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E-Waste Recycling
Apr. 07, 2011 *
St. Joseph Medical Center's Green Team and EZPC Recycling are hosting E-Waste Recycling on Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16, from 8 am to noon in the lower level staff parking lot. Staff members will be on site to assist in lifting equipment.
Computers, monitors, printers, servers, networking equipment, cable, keyboards, mice, laptops, cell phones, docking stations, scanners, fax machines and DVD’s/VCR’s will be accepted.
**Free standing copiers, TV’s, and appliances will not be accepted.**
Please contact Doris Knorr at 610-378-2033 with any additional questions.
National Prescription Drug Take Back
Apr. 04, 2011 *
On Saturday, April 30, St. Joseph Medical Center, Bern Township Police Department and the DEA will sponsor a National Prescription Drug Take Back site.
The public is invited to bring any expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs to St. Joseph Medical Center’s Bern Campus on Saturday, April 30, from 10 am to 2 pm, for disposal.
This may include controlled non-controlled medication, or over-the-counter medications; no illicit substances will be accepted. Please remove all patient specific data from the labeling prior to arriving at St. Joe's. No sharps or syringes will be accepted
For additional information, please contact Christopher S. Walsh, PharmD, RPh, FISMP, Medication Safety Pharmacist, Director, PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program, St. Joseph Medical Center, at 610-378-2520, or Katie Kane, Pharmacy Medication Safety Intern, at ckane@mail.usp.edu.
Happy Doctor's Day
Mar. 30, 2011 *
Thank you for your hard work and your dedication to your patients. We appreciate everything you all do on a daily basis. On behalf of the staff, patients and families at St. Joseph Medical Center, thank you.
National Heart experts at St. Joseph Symposium
Mar. 23, 2011 *
Nation’s leading heart care experts to present at St. Joseph Symposium
There is a very good reason why some of the country’s leading university experts in heart care will be presenting at the Heart Institute at St. Joe’s this Saturday: To teach. And to learn.
Physicians from around the region are invited to our Fifth Annual Cardiovascular Symposium, this Saturday, March 26, featuring physician-to-physician clinical updates and presentations by leading physicians from the University of Connecticut, Columbia University, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute, the University of Maryland and the St. Joseph Medical Center Heart Institute.
Presenters are:
Gary V. Heller, MD, FACC; topic is Non-Invasive Detection of CAD and Emphasis on Cardiac PET
Martin B. Leon, MD, FACC; topic is Catheter-based Aortic Valve Replacement: Is the future here?
Gerald V. Naccarelli, MD, FACC; topic is Atrial Fibrillation: New Information on an Old Disease
Robert A. Vogel, MD, FACC; topic is Lipid Update: NCEP ATP IV
Mayank R. Modi, MD, FACC; topic is CHF: Update on Guidelines
Alec B. Platt, MD, MSCE; topic is Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease
The symposium is being hosted by Andrew R. Waxler, MD, FACC
The conference has a waiting list, but for more information, call 610-378-2176.
Downtown Campus to house educational program
Mar. 03, 2011 *
St. Joseph Downtown Campus to house Berks Technical Institute Program
Six Week Training Program to Begin in March
Berks Technical Institute at St. Joseph Medical Center - Langan Allied Health Academy, will provide a six-week training program for students interested in being a home health aide. Students who wish to continue their studies can transfer two credits from the program into the medical assisting program at BTI.
“We are ecstatic to partner with such a highly respected institution as St. Joseph’s Medical Center,” said Joe Reichard, BTI’s Campus President. “This is a great opportunity and the convenience of a downtown location is key for our students.”
Students who are interested in the home health aide program should contact Mr. Hector Torres at 484-651-1889.
Berks Technical Institute at St. Joseph’s Medical Center – Langan Allied Health Academy is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). ACCSC is a recognized accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education. Berks Technical Institute has been an integral part of the Pennsylvania community for the last twenty-eight years. Berks Technical offers a dedicated career services staff to help students determine the right career path and is fully engaged in job placement upon graduation.
About Berks Technical Institute
Berks Technical Institute is a reputable leader in private career education. Our core mission is to provide students with an education delivering real-life career skills and dedicated placement assistance to successfully start their new career. Berks Technical Institute offers Associate Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates in fields including: Business, Criminal Justice, Drafting Technology, Graphic Design, Healthcare, Paralegal and Network Engineering.
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Join us to celebrate Women and Hearts
Feb. 09, 2011 *
Free event to highlight ties between relationships, healthy hearts
Bell Tower Salon, Goddess Rock, Justin Bortz Jewelry and Sunshine Wellness Resource Center and St. Joseph Medical Center to collaborate on Heart Health Month event
February is Heart Month and five local businesses are teaming up to talk about heart health and how women’s relationships with each other can lead to a healthier heart.
Called Heart Connections, this free event will feature a Dance for Wellness along with risk assessments/screenings, educational information, the opportunity to talk with healthcare professionals, and hand paraffin treatments and reflexology.
It will be held at the Grace Fellowship Church, 622 Old Lancaster Pike, Shillington, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 19. Participants are welcome to come for the entire day or just a portion of the event. The event is open to girls and women 12-years and older. To sign up for the event, contact Joy Sweeney at St. Joseph at 610-378-2592 or email at joysweeney@catholichealth.net.
“So many people overlook the value of healthy relationships in combination with a good diet, exercise and stress management in maintaining heart health,” explains Bev Livezey, Vice President of Cardiovascular/Women’s and Children’s Services. “We are going to bring women together to share information and to celebrate their relationships and how they positively impact physical health.
Livezey explains that increased physical activity decreases risk factors for heart disease, stroke and diabetes and says the Heart Connections event is designed to “get women moving to music in a fun environment surrounded by family and friends.” Attendees will learn how to Dance for Wellness to the tunes of Salsa, Disco, Zumba, Goddess Rock, Will Power and Grace, and end with yoga.
“Dancing is a great way for women of all ages to get and stay in shape. Besides being fun, dancing has many positive health benefits; the top four being: increased flexibility, increased strength, endurance and an enhanced sense of well-being,” Livezey said. “Dancing is a social activity and studies show that strong social ties with friends contribute to self esteem and a positive outlook. All these factors relate to a healthier and happier heart.”
Women’s Heart Expert Dr. Andrew Waxler will host the event, which will include brief informal intermissions with short talks by Dr. Warqaa Majeed, a Neurologist, and other healthcare professionals.
All attendees who are 18 years and older also will be eligible for a drawing to win a signature necklace, specially designed for the event by Justin Bortz of Justin Bortz Jewelers of West Reading.
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Managing Diabetes
Jan. 12, 2011 *
“Managing Diabetes” classes, meet Wednesdays, February 9 to March 2, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, at St. Joseph Health Center at Shelbourne Square.
Registration is required by calling 610-378-2100.
For additional information, please contact Angela Serafin, RN, MSN, CDE at 610-208-4626.
Childbirth Preparation Classes
Jan. 12, 2011 *
St. Joseph Medical Center will offer a series of classes "Childbirth Preparation” Sundays, from January 16 to 23, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, at the Bern Campus.
The classes are open to the public. This series of classes taken during the 6th or 7th month are designed to educate parents about the physical and emotional aspects of the birthing process, including the role of the labor coach. There is a fee. For additional information, please contact Karen Sponagle at 610-378-2003. Registration is required, please call 610-378-2100.
Bridging the Gap Between Traditional Medicine and Holistic Health
Jan. 12, 2011 *
Strong and Smart: Living Well With Cancer dial-up seminar series
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Wednesday, January 26
1:00 pm
Free one-hour session
Register now! Call 800-278-7837
Join us from the comfort of your own home or office. Listen to our experts via phone and view their presentations on your computer. You’ll also have plenty of time to ask questions.
Bridging the Gap Between Traditional Medicine and Holistic Health will address:
- Wellness activities and their benefits
- Finding and evaluating wellness activities in your community
- Exploring your survivorship toolbox through the body, mind and spirit
Presenter:
Lynn Spencer
Oncology Program Manager
Dorcy Cancer Center at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center, Pueblo, CO
The Strong and Smart: Living Well With Cancer dial-up seminar series is presented by St. Joseph Medical Center. |
Orthopedic Surgeon Alan E. Cooper, MD, Joins SJMG
Jan. 14, 2012
Student Athlete? Weekend Warrior? Creaking Joints?
Board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon Alan E. Cooper, MD, has joined the St. Joseph Medical Group and specializes in caring for patients of all ages and who have a variety of orthopedic ailments. Sports injuries. Old sports injuries. Or just the pain from years of joint wear and tear. All are treated in Dr. Cooper's "technology progressive"
Dr. Cooper is a graduate of Hahnemann University School of Medicine and completed his Surgical Internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia. He finished his training with a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, and had been in practice in the Pottstown area previously, Choose from two convenient locations, make one simple phone call. Patients of Dr. Cooper can make appointments at either St. Joseph’s outpatient location in Shelbourne Square in Exeter Township or in the St. Joseph Medical Office Building on the hospital’s Bern Township campus.
Appointments can be made for either location by calling 610-378-2996
Patient Experience featured in Reading Eagle
Oct. 05, 2011
Shhhhhhhhhhh
Doctors, nurses and hospital administrators are working to keep their facilities quieter, making it easy for patients to sleep, rest or just relax.
Jason Brudereck
Reading Eagle
Monitors beep. Doors open and close. People talk in the hallway. A television in the next room drones on.
Yep. It can be difficult to sleep, rest or just relax in a hospital.
Fortunately, doctors, nurses and hospital administrators have noticed and have been working to make improvements in a national trend that has reached Berks County.
Since 2008, St. Joseph Medical Center in Bern Township has made efforts to reduce noise, including curtailing announcements over the hospital-wide public address system.
Averaging 33 pages per month (and only nine at night per month) over the last half-year, there are an eighth of the number of pages there used to be, said Patricia Kelly, communications and hospitality coordinator.
That average does not include a brief daily reflection at 8 a.m. and a few seconds of a lullaby when a baby is born, she said.
“We’ve gotten great feedback on that,” Kelly said of the lullaby announcement. “Everybody loves that. We look at it as a welcome for another angel entering the world.”
Reducing pages has resulted in an increased attentiveness to the remaining pages, said hospital spokesman Michael B. Jupina.
Those pages are typically priority events: Code Blue (cardiac arrest), Code Green (violent patient or visitor), CAT (critical assessment team for patients who just don’t look right, have had a dramatic change in vitals or are acting differently) and ERT (emergency response team, which could be for an employee or visitor who has fallen or had some sort of accident).
There are some days when there isn’t a single page.
“Hearing an overhead page often is startling to many of us because the pages have been so greatly reduced,” Jupina said.
Doctors and staff are usually instead notified via beepers, Kelly said.
“We don’t even have to call anymore,” she said.
The hospital’s design also cuts down on noise, Jupina said.
“The creation of individual nurses’ stations, which sit outside every four rooms, has dramatically reduced noise, especially on evenings and nights, because staff do not cluster around one big station like in many hospitals so, with fewer people in a specific area, it’s just quieter by design,” he said.
Research at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, has shown excessive noise leads to stressed workers and increased errors and can even interfere with healing and recovery, St. Joseph told employees when the initiative was introduced in 2008.
Staff was also told to be aware of other causes of noise, from talking to gurneys being wheeled, Kelly said.
Reading Hospital regularly has a Creek and Squeak Week, when employees are urged to notice and correct bothersome noises, said Cindy Legezdh, the hospital’s culture of excellence coordinator.
“We encourage anybody with a cart or a door that squeaks to make sure they get it oiled,” Legezdh said.
Noise rivals food as a top complaint among patients at many hospitals, and St. Joseph and Reading hospitals aren’t exceptions.
“Noise and food are two hot issues,” Legezdh said. “We know we have more to achieve on it.”
Employees are told to close patients’ doors when sensible and to keep large laundry and garbage carts out of hospital units, she said.
Patients are also supplied headphones for their televisions, which have channels to provide soothing music that can block noises from outside patients’ rooms, she said.
In addition, noise-reducing ceilings are being installed in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Reading Hospital also has eliminated overhead pages except in case of emergencies and relies instead on pagers and cellphones.
Hospital security is working on a way to hold nighttime fire drills, which are required to train staff, without using the audible fire alarm, she said.
The hospital also has ordered - but not yet received - a Yacker Tracker, which is a wall-mounted stoplight-like device that uses green, yellow and red lights to show staff what the noise level is, Legezdh said.
“We are going to try Yacker Trackers on one unit to see how well it works,” she said. “We’re always vigilant, always looking for ways to decrease our noise. We have patients who need their rest.”
Contact Jason Brudereck: 610-371-5044 or jbrudereck@readingeagle.com.
Cardiac Electrophysiology. Leading-Edge Technology
Feb. 21, 2011
ST. JOE’S IS AT THE FOREFRONT of diagnosing and treating cardiac arryhythmias-rhythm disorders of the heart. We use sophisticated 3D mapping displays superimposed on patient CT Scan images to locate the tip of an ablation catheter in the precise area within the heart to be treated. These technologies, combined with the knowledge and experience of our board-certified electrophysiologist, have enabled new, more effective arryhythmia treatment. The result: better outcomes for our patients.
3D mapping and advanced cardiac electrophysiology treatment options are not a "someday." They're here at St. Joe's today. It's innovation at work. And it's one more reason why St. Joseph Medical Center is one of the best hospitals that you'll find anywhere.
Whether it's life-saving emergency care, comprehensive cancer treatment, minimally invasive surgery options, kid-friendly pediatrics, compassionate women's health services or leading-edge heart care, you don't take chances withyour family’s health. There is a real difference in the quality of care at St. Joe's. And it matters. Insist on St. Joe’s. Because you deserve healthcare this good.
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Joint Commission Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
