?We believe our employees and volunteers are the heart and hands of our ministry,? Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA told Bishop Nelson Perez during his Feb. 21 visit to St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. Sister Judith Ann, who began her long career in health care as a pharmacy technician and then pharmacist at St. Vincent Charity, has served in leadership capacities both with the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and the Sisters of Charity Health System, which operates St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.
The bishop met with hospital leaders, including Dr. David Perse, president and CEO; Sister Miriam Erb, CSA, vice president of mission and ministry; Sister Judith Ann; Beverly Lozar, senior vice president/chief operating officer and chief nursing officer; Dr. Joseph Sopko, chief medical officer; and Dr. Audley Mackel, medical staff president.
He learned that St. Vincent opened in 1865, shortly after the end of the Civil War, and remains in the same location in Cleveland?s Central neighborhood. The hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2015 with a yearlong celebration that began in 2014.
The first bishop of Cleveland, Amadeus Rappe, requested that a small group of religious sisters travel from France to Cleveland in 1851 to establish a hospital. Their medical mission work took place primarily on the streets of Cleveland or in homes until the hospital opened. After some of the nuns returned to France, a new order, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, was formed. The order continues to operate the hospital under its Sisters of Charity Health System.
Dr. Perse told the bishop he was amazed at what the sisters accomplished within 50 years of their arrival from France, noting they had established a hospital, medical education program, a nursing school, homes for unwed mothers and more. ?It was just incredible,? he said.
Since its founding, the hospital has cared for patients regardless of race, creed or ability to pay, Sister Judith Ann said. That philosophy has created some financial challenges over the years, but Sister said St. Vincent remains dedicated to its mission.
Dr. Perse spoke about the Catholicity of the hospital and how that attracted him after a long career as a surgeon and leader at other area hospitals. Dr. Mackel, an orthopedic surgeon, said he appreciates the diversity of the medical staff.
Dr. Sopko, who also is a surgeon, echoed Dr. Perse?s and Dr. Mackel?s statements. ?Health care is a mission, a profession. We offer personalized care as if this is a big family. People stay,? he said, noting the long tenure of many hospital staff members. ?There is an environment where people know each other. You feel it; the patients feel it.?
One thing that sets St. Vincent apart is the way end-of-life issues, which can be difficult topics, are discussed, said both Dr. Sopko and Dr. Perse. ?We deal with end-of-life issues in a spiritual way,? Dr. Perse explained.
Bishop Perez also learned about Rosary Hall, the hospital?s renowned addiction medicine center of excellence. It was founded by Sister Mary Ignatia Gavin, CSA, in 1952 after her transfer from St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, where Alcoholics Anonymous was founded. The bishop met with staff and a few patients while touring Rosary Hall, which handles about 16 percent of Ohio?s inpatient treatment for opiate addiction. Lozar described the intensive program that includes inpatient treatment as well as continuing outpatient treatment and counseling. Last summer, St. Vincent began a groundbreaking partnership with Uber to provide free transportation to outpatients. Lozar said it has been extremely successful. Dr. Perse said funding sources are being sought to help continue the program.
?Treatment only works if you can get there,? Lozar said, adding attendance has been nearly perfect since the program began. ?The one person who missed an appointment overdosed,? she added.
Dr. Sopko talked about St. Vincent?s psychiatric emergency room, one of the few in the country, and how it has helped patients. Bishop Perez, who worked as a clinical psychologist for a time, asked several questions about the unit and its work.
He also got a peek at the Spine and Orthopedic Institute and learned about many of the other medical innovations the hospital has been involved in, including cardiovascular, bariatric surgery and joint replacement. The first open-heart surgery in the Midwest was performed at St. Vincent?s in 1956.
Sister Miriam discussed the hospital?s clinical pastoral education program that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
After touring the hospital, meeting with staff and a few patients, the bishop headed to the cafeteria for dinner with hospital employees and leadership.
