Saint Francis follows 'visionary' plan

Citing a flurry of noteworthy changes and aggressive health-care initiatives, Saint Francis Medical Center leaders said Tuesday night that the hospital has seen its most dramatic expansion of services and facilities over the last six years.

"During the last seven years, the evolution of Saint Francis Medical Center has been anything but business as usual," said Steven C. Bjelich, hospital president and CEO.

The Catholic-based hospital hosted its 2006 annual meeting Tuesday night at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. More than 800 donors, community leaders, board members, physicians, volunteers and employees attended the event.

During his speech Bjelich said that just five years ago nearly 700 critically ill and premature newborns were being transported each year to other facilities for special care. But in 2001, Saint Francis brought a new level of obstetric care to the community with the region's first Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Bjelich said.

The new technology means more infants can get a high level of care and stay close to home, Bjelich said.

In 2001 the hospital opened the area's first wound healing center. In 2004, Saint Francis opened the Health and Wellness Center and Fitness Plus. The hospital "raised the bar for cancer services," Bjelich said, with its recent affiliation with the M.D. Anderson Physicians Network.

Harry Rediger, chairman of the hospital's board of directors, said Saint Francis has grown more since 2000 than ever before in the hospital's history. Rediger attributed that growth to investing resources wisely and following a "visionary strategic plan."

Fund raising has been good in 2006, according to Lyle Davis, vice chairman of the hospital foundation board. In the fiscal year ending June 30, contributions exceeded $1 million for only the second time in the foundation's history. Davis said that was achieved through contributions and pledges from estate gifts, cash from the Grateful Patient Program, grants, community, corporate and employee donations and the Friends of Saint Francis and the Saint Francis Auxiliary.

Davis said contributions enabled the hospital to continue investing in medical equipment, new technologies, and training and education for staff in the Family BirthPlace and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The donations also helped the hospital keep the Regional Arthritis Center at Saint Francis operating at full capacity, Davis said, even after state funds were cut.

The hospital also has been successful at recruiting new physicians, said Dr. Thomas Diemer, president of the medical staff. Since 2000, the hospital successfully recruited 77 physicians to Cape Girardeau as employed or affiliated staff.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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