St. Clair Hospital HouseCall Vol VII Issue 1

HouseCallVOLUME V ISSUE 2VOLUME VII ISSUE 1

Primary Care Physicians Play Leading Role In Region’s And U.S.’s Healthcare SystemsAsk The Doctor I Awards And Recognition I Foundation Updatesinside

HouseCall26-YEAR-OLD PATIENT PRAISES THE LIFESAVING TREATMENT SHE RECEIVED FROM ST. CLAIR’S DEDICATED CARE TEAM

SavingAlison

2 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1

Michele Weatherly was at work when she received

the phone call that every parent dreads. The

caller identified himself as a physician in the

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at St. Clair Hospital, and told her

that her 26-year-old daughter, Alison, had been admitted

through the Emergency Room with pneumonia. She had been

intubated and placed on a ventilator. Her condition, the doctor

explained that day last fall, was “very serious” — and he

urged Michele and her husband, Reg, to come to the Hospital

immediately.

That was the beginning of a long ordeal for the Weatherly

family of Upper St. Clair. Alison, a University of Miami (Fla.)

senior majoring in anthropology, was a bright, healthy, viva-

cious young woman who had dreams of graduate school and

a career in forensics. Living in an apartment in Mt. Lebanon,

she had taken a semester off and was looking forward to

returning to school to finish the final four classes that would

lead to her degree. Michele and Reg, who are attorneys in

downtown Pittsburgh, had taken Alison out for dinner just a

few days earlier. Alison seemed fine then, except for a cold.

“I kept getting sicker instead of getting better,” Alison recalls.

“I didn’t go to the doctor because I thought it was just a bad cold.

But I developed a fever, and my breathing became difficult.

I asked a friend to take me to St. Clair’s Emergency Room.

By the time I got there, I was very sick, in extreme pain, unable to

breathe and feverish. I learned later that the doctors intubated

me right away and put me on oxygen and a ventilator; they

sedated me, started antibiotics and admitted me to the ICU.”

SavingAlison26-YEAR-OLD ALISON WEATHERLY WAS CONFRONTING THE MOST SERIOUS

HEALTH PROBLEM OF HER YOUNG LIFE. THAT’S WHEN HER TEAM

OF CAREGIVERS AT ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL WENT TO WORK.

LIFESAVING TREATMENT

ABOUT THE COVERMichele Weatherly reaches out to her daughter, Alison Weatherly, during a recent visit to the ICU to thank

the physicians and nurses there who cared for Alison during her hospitalization. Pictured with Michele

and Alison are, left to right, Greg Thompson, R.N., Kristen Cardimen, R.N. and Gregory J. Fino, M.D.

Continued on page 4

Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 3

Former ICU patient Alison Weatherly, left, and hermother, Michele Weatherly, share a laugh with St. ClairHospital ICU registered nurses, Greg Thompson, rear,and Mike Sembrat, during Alison’s and Michele’s recentvisit with some of the clinicians who cared for Alison during her battle to overcome severe sepsis.


Continued from page 3


A very serious diagnosisAs bad as things were for Alison at that point, they would quickly

become far, far worse. Alison had pneumococcal pneumonia, which had

developed into severe sepsis, a raging, whole-body complication of infection

that leads to multiple organ failure, shock, abnormal coagulation (the body’s

blood clotting process), and sometimes, to a condition known as ARDS —

acute respiratory distress syndrome. ARDS results in respiratory failure,

with poor ventilation, perfusion and low oxygen levels throughout the

body. It is about as sick as a person can get.

Sepsis is a medical emergency, a life threatening condition

that begins with a localized infection such as pneumonia, a

urinary tract infection or a surgical wound infection. Sepsis can

happen to anyone, but those at highest risk are usually the elderly

and people who are immunosuppressed due to chemotherapy

or transplant medication. Those who are hospitalized are at risk,

too, as they often have incisions and breaks in the skin. Sepsis

has one of the highest mortality rates of any medical condition; it carries a

far greater risk than heart attack or stroke. It is a major cause of morbidity

and mortality in hospitals throughout the world. Sepsis mortality is as high

as 80 percent for elderly or immunocompromised patients; in general, the

mortality rate is 40 percent. Fully one-third of those who develop severe

sepsis with ARDS will die.

Sepsis is triggered when some of the pathogenic organisms — usually

bacterial, but sometimes viral or fungal — get into the bloodstream, which

carries the infection beyond the site of origin to various organs. The body

goes into shock, cells are not perfused with the oxygen they require, and

they die. Organ damage, and eventually organ failure, is the result. The

signs of early sepsis are subtle: changes in body temperature, above or

below normal range; tachycardia (an abnormally fast heart rate); abnormally

rapid breathing; and low blood pressure.

In patients with sepsis, their bodies respond to infection with a tremendous,

all-out counterattack that

wreaks physiologic havoc

throughout their

systems. Gregory J.

Fino, M.D., a pulmo-

nologist and Co-Director of Critical Care at St. Clair,

who played a primary role in managing Alison’s care in

the ICU, says the body’s immune system mounts a “systemic inflammatory

response” that sets off a cascade of events which lead to organ failure and,

all too often, death. “The medical term for this response to infection is SIRS —

systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The body reacts so vigorously

to the invading microbes that it overshoots a bit,” Dr. Fino explains. “We can

treat the infection with appropriate antibiotics, but there’s no way to stop

Sepsis is a severe medical emergency,

a life threatening condition that can

happen to anyone.

Posing for a group photo in the ICU at St. Clair Hospital are, left toright, Greg Thompson, R.N., Kristen Cardimen, R.N., Michele andAlison Weatherly, Gregory Fino, M.D., and Mike Sembrat, R.N.


the body’s attack mode. It will carry on for a week

or so. Once we have the infection under control,

we more or less wait for the body to heal itself,

as we provide support to the patient and do every-

thing we can to optimize the outcome.”

Severe sepsis is a diagnostic challenge, but

identification of those at risk, recognition of the

early signs, and the prompt initiation of diagnostic

testing and treatment is critically important to good

outcomes. Early recognition and treatment of sepsis

greatly improve chances for survival. (Please see

sidebar on detecting sepsis in patients, page 8.)

A team is assembledThe situation in the ICU was dynamic and dramatic.

Alison was extremely unstable, in critical condition,

with regular fluctuations in her vital signs and

oxygen saturation levels. In constant attendance

was St. Clair’s team of critical care experts —

doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and other

clinicians — who worked to save Alison with a

robust response that matched the ferocity of her

illness. The team included Pulmonologist Dr. Fino,

a 30-year veteran of the ICU, and his colleagues:

Patrick Reilly, M.D.; Andrew Perez, M.D.; Laurie

Kilkenny, M.D.; and Zachary Young, M.D., all

pulmonologists and critical care specialists.

Also involved in Alison’s care: nocturnist critical

care physicians Yvonne R. Chan, M.D. and

Maxim V. Bocharov, M.D.

“Alison was deathly ill,” Dr. Fino recalls.

“She had a common, community-acquired form

of pneumonia, with inflammation throughout

her lungs. We provided fluid resuscitation and

tailored her antibiotic therapy specifically to the

pneumococcus. She was put into a medically-

induced coma to help us to better manage her

ventilation and for her own comfort. Alison’s

lungs collapsed, requiring the placement of

chest tubes to re-expand them. We performed

a tracheotomy. She had respiratory failure, liver

failure, severe slowing of her heart rate and

arrhythmias. We utilized prone therapy, which

can improve ventilation.”

Prone therapy with a Rotaprone bed is an

innovative intervention for severely ill patients

in the ICU who cannot be adequately ventilated

with the usual approaches. “Alison’s pneumonia

was so extensive,” Dr. Fino explains, “that we

could not provide oxygen via the ventilator to

keep her oxygen levels adequate. She was receiving

100 percent oxygen — what we breathe normally

in room air is 21 percent. We were giving her

maximum levels of extra pressure on expiration

to push oxygen through the lung to the blood-

stream. But it reached a point where we could

not oxygenate her.

“With pneumonia and ARDS there is a severe

mismatch in the lungs of oxygen and blood so

oxygen is not transferred into the blood stream

effectively. The Rotaprone bed literally rotates the

patient from side to side and prone allowing a

better mixing of the oxygen and the blood. Using

this bed allowed us to deliver intervals of prone

therapy over extended periods of time to help

improve Alison’s oxygenation.”

Alison spent nine days in the Rotaprone bed,

Dr. Fino says. “It was rocky at first as we worked

to find the exact right position for her. At times,

despite maximum support, her oxygen levels

were as low as the 70s — normal is the 90s.

We did everything possible. We all brainstormed

constantly,” Dr. Fino recalls. “We never, ever

gave up.”

Alison spent nine days in this Rotaprone bed. Her right foot is visible at bottom center.

Continued on page 6

Extraordinary careIt was an effort that called upon every resource of the ICU. That includes

state-of-the-art technology, the most advanced equipment, and the most

effective, evidence-based clinical practices. Above all, though, it was the

staff of the ICU who rose to this extreme challenge, and prevailed. It was

the power of a team, of committed and deeply caring professionals,

who held Alison’s life in their hands and gave her everything they had.

A top-notch, unified interdisciplinary medical team in

action is an apt description of Alison’s

caregivers in the ICU. Each member

complements the others, as

they anticipate, sometimes

wordlessly, each other’s

needs and intentions.

They share focus, intuitive

intelligence, passion and a

sense of purpose. Alison’s team

pushed themselves to their limits and

beyond, united in their effort to save the young

woman entrusted to their care.

None of this was lost on parents Michele and Reg, who kept a vigil

at the Hospital, often sleeping at Alison’s bedside. “The ICU doctors

and nurses were phenomenal,” Michele says. “They did everything

humanly possible to give Alison the best chance of survival. We knew

it was tough and that they were fighting hard for her. The doctors were

always searching, consulting, and looking at every option. They were

on top of things, never blinking, fine-tuning as her condition changed.

They gave us confidence, even though we knew it was a dire situation.

One thing would improve; another would go wrong. Every day brought

a new complication.”

Alison’s parents believed the staff was caring for them as much as

for their daughter. “We got so much attention from the staff,” Michele

says. “The doctors talked to us constantly. And I can’t say enough about

the nurses. Their care was superb; it was the nurses who discovered a

blood clot in her arm. They always knew what to do. They reassured us

and taught us. They understood how helpless we felt, to see her so sick

in that big high-tech bed. They took a personal interest in Alison and we

became attached to them. I believe that they healed Alison and us, too.”

The Weatherlys were touched by the genuine nature of the staff’s

concern for their only child. According to Michele, “Everyone gave Alison

excellent care. We could see the caring in their eyes and their faces.

Even a housekeeper, Jan, placed a rosary on Alison’s bed and stopped

to let us know she cared. The whole Hospital was

involved. St. Clair Hospital restored my faith

in the healthcare system.”

The effort to save Alison extended

beyond the ICU. Every Hospital

service, including pharmacy,

respiratory therapy, physical therapy,

laboratory, and other departments

contributed to her care and recovery.

Her discharge was a day of cele-

bration and pride for the entire staff.

Their extraordinary work and caring

brought Alison through five weeks

of intensive care, followed by three

weeks of rehabilitation. Today,

Alison is back in her apartment

in Mt. Lebanon, happy to sleep in

her own bed — in any position she

chooses — with her five-year-old rescue cat, Lexie. Her memories of the

ICU are fuzzy, but she is crystal clear in her admiration for the doctors

and nurses who saved her life.

“I can’t say enough about how important the ICU nurses were. They’re

amazing; they got me through it all. I still can’t believe these people

cared about me this much. I bonded with them and felt safe with them.

In the ICU, it’s a smaller group and you have the same nurses, so they

got to know me and my parents. I have such respect for nurses. I had

never been so sick and I had no idea about everything they do.

“Dr. Fino and the entire ICU team saved my life. When I first became

coherent again, I kept hearing his name and I knew his voice, but I had

no face to go with the name. I was so happy when I finally met him and

I got to see his face. He’s a great doctor; he gave my parents his cell

phone number so they could still call him. Dr. Fino told me I was the

sickest patient he ever had. It was hard to hear that but it made me

realize how fortunate I am.”

Alison has gone back to the ICU to visit the place she considers

“my second home.” To Dr. Fino, her visit was a special moment. “Having

Alison return and walk in there on her own, with no trach or oxygen,

was wonderful. She looked great! She had colored her hair, and she

had a great attitude. Her recovery has been faster than expected, and I

attribute that to her youth.”




Alison Weatherly displays a necklace engraved with her roomnumber in the ICU that also bearsthe reminder “Live Another Day.”She also never takes off the rainbow-colored bracelet that a RN’s daughter made for her.


It was a big moment for Alison, too. “The

nurses were so happy to see me! One registered

nurse, Kristen Cardimen, gave me a bracelet,

rainbow-colored, and made of parachute cord.

She had told her 10-year-old daughter, Isabella,

about me and Isabella wanted to make a

bracelet for me. I call it my ‘survivor bracelet’

and I’ve never taken it off, not once. It means

so much.”

A new lease on lifeMonths after her admission to the ICU,

Alison has some ongoing physical issues,

especially nerve pain in her leg, the result of

being in one position for so long. She some-

times struggles with her memories and with

the gravity of her experience, and she is still

trying to understand what happened to her.

“When I woke up I had the trach, so I could

not speak or ask questions. A lot of information

was thrown at me at once and I couldn’t

take it in at all. Even now, I am still trying

to understand.”

She has moments of anxiety and sadness,

remembering how traumatic the experience

was for her parents. “My mother slept at the

Hospital because she was so afraid I was going

to die and she didn’t want me to die alone.

She and my Dad helped get me through it all.”

The experience changed her, she says.

“I grew up. Being so sick, so close to death,

changed my life. Before, I took things like my

family and my good health for granted. Now

I appreciate simple things like being able to

talk, walk and sit up! Everything has new

value and meaning. I get excited about small

everyday things like beautiful weather or cute

things that my cat Lexie does.

“I feel things very deeply now. I’m more in

touch with life, with the world and the people

I love. I’m filled with gratitude and I always

will be. I’m happy that I’m alive, but even

happier because, now, I feel much more alive

than ever.

“St. Clair Hospital is great. I owe my life

to this Hospital.” n

GREGORY J. FINO, M.D.

Dr. Fino earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh Schoolof Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicineat UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital, where he was named Chief Resident. Helater completed a fellowship in pulmonary medicine at UPMC-Presbyterian.He is board-certified in pulmonary medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and specializes in pulmonary diseases and critical caremedicine. Dr. Fino serves as Co-Director of Critical Care at St. Clair Hospital.He practices with Clinical & Occupational Pulmonary Associates, LLC.

“I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW

IMPORTANT THE ICU NURSES

WERE. THEY’RE AMAZING; THEY

GOT ME THROUGH IT ALL. I STILL

CAN’T BELIEVE THESE PEOPLE

CARED ABOUT ME THIS MUCH.

I BONDED WITH THEM AND FELT

SAFE WITH THEM. I HAVE SUCH

RESPECT FOR NURSES. ”ALISON WEATHERLY, PATIENT

Alison Weatherly at home with Lexie.

LIFESAVING LAB TECHNOLOGY

DETECTING SEPSIS AND EFFECTIVELYTREATING IT REQUIRES SOPHISTICATED,HIGH-TECH SKILLS IN THE LAB

The importance of a high-tech, efficient hospital laboratory to outstanding care cannot

be overstated. How important is the hospital lab? According to St. Clair Hospital

Chair of Pathology Martha Clarke, M.D., as many as 70 percent to 80 percent of

all medical decisions made in a hospital are based upon a laboratory test result. Thus, the

data that the labs present to physicians must be absolutely accurate, timely and reliable,

every single time.

At St. Clair, physicians rely on the lab, a state-of-the-art facility that operates non-stop,

24/7/365, to help physicians diagnose a condition, ascertain the extent of the condition, help

guide the treatment, and monitor and assess the efficacy of that treatment. The lab, staffed

by a team of highly credentialed, experienced professionals, offers a full range of testing

in chemistry, hematology, blood banking, microbiology, serology and virology, using

samples of blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, sputum, wound exudate and other body fluids.

“70 TO 80 PERCENT OF

ALL MEDICAL DECISIONS

MADE IN A HOSPITAL

ARE BASED UPON

A LABORATORY

TEST RESULT.

”MARTHA CLARKE, M.D.,CHAIR OF PATHOLOGY,

ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL


Chanda Lee, MT (ASCP) examines a sepsisslide in the microbiology section of the lab.

Judy Luteran, MT (ASEP) SM, is the micro-

biology supervisor in the lab, with 26 years of

experience at St. Clair. Her section within the

lab plays a major role in the treatment of patients

with infections — including sepsis. “It’s the

lab that informs the doctors of what type of

organism is causing the infection — bacteria,

virus, or fungus. The entire lab is involved in a

sepsis case because sepsis affects the entire

body and can lead to organ damage and failure,”

she explains. “In the case of sepsis, we culture

the blood, obtaining two sets of samples from

two different sites. Cultures take time, so we

have an automated system called a BACTEC FX,

which detects microbial growth within 24

hours. The blood is tested every 15 minutes

and an audible alarm is sounded when

pathogens show up. We then perform a gram

stain, and can give the doctor an update on

suspected pathogens. We release the final

report once testing is fully completed.”

The microbiology section also performs

tests to tell the physicians which antimicrobial

agent, or antibiotic, will be effective against the

pathogen. “We take some of the specimen

and put it on solid media plates,” Judy says.

“If bacteria grow, they are then inoculated into

VITEK cards. These look like credit cards

composed of shallow wells which contain anti-

biotics. The rate or lack of growth on the

VITEK cards predicts what antibiotics the

pathogen will be susceptible to. The doctors

put the patient on a broad-spectrum antibiotic

initially, then modify the treatment and change

to a more defined one. This is important

because it will be more effective against the

specific type of infection, less likely to have side

effects, and less likely to lead to resistance.”

As in the case of sepsis patient Alison

Weatherly (please see main story, Saving Alison,

page 2), clinicians rely on the lab in making

decisions about the clinical management of

the patient’s condition. Meticulous attention to

quality control, the most advanced technology,

and an experienced staff make St. Clair’s lab an

outstanding facility that contributes enormously

to the Hospital’s quality and growth. Says

Dr. Clarke: “The quality of the lab, and the level

of testing we provide significantly contribute

to our physicians’ ability to treat complex

medical/surgical problems and conditions

at St. Clair.”n


MARTHA CLARKE, M.D.

Dr. Clarke earned her medical degree at Georgetown University MedicalSchool. She completed a residency in pathology at Brigham and Women’sHospital, part of the Harvard system of teaching hospitals. Dr. Clarke isboard-certified by the American Board of Pathology. She serves as Chairof Pathology at St. Clair Hospital, and she practices with Clarke & Co.Pathology, Inc.

Julie Hall, Medical Technologist, CLS (Microbiologist), tests for sepsis in the microbiology section of the lab.


SEPSIS QUALITY STANDARDS

St. Clair’s Sepsis Protocol is Proving to be a Lifesaver

The heroic care that saved 26-year-old Alison Weatherly’s life was

the result of St. Clair Hospital’s carefully crafted system of clinical

practices, processes and quality standards. “Our goal, with every

patient, is to provide the highest quality care,” says Nicolette E. Chiesa, M.D.,

Associate Chief Medical Officer and current President of the Medical Staff

at St. Clair. “Already nationally ranked for quality, our goal is to be in the

top 10 percent in all performance measures.”

Dr. Chiesa plays a key role in the Hospital’s quality initiatives as Chair

of the Medical Staff Quality Committee. She serves on the task force that

was charged with developing the sepsis protocol and played a pivotal role

in the outcome of Alison’s case. “It was important to address sepsis

because it is such a grave condition,” says Dr. Chiesa. “Knowing that

early recognition and rapid treatment are the key to survival, our goal

was to design a system that would enable us to recognize the earliest

signs that suggest sepsis, to identify any patient with known or suspected

sepsis. We wanted to identify the best way to do that.”

Severe sepsis is one of the 10 leading causes of death for adults

in the United States. It is a life-threatening, complex condition that

requires an intensive and multifaceted clinical response, but when it is

caught early, it can be treated — and it can be survived. Early recognition

and immediate intervention are the keys. “Sepsis mortality is a national

quality issue, and sepsis management is a national priority,” says

Kaitlin Shotsberger, R.N., M.S.N., Clinical Integration Specialist for

St. Clair. “Our goal in developing the sepsis protocol was to literally

save more lives.”

The task force, which continues to meet regularly, consists of key

clinical leaders, including co-chairs Jason M. Biggs, M.D., Chair of

Emergency Medicine at St. Clair, and Gregory Fino, M.D., Co-Director

of Critical Care at St. Clair, as well as a multidisciplinary team of fellow

professionals. In developing its sepsis protocol, the task force researched

and implemented the best evidence-based practices from the highest

performing hospitals and medical centers across the nation. The

resulting sepsis protocol is a set of standardized orders and interventions.

It also includes an early alert system that takes advantage of St. Clair’s

award-winning electronic medical records system. At set intervals

throughout the day, the system searches for abnormal values in any

of four parameters that are associated with sepsis: temperature, heart

rate, respiratory rate and white blood cell count. If two or more abnormal

values are found on a patient’s record, the system automatically triggers

an alert, which is sent to the charge nurse on that patient unit. The

charge nurse arranges for blood work to be drawn, and consults a nurse

intensivist (a specially trained critical care nurse) who comes to the unit

to assess the patient. If appropriate, the Hospital’s Rapid Response

ST. CLAIR TOP 10% PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL IN THE NATION AVERAGE

SEPSIS MORTALITY RATES (LOWER % IS BETTER)

St. Clair Hospital is amongthe nation’s leaders in reducing

sepsis-related mortalities.

7.07%

12.11%

9.01%

“WE HAVE EXCELLENT SURVIVAL RATESFOR SEPSIS … WE ARE BETTER THAN

90 PERCENT OF ALL U.S. HOSPITALS.

” NICOLETTE E. CHIESA, M.D.

Calendar Year 2014 Source: Crimson


Team (consisting of a hospitalist physician,

nurse intensivist, ICU nurse and respiratory

therapist) is called to begin immediate treatment.

The patient will most likely be transferred to

the Intensive Care Unit.

“Having the alert system automatically flag the

electronic medical record of any patient with the

clinical changes was key,” says Dr. Biggs. “If the

goal is to identify sepsis, even mild cases, this

system alerts us so that early treatment and

closer monitoring can take place.”

Early recognition of sepsis sometimes

begins even before the patient arrives at the

ER, adds Dr. Biggs. Emergency Medical Services

organizations in the area are aware of St. Clair’s

increased focus on sepsis, and play a key role

in recognizing the early, subtler signs of

emergent conditions and initiating life-saving

care, such as fluid resuscitation.

The Hospital’s protocol was tested with a pilot

program in the Emergency Room. When Alison

came to St. Clair’s ER last September, the sepsis

protocol proved to be a lifesaver. “This was an

atypical case,” says Dr. Chiesa. “You don’t expect

to see severe sepsis in one so young and

healthy. The protocol worked: she was admitted,

received early treatment and survived.”

SEPSIS AND MORTALITY

Mortality rate is a major indicator of a

hospital’s quality of care. Mortality rate is simply

the number of deaths in a particular population,

such as patients with sepsis.

St. Clair’s mortality rate for sepsis is 7.07%,

well below that of most hospitals (please see

chart, page 10), and the sepsis protocol can be

credited with having a significant impact on that,

says Dr. Chiesa. “We have excellent survival

rates for sepsis. We’re in the top decile — the

top 10 percent — nationally, meaning we are

better than over 90 percent of all U.S. hospitals.

It’s a Hospital-wide achievement that includes

everyone. We achieved this because all the

departments and disciplines are engaged in

the effort, working together toward the goal of

early recognition of sepsis.”

“Of course, it can never be forgotten that

all the data, statistics and charts that serve to

quantify hospital performance and quality of care

have a much deeper meaning,” says Dr. Chiesa.

“They represent the lives of real people — people

like Alison Weatherly, fighting for her life in the ICU,

and her parents, keeping their heart-wrenching

vigil. For them, St. Clair’s quality will always be

defined in personal, human terms.” n

A group of clinicians meets regularly to continually refine and enhance St. Clair Hospital’s sepsis protocol.

NICOLETTE E. CHIESA, M.D.

Dr. Chiesa earned her medical degree at Jefferson Medical College,Philadelphia. She completed a residency in internal medicine at UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Chiesa is board-certified by the AmericanBoard of Internal Medicine. She serves as Associate Chief Medical Officerand is the current President of the Medical Staff at St. Clair Hospital. Dr. Chiesa practices in Kirwan Heights with Preferred Primary CarePhysicians, Inc.

To contact Dr. Chiesa, please call 412.257.2050.

JASON M. BIGGS, M.D.

Dr. Biggs earned his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College,Philadelphia. He completed a residency in emergency medicine atUPMC. Dr. Biggs is board-certified by the American Board of EmergencyMedicine. He serves as Chair of Emergency Medicine at St. Clair Hospital.


YOUR PRIMARY CARE MATTERS

Primary Care PhysiciansPlay Leading Role in Region’s and

U.S.’s Healthcare Systems

YOUR EALTHIS OUR PRIMARY CARE

Primary Care PhysiciansPlay Leading Role in Region’s and

U.S.’s Healthcare Systems

Quality healthcare begins in the office of a primary carephysician (PCP). Primary care physicians, either thosetrained in internal medicine or family medicine, are usually

a patient’s first contact with the healthcare system, and they provide the overwhelming majority of care to all segments of theU.S. population. PCPs are critically important to patients, hospitalsand the healthcare industry. To their patients, they are trusted, expert advisors who help them to get healthy, stay healthy andcope with serious illness and chronic conditions; to hospitals likeSt. Clair, they serve as frontline diagnosticians and the air trafficcontrollers of the healthcare team; and to the entire healthcaresystem, they are the backbone, emerging in the current nationalhealthcare environment as essential to solving complex problemsof access and quality.

So valuable are PCPs, says one national expert, that it is primarycare that has the capacity to transform the U.S. healthcare system,leading it to optimal performance as a patient-centered system ofthe highest quality. “Our healthcare system is built upon and reliesupon a network of PCPs,” Shawn Martin, Vice President for PracticeAdvancement and Advocacy of the American Academy of FamilyPhysicians, tells HouseCall. “In fact, 55 percent of all physician visits are to a PCP. They are important to our national healthcaregoals of improved prevention, higher quality care for individualsand populations, reduced spending and increased satisfaction. Investing in PCPs is the key to meeting both individual and nationalhealthcare goals.”

The value of primary care to the healthcare system has beenunderscored by two major 2014 reports that are a clarion call forinvesting in primary care. The Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative,overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation,showed that primary care practices significantly reduce spendingin the three highest cost areas: hospitalizations, emergency department visits and specialist visits. The Patient-Centered Medical

Home’s Impact on Cost and Quality study, from the Patient CenteredPrimary Care Collaborative, showed similar cost reductions andalso demonstrated that those savings are sustainable over a longperiod of time.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality,an agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services,there are 210,000 PCPs in practice in the United States. Primarycare physician is the umbrella term for doctors who practice familymedicine (patients of all ages) or internal medicine (patients 18and older). To their patients, PCPs represent a “home base,”where they provide preventive care, in the form of screenings, annual exams and immunizations, and help patients identify, avoidand mitigate health risks. They diagnose, treat, counsel, teach,refer to specialists and coordinate care among those specialists.They view each patient as a partner, with whom they develop a collaborative and ongoing relationship. PCPs help keep patientshealthy, bring them through the crisis of illness, and support theirhealthy aging. Along with medical expertise and efficient care,PCPs also provide humanity: personal warmth; wisdom thatcomes with practical experience; and empathy.

Shawn Martin, the VP at the American Academy of FamilyPhysicians, says primary care is in the midst of a renaissance, andit is largely being driven by the doctor-patient relationship. “Thisone is different from the revivals in the past that were driven byeconomic incentives. There is greater connectivity today betweenthe doctor and the patient; patients are far more connected totheir doctors and view the relationship in more positive terms.”

Given PCPs’ integral and invaluable role in the healthcare system, HouseCall recently sat down to talk with a number of St. Clair Hospital’s primary care physicians to glean their respective insights on what being a PCP means to each of them,and to their patients.





Primary care physicians were once

called “family physicians” or

“personal doctors” — terms that

reflect the relationships that are the

essence of this medical specialty.

To the physicians who practice primary care,

the doctor-patient relationship is paramount:

it enables partnership with patients, creates

mutual respect and even facilitates diagnosis.

Most of all, say a number of PCPs on the medical

staff of St. Clair Hospital, that relationship is the

source of the deep and fulfilling sense of personal

satisfaction that made them want to become

physicians in the first place.

It’s a matter of trust, says G. ALAN YEASTED,

M.D., a primary care physician who is also

Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

at St. Clair. Trust is the essence of the physician-

patient relationship, he believes, and that trust

has to be earned. “It’s a unique relationship.

You earn the patient’s trust through your

competence. Competence is crucial — PCPs

must have a large knowledge base, being

knowledgeable about every organ system and

up-to-date on everything new. You have to keep

learning, staying abreast of all the advances in

drugs, technology and medical science. You

also have to be confident; that inspires trust.”

Dr. Yeasted, who maintains an office in the

St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center–Village

Square in Bethel Park to see his patients,

believes that excellent communication skills

are among the most important qualities of a

good PCP. “Listening well, and having a good

understanding of human nature, is essential.

You need to be a bit of a psychologist.”

Although the demands on PCPs are strenuous,

Dr. Yeasted loves his work and considers it a

vocation. “I’m invigorated by going to work and

seeing patients. When a patient walks out of my

office feeling better, or with a problem solved, it

gives me great satisfaction. The hours may be long,

but when you enjoy what you do it isn’t tiring.

Few jobs can give you the kind of rewards that

this one does.”

As St. Clair’s Chief Medical Officer and a PCP

himself, Dr. Yeasted is well aware of the importance

of PCPs to St. Clair Hospital. “We advise a large

number of people in the greater Pittsburgh area,

including which specialists to see. St. Clair is

able to provide advanced specialty care and

diagnostics, and the PCPs recommend patients

to St. Clair for that care. A PCP influences

where and from whom a patient will receive

care for other problems.” Good relationships

between PCPs and medical specialists foster

better coordination of care, and that translates

into higher quality, adds Dr. Yeasted.

“A PCP is a colleague, a friend, a co-worker,

an advisor and a partner,” says Dr. Yeasted. “A PCP

helps you stay healthy, directs the care when

you are sick, and helps you recover to keep you

healthy. A PCP is involved in every stage, from

the office to the hospital to long-term care and

recovery. The best way to maintain good health

and have a good outcome when you are sick

is to maintain a good relationship with your

primary care physician.”

G. ALAN YEASTED, M.D, FACP

Dr. Yeasted earned his medical degree at theUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh.Dr. Yeasted is board-certified by the AmericanBoard of Internal Medicine. He serves as ChiefMedical Officer of St. Clair Hospital, and alsomaintains a private practice in Bethel Park.

To contact Dr. Yeasted, please call 412.572.6066.

“TRUST HAS TO BE EARNED.”G. ALAN YEASTED, M.D.


NINA M. FATIGATI, M.D. had

no hesitation about becoming a

primary care physician. Growing

up in the South Hills, she was a

daily witness to the rewards and

challenges of the field: her father, MARIO

FATIGATI, M.D., is a well-regarded PCP in the

region with a large group practice, Fatigati-

Nalin Associates, which is a division of St. Clair

Medical Services. Nina Fatigati joined the practice

in 2014, and when not rounding on hospitalized

patients at St. Clair, is seeing patients every day

at her office in the St. Clair Hospital Outpatient

Center–Peters, in neighboring Washington

County. “My dad was a great role model and

he still is. He has a wealth of experience and

knowledge, and I love having him as my mentor.”

Dr. Fatigati, whose relationship with St. Clair

includes having worked as a junior volunteer at

the Hospital while in high school, says patients

seem to have an immediate level of comfort

with their PCPs. “You become a familiar figure

to them and they trust you. You know their

problems, and you’re an advocate for them

during difficult times and transitions. That’s

reassuring to the patient, particularly when

the American healthcare system can feel a

little overwhelming.”

Dr. Fatigati, a graduate of the University of

Pittsburgh School of Medicine, appreciates the

mutual respect among PCPs and specialists

that she has found at St. Clair. “St. Clair is a

phenomenal hospital, patient-centered and

high quality. I love working with people who

share my values. Everyone works together

for the benefit of the patient.”

NINA MARIE FATIGATI, M.D.

Dr. Fatigati earned her medical degree at theUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Shecompleted a residency in internal medicine at UPMC.Dr. Fatigati is board-certified by the AmericanBoard of Internal Medicine. She practices in Peters Township with Fatigati-Nalin Associates, a division of St. Clair Medical Services.

To contact Dr. Fatigati, please call 724.731.0090.

“I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR PATIENTS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES.”NINA M. FATIGATI, M.D.




NALINA PRABHU, M.D., FACP

chose primary care because

she likes taking care of the

whole patient. “Primary care is

more comprehensive. Patients

come to us with a broad range of problems; we

treat conditions in every organ system, including

many complex and co-morbid conditions.

When we refer a patient to a specialist, we

remain involved and help the patient understand

the specialist’s recommendations; we coordinate

and collaborate with the specialist. As a PCP,

I sometimes feel like the conductor of a

symphony: I bring all the parts together into

a cohesive whole.”

Dr. Prabhu, who shares an office and

practice with her physician husband,

ANIL PRABHU, M.D., views her work as

a calling. “I always wanted to be a doctor, and

this work is so satisfying. Primary care may

appear unexciting, but it’s never boring to me.

You have to have the personality for it.” PCPs,

Dr. Prabhu believes, recognize that patients

are seeking a human connection. “You are

there for them, in difficult times; you learn to

consider their perspective. You ask the right

questions and listen well — a diagnosis can

often be made by attentive listening. You have

to do what’s right for the patient.”

There are frustrations and challenges,

she acknowledges. “A PCP has to be willing

to put in long hours and be on call a lot. You

must be conscientious about all the tests,

reports and paperwork, which can be time

consuming. Primary care is demanding

and tough.”

Like her colleagues, Dr. Prabhu most

values the relationships with patients, and

has patients who have been with her for 30

years. “I think patients feel safe with their

PCP. They like to say, ‘This is my doctor,’

especially when they are hospitalized and

seeing unfamiliar doctors. I love it when I am

making rounds at St. Clair and I walk into my

patient’s room and see their face light up.

It’s humbling and gratifying.”

NALINA PRABHU, M.D., FACP

Dr. Prabhu earned her medical degree at KasturbaMedical College, India. She completed an internshipand residency at St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh.Dr. Prabhu is board-certified by the American Boardof Internal Medicine, and practices in Mt. Lebanonwith Prabhu Primary Care, P.C.

To contact Dr. Prabhu, please call 412.531.7330.

“I FEEL LIKE THE CONDUCTOR OF A SYMPHONY.”NALINA PRABHU, M.D., FACP

ROCCO J. ADAMS, M.D. has a solo

practice based in Brentwood,

where he has multiple generations

of families among his patients.

“Sometimes I feel like part of the

family,” he says. “It’s the best part of being a

PCP: the relationships with patients. I guide my

patients through difficult life situations; it can

be emotionally challenging, but you have to be

there when they need you. A good PCP is reliable

and available: I never turn off my cell phone and

I return calls as quickly as possible. I feel that

I am there to serve my patients. With a solo

practice, I’m always on call, but you get used

to that. It’s simply my life. I chose this.”

Dr. Adams believes that quality healthcare is

defined by the patient. “Patients want good

communication, empathy and compassion.

Listening well is how you can best provide those

things. I try to give down-to-earth explanations,

about why they are having this test and what the

results mean. I always ask my patients about

their personal lives; I’m genuinely interested

and I am convinced that it helps in diagnosing

what is ailing them.”

When his patients are hospitalized at St. Clair,

Dr. Adams sees them on a daily basis. “My

patients are used to me coming to see them in

the Hospital and they expect it. I know the

hospitalists (physicians who provide round-

the-clock care within the Hospital) at St. Clair.

They’re excellent.”

Dr. Adams says his daily experiences with

patients reinforce his decision to be a primary care

physician. “I was interested in every discipline as a

medical student,” he recalls. “I’m happy that I

chose to be a PCP, and I would do it all again. I

encourage medical students to strongly consider

becoming one. There is a great need for PCPs.”


ROCCO J. ADAMS, M.D.

Dr. Adams earned his medical degree at Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Mexico.He completed an internship and residency at St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh. Dr. Adams is board-certified by the AmericanBoard of Internal Medicine. He practices inWhitehall with Rocco J. Adams, M.D., LLC.

To contact Dr. Adams, please call 412.884.8233.

“I AM THERE TO SERVE MY PATIENTS.”ROCCO J. ADAMS, M.D.



ASHITH MALLY, M.D. is a primary

care physician who finds his work

to be immensely satisfying, and

explains it in the simplest terms:

“I’m a doctor. I care for my patients.

I know them well.” He agrees with his colleagues

that strong, ongoing relationships with patients

are at the heart of primary care. “My patients

want me to know them in a personal way,” he

says. But he sees an additional, clinical dimension

to having relationships with patients.

“I can make a better diagnosis when I know

my patient. Personal aspects of illness come

into play and often, when a person comes to

me, they really need to talk to me, about their

fears or losses. Perhaps their blood pressure is

elevated because there is crisis happening

within the family. The patient comes to me for

reassurance, not just for a prescription. They

need to be able to tell me about it and for that

to happen, they have to feel they can trust me.

Without that trust, their anxiety will not go away

and the blood pressure may remain elevated.”

Dr. Mally and his associates DRS. WALTER

ROBISON and STEPHANIE COLODNY recently

welcomed a new physician, SUPRITHA A.

SHETTY, M.D., to their practice, Preferred

Primary Care Physicians, at their office at

St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center–Peters.

She joined in January, and Dr. Mally says he

will encourage her to spend time getting to

know patients in order to be better able to guide

them through the maze of medical services.

“That’s how you build relationships. It helps to

know their history and their personal situation.”

Although relationships are key, even external

factors like easy access and a comfortable,

welcoming environment, matter when patients

make healthcare choices, says Dr. Mally. “These

things relieve some of the stress when you are

ill and going to see the doctor. Attention to

these details makes the patient feel cared for.

You may have a world class healthcare system,

but if it is difficult to navigate, the patient may

get stressed, and that stress can delay recovery

and healing.” n


“PATIENTS COME TO ME FOR REASSURANCE.”ASHITH MALLY, M.D.

ASHITH MALLY, M.D.

Dr. Mally earned his medical degree and completed a residency in Internal Medicine atKasturba Medical College, India. He completedan internship at St. Barnabas Hospital, NewYork, and a residency at Mercy Hospital ofPittsburgh. Dr. Mally is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Hepractices in Peters Township with PreferredPrimary Care Physicians, Inc.

To contact Dr. Mally, please call 724.941.8877.


Rocco J. Adams, M.D., LLC3000 Brownsville Rd.Pittsburgh, PA 15227412.884.8233Rocco J. Adams, M.D.

Adiba S. Ahmed, M.D.2101 Greentree Rd., Ste. A-103Pittsburgh, PA 15220412.279.2020Adiba S. Ahmed, M.D.

Banksville Medical, P.C.2508 Banksville Ave.Pittsburgh, PA 15216412.341.6650Charles F. Diederich, M.D.

Roy M. Beerel, M.D.1370 Washington Pike, Ste. 206Bridgeville, PA 15017412.257.3395Roy M. Beerel, M.D.

Bhavank Doshi, M.D., LLC1000 Bower Hill Rd., Ste. 312Pittsburgh, PA 15243412.381.1949Bhavank V. Doshi, M.D.

Fort Pitt Senior Health Care Associates393 Vanadium Rd., Ste. 307Pittsburgh, PA 15243412.232.8494John M. Prendergast, M.D.

Internal Medicine/Richard Gobao, M.D., LLC393 Vanadium Rd., Ste. 307Pittsburgh, PA 15243412.279.5372Richard A. Gobao, M.D.

Shabbir Lakdawala, M.D.2912 Glenmore Ave.Pittsburgh, PA 15216412.563.1132Shabbir Lakdawala, M.D.

Medi-Help 1691 Washington Rd.Pittsburgh, PA 15228412.835.6900Bora Janicijevic, M.D.Nenad Janicijevic, M.D.Nikolai Zdrale, M.D.

James M. Moretti, M.D.2589 Washington Rd., Ste. 423Pittsburgh, PA 15241412.835.5304James M. Moretti, M.D.

Prabhu Primary Care, P.C.1050 Bower Hill Rd., Ste. 301Pittsburgh, PA 15243412.531.7330Anil Prabhu, M.D.Nalina Prabhu, M.D.

Preferred Primary CarePhysicians, Inc.

102 Broadway Ave., Ste. 100Carnegie, PA 15106412.279.0320William Bader, M.D.

1050 Bower Hill Rd., Ste. 202Pittsburgh, PA 15243412.572.6122Barry Austin, D.O.Kimberly Anne Hewitt, D.O.Raman S. Purighalla, M.D.

1145 Bower Hill Rd., Ste. 204Pittsburgh, PA 15243412.276.3050Khattar Aizooky, M.D.Mai Yousef, M.D.

1168 Washington PikeBridgeville, PA 15017412.257.2050Nicolette E. Chiesa, M.D.Donald E. McFarland, D.O.

2375 Greentree Rd.Carnegie, PA 15106412.276.1560Frank A. Civitarese, D.O.Louis A. Civitarese, D.O., MMIDavid C. Garretson, D.O., FAAFPMichael J. Speca, D.O.

313 Barr St.McDonald PA, 15057724.926.3320Michael J. Speca, D.O

300 Fleet St., Ste. 100Pittsburgh, PA 15220412.920.0400Richard J. Egan, Jr., M.D.Joshua B. Goldman, D.O.Ewa M. Hozakowska, M.D.

3400 South Park Rd.Bethel Park, PA 15102412.835.6653Uma Purighalla, M.D.

363 Vanadium Rd., Ste. 202Pittsburgh, PA 15243412.279.9900John G. Yaros, M.D.

3928 Washington Rd., Ste. 220McMurray, PA 15317724.941.8877Stephanie Colodny, M.D.Ashith Mally, M.D.Walter J. Robison, M.D.Supritha A. Shetty, M.D.

1039 Brookline Blvd.Pittsburgh, PA 15226412.561.3452Stephanie Colodny, M.D.Ashith Mally, M.D.Walter J. Robison, M.D.Supritha A. Shetty, M.D.

2000 Oxford Dr., Ste. 220Bethel Park, PA 15102412.831.1522John L. Bobby, D.O.Kevin G. Kotar, D.O.

Premier Personal Healthcare, Concierge Practice2000 Oxford Dr., Ste. 440Bethel Park, PA 15102412.833.2233Joel D. Warshaw, M.D.

Lawrence J. Purpura, M.D.1206 Brookline Blvd.Pittsburgh, PA 15226412.344.8900Lawrence J. Purpura, M.D.

South AlleghenyInternal Medicine, P.C.2000 Oxford Dr., Ste. 302Bethel Park, PA 15102412.854.5491John E. Popovich, M.D.

St. Clair Medical Services

DeGiovanni Montini Associates717 Washington Rd.Pittsburgh, PA 15228412.341.7887Lesley DeGiovanni, M.D.John Montini, M.D.

Dobkin/Riccelli Associates250 Mt. Lebanon Blvd., Ste. 306Pittsburgh, PA 15234412.563.5560Larry A. Dobkin, M.D.Antonio M. Riccelli, M.D.

Fatigati-Nalin Associates3928 Washington Rd., Ste. 280McMurray, PA 15317724.731.0090Nithin V. Bhandarkar, D.O.Nicholas P. DiTullio, M.D.Mario J. Fatigati, M.D.Nina M. Fatigati, M.D.

5187 Library Rd.Bethel Park, PA 15102412.835.4886M. Sabina Daroski, M.D., FACPJoseph P. Endrich, M.D.James P. McDowell, D.O.

1025 Washington PikeBridgeville, PA 15017412.221.3377 Cynthia P. Butler, D.O.Nicholas P. DiTullio, M.D.Daniel B. Erlanger, D.O.Mario J. Fatigati, M.D.James P. McDowell, D.O.

733 Washington Rd., Ste. 401Pittsburgh, PA 15228412.343.1770Cynthia P. Butler, D.O.M. Sabina Daroski, M.D., FACPDaniel B. Erlanger, D.O.Mario J. Fatigati, M.D.Robert E. McMichael, III, D.O.

John E. Love, D.O. Family Practice1626 Potomac Ave.Pittsburgh, PA 15216412.531.7020John E. Love, D.O.

Johnston Internal Medicine2000 Oxford Dr., Ste. 302Bethel Park, PA 15102412.471.3061Robert T. Johnston, M.D.

Mt. Lebanon Internal Medicine300 Cedar Blvd.Pittsburgh, PA 15228412.561.1484Karl E. Bushman, M.D., FACPAimee K. Marmol, M.D.Carol Showalter Myron, M.D.David R. Sacco, M.D.Beth Ann Schneider, M.D.Sapna Vasudevan, M.D.

Samuel Urick, D.O. 5482 Campbells Run Rd.Pittsburgh, PA 15205412.494.3339Samuel Urick, D.O.

G. Alan Yeasted, M.D., FACP2000 Oxford Drive, Ste. 303Bethel Park, PA 15102412.572.6066G. Alan Yeasted, M.D., FACP

Anisa S. Yunus, M.D.6000 Steubenville Pike, Ste. 103Robinson, PA 15136412.490.7440Anisa S. Yunus, M.D.

ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS AND PRACTICES

MATTHEW S. COOPER, D.O.

Ask the Doctor

When I’m sick or hurt, how do I know whether to go to

St. Clair Hospital’s Emergency Room or to St. Clair Urgent Care?

Indeed, there is a distinction between the two. So making

the right decision on where to go will help save precious

time and ensure you receive care in the appropriate setting.

If you are having chest pain, or believe you are experiencing

stroke symptoms, the appropriate destination is the

Emergency Room (ER). Time is of the essence, and

prompt treatment could be life saving. Call 911. Do not

attempt to drive yourself to the ER.

If you fall, hit your head, and lose consciousness at

some point, again, go directly to the ER. Patients on blood

thinning medicines like Coumadin (Warfarin) or Plavix

(Clopidogrel) are at particular risk from head injuries.

Other injuries and conditions that demand ER attention

include deep lacerations with heavy bleeding, suspicion

of a blood clot in your arm or leg, moderate to severe

burns, and seizures. Moreover, severe abdominal pain

or bleeding from the rectum requires a more detailed

“work up” and medical imaging provided through the ER.

St. Clair Urgent Care is designed to handle a wide range

of other, less severe injuries and illnesses. Urgent Care is

staffed by board-certified Family Medicine physicians,

so we are trained to treat children four months and older,

as well as teens and adults.

My colleagues and I treat minor to moderately severe

bodily injuries from falls or accidents and can diagnose

fractures, sprains and strains. All X-rays, whether involving

a bone or the chest, are first interpreted by the physician

on duty and then by a radiologist on staff at St. Clair Hospital.

Other common ailments and conditions treated at

St. Clair Urgent Care are:

ASK THE DOCTOR

Q

A


• Allergies and asthma

(breathing treatments and

intramuscular steroids

are available)

• Colds, pneumonia and flu

• Coughs and sore throats

(rapid strep testing

available)

• Cuts requiring stitches

• Earaches

• Nose bleeds

• Eye infections

• Fever

• Skin rashes/infections

• Stomach ailments

• Urinary tract infections

(rapid UTI testing available)

Also available:

• Flu shots

• Sports physicals

MATTHEW S. COOPER, D.O.

Dr. Cooper earned his medical degree at LECOM. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at UPMC-Shadyside. Dr. Cooper is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and practices at St. Clair Urgent Care.

Matthew S. Cooper, D.O.


While we routinely send follow-up reports to your

personal physician, an added benefit for those patients

whose physician is affiliated with St. Clair Hospital is that

St. Clair Urgent Care is designed to integrate with our

primary care and specialty networks, thereby providing

continuity of care. And with our advanced electronic medical

records system, a summary of a patient’s visit to Urgent Care

can easily be accessed electronically by the patient’s primary

care physician.

Lastly, we are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the week,

and open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on major holidays. No appointment

is necessary. St. Clair Urgent Care accepts most major health

insurances and can fill select prescriptions on-site. n

St. Clair Urgent Care is located on the ground level of St. Clair Hospital Outpatient Center–Village Square, 2000 Oxford Drive, Bethel Park. To contact St. Clair Urgent Care, pleasecall 412.942.8800.

“ST. CLAIR URGENT CARE IS DESIGNED

TO HANDLE A WIDE RANGE OF

INJURIES AND ILLNESSES.” MATTHEW S. COOPER, D.O.

An interior view of St. Clair Urgent Care.

An exterior view of St. Clair Urgent Care, locatedjust across Ft. Couch Road from South Hills Village.

OVERALLHOSPITALCARE

#1OVERALLSURGICALCARE

GENERALSURGERY

VASCULARSURGERY

ORTHOPEDICCARE

PNEUMONIACARE

CANCERCARE

GALLBLADDER REMOVAL

ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL RANKED IN THE PITTSBURGH REGION FOR:


AWARDS & RECOGNITION

As recently reported in the Pittsburgh Business

Times (PBT), a study distributed by the

Pittsburgh Business Group on Health (PBGH)

to its members has named St. Clair Hospital among

the Pittsburgh region’s top hospitals for medical

excellence in a number of categories. The study,

performed by Comparion Medical Analytics’ CareChex

division, ranked St. Clair No. 1 for overall hospital

St. Clair Hospital Ranks No. 1in Pittsburgh Region in a Hostof Clinical Categories

care, as well as in nine other categories. CareChex

offers a composite evaluation of all components of

medical quality, including process of care, outcomes

of care, and patient experiences. “We tend not to make

healthcare decisions based on quality as much as we

should,” PBGH Executive Director Jessica Brooks told

the PBT. “The goal is to help employees be truly

smart consumers.” n

GASTRO-INTESTINAL

CARE

MAJORBOWEL

PROCEDURES


Melvin D. Rex, former president of the Board of

Directors of St. Clair Hospital, poses in front of a

new sign designating the First Floor information

desk the Melvin D. Rex Welcome Center to honor his years

of dedicated service to the Hospital. Mel first joined the

board in 1993 and had served as chairman the last

eight years, the longest anyone has ever served

in that position in the Hospital's 60-year history.

The Upper St. Clair resident was awarded with

a framed resolution and a wood gavel at a

ceremony to mark the unveiling of the sign at

his last meeting as a member of the board.

The new chairman is David R. Heilman. n

St. Clair Hospital Receives2014 HIMSS Enterprise Davies Award

A dding to its growing list of awards for health

information technology, St. Clair Hospital has

been named a 2014 HIMSS Enterprise Davies

Award recipient.

Since 1994, the HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies Award

of Excellence has recognized outstanding achievement

of organizations that have utilized health information

technology to substantially improve patient outcomes.

St. Clair was

cited for realizing

a broad range of

significant benefits

through the use

of information

technology, including improving patient flow for patient

registration in its Emergency Room, where waiting room

times decreased to 4 minutes from 49 minutes, time to

see a physician decreased to 28 minutes from 76 minutes,

and patient satisfaction scores increased to the 99th

percentile from the 14th.

The enhancement of its information technology

also helped St. Clair provide pneumonia vaccinations,

since 2012, to nearly 100 percent of at-risk patients.

“We’ve had a long-term concentrated focus to

better serve our patients through the use of systems

and technology that enable us to deliver safe, high-

quality care,” St. Clair Hospital Vice President and

Chief Information Officer Richard J. Schaeffer told HIT

Consultant, a digital media platform that covers the

healthcare technology industry. The Davies Award, he

added, “reinforces our strategy of investing in technology

that can be embraced with an organizational mindset

that the system will be improved on a continuous basis.

As the system becomes more innovative and predictive,

it empowers our caregivers to deliver better outcomes

to benefit our patients.” n

MOST WELCOME

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

General & Patient Information: 412.942.4000 | Physician Referral Service: 412.942.6560 | Medical Imaging Scheduling: 412.942.8150Outpatient Center–Village Square: 412.942.7100 | Urgent Care–Village Square: 412.942.8800 | Outpatient Center–Peters Township: 412.942.8400

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: twitter.com/stclairhospitalHouseCall

Health insurance in our region is changing rapidly. Fortunately, St. Clair Hospital makes navigating these changes easier because St. Clairparticipates with every major insurer in almost every product. That means ST. CLAIR IS AN IN-NETWORK PROVIDER for these insurers andproducts. And, if you have a health insurance product (like a high-deductible health plan) that requires you to share in the cost of paying forservices, you’ll be pleased to know that ST. CLAIR IS OFTEN THE LOWEST COST PROVIDER. For more information, please call CustomerService at 412.344.3408 to speak to a St. Clair representative. For a complete list of insurers currently contracted with St. Clair to provide IN-NETWORK services to their members, please visit WWW.STCLAIR.ORG.

IN 2014 WE TRANSPORTED

MORE THAN

• Patient Assistance Fund: Helps eligible patients to pay forhome care services, prescription drugs, and other medicallynecessary items.

• Courtesy Van Service: This is a free, need-based serviceavailable to area residents who require rides to and from theHospital and its affiliate locations. Your gifts provide for newvehicles and fleet maintenance. The Courtesy Van Service recently added two vehicles, bringing its fleet of vans to eight.(More details at right.)

• Family Birth Center Fund: Gifts directed here are used for facilities, programs and equipment, including new bottlewarmers.

• St. Clair Hospital Fund: Gifts support critical patient programsand services.

If you are interested in making a gift to support patients atSt. Clair Hospital, please use the envelope included in thisissue of HouseCall. To make a gift securely online, please visitthe Foundation on the web at www.stclair.org/giving. Or if you would prefer to make your gift via phone, please call412.942.2465.

Every gift has a direct and tangible benefit to our patients. A donationto the St. Clair Hospital Foundation may help a senior citizen securea ride to receive treatment for cancer, help a patient buy aprescription medication, or provide mammograms for the uninsured.Some funds supported by the Foundation include:

Thank you for supporting St. Clair Hospital!

125,000 MILESTRAVELING OVER

The St. Clair Courtesy Vans Provide a Vital Service to the Community

MAKE SURE ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL

IS IN YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE

NETWORK.

10,000PATIENTS

14,000TRIPS

MAKING MORE THAN

The fleet of eight vehicles runs Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.,transporting eligible passengers between home and St. Clair’s medical facilities.Call 412.942.6157 for more information. The Courtesy Van Service is justone of many projects that is supported by the St. Clair Hospital Foundation.

St. Clair Hospital HouseCall Vol VII Issue 1

Documents

Transcript of St. Clair Hospital HouseCall Vol VII Issue 1