St. Elizabeth’s honored

St. Elizabeth’s honored

YOUNGSTOWN — St. Elizabeth Health Center has received the Thomson 100 Top Hospitals Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success award. The award recognizes the excellence of St. Elizabeth’s cardiovascular clinical and management teams, and is based on hospitals’ performance treating congestive heart failure, heart attacks and cardiac surgical patients.

Thomson Healthcare scores facilities in eight key performance areas: Risk-adjusted medical mortality, risk-adjusted surgical mortality, risk-adjusted complications, core measures score, percentage of heart bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, procedure volume, severity adjusted average length of stay, and wage- and severity-adjusted average cost.

“We are extremely pleased with the recognition because it is based on an independent review of patients’ outcome data ... and reflects a tremendous partnership between nurses, physicians and all involved in the care of the cardiac surgical patient,” said Dr. Timothy Hunter, director of cardiothoracic surgery at St. Elizabeth.

Autism presentation

AUSTINTOWN — “Potential Development: School of Austisim” is the topic for the Wednesday meeting of the First Ohio Chapter of the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. The presentation by Paul Garchar, head of Potential Development, is from 7 to 9 p.m. at the D E Clinic, 142 Javit Court. Call Rachel at (330) 538-0184 or Chrysann at (330) 533-4659.

Triplett new director

WARREN — Shelia Triplett has been named director of the Beatitude House housing programs in Trumbull County. She formerly served as the organization’s child advocate in Warren. In her new position, Triplett will focus on the services offered in collaboration with Emmanuel Community Care Center in Girard and Warren.

Triplett, who has worked 20 years with social service agencies, has degrees from Youngstown Stated University and the University of Phoenix, Cleveland Campus, and is a licensed social worker certified in mediation, conflict management and chemical dependency.

Clinic time changed

GIRARD — The well-child immunization clinic that was to be on Wednesday has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 17. The clinic is at the City Building, 100 W. Main St., and is free of charge to Girard City children. Parents must bring a copy of their child’s immunization record, and a parent or guardian must accompany children under the age of 18. Also, parents must preregister their child by calling (330) 545-6048 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Drug safety program

YOUNGSTOWN ‚àí Drug safety, including prescription and over the counter and herbal supplements, is the topic for two Women in Touch programs sponsored by Humility of Mary Health Partners. The programs are from 5 to 7 p.m. at the following locations: Oct. 8, Leo’s Ristorante, 7042 East Market St., Howland; and Oct. 16, Mr. Anthony’s, 7440 South Ave., Boardman.

The speaker is Brian J. Sabol, a clinical pharmacy specialist at St. Elizabeth Health Center. The cost of $15 per person includes dinner. Continuing education credits are available for nursing, social work and dietitian/technicians. For more information or to register, call (330) 480-3151 or toll free (877) 700-4647. The registration deadline is one week prior to the program date.

Survivors celebration

GREENVILLE, Pa. — UPMC Cancer Centers at UPMC Horizon and Grove City Medical Center will have “A Celebration of Life,” the hospitals’ annual National Cancer Survivors’ Day Celebration, on Sept. 17 at St. Michael Church, 80 North High St., Greenville. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a light supper, which will be followed by a concert given by David Bailey, singer/songwriter and 12-year cancer survivor, at 7 p.m. A cookie reception will follow the concert.

Survivors may bring one guest to supper. Reservations are required by Friday. Call (724) 589-6220 or toll-free (888) 447-1122 ext. 6220. Bailey’s concert is open to the public and additional guests may attend.

Saving time, lives

COLUMBUS – As part of a regional quality collaborative, 35 Northeast Ohio hospitals are working together to decrease the time it takes to get heart attack patients from the emergency room to a cardiologist for angioplasty – a medical procedure in which a balloon opens a blockage in a coronary (heart) artery to restore blood flow to the heart.

The national standard “door-to-balloon” time established by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association is 90 minutes. The Northeast Ohio Quality Collaborative is beginning work to reduce Northeast Ohio hospitals’ current average “door-to-balloon” time of 110 minutes to below the 90 minute-national standard.

The Northeast Ohio Quality Collaborative is also working to reduce the number of heart failure patients who are readmitted to the hospital after a hospital stay.

Sickle cell programs

AKRON — The 5th Annual Mychal Clayton Sickle Cell Awareness Walk is at 10 a.m. Sept. 20 at the Pioneer Shelter at Goodyear Metro Park, 550 Frazier Ave. Sponsored by the Region VI Sickle Cell Program at Akron Children’s Hospital, this event was created to spread awareness of this debilitating disease, as well as raise funds to support the program.

Named in honor of Akron Children’s patient Mychal Clayton, the walk is held during National Sickle Cell Month. Registration, which begins at 8 a.m., is $15 and is available the day of the event.

Anyone wanting to participate or donate funds, or who wants additional information, call Latonya L. Lewis at (330) 543-3521 or Toka Clayton at (330) 283-5066.

Senior program slated

WARREN — St. Joseph Health Center’s Seniors Program, sponsored by the hospital’s volunteer department, is 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the second-floor classrooms. The program offers information and fun for those 55 years and older.

Douglas Emery of the Emery Agency will discuss annuities, CDs, stocks, bonds, bank notes and other investment options. The cost of the program is $4, and includes dinner and door prizes. To make a reservation, call (330) 841-4375 or (330) 841-4376.

CPR courses offered

YOUNGSTOWN — CPR/AED (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator) and first aid courses are scheduled for Wednesday Sept. 10 at the National Safety Council, Ohio One Building, second floor auditorium. The fee for each course is $32. Call by Sept.00 includes 2 year certificate. To register, call (330) 747-8657.