Admin

This has been a very busy year for St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and we are pleased to share some exciting developments that have taken place in the past few months.

We recently entered a lease arrangement for St. Vincent Charity Surgery Center at Rockside. This facility allows us to better maximize our inpatient and outpatient surgical schedule. It also enhances our Rockside Road presence by adding outpatient surgery to our imaging, physical therapy and physician offices located there.

We continue to add new physicians to our medical staff, including two additions to our Spine and Orthopedic Institute. I am very pleased to announce that James Anderson, MD, has joined our team in neurosurgery. He brings with him a great background neurosurgery, including spine and intracranial expertise. Also new to our Spine and Orthopedic Institute is George Friedhoff, DO, who joins us fresh from a fellowship in sports medicine at Riverside Hospital in Columbus. He will be an orthopedist in our physician office at 6701 Rockside Road. Dr. Ama Paintsil, who recently completed her internal medicine residency with us, joins St. Vincent Medical Group.

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center received a $500,000 appropriation in the state capital bill for expansion of its Geriatric Behavioral Health Program. These funds will help to renovate a portion of a hospital floor to increase psychiatric bed capacity from 50 to 62 beds. The state capital bill funds will allow us to replace dated patient rooms with a facilities upgrade that supports the vision of quality and compassionate care for its senior behavioral health clients while also protecting caregivers from injury.

We are so pleased to have the bipartisan support of the state legislature for our project and for our hospital as well as the generous support of the Prentiss Foundation for $300,000,  the Bruening Foundation for $100,000 and the Walter Born Foundation for $25,000. We hope to begin construction later this year.

Don’t forget to support our Pizzazz Gala. We are thrilled to be kicking off our 150^th anniversary at this year’s event, held on Saturday, October 18^th and Public Auditorium. We will be honoring Mayor Frank Jackson as our St. Vincent de Paul Award winner as well as KeyBank as our corporate winner. Please call our Foundation office at 216-694-4685 for sponsorship information.

Finally, I am pleased to announce that St. Vincent Charity Medical Center’s marketing efforts are being recognized nationally. We earned Gold Awards from the Aster Awards for Excellence in Medical Marketing for our new website and for our Live Orthopedic Surgery Tweet. We also earned Silver Awards from the 31^st Healthcare Advertising Awards from Healthcare Marketing Report for the live ortho tweet and website.

As always, thank you for your support and we look forward to celebrating our 150^th anniversary kickoff with you at Pizzazz!

David F. Perse, MD

President and CEO

The Center for Bariatric Surgery at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is pleased to announce the launch of our new online seminar. Those who are interested in learning more about bariatric surgery but find it difficult to attend one of our live seminars around the area, will be able to conveniently watch the seminar from the comfort of their home.

Dr. Craig Eyman helps patients to understand the condition of obesity. the treatment options and other medical aspects of bariatric surgery. Patients also get to hear from a patient who had surgery discuss how she made her decision and what her experience was like.

To watch the seminar, visit www.stvincentcharity.com/onlineseminar.

Chile and Basil Vegetable Stir-fry (serves 4)

Rice

• 1 cup uncooked basmati rice
• 2 cups water

Sauce

• 1 (4.5-oz.) can Chopped Green Chiles
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint
• 3 Tbsp light soy sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Stir-Fry

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 2 cups fresh small cauliflower florets
• 1 small onion, cut into thin wedges
• 2 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 2 cups shredded Chinese (napa) cabbage

Directions

1. Cook rice in 2 cups water as directed on package. Cover to keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine all sauce ingredients; blend well. Set aside.

3. Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add cauliflower and onion; cook and stir 2 minutes. Add zucchini and bell pepper; cook and stir 4 to 6 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.

4. Stir sauce well. Add to vegetables in skillet; cook 2 to 4 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and thickened, stirring frequently. Stir in cabbage. Serve over rice. If desired, garnish with additional basil or mint.

Nutrition information per serving:

Calories – 230        Total Fat – 4 gms        Sodium – 580 mg        Total Carbohydrates - 41 gms        Fiber – 5 gms        

Sugars – 7 gms       Protein 7 gms

Herb-Baked Salmon (serves 2)

• ¾ lb salmon filet
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
• ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
• Salt and pepper
• 1 egg white

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.  Line a baking tray with foil.  Spray with cooking spray.

2. Wash salmon, pat dry and spread mustard over top

3. Mix together the herbs and bread crumbs.  Season with salt and pepper.  Blend in egg white to bind mixture together.

4. Spread over mustard.

5. Bake for 20 minutes for 1- inch filet, 25 minutes for 2 – in filet

Nutrition information per serving:

Calories – 342                        Total Fat – 9 gms                    Sodium – 442 mgs            Carbohydrates – 21 gms        

Fiber – 2 gms                          Protein 41 gms

Easy Quinoa with Pesto (serves 4)

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
• 2 cups water or vegetable broth
• 2 cups packed fresh spinach
• 1/4 cup prepared vegetarian pesto
• 1/2 tsp fresh lemon or lime juice
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp fresh grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast (optional)

Preparation:

1. Simmer quinoa in vegetable broth or water, covered, for 10-12 minutes, until quinoa is almost cooked.

2. Fold in fresh spinach and heat for 3-4 more minutes, until spinach has wilted and quinoa is cooked through.

3. Remove from heat. Stir in pesto, drizzle with lime juice and season well with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, or stir in a bit of nutritional yeast for extra flavor (and a B12 boost for vegans!).

Nutrition information per serving:

Calories- 258                           Fat – 10 gms                           Sodium – 404 mgs

Carbohydrates – 34 gms        Fiber – 4 gms                         Protein – 8 gms

Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup (serves 6)

• 4 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt *
• 4 large shallots, peeled and halved
• 1 (1/2-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 2 1/2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons (1-inch) slices fresh chives
• Cracked black pepper (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a roasting pan or jelly-roll pan; toss well. Bake at 375° for 50 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Cool 10 minutes.

3. Place half of squash mixture and half of broth in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour into a large saucepan. Repeat procedure with remaining squash mixture and broth. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Top with chives and pepper, if desired.

Nutrition information per serving

Calories – 112                         Total Fat – 2.5 gms                 Sodium – 266 mg             Total Carbohydrates –22 gms                

Fiber –3.6gms                          Protein – 3.3 gms

* omitting the salt can reduce the sodium to 169 gms per serving

Wellness Wednesday recipes are provided by the Health and Wellness Committee at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. The Wellness Committee, led by the Human R esources Department, has recently formed to encourage healthy lifestyles for all of our Caregivers. The committee is made up of Caregivers from all over the organization including Human Resources, Nursing, Administration, Nutrition Services, Rehab Services, Pharmacy, Outpatient Services and Plant Operations.

CLEVELAND, OHIO (July 14, 2014) — Effective today St. Vincent Charity Medical Center assumes the lease for the Independence Surgery Center at 6701 Rockside Road in Independence. Formerly a physician-owned outpatient surgery center, it becomes a hospital-based facility known as the St. Vincent Charity Surgery Center at Rockside.

“This new lease arrangement expands our footprint and allows us to maximize scheduling for outpatient and inpatient procedures between the Rockside location and our downtown campus,” said David F. Perse, MD, President and CEO of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. “It also expands our footprint along Rockside Road and complements our existing physician offices, imaging center and outpatient physical therapy.”

The St. Vincent Charity Surgery Center becomes a centerpiece for the outpatient procedures driven by the hospital’s Spine and Orthopedic Institute. A team of 15 experienced orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and foot and ankle surgeons comprise the institute. This seasoned team has performed more than 30,000 procedures, ranging from the advanced procedures such as minimally invasive spine surgery and computer-assisted orthopedic surgery to total joint replacement and fusions. It is also able to do outpatient procedures such as arthroscopies, pain blocks and manipulation under anesthesia (MUA).

St. Vincent Charity Surgery Center will also accommodate other outpatient surgical procedures performed by St. Vincent Charity Medical Center physicians.

With Independence Day quickly approaching, the Wellness Committee at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center wanted to share some tips on firework safety. The safest way to watch fireworks is to go to a scheduled display in your community. Click here for a full list of all the firework displays throughout Northeast Ohio for the Fourth of July weekend and the rest of the summer.

If you choose to set off fireworks at home, be aware that fireworks are dangerous and need to be handled with care. In 2012, emergency rooms across the country treated an estimated 8,700 people for firework related injuries. More than half of the injuries were burns and one-fifth were lacerations. One-third of the injuries were to children under the age of 15 and males accounted for 75% of the injuries. In addition to the human costs, fireworks caused an estimated 17,800 reported fires which resulted in 8 deaths, 40 injuries and $32 million in direct property damage.

Here are some tips for handling fireworks in the safest way possible:

• Always purchase fireworks from a reliable source.
• Use fireworks as directed on consumer product safety label; never alter products.
• Observe local laws and use good common sense.
• Have a designated shooter to light the fireworks.
• A responsible adult should supervise all firework activities.
• Parents should not allow young children to handle or use fireworks.
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.
• Use fireworks outdoors in a clear area and away from buildings and vehicles.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
• Wear safety glasses whenever using fireworks.
• Always have water ready
• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
• Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Soak spent fireworks with water before placing them in an outdoor trash can.

A word on sparklers...

While sparklers can appear harmless they account for one-third of the injuries to children under five years old. Sparklers can burn up to 1000° F and set clothes on fire. When using sparklers follow these tips:

• Always have an adult present.

• Keep burning sparklers away from clothing and flammable objects.

• Use sparklers only outdoors, away from buildings and vehicles.

• Light only one sparkler at a time.

• Do not point or throw sparklers at another person.

• Children under the age of 12 should not handle sparklers.

• When finished, place used sparklers in a bucket of water

 Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is pleased to unveil its new HealtheChart--the online tool that gives patients the flexibility to access their health information and other resources on their time. This interactive web portal empowers patients and their families to take a more active role in their care by providing easy and secure access to their health information.

HealtheChart gives patients instant access to their health information, including laboratory and radiology results, medications, allergies, demographic information, visit history and discharge/aftercare information. Patients can also access their billing statements and outstanding balances and pay their bills electronically through a link on stvincentcharity.com. In addition to handling their own care, parents and health care proxies with authorized consent can access the records of those individuals for whom they manage care. 

HealtheChart also allows patients to request appointments for certain services online. Patients can request appointments for specific timeframes, add comments and contact preferences, and receive an email confirmation once an appointment is scheduled. A central appointment page displays their list of scheduled and pending appointments. Here, they can review appointment details and if necessary, reschedule or cancel appointments. HealtheChart also saves patients time by allowing them to pre-register for appointments online and submit updates to their demographic and contact information prior to their visits.

Anyone interested in enrolling in HealtheChart should contact St. Vincent Charity at 216-363-7483 or visit the patient portal at stvincentcharity.com. St. Vincent Charity encourages all of its patients to enroll in HealtheChart, as it presents a valuable opportunity for patients and their families to actively participate in their care, which contributes to better health.

Perhaps it was divine intervention that put Dr. John Bastulli on the same flight as a 90-year-old Cleveland man returning from Phoenix, Ariz., in late April, who suffered cardiac arrest. Divine or otherwise, Dr. Bastulli, Chief of Anesthesia at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, saved the man’s life.

On April 22, Dr. Bastulli, his wife Lorene and his daughter Mary were on their way home aboard a United Airlines flight from an Easter vacation in Phoenix, AZ. Seated in the same row across the aisle was 90-year-old Harry who was traveling with his son, a pilot for another airline. Harry’s son seated in the row in front of him had a small oxygen tank that was providing Harry with extra oxygen. A portable pulse oximeter was on Harry’s left index finger. This device approximates the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. Normal levels are between 95-100.  

“After take-off I noticed that Harry was more short of breath and looked blue,” said Dr. Bastulli. “His pulse-oximeter reading was very low (52).”  He learned that Harry had chronic lung disease and had been hospitalized twice while in Phoenix. He was on his way home to Cleveland.

After Dr. Bastulli made several recommendations, Harry’s pulse oximeter readings were in the mid 70s and he looked more comfortable. “I asked the flight attendant about the type of medical equipment on board,” he said.  After showing his identification, she took Dr. Bastulli to see the resuscitation equipment on board, including an external defibrillator.

“About an hour and 15 minutes into the flight, Harry’s condition started to deteriorate. I asked the person next to him to allow me to sit next to him so I could keep a closer eye on him. Within five minutes he became disoriented and then passed out on my shoulder,” he said.

Dr. Bastulli laid Harry down on the seats with his head toward the aisle, while he moved into the aisle to work on resuscitating him. Harry was not breathing and since Dr. Bastulli could not feel a pulse, he asked his wife, Lorene, who is a nurse, to start chest compressions while he intubated. A cardiology fellow from the Cleveland Clinic happened to also be on the plane and came up to take over compressions.

“Within five minutes of intubating Harry and providing him with supplemental oxygen, his color was much better and he regained consciousness,” said Dr. Bastulli. He started a saline solution and applied the external defibrillator as a precautionary measure. Not only was Harry wide awake, but he had regained all his strength as he attempted to pull out his breathing tube.

The pilot diverted the plane to Wichita, KS. We descended quickly into Wichita and I had to remain standing and brace myself on the seat in front of me because I had to make sure that Harry did not pull any of his tubes out.  Once we landed, the local paramedics came on board and took over his care.”

In his 26 years of practice, Dr. Bastulli has never faced this situation in flight before. “I knew there was a chance that something would happen with him given his condition before take-off. Fortunately, I had time to mentally prepare myself in the event that Harry needed my help.” he said.   

As for Harry, Dr. Bastulli said he’s not been able to find out how he’s doing despite many attempts to find out.

"My favorite memory of St. Vincent Charity is from 25 years ago. I was a brand new RN and was here for a job interview. I had been to other hospitals interviewing, however when I came to St. Vincent Charity I noticed something different. Everyone that I passed  in the halls greeted me, smiled and all made eye contact. This was not the case at any of the other hospitals I had been to previously. I am happy to say that this tradition continues to this day here at our medical center. That is why I took the job here and that is why I’ve stayed."

- Ivy Woike, RN, Intensive Care Unit

"Before my grandfather’s death in 1994, he received excellent care from the top-notch cardiologists at St. Vincent Charity. My aunt was a really outstanding nurse for decades at your hospital as well, and so was my cousin. I worked with my cousin on 4A for about a year and a half -- she was head nurse and I was a mental health worker right out of college.

I remember taking breaks occasionally in those days to visit my grandfather when he was an inpatient. I also had the privilege of taking care of him with my Aunt on the night before he died. Your hospital gave me the strength I needed for that. He passed away in the afternoon with all of his family: his wife, five daughters, and 13 grandchildren -- by his side. That was 20 years ago this September, but I still remember it as if it were yesterday. St. Vincent Charity is a wonderful community resource for Clevelanders from all walks of life. For that, I am abundantly thankful."

- Kathleen, former Caregiver and friend of SVCMC

"Years ago, Rosary Hall was located on 6A and part of that unit was a general medical and hospice. One of the most beautiful moments of my career came as I working as the hospice nurse. I was caring for a 90-year-old hospice patient, whose teenage granddaughter was staying the night with her. The patient was comfortable and sleeping well. The granddaughter fell asleep too. Around 5 or 6 a.m., I assessed that the patient had passed in her sleep. It was now my job to awaken the granddaughter and inform her. I woke her up and asked if there were any family members she would like me to call. It did not take long for her to realize what had happened. She called her mother and then just stood at the window, looking away from her grandmother and staring blankly at the skyline of downtown Cleveland. About 20 minutes later, she was still staring out the window, unmoving. Her mother, the patient’s daughter, arrived and IMMEDIATELY went to her daughter’s side by the window. She did not even look at her mother; she went straight to comfort her daughter who was clearly in need. It was a few minutes until she was able to turn from her daughter to go to her mother’s side.

It really illustrated the beauty of the mother-daughter bond, even in the extreme circumstances of the passing of a loved one. To this day, I have vivid memories of the room the patient was in, the faces of the patient and granddaughter and the blank stare as the granddaughter waited for her mother. I felt blessed to be able to share the moment and to help the family cope with their loss."

- John Reitz, 6B, Rosary Hall

“I work at St. Vincent Charity as a PRN in the Microbiology department. I always look forward to the weekends when I have to come in to work. My fellow Caregivers are like family to me. I don’t use the word “family” lightly. They are so kind and willing to help in times of need. In general, the hospital staff is also very friendly. It’s a culture that I wish every hospital would adopt. A simple greeting and a smile mean so much. I love it here and I am glad to be celebrating 150 years with St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.”

–Abraham, Microbiology

“I have worked at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center for 42 years. During that time I have had many wonderful experiences. I’ve worked with countless kind and caring people, many who have become lifelong friends. The experience I wanted to share however is my mother’s. When she was a baby, she swallowed an open safety pin. Her parents, who spoke very little English, took her by streetcar to St. Vincent Charity. There wasn’t much they could do for her at the hospital other than to advise my grandparents to let nature take its course. The pin came out 28 days later. My grandfather could never say enough about the kind Sisters who took such good care of them and their baby. He often spoke about the wonderful care they received here. My mom recovered completely and is celebrating her 90th birthday this October in excellent health! Thank you, St. Vincent Charity!”

-Jan, Information Services

"I was a Candy Striper at St. Vincent Charity in 1964 and 1965. I rode two buses from our home to be a volunteer. I believe I came once a week when I was a freshman and sophomore in high school.I transported patients from their room to the X-ray area. I loved volunteering and I felt I was doing something very meaningful.

When I returned in 2003 to complete my Clinical Pastoral Supervisory Education I was disoriented with all the changes that had taken place over all those years! I completed my training and was recruited to Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MO. I was there for a number of years before I relocated back home to Cleveland about nine months ago. On May 1, 2014 I began a part-time position at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center as a supervisor in our Clinical Pastoral Education Program. I am very proud to say that with this many comings and goings, I must belong here.

I now have another wonderful opportunity to serve the students who are in training to become chaplains. Congratulations on this amazing anniversary and for the 150 year commitment of the Sisters of Charity to the City of Cleveland!"

-Sister Nancy B., OSU, Pastoral Care

"I have been working at St. Vincent Charity for almost 18 months. I work on the administration side of the hospital, but I really like the fact that we are all called Caregivers and not employees. The mission that we are carrying out and God’s ministry of healing is so prevalent throughout the hospital. I love working at a faith-based hospital. One of my favorite memories is from my first day of orientation. All of the new Caregivers attended a ceremony in the hospital’s beautiful chapel, where we had our hands blessed and heard the following prayer:

'May we be aware of our responsibility to be God’s voice, hands, and heart for all of those with whom we come in contact this day and every day of our service at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.'

I take this responsibility very seriously. I also love all of the opportunities we have to serve others in our local community through the hospital’s outreach efforts to organizations such as Marion Sterling School, the Cleveland Food Bank, Joseph’s Home, women’s shelters and more. I get the chance to help others that I may not have known were in need.

- Helen, Office of Graduate Medical Education

"Reflecting on my many years of serving as a Chaplain and recalling the many grace filled moments I spent with numerous numbers of patients and their families as I ministered in good times and sad; be it an emergency situation, pre-surgery, post-surgery, daily spiritual visits. My own spiritual life was greatly enriched by these experiences. I’m grateful to our Caregivers and am proud to minister to and with them in the name of Jesus as others that we service recognize something “special” about the loving care they receive and/or their loved one received during their time at SVCMC. As I was going through my training as a chaplain I recall reflecting on my ministry of “Be” – being who we are, being present in Jesus’ name and being one with those we serve.Blessed and happy 150th anniversary SVCMC Caregivers!"

- Sister Jane, CSA, Clinical Pastoral Education

"I began working at St. Vincent Charity as a Pharmacy Technician in 1962. In 1973, we began the first clinical pharmacy program in a community hospital in the US. In fact, we were the first program in Cleveland. We located the pharmacy on 6 West. We covered both ICU and the neurosurgical wing. I went on clinical rounds daily with Drs. Bishop, Tank and Suresky, all neurosurgeons, and directly worked with fellows from the Cleveland Clinic. We had staff teaching on new medications and also were involved with the residents on drug interactions, etc. We took drug histories of the patients and also counseled patients with nursing upon discharge. Many pharmacists throughout Northeast Ohio came to do a site visit of the clinical program at St. Vincent Charity. The program was even featured in a healthcare magazine called, Hospital Topics."

-Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, Congregational Leader, Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine

"I began working at St. Vincent Charity as a Pharmacy Technician in 1962. At that time we had a huge outpatient department. We dispensed medications to hundreds and packaged aspirin, phenacetin with codeine, chloroform liniment, ETH with codeine, mouthwash, etc. Sr. Mariel German, CSA, was Director of Pharmacy. We all ate lunch together around the main table in the back. I used to stock the floors with medications. When I would visit Rosary Hall, I saw many of the men that I had gotten to know in the neighborhood where my father had a business. The pharmacists let me "fill" prescriptions under their direct supervision and approval. Sr. Mariel and I closed the pharmacy each night at 5:30. As we were putting out the lights, checking each door, etc. we talked about religious life and my desire to become a Sister. That was the beginning of my prayer and discernment of entering the community. 

One night when we were the only staff present, Sr. Mariel said to let her know when the delivery man from DePaul Maternity Home came. A man came and asked for Sr. Mariel. Me thinking it was the delivery man from DePaul let him in and said that I would get Sr. Mariel. When I told her he was here, she was very embarrassed. Who I determined was the "delivery man" was actually Dr. Earl B. Kay, noted worldwide cardiovascular surgeon."

- Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, Congregational Leader, Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine

"Nearly thirteen years ago a country mouse became a city mouse.I was the country mouse and Cleveland was the place that citified me.When I moved to Cleveland I lived, played, and worked downtown.I chose St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and Dr. Adnan Tahir to care for my medical needs and I was kept healthy and thriving while I stretched my country legs in the big city. I fell in love with Cleveland, Dr. Tahir, and SVCMC.We all know that the atmosphere of SVCMC is permeated with a sense of family, and for me all those years ago, Dr. Tahir and his medical staff truly made me feel as if I belonged here.As time passed and way led onto way, I eventually found myself living, playing, and working in the eastern suburbs and, only for the sake of convenience, sought healthcare closer to my home. 

Fast forward eleven years and I am living in Medina and working at Kaiser Permanente.In light of a longer commute and a desire to pay less at the gas pump, I traded in my gas guzzling Jeep Grand Cherokee for a PT Cruiser.As I was test driving the car, the salesman shared with me that the car had been gently used by only one previous owner, his mother-in-law.He joked that the miles on the odometer were accumulated from her many trips to and from SVCMC, where she was an avid volunteer.Shortly after purchasing the car, I had the unfortunate experience of becoming unemployed after having my job eliminated during the buyout of Kaiser Permanente. 

You’ve probably heard it said that “all roads lead to Rome.”In my experience, all roads lead me to St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.  In February of this year my five month bout of unemployment ended when I accepted the position of Residency Coordinator in the Office of Graduate Medical Education here at SVCMC.I’m so happy to be serving/working here and for the opportunity to become intimately acquainted with downtown Cleveland again.I get here every day in the PT Cruiser, who strangely seems to navigate here without needing much assistance from me :)"

-Jennifer Kenney, Residency Coordinator, Office of Graduate Medical Education

"I have been at St. Vincent Charity since 1962. First as a student in Radiology under Dr. Emmett O'Malley and then as a registered Radiologic Technologist. I could probably write a book about all the changes I have seen during my years here.When I first started we were still developing films by hand in wet tanks. The following year we moved to our new department and got the first automatic processor, a Kodak Xomat. No more wet tanks! The unit itself was about 10-12 feet long with one end in a small darkroom and the rest out into the workroom. We had the first automatic processor in the city.

Among the many firsts here at St. Vincent Charity was our mammography accreditation by the ACR. We were the first hospital-based one in Cleveland, with the others being on mobile units. Since then, we have consistently received passing credentials. This is what makes St. Vincent Charity special--the commitment to quality and innovation."

-Angela Hocevar, Radiologic Technologist

"I started out as a Student Nurse Intern in 2005, and I fell in love with SVCMC. Everyone was nice to me and it was like family. I loved that it was small and that everyone knew each other. I graduated nursing school in 2006, but I owed another hospital a 2 year work requirement, but as soon as I had been an RN for one year I returned to what felt like home as a PRN RN. I now work full time for SVCMC in the Quality Management department as a Utilization Management Nurse; I have literally “grown up” in my career at this hospital. I am very happy that I found this place and I am even happier that I really enjoy what I do!"

- Stephanie Caldwell, Quality Management

The history of Cleveland and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center are not independent of one another. A city is people. A hospital is people.

"As a former patient, I can say that St. Vincent Charity Medical Center demonstrates and unparalleled culture of caring," said Dominique Moceanu, 1996 Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast at a special event held on Thursday, May 22. "St. Vincent is small, but mighty and cutting edge!"  She joined friends, followers and fans to get a first look at how the city and the hospital have helped one another through nearly 150 years. St. Vincent Charity premiered a new video introducing the social media campaign #STV150.

Moceanu joined St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Chairman of the Board Melvin G. Pye, Jr., and Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, Honorary Chair of the 150th anniversary to unveil the campaign to countdown to the official kickoff of the hospital’s yearlong 150th anniversary celebration. Sister Judith Ann spoke of the "palpable mission of service" at St. Vincent.

"When I walk the halls of St. Vincent, I am greeted by the heart and soul of this hospital--employees, physicians and volunteers," said Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, Congregational Leader. "They are here because of the mission. Their competencies and dedication to quality are gifts to the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and the Sisters of Charity Health System."

The official kickoff of the yearlong anniversary celebration is October 18, 2014 at Pizzazz, St. Vincent Charity's signature fundraising event. But before that happens, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center will get the conversation started on social media to celebrate one of Cleveland’s legacy institutions by sharing photos, videos, stories and links from its history and from today.

Produced by Second Story Productions, the video gives viewers a glimpse into the relationship between the city of Cleveland and the founding of St. Vincent Charity in 1865. Further, it shows viewers what this "small, but mighty" faith-based institution, owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System, is today.

"We are honored to help tell the extraordinary story of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center's place in Cleveland's history," said Sara Sullivan, Managing Director of Second Story Productions. "Its 150-year legacy of care and innovation is a celebration in which our whole community can rejoice."  

In addition to its kickoff at Pizzazz on October 18th, St. Vincent Charity will host a number of events open to the community held throughout the anniversary year, including a Christmas Tree Lighting on the front lawn December 3, an Anniversary Bash on February 28, 2015, a Community Lunch on the Lawn in August 28, 2015, and a Closing Mass and Luncheon honoring the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on Sunday, September 27, 2015. The closing event coincides with the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, the patron saint of St. Vincent Charity.

View the video on YouTube, follow #STV150 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Trivia Tuesday

Each Tuesday, we will tweet a question about the hospital from St. Vincent Charity Medical Center’s Twitter account. The first person to reply with the correct answer will win a prize and #STV150 goodies! Entrants may only win one time during the #STV150 campaign.