What's New

Cancer Care Center at St. Mary’s Hospital to bring TomoTherapy
Local Leaders Named to the Board of St. Mary’s Hospital
Robert L. Smith, M.D. appointed Chief Medical Officer of St. Mary’s Hospital
St. Mary’s Hospital Named A Preferred Hospital for Caterpillar
St. Mary's Hospital Approved for Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility
Prominent Neurosurgeon to Join St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Staff
St. Mary’s Hospital Receives $800,000 Donation
St. Mary’s Hospital to Host American Red Cross Blood Drive
FREE Vascular Screenings
St. Mary’s Proposes To Open Rehabilitation Center
St. Mary's Hospital Welcomes Rock Springs Family Medical Center to Campus
St. Mary’s Hospital Welcomes Naeem Jatoi, M.D
St. Mary’s Hospital Gift Shop is Open for Business
St. Mary’s Hospital Goes Smoke-Free

The Cancer Care Center at St. Mary’s Hospital will provide Central Illinois cancer patients with the newest treatment available.

Decatur, IL – St. Mary’s Hospital is bringing TomoTherapy® to Central Illinois this spring.  TomoTherapy® is the most technologically advanced radiation therapy delivery system available today.  "The introduction of TomoTherapy® to St. Mary's Cancer Care Center marks a new era of cancer treatment for Central Illinois”, said Dr. James Wade, Medical Oncologist and founder of Cancer Care Specialists of Central Illinois, S.C.  “Patients will now have access to more precise radiation delivery at a level that was not previously available.  We are grateful to St. Mary's Hospital and the HSHS system for making this cutting edge technology available here in Decatur."

Construction and remodeling began in December at the Cancer Care Center on St. Mary’s campus to accommodate a state-of-the-art TomoTherapy® unit.  The multi-million dollar dynamic radiotherapy equipment looks like a CT scanner and allows for daily CT imaging to ensure unprecedented accuracy of radiation treatment delivery.  TomoTherapy® delivers continuous 360 degree Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) using tens of thousands of narrow beamlets targeting only the cancerous tissue while leaving healthy tissue virtually untouched.

“TomoTherapy® technology represents the most dramatic design change in radiation therapy equipment we’ve seen in decades” said Dr. Renata Moore, a Radiation Oncologist with Cancer Care Specialists of Central Illinois.  “The machine is similar in appearance to a conventional CT scanner and has the ability to image each patient daily prior to delivering a highly targeted IMRT treatment.  The process is entirely non-invasive, efficient, and without additional radiation exposure.”

In addition to TomoTherapy®, St. Mary’s will also install a new PET/CT unit.  PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography / Computed Tomography) combines two imaging systems to provide a higher level of diagnostic detail not attainable with stand-alone systems.  This noninvasive system is used to help physicians diagnose cancer in patients by detecting metabolic signals in the body and provides detailed structural pictures of anatomy, revealing the location, size and shape of cellular activity. 

Both the TomoTherapy® and PET/CT units at the Cancer Care Center at St. Mary’s are scheduled to be operational in April of 2008.  Currently, patients must travel to Chicago or St. Louis areas to receive this level of treatment. 

For more information, please contact Kelly Finn at 217-464-1300.  Further information about St. Mary’s Hospital and its services can be found at stmarysdecatur.com.

Decatur, IL – A new Board of Directors has been named for St. Mary’s Hospital, a change that will give local community leaders a greater role in charting a course of growth, quality patient care and medical excellence for St. Mary’s.

Kevin Breheny, local civic leader and President of J.L. Hubbard Insurance and Bonds, was elected Chairman of the Board.  Jon Robinson, of Bolen, Robinson & Ellis Law Firm was named Vice-Chairman and John Skeffington, President of Skeff Distributing will serve as Secretary. Kevin Kast, Chief Executive Officer for St. Mary’s will serve as President of the Hospital.

Other new Board members are Mark Cheviron, Corporate Vice President & Director of Corporate Security & Services for Archer Daniels Midland; Pat Dawson, President, Miles Chevrolet; and the Rev. Joseph Molloy, Pastor, Holy Family Church.  John J. White, M.D., a Surgeon with Surgical Specialists of Central Illinois, S.C., will remain on the Board, as will Sister Helen Marie Plummer, OSF. Sister Marybeth Culnan, OSF, Senior Vice President for Governance with the Hospital Sisters Health System, also will be joining the new Board.

St. Mary’s Hospital is one of thirteen hospitals in the Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS).  In the past, HSHS held most of the authority for all thirteen hospitals but recently directed each hospital to empower a new local Board of Directors, comprised primarily of community members, with a greater authority in the operation and direction of each institution.

“This is a significant, prudent, and exciting step in the history of St. Mary’s Hospital” Kast said.  “We’ve been blessed with wonderful Boards in the past, but much of the critical decision making on behalf of the hospital was made by the Hospital Sisters Health System Board in Springfield.

“Now, with increased local authority the decision making and approval processes will become more efficient for large projects, joint ventures, and expansions,” Kast added. “Policy, strategy, budget, and quality parameters will also be determined at the local level, providing greater community insight and oversight to the healing ministry”.

After the most recent Board meeting, some of the Board members were asked to give their perspective on the new structure:

Chairman Breheny stated, "I consider it an honor to be elected St. Mary's first local chairman.  I have great respect for the Hospital Sisters and look forward to working with them, Kevin Kast and the outstanding professionals at St. Mary's Hospital. Our purpose is to bring to life the mission of HSHS on a day to day basis."

“The new St. Mary’s Board structure provides an exciting opportunity for our local board members to demonstrate independent leadership at the Hospital.  As a part of that governing group, I am proud of the St. Mary’s faith-based approach to health care.  We look forward to many years of future service for St. Mary’s Hospital in this community,” said Vice-Chairman Robinson.

“The new Board structure of St. Mary’s allows us to continue on with the revitalization that started two years ago.  I believe we are on the right track now that we have more authority at the local level,” added Secretary Skeffington.

“The new board definitely has its finger on the pulse of St. Mary’s Hospital,” said Dr. White, who also is President of the St. Mary’s Medical Staff. “The board knows where we’ve been and knows where we need to go.  More local control will help accelerate our progress.”

For more information, contact Kelly Finn at 464-1300.  Further information about St. Mary’s Hospital services can be found at stmarysdecatur.com.

Robert L. Smith, M.D. appointed Chief Medical Officer of St. Mary’s Hospital

Decatur, IL – St. Mary’s Hospital is proud to announce that Robert L. Smith, M.D. has been named the Chief Medical Officer at the hospital effective July 1, 2007.  Dr. Smith, a family practitioner, will split his time between his practice, Rock Springs Family Medical Center, S.C., and St. Mary’s.

As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Smith will be the principal liaison between the medical staff and the administration of the hospital, ensuring that St. Mary’s is an outstanding place for physicians to practice medicine and admit patients.  He will also assist with physician recruitment, technology assessment and medical resource management.  Dr. Smith will have administrative and clinical oversight of continuous quality improvement initiatives.

“Dr. Smith’s background as an exceptional physician and as current Medical Director for Millikin University makes him especially qualified for this position,” said Kevin Kast, Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary Hospital.  “St. Mary’s and Dr. Smith share a common vision that quality of care is the most important goal of the hospital.”

Dr. Smith attended medical school at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois.  He received his undergraduate degree from Millikin University.  He is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice, and is a diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.

St. Mary’s Hospital Named A Preferred Hospital for Caterpillar

Decatur, IL – St. Mary’s Hospital is proud to announce that Caterpillar has chosen St. Mary’s as a preferred hospital for all members of the Caterpillar health plan effective August 1, 2007.

St. Mary’s will be a fully participating, preferred hospital for all Caterpillar employees and retirees for the entire range of health care needs, including inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitation, diagnostic and laboratory testing, and behavioral health services.   In addition, Caterpillar plan members will also be able to access St. Mary’s comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation facility once it opens in 2008.  The rehabilitation facility will serve victims of stroke, trauma and other conditions requiring three hours a day of physical therapy.

“St. Mary’s and its employees are very pleased to have the opportunity to provide exceptional customer service and patient care to all Caterpillar employees, their families and retirees,” said Kevin Kast, Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary Hospital.  “St. Mary’s is committed to providing an outstanding level of quality throughout the hospital and will work hard to make sure we exceed the expectations of Caterpillar and its employees.”

A Caterpillar member services hotline has been set up, which is immediately available.  The phone number is 464-1400 and will be answered between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.  Representatives are available to assist Caterpillar health plan members with questions regarding medical records, billing, and any other question they may have related to St. Mary’s.

St. Mary's Hospital Receives Approval To Move Forward
With Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility

Decatur, IL - On Tuesday, June 12, St. Mary's Hospital received approval from the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board to move forward with plans to build Macon County's only inpatient comprehensive rehabilitation facility.  Currently, the closest programs are in Springfield and Champaign.

The new service will treat patients who have experienced stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation and other musculoskeletal and neurological trauma.  Patients in the facility will be admitted to the "hospital within a hospital" when they are ready for three hours a day of physical medicine therapies. 

"We are extremely pleased that the Planning Board approved this project," said Kevin Kast, Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary's Hospital, "These patients need significant support from family and friends, and being able to offer this service locally will enhance the exceptional care St. Mary's already offers the community."

The new facility will be constructed on the 7th floor of the hospital, currently the site of an extended care unit.  The new facility will have twenty beds, while the extended care unit will be reduced to fourteen beds, which will concentrate on skilled nursing services.  St. Mary’s will work with area nursing homes to provide care to those who require long-term care.  Construction of the rehabilitation facility will start within 60 days, with a projected opening date of no later than July 1, 2008.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the annual incidence of spinal cord injuries is 4 per 100,000 persons, with most spinal cord injuries occurring in persons 16 to 30 years of age.  The annual incidence of traumatic brain injuries is 79 per 100,000, with over 75% resulting from falls and motor vehicle accidents.  According to the National Institute of Health, the annual incidence of stroke is over 230 per 100,000 persons, with the highest incidence among the elderly. 

St. Mary's Hospital is a 371-bed, acute care hospital that has been providing faith-based care in the Decatur community for 129 years.  For more on St. Mary's, please visit our website at www.stmarysdecatur.com.

Prominent Neurosurgeon to Join St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Staff

St. Mary’s Hospital is proud to announce that Terrence L. Pencek, M.D., Ph.D. will join the St. Mary’s Hospital medical staff as of June 1, 2007. Dr. Pencek, a neurosurgeon, is establishing an office in Decatur, and will begin seeing patients and performing surgery in Decatur in early June.

Dr. Pencek is formerly the Chairman of both the Division of Neurosurgery for the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and the Neurosurgery Department at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. He is a past president of the Illinois Neurosurgical Society, and has been a professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Rush Medical College in the fields of neurosurgery and neurophysiology. In 2005 and 2006, he was selected to be included in The Best Doctors in America. He has also been in Who’s Who in America.

Dr. Pencek attended medical school at Rush Medical College in Chicago, and received his doctorate from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Neurophysiology. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is a diplomat of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons.

Dr. Pencek has an extensive background in research and has published numerous articles. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, Scotland.

“St. Mary’s is thrilled to have Dr. Pencek join the medical staff,” said Kevin F. Kast, Chief Executive Officer, “He is an exceptional physician and many Decatur physicians have been referring patients to him for years. I’m confident that his talent and skill will be a great asset to both the hospital and the community.”
Dr. Pencek will treat brain diseases and hemorrhages and complex spinal problems. He is the only member of the Spine Arthoplasty Society in Central Illinois.

For more information, please contact Kelly Hazenfield at 217-464-2315. Further information about St. Mary’s Hospital and its services can be found at stmarysdecatur.com.

St. Mary’s Hospital Receives $800,000 Donation

The Sisters and staff of St. Mary’s Hospital recently received an $800,000 gift from the estate of Miss Florence Compton, a Decatur native. The generous gift will be used according to the wishes of the late Miss Compton and will benefit the Clara F. Compton Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund, the Edmund J. Powell Memorial Medical Reference Library Fund, and the F. Wendell Compton Memorial Hospital Grounds Enhancement Fund.

Miss Compton, who resided in Washington D.C. for most of her adult life, maintained a warm and friendly relationship with the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital, after her sister was treated as a patient.

Kevin Kast, Chief Executive Officer for St. Mary’s Hospital, was humbled by the generosity of the gift and said “although the hospital is the recipient of this donation, it is the people of Decatur that will ultimately benefit from Miss Compton’s charitable nature”. In addition, Bentley Bolen, Foundation Director, said “We owe deep gratitude to Miss Compton and the numerous individuals who have supported the mission of St. Mary’s through giving to our Foundation”.

The Friends of St. Mary’s Foundation was established in 1988 which began an ongoing program of philanthropy to serve as a bond with the community and provide resources to help further our mission of health care to all persons, regardless of ability to pay. These additional resources of income enable St. Mary’s to continuously upgrade the health and medical services provided to the people of Decatur and surrounding areas.

For more information, please contact Shelli Brunner or Bentley Bolen at 464-2520.

St. Mary’s Hospital to Host American Red Cross Blood Drive

To help boost the Red Cross blood supply, St. Mary’s Hospital will host a blood drive on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Hospital Forum. Donors will receive a free Red Cross t-shirt and a chance to win a $25.00 Beach House gift certificate.

To keep pace with the rising demand for blood, the Red Cross is asking more people to roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life. The need for blood is growing because of medical advancements and changing demographics. Thirty-eight percent of all blood products are used today for people 65 and older. This population is expected to grow 14 percent in the next 10 years, almost twice as fast as the rest of the population. Most healthy people who are at least 17 years-old and weigh 110 pounds or more are eligible to donate every 56 days.

To schedule an appointment, please call 464-7569. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are always welcome.

St. Mary's Hospital and Surgical Specialists of Decatur to Host FREE Vascular Screenings

Decatur, IL –  Did you know that vascular disease causes more disability and death than cancer? Vascular disease can severely reduce circulation to the legs, affect cerebral blood flow that can lead to stroke, and cause potentially lethal aneurysms of the aorta. Early detection is important to reduce the likelihood of severe complications, but few people are aware of the simple, non-invasive procedures available for detection of vascular disease. The good news is that excellent treatment options are available. If you are age 55 or older and have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and/or diabetes, you may be at risk for vascular disease. 

St. Mary's Hospital and Surgical Specialists of Decatur will hold FREE Vascular Screenings (Stroke/Carotid Artery, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, and Peripheral Arterial Disease) on

Saturday, March 17, 2007
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
St. Mary’s Hospital Forum

The vascular screenings offered quickly detect abnormalities that can cause disrupted blood flow and increase one's risk of heart attack or stroke.

Please call 464-2976 to schedule your FREE tests.

St. Mary’s Proposes To Open Rehabilitation Center

St. Mary’s Hospital, serving the community for almost 130 years, intends to add a new service for the community.  St. Mary’s recently filed a letter of intent with the state of Illinois’ Health Facilities Planning Board to open the St. Mary’s Center for Rehabilitation Medicine.  The twenty-bed center would be dedicated to a new inpatient comprehensive rehabilitation program and encompass a full service line in physical medicine.  Effectively, the new Center will be a hospital within a hospital, distinctly licensed and accredited, and certified under Medicare and Medicaid.
 
The new program will care for those patients who require intense and multiple forms of therapy, including physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, therapy in activities of daily living, and other treatments.  Patients cared for in the program will include those with strokes, head and spinal cord injuries, major multiple traumas, major joint replacements, severe fractures of the hips and lower extremities, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, and burn victims. 

A unique benefit for patients in having the comprehensive rehabilitation program at St. Mary’s is that the hospital is the county’s only comprehensive mental health services provider.  Depression is a prevalent co-morbidity of patients with significant physical disabilities following injury or illness.  “No program similar to the proposed Center for Rehabilitation Medicine exists in our community at this time,” said Kevin F. Kast, Executive Vice President/Administrator of St. Mary’s Hospital, “The Center for Rehabilitation will fully integrate mental health and physical rehabilitation services to maximize the patient’s potential to return to their quality of life before the injury or illness.”

“The intensive therapy, at least three hours daily, is critical for each patient to enhance their potential recovery and achieve their maximum level of physical rehabilitation,” Kast further explained.  “The integration of physical medicine and mental health services will serve to ameliorate often occurring depression, and with the involvement of their family, friends and clergy, help to motivate the patient toward recovery.  With the closest acute care rehabilitation programs located in Springfield and Champaign, given the average length of stay being weeks not days, it is a tremendous hardship on family, friends and clergy to stay active daily with the patient and provide much needed support and motivation.  The continuous involvement of family, friends and clergy for support, assistance and motivation for the patient is why the St. Mary’s Center for Rehabilitation Medicine is needed locally in Macon County.”

“The addition of this much needed service to our community denotes the continuation of the Hospital Sisters’ nearly 130 year healing ministry in the Decatur region,” said Kast.  “The Sisters believe in caring for the whole person – physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.  St. Mary’s proposed new comprehensive physical medicine program is in keeping with the Sisters’ mission and philosophy.”

St. Mary's Hospital Welcomes Rock Springs Family Medical Center to Campus
St. Mary’s Hospital proudly welcomes the Physicians and staff of the Rock Springs Family Medical Center to their new location on the St. Mary’s campus.  The practice relocated from the west side of Decatur, Wyckles Road area, to the St. Mary’s campus in early August.
Dr. Robert Smith and Dr. David Gregory along with their staff offer “care that doesn’t stop at the office door”.  If you need to be seen in the hospital or at a nursing home they will be there to see you.  Dr. Smith and Dr. Gregory bring with them an experienced and caring staff, including an American Diabetes Association certified Nurse Practitioner, Judy Minton, and Macon County’s most experienced Physician’s Assistant, J. Vincent Wright.

Rock Springs Family Medical Center is now accepting new patients at 1770 E. Lake Shore Drive, Suite 207.  For additional information or to schedule an appointment please call 429-9700.

St. Mary’s Hospital Welcomes Naeem Jatoi, M.D
St. Mary’s Hospital welcomes Naeem Jatoi, M.D., internal medicine physician, who has established a new practice, Jatoi Clinic, Ltd. on the hospital’s campus. Dr. Jatoi has special interest in cardiac heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, smoking cessation and obesity.

Prior to joining St. Mary’s campus, Dr. Jatoi spent 4 years working with the CHIC Clinic in Decatur. During his time with the clinic he cared for the indigent population of Decatur practicing his specialty, internal medicine, for some of the most needy in our community.

“This is a great pleasure and opportunity for me. I thank St. Mary’s for enabling this experience and I look forward to serving the community while going forward with the practice of internal medicine in Decatur”, Dr. Jatoi said.

Dr. Jatoi completed his residency at Southern Illinois University, Springfield, including an additional year as Chief Resident.

Dr. Jatoi is accepting new patients and his office is located at 1750 E. Lake Shore Drive, Suite 100. For more information contact his office at 217-475-2880.

St. Mary’s Hospital Gift Shop is Open for Business
The St. Mary’s Hospital Gift Shop reopened July 5. The open concept was designed to give our customers easier access to merchandise and more elbow room to move around. The auxiliary volunteers, working the shop, will be happy to help you with your next purchase be it a snack, reading material, a gift, or floral arrangement.

St. Mary’s Hospital Goes Smoke-Free
On July 4, 2006, St. Mary’s Hospital joined many other hospitals nation-wide who have already gone smoke-free. Tobacco use of any kind is prohibited anywhere on the hospital premises, including all St. Mary’s buildings, parking lots, walkways, and company vehicles.

“St. Mary’s Hospital is a vital and central part of a healthy community. It is our responsibility to model healthy behavior for our area businesses and residents.” said Kevin Kast, St. Mary’s President and CEO. “Implementation of a smoke-free environment sends a clear message of our commitment to create and sustain a healthy community.”

Many people are not aware of how smoking impacts health care and recovery. By making our environment smoke-free, we are addressing one of the main health risks today.

• Smoking is the number one reason for avoidable illness and death.
• Over 440,000 people die each year from smoking related diseases – more than all alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroin, homicide, suicide, car crash, fire, and AIDS deaths combined.
• Smoking is a factor in heart disease, cancer, stroke, and lung disease.
• Smoking costs the U. S. nearly $150 billion each year in health care and other expenses.
• Patients who smoke regularly before surgery have twice the risk of infection as nonsmokers.
• Smoking slows healing after surgery.