What will PROCEEDS GO TOWARD?

Creating a Patient-Centered Medical Home for Individuals in Need at St. Vincent Charity Hospital

For more than 143 years, the Caregivers of St. Vincent Charity Hospital have lived out the mission of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine – providing care to individuals in need with respect, integrity, quality and team work. Our Vision calls for us to serve as a model for quality, Catholic, community-centered healthcare; continuously striving to provide access to healthcare is a core tenet of this Mission and Vision.

More than 1.2 million Ohioans are living without the benefit of healthcare coverage. Many qualify for some level of assistance, but are unaware that they have access to such resources. Often, these individuals must choose food and shelter over medical care. Such individuals delay seeking intervention that could minimize or prevent the onset of chronic and terminal illnesses. In fact, approximately 44 percent of patients begin their relationship with St. Vincent Charity Hospital through our Emergency Department each year.

As we re-build our Medical and Psychiatric Emergency Department through a recent Capital Campaign, we also want to improve access to those services that are better offered in a primary care office setting. Today, through a grant provided by the Sisters of Charity Foundation, St. Vincent Charity Hospital has implemented a new program in the HealthCare Center to provide the residents in our community with better and easier access to healthcare.

Located at 2351 East 22nd Street, the HealthCare Center – the city’s first outpatient clinic—was established in 1894 to "serve those who did not need a hospital bed, but required medical advice and treatment." As part of this exciting initiative, a full-time primary care physician, Srinivas R. Merugu, M.D., has relocated his practice to the HealthCare Center and will provide patients with same-day access, if needed.

Our vision for the future of this initiative is to build a Patient-Centered Medical Home that includes comprehensive services to meet the needs of our community, bridging the gap in the provision of healthcare for the uninsured and the underinsured.

What is a MEDICAL HOME?

Research indicates that primary care is linked to higher quality care and lower costs. Across the country, healthcare organizations have created Patient-Centered Medical Homes. A Medical Home is a precise term that includes, at a minimum:

• Access to primary and preventive care through a personal relationship with a primary care physician
• Integrated, comprehensive care and an overall focus that provides for the whole person
• Access to pharmaceutical supplies, medications, and diagnostic testing and treatments
• Social service support and community outreach
• Financial assistance
• Information technology
• A focus on quality and safety across all elements of the care system

Please JOIN US!

Building a Patient-Centered Medical Home at St. Vincent Charity Hospital is the goal of PIZAZZZ 2008. Through your support, you will help us move toward the development of a Patient-Centered Medical Home at St. Vincent Charity Hospital. Together, we can ensure that our communities receive the care and services that they need and deserve.

"The thought of God's presence will put us in the habit of doing his will."
– Saint Vincent

For more information, contact:
Rachel Rego
Ph: 216.377.4356
rachel.rego@csauh.com