www.lifelinescreening.com SVT

• Strengthening Korean Ties

• National Ranking for Neurotology

• Heart & VascularVascularV Health Fairs

St.V incentTimeswww.StVincentMedicalCenter.comwww.facebook.com/stvincentmedicalcenter

1st hospital in Los Angelesst hospital in Los Angelesst

AUGUST 2011 publication of St. Vincent Medical Center

VINCENTIAN VALUES: Respect Compassionate Service Simplicity Advocacy for the Poor Inventiveness to Infinity

the best hospital

3

4

8

COVER STORYThe national honor for Ear, Nose & Throat, accorded by U.S. News & World Report, and a look at some of the ways doctors are getting out and educating the community. Page 4

SERVICE TO THE KOREAN COMMUNITY Physicians’ group and SVMC look for ways to better serve Korean patients and the community at large.

Page 3

FROM RADIATION TECH TO RNLast 20/40 Program participant graduates from nursing school with highest honors; takes job in Telemetry.

Page 7

St. Vincent Times is a publication for St. Vincent Medical Staff and Associates. Please submit articles as soon as possible prior prior to or after an event for the earliest inclusion in the newsletter by an event for the earliest inclusion in the newsletter by e-mailing information to SharonGreengold@DOCHS.org or by calling (213) 484-5593. Medical Staff submissions may also be sent to SusanLauzier@DOCHS.org. Or call (213) 484-5525.

Ronald S. Fishbach, MD – chief of medical staff

Cathy Fickes – president/president/president chief executive officer

Sr. Sylvia Parks, DC – chairman of the board

AUGUST 2011

SVT

Multicultural Health Awareness and Prevention (MHAP) Center Award

S t . V i n c e 2

n t T i m e sn July 19, SVMC was named among the five Best Hospitals in all of Los Angeles for 2011-2012,

according to the unbiased survey firm U.S. News & World Report. This ranking reflects our daily efforts and demonstrates the heart of St. Vincent that guides us in everything we do.

What is most gratifying to me is the reaction of our associates. It isn’t enough to just earn this distinction. We need to know how we earned it so we can win again. Some associates have asked me some good, reflective questions:

How does a mid-sized Catholic hospital rank at the top, among the large university hospitals in Los Angeles?

How did SVMC surpass many larger hospitals in the metropolis, like City of Hope and Kaiser Permanente Medical Center?

What does it mean to achieve a national ranking in Ear, Nose & Throat?

What does it mean to achieve “high-performing” in Cancer, Orthopaedics, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Nephrology, Pulmonology, Urology, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gynecology, and Geriatrics?

How did U.S. News & World Report calculate the ranking? U.S. News & World Report calculate the ranking? U.S. News & World Report

Surveyors looked at 4,825 hospitals and narrowed down the field according to large population in the vicinity and high-volume of patients, then measured hospitals by four scores, each weighted differently: Patient Survival (weighted 32.5 percent) Patient Safety (weighted 5 percent), Reputation (based on physician specialists who answered the survey and weighted 32.5 percent), and Nurse Staffing & Technology (weighted 30 percent).

The national ranking of Ear, Nose & Throat, #32 out of more than 1,400 ENT programs in the United States, puts our neurotology service in the top 2 percent of programs nationwide. This ranking is based on the reputation of the neurotology alone and St. Vincent’s is ranked higher than 60 university medical centers nationwide. Patients requiring this type of surgery come from every state in the nation and from countries around the world.

We have excellent physicians and a fully supportive team of clinical staff to thank for our rankings. You can read more about the U.S. News & World Report survey and results by going online athttp://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/los-angeles-ca.SVT

c e o n o t e s

President/CEO

CA

TH

Y F

ICK

ES

St. V

ince

nt

Med

ical

Cen

ter

O

St. Vincent Times

g o t c o n c e r n s ?Physicians may report safety or quality of care concerns:

physician Quality hotline: (213) 207-5783.

Call the valuesvaluesv line at (800) 371-2176 or go online at www.dchsvaluesline.org to report concerns

confidentially and anonymously.

SVT

10th Annual Free Community Health Fair – Sept.17

SVT

From SVMC Xray Tech to “Nightingale” RN

St. Vincent Medical Center, the first hospital in Los Angeles, and Seoul Medical Group (SMG), a pioneer among medical groups in Koreatown, have joined forces in an effort to expand preventive healthcare and medical services to the Korean community.

St. Vincent Medical Center has continuously served the community since 1856 and continues to provide free health screenings and health education in Korean throughout the year at churches and senior centers. The hospital also features a Korean Pavilion with Korean-speaking nurses, Korean daily newspapers and Korean-style food for patients. Later this month, the hospital will add a dedicated Korean call center to assist patients who center to assist patients who centerseek referral to a physician and assist them with their calls to any department of the hospital.

Seoul Medical Group, with 30 primary care physicians and 120 specialists, has been taking care of the Korean community since 1994, and serves more than 150,000 patients annually. Physicians have expertise in treating a wide variety of illnesses and also are experts at wellness. Many SMG physicians perform volunteer outreach in the community, educating and talking with patients at health fairs several

times per year.

“We want to continue our outreach together. And we’d like to take the Korean Pavilion concept and expand upon it,” said St. Vincent Medical Center President/CEO Cathy Fickes. “By working with Seoul Medical Group physicians, we will find ways to make the patient experience even better and more relevant to the people who call St. Vincent ‘home’.”

Seoul Medical Group President Min Young Cha, MD, who takes care of more than 2,500 patients, says that Seoul Medical Group is well-suited to providing the

healthcare needs of the community. “Seoul Medical Group physicians are doctors who have been educated at the best medical schools in Korea and in the United States. We have the expertise and the commitment to take care of every one of our patients.” He added that there is comfort in being able to send a patient to a hospital that has been ranked #5 Best Hospital in Metro L.A. because of its patient outcomes and its reputation for quality and patient safety. “Seoul Medical Group plans to work with St. Vincent Medical Center to continue to innovate and provide convenience and comfort for their patients.” SVT

Pony Ramos has helped the department overcome several communication barriers with patients and visitors. Pony’s attitude and dedication to the “patient first” concept shows in his performance. He cheerfully greets everyone with a smile and delivers much needed supplies and equipment promptly. SVT

3

S t . V i n c e

n t T i m e s

Vincentian Spirit Award

to better serve the Korean community

Seoul Medical Group board members (front from left) Ho Bae, MD, Min Y. Cha, MD, Young-jik Lee, MD, and (back from left) Kenneth Kim, MD, Kyung M.

Han, MD, George In, MD, and Sang Baik, MD

mission integrat ion: east and westSt. Vincent Medical Center, the first hospital in Los Angeles, and St. Vincent’s Hospital of Catholic University in Suwon, South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in July, agreeing to improve healthcare quality through the exchange of medicine, medical practices and services and to establish a strategic partnership in the medical field.

In addition to the understanding between the two hospitals with

the common namesake, Gyeonggi International Medical Association also signed an MOU with SVMC for the same purpose.

The MOU includes possible exchange programs for doctors and other staff members, international support for patients, and other efforts to serve the community and country as well as internationally. SVT

DAISY Award

Core Measures Coordinator Marina Sarkisian has helped us win the #5 Best Hospital in Los Angeles recognition by U.S. News & World Report. She rounds on patients and makes sure they receive specific and evidence-based care. Marina researches each patient’s history to assure appropriate and timely care is provided. SVT

HSAG Award

From left, Tae Mok Lee, who represents St. Vincent’s Hospital of Catholic University in South Korea and an international medical association in Gyeonggi Province, Korea, SVMC President/CEO Cathy Fickes, and anesthesiologist Young Suh, MD hold a memorandum of understanding between the hospitals. memorandum of understanding between the hospitals. memorandum of understanding between the hospitals.

D o h e n y O . R . a n d I C U

Te a m s P r o v i d e Ve r y G o o d

C a r e f o r E v e r y P a t i e n t

E v e r y D a y

Independent survey firm U.S. News & World Report places St. Vincent Medical Center (SVMC) among the best 2 percent of hospitals providing Ear, Nose & Throat service throughout the country.

SVMC is home to world-renowned House Clinic ear surgeons and neurosurgeons who have operated here for more than half-a-century, placing cochlear implants, performing stapedectomies, removing acoustic neuromas and other neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumors.

According to House Clinic neurotologist Rick Friedman, MD, on staff at St.

Vincent Medical Center, the hospital’s close collaboration with House Clinic surgeons has helped it achieve this distinction. “We do more ear and skull base cases than any place in the country,” said Dr. Friedman. “The House Clinic has been the world leader for over 60 years in surgery of the ear for disorders of hearing and imbalance, and surgery on tumors at the base of the skull.”

The lengthy affiliation between SVMC and House Clinic surgeons is based on a common goal of meeting the special needs of ear and neurosurgery patients. The dedicated Doheny Operating Room and the Doheny Intensive Care Unit at SVMC were created exclusively for ear and neurosurgery patients and provide a level of quality care superior to the vast majority of large university hospitals.

St. Vincent’s Ear, Nose & Throat service ranks #32 out of more than 1,400 Ear, Nose & Throat services nationwide. This ranking is based on the reputation of the ear practice alone and St. Vincent’s is ranked higher than 60 university medical centers nationwide. “Patients requiring ear surgery come from every state in the nation and from countries around the world,” states neurotologist William H. Slattery III, MD.

Mary Anne Hattemer, director of the Doheny OR and the Doheny ICU, said her teams of nurses are very flexible and adaptable to the needs of the department.

In addition to the national ranking for Ear, Nose & Throat, St. Vincent Medical Center earned “high-performing” achievements for nine other service lines.

According to U.S. News & World Report’s first-ever Best Hospitals metro area rankings for 2011-2012, available online at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/los-angeles-ca, St. Vincent Medical Center is high-performing in specialty areas of: Orthopaedics, Cancer care, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Nephrology, Pulmonology, Urology, Gynecology, Diabetes & Endocrinology, and Geriatrics. The latest rankings showcase 720 hospitals out of about 5,000 hospitals nationwide.

St.Vincent continuestostrivetobethebest,withthehelpofitsenergeticdoctors.

Physicians who are part of the team of high-performing service lines at SVMC get out and educate the public.

In addition to ongoing community education and screening efforts, SVMC hosted the

As part of the SVMC outreach, Joint Replacement Institute ( JRI) orthopaedist H. Michael Mynatt, MD went to Wilton-Wilshire Senior Apartments in Koreatown in July to speak to residents about knee pain. His takeaway message was that all persons need to have their pain localized and identified before they can find a method of treatment. Dr. Mynatt worked with interpreter Susanna Koh, who is the SVMC Korean patient liaison.

SVT

4

S t . V i n c e n t T i m e st o p 2 p e r c e n t o f b e s t h o s p i t a l s f o r e a r, n o s e & t h r o a t s e r v i c et o p 2 p e r c e n t o f b e s t h o s p i t a l s f o r e a r, n o s e & t h r o a t s e r v i c e

At podium, William Slattery III, MD and to the right, Marc Schwartz, MD, Rick Friedman, MD, and Jose Fayad, MD welcome the best neurotologists and neurosurgeons in the world to the Sixth International Conference on Acoustic Neuroma in Century City at the end of June.

H i g h - Pe r f o r m i n g S e r v i c e L i n e s M a k e S t . V i n c e n t M e d i c a l C e n t e r # 5 B e s t H o s p i t a l i n L . A .

Nurses in the Doheny O.R. and Doheny ICU, dedicated for the care of ear surgery and neurosurgery patients, surround ear patient Jose Avina on a day in late July to celebrate the national ranking of SVMC’s Ear, Nose & Throat service as No. 32 out of more than 1,400 ENT programs nationwide.

D o h e n y O . R . a n d I C U

Te a m s P r o v i d e Ve r y G o o d

C a r e f o r E v e r y P a t i e n t

E v e r y D a y

Independent survey firm U.S. News & World Report places St. Vincent Medical Center (SVMC) among the best 2 percent of hospitals providing Ear, Nose & Throat service throughout the country.

SVMC is home to world-renowned House Clinic ear surgeons and neurosurgeons who have operated here for more than half-a-century, placing cochlear implants, performing stapedectomies, removing acoustic neuromas and other neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumors.

According to House Clinic neurotologist Rick Friedman, MD, on staff at St.

Vincent Medical Center, the hospital’s close collaboration with House Clinic surgeons has helped it achieve this distinction. “We do more ear and skull base cases than any place in the country,” said Dr. Friedman. “The House Clinic has been the world leader for over 60 years in surgery of the ear for disorders of hearing and imbalance, and surgery on tumors at the base of the skull.”

The lengthy affiliation between SVMC and House Clinic surgeons is based on a common goal of meeting the special needs of ear and neurosurgery patients. The dedicated Doheny Operating Room and the Doheny Intensive Care Unit at SVMC were created exclusively for ear and neurosurgery patients and provide a level of quality care superior to the vast majority of large university hospitals.

St. Vincent’s Ear, Nose & Throat service ranks #32 out of more than 1,400 Ear, Nose & Throat services nationwide. This ranking is based on the reputation of the ear practice alone and St. Vincent’s is ranked higher than 60 university medical centers nationwide. “Patients requiring ear surgery come from every state in the nation and from countries around the world,” states neurotologist William H. Slattery III, MD.

Mary Anne Hattemer, director of the Doheny OR and the Doheny ICU, said her teams of nurses are very flexible and adaptable to the needs of the department.

In addition to the national ranking for Ear, Nose & Throat, St. Vincent Medical Center earned “high-performing” achievements for nine other service lines.

According to U.S. News & World Report’s first-ever Best Hospitals metro area rankings for 2011-2012, available online at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/los-angeles-ca, St. Vincent Medical Center is high-performing in specialty areas of: Orthopaedics, Cancer care, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Nephrology, Pulmonology, Urology, Gynecology, Diabetes & Endocrinology, and Geriatrics. The latest rankings showcase 720 hospitals out of about 5,000 hospitals nationwide.

St.Vincent continuestostrivetobethebest,withthehelpofitsenergeticdoctors.

Physicians who are part of the team of high-performing service lines at SVMC get out and educate the public.

In addition to ongoing community education and screening efforts, SVMC hosted the Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition for Service Planning Area 4 (SPA-4) on June 10, with an audience of community social service outreach professionals.

Oncologist-hematologist Eduardo Lim, MD spoke at the conference about the prevalence of breast cancer and the importance of early screening mammography. He noted that minority women do not get screened frequently enough and are at higher risk than the rest of the population for late-stage cancer. “SVMC wants to change the natural history of breast cancer,” Dr. Lim told an audience comprised mostly of women. “You need to take charge.”

As part of the SVMC outreach, Joint Replacement Institute ( JRI) orthopaedist H. Michael Mynatt, MD went to Wilton-Wilshire Senior Apartments in Koreatown in July to speak to residents about knee pain. His takeaway message was that all persons need to have their pain localized and identified before they can find a method of treatment. Dr. Mynatt worked with interpreter Susanna Koh, who is the SVMC Korean patient liaison.

Dr. Mynatt plans to give another lecture about knee pain on Aug. 18 at Terry Manor Apartments, a retirement home adjacent to USC. SVT

5

S t . V i n c e n t T i m e st o p 2 p e r c e n t o f b e s t h o s p i t a l s f o r e a r, n o s e & t h r o a t s e r v i c et o p 2 p e r c e n t o f b e s t h o s p i t a l s f o r e a r, n o s e & t h r o a t s e r v i c e

Medical oncologist-hematologist Eduardo Lim, MD speaks to an audience of SPA-4 community outreach professionals about the importance of breast cancer screening mammography.

Joint Replacement Institute orthopaedist H. Michael Mynatt, MD talks to a group of residents at a Koreatown senior complex about different reasons for knee pain.

H i g h - Pe r f o r m i n g S e r v i c e L i n e s M a k e S t . V i n c e n t M e d i c a l C e n t e r # 5 B e s t H o s p i t a l i n L . A .

SVT

Pony Ramos has helped the department overcome several communication barriers with patients and visitors. Pony’s attitude and dedication to the “patient first” concept shows in his performance. He cheerfully greets everyone with a smile and delivers much needed supplies and equipment promptly. SVT

6

S t . V i n c e

n t T i m e s

Ponciano RamosCentral Processing Department

Vincentian Spirit AwardAwardA WinnerJune 2011

Vincentian Spirit Award awardsawards

SVT

Veronica Crowley, RN, in the ED, wins the second DAISY award on July 14, honored for extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care. From left, President/CEO Cathy Fickes and Kim Deese, CNO. At right, Director of the ED Susan Connor.

DAISY Award

Marina SarkisianQuality Department

Vincentian Spirit AwardAwardA WinnerJuly 2011

Core Measures Coordinator Marina Sarkisian has helped us win the #5 Best Hospital in Los Angeles recognition by U.S. News & World Report. She rounds on patients and makes sure they receive specific and evidence-based care. Marina researches each patient’s history to assure appropriate and timely care is provided. SVT

HSAG Award

In front, from left, Quality Manager Heddy Hoopfer and QM Coordinator Rose Oandasan, and at back, from left, Data Coordintor Jen Cronin, Quality Director Patricia Kirnon, and QM Transplant Coordinator Liz Greene (Core Measures Coordinator Marina Sarkisian not pictured) hold the Health Services Advisory Group award for Dedication to Patient Quality and Safety.

Orthopaedist Ed McPherson, MD, a specialist in joint reconstruction, earns a Guardian Angel Award on Aug. 2, sponsored by a grateful patient.

6th Floor nurses (west and south) earn Guardian Angel Awards on Aug. 3 for having taken excellent care of two orthopaedic patients.

COVER STORY

Page 4

SERVICE TO THE KOREAN COMMUNITY

Page 3

FROM RADIATION TECH TO RN

Page 7

SharonGreengold@DOCHS.org (213) 484-5593SusanLauzier@DOCHS.org (213) 484-5525

In just six years, Laura Leon has learned a lot while working at St. Vincent Medical Center. She arrived here to train as an Xray Tech and then took a job in Imaging.

Shortly she mastered the art of patient flow in a busy, high-pressure CT arena, and devised a one-person technique for moving patients from gurney to scanning table and back again, taking advantage of adjustable gurney heights and the laws of Newtonian physics.

Laura caught the attention of her boss, Kathleen Foley, director of Imaging Services, who recommended Laura for the 20/40 Program, a benefit that entitled

associates to get their nursing degrees while working. Laura is the last graduate of the 20/40 Program, which enabled her to be paid for full-time work while working 20 hours per week and going to nursing school at L.A. City College.

The hours of study plus half-time work was a challenge, but Laura just graduated at the top of her LACC Nursing School class, earning the Nightingale Award.

Laura begins her nursing career this month on the night shift in Telemetry. She looks forward to the challenge and the responsibility of the profession. SVT

Multicultural Health Awareness and Prevention (MHAP) Center Award

S t . V i n c e 7

n t T i m e s

http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/los-angeles-ca SVT

President/CEO

CA

TH

Y F

ICK

ES

St. V

ince

nt

Med

ical

Cen

terSt. Vincent Times

2 0 / 4 0 p r o g r a m g r a d s h i n e s

(213) 207-5783

(800) 371-2176www.dchsvaluesline.org

commun i t y ou t r e a ch : h ea l t h f a i r

Pedro Ramirez holds recognition earned by his MHAP Center team for recent health education efforts in the community.

Pedro Ramirez, director of the Multicultural Health Awareness and Prevention (MHAP) Center, holds certificates of appreciation for promoting good eating habits and providing health education to schoolchildren and their parents.The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education

certificate states: “In recognition of your outstanding efforts to improve the health of Los Angeles youth and school communities. Thank you for your commitment to fighting childhood obesity and raising awareness about healthy lifestyles in our schools.” SVT

10th Annual Free Community Health Fair – Sept.17

SVMC’s free annual health fair for the community will be held in the Ocean View Street parking lot across from the hospital on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Multicultural Health Awareness and Prevention (MHAP) Center organizes the free fair every year as part of our mission to provide health services to people who are underinsured and underserved.

Among the preventive health offerings will be mammography screening, clinical breast exams, vision and hearing exams, hepatitis B screening, dental screening,

blood glucose screening, cholesterol screening, body fat screening, blood pressure screening, anemia screening, pap smear screening, and flu shots. Health education will be provided in English, Korean, Spanish, and Thai.

Referrals for follow-up health services will be provided following screenings.

The fair is sponsored by the Daughters of Charity, with sponsorship also from the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation, Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund, and the 1st

District Office of Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Reyes. SVT

Laura Leon, RN has begun working in Tele this month, the last graduate of the 20/40 program. She holds her Nightingale Student Award from L.A. City College for graduating at the top of her class.

From SVMC Xray Tech to “Nightingale” RN

ORTHOPAEDICS – Reconstruction of the former LASSI clinic space, on the first floor of the S. Mark Taper Foundation building, began in July and will continue throughout the summer. The new space will allow for expanded orthopaedic services in the fall.

HEART SERVICE – As part of our ongoing outreach to the community, SVMC plans to sponsor a series of heart and vascular health fairs with Life Line Screening of America, LLC beginning in the fall. For more information about Life Line Screening, go online at www.lifelinescreening.com. . SVT

St.V incentTimes2131 W. 3rd St.Los Angeles, CA 90057www.StVincentMedicalCenter.comwww.facebook.com/stvincentmedicalcenter

May 19, 2011Thomas P. Schmalzried, MDOrthopaedicsBecker’s Orthopedic ReviewTOPIC: Tall patients and hip replacementMay 27, 2011Lasika Seneviratne, MDOncologyKFWB-980 radioTOPIC: Safe and unsafe sunscreensMay 31, 2011Marc Schwartz, MDNeurosurgeryKNX-1070 radio TOPIC: Cell phones and the brainMay 31, 2011Gregory Lekovic, MDNeurosurgeryKTLA-Ch. 5 TOPIC: Cell phones are fairly safeJune 1-5, 2011Thomas P. Schmalzried, MDOrthopaedicsLos Angeles Newspaper Group full runTOPIC: Move through the pain

June 6, 2011Eduardo Lim, MDOncology/Hematologyhttp://frankly.netTOPIC: Women and hemophiliaJuly 3 - 4, 2011William H. Slattery III, MDNeurotologyKFI (CBS radio syndicated) TOPIC: Fireworks hazardsAug. 1, 2011Patrick Takahashi,Takahashi,T MDGastroenterologyKFWB-980 radio TOPIC: Limitations of colonics Aug. 1, 2011Alan Jasper, MDPulmonologyKFWB-980 radio TOPIC: Preventing DVTAug. 2, 2011Patrick Takahashi,Takahashi,T MDGastroenterologyKCAL-Ch. 9, KCBS-Ch. 2, KTLA-Ch. 5 newsTOPIC: Salmonella in ground turkey and symptoms of poisoning

VINCENTIAN VALUES: Respect Compassionate Service Simplicity Advocacy for the Poor Inventiveness to Infinity

doctors in the news expansionexpansion

Greg Schwarz, VP of Business Development, and Patti O’Brien, Administrator of Orthopaedic Services, survey the ongoing orthopaedic build-out and refer to the plans.