St. John West Shore Hospital Celebrates Cardiac Cath Lab Dedication

ST. JOHN WEST SHORE HOSPITAL
February / March 2009
Volume 4 Issue 1
A Message From SJWS Hospital President Cliff J. Coker….
“This is About Today, and What We Can Do to Make it Better.”
“We can survive and prosper!” says
Cliff J. Coker, President of St. John West
Shore Hospital.
In an economy that is creating
negative news headlines daily, Coker
extends a message of hope to both the
Hospital and the community it serves.
Yes, he sees the problems presented
by increased unemployment, decreased
spending, more debt, a credit crunch, and
the housing and trade crises that
challenge the nation.
But his focus remains on
opportunities and meeting challenges by
being inventive and thinking outside of
the box.
“Success is the sum of small efforts
repeated day in and day out, day after
day,” said Coker. “And we at St. John
West Shore Hospital, embrace that
determination, commitment and
willpower to not just survive, but to lead
through troubling times.”
Just last year, SJWS marked many
milestones on its Journey to Excellence.
They included more than $6 million in
Hospital improvements. A state-of the-art
Cardiac Cath Lab, cutting-edge
Pharmacy, Spine & Orthopedic Center,
UroDynamics Center and upgrades to its
Pain Management Center and Hospital
Surgical Suites.
These improvements bring with them
a sense of increased morale and selfesteem to the Hospital Family as well as
the patients it serves.
According to Coker, by being
steadfast and focused on patient care and
excellence, the Hospital has much to
celebrate. In today’s economy, Coker
plans a proactive approach. “You must
be extremely flexible in any given
situation as well as nimble in order to
seize opportunities when they arise.
Needed changes must be made to not
only survive, but to stay ahead of the
pack,” he said.
In a climate of escalating costs and
reduced revenues, Coker plans a realistic
view. “We must reset priorities, and
manage differently and more
efficiently,” he said. “We have to remain
focused on expenses and be prudent
when needed.”
Not to be compromised, however, are
key service lines. “We will still invest in
our service lines providing the best in
patient care. Our recent investments in
many areas and departments are all
examples of that commitment.”
Open communication with
Continued on page 5
Cliff J. Coker, SJWS Hospital President
St. John West Shore Hospital Celebrates
Cardiac Cath Lab Dedication
When personal mission and professional calling converge,
it creates a truly special position of service to a community.
John Vizzuso, Vice President, SJWS Cardiovascular &
Imaging Services, represents that commitment to his position
and the services his department provides to the community.
As St. John West Shore Hospital recently dedicated its
$2.5-million renovation of its Cardiac Cath Lab and recovery
areas, Vizzuso captured the real power of its presence.
“This Center is really about a gift – the gift of time,”
said Vizzuso. The renovation boasts state-of-the-art
equipment to improve overall operational efficiencies, as
well as patient and physician outcomes.
But for Vizzuso, it also represents a personal
connection. “Many years ago, when I was younger, I was
completing my training in cardiac care,” he told guests at
the unit’s recent dedication and blessing. “I was visiting my
Dad and went out to look for him. There was something not
right as I walked over a rise in the yard. It was my dad, John Vizzuso, Vice President, Cardiovascular & Imaging
slumped to the ground with his hands outstretched. I turned Services, SJWS, said the new $2.5 million upgrades gives
families “The gift of time” by saving lives.
POINTS
SJWS Hospital Celebrates $6 Million in Facility Upgrades
Annual Festival Of The Arts’ Friday Night Fund-Raiser To Take
A New Direction: Top Chef Competition Introduced
Lake Erie Monsters Hockey Team Visits St. John West Shore
SJWS Hospital Receives American Stroke Association Award
‘Get With The Guidelines Bronze Performance Achievement’
Valet Parking Earns Employee Recognition
Dr. Amelia Llerena Serves SJWS Hospital as Medical Staff President
12-Lead EKG System Upgrades To Web-Based Equipment
SJWS Establishes The Northeastern Ohio Kidney Stone Center
Jack Burke Appointed Chair of SJWS’s Community Board
SJWS Hospital Joins North Ridgeville Outreach Effort
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him over and could see The new Cath Lab is a leader in regional Cardiac Care.
that he had suffered a It offers the West Shore the best in cardiac care with
heart attack. I began three labs and upgrades totaling $2.5 million.
CPR. But you never forget that moment
wires with metal electrode tips) are
when you realize that a person you love
inserted into the heart in order to study
so much has died and more than ever you
the cardiac electrical system.
wish to have had more time.”
In addition, flat-screen televisions
According to Vizzuso, that is what
were added to every patient admission/
the Cardiovascular & Imaging Services
recovery room, and permanent walls were
Center offer to its patients — the gift of
erected between patient bays to enhance
time. “Because time is all we really have
overall privacy. A multipurpose room was
together,” added Vizzuso.
also included in the re-design, providing
The new Cath Lab was enlarged and
space
for
performing
TE
outfitted with the latest technology and
Echocardiograms (which uses ultrasound
equipment. Among improvements made
to examine the heart), Cardioversions
to the lab/recovery areas are an expanded
(whereby an electrical shock is delivered
physician dictation area, new patient/
to the heart to convert an abnormal heart
family and physician consultation room,
rhythm back to a normal rhythm), tilt table
and new electrophysiology equipment.
evaluations, as well as a swing for nonDuring an electrophysiology procedure,
Continued on page 5
electrode catheters (flexible, insulated
Page 2
February / March 2009
St. John West Shore Hospital Undergoes $6 Million in Facility Upgrades
With $6 million in upgrades completed in 2008, St.
John West Shore Hospital celebrated a hallmark year!
Eileen Hayes, Vice President of Support Services,
provides overview of facility upgrades that highlighted
2008:
Spine & Ortho Center Opens: The $1.5million center already has a reputation for patients being
greeted and shown to their rooms by a concierge. It isn’t
something typically associated with a hospital stay, but
that is standard practice for patients coming to St. John
West Shore Hospital for back or joint surgery. The
dedicated, 16-bed unit offering “guests” 5-star
accommodations and amenities on par with a luxury hotel.
UroDynamics Center: This $300,000 unit
addresses the issues of incontinence that brings comfort
and resolve to many in the community with state-of-theart services and treatment.
New Pharmacy:
Thanks to a $700,000
The new Cardiac Cath Lab offers the best in cardiac
care with three labs and $2.5 million in upgrades.
Toni Noday-Krager,
Director of Surgical Service Lines
investment in a brand new
central Pharmacy, SJWS boasts
the finest in care.
Surgical Suite
Renovations: $250,000 in
surgical suite improvements will
be followed with continuing
service improvements in 2009.
Pain Management
Center: A $150,000
investment. “Whatever a
patient’s source of pain, they
receive comprehensive evaluations and treatment plans tailored
specifically for them,” said Dr.
A. Kabbara, Center Medical
Director. “Since we have seen a
rise in patients who suffer from
chronic pain, we saw a need to
offer more services. So our
expansion is in direct response to
community needs.”
Pain Management Center Procedure Room
Cutting the red ribbon at the grand opening of the St. John West Shore
5-Star Spine & Orthopedic Center were (from left) Sr. Miriam Erb of the
Sisters of Charity Health System, Pat Fox, Robert Stern, MD, Cliff J. Coker,
SJWS President, Toni Noday-Krager, Medical Director Mehrun
Elyaderani, MD, and Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough.
Cardiac Cath Lab: The $2.5-million renovation boasts state-of-the-art equipment to improve overall
operational efficiencies, as well as patient and physician outcomes.
Terrace View Café: A $650,000 upgrade means a complete reconstruction of the SJWS dining area. Visitors
and staff enjoy great meals at very affordable prices. The Terrace View Café is getting rave reviews!
“We are very pleased to offer these upgrades to the community and our organization,” said Hayes. “They all make
a dramatic difference in our ability to serve. In addition, new Operating Room equipment is coming this year. Our
Cardiac Cath Lab really enhances our patient services, and the cafeteria has been totally transformed. This has been a
huge success for everyone!”
More is on the way for 2009, reports Hayes. The lobby restrooms are slated for a major
upgrade, there will be an Outpatient Area rejuvenation, and the opening of a new holistic
birthing center that will host water delivery.
St. John West Shore Hospital Pharmacy Services Department Staff celebrated
the Grand Opening & Blessing of their new facility.
Terrace View Café, Rose Blasik
Ronald Dorchak, Retail Manager, SJWS Nutritional Services; Eileen Hayes,
VP, Support Services and Robert Reynolds, Director, SJWS Food and
Nutritional Services cut the ribbon opening the new Terrace View Café.
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February / March 2009
Annual Festival Of The Arts’ Friday Night Fund-Raiser To Take A New Direction:
Top Chef Competition Introduced
Admit it – you’ve watched Bravo’s Top Chef and wished that you, too, could judge
a contest of culinary skill and creativity as brave chefs meet head-on in battle. The
opportunity has finally arrived!
On Friday night, July 10, the 2009 St. John West Shore Hospital Festival of the
Arts’ Top Chef competition will test
the versatility and inventiveness of
four top chefs from Cleveland’s finest
restaurants.
Each chef will be asked to
prepare an appetizer and entrée for
competition. Think of the
possibilities! All the action will be
captured on a Jumbotron, making sure
you don’t miss a second of it. Join Ted
Allen and Michael Ruhlman for a oneof-a-kind dining experience and the
chance to name the Festival of the
Arts’ Top Chef.
Emmy Award winner Ted Allen
is host of Food Detectives, a new
primetime series on Food Network.
Ted has been a judge on every season
of Bravo’s Top Chef and Food
Network’s Iron Chef America. He is
host of the PBS series Uncorked:
Wine Made Simple and the Food
Network’s newest show Chopped.
Writer and journalist, Michael
Ruhlman is the author of twelve nonfiction books on subjects including Ted Allen, host of the Food Network
show, Food Detectives
food, wooden boats and pediatric
heart surgery. Michael’s writing celebrates food and the work of professional cooking—
three books on the life and work of the chef and four cookbooks written with some of the
country’s best chefs.
The 2009 Festival of the Arts’ Top Chef
serves as the annual fund-raiser for St. John West
Shore Hospital. This year’s proceeds will benefit
the Hospital’s Community Outreach and Wellness
Ministry programs. These programs promote
health and wellness in the community through
numerous health screenings, seminars, support
groups, childbirth education classes, women’s
services programs and community education at
little or no cost. In 2008, the benefit raised more
than $85,000 for the Hospital Community
Outreach program and the purchase of life-saving
equipment.
“We are very excited about this new
direction for the Festival of the Arts’ Friday night
fund-raiser,” says Cliff J. Coker, SJWS Hospital
President. “The Friday night fund-raiser has always
been a stellar event and certainly a highlight of
West side benefits, but we wanted to raise the bar
to clearly separate it from the others, as well as
create a new tradition.”
Who will “pack their knives” and who will
Michael Ruhlman,
be crowned this year’s Festival of the Arts’ Top
Writer and Journalist
Chef? Be a part of Cleveland history... this is sure
to be the season’s hottest ticket. Make sure you mark your calendar for the Festival of the
Arts’ Top Chef to be held on Friday, July 10. Doors will open at 6:30 pm and the
competition to begin at 7:00 pm. For individual ticket or sponsorship information, please
call 440-827-5002.
Lake Erie Monsters Hockey Team Visits St. John West Shore
On Thursday December 4, the Lake Erie Monsters Hockey Team took some time off of the ice to visit St. John West Shore Hospital. During their visit they spent time with patients
and signed autographs for Hospital employees and friends in the main lobby. St. John West Shore Hospital is the “Hospital of Choice” for the Lake Erie Monsters.
Several of the Monsters, including Darey Campbell, J.D. Corbin, Ray Macais, Aaron
Mackenzie, Mark McCutcheon, Wes O’Neill, Chris Stewart and the team mascot Sullivan
C. Goal, aka Sully, were on hand.
The team visited several areas of the Hospital, including the Spine & Orthopedic Center, Cardiac
Care Step Down Unit, Pediatrics, and the Skilled Nursing Unit. The team spent time getting to know
the patients and sent warm words of encouragement towards a speedy recovery. The Monsters also
presented each patient with a gift
bag that included a Monsters hat,
gloves, and t-shirt.
After making their way
around the Hospital, players and
Sully set up in the main lobby
to meet employees, sign
autographs and take pictures.
Staff members were encouraged
to bring family and friends to
come meet the team.
St. John West Shore
Hospital would like to thank the
Monsters for all of their kindness
L-R Standing: Mark McCutcheon, Wes O’Neill, Bettina Nugent, LPN Mobile
and encouragement they brought
Medial Care SJWS and Sully C. Goal (Mascot). L-R Seated: Aaron
Mackenzie, Ray Macais, J.D. Corbin, Darey Campbell and Chris Stewart.
to the Hospital. Go Monsters!
Page 5
February / March 2009
St. John West Shore Hospital
Celebrates Cardiac
Cath Lab Dedication
Continued from page 1
invasive testing procedures.
“The patient/admission rooms
are all private which offers a special
sense of comfort,” said Vizzuso. “And
the equipment in the Cath Lab areas
is second to none. There is no hospital
that has better technology than we
now offer. Combine those elements
with the recent Fox News reports on
how our heart attack response time is
the best on the West side, and The St.
John West Shore Cardiovascular
Services is second to none.”
To increase the Hospital’s doorto-balloon heart attack response
time, a new entry point was added
which leads directly from the
Emergency Department to the newly
renovated Cardiac Cath Lab area.
This new access point will allow for
easier and faster patient flow; in the
case of cardiac care, time is muscle.
“We are extremely proud of
renovations made to our Cardiac
Cath Lab and recovery areas,” says
& Soul….
Cliff J. Coker, President, St. John Heart
As Sr. Rosemarie Carfagna blessed the hands
West Shore Hospital. “These of each member of the St. John West Shore
changes will better serve those Hospital Cardiac Cath Lab team, the $2.5 million
seeking cardiovascular care near improvement to make SJWS the West Side
their home.” Coker added.
leader in cardiac care opened recently. Mary
A cardiac cath procedure Francis, who works in the unit, shared the
evaluates blood flow in the coronary heartfelt dedication as SJWS workers renewed
arteries, blood flow and blood their motto: “Inspired by Faith….To Serve with
pressure in the chambers of the heart, Compassion.” Debbie Light (background),
determines how well the heart valves Director, called each name.
work, and checks for defects in the wall of the heart. Results from a cardiac cath procedure
help determine whether treatment with bypass surgery or percutaneous coronary
intervention (PCI), such as angioplasty, may be effective.
Valet Parking Earns
Employee Recognition
St. John West Shore Hospital parking
valet Robert McKeller regularly goes the
extra mile for patients and visitors who pull
up to his station under the main entrance.
Jotting his cell phone number on patients’
parking tickets, he advises guests to give
him a ring a few minutes before they are
ready to leave, and he will have their car
out front waiting for them.
“That way, I can have it warmed up for
them,” said McKeller.
Robert makes sure patients and their
family members are treated with respect and
kindness. His commitment to service excellence is key to the patient experience.
Robert was honored by SJWS President
Cliff J. Coker with an Award of Recognition
for his commitment to service recently.
“I like to know where the patient is going in the Hospital before I park their car in
case they need anything,” said Robert.
“Even if they don’t use valet service, I can
help with wheelchairs and anything else they
need. I know that they are here for a reason, and I want to make sure that they feel at
home and at ease when they come in.”
Testimonials on Robert’s Award attest to this commitment. The certificate reads:
Robert is outstanding and treats patients with kindness. He begins the hospital experience with caring professionalism and is worth his weight in gold.
An employee of USA Parking, Robert’s services are contracted to SJWS as part of
the Hospital’s continuing commitment to patient care and comfort.
Congratulations!
St. John West Shore Hospital Receives
American Stroke Association Award
Get With The Guidelines Bronze
Performance Achievement
St. John West Shore Hospital has
received the American Stroke
Association’s Get With The GuidelinesSM
–Stroke (GWTG-Stroke) Bronze
Performance Achievement Award. The
award recognizes St. John West Shore
Hospital’s commitment and success in
implementing a higher standard of stroke
care by ensuring that stroke patients
receive treatment according to nationally
accepted
standards
and
recommendations.
“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost,
and the GWTG-Stroke Bronze
Performance Achievement Award
addresses the important element of time,”
said Cliff J. Coker, Hospital President. St.
John West Shore Hospital has developed
a comprehensive system for rapid
diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients
admitted to the emergency department.
This includes always being equipped to
provide brain imaging scans, having
neurologists available to conduct patient
evaluations and using clot-busting
medications when appropriate.
To receive the GWTG-Stroke
Bronze Performance Achievement
Award, St. John West Shore Hospital
consistently followed the treatment
guidelines in the GWTG-Stroke program
for 90 days. These include aggressive use
of medications like tPA, antithrombotics,
anticoagulation
therapy,
DVT
prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs,
and smoking cessation. The 90-day
evaluation period is the first in an ongoing
self-evaluation by the hospital to
continually reach the 85 percent
compliance level needed to sustain this
award.
“The American Stroke Association
commends St. John West Shore Hospital
for its success in implementing standards
of care and protocols,” said Lee H.
Schwamm, M.D., national Get With The
Guidelines Steering Committee Member
and director of the acute stroke services
at Massachusetts General Hospital in
Boston. “The full implementation of acute
care and secondary prevention
recommendations and guidelines is a
critical step in saving the lives and
improving outcomes of stroke patients.”
GWTG-Stroke uses the “teachable
moment,” the time soon after a patient has
had a stroke, when they are most likely
to listen to and follow their health care
professionals’ guidance. Studies
demonstrate that patients who are taught
how to manage their risk factors while still
in the hospital reduce their risk of a
second stroke. Through GWTG-Stroke,
customized patient education materials
are made available at the point of
discharge, based on patients’ individual
risk profiles. The take-away materials are
written in an easy-to-understand format
and are available in English and Spanish.
In addition, the GWTG Patient
Management Tool provides access to upto-date cardiovascular and stroke science
at the point of care.
“The time is right for St. John West
Shore Hospital to be focused on
improving the quality of stroke care by
implementing GWTG-Stroke. The
number of acute ischemic stroke patients
eligible for treatment is expected to grow
over the next decade due to increasing
stroke incidence and a large aging
population,” said Coker.
According to the American Stroke
Association, each year approximately
700,000 people suffer a stroke—500,000
are first attacks and 200,000 are recurrent
attacks. Of stroke survivors, 21 percent
of men and 24 percent of women die
within a year, and for those aged 65 and
older, the percentage is even higher.
A Message From SJWS Hospital
President Cliff J. Coker….
“This is About Today, and What
We Can Do to Make it Better.”
Continued from page 1
employees will also be themed through
2009. “When communicating with staff,
physicians and volunteers you must
remain as transparent as possible
keeping an open line of communication,”
Coker added.
Despite the economic forecast and
competitive health care field, Coker
stresses that there is much to be thankful
for. Our Spine & Orthopedic Unit opened
last year and is a huge success. We have
a new Pharmacy and have made
tremendous strides in areas of Pain
Management and UroDynamics,”
emphasized Coker. “And our 12-Lead
EKG initiative — moving that service to
being web-based as well as having the
best heart attack response time on the
West side underscores the value of this
Hospital to the community. The reason
this Hospital invested in the 12-Lead
EKG technology is to do what is best for
the community. And in 2009, SJWS will
take that a step further with the opening
of the area’s first Kidney Stone Center.”
In addition, The Hospital was
recognized by a national organization
that provides consumers with tools to
evaluate and compare hospital
performances with a distinguished
Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence
and was named by that organization as
one of America’s 50 best hospitals. “Yes,
we are competing, and by doing so, we
remain confident in our role as the
leading health care provider on the West
side,” said Coker.
Page 6
February / March 2009
Amelia Llerena, MD, Serves St. John West Shore
Hospital as Medical Staff President
St. John West Shore Hospital
President Cliff J. Coker announced that
Amelia Llerena, MD was recently elected
Medical Staff President of St. John West
Shore Hospital. The election was held at
a recent Medical Staff Quarterly meeting.
Dr. Llerena assumed her new role on
January 1, 2009.
Dr. Llerena has dedicated much of
her time and service to the older adult
population on Cleveland’s West Side. In
doing so, she has promoted the highest
standards of geriatric practices in her
roles as Medical Director of the St. John
West Shore Hospital Skilled Nursing
Unit, and Medical Director for both The
Lutheran Home at Concord Reserve and
Wellington Place. She has also
participated in the Hospital’s Nursing
Home Geriatric Care Strategies
Committee and Nursing Home Council.
In addition to her contributions in the area
of geriatric healthcare, Dr. Llerena has
also served as co-chair of the St. John
West Shore Hospital’s Ethics’ Committee.
Upon meeting Dr. Llerena, one realizes
her compassion that is rooted in a deep
reverence and respect for human life and
the dignity of each person and her expertise
at providing superior clinical assistance.
Her service is characterized by a spirit of
love, truth, justice and stewardship
providing care in a compassionate and
professional manner that exemplifies the
healing ministry of Jesus throughout her
daily duties and responsibilities.
In 2008, she received the Carlos A.
Maldonado, MD Award, which honors
excellence in older adult services
throughout Western Cuyahoga County.
She has previously received the St. John
West Shore Hospital Community
Leadership Award and has been honored
by Life Care Centers of America with a
Certificate of Appreciation for more than
10 years of service. In addition, Dr.
Llerena has received the St. John West
Shore Hospital Society of St. Luke Award
for her years of service and dedication to
the Hospital Mission.
“Dr. Llerena is a tremendous asset to the
Hospital,” said Coker. “Her dedication, advice
and counsel serving in previous leadership
positions have enabled the Hospital to reach
higher levels of success. We look forward to
her continued guidance and commitment to
the Hospital in her new role as Medical Staff
President.”
Also elected as Medical Staff Officers are
Floyd Trillis, MD as Vice President; Roberta
Persaud, MD as Secretary/Treasurer; Gregory
Bloxdorf, DO as Member-at-Large and
Charles Duncan, MD as Member-at-Large.
Dr. Llerena follows Robert Stern, MD
who served as Medical Staff President of
St. John West Shore Hospital for 4 years.
Under Dr. Stern’s supervision, St. John West
Shore Hospital developed its highly
successful cardiothoracic surgical program.
During his term of service, the Hospital
opened its Spine & Orthopedic Center and
Amelia Llerena, MD
UroDynamic Center, underwent an upgrade
to its surgical suites, a $2.5 million renovation of its Cardiac Cath Lab and recovery
area along with receiving accreditations as a Chest Pain Center, Level III Trauma
status and a Primary Stroke Center.
12-Lead EKG System Upgrades To Web-Based Equipment
First West Side Hospital to Offer Web-Based Features that Allow Real-Time Data to be Transmitted Faster and More Accurately
St. John West Shore Hospital
became the first West Side hospital to
upgrade its current 12-Lead EKG system
from standard cellular signals to cuttingedge, web-based technology. By
switching to the web-based system the
technology reduces the risk of
transmittal problems, including dead
zones, and allows the Hospital to receive
vital patient information faster and
easier.
The web-based 12-Lead system
allows Hospital emergency personnel to
accurately diagnose patients’ cardiac
conditions through real-time 12-lead
EKG data. This decreases door-toballoon time, giving patients a better
chance of survival. The data provides
12 different views of the heart, while the
patient is still in the field, which is
significant in determining the best way
to prepare the Hospital’s Cardiac Cath
Lab for treatment.
Currently, half of the emergency
medical squads in western Cuyahoga and
eastern Lorain counties have upgraded
to the web-based system, with the Avon
Lake emergency medical staff being the
first to implement it in the area.
By using the web-based technology,
squads now have the advantage of
providing St. John West Shore Hospital
with a 10 to 20 minute “head start” on
mobilizing the cardiologist and the rest
of the Cath Lab team, before patients
arrive at the Hospital’s ED.
“With this new technology, we’ll be
able to receive information into the ED
from emergency personnel before a
patient even arrives at the Hospital, so
the entire team is prepared to administer
the appropriate medical treatment when
the patient gets here,” said Roy Seitz,
M.D., medical director of the St. John
West Shore Hospital ED and one of the
leading advocates of the web-based, 12Lead EKG initiative. “We can assemble
the necessary team based on the EKG
and the patient’s symptoms, since both
components are necessary in making a
proper diagnosis. In the ‘old days,’ we
had to wait until a patient arrived in the
ED for a doctor to look at the EKG
before we could even devise a treatment
plan. But now, with this new
technology, we’re able to receive a
faster and more reliable transmission of
data,” he said.
As a pioneer in cardiac care, St.
John West Shore Hospital has also
recently undergone a $2.5-million
renovation to its Cardiac Cath Lab and
recovery areas. State-of-the-art
equipment was installed to improve
overall
operational
efficiencies and patient and
physician consulting
rooms. A new door that
leads from the ED to the
newly renovated Cath Lab
was also installed for
easier and faster patient
flow.
Another time-saving
capability of St. John West
Shore Hospital is the
STEMI Alert protocol. As
part of standard protocol,
the Cath Lab team is
alerted at the same time as
the
interventional
cardiologist of an incoming patient. An
overhead page is made to alert necessary
departments that a STEMI patient is the
in the ED. This creates a faster door-toballoon time which is vital for restoring
a patient’s blood flow to their heart.
For more information about St. John
West Shore Hospital’s recent initiatives
in the cardiac care or Emergency
Department area, visit www.sjws.net.
St. John West Shore Hospital Establishes The
Northeastern Ohio Kidney Stone Center
St. John West Shore Hospital is
proud to announce the opening of The
Northeastern Ohio Kidney Stone Center,
the first center of its kind in the area. This
additional service line is the latest in a
series of new Centers of Excellence from
St. John West Shore Hospital, including
the UroDynamic Center and Spine &
Orthopedic Center.
The Northeastern Ohio Kidney Stone
Center at St. John West Shore Hospital will
give physicians and patients convenient
access to some of the most advanced
kidney stone treatment methods available
today. In collaboration with ForTec Litho,
The Northeastern Ohio Kidney Stone Center will offer stateof-the-art treatment technologies like Extracorporeal Shock
Wave Lithotripsy, a non-surgical procedure in which
shockwaves are used to break apart kidney stones. Other
available treatments include cystoscopy with stone extraction,
percutaneous lithotripsy and Holmim laser treatment.
The focus of the Center is to make these treatments as
accessible as possible. To that end, the Northeastern Ohio Kidney
Stone Center features convenient hours of operation and flexible
scheduling, enabling patients to be treated within 24 to 48 hours.
Because more than one million people are diagnosed with
kidney stones each year, President of St. John West Shore Hospital Cliff J. Coker thinks The Northeastern Ohio Kidney Stone Center will be
an essential extension of hospital services. “We are pleased to be the first in the area to offer accessible, state-of-the-art kidney stone
treatment,” said Coker. “With the extreme pain and discomfort caused by kidney stones, patients deserve a faster, easier way to find relief.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment with The Northeastern Ohio Kidney Stone Center, call 1-877-597-6348.
Page 7
February / March 2009
Jack Burke Appointed Chair of St. John
West Shore Hospital’s Community Board
St. John West Shore Hospital is
pleased to announce the formal
appointment of Jack Burke to Chair of the
Hospital’s Community Board, effective
January 1, 2009. The appointment was
made by Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA,
president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity
Health System and chair of the Partnership
Board (UHHS/CSAHS-Cuyahoga Inc.).
St. John West Shore Hospital is a
partnership between the Sisters of Charity
Health System and University Hospitals.
St. John West Shore Hospital is a provider
of Catholic health care.
Burke brings a wealth of experience
to his role as Chair of St. John West Shore
Hospital’s Community Board. He is
currently the senior vice president of
Ferris Baker Watts, LLC, a Division of
The Royal Bank of Canada. Prior to that,
he served as senior vice president at
Raymond James & Associates, Roney &
Co. Merger; vice president of sales at
Morgan Stanley-Dean Witter and corporate vice president at Paine Webber Jackson & Curtis.
Burke also serves as trustee/chairman of the board for the Kidney Foundation of Ohio; and is trustee and investment committee
member of the Westshore Osteopathic Foundation. He is a graduate of
Kent State University, attended the University of Pennsylvania Wharton
School of Finance, and graduated from The Securities Industry
Association’s Advanced Management Program.
“Jack is a dynamic leader who subscribes to the Hospital’s commitment
to excellence and mission,” said Cliff J. Coker, president of St. John West
Shore Hospital. “I am certain that with his direction and guidance, St. John
West Shore Hospital will continue to be the health care provider of choice
for Western Cuyahoga County and Lorain County residents.”
Burke replaces Patricia Fox, who served as chair of St. John West
Shore Hospital’s Community Board for more than a decade. During
her tenure, St. John West Shore Hospital successfully entered into a
partnership between the Sisters of Charity Health Systems and
University Hospitals. Additionally, she was at the helm when the
Hospital underwent a $10-million Emergency Department renovation,
unveiled its Cardiac Care Pavilion and launched its Spine & Orthopedic
and UroDynamic Centers.
“It is very difficult to put into words the many contributions that
Pat Fox had made to the Hospital throughout the years,” said Coker.
“Pat’s wisdom and advice has greatly advanced the Hospital to higher Patricia Fox, Vice Chair and Jack Burke, Chair of SJWS
levels of success.”
Hospital’s Community Board
St. John West Shore Joins North Ridgeville Outreach Effort
Mayor Dave Gillock and the city
of North Ridgeville, represented by
Safety Service Director Denny Johnson,
sold a recently decommissioned
ambulance to the North Ridgeville
Rotary Club for $1.00!
North Ridgeville, the North
Ridgeville Rotary Club, St. John West
Shore Hospital and other organizations
are donating the ambulance, medical
supplies and shipping costs to the people
of Chinandega, Nicaragua.
“Over 50% of the population of
Nicaragua lives in poverty. A horrible
example of this poverty is a 20-plus acre
dump in Chinandega which children
search through daily in hopes of finding
food or anything of value,” said Adam
Sonnhalter, President Rotary Club of
North Ridgeville. “The ambulance
donation, along with other basic supplies
sent by Rotary in December 2008, will Adam Sonnhalter, President Rotary Club of North Emil Bagi, Shawn Miller, Safety Service Director Denny Johnson,
help to lift the community out of extreme Ridgeville, North Ridgeville Mayor Dave Gillock and Rick President Rotary Club of North Ridgeville Adam Sonnhalter,
Miller, North Ridgeville Fire Chief.
North Ridgeville Mayor Dave Gillock and Joe Martin.
poverty.”
“We thank St. John West Shore Hospital for its generous donation and willingness to assist those who are less fortunate. St. John West Shore was one of the first to respond to our
request for EMS materials including bandages, monitors, sutures, etc. This donation from the Hospital reinforces its commitment to its Mission and service to others.”
Shawn Miller, Emil Bagi, Safety Service Director Denny Johnson, President Rotary
Club of North Ridgeville Adam Sonnhalter and North Ridgeville Mayor Dave Gillock.
President Rotary Club of North Ridgeville Adam Sonnhalter, Kathy LeRoy
and North Ridgeville Mayor Dave Gillock.
Page 8 - Pulse - February / March 2009