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2008
St. Francis receives American Stroke Association’s
Get With The Guidelines Silver Performance Achievement Award
Trenton, NJ –St.
Francis Medical Center has received the American Stroke
Association’s Get With The Guidelines SM –Stroke(GWTG–Stroke)
Silver Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes St.
Francis’s commitment and success in implementing a
higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive
treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.
“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the GWTG–Stroke
Silver Performance Achievement Award addresses the important element
of time,” said Jerry Jablonowski, president and CEO.
St. Francis has developed a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis
and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.
This includes always being equipped to provide brain imaging scans,
having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations and using
clot-busting medications when appropriate.
To receive the GWTG-Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award, St.
Francis consistently complied for at least one year with
the requirements in the GWTG–Strokeprogram.
These include aggressive use of medications like tPA, antithrombotics,
anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs,
and smoking cessation. This twelve-month evaluation period is the
second in an ongoing self-evaluation by the hospital to continually
reach the 85 percent compliance level needed to sustain this award.
“The American Stroke Association commends St. Francis for
its success in implementing standards of care and protocols,” said
Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national Get With the Guidelines Steering Committee
Member and director of acute stroke services at Massachusetts General
Hospital in Boston. “The full implementation of acute care and
secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step
in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients.”
GWTG –Stroke uses the “teachable moment,” the time
soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to
listen to and follow their healthcare professionals’ guidance.
Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their
risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second
heart attack or stroke. ThroughGWTG–Stroke,
customized patient education materials are made available at the point
of discharge, based on patients’ individual risk profiles. The
take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and
are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the GWTG Patient
Management Tool provides access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke
science at the point of care.
“The time is right for St. Francis to be focused
on improving the quality of stroke care by implementing GWTG–Stroke.
The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment
is expected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence
and a large aging population,” said Barbara Simonds,
RN, BSN, director of the Stroke Program.
According to the American Stroke Association, each year approximately
700,000 people suffer a stroke — 500,000 are first attacks and
200,000 are recurrent. Of stroke survivors, 21 percent of men and 24
percent of women die within a year, and for those aged 65 and older,
the percentage is even higher.
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER NAMES 2008 VIP AWARD RECIPIENTS
St. Francis Medical Center named the 2008 recipients
for the hospital’s
Values In Practice (VIP) Employee Award. The Values In Practice Employee
Recognition Program was established to honor those employees who best exemplify
the mission and the values of the medical center. It also honors those
who have made outstanding contributions to the medical center and the community.
The St. Francis Medical Center 2008 Values In Practice (VIP) Employee Award recipients
are: Valerie Arlen, Radiology Transcriptionist – Radiology, of Levittown,
PA; Delores Colquitt, Dietetic Hostess – Dietary, of Trenton, NJ; Alana
Darling, HRIS/Benefits Coordinator, Human Resources, of Barnegat, NJ; Angie
Garcia, Program Therapist – Psychiatry, of Trenton; Kris Heckman, Sr. Biomedical
Technician, Clinical Engineering, of Chalfont, PA; Andrew Katz, Technology
Analyst – Information Technology, of Manalapan, NJ; Valerie McQuaide,
RN, Team Coordinator – Outpatient Clinic, of Riverside, NJ; James McRae,
Housekeeper – Environmental Services, of Hamilton, NJ; Carmen Tan, RN,
Team Coordinator – Cardiopulmonary Lab, of Lawrenceville, NJ; and Marisol
Weaver-Henderson, Center Program Assistant – Children’s Futures, of Morrisville,
PA.
ST. FRANCIS HIRES DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
Jill Wargo, FACHE serves as Director of Clinical Program
Planning & Development and reports directly to Jerry Jablonowski, President and CEO.
In this role, Jill is responsible for leading strategic business initiatives and developing service lines in support of the hospital’s mission and community need. She brings over 14 years of clinical and administrative experience to St. Francis.
Jill received her Mastersdegree in Speech-Language Pathology from The College of New Jersey and is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives. Jill lives with her husband Jerry and daughter Lauren in East Windsor, NJ.
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER RECEIVES AMERICAN COLLEGE
OF RADIOLOGY ACCREDITATION
TRENTON, NJ – St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, NJ has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in Mammography as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR).
The ACR, headquartered in Reston, VA, awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field conduct evaluations. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.
St. Francis Medical Center is equipped with the GE Healthcare Senographe Digital Mammography system complete with the Seno Advantage 2 Review Workstation®. This system, provides physicians with clear and precise all-digital images, rather than images on X-ray film. What’s more, the system provides the largest field of view currently available, which can be extremely helpful for precision imaging of patients with diverse shapes and sizes.
This workstation allows physicians to simply, quickly, and easily review patient’s images, including information from multi-modality studies, at a single point of review. Physicians have the ability to pull up a patient’s previous mammography exams for historical comparison or for comparison against other types of images, such as those acquired by ultrasound or MR, resulting in a more comprehensive view of a specific patient’s medical history. The workstation also simplifies the sharing of information and images to referring physicians and surgeons.
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Page 2 – ACR Accreditation
The ACR is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic and
interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine and medical
physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation
oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.
THE ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER
HOSTS ‘TOAST TO YOUR HEALTH’ EVENT
Trenton, NJ – On Sunday, November 9, 2008, the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation (SMFCF) Community Fund Raising Board (CFRB) hosted its third annual ‘Toast to Your Health’ at Trenton Country Club.
“This year’s event continued to celebrate the greater Trenton community, the hospital’s commitment to the city for over 130 years, and the talents of some of the area’s finest restaurants, and wine merchants. With over 300 people in attendance, we were able to raise over $20,000 to benefit St. Francis Medical Center,” says Nicole Romano, President of the SFMCF Community Fund Raising Board.
‘Toast to Your Health’ featured a wine and food tasting provided by some of the area’s finest restaurants including: Amici Milano Restaurant; Barone’s Restaurant Group; Blue Danube Restaurant; Cold Stone Creamery; Erini Restaurant; Hyatt Regency Princeton; Jester’s Café; Monkey Joe’s Big Nut Co.; Revere Ristorante; Sal de Forte’s Ristorante;
Toscano Ristorante; Villagio Iccara; Vitella & Sons. In addition, 19 vendors offered wine samples, sponsored by West Trenton Fine Wines & Liquors.
“St. Francis Medical Center is proud to be a vital part of our community. I am very appreciative of the SFMCF Community Fund Raising Board and their collaborative efforts with the area restaurateurs and wine merchants in helping us raise funds to continue our mission,” says
Jerry Jablonowski, president and CEO of St. Francis.
The SFMC Foundation formed the CFRB in 2003 to enhance fund raising efforts.
So far, the CFRB has raised over $80,000 to benefit SFMC. The CFRB is comprised
of 20 young professionals ages 25-40 and would like to increase the number
of members. Anyone interested in joining the SFMCF Community Fund Raising Board
may contact Norma Monaghan, CFRE, Executive Director of the SFMC Foundation
at 609-599-5659.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Palm Springs, Calif. - - St. Francis Medical Center was recognized by the Patient-Centered
Care Institute as a performance leader and one of the best in the nation at
providing patient-centered care.
St. Francis Medical Center Outpatient Radiology Oncology Department was recognized
as a performance leader in ‘Continuity & Transition’ as evidenced in their outpatient experience scores over the past 12 months. Elements of this category include how physicians and staff members responded to questions regarding medication and side effects, explained what to do if any problems arose, and making arrangements with other providers.
“Cancer is such a tough diagnosis. Our radiation team really make a difference in their patients’ lives by easing them their the process and keeping their spirits up,” says Gerard J. Jablonowski, President and CEO of St. Francis Medical Center.
“Healthcare today must constantly change and adapt to the dynamic needs and world around them. Maintaining a ‘high-touch’ and patient-centered care environment in addition to keeping abreast of the clinical and technology advancements is challenging. It is even more difficult to sustain those efforts over time. For St. Francis Medical Center to do so truly reflects a service and organizational philosophy that values and integrates the patient-centered care principles into its everyday practices,” said Julie Samuelson, Sr. Vice President of the Patient-Centered Care Institute.
Award winners were recognized at a luncheon at the 2008 Patient-Centered Care Institute Symposium on September 19, 2008 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Palm Springs, California.
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Page 2 – Radiation Oncology Department Honored
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) survey of “Hospital Patient’s Experiences” was utilized to identify top performing hospitals in the U.S. in four out of eight patient-centered dimensions, as well as the overall quality and “would recommend” categories. The additional four dimensions of patient-centered care were analyzed based on the NRC Picker database.
The database holds over 850 hospitals and health systems patient experience data. Data includes: patient feedback on inpatient (medical, surgical and obstetrical care), outpatient, outpatient surgery and emergency department services. Each hospital organization or healthcare service was analyzed on sustaining an overall or dimension-specific quality score among the top 10 facilities/services for a minimum of a 12 month period beginning July 1, 2007 through June 31, 2008.
The Patient-Centered Care Institute, a division of NRC Picker and National Research Corporation (NRC), is dedicated to the advancing the knowledge and practice of patient-centered care.
PHOTO CAPTION: The Radiation Oncology Department (l. to r.) Joe Chiavarone, A.S., RT(T) Radiation Therapist, Irmy Hughes, Unit Secretary, Diane Krause, R.T. (R)(T), Radiation Therapist, Sangeeta Tyerech, MD, Director of Cancer Program, Jo Ann Chalal, MD, Director of Radiation Therapy, Kellyann Flach, R.T. (R)(T), Radiation Therapist, Barbara Wolcott, RN-BC, OCN, Radiation Oncology Nurse, Beverly Rauenzahn, R.T., BS, Director of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Cardiovascular Services. Not shown, Tracy McLaughlin, R.T. (R)(T), Radiation Therapist.
Glenn W. Laub, MD was recently named
the finalist in the second annual Healthcare Heroes award program.
The award program, created in 2007 is produced by NJBIZ and sponsored
by AmeriHealth, WolfBlock, NJ Pure and Comcast Business Class.
The Healthcare Heroes award program was designed to recognize excellence,
promote innovation and honor the efforts of individuals and organizations
making a significant impact on the quality of healthcare in New Jersey.
An independent panel of healthcare industry professionals judged the
nominations and selected Dr. Laub as a finalist in this award program.
The finalist's accomplishments were recognized and the winners of this
award program announced during a breakfast awards ceremony on June
23, 2008 at the Woodbridge Hotel and Conference Center.
The 2008 Graduates of St. Francis
Medical Center's School of Radiologic Technology: Kristina Sperling
of Levittiwn, PA; Frantz Saintilma of Hamilton, NJ; Walter M. Skonieczki
of Willingboro, NJ; Danielle DiStefano, of Trenton, NJ; Jessica Rohn,
of Levittown, PA; Alex Walker of Morrisville, PA; Beth Polyak, of Ewing,
NJ; and David Kalinowski of Hamilton, NJ.
The School of Radiologic Technology is an accredited, full-time
hospital based radiography program, which only accepts eight students per year.
Upon successful completion of the 24- month program, the student is
eligible to take the ARRT Examination, which certifies him/her as a
Registered Technologist, RT(R) and is eligible for the State of New
Jersey license.
Graduates can be found in many specialized areas of the profession
including Cat Scan (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear
Medicine, Sonography, Radiation Therapy, Cardiovascular Interventional
Technology, Education, Management, Radiation Physics and Sales.
St. Francis Medical Center celebrated
the 21st annual Cancer Survivor's Day on Sunday, June 1, 2008. The
event began with the celebration of Mass followed with a luncheon served
in the cafeteria to over 300 guests.
Guest speaker, Doretha Burrell, addressed the crowd and spoke about
the wonderful treatment she received at St. Francis.
St. Francis employees performed a Lone Ranger skit, a Minnie Pearl
skit, and told Laugh In inspired jokes, all orchestrated by our own
Betty Jovovich. Additional musical entertainment was provided by Aisha
and Darnell Myers (daughter and grandson of Jerry Myers) and Michael
Jovovich ( son of Betty Jovovich). All had a great time! Thanks to
everyone who made this day a huge success!
Nurses Day is held to recognize the
Strength, Commitment, and Compassion of our nurses. These are a few
of the many traits that make nurses an invaluable member of the healthcare
team. During National Nurses Week in May, St. Francis recognized all
of our nurses including those individuals nominated by their peers
for our annual Nurse Excellence Award with a luncheon in the cafeteria.
A nurse must have completed a minimum of two years of practice at the
medical center to be eligible for the award. Any St. Francis employee
can nominate an individual who has met the eligibility requirements.
The Nurse Excellence Award is presented to a nurse recognized and honored
for his or her contribution to the care of patients and thier families
and for consistently demonstrating excellence in professional practice.
A subcommittee of the Retention and Recruitment Committee chooses the
award recipient. The six categories that contribute to the final calculation
in deciding the winners of the awards are: professionalism, educational
development, demonstration of leadership, teamwork, and individual
contributions to patient care within our Values in Practice Program.
In addition to a monetary award our winners received an exclusive parking
space and a chance for the luxury car raffle to be drawn at the Spring
Gala.
Our 2008 Award Winners were: Fran Kenney, RN and Nadine Mileski,
LPN.
Mary Anne Suttles, RN, MSN
St.
Francis Medical Center recently named Mary Anne Suttles, RN, MSN
Vice
President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. In this
role,
Mary Anne is responsible for all inpatient nursing services, and
will
report directly to the President/CEO. Mary Anne is a graduate of the
Christ
Hospital School of Nursing in Jersey City, received her baccalaureate
degree
in Nursing from Rutgers University and a Master
of Science in
Nursing
from Hunter College of the City University of New York. Mary Anne
brings
over 20 years of nursing leadership experience to St. Francis
and
resides in Jackson, New Jersey.
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER HOLDS ANNUAL
SPRING GALA
(L-R) Gerard J. Jablonowski, St. Francis
Medical Center President
and CEO; Congressman Chris Smith; Paul R. Langevin, Chairman
St. Francis Board of Trustees; James F. Bishop, Chariman St. Francis
Foundation Board of Trustees
With
350 guests in attendance, the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation
held
its 45th annual spring gala at the Hyatt Regency-Princeton on
Saturday,
May 10, 2008.
The
prestigious "Spirit of St. Francis: award was presented to Congressman
Chris
Smith from New Jersey's fourth congressional district. This honor
is
given to an individual who reflects the philosophy of caring as embodied
by
St. Francis of Assisi. According to Jerry Jablonowski, President and
CEO
of St. Francis Medical Center "The consistent moral integrity shown
by
Congressman Chris Smith, both in his private life and as a public servant,
is
representative of the attributes of the philosphy of St. Francis of
Assisi,
and
it is our honor to present him with this award." Smith - a nationally
internationally
renowned leader in Congress particularly
in the areas of
human
rights, religious freedom, veterans' affairs and healthcare - is an
equally
passionate local advocate who tirelessly applies his energy
toward
meeting local and state challenges.
The
theme of the gala was "Black and White Ball" and guests danced
to
the music of The Cutting Edge. A musical video recapped the events
of
the past year of St. Francis Medical Center, and another video captured
the
spirit that connected Congressman Smith with his life's work that
embodies
the motto of St. Francis of Assisi, "It is in giving that we receive."
Co-chairs
of the dinner dance were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J.
Moonan,
Monsignor
Walter E. Nolan, Dr. Luz Ramos-Bonner and Mr. Donald
Bonner,
and Dr. and Mrs. C. James Romano. The event raised a record net
of
$140,000 to benefit St. Francis Medical Center.
Elizabeth
Arsenault of Ewing was the lucky winner of 2008 Lexus IS 250
through
a raffle sponsored by the St. Francis Medical Center Auxiliary.
Over
650 tickets were sold at a cost of $100.00 per ticket. "My mother
Theresa
Naples had been a long-time volunteer at St. Francis, this is a
wonderful
surprise. I am sure she is smiling down from heaven. I never
thought
it would happen to me. I hope people will continue to support
this
very worthy cause" Said Ms. Arsenault, Brian Bennett Vice President
of
Lawrence Lexus; Norma Monaghan, CFRE Executive Director of
St.
Francis Medical Center Foundation; and Melisa DeStefano, President
of
St. Francis Medical Center Auxiliary. The proceeds from the raffle
helped
raise $140,000 for St. Francis Medical Center.
If
you would like to be on the mailing list for a chance to win a brand
new
Lexus next year, please contact the Foundation Office at 609-599-5659.
ST. FRANCIS
MEDICAL CENTER DEDICATE
NEW INTERFAITH PRAYER ROOM
St.
Francis Medical Center recently renovated and dedicated space
in
the facility as an Interfaith Prayer Room. On Thursday, Marth13th,
physicians,
staff, administration, and religous leaders gathered to bless
and
dedicate the new space.
"The
Interfaith Prayer Room is yet another way that we, as a Catholic
hospital.
support and encourage the entire community of St. Francis.
We
consider this an extension of our St. Francis and St. Clare Chapel,
located
at the Chambers Street entrance, where many gather daily
for
Mass and quiet prayer, " says Jerry Jablonowski, president and
CEO
of St. Francis.
The
creation of the Interfaith Prayer Room was made possible through
of
several St. Francis physicians and Foundation Board Members.
St.
Francis would like to recognize and thank the following: Dr. Khalid
Durrani,
Dr. Salman Muazzam Muddassir, Dr. Helmi Saud, Hamilton
Gastroenterology
Group, Dr. Abdul-Hady M. Kheder, Dr. Zak Maniya,
Dr.
Abdul Mughal.
"It
is our hope to support and encourage the celebrations of different
faith
traditions while we continue to promote discovery and learning
about
the common ground we share. We also strive to provide a
dynamic
model of diversity, respect and dialogue here at St. Francis,"
says
Carol Jaworski, vice president of Missiona nd Ministry at
St.
Francis.
St. Francis Medical Center Bestows
Spirit of St. Francis Physician Award
Shown in the photo: Paul Langevin,
left, Chairman of the Board,
and Jerry Jablonowski, president and CEO of St. Francis, right,
present C. James Romano, MD, center, with the Spirit of St. Francis Award
at the recent Medical Staff dinner.
The
Board of Trustees of St. Francis Medical Center recently bestowed
its
2007 Spirit of St. Francis Physician Award to C. James Romano, MD,
President
of the Medical Staff.
The
Spirit of St. Francis Physician Award is presented to the Physician
who
exemplifies
the philosphy of compassion for all people embraced by
St.
Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the medical center.
According
to Gerard J. Jablonowski, president and CEO of St. Francis,
"This
award is given to the physician who demonstrates a positive
influence
to others, to the hospital and
to the community. Dr. Romano
has
shown his dedication to his patients, the community
and St. Francis
Medical
Center through his continued commitment to providing patients
the
highest quality healthcare with dignity, respect and compassion.
Dr.
Romano received his MD degree from the New Jersey College of
Medicine/Dentistry
in 1975. He completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology
residency
at St. Michael's Medical Center. He is Board certified by the
American
Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a Fellow of the
of
the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.
Dr.
Romano is the President of the
Medical Staff at St. Francis,
Chairman
of
the Department of Gynecology,
and also the Director of
Medical
Education.
He resides with his wife and family in Titusville, New Jersey.
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER ANNOUNCES
COMMUNITY
FUND RAISING BOARD MEMBERS
The
St. Francis Medical Center Foundation established the Community
Fund
Rasing Board (CFRB) dedicated to raising funds to benefit the hospital.
The
Community Fund Rasing is presently comprised of 20 young professionals
committed
to volunteerism, the mission of St. Francis Medical Center and
community
spirit.
On
December 12, 2007 the CFRB elected officers to their board they are:
President
Nicole Romano, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; Executive Vice President
Meghan
Watson, KPMGLLP; Vice President of Corporate Funding Al Dillione;
Secretary
Rebecca Mullowney, Pharmacopeia Drug Discovery; Treasurer
Scott
Lingrell, MetLife Financial Services; Vice President of Membership
Lysa
Bergenfeld, Esq., Stark & Stark; Vice President of Procurement Megan
Christensen,
Esq., Stark & Stark.
According
to Norma Monaghan, executive director of the St. Francis
Medical
Center
Foundation, "The CFRB was established to provide a community action
venue
for the area's many young professionals who connect with the
mission
of St. Francis Medical Center and wish to make a difference within
their
community." Members of the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation
Board
of Directors who mentor the CFRB are: James F. Bishop, Thomas J.
Moonan,
and Wendell Pribila.
Members
at large of the CFRB are: Richard Devlin, Wachovia Securities LLC;
Michael
Gummel, Paradigm Technology Consulting LLC; Jonathan Katz, Esq.
Stark
& Stark; Len Kudgis, Horizon NJ Health; Piper Huggins, McCarter
Theatre
Center; John MacDonald Esq., Stark & Stark; Monica Mardikian, Esq.
Pepper
Hamilton LLP; Michael Osborne, Esq., Lynch, Osborne & Thievakumar,
LLC;
Matthew Pribila, Withum SMith & Brown; David Ritz, Affordable Boxes
Company;
Nirav K. Shah, M.D., Princeton Brain & Spine Care.
"I
am very appreciative of the SFMC Community Fund Raising Board and
efforts
in helping us raise funds to continue our mission" says Jerry
Jablonowski,
president and CEO of St. Francis. To date the CFRB has
contributed
over $60,000 to benefit the hospital. The CFRB's next fundraiser
"Toast
to your Health", an event that features the finest restaurants and
wine
merchants, will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2008. For information
on
the CFRB or their fundraiser contact the SFMC Foundation office at
609-599-5659.
Nicole Romano
In
addition, president of the board, Nicole Romano, received an award
of
high
recognition from her employer Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
Ms.
Romano, Associate Director Commercial Solutions Support, was
presented
with the "The Golden Circle Award" on December 19, 2007.
"The
Golden Circle" award is reserved for those who have achieved the
highest
level of success in their respective fields within the company. As
President
of the St. Francis Medical Center Community Fund Raising Board
Ms.
Romano brings qualifications such as serving as
a model for others
in
performance and manner that helped her achieve this
professional
distinction.
ST. FRANCIS CELEBRATES WORLD DAY OF THE SICK
WITH BISHOP SMITH
On
Monday February 11th, St. Francis Medical Center celebrated the
World
Day of the Sick, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Bishop
Smith
and the Diocese of Trenton chose St. Francis Medical Center
as
the host site for this year's celebration.
The
Bishop spent time with the medical and surgical residents, and students
Nursing
and Radiologic Technology Schools. He then visited and
blessed
patients in the Compassionate Care hospice unit, as well
as
the other units in the facility.
Bishop
Smith celebrated the Liturgy of Anointing and Laying on the
Hands
for those present during mass held in the Chapel of St. Francis
and
St. Clare. St. Francis was very much honored to have Bishop Smith
spend
this very special day at their facility.
2007
With
over 500 people in attendance, St. Francis Medical Center held
its
annual holiday concert on Monday, December 3, 2007 at Sacred
Heart
Church in Trenton. The concert featured the Orchestra of
St.
Peter by the Sea conducted by Reverend Alphonse Stephenson,
benefited
St. Francis Medical Center and raised over $13,000.
"The
holiday concert is an excellent way to usher in the holiday
season,"
says Jerry Jablonowski, President and CEO, St. Francis
Medical
Center. "Reverend Stephenson is incredibly entertaining and
the
concert is just beautiful."
The
Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea is comprised of 45 professional
musicians
from 177 colleges and universities around the world. Also
performing
with the orchestra are Three Tenors.
Reverend
Stephenson formed his first orchestra in New York's theater
district
while he served at St. Malachy's, the actor's chapel, and later
went
on to conduct A Chorus Line. Reverend Stephenson has conducted
with
many revered orchestras such as the Fresno Philharmonic,
Delaware
Valley Philharmonic, and the Metro Lyric Opera.
If
you interested in attending the concert next year, please contact
the
Foundation Office at 609-599-5659.
St.
Francis Medical Center and The Trenton Devils hosted the annual
Teddy
Bear Toss to benefit the children of Children's Futures, and C.A.R.E.S.
on
Wednesday, December 19, 2007.
Each
year, the Devils didicate one game for fans to "toss" new teddy bears
on
the ice. The team collects the bears and distributes them to the children
at
St. Francis Medical Center.
"The
teddy bear toss is an excellent way to celebrate the holiday season,"
says
Jerry Jablonowski, President and CEO, St. Francis Medical Center. "The
Devils
help make the holiday season special for the children of St. Francis,
and
we really appreciate everything they do."
The
Children's Futures East Ward Parent/Child Center provides a safe and
nuturing
environment where mothers and fathers can utilize a full range of
free
services. Children's Futures is a program ensuring that mothers, fathers
and
infants get excellent healthcare and support. Through the various services
offered,
Children's Futures reaches over 100 children and their families in
the
Trenton
community.
The
C.A.R.E.S. (Children Are Really Extra Special) Program is an acute
partial
hospitalization
program for children between the ages of 4 and 18 years who
suffer
from emotional and behavioral difficulties. The program provides high
quality
mental health diagnosis and intensive psychiatric treatment for over
40
children who do not require inpatient care, but who cannot be managed
by
outpatient care alone.
Shown in the photo are the St. Francis
Medical Center 2007
Values In Practice (VIP) Employee Award Recipients.
Back row (l. to r.) Fran Kenny, RN; Patricia DiPietro, RT,
Michael Gaskins, Lenore Scott, Pat Babcock.
Front row (l. to r.) Veronica Bittner, RN, Terry Simmons,
Cecelia Black, Irmy Hughes, Dale Festa, RN.
St.
Francis Medical Center named the 2007 recipients for the hospital's
Values
In Practice (VIP) Employee Award. The Values In Practice
Employee
Recognition Program was established to honor those
employees
who best exemplify the mission and the values of the
medical
center. It also honors those who have made outstanding
contributions
to the medical center and the community.
November 26, 2007
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER
PROMOTES
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Shown
in the photo: Laura Farley, center, lung cancer patient at
St.
Francis, with Dr. Joseph Costic, DO, left, who performed her
life
saving lobectomy, and Laura's brother and SFMC physician,
Louis
G. Fares, MD.
Nearly
200 individuals from the community and surrounding
businesses
attended a complimentary Health/Business Connection
(HBC)
luncheon seminar at the Trenton Country Club on October 18th
to
learn more about the St. Francis Regional Cancer Center.
A
panel of experts from the St. Francis Regional Cancer Center,
a
Fox Chase Cancer Center Partner, presented "Clearing the Air
about
Lung Cancer: Prevention, Detection and Treatment". They
discussed
the importance of early detection, treatment options,
and
answered questions from the audience.
The
panel included Jo Ann Chalal, MD., Medical Director, Robert
J.
Moonan Department of Radiation Oncology: Joseph
T. Costic, DO,
FACOS,
Chief Section of Thoracic Surgery: Elizabeth
Rosvold, MD.,
Medical
Oncologist; Joseph R. Steeger, MD, Chief, Section of
Pulmonary
Medicine.
One
very special guest in attendance wa Laura Farley, a lung
cancer
survivor who had a partial lobectomy by Dr. Costic. Laura
has
been cancer free ever since.
The
Health/Business Connection was started in 2002 to inform and
educate
the business community on health issues that affect the
community.
It allows an opportunity for the hospital to connect
with
the business community while giving the business community
a
networking opportunity. This seminar was co-sponsored by
NJ
Pure Medical Malpractice Insurance.
According
to Jerry Jablonowski, CEO of St. Francis Medical Center,
"The
St. Francis Regional Cancer Center offers many great services
to
our patients". By reaching out to the business community through
the
Health Business Connection, we welcome the opportunity to
to
share information on this regional center of excellence and to
heighten
lung cancer awareness throughout our community."
For
more information about The St. Francis Regional Cancer Center
please
call 609-599-5221.
September 25, 2007
St.
Francis Medical Center held a raffle for a brand new children's
bicycle
at Hamilton Township's annual Septemberfest on Sept. 9th.
James
Egan, pictured above, and his 12 year old son Connor, of
Hamilton,
were the lucky winners. "This is great," said James.
Right
in time for Connor's birthday!"
St.
Francis has provided blood pressure screenings and health
information
to September patrons for the past four years.
August 7, 2007
Shown
in the photo are (l. to r.): The Okulicz Family, Christina, Wallace
and
their children Calvin and Brielle; Norma Monaghan, Executive
Director
of St. Francis Medical Center Foundation; Brian Bennett,
Vice
President of Lawrence Lexus; and Melisa DeStefano, President
of
St. Francis Medical Center Auxiliary.
Wallace
and Christina Okulicz of Bordentown were the lucky
winners
of a 2007 Lexus IS 250 through a raffle sponsored by the
St.
Francis Medical Center Auxiliary. Over 650 tickets were sold at
a
of
$100.00 per ticket, raising over $34,500 to benefit St. Francis
Medical
Center. The drawing was held at the hospital's Spring
Gala
on
June 9th at the Hyatt Regency Princeton.
July 30, 2007
The
St. Francis Medical Center School of Nursing held its 101st
Commencement
on Thursday, June 14th at Our Lady of Sorrows
Church.
Bonny Ross, R.N., M.A., Ph.D., Director of the School of
Nursing,
presented the following graduates with diplomas:
Maria
Bandin, Crystal Bing, Kimberly Brown, Nancy Chimera,
Jennifer
Cordero, Agnieszka Drzymala, Abegail Duay, Crystal Jackson,
Jessica
Kamal, Margaret Kingsley, Fawcett Lee, Jeffery Leporati,
Colleen
Lumio, Elizabeth Manness, Molly Mastrangelo, Gwen McNulty,
Beverly
Opielski, Sean Perez, Hema Riznyk, Janell Rosania, Janet
Sager,
Gary Samson, Donelle Smith, Lisa Teppert, Angela Tuccillo,
Delores
Vandergrift, Brian Verdi, Rosemond VonHerbert, Olena
Wagner,
Michele Walker, Falecia Wasicko, Kelly Watters and
Heather
Williams.
An
Awards Ceremony was held Monday, June
11th.
This
year awards went to the following recipients:
Jennifer
Cordero - Judith Mella Persichilli Scholarship
Olena
Wagner - Marilyn Dillione Nursing Excellence Award
Angela
Tuccillo - Dr.
Albert J Sekerak Award
Falecia
Wasicko - Jennifer Fletcher
Scholarship Award
Kimberely
Brown - St. Francis School
of Nursing Alumni Award
Abegail
Duay - New Jersey League for
Nursing Award and
The Spirit of Nursing Award and the Nurse with Heart Award
July 13, 2007
For
over 134 years, St. Francis Medical Center (SFMC) has provided
quality
healthcare to the residents of Trenton and its surrounding
communitities.
SFMC has made many technological advances and
"firsts"
in the county.
The
newest addition to SFMC is the recently opened lobby and
entrance
on Chambers Street. This new space links the existing
parking
garage to the hospital, allowing for a covered entrance.
Patients
will also find friendly faces to greet them and help them get
to
where they are going, and a newly renovated registration area
conveniently
located to the new entrance. In addition, the new
"horseshoe"
driveway is complete with curbside service and
valet
parking.
"Since
we're located in an urban setting, parking has always been an
issue,"
says Jerry Jablonowski, president and CEO. "We hope that
by
adding valet parking, our patients will find it easier and more
convenient
to visit our facility." The complimentary service is available
Monday
through Friday from 7:30am - 4:00pm.
For
those patient who find it difficult to get to the facility,
SFMC
also
offers the Senior Choice Van service to pick them up for
appointments
and procedures at the medical center. For more
information
on these services and other information, please call
609-599-5000.
St. Francis wants you to BE WELL.
July 12, 2007
The
2007 Graduates of St. Francis Medical Center's School of
Radiologic
Technology: Stacie Vancho, Colleen Heagan, Devin
Tsougas,
Rosemarie DiGuiseppi, John Osvai, and Christopher
Falconio.
The
School of Radiologic Technology is an accredited, full-time
hospital
based radiography program, which only accepts eight
students
per year. Upon successful completion of the
24 month
program,
the student is eligible to take the ARRT Registry
Examination,
which certifies him/her as a Registered Technologist,
RT
(R) and is eligible for the State of New Jersey License.
Graduates
can be found in many specialized areas of the profession
including
Cat Scan (CT), Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI), Nuclear
Medicine,
Sonography, Radiation Therapy, Cardiovascular
Interventional
Technology, Education, Management, Radiation Physics,
and
Sales.
July 2, 2007
With
over 300 guests in attendance, the St. Francis Medical Center
Foundation
held its 44th annual spring gala at the Hyatt Regency-
Princeton
on Saturday. June 9, 2007.
The
prestigious "Spirit of St. Francis" award was presented to Barbara
Draper
of Hamilton, in honor of her true compassion for the healthcare
needs
of the poor and underserved as reflected in her history with
the
medical center. Barbara began her career at St. Francis
in 1959
as
a candy striper and retired last December as Vice President of
Mission
and Ministry.
The
award was presented to Barbara Draper, center, (l. to r.) Gerard
J.
Jablonowski, president and CEO of the hospital; Jim Bishop, Chairman
St.
Francis Foundation Board of Trustees; Paul R. Langevin, Chairman
of
the Hospital Board of Trustees; and Judith M. Persichilli, Executive
Vice
President, Catholic Health East Northeast Division.
According
to Jablonoski, "We are very proud to present Barbara
Draper
with this honor. Throughout her tenure here at St. Francis,
Barbara
has made many contributions to our facility and the
communitites
we serve."
Barbara
has had many varied job descritions including ER staff nurse,
student
clinical instructor, and Vice President of Mission and Ministry.
As
Director of Women's Health Services from 1986 to 1995, Barbara
led
the crusade to offer affordable
mammography to all women in
all
walks of life. Barbara has spear-headed educational classes for
self-breast
exams, osteoporosis and menopause. Barbara was also
a
pivotal force in the establishment of the Heart Hospital in 1998.
The
theme of the gala was "Cruise Around the World" and guests
danced
to the music of the The Cutting Edge. A musical video recapped
the
events of the past year of St. Francis Medical Center, and
another
video captured the spirit that connected Barbara Draper
with
her life's work that embodies the motto of St. Francis of Assisi,
"That
is in giving that we receive."
St.
Francis Medical Center celebrated National Cancer Survivor Day
on
Sunday June 3rd, 2007. The day began with a celebration mass in
the
Medical Center's Chapel, followed by lunch and entertainment in
the
cafeteria.
Two
representatives from the Mercer County Chapter of the American
Cancer
Society, Marjorie Carnevale, Chair of the Mercer Board of
Managers,
and Jo Ann Gavin, Director of Patient and Family Services,
were
also present. In addition, Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer proclaimed
June
3rd as National Cancer Survivor Day in Trenton.
Over
200 survivors from the St. Francis Regional Cancer Center, Fox
Chase
Cancer Center Partner, were invited to "board" the SS
Survivorship
and celebrate their victory over cancer. St. Francis
employees
performed a skit in costume, bringing the crowd back
to
the days of Lucille
Ball and the Chordettes. The Inspiration of
Praise
Dance Ministry
of Friendship Baptist Church also entertained
the
crowd.
Mai-Ly
Pulley, RN, of Edhewater Park, NJ was awarded the 2007
St.
Francis Medical Center Nurse Excellence Award. The peer-nominated
award
is bestowed each year on the nurse who best exemplifies
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