Ion doesn’t have a medical degree, hasn’t taken the Hippocratic Oath, and he can’t even use a stethoscope. Yet Ion is a master at health-care delivery. Physicians and nurses rely on him when patients need neurological care, and he has played a critical role in saving many lives.

Ion, short for “Eye on You,” is one of several 5-foot-tall cylindrical-shaped robots that connect Mercy neurology specialists with physicians and patients at remote partner hospitals in California via high-speed data lines. Through Ion’s flat-screen monitor, Mercy doctors conduct live patient assessments,

HorizonsM E R C Y F O U N D A T I O N

Interim president’s message

The changing color of leaves and cooler temperatures make autumn a natural metaphor for transition. This fall season, internal and external changes have created both challenges and opportunities for Mercy Foundation and Mercy/Catholic Healthcare West.

Health-care reform and its implementation continue to be top of mind for Mercy/CHW leadership and for the Sisters of Mercy. A rapidly aging population is keeping hospital beds filled, and many hospitals overwhelmed, across the country. Ongoing economic issues continue to place a burden on the health-care system. A recent Thompson Reuters study revealed that nearly 330,000 people in the Sacramento region are uninsured.

Statistics like these make the Sisters of Mercy ministries to those in need even more critical. The nine philanthropic initiatives recently undertaken by Mercy Foundation were created to respond to the needs during these challenging times and find meaningful solutions to problems in our community. Whether in health care, education, affordable housing or care for the poor and elderly, each initiative strives to help people overcome challenges and weather difficult transitions in their lives.

For example, Mercy Hospice seeks funding to expand its program to meet

Continued on page 7

Dr. Alan Shatzel, neurology medical director, conducts a remote patient consultation. “Mercy Telehealth Network allows us to compress time and space, placing stroke-care specialists at the patient bedside within minutes of receiving a call,” he said.

recommend treatment and provide ongoing monitoring with the help of the hospital’s on-site care team.

Ion’s employment is thanks to a $500,000 gift to Mercy Foundation by the Elliott Family Foundations, a philanthropic entity of Elliott Homes. The gift, made in memory of family matriarch Margaret F. Elliott, was the catalyst behind the Mercy Telehealth Network, a program launched in 2008 by the Mercy Neurological Institute—home to five nationally certified Primary Stroke Centers.

Mercy Telehealth Network: Ensuring the right care at the right time

Inspiring Philanthropy. Changing Lives.

Fall 2011

Grateful patient Chuck Briggs: A special place in his heart for Mercy | 5

Continued on page 2

2

Mercy General Hospital &Mercy San Juan Medical Center

Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital

Mercy Hospital of Folsom

St. Joseph’s Medical Center

Methodist Hospital of Sacramento

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital

NorthBay VacaValley HospitalNorthBay Medical Center

1

6

7

2

3 4

5

Ministry NewsM E R C Y F O U N D A T I O N

Ion’s robotic technology enables Mercy’s stroke-care specialists to provide bedside consultations and decision support for hospitals that do not have neurological service coverage and therefore are limited in their ability to provide medical therapies and interventions to improve outcomes and speed recovery.

“In the past, patients who presented to distant hospitals may not have received the benefits of being evaluated by experienced, knowledgeable and highly skilled stroke neurologists, or, when appropriate, receiving thrombolytic agents, which must be given within a narrow window of time after onset of stroke,” said Alan Shatzel, medical director for neurology at the Mercy Neurological Institute. “The virtual presence by the Mercy Telehealth Network saves lives and reduces disability.”

Telehealth removes distance as a barrier to receiving the right care at the right time. Oftentimes, the long drive to Mercy Neurological Institute in Sacramento can be physically or logistically challenging for patients living in remote or rural areas. Telehealth enables them to stay in their community to receive care. And if a patient has a condition where time is of the essence—such as a stroke—telehealth is critical to accessing a Mercy specialist who can assist in the diagnosis and in outlining the best possible treatment plan.

Nevada County resident Joe Brown was introduced to Ion at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley, where he was transported by ambulance while having a stroke. Doctors told 75-year-old Joe that he was a candidate for tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, a thrombolytic agent that breaks up clot-blocking blood flow to the brain. Because tPA must be administered

within hours of the onset of stroke symptoms, every minute counts. Transporting Joe to Mercy neurological specialists in Sacramento would take away precious time and place him at risk for serious complications or even death. But Ion rolled in to save the day.

Joe was quickly assessed remotely by Dr. Shatzel via Ion’s flat-screen monitor. “The robot allows face-to-face communication. I was able to see for myself how Mr. Brown was functioning,”

Dr. Shatzel said. “With the assistance of the on-site nurse, I could perform certain neurological assessments, take a patient history and monitor his vital signs, all while communicating directly with Mr. Brown and his family.”

Joe’s tPA therapy started within an hour of his arrival at the hospital—a life-saving effort that took teamwork with players throughout the region. “It starts with the local EMS providers getting the patients to the emergency room quickly,

How you can help

Mercy Neurological Institute of Greater Sacramento is the region’s premier provider and recognized leader of specialty neuroscience services and patient care. Mercy’s specially trained physicians treat a wide range of neurological injuries and conditions, such as stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease.

California’s rapidly growing population, coupled with an unprecedented growth in the number of people over age 65, is increasing Mercy’s volume of neurologic patients. Funds are needed to expand the Mercy Telehealth Network to ensure timely access to high-quality, specialized health-care services not available in remote areas. If you would like to make a philanthropic gift to support the network, contact Becky Thompson, Mercy Foundation chief philanthropy officer, at (916) 537-5215 or Rebecca.Thompson@chw.edu.

Seven partner sites—and growing

3

then the Emergency Department team takes over and has to make the quick decision to activate a stroke alert, which activates the robot and the remote Mercy physician,” said Dr. Shatzel.

Joe’s recovery was successful and he was released from the hospital within days. He said he felt comfortable with Ion and is thankful for the technology. “Even though it wasn’t Dr. Shatzel’s hands performing the exams, he was the one directing my care,” Joe said. “It was amazing. He could have been anywhere in the world and because of that technology, he was able to save my life.”

Dr. Shatzel said that cases like Joe’s illustrate the dramatic impact the Mercy Telehealth Network is having on stroke care in remote areas of California. “Most rural emergency room departments see only a few stroke patients a year,” he said. “Here in Sacramento, my colleagues and I can see up to three, four, even five cases a day. So being able to share our cumulative experience and expertise in a face-to-face manner at the bedside is an invaluable service to outlying communities.”

The Mercy Telehealth Network currently has seven partner sites: Methodist Hospital of Sacramento; Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital; St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton; NorthBay Medical Center; NorthBay Vacavalley Hospital; and Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Since its inception, the network has provided more than 177 robotic consultations. Mercy not only plans to add more partner hospitals to its telehealth network this year, but also will expand its tele-services specialties to include multiple sclerosis, perinatology and thoracic/oncology. Other services are being explored.

As part of its program expansion, the Telehealth Network also will soon pilot a remote patient monitoring initiative

Dr. Shatzel, seen here on Ion’s monitor, connects to a remote patient room to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of a patient needing neurological care. “Being able to share Mercy’s cumulative experience and expertise at the bedside is an invaluable service to outlying communities,” he said.

—an innovative preventive-care model that increases efficiency and decreases emergency-room visits. Patients remain in their homes and are connected by video to their doctors and nurses, who monitor and assess trends such as blood-glucose levels and blood pressure. If caregivers note a non-favorable trend such as elevated blood glucose, they can contact the patient at home to recommend next steps to avoid adverse incidents. The initiative —funded by an additional $100,000 from the Elliott Family Foundations—will start with patients with risk factors for stroke, such as diabetes and hypertension.

“Telehealth technology is a powerful tool that can help to meet current and

growing demands for specialty care and chronic disease management,” said Jim Roxburgh, Mercy Telehealth Network’s program manager, who also noted that telehealth offers significant cost savings. Expensive hospital visits are reduced, as are costly patient transfers from remote hospitals to specialists in Sacramento.

Joe Brown’s experience demonstrates how information technology is highly effective in increasing patient satisfaction and creating better outcomes. “I’m an old man who fought technology for years,” he said. “Now, I owe my life to it!”

4

The Sisters of Mercy

From the expansive deck of Our Lady of Lourdes Retirement Center in Auburn, Calif., residents can view the bronze statue of Mother Mary Baptist Russell below, her lantern held high to guide those in need toward comfort, safety and care. At the retirement center, Sr. Elaine Stahl ensures that Mary Baptist’s mission and legacy continue through her work with the Sisters of Mercy under her care.

For the last three and a half years, Sr. Elaine, a nurse, has supervised the infirmary, which provides basic and skilled nursing for retired Sisters. While most of the 15 or so residents require skilled nursing, the health-care team also focuses on care for the whole person. The Sisters continue the community life they lived prior to retirement through regular activities such as daily Mass, prayers and Sacrament of the Sick and Reconciliation.

“It is a privilege to care for these beautiful women,” Sr. Elaine said. “I focus on keeping them comfortable. Many are quite sick. We do everything possible so they can remain at Our Lady of Lourdes.”

A typical day for Sr. Elaine includes creating schedules for nurses and conducting reports. She often accompanies Sisters to their doctor appointments, acting as a patient advocate. If a Sister is hospitalized, she or one of the two other Sisters of Mercy working in the health-care ministry will stay overnight or keep in close contact with the physicians and staff to ensure her comfort and advocate for her care. Though patient care is round-the-clock, “it never seems like work,” Sr. Elaine said. “The secret is finding something you love.”

Sister Elaine Stahl: Providing comfort and care to retired Sisters of Mercy

Sr. Elaine discovered her passion for health care when she worked with the dying in the 1970s, at a time when Hospice and other end-of-life programs weren’t widely known or acknowledged as part of the continuum of patient care. She was a Eucharistic minister and often visited homes of the sick and dying. The experience inspired her to become a nurse. “I felt the call because I witnessed people in so much pain and suffering,” she said.

After earning a nursing degree, Sr. Elaine was an oncology nurse at Mercy General Hospital for four years. She transferred to Mercy Hospice, working with the program for 13 years. During that time, she felt another call—to join the Sisters of Mercy. A vocations director at her diocese helped with discerning her future. Sr. Katherine Doyle became her spiritual director, guiding her on the path that led to her novitiate in Laredo, Texas, in 2002.

“I immediately loved the Sisters of Mercy, and as a group they have been very supportive of me and my work as a nurse. We stand together as a community. If people knew how great this life is, we’d go into under-population!” she laughed.

After her novitiate, Sr. Elaine continued to work with Mercy Hospice until she accepted an opportunity at Mercy McMahon Terrace as a charge nurse. She worked there for two and a half years before being asked by her superiors to manage the retirement center in Auburn.

She considers her health-care path God’s providence. “I was born to be a nurse,” she said. “This is a gift that God gave me. I absolutely love working with the dying. It’s a beautiful experience for me.” She often reflects on the rich history of the Sisters before her who, like Mary Baptist Russell, lit the path of service to

M E R C Y F O U N D A T I O N

others. Her work with the dying has an even greater inspiration. “Death is a very sacred time in a person’s life. It’s a time of transition and letting go, seen in Jesus dying on the cross,” she said. “At times I feel like I’m there with Him, after a time of suffering.”

Give back to those who have given all

For more than 150 years, the Sisters of Mercy have selflessly cared for the sick, the poor and the uneducated in the Sacramento region.

Give back to those who have helped to change lives. Your charitable contribution to the Sisters of Mercy in Auburn supports the short- and long-term care and comfort of retired Sisters at Our Lady of Lourdes Retirement Center.

Donations fund upkeep of the center and critical equipment such as patient beds and room monitors. Contributions also will help support materials and construction costs to replace outdated flooring and appliances.

Contact Mercy Foundation at (916) 851-2700 for more information about needs and ways to give.

5

Grateful patient Chuck Briggs holds a special place in his heart for Mercy

Elk Grove resident Chuck Briggs is the founder of a company that eases administrative processes for hundreds of hospitals throughout the nation. Among all those health-care organizations, Mercy General Hospital is particularly close to his heart – emotionally and literally. Briggs unequivocally credits Mercy General physicians for saving his life after he experienced a heart attack.

In gratitude, he made a personal $25,000 pledge to Mercy Foundation to support the Alex G. Spanos Heart & Vascular Center campaign. His company, International Micro Design, contributed $100,000 to the campaign.

Briggs, a Kaiser Permanente patient, had experienced painful pressure in his chest in May 2005 during exertion near his family’s mountain cabin. The pain subsided, so Briggs was unconcerned. But the pain returned more intensely the following week while he was working in a hot tool shed.

“Neither lying on the floor nor reclining in my chair helped. This time, it was a big elephant on my chest and he wouldn’t get off,” Briggs said. His wife, Linda, called for an ambulance. Emergency medical technicians told Briggs he was having a heart attack and took him to Mercy General Hospital.

“I consider myself very fortunate that Kaiser and Mercy had an agreement that Kaiser members with heart attacks would be taken directly to Mercy,” Briggs said. The Mercy cardiac surgery team, already assembled for a scheduled non-emergency procedure, quickly evaluated Briggs, discovered that his main coronary artery was 100 percent obstructed, and implanted a stent to resolve the blockage.

Partners in Philanthropy

“I was in recovery in less than an hour,” said Briggs, 63. “Mercy saved my life, and for that I will always be grateful.”

Briggs had begun his career in the late ’60s as a computer programmer for the California Department of Human Resources Development, later renamed the Department of Employment.

“At 21 years old, I was responsible for the programs that recorded wage records for all California workers,” Briggs recalled. A promotion with a transfer to the Department of Health to work on a model Medicaid system gave Briggs his first exposure to health-care data management. He advanced in that field with the Hospital Commission, which functioned as a regulatory agency and collected uniform data from 600 hospitals throughout California.

He left his state job in 1982 to establish International Micro Design, better known as Health Financial Systems or HFS. The company develops Medicare Cost Report Software that hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, medical clinics, home health agencies, community mental health clinics, end-stage renal facilities, hospice operators and other health-care organizations use to meet

stringent and complex governmental reporting requirements. HFS is considered the nation’s largest automated cost report vendor.

Briggs remained president of HFS until 2009, when he retired and his daughter, Becky Dolin, assumed that role. Chuck feels lucky that his son, Chuck III, also is involved in HFS operations and serves on the Board of Directors along with Becky.

Mercy Foundation honored Chuck and Becky at the Foundation’s McAuley and Legacy Societies Celebration this past April. Briggs is thankful for the award, but most appreciative of his medical care at Mercy General.

“All the time I have spent with my family since 2005 is because Mercy saved my life. Just a day before my heart attack, I watched my eldest grandchild graduate from high school, and now I have lived to see her graduate from college. I have become a qualified scuba diver since the heart attack and dived with my granddaughter,” Briggs said. “I have climbed Mt. Lassen with my grandchildren. My wife and I have taken them to the Grand Canyon, Maui, Disney World, Universal Studios, Six Flags, and other places. I am having a blast.”

Chuck Briggs and his daughter, Becky Dolin, were honored at Mercy Foundation’s McAuley and Legacy Societies Celebration for the longstanding support by their company, International Micro Design.

M E R C Y F O U N D A T I O N

6

Partners in PhilanthropyM E R C Y F O U N D A T I O N

Mercy Foundation planned giving seminars

Gift plans such as charitable gift annuities can help you increase your cash flow, earn valuable income-tax deductions and reduce or eliminate estate taxes while also supporting the less fortunate in the community.

Mercy Foundation hosts free seminars throughout the year to educate the community about the many benefits of charitable gift planning.

UPCOMING SEMINAR

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

To sign up, e-mail MercyFoundationSac@chw.edu

For information about making an estate gift to Mercy Foundation, please contact Kevin Duggan, interim president and CEO, at (916) 851-2703 or Kevin.Duggan@chw.edu.

Let us know!

If you have included Mercy Foundation in your estate plan, please let us know so we can thank you and recognize you with membership in the Mercy Legacy Society. Members are invited to exclusive Foundation events, planned giving education sessions, tours and more.

Dean Decker makes enduring gift in memory of late wife

Dean Decker proudly remembers his late wife, Kathy Yeates, whose dedication, compassion and generosity made a difference in the lives of patients, nurses and colleagues. Kathy, a long-time Mercy General Hospital intensive care unit nurse, passed away from cancer in March 2006.

“She was very inspiring,” Dean said. “She had such a brilliant mind when it came to nursing that she rose to the top of her profession very quickly.”

Because Kathy held the Sisters of Mercy in high regard and believed in their mission, she donated to Mercy Foundation through regular payroll deductions from the beginning of her employment. Her support helped fund training and education for talented nurses with limited financial means.

To honor Kathy’s memory, Dean was instrumental in creating the Kathy Yeates Nurses Education Fund, an

endowment that provides financial support for nurses pursuing continuing education through workshops, seminars and conferences.

“Because she passed away at such a young age, she was not able to enjoy the money set aside for her retirement,” Dean said. “The least I can do in her memory is to contribute to the things she stood for.” By funding a $50,000 charitable gift annuity through Mercy Foundation, Dean will be able to continue to support the endowment while receiving valuable tax benefits and regular payments for life.

Dean remarried, and he and his wife, Jean, continue to give back to the community both through philanthropy and volunteer work.

7

Crespi scholarships awarded to nursing students

Mercy Foundation awarded five Sacramento City College nursing students with Kimberly Ann Crespi Scholarships totaling $4,500.

The annual awards are made possible by retired Sacramento businessman William Hegg, who established the Crespi fund in memory of a Mercy General Hospital nurse who passed away in 1993 at age 30 after a year-long struggle with cancer. Kimberly was the wife of one of William’s colleagues at Sacramento Savings & Loan.

Crespi Scholarships are awarded to Sacramento City College nursing students based on financial need and passion for the nursing profession. Grateful recipient Nicole Brenes is pursuing a nursing degree “to help others, become an advocate for patients, and live my belief of service.”

After receiving her award, Nicole met Kimberly’s family and was struck by Kimberly’s passion for service to others.

“This scholarship has taught me that one’s life truly impacts the future, and the commitment and love Kimberly had for nursing now allows students like me to fulfill a service role. In essence, her legacy is permeating,” she said. “This scholarship has not only had monetary significance to me, but also has taught me the importance of living caringly and respectfully so that I, too, may serve others and be an example of selfless service.”

Student Mylene Simons, who was recently widowed and has three sons, said it is a great feeling that her passion for nursing is recognized. “I wanted to

be a RN so I could give the very best care to my husband,” she said. “Now, I want to give back to the profession that cared for him. Just as the scholarship has made a difference in my life, I will have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others as a nurse.”

Mercy Foundation welcomes contributions to the Kimberly Ann Crespi Scholarship Fund. Awards are disbursed in the summer.

Contact Trisha Pena, Mercy Foundation’s director of finance, at Trisha.Pena@chw.edu to learn more.

Sacramento City College nursing student Mylene Simons said it is a great feeling to have had her passion for nursing recognized through a Kimberly Ann Crespi scholarship. “I feel so fortunate to have been chosen a recipient,” she said.

Interim President’s message

Continued from front page

the needs of a growing number of under- and uninsured patients and families, many of whom cannot afford funeral costs for loved ones. And Sacramento Loaves & Fishes is relying on philanthropy to renovate the more than 70-year-old building that houses Mustard Seed School for homeless children. An increasing number of families affected by the economic collapse is turning to Loaves & Fishes for survival services such as meals and daytime shelter.

Mercy Foundation also is in the midst of change and transition. President and CEO Linda Beech Cutler left the Foundation in early September to pursue other opportunities. I have assumed the role on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is named. As always, Mercy Foundation staff remains committed to our mission, and continue to work with our many donors and friends to inspire philanthropy and change lives. We look forward to the return of our Director of Donor Relations, Sr. Bridget McCarthy, who has been serving as interim senior vice president of operations, overseeing CHW’s Sacramento/San Joaquin Service Area. Recruitment for the permanent position is almost complete.

All of us at Mercy Foundation are grateful for your continued partnership and unwavering support of the Sisters of Mercy ministries. I hope this autumn is a time of positive transition and reflection for you.

Interim President and CEO

3400 Data Drive Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 SupportMercyFoundation.org

Non Profit US Postage Paid Sacramento, CA Permit #296

Questions or comments about this newsletter? We welcome your feedback. Contact us at MercyFoundationSac@chw.edu or (916) 851–2700 to share your comments or sign up for an electronic version.

2010–11 Mercy Foundation Board of Trustees

Stay up to date on Mercy Foundation news and events on our new Facebook page!

Find us at www.facebook.com/MercyFoundationSacramento

Officers

William W. Yee Chair

Mark Read Vice Chair

Linda Van Rees Secretary

Michael T. Genovese Treasurer

Katherine Doyle, RSM Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community Representative

Kevin B. Duggan Mercy Foundation Interim President and CEO

Trustees

José Abad, M.D. Gil A. Albiani Stephen Bauer, M.D. Patrice N. Coyle Ken Crawford Brenda W. Davis Eileen Enright, RSM Bob Flautt Joan Gann Lawrence B. Garcia Diane R. Grenz Jack M. Kimmel Mike Kimmel Garry Maisel Sharon A. Margetts Bridget McCarthy, RSM Tim Mickiewicz, DDS Careyann Morris Silvio Reggiardo Tim Rogers Elizabeth Leonard Schatz Alan Shatzel, D.O. Terry Street Merrily F. Wong

Mercy Foundation is a proud supporter of the GiveLocalNow movement, which encourages philanthropy in the Greater Sacramento region.

Share your personal story of giving to Mercy Foundation and the Sisters of Mercy ministries at www.GiveLocalNow.org.