News Releases
Battling cancer requires the most powerful and advanced technology available. And one of the most precise and versatile treatment machines is now being used by physicians at the Providence Regional Cancer Center at Sacred Heart, offering patients reduced treatment times, increased accuracy and fewer side effects.
“The extraordinary power and flexibility of this new technology provides us with more versatility and precision than we’ve ever had,” says radiation oncologist Lance Griffith, MD. “Now, more than ever before, we’re able to target the tumor with a more focused radiation beam, and protect healthy tissue to a much greater degree.”
Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital recently received the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence, a prestigious award given by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
The award recognizes the nation’s top pediatric and adult critical care units, and represents an extraordinary commitment to high-quality critical care standards, and dedication to the exceptional care of patients and their families.
“Sacred Heart’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) has been referred to as the anchor of the Children’s Hospital,” says Peggy Mangiaracina, RN, executive director. “The Beacon Award recognizes the blending of compassionate care and outstanding nursing quality for critically ill children. We are extremely proud of the staff and their commitment to quality care for patients and their families.”
A new radiation treatment machine recently installed at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital, along with some optional features that will be installed later, will enable the hospital to improve its accuracy in irradiating cancerous tumors, and minimize damage to nearby healthy tissue.
Using the new device, called a linear accelerator, radiation therapists will be able to reduce the area of a patient’s body that receives radiation treatment, and also will be able to speed up the treatment process, which can be uncomfortable for patients, according oncologist J. Lance Griffiths, MD.
“Reducing side effects on healthy organs will help improve our patients’ quality of life substantially,” Dr. Griffith says.Human cases of H1N1 (swine influenza A, or Swine Flu) virus infection have been identified across the United States and internationally.
Health care providers and labs have been asked to watch for influenza A cases, especially in people who recently traveled to Mexico or states with cases of human swine flu.
More than 150 patients have enjoyed a second chance at life through Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center’s Mechanical Heart Program since its inception in 1991. Following an April, 2009 survey by The Joint Commission, the program has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ for health care quality in Disease-Specific Care Certification for the permanent implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), known as destination therapy. Destination Therapy is an option for patients who do not meet medical criteria for heart transplantation, or decline transplantation for personal reasons.
“Not just any medical center or any doctor is allowed to do these things,” says program director Timothy B. Icenogle, MD. “Sacred Heart’s program was selected due to its track record over many years.”
The Joint Commission is the nation’s predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
Michael Wilson, President and Chief Executive for Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital and Providence Holy Family Hospital, announced today that he has accepted a favorable opportunity for early retirement from Providence Health & Services.
“I have had a long and wonderful 27-year career with Providence and have been very open that I planned to retire two to three years after helping to hire the new chief executive for Providence Health Care in Eastern Washington,” Wilson says.
“Mike’s contributions to this organization are substantial, and the impact he has had on this community with his health care leadership is outstanding,” says Andy Agwunobi, MD, chief executive for Providence Health Care in Eastern Washington. “The growth and vision he has spearheaded over the past 21 years at Sacred Heart is evidence of the positive impact he has had on health care for the entire region.”
Dr. Agwunobi will assume the Chief Executive role for Sacred Heart and Holy Family, and will work closely with Elaine Couture, Sacred Heart’s Chief Operating Officer and President of Holy Family Hospital.
The national 3-year survival rate for heart transplant is 81.6%. However, for the third year in a row, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital has topped the list at 96.8%
On November 4, 2008, Washington State voters passed an initiative allowing physician-assisted suicide. The new law takes effect March 4, 2009.
Providence Health & Services will not support physician-assisted suicide within its ministries. This position is grounded in our basic values of respect for the sacredness of life, compassionate care of dying and vulnerable persons, and respect for the integrity of medical, nursing and allied health professions. We do not believe health care providers should ever be put in a position of aiding a patient in taking his or her own life. In addition, while we believe that people are stewards of their own lives, we may not unduly prolong nor hasten the natural process of dying.
Providence Auditorium (map)
- Discover exciting job opportunities
- Learn about the vision and future of nursing at Providence hospitals
- Discuss wage and benefit package information
- Ask about our Early Employment program
Nurse managers will be available to help guide you toward opportunites in your area of interest. Refreshments will be provided.
Bring your resume!
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital recently received the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence, a prestigious award given by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
The award recognizes the nation’s top pediatric and adult critical care units, and represents an extraordinary commitment to high-quality critical care standards, and dedication to the exceptional care of patients and their families.
“These are people whose daily jobs present intense challenges and require the utmost attention to every detail,” says Mary Jo Moore, RN, nurse manager of the adult intensive care unit. “I’m so proud they have been recognized with this national award for their quality care.”
Join family, friends and neighbors to get in shape for Bloomsday 2009! Whether you plan to walk, jog or run Bloomsday, these free clinics will provide you with a medically-sound, gradual conditioning and training program.
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Reinaldo Acosta, MD, says he hopes that additional ultrasound screenings provided in a national study ultimately will help improve outcomes for women with a condition that puts them at risk for preterm labor. |
Reinaldo Acosta, MD, director of the Center for Maternal-Fetal Medicine since its inception three years ago and lead researcher on the three current and upcoming studies for Providence Medical Research, says conducting research will help further the center’s goal to improve outcomes for high-risk maternity patients and their unborn children.
“We cannot conceive of a perinatal practice without doing research,” Acosta says. “The primary goal of conducting research is to improve the standard of care for high-risk patients.”
Join us, as the Washington State Cougars Women’s Basketball team takes on the Stanford Cardinal!
Come support your favorite team, and team up with Sacred Heart in the fight against heart disease – the leading cause of death among women in the United States.
For tickets, call 1-800-GO COUGS or click here to purchase securely online. The first 1,000 fans will receive an exclusive "Cougs Have Heart" t-shirt, free!
Join us, and more than 6,000 women from throughout the region, for a weekend packed with information, entertainment. education … and just pure fun!
The Show will open Friday night (with entertainment!), 5-8 p.m. for Race for Cure Registration and packet pick-up and will continue Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to noon with informative presentations and exciting shows.
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Ali Vincent
winner of NBC’s Biggest Loser
Ali will announce the winner of the weight loss challenge at the 2009 Women’ Show! Learn More… |
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MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is a serious infection that can become life-threatening if left untreated. It is a form of Staph, a common bacteria that is 
easily spread through normal skin-to-skin contact.
Infection Prevention tips
Take our Infection Prevention Quiz
Booklet: Living with MRSA
Useful links:
- PreventInfection.org
- SkinIsTheSource.org
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Washington State Department of Health
And with enticing television ads, clever store displays and countless festivities, some of us will end up with financial, physical and emotional challenges … or even the classic “holiday blues.”
Some simple prioritizing and organization can prevent unnecessary stress and depression for many people, psychiatrists say. And Kerry Scott, manager of Clinical Nutrition at Sacred Heart, adds “Adopt the motto, ‘I won’t deprive, I will just decide!’”Following the completion of a 14-month in-depth planning process, Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital has filed a certificate of need application with the Washington State Department of Health for approval to expand by 173 beds. The filing marks the beginning of a comprehensive review by the state on the need to add beds in the Spokane area in order to meet the growing health care needs of the region.
“Simply put, we need more beds to accommodate the growing needs of our patients,” says Rocky Kerr, MD, past medical staff president and an emergency room physician.
Sacred Heart is the Inland Northwest’s leading referral hospital; serving a broad geographic area, including eastern Washington, northern Idaho, northeastern Oregon and western Montana, and the only medical center in eastern Washington with a comprehensive Children’s Hospital, a heart and kidney transplant program, certified stroke center cardiac robotic surgery team.
The American Cancer Society recommends the following guidelines—the “ABCs” of breast health—for finding breast cancer early in women without symptoms:
- A screening mammogram
- baseline by age 40, then yearly thereafter.
- Breast self-exam (BSE)
- every month for women age 20 and over.
- Clinical breast exam
- every 3 years, ages 20-39, yearly after age 40.
The Sacred Heart Women's Health Center Coach makes mammography screenings convenient by bringing them right to your neighborhood or work place. And, our specially-trained staff can help you learn how to do your BSE properly.
Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’ Hospital has acquired a machine that can provide surgeons with 3-D images of a patient’s internal structures during neurosurgery. The highly detailed, 360-degree images help surgeons guide the placement of surgical instruments and enable them to see if they have placed surgical “hardware,” such as artificial disks and screws, ideally.