St. Clair Hospital HouseCall _Vol V Issue 4

VOLUME V ISSUE 4

St. Clair Hospital marks its 60th anniversary with a timeline and reflections on how the Hospital has changed lives and the community.inside

60Years AgoA Community Vision

Came to Life

HouseCall

2 I HouseCall I Volume V Issue 4

The history of St. Clair Hospital is distinctive.

This is not a hospital that was built solely by banks,

foundations and corporations, but by ordinary

people who wanted a hospital of their own,

close to home. On this anniversary, we remember

the volunteers who went door-to-door soliciting

donations, the children who sold flowers, the women’s groups

who united to form an extraordinarily effective auxiliary, and

the business leaders who volunteered their expertise. Imagine

the joy and pride they all felt when, after years of fundraising,

St. Clair Hospital opened its doors in February 1954.

In these pages, we celebrate St. Clair’s achievements, in pictures

and words, and there is much to celebrate: six decades of

expansions, innovations, improvements and awards. The spirit of

this special Hospital is evident: the dedication to excellence, the

responsiveness to community need, and the humanity of the

physicians, nurses and caregiving staff.

In 60 years, St. Clair has come far, from a small general hospital

offering medical-surgical, maternity and emergency care to a

highly honored, independent, acute care medical center with

328 beds and five satellite locations, offering advanced, high-quality

care in multiple specialties, including heart, oncology, orthopaedics,

mental health, women’s and children’s services, stroke care, and

more. St. Clair’s evolution mirrors the history of the South Hills;

the Hospital expanded its reach into northern Washington County

and the western Allegheny County suburbs to keep pace with

population growth, and innovated to keep pace with medical

advancements, all to improve the lives of its patients. Change has

been constant at St. Clair, a sign of health and vitality.

Celebrating 60YEARSof qualitycare, growth, and medical innovations

This aerial photo of St. Clair Hospital’s main campus in Mt. Lebanon shows how the Hospital has grown since it was originally built in 1954.

Volume V Issue 4 I HouseCall I 3


Great Vision and Tenacity Inspire a Community

Arthur S. Haines, M.D., a Mt. Lebanon physician, beginshis campaign for a hospital in “South County” as the SouthHills was then known. Dr. Haines was concerned aboutthe healthcare needs of this surging population, and hehad an idea: to build a hospital to serve the South Hillsresidents, in their own community. Pittsburgh had plentyof good hospitals, but the people of the South Hills hada disadvantage. Getting to those hospitals was difficult,especially in emergencies, and time consuming, as traffic tended to bottleneck at the tunnels. It could take45 minutes to drive to the city hospitals. To Dr. Haines,this was unacceptable. He met with local leaders andheld community meetings, and before long, he wasleading a coalition of like-minded people. It would take

almost 10 years, with setbacks and obstacles along the way.Haines never gave up. He was a man of both vision and tenacity.His vision inspired an entire community and his tenacity madethe vision a reality.

� LEADING PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL STAFF � ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY � GROWTH & EXPANSION

A community vision comes

to life.A group of devoted

volunteers begins work to build a hospital.

PITTSBURGH, IN 1944. A nationat war and a city at work. Pittsburgh wasa booming manufacturing center and factorieslined the riverbanks. The city was bursting at theseams, and inevitably, people began moving to theoutskirts, where there was space, clean air andthe promise of new modern housing.

That movement started in the ‘20s and ‘30s withthe development of the automobile and bus. To accommodate these vehicles, Allegheny Countybegan building roads in the city and out into thenew “suburbs.” The so-called South County regionwas slow to develop, however, as it was not easilyaccessed — there was that massive obstacleknown as Mt. Washington. South County, therefore,was considered “the country” — a bucolic region of large farms and coal fields, with rollinghills dotted by grazing cattle, and few paved roads.

That changed with the construction of the LibertyTunnels and Bridge in the mid-’20s, which openedup South County and triggered its dramatic trans-formation from farm community to residentialsuburb. The tunnel and the new roads paved theway, and the people came: from 2,258 in 1920 to45,000 in 1936. Housing developments, schools,churches and businesses replaced the farms, andcommunities were born. In the ‘40s, post-warprosperity and returning soldiers, eager to havehomes and families, fostered further development.By 1944, the population of the South Hills hadswelled to more than 104,000.

C E L E B R A T I N G

Y E A R S

1 9 5 4 - 2 0 1 4

The first meeting

at Mt. Lebanon

Presbyterian Church

attracts 22 community

leaders.

Planning BeginsPlanning for St. Clair Memorial Hospital

begins in 1944. The name honors

Arthur St. Clair, a patriot, statesman,

and Revolutionary War general, who

became president of the Continental

Congress during the period of the

Articles of Confederation, making him,

in effect, the president of the United

States. A charter for a non-profit

corporation is obtained.

A Location is SecuredNearly two dozen sites are considered forthe new Hospital. Local businessman andcivic leader Arthur Silhol, recognizing theneed for the Hospital, agrees to purchase

a 30-acre plot of land on Bower Hill Road

and hold it until there is adequate funding

to buy the land and build the Hospital there.

The Community Comes TogetherA group of 40 women, representing various service

clubs, meets with Dr. Haines to form an auxiliary

to raise money for the Hospital. With 28 vanguard

members, the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary sets

up shop in the Washington School in Mt. Lebanon

and launches a colossal effort called “Together

We Can Do It.” Fundraising efforts include bake

sales, raffles, card

parties and fashion

shows. Children

participate by

selling flowers.


� EXCEPTIONAL PATIENT CARE � COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

AREA POPULATION BOOMS!The area’s population rises dramatically as soldiers returnfrom World War II; many move to the South Hills area and start families.

1920 1936 1944

2,258

45,000

104,000

Construction BeginsAfter years of planning and fundraising, ground is broken onBower Hill Road on October 20,1951 and Hospital constructionbegins.

First Hospital Administrator Takes PostCourtland E. Chandlee is named first Hospital Administrator.



Women's Auxiliary Harlequin Ball to Raise FundsThe first Harlequin Ball is held October 29, 1954, beginning a 50-year tradition with this highly successful fundraising event. The Women’s Auxiliary membership swells to 1,000 members.

A new hospital is born.

And the numberof patients exceedsall expectations.

The Building Cornerstone is LaidThe cornerstone for the Hospital

is laid on May 23, 1953 by local

civic leaders. The front lobby

features a bronze plaque honoring

the soldiers of World War II,

donated by Arthur and Sara Silhol.

A Grand Openingfor Patients and the CommunitySt. Clair Hospital opens February 22,

1954 with 104 beds and 35 bassinets.

The new ultra-modern hospital is the

first in the region to have piped-in

oxygen and a voice intercom

in every room. Over 10,000

people come to the open

house and police are needed

to direct traffic.

Patients FirstOn February 22, 1954 two-year-old

Antonietta Daris arrives as the first

patient, several hours before the doors

are due to open. The staff admits her

and treats her for an infection.

On February 23, Mary Clair Barszczowski

is the first baby born at St. Clair; her

middle name marks the occasion.

Population Boom Creates Need for ExpansionIn just two years, St. Clair is operating at capacity, treating

50 percent more patients than two years earlier. At its

current size, the Hospital can barely accommodate the

explosive growth of the South Hills — the population has

more than tripled in a 20-year period.

An expansion is urgently needed

and another $600,000 is raised,

culminating in a new wing housing

an additional 40 beds and offering

new services.



First Year Exceeds All Expectations4,500 patients are admitted, 1,200 babies

are born and 8,500 are treated in the ER,

immediately validating the great need for

the Hospital. The Hospital reaches full

occupancy within months. The medical

staff numbers 120 physicians.

Caring NursesIn addition to their regularclinical duties, nurses continue to cook and serve all meals to patients.


Continuedgrowth.

Expansions meet new needs of a

booming population.

A Major Expansion BeginsAs the Hospital consistently exceeds 95 percent

occupancy rates, plans for additional expansion

move forward. New patient care facilities will double

the Hospital’s capacity from 160 to 300 beds. Every

department and service is expanded or upgraded.

This marks the Hospital's busiest time ever, forcing

administration to move temporarily to trailers in

the parking lot to accommodate continued growth

in patient admissions

and care.


Fundraising Continues in EarnestThe whole community takes part in

raising funds for expansion. Local

news personalities such as Marie

Torre lend their name and talent to

the effort in a bowling for charity event.

As the nation’s space race heats up,

the Women’s Auxiliary adopts a race

to the moon theme for its annual

Harlequin Ball.


Leading TechnologiesTechnological advances at the Hospital

include the addition of the world’s

fastest X-ray processing machine.

The Hospital also introduces advanced

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

techniques.

Critical CareIn 1967, the Hospital adds a new

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as part

of its $4.5 million expansion.

In 1968, a state-of-the-art

Coronary Intensive Care Unit

(CICU) is added and medical

staff can more closely monitor

patients’ heart rhythms.


Multi-Million Dollar Expansion CompleteThe latest expansion makes room for a

social service department, an additional 140

medical and surgical beds, six new operating

rooms, a new maternity department, a larger

nursery, an outpatient department, and

expanded emergency facilities. Notably,

the new wing is now air-conditioned.

Nursing Shortage Increased public access to health-

care and the effects of the Baby

Boom create a nursing shortage.

Nurses come out of retirement to

help fill the demand

at St. Clair.

Junior VolunteersThe Hospital’s Junior Auxiliary, then

known as the Clairettes, enters their

second decade of service to the

Hospital. Their legacy continues today.


Emergency Transport Network Initiated Efforts to establish emergency

transport via ambulance begin in the

South Hills, spearheaded in part by

Dr. Clara Jean Ersoz, Director of the Critical Care program at

St. Clair, who provided medical guidance and research assistance.

A critical gasoline shortage forces the closing

of gas stations throughout the region. St. Clair

cancels all non-emergency admissions

and surgeries due to the subsequent

shortage of supplies

and the transportation

difficulties faced by staff. DR. CLARA JEAN ERSOZ Director of the Critical

Care Program


First baby born at St. Clair,

Mary Clair Barszczowski,

helps the Hospital celebrate

its 20th Anniversary on

February 22, 1974.

Ryan Homes owner Ed Ryan offers

to donate winnings of his trotter—

renamed Intensive Clair by Hospital

employees. She goes on to win more

than $19,000 for the Hospital.

Meeting the demandsof todayand tomorrow.

Hospital introducesnew technologiesand new ways

of delivering care.

Benjamin E. Snead appointed Hospital AdministratorSucceeding the long-standing

Courtland E. Chandlee.

Demand for Services Increasesin Record NumbersIn just the past 10 years, admissions have

nearly doubled, surgical operations have

more than doubled, and emergencies

and outpatient visits have tripled. The

New Emergency Department is completed

(May 1975), and a four-story 500-car

parking garage is constructed. The

maternity department expands visiting

hours, offers sibling visitation, and begins

prenatal classes for expectant parents.


Major Expansion Doubles the Size of HospitalSt. Clair is again operating at 95 percent

capacity, demanding another major expansion.

A $28.5 million project, the largest in St. Clair’s

history, adds 99 more beds and doubles the

square footage of the Hospital. At the grand

opening of the new wing, Antonietta Daris Menke,

St. Clair’s first patient, cuts the ribbon while local

high school bands and the community celebrate.


Enhanced Services AddedSt. Clair develops new and enhanced

services in same-day outpatient

surgery, cardiac care, maternity care,

and advanced diagnostic technology.

A new logo,

which includes cupped

hands, indicates

the caring environment

the Hospital provides.

Expansions increase access

to advanced care.Bringing doctors,

patients and treatment closer.

New Technology St. Clair begins using a CT scanner at the

Hospital. CT scanners offer new, cutting-edge

technology, helping doctors make more

accurate diagnoses and improve treatment.

An outpatient surgery center opens with 12 rooms, and the Occupational Therapy Department is established.

A new GI Lab offers fiberoptic endoscopic

diagnostic procedures,

markedly improving

visualization of intestinal

problems.



New ER Unit The Emergency Department adds a

Minor Treatment Area to more quickly

treat patients with less severe

illnesses and injuries.

St. Clair opens a new Mammography

Center within the Medical Imaging

Department.

Family FirstThe maternity department

is renamed The Family

Birth Center, reflecting

the department’s holistic

philosophy.

New Diagnostic and Treatment Options IntroducedThe Greater Pittsburgh Cancer Treatment Center

opens at St. Clair Hospital, offering outpatient

radiation treatment.

St. Clair opens South Hills Magnetic Imaging

Institute in Bethel Park. Magnetic Resonance

Imaging (MRI) is considered state-of-the-art

technology for diagnostic images of internal

organs, spine and joints.

Expansion Moves PhysiciansCloser to Patients St. Clair erects a three-story Professional Office

Building adjacent to the Hospital, putting

physicians just steps away from their

hospitalized patients and offering convenient

access to outpatients. The Parking Garage

is expanded again, with

two floors added.



Critical Patient TransportThrough Auxiliary funding, a helipad is built to

facilitate transfer of critical trauma patients

via medical helicopters.

In 1995, a Courtesy Van Transportation Service

is launched for patients having difficulty

securing private or public transportation,

and valet service is added.

State-of-the-Art Cardiac Cath Lab OpensA new Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

is built and staffed with a highly skilled

team that includes board-certified

cardiologists, specialty-trained nurses,

and radiologic technologists.

Leading the Way with theNation’s First Robotic Pharmacy St. Clair Hospital dramatically changed the landscape of

hospital pharmacy when it launched McKesson ROBOT-Rx,

the first robotic drug distribution system designed to

automate dispensing and restocking of bar-coded medications.

St. Clair’s leadership paved the way for the nation’s hospitals

to help achieve better medication management that

improves patient safety and enhances operational efficiency,

while also reducing costs.

Delivering newways of care.

Addressing thechanging needsof patient care.



Sleep DisordersCenter LaunchedProviding comprehensive

diagnosis and treatment of

sleep disorders.

New Heart Center OpensSt. Clair opens a Heart Center in response to the high

incidence of heart disease in the community and begins

offering advanced, comprehensive coronary services

to patients. Area residents now have the convenience

of using the same hospital for testing, treatment,

recovery and rehabilitation.

The Operating Rooms undergo expansion, further

advancing cardiac care capabilities.

Hospital Undergoes Extraordinary ExpansionThe Hospital’s Emergency Department is upgraded

with the most advanced medical equipment.

A new ‘C’ wing is added and the Emergency

Department expands once again.

The Family Birth Center adds an

LDRP (Labor, Delivery, Recovery,

Postpartum) wing. Another

addition houses nuclear medicine,

ultrasound, and MRI.



Early InterventionProgram AdoptedSt. Clair becomes one of the

first hospitals in the region to

offer hearing screening to all

newborns in 2000.

Pioneering Patient SafetySt. Clair deploys hand-held barcode

scanners for bedside medication administration and

shortly thereafter invents the first dual scan hand-held

device that includes RFID (radio frequency scanning).

Named VeriScan, the system further reduces medication

errors and significantly improves patient safety. The

technology is later sold to Hospira, and such devices become

the standard of care in hospitals across the U.S.

Improving Patient CareSt. Clair begins using dedicated,

‘round-the-clock’ physician

intensivists in critical care units.

New, advanced imaging services,

including MRI and advanced

mammography, are offered at

the St. Clair Hospital Outpatient

Center–Village Square in Bethel Park.

A new 21-bed Nursing Unit and a

12-bed, state-of-the-art ICU open.

Cancer Treatment Center OpensThe Cancer Center, a partnership with UPMC,

opens, offering residents access to advanced,

comprehensive, and high-quality care close

to home. A PET scanner is purchased, adding

enhanced diagnostic capabilities.

St. Clair is named one of the 100 Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania and is the only Pittsburgh hospital to make the list six years in a row.

The region’sleading healthcare

provider.Recognized for

technology, innovation and patient outcomes.



Prestigious Recognition St. Clair is honored by the Hospital Association of

Pennsylvania for having the fastest “door-to-balloon”

rates among all southwestern Pennsylvania hospitals.

“Door-to-balloon” refers to the time that elapses

from the moment a heart attack victim enters the

ER until he or she is treated in the Cardiac Cath Lab

with balloon angioplasty.

St. Clair achieves the highest ranking for patient satisfaction

of hospitals nationwide. Hospitals across the U.S. and abroad

visit St. Clair to study its use of "lean engineering" to improve

processes.

New ER Quickly Becomes the Region’s Busiest, with Shortest Wait TimesA newly expanded Emergency Department opens

at St. Clair, with the capacity to serve 80,000

patients per year. The 19,000-square-foot addition

includes 46 treatment rooms, which include six

pediatric rooms, seven Fast Track rooms for

minor injuries and three Behavioral Health rooms.

St. Clair’s Emergency Department soon

becomes the busiest in the region.

Multiple renovations of patient rooms and

treatment areas continue, greatly enhancing

patient flow and the patient and visitor experience.

James M. Collins Appointed President and CEOMr. Collins takes over

the helm from the retiring

Benjamin E. Snead who

has led the Hospital

since 1974.



Benefactor Ada Rossin and granddaughter Liz Stephans cut the ribbon for the newly expanded ER.



Center of exceptional care.Ranked among the100 TopHospitals in the nation,

St. Clair provides advanced,high-quality healthcare to morethan 480,000 residents of south-westernPA and is the largestemployer in the South Hills.

Robotics Enhances Minimally Invasive Surgery with da Vinci Si SystemSt. Clair surgeons begin using the world’s most advanced

robotic surgery system — the da Vinci Si — in a specially

designed OR suite. This new sophisticated robotic platform

is designed to expand the surgeon's capabilities and offer

state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgery.

Three new leading-edge

operating rooms open,

bringing the Hospital’s total

number of OR suites to 13.

Each year, more than 14,000

surgical procedures are

performed at St. Clair.Attracting Leading PhysiciansWe have a growing staff of the area’s

leading physicians who choose to

practice here because they see

St. Clair as a state-of-the-art

hospital committed to outstanding

patient care.

Nursery NationHonoring the Pittsburgh Steelers’

2010 Super Bowl run, St. Clair’s

“Nursery Nation” became

an international Internet

sensation and media

phenomenon, reaching

an estimated 26 million

TV viewers.

Specialty Services EnhancedSt. Clair opens a new Breast Care Center at its Outpatient

Center at Village Square, offering the most advanced

diagnostic services for women, including the South Hills’

first 3D mammogram, all in a spa-like setting.

St. Clair is named one of the 100 Top Hospitals in the U.S. by Thomson Reutersfor outstanding performance in clinical

outcomes, patient safety, patient satisfaction, and clinical efficiency.



Quality Urgent CareSt. Clair opens its first Urgent Care

at the Outpatient Center at Village

Square in Bethel Park, offering

“non-emergency” medical services

12 hours a day, seven days a week

throughout the year by board-certified

physicians.

The Sipe Infusion Center

opens, providing a

comfortable setting

for patients receiving

chemotherapy,

transfusions and IV

medications.

The Cancer Center, a joint venture

between UPMC and St. Clair,

undergoes a major expansion

that includes the addition of a

cutting-edge linear accelerator

for the radiologic treatment

of cancer.

Expanding Outpatient CareThe Outpatient Center at Village Square more than

triples in size, bringing physicians in many specialties

and comprehensive diagnostic services, including lab,

imaging, cardio-diagnostic testing,

and more, under one roof.

St. Clair opens a brand new two-story,

40,000 square foot Outpatient Center

in Peters Township that also features

comprehensive diagnostic services and physicians

in a patient-focused environment.

Throughout her life, Ann Menke has had a special

relationship with St. Clair Hospital. That relationship

began 60 years ago on the day that the Hospital

opened its doors and welcomed Ann, then known as

Antonietta Daris, as its very first patient. That moment

is captured in two artifacts within the Hospital archives:

a black-and-white photograph of a little girl, her mother and a

nurse; and a battered green ledger book filled with handwritten,

fountain-pen entries listing each admission to the Hospital.

There, in fading blue ink on the top line, is the No. 1, followed

by the name “Antonietta Daris” and the date.


Antonietta Daris Menke

Our Very First Patient

AntoniettA DAris Menke

St. Clair Hospital not only serves a community,

it isa community.It’s a community populated by many different kinds of people:people who have shaped this institution, and people whoselives have been impacted by it. It’s a community of healthcareprofessionals—professional, competent and caring—and of thosewhose work supports the care they provide. It’s also a communityof patients; of people who live in the neighborhoods that surround St. Clair and seek the expert care that the Hospital hasalways delivered. It’s everyone in the South Hills, western suburbs, and northern Washington County who comes togetherat St. Clair Hospital.

In this section, we introduce you to 10 individuals who form amosaic of people who help make up the St. Clair community, including: A retired couple who support and donate their timeto the Hospital in myriad ways. A trio of brave sisters who metbreast cancer head on. An obstetrician who devoted his 55-yearcareer to the care of women and infants at St. Clair. A womanwho has a distinct and special relationship with this Hospital,going all the way back to the day it opened its doors. A physicianadministrator whose visionary leadership echoes that of hispredecessors who founded and nurtured this Hospital. Eachone is special and each has a unique and personal story to add to the thousands of stories that comprise the history ofSt. Clair Hospital. St. Clair Hospital is their hospital, and theyare eager to share their stories of why it means so much to them.

60YEARS

CELEBRAT ING

“

The photograph has become an iconicrepresentation of the early history of St. Clair.The images of the beautiful baby with theblonde curls, her pretty young mother with aprotective arm around her child, and a caringnurse reaching toward the baby with herskilled hands, sent an important message tothe community: here, in this hospital that webuilt together, the sick are healed. This iswhy we worked so long and so hard to buildSt. Clair Hospital.

Every picture tells a story, but sometimesit doesn’t tell the whole story. Although AnnMenke was only 17 months old and has nomemories of her week-long admission, shehas heard the story in detail from her parents,and as a loving and loyal daughter, she knowswell their stories and the events that broughtthem to that moment.

Margherita and Marcello Daris were ayoung married couple, in their early 20s, who immigrated to the United States fromItaly in 1951. Neither spoke English. Marcellowas from Trieste, and Margherita hailed fromNaples. They came first to Verona, Pennsylvania,where their sponsor placed them, with theirinfant daughter, Gina. They later moved to asmall house in Bridgeville and before long, a second daughter, Antonietta, arrived.

In February 1954, 17-month old Antoniettabecame ill with a gastrointestinal virus andhad difficulty keeping any food or fluids down.She soon developed a fever, and the feverclimbed higher as she became dehydrated.

Her parents were frightened and not surewhat to do. Fortunately, a neighbor came totheir aid, taking the baby and her mother tosee her own doctor, who happened to speakItalian. He examined Antonietta and instructedMargherita to take her to the hospital inMt. Lebanon, first thing in the morning.He didn’t mention that it was not yet open.

On the morning of February 22, 1954,Margherita and Marcello bundled up the sickbaby and drove to nearby Bower Hill Road.Another neighbor came along to translate forthem. Marcello, who still resides in Bridgeville,dropped them off at around 9 a.m. — one hourahead of the scheduled 10 a.m. opening — andwent on to work. Little Antonietta was seenin the Emergency Department, where thedoctor told the family that she needed to beadmitted immediately.

For the staff of the new Hospital, thispediatric admission was a surprise. Everythingwas ready for the first patients to arrive: theHospital was immaculate and well equipped,and the staff was so excited that most hadarrived for work an hour early. CourtlandChandlee, the administrator, expected thefirst patient at around noon; a gentleman had called the day before, askingif he could reserve a room.It was assumed thathe would be the first admission.

But instead, Antonietta Daris becameSt. Clair’s first patient. For her mother, whowas just 25, the experience was initiallyfrightening. “My mother told me that she wasalready scared, with such a sick baby,” Menkerecalls. “Then she noticed as the nurse tookus to the room that the Hospital was completelysilent. She realized that every room theypassed was empty. She became alarmed and wondered, ‘What kind of hospital has no patients? Where is everybody?’ She didn’tknow if this was what American hospitalswere like. But she stayed, so that I could getwell. I often think of how brave she was tostay, once she knew that it was a brand new,untested hospital and we were the only peoplethere. She didn’t speak English so shecouldn’t understand what people were sayingto her, but she stayed with me the whole time,and she told me that they took good care of me.”

Five other patients were admitted on thatinaugural day of operation, including a womanin labor who gave birth the following day toSt. Clair’s first baby, Mary Clair Barszczowski.

The original handwritten ledger shows Antonietta’s name as

the first patient.


Continued on page 22

I still find it hard to believe that I was the very first patient at this hospital ... in addition to delivering my babies here, I’ve had several surgeries ... no one knew I was ‘a VIP’ — but then, at St. Clair, everyone is treated like a VIP.

”ANTONIETTA DARIS MENKE

FIRST PATIENT AT ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL

serving the community


On day two, the number of admissions doubled to 12,and by the end of six months, there had been1,999 admissions.From there, St. Clair’s admissions skyrocketed and thegrowth has never slowed.

When Menke, who now lives in the Morgan section ofSouth Fayette and works as a medical secretary, visitedSt. Clair in October 2013, she was greeted ceremoniouslyand presented with a commemorative etched silver framecontaining the photograph of her 1954 admission. “I’ve beenback to St. Clair many times, and it’s always nice to be here.I still find it hard to believe that I was the very first patient atthis hospital that has become so big and so busy. In additionto delivering my babies, Kim and Lori, here, I’ve had severalsurgeries and I’ve always had a good experience at St. Clair.With those other admissions, no one knew I was ‘a VIP’ —but then, at St. Clair, everyone is treated like a VIP.”

A St. Clair Pioneer

FrAnk A. reDA, M.D.

On July 1, 1958, Frank A. Reda, M.D. first enteredthe front lobby of St. Clair Memorial Hospital as amember of the medical staff. He walked the 60-foot

distance from the front entrance to the maternity depart-ment and began his life’s work, delivering babies and caringfor women as an obstetrician-gynecologist. He delivered6,300 babies over several decades, all at St. Clair. “Everysingle one,” he says, “was a special event for the familyand me.”

St. Clair’s maternity department in 1958 was a worldunto itself. Dr. Reda, 90, recalls that all parts of it — laborrooms, delivery rooms, the postpartum unit and nurseries —were located together in one wing on the ground floor, so itwas a neat, compact place. This was unique, he says. “We allworked closely together and got to know each other quickly;everyone on the staff became one big family. The maternitydepartment was right off the lobby so women in labor didn’thave far to go. Fathers waited right out there in the lobby. Itgrew very quickly. We were delivering on average 100 babiesa month in no time at all, drawing from all the South Hillscommunities, which had many young families.”

Dr. Reda grew up in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and wentto college at Duke and West Virginia universities. He wasdrafted into the Army medical corps and after 18 months of service he was discharged to attend medical school atVirginia Commonwealth University. He served an internshipin Kings County, New York, and started a practice in TerraAlta, West Virginia.

“I did a little of everything; I gave anesthesia, delivered babiesand assisted in surgery. I liked obstetrics and pediatrics best.”

It was after a residency at the Medical College of Virginiathat he was drawn to Pittsburgh, where his brother lived inMt. Lebanon. “My sister-in-law had an OB that she liked,Dr. Reese Dawson. He was chair of the OB/GYN departmentat St. Clair Hospital and I visited there and met him. I likedthe hospital and I was fortunate to be invited by Dr. Dawson,an excellent OB, to join his practice. I joined the medical staffat St. Clair Hospital on July 1, 1958.”

Dr. Reda witnessed transformative changes in obstetricsover his years of practice. “When I started practicing, fatherswere not very often in the labor room. Things changed, withfathers coming first in the labor room and then for the delivery.Some obstetricians didn’t want fathers in, especially duringdifficult deliveries or C-sections, and not all fathers wantedto be there. Eventually, the father’s participation becamemore common; now it’s accepted as the norm.”

I’ve been herefor each addition

and I’ve watched [the Hospital]grow to where it is today…

To be rated among the100 Top Hospitals is amazing –

it speaks for itself. ”

“

FRANK A. REDA, M.D.

60YEARS

CELEBRAT ING

Continued from page 21



When Dr. Reda was a young obstetrician, he and his partner were on-call every other night. “We didn’t get a lot of sleep in those days, and I think it’s better now that thereare large practices and the doctors can rotate on-call responsibility.”

A significant change in OB, he believes, was ultrasound.“Ultrasound enabled us to follow the course of the pregnancyand identify problems early without the patient getting x-rays.”

St. Clair’s maternity department has also undergonetransformative change since 1955. Today, it is known as theFamily Birth Center, a name that reflects the family-centeredphilosophy that permeates the environment and clinicalpractices. Babies share rooms with their mothers and arecared for with their mothers by a single nurse in a modelknown as “Mother-Baby Care.” In this system, the nurse actsas expert resource, educator and role model. The Family

Birth Center emphasizes comfort and recognizes that child-birth is a family event, but doesn’t sacrifice safety; everyroom is fully equipped for emergencies and there is a six-bed,Level II neonatal intensive care unit. In-house pediatric coverage is available 24/7 to assure the well-being of themore than 1,400 babies born at St. Clair every year.

Being a part of St. Clair Hospital for more than fivedecades is a source of enormous satisfaction for Dr. Reda.“I’ve been here for each addition and I’ve watched it grow towhere it is today, offering many new procedures includinglaparoscopy and robotics, expanded care for cancer,interventional radiology and the outstanding cardiac center.To be rated among the 100 Top Hospitals is amazing — it speaks for itself.”

Barbara J. Bahl, Ph.D. andFrank A. Reda, M.D.


The Heart of St. Clair

CinDy GAber, r.n.

One might say that Cindy Gaber is loyal to St. ClairHospital. She was born at St. Clair Hospital, and hasworked at the Hospital as a registered nurse for 26

years — almost her entire professional career. Except for abrief period living in Texas and working in home healthcare,the Upper St. Clair resident has always lived in Pittsburgh’sSouth Hills and worked at St. Clair.

Gaber says she is proud to be a nurse at St. Clair, ahospital that she says is designed entirely for patient satisfactionand excellent patient outcomes. “This is a great hospital,”she states with conviction. “St. Clair has to be exceptional inorder to retain our independence.” As nurse manager of Unit5A, the orthopaedic unit, she supervises the care of patientsundergoing joint replacements, surgery for fractures andspinal problems, and treatment of trauma and back pain.The unit includes 22 orthopaedic beds and an eight-bedrehabilitation unit. She oversees an interdisciplinary team

of approximately 50, including nurses, nursing assistants, andunit secretaries, and is responsible for clinical and non-clinicaloperations of her unit.

In her crisp white uniform, Gaber is the very picture of aprofessional nurse. At St. Clair, she explains, a nurse wearswhite — something that is unusual in this era of multicoloredscrubs. “All the registered nurses wear white at St. Clair,”she says. “We went back to white uniforms about five yearsago, as a courtesy to patients. Wearing white makes it easierfor the patients to identify the nurses.” Gaber continues to practice as a clinician as much as possible, despite her

Cindy Gaber, R.N. comforts orthopaedicpatient Denise Lazzini of McDonald.

60YEARS

CELEBRAT ING

of the Hospital’s existence; heknows it as well as anyone can.

St. Clair Hospital is a muchdifferent place today than whenDr. Yeasted first arrived in 1978.He was a graduate of the Universityof Pittsburgh School of Medicineand was board-certified in internalmedicine, with a private practice.The Hospital was just 24 yearsold then, and, despite fourexpansions in those years, had become overcrowded. With the population of the South Hills continuing to climb,the occupancy rate was running consistently near 95 percent,straining the resources of the Hospital. St. Clair’sadministrators and directors knew that expansion wasessential, but that this one had to be different. With wisdomand foresight they embarked on a bold strategic plan thatwould add physical space, enhance existing services, and add new ones that would revitalize St. Clairand position it favorably within an increasinglycompetitive environment.

That mid-’70s expansion would giveSt. Clair the capacity to be the placewhere all residents of the South Hills,from infants to seniors, could turn tohave their healthcare needs met. It wasnot simply about expanded space; it wasabout expansive ideas. And fortuitously,Dr. Yeasted came to St. Clair just as all thisramping up was underway. In 1986, he wasnamed chairman of the Departmentof Medicine, and in 1993, hejoined the board of directors.He became Chief MedicalOfficer in 2000.

“St. Clair Hospital hasan interesting history,”Dr. Yeasted says. “It wasestablished becausepeople didn’t want to gointo the city for medicalcare, and sometimes theyliterally couldn’t. There’s anold story about a trolleyaccident in the South Hills,and there was a criticaldelay in moving injured


Leadership and Vision

G. AlAn yeAsteD, M.D.

ChieF MeDiCAl oFFiCer

W hen G. Alan Yeasted, M.D., executive vice-presidentand Chief Medical Officer at St. Clair Hospital,speaks about the Hospital’s 60th anniversary, he

likes to refer to it as “only the first 60 years.” His optimismabout St. Clair is boundless, and his vision of the institution’sfuture is bright. He has been with St. Clair for more than half

administrative responsibilities. It’s her preference to be a“hands-on manager” who gets out on the floor to interactwith her staff and help care for the patients and families. She feels that it gives her greater credibility as well as first-hand knowledge of any challenges the staff is confronting.And, it gives her personal satisfaction.

Given her longevity at the Hospital, Gaber is well aware ofSt. Clair’s history and evolution. She says she can rememberwhen there were just two floors, and she is amazed by theongoing growth. “Not everyone realizes how much specialtycare we provide and how progressive we are. Our care isoutstanding in many specialties.” That includes her own specialty,orthopaedics, which has one of St. Clair’s highest patientsatisfaction scores. “We strive to improve patient care andhave made some significant changes that produce greatresults. My unit initiated a bedside change-of-shift reportand bedside charting, as part of an effort to provide morepatient-centered care. My unit also developed a mentorprogram for new nurses that has been very successful.”

Over the years, she says, changes in the healthcareindustry have forced healthcare professionals to adapt theirpractices. One such change is in reimbursement patterns,which led to shorter stays that she believes made nursesbecome more efficient. “We had to prepare patients fordischarge in far less time. When you have to do in two dayswhat you once had a week to do, you learn to work smarterand faster. All the technological advances took some gettingused to, but ultimately they have improved patient care andpatient safety. We have a team-oriented, patient-centeredwork environment; the physicians here respect the nursesand collaborate well with us; the respect is mutual.”

“My work is never boring,” Gaber says, “and the days gofast when you’re so busy. I get a lot of satisfaction from mywork; I love to see patients going home with renewed mobilityor decreased pain, and I appreciate the positive feedbackfrom families. I also love watching new nurses grow inconfidence. St. Clair Hospital is a good place to work:turnover is low, morale is high and we have good teamwork.

“I’m proud to tell people where I work.”


Chief Medical Officer,G. Alan Yeasted, M.D.



victims to the emergency rooms, because traffic was so badat the Liberty Tunnels. It made it clear that the South Hillsneeded its own emergency room and hospital. The foundersrecognized this and created St. Clair to meet that need.”

St. Clair continues to do exactly that, he says, althoughwith a level of sophistication that the founders could not haveimagined. “St. Clair is often distinguished by the Heart Center,Cancer Center and the Emergency Department. Cardiac andcancer care are two services that you want to have as close tohome as possible. Cardiac care is one of the most importantservices a hospital can offer a community, and the HeartCenter at St. Clair is outstanding. In order to deliver theseservices at our level of quality, you need to have supportservices, such as Infectious Disease and Radiology.

“Our Emergency Department (ED) is extraordinary. Theprocesses and environment are designed with a ‘lean engineering’approach for efficiency and a patient-centered focus. Everyroom is identically equipped to enhance efficiency. The EDstaff has great ‘esprit de corps,' the nursing staff istop-quality, and all of our physicians are board-certified.”

Women and Children Services is also an essential serviceto the community, Dr. Yeasted says. “Patient satisfaction withmaternity services is exceptionally high, and we will continueoffering this service. We have excellent OBs, including somerecent additions to the staff. We have 24/7 in-house pediatriccoverage so a pediatrician is on hand for every delivery.”

Dr. Yeasted also touts the Hospital’s new Breast CareCenter at St. Clair’s Outpatient Center in Bethel Park. The

center’s spa-like ambience is designed to provide patients acalm, warm environment amidst its state-of-the-art diagnosticimaging technology, including stereotactic biopsy and3D breast tomosynthesis.

He believes that St. Clair has numerous strengths that setit apart, not the least of which are its progressive care andhighly credentialed physicians. “St. Clair was once seen as a small community hospital. Today, it’s an independent, acutecare hospital providing high quality, advanced care to morethan 480,000 residents of Western Pennsylvania. The core ofour strength comes from our nurses and our growing numberof leading physicians. We have low turnover among nurses,so the combination of longevity and experience means clinicalexcellence. We’re able to recruit phenomenal physicians. Fordoctors, St. Clair is ideal. We have leading technology andexcellent care, which attract the best and brightest doctors.”

St. Clair’s independence is a major strength. And theHospital’s success, Dr. Yeasted believes, is fostered by stabilityin leadership. “We are fortunate to have had only three CEOs in our history — something quite rare. Our board of directors,who hire the CEO, had the foresight to make a deliberatedecision regarding this, knowing that CEO turnover is nothealthy for the facility.”

Donald Orr, M.D., a radiologist and chair of the Hospital’sMedical Imaging department, has known and worked closelywith Dr. Yeasted since 1980, and credits Dr. Yeasted’s leadershipas CMO to the Hospital’s success.

“Dr. Yeasted is St. Clair’s overall champion of quality. Thereare numerous examples of quality improvement initiatives forwhich he deserves credit: the addition of 24/7 intensivists forthe critical care units; more robust, 24/7 in-house pediatriccoverage; the expansion and development of the ED; andsuccessfully establishing an Electrophysiology Lab at St. Clair.He plays a primary role in the recruiting of new doctors. Healso plays a major role in regulatory compliance.”

“St. Clair is a well-respected, independent hospital of superiorquality,” Dr. Yeasted says. “The 60 year anniversary is wonderful,but it’s only the first 60 years. We have a very bright future.”

G. Alan Yeasted, M.D. with the Hospital’s first-ever patient Antonietta Daris Menke.

We have leading technologyand excellent care, whichattract the best andbrightest doctors.

”

“


G. ALAN YEASTED, M.D.CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

60YEARS

CELEBRAT ING



Embodying the Spirit of St. Clair

volunteers AnD beneFACtors

DiCk AnD AliCe pAtton

W hen I am working at the information desk in the frontlobby, I am the face of St. Clair Hospital,” says longtimevolunteer Alice Patton. And what a wonderful face

she has: smiling, welcoming, and emanating warmth and concernfor the person in front of her. It’s a face that puts anxious peopleat ease and offers them an immediate human connection.“Working the front desk is much more than giving directions tothe right hospital department,” Alice says. “It’s greeting people,listening to them and helping them.”

Alice Patton and her husband, Dick, have been volunteersand financial donors at St. Clair since 1996. They have contributedto the Hospital in many capacities. Dick, a retired pharmaceuticalcompany executive, volunteers as an escort once a week andhas also helped manage the Gift Shop for the past 15 years,overseeing the finances and buying. He actually helped designthe present Gift Shop and has served on numerous Hospitalcommittees and fundraising projects. Alice, a former high

school English teacher, church organist and choir director, hasserved as president of the St. Clair Hospital Auxiliary and wasthe editor of the Auxiliary newsletter. She edited the St. ClairHospital Auxiliary Cookbook, produced in 2000; she reviewed600 recipes for that project. Both have been deeply involvedin Auxiliary events over the years, helping the Auxiliary intheir efforts to raise $6 million for new equipment, programsand projects.

The Pattons reside in Upper St. Clair and are New Jersey nativeswho chose to retire in Pittsburgh. “We had lived here before andwe loved Pittsburgh,” Dick explains. “We love the arts and thisarea has so much to offer. After we moved back here, we beganvolunteering, as a chance to give back and meet people; St. Clairis the principal place we volunteer and we love this Hospital.”

Dick says that serving as an escort is interesting and satisfying.“I meet so many wonderful people, and they want to talk. Theescorts often hear their entire story, because they see us asregular people and feel safe with us. My favorite part of the jobis escorting the new babies and mothers when they are ready to go home.”

There is such satisfaction in knowing

that when a patient or visitor needs

someone, you canbe that someone.

“

”

Dick and Alice Patton

Volunteers Mary Blume, June Conroy, M.T. Geraci, and Dick Patton.


DICK PATTON


As parents of three children themselves, the Pattons appreciatethe excellence of the care provided at St. Clair. They starteddonating to the Hospital when their children were treated in theEmergency Room here. “Our kids were 13, 11 and 9 when wefirst moved here, and we always received good care, so wewanted to support the Hospital,” Dick says. “I used to work forMerck and Company, Inc., and Merck always matched our gifts;in fact, they still do.”

Dick and Alice Patton embody the spirit of St. Clair Hospital:caring, giving and neighborly. They are devoted to the Hospitaland proud to be associated with it. “St. Clair is a very caringhospital, interested in people and concerned for community,”Alice says. “The staff is superb; the nurses are so nice. The Hospitalkeeps on top of things, always having the latest technology, servicesand equipment. At St. Clair, they are always looking to the future,for new ways to care for people. People love this Hospital.”

When the Pattons report for their volunteer hours, they weartheir “uniforms” — for Dick, a bright red escort jacket, and forAlice, the white blouse and olive vest that identifies her as afront desk worker. Both also wear a scattering of honor pins, indicating the Hospital’s appreciation of their service and thethousands of hours of their time that they give to St. Clair: since1996, they have together contributed 25,000 hours of service.“The pins are nice, but the great reward is in the work itself,”says Dick. “Meeting and greeting people in a time of need, andhelping them. There is such satisfaction in knowing that whena patient or visitor needs someone, you can be that someone.”

The Resnik sisters, Lori, Cindy and Linda atthe family farm in Weirton, West Virginia.

St. Clair Forever Changes Their Lives

the resnik sisters

In 2012, the Resnik sisters — Lori, Cindy and Linda —madea brave decision to share with the public their very privateexperiences with breast cancer, by telling their story to

HouseCall. Their goal was to express their gratitude for theoutstanding care they received at St. Clair Hospital and toeducate other women about breast cancer and encouragethem to get screening mammograms.

Their story was compelling, but not just because of theirmedical circumstances, unusual as they are. Breast cancerhas impacted their family in a way that almost defies belief:all four sisters in the family have had to confront the disease,each in a different way. Four sisters, four journeys, braidedtogether in their mutual support and dignified response tounimaginable adversity. That was the real story, the story thatresonated with HouseCall readers throughout the St. ClairHospital communities.

60YEARS

CELEBRAT ING




Lori and Cindy were diagnosed with breast cancer, butwith different kinds. Each had a bilateral mastectomy andbreast reconstruction, and underwent courses of chemotherapyand medication. Linda had a prophylactic bilateral mastectomybecause of her high risk for breast cancer. And their sisterDianna died from breast cancer, 10 years ago.

Lori Resnik Hawthorne was post-mastectomy and in themidst of chemotherapy when the story was published in 2012.She has had two more surgeries in 2013: the “exchange” procedure,in which tissue expanders in her chest were replaced withsilicone implants, and one month later, the removal of herovaries and fallopian tubes, all performed at St. Clair Hospital.She is doing well, and says that because her type of cancercarries a high risk of recurrence, she is followed closely byher doctors, breast surgeon Raye J. Budway, M.D., and oncologistVincent Reyes, M.D. “I had some side effects from thechemotherapy but it’s improving,” Lori says. “I kept workingfull time, just missing some work after each surgery. I’verealized that being strong is not a quality you are born with;you learn to be strong. I’m optimistic; I fought through all of this and I’ll keep on fighting.”

Sharing Their Experience Helps Others

Her younger sister, Cindy Resnik Bartram, is also doingwell and is focused on the blessings that her own cancerjourney brought to her. “As bad as this was, it brought myhusband, our four kids, and me closer. It made us realize whatmatters. My friends and co-workers appreciated the storybecause, although they knew some of what was going on, theyknew more after they read the story and they understood better;they became even more supportive. That was an unexpectedbenefit. We were all approached at times by women withbreast cancer who viewed us as a resource. That felt great. We knew when we agreed to do this that we were opening up our lives, but it was worth it. Even in our own family, thestory inspired some cousins to have BRCA gene testing.”

Linda Resnik Russell, the youngest sister, had a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction one year ago — the same surgery that received recent worldwide media attention when actress Angelina Jolie had it done. Linda says that although the recovery was tough, she is confident that she made the right choice. Linda’s sisters and many others are proud of her for having the courage to make the decision, because of the family history.

The story made the sisters local “celebrities” and broughtthem an appearance on KDKA-TV. “After the story came out,”says Linda, “I was amazed at how many people told me theysaw it. It was a little overwhelming — strangers would comeup to me! Several women said to me, ‘I saw your story and itreminded me to schedule my mammogram.’” Lori says thatalthough seeing herself on posters at bus stops and in shoppingmalls took some getting used to, it was fun to hear thecomments and encouragement from people. “Overall, tellingour story was a positive experience. It made women stop andthink. Dr. Budway gives copies of the story to her patients in similar circumstances, so it’s still having an impact.”

A Multi-Generational Impact

And for the next generation of women in this remarkablefamily, the impact has been profound. Cindy’s daughter Kristenwas so moved by the HouseCall story that she took a quotefrom it to a tattoo artist and had a fragment of the wordstattooed on her right side, where they are a permanent andvery personal testament to her mother and her aunts:

“Together, they are a powerhouse: a formidable andunstoppable force, eloquent and honest, deeply woundedbut heart-strong.”

“ Several women said to me, ‘I sawyour story and it reminded meto schedule my mammogram.’

”

A pasture at the Resnik family farm.

LINDA RESNIK RUSSELL


New Physicians Helping Expand

the Future of Medicine

jeFFrey C. liu, M.D.

The rapid growth of the South Hills, northern WashingtonCounty, and the western suburbs of Allegheny Countyhas created a need for high quality physicians to meet

the healthcare demands of the area’s burgeoning and diverse population.

As St. Clair Hospital looks to the future, a key strength is its ability to continually attract top talent from world-renowned medical schools and teaching hospitals, offeringmultiple specialties. One of the many outstanding youngphysicians who have joined the medical services staff is acardiac electrophysiologist — an addition that further enhances the Hospital’s highly respected, award-winning,cardiac care program, and showcases its fast-paced journeyinto the future of modern healthcare.

Murrysville native, now Shadyside resident, Jeffrey C.Liu, M.D., is a board-certified cardiologist who specializes in the treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders, or abnormalheartbeat patterns. He diagnoses and treats “arrhythmias”

using the most advanced technologies in this dynamic, rapidlygrowing field. With Dr. Liu on board, St. Clair Hospital hasadded to its spectrum of cardiac services a comprehensivecardiac Electrophysiology Lab that offers heart rhythm patients the most sophisticated and progressive diagnosticand therapeutic care — care that previously was availableonly in the region’s larger, academic medical centers.

With multiple options of where to practice, Dr. Liu says he chose St. Clair Hospital because St. Clair is at the leadingedge of cardiac care, with the most advanced diagnostic andtherapeutic technologies for the care of patients with heartproblems.

“St. Clair Hospital has long had a very strong cardiologyprogram with an excellent electrophysiologist, Puvalai M. Vijaykumar, M.D. Together, we enhance the Hospital’s capacityto provide advanced cardiac services, including cardiac ablations,to correct rhythm disorders,” says Dr. Liu. “I’m honored to behere at St. Clair, to be playing a part in this progress.”

Cardiac electrophysiology is a specialty within a specialtyand is currently the most progressive discipline in cardiovas-cular care. Physicians in this specialty complete fellowshipsin cardiology and then do a second fellowship in the study, diagnosis and treatment of rhythm disorders, which are anincreasingly common form of heart disease. Although thefield developed in the early ‘80s, new technologies have fostered advances that are emerging “on an almost monthlybasis,” says Liu, making the field one of the most exciting in medicine. “EP has many different aspects, including the implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators, and there has been an incredible explosion of progress recently. St. Clair has the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology,which makes diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias extremely precise and effective. This is reassuring to the patients,” Liu says.

The heart has a natural pacemaker that sends out impulsesto the heart muscle that regulate the heartbeat, stimulatingit to contract and relax, pumping blood to the lungs and body

We are at the leading edgeof cardiac care...

new technologies have fosteredadvances that are emerging

on an almost monthly basis.

“

”JEFFREY C. LIU, M.D.

60YEARS

CELEBRAT ING



in a steady rhythm. When the electrical signals go awry, the result is an abnormal heartbeat, which can be uncomfortableand in some cases, may interfere with the heart’s ability topump effectively. Irregularities in the heart’s electrical systemarise from a specific, tiny spot in the heart muscle and can produce feelings of lightheadedness, palpitations and a racingheart. Liu’s expertise is in treating these erratic heartbeats witha procedure known as cardiac ablation, in which the diseasedtissue is burned away and a normal rhythm re-established.“Most of the ablations I do are for supraventricular tachycardia,a fast rhythm from the upper chambers. Most people who havethis have otherwise healthy hearts,” he explains.

Cardiac ablation is performed in St. Clair’s expanded CardiacCatheterization Lab under light sedation. A thin catheter is placedperipherally and threaded to the heart. Dr. Liu employs a highlyspecialized technique called cardiac mapping, which creates a3-D image without using any radiation. At St. Clair, a mappingsystem called the EnSite Velocity is used, and is so precise thatonly the smallest area of tissue is targeted and burned away.The procedure cures the disorder and recovery is rapid. “Withthe Velocity system, we can sense the heart’s electrical activity,we can pace the heart, we can study the abnormal rhythms,and we can identify their source. It’s a critical tool,” accordingto Dr. Liu.

Dr. Liu with a sophisticated mapping system in the new Catheterization Lab at St. Clair Hospital.

JEFFREY C. LIU, M.D.

Dr. Liu earned his medical degree at JeffersonMedical College, Philadelphia. He completed residencies at Baltimore VA Medical Center andUniversity of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore.Dr. Liu completed fellowships in Clinical CardiacElectrophysiology and Cardiovascular Medicine at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He isboard-certified in Cardiovascular Diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

I n today’s turbulent healthcare environment, every hospital needsmasterful leadership in order to compete, survive, grow and thrive;it needs leaders who possess vision, courage and practicality.

St. Clair Hospital has had such exemplary leadership since itsbeginning, and is fortunate to have exactly that kind of leadership in 2014, personified by Melvin D. Rex, Chairman of St. Clair Hospital,and Thomas M. Medwig, chairman of St. Clair Health Corporation, whichoperates St. Clair Hospital, St. Clair Medical Services, St. Clair HospitalFoundation, and other subsidiaries.

Mel Rex, a longtime resident of Upper St. Clair, has been a memberof the Hospital board of directors for the last seven years. He had

previously served on the board in the ‘90s and was happy to becomeinvolved again. For Rex, theHospital’s 60th anniversaryis an occasion for the entireSouth Hills region to celebrate.“St. Clair Hospital is a hugeasset to this community,”he says, “and the fact thatwe have grown so muchand become more of atertiary-level healthcarefacility is remarkable. Thisgrowth is terrific for thepeople of the region, becauseit has allowed us to bring inexcellent medical specialistsand new services. In 2013,St. Clair can meet virtuallyall the healthcare needs

of the people of the surrounding communities.” Rex has the highest praise for his colleagues on the board of

directors and for the current administrative team. Rex takes great pride in the fact that St. Clair has been gaining

attention both regionally and nationally for the exceptional growth andexpansion of the past decade. The Hospital’s growth, with more servicesand more advanced care, has strengthened its reputation for excellence,he says, and has attracted top notch physicians who are leaders in theirspecialties. Known particularly for progressive, state-of-the-art cardiaccare, emergency care, cancer care and surgery, St. Clair is now at theforefront of advances in clinical management and diagnostics. Increasingly,it is the hospital of choice for those who want the highest quality care.“You have to have the right vision, the right culture, and the righttechnology to attract the best doctors,” Rex explains. “We’ve been

able to bring all those elements together.” We have rapidly become a center for advanced acute care and we want to attract people whoexpect that level of care. In terms of our accomplishments, our resultsspeak for themselves. St. Clair is one of the very few hospitals in theregion that is showing an increase in patients.”

For certain, there are challenges ahead. “No one can predict whatthe final impact of the Affordable Care Act will be, and every hospital is going to have to find a way to deal with — and survive — the cuts inMedicare reimbursement,” Rex says. But such challenges energize thisboard chairman. With a laser beam focus on mission, he and his fellowdirectors constantly strategize to strengthen the community lifeline thatis St. Clair Hospital.

St. Clair’s board of directors is highly collaborative and “like afamily,” according to Rex, which makes working together pleasant andproductive. “Our board members are people from the community andphysicians, and we work in committees, with physicians on every one.That’s important to us, to have a strong, healthy relationship with themedical staff. When we interview a prospective board member, we make it clear that we expect active participation. Board members attend manymeetings, serve on committees and attend outside events — it’s a majorcommitment of time. We’re fortunate to have a wonderful group. I workedin business for many years and I love what I’m doing now. I feel that I ammaking an impact and giving back to the Hospital. What we do today ismoving St. Clair Hospital into a thriving future.”


Building on the PAstfor An eVen stronger future

60YEARS

CELEBRAT ING

The Perspective of the Chairs of St. Clair’s Boards of Directors

We have rapidlybecome a center foradvanced acute care and we want to attractpeople who expect thatlevel of care ... our results speak for themselves.St.Clair is one of the veryfew hospitals in the regionthat is showing an increasein patients.

“

”MELVIN D. REXCHAIRMAN, ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL

Melvin D. RexChairman, St. Clair Hospital

Tom Medwig, chairman of the St. Clair Health Corporation and a memberof the Hospital’s board of directors, attributes the dynamic growth andsuccess of St. Clair Hospital to the “good people” who guide this

institution and care for patients. St. Clair’s transition, from a small communityhospital to the financially healthy,progressive acute care institutionit is today, has required visionaryleadership and the right people,he says — key community members,expert physicians, a talented staffand committed directors, all sharingthat vision. It is, he believes, thequality of the people at St. Clairthat distinguishes it among hospitals.

“At St. Clair, we have the highestpossible level of excellence andintegrity among the physiciansand in the administrative team.Many factors make us exceptional,but first among them is physicianleadership. We’ve always haddoctors who were medicalleaders but we needed themto become Hospital leaders andstrong administrators. We werefortunate to have people likeDr. (Donald) Orr, Chairman ofMedical Imaging at St. Clair,and Dr. (G. Alan) Yeasted,Chief Medical Officer at St. Clair, who have been outstanding leaders. They’vecreated a practice environment that appeals to doctors; we have doctorsasking us if they can come on staff. Dr. Orr was the first physician in WesternPennsylvania to be the chairman of the board for a hospital. The second factoris the administrative team which has been able to improve our finances andbring in tertiary procedures and technologies that continue to attract top-notchdoctors. We’re proud of our relationship with all the doctors.”

Medwig is equally proud of St. Clair’s independent status. “We are fiercelyindependent at St. Clair. We choose to maintain our independence and wehave not only survived but thrived. St. Clair Hospital is better than ever.There is a St. Clair culture and I describe it as, ‘Working together, caringfor patients and each other.’”

A deeply engaged board of directors, Medwig believes, is yet anotherasset. “We have a hands-on board, characterized by high ethical standards.We don’t get involved in hospital operations but we oversee them and pro-vide vision. Historically, that has been the case.”

Medwig is a Carnegie native who has lived in Mt. Lebanon for 39 years,so St. Clair has always been a part of his life. He has four children and sixgrandchildren, with two on the way — all of them born at St. Clair. He feelsthat St. Clair belongs to the people of this community, represented by thetrustees. St. Clair, he says, is a “people’s hospital.”

“At our 60th anniversary, it gives me great satisfaction to look at wherewe were and then to see where we are today. There has been enormousgrowth — now we have the Heart Center, the Cancer Center, the Family

Birth Center, and so much more. My hope is that we will continue to improvein quality of care and financial health, continue to treat our employees well,and become one of the best hospitals in the U.S.”


St. Clair Health CorporationThomas M. Medwig, ChairmanJoseph B. BankoJames W. BarsonLouis A. Civitarese, D.O.James M. CollinsDavid R. HeilmanBryan HondruDavid R. JardiniDonald J. JenkinsDonald P. Orr, M.D.Melvin D. RexHarry E. Serene, M.D.Gary J. Zentner

St. Clair HospitalMelvin D. Rex, ChairmanAndrew AloeFrank Arcuri, Esq.Joseph BankoStephanie Brown, M.D.Karl E. Bushman, M.D.Louis A. Civitarese, D.O.James M. CollinsMario J. Fatigati, M.D.Gary GlausserAndrew R. HaysDavid R. HeilmanDavid R. JardiniDonald J. JenkinsJoan L. Massella Thomas M. MedwigDonald P. Orr, M.D.Harry E. Serene, M.D.Joseph B. SmithG. Alan Yeasted, M.D.Gary J. Zentner

St. Clair Hospital FoundationGary J. Zentner, ChairmanRobert L. Allman IIAndrew AloeJodi AmosJoseph BankoEdward B. Dunlap (Honorary)Bryan HondruVicki McKennaThomas M. MedwigJack B. PiattStephen F. ReichAndrew F. RodgersHarry E. Serene, M.D.Robert N. Shogry, M.D.C. Vaughn Strimlan, M.D.

St. Clair Medical Services, Inc.David R. Heilman, ChairmanJoseph BankoJames W. BarsonKarl E. Bushman, M.D.James M. CollinsMario J. Fatigati, M.D.Gary GlausserThomas M. MedwigDonald P. Orr, M.D.Melvin D. Rex

SCNSC Properties, Inc.Harry E. Serene, M.D., ChairmanThomas L. AgueHerbert E. CableDaniel CarneyJames M. CollinsNicholas DiTullio, M.D.Kris Ellis, M.D.Robert E. Flanigan, M.D.Charles Richardson

St. Clair Hospital SeniorManagementJames M. CollinsPresident and Chief Executive Officer

Richard C. ChesnosSenior Vice President andChief Financial Officer

Michael J. FlanaganSenior Vice President andChief Operating Officer

Holly M. HampeVice President and Chief Quality Officer

Andrea L. KalinaVice President of External Affairs andChief Human Resources Officer

Joan L. MassellaAdministrative Vice President andChief Nursing Officer

Richard J. SchaefferVice President and ChiefInformation Officer

G. Alan Yeasted, M.D.Senior Vice President andChief Medical Officer

Barry S. ZaiserSenior Vice President, StrategicDevelopment and Operations

* As of December 2013.

the BoArds of direCtors*

THOMAS M. MEDWIGCHAIRMAN, ST. CLAIR HEALTH CORPORATION

”

St. Clair belongs to thepeople of this community,represented by the trustees.St.Clair is a ‘people’s hospital.’

“


St. Clair Hospital plays a pivotal role in the economic health and vitality of the community,with a direct and indirect impact on the area’s economy.

DIRECT IMPACTHospital employment • Hospital spendingEmergency department capacity • Regionalvitality • Community health

INDIRECT IMPACTNon-hospital employment • Regionalspending • State and local tax revenues State economic development support

60YEARS

CELEBRAT ING

St. Clair Hospital’s Annual Economic Development Impact

550 PHYSICIANS • 2,200 EMPLOYEES • 286,858 PATIENTS EACH YEAR

$6.3 MILLIONTAXES PAID TOTHE COMMUNITY

TOTAL SPENDINGHOSPITAL

$222,772,394

ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT

$246,386,268

TOTAL BENEFIT

$469,158,662

SALARIESHOSPITAL

$83,575,916

ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT

$64,545,680

TOTAL

$148,121,596

Source: The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, April 2013.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS• Community Health ImprovementServices & Community BenefitOperations

• Health Professions Education

• Subsidized Health Services

TOTAL VALUE

$ 5,826,764

CHARITY, DISCOUNTED AND UNCOMPENSATED CARE• Charity Care • Unpaid Patient Expenses• Discounts to Uninsured/ • Under-reimbursed MedicareUnderinsured • Under-reimbursed Medical Assistance

TOTAL VALUE

$28,527,194

VALUE OF QUANTIFIABLE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

TOTAL VALUE

$34,353,958

• Cash and In-Kind Contributions

• Community Support

• Community Health Improvement Advocacy

St. Clair Hospital Foundation

1000 Bower Hill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15243 • 412.942.2465 • [email protected]

As A leADinG heAlthCAre proviDer, st. ClAir hospitAl is A MAjor eConoMiC Driver,

with 550 physiCiAns AnD 2,200 eMployees. the hospitAl reMAins CoMMitteD to its Core vAlues

As it CAres For More thAn 286,858 pAtients eACh yeAr.

If you have recently made a gift to St. Clair Hospital, please accept our sincere thanks.

Dear Friend of St. Clair Hospital,

This special edition of HouseCall tells the story of how, some six decades ago, area residents saw acritical need for local, quality healthcare. Their grassroots fundraising campaigns resulted in theopening of St. Clair Hospital in 1954. Now an integral part of the community, St. Clair continues togrow and remains one of the Pittsburgh area’s few independent hospitals. As a leading healthcareprovider, the Hospital is a major economic driver, with 550 physicians and 2,200 employees.

While St. Clair has grown in ways the founders might never have anticipated, the Hospital remainscommitted to its core values as it cares for more than 286,858 patients each year.

Of course, the changing medical landscape across the country has set all hospitals on an unchartedcourse, challenging healthcare providers in their efforts to continue growing and to offer the mostadvanced, yet still affordable, medical services to their patients.

As depicted in the historic photograph on the front cover of HouseCall, St. Clair has from its very beginnings counted on the support of the people, organizations and businesses of this community.Please continue that legacy of giving forged some 60 years ago and help ensure St. Clair’s mission ofproviding the highest quality healthcare is available throughout our region.

We invite you to use the enclosed response envelope to make your gift to St. Clair Hospital today. If you have any questions, please contact the St. Clair Hospital Foundation at 412.942.2465 [email protected]. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours in good health,

G. Alan Yeasted, M.D. Gary J. Zentner Richard SieberExecutive Vice President and Chairman, Board of Directors Executive Director, DevelopmentChief Medical Officer St. Clair Hospital Foundation St. Clair Hospital FoundationCo-Chair, 60th Anniversary CommitteeSt. Clair Hospital

General & Patient Information: 412.942.4000

is a publication of St. Clair Hospital. Articles are for informational purposes and arenot intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your personal physician.

Follow us on twitter at: www.twitter.com/stclairhospitalHouseCall

Outpatient Center–Village Square: 412.942.7100

Physician Referral Service: 412.942.6560 Medical Imaging Scheduling: 412.942.8150

Outpatient Center–Peters Township: 412.942.8400

A 60th birthday is a landmark in thelife of any institution and an occasionworth celebrating. On February 22,2014, St. Clair Hospital reaches thatmilestone, and we’re marking thatachievement in this special issue ofHouseCall. Over the last 60 years,many of you may have made a connection with us. You might havewelcomed a child here, visited anailing friend, or made an unexpectedtrip to the ER. All such events add up to our collective experience —and that’s what we’re celebratingthis year. In this issue of HouseCallyou will see snapshots of the past — stories that detail our history andaccomplishments. We hope you enjoythis look back, and we look forward toachieving more milestones with you.

St.Clair Hospital1000 Bower Hill RoadPittsburgh, PA 15243www.stclair.org

St. Clair Hospital HouseCall _Vol V Issue 4

Documents

Transcript of St. Clair Hospital HouseCall _Vol V Issue 4