View
217
Download
0
Category
Tags:
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Vitals is a publication of Saint Vincent Health System with timely information on health and wellness.
Citation preview
Information and Resources for Health and Wellness SaintVincentHealth.com
Spring 2013
SEVERE ASTHMASEVERE ASTHMAInnovative Procedure Offers New Hope for Patients withInnovative Procedure Offers New Hope for Patients with
Twice as Fast as the National StandardLife-saving Heart Attack Care
Twice as Fast as the National StandardLife-saving Heart Attack Care
24/7 Stroke Alert TeamAdvanced Interventional Treatment
24/7 Stroke Alert TeamAdvanced Interventional Treatment
A NEW LEVEL OF HEART CARE
I S B O R N .
SaintVincentHealth.com/HeartTeam
Opportunity. It’s what defines our most recent clinical affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic
Heart & Vascular Institute—ranked number one in the nation for heart care for the past 18
years by U.S. News & World Report. This unprecedented affiliation between two exceptional
heart programs firmly establishes a new benchmark of excellence in Erie. Ensuring you and
your loved ones local access to the highest standards in cardiovascular care. Enhancing our
physicians’ ability to deliver new innovations and new technologies. And providing our
community with an advanced level of heart care that rivals any health system in America.
Innovative Procedure for Severe Asthma 8
cover story
424/7 Stroke Alert Team
12Life-saving Heart Attack Care
Mission StatementInspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Saint Vincent Health System is a community of caregivers dedicated to bringing God’s healing love to all and committed to compassion and excellence in the delivery of a continuum of holistic care.
Board of TrusteesMike Redlawsk, ChairmanMark Webb, Vice ChairmanJeff Szumigale, TreasurerSister Mary Herrmann, SSJ, Secretary
Helen BaranTerrence CavanaughNatalie Dwyer-Haller, EsqAlan Glaser, MDBill Hilbert, Jr.R. Steven JonesWayne Jones, DOSister Phyllis McCracken, SSJDaniel Muccio, MDDennis PrischakTim Shuttleworth Nancy Weissbach, MD
President/CEOScott Whalen, PhD, FACHE
ON THE COVERSaint Vincent lung specialist,
Kenneth Chinsky, MD, is the region’s only physician to perform Bronchial Thermoplasty—giving new hope to
patients suffering from severe asthma. Read the full story on page 8.
contents
Vitals Magazine is a publication of Saint Vincent Health System
Questions or CommentsPlease call the Saint Vincent Marketing Communications Department at 814- 452-5706.
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
facebook.com/SaintVincentHealth
@SVErie
6
14Saint Vincent On the Go
Health Happenings
Nationally Recognized Quality
2
SAINT VINCENT HEALTH SYSTEM VITALS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2013
Special pull-out calendar
2 SaintVincentHealth.com
In 2012, Saint Vincent received several major awards from organizations that measure hospital quality. They included:
U.S. News and World Report: Best Regional Hospital
Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement
Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care
Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery
Becker’s Hospital Review: 101 Hospitals with Great Orthopedic Programs for 2012
The American Heart/American Stroke Association Get with the Guidelines Heart Failure Silver Plus Award for impressive benchmarks in the evidence-based treatment of heart failure patients
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Excellence in Health Care Compliance Award: Saint Vincent is one of seven of the state’s 244 health care facilities, and the only recipient in the northwestern Pennsylvania region to receive this award.
American College of Radiology’s Breast Imaging Center of Excellence: The Saint Vincent Women’s Center
The Women’s Choice Award for Best Orthopedics from Women Certified®
America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Experience 2012
Saint Vincent Gains National Recognition
The Saint Vincent Women’s Center gives you access to the region’s experts on women’s diagnostic services. The Center has earned American College of Radiology accreditation as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. Services include:
• Digital mammography, with diagnostic results to your physician in 24 hours
• Convenient online mammography scheduling at www.SaintVincentHealth.com/Services/Women
• Onsite radiologist, utilizing computer-aided digital detection for mammography
• An expert breast health nurse navigator
• Bone densitometry for osteoporosis and ultrasound testing for OB/GYN, abdomen and breast
• The Saint Vincent Lactation Center, featuring consultations, resources and retail products and rentals for nursing mothers, plus a free call-in WarmLine (dial 814-452-7732) for breastfeeding advice
Ask your doctor to schedule your diagnostic testing at The Saint Vincent Women’s Center, located at 311 West 24 Street, Erie.
The Saint Vincent Women’s Center: Diagnostic Services Especially for Women
3SaintVincentHealth.com
Mark your calendar for June 8, 2013, and plan to be a part of the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community, an annual fundraising walk that will benefit Saint Vincent Children’s Miracle Network. The 5K walk, which takes place at Beach One of Presque Isle State Park, begins at 9 a.m.
Participants have the choice of supporting one of a number of community organizations through the walk, including Saint Vincent Children’s Miracle Network.
The Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community provides food, entertainment, prizes, fun activities for children, free health screenings and valuable health information after the walk.
All registered walkers who raise or donate $25 will receive a Walk for a Healthy Community t-shirt while supplies last. For every $50 raised, participants will receive one chance for raffle prizes valued at more than $1,000.
Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. and the 5K walk begins at 9 a.m. There is also a One-Mile Fun Walk, which begins at 9:15 a.m.
Highmark underwrites the cost of the walk so that 100 percent of the money raised by walkers goes to the participating organizations.
To register for the walk, go to WalkForaHealthyCommunity.org or www.SaintVincentHealth.com/CMN.
Walking. It’s as simple as lacing your sneakers and going out the door. Yet it can help you achieve a number of important health benefits, including lowering “bad” cholesterol, raising “good” cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, managing your weight, lowering your risk for type 2 diabetes, improving your mood and helping you stay strong and fit.
Keep these training tips in mind if you’d like to get in shape for the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community:
Start training for the walk slowly. In the first week spend 10 minutes walking outdoors, and then add five minutes to your walk every week until you are walking approximately 30 minutes per day.
Spend a few days a week walking longer (a total of 45 to 60 minutes) so that your body will be prepared for the length of the walk. Be sure to drink plenty of water before, during and after walking.
Incorporate stretches, as well as a warm up and cool down period, into your workout every day.
Be a part of Highmark’s Walk for a Healthy Community 2013
The Health Benefits of WalkingThe Health Benefits of Walking
18,75118,751The number of surgeries Saint Vincent surgeons
performed in fiscal year 2012.
“I was trying to call to people for help, but I couldn’t say the words. I realized I was having a stroke and I was scared, but also almost out of body. I didn’t really think this could happen to me. I was going to compete in a triathlon that weekend, and was in excellent health,” Bavaro said.
He was taken to the Saint Vincent Emergency Department, where the Stroke Alert Team was waiting for him. Rapid stroke assessment and therapies were implemented, however, John’s symptoms failed to improve despite the administration of intravenous clot busting medication. Utilizing state-of-the-art digital
Advanced Technology Helps Painter Return to His Art after Stroke
State of the ArtAdvanced Technology Helps Painter Return to His Art after Stroke
State of the Art
4 SaintVincentHealth.com
bi-plane technology, Saint Vincent neurointerventionalist Charles Romero, MD, was able to quickly intervene in the stroke while it was happening and clear both the clots in John’s brain and neck—saving his life and preventing what would have been devastating brain damage.
Following the stroke, John couldn’t move his right side and couldn’t walk or speak more than merely communicating “yes” or “no.” He underwent inpatient physical, speech and occupational rehabilitation at Saint Vincent and continues with these therapies on an outpatient basis.
very year, the tens of thousands who visit Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center
view one of artist John Bavaro’s most stunning accomplishments—his floor-to-ceiling public art commission, “Fish Story Altarpiece.”
But few of them know that John’s greatest achievement came long after the installation of his epic piece of artwork.
In October 2012, Bavaro, 47, a college art professor at Edinboro University, was leaving his car to go to a class when he experienced a stroke and fell to the ground.
5
Learn more about the Saint Vincent Stroke Alert Team and digital bi-plane technology at www.SaintVincentHealth.com
When it comes to the signs and symptoms of a stroke, the important thing to remember is to think FAST. If you see someone who may be experiencing a stroke, follow these guidelines to determine if you need to call 911.
F is for Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
A is for Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one side drift downward?
S is for Speech: Ask the person to repeat a phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?
T is for Time: If you observe any of these symptoms, the time to call 911 is NOW!
Source: The National Stroke Association
“I can now walk without a brace or cane,” he said. “My speech is getting better and better. But I feel like I still have a long way to go, especially with speech.”
John credits the health care experts at Saint Vincent for his recovery.
“People treated me with respect, care and incredible dedication, from the nurses to the therapists, to Dr. Romero—who spent hours with my family and me. I am very indebted to all of them,” he said.
According to Dr. Romero, John continues to progress steadily with his recovery.
“He looks phenomenal. He is determined and not dependent on others to carry out everyday activities. I think his prognosis is excellent,” Romero said.
Working with Saint Vincent Rehab Solutions, John has utilized his love of art as part of his occupational therapy, creating drawings to slowly recover his motor skills. He is now able to draw with his affected right hand, as well as on the computer, and plans to continue to regain his skills as an artist. Another goal is to return to teaching art.
“Art grounds me. It is a necessity for me, because it is such a big part of who I am. Progress is really slow, but it makes me strive,” John said. “I will accomplish this.”
Think FAST: Stroke Symptoms
SaintVincentHealth.com 5
Statistics show that a healthy relationship with your primary care physician results in overall better health. This means choosing the right primary care physician is one of the most important decisions you can make in life.
Saint Vincent has made switching simpler with our Web microsite, SwitchToSV.com. The site provides detailed information on all our primary care providers and a downloadable kit that contains everything you need to switch to a Saint Vincent provider. Check it out today!
Welcome to Saint Vincent.
Welcome to better care.
The Saint Vincent Medical Group consists of 19 family and
internal medicine practices conveniently located throughout
Erie and its surrounding communities—including doctors’
offices in Albion, Edinboro and Union City.
From sudden injury and illness to preventive screenings and
immunizations, our board-certified physicians are dedicated
to providing you and your loved ones with the most innovative,
compassionate care possible.
Choosing the right primary care physician is one of the most
important decisions you can make in life. That’s why we make
it so simple to make the switch.
Review the comprehensive primary care practice listing
found in this kit and select the physician of your choice.*
Complete and sign all patient information, insurance
and medical history forms.
Mail all forms to:
Switch to SV
Saint Vincent Health System
232 West 25 Street
Erie, PA 16544
We welcome the opportunity to care for you and your family.
We will be in touch shortly to review your information and
schedule an appointment with your new physician.
1
2
3
232 West 25 Street | Erie, PA 16544 | 814.452.5000 | SaintVincentHealth.com
* If you need assistance choosing
a specific practice or physician,
call our Referral Center at
(814) 452-SVMG (7864) or visit
SwitchToSV.com. If the physician
you have selected is not currently
accepting new patients, we will
work with you to choose another
physician based upon your
individual health care needs.
66,378The number of patients
treated in the Saint Vincent Emergency Department
in 2012
Pictured above are John Bavaro and Charles Romero, MD.
Hig
hm
ark
Cla
ss S
erie
s
For
regi
stra
tion
, ple
ase
e-m
ail
arzy
czyc
ki@
svhs
.org
. Unl
ess
othe
rwis
e no
ted,
cl
asse
s ar
e he
ld in
low
er le
vel o
f the
Har
dner
B
uild
ing,
231
5 M
yrtl
e St
reet
, Eri
e.
Eat
Wel
l fo
r L
ifeS
M
Whe
n: T
uesd
ays,
Apr
il 2
to 2
3 O
R T
hurs
days
, Ju
ly 1
1 to
Aug
ust 1
, 5:3
0 to
7 p
.m.
Cos
t: $
65 o
r fr
ee to
Hig
hmar
k m
embe
rs
Eat
Wel
l fo
r L
ife
IIS
M
Whe
n: T
uesd
ays,
Jun
e 4
to 2
6 O
R T
hurs
days
, A
ugus
t 1 to
22,
5:3
0 to
7 p
.m.
Cos
t: $
65 o
r fr
ee to
Hig
hmar
k m
embe
rs
Dai
ly S
tep
s to
Les
s St
ress
Whe
n: T
hurs
days
, Apr
il 4
to M
ay 9
OR
Mon
days
, Ju
ly 1
to A
ugus
t 5, 5
:30
to 6
:30
p.m
.C
ost:
$65
or
free
to H
ighm
ark
mem
bers
Way
s to
En
han
ce C
hil
dre
n’s
A
ctiv
ity
and
Nu
trit
ion
Whe
n: W
edne
sday
, Jul
y 17
, noo
n to
1 p
.m.
Cos
t: $
65 o
r fr
ee to
Hig
hmar
k m
embe
rs
Dro
p 1
0 in
10®
W
hen:
Wed
nesd
ay M
arch
27,
11:
30 a
.m. t
o 12
:15
p.m
., or
Apr
il 6,
9 to
10
a.m
.C
ost:
$65
or
free
for
Hig
hmar
k m
embe
rs
A P
erfe
ct F
it:
Per
son
al N
utr
itio
n C
oach
ingS
M
One
-on-
one
coun
selin
g se
rvic
es w
ith
a
regi
ster
ed d
ieti
cian
. To
mak
e an
ap
poin
tmen
t, ca
ll 81
4-45
2-73
54.
Cos
t: F
ree
for
Hig
hmar
k m
embe
rs
Sain
t Vin
cent
is d
edic
ated
to y
our
good
hea
lth
! P
leas
e jo
in u
s fo
r th
is s
erie
s of
hea
lth
and
w
elln
ess
clas
ses.
You
can
pur
chas
e a
clas
s
pass
for
10 c
lass
es fo
r $5
0 in
the
Sai
nt V
ince
nt
Insp
ired
Gif
t Sho
p. U
nles
s ot
herw
ise
note
d,
clas
ses
are
held
in t
he A
ssoc
iate
Fit
ness
Cen
ter
in t
he lo
wer
leve
l of t
he H
ardn
er B
uild
ing,
23
15 M
yrtl
e St
reet
. Cal
l 814
-452
-561
9 or
e-m
ail
arzy
czyc
ki@
svhs
.org
for
mor
e in
form
atio
n.
R.I
.P.P
.E.D
.R
esis
tanc
e, in
terv
als,
pow
er,
Ply
omet
rics
, end
uran
ce, a
nd d
iet
Whe
n: M
onda
y, W
edne
sday
, Fri
day
4:
45 to
5:4
5 p.
m.
Zu
mb
a®
Hyp
noti
c m
usic
al r
hyth
ms
and
ta
ntal
izin
g m
oves
W
hen:
Tue
sday
, 4:3
0-5:
30 p
.m.
All
Ab
out
the
Cor
eU
tiliz
e a
vari
ety
of e
quip
men
t to
st
reng
then
you
r co
re m
uscl
es.
Whe
n: T
hurs
day,
12:
30-1
:00
p.m
.
Suck
er P
un
chA
kic
kbox
ing/
stre
ngth
hyb
rid
clas
sW
hen:
Mon
day,
12:
30-1
:00
p.m
.
Sain
t V
ince
nt
Fit
nes
s an
d W
elln
ess
Cla
sses
Sain
t Vin
centHealth H
appen
ings
Pull out
and post
this
calendar
!B
eau
tifu
l B
egin
nin
gs C
lass
esFo
r E
xp
ecta
nt
and
New
Par
ents
Unl
ess
othe
rwis
e no
ted,
cla
sses
are
hel
d at
the
Sa
int V
ince
nt W
omen
’s C
ente
r, 31
1 W
est 2
4 St
reet
, Eri
e. T
o re
gist
er, c
all 8
14-4
52-5
664
or
e-m
ail s
buff
alar
i@sv
hs.o
rg. B
eaut
iful
Beg
inni
ngs
clas
ses
may
be
reim
burs
able
, so
be s
ure
to c
heck
w
ith
your
hea
lth
insu
ranc
e pr
ovid
er.
On
lin
e e-
Lea
rnin
g C
hil
db
irth
Ed
uca
tion
Whe
n: A
nyti
me!
Cos
t: $
35G
o to
ww
w.S
aint
Vin
cent
Hea
lth.
com
/bab
ies
to
lear
n m
ore
and
conn
ect t
o th
is e
xcit
ing
cl
ass
seri
es.
Wee
kd
ay P
rep
arat
ion
for
Lab
or C
lass
Whe
n: A
pril
1, 8
and
15,
Jun
e 3,
10
and
17,
Aug
ust 5
, 12
and
19, 6
:30
to 9
p.m
.C
ost:
$30
per
cou
ple
Satu
rday
Pre
par
atio
n f
or L
abor
Cla
sses
Whe
n: M
ay 4
and
11,
Jul
y 6
and
13,
Sept
embe
r 7
and
14, 9
a.m
. to
1 p.
m.
C
ost:
$30
per
cou
ple
New
bor
n C
are
Cla
ssW
hen:
Jun
e 6
and
Sept
embe
r 5,
6:
30 to
9 p
.m.
Cos
t: $
15
Bre
astf
eed
ing
Cla
ss f
or N
ew P
aren
tsW
hen:
Apr
il 11
, May
9, J
une
13, J
uly
11,
Aug
ust 8
and
Sep
tem
ber
12, 7
to 9
p.m
.
Cos
t: $
15
Sibl
ing
Pre
par
atio
n C
lass
es T
ues
day
Nig
ht
Whe
n: A
pril
30 o
r Se
ptem
ber
24, 6
:30
to 8
p.m
.C
ost:
$10
for
one
child
, $5
for
each
ad
diti
onal
chi
ldW
here
: Neo
nata
l Int
ensi
ve C
are
Fam
ily
Wai
ting
Roo
m, 5
th F
loor
Bre
astf
eed
ing
Sup
por
t G
rou
pW
hen:
Apr
il 17
, May
15,
Jun
e 19
, Jul
y 17
, A
ugus
t 21
and
Sept
embe
r 18
, 6:3
0 to
8 p
.m.
Cos
t: F
ree
CP
R f
or I
nfa
nts
, C
hil
dre
n,
and
Ad
ult
sW
hen:
Jun
e 8,
9 a
.m. t
o 1
p.m
.W
here
: Edu
cati
onal
Ser
vice
s C
lass
room
Cos
t: $
40 p
er p
erso
n
Dad
s M
ake
a D
iffe
ren
ce!
A C
lass
for
Fath
ers-
to-B
e or
New
Dad
sW
hen:
Apr
il 22
and
Sep
tem
ber
16, 7
to 9
p.m
.C
ost:
$10
per
dad
So Y
ou’r
e go
ing
to b
e a
Gra
nd
par
ent!
A
Cla
ss f
or E
xp
ecta
nt
or N
ew G
ran
dp
aren
tsW
hen:
Apr
il 29
and
Sep
tem
ber
23, 7
to 9
p.m
.C
ost:
$10
per
per
son;
$15
per
gra
ndpa
rent
cou
ple
Mo
ther
s an
d D
augh
ters
: O
n G
row
ing
Up
(F
or g
irls
9 –
12
and
thei
r m
othe
rs)
Whe
n: M
ay 1
8, 9
a.m
. to
noon
Cos
t: $
20 p
er m
othe
r/da
ught
er c
oupl
e;
$5 fo
r ea
ch a
ddit
iona
l dau
ghte
r
Esp
ecia
lly
for
Sen
iors
For
regi
stra
tion
, ple
ase
e-m
ail
arzy
czyc
ki@
svhs
.org
. Unl
ess
othe
rwis
e no
ted,
cl
asse
s ar
e he
ld in
low
er le
vel o
f the
Har
dner
B
uild
ing,
231
5 M
yrtl
e St
reet
, Eri
e.
Eat
Wel
l fo
r L
ifeS
M
Whe
n: T
uesd
ays,
Apr
il 2
to 2
3 O
R T
hurs
days
, Ju
ly 1
1 to
Aug
ust 1
, 5:3
0 to
7 p
.m.
Cos
t: $
65 o
r fr
ee to
Hig
hmar
k m
embe
rs
Eat
Wel
l fo
r L
ife
IIS
M
Whe
n: T
uesd
ays,
Jun
e 4
to 2
6 O
R T
hurs
days
, A
ugus
t 1 to
22,
5:3
0 to
7 p
.m.
Cos
t: $
65 o
r fr
ee to
Hig
hmar
k m
embe
rs
Dai
ly S
tep
s to
Les
s St
ress
Whe
n: T
hurs
days
, Apr
il 4
to M
ay 9
OR
Mon
days
, Ju
ly 1
to A
ugus
t 5, 5
:30
to 6
:30
p.m
.C
ost:
$65
or
free
to H
ighm
ark
mem
bers
Way
s to
En
han
ce C
hil
dre
n’s
A
ctiv
ity
and
Nu
trit
ion
Whe
n: W
edne
sday
, Jul
y 17
, noo
n to
1 p
.m.
Cos
t: $
65 o
r fr
ee to
Hig
hmar
k m
embe
rs
Dro
p 1
0 in
10®
W
hen:
Wed
nesd
ay M
arch
27,
11:
30 a
.m. t
o 12
:15
p.m
., or
Apr
il 6,
9 to
10
a.m
.C
ost:
$65
or
free
for
Hig
hmar
k m
embe
rs
A P
erfe
ct F
it:
Per
son
al N
utr
itio
n C
oach
ingS
M
One
-on-
one
coun
selin
g se
rvic
es w
ith
a
regi
ster
ed d
ieti
cian
. To
mak
e an
ap
poin
tmen
t, ca
ll 81
4-45
2-73
54.
Cos
t: F
ree
for
Hig
hmar
k m
embe
rs
Liv
ing
wit
hou
t H
ip a
nd
Kn
ee P
ain
Exp
erie
ncin
g hi
p or
kne
e pa
in?
Att
end
a
free
sem
inar
, whe
re y
ou’ll
hea
r th
e la
test
on
trea
tmen
t fro
m o
ne o
f our
ort
hope
dic
surg
eons
. P
arti
cipa
nts
rece
ive
a fr
ee h
ot/c
old
gel p
ack.
W
hen
: Tue
sday
, Apr
il 9
at 1
0 a.
m.;
Thu
rsda
y, M
ay 1
6 at
10:
30 a
.m.;
Wed
nesd
ay,
June
5 a
t 1 p
.m.;
Wed
nesd
ay, J
uly
10 a
t 10
a.m
.;
or W
edne
sday
, Aug
ust 7
at 1
0 a.
m.
Whe
re: S
aint
Vin
cent
McG
arve
y Le
arni
ng C
ente
r
RSV
P: 8
14-8
66-4
819
The
Cen
ter
for
Bar
iatr
ic a
nd
Min
imal
ly I
nvas
ive
Surg
ery
offe
rs
wee
kly
info
rmat
iona
l sem
inar
s ab
out
the
min
imal
ly in
vasi
ve b
aria
tric
pr
oced
ures
ava
ilabl
e at
Sai
nt V
ince
nt.
The
se fr
ee s
emin
ars
take
pla
ce
ever
y W
edne
sday
in t
he S
aint
Vin
cent
M
cGar
vey
Lea
rnin
g C
ente
r,
232
Wes
t 25
Stre
et, E
rie,
at 6
p.m
. C
all 8
14-4
52-7
800
toda
y to
reg
iste
r.
Bar
iatr
ic S
emin
ars
FR
EE
Sai
nt
Vin
cen
t
Car
dia
c Su
pp
ort
Gro
up
Wh
en: T
hurs
day
May
9 a
nd A
ugus
t 8, N
oon
Wh
ere:
Sai
nt V
ince
nt M
cGar
vey
L
earn
ing
Cen
ter
RSV
P: 8
14-4
52-7
273
Unl
ess
othe
rwis
e no
ted,
cla
sses
are
hel
d at
the
Sa
int V
ince
nt W
omen
’s C
ente
r, 31
1 W
est 2
4 St
reet
, Eri
e. T
o re
gist
er, c
all 8
14-4
52-5
664
or
e-m
ail s
buff
alar
i@sv
hs.o
rg. B
eaut
iful
Beg
inni
ngs
clas
ses
may
be
reim
burs
able
, so
be s
ure
to c
heck
w
ith
your
hea
lth
insu
ranc
e pr
ovid
er.
On
lin
e e-
Lea
rnin
g C
hil
db
irth
Ed
uca
tion
Whe
n: A
nyti
me!
Cos
t: $
35G
o to
ww
w.S
aint
Vin
cent
Hea
lth.
com
/bab
ies
to
lear
n m
ore
and
conn
ect t
o th
is e
xcit
ing
cl
ass
seri
es.
Wee
kd
ay P
rep
arat
ion
for
Lab
or C
lass
Whe
n: A
pril
1, 8
and
15,
Jun
e 3,
10
and
17,
Aug
ust 5
, 12
and
19, 6
:30
to 9
p.m
.C
ost:
$30
per
cou
ple
Satu
rday
Pre
par
atio
n f
or L
abor
Cla
sses
Whe
n: M
ay 4
and
11,
Jul
y 6
and
13,
Sept
embe
r 7
and
14, 9
a.m
. to
1 p.
m.
C
ost:
$30
per
cou
ple
New
bor
n C
are
Cla
ssW
hen:
Jun
e 6
and
Sept
embe
r 5,
6:
30 to
9 p
.m.
Cos
t: $
15
Bre
astf
eed
ing
Cla
ss f
or N
ew P
aren
tsW
hen:
Apr
il 11
, May
9, J
une
13, J
uly
11,
Aug
ust 8
and
Sep
tem
ber
12, 7
to 9
p.m
.
Cos
t: $
15
Sibl
ing
Pre
par
atio
n C
lass
es T
ues
day
Nig
ht
Whe
n: A
pril
30 o
r Se
ptem
ber
24, 6
:30
to 8
p.m
.C
ost:
$10
for
one
child
, $5
for
each
ad
diti
onal
chi
ldW
here
: Neo
nata
l Int
ensi
ve C
are
Fam
ily
Wai
ting
Roo
m, 5
th F
loor
Bre
astf
eed
ing
Sup
por
t G
rou
pW
hen:
Apr
il 17
, May
15,
Jun
e 19
, Jul
y 17
, A
ugus
t 21
and
Sept
embe
r 18
, 6:3
0 to
8 p
.m.
Cos
t: F
ree
CP
R f
or I
nfa
nts
, C
hil
dre
n,
and
Ad
ult
sW
hen:
Jun
e 8,
9 a
.m. t
o 1
p.m
.W
here
: Edu
cati
onal
Ser
vice
s C
lass
room
Cos
t: $
40 p
er p
erso
n
Dad
s M
ake
a D
iffe
ren
ce!
A C
lass
for
Fath
ers-
to-B
e or
New
Dad
sW
hen:
Apr
il 22
and
Sep
tem
ber
16, 7
to 9
p.m
.C
ost:
$10
per
dad
So Y
ou’r
e go
ing
to b
e a
Gra
nd
par
ent!
A
Cla
ss f
or E
xp
ecta
nt
or N
ew G
ran
dp
aren
tsW
hen:
Apr
il 29
and
Sep
tem
ber
23, 7
to 9
p.m
.C
ost:
$10
per
per
son;
$15
per
gra
ndpa
rent
cou
ple
Mo
ther
s an
d D
augh
ters
: O
n G
row
ing
Up
(F
or g
irls
9 –
12
and
thei
r m
othe
rs)
Whe
n: M
ay 1
8, 9
a.m
. to
noon
Cos
t: $
20 p
er m
othe
r/da
ught
er c
oupl
e;
$5 fo
r ea
ch a
ddit
iona
l dau
ghte
r
FR
EE
L
ook
Goo
d,
Feel
Bet
ter
fo
r Fe
mal
e C
ance
r P
atie
nts
Whe
n: M
onda
y, J
uly
15, 2
to 4
p.m
. W
here
: Sai
nt V
ince
nt W
omen
’s C
ente
r, 31
1 W
est 2
4 St
reet
, Eri
eR
SVP
: 800
-227
-234
5
FR
EE
T
hri
ver’
s G
rou
p
for
Ad
van
ced
Can
cer
Pat
ien
tsW
hen:
Sec
ond
and
four
th T
uesd
ay o
f eve
ry
mon
th, 4
p.m
.W
here
: Reg
iona
l Can
cer
Cen
ter,
2500
Wes
t 12
Str
eet,
Eri
eR
SVP
: 814
-836
-267
8
FR
EE
B
reas
t C
ance
r Su
pp
ort
Gro
up
Whe
n: T
hird
Wed
nesd
ay o
f eve
ry m
onth
, 5:
30 p
.m.
Whe
re: R
egio
nal C
ance
r C
ente
r, 25
00 W
est
12 S
tree
t, E
rie
RSV
P: 8
14-8
36-2
660
Com
mu
nit
y C
ance
r L
earn
ing
and
Su
pp
ort
AA
RP
Bas
ic D
rive
r Sa
fety
Cou
rse
A tw
o-da
y co
urse
for d
rive
rs o
ver a
ge 5
5
Whe
n: M
ay 1
4 an
d 15
, 5 to
9 p
.m.
Cos
t: $1
2 fo
r AA
RP
mem
bers
Whe
re: S
aint
Vin
cent
One
Wes
t C
onfe
renc
e R
oom
23
2 W
est 2
5 St
reet
, Eri
eR
SVP:
814
-866
-481
7
8 SaintVincentHealth.com
Sharon Daly of Erie will soon
celebrate her 60th birthday and this
year she may be able to blow out some
of the 60 candles on her birthday cake,
a task that simply would have been
impossible a few weeks ago.
Innovative Procedure Offers New Hope for Patients with Severe Asthma
Every day Sharon gasps for air.
Sharon suffers from asthma so severe and debilitating that it has caused countless sick days and frequent hospitalizations over the past ten years. Eventually, it also resulted in the loss of employment when she just couldn’t control her asthma—despite a number of powerful medications and inhalers. She is now on permanent disability.
“Just walking to my car or carrying groceries into the house causes me to cough uncontrollably or become so out of breath that I have to sit down,” said Sharon.
9SaintVincentHealth.com
cover story
Bronchial ThermoplastySaint Vincent lung specialist,
Kenneth Chinsky, MD, of Chest Diseases of NW Pennsylvania, has offered Sharon hope. It is a procedure called Bronchial Thermoplasty, the first non-drug treatment approved by the FDA for patients who suffer from severe asthma. In northwestern Pennsylvania, this treatment is only offered at Saint Vincent Health Center.
While Bronchial Thermoplasty isn’t for everyone, it is for those who suffer from persistent and debilitating asthma.
“Other than her allergies and asthma, Sharon is in good physical shape,” said Chinsky. “And, although she’s compliant with her medications, they barely keep her functioning. She is motivated to try something different and I am hopeful this will help in her daily life.”
AsthmaAsthma is one of the most common
and costly diseases in the world, and the number of patients diagnosed each year continues to grow. There is also no cure.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), more than 20 million Americans have asthma. For most, medications and inhalers can keep asthma attacks under control, but for the minority, who suffer from severe, persistent, chronic asthma, the medications are just not enough.
The AAFA reports that managing unstable asthma consumes more than $18 billion of health care resources each year. In the U.S., asthma attacks result in approximately 10 million outpatient visits, 2 million emergency rooms visits, 500,000 hospitalizations, and 4,000 deaths annually.
Sharon not only uses medications and rescue inhalers, but she also uses a breathing machine which is an in-home asthma nebulizer that delivers liquid medication into her lungs when she cannot breathe.
“Severe asthma affects day-to-day life and these patients have trouble doing things that you and I take for granted,” said Chinsky as he prepared to administer the bronchial thermoplasty treatment for Sharon.
Saint Vincent CommitmentBronchial Thermoplasty is one
procedure now being offered by the Saint Vincent Advanced Lung and Airway Center. Other procedures include a Lung Screening Program for the early detection of lung cancer; Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) used to obtain a diagnosis for lung conditions and staging lung cancer; and Electromagnetic Navigational Bronchoscopy (ENB), a minimally invasive procedure that guides the physician with pinpoint accuracy far into the lungs to diagnose benign and malignant lung lesions.
The Center is comprised of a team of experts, which include pulmonology physicians and Saint Vincent respiratory therapists and technicians.
If you’re a smoker or a former smoker, don’t be one of the 159,000 Americans to die of lung cancer every year. The Saint Vincent Advanced Lung & Airway Center provides early detection lung cancer screenings—chest CT scans—that can detect tumors in the lung as small as two millimeters. Early detection of a cancerous nodule can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20 percent.
You are a candidate for the lung cancer screening if you are:
Age 55 to 74
A pack-a-day smoker for 30 years or more
An active smoker
A smoker who quit less than 15 years ago
Screenings cost $150 and are generally not covered by insurance. But they can save lives!
Ask your primary care physician to schedule your screening today. Questions? 814-452-5500.
Are You a Smoker or Former Smoker?A Lung Screening Can Save Your Life!
Ask your provider if you may be a candidate for Bronchial Thermoplasty.
10 SaintVincentHealth.com
cover story
The ProcedureBronchial Thermoplasty uses a
flexible bronchoscope through which a catheter is guided into the patient’s airways. There, the catheter tip heats to 149 degrees Fahrenheit—cooler than a cup of coffee, but warm enough to shrink the smooth muscle in the airways, which swells during an asthma attack and restricts breathing.
The treatments are offered in a series of three individual sessions, scheduled three-to-four weeks apart. Each session lasts about an hour.
“We only treat a section of the lungs at each time so the airways can recover and heal,” explained Dr. Chinsky.
The minimally invasive procedure, like many other flexible endoscopy procedures, is done under moderate sedation or general anesthesia, and the patient goes home the same day.
In the operating room, Dr. Chinsky carefully guides the bronchoscope into Sharon’s lungs and then places the special catheter into the scope while he watches the progression on a high-definition television monitor. The tip of the catheter reaches into the passageway and, as Dr. Chinsky slowly retracts it, he administers the radio frequency energy along the way. Saint Vincent respiratory therapist, Carol Roach, RRT, assists in the activation of the catheter tip while respiratory therapist Patty Burger, RRT, keeps track of the areas of Sharon’s lungs that are being treated.
Sharon has noticed improvements after each session.
“I used to cough a deep cough that came from the lower part of my lungs,” said Sharon. “Now, I am still healing, but the coughs are not as deep and I can control them more.”
Bronchial Thermoplasty is not a cure for asthma and, for Sharon, it likely won’t replace all of her medications. But for those patients who have severe asthma, like Sharon, this procedure has resulted in improvements in their quality of life.
“I just want to go outside,” said Sharon. “I love the outdoors, shoveling snow, walking my dogs, and I look forward to gardening in the spring.”
79The percentage of severe asthma patients treated with Bronchial
Thermoplasty who saw significant improvements in asthma-related
quality-of-life measures.
11SaintVincentHealth.com
In September 2012, Saint Vincent unveiled three new, state-of-the-art operating room suites including the region’s first high-tech hybrid operating room (OR)—all of which are now large enough to accommodate sophisticated minimally invasive and robotic surgical equipment.
This $8.2 million project not only includes the new hybrid OR and two new operating room suites but also additional pre-op rooms for surgical patients and updates to the surgical family waiting room. The addition of the new ORs offers surgical patients the most up-to-date, minimally invasive procedures from our experienced team of surgeons. The ORs are spacious enough to allow our surgeons to collaborate and work together on complex cases when needed.
Robotic-aided Surgery Makes Gastric Bypass Easier on Patients
If you’re significantly overweight and have trouble losing the additional pounds, your doctor may recommend a bariatric procedure for surgical weight loss. And you may just be a candidate for da Vinci® Gastric Bypass, one of the most effective, least invasive options for weight loss surgery. Da Vinci Gastric Bypass allows surgeons to provide the gold standard treatment, using only a few small incisions.
For most patients, da Vinci Gastric Bypass can offer numerous potential benefits over open abdominal surgery, including:
Significantly less pain
Fewer complications
Less blood loss
Less scarring
A shorter hospital stay
A faster return to normal daily activities.
While da Vinci Gastric Bypass is considered safe and effective, it may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.
Saint Vincent Opens New Operating Room SuitesLarger rooms accommodate more sophisticated equipment
To schedule a consultation, call 814-452-7800.
12 SaintVincentHealth.com
Door-to-Balloon Time is Life Saving for Spring Creek Woman
For Carol Whiteley, 68, of Spring Creek, Pa., it’s all about the children.
Carol is a school van driver for the Tidioute Charter School and a Sunday school teacher at her church. Her abil-ity to perform these jobs nearly came to an end one Sunday afternoon last October when she was cleaning up after Sunday school and suddenly began experiencing pain in her jaws.
“My jaws hurt so badly, I just grabbed them and held on,” Carole said.
Fortunately, someone in the room had first-hand experience with a heart attack, recognized the symptoms and convinced Carol to call 911.
The Wattsburg Fire Department sent an ambulance and emergency medical technicians (EMT) to the scene. With the aid of an EmergyCare paramedic, they began Carol’s treatment. Carol requested that she be taken to Saint
Vincent, a drive that normally takes about 45 minutes.
The EMTs and paramedic on that rig had been trained in Saint Vincent’s pre-hospital protocol for patients suffering a common type of heart attack known as ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI.) In a STEMI, the coronary artery is completely blocked off by a blood clot, and as a result, the heart muscle being supplied by the affected artery starts to die.
Using the protocol, the paramedic ran an EKG, then contacted Saint Vincent with the results, confirming Carol was having a STEMI. This call activated a standardized series of actions at Saint Vincent—actions that helped save Carol Whiteley’s life.
Saint Vincent’s Life-saving Heart Attack Care is Twice as Fast as National Standard
The Saint Vincent HeartSTAT team was paged and immediately set up in the health center’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab. The HeartSTAT team includes a cardiologist, registered nurses, registered radiology technologists and cardiac technicians.
Every day, this team’s top priority is to clear the arteries of STEMI patients—often through the use of balloon angioplasty—in a timeframe that is at or better than the national “door-to-balloon” (D2B) time of 90 minutes. When measuring D2B, the clock begins ticking when the patient arrives at the Saint Vincent Emergency Department and ends when the artery is cleared in the catheterization lab.
In Carol’s case, the D2B time was 46 minutes—a full 44 minutes faster than the national standard.
(continued next page)
13SaintVincentHealth.com
Saint Vincent is pleased to welcome Brian Jones, MD, FACS, to the medical staff. Dr. Jones is a general surgeon who specializes in liver, biliary and pancreatic surgery. He is in practice at Greater Erie Niagara Surgery, 2315 Myrtle Street, Suite 290, in Erie.
Dr. Jones earned his medical degree from Northeastern Ohio
Universities College of Medicine. He completed his residency in the department of surgery at Akron City Hospital/Summa Health System. He completed his fellowship in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery at the University of Virginia.
Dr. Jones provides advanced surgical techniques and minimally invasive procedures for diseases, dysfunctions and cancers of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, stomach, large colon, small intestine, breast, rectum, thyroid, parathyroid and hernias.
In addition to surgery for oncology cases, he performs procedures for bile duct system repair, gallstone-related complications and surgical intervention for pancreatitis.
Dr. Jones is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is an active member of the American Hepato-pancreato-biliary Association, the American Hernia Society and the Christian Medical and Dental Association.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Jones, call 814-454-1142.
Surgical Specialist Brian Jones, MD, FACS, Specializes in Liver, Pancreas, Bile System
Fredric V. Price, MD, Specializes in Surgical Gynecologic Oncology
Saint Vincent Brings Two New Medical Specialties to the Region
Saint Vincent welcomes Fredric V. Price, MD, to its medical staff in the area of surgical gynecologic oncology.
Dr. Price specializes in gynecologic cancers, including surgical and medical management of cervical, ovarian and uterine cancer. He also
performs minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgeries and provides follow-up care.
He is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology and Hospice/Palliative Medicine by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and completed his residency at Magee Women’s Hospital of UPMC. He completed a fellowship in his specialty at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Dr. Price is also affiliated with the West Penn Allegheny Health System in Pittsburgh. To allow patients to be treated in Erie, he will be augmenting available services and performing surgery at Saint Vincent Health Center.
Dr. Price is in practice at Greater Erie Niagara Surgery, 2315 Myrtle Street, Suite 290 in Erie.
To schedule a consultation, call 814-454-1142.
Saint Vincent’s average D2B time for 2012 was 43 minutes.
“When I arrived at Saint Vincent, everyone was waiting for me. Every-thing was ready. I just never dreamed they would take care of me so quick-ly,” Carol said. “Without Saint Vincent and the paramedics working together so I could get immediate help as soon as I arrived at the hospital, I might not be here today.”
Saint Vincent cardiologist Para Yoges-Waran, MD, of Consultants in Cardiovascular Disease of Erie, was
the physician who handled Carol’s case. He commended the team’s speed, especially in light of the fact that Carol’s artery was 100 percent blocked when she arrived at Saint Vincent.
“The team at Saint Vincent is highly committed to improving the door-to-balloon time. So are EMTs and paramedics. But patients and caregivers need to be just as responsive and call 911 at the first sign of a heart attack,” Yoges-Waran said. “Don’t delay. We’re not worried about false alarms. Time is
muscle. Call an ambulance and get an EKG. It’s vital to a full recovery.”
Since her catheterization, Carol has been able to return to her work, driving the school van and teaching Sunday school.
“The good Lord wasn’t done with me yet. He has plans for me. And thanks to Saint Vincent, I’m still here to see what they are!”
Learn more at SaintVincentHealth.com/Heart.
Your Saint Vincent Health Information: On the Go! Would you like to make your smart phone more health smart?
If so, scan the QR code below for the new Saint Vincent mobile website!
You can now reach your favorite Saint Vincent website destinations from the convenience of your own mobile device. The Saint Vincent mobile site is streamlined and allows users to quickly and conveniently find our most popular pages.
With the mobile site, you can now:
Find a physician
Access maps and directories
Check out details on all Saint Vincent services
Dial Saint Vincent or your family doctor with the touch of a screen
Check out the new mobile site by utilizing the QR code on this page and add Saint Vincent to your smart phone home screen today!
Saint Vincent Health Center232 West 25 StreetErie PA 16544
SaintVincentHealth.comSaintVincentHealth.com
Recommended