St. John Medical Center Celebrates 30th Anniversary With $100 Million ‘Gift’
Monday, January 31, 2011
St. John Medical Center (SJMC) in Westlake, Ohio, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2011. And what better way than with a $100-million gift from its owners — University Hospitals (UH) and Sisters of Charity Health System.
Photo: St. John West Shore Hospital has a new name — St. John Medical Center, a new logo, and a new 5-year strategic plan. © Gary Yasaki, Cleveland, courtesy of St. John Medical Center
In September, the former St. John West Shore Hospital announced a five-year, $100-million strategic plan to modernize and expand its facility. The plan includes a comprehensive assessment of the medical center and its environment, as well as strengthening of its vision and market share.
“In these times when the economy is sluggish, to have the advantage of this kind of capital to position the medical center for the future is remarkable,” says Cliff J. Coker, president of St. John Medical Center. “It is a unique opportunity to build upon our strengths to better serve our mission and meet community needs.”
As part of an agreement announced in 2009, both Sisters of Charity Health System and UH are making equal investments in the strategic expansion and growth of St. John Medical Center. UH serves as its operating manager, while Sisters of Charity Health System remains a 50 percent owner and serves as its religious sponsor. The 194-bed acute care hospital is a Catholic health care provider.
“This plan heralds in a new era for St. John Medical Center as it continues the legacy of Catholic health care,” says Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO, Sisters of Charity of Health System. “We remain committed to enhance the medical center’s already strong position on Cleveland’s West Side and continue to work with University Hospitals on taking the medical center to higher levels of success.”
The new plan will more closely align SJMC with University Hospitals’ centers of excellence and institutes, including its nationally ranked UH Case Medical Center, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, UH Ireland Cancer Center, and the UH Westlake Health Center.
“University Hospitals is responsible for the strategic planning and investment as approved by the board to ensure that the initiatives enhance the quality of services provided at St. John Medical Center,” says Thomas Zenty III, CEO of University Hospitals. “We join the Sisters of Charity Health System in supporting the vision to further strengthen the position of St. John Medical Center as the premier health care provider on Cleveland’s West Side.”
Nearly 600 physicians are on the medical staff of St. John Medical Center, which boasts approximately 1,300 employees and 300 volunteers. The medical center is also a teaching site for the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and serves 60 of its students, interns and residents.
Enhancing and Expanding Facilities
The $100-million strategic plan took almost two years to solidify. Input came from the leadership of the Sisters of Charity Health System and UH, SJMC board of directors, SJMC administration and staff, and 30 physicians affiliated with the medical center.
“Physicians were involved throughout the planning process, and we are very pleased with the strategic plan,” says Adnan Mourany, MD, president of the SJMC medical staff. “Now we’re planning the execution phase of the plan, and everyone is looking forward to the outcome moving forward.”
The plan includes a comprehensive five-year outline for updating and enlarging the facility, acquiring new technology, aligning physicians, growing service lines and volumes, enhancing quality and patient satisfaction, developing marketing and branding initiatives, and expanding community benefits.
A majority of the funds will be invested in facilities and infrastructure, providing needed modernization to the medical center that was built in 1981. This will include:
- Renovations to the front entrance, main lobby, outpatient entrance and common areas
- Expanded parking
- A phased-in renovation of all patient rooms
- Upgrades to surgery, including expanded pre- and post-surgery areas; 15-bed post anesthesia recovery unit (PACU); and four new large operating rooms to improve efficiencies, increase capacity, and provide larger rooms to accommodate equipment required for complex cases
- A new 12-bed Clinical Decision Unit
- An expanded imaging area to accommodate new technology and growth
- A new, non-invasive lab area for biometrics
- New and expanded space for endoscopy and
- Expanded space for a dedicated Breast Health Center, Neurological Institute and Urological Institute.
“The new surgery area will be expansive and serve many needs,” says Dr. Mourany, who specializes in otolaryngology. “Once completed, it will include 20,000 square feet of new space with operating rooms large enough to accommodate new surgical technologies, for example, for image-guided surgeries.”
Significant funds have been designated for imaging, as well as surgical, equipment. Plans include the unveiling of a new Interventional Radiology Suite in early 2011, a new CT scanner later in the year and a new MRI in the next three to four years.
Expanding Services
Plans are underway to establish a UH Ireland Cancer Center site at St. John Medical Center. Ireland Cancer Center is part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center which consistently ranks among the top 25 cancer centers in the nation.
“The demographics we see in the foreseeable future are really going to demand expanding our cancer services even to a greater extent than today,” says Coker. “So I know we are heading in the right direction with this addition.”
Cardiology, orthopedics, neuroscience, urology, geriatrics, pain management, and women and children’s services will also be expanded in response to these anticipated needs. Accordingly, funds have been allocated for the redesign of on-campus outpatient, as well as inpatient, space.
Proposals have also been made to expand service lines by growing the SJMC Primary Care Physician Network and increasing the number of specialty physicians on staff.
“We are very supportive of the independent practice of medicine and have wonderful relationships and partnerships with our doctors,” says Coker, who points out that 95% of the physicians on staff are independent practitioners. “There’s much concern among independent doctors about health care reform and what’s going to happen in the foreseeable future. Our intent is to continue to be supportive of them and to ensure that going forward.”
A New Era Begins
Coker reiterates that St. John Medical Center has a solid foundation on which to build. He is confident that the $100-million investment of University Hospitals and Sisters of Charity Health System will stabilize the hospital well into the future.
“The time is right for this investment to the medical center, and I am grateful to our partners and dedicated medical staff,” he says. “Ultimately, we intend to be the provider of choice in our service area by delivering the highest quality care and the best patient experience.”
For more information about St. John Medical Center, visit its website www.stjohnmedicalcenter.net.
St. John Medical Center
Photos © Gary Yasaki and Smithberger Photography
MD News January/February 2011, Cleveland/Akron/Canton