-specialties will see patients at the St. Joseph site Monday through Friday on a rotating basis.
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In two weeks, Leonard �Lee‟ Tuanquin, M.D., radiation oncologist, begins seeing adult patients at St. Joseph‟s Cancer Center also on the Bern Township campus. Tuanquin will practice full time in Reading under the auspices of the ongoing affiliation between St. Joseph Regional Health Network and Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute. Tuanquin will be an active member of the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute clinical faculty and the St. Joseph Medical Staff.

�The St. Joseph Regional Health Network board, medical staff and employees are excited about our ongoing partnership with Penn State Hershey Medical Center and the addition of needed physician specialists in pediatrics and radiation oncology that our partnership is able to produce," says President and CEO John Morahan. �Having Penn State Hershey's highly qualified and experienced specialists on our Bern Township campus means that the medical staff and the wider Berks medical community will have the opportunity to expedite patient consults and make referrals for care more convenient."

The expanded pediatric and cancer services are the latest development stemming from a formal affiliation the two healthcare providers announced last year. Penn State Hershey and St. Joseph are already collaborating on care of stroke patients through real-time consultation with Penn State Hershey stroke specialists on complicated diagnoses and treatment plans, as well as a streamlined referral process when tertiary or quaternary stroke care is required.

�As we continue to develop our active partnership with St. Joseph Regional Health Network, �collaboration‟ is the operative word," says Harold L. Paz, M.D., M.S., CEO of Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Health System; Penn State‟s senior vice president for health affairs, and dean of Penn State College of Medicine. �Patients and families in central Pennsylvania deserve to have high-quality specialty care available to them as close to home as possible. The best way to provide that care locally is through active partnership with the physicians and healthcare providers who are most familiar with their patients and the local community. That‟s the foundation of our affiliation with St. Joseph."

Penn State Hershey Children‟s Hospital has a long history of outreach in Berks County. The hospital‟s Children‟s Heart Group has been travelling to the Reading area and working collaboratively with Berks county physicians to serve pediatric heart patients and their families for nearly fifteen years.

Pediatric specialty services offered at the new Penn State Hershey Medical Group site in the St. Joseph Medical Office Building will expand pediatric cardiology offerings and include pediatric neurology, neurosurgery, gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine, orthopedics, infectious disease services and hematology/oncology, endocrinology, rheumatology, and a pediatric feeding program.

�The quick access to care from Penn State Hershey doctors will ease the burdens for patients and families by reducing the amount of time and money spent getting to and from medical appointments and treatments," Morahan says. �Previously, simple access to many of these services would require travel to Hershey or Philadelphia."

Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute‟s Tuanquin earned his bachelor‟s degree in biology and anthropology from George Washington University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He received his medical degree from West Virginia University School of Medicine and completed his residency at University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, serving as chief resident during his final year of residency.

He is a member of the American Society of Radiation Oncology and the American Brachytherarpy Society. He will treat radiation therapy patients at St. Joseph Monday through Friday.

In addition to Tuanquin‟s recruitment, doctors at St. Joseph Medical Center will have the ability to video-conference into multidisciplinary conferences with Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute specialists in Hershey, participating with a broad cross-section of specialists in developing comprehensive diagnoses and targeted treatment plans for their patients.

�The opening of these medical services reflects the positive outcomes of our partnership with St. Joseph Regional Health Network," Paz says. �Our two health organizations remain committed to developing other collaborations which will enhance and improve health care in the Berks community."

Governor Cites St. Joe's as One of 16 Top Hospitals

user.org (User) — Tue, 6 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Governor Ed Rendell, pictured above, cited St. Joseph Medical Center as one of the top 16 hospitals in Pennsylvania in managing Hospital Acquired Infections earlier this week with the release of the Pennsylvania Department of Health 2009 Hospital Associated Infection (HAI) Report, which monitors infections patients get while being hospitalized.

�It is impressive news and true testimony to the efforts you all are making as we continue to establish St. Joseph's quality, patient satisfaction and clinical excellence credentials," Hospital President and CEO John Morahan said. "We are in the top 16 hospitals in the state and Pennsylvania has more than 250 hospitals. Well done St. Joe's!"

�Instituting evidence-based practices for pneumonia treatment, Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections, isolation practices, environmental services (best cleaning practices), and Central Line placement procedures have all helped to reduce infections at the hospital," stated Liz Clark, Director, Process and Outcomes Management.
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�We are extremely proud of the Critical Care staff," said Vice President of Medical Affairs, Samuel Alfano, DO. �Because of their diligence in consistently following the best practice guidelines to prevent Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, we haven't had a patient with ventilator associated pneumonia since August of 2008."

The medical center also follows PA Act 52 guidelines for selecting patients for screening who are at highest risk for bacterial infection that is highly resistant to some antibiotics such as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Upon arrival to the hospital, a nasal swab is done to determine the presence of MRSA on all nursing home patients, dialysis patients and patients being admitted to the Critical Care Unit. If the test is positive, those patients are placed in isolation.

In addition, the �SafetySurveillor" software system notifies the infection prevention teams of potential infections in patients, allowing for rapid intervention and investigation. The immediacy of the patient information directs Infection Prevention staff where to focus their investigations to allow for quick interventions for the patient's health.

Hand washing continues to be the best practice in the control of infection. St. Joseph Medical Center staff is consistently vigilant in monitoring employee and physician adherence to best practice hand washing procedures, and constantly audits compliance.

According to Amy Heins BSN, RN, CIC, �Lack of hand hygiene can be associated with increased hospital associated infections, so we continue to stress the importance of hand washing. Noting St. Joseph Medical Center's HAI results, we are highly reinforced that our processes are working."

Budget Deal is a Winner for Patients, Hospitals, State

user.org (User) — Mon, 5 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) welcomed this week's 2010�2011 state budget deal between legislative leaders and the Governor.

"This budget is a �win-win-win' for our patients, our hospitals, and the Commonwealth," said HAP President and CEO Carolyn F. Scanlan. "Better and more stable Medical Assistance funding for hospitals will help to preserve and enhance patient access to care, provide hospitals with additional funding needed to improve quality and safety for all patients, and contribute approximately $246 million in revenue to the state over the next three years."

The budget agreement includes a modernized Medical Assistance (MA) payment system that will improve and stabilize reimbursements to hospitals while simultaneously providing a stable source of funds to the Commonwealth.
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In an effort to solve the problem of chronic underfunding of hospitals and help the state address its budget shortfall, HAP and Pennsylvania's hospitals came forward with a proposal for a new system that improves MA payments to hospitals and preserves hospital supplemental payments (burn, trauma, OB, inpatient/outpatient disproportionate share, medical/health professional education, community access fund, critical access hospitals), while generating revenue through an assessment on hospitals that will leverage federal matching funds.

Over the past several months, the HAP Public Payor Policy Committee, of which St. Joseph President and CEO John Morahan is a member, provided guidance and led the effort to improve the MA payment system for hospitals in the state.

"I was committed to advancing the work of the committee noting St. Joe's dedication to caring for the poor and our willingness to participate in all Medicaid insurance plans so those in need in our community have accessible healthcare," Morahan explained. "HAP's approach to assisting the state with gaining additional federal dollars�while improving and modernizing Medicaid payment for St. Joe's and the other Commonwealth hospitals�is innovative and commendable."

Pennsylvania's hospitals have operated under a reimbursement system that dates back to the 1980s, where MA reimbursements today average just 80 cents for every dollar of hospital costs. This has made it extremely challenging for hospitals to meet the health care needs of Pennsylvania's families. From Fiscal Year '06 to Fiscal Year '09, St. Joseph absorbed nearly $35 million in unpaid costs of Medicaid and Charity Care.

Dr. Alfano to Chair Berks County Start! Heart Walk

user.org (User) — Sat, 3 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

St. Joseph Medical Center's Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs, Dr. Samuel Alfano, has been selected as the Chairman of the 2010 Berks County Start! Heart Walk which will be held on the Bern Campus October 3rd.

"We look forward to celebrating a successful campaign of promoting more walking, changing lifestyles and raising funds for the American Heart Association," Dr. Alfano explained, reminding participants of the Heart Association's "2 for 1" message. "For every hour of vigorous exercise you get, you gain 2 hours of life expectancy."

Dr. Alfano thanked Monica Rush for her efforts in coordinating the hospital's participation in the walk in previous years and noted to all participants, past and present, "your support of this very important cause is appreciated. It is your participation in the fundraising that makes the life-changing and life-saving work of the American Heart Association possible."
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2010 Berks County Start! Heart Walk
October 3, 2010
Festival Area opens at 8:30 a.m.
Program and Lifestyle Change Awards at 9:30 a.m.
The walk steps off at 10:00 a.m.

The county goal for this year's walk is $75,000. Dr. Alfano and Monica Rush are recruiting as many teams as possible for this year so, if you are interested, please visit the website below to register as a captain and start recruiting a team:

St. Joseph Medical Center Company Start! Heart Walk Team page

St. Joe's Earns Chest Pain Accreditation

user.org (User) — Fri, 2 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Reading, Pa., March 4, 2010 -- St. Joseph Medical Center has taken its place among the top hospitals in the country in treating chest pain. The hospital was officially granted accreditation as a Certified Chest Pain Center with PCI by the Board of the Society of Chest Pain Centers, Columbus, OH.

�This accreditation reflects our commitment to a protocol-driven and systematic approach to reduce treatment time during the critical early stages of a heart attack," said John R. Morahan, St. Joseph's President and Chief Executive Officer. �The additional designation �with PCI' illustrates our commitment to conducting percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as catheterization and angioplasty, on patients suffering from heart attack well within the national standard of 90 minutes of arrival at our Emergency Department."
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The Chest Pain Center's approach also puts into place systems that enable hospital's to better monitor patients when it is not clear whether they are having a coronary event. Such observation helps ensure that a patient is neither sent home too early nor needlessly admitted.

To quickly assess if a patient is having a problem that requires intervention, St. Joseph receives a 12-lead EKG conducted, in many instances, by first responders in the field (i.e. ground and air ambulance, fire and rescue). If positive, the Emergency team activates the Interventional Cardiac Team. If the patient is a walk-in to the Emergency Department, the hospital immediately conducts its own 12-lead EKG test and, if positive, the same interventional protocol is followed.

Morahan congratulated the St. Joseph Team that �worked diligently over the past 18 months to achieve this milestone."

While the final report has not been formally delivered to the hospital, St. Joseph was recognized for 51 distinctive practices, meaning that these practices are the best among all of the other hospitals that have sought accreditation, according to Sharon Strohecker, St. Joseph's Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Clinical Services.

�Earning Chest Pain Accreditation means that St. Joseph practices and achieves the highest standards of chest pain intervention and treatment available in the country," added Lori Shober, Director of St. Joseph's Heart Institute.

St. Joseph's multidisciplinary heart care teams remain on call 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Patients presenting in the ER with chest pain and diagnosed with significant cardiac symptoms go right to the Catheterization lab for intervention, such as angioplasty or stent placement. According to its most recent analysis, the hospital offers interventional procedures often in less than 60 minutes, far faster than the national standard of 90 minutes.

About Chest Pain Centers
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 dying annually of heart disease. More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. The goal of the Society of Chest Pain Centers is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.

The Chest Pain Center at St. Joseph Medical Center has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and completing on-site evaluations by a review team from the Society of Chest Pain Centers. Key areas in which a Chest Pain Center must demonstrate expertise include:

Integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical system
Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly
Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms
Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
Ensuring Chest Pain Center personnel competency and training
Maintaining organizational structure and commitment
Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack

St. Joseph Chest Pain Team Members

Hani Salha, MD, Physician Leader, Chest Pain Team Leader

David Wright, MD, Medical Director, Emergency Services

Beverly Livezey, Vice President, Cardiology Services

Lori Shober, Director, St. Joseph Heart Institute

Michele Jones, Director, Emergency Services and Professional Practice

Barbara Pizzo, Manager, PVL/EEG/Non-Invasive Cardiology

Liz Clark, Director, Process and Outcomes Management

Loretta Boyd, Team Leader, Performance Improvement

Deb Demiter, Administrative Director, Radiology

Karen Drumheller, Resource Manager, Nursing Education

Steve Deihl, Manager, 1 North Nursing Unit

Dan Monaghan, Manager, Critical Care and 2 North Nursing Units

Chris Allen, Manager, 1 South Nursing Unit

Deb Motika, Manager, Chemistry Lab

Jim Tunnessen, Emergency Medical Services Liaison

Karen Mengle, Special Projects Coordinator

Cindy Diehl, Case Manager

St. Joseph to close facilities due to impending storm

user.org (User) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Reading, Pa., February 9, 2010 -- In anticipation of the impending snowstorm, all St. Joseph outpatient satellite facilities will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb,. 10th. St. Joseph's Bern Township Main Campus and the Downtown Reading Campus at 6th and Walnut Streets will be open.

The Urgent Care on the Downtown Campus at 6th and Walnut Sts., (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and Urgent Care in Elverson (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.) are scheduled to be open, but could be closed once more is known about the storm's track and intensity.

The public can call 610-378-2110 for updates on Urgent Care opening/hours.

Dog's Warm Nose Eases Impact of

user.org (User) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Patient to pin Rottweiler/Rhodesian Ridgeback as hospital's first dog
"Guardian Angel"

Reading, PA, January 21, 2010 -- When Mary Meanen came to St. Joseph Medical Center, she expected the high-tech scanners, the newest medications, and an experienced and compassionate staff to help her. What she also found was a seven-year-old Rottweiler/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Buster who cozied up to her with his warm nose as she got the "cold" news that her cancer had spread.

And now, Buster, owned by the hospital's Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Daniel Woolley, MD, will officially become Meanen's Guardian Angel today as part of a pinning ceremony that is usually reserved for honoring hospital staff that go the extra mile to help patients.

In nominating Buster, Meanen wrote that after being hospitalized and learning that her cancer had spread "it was a God-send to have Buster. He knew I was sick and came to me."

Meanen, 71, of Mohrsville, met Buster after she received the news that she had developed a rare form of cancer, myoepithelial carcinoma.

Prior to their meeting, Meanen had spent five days in the critical care unit at St. Joe's and had been in and out of the hospital numerous times over the past year. Upon meeting Buster, Meanen felt that he "sensed" her cancer and "gave all his love and support" to her when she needed it most.

"It was such tough, tough news to swallow, so it was great having him there." Meanen said. "His empathy in what he does is far and above anything I've ever seen."

Maureen Woolley, who takes Buster to visit with patients, and who works on the Bern Campus, said that Buster's "touch offered more than words could express."

Buster is certified by Pet Therapy Inc. and is a Good Canine Citizen. He has been providing friendship and support for patients at St. Joe's since 2007.

The Guardian Angel program enables patients to nominate hospital staff for their exemplary performance in patient care and kindness throughout the patient's time at the hospital.