United in mission and vision new CEO embraces a promising future. Friends and supporters — Thank you for welcoming me so warmly to the St. Mary family. This strong sense of family is one of the first things that impressed me during my first visits to the campus. Among the many colleagues who work here, there is a strong bond of collaboration, friendship and genuine concern for each other and for the patients they serve. This is also true of the community that surrounds the medical center. The faith that you have in the mission and vision of St. Mary is evidenced every day in the support you provide. There has been so much accomplished through your partnership with St. Mary over the years. Even in the short time that I have been here, I’ve seen many impressive projects take shape. We recently completed the multi-phase renovation to our Labor & Delivery area and initiated an update to the Central Sterile Supply area that offers crucial support for our surgical services. There has also been major progress in our Cancer Center. Work on our infusion room has begun and when finished will afford our patients a more private and comfortable setting in which to receive treatment, complete with room for visitors and views of the beautiful healing garden. The Bee Well Boutique, located just outside the Cancer Center, is now open thanks to the efforts of the Community League providing clothing, spa products, wigs and other items for patients undergoing chemotherapy and other procedures. An additional improvement that is both cosmetic and safety-enhancing is taking place in various areas...
St. Mary Colleagues got onboard! While it is true that many patients come to St. Mary seeking life-saving care from doctors and nurses, every colleague in every department can be a lifesaver. Each year, hundreds of colleagues participate in the Colleague Giving Campaign with a one-time gift or a payroll pledge supporting a St. Mary fund of their choosing. This year was no different. Over 500 colleagues raised nearly $100,000 during the campaign that ran September 6 through October 14. Weekly pledge collections in the cafeteria provided opportunities for colleagues to sign up to make a difference as well as enjoy a light snack compliments of the Colleague Campaign Committee. Two special events offering free coffee and pastries were held to thank colleagues for their support. Funds raised through the Colleague Giving Campaign stay right here at St. Mary and are used to ensure that we have the best quality facilities, equipment and skills to care for our patients. If you are a St. Mary colleague and wish to support the Colleague Giving Campaign, there is still time. Contact Kat O’Connor at 215.710.5894 /koconnor@stmaryhealthcare.org or donate at StMaryFoundation.org/colleague. Fall 2016 FOCUS —...
Fulfilling our mission in Bensalem While helping members of our community achieve and maintain good health is a priority for St. Mary, providing other essential services – like food and clothing – to the underserved is also part of our mission. Through strategic partnerships with businesses, foundations, and other non-profit organizations, we are able to provide for many people in need at our Bensalem Ministries. One such organization with which we recently partnered is The Baby Bureau. The Baby Bureau is a non-profit, volunteer program that helps underserved moms by providing clothing for their newborns. Each “Baby Bundle” is made up of at least 30 seasonally appropriate outfits, onesies, sleepers, bibs, a hat and a new rattle. All of the clothing is donated and either new or gently used. The bundles are wrapped in donated blankets or quilts and delivered to community social service providers like St. Mary to distribute to families in need. Fran Wasserman, Executive Director of The Baby Bureau, stopped by the Children’s Health Center on March 31 with a special delivery. “I was so honored to deliver the first of many Baby Bundles to the clinic this morning. Being able to personally give one to this darling one-week old little girl was truly a Mission Moment for me. I thank you for that!” she said of her visit. In addition to the individually packaged bundles of clothing, the Baby Bureau also contributed gently used books to entertain older children in the Mother Bachmann and Children’s Health Center waiting rooms. Thank you to Fran and the generous donors and volunteers at The Baby...
Colleagues recognized for flying above and beyond for patients The Guardian Angel program is a way for individuals and families who are grateful for the service and dedication of St. Mary colleagues and physicians to show their appreciation with a financial contribution to the Foundation. A pin and certificate are presented to each person named through the program and an annual luncheon is held in their collective honor. Just over 200 physicians and colleagues were named as Guardian Angels by patients and families, friends or colleagues last year. The recognition luncheon for all of the 2015 recipients was held on June 1 in the St. Mary Outpatient Care Facility. The event is a small token of appreciation from the Foundation for all these special individuals do for our patients every day. One patient, Diane Weitz, recently made a contribution honoring two special angels – Stephanie Harkins, RN and Dr. Michael Jacobelli – who have both consistently provided her with exceptional care during several hospitalizations over the years. A personalized note for each angel was included with her gift to be delivered with their certificates and pins. As often as possible, being named as a Guardian Angel is kept as a surprise. The presentation is coordinated between Foundation staff and the honored colleague’s department. When offered the opportunity to be included in the surprise presentation for Stephanie, Diane readily accepted. On June 9, Diane showed up to St. Mary with balloons and a treat for her Guardian Angel and all of the colleagues on the MG3 unit. Joined by Lisa Yost, Nurse Manager, and several colleagues from MG3, Stephanie was...
A Shared Partnership of Caring Wrapping patients in love at the St. Mary Regional Cancer Center The mission of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. LLS exists to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. They serve as a voice for patients as well as a listening ear; advocating on their behalf while helping to identify treatment options and navigating through them. In addition, the LLC drives and funds research focused on finding cures for blood cancers and fosters relationships with organizations and institutions whose missions and visions regarding cancer care align with their own. Subaru of America and St. Mary are two such organizations. The month of June is Subaru of America’s “Loves to Care” month. Visitors to participating Subaru retailers across the country were given the opportunity to share personalized messages of hope to members of their local communities who were fighting cancer. These messages were then attached to large, soft, chenille blankets to be distributed to patients undergoing cancer treatments to help provide comfort and warmth. Representatives from the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society arrived at the St. Mary Regional Cancer Center on July 6th, to deliver several cases of individually boxed blankets and messages from visitors to Reedman-Toll Subaru. Colleagues from the Cancer Center, Infusion Room and Oncology Unit joined staff from the Foundation in welcoming them to St. Mary and accepting the donation on behalf of our patients. Meredith Ortlieb, Senior Campaign Manager, Light the Night,...
Enhancements to services abound at St. Mary! The St. Mary Foundation’s Ambassador Circle met on Friday, April 26th for lunch and their quarterly meeting at the Northampton Valley Country Club. After welcoming remarks and opening prayer, Dan Drake, Vice President of Continuing Care, gave a brief presentation on LIFE St. Mary and plans for serving the aging population in Bucks County through this year and into the future. Dan reported that this group presents both a challenge and an opportunity for St. Mary. Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation for population over 65 years of age. Just over 16% of Bucks County residents are over age 65 and we possess the highest percentage of residents over 85 in the whole state. In 2009, St. Mary opened a Program for All-Inclusive Care for Elders (PACE) called Living Independently for Elders (LIFE) St. Mary, to serve this growing population. While in the LIFE St. Mary program, participants receive personalized healthcare services based on their specific needs. Enrollment in the LIFE program allows individuals to remain living in their own homes instead of a nursing home facility. Last year, the LIFE program, which is located in Trevose, had 220 Medicaid/Medicare eligible participants aged 55 or older. All participants resided in one of 16 approved Lower Bucks County ZIP code areas. This year, LIFE St. Mary has experienced a small growth spurt and is now serving 235 participants from 30 approved ZIP code areas. Should any LIFE St. Mary participant or other elderly Bucks County resident require a hospital stay, St. Mary is equipped with the only geriatric-friendly unit in the area. Nurses on...
