SJMO to Host Free Orthopedic Seminar
October 22, 2010 by Contributor
Filed under Healthy Happenings
Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) orthopedic surgeon Christopher Tisdel, MD, will address a free, community seminar on “Understanding Foot and Ankle Conditions” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010, in the hospital’s Franco Communications Center, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac.
The seminar is part of the hospital’s free, monthly, series of orthopedic community seminars. SJMO orthopedic specialists conduct the seminars, speaking on a wide range of orthopedic procedures and joint replacement. The final seminar in the series will be held on Nov. 16 when Safa Kassab, MD, will speak on “What Is Total Joint Replacement?”
“SJMO has won numerous awards for orthopedic and joint replacement excellence,” said Jack Weiner, SJMO President and CEO. “Every day, our skilled physicians, surgeons and medical staff provide exemplary care and outstanding outcomes for the patients they treat.”
The hospital’s board-certified orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating spine, hand, shoulder, hip and knee disorders. They provide comprehensive care before, during and after surgery. Among the orthopedic services SJMO offers are:
- Award-winning, nationally recognized Joint Care Center,
- Artificial ankle replacement,
- Correcting and treating postural and post-traumatic deformities, diabetic conditions and arthritis,
- Cutting edge procedures such as kyphoplasty and minimally invasive, patient-specific surgery,
- MRI and custom-fit technology for total knee replacements, the first in Michigan do to so,
Around-the-clock acute trauma care at the SJMO Emergency Center.
SJMO recently was named a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement® and a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery® by Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Michigan and Blue Care Network.
The seminars are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Free parking is available on the north side of the hospital, adjacent to the Franco Communications Center and Medical Office Building.
Registration is required. To register, call St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, 800-372-6094
SJMO recently was named a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement® and a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery® by Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Michigan and Blue Care Network.
The seminars are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Free parking is available on the north side of the hospital, adjacent to the Franco Communications Center and Medical Office Building.
Registration is required. To register, call St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, 800-372-6094.
SJMO Breast Cancer Support Group to Meet
April 13, 2010 by Contributor
Filed under Healthy Happenings
Pontiac, MI.—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) announces the next meeting of its Breast Cancer Support Group will take place 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 2010, in the Alice Gustafson Center waiting room, 115 Fulton, Pontiac, on the hospital campus.
Andrea Briefs-Ferris, SJMO’s new breast cancer nurse navigator, leads the breast cancer support group, which is open to all breast cancer patients and survivors. The support group meets the third Thursday of each month at the same time and location and focuses on addressing the body, mind and spiritual needs of breast cancer patients and supporting each other.
Free parking is available.
Pre-registration is preferred, although drop-ins are welcome. For more information about the support group or to register, call 248-858-3962.
SJMO Encourages Everyone to have a Advance Directive
April 2, 2010 by Contributor
Filed under Healthy Happenings
Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) is encouraging patients, associates, physicians and the public to prepare advance directives to help their families or guardians make health care decisions for them when they are incapacitated and can’t make such decisions for themselves.
This effort is in observance of National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), Friday, April 16. SJMO will have a display, messages in internal newsletters and hospital-wide emails addressing the importance of having an advance directive. Select associates will wear stickers with the message, “Ask me about advance directives,” to help those who want more information about this important legal document.
Jack Weiner, SJMO President and CEO, said having an advance directive “not only provides patients with the comfort of knowing that their wishes will be followed, but also is a profoundly thoughtful gift to those who might have to make difficult decisions for them one day.”
An advance directive can reduce the sorrow and frustration that occur when a person’s wishes are unknown, and allows healthcare providers to follow the wishes of the patient, even when he or she cannot participate in decision making.
SJMO is one of more than 700 national, state and community organizations participating in NHDD. This year’s theme is “Leading by Example.”
“It is our special goal this year to encourage all SJMO associates to complete their own advance directives so that we will be better equipped to answer questions and assist patients in completing theirs,” Weiner said.
For details about advance directives, visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Expands Weight Management Program
July 20, 2009 by Editor
Filed under Healthy Happenings
Pontiac, Mich.—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) has expanded its weight management program by enhancing its offerings and naming a new medical director. The newly named Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management program offers an educational and intensive medical program for those looking to control their metabolic issues related to insulin resistance and obesity through dedication to nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle change.
Comprehensive medical and nutritional histories will be obtained, and there will be frequent physician follow-ups to monitor patients’ progress with their individualized medical nutrition therapy and physical activity. Resources for behavioral psychology and physical activity will be made available to patients. If appropriate, referrals will be made for bariatric procedures.
The program is headed by Dr. Tom Rifai, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and chief medical advisor to the Pritikin Longevity Center in Aventura, Fla.
Dr. Rifai is board certified by the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists, which recently named him to a three-year, at-large position on its board of directors, and the American Board of Internal Medicine. His specialties are nutrition, prevention of chronic disease, weight management, nutritional and medical management of insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity.
Dr. Rifai will conduct informational seminars for prospective patients interested in diabetes prevention or treatment, state-of-the-art lipid/cholesterol management and weight management. The first seminar will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2009, in the Franco Auditorium at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac.
In addition to his duties at SJMO, Dr. Rifai is serving as a consultant to Andiamo Restaurants, helping them design a longevity-driven, healthy gourmet menu called Andiamo Lean. Dr. Rifai also is a nutritional consultant for Warren (Mich.) Consolidated Schools, for which he is developing a healthy school lunch program.
Beginning in August, Dr. Rifai will see patients in the SJMO Medical Office Building, 44555 Woodward Ave., Suite 305, Pontiac.
For an appointment, call St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management, 248-858-2475.
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Wins Award For Quality
July 6, 2009 by Editor
Filed under Healthy Happenings
Pontiac, Mich.—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) has won the 2008 ACS MIDAS+ Platinum Quality Award for excellence in clinical health care.
SJMO was among 28 hospitals/medical facilities nationwide, and one of only two in Michigan, honored for their achievement in the areas of quality outcomes, care efficiency and consistent delivery of evidence-based best practices in nursing and medicine. This award puts SJMO in the top 5 percent nationally for quality outcomes.
“St. Joseph Mercy Oakland strives to maintain the highest levels of quality, performance and care to our patients,” said Jack Weiner, SJMO president and CEO. “Receiving this award is a tribute to the hard work of our associates and physicians.”
The award is given by Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., which provides hospitals, clinics and medical practitioners worldwide with information technology, clinical solutions and management services to operate more efficiently and effectively.
SJMO was selected based upon comparative performance of more than 550 hospitals that use the MIDAS+ Comparative Performance Measurement System for tracking facility performance.
