For press inquiries, contact Bret Berigan, manager
Public Relations & Internal Communications
Phone: 314.653.5304
Fax: 314.653.4130
- Employees Donate Hundreds of Toys to U.S. Marine Toys for Tots Program
- Adnan Siddiqui, MD, New Medical Director of Wound Care Center
- Carol Lockhart Named Christian Hospital 'Auxilian of the Year'
- Free Heart Fair -- February 13, 2010
- New Radiation Oncology Physicians
- Christian Hospital Nationally Ranked Among the Best
- Drs. Dimmitt and Fraley join The Heart Care Group
- Cancer Care Center Granted Three-Year Accreditation
- Swine Flu Outbreak Tests U.S. Preparedness -- BJC Activates Response Plan, Surveillance of Symptoms to Detect Illness
- Center for Mental Health Receives National Attention for Effective Treatment
- Auxiliary Installs 2009 Officers
- New Technology in Lung Disease and Cancer Diagnosis
- Campuses Become Smoke-Free
- Christian Hospital Introduces Inpatient Glucose Monitoring System
- First St. Louis-Area Gliasite Procedure Introduced at Christian Hospital
Employees Donate Hundreds of Toys to U.S. Marine Toys for Tots
Hospital employees, volunteers, physicians and their office staffs donated new toys by placing them in collection boxes throughout Christian Hospital, Northwest HealthCare and Graham Medical Center.
Pictured are U.S. Marine Gunner Goslin, left, and Bryce Baltzell, third from left, both from Kansas City, Missouri; with Christian Hospital human resources staff members Tanya Siske, second from left, and Sheryl McClary, far right.
December 10, 2009
Adnan Siddiqui, MD, New Medical Director of Wound Care Center
Adnan Siddiqui, MD, has been named the new medical director for the Wound Care Center, and will continue as the medical director of Infection Prevention at the Hospital.
Dr. Siddiqui has been on the medical staff since 2006. He completed his infectious disease fellowship at St. Louis University Hospital and his residency at Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey. He is a graduate of Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan.
The Christian Hospital Wound Care Center was recently honored with the Center of Distinction Award from Diversified Clinical Services Inc., (DCS) the world's largest wound care management company with more than 300 hospital clients. The Wound Care Center received the award based on its performance over 12 consecutive months of achieving a 96 percent average patient satisfaction rate of excellent, and healing 93 percent of wounds within 36 days or less.
December 3, 2009
New Radiation Oncology Physicians
Veena Divecha, MD, and Tapan Roy, MD, have joined the Radiation Oncology Department.
Dr. Divecha conducted her residency training at the University of Kansas, where she was chief resident in radiation oncology.
Dr. Roy was department chairman of radiation oncology at St. Louis University Hospital School of Medicine for 12 years, and served as the director of the Division of Radiation Oncology at the VA Medical Center, John Cochran Division.
Aug. 24, 2009
Drs. Dimmitt and Fraley join The Heart Care Group
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Aaron Dimmitt, MD |
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Matthew Fraley, MD |
Dr. Dimmitt attended St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed his residency and training at St. Louis University Hospital.
Dr. Fraley attended Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and completed his residency and training at St. John's Mercy Medical Center and fellowship at the University of New Mexico.
In addition to Drs. Dimmitt and Fraley, the Heart Care Group includes:
- Dr. Laurence Berarducci
- Dr. James Davis
- Dr. Antonio Penilla
- Dr. Erica Uppstrom
This team of cardiologists specializes in the prevention and treatment of heart disease, providing a complete line of cardiology services, including:
- Consultative and disease management follow-up services
- Lifestyle and risk factor modification
- Education and counseling
- A full spectrum of non-invasive diagnostic testing
- Pacemaker implantation and follow-up
- Coronary interventions and stenting
The Heart Care Group sees patients at:
201 Dunn Road
Florissant, Missouri 63031
314.837.3784
6810 Route 162
Suite 102
Maryville, Illinois 62062
618.288.4076
Community Memorial Hospital
400 Caldwell Street
Staunton, Illinois 62088
618.635.4275
July 16, 2009
Cancer Care Center Granted Three-Year Accreditation
The Christian Hospital Cancer Care Center has been granted a three-year accreditation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, which conducted an on-site survey in June 2009.
"Only one in four hospitals that treat cancer receive this special approval," says Timothy Rearden, MD, medical director of the Cancer Care Center. "It recognizes the quality of our comprehensive program and the commitment of our staff and physicians, who ensure patients have access to the latest cancer diagnostic and treatment resources close to where they live."
March 4, 2009
Center for Mental Health Receives National Attention for Effective Treatment
The Center for Mental Health led by Garry Vickar, MD, chief of psychiatry, participated in a controlled clinical trial of 57 schizophrenia patients. The study found that those assigned to Schizophrenia Treatment and Education Programs (STEPSSM) had significantly less hospitalization than those assigned to receive conventional treatment (20 percent versus 56 percent). These findings were published in the January 2009 edition of Psychiatric Services; Dr. Vickar was the lead author.
STEPS was developed by Dr. Vickar at Christian Hospital. The STEPS model provides inpatient care, partial hospitalization and aftercare with educational programs, group support and family involvement. The program has served as a model for schizophrenia treatment in hospital psychiatric units across the nation.
New Technology in Lung Disease and Cancer Diagnosis
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Drs. Doug Zweig and Brian Taylor perform |
Prior to these medical advancements, surgery was required to biopsy lesions or tumors found in areas such as the lungs, heart, esophagus and lymph nodes. Surgical procedures typically require hospitalization, general anesthetics and a longer recovery period.
EBUS is especially helpful in biopsying tumors, and electromagnetic navigation allows doctors to remove samples of lung tissue that were previously too small to collect. EBUS and electromagnetic navigation are outpatient procedures during which damaged tissue is collected for biopsy from what the physicians see on CT or PET scans.
September 20, 2008
Hospital Campuses Become Smoke-Free
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Besides being the first day of our smoke-free initiative, November 20 also was the Great American Smokeout sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
If you or a loved one need help to quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit http://1800quitnow.cancer.gov. For BJC Community Events, call 314.747.WELL (314.747.9355) or toll-free 877.747.9355.
May 22, 2008
Christian Hospital Introduces Inpatient Glucose Monitoring System
Christian Hospital is the first hospital in the St. Louis area to use the MDN-CGS Inpatient Blood Glucose Management System -- a software program that stabilizes blood glucose levels by calculating the infusion rate for insulin therapy. The technology is being used in the Emergency Department, Surgery Center, Intensive Care Unit and Acute Medical Care Unit.
Based on patient-specific data, including glucose values entered into the software program, the computerized algorithm makes adjustments in the insulin infusion rate. Glucose values return to, and remain in, the prescribed target range.
"Optimal control is not just about getting blood sugar lower; it's about avoiding extremes -- both high and low -- in blood sugar during regulation. Quicker regulation can help patients feel better sooner," says Mary Overstreet, RN, BSN, Christian Hospital Diabetes Institute program director. "The MDN-CGS system is another example of how Christian Hospital is the leader in advanced and groundbreaking medical technology."
For information on Christian Hospital's Diabetes Institute, call 314.747.WELL (314.747.9355) or toll-free 877.747.9355.
February 11, 2008
First St. Louis-Area Gliasite Procedure Introduced at Christian Hospital
Medical history was made at Christian Hospital February 11 with the area's first Gliasite procedure. Gliasite is a brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) procedure that treats patients with newly diagnosed, metastatic or recurrent brain tumors.
During the procedure, neurosurgeon William Hoffman, MD, places a Gliasite balloon catheter in the area of the brain to be treated. Vincent Joe, MD, medical director of Christian Hospital radiation oncology, administers radioactive liquid iodine into the balloon, delivering high-dose radiation to the tumor in a series of treatments. While the initial procedure is performed in the Surgery Center, outpatient follow-up treatment over a period of several days is in the Nuclear Medicine Department.
The Gliasite procedure enables physicians to deliver the highest dose of radiation to the area most likely to contain remaining cancer cells, allowing a minimal amount of healthy brain tissue to be exposed to radiation. This targeted treatment makes Gliasite an option for brain cancer patients who have already received radiation therapy. The potential side effects associated with additional external beam radiation therapy are minimized and internal radiation is usually completed within a week.
Christian Hospital's radiation oncology program features the latest technology, including a linear accelerator, which delivers a uniform dose of radiation to the region of the patient's tumor while sparing the surrounding, healthy tissue.
Besides the Gliasite procedure, certified radiation therapists provide:
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy
- External Beam Radiation Therapy
- Prostate Seed Implant Therapy
- 3D Treatment Planning
- Radiation Simulation
Patients can receive radiation treatment at Christian Hospital regardless of where they receive their primary care. Receiving daily radiation treatment close to home offers patients peace of mind, and saves precious time and gas money.
For more information on Christian Hospital's radiation treatments, call 314.747.WELL (314.747.9355) or toll-free 877.747.9355.
