FOCUS FALL 2015
IT BEGINS WITH US... DEAR FRIENDS,
Todd Buch
As the colors of the Bucks County landscape turn crimson and gold, St. Mary turned a shade of pink. October was breast cancer awareness month and several local groups and businesses raised money for the St. Mary Breast Cancer Center. In the following pages you will read about these grassroots efforts in our community to support the comprehensive and integrated care women in our area need.
You will also read about a family's commitment to our youngest patients and our colleagues who every year donate to St. Mary Medical Center through the Colleague Giving Campaign. A special article highlights the impact our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit provides for the babies who desperately need this special facility, their families and in particular the highly trained staff that care for all of them.
We are pleased to share a pictorial tribute to Greg Wozniak, our former President and CEO. Greg for 16 years guided our efforts towards excellence and growth. His professional expertise as well as his friendship will be missed. We wish Greg only success and happiness in his future endeavors.
Finally I want to take the time to thank each of you for your support, commitment and interest in helping St. Mary Medical Center continue to be the leader in healthcare in our community. We could not accomplish so much without the generosity of a dedicated and caring group of people. Best wishes for the New Year.
Todd Buch, Foundation Board Chair
Suzanne & Tim Foster
Donors
CARING FOR THE
AT-RISK INFANT
Tiniest patients receive the most specialized treatment
“I
By Margo Aramian Ragan
s my baby okay?� That is a question every mother asks in the delivery room. When the answer is no, a happy experience turns to dread. Then comes the rush of questions; does St. Mary Medical Center have the specialized technology to care for my baby? Is the staff trained for infant care? How will I be able to care for my infant? Is there help for me and my family? Fortunately for those parents, the answers to those questions are yes, yes, yes, and yes. St. Mary Medical Center is fully prepared to care for those at-risk infants, especially now with its newly expanded neonatal unit.
continued on page 10
FOCUS FALL 2015
A quarterly publication for donors and friends of St. Mary Medical Center
To receive an electronic version by email, register at: StMaryFoundation.org/focus FOUNDATION STAFF
Mark Erhard, Interim Vice President Foundation Director of Planned Giving 215.710.2719 • merhard@stmaryhealthcare.org Mary Jo Howell, Database Coordinator 215.710.2613 • mhowell@stmaryhealthcare.org Lisa Juris, Event & Communications Coordinator 215.710.2644 • ljuris@stmaryhealthcare.org Joann Kunigonis, Administrative Assistant 215.710.6117 • jkunigonis@stmaryhealthcare.org Kathryn O'Connor, Manager of Annual Giving FOCUS Editor 215.710.5894 • koconnor@stmaryhealthcare.org Karen O’Donnell, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations 215.710.5791 • kodonnell@stmaryhealthcare.org Heather Procaccino, Director of Development and Major Gifts 215.710.2243 • hprocaccino@stmaryhealthcare.org Mary Romspert, Manager of Foundation Operations 215.710.2440 • mromspert@stmaryhealthcare.org Margie Zimmerman, Foundation Board Affairs Coordinator 215.710.2054 • mzimmerman@stmaryhealthcare.org
COLLEAGUE GIVING CAMPAIGN
EVERYDAY HEROES
E
Colleagues demonstrate super giving skills very day, colleagues at St. Mary accomplish great things. But from September 9th through October 16th many answered the call to do something super — with a pledge to the annual Colleague Giving Campaign.
The Campaign committee, made up of colleagues from various departments throughout St. Mary, met over the summer to plan the six-week campaign. This year's theme, “Be A Hero” was chosen to highlight that every colleague's contribution is significant regardless of its size. Just as the care provided to our patients is a team effort, so is ensuring that our facilities, programs, and
equipment remain on the cutting edge of healthcare. Together the contributions made by our colleagues add up to make great things happen at St. Mary! With a combination of one-time donations and bi-weekly payroll deduction pledges, 575 colleagues have raised nearly $120,000 that will be used to support the needs of the patients and families we serve. If you are a St. Mary colleague, it's not too late to Be a Hero! You can pledge your support online at www.stmaryfoundation.org/colleague or contact Kat O'Connor at 215.710.5894 koconnor@stmaryhealthcare.org.
S T. M A R Y H E A L T H A N N U A L S P R I N G G A L A
SAVE THE DATE Saturday, April 23, 2016 One Summit Square 1717 Langhorne-Newtown Road Suite 300 Langhorne, PA 19047
Please call the Foundation at 215.710.2591 if you wish to be removed from this mailing list. 2
6:00PM - 11:00PM
F E AT U R I N G :
DANNY AND THE JUNIORS
The Gymnasium at Bucks County Community College, Newtown PA Event Chairs Dr. Richard & Mindy Goldstein
For more information, please visit StMaryFoundation.org/hop or call 215.710.2644
NURSES LEAD THE WAY A
Leadership Education and Symposium 2015
program entitled, Nurse Leadership Education Day: Self-Care and Your Role as a Leader, was presented on October 14th for all nursing leaders at St Mary Medical Center. Our annual Nursing Symposium was presented on October 15th for nursing colleagues entitled, Cultivating Resilience for Mindful Nurses: Practicing Self-Care as Caregivers. The primary speaker for both programs was Kim Richards, a nationally known speaker on self-care and the author of a book on this topic for the American Nurses’ Association. Ms. Richards’ focus for the presentations was to discuss the relationship of personal self-care practice to personal values, how to influence others, and how acting locally can globally heal the healthcare system. She presented many examples of how to do this through developing a personal “self-care toolkit.” The presentations were very well received by all attendees and the evaluations included many positive comments from the participants. A few examples include:
“Kim Richards has GREAT IDEAS for self-care and I'm definitely MOTIVATED to take these back to my team and incorporate in my daily life.”
“Very MOTIVATING SPEAKER and the topics really IMPACTS todays work situations and life styles.”
“I felt I will be able to incorporate into my life and career the IMPORTANT ASPECTS of the lectures.”
We would definitely love to have the opportunity to work with Ms. Richards in the future to inspire and motivate St Mary Medical Center nurses.
Educational programs, such as this, are made possible through contributions made to the Spirit of Nursing Fund. This fund is one of several designation options for the annual Colleague Giving Campaign. Nearly $19,000 was pledged for 2016 to help St. Mary to continue providing educational opportunities for our nursing colleagues.
GOLF OUTING A winning angle 35TH ANNUAL
TPC Jasna Polana
of approach
M
onday, September 21, turned out to be a beautiful day for the 35th Annual St. Mary Medical Center Golf Outing at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton, NJ. The event was sold out with nearly 175 golfers signed up to play the morning and afternoon sessions. The event raised approximately $80,000 for the Labor & Delivery/NICU renovation project at St. Mary. Thank you to our Event Sponsor, Margiotti & Kroll Pediatrics, P.C., Grand Sponsors, Dumack Engineering and TeamHealth East, and our Lead Sponsors, Assured Guaranty Corp., The Brickman Group, Ltd, CareKinesis, Inc., McBrick Building Group, Park Avenue Charitable Fund, Silver Rock Risk Solutions, Turner Construction Company and White-Harris. For a full list of sponsors who helped make this event a success, please visit our website at www.stmaryfoundation.org/2015-golf-sponsors Be sure to look for details on the 36th annual outing in future editions of this newsletter.
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PINK
IS EVERYWHERE
Sandwich Club support
ORDER UP
A sandwich and a side of thanks
GREEN PARROT GOES PINK
Paint & Sip
Painting to handbags all in support of breast cancer
For the entire month of October, the Green Parrot Restaurant, Pub & Patio in Newtown went pink! The temporary color change took place to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer initiatives. A portion of proceeds from month-long specials and three fun-filled events was donated to breast cancer programs at St. Mary.
The first event, held on October 5th, welcomed 40 guests for a "paint & sip" on the enclosed patio. Guided by artists from A Taste of Artistry, guests painted their own versions of a fall landscape while enjoying happy hour food and beverages with friends. In addition to the food and drink specials offered during this event, a special pink parrot pin was sold that entitled the wearer to a 20% discount every time it was worn to the restaurant for the remainder of the month.
The fun continued with the St. Mary Party at the Parrot. Food and drink specials were offered to all guests during happy hour on October 21st with 15% of each check donated to St. Mary. Wrapping up the month's activities was Designer Bag Bingo. Each registered guest had the opportunity to win beautiful designer handbags by playing bingo while enjoying food and drink specials throughout the event.
St. Mary received a total of $3,000 as a result of the Green Parrot's generosity. These funds will be used to help detect and treat breast cancer for women throughout Bucks County.
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When she was 37 years old, Daniela came to the St. Mary Breast Center for what she thought would be a routine mammogram. Instead of leaving with the usual one-year return appointment, she was left with devastating news. She was among the 1 in 8 women diagnosed with breast cancer that year.
The team in the Breast Center wasted no time in developing a plan for treatment to give Daniela the best chance at beating the disease. The staff was amazingly kind and compassionate throughout her treatment. She was impressed at the attention she received and all of the effort that was made to ensure she was comfortable. A blanket to warm her and a massage to relax and help facilitate healing were among the extra touches that made her feel special. With Daniela's permission, the team even helped communicate her condition and prognosis with her employer, Sandwich Club Langhorne. Though it was a very difficult time, Daniela recalls her experience at St. Mary as positive. She credits nurturing support throughout every step of treatment with saving her life. This year she is celebrating three years cancer free and wanted to show her appreciation by giving back. On October 20th, Daniela and Sandwich Club partnered with St. Mary to support breast cancer initiatives through a 15% donation of their lunchtime profits — a total of $300!
Designer Bag Bingo
ALL MONTH LONG Support stays strong
Additional events were held throughout the month to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer programs. St. Mary hosted an educational and fun Ladies Night Out as well as an exciting and high-energy Zumbathon. Pink pinwheels were also sold and displayed in the St. Mary Healing Garden to honor survivors and remember those lost to this devastating disease. Additional thanks go out to Athleta in Princeton, NJ, the Grey Nun Academy, St. Maximilian Kolbe School, Morrisville Presbyterian Church and the Shankopotomus Golf League for designating St. Mary as the recipient of their breast cancer month fundraising efforts. Burning rubber, motorcycles pink their ride
LADIES & GENTLEMAN START YOUR ENGINES Pink Your Ride for MIA
Terry Bingert began riding a motorcycle five years ago and shortly after became the officer for the Ladies of Harley. Having lost her sister, Maria, to breast cancer in 2007,Terry wanted to do something to raise awareness and honor her sister's memory. Other motorcycle clubs held an annual Pink Your Ride event so in 2012 Terry, along with her sister, Jacky, started a Pink Your Ride for MIA (Motorcyclists Increasing Awareness). MIA connects local and regional motorcycle clubs including the Bucks County Harley Owners Group, or HOGs, sponsored by Brian's Harley Davidson. Mia was also their sister's nickname. Shopping for a good cause at Ladies Night Out
Their first two events were conducted to raise awareness. But in 2014, the sisters decided to add a fundraising aspect.They combined their collected contributions to the money raised through Brian's Harley Davidson's motorcycle sales donations for the month of October. After the event,Terry wrote an article that was published in the international HOG Magazine that caught the attention of a motorcycle club in New Mexico. They were interested in conducting a similar event. And so began the challenge of making Pink Your Ride for MIA a national event! This year, on October 17th, 192 bikers participated — riding their motorcycles decorated in every shade of pink — to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer treatment. Sixty of the participants did so in New Mexico with their club, the Turquoise Trails, to benefit their local community. The Bucks County participation was more than double last year's event and raised $1,600 that was added to the $5,000 from Brian's and donated to the St. Mary Breast Center. The rides included a moment of silence for those who lost their battles with the disease, especially Terry’s sister and best friend, as well as a celebration of survivors. Grassroots efforts like this and the others you read about in our newsletter are the reason so many medical advancements have occurred in the identification and treatment of breast cancer. The money raised saves lives. Thank you to everyone in our community who participated this year in one of the locally sponsored events. The new 3D Mammogram at St. Mary was purchased in part through philanthropic donations. Your generosity has directly impacted the life of a local mother, sister, aunt or grandmother and her family.
Pink pinwheels were available for purchase and then placed in the St. Mary Healing Garden to honor survivors and remember those lost
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ANGELS A few of the MS1D angels who cared for Patricia Siegle
GUARDIAN
T
he Guardian Angel program is a way for patients, families, and friends to recognize exemplary service from one or more St. Mary physician or colleague by making a financial contribution in their name. Being recognized as a Guardian Angel is a very special honor for our caregivers, whether it comes directly from a patient they cared for, a patient’s family, or a fellow colleague.
From 2012 until this past September, Patricia Siegle was a frequent patient at St. Mary Medical Center, battling a complicated cancer diagnosis. Throughout her difficult journey there were many St. Mary colleagues that touched her life; including her daughter-in-law, Julie Cannan-Siegle. Julie and her husband, Fred, were so moved by the caring and love that was shown to Patricia and the family during every visit and stay over the past three years and wanted a way to show them how much they were appreciated.
In a letter to the Foundation, Julie wrote of the many individuals who cared for her mother-in-law: “I do not know how to thank them for what they did except to ask that they receive Guardian Angel pins and recognition for all the love they gave to her every day and throughout her fight to live.” The following colleagues and physicians have been honored as Guardian Angels for their roles in caring for Patricia Siegle from her diagnosis until her very last day:
Yoldine Allen, Mary Banar, Nicole Bracey, Nina Brunner, Sue Carpenter, Anna Marie Coogan, Lisa Crossland, Justin Derry, Solange Dophin, Patrice Feldman, Cheryl Gee, Kathy Hitchen, Dr. Mark Igoe, Bonnie Koons, Colleen Krumpe, Dr. Daniel Lebovic, Leah Lynch, Debbie Markle, Jill Matz, Kathy McCormick, Sheila McCoy-Miller, Jodie McCutheon, Ashley McNally, Sister Marie Barbara McNamara, Mary Oladeji, Dr. Alexander Ostrovsky, Carmen Pagan, Megan Parker, Fr. George Pereira, Fr. Raju Pilla, Dr. Robert Reilly, Dave Robertson, Mary Anne Rohrbaugh, Elaine Seebaran, Margaret Sleppy, Kristen Smith, Judy Stevens, Henry Trumbo, Jean Vitale, Christa Wachendorfer, Dr. David Warshal, Diane Waugh, Ashley Wright, Amy Young,Vicki Zaino, and Betty Zogorsky.
“From the entire Siegle family, we thank them ALL from the bottom of our hearts for watching over our loving mother, hero, teacher and friend in a way that no one else could have.”
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If a St. Mary colleague or physician has touched your life or that of a loved one, please contact Kat O'Connor at 215.710.5894 or koconnor@stmaryhealthcare.org to recognize them as your Guardian Angel.
The 1973 Society was formed to honor and engage those
working to support the mission and vision of St. Mary Medical Center. Named for the year the hospital was founded, the 1973 Society is made up of donors who demonstrate their dedication to healing, hope, charity and community — the four pillars of the Society — with total financial contributions between $1,000 and $2,500 each year.
In addition to the satisfaction that comes with helping to ensure compassionate, quality healthcare is available for everyone in our community, membership also ensures inclusion in exclusive St. Mary events.
contribution In 1995, my husband and I made our first annual introduction to support St. Mary Medical Center. However, my real g into our new occurred several years later, when right before movin for emergency home, I broke my leg and was brought to St. Mary d me were so medical attention. The doctors and nurses who treate kind and professional. in such contrast The compassionate care I received at St. Mary stood time for me from my experiences at other facilities. When it came hospital; to have my knee replaced, I did not consider any other same. I chose St. Mary. My husband's preference was the I recovered Cardiologists at St. Mary installed his pacemaker. While ess Center, from my knee replacement with the help of the Welln so happy with he attended cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. I am with those the excellent care we received and am even happier who delivered it. nted an An invitation to join the 1973 Society arrived and prese perspective opportunity to support St. Mary and gain a different Attending tours than that of a patient. It was accepted immediately. the years has and special events with medical professionals over goes on here; given a behind-the-scenes look at everything that and it is impressive! as the addition The physical growth of the St. Mary campus as well thing I am proud of services and technology over the years is some is important to to be part of through my financial contributions. It . me to have such high quality care so close to home
- Idelia (Deedee) Tibolla
If you are interested in joining Deedee as a member of the 1973 Society, please contact Kat O'Connor at 215-710-5894 or koconnor@stmaryhealthcare.org
AMBASSADOR
CIRCLE
STAYING
ON THE CUTTING O
EDGE
Ambassador Circle looks into the future of medicine
n October 9th, the Northampton Valley Country Club once again welcomed the St. Mary Foundation’s Ambassador Circle for a breakfast meeting and informative presentation. The topic for this gathering, technology in healthcare, was expertly addressed by Baber Ghauri, MD, MBA, FHM, FACP, Chief Medical Information Officer at St. Mary Medical Center. After introducing himself to the audience, Dr. Ghauri spoke the question he was sure everyone was thinking: What does a CMIO do?
Using a few short video clips, Dr. Ghauri showed some interesting and exciting new technology that is on the horizon. He explained that his role at St. Mary is to look at these new technologies and systems, as well as those already in place at St. Mary, to ensure that the medical staff are using the most efficient and effective tools to deliver care. He works with leadership and other staff to transition smoothly when new systems and tools are adopted and closely analyzes data to make sure they are correctly implemented.
As staff and patients alike may already know, there is a lot of technology in use at St. Mary. Approximately 110 systems each with a different function are regularly used in daily operations at the hospital and off campus locations. Five times this number are used across all the facilities in the Trinity Health system. This large number of unique systems is why the CMIO is an important part of hospital operations; not all of the systems “talk” to each other. The person in this role must be aware of this communications challenge and be prepared to overcome it without complicating or compromising the delivery of care. To ensure this,
Dr. Ghauri showed some INTERESTING AND EXCITING NEW TECHNOLOGY that is ON THE HORIZON.
Dr. Ghauri facilitates monthly “Tech Rounds” at St. Mary; a program that discusses current and future technologies and their use at St. Mary. This is a forum where issues can be clarified as well as one where new ideas can be generated. There is a lot of innovation at St. Mary in addition to the incredible amount of technology.
One such innovation seeks to improve effective communication across the hospital campus and minimize unnecessary noise. Dr. Ghauri shared that the overhead paging system at St. Mary is used an average of three times every ten minutes to alert a physician or other clinical staff member that their attention is needed. While this is an important feature, the frequent interruption can be extremely disruptive to a patient's ability to relax or sleep while in the hospital. A system that will significantly reduce these overhead interruptions is in the early stages of implementation at St. Mary. Instead of a call broadcast to the entire hospital seeking a specific physician or staff member, the Page Me system will directly reach that individual using their preferred method of contact whether that is a cell phone or office line. This system will also decrease the delay in care by increasing the speed in which the needed professional is reached. Another innovative solution presently in use at St. Mary is called “Endotool” and is used for patients requiring insulin. This new tool replaces a complicated “one-size fits all” paper form that was used to determine the amount of insulin a patient needed. Using a patient’s current blood sugar level, Endotool quickly determines the necessary level of insulin, significantly
reducing potentially dangerous mismatches and streamlining the process for caregivers.
Finally, Dr. Ghauri discussed medical simulation and its effectiveness in training current and future healthcare professionals. In simulation settings utilizing technologically-sophisticated mannequins programmed to manifest any variety of illnesses, injuries, and symptoms, physicians and nurses retain double the amount of information that they do in a classroom using only books. Simulation is also able to give medical professionals hands-on experience with rare illnesses they wouldn't normally encounter. The ever-increasing amount of technology being developed clearly will have benefits for the healthcare provider as well as the patients they see.
Following Dr. Ghauri's presentation, Jeff Yarmel, Executive Vice President and COO gave a brief update on the various construction projects at St. Mary. Following completion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit earlier this summer, construction began to update the Labor and Delivery Unit one room at a time and this project is ongoing. Patient satisfaction in the NICU has already seen an increase since its opening. Perhaps the most noticeable renovation is taking place in the hospital lobby. The $3.2million project, 10 years in the making, is nearly complete. Offering a more welcoming view and comfortable waiting areas, the newly updated space will be officially unveiled and blessed in late Fall. Jeff also updated the group on some projects that are on the horizon for St. Mary including: renovation of the bathroom facilities in the outpatient building and the central sterile supply — the area where all surgical implements are sterilized and prepared for use. More information on these and other projects will follow in future editions of this newsletter.
7
THE DRIVE FOR
EXCELLENCE
GREG WOZNIAK
“Some men SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE and say WHY – I DREAM THINGS THAT NEVER WERE and say WHY NOT.” – GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
THANK YOU for making YOUR DREAMS, OUR REALITY. The St. Mary Foundation would like to thank Greg Wozniak for his dedication,
vision, and unwavering drive for excellence. During his 16 years of service at St. Mary he helped to raise $52M for the hospital. Greg participated in three Capital Campaigns, endless cultivation events, tours and educational meetings. Greg's tireless effort to educate and engage our community in advancing the mission at St. Mary will be missed. We would like to celebrate his tenure by looking back on the advanced technology, expanded services and exceptional care St. Mary ushered in under his watch.
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9
CARING FOR THE Richard & Kimberly McFillan with baby Maggie warmed by a Catherine Saxman blanket
For more than twenty-five years, St. Mary Medical Center has been addressing the needs of its tiniest patients who require specialized treatment. The neonatal unit serves newborns who have congenital conditions, are preterm, or are critically ill. The unit is staffed by expert nurses such as Sue Hawkins and Andrea Bernardo, who have a combined number of 54 years of nursing experience between them. But the space was outdated and small. More space was needed to provide privacy for families. In October of 2014 construction began on an expanded and renovated six bay unit. In May of 2015 the newly expanded NICU, with state of the art technology in a sophisticated facility opened for business.
Three months later, an exciting announcement was made — a partnership with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Now CHOP neonatologists and pediatricians
AT-RISK INFANT continued...
for a premature infant or a child requiring specialized treatments,” she said. “The family room makes available the total support and expertise of the nursing staff. The moms may have to be reeducated on proper breast feeding techniques. It also gives us an opportunity to assess mom, is she interacting comfortably with the baby, and does she need additional support?”
Sue Hawkins has been an RN in the Labor Room since 1986. “I have never worked anywhere else, nor have I wanted to leave because I love what I do here,” Sue said. “I've met so many couples at this very special time in their lives, and I believe our team has helped them. Besides, I have had the pleasure of seeing all eight grandchildren being born here at St. Mary.”
Now CHOP neonatologists and pediatricians are AVAILABLE ON A 24/7 BASIS, along with SMMC's team of medical professionals, to provide the HIGHEST QUALITY CARE FOR THE MOST FRAGILE of SMMC's patient population.
are available on a 24/7 basis, along with SMMC’s team of medical professionals, to provide the highest quality care for the most fragile of SMMC's patient population.
This is a win-win partnership for everyone involved, CHOP, SMMC, and most importantly, for the infants who need specialized care, and their parents who love them. The new NICU is the platform which is making all good things happen.
Marie Schickler is the Nursing Director whose area of expertise is neonatal care. “For approximately two years I surveyed local hospitals in the area,” Marie said. “I visited CHOP, Christiana and Princeton Hospitals, and that exposure broadened my understanding of what we could hope to achieve with our NICU.” One aspect of the new NICU is the family room. According to Marie, this room is essential in helping the family transition from hospital care to home care for the infant. “Even if mom is already a parent, she may not have experience with caring
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“Our patients now have private lactation rooms, private bays, a separate sleeping room, — all important components for helping parents and families bond with their children," she said. “Previously, babies would have been separated from their moms for several hours or more, which to a new and anxious mom, would seem like an eternity.”
Andrea Bernardo echoes Sue’s observations. Andrea has been a nurse at SMMC for approximately 25 years. “It is so important for the family unit to now have this family focused space. When mom can spend more time with her baby, that helps to build up her confidence,” Andrea said. “When you are caring for a NICU baby, you are really caring for the whole family. Siblings previously were not allowed to visit, but now siblings three years or older are welcomed into the unit, as well as extended family, such as aunts and uncles.”
Andrea is proud to be in a profession that takes care of a baby with complex needs and to be working in a facility that addresses those needs. “We have state of the art equipment, a highly skilled team of doctors and nurses, and training to keep abreast of the latest advances in medicine,” she said. “When it is time for mom and baby to leave the hospital, I carry the baby out to the car because I see that as completing my role. Now the baby is healthy enough to go home with its family, and I have to admit that there are tears of joy from all of us,” she said.
No article about the NICU would be complete without including the focus of the unit, babies and their mothers who have been patients. Kimberly McFillin gave birth to Richard in April 2014 when he was just at 35 weeks. Richard experienced breathing difficulties and had trouble learning to feed so he was placed immediately in what was the old NICU.
“I was so upset,” Kimberly remembers. “Seeing your baby with all kinds of tubes in his body, not being able to hold him or touch him the way you instinctively want to do, was very difficult. My son John who was five at the time was not allowed to see his new brother. He could only stand outside the windowed area to peek in on Richard.”
“We have STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT, a HIGHLY SKILLED TEAM of doctors and nurses, and TRAINING to keep abreast of the LATEST ADVANCES IN MEDICINE.”
The staff helped Kimberly and her husband Richard at the outset. “They became our second family,” Kimberly said. “The doctors and nurses comforted us, answered our questions, and helped us cope with this very emotional time.”
In July of 2015 Magdalene made her entrance into the world at 31 weeks, weighing only four pounds, one ounce. “With her birth, we were patients in the new NICU, and the biggest difference I noticed immediately was that we had privacy,” Kimberly said. “Each baby had her own room, and I could breast feed comfortably.”
The McFillins with son John would visit their baby daily, but this time John was allowed to come into the room. Other family members came to call also. “I cannot emphasize enough what a difference this change of policy made for us,” Kimberly said. “The entire family could bond with the baby.”
When the time came to take Magdalene home, Kimberly remembers her tears. “I was happy to be taking our baby home so there were tears of joy,” she said, “but I was sad to be leaving this nursing staff. There are not enough words to express our gratitude to the hospital, the new NICU for the compassion and care given to us from doctors and loving staff.”
LOVE
STITCHES OF
Some babies require more complex care than what may be available at SMMC. “That is when our partnership with CHOP comes into play,” Andrea said. “That affiliation extends our medical care.”
F
Catherine Saxman
Blankets warm babies and hearts
or 70 years, Catherine Saxman crocheted blankets for family and friends. Taught by her grandmother, Catherine kept her mind and her hands busy creating works of art out of colorful yarn. For the past 5 years Catherine shared her gift with the families of St. Mary's littlest patients; newborn babies. Making an average of 75 blankets per year required dedication and a lot of time, so she made them year round. While at home in Langhorne or in Florida for the winter Catherine never stopped. “The crocheting keeps my hands from getting arthritic and doing word puzzles keeps my mind sharp.” Each blanket takes about two
There is a lot of LOVE AND HOPE crocheted into EACH BLANKET.
weeks to knit and she personally delivers them to the hospital twice a year. This past summer Catherine had the added pleasure of meeting one of the recipients of the blanket personally. There is a lot of love and hope crocheted into each blanket. Catherine’s gift will be treasured by multiple families in Bucks County that she never met but whose lives she has touched in a profound and beautiful way. Making a blanket to swaddle newborn babies is like giving the gift of a warm hug; priceless. The families of St. Mary who received the crocheted blankets are blessed.
Sadly, after this interview was conducted Catherine died at 97 years of age on Tuesday October 6th peaceful at home with her daughter holding her hand. The twelve blankets she had completed will be given to her grandchildren for their children. Catherine’s daughter, Eleanor, will keep her tradition alive by continuing to make blankets for babies born at St. Mary.
The St. Mary Foundation continues to raise funds for this very special area. Marie Schickler said, “We value the partnership between the community, the foundation and our staff. Donors can come into our unit and see their investment at work. Plus they can see the next phase of construction going on in the Labor & Delivery Unit while we continue to grow and address the needs of our youngest patients.” 11
PORTRAITS IN
PHILANTHROPY
FOSTERING A
COMMUNITY LEGACY
Suzanne and Tim Foster
A parallel mission for improving lives – forges a partnership
A
firsthand experience with the skilled, compassionate care at St. Mary is often a life-changing experience; but one doesn't always need to be a patient themself to have this experience.
In the Spring of this year, Tim and Suzanne Foster came to St. Mary for a tour of the facility and to discuss how they could help further the mission and vision with a gift to the St. Mary Foundation.
The Fosters are local business owners and residents of Yardley Borough. Since 1982, their retail jewelry designing and manufacturing business, T. Foster & Co. Fine Jewelers, has been here as well. Together, they have always had a
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drive to improve and support the charming Borough they call home. Encouraging a vibrant downtown core has been a lifelong mission helping to establish the Buttonwood Park, historic streetlamps and many town improvement projects that have helped the historic town become more inviting to residents and visitors alike. Tim and Suzanne have one young son, William, who shares his parents’ sense of giving and has participated in his own projects to support his favorite charity; the Friends of the Delaware Canal.
Supporting many charities and special events over the years has always been a part of the Fosters' vision of giving back. St. Mary became part of that group recently with the realization that the outstanding services
SUPPORTING MANY CHARITIES and SPECIAL EVENTS over the years has always BEEN A PART of the Fosters' VISION OF GIVING BACK.
of the medical center have enhanced the lives of many and made the community a better place in which to live. “We believe in excellence when designing and creating a precious object of fine jewelry just as we believe in organizations, businesses and entities that excel in what they do. We see this in our local resource of St. Mary Medical Center,” they said.
Tim’s personal experience with St. Mary came during his mother Elsie Foster’s long years of care. She lived to be 94 years old and throughout her later years, Tim recalled, there were many times that the wonderful team of doctors and nurses here pulled her through and sent her home with a new start. Elsie was also a participant in the St. Mary LIFE program which helped her thrive and live independently in her own home. He recalled her saying “growing old is not for sissies,” and she managed it with a constant smile on her face, put there by the care and attention of her St. Mary team.
The Fosters were introduced to the Foundation through two generous and supporting members of the Board, Charlie Minter and Peter Sargent. “Once we had the chance to visit the Foundation and understand all that it worked for, we knew that it was a worthy cause to support. Healthcare touches all of our lives and it is a wonderful secure feeling that we have a local resource that meets and exceeds the needs of our family and loved ones,” Tim said, “We hope to continue our level of support for years to come.” We thank the Fosters for their generosity this year and look forward to a continued partnership as we draw closer to a new year full of new opportunities to serve the healthcare needs of our entire community.
Mark Erhard, Interim Vice President, Howard Hopenwasser, DMD, and Todd Buch, Foundation Board Chair.
“We must find time to STOP AND THANK THE PEOPLE who make a DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES.” – JOHN F. KENNEDY Special thanks to the following Foundation Board
Members for their outstanding years of service as their terms on the St. Mary Medical Center Foundation Board come to an end:
GREG HAYES HOWARD HOPENWASSER, DMD, Vice Chair TOM MCGRATH CHARLIE MINTER CHARLENE SCHWARTZ We appreciate all you have done to help further the mission and vision of St. Mary. Additional thanks go to Howard and Charlene for agreeing to continue lending their experience and expertise as Board Advisors.
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THE KITCHEN AND
OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE COMMUNITY LEAGUE
On September 29, 2015, the Community League ventured to New York City, stopping to have lunch at the Boathouse Restaurant, overlooking the boat-filled 20-acre Central Park Lake. Afterwards, travelers made a visit to The Frick Collection, a popular New York City museum featuring European art and sculptures. Originally the home of Henry Clay Frick, the building had covered an entire city block right across from Central Park. A truly wonderful aspect of the Community League is its many excursions, which are meant to spread goodwill and are open to everyone. These trips are a great way to explore the bountiful communities in the region and the incredible amenities available.
GARDEN TOUR HIGHLIGHTS BEAUTIFUL BUCKS COUNTY
The 14th annual Kitchen and Garden Tour was a continued success this year, as guests toured five homes in the Upper Makefield and Solebury areas. The guests enjoyed light lunch and tea at the Inn at Lambertville Station. We would like to thank the homeowners, sponsors, volunteers, and guests for making the Kitchen and Garden tour a delightful afternoon for all of those involved!
There’s An Artist Inside Each of Us!
The Community League’s Out & About group hosted a painting party at The Artist’s Cellar in Yardley on October 27. A professional instructor took participants from blank canvas to “true” works of art! Everyone enjoyed many laughs and yummy treats, finding their hidden artistic talents, and the opportunity to take a colorful treasure home with them. Several people requested that the activity be repeated in the future.
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HONOR AND REMEMBER LOVED ONES WITH LIGHTS OF LOVE
It’s time for Holiday Lights of Love, the St. Mary tradition of honoring family, friends, physicians, and colleagues by placing lights in their names on the holiday tree in our beautiful, newly renovated lobby. For a $5 contribution, the person or family honored will also receive a holiday card acknowledging your kind gesture. It’s wonderful to be a part of a tradition that highlights this joyous season of love, thankfulness and generosity.
Contact Irene Slaman in the Beehive Gift Shop for more information.
SAVE THE DATE!
Spring Into Fashion Will be April 7, 2016
The Community League of St. Mary welcomes spring with its third annual “Spring into Fashion” event, being held at Spring Mill Manor in Ivyland on Thursday, April 7, 2016. The night will start with cocktail hour at 5 p.m., while “Fabulous Finds from the St. Mary Thrift Shop” are casually modeled. During the cocktail hour, guests are encouraged to sign up to try and win a range of gift baskets. The formal fashion show and dinner will follow promptly at 6:30 in the ballroom. The fashion show will feature professional female models, and guests will see many familiar faces as male models will be St. Mary staff and colleagues. Tickets are $55 per person, and groups of 10 seated at the same table can purchase tickets for $50 a person.
‘TIS THE SEASON
BEEHIVE RINGS IN THE HOLIDAYS It’s the holiday season, a terrific time to shop!
The Beehive Gift Shop at St. Mary is fully stocked with plenty of holiday décor and fun for everyone. Stop by and pick something up for a friend, family member, or even for yourself. You’ll find holiday figures, festive nightlights, decorative twinkle lights, clothes, presents for babies, and so much more!
The Beehive is a great place to find unique gifts along with the wonderful cheer of the holidays. Also don’t forget to see us and SHOP online! Visit: CommunityLeague-StMary.org/store
For more information or questions, please contact 215.348.3890.
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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE
One Summit Square, Suite 300 1717 Langhorne-Newtown Rd. Langhorne, PA 19047
PAID
PERMIT #28 BELLMAWR, NJ
FALL 2015
FOCUS
StMaryFoundation.org
PLANNED GIVING:
LINE UP YOUR BOATS WHILE THE WATER IS CALM...
While you are planning ahead, consider making a significant impact on
our patients with a percentage of your estate. One of the easiest ways to support St. Mary Medical Center is to leave our foundation a percentage of your estate. It’s not only easy, but it also gives you choices.You can choose to dedicate a percentage of the entire estate. Or if you want to ensure that your donation will remain proportionate to your estate size, you can dedicate a percentage of the residual. Either way, you will have a positive impact on the care we provide to patients. Include a gift in your will or trust. By putting aside a percentage of the assets in your will or trust — from 1 to 100 percent — you can leave a legacy while making sure your family has the security they may need in the future. Name us as partial beneficiary of your retirement plan assets or life insurance. By dividing up your assets in percentages, you can benefit loved ones and St. Mary Medical Center. To make this type of gift, simply contact the administrator of your retirement account or insurance company for a changeof-beneficiary form today. Now Is the Time It’s never too early — or too late — to craft your legacy. Take control of how your assets will be distributed by meeting with your estate planning attorney today. We are here to help. If you have any questions about extending your impact into the future, please contact Mark Erhard at 215.710.2719 or merhard@stmaryhealthcare.org today.
Change your mind at any time. We realize that circumstances change
and your gift of a percentage of your estate may no longer be possible at some future date. Your family and friends come first, and that’s why naming us as a beneficiary in your will, trust, retirement plan assets or life insurance works for so many of our supporters — you can change your mind at any time.
For a no obligation, personal Charitable Gift Annuity calculation, or information on additional planned giving options, contact Mark Erhard, Director of Planned Giving by email at merhard@stmaryhealthcare.org or 215.710.2719