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2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
ST. FRANCIS NURSE NAMED SECRETARY OF NATIONAL
COALITION OF ONCOLOGY NURSE NAVIGATORS
TRENTON - Anne-Marie Williams, RN, BSN, CBCN, Breast Care
Coordinator at St. Francis Medical Center has been appointed Secretary
for The National Coalition of Oncology Nurse Navigators.
Ms. Williams, of Washington’s Crossing, PA, has been navigating
women with abnormal mammographic findings through the healthcare continuum
for the past five years. Additionally, she provides patient, staff
and community education on early detection strategies; assists in performance
improvement activities; planning multidisciplinary cancer conferences;
and facilitates the breast and general cancer support groups. Anne-Marie
has written, implemented and monitors a grant through Komen for the
Cure Central and South Jersey
Affiliate to educate and screen un/underinsured women. Recently, Komen named
her 2010 Grantee of the Year.
Anne-Marie is a member of the Cancer Committee, Cancer Survivor Day Planning
Committee and has initiated the Lung Nurse Navigator role at St. Francis.
She has been the Co-Captain for Race for the Cure annually since 2005; and
assisted in the planning of a two-day breast conference with the Fox Chase
Cancer Center Partners. She is a member of several professional organizations
including: the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), National Coalition of Oncology
Nurse Navigators (NCONN), American Society of Breast Surgeons and she currently
holds the position of President Elect for the Mercer County ONS.
Anne-Marie is a welcomed addition to NCONN’s executive board and brings
to the organization the professionalism and expertise of a seasoned Oncology
Nurse Navigator.
2009
November 24, 2009
ST. FRANCIS CHIEF OF MEDICAL STAFF
HONORED
BY THE INSTITUTE FOR NURSING
Physicians who embody spirit of support and collaboration
with
Nurses recognized at October 7 th Gala
Trenton – C. James Romano, MD, of Titusville, NJ
recently received the prestigious “APPLE Award” by The
Institute for Nursing, the foundation of New Jersey State Nurses Association.
The award was given to physicians who demonstrate a shared commitment
to quality health care and the patients cared for. The physicians were
honored at the Institute’s APPLE Award Gala “Acknowledging
Physician Partners: a Liaison for Excellence” held on October
7 th at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe, NJ.“There is little
that does more to promote quality compassionate health care than the
care provided as a result of collaboration between physicians and nurses,” said
Dr. Mary Ann T. Donohue, RN, President of the Institute for Nursing. “The
APPLE Awards recognize physicians who understand this important principle
and practice it every day.”
Dr. Romano was nominated by Mary
Anne Suttles, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at St. Francis Medical Center. “The
awards are an opportunity for our nurses to acknowledge and honor physicians,
like Dr. Romano, who value, respect, and collaborate with them,” says
Mary Anne Suttles, RN.
Friday, October 30, 2009
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER 27 th ANNUAL GOLF & TENNIS
OUTING
PHOTO CAPTION ( l. to r.): Jerry Jablonowski,
SFMC President & CEO,
Ken Stoddard, Tom Moonan, Tournament Chair and Chairman of the SFMC
Foundation Board of Trustees.
TRENTON – St. Francis Medical Center Foundation hosted its
27 th Annual Golf & Tennis Outing on Monday, September 21, 2009
at the Trenton Country Club. There were 154 golfers in all and two
shotguns one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Tennis began
at 1:00 p.m. with full courts! The beautiful day was punctuated with
opportunities to win prizes and golf challenges. The highlight of the
event came in the evening with the announcement of the “Moonan
Tournament Cup” winner. Those on the winning foursome were: Ken
Stoddard, Jones Toland, Mark Bovinizer, and Steve Shaffer. The trophy
cup was ceremoniously presented to Ken Stoddard by Jerry Jablonowski,
President and CEO of St. Francis Medical Center and Tom Moonan, Tournament
Chair and Chairman of the Foundation Board of Trustees. Over 180 people
were present at the dinner for Award ceremonies and to participate
in the “Live Auction” The Golf and Tennis Outing raised
over $63,000 after expenses surpassing last year’s event proceeds. “We
are very grateful for the continued support of our friends and donors,” said
Jerry Jablonowski, President & CEO of St. Francis Medical Center.
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER NAMES
2009
VIP AWARD RECIPIENTS
St. Francis Medical Center named the 2009 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 2009 Values In Practice (VIP) Employee
Award recipients are: Richard Cattani , Security Officer- Security & Safety;
Corinne Dziesiuta , Medical Record Clerk II – Health Information
Management; Kellyann Flach , Technician – Radiation Therapy;
Myra Garcia , Receptionist – Information; Lee Hollendonner ,
Chaplain – Mission & Ministry; Nida Relevante , RN, RN Team
Coordinator, 2B; Keisha Robinson , Support Associate – Cardio
Vascular Services; Maria Santiago , Group Leader – Environmental
Services; Debbie Wilno , Executive Secretary – Administration;
Connie Wilson, LPN , LPN Discharge Nurse, Nursing Education.
ST. FRANCIS MAKES DONATION TO THE
GREATER
MERCER COUNTY START HEART WALK
PHOTO CAPTION: St. Francis Medical Center recently made
a donation in the amount of $3,000 to the Greater Mercer County Start!
Heart Walk. St. Francis Medical Center’s president and CEO, Jerry
Jablonowski, center, is the Chairman of the 2009 Start! Heart Walk,
which will be held on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 10:30 at Mercer
County Park. Shown above with Jerry are the Heart Walk Team Captains
from St. Francis (l to r.) J. Delores Baker; Stephanie Lyles, Regional
Director of the Greater Mercer Start! Heart Walk; Terri Levitsky, MA,
RT; and Marianne Pollock. For more information, to register, or make
a donation please call (609) 223-3754 or visit www.mercercountyheartwalk.org.
ST. FRANCIS
MEDICAL CENTER HOLDS 46th ANNUAL SPRING GALA
WEST WINDSOR - With over 370 guests in attendance, the St. Francis
Medical Center Foundation held its 46 th annual spring gala at the
Hyatt Regency-Princeton on Saturday, May 9, 2009.
The prestigious Boehm “Spirit of St. Francis” award was
presented to Dr. Joel Namm. 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 “Dr. Namm’s commitment of over three decades to
St. Francis Medical Center’s mission and his passion for excellence
as a Physician serves as an example to all in healthcare. He represents
the philosophy of caring as embodied by St. Francis of Assisi and is
an outstanding recipient of this award”
A musical video recapped the events of the past year of St. Francis
Medical Center, and another video captured the special moments that
Dr. Namm spent at St. Francis Medical Center connecting his life’s
work with the motto of St. Francis of Assisi, “It is in giving
that we receive.”
Co-chairs of the dinner dance were Mr. and Mrs. Harry R. Hill, Jr.,
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Nelson and Dr. and Mrs. Masoud Rezvan.
The event raised a record net of over $150,000 to benefit St. Francis
Medical Center – this is a significant increase from 2008. “We
are most grateful to the friends of St. Francis Medical Center who
choose to support us, their continued commitment helps us continue
our mission to be a transforming, healing presence in the community
that we serve” said Jerry Jablonowski, President & CEO of
St. Francis Medical Center.
St. Francis Medical Center
Auxiliary
Sponsors 50/50
TRENTON – Skip and Janet Hutchinson of Marco Island, FL were
the lucky winners of the 50/50 raffle sponsored by the St. Francis
Medical Center Auxiliary. Janet is a graduate of SFMC School of Nursing,
and Skip and Janet are long-time supporters of St. Francis. Over 660
tickets were sold at a cost of $100 per ticket, and the winners received
$33,000.
The drawing was held at the hospital’s Spring Gala on Saturday,
May 9, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Princeton. Shown in the photo are
(l. to r.): Jerry Jablonowski, president and CEO; Norma Monaghan, CFRE
Executive Director of St. Francis Medical Center Foundation; Janet
Hutchinson, Melisa DeStefano, President of St. Francis Medical Center
Auxiliary, and Tom Moonan SFMC Foundation Chairman of the Board. The
proceeds from the raffle helped to raise $150,000 for St. Francis Medical
Center.
For more information, please contact the Foundation Office at 609-599-5659.
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER
LAUNCHES
NEW LIFE PROGRAM
Trenton, NJ – St. Francis Medical Center in Trentonrecently
launched LIFE, or Living Independently For Elders, a
new, community-based long-term care model. LIFE is
a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, known nationally as PACE and
is the first program of its kind in New Jersey.
On Monday, June 22, LIFE St. Francis held a Dedication and Blessing.
Bishop John M. Smith and Congressman Chris Smith were among those present.
“ I applaud you for taking this great step forward to serve
our community. This facility and people who work here will be serving
our elderly and their families. I am proud to be a part of your celebration
today and honored to bless this facility and this professional staff,” says
Bishop Smith.
LIFE serves frail seniors throughout Greater Mercer County, enabling
them to receive comprehensive health care while remaining in the comfort
of their home and community. This program offers an alternative to
nursing home placement.
“Each LIFE enrollee will receive customized
care that is planned and delivered by a coordinated, interdisciplinary
team. A participant’s care plan usually integrates some home
care services from the team with several visits each week to the LIFE Center,
which serves as the hub for medical care, rehabilitation, social activities
and dining,” says Jerry Jablonowski, president and CEO of St.
Francis. “LIFE will provide a new level of care
to our area’s seniors.”
In order to participate in LIFE, enrollees must
be at least 55 or older; certified by the state to need nursing home
care; able to live safely in the community at the time of enrollment;
and live in Mercer County or in Bordentown, Roebling or Florence in
Burlington County.
The LIFE Center is located at 1435 Liberty Street on the border of
Trenton in Hamilton, NJ. LIFE St. Francis was developed
in part with a grant from the NJ Health Initiatives Program of the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
For services to be covered, participants must follow the care plan
approved by the care team. Participants may be liable for unauthorized
services.
St. Francis President and CEO Jerry Jablonowski
Receives
Boy Scout “Spirit of America” Award
TRENTON, NJ, June 24, 2009 –Jerry Jablonowski, President and
CEO of St. Francis Medical Center, was recently honored with the “Spirit
of America” Award from the Central New Jersey Council of the
Boy Scouts of America.
The Spirit of America Award ceremony celebrates the nation’s
current and future leadership by recognizing the contributions of local
community leaders and by honoring the achievement of young men who
have attained the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. This year's ceremony
was June 11, 2009 at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village in Princeton,
NJ. In total, the event earned more than $107,000 for the Central New
Jersey Council.
Along with Mr. Jablonowski, this year’s "Spirit of America" Award
recipients were:
- David R. Breidinger, Senior Vice President, Comcast Cable-Eastern
Division
- Bernie Flynn, President & CEO, New Jersey Manufacturers (NJM)
- F. Kevin Tylus, Regional President, PNC Bank-Central New Jersey
The event also honored the 232 “Class of 2009” Eagle
Scouts from Central New Jersey Council. Fewer than 4% of all boys who
join Scouting nationally achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Mr. Jablonowski thanked the Scouts for the award on behalf of all
St. Francis employees. Jerry said: “ Our mission, to be a healing
transforming presence in the community we serve, is very similar to
the mission of the Boy Scouts. Tonight, I represent my employees who
deliver the highest quality of care to the neediest of people. I represent
an institution that has served the City of Trenton and the surrounding
areas for over 134 years. "
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER NURSE AMONG THE
FIRST
TO RECEIVE CERTIFICATION
Trenton, NJ - Anne-Marie Williams, RN, BSN, CBCN, Breast Care Coordinator
at St. Francis Medical Center, passed the first Certified Breast Care
Nurse (CBCN) Examination administered in February 2009.
In February,
120 nurses passed the first administration of the Certified Breast
Care Nurse (CBCN) Examination. These registered nurses consist of staff
nurses, clinicians, educators, and managers in breast care nursing.
Ms. Williams navigates women with abnormal mammographic findings through
the healthcare continuum in a timely manner. Ms. Williams reduces much
of the apprehension and fear her patients feel by scheduling appointments
and handling insurance issues and referrals.
The CBCN Examination tests
the knowledge necessary for the nurse to practice competently within
the specialty of breast care nursing, from prevention/detection, to
diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end of life care. Breast care
certification is available to nurses who have:
- A current, active, unrestricted RN licensure
- A minimum of 12 months of experience as an RN within three years
prior to application
- A minimum of 1000 hours of breast care practice within the two-and-one-half
years prior to the application, and
- Completed a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education in the
specialty of breast care.
Additionally, Ms. Williams provides patients, staff and community
education on early detection strategies; assists in performance improvement
activities; plans multidisciplinary breast conferences; and facilitates
breast cancer support groups. Ms. Williams also wrote and implemented
a grant, through Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for educating and screening
un/underinsured women.
She is a member of the Cancer Committee, Cancer Survivor Day Planning
Committee and initiated the lung nurse navigator role. Ms. Williams
has been the Co-Captain for Race for the Cure annually from 2005 to
2008, and assisted in the planning of a two-day breast conference with
the Fox Chase Cancer Center Partners. She is a member of several professional
organizations including the Oncology Nursing Society, National Coalition
of Oncology Nurse Navigators, and American Society of Breast Surgeons.
The CBCN Examination is offered at more than 230 computer-based testing
sites in North America and at selected international sites during quarterly
testing intervals. Information about the CBCN Test is available at www.oncc.org
The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, an affiliate corporation
of the Oncology Nursing Society, develops, administers and evaluates
programs for certification in oncology nursing.
ST. FRANCIS
MEDICAL CENTER
LAUNCHES
NEW LIFE PROGRAM
Trenton, NJ – St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton recently
launched LIFE, or Living Independently For Elders, a
new, community-based long-term care model. LIFE is
a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, known nationally as PACE and
is the first program of its kind in New Jersey.
“LIFE serves
frail seniors throughout Greater Mercer County, enabling them to receive
comprehensive health care while remaining in the comfort of their home
and community. This program offers an alternative to nursing home placement,” says
Jill Viggiano, RN, executive director of LIFE St.
Francis.
“Each LIFE enrollee will receive customized
care that is planned and delivered by a coordinated, interdisciplinary
team. A participant’s care plan usually integrates some home
care services from the team with several visits each week to the LIFE Center,
which serves as the hub for medical care, rehabilitation, social activities
and dining,” says Jerry Jablonowski, president and CEO of St.
Francis. “LIFE will provide a new level of care
to our area’s seniors.
” In order to participate in LIFE,
enrollees must be at least 55 or older; certified by the state to need
nursing home care; able to live safely in the community at the time
of enrollment; and live in Mercer County or in Bordentown, Roebling
or Florence in Burlington County.
The LIFE Center is located at 1435
Liberty Street on the border of Trenton in Hamilton, NJ. LIFE St.
Francis was developed in part with a grant from the NJ Health Initiatives
Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER
BESTOWS SPIRIT OF ST. FRANCIS AWARD
TRENTON - The Board of Trustees of St. Francis Medical
Center recently bestowed its 2008 Spirit of St. Francis Physician
Award to Joseph Costic, DO, Cardiothoracic Surgeon. The Spirit of St.
Francis Physician Award is presented to the physician who exemplifies
the philosophy 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. Costic 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.
Costic received his BS degree from Notre Dame University, and his DO
degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1986. He
completed his general surgery residency at Michigan Health Center,
and his Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Deborah Heart and Lung
Center. He is board certified in General Surgery and Cardiothoracic-Vascular
Surgery.
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
outstanding
nursing practice.
Mai-Ly
has worked at St. Francis for eight years and has served in
her
present position in the Emergency Department for one year.
"Mai-Ly
came to the Emergency Department with a reputation for
for
being professional and having a good work ethic. In her assigned
role
as resource/charge nurse, she functions competently and
and
efficiently. She is an excellent mentor and resource for the new
staff.
Mai-Ly makes mature decisions and, along with her patient
care
responsibilities, takes the resource position very seriously," says
Judy
DiBartolo, RN, Executive Director of Nursing - Emergency and
Ambulatory
Services.
In
addition, a Nurse Excellence Award was given to the Licensed
Practical
Nurse (LPN) who best exemplifies outstanding nursing practice.
This
award was given to Connie Wilson, of Ewing, NJ.
Connie
has served St. Francis for over 18 years and has worked as
the
discharge nurse for three years. "Connie is a true professional
in
every sense of the word. She is devoted to our organization, our
patients
and displays a great sense of volunteerism," says Connie's
supervisor,
Judy Rottkamp, Vice President Clinical and Professional
Services.
The
first Delaware Valley Stroke Alert, a joint effort by hospitals and
rehabilitation
centers in the Delaware Valley aimed to raise awareness
about
stroke, was held on May 8, 2007. St. Francis participated by
holding
an "Iron Chef" style cook-off in the hospital cafeteria. The
three
teams were represented by the Emergency Room, the Stroke
Team,
and the Cardiac Team. Each team was given the same
ingredients
and an electric wok.
The
meals, chicken or shrimp stir fry, were judged on taste,
presentation,
and originality. The judges, Norma Monaghan,
Executive
Director of the Foundation, Joe Flamini, Vice President/COO,
and
Perry Herman, MD, Physical Medicine, guest speaker
at the
event,
awarded each team a First Prize award in one
of the categories.
After
the cook-off, Dr. Perry Herman spoke to the crowd of community
members
about Physiatry, Connie Wilson, LPN, spoke about smoking
cessation,
Mike Esmond, Director of Physical Therapy, spoke about
exercise,
and Kristen Yudin, RD, spoke about nutrition.
This
event will also kick off a series of Stroke support groups for
St.
Francis stroke patients.
St.
Francis Medical Center today opened the new entrance and lobby
located
on Chambers Street in Trenton.
This
new space allows patients a covered drop off point and links
the
entrance to the existing parking garage in an enclosed and
concenient
environment. The existing registration area has been
renovated
and movced to a more convenient location.
St.
Francis Medical Center President and CEO, Gerard J. Jablonowski,
was
joined by Trenton Councilman Gino Melone, Representative Rush
Holt,
and Mercer County Freeholders, Pat Colavita and Anthony
Carabelli,
who congratulated the medical center on its commitment
to
the community.
According
to Jablonoski, "St. Francis Medical Center is committed to
the
healthcare needs of the Greater Trenton community on all levels,
including
regional Centers of Excellence, primary care access,
and
emergency
medical services. We believe that the future of St. Francis
Medical
Center is an integral part of the future of our community.
We
are proud of our position and legacy in this capital city".
Inside
the new lobby is a beautiful bronze statue of St. Francis
which
was dedicated to a longtime employee, Marilyn Dillione during
the
grand opening. Marilyn died in January 2004 after working for
more
than 50 years at the hospital. "There is not a square foot of
this
building that she did not touch," said Judy Persichilli who called
Dillione
a "pioneer" in the field. "She opened her heart to all of us".
St.
Francis
Regional Cancer Center at St. Francis Medical, a Fox Chase
Cancer
Center Partner, received a Three-Year Approval with
Commendation
following on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor.
During
this evaluation, the Regional Cancer Center demostrated a
Commendation
level of compliance with six standards that
represent
the full scope of the cancer program (cancer committee
leadership,
cancer data management, clinical services, research,
community
outreach, and quality improvement). In addition, St. Francis
received
a compliance rating for all other standards.
Receiving
care at a CoC (Commission on Cancer)-approved cancer
program,
like the Regional Cancer Center at St. Francis, ensures
that
a patient will have access to:
- Comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services
and equipment
- A multi-specialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment
options
- Access to cancer-related information, education, and support
- A cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers
and treatment
results and offers lifelong patient follow-up
- Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care
- Quality care close to home
The
Approvals Program, a component of the CoC, sets quality-of-care
standards
for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure
they
conform to the standards. Approval by the CoC
is given to those
facilities
that have voluntarily committed
to providing the highest
level
of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation
process
and review of their performance. To maintain approval,
facilities
must undergo on-site review every three years.
Only 25%
of hospitals in the United States and its territories have
approved
cancer programs and St. Francis Medical Center is among this
elite group.
It is estimated that 80% of all newly diagnosed cancer
patients
are treated in these facilities.
St.
Francis Medical Center recently promoted four employees, Gail
Kosyla,
Judy Rottkamp, RN, BSN, MA, CAN, Kathy Vaccaro, RN,BSN,
CPHQ,
CIC, and Judy DiBartolo, RN, BSN.
Gail
Kosyla, of Newtown, PA, has been promoted to the position
of
Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer and will continue
to
report to the President/CEO. In her new position and expanded
role,
while maintaining accountability for all Financial Services,
Gail
will assume responsibility to support the areas of Clinical and
Professional
Services, along with Administration and Facility Operations.
Gail
will retain responsibility of Strategic Planning and the medical
center's
Information Technology services.
Judy
Rottkamp, RN, BSN, MA, CAN, of Trenton, NJ, has been promoted
to
the position of Vice President of Clinical and Professional Services
and
reports directly to Gail Kosyla. In her new position, Judy will
be
accountable
for Radiology, Lab, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, along
with
Cardiovascular testing, the Wound Care Center, and the
Vascular
Lab. She will assume support for the St. Francis Magnet
Nursing
Project Director and support the Magnet Certification process
with
the Nursing Division.
Kathy
Vaccaro, RN, BSN, CPHQ, CIC, of Columbus, NJ has been
promoted
to the position of Vice President of Quality, Safety, and
Compliance
and continues to report directly to the President /CEO.
In
her new position,
Kathy will expand her accountabilities within
Quality
to include
Utilization Management, Case Management, and
Social
Work Services.
She will continue as the organization's
Compliance
Officer and maintain responsibility for all Quality
reporting
and measures, Risk Management, Patient Advocacy,
Infection
Control, along with all Regulatory and Licensure
compliance.
Judy
DiBartolo, RN, BSN, of Hamilton, NJ, has been promoted to
the
position
of Executive Director of Emergency and Ambulatory Care Services,
and
will expand her accountabilities to include all Community
Outreach
Clinical and Educational Services, along with grant-funded
programs
such as Children's Futures and HIV Support Services.
Jean
Hodachok, Director of Community Outreach, will now report
directly
to Judy. Judy will maintain responsibility for the Emergency
Department,
Clinic Services, The Sister Hyacintha Program, the
Family
Medicine Clinic, along with other ambulatory care services
at
Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilities.
2006
St.
Francis Medical Center today announced that is has earned the
Gold
Seal of Approval for stroke care from the Joint Commission on
Accreditation
of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO). This Disease-
Specific
Certification was awarded to the Primary Stroke Center based
on
the results of a recent on-site review.
"St
Francis Medical Center's certification is indicative of the program's
compliance
with national standards and effective use of established
clinical
practice guidelines to manage and optimize care," said
Russell
P. Massaro, MD FACPE, Joint Commission Excutive Vice-
President,
Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations.
St.
Francis has worked tirelessly to create one of the best primary
stroke
centers in the region, and we are proud to achieve this
distinction,"
noted Jerry Jablonowski, President and CEO of St.
Francis
Medical Center.
The
St. Francis Primary Stroke Center was developed under the
direction
of Charles Kososky, M.D., Medical Director of stroke
evaluation
at SFMC, working with a team of St. Francis Physicians,
Magnet
Nurses, and Hospital Administrators.
Working
hand in hand with St. Francis's Emergency Department
the
primary stroke center brings together a 24-hour-on-call team
with
stroke-trained physicians from multiple specialties, including
neurology,
neurosurgery, radiology, and emergency medicine.
The
team utilizes state-of-the-art technology to provide evaluation
and
management of patients who exhibit signs of a stroke or
what
is increasingly referred to as "brain attack."
The
Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center Certification is based
on
recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the
Brain
Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association's
statements/guidelines
for stroke care. JCAHO launched the
program
in 2003, and currently about 166 hospitals nationwide
and
only nine in Pennsylvania have received the Joint Commission's
Primary
Stroke Center Certification, with St. Francis being the
first
and only one in Mercer County.
Nearly
200 individuals from the community and surrounding businesses
attended a
complimentary Health/Business Connection (HBC) luncheon
seminar
at the Lafayette
Yard Marriott on October 12th to learn more
about
St. Francis Regional Cancer Center.
In
honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, a panel of experts from the
St.
Francis Regional Cancer Center discussed the importance of early
detection
and answered questions from the audience.
One
very special guest in attendance was Barbara Drake, the first patient
to
receive MammoSite RTS treatments at the St. Francis Regional Cancer
Center.
MammoSite is an innovative radiation therapy device that internally
delivers
radiation directly to the tissue surrounding the original tumor, where
recurrence
is most likely. The MammoSite RTS minimizes radiation exposure
to healthy
tissue and reduces the length of treatment from five to seven
weeks
to one to five days. Barbara shared her account and highly recommends
MammoSite for anyone who is eligible.
Catherine
Gleason, MD, Breast Cancer Specialist gave a presentation
highlighting the
unique services she offers patients. Dr. Gleason's can provide
ultrasound, sterotactic core biopsy, mammography, and same-day
diagnosis
to her patients in her state-of-the-art office located in
Lawrenceville,
NJ.
Other
panalists included Jo Ann Chalal, MD, Medical Director of Robert J.
Moonan Department
of Radiation Oncology, Elizabeth Rosvold, MD,
Medical
Director of
the Cancer Center, and Sangeete Tyerech, MD,
Radiation
Oncologist.
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 Avon.
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 share information on this
regional center
of excellence
and to heighten breast cancer awareness
throughout
our community.
For
more information about The Francis Medical Cancer Center please call
609-599-5221,
or visit us on the web at www.stfrancismedical.com.
St.
Francis Medical Center named the 2006 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 in practice of the medical center. It
honors
those who have made outstanding contributions to the medical
center
and the community.
The
St. Francis Medical Center 2006 Values in Practice (VIP) Employee
Award
recipients are Elva Colon, RN, RN Team Coordinator - CCU of Ewing;
April
Mason-Grimes, RN, Team Coordinator - Emergency Services, of Trenton;
Arsenia
Gross, Patient Access Manager - Admissions, of Langhorne, PA;
Karen
McAvenia, CT Scan Tech - Radiology, of Mercerville; Dana Mitchell,
Mammography
Tech - Radiology, of Morrisville, PA; Wanda McNeill, Support
Associate
- ICU, of Willingboro; June Siroy, Lead Physical Therapist - Physical
Therapy,
of Hightstown; John Thomas Jr., Housekeeper - Housekeeping,
of
Trenton; and James Wilson, Van Drive - Senior Choice, of Trenton; and
Barbara
Wolcott, RN, RN Team Coordinator - Oncology, of Columbus.
The
St. Francis Medical Center Junior Volunteer Program presented Randy
Reed,
15, of Hamilton Township, with the Betty McIntyre Junior Achievement
Award,
presented to the junior volunteer for the most promising first year.
He
is a sophomore at Hamilton High West, and is the son of Patricia Reed,
who
works in the Radiology Department at St. Francis. The St. Francis
Medical
Center
Junior Volunteer Program consists of 70 teen volunteers from age 14
and
up who have log over 7,485 hours in volunteer time each year. Their
tasks
include covering the Information Desk, delivering newspapers and
flowers
to patients, and performing clerical tasks in various departments
including,
Dietary, Central Processing, Emergency Room, Operating Room,
and
Mission and Ministry.
St.
Francis Medical Center Junior Volunteer Program presented Lindsay
Counts,
17, of Trenton with the Jean K. Riskamm Memorial Young Leadership
Award,
presented to the junior volunteer for exemplary service. She
is a
freshman
at Drew University in Madison, NJ. The St. Francis Medical Center
Junior
Volunteer Program consists of 70 teen volunteers from age 14 and up
who
log over 7,485 hours in volunteer time each year. Their tasks include
covering
the Information Desk, delivering newspapers and flowers to
patients,
and performing clerical tasks in various departments including,
Dietary,
Central Processing, Emergency Room, Operating Room, and
Mission
and Ministry.
St.
Francis Medical Center celebrated National Cancer Survivor Day on
Sunday
June 4th, 2006. The day began with a celebratory mass in the
Medical
Center's Chapel, followed by lunch and entertainment in the
cafeteria.
The
highlight of the day was special guest speaker Gary Papa, Sports
Director
on Channel 6 Action News. Gary gave a heartfelt speech about
his
own battle with cancer.
Gary
described how cancer will stop you in your tracks. "You wonder how
you
will ever make it to all doctor's appointments. But somehow, you
find
the time to do what you have to do," said Papa.
Two
representatives from the Mercer County Chapter of the American
Cancer
Society, Marjorie Carnevale, Chair of the Mercer Board of Managers,
and
Jim Young, Executive Director, were also present. In addition,
Trenton
Mayor
Doug Palmer proclaimed June 4th as National Cancer Survival Day
in
Trenton.
Over
200 survivors from Fox Chase Cancer Center at St. Francis attended
to
celebrate their victory over cancer. The theme of the day was The
Wizard
of
Oz and St. Francis employees performed a skit in costume. The Higher
Ground,
a singing quartet from Bordentown, also entertained the crowd.
Nearly
200 individuals from the community and surrounding businesses
attended
a complimentary Health/Business Connection (HBC) luncheon
seminar
at the Lafayette Yard Marriott on June 15 to learn about Advanced
Weight
Loss Surgery at St. Francis Medical Center.
Louis
G. Fares, Medical Director of The Centers for Advanced Weight Loss
at
St. Francis Medical Center, described the different options for weight
loss,
or
bariatric surgery available at St. Francis.
John
Bock, MS, RD, a Registered Dietician, who coordinates the team
approach
in guiding each individual patient through the pre and post-
operative
process, discussed the causes and risks of obesity.
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 business
community
while giving the business community a networking opportunity.
According
th Jerry Jablonowski, CEO of St. Francis Medical Center, "The
Center
for Advanced Weight Loss at St. Francis Medical Center is a great
service
offered to our patients." By reaching out to the business community
through
the Health Business Connection, we welcome the opportunity
to
share information on the regional center of excellence and to heighten
awareness
that obesity is a problem in our society, but we can work
together
to become a healthier community.
For
more information about The Center for Advanced Weight Loss please
call
609-585-1400.
St.
Francis Medical Center Employees participated in the Interfaith Prayer
Vigil
on May 25 on the steps of the State House Annex. The Vigil called
upon
legislators to pass a just and moral budget. Catholic, Jewish, Muslim,
Lutheran,
and Baptist leaders represented their faiths.
Marlene
Lao-Collins, Associate Director for Social Concerns, NJ Catholic
Conference,
orchestrated the event. "We are here representing different
faith
communities, because we strongly believe the budget of this great
State
should reflect the values of the people of goodwill in New Jersey,"
said
Collins.
The
Religious Leaders and St. Francis Medical Center Employees urged
Legislators
to ensure programs such as the State Rental Assistance
program,
Family Care, and Charity Care remain in the budget.
"Life
is not separated into faith and economics. Our judgements should
unite
the two," said Father Kukura, President, Catholic Health Care
Partnership.
He was one of the Priests who represented the Catholic
faith
at the vigil.
With
nearly 400 guests in attendance, the St. Francis Medical Center
Foundation
held its 43rd annual spring gala at the Hyatt-Regency-
Princeton.
The
prestigious "Spirit of St. Francis" award was presented to Mr. William
A.
Watson of Trenton, in honor of his unwavering commitment to the
healthcare
needs of the poor and underserved as reflected in his
continued
involvement with the medical center.
The
award was presented to Mr. Watson by Gerard J. Jablonowski,
President
and CEO of the hospital; Majority Leader and sister of the
honoree,
Bonnie Watson-Coleman; Judith M. Persichilli, Executive Vice
President
of Catholic Health East Northeast Division; James F. Bishop,
Foundation
Chair; and Paul R. Langevin, Chairman of the Hospital Board
of
Trustees.
According
to Jablonoski, "We are proud to call Bill Watson both a friend
and
an advocate in being a healing presence in our community.
The
theme of the gala was "Experience The Derby" 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 Bill Watson with his life's work that embodies
the
motto
of St. Francis of Assisi, "That is in giving that we receive."
Co-chairs
of the dinner dance were Mr. and Mrs. James F. Bishop, Mr and
Mrs.
Paul R. Langevin, The Honorable and Mrs. Wendell Pribila of Ewing,
and
Dr. and Mrs. C. James Romano. The Honorary Co-chairs of the event
were
Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes, and Mayor of Trenton,
Doug
Palmer. The gala netted $135,000 to benefit St. Francis Medical
Center
services including Fox Chase Center at St. Francis Medical Center,
full
service Cardiac Program and Community Outreach Programs.
Lisa
Ware, RN, was awarded the 2006 St. Francis Medical Center Nursing
Excellence
Award. The peer-nominated award is bestowed each year on
the
nurse who best exemplifies outstanding nursing practice.
Lisa
began her career at St. Francis in 1987 as an LPN in the Medical
Surgery
Department. In 1990 she received her RN from Helene Fuld School
of
Nursing. Ware now works in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Francis.
Lisa
is president of the Unit Practice Council (UPC), is a Wound Management
Coordinator,
and a Specialty Bed Coordinator. She resides in Trenton.
According
to Carol McAloon, Vice President of Patient Care Services and
Chief
Nursing Officer at St. Francis Medical Center, "Lisa has been a
critical
care nurse for many years. She is known to her patient's as a
skilled,
professional nurse; and to her patient's family members as a
compassionate,
caring individual."
St.
Francis Medical Center donated a $500.00 check to Joey Damiano at his
benefit
block party at Good Times Tavern in Trenton. "The entire St.
Francis
family
is saddened by what happened to you," said Mary Jo Abbondanza,
Director
of Marketing at St. Francis. "We want to help you on your road to
wellness." Mary
Jo Abbondanza presented the check on behalf of the
entire
St. Francis family.
St. Francis Medical Center
Nursing and Radiology Students Receive 100% Pass
Rate on Licensing Exam
The
School of Nursing Class of 2005 at St. Francis Medical Center (SFMC)
received
a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN (the licensing exam) for the
year
2005.
The
School of Radiology also had a 100% pass rate on the 2005 ARRT exam.
SFMC
exceeded the State of NJ and National Averages in all areas, and also
recorded
the 3rd highest mean score among the State of New Jersey's
programs.
"This
is excellent news for our School of Nursing and The School of
Radiology,"
says Bonny Ross, Director of the School of Nursing. "We
always
knew we had a great education program here at St. Francis
Medical
Center, and now we have proof."
The
Francis Medical Center President and CEO, Jerry Jablonowski agrees.
"The
entire St. Francis community is very proud of our graduates. They
all
worked hard and deserve recognition."
St. Francis Medical Center Celebrates Go Red!
For Women
St.
Francis Medical Center raised $600.00 for the American Heart Association
in
their
celebration of Go Red! for women on Friday, February 3.
The
day's festivities included a presentation by cardiac thoracic surgeon,
Dr.
Fredric Seinfeld. Dr. Seinfeld addressed the existence of heart
disease
among
women and ways to reduce the risk.
"Go
Red! is great becasue it addressed heart disease from women's
perspectives,"
said Dr. Seinfeld. "The biggest misconception is that heart
disease
is a man's diseases, when in fact it's the number one killer of
women. The
American Heart Association and Go Red! in particular make women
aware
of the risk factors and how to keep healthy."
St. Francis Medical Center Supports Go Red
Trenton
- St. Francis Medical Center joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
The
Department
of Health and Senior Services, and The American Heart Association in
celebrating
Go Red for Women.
On
Saturday, February 4 at the War Memorial in Trenton, Delta Sigma Theta,
and
The
Department of Health and Senior Services hosted the Go Red for Women,
Love
Your Heart Campaign, to raise awareness about heart disease, the number
one
killer of women.
Dr.
Glenn Laub, MD Chief and Chairman of Cardiac Surgery at The Heart Hospital
at
St. Francis Medical Center, participated in the panel presentation segment
of
the
event. He offered his expertise on heart disease, particularly
its effects on
women. Dr.
Laub also addressed questions from the audience about heart
disease, diabetes
and stroke.
St. Francis Medical Center Joins The Clare Estate
of Bordentown
St.
Francis Medical Center (SFMC) announces its healthcare partnership
with
The
Clare Estate of Bordentown. Rosemary Frascella, MD, locally recognized
physician,
focused on geriatric medicine, met with the residents and their
families
on Tuesday, February 7th. She will provide on-site medical care
to
the
residents on a weekly basis.
"This
strategic partnership will offer the residents of The Clare Estate
the same
high
quality healthcare St. Francis has provided for the residents of Mercer
County
for over 130 years," says Jerry Jablonowski, President and CEO of
St.
Francis Medical Center.
Dr.
Frascella was recently awarded the "Spirit of St. Francis" award, which
is
given annually to the physician who exemplifies the Spirit of Franciscan
Health
Care and the Philosophy of Compassion for all people as embraced
by
St. Francis of Assisi.
Cupid Lands At Angel's Wings
The
Children of Angel's Wings at St. Francis Medical Center received a special
Valentine's
Day gift. Pat Colavita of the Mercer County Board of Chosen
Freeholders
presented a stuffed Cupid Teddy Bear to Angel's Wings.
"When
I won this bear at a recent fundraiser, I knew right away where it
it
belonged," says Pat Colavita. "It's perfect, an angel for
Angel's Wings.
I
know this is an excellent facility and the children will truly appreciate
it."
Executive
director of Angel's Wings, Judy Hutton is very grateful for the gift.
"I
was thrilled to see the new angel bear. She fits our program
prefectly
and
all the children love her," says Judy. "We can not
thank Mr. Colavita
enough."
Angel's
Wings, a program of Anchor House, is dedicated to providing stability
and
a loving environment to central New Jersey's displaced children. Staff
and
volunteers work around the clock to provide children with the kind
of
nurturing
and daily living continuity that prepares them for a smooth
transition
into foster care.
2005
JUDITH
R. ROTTKAMP RECEIVES DIVA AWARD FROM THE INSTITUTE OF NURSING
 TRENTON
– Judith R. Rottkamp, RNC, BSN, MA, assistant vice president
of nursing at St. Francis Medical Center, received the 2005 Diva and
Don Gala Award from the Institute for Nursing presented to exceptional
individuals in the field of nursing.
“Judy Rottkamp is the paradigm of nursing excellence whose
hard work and dedication benefits our patients and our community,”
says Jerry Jablonowski, president and CEO, St. Francis Medical Center.
Rottkamp was of one of ten recipients who received the 2005 Diva/Don
Award at the annual Institute for Nursing Gala on December 1st at
the Hyatt Regency Princeton. The Diva and Don Benefit Gala was created
to acknowledge individuals who have impacted the nursing community.
This award is presented to health care workers who make advances in
wellness and promote health care initiatives, and who also demonstrate
amazing leadership qualities. Proceeds from the event benefit educational
scholarships and research grants for nursing students in New Jersey.
Judith Rottkamp received her BS from Stockton College and an MA from
Rider College. She is a member of the New Jersey State Nurses Association
and the Organization of Nurse Executives, an Auxiliary Board Member
of the Children’s Home Society, a past member of the board of
directors of the Trenton YMCA, a member of the Child Placement Review
Board of Mercer County, the facilitator of “Future Nurses”
Club of the Notre Dame High School, and a member of the Mercer County
LPN Advisory Board. She resides in West Trenton.
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER OPENS
PHYSICAL THERAPY CENTER
HAMILTON – St. Francis Medical Center today held an open house
and dedication of the Centers for Physical Therapy, located at One
AAA Drive in Hamilton.
The new partnership was established to meet the demand for physical
therapy in the greater Hamilton business community. The center, under
the direction of Jaime Caceres, is a comprehensive health program
that offers sports, bariatric, spine, neurological, and orthopedic
& musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
The center shares a 5,000 square feet office space with the Centers
for Workers Health at St. Francis Medical Center on the second floor
of the building. It features examination rooms, a center for equipment,
open space and open booths, and a hand care center. On initial visits,
patients are given an evaluation and an individualized treatment
plan is developed.
Physical therapists work closely with their patients’ primary
care physician to achieve a successful rehabilitation program. Progress
reports are provided to the physician after each visit and at the
completion of treatment to ensure each patient will return to their
prior level of function.
“This strategic partnership between St. Francis Medical Center
and Hamilton Physical Therapy provides those patients easy access
to rehabilitation services,” explained Jerry Jablonowski, CEO,
St. Francis Medical Center. “Patients can now enjoy a beneficial
experience tailored to their specific medical needs.”
The center works in partnership with the Physical Therapy department
at St. Francis Medical Center campus and is open Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm. by appointment.
St. Francis Medical Center, a member of Catholic
Health East, is an acute care teaching hospital, which features
regional services including the Heart
Hospital, Fox Chase Cancer
Center, Neuroscience Institute,
Sleep Disorders Center,
and an extensive Community
Outreach Program. St. Francis Medical Center is also the first
hospital in the Trenton/Mercer area to achieve Magnet Recognition
for Nursing Excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER OPENS MERCER COUNTY’S ONLYHYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY
SUITE
TRENTON – St. Francis Medical Center opened Mercer County’s
first and only Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Therapy Suite located at
the Center for Wound Healing on the 4 th floor of the medical center,
which features two hyperbaric oxygen chambers.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HbOT) is a state-of-the-art medical
treatment that enhances the body’s natural healing and strengthens
the immune system. The HbOT chamber is built with the patient’s
comfort in mind, with the length of HbOT treatment dependent on
the wound issue. HbOT is used to treat chronic wound issues, due
to diabetes, vascular disease and other conditions, and gain positive
healing outcomes. Under the medical direction of Dr. Reza A. Shah,
HbOT treatment is provided by a team of multidisciplinary specialists
including physicians with advanced training in wound management
and nurses skilled in chronic wound care.
According to Jablonowski, “St. Francis Medical
Center is committed to providing regional areas of expertise and the
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Suite is another healthcare premier service
we have opened in Mercer County. All of our service areas of expertise
bring the care and service to meet the needs of our community.”
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER OPENS MERCER COUNTY’S FIRST ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY
TRENTON – St. Francis Medical Center recently held a blessing
and dedication ceremony for the opening of Mercer County’s
first state-of-the-art Electrophysiology (EP) Laboratory equipped
to diagnose and treat conditions related to the heart’s electrical
system.
Under the medical direction of Dr. John Caplan, the EP Laboratory
offers the latest in electrophysiology diagnostic testing including:
tilt table testing used to evaluate unexplained syncope (fainting),electrophysiology
studies to establish the site or origin of a fast or slow heart
rate; pacemaker implantations to regulate the heart’s
rhythm and prevent the heart from slowing down; defibrillator insertions
to treat dangerously fast heart rates that occur in the heart’s
lower chambers, and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT),
which is the implantation of a device that can pace the bottom
two chambers of the heart in order to improve the heart’s
functions.
The EP Unit is located on the 4th floor of the medical center and
the hours of operation are from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through
Friday. For more information about the EP Lab, please call (609)
599-5055.
According to Jerry Jablonowski, president and CEO of St. Francis
Medical Center, “The opening of the EP Laboratory at St.
Francis St. Francis Medical Center, a member of Catholic
Health East, is an acute care teaching hospital, which features
regional services including the Heart
Hospital, Fox Chase
Cancer Center, Neuroscience
Institute, Sleep Disorders
Center, and an extensive Community
Outreach Program. St. Francis Medical Center is also the first
hospital in the Trenton/Mercer area to achieve Magnet Recognition
for Nursing Excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Medical Center is the final phase of our comprehensive cardiac
program – the only one in Mercer County - from prevention,
to diagnosis to surgery to rehabilitation. The EP Lab opening reflects
our mission to meet the healthcare needs of our patients and to
assure our community that our future is their future.”
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