Gary Small, M.D. to Present at 2010 Legacy Dinner
Dr. Gary Small is a professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute and directs the Memory and Aging Research Center and the UCLA Center on Aging. He is one of the world's leading experts on brain science and has published numerous books and articles. Scientific American magazine named him one of the world's top innovators in science and technology, and he frequently appears on The Today Show, Good Morning America, 20/20 and CNN. Dr. Small has invented the first brain scan that allows doctors to see the physical evidence of brain aging and Alzheimer's disease in living people.

St. Anthony's Hospital is First to Earn EPA's Energy Star® Symbol
for Superior Energy Efficiency
St. Anthony’s Hospital has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) prestigious ENERGY STAR, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. St. Anthony’s is the first hospital in Florida and only one of 86 hospitals in the nation to achieve this recognition. Buildings that receive the EPA’s ENERGY STAR designation reduce greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficient specifications set by the government.

"St. Anthony’s is committed to improving its energy performance while maintaining comfort for patients and visitors,” said Ronald Colaguori, vice president of Operations for St. Anthony’s Hospital. “Ultimately, everyone benefits from earning the ENERGY STAR label because the investments we've made in reducing our environmental footprint also will lower our operating costs.”

Commercial buildings that earn the EPA’s ENERGY STAR use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. St. Anthony’s Hospital improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements to the building. The EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. St. Anthony’s earned the EPA’s ranking of 87 out of 100—placing it among the top 25 percent of energy efficient facilities in the country.

Since 2005, the hospital has conserved electricity by 1.5 million kilowatts, decreased natural gas use by 36 percent, and reduced water consumption by 4.7 million gallons. Ongoing maintenance focuses on efficient operation, including monitoring the performance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. By conserving and managing energy strategically, and making cost-effective improvements to the building, the hospital saves hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual energy costs and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases.

"Through the EPA’s ENERGY STAR achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs,” added John Nicely, director of Support Services for St. Anthony’s Hospital. “Every dollar saved on energy costs is a dollar that can be reinvested in improving patient care and the health of the community.”

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. In 2007, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 27 million vehicles.

Team Members Show Why “We Are St. Anthony’s”
Team members continued to demonstrate their spirit of giving even after the 2010 annual Team Member Campaign ended nearly a month ago. Because of their generosity, the 2010 annual Team Member Campaign has ended with 469 pledges – a 9 percent increase over last year.

Campaign champions Fran Collier, Jenne Lura, Monika Bartsch and Lisa Hickman at our kick-off pizza party. Cori Ham, Wendy Wesley and Sr. Susan McGillicuddy staff the Bake Sale. The sale raised $400 for the St. Anthony’s Fund for Emergencies.

“The increase in the number of team members participating and dollars pledged for the 2010 Team Member Campaign is incredible,” said Bill Ulbricht, SAH president. “In light of current economy, your support is a testament to the core Values of St. Anthony’s and the care you provide to our community. I am very proud of the results and wish to thank all the team members who pledged, and all the department Team Member Campaign champions who led this outstanding effort.” A donation to the Team Member Campaign is a gift to yourself, your team members, patients and the community. That is why this year’s theme was “We Are St. Anthony’s.” The Team Member Campaign raises funds to benefit the greatest need at St. Anthony’s Hospital, St. Anthony’s Fund for Emergencies (SAFE) and/or the United Way. The generosity and support of team members, physicians, volunteers and Auxilians during the campaign allows St. Anthony’s to continue its rich history and commitment of providing high-quality, compassionate care to the community. “The 56 champions who volunteered to support the Team Member Campaign were instrumental in its success,” said Wendy Wesley, the Foundation’s development officer. “They went above and beyond to increase the campaign’s awareness and encourage participation."

Ambient Experience: Picture Perfect Care
St. Anthony’s Hospital is proud to announce the installation of the only 3.0T MRI in St. Petersburg and the only Ambient Experience suite on the west coast of Florida.

The 3.0T MRI with Ambient Experience offers one of the most patient-friendly designs, with the widest patient opening of any short bore MRI available today. It boasts one of the fastest scan times on the market and produces the most exquisite and highest quality images, making it especially useful in detecting minute abnormalities related to neurological and vascular diseases, as well as orthopedic injuries.
 
"We want to ensure our patients have access to the finest diagnostic systems and that our hospital maintains its focus on patient care and comfort," said Bill Ulbricht, president of St. Anthony’s Hospital. "Never before has an exam room combined this kind of diagnostic power with patient-focused, consumer-based technology to improve quality of care. From the reaction of our patients, physicians and team members, we are confident that the 3.0T with Ambient Experience suite takes patient-focused care to a higher level. It truly is something special in the field of radiology."
 
The 3.0T MRI with Ambient Experience suite allows patients to instantaneously personalize the lighting, projected images and other elements of the exam room, giving them a greater sense of comfort and control over their experience. Patients can select soothing images to be projected on the walls and ceiling accompanied by corresponding sounds, such as an underwater seascape or mountain scene complete with migrating geese. Wrapping the patient in an experience of their choosing changes the setting from a clinical room into an environment that puts him or her at ease.
 
"The difference between getting an MRI in a traditional suite compared to the Ambient Experience suite is night and day," said Adam Smith, Imaging Services manager. "Most patients needing an MRI have some anxiety about the procedure. They’re concerned about the state of their health, they’re in the room alone and the system itself can be loud and startling. The Ambient Experience suite allows patients to relax, the images help them think about something other than the exam, the time passes faster and their fears during the process are significantly reduced. It makes a difference in patient satisfaction."
 
A simple MRI test can take anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes and many patients may require sedation because they cannot relax and stay still. However, with a virtually created environment that can help empower, distract, calm or relax patients, the Ambient Experience can help reduce the number of patients who require sedation, making scanning a shorter, safer, faster and simpler procedure.

St. Anthony's Hospital Offer New Vein Viewing Technology
Imagine being able to see through the skin and view all of the veins in your hands or your arms. St. Anthony’s Hospital team members are now able to do just that with the help of new technology called a VeinViewer. 

The VeinViewer, a generous donation from St. Anthony’s Hospital Auxiliary, is revolutionary technology that allows team members to clearly see the veins beneath the skin's surface, avoiding repeated needle sticks when trying to find difficult to see veins. The VeinViewer uses infrared lighting to "light up" all of the veins in a patient's hand or arm, making it much easier for clinicians to identify veins and administer injections or start IVs. More>

Foundation Announces Leadership, Philanthropy Award Winners
St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation has named the winners of the 2009 Roy G. Harrell Jr. Leadership Award and the Helen D. Roberts Philanthropy Awards: Frank V. Murphy III and Ardith Rutland.

Each award publicly acknowledges the commitment and vision of those who are true models of philanthropy or service. The Roy G. Harrell Jr. Leadership Award and the Helen D. Roberts Philanthropy Award recognize individuals whose contributions of time, talent and resources have made a significant difference. These individuals have demonstrated outstanding civic and charitable responsibility, and through their generosity have encouraged others. More>

Carl Hammerschlag, M.D. Speaker at 2009 Legacy Dinner
Noted speaker and author, Dr. Carl Hammerschlag, was the special guest speaker at the 3rd Annual Legacy Dinner honoring benefactors and friends of St. Anthony's Hospital on Thursday, February 26, 2009. Dr. Hammerschlag graduated from Yale University School of medicine and spent time working among the native Americans in the Southwest where he says he learned the real art of healing. He is a frequent speaker on topics such as exploring new ways of looking at life for ourselves and the future of medicine. 

 White Family Foundation Provides Funding for Portable Ultrasound
The White Family Foundation recently made a grant to the Foundation in the amount of $23,000 to help pay for the most advanced portable ultrasound technology for use in St. Anthony's Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. This ultrasound device can be brought to the patient's bedside for a quick and accurate diagnoses. "This new technology will greatly reduce the time required to diagnose a patient and begin a care plan," says Dr. Warren Abel, Medical Director of Critical Care at St. Anthony's and a Foundation Trustee. "We are grateful to the White Family Foundation for their foresight in granting our request," Dr Abel adds.