ICU Wins Trinity Award for Prevention Excellence

Central Venous Catheter Related Blood Stream Infections.

Abbreviated to BSI, these infections occur in an estimated 250,000 cases in the US each year. In May 2004, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center observed an estimated 12.71% infection rate in patients with a Central Venous Catheter.

These infections are more than costly – they can be deadly. The estimated attributable mortality is 12 – 25% for each infection. This sobering statistic prompted SJRMC to do something.

That something was Keystone: ICU. The program aims to reduce BSIs, as well as ventilator-associated pneumonia, that occur in ICU patients. The ICU was provided with research and resources provided by the Michigan Health and Hospital Associate and the safety leaders at John Hopkins University.

But without the commitment of our SJRMC staff, this initiative would not have been so successful. So successful that an ICU patient has not developed a BSI since before February 2005 – almost 4 years ago.

BSIs at SJRMC Rates per 1000
May 2004 12.71%
January 2005 4%
February 2005 – January 20090%

“Staff buy in was essential to this initiative, said Marsha King, Chief Nursing Officer. “Our nursing staff was so enthusiastic about this project, and they remain enthusiastic today. They are saving lives with Keystone ICU.”

SJRMC Named Among the Nation’s Top Performance Improvement Leaders

Thomson Reuters, the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, today named Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend and Plymouth among the nation’s performance improvement leader hospitals, for the second consecutive year.

SJRMC and its Senior Leadership Team were recognized for being one of a hundred hospitals making the greatest progress in improving hospital-wide performance over five consecutive years (2002-2006). The 2007 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: Performance Improvement Leaders have set national benchmarks for the rate and consistency of improvement in clinical outcomes, safety, hospital efficiency, and financial stability. SJRMC and its Medical Staff have made major strides in increasing the quality and efficiency of services locally.

Findings from the fifth edition of the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: Performance Improvement Leaders study appears in the August 11, 2008, issue of Modern Healthcare Magazine.

“This recognition is significant validation that Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center continues to be committed to providing first-rate quality and faith-based care to the communities we serve at each of our acute-care hospitals in South Bend and Plymouth,” said Nancy R. Hellyer, President and CEO of SJRMC. “As we move forward, we continue to enhance the healthcare we provide so our patients, caregivers, and community at large benefit and recognize the value-added services of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.”

The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: Performance Improvement Leaders study analyzed acute care hospitals nationwide using detailed empirical performance data from years 2002 through 2006, including publicly available Medicare MedPAR data, Medicare cost reports, and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) outpatient data. 

SJRMC & Riley Hospital for Children Continue Partnership

Thanks to a long-term partnership between SJRMC and Riley Hospital for Children, the Michiana community has access to the most advanced pediatric specialty care.

Riley will coordinate with SJRMC and with physicians affiliated with both institutions to provide outpatient pediatric management, consultation, education, and telemedicine services.

This collaboration saves patients and their families the delay, inconvenience, stress and expense of travling to Indianapolis to meet with a pediatric specialist.

“We are excited about partnering with Saint Joseph’s to offer Riley outpatient pediatric specialty care in the Michiana communities,” said Dan Fink, Riley Chief Operating Officer. “Working together with multi-disciplinary teams allows us to treat a wider range of childhood diagnoses and build on improving the health of children and families in Michiana.”

Riley already contributes to SJRMC’s Pediatric Specialty Clinics, including cardiology, endocrinology and diabetology, gastroenterology, and rheumatology. Other elements of the partnership include new services to SJRMC’s Pediatric Specialty Clinics, such as neurology, with selected services potentially being offered through telemedicine technology. 

NICU Reunion Turns Into “Amazing Celebration”

They’ve grown into healthy children, each with their own unique story their families celebrate everyday. They all entered the world under uncertain circumstances, but thanks to a lot of love from those families and the care and compassion of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), daily celebrations are well worth it.

That’s why Saint Joseph’s NICU hosted a reunion for it’s graduates – the hundreds of babies and their families who spent some time there for a wide variety of reasons. The reunion was held in the Upper Deck at Coveleski Stadium on Sunday, October 26. NICU graduates and their families made up the crowd of over 100 who showed up to exchange stories and hugs while getting their fill of ballpark food and Halloween snacks.

Saint Joseph doctors and staff were just as thrilled to be reunited with so many families and patients from the past, many of whom were dressed in Halloween costumes.

“To be able to see all the success stories that we’ve experienced is the most rewarding thing this job has,” said Dr. Monty Dobson, SJRMC’s NICU Director. “There are some very difficult stories that were told here and this is the good ending that we are so glad we can share with everybody. This is fantastic – an amazing celebration!” 

Soldier Serving in Iraq Hears Birth of Firstborn

Obstetrics Technician Gail Harrison had transferred phone calls from the nurses station to patient rooms at SJRMC/South Bend’s Family Birthplace countless times.

“It’s so routine I could do it in my sleep,” Harrison said. “But this time I was so nervous. I just had my fingers crossed that this transfer would go through.”

That’s because she typically doesn't take calls from Iraq from a United States Soldier anxious to find out the status of his soon to be growing family. But a seamless transfer on the part of Harrison enabled Robert Wesley Garrett to hear everything he longed to know, getting a detailed account as his daughter entered the world while he was on the other side of it, thousands of miles away.

Around 8 am on February 12, Army Specialist Garrett began calling South Bend every ten minutes, as he knew his wife, Rita, could go into labor at any moment.

“The nurses kept coming in telling me there was a message on the phone from Iraq . . . your husband is on the phone from Iraq,” explained Rita. “As we were getting closer, I finally had to tell my Mom to tell him I can't talk – I’m trying to push this baby through.”

But the Family Birthplace Staff had an idea.

When Specialist Garrett called just after 10 am, Harrison made the all-important transfer into the labor room, where SJRMC’s Pam Dziadosz, RN, took the handoff.

“Your first baby is such a wonderful experience and to be overseas and miss that experience is heartbreaking,” Dziadosz said.

So Dziadosz laid the phone on the bed and described everything as it was happening.

“It was like she was doing a ballgame,” Rita laughed. “It’s crowning . . .okay, I can see the head . . .it’s a girl!”

Dziadosz even held the phone up to let Specialist Garrett here the baby’s heartbeat and to let him hear his daughter, 6 pound 15 ounce Savannah, cry for the first time.

In an interview over the phone, an emotional Specialist Garrett explained from Iraq, “When I first heard her cry, it really hit home to me that I had a daughter. It’s the greatest, it really is the greatest.”

For all involved at the Family Birthplace, this not-so-typical delivery was one they will cherish forever.

“I am always so grateful to help and take care of fellow service members and their families,” said Dr. Kelly McGuire of Saint Joseph OB/GYN Specialists, who served in the United States Marine Corps. “It was great that Specialist Garrett could be part of the delivery.” 

SJRMC Receives HealthGrades Awards

SJRMC received 2009 clinical excellence awards for orthopedic surgery, joint replacement surgery and spine surgery from HealthGrades, the healthcare ratings company. These awards SJRMC clinical outcomes in the top ten percent nationally for each recognized area of care.

In addition, SJRMC also received a 5-star rating for Treatment of Stroke.

“Quality patient care is our top priority,” said Nancy R. Hellyer, SJRMC’s President and CEO. “Recognition from an objective, independent source such as HealthGrades validates the efforts our physicians, nurses, and staff deliver to the people of Michiana everyday.”

These findings were included in the eleventh annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, which is the most comprehensive study of its kind, analyzing more than 41 million Medicare hospitalization records from 2005 to 2007 at the nation’s approximately 5,000 non-federal hospitals. According to the study, if all hospitals performed at the level of five-star rated hospitals, 237,420 Medicare deaths could potentially have been prevented over the three years studied. More than half of those preventable deaths were associated with four conditions: sepsis, pneumonia, heart failure and respiratory failure.

While overall death rates declined from 2005 to 2007, the nation’s best-performing hospitals were able to reduce preventable deaths at a much faster rate than poor-performing hospitals, resulting in large state, regional and hospital-to-hospital variations in the quality of patient care, the study found.

Based on the study, HealthGrades today made available its 2009 quality ratings for virtually every hospital in the country at www.healthgrades.com, a Web site designed to help individuals research and compare local healthcare providers. 

Unscheduled Mammogram Turns Into A "Lifesaver"

Mobile Medical Unit

Shortly after SJRMC launched its Mobile Medical Unit in 2006, the hospital’s 40-foot-long clinic on wheels, Carla Bice figured she might as well do a little leading by example. 

The vehicle, which goes into neighborhoods throughout St. Joseph and Marshall Counties providing healthcare to those who may not have a means of getting to a doctor’s office, comes complete with mammography capabilities. On this particular day, it was parked at the Sister Maura Brannick, CSC, Health Center, one of SJRMC’s clinics, located on South Bend’s near Westside. Carla is the Health Center’s Director.

“The lady who was scheduled to have a mammogram cancelled at the last minute,” explained Carla. “So, I decided to go ahead and have one done myself. I didn’t want to see the scheduled time wasted, and I was overdue to have my mammogram anyway.”

Carla’s decision to take advantage of this mammogram by chance turned out to be one of the best choices she ever made.

“After the mammogram, they found something,” Carla said. “It was very small, but they did find something.”

That small “something” prompted the radiologist to recommend a biopsy. The biopsy revealed to Carla the very early stages of breast cancer.

Seven weeks of radiation treatment and today, two years later, Carla is cancer-free.

“I was very fortunate for two reasons,” Carla said patting, the hood of the Mobile Medical Unit. “One, the Mobile Medical Unit was here and two, that lady backed out of her mammogram appointment. This big rig is my lifesaver on wheels.”

Recently, SJRMC’s Mobile Medical Unit celebrated its second birthday.

“At Saint Joseph, we are constantly working to improve the health of our communities,” said Nancy R. Hellyer, SJRMC’s President and CEO. “We welcome any opportunity to help those void of healthcare because they simply have no way of coming to us. I am proud to say that with the Mobile Medical Unit, we are coming to you.”

The state of the art Mobile Medical Unit houses a medical exam area and a digital mammography unit, plus an area for intake, information, and health education. The Mobile Medical Unit is also used in partnership with area cancer program’s, women’s health services, and community programs that welcome the vehicle to their area, and to provide corporate wellness programs on-site. And in just two years, the vehicle has traveled nearly 20,000 miles serving over 2,000 patients.

“The continued success of the Mobile Medical Unit is due to the incredible dedication of all of our Associates involved with it,” said Michelle Peters, SJRMC’s Director of Community Outreach Services. “It is really very rewarding to see the community have access to healthcare in a convenient, safe atmosphere and we look forward to the Mobile Medical Unit providing these unique services throughout the communities for years to come.”

Hospitals & City Partner to Build Medical Facility on West Side

In spring of 2009, SJRMC and Memorial Hospital will launch Bendix Family Physicians, a fully staffed physicians' office at 1010 N. Bendix Drive, under the auspices of the non-profit Community Health Partners of South Bend.

“The City of South Bend is pleased to join as a partner with Memorial Hospital and Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in meeting a documented community need for better, more affordable health care on the west side,” said Mayor Stephen J. Luecke.

SJRMC has donated the property, located on the east side of Bendix between Bonds Avenue and Hartzer Street, to the City so the Board of Public Works can undertake needed renovations. When complete, the city will convey the facility to the Community Health Partners in exchange for a 10-year commitment for quality health-care services and community health education efforts at the site.

SJRMC conducted a Community Needs Assessment in 2007 and noted that the most pressing needs for west side residents were access to primary health care services in their immediate locale, affordability of that care, and having a permanent medical home in which established physicians would provide care on a regular basis. SJRMC approached Memorial Hospital of South Bend and the City of South Bend with its findings and invited both entities to join in an effort to address the health-related needs of the residents.

"Providing permanent medical homes within our patients' neighborhoods is part of our Mission and doing so for the west side residents is a direct response to their input," said Nancy Hellyer, SJRMC President & CEO. "Bendix Family Physicians will be a fine collaborative model offering medical care and health-related educational opportunities in one place."

The effort coincides with community wide planning already under way for the revitalization of the former LaSalle Square shopping area. Renovation of the medical office building will take place in 2008. The facility is expected to open in 2009.Community Health Partners will invest nearly $1.2 million to furnish and equip the facility as a full-service medical practice and a venue for community health information and programming, and underwrite ongoing operational costs. 

Aquatic Therapy Benefiting All Ages

Nine-year-old Marcus is a great little swimmer. But he’s not taking a dip just for fun. 

“I have a disease and swimming here helps me get stronger,” says Marcus.

Marcus has Duchenne, a form of Muscular Dystrophy that weakens the muscles. That’s why, once a week, Marcus comes to Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center’s Aquatic Therapy, located at the hospital’s Four West Medical Facility in Mishawaka.

“Aquatic Therapy is a nice medium for him as we can have him do a lot of swimming activities, a lot of ball activities and jumping to really work on those legs,” said Nancy Rupe-Cressy, an Occupational Therapist with SJRMC’s Pediatric Rehabilitation who has been working with Marcus for over two years. “It takes a lot of weight off the body and gives him a lot more freedom of movement so someone like Marcus can do a lot of things in the water for longer periods.”

SJRMC has offered Aquatic Therapy for over 15 years, and while about 15 children per week are currently enjoying this maritime treatment, it is not just for kids.

“We have a lot of adults who are taking advantage of our Aquatic Therapy for a lot of different situations,” said Rupe-Cressy. “This is ideal for arthritis patients, post operation or post stroke patients who are working on regaining their strength. The buoyancy just allows you to do a lot more without as much stress on the body.”

As for Marcus, he used the therapy to recently appear on the annual Labor Day MDA Telethon as the region’s Goodwill Ambassador.

“That was fun,” Marcus said. “Almost as much fun as the water!”

Anyone interested in SJRMC’s Aquatic Therapy should call the facility directly at (574) 252-0333. SJRMC’s Four West Medical Facility is located at 420 West Fourth Street in Mishawaka. Aquatic Therapy is in Suite 200. 

SJRMC Receives Award for Heart Attack Treatment

In October 2009, SJRMC received Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s prestigious Meritorious Award for its efficiency in the treatment of patients with heart attack symptoms.

In 2004, SJRMC’s Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Team began meeting monthly to develop 913 CODE STEMI (ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction) – the hospital’s activation system for heart attack emergencies. SJRMC implemented the system on January 1, 2006.

In 2007, 84 percent of SJRMC’s 76 STEMI patients were treated in less than 90 minutes - the amount of time the American College of Cardiology deems the national gold standard – with an average time of 73 minutes. For quarter four in 2007, 92 percent of SJRMC’s STEMI patients were treated in less than 90 minutes with an average time of 68 minutes.

“Our Cardiologists, Emergency Department Physicians, Nurses and Staff, Catheterization Lab Team, and the local EMS communities have committed and collaborated to significantly reduce the time it takes for patients to receive the necessary intervention from the time they are brought to us,” said Nancy R. Hellyer, SJRMC CEO & President.

In November, 2006, a national study found that only one-third of hospitals provide emergency care to heart attack patients quickly enough to meet scientific guidelines for saving lives, standardized by the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

Studies show that reopening clogged arteries with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), inflating a tiny balloon at the site of the blockage, can increase a patient’s chance of surviving a heart attack by 60%, but only if it is done within 90 minutes of the patient’s arrival at the hospital. This is the door-to-PCI time gold standard.

The study, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, reported that only 35% of hospitals in the United States meet the 90-minute, or less, gold standard door-to-PCI time.

21 Years of Volunteering

Alice Crowley, Volunteer

In August 2009, Alice Crowley celebrated her 21st year as a Volunteer at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Asked how many miles she thinks her feet may have logged in those years of doing just about everything, from delivering documents for the Print Shop to delivering roses from the Flower Shop, Alice politely replies, “I really don’t know about that. I go back and forth a lot so it’s hard to say.”

Her trips throughout the hospital are a full-time, Monday through Friday gig. The last three years she has spent her weeks volunteering in the hospital’s Document Center.

“She’s here everyday, 8 to 4,” said Mean Lim, Supervisor of the Document Center. “It doesn't matter what the weather is like. She’s always here just like the Postal Service – here to deliver; rain, sleet, or snow.”

And in spite of volunteering a full week, Alice comes in three Saturdays each month from Noon to 3 to help with whatever needs to be done in the Flower Shop.

“Everybody knows her here,” said Kathy Dukes, Volunteer Manager of the Gift Shop. “She is so dedicated to this hospital and she really puts her heart and soul into everything that she does. It really does touch your heart to see her doing this and smiling all the while.”

For her efforts, Alice was recently honored at the 23rd Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon held at Windsor Park. Alice received the President’s Call to Service Lifetime Award for performing over 4,000 hours of volunteer service in her lifetime.

“This made me feel good,” Alice said of the award. “But it makes me feel even better knowing that I am helping other people however I can. I think I’ll do this for at least another 21 years.”

And 4,000 more hours...

Thank you, Alice!