NEW SPINAL IMPLANTS PROVIDE STATE-OF-THE-ART ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL SPINAL FUSION SURGERY INCREASING MOBILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

Sam DiSalvatore was working in his yard, removing a tree, last summer when he developed neck pain that pulsated down his arm. The 49-year-old Macedonia resident sought treatment through Dr. David Radford, who is a chiropractor at the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Solon office. However, MRI images showed that his pain was due to nerves that were pinched by his bulging disc. “It hurt,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep it was that bad.”

While he realized surgery was probably required, DiSalvatore said he didn’t want to get a spinal fusion because it looked limiting. He was referred to Dr. Rob McLain for a consult and did his homework in advance. “Dr. Radford told me that Dr. McLain was one of only a handful of surgeons who could do the total disc replacement instead of the spinal fusion,” said DiSalvatore.

“He said to me, ‘Let me understand your pain.’ That was very important to me.” 

DiSalvatore’s age and health made him a good candidate for the Mobi-C cervical disc. “It's really exciting,” the doctor explained. “A lot of my patients come back and are dramatically better.” Dr. McLain explained that the procedure seems to be most effective on younger, more active patients, with injuries that are fairly new. 

Approved by the FDA in 2013 for use in one and two-level disc replacement, the Mobi-C angulates and slides in multiple directions similar to natural cervical spine (neck) motion. It also has better long-term outcomes because unlike spinal fusions, it does not place added stress on the discs above and below the implant. “These devices allow us to keep spaces open and maintain the natural motion,” said Dr. McLain.

Patients are up the same evening as surgery and home the next day. “It’s most exciting because patients are back to their lives and dramatically better more quickly,” he said. 

A news report on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, highlighted St. Vincent Charity Dr. McLain and DiSalvatore’s story.  

ST. VINCENT CHARITY MEDICAL CENTER ANSWERS THE CALL FOR INPATIENT GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES.

As the senior adult population is growing, the complexity of the physical and mental health needs requires specialized medical care. A 2012 study by the Institute of Medicine stated that, “Many older adults who have mental health/substance abuse conditions also have acute and chronic physical health conditions and some have cognitive and functional impairments.” 

In the past several years, there has been an increase in state psychiatric facilities closing around the country, making mental health care increasingly hard to access. Catholic providers are addressing this growing need by opening up geropsychiatric units. 

A spokesperson from CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, said: “The hospital has chosen to invest in the unit because "we understand it's our mission to extend the ministry of Jesus."

An April 2016 article written in Catholic Health World highlighted St. Vincent Charity Medical Center’s geriatric psychiatric unit along with CHRISTUS and AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. 

Catholic hospitals around the country have begun to provide specialized service for this population. “The study noted that changes and conditions common in old age can make older adults particularly vulnerable to mental health and substance abuse problems. For instance, metabolic changes can increase elders' vulnerability to the effects of alcohol and drug use; loss and grief can trigger or worsen depression; medications commonly prescribed to the elderly can cause and exacerbate mental health and substance abuse conditions.” 

In addition, "cognitive and functional impairments can complicate the detection and diagnosis of mental health and substance abuse conditions."  So, specialized psychiatric expertise is needed to determine what a true diagnosis may be.  

The units provide group and individual therapy, medication management and spiritual support.  The ultimate goal is to best prepare patients for transitioning either back to their previous living situation or to move up to the next level skilled care.

ONE WOMAN’S DIABETES DIAGNOSIS AT A ST. VINCENT CHARITY HEALTH SCREENING HAS TURNED INTO A CALLING TO HELP OTHERS.

Several years ago, St. Vincent Charity teamed up with the May Dugan Center to provide a health screening for the community. The Center, established in 1969 has been providing a variety of health, community and counseling services in the near west side of Ohio City Neighborhood. The two organizations have been working together to host monthly health screenings at the May Dugan Center.  

At one of those screenings, six years ago, a woman named Carmen was shocked to learn her blood sugar was nearly four times what it should be. The nurse doing the screening, Leslie Andrews, St. Vincent Charity’s Diabetes Coordinator, quickly worked with Carmen to get her life-threatening sugar level under control.

Andrews, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator, encouraged Carmen to complete St. Vincent Charity’s Diabetes Education Program. Education focuses on nutrition, understanding medicines, managing and preventing complications, and living well with diabetes.

Last year the program provided more than 600 individual and group visits for nutrition and management education.

“I never paid attention to my sugar until I came to the screening. The education program has taught me how to count carbs and how to test my sugar myself. Now I test it every day,” Carmen said.

Shortly after she learned of her own disease, she received alarming news that both her adult children also had life-threatening blood sugar levels. Her son’s high sugar was also identified at a St. Vincent community health screening. This frightening news spurred Carmen to work even harder to manage her disease so she could help her children.

“My first thought was, ‘Are my kids going to die before me?’” Carmen said. 

Carmen went to work applying the lessons she learned at St. Vincent Charity’s education program to teach her son and daughter how to control their diet and manage their sugar. 

To keep herself and her children on track, Carmen continues to attend St. Vincent Charity’s Diabetes Support Group, which meets at the hospital six times per year. The group transitions patients from learning about diabetes to managing their disease long term.

“We see such success with the support group because it gives patients the encouragement they need from their peers. They all share the same condition, so they understand better than anybody the struggles each person faces,” Andrews said.

To express her gratitude for the support she receives at St. Vincent Charity, Carmen now volunteers at the hospital’s monthly health screening at the May Dugan Center, so she “can help other people, like I was helped.”  Together St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and volunteers like Carmen strengthen the health of the community and truly provide community outreach and care beyond medicine.

BARIATRIC SURGERY PATIENTS CELEBRATES THEIR SUCCESS AT 16TH ANNUAL RECOGNITION CEREMONY, COLLECTIVELY LOSING 5,507 POUNDS.

The Caregivers at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center recognize how difficult it is to lose weight and keep it off. That’s why every spring the Center for Bariatric Surgery hosts a recognition event for all of our bariatric surgery patients who are at least one year out from surgery.

This year’s My New Life Celebration honored Center for Bariatric Surgery patients who underwent weight loss surgery between January 1, 2014 and April 1, 2015. The 47 patients who attended the event on May 6 lost a collective 5,507 pounds—an amazing accomplishment! What’s more is that they have also improved their health, reduced or eliminated medications and have returned to living active lives.  

We had a surprise visit from our former medical director, Dr. Chandra Hassan, who returned from his teaching position in Chicago, to celebrate the accomplishments of our patients--with our patients. Additionally, attendees were able to meet the new faces at the Center for Bariatric Surgery—including Dr. Michael Nowak, Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery. 

“Tonight represents the culmination of a long and courageous journey for so many of you,” Dr. David Perse, president and CEO of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center told the attendees. “There have been hard times no doubt and moments where you wondered if you could do it, if you could continue. Your results prove that what we do and how we do it, helps transform lives.”

A new twist on this year’s celebration was the Care Beyond Medicine awards program. Patients were invited to submit short videos telling us how bariatric surgery changed their lives. Rather than telling us about the numbers on the scale, we wanted to know what they couldn’t do before that they can do now and what it means to their life.

A panel of caregivers from the Center for Bariatric Surgery reviewed the inspiring videos and selected the top 3 submissions to receive a customized prize package. This year’s prizes included:

• A “mini-moon” in Amish Country for a patient who told us that they did not get to take a honeymoon following their wedding a few years ago.
• A spa gift certificate for a patient who is getting married in the fall
• 2 Cedar Point season passes for a patient who told us about how they are now able to do more activities with their son

We’re so proud of all of our patients who made this important decision to improve their health. Congratulations!