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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.
4 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1
Continued from page 3
LIFESAVING TREATMENT
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.
Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 5
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.”
6 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1
Continued from page 5
LIFESAVING TREATMENT
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.
Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 7
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
8 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1
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
Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 9
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.
10 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1
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
Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 11
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.
12 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1
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.
Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 13
14 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1
Continued from page 13
YOUR PRIMARY CARE MATTERS
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.
Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 15
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.
16 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1
Continued from page 15
YOUR PRIMARY CARE MATTERS
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.”
Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 17
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.
18 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1
Continued from page 17
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
YOUR PRIMARY CARE MATTERS
“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.
Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 19
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
20 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1
• 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.
Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 21
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:
22 I HouseCall I Volume VII Issue 1
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
Volume VII Issue 1 I HouseCall I 23
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.
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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.