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healing
News from Mercy
Medical Center
your guide to
SPRING 2007
healthy living
SPRING 2007
hands
Hey, Sleepy
Head!
Adequate shuteye ensures
good health
PAGE 10
Better
Than Ever
Diabetes
treatments
continue to
improve
PAGE 12
Bye-Bye,
Blues
Don’t let embarrassment keep you from getting the
depression treatment you need page 6
HeartHeadlinesHlgHnds12_06.fh11 12/11/06 9:36 AM Page 1
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY CMY
K
* Mercy’s ECPC (Emergency
Chest Pain Center) has received
full Cycle II accreditation with
PCI (Percutaneous Coronary
Intervention) from the Review
Committee of the Society of
Chest Pain Centers.
IN 24/7 HEART ATTACK CARE
Newspapers across the nation have reported the benefits of angioplasty within 90 minutes of the onset of
a heart attack. Clearly, you need a hospital that can respond anytime, day or night. Mercy Medical Center is Ohio’s
first and Stark County’s only facility accredited* to perform angioplasties 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
This accreditation, coupled with the area’s only Emergency Department Cath Lab, means Mercy has the
capabilities necessary to dramatically reduce the time between your heart attack and a life-saving angioplasty.
Make it known now – you want Mercy Medical Center.
Mercy, The First Place To Think of For Your Heart.
The only Stark County
hospital ever named
among the Top 50 Best
Heart Hospitals by US
News & World Report.
Mercy Medical Center, a nonprofit corporation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine Health System and University Hospitals Health System.
Composite
[ perspectives ]
Put Your Mind to It
As we approach our Centennial
Celebration in 2008, Mercy Medical
Center is as committed today as
we were nearly 100 years ago to
continue the mission of Stark
County’s only Catholic hospital.
This means both quality and compassion are equally important in
the delivery of care available to
members of our community.
In this issue of Healing Hands,
you’ll learn more about Mercy’s
emphasis on quality. Our cover story,
“Dangerous Mind-set,” provides
insight about depression and how
it’s a disease of the brain that’s often
misunderstood and misdiagnosed.
Mercy recently renovated our behavioral sciences unit to better care for
individuals suffering from depression and other mental health disorders. You’ll also learn about recent
medical advancements in heart care.
Mercy Medical Center’s Emergency
Chest Pain Center is Ohio’s first and
Stark County’s only facility accredited to perform angioplasties 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. With the
area’s only emergency department
cath lab, Mercy has the capabilities
to dramatically reduce the time
between heart attack and lifesaving
angioplasty. This issue also features
stories about new treatment options
and testing available for people with
diabetes and sleep disorders.
Founded by the Sisters of Charity
of St. Augustine in 1908, Mercy understands the importance of not only the
quality of care, but the way in which
it is delivered. It’s a privilege to work
with physicians, employees and volunteers who pride themselves on providing care with compassion. On page 5,
you’ll learn more about the Mercy Care
Physician Team, a board-certified
group of hospital-employed general
practitioners and specialists. The
presence of women religious at Mercy
is just as important today as it was
when we were founded. On page 14,
learn more about how sisters from different communities continue to serve
our patients and hospital family.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
[ features ]

Mind-set
Don’t let guilt, shame and
misunderstanding affect
depression treatment.

You need it. The question
is how do you ensure
you’re getting enough?
Supporting Mercy’s Mission
healing
hands
President and CEO:
Thomas E. Cecconi
Vice President of Public
Relations and Marketing:
Lynne S. Dragomier
Contributing Editors:
Cindy L. Hickey,
Director of Public Relations
Jennifer D. Tenaglia,
Coordinator of Public Relations
Contributing
Photographers:
Michael Schott, Media Services
Cover Art:
PhotoAlto
Healing Hands ® is published four
times annually by McMurry, 1010 E.
Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014.
Volume 12, Number 2 © 2007
McMurry.
The material in Healing Hands is not
intended for diagnos­ing or prescribing.
Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment
or adopting any exercise program or
dietary guidelines.
For permission to reprint any portion
of this magazine, give us a new
address, let us know that you are
­receiving more than one copy or
if you would prefer not to receive
Healing Hands, call 888-626-8779.
10
Zzzzz Truth
about Sleep
Thomas E. Cecconi
President and CEO
Your donation can make a difference in the lives of patients we serve
and support our mission to deliver healthcare to all regardless of
their ability to pay. For more information, visit cantonmercy.com and
click on “About Us,” or call (330) 489-1111, ext. 2612.
6Dangerous

12
Explore Your
Options
Learn how technology
is helping people with
diabetes live better lives.
[departments ]
 Health Beat
4
 Mission in Action
14
S PR I N G 2 0 07 | [ health beat ]
What Happens in 90 Minutes
May Save Your Life
Ninety minutes. That’s hardly
enough time to watch a movie or
go out to dinner. But in emergency
heart care, this may be all the time
physicians have to save your life.
Studies show that angioplasty,
performed within 90 minutes
of arrival to the emergency
department, is the best way to
save the life of a patient experiencing a heart attack. In fact,
this procedure, which opens
blocked arteries and restores
blood flow to the heart muscle,
can reduce a patient’s risk of
dying by 40 percent, if performed
within 90 minutes.
In 2006, a study sponsored by
the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute revealed that only
one-third of heart attack patients
receive angioplasty within the 90minute guidelines. Data was based
on more than 37,000 people given
emergency treatment for heart
attacks at 463 American hospitals.
Mercy Medical Center’s
Emergency Chest Pain Center is
Ohio’s first and Stark County’s
only facility accredited to perform angioplasties 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. With the area’s
only emergency department cath
lab, Mercy has the capabilities
to dramatically reduce the time
between heart attack and lifesaving angioplasty.
For more information, call
Mercy’s Healthcare Connection at
(330) 489-1333 or 800-223-8662.
The Key to Overcoming Colon Cancer
Most colon and rectal cancers—about 95 percent—
Nabil M. Fahmy,
M.D.
begin as fleshy beads called polyps. “When
Ahmed, M.D., a medical oncologist and hematologist at Mercy Medical
polyps become cancerous, they can spread
Center. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found
through the first layer of the colon and to other
in men and women in the United States, according to the American
parts of the body,” says Nabil M. Fahmy, M.D.,
Cancer Society. Nearly 107,000 new cases of colon cancer and 42,000
FACG, FACP, section chief of gastroenterology at
new cases of rectal cancer are diagnosed each year.
Mercy Medical Center. “But if colorectal cancer is
over the past 15 years. “With more people understanding the impor-
cancers can be cured with surgery.”
tance of screenings and early detection, polyps can be found and
So, what are you waiting for?
that usually announces itself only after it has
Right now, colonoscopy is the gold standard when it comes
to examining the colon for dangerous polyps or cancer that has
Given its location in
the digestive tract and
the deeply personal
method of examination required to search for
it, most people would just as soon not think
| S PR I N G 2 0 07
removed before they turn into cancer,” Ahmed says.
the colon or rectum—is a “silent” disease, one
become firmly entrenched and very dangerous.
about it.
The good news is the death rate for colorectal cancer has declined
caught before it spreads, about half of all colon
Colorectal cancer—cancer that starts in either
Farouq Ahmed,
M.D.
But not thinking about colon cancer is dangerous, says Farouq
already developed. And recent studies
Study Up on Screenings
For more about colonoscopy and other colorectal
cancer screenings, visit cantonmercy.com and
click on Health Encyclopedia. For a physician
referral, call Mercy’s Healthcare Connection at
(330) 489-1333 or 800-223-8662.
prove that the benefits may outweigh
your fears. Studies show that people who
have had a colonoscopy say they’d do it
again if it would save even one day of
their lives.
MERCY
CARE
P
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Compassion
Comes First
The Mercy Care Physician Team takes your health to heart
As the first and only faith-based hospital in Stark County, Mercy
Medical Center is committed to providing quality, compassionate,
accessible and affordable care for the whole person. The Mercy
Care Physician Team, an integrated, board-certified group of hospital-employed general practitioners and specialists, shares that
mission. From primary and pediatric care to surgery or high-risk
pregnancy, you can trust Mercy Care physicians for all your family’s
medical needs.
When you choose a Mercy Care physician, you can be confident that your doctor is fully credentialed, highly experienced and
focused on providing you and your family with the best treatment
possible. Using an integrated approach to care delivery, Mercy
Care physicians are closely aligned with one another—and with
Mercy Medical Center—in purpose and practice.
“Being part of the Mercy Care organization frees the doctors to
concentrate on what they love to do most—care for their patients,”
says Tom Turner, vice president for fund development, government
relations and physician services for Mercy Medical Center.
Currently, the Mercy Care Physician Team offers five main areas
of service:
n internal medicine, family practice and sports medicine
n maternal-fetal medicine
n pediatric hospitalists
n general surgery and surgical subspecialties
n medicine subspecialties and infectious disease
Comprehensive, Cutting-Edge Services
Mercy has been recognized regionally and nationally for being
a leader among community hospitals, bringing advanced medicine to Stark and surrounding counties. Mercy Care physicians
play a vital role in recommending, evaluating and implementing
new tools and techniques in several key areas. That means you
and your family can benefit from cutting-edge technology without leaving home.
Because they work together as a team, Mercy Care physicians
are available to each other and all Mercy medical staff members
for consultations and referrals. They are also knowledgeable about
the comprehensive services that Mercy Medical Center offers at
its main campus and five healthcare centers in Stark and Carroll
counties. “Mercy Care physicians make it simple for patients to
access a broad range of healthcare services,” Turner says.
Committed to Our Community
The Mercy Care Physician Team is committed to serving any
patient in need of medical attention, regardless of ability to pay.
Many Mercy Care physicians also have offices throughout the
area and accept a variety of insurance plans, making exceptional
medical care as convenient as possible for you.
To learn more about the Mercy Care Physician Team or to
find a Mercy Care physician, call Mercy Healthcare Connection
at (330) 489-1333 or toll-free at 800-223-8662.
Linda Camp, M.D.,
Cosmetic/Plastic
Surgery
James Goff, D.O.,
Family Practice/
Sports Medicine
Christopher
Stetler, D.O.,
Family Practice
Amy Indorf, M.D.,
Infectious
Disease
Lisa Dannemiller,
M.D., Internal
Medicine
Gerardo Cisneros,
M.D., Internal
Medicine
Kirby Sweitzer,
M.D., General
Surgery
Peter Boutsicaris,
M.D., General
Surgery
Jeff Chapa, M.D.,
Maternal-Fetal
Medicine
George
VanBuren, M.D.,
Maternal-Fetal
Medicine
Adeyemi
Sobowale, M.D.,
Neonatology
Mangala
Betkerur, M.D.,
Neonatology
Rajesh Malik,
M.D., Neonatology
Irwin Weinfeld
M.D., Neonatology
Mark Blaser, D.O.,
Pediatric
Hospitalist
Marcia
Marhefka, M.D.,
Pediatric
Hospitalist
S PR I N G 2 0 07 | Dangerous
Guilt, shame and misunderstanding
affect depression treatment
T
Depression is a
disease of the brain—
not the mind—which
can get sick just like
the heart, liver
or kidneys.
| S PR I N G 2 0 07
he lingering stigma associated with depression
exemplifies the precarious
relationship that exists between
people and their own conscious
minds. When a leg is broken or a
liver becomes diseased, the mind
says, “Let’s go get that leg fixed.
Let’s go take care of that liver.”
But when the mind itself is implicated as being the source of the
problem, its tendency is to go on the
defensive. “It’s not me,” the mind
says. “I don’t get sick. I am infallible. Therefore, it must be you.” The
confusing and contradictory nature
of this response can create in us a
sense of shock and dismay, because
after all, we are our minds. As the
saying goes, “I think, therefore I am.”
However true that may be, the
destructive mind-set that prevents
millions from seeking beneficial
treatment is based on a monumental
misunderstanding: Depression is a
disease of the brain—not the mind.
Unlike the mind, which remains a
mystery despite millennia of scientific and spiritual examination, the
brain is simply an organ of the body
and can get sick just like the heart,
liver or kidneys. Understanding the
separation between brain and mind
is crucial to seeking and benefiting
from treatment for the medical illness known as depression.
The Truth about Depression
Depression is a unique illness
in that many mistake it as a sign
of weakness, laziness or a character
flaw. Therefore, it is not surprising
that depression is the most common, most misdiagnosed illness in
America. According to the National
Institute of Mental Health, mental
disorders often begin in childhood,
with 50 percent of affected adults
reporting symptoms before the age
of 14. Mental disorders cause more
disability in people under the age of
45 than any other noncommunicable
medical illness.
Disorders—including major
depression, dysthymia (chronic, mild
depression), bipolar disorder, panic
disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, agoraphobia and others—are
biological illnesses related to an
imbalance or disruption of brain
chemistry. A combination of genetic,
psychological and environmental
factors all play a role in how and
when a depressive illness manifests
itself. And because these are illnesses, stress doesn’t necessarily have to
S PR I N G 2 0 07 | months, six years or
even longer.
“Medical conditions,
such as abnormal thyroid activity, also can
trigger depression,”
Patel says. However,
sometimes it simply
appears out of nowhere,
when everything is
going fine, at a time
when there would
Sherri Marzick, R.N., director of Mercy’s Behavioral Sciences Unit, and
be
no reason to feel
Suresh A. Patel, M.D., chairman of the department of psychiatry at Mercy
depressed.
Symptoms
Medical Center, stand in the Behavioral Sciences Unit, where adults with
can include restless
a variety of mood disorders—including depressive disorders, anxiety
disorders and schizophrenia—are cared for.
sleep, insomnia or
oversleeping, appetite
be present, but it can trigger or exacloss or overeating, guilt, ruminaterbate depression.
ing thoughts, apathy and feelings
“It’s natural to go through a
of worthlessness. In cases of mild
period of depression whenever we
depression, family, friends and coexperience a loss, whether it is
workers may not notice any of the
through divorce, death of a loved one
symptoms. However, when depresor children heading off to college,”
sion becomes severe, it often manisays Suresh A. Patel, M.D., chairman
fests itself more openly in the form
of the department of psychiatry at
of irritability, reclusive behavior,
Mercy Medical Center. However, the
irrational and negative obsessions,
brain’s chemistry can determine
inability to function and even talk
whether the depression lasts six
of suicide.
The Age Barrier
A combination of factors makes
depressive disorders particularly
prevalent and difficult to diagnose
and treat among senior citizens.
Statistics reveal elderly white males
who live alone have the highest rate
of suicide in the U.S. They are also
the least likely group to seek medical treatment for depression.
Guilt over past mistakes, loneliness, loss of loved ones and a
heightened awareness of their own
mortality can all trigger depression in the elderly. However, the
symptoms of elderly depression differ from those of younger patients
and can be difficult to recognize.
Symptoms of elderly depression
can include guilt, apathy, weight
loss and a preoccupation with death
and dying.
Older adults are the least likely
to seek treatment because they have
the greatest amount of difficulty
looking past the depression stigma.
After all, they grew up during a time
when there was little understanding and education about the disease.
Mercy’s New Comfort Zone
Mercy Medical Center recently renovated
Mercy’s Behavioral Sciences Unit cares for
responsibility. The program includes a variety
its inpatient Behavioral Sciences Unit
adults with a variety of mood disorders includ­
of treatment options, including individual,
to better care for patients with mental
ing depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and
marital and family therapy; psychological
health disorders. “Considerable effort and
schizophrenia. “With help from a multidisci­
testing; diagnostic and evaluation services;
planning went into the renovation of our
plinary team, our goal is to help each patient
education groups; medication education; and
unit,” says Sherri Marzick, R.N., director
build on his or her existing strengths, develop
occupational and recreational therapy.
of Mercy’s Behavioral Sciences Unit.
positive coping skills to deal with life stress­
“The interdisciplinary staff felt strongly
ors, provide education so they know how to
that renovations reflect a homelike, pro­
tap into community resources, and teach the
fessional interior design versus an institu­
skills needed to lead productive lives without
tional design. Our patients appreciate
relapse,” Marzick says.
being treated in an atmosphere conducive
for mood improvement.”
| S PR I N G 2 0 07
Therapeutic activities are designed to
assist in self-awareness, self-acceptance and
Don’t Suffer in Silence
To learn more about Mercy’s Behavioral
Sciences Unit, call Mercy’s Healthcare
Connection at (330) 489-1333 or
toll-free at 800-223-8662 or visit
cantonmercy.com.
Their desire to seek help also may
be affected by nightmarish visions
of prison-like mental institutions,
electroshock therapy and other
controversial treatments that
were prevalent during their lifetime. “Willingness to seek help is
the biggest barrier,” Patel says.
Help for the Suffering
Because depression can have many
causes, it’s not surprising that there
are a wide variety of ways to treat
it. Depression treatment can range
from simple things like increasing social activity to more invasive
approaches such as prescription
medication.
Patel says those who suspect
they may be experiencing a bout
of depression should first visit
their primary care physician for a
checkup. In addition to testing for
possible physical causes, your doctor may ask you a series of questions
that can help determine if you are
experiencing true depression or just
a minor case of the blahs. If you are
depressed, your doctor can recommend a good psychiatrist, a counselor, an exercise program, positive
dietary changes and other ways to
boost your mood back to normal. In
some cases, it may make sense to try
going on an antidepressant. “With
all that we know about the disease
today, no one should have to suffer
through depression without the help
that’s available,” Patel says. D
S PR I N G 2 0 07 | z
z
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S
A
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e
h
ep
t
u
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T
You need it.
The question is how do you
ensure you’re getting enough?
zzz
Y
ou slip on your pajamas, fluff the
pillow, turn out the light. Then it
begins. A dizzying rush of to-do
lists, questions, doubts and directives,
building to a crescendo in which your
mind spins, replaying the day and visual­
izing the next. Before you know it, it’s
4 a.m. and you’ve experienced another
near-sleepless night.
You’re not alone. According to the
National Sleep Foundation, 40 million
Americans suffer from sleep disorders;
an NSF survey showed that 60 percent
of respondents reported having trouble
going to sleep several nights a week. And
40 percent of respondents said daytime
sleepiness was severe enough to interfere
with their routine.
Eyes Wide Open
Visit the “Tools & Quizzes”
section of sleepfoundation.org
for interactive tests to gauge
how sleep savvy you are.
Blame Edison
z
z
z
z
10 | S PR I N G 2 0 07
z
zz
z
z
Indeed, we’re sleeping less than our parents
z
or grandparents. “During the past two and
three generations, there’s been a decline
in total sleep time,” says James S. Kelling,
M.D., a board-certified clinical sleep disorders physician and medical director of
the Mercy Sleep Center. The invention of
the light bulb drastically changed sleep
patterns because people could stay up late.
And work late. From the moment we were
able to switch on the lights, we were able to
run swing shifts, thus changing the sleep
patterns of entire communities.
But beyond that, blame everyday life.
“People are sleeping less because they have
more pressure in their lives,” Kelling says.
Studies suggest that our 24-hours-a-day,
seven-days-a-week lifestyles result in
significant amounts of stress. “And more
stress means less sleep,” Kelling says.
Straight Eight?
So how do you get what you need? First
find out how much sleep is necessary. “We
often hear that we should get eight hours
of sleep,” Kelling says. “But in reality, most
people need somewhere between six to eight
hours of sleep.” The best measure: If you
have a hard time getting up in the morning,
lag when you should be bounding or really
need a jolt of caffeine to start the engines,
you’re not getting enough sleep.
zzzzzz
Rest Assured—Sleep Centers Can Help
Here’s a fact that may keep you up at
evening’s stay typically starts with the
night: There are more than 85 sleep disor-
“guest” being outfitted head to toe with
ders that may, um, keep you up at night.
sensors that are attached to diagnostic
The disorders range from restless legs
equipment. From there, the guest sleeps
syndrome, a neurological condition that
in a comfortable suite while all activity is
disrupts sleep because
monitored—breathing,
of leg twitching, to sleep
brain activity, oxygen
apnea, in which a suffer-
level, arm and leg
er actually stops breath-
movements and more.
ing during sleep, causing
After a full night, the
a sudden gasping for air.
data is collected by the
But how do you find
Louie Psihoyos/getty images
out whether those bags
Mercy Sleep Center
technologist, who
under your eyes are from a sleep disorder?
provides the information to the referring
A trip to a sleep center may be in order.
physician for diagnosis and treatment.
Mercy Sleep Center is a clinical setting
For more information about Mercy
that monitors a person’s sleep behavior,
Sleep Center, call Mercy Medical Center’s
using data accumulated from an overnight
Healthcare Connection at (330) 489-1333
visit. Staffed by trained professionals, an
or 800-223-8662 or visit cantonmercy.com.
How do you reverse the sleepless trend?
Start by determining if you suffer from
a sleep disorder. Are you snoring? Are
you tired during the day? Do you wake up
with headaches? Has a loved one seen you
stop breathing momentarily during sleep?
If so, you may need a trip to a sleep center
for diagnosis.
But if you are just too keyed up to sleep,
here are some things to consider:
n Get consistent. Regulate your sleep
schedule. That means getting up and going
to bed at the same appointed hour, weekends included. This will have a dramatic
effect; your body will adjust its internal
clock and help accelerate sleep time.
n Try napping. The American Academy of
Sleep Medicine recommends a quick
nap—an hour or less before 3 p.m.—to
recharge your batteries. But don’t take
a nap after 3, because it may interfere
with your night’s sleep.
n Work the stages. There are four
stages of sleep, plus deep REM (rapid
eye moment) sleep. Light sleep is stages
one and two. “The most restful sleep
comes in stages three and four,” Kelling
says. “Studies suggest that regular
exercise accelerates stage-three and
stage-four sleep,” he adds. So get on
that exercise bike. Just make sure
to finish up at least three hours
before bedtime.
n Skip the stimulants. Caffeine and
nicotine affect sleep.
Cut back to get better
quality sleep.
n Ditch the TV.
Consider limiting
television to the
family room, so
James S.
Kelling, M.D.
you don’t view past
your bedtime. David
Letterman will understand. D
S PR I N G 2 0 07 | 11
Explore
Your
Options
There’s no vacation from diabetes.
Learn how technology is helping
people live better with this disease
F
or the 14.6 million Americans
diagnosed with diabetes, managing the condition requires daily
diligence. That sounds daunting, but
technology is making diabetes increasingly easier to live with. Over the past
15 years, the medications and tools that
people with diabetes use to manage
their condition have vastly improved
and continue to get better.
A Better
Understanding
Suzanne M. Harold,
M.D.
12 | S PR I N G 2 0 07
Diabetes is a disease in
which the body doesn’t
produce or properly use
insulin, the hormone necessary to convert sugar,
starches and other foods
into energy. In people
with diabetes, glucose
remains in the blood
instead of entering the
body’s cells, which causes high
blood glucose levels.
There are two types of diabetes.
Type 1 means the body does not
produce insulin, which is why people with type 1 diabetes must take
insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the more
common form, the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells
are ignoring the insulin. People with
type 2 diabetes often rely on medications and sometimes insulin injections.
The key to managing both forms
is to normalize blood glucose levels
as much as possible, says Suzanne
M. Harold, M.D., an endocrinologist at
Mercy Medical Center. “Controlling diabetes requires ongoing attention to diet,
exercise and medications,” Harold says.
Prescriptions for Better Health
Today, there are many effective pharmaceutical options for treating diabetes.
Beyond Technology
While advances in technology are making a
difference in the way people with diabetes
live, lifestyle factors play a role as well. To
learn more about controlling lifestyle factors,
talk to your doctor. For a free physician referral, call Mercy Medical Center’s Healthcare
Connection at (330) 489-1333 or
800-223-8662.
In addition to oral medications, there
are advanced forms of insulin that work
much more like the body’s own insulin
than those available in the past, which
can result in much tighter control of
blood glucose levels.
What’s even more appealing to
people who take daily insulin injections
“Using a specially designed
inhaler, Exubera is inhaled
into the lungs through the
patient’s mouth.”
—Suzanne M. Harold, M.D.
are the improved methods of delivering them. Needles are finer than ever,
which means less discomfort. Many
types of insulin are dispensed using
all-in-one injector pens, which look
much like a writing pen. An insulinfilled cartridge inserted in the pen
has a short needle on the end. You simply set a dial to the required dosage
and use the pen to inject the insulin.
Another option is insulin pumps,
which are worn around the clock and
deliver insulin as needed 24 hours
a day through a catheter placed under
the skin.
And in January 2006, the Food and
Drug Administration approved the
first-ever inhaled insulin treatment
for adult patients with type 1 and type 2
diabetes. Exubera, a powdered form of
insulin, is the first new insulin delivery
option since the discovery of insulin in
the 1920s. “Using a specially designed
inhaler, Exubera is inhaled into the
lungs through the patient’s mouth,”
Harold says. Research is also under
way on the feasibility of delivering
insulin through a patch.
Monitoring Diabetes
People with diabetes need to check
their blood glucose levels regularly—
multiple times a day if they take insulin. They test their blood glucose by
applying a small blood sample to a
strip inserted in a meter that displays
the result in seconds.
“Self-glucose monitoring gives diabetic patients greater control in caring
for themselves,” Harold says.
The latest development in self-testing
is continuous glucose monitoring systems, which automatically check blood
glucose levels every few minutes. These
systems use a small sensor that is
inserted under the skin and are worn
continuously for three days. After the
test period, the data can be examined
to determine the best possible treatment
plan. These are not meant to replace dayto-day monitoring, but rather to help
people with diabetes and their doctors
develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Looking into the future, researchers
continue seeking a cure for diabetes.
But until that day comes, recent
advancements in technology are helping people with diabetes live healthier,
happier lives. D
S PR I N G 2 0 07 | 13
[ mission in action ]
Sisters in Service
Sisters from different religious communities come together to continue
the work of the original founders, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine,
at Mercy Medical Center. Pictured (from left): Sister Shirley Ann Nugent,
O.P.; Sister Virginia Coldren, CSJ; Sister Mary Lois Phillipp, CSA; Sister
Frances Wood, SND; Sister Carolyn Capuano, H.M.; and Sister Linda
Piccolantonio, H.M. (front)
A vast network of Catholic Health Care facilities blankets our country.
It is no secret that this tremendous resource owes its origin to the ingenuity and hard work of women religious, Catholic Sisters. Mercy Medical
Center was founded by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (CSA) in
1908. Today there are fewer sisters than 50 years ago, but women religious from many different communities are collaborating in ministry.
Meet the Sisters at Mercy Medical Center who serve our patients
and community.
Sister Mary Lois Phillipp, CSA, serves as program coordinator of
Volunteer Services at Mercy Medical Center. Sister Virginia Coldren,
CSJ, is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Rocky River, Ohio, and volunteers
throughout many departments at Mercy Medical Center. Sister Shirley
Ann Nugent, O.P., is a Dominican Sister from the Akron Dominican
community and serves as a board-certified chaplain in Mercy’s Pastoral
Care Department. Sister Linda Piccolantonio, H.M., is a Sister of the
Humility of Mary. She is a clinical nurse specialist and serves as coordinator of Mercy’s Immigrant Health Outreach program. Sister Carolyn
Capuano, H.M., is also a Sister of Humility of Mary and serves on the
hospital’s executive staff as vice president of mission and ministry. Sister
Frances Wood, SND, a Sister of Notre Dame from the Chardon, Ohio,
community, serves as a chaplain in Mercy Hospice and in the pastoral
care department.
Mercy Medical Center is grateful for the presence and dedication
of the Sisters who join Mercy employees, physicians and volunteers in
living the hospital’s mission of providing quality, compassionate, accessible and affordable care for the whole person.
Thompson Receives 2006 Victims’
Rights Award
The Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, in association with
the Stark County Victims’ Rights Coalition, honored Dan
Thompson as the recipient of its 2006 Victims’ Rights
Coalition Appreciation Award for Outstanding Leadership
in Promoting Safer Communities. Thompson is project
coordinator of Building Healthy Communities, a program
supported by Mercy Medical Center, the Sisters of Charity
Foundation of Canton, Stark Community Foundation, People’s
Baptist Church and St. Anthony’s Church.
Through this program, residents of Southeast Canton
are taking an active role in making a positive impact on
their community’s future. Building Healthy Communities
brings together residents, service providers and community
leaders to address issues such as jobs, drugs, public safety
and city matters. “In spite of the challenges this community faces, there are residents with hopes and dreams and
people who value safety and good health,” says Karen Feller,
coordinator of mission outreach at Mercy Medical Center.
“The Building Healthy Communities initiative supports this
desire for change.”
Mercy Medical Center’s SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse
Examiner) Program was honored by this group in 2005 for
its leadership in assisting victims of sexual assault.
14 | S PR I N G 2 0 07
Shown at the 2006 Victims’ Rights Coalition Recognition Dinner are (from
left) Vicki Conley, executive director of the Sisters of Charity Foundation
of Canton; Sister Carolyn Capuano, H.M., vice president of mission and
ministry at Mercy Medical Center; Dan Thompson, project coordinator for
Building Healthy Communities; and Lynne Dragomier, vice president of
public relations and marketing at Mercy Medical Center.
TelemonitorV2HlgHnds.fh11 1/3/07 3:21 PM Page 1
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INTRODUCING THE NEW DEFINITION OF “HOUSE CALL”
Chronic diseases such as heart failure, diabetes and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disorder are on the rise and becoming
more challenging to manage. But Mercy Homecare has a solution:
telemonitoring, which allows nurses to collect patients’ vital
signs; weight, blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation
via a telephone modem.
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scheduled visits from their Homecare nurses. But with telemonitoring, Homecare clinicians can monitor patients in between visits
giving patients and their families a sense of security.
Sometimes the best medicine can be the comfortable, familiar
surroundings of your own home. That’s why Mercy Homecare has
added telemonitoring to the quality and compassionate home
health services offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Easy to use, the monitor verbally and visually prompts patients
to answer a few questions and also serves as a medication
reminder. Of course, telemonitored patients continue to receive
Mercy, The First Place
To Think Of For Your Health
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H OMECARE
For more information,
call 330-492-8803.
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B A B Y
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ADMISSION IS FREE.
No reservations required.
F A I R
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
You’ll have the opportunity to talk with Mercy
physicians, nurses, lactation specialists and other healthcare
professionals about pregnancy, delivery and baby care.
We’ll have free product samples, promotional items and door
prizes. Visit exhibitors to learn more about baby registry, nursery
decorating, shower preparations, salon services, cosmetics,
photography, cleaning services, insurance,
and more.
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$6 per person. Reservations required.
Seating is limited. Call 330-489-1333
or 1-800-223-8662.
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
LOCATION
Kent State University
Stark Professional
Education & Conference Center
6000 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton
FREE PARKING
If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you won’t want to miss the fashion show
and brunch buffet. Bring your spouse, mother or friend and you’ll enjoy a scrumptious
brunch while being entertained by Sharon Hargrove, mother of five and wife of former
Cleveland Indians manager, Mike Hargrove, who currently manages the Seattle Mariners.
In its fourth year, the fashion show has been an event highlight featuring
the latest trends in maternity apparel for women in all stages of pregnancy.
PRESENTED BY:
Seating is limited, so don’t wait to make your reservation.
Reservations and payments will not be taken at the door.
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Sharon Hargrove