VOLUME XII ISSUE 4
Building a Healthy Future:
Dunlap Family Outpatient Center
A Letter from the President and Chief Executive Officer The history of St. Clair is rooted in community. Beginning more than 10 years before the Hospital became a reality, devoted men and women of the South Hills worked tirelessly to plan, raise funds, find a site, and, eventually in 1954, bring to life their vision of creating a health care institution worthy of the people it serves. Their motto: Together we can do it. Together we have. And we’re still just getting started. I’m pleased to announce the dawn of a new era as we rebrand this proud institution St. Clair Health. The change is more than simply an effort to modernize our name. Rather, it signifies that over the past 67 years, we’ve become an institution that our founders would scarcely recognize, yet of which they’d be intensely proud. The quality leader. Advanced care close to home. A shared humanity. Your regional resource. These four pillars represent our commitment to you as we begin this new era. To remain a national leader in patient safety, quality, and patient satisfaction. To deliver world-class services and patient-first experiences in comfortable settings. To create a health system that sees the whole you and delivers the care your life demands. To create healthier and better communities in the region. The grand opening of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center — the largest construction project in St. Clair’s history — marks another milestone toward our goal of being not the biggest, but the best health care resource for all we serve. The facility is the finest in the region, modeled on leading health care institutions around the country. And the care inside the facility is even better. We are gratified to again be named as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals®, the seventh time we’ve received this distinction. We are also proud to surpass the region, and earn a spot among the top 2% of hospitals in the country, by receiving 18 consecutive “A” grades for patient safety. And we are deeply honored to be Western Pennsylvania’s only health system with a clinical collaboration with Mayo Clinic. But, like our predecessors, we believe in never resting on our laurels. We’re excited for you to see what we’re going to do next. St. Clair Health will deliver something bigger than just expert care alone. We’ll deliver…
Expert care from people who care. James M. Collins President and Chief Executive Officer
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WELCOME TO
Dunlap Family Outpatient Center In this beautiful, modern, state-of-the-art facility, one will find the highest quality health care, the convenience of comprehensive, one-stop outpatient services, and an exceptional patient experience, close to home.
D
unlap Family Outpatient Center is a 280,000-square-foot, six-story facility that is the foundation of a transformative expansion as St. Clair rebrands to St. Clair Health. Located on the main campus, adjacent to the Hospital and conveniently connected directly to it, Dunlap Family Outpatient Center represents St. Clair’s largest expansion in its history. The facility features a wealth of clinical services, resources and amenities that provide patients with efficient, convenient outpatient medical care and a comfortable, hassle-free personal experience. The spacious new building houses comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services, including laboratories; medical imaging; cardiac diagnostics; expanded physical and occupational therapy; and specialty physician offices. Outpatient surgery is performed in 10 operating rooms and two procedure rooms, and there are six spacious suites for endoscopic procedures. The St. Clair Hospital Cancer Center has been relocated to Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, where a new Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy is providing exceptional services to cancer patients and their families. Amenities include a café serving chef-prepared offerings, underground parking, and valet parking service. ”Dunlap Family Outpatient Center represents an effort to create a state-of-the-art, ‘one-stop‘ experience for the tens of thousands of area residents who receive outpatient services at St. Clair each year,”
says James M. Collins, President and Chief Executive Officer, St. Clair Health. “But in a larger sense, it also represents a linkage between our past and future — an unfailing commitment begun 67 years ago to meet the community’s needs and a metamorphosis from a once 100-bed community hospital into a highly-awarded, nationally recognized member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. A place offering many of the most sophisticated treatments, yet still grounded in community.” John T. Sullivan, M.D., MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at St. Clair, says the new outpatient center is helping St. Clair chart its future and continue to offer high quality health care for generations to come: “Advancements in medical science are dramatically changing how medical care will be delivered in the future, and we are addressing that evolution by creating a facility in which next-generation treatments and services are provided in a comfortable, convenient outpatient setting, close to home.” Continued on Page 4
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WELCOME T O DUN LA P FAMILY OU T PATI ENT C ENTER Continued from Page 3
“Affordable, high-quality, comprehensive health care close to home is essential to the quality of life in any community. The demand on our health care systems in this region is overwhelming, and the addition of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center to the St. Clair Health campus enhances the quality and level of care here in Pittsburgh.” – U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (17th)
Unwavering generosity and commitment The new, $125 million comprehensive outpatient center is called Dunlap Family Outpatient Center to honor Edward B. Dunlap, Jr., his wife Anna Dunlap, and their family. The Dunlaps are longtime benefactors of St. Clair and they have generously provided funding for the building’s construction with the largest donation in St. Clair’s history. Mr. Dunlap is the chairman of Canonsburg-based CentiMark Corporation, a leading commercial roofing and flooring company in North America, and a longtime proprietor of LeMont, the landmark restaurant on Mt. Washington. As honorary cochairman of St. Clair’s Groundbreaking Growth Campaign, Mr. Dunlap spearheaded a capital campaign to raise funds for the construction of the new outpatient center and a supporting central utility building.
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Mr. Dunlap and his family have previously donated the funding for St. Clair Hospital’s Fourth Floor Conference Center, improvements to the Hospital’s Emergency Room and other projects. “The new outpatient center is our most important contribution to St. Clair,” Mr. Dunlap says. “It’s going to streamline the way that St. Clair provides care for patients. It’s important to us because it’s important to the health of this community. The South Hills is well served by St. Clair, which provides the highest quality diagnostic and therapeutic services, with state-of-the-art technology. St. Clair is an ideal health care facility and has been able to maintain its independence. My wife and I have both had medical care at St. Clair and everyone was kind, competent, on the ball.”
“ The care is so good at St. Clair,” adds Mrs. Dunlap. Mr. Dunlap says it was important to him and his wife that the new outpatient center’s name include the word “family.” The Dunlaps have four children, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. “Family means everything to Anna and me,” Mr. Dunlap says. “We’re dedicated to helping others and that is our legacy, to pass on to our children and grandchildren, and the generations to come. Our associates at CentiMark and LeMont are second families to us, as well.” The Dunlaps say the opening of the outpatient center is the fulfillment of a dream and the completion of a promise. “Our vision was to build a better place, with more space and
OUR DONORS:
Exceeding all expectations St. Clair Health has from its very beginnings counted on the support of the people, organizations and businesses of this community. Six decades ago, area residents saw a critical need for local, quality health care and their grassroots fundraising campaigns resulted in the opening of St. Clair Hospital in 1954. Today, with the opening of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, this legacy of giving continues. In 2017, St. Clair Hospital Foundation kicked off the Groundbreaking Growth Capital Campaign to support the construction of the new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. With the unprecedented support of the community, including individuals, corporations, foundations and state grants, St. Clair has raised some $42 million to date. “We are so grateful to our generous donors who have come forward to support this groundbreaking campaign,” says Kristen Beattie, former Director of Development and Government Relations at St. Clair Health Foundation. “This expansion wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our community. Their generosity will impact health care delivery in our area for generations.” Some 70 donors who gave $10,000 or more toward the construction of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center are showcased on a donor wall for their part in supporting the construction of a building that offers one-stop access for everything from doctors’ appointments to outpatient tests and procedures. Designed by Pittsburgh-based architectural firm IKM, the donor wall recognizes community members who helped the capital campaign exceed expectations. Installed in the Fifth Floor lobby, the donor wall looks more like art than a standard plaque of names on a wall. With layers of etched glass and metal, the sculptural piece recognizes the generous people and organizations who donated to make the new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center possible. Prominently located next to Café Kara, and adjacent to the door to the patio, visitors can easily see the wall from both sides as they move about. The base construction of the donor wall is a series of layered glass panels with an abstract image etched onto the surface of each layer. Name plates of different sizes, one for each donor, float in front of the glass in a random layout. Donors who are dedicated to the idea of an independent regional hospital have been as committed to Dunlap Family Outpatient Center as they have been for previous projects, such as the expansion of St. Clair Hospital’s Emergency Room and the construction of the outpatient center in Peters Township. n To donate, please visit: stclair.org/giving/groundbreaking-growth/
privacy for patients, and a wonderful place for the staff to work,” Mr. Dunlap says. “Anna and I believe that with this building we have lived up to that promise. The new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center will help lead St. Clair into the next generation of health care.” Rick Chesnos, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at St. Clair, says, “As was the case when St. Clair Hospital was founded, there was a groundswell of financial support from members of the community, as well as from area foundations and other organizations.” Chesnos says the total amount of philanthropy and government grants exceeded $42 million. The overall project was funded largely through accumulated funds and bonds. The construction project generated a substantial economic benefit to the region. Continued on Page 6
The Donor Recognition Wall in the Fifth Floor lobby. Volume XII Issue 4 I HouseCall I 5
WELCOME T O DUN LA P FAMILY OU T PATI ENT C ENTER Continued from Page 5
The patient experience Enter the front doors and stop for a moment to appreciate the beauty and elegance of the spacious atrium lobby. There are comfortable chairs, arranged in small groups. A soft, muted palette prevails and immediately puts you at ease. A friendly guest services employee greets you and offers to help you find your destination. You note Café Kara, a place of respite and refreshment, with an outdoor balcony and patio seating. Your eye is drawn to the striking white chandelier sculpture suspended above a grand monumental staircase. Throughout, there is an abundance of light: natural light pours into the airy lobby through floor-to-ceiling windows. There is both grandeur and warmth in this bright, welcoming and impeccably designed space. Andrea L. Kalina, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at St. Clair, says the aesthetics of the interior add to the healing
“I am very happy about the expansion of St. Clair Health. The Hospital has been an integral part of the surrounding communities for decades and I am proud to have an independent hospital serving so many of the communities in my district. The growth of the Hospital will be a great asset to the area.” – State Rep. Anita Kulik (45th)
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environment of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. She notes that everything from the color schemes, to the furniture, to the lighting, to the artwork on the walls, is designed to help reduce patient stress levels and improve well-being, not only for patients and their families, but for staff, as well. “A growing number of studies is showing that what the interior of a health care facility looks like, and ‘feels’ like is inextricably connected to outcomes,” says Kalina, who consulted with numerous experts in health care facility design when helping plan the environment and its elements. Patient-centered and family friendly, the lobby offers a comfortable environment where a waiting family can grab a cup of coffee or step outdoors for some fresh air. There are private family consultation rooms nearby, for conferences with physicians. Valet parking saves time and steps,
and a designated discharge area streamlines that process. “For many people it’s very difficult to go to the hospital,” says Tricia Hammel, a member of the St. Clair Health Foundation Board of Directors and co-chairperson of Summer Swing, St. Clair’s annual fundraiser. Mrs. Hammel and her husband Robert Hammel are donors who were inspired by their personal experience to become more involved with St. Clair. “This new building alleviates a lot of the usual stress,” Mr. Hammel says. “It gives you a simplified and streamlined experience. The building was clearly designed with the patient in mind.” Jennifer L. Petruski, MBA, Director of Medical Imaging and Outpatient Centers at St. Clair, says Dunlap Family Outpatient Center offers patients the clinical excellence they have come to expect from St. Clair, plus superb customer service. “Patients assume they’ll get high-quality care
and good outcomes at St. Clair. It’s the personal experience that makes the difference. Service excellence is our goal. We met frequently with the architects to design the space and workflow for this new facility. You’ll be in and out faster and receive the exact same quality of care you’d find at the Hospital. We have an online tool where you can schedule your appointment, check in on your cell phone and avoid any lines when you arrive. You’ll be taken right back for your test or lab work.” Patients will have a greater sense of privacy in Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, says Tania Lyon, Ph.D., Director of Organizational Performance Improvement at St. Clair. “Anytime you come to a health care facility, for any reason, you feel vulnerable and that can be stressful. In this facility, you won’t have to sit in a hallway or be separated only by a curtain; the patient rooms are all private and have acoustic security.
We have provided a beautiful atmosphere that promotes comfort and a sense of well-being.” One of the goals for the outpatient center, says Dr. Lyon, was to provide more efficient preoperative processes for outpatient surgeries. “Pre-surgical testing can be bundled in one quick visit in the same building where you have your surgery. You can see your doctor on one floor, walk downstairs for tests and lab work, come to the same building for surgery, and fill prescriptions right here in the lobby. We felt that if we smoothed out the process and had the patient completely prepared and ready to go on the day of surgery, the patient would experience less stress. The new Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) center is one-stop for all surgical clearance.” Dr. Lyon adds that patient safety was a priority. “Having our own outpatient building with so many services in one place, yet attached to the Hospital
by a corridor, is a powerful advantage. We have the ability to serve higher acuity patients because we have the option to move them to our Hospital if needed. Patients get the benefit of a standalone, beautifully designed, integrated outpatient building with the just-in-case safety net of the Hospital.” Dunlap Family Outpatient Center reinvents the outpatient experience. At the center, outpatient care is convenient, accessible and patient-focused. It’s a dramatic contrast to the often fragmented, time-consuming outpatient experience that typically involves multiple locations and appointments, and crowded, noisy waiting rooms. Dunlap Family Outpatient Center has been thoughtfully designed to mitigate stress and inconvenience and instead offer patients an efficient, seamless experience in an environment of comfort and serenity. Continued on Page 8
CAFÉ KARA:
Offering a warm welcome One of the many amenities that grace the new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is Café Kara, located in the lobby on the Fifth Floor. Café Kara offers a warm welcome to patients, family members and visitors, who can enjoy a simple beverage or snack, or a healthful, chef-prepared meal there. Café Kara is dear to the heart of Dolores Kara, a longtime supporter of St. Clair Health, who funded the café to honor her beloved late husband, Michael Kara. “Café Kara is inspired by the memory of Michael, who understood the importance of having an oasis like this for people who are going through stressful medical experiences, and for their families,” she says. “The opening of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is wonderful, for St. Clair and for the community. Michael loved St. Clair and admired the doctors, nurses, administrators and all the staff who were so good to him when he was sick.” Dolores and Michael Kara both believed that convenient access to health care makes a difference, leading to a better outcome and a better patient experience. Their gratitude to St. Clair for their own positive experiences as patients inspired them to previously support the St. Clair Outpatient Center — Peters Township, in 2013. In honor of their generous gift, the facility carries their name: The Michael and Dolores Kara Building. Mr. Kara died in 2017, and Mrs. Kara has chosen to continue the legacy that she and Mr. Kara started, by making another significant gift for Dunlap Family Outpatient Center in the form of Café Kara. “I have always valued St. Clair as a community treasure, and I believe it is even more of an asset during these troubled times,” she says. “It’s comforting to know that we have a world-class facility nearby, with brighter days ahead.” n Volume XII Issue 4 I HouseCall I 7
WELCOME T O DUN LA P FAMILY OU T PATI ENT C ENTER Continued from Page 7
“At a time when the need for health care is growing rapidly, I am pleased that our community will benefit from a state grant for the development of the state-of-the-art Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. These funds are specifically designed to support capital improvement projects. Through this grant, we have a shining example of how the state can make an investment in our communities in order to meet the local demand for high-quality health care, close to home. ” – State Sen. Devlin Robinson (37th)
Designing the dream Dunlap Family Outpatient Center was designed by IKM, Inc., an architecture and interior design firm whose headquarters have been in Pittsburgh for 110 years. John C. Schrott, III, AIA, ACHA, EDAC, president of IKM, was personally involved in the design of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. The longtime Mt. Lebanon resident says Dunlap Family Outpatient Center “represents the next step St. Clair is taking in progressively advocating a patient-centered approach to holistic care.” Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, Schrott continues, “imparts a superior experience for all who interact with it and further cements St. Clair’s integration into the fabric and vitality of the region.” Tami Greene, AIA, NCARB, Principal at IKM, helped lead the project. “St. Clair’s administrators and physicians recognized that outpatient care services were experiencing great growth, and in anticipation of this trend continuing, they needed to expand and update their facility,” Greene says.
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“Our goal for St. Clair was not only to add a new facility to the main campus to support the growth of outpatient services, but also to create a superior patient experience, and to increase efficiencies to improve the quality of the services provided.” Greene says that consideration of the needs of all those within the new facility was paramount. “We wanted to create a healthful work environment for the staff, and for the patients, an environment that is as stress-free as possible. We met with surgeons, nurses, facility engineers, and environmental services staff — all relevant personnel — and they all gave us great input. We asked questions that brought forward details that would be critical to a well-planned, efficient facility. For example, we asked: ‘What is your workflow process? How can we support improving process efficiencies and what do you need to perform this process well?” Greene added, “To understand the patient experience, we studied a virtual path through the facility to identify every possible point
of stress, from finding parking to waiting for an elevator to locating your doctor’s office. Where are the points of difficulty? When did the patient’s stress level peak? When did it subside? We mapped out the whole process so we could design a building that reduces those moments of stress.” One of the biggest challenges, Greene explains, was that the St. Clair campus is a tight site and the comprehensive program to be placed within the project called for a large building. “We determined that the best option for St. Clair and the community was to move the street to make more room on site and realign the intersection. Receiving approval of the relocation of a municipal road and construction of a new building required many meetings with Mt. Lebanon and Scott townships. It had to be very thoroughly thought out, in great detail. It was complex, but it ended up as a plus for the community and St. Clair. It’s safer now, especially for the children who walk to school.” Greene says Dunlap Family Outpatient
THE PRE-ADMISSION T E S T I N G C E N T E R (PAT ) :
A one-stop shop for pre-op
Center has many outstanding features, including a spacious café with adjacent outdoor patio, a beautiful two-story atrium and three-story ceremonial stair with a sculptural light fixture central to the stair to act as an orientation point and “wayfinding” element for patients navigating the building. “To enhance the patient and family experience, we provided multiple waiting areas. Providing people with options to select from gives a sense of control during a stressful time. The pre- and post-op rooms are arranged in little ‘neighborhoods’ of six, and each room has access to natural light. Families can also wait in the room while the patient is in surgery. The patient comes back post-op to that same room. They can leave their clothes and possessions there — it’s their room. It may seem like a small point, but this matters to patients,” she explains. The thoughtfulness that went into the design decisions is evident everywhere. The physical therapy department is located right inside the
front door. There is a special drop-off area for ambulances or shuttle vans for patients arriving or departing on stretchers. There is even a separate elevator and exit lobby for patients to use after they are discharged. This way they maintain a level of dignity, as they do not need to be transported through public space after a procedure.” IKM has a longstanding relationship with St. Clair and had previously provided design services for St. Clair, including the Peters Township and Village Square outpatient centers. “We worked with St. Clair on the Dunlap project for four years and focused on every design detail required to make it a success,” Greene says. “Working for St. Clair is a privilege: this is a client that truly cares about the patients and about the staff who carry the vision forward. St. Clair’s leadership always seeks the best for everyone: the patient, the staff and the community.” Continued on Page 10
To make sure patients are healthy and safe for surgery, most physicians require a physical exam, bloodwork and tests such as x-rays or EKGs. While patients can choose where they go for these prerequisites, they now have a convenient option. The new Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) center at Dunlap Family Outpatient Center allows patients to have all their tests performed in one, easy location. “Here, you can have everything done in a single visit, at your convenience,” says Thomas Natcher, Director of Perioperative Services at St. Clair Health. “The PAT center is used across the board, for all the surgical specialty service lines.” The PAT center is staffed with an advanced practice professional who can capture a patient’s history and physical, EKG and lab work prior to surgery. “It’s also a great opportunity for patients to ask questions about their upcoming procedure,” adds Natcher. The testing takes place in one of three comfortable, private rooms. If imaging such as x-rays, MRIs or CTs are necessary, patients need only walk down the hallway. “Patients have convenient access to the PAT area while on campus to prepare for their surgery,” says Natcher. Capturing a patient’s information in one place also helps St. Clair Health ensure that each patient has had the proper tests and is stable enough to have surgery. “The creation of the Pre-Admission Testing center is a true testimony that St. Clair believes in high quality and keeping every patient safe,” says Natcher. n Volume XII Issue 4 I HouseCall I 9
WELCOME T O DUN LA P FAMILY OU T PATI ENT C ENTER Continued from Page 9
Building a healthier community Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is the largest construction project in St. Clair’s history and the first major construction on the main campus since 1978. In addition to the outpatient center, the project includes a 420-space employee parking garage and a central utility building. According to Collins, the president and CEO of St. Clair, the new facility only took about three years to build, but it was the culmination of many years of careful planning. “We solicited ideas from our trustees, physicians, employees, volunteers, and patients; we had intensive conversations with our architect, IKM, and consultants; and we toured many leading medical centers around the country
to see how they’ve approached making health care both more sophisticated and more accessible. I think the final plan was particularly inspired by the Gonda Building at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where the design encourages collaboration among health professionals and brings services to the patient, not vice versa.” Jake Ploeger, Co-CEO and Director of Corporate Business Development, P J Dick Industries, the general contractor on the outpatient center project, says the construction of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center presented some challenges. “We build many health care facilities and each one is unique; this project
required relocating a street, an unusual issue. That took a lot of coordination, but St. Clair, the architect (IKM), Millcraft and our team worked very well together, along with the municipalities, to resolve it. The COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact: it complicated things at times because the workforce was not as readily available and it required more precautions to keep everyone safe. “Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is a beautiful addition to the St. Clair campus. The exterior looks great and the interior is fresh and welcoming. Nobody likes to go to the hospital or the doctor, but the brightness and beauty of this facility makes it a far more pleasant experience.” Continued on Page 12
the 5th floor |
DIAGNOSTICS & THERAPY SERVICES
RETAIL PHARMACY The Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy is a time-saving convenience for patients and their families who can fill prescriptions at discharge and/or purchase over-the-counter products. It’s also open to the community.
REHABILITATION CENTER A state-of-the-art suite provides high-quality physical, occupational, and speech therapies in a large, comfortable space.
CAFÉ Café Kara offers a variety of fresh food options for patients and visitors.
MAIN ENTRANCE/LOBBY The guest experience creates a signature entrance to Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. The lobby maintains a seamless flow so that family and care providers can focus on the comfort and well-being of the patient.
n Circulation n Reception n Mechanicals n Medical Imaging n Registration
n Support n Pharmacy n Conference Center n Lobby/Reception n PAT/Phlebotomy
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n Rehabilitation Center n Café Kara n Outdoor Patio
PRE-ADMISSION TESTING CENTER (PAT) The PAT creates a one-stop shop for all essential services required for a planned procedure and allows patients to have all their tests performed in one, easy location to ensure they are ready for surgery.
on 5:
“I was proud to join my colleagues in southwestern Pennsylvania to help St. Clair Health secure state funding for its new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. This new facility will provide an improved, integrated outpatient experience for families and senior citizens in our community for years to come. I remain deeply committed to helping local organizations better serve the hardworking men and women in our region.” – U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (14th)
P H Y S I C A L & O C C U PAT I O N A L T H E R A P Y S U I T E
Improving the outpatient therapy experience St. Clair Health is stretching and strengthening its ability to provide greater convenience, comfort and integrated care to all patients who require outpatient therapy. Located directly inside the main entrance of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is a new, state-of-the-art rehabilitation suite, which provides high-quality physical, occupational and speech therapies in a larger, more functional space. “Comfort is always a focus of ours,” says Lauren Cerqua, Manager of Therapy Services. “Here, there is more room, so patients won’t feel crowded. The treatment rooms are also spacious, with lots of natural light for a more healing environment.” While the new suite is big on space, it’s also big on thoughtful details. Much planning and research went into creating the optimal environment for patients, as well as staff. For example, while the gym space is open and airy, the suite offers movable, retractable screens for patients who want more privacy. “We always try to put ourselves in the patient’s place, to be thoughtful of the details that will make them more comfortable,” says Cerqua.
Working closely with the design team, Cerqua was highly involved in creating a space that focused on safety and function. “I was particular about a lot of details — right down to where the electrical outlets were placed. I appreciated that St. Clair valued our input and involved us in the process.” More integrated care is another benefit of the new suite. Since Dunlap Family Outpatient Center houses orthopedics, urology, cardiology and cancer groups, the therapy suite is able to easily partner with these physicians to schedule patients and provide specialized therapy care. “One of the best advantages of working in an independent health care system is the close relationship you have with referring providers and physicians,” says Cerqua. “You can literally text them or call them on the phone to confer. I’m looking forward to the physicians at Dunlap dropping in to see how their patients are coming along with their therapy.” The new facility is designed to grow and change according to the needs of the population. While it opened using existing staff, the plan is to expand, adding specialists, equipment and services as needs are identified. Cerqua envisions the suite eventually becoming a wellness and education center for the community, offering classes in yoga, stress reduction, breathing, mindfulness, and continued strengthening for joint replacement patients. When the new suite is completely up and running, its greater capacity offers greater opportunity to help more patients. “Patients always have a choice,” says Cerqua. “We differentiate our care by offering a high-quality experience and one-on-one time with therapists. The connection you build with your therapy team is as important as the equipment. Being compassionate and caring goes a long way on top of therapy skills. That’s what sets us apart. I know patients will love the new space and the new experience we are providing.” n
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WELCOME T O DUN LA P FAMILY OU T PATI ENT C ENTER Continued from Page 10
“Dunlap Family Outpatient Center will prove to be a crown jewel for our region, and the state, by delivering expert modern medicine in a highly efficient and convenient facility. They will certainly attract patients from all over our state and region. We are very proud of the facility, as well as the growth of St. Clair Health over the years. They are highly rated and have a wonderful association with Mayo Clinic, and they will only continue to grow further with this new center.” – State Sen. Wayne Fontana (42nd)
A synergy between communities Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is exceptional for many reasons, including its unusual location. The building straddles two South Hills communities: Mt. Lebanon Township and Scott Township. This brought logistical challenges, but not political ones: as longtime neighbors, Mt. Lebanon and Scott townships have a history of cooperation and sharing services, and longstanding relationships with St. Clair. “The challenge was that we each have our own zoning laws and policies,” explains Keith McGill, Mt. Lebanon’s Municipal Manager. “Denise Fitzgerald, township manager for Scott Township, and I had to take the project through the approval process on a parallel path. Fortunately, this was not an insurmountable obstacle.” A greater challenge, explains McGill, was a nearby intersection that had to be re-aligned. “The road, which is in Scott, had to be shifted
because it was an offset (asymmetric alignment) intersection. This project actually corrected that and ultimately, it benefited both communities. We were able to provide PennDot’s GreenLight-Go program.” McGill says St. Clair is a gracious partner. “St. Clair is a great communicator; they reach out and pull you in. There is tremendous synergy between St. Clair and the community. It’s a major regional asset — our health care provider, but also the number-one employer in the region. The Hospital, plus everything that it brings, including the professionals who come here to work and to live, benefits Mt. Lebanon.” For this project, McGill says, St. Clair involved him early on. “They gave us an overview of the project, and since then we worked with them on many aspects of it. I’ve enjoyed watching the progress. St. Clair, being located in the heart of the community, is always cognizant of aesthetics
and fitting in with the community.” “It’s certainly different to have a building that is half in one place and half in another,” says Fitzgerald, the municipal manager of Scott Township. “Scott Township and Mt. Lebanon shared the responsibilities in order to get the building erected. We were a true team, and we worked with the engineers, architects, and St. Clair leaders, all of us collaborating to find a satisfactory solution. It has worked out well for everyone.” Fitzgerald agrees with McGill that St. Clair has always been a great partner. “We’re excited that Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is here. It’s going to be a tremendous asset; it’s centrally located and easily accessible. I’m looking forward to going there myself. With the new outpatient center, a piece of St. Clair is in Scott and we are proud of that.” Continued on Page 14
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on 5: A N I N T E G R AT E D W A L G R E E N S S P E C I A LT Y P H A R M A C Y
Offering patients a special touch with ‘Meds-to-Beds’ program Dunlap Family Outpatient Center has been designed to provide excellence in outpatient care and to enhance the patient experience through a full range of comprehensive, integrated services, conveniences and amenities. Providing all these services under one roof assures that patients have access to everything they need as they undergo a surgical procedure, visit their physicians’ offices, or have diagnostic testing. One of the most innovative features of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is the Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, conveniently located in the main lobby on the Fifth Floor. The presence of a retail pharmacy on-site is a major advantage for patients, both outpatient and inpatient, and their families, who can stop there at discharge to fill prescriptions or purchase an over-the-counter product. It’s also open to the community. The Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy at Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is the first one of its kind in Pittsburgh and the only one within 300 miles. St. Clair patients are able to take advantage of Walgreens‘ ‘Meds-toBeds’ program, which eases the transition to home after a procedure by providing the option of bedside delivery of prescription medications. A pharmacist or pharmacy technician delivers the medications, provides patient or caregiver education and answers questions. The program assures the patient leaves at discharge with the medications that he or she needs in hand, saving the patient a trip to a drugstore on the way home. “‘Meds-to-Beds’ is a profound convenience because studies have shown that a significant number of patients, post-operatively, do not fill their prescriptions right away,” says John T. Sullivan, M.D. MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for St. Clair Health. “They’re eager to get home and may not pick up their medications for several days. This can delay starting essential medications, such as antibiotics, cardiac medications, cancer medications or pain medication, and can lead to complications. The ‘Meds-to-Beds’ program at Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is a great benefit for patients.” ‘Meds-to-Beds’ is designed first and foremost to improve the patient experience. With the ‘Meds-to-Beds’ program, patients are discharged
WITH their prescription and OTC medications, and can go directly home to rest and recover. The Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy also provides exceptional services for oncology patients. “Patients living with cancer not only face being diagnosed with cancer but also additional financial, emotional and physical burdens, which can be all encompassing,” says John L. Colaizzi, Jr., PharmD., CCP, Director of Specialty Enablement Strategies at Walgreens. “When living with cancer, it’s important to be surrounded by a team you can count on. The team members at the Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy at Dunlap Family Outpatient Center work hand-in-hand with the St. Clair doctors, nurses and staff as part of the care team. The pharmacy can handle all of the patients’ medication needs, so those with a compromised immune system have just one stop, which is invaluable for the patient and their recovery.” The St. Clair Health and Walgreens model surrounds patients living with cancer with every aspect of the care they need all in-house, from medical oncology, surgery, the infusion center and other services offered through St. Clair Hospital Cancer Center, including radiation oncology in the adjacent Hospital. “Cancer is difficult enough, and to have everyone working together simplifies things and helps the patient by delivering bedside meds and discharge plans, which include everything they need to leave the Cancer Center and go home,” Colaizzi adds. Walgreens has partnered with hospitals across the U.S. to offer the ‘Meds-to-Beds’ program and other services. It is part of a pioneering effort by the company to deliver high-tech, specialty care with a personal touch and to take a more direct role in the clinical management of patients. Walgreens “Connected Care” pharmacists conduct a thorough assessment of complex patients, assessing their condition, treatment and medications, and providing a complete care regimen. They also identify resources for patients facing financial challenges, and assist the patients to apply. As one of the largest specialty pharmacies in the U.S., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy has unparalleled access to every available medication option, including Limited Distribution drugs. n
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Groundbreaking growth St. Clair is the region’s fastest growing hospital and one of the region’s few remaining independent hospitals, says Michael J. Flanagan, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at St. Clair Health. “Dunlap Family Outpatient Center was developed in response to the 130 percent growth in St. Clair’s outpatient volume since 2006,” Flanagan says. “In this same time span, outpatient surgeries have grown 19.5 percent, and inpatient cases have grown by 22 percent. Simply put, we’ve outgrown our facilities. By relocating outpatient services to Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, we now have greater flexibility in modernizing and expanding existing areas of
the Hospital for inpatient care.” Flanagan says the concept behind Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is very simple: It’s based on supporting the needs of St. Clair’s patients. Charles DiBello, Vice President, Facilities and Construction at St. Clair, calls Dunlap Family Outpatient Center a “tremendous resource” for people throughout St. Clair’s service region. He adds that the facility not only is a beautiful addition to the St. Clair Health campus, but offers expandable capabilities to match the future health care needs of the South Hills and its environs. In 2017, St. Clair launched a capital campaign called Groundbreaking Growth — a “stake in the
ground” to signify St. Clair’s visionary commitment to delivering the next generation of the highest quality health care and a better patient experience, through the construction of a new, comprehensive outpatient facility. While chair of St. Clair’s board of directors in 2019-20, Joseph B. Smith was involved in much of the planning and construction of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. “We had been talking about this project for at least five or six years before that,” Smith recalls, “and the question we asked ourselves was, ’How can we best position St. Clair as a leading regional health system for the future?’ Our goal was a facility that looked to the future and Continued on Page 16
the 6th floor |
JACK B. PIATT CENTER FOR SURGERY & ENDOSCOPY
OPERATING ROOMS Ten state-of-the-art suites designed around streamlining the full range of outpatient surgeries.
PROCEDURE ROOMS Two well-equipped units for minor surgical and pain medicine procedures that normally only require local anesthesia.
PACU 15 Post-Anesthesia Care Unit recovery beds for safe recovery from anesthesia after surgery.
ENDOSCOPY Six suites where services include colonoscopy, gastroscopy, endoscopic ultrasounds, manometry, and pH studies of the upper GI tract.
PRE-/POST-OP ROOMS 39 private rooms that give patients a “home” before and after surgical procedures.
n Circulation n Endoscopy n OR n PACU
n Pre/Post Op n Sterile Processing n Procedure n Support n Lobby/Reception n Registration
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“Health care is more important than ever right now. The pandemic has made us all keenly aware of how important it is to have adequate space to care for patients during a crisis. It is critical that we take steps to ensure that we are never in a situation like this again. Not having to travel into or across the city is a huge advantage for those of us lucky enough to live here. Our region owes a great deal of gratitude for the many partners involved in this endeavor and especially to the Dunlap family for their extreme generosity.” –State Rep. Natalie Mihalek (40th)
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met the needs of patients in a state-of-the-art facility. Dunlap Family Outpatient Center makes it possible for St. Clair to provide many specialized services, in an environment of friendliness and space, with great efficiency and privacy. It’s an exceptional facility, so well-conceived. Decisions were made to improve the experience of the patient and family, but also to create a better workplace for the staff, such as locating physician offices in close proximity to their treatment area. The amenities support the patients and the staff equally. St. Clair has been built in pieces over the years, which has made it a challenge to navigate, but in this facility you’ll be able to easily find your way around. Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is going to be a major differentiator for St. Clair. This new facility is a testament to the St. Clair staff, IKM architects and the contractors.” Thomas M. Medwig, who has chaired St. Clair Health, the Hospital’s parent corporation, for 24 years, agrees with Smith. “We saw the need for this facility early on. The outpatient center makes
the ORs more spacious. This new building is designed to meet the needs of the people of this community.” “Having a hospital in your community is very important to people here,” says David R. Heilman, who served as chair of St. Clair Hospital’s board of directors 2014-19. “St. Clair is a full-service health system with tertiary level care and outstanding specialists, but it hasn’t always been easy to access. The Hospital was designed for inpatient care; the new facility was designed for easy access and comfort. Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is a truly world-class facility, with state-of-the-art equipment, that will make an incredible difference in access. It’s a welcoming environment with nothing institutional about it. I think people are going to be amazed by it and that it will attract patients from the community and beyond.” Lucas Piatt is the chief operating officer for Millcraft, a leading regional real estate development and management company that was
founded by his late father, Jack Piatt, a longtime trustee of and donor to St. Clair. “My father served on the board of the St. Clair Hospital Foundation for 20 years,” Piatt says. “St. Clair has always been a part of our family life: I can remember being at Summer Swing when I was 15. We believe in giving back; philanthropy is part of our mission at Millcraft. We want to have an economic impact, but also an impact on the health and quality of life of the community.” Piatt has visited the new facility, and says it is very impressive. “The building is incredible. It was a huge undertaking, with an excellent leadership team. Without a doubt, the new outpatient center will enhance the delivery of care at St. Clair. I’m proud that we were able to be a part of it, and we will continue to support St. Clair just as my father did.” St. Clair Health has named the Sixth Floor in Jack Piatt’s honor. Continued on Page 18
on 6: ENDOSCOPY SUITES:
An inside look at an improved space More room. More privacy. More comfort for patients and their families. That’s what the new outpatient endoscopy suites at Dunlap Family Outpatient Center are designed to deliver. Featuring six endoscopy suites — one more than is currently available at the Hospital — the new space provides room to grow and an improved layout that works better for patients and staff alike. Cindy Fabus, Operating Room Supervisor at Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, worked with design and leadership teams to help determine the optimal layout of each room and workflow. “We looked at best practices, and we visited other sites to get ideas,” she says. “The new space offers a much larger area, and the procedure rooms are in their own section. The suites work in a circular manner, so the flow is efficient and offers the best patient experience.” Unlike the current configuration at the Hospital, nearby pre-operative and post-operative bays give patients and their families a “home” before and after surgery. “Patients now have the same pre-op and post-op room,” explains Fabus. “It is a private place where they can be with their family, which will be a lot less stressful and more convenient. Basically, it’s one-stop — you’re admitted and discharged from one room.” Fabus describes the new space as more personal and relaxing with less commotion. She adds, “Anytime you can avoid going into a hospital setting for an outpatient procedure is always a plus.” The suites have state-of-the-art equipment and the ability to expand as volume increases and new physicians are brought on board. Services include colonoscopy, gastroscopy, endoscopic ultrasounds, manometry, and Ph studies of the upper GI tract. More services and innovations will be added as needed. “It’s a beautiful space and a wonderful opportunity to improve patient satisfaction,” says Fabus. “Patients are well taken care of, and in and out quickly. We’ve put a lot of thought into this effort. It is a much more pleasant experience for everyone.” n 16 I HouseCall I Volume XII Issue 4
“Increasing health care access is a key state goal. St. Clair Health outpatient services are important, both locally and regionally. St. Clair is the number one health system that constituents in my district access, but it is also a regional asset. Supporting the buildout of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is more necessary than ever, and that is why I supported it.” – State Rep. Dan Miller (42nd)
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WELCOME T O DUN LA P FAMILY OU T PATI ENT C ENTER Continued from Page 16
Integrated care is better care. The location of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center on the main campus of St. Clair brings together St. Clair’s family of physicians in a new location. This physical proximity, with everyone under one roof, interacting more often and more easily, fosters closer relationships, teamwork and collaboration, all of which translate into greater integration of care and enhanced quality of care. An integrated setting fosters the sharing of experiences, resources and ideas among physicians, says Vincent E. Reyes, Jr., M.D., Chief of Hematology and Medical Oncology at St. Clair.
the 7th floor |
“The new location enables us to bring our cancer team — medical oncology, oncologic surgery, and radiation oncology, which is affiliated with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center — together on the main campus. For a long time, we were 10 minutes away, but now we are attached. Being physically closer facilitates communication and enhances our multidisciplinary cancer care teamwork and quality of care. I look forward to an enhanced sense of community with other physicians.” Integrated care makes perfect sense, says Mrs. Hammel, the St. Clair Health Foundation
board member. “Physical therapy and orthopedics belong together; the cancer center and the infusion center belong together. When these services are adjacent, and the patients have less distance to travel, they experience less stress. That’s better quality of care and a better experience.” “We know that health care quality is about people and processes,” says Dr. Sullivan, the chief medical officer at St. Clair. Continued on Page 22
SPECIALTY CLINICS & INFUSION CENTER
OPHTHALMOLOGY Offering a multi-specialty practice with advanced equipment and technology for the treatment of medical and surgical eye and vision problems.
ORTHOPEDICS Presenting a clinic where specialists see patients to resolve everything from sports medicine injuries to upper and lower extremity surgery to joint replacement.
CARDIOLOGY Cutting-edge, comprehensive care from longtime leaders in cardiovascular services.
UROLOGY The region’s leading urologists work together with a whole-person approach to complete urologic health.
MEDICAL ONCOLOGY & INFUSION CENTER Enhancing multidisciplinary cancer care with the addition of infusion-based services from a team of experts in affiliation with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
CARDIAC TESTING CENTER This state-of-the-art center is equipped with the most advanced cardiac diagnostic technology available. The suite offers a full range of cardiac diagnostic services, including nuclear cardiology testing, echocardiograms, stress testing, EKGs, and Holter and event monitor placement.
n Circulation n Reception n Ophthalmology n Cardiac Testing Center
n Cancer Center n Cardiology n Orthopedics n Urology
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n Support n Surgery Support n Lobby/Reception
“The health care industry is one of the cornerstones of the regional economy, and an enormous benefit to those living in this community. Our residents get access to world-class health care at some of the most advanced and efficient facilities in the world, such as Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. The Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County is proud to partner with The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and St. Clair Health on this project.”
– Lance Chimka Director, Allegheny County Economic Development
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WELCOME T O DUN LA P FAMILY OU T PATI ENT C ENTER
on 7:
CARDIAC TESTING CENTER
Taking excellence and convenience to heart St. Clair Health has always been committed to providing outstanding cardiac care to the community. Now they’re taking that promise a step further — by making care and testing a few steps closer for patients and their families. “Getting to the new St. Clair Hospital Cardiac Testing Center is easy,” remarks Linda Pantelis, Director of Cardiovascular and Critical Care Services. “It is located on the Seventh Floor of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center.” Adding to the convenience are new cardiology physician offices adjacent to the suite. “Being able to see your cardiologist and then have your appointment for cardiac testing in the same area is ideal for patients and less stressful,” says Cleo Maslonek, Manager, Cardiac Diagnostic Services. Patients and their families will also appreciate a brand new, beautiful space equipped with the most technologically advanced systems. The suite offers a multitude of cardiac testing and imaging services, including echocardiograms, stress echocardiograms and treadmill stress testing, nuclear stress testing, EKGs, and Holter and event monitor placements. “The equipment is state-of-the-art, including a new Cardiac MRI magnet,” says Maslonek. “It’s the highest quality advanced cardiac imaging available today, which will help guide our physicians in developing the best plan of care for their patients.” Improving comfort was key in designing the new suites, as well. Patients and their companions enjoy a larger waiting room with comfortable seating and calming colors. Those who require testing that is longer in duration are afforded comfort and privacy in one of three private patient bays. “Each bay has natural lighting and divider walls
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to enhance privacy,” says Pantelis. “Patient feedback from our other outpatient centers in Village Square and Peters Township helped us improve the design.” Another feature is a private dressing room and lockers where patients can store their belongings during testing. “We revamped the entire layout to provide a better patient flow, to make it more convenient for our patients and staff,” says Maslonek. “We took insights from our team who do the job every day and looked at it from a patient’s point of view.” Pantelis adds, “There’s been a lot of planning related to hours of operation and services in an effort to meet individual testing needs.” While outpatient cardiac diagnostic services will continue to be offered at the Peters and Village Square outpatient locations, both Pantelis and Maslonek are excited to be able to offer this new, improved outpatient experience closer to the Hospital, where acute care is just a corridor away. “Our patients are our number-one priority,” says Maslonek. “The new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is helping improve our patient care by enabling us to offer state-of-the-art cardiac imaging in a space that’s focused as much on comfort as function.” Pantelis adds, “We have an outstanding cardiac team of highly trained, well respected physicians, and compassionate professional staff, all committed to offering exceptional care and an unparalleled experience. The new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center serves our community by offering state-of-the-art, expert testing and care close to home.” n
on 7: THE D-SPECT® NUCLEAR CARDIAC CAMERA
Much better imaging in much less time At Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, Cardiac Diagnostics has expanded to include an impressive new cardiac MRI magnet, a new fleet of echocardiogram machines and a new nuclear cardiology camera that enhances accuracy, comfort, and speed. “This is the most modern outpatient cardiac diagnostic center in western Pennsylvania,” states Christopher Pray, M.D., FACC, Cardiologist, Director of Cardiac Imaging and the Heart Failure Program at St. Clair Health. “It’s going to expand the scope and quality of care that we can provide to patients.” Dr. Pray selected the D-SPECT® Nuclear Cardiac Camera because its high-resolution produces a clearer, more accurate picture of the patient’s heart and blood flow. Equally important, it can do it in a fraction of the amount of time, with a fraction of the usual dose of radiation. Typically, getting a nuclear stress test takes about four hours, including two rounds of about 20-30 minutes in a nuclear camera. “Patients used to have to hold their arms over their heads, lying down in a long, skinny tube. With the new camera, they’re sitting upright in a tiltable chair, with their arms more comfortably positioned. There’s no claustrophobia,” says Dr. Pray. “And the images are typically obtained in just 2 to 4 minutes.” In addition to offering more accurate images and a shorter, more comfortable experience, the D-SPECT requires a much smaller dose of the radioactive tracer that’s injected into patients.
“It shortens their stay. They get a lot less radiation. And we can make a better diagnosis. It’s a win for our patients, doctors and staff from an efficiency and quality standpoint.” Dr. Pray believes the new, modern facility matches the quality of care that St. Clair Health is providing. “We’ve made great strides in cardiology. We’ve attracted and recruited some unbelievably talented cardiac surgeons and cardiologists. We’re doing some high-end procedures that have never been done at St. Clair before. And our equipment is state-of-the-art. The physical presence of the new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is instilling confidence in patients that they are at the best place in the region to receive the most current, up-to-date, sophisticated heart care.” n
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Fortified for a vibrant future Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is on the cutting edge of current trends in the health care industry. “We saw early on that outpatient care was going to be the future of health care,” says G. Alan Yeasted, M.D., co-chair of St. Clair Health Foundation, and Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Emeritus at St. Clair. “Outpatient care has long been an essential element of the health care continuum, but it has grown in importance and there is an increasing demand for outpatient services.” “Dunlap Family Outpatient Center symbolizes that St. Clair is a first-class health system and a great community asset,” says John P. Meegan,
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chair of St. Clair Health’s board of directors. “St. Clair is a destination of choice for people in need of high-quality health care services. It also is an employer of choice for health care professionals, for whom it is a great work environment.” Gary J. Zentner, one of the longest serving members of St. Clair Health’s board of directors, and current co-chairman of St. Clair Health Foundation, says, “St. Clair has always had a culture of caregiving and that was a firm foundation to build on. We knew that health care was trending toward the ambulatory care setting and Dunlap Family Outpatient Center addresses that shift. The needs of the community are being
met here and this puts the community at the forefront of outpatient medical care.” Henry H. Ting, M.D., MBA, was Chief Value Officer for Mayo Clinic and Chair, Department of Quality and Affordability, when he visited St. Clair in 2018 to help the Hospital mark the three-year anniversary of its membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network. Dr. Ting says High Value Health Care is the future of health care in the U.S., and he defines that as improving the value of health care by getting the best outcomes at the lowest costs. To achieve this, the health care system needs a transformation, Dr. Ting says, and that transformation will include more outpatient care.
“I extend my congratulations to St. Clair Health and the greater Pittsburgh community on the opening of Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. My administration is pleased to support this project through a $13 million state Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program grant. For more than 65 years, St. Clair has been a community-focused, quality-driven care provider in Pittsburgh’s South Hills. St. Clair has been recognized as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® seven times, most recently in 2021. The new Dunlap Family Outpatient Center will help the staff of St. Clair further their mission to meet the health care needs of Pennsylvanians in the Pittsburgh region. This facility is both a statement about St. Clair’s commitment to serving its community and an investment in the long-term health of the region. Thank you to the staff, donors and community members who helped bring this facility to life.” - Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf
By 2030, Dr. Ting predicts, hospitals will be primarily intensive care units, with the bulk of noncritical care moved to the outpatient setting and the home setting, with more remote monitoring and virtual care. Many developments are contributing to this transition, including medical tests, services, and surgical procedures that do not require an overnight stay; telemedicine; digital wearable devices that send data directly to clinicians; and more preventive care, self-care and reliance on the Internet for health information. “Incredible advances in medicine and technology are enabling tests and treatments that were unimaginable decades ago to now
be performed on an outpatient basis,” says Dr. Yeasted. “And we expect that trend to not only continue but accelerate into the future.” For McGill, the manager of Mt. Lebanon, St. Clair’s future is a personal matter. “In my position as Municipal Manager of Mt. Lebanon, I take every opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous asset that St. Clair is to the community. St. Clair has gone against the trend; while other hospitals struggle, St. Clair keeps growing and thriving. I commend the entire St. Clair team for their ability to consistently adapt to changes in health care. “Since the age of three, I have had experiences with St. Clair, with family members. My mother
is 93 now and has had three types of cancer; she has always had exceptional care from the doctors and nurses at St. Clair. Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is a fantastic addition, with all that space, the broad range of services and technology, and all those doctors in one place. You can have the most modern facility, but you also have to attract people who truly care. My experience with my mother showed me that the staff goes beyond what is required. They cared for my mother as they would have cared for their own. St. Clair is an absolute source of pride for this community and we are looking forward to St. Clair being here for a long, long time.” n
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S T . CLAIR HOS PITAL CA NCE R C E NTE R
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T H E N E W VA R I A N T R U E B E A M ™ L I N E A R A C C E L E R AT O R :
Advancing St. Clair’s cancer-care capabilities and enhancing integration of cancer services In the fight against cancer, patients need access to leading physicians with the most advanced technology and therapies for patient care. The St. Clair Hospital Cancer Center, in affiliation with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, is now offering advanced radiation therapy with the introduction of a new linear accelerator (LINAC). The new LINAC delivers advanced capabilities by providing Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), a form of radiation therapy that allows high energy x-ray beams to be focused with unparalled precision and intensity on a tumor. SBRT effectively eradicates the tumor but preserves the adjacent normal, healthy tissue. St. Clair’s new LINAC, with the commercial name TrueBeam™, is the most advanced model available, and will be fully operational by early summer, according to Felicia Snead, M.D., F.A.S.T.R.O., a boardcertified radiation oncologist and medical director of the Radiation Oncology department. Dr. Snead began her career as a radiation therapy technologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and has a bachelor’s of science degree in Radiologic Health Physics from Manhattan College in Riverdale, N.Y. She completed medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City and residency
training at New York Presbyterian-Columbia University. She loves the specialty, finding tremendous satisfaction in the human relationships she develops with patients and staff. “We have regular, weekly contact with our patients, which is rare in other medical disciplines,” she says. The new LINAC complements an existing model. The two LINAC machines give St. Clair’s radiation oncologist team the ability to not only treat greater numbers of patients with cancer, but to treat patients with more complex cancers. The other machine has the same capabilities as the new model, except for SBRT. Currently, the Radiation Oncology department treats 400 patients a year with the LINAC. With the additional LINAC model, that number is expected to rise to close to 500. “This advanced technology increases access to care and treatment therapies,” says Dr. Snead. “It provides our department with the ability to treat new, complex cases, close to home. It’s a new option for St. Clair.” Continued on Page 26
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St. Clair now offers patients one of the most advanced cancer technologies available today: The Varian TrueBeam™ Linear Accelerator. The TruBeam™ allows St. Clair’s cancer-care experts to perform advanced, non-invasive radiation therapy and radiosurgery anywhere in the body with extreme precision and efficiency.
In 2020, St. Clair embarked on a $3.5 million capital project to acquire advanced technology that would elevate and expand the Radiation Oncology department’s capabilities, enabling the staff to provide state-of-the-art radiologic cancer treatments to patients near their homes. Up until now, patients who needed SBRT had to travel to UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Shadyside. SBRT is a form of stereotactic radiosurgery, a minimally invasive approach in which cancer is treated with x-ray beams instead of surgical incisions. “Stereotactic” refers to techniques that enable physicians to position probes inside the body with accuracy. SBRT uses much higher doses than standard radiation therapy, which means a shorter schedule of treatment, and a better chance of killing the tumor. “The most common uses of SBRT are for early-stage lung cancer, prostate cancer and oligometastases, which is metastatic cancer but with fewer than five sites,” explains Dr. Snead. “SBRT allows the beam to be focused with greater precision and therefore tighter margins. We can intensify the dose of radiation while sparing normal tissue.” A LINAC is a highly specialized x-ray machine that directs radiation beams to a tumor, destroying it by damaging its DNA and shutting off the blood supply. The LINAC with SBRT capability combines Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) with standard radiation therapy to meticulously manage the position of the tumor. It captures 3D images of the tumor to confirm that the radiation beams are always targeting the tumor precisely, even when it is
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moving with the patient’s respiration — a technique known as respiratory gating. IGRT provides the radiation oncology team with information prior to the start of treatment, enabling them to precisely plan and tailor treatment to the individual patient. IGRT tracks a tumor throughout treatment, which is necessary because a tumor may change its shape or alter its position in the body as treatment progresses. St. Clair’s radiation oncology service has a cohesive and experienced team comprised of Dr. Snead and Jordan A. Torok, M.D.; five radiation therapists; medical physicists; medical dosimetrists; and radiation nurses. The staff underwent specialized training in preparation for the new LINAC, as well as the new SBRT program. “This field is very physics-driven, and technology driven, and everyone in the department, about 20 staff members, is highly skilled, educated and credentialed,” says Dr. Snead. Dr. Torok, who joined the St. Clair medical staff last summer from Duke University Medical Center, has a special interest and extensive experience in SBRT. “At Duke, where I completed a residency, we had an active SBRT program,” he says. “I was on the faculty there for several years. I specialized in treating lung and spinal malignancies with SBRT. I was attracted to St. Clair by the implementation of SBRT here, by the idea of bringing the department to the next level with Dr. Snead. It’s a great department. St. Clair provides excellence in radiation therapy, with a staff who serve the community very well.”
Diagnostic procedures, services and therapies in one convenient place Dr. Snead is eager to offer SBRT to St. Clair patients, and is excited about the move of medical oncology to Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. “Moving medical oncology to Dunlap Family Outpatient Center will have great benefits for the staff, but it will primarily benefit the patients, especially the ones who are receiving concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy. People with cancer can be easily overwhelmed with the whole process, so anything we can do that simplifies or streamlines their care is important. The relocation of medical oncology to Dunlap Family Outpatient Center means patients have improved access to the care they need. Patients can access the full range of oncology services and
“I work closely with colleagues in medical oncology and oncologic surgery to care for my patients,” he says. “Radiation therapy is often combined with surgery and chemotherapy in a three-pronged approach to cancer treatment, but not all cancers require radiation therapy. We treat all cancer types at St. Clair. We hold weekly cancer-care conferences with all the departments involved in cancer treatment, to continuously improve our treatment approaches and tailor them to complex cases. St. Clair has a comprehensive radiation therapy program and all of us in this department take great pride in our level of care. We also work very closely with area physicians.”
A new one-stop shop benefits cancer patients
Dr. Torok says that although the Radiation Oncology department therapies without ever leaving St. Clair’s campus.” is not moving from its current location, it benefits mightily from the Dr. Snead says that emphasis on the patient experience is relocation of medical oncology to Dunlap Family Outpatient Center. fundamental to the care provided in the Radiation Oncology “For the entire cancer care team, having the proximity of surgical department. “’Patients First’ is, without a doubt, our philosophy. oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology all centrally We are fortunate here in our radiation oncology department to have located on St. Clair’s campus will foster closer relationships and the best staff. Everyone goes above and beyond to make sure the collaboration. Most importantly, patients will now have a ‘one-stop patients have the best care and best possible experience. People shop’ for their care. It’s exciting to have this major change at with cancer are feeling a range of emotions; they may be very St. Clair, and I’m looking forward to offering new, emerging scared or angry. Our staff is responsive to whatever they are feeling. options in radiation therapy for cancer patients.” n The side effects of radiation therapy can sometimes be significant, and when that is the case, we often collaborate with the medical oncology team.” A partnership already exists between radiation oncology and medical oncology, Dr. Snead says. “We have strong connections and frequent communication with our medical oncology teammates. The physicians and nurses in both departments communicate with each other all day long. With medical oncology moving to Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, we’re able to offer more supportive services for cancer patients. I believe healing is a dynamic Jordan A. Torok, M.D. Felicia Snead, M.D., experience that is more than just the prescribed medication or F.A.S.T.R.O. treatment. I have an interest in the use of art to enhance well-being and have a graduate certificate from the University of Florida’s Arts and Medicine program. I believe the arts can be an enriching part of self-care for cancer patients and providers.” Dr. Torok was inspired to become a physician by his father, St. Clair radiologist Frank Torok, M.D., and says he chose radiation oncology after witnessing the experience of a family member who went through cancer treatment. He completed undergraduate studies at Bucknell University and received his medical degree from Penn State University College of Medicine. Dr. Torok completed an internship at Carolinas Medical Center, followed by a radiation oncology residency at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
Volume XII Issue 4 I HouseCall I 27
1000 Bower Hill Road Pittsburgh, PA 15243 stclair.org
> To find a doctor, along with a full list of services and locations, visit stclair.org General & Patient Information: 412.942.4000
St. Clair Health:
A new chapter of health care begins here.
See the video at www.stclair.org/dunlap Dunlap Family Outpatient Center is a 280,000-square-foot, six-story facility that is the foundation of a transformative expansion as St. Clair rebrands to St. Clair Health. Located on the main campus, adjacent to the Hospital and conveniently connected directly to it, Dunlap Family Outpatient Center represents St. Clair’s largest expansion in four decades. The facility features a wealth of clinical services, resources and amenities that provide patients with efficient, convenient outpatient medical care and a comfortable, hassle-free personal experience.
HouseCall
is a publication of St. Clair Health. Articles are for informational purposes and are not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your personal physician.
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