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University Hospitals Establishes Sjogren's Syndrome Center
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 (1918 reads)

CLEVELAND - A grant from the National Sjogren’s Syndrome Association has aided in the opening of the Sjogren’s Syndrome Center at University Hospitals of Cleveland.

University Hospital's of Cleveland's Medical ICU Earns Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 (1733 reads)

CLEVELAND - The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of University Hospitals of Cleveland has earned the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence. The Beacon Award is given by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) and is designated to recognize the nation’s top hospital critical care units. Of the twelve hospital units awarded in 2005/2006, the MICU at University Hospitals of Cleveland is the only Beacon Award recipient in northern Ohio.

Rosskamm Family Gift Provides Legacy for University Hospitals of Cleveland CEO
Tuesday, December 13, 2005 (3186 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Betty Rosskamm, and her late husband, Martin, are pillars in the Cleveland business community, growing one small fabric shop into the nation’s leading fabric and crafts retailer, Jo-Ann Stores. Their success benefits the community in numerous ways, and today, that includes helping the patients of Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

With a ceremony held Monday night, the Rosskamms dedicated and established The Martin and Betty Rosskamm Chair for Pediatric Gastroenterology in Honor of Fred C. Rothstein, MD.

Dr. Fred Rothstein, President and CEO of University Hospitals of Cleveland, has been a leader in Cleveland’s healthcare community for nearly 30 years. He is also the Rosskamms’ son-in-law. (He married their daughter, Jackie, in 1973.)

Bahman Guyuron, MD, FACS, Appointed Chief of Plastic Surgery
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 (2661 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Following a national search, Bahman Guyuron, MD, FACS, has been appointed Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at University Hospitals of Cleveland. A renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Guyuron brings a wealth of experience to the helm of the UHC plastic surgery division.

"Dr. Guyuron is a pioneer in the plastic surgery field who has an established international reputation because of his clinical expertise," says Fred C. Rothstein, MD, President and CEO of University Hospitals of Cleveland. "I look forward to Dr. Guyuron’s leadership in strengthening our academic program and expanding our clinical plastic surgery expertise."

University Hospitals of Cleveland Honors Richard E. Grant, MD with Unique Endowment
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 (2556 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Richard E. Grant, MD has been named Chairholder of the Edgar B. Jackson, Jr., MD Endowed Chair at University Hospitals of Cleveland, the first endowed chair to honor an African American physician in Ohio and the only endowed position in the nation that promotes and ensures diversity among future medical leaders. An endowed chair -- a permanent staff position named for an individual of stature -- is one of the highest honors a hospital can bestow upon a physician. This Chair honors the esteemed Edgar B. Jackson, Jr., MD, a clinician and academic administrator. The recently retired Dr. Jackson, former Chief of Staff of University Hospitals of Cleveland, has dedicated much of his career to encouraging minority students to pursue a career in medicine. In 1991, Dr. Jackson created the David Satcher Clerkship, a month-long program for visiting fourth-year minority medical students that introduces them to University Hospitals with hopes of attracting them as residents.

University Hospitals of Cleveland Orthopaedic Surgeon Studies Bone Collection
Monday, September 26, 2005 (1848 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Every orthopaedic surgeon’s dream is stored in the climate-controlled basement of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History: over 3,000 autopsied, documented and classified human skeletons.

Jeffrey Ponsky, MD Named Chairman of American Board of Surgery
Wednesday, September 21, 2005 (2631 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Jeffrey L. Ponsky, MD, Chairman of the Department of Surgery at University Hospitals of Cleveland has been named Chairman of the American Board of Surgery for 2005-2006.

The American Board of Surgery (ABS) was organized in 1937 and is responsible for conducting examinations of surgeons who wish to obtain or maintain board certification. The ABS also seeks to broaden opportunities for training and graduate education of surgeons.

University Hospitals and First Consulting Group implement $2.5 million medical record system
Wednesday, August 02, 2006 (1852 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Improved quality of care, convenience, accuracy and security are among the advantages of University Hospitals’ new electronic medical record system.

University Hospitals and First Consulting Group (FCG) announced the implementation of a new $2.5 million FirstGatewaysTM physician/patient record system to serve the Cleveland market and beyond.

STERIS Corporation doubles grant funding to University Hospitals for Infection Prevention Research
Wednesday, July 12, 2006 (1571 reads)

CLEVELAND -- STERIS Corporation today announced its third grant to University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) to support research in the areas of healthcare-associated and emerging infections and the development of innovative strategies and technologies for preventing infection and contamination.

The new grant of $600,000 to UHC’s Division of Infectious Diseases will help sustain research over the next three years and will build upon a relationship that began with initial funding in 1999 and renewed funding in 2002.

Ellis Island Medal of Honor Awarded to Joseph Calabrese, MD
Tuesday, May 09, 2006 (1598 reads)

Joseph R. Calabrese, MD, a psychiatrist with University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) and professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, has been selected as a recipient of the 2006 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

On the weekend of May 12, Dr. Calabrese will celebrate the honor with other medalists at a reception in New York City. He joins the prestigious ranks of past honorees such as Rosa Parks, Walter Kronkite, Muhammad Ali and Colin Powell.

Six New Board Members to Help Lead University Hospitals Health System and University Hospitals of Cleveland
Monday, May 08, 2006 (3231 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Thomas F. Zenty III, President and CEO of University Hospitals Health System (UHHS), announced today the appointments of several new members to the Boards of Directors at UHHS and University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC). He noted the six members’ unique backgrounds reflect their business acumen and community involvement -- key traits for ensuring a healthier future for UHHS and Northeast Ohio.

University Hospitals Plans Major Health Center in Chagrin Highlands
Wednesday, May 03, 2006 (1540 reads)

CLEVELAND -- University Hospitals today unveiled another key component of its Vision 2010 strategy -- the building of a state-of-the-art suburban Center for Health that includes a 200-bed hospital, an ambulatory surgery center, physician offices and community outreach and education capabilities.

Chambers of Commerce Group Exclusively Endorses University CompCare for Workers' Compensation Managed Care
Monday, May 01, 2006 (1584 reads)

CLEVELAND -- The Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce (NOACC) today announced the exclusive endorsement of University CompCare as its preferred provider of workers’ compensation managed care services.

University CompCare, an affiliate of Cleveland-based University Hospitals Health System, is the only managed care organization (MCO) ever endorsed by NOACC since the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) instituted its managed care program in 1997. NOACC, a regional partnership consisting of more than 120 community-based chambers of commerce in Northern Ohio, exists to help local chambers of commerce deliver competitive and cost-saving benefits and services for their member businesses.

Wellpoint Announces Acquisition of Cleveland-Based Qualchoice Health Plan's Medical Business
Wednesday, April 26, 2006 (2918 reads)

CLEVELAND -- WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) today announced that it has entered into an agreement in principle to acquire the Medicaid plan from QualChoice Health Plan, Inc. (QualChoice), an Ohio-based managed care organization. QualChoice has built a strong reputation for delivering superior customer service while offering an extensive physician and hospital network for its members.

Pending Ohio Department of Insurance approval, QualChoice will also endorse Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield as the insurer of choice for business customers of QualChoice’s commercial insurance plans and individual policies. QualChoice will continue to serve these members through the end of 2006 - at which time QualChoice expects to cease providing insurance coverage.

Key Grants $1.5 Million to UHHS
Tuesday, April 25, 2006 (1490 reads)

CLEVELAND -- KeyCorp Chairman and CEO Henry L. Meyer III today presented a $1.5 million Key Foundation grant to University Hospitals Health System (UHHS). The largest corporate gift ever to UHHS, the grant underwrites a major new diversity initiative and provides funding for construction of a new cancer hospital as part of Vision 2010, the most ambitious strategic plan in UHHS history.

University Hospital Achieves Exclusive Nursing Magnet Designation
Tuesday, April 18, 2006 (1629 reads)

CLEVELAND -- University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) has earned the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) prestigious Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Services. ANCC, the nation’s leading nursing credentialing organization, recognizes only 180 institutions nationwide.

University Hospitals MedEvac Relocated Helicopter Base to Geauga County
Monday, April 17, 2006 (1996 reads)

CLEVELAND -- The University Hospitals MedEvac Helicopter Program will make Geauga County’s Middlefield Airport its new home of operation. The move is expected to reduce response time for patient transports, which occur primarily to the east of Cleveland. A second MedEvac helicopter is already stationed in Lorain County.

University Hospitals of Cleveland Recruits Leading harvard Cardiologist to Head New Center of Excellence for Heart Disease
Wednesday, March 08, 2006 (1637 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Case Western Reserve University (Case) School of Medicine and University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) announced the recruitment of Daniel I. Simon, MD, a leading cardiologist and researcher, as the new chief of the Division of Cardiology and director of the Cardiovascular Center. Simon, who also will hold the Herman Hellerstein Chair, is currently with Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

UHHS Introduces Corporate Health Service
Tuesday, February 28, 2006 (1543 reads)

CLEVELAND -- University Hospitals Health System (UHHS) has successfully assembled its comprehensive collaboration of corporate health services that offer work-related injury care and treatment and return to work support for Northeast Ohio businesses.

UHHS announces its new service offerings with the launching of its corporate health provider network--a panel of providers dedicated to the treatment of on-the-job injuries.

University Hospitals Health System Physicians and Ohio KePRO Study E-prescribing
Tuesday, February 21, 2006 (1587 reads)

CLEVELAND -- University Primary & Specialty Care Practice (UPCP), the 300-physician community based practice of University Hospitals Health System (UHHS), and Ohio KePRO have received a $993,000 grant from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to study the technical standards and clinical impact of electronic prescribing of medications.

University Hospitals of Cleveland Establishes Neurological Institute
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 (1433 reads)

CLEVELAND -- University Hospitals of Cleveland is ushering in a new era of clinical neurosciences with the establishment of the Neurological Institute of University Hospitals -- Cleveland’s first comprehensive center that brings together experts in the medical and surgical treatment of disorders affecting the nervous system.

UHHS Commits More Than $1 Billion for Wide-Reaching Vision 2010 Plan
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 (1835 reads)

CLEVELAND - The Board of Directors of University Hospitals Health System (UHHS) has unanimously approved core elements of its strategic plan, called Vision 2010. The plan, calling for investments of more than $1 billion over five years, includes significant commitment to the University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) campus, new facilities and considerable expansion of services at several System hospitals, additional suburban ambulatory centers and more than $100 million in technological enhancements, including system-wide electronic health records.

University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case School of Medicine Launch National Eye Study
Thursday, January 12, 2006 (1396 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Researchers at the Vision Research Coordinating Center and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (Case) are leading a nationwide study of the genetics of Fuchs’ Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD). The disease afflicts approximately one percent of the general population, including entire families, and can cause blindness. The FECD Genetics Multi-center Study is funded by a grant over the next five years from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

Rainbow Babies & Children’s Foundation Receives Prestigious University Hospitals’ Samuel Mather Award for Philanthropy
Thursday, October 05, 2006 (1882 reads)

CLEVELAND: University Hospitals is awarding its highest philanthropic honor to a group dedicated for 120 years to the health and well-being of Cleveland's children. The Rainbow Babies & Children’s Foundation is this year’s winner of the esteemed Samuel Mather Award from University Hospitals (UH). The award, named for one of UH’s earliest supporters, celebrates the exceptional generosity and civic vision of benefactors who have had a lasting and profound impact on University Hospitals.

The Rainbow Babies & Children’s Foundation and its predecessor organization have made it their mission to garner financial, political, corporate and community support for the hospital. Most recently, the Foundation awarded Rainbow $20.6 million, the largest single gift in Rainbow’s history, in support of University Hospitals’ Vision 2010 strategic plan.

University Hospitals Launches Testing for Cystic Fibrosis Before Birth
Monday, January 12, 2004 (1736 reads)

CLEVELAND -- The Center for Human Genetics at University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is offering expectant parents and couples who are planning a pregnancy a specific screening test for cystic fibrosis (CF) to determine if they carry a genetic mutation and whether their baby is likely to have this life-threatening condition. More than a year ago, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommended that physicians make CF screening available to couples seeking preconception or prenatal care, but only a fraction of couples eligible for testing are actually having it done.

Alzheimer's Researchers Begin Unique Study of Tangles
Friday, January 16, 2004 (1543 reads)

CLEVELAND -- The University Memory and Aging Center (UMAC) of University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University is one of 30 institutions participating in a $10 million National Institutes of Health study to determine if the medication valproate can reduce the occurrences of problem behaviors and affect the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease. Valproate has been successfully used for about 40 years to treat epilepsy, migraines and bipolar disorder, and may provide new hope for the more than four million Americans suffering with Alzheimer's disease.

Pediatrician Arthur Burns, MD, Retiring at Age 83
Wednesday, January 28, 2004 (1891 reads)

CLEVELAND -- For more than 50 years, pediatrician Arthur Burns, MD treated thousands of patients and four generations of Cleveland families. On Friday, January 30, Dr. Burns will retire from medicine.

At age 83, Dr. Burns is an elder member of the greater Cleveland medical community.
Edgar Jackson, MD, former University Hospitals Chief of Staff, says, "Dr. Burns has been a model of excellence in practice and in academia, and a role model for all physicians - especially minority physicians - including myself."

New Varicose Vein Treatment Avoids Surgery
Monday, February 02, 2004 (1740 reads)

ORANGE VILLAGE -- People who suffer from unsightly and painful varicose veins can now undergo a non-surgical procedure at UHHS Chagrin Highlands Medical Center. The procedure treats Greater Saphenous Vein (GSV) reflux, the most common underlying cause of varicose veins.
Approved by the FDA is 2002, the Endo Laser Vein System is a safe, efficacious, state-of-the-art laser treatment for lower extremity venous insufficiency, which often leads to varicose veins.

UHC Researchers Probe Multiple Systems Atrophy
Monday, February 09, 2004 (1602 reads)

CLEVELAND -- A $7 million National Institutes of Health study began recently at University Hospitals of Cleveland to investigate Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA), a baffling nervous system disorder that medical experts often misdiagnose because of its similarities to Parkinson's and other diseases.

UHHS Chesterland Health Center to Open in May
Monday, February 16, 2004 (1654 reads)

CHESTERLAND, OH -- A comprehensive array of medical services will be offered here when University Hospitals Health System opens the UHHS Chesterland Health Center later this spring.

The new 10,800-square-foot Chesterland Health Center is designed to offer the highest standards of quality care to the Geauga County community and residents of eastern Cuyahoga County.

The $2.5 million facility is expected to open by May 1, 2004, at 8055 Mayfield Rd., located west of Harold Drive.

Surgeons Explore New Treatment for Tourette Syndrome
Thursday, April 01, 2004 (1435 reads)

CLEVELAND -- A neurosurgical team at University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) has, for the first time in North America, applied a new surgical approach to the treatment of Tourette Syndrome, resulting in the immediate and nearly complete resolution of symptoms for the patient, who has suffered from this neurologic disorder since he was a child.

UHC Researchers Seek Better Birth Controls
Friday, April 09, 2004 (1431 reads)

CLEVELAND -- University Hospitals of Cleveland has joined a nationwide network of medical research sites to begin six years of research into female contraception designed to help develop a broader range of more effective birth control products.

James H. Liu, MD, director of Obstetrics/Gynecology, announced recently that UHC was awarded a $3.5 million contract to collaborate with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for Contraceptive Clinical Trials.

UHC Establishes First Endowed Chair for African American Physician in Cleveland
Friday, April 16, 2004 (1675 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Under the leadership of Wayne Embry, retired General Manager/President of the Cleveland Cavaliers, local community members raised more than $1 million contributing to the creation of the first endowed chair for an African American physician in Cleveland.
The Edgar B. Jackson, Jr., MD Endowed Chair will be dedicated on April 19, 2004.

Hospitals Here Rank High on U.S. News & World Report List
Friday, July 02, 2004 (1694 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Northern Ohioans are among the nation's most fortunate health care consumers, having access to some of the best medicine provided anywhere, according to U.S.News & World Report's latest hospital rankings. The magazine's rankings of America's Best Hospitals clinical programs were released today, and included:

Depressed Teens Helped with Combination Drug and Talk Therapy
Tuesday, August 17, 2004 (1488 reads)

CLEVELAND -- A short-term approach, involving both medication and specific cognitive behavioral 'talk' therapy, is highly effective in the treatment of teenage depression. In a national study involving more than 400 adolescents (including 33 from the Cleveland area), researchers concluded that a combination of Prozac and focused psychotherapy, known as CBT, appears to be the best approach to both alleviating depression and reducing the level of suicidal thinking in adolescents.

Sherri Bishop Named to Head Development at UHHS
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 (2665 reads)

CLEVELAND -- Tom Zenty, president and chief executive officer of University Hospitals Health System, today announced the appointment of Sherri Bishop to the position of senior vice president for Institutional Relations and Development. Bishop comes to UHHS after 13 years at the Cleveland Clinic, where she most recently was vice chairman of the division of Institutional Relations and Development.

Ahuja Family Donates $30 Million to University Hospitals
Tuesday, December 12, 2006 (3266 reads)

CLEVELAND (Dec. 12, 2006) – University Hospitals today celebrated the largest single donation in its 140-year history – a $30 million gift from Cleveland entrepreneur Monte Ahuja, his wife, Usha, and their family. UH President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas F. Zenty III made the historic announcement to more than 700 community leaders, UH physicians, leaders, donors and Board members at UH’s special holiday celebration at Severance Hall.

The unprecedented gift is in support of Vision 2010, UH’s $1.2 billion, five-year strategic plan. In recognition of the Ahuja family’s extraordinary generosity, UH will name the future 200-bed East Side hospital in Beachwood “The Ahuja Medical Center.

University Hospitals Selects Gilbane as Construction Management Company; Gilbane to Oversee Construction of all Vision 2010 Projects
Monday, May 21, 2007 (2838 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals has taken a major step forward to achieving its Vision 2010 five-year strategic plan by announcing the selection of Gilbane Building Company to oversee all Vision 2010 construction projects. These building projects, which amount to $650 million in project costs, include a new 120-bed cancer hospital on the University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) campus, the 600-bed UH Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood and renovation of UHCMC’s Center for Emergency Medicine and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

“Our Vision 2010 strategic plan represents a milestone for University Hospitals and the patients and communities we serve and we are pleased to announce that Gilbane will help us to accomplish these major construction projects,” says Thomas F. Zenty III, CEO of University Hospitals. “Gilbane has an extraordinary reputation both nationally and in the Cleveland market. We look forward to this partnership which promises to change the face of healthcare in Northeast Ohio and beyond.”

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AWARDS $64 MILLION TO CLEVELAND MEDICAL CONSORTIUM; LARGEST EVER TO AREA
Monday, September 17, 2007 (1849 reads)

Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth collaborate on research to benefit community

CLEVELAND, Sept. 18, 2007 – The National Institutes of Health today announced that it has awarded $64 million to Case Western Reserve University, in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth Medical Center, to become part of a national consortium designed to transform how clinical and translational research is conducted, ultimately enabling researchers to provide new treatments more efficiently and quickly to patients.

Pediatricians at Rainbow Babies & Children’s ‘Stand Up for Children’ in response to probable SCHIP bill veto
Tuesday, October 02, 2007 (1458 reads)

Call to action spreads to hospitals nationwide

CLEVELAND — "At Rainbow, we believe that every child deserves excellent health care. I am very upset that there may not be enough funds available to ensure that low-income working families can have their children's health care covered," said Lolita McDavid, MD, a pediatrician and director of child advocacy and protection at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. “That's why the physicians at Rainbow - those in practice and those in training- are taking time out to send a message to President Bush to sign and not veto the SCHIP bill.”

UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital to Host Mock-Disaster
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 (1328 reads)

Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, local EMS and fire department staff, led by Dr. Michael Anderson, Rainbow PICU physician and nationally-renowned expert on disaster preparedness for children and families.

University Hospitals Physician Authors Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book
Monday, May 12, 2008 (1435 reads)

CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 5, 2008) -- Marjorie Greenfield, M.D., obstetrician-gynecologist at University Hospitals MacDonald Women’s Hospital, is hitting bookstores next week with The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book.

Groundbreaking ceremony to be held for UH Concord Health Center; University Hospitals expands services in Lake County
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 (3233 reads)

CONCORD – University Hospitals (UH) officials together with Concord Trustees and Senator Tim Grendell will celebrate the groundbreaking of the future UH Concord Health Center on June 11 at 4 p.m. The 60,000-square-foot ambulatory medical center will be located on Auburn Road off Route 44 in Concord Township.

The UH Concord Health Center, which is scheduled to be completed in 2009, will offer an urgent care center, primary care services for adults and children, as well as physician specialty services, such as orthopaedics and cardiology. The Health Center will house advanced diagnostics including a laboratory, radiology, cardiac testing and a surgery center.

Safe Kids Greater Cleveland and Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Offer Fourth of July Safety Tips
Thursday, July 03, 2008 (1428 reads)

In 2006, more than 2000 children ages 14 and under were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries involving fireworks during the fireworks season, which runs from the middle of June until the middle of July. Children ages 10 to 14 have the highest rate of injury from fireworks.

Robert G. David Appointed President of University Hospitals Conneaut, Geneva Medical Centers
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 (2021 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals has announced the appointment of Robert G. David as President of University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center and University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center. Since June 2008, Mr. David has served as interim president for both hospitals.

As President of both medical centers, Mr. David will be responsible for the strategic direction and overall performance of University Hospitals’ two Critical Access Hospitals located in Ashtabula County. In addition, Mr. David will oversee the community medical centers’ adult medical/surgical services, around-the-clock emergency care and rehabilitation services.

UH Extended Care Campus receives $800,000 donation; Gift will help renovate and relocate ECC’s Center for Dialysis Care
Monday, November 17, 2008 (2064 reads)

CHARDON – Harold and Donna Davis have donated $800,000 to support the renovation and relocation of the Center for Dialysis Care at University Hospitals Extended Care Campus (ECC) in Geauga County.

Harold Davis, a patient at the ECC Center for Dialysis Care, is so grateful for the caring and comprehensive treatment he is receiving from the staff at ECC that he and his wife are pleased to make this generous contribution. Mr. Davis is an owner of Twinoaks Oil & Gas of Chagrin Falls.

Paralyzed boy’s surgery to make medical history at UH; He’s youngest for ‘Christopher Reeve’ operation
Friday, January 09, 2009 (2235 reads)

The impulses come from a battery inside a 6-by-3-inch plastic box that Alex can wear in a fanny pack or attached to his chair.

One of the biggest advantages of the device is that it works on one size C lithium battery and doesn't have to be plugged into an electrical outlet the way a ventilator does.

That means no worries if bad weather knocks out the power.

UH Geauga Medical Center Receives $300,000 for Breast Imaging Suite
Friday, January 16, 2009 (1937 reads)

GEAUGA – University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center has received $300,000 from The William O. and Gertrude Lewis Frohring Foundation to establish the Frohring Breast Imaging Suite. The new suite, scheduled to open in Spring of 2009, will offer residents of Geauga and surrounding counties access to the area’s most advanced digital mammography system.

“Digital mammography is a major advance in breast cancer screening and women throughout Geauga County and beyond will have access to this powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer, thanks to the Frohring Foundation,” says Richard J. Frenchie, President of UH Geauga Medical Center. “We are thrilled to have this state-of-the-art technology to offer our patients within our renovated, patient-centered Breast Suite.”

University Hospitals Case Medical Center Only Cleveland Hospital Ranked in Major Teaching Hospitals Category of Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 (1938 reads)

University Hospitals Case Medical Center is the only Cleveland hospital ranked in the major teaching hospitals category of the recently released Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals National Benchmarks study. Released by the Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters, the annual study identifies the top 100 U.S. hospitals based on their overall organizational performance.

University Hospitals to Develop UH Medina Health Center and Sharon Family Physicians Join UH Physicians’ Network
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 (3243 reads)

CLEVELAND – In the coming months, residents of Medina County will find they have significantly enhanced outpatient medical services at two locations supported by the expertise of University Hospitals physicians and services.

University Hospitals (UH) will transform the Waterford Office Park, 4000 Carrick Place, into the UH Medina Health Center by the end of the year.

James Benedict Jr., Appointed President of UH Ahuja Medical Center
Monday, July 06, 2009 (2195 reads)

CLEVELAND – James J. Benedict Jr., has been appointed President of the University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center. The new health care campus, which includes both a hospital and medical office building, is under construction at Chagrin Highlands in Beachwood and scheduled to open in early 2011.

In his new role, Mr. Benedict will be responsible for assembling and leading a team to achieve the University Hospitals vision for providing Cleveland’s eastern and southeastern suburban population with enhanced access to advanced medical, surgical and emergency services. He currently oversees the overall operational planning for the $230.5 million health care campus.

“Since joining University Hospitals, Jim has played a vital role in the dramatic growth and financial success of our health system,” said Achilles Demetriou, MD, PhD, President, University Hospitals. “The UH Ahuja Medical Center will provide state-of-the-art health care services for our patients in the surrounding communities and will flourish under Jim’s leadership.”

University Hospitals Celebrates New Concord Health Center with Community Open House; Third Completed Building Project in UH’s Vision 2010 Plan
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 (2009 reads)

CONCORD – University Hospitals Concord Health Center will hold its grand opening and community open house on Tuesday, July 14, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., to celebrate the opening of its new, state-of-the-art outpatient health center in Concord Township. The UH Concord Health Center, which is the third completed building project of UH’s Vision 2010 strategic plan, is located at 7500 Auburn Road off Route 44 and I-90.

At the open house, UH will offer free health screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar, blood type, body mass index for children, heel bone density, and cholesterol. Visitors also will enjoy refreshments, give-aways, and tours of the facility.

Dr. Robert J. Ronis appointed as first system-wide Psychiatrist-in-Chief
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 (2169 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) announces the appointment of Robert J. Ronis, MD, MPH, as first system-wide Psychiatrist-in-Chief.

In this newly created position, Dr. Ronis will be responsible for the development and coordination of patient care and clinical research across the health system as it relates to psychiatry and will continue his responsibilities as Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at UH Case Medical Center and Associate Director for the UH Neurological Institute.

Rating Agencies Affirm University Hospitals Bond Ratings
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 (1972 reads)

CLEVELAND – Due to its strong financial performance despite a challenging economic environment, University Hospitals has been able to affirm its bond ratings.

Both Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service made public University Hospitals’ A and A2 ratings, respectively, with a stable outlook. The ratings agencies’ favorable assessments are based on University Hospitals’ (UH) financial and operating performance, and reflect the health system’s continued achievement of budget expectations.

“These ratings, which are based on a thorough review of our operations and financial performance, are a confirmation of University Hospitals’ strong financial position,” says Michael A. Szubski, Chief Financial Officer, UH. “The ratings also reflect our ability to achieve our strategic objectives and maintain market share in a competitive health care environment.”

University Hospitals Named One of the Top 10 Hospital Systems in United States
Friday, August 14, 2009 (1821 reads)

Thomson Reuters study finds top hospitals provide better care, follow standards of care more closely and save more lives

University Hospitals has been named one of the top 10 hospital systems in the United States based on its clinical performance by Thomson Reuters, a leading business and professional information organization based in New York.

UH and the other top 10 systems outperformed their peers by a wide margin. They provided better care, followed standards of care more closely, saved more lives, had fewer patient complications, and made fewer patient safety errors.

University Hospitals Named One of the Top 10 Hospital Systems in United States
Monday, August 24, 2009 (2303 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals has been named one of the top 10 hospital systems in the United States based on its clinical performance by Thomson Reuters, a leading business and professional information organization based in New York.

UH and the other top 10 systems outperformed their peers by a wide margin. They provided better care, followed standards of care more closely, saved more lives, had fewer patient complications, and made fewer patient safety errors.

The list was compiled in an unprecedented study conducted by researchers from the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals®. They analyzed the quality and efficiency of 252 health systems based on five metrics: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length-of-stay, and adherence to clinical standards of care (evidence-based core measures published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).

University Hospitals Names Dr. Jeffrey L. Sunshine as Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer
Tuesday, September 01, 2009 (2823 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) has announced the appointment of Jeffrey L. Sunshine, M.D., Ph.D., as Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer. He has been serving in those capacities on an interim basis since November 2008.

In these roles, Dr. Sunshine will be an integral member of the leadership team for the strategic planning, operations, integration and implementation of information systems and services throughout the health system, particularly in the development of UH’s $100 million Electronic Medical Record (EMR) project. While interim, he led EMR implementation across eight UH hospitals serving thousands of physicians.

University Hospitals celebrates 20,000th Dare to C.A.R.E. cardiovascular screening
Friday, October 09, 2009 (1830 reads)

CLEVELAND – The University Hospitals Harrington-McLaughlin Heart & Vascular Institutes at Bedford, Case Medical Center and Richmond medical centers are pleased to announce a substantial achievement in cardiovascular disease prevention having sponsored over 20,000 “Dare to C.A.R.E.” cardiovascular screenings.

Cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death and disability in America and the key to reducing those numbers is disease awareness, prevention and early detection.

“C.A.R.E.” represents the primary cardiovascular conditions and patient risk factors, which our screening is designed to identify: Carotid artery disease (the primary source of preventable strokes), Abdominal aortic aneurysm (the 10th leading cause of death in men), Renal artery stenosis (high blood pressure can injure vessels), and Extremity artery disease (insufficient blood flow in the legs).

University Hospitals Case Medical Center Researchers Receive NIH Stimulus Funds to Test New Drug against Deadly Brain Tumor
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 (2574 reads)

CLEVELAND – The National Institutes of Health has awarded $800,000 for a novel clinical trial, led by researchers at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center, testing a drug that targets stem cells of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and aggressive type of brain cancer. Funded though the NIH’s 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus package, the multi-center national study is coordinated through the Adult Brain Tumor Consortium.

GBM, which is notorious for growing back within months of surgery, is the type of cancer that recently killed Sen. Edward Kennedy. GBM stem cells, which are resistant to radiation and chemotherapy, are believed to be the reason that these tumors recur even after complete surgical removal.

Surgery potentially best option for severe migraine headaches
Saturday, October 24, 2009 (2114 reads)

CLEVELAND – The disability from migraine headaches is an enormous health burden affecting over 30 million Americans.

In newly released research, 79 migraine sufferers were followed for at least five years after having undergone detection of migraine “trigger sites” and surgery. The new data finds promising outcomes for treating trigger sites surgically for migraine headaches resulting in elimination of pain for those afflicted with the condition.

University Hospitals announces Community Benefit contributions for 2008 totaled $210 Million
Thursday, November 12, 2009 (1691 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) announces that spending on community benefit programs totaled $210 million in 2008. This significant contribution represents 12 percent of the health system’s net revenue related to patient care in 2008 and is $42 million more than in 2007.

“Community benefit” includes programs designed to address identified community needs, such as charity care, improving access to health services, enhancing public health, advancing medical knowledge through clinical research and teaching the next generation of doctors. UH’s total community benefit spending includes: charity care ($39 million), community health improvement services ($8 million), Medicaid shortfall ($62 million), community programs and support ($9 million), research ($58 million), and education and training ($44 million).

University Hospitals Announces New Organizational Structure; New Structure Ensures Health System’s Continued Success
Wednesday, December 09, 2009 (3726 reads)

CLEVELAND – Thomas F. Zenty III, CEO of University Hospitals, has announced a new leadership structure that includes the addition of two key new members and two new positions for current UH leadership.

“The successful implementation of our Vision 2010 strategic plan has resulted in a multitude of accomplishments over the past several years in quality, patient satisfaction, operational improvements, financial performance, employee engagement, philanthropic attainment, and many other notable areas,” said Mr. Zenty. “We continue to grow—at new and existing facilities and in services to meet the needs of the community. To sustain this momentum, we have designed a new leadership structure to support our strategy for the future.”

Feb. 4-5: UH Answers Heart Questions Live
Thursday, February 04, 2010 (88 reads)

UH Harrington-McLaughlin Heart & Vascular Institute physicians and other clinical staff will be live on WKYC's evening newscasts from 6-8 p.m. answering phones and chatting online Thursday, Feb. 4, and Friday, Feb. 5.

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Traffic Change for University Hospitals Case Medical Center Due to Adelbert Road Bridge Closure
Friday, February 12, 2010 (755 reads)

Visitors to the UH Case Medical Center Campus are advised to enter off of Euclid Avenue instead of Murray Hill.

Thomson Reuters Names University Hospitals Case Medical Center as One of Top 15 Major Teaching Hospitals in the Nation
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 (1410 reads)

CLEVELAND – Thomson Reuters today announced that University Hospitals Case Medical Center is one of the top 15 Major Teaching Hospitals in the nation for the fifth year in a row. It is the only hospital from Northeast Ohio on the list in the Major Teaching Hospitals category.

The recognition is part of Thomson Reuters’ annual study identifying the 100 top U.S. hospitals based on their overall organizational performance. The study found that the 15 top major teaching hospitals had scored better than their peer group of U.S. hospitals in mortality; medical complications; patient safety; average length of stay; expenses; profitability; patient satisfaction; adherence to clinical standards of care, and post-discharge mortality and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and pneumonia.

“This recognition is a tribute to the remarkable work performed day in and day out by the physicians, nurses and staff members here who continually seek to improve the quality of patient care on several fronts,” said Fred C. Rothstein, M.D., President of University Hospitals Case Medical Center. “They have made University Hospitals Case Medical Center a national model of excellence and quality standards.”

Alan M. Hirsh, MD, named Chief Medical Officer for UH Ahuja Medical Center
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 (2171 reads)

CLEVELAND – Alan M. Hirsh, MD, has been appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of University Hospitals (UH) Ahuja Medical Center. The new health care campus, which includes both a hospital and medical office building, is under construction at Chagrin Highlands in Beachwood and scheduled to open in early 2011.

As the Chief Medical Officer of UH Ahuja Medical Center, Dr. Hirsh will provide clinical quality leadership to the UH Ahuja Medical Center, executing University Hospitals’ vision of providing Cleveland’s eastern and southeastern suburban population with enhanced access to high quality advanced medical, surgical, and emergency services at the 53-acre health care campus.

“Alan brings a wealth of experience as a health care executive and accomplished physician to the helm of the UH Ahuja Medical Center,” said Achilles Demetriou, MD, PhD, Chief Operating Officer of University Hospitals. “He has been part of the UH family for more than a decade and we know that under his medical leadership Ahuja Medical Center will flourish as the state-of-the-art health care facility for our patients in the surrounding communities.”

Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation Donates $2.25 Million to UH Case Medical Center for Joint Replacement Center
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 (1026 reads)

CLEVELAND – The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation has again demonstrated its extraordinary community commitment and support of University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center with a $2.25 million gift for the development of a state-of-the-art Center of Excellence in Joint Replacement. In total, the Prentiss Foundation has contributed nearly $46 million to University Hospitals over 60 years, making it the largest independent foundation donor in the hospital’s long history.

"The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation has had a monumental impact on University Hospitals, helping our health system grow into the national leader that we are today,” said Fred C. Rothstein, MD, President of University Hospitals Case Medical Center. “We are truly grateful for this latest gift supporting our renowned Joint Replacement Center and for the Prentiss Foundation’s enduring commitment to advancing our mission on behalf of the patients, families, and communities we proudly serve. The Prentiss Foundation’s legacy of support is unparalleled and I know our entire leadership joins me in thanking the foundation’s board of managers.”

Giant Eagle®, University Hospitals partner to deliver Fastcare in-store retail health clinics
Wednesday, May 05, 2010 (1894 reads)

CLEVELAND ― Giant Eagle®, Inc. and University Hospitals today announced a joint effort to open the first of four walk-in retail health clinics, located in the Giant Eagle supermarket at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst. The partners plan on opening three additional clinics in Giant Eagle supermarkets located in Northeast Ohio in the future.

Called University Hospitals FastCare, the clinics offer a convenient extension to primary care physicians and urgent care centers by allowing for diagnosis and treatment of many basic acute episodic health conditions. Among the types of conditions treated at University Hospitals FastCare clinics are sore and strep throats, fevers, flu and colds, ear and sinus infections, bronchitis, pink eye, bladder infections, and allergies.

University Hospitals Neurological Institute Earns Neuroscience Center of Excellence Designation
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 (1537 reads)

CLEVELAND – The Neurological Institute at University Hospitals has been designated as a Neuroscience Center of Excellence (COE), according to the Neuroscience Center of Excellence Survey sponsored by NeuStrategy, Inc., Chicago. It is the first neurological program in Ohio to receive the Stage 4 – Institute designation.

The COE Survey is the only one of its kind in the neurosciences and is the industry standard for evaluating program infrastructure. A record 175 hospital-based neuroscience programs from 41 states participated in the Neuroscience COE Survey.

University Hospitals CEO Thomas F. Zenty, III talks about health care reform at the City Club
Thursday, June 10, 2010 (921 reads)

The title of Thomas F. Zenty III''s talk at the City Club on Friday might well have been "It's Complicated."

The University Hospitals chief executive was speaking of health care reform's impact on nonprofit hospitals as well as on the country's health care system and population as a whole.

Besides trying to boil down 2,400 pages of the bill into a 30-minute talk, Zenty focused on the potential for the new health care system to be "better for all of us."

Listen to the podcast...

View the video…

Diversity Publication Names University Hospitals One of Top Hospital Systems in the Nation
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 (1062 reads)

CLEVELAND – DiversityInc., a leading publication on diversity and business, has recognized University Hospitals as a leader among health care institutions in its first ever Top Hospital Systems listing.

Each year since 2001, DiversityInc has ranked the Top 50 Companies for Diversity based on results from an extensive questionnaire. This is the first year that hospital systems have been ranked separately.

UH was selected for this honor based on its excellent ratings in four categories: CEO commitment, workforce, corporate and organizational communications and supplier diversity. DiversityInc specifically highlighted UH’s work/life benefits including adoption assistance, paternity leave, lactation programs and onsite religious accommodations.

University Hospitals Named One of the Top 10 Health Systems in U.S. for Second Year in a Row
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 (1255 reads)

CLEVELAND – For the second consecutive year, University Hospitals (UH) has been named one of the top 10 health systems in the United States based on clinical performance by Thomson Reuters, a leading business and professional information organization. UH remains the only health system in Northeast Ohio to achieve this distinction and is one of only five health systems in the U.S. to receive this recognition over two years.

UH and the other top 10 systems outperformed their peers by a wide margin. They provided better care, followed standards of care more closely, saved more lives, had fewer patient complications, and made fewer patient safety errors.

Landmark Study Finds Intensively Lowering Blood Glucose: Increased Mortality, No Cardio Benefit, Possible Benefits to Eyes, Kidneys and Nerves
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 (1042 reads)

CLEVELAND – In an analysis from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial, one of the largest studies of its kind to determine whether intensive blood glucose (sugar) control worked better than standard blood sugar control among diabetics, results show that the benefits of intensive therapy need to be balanced against the increase in total and cardiovascular disease-related death, increased weight gain, and high risk for severe low blood sugar. The study is published by the Lancet to coincide with the American Diabetes Association's 70th Scientific Sessions in Orlando. The analysis is written by Dr. Faramarz Ismail-Beigi, a diabetes specialist with University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and colleagues for the ACCORD trial group.

‘Live Long, Live Strong’ on Aug. 13 is a Free Community-Wide Health Fair
Friday, July 30, 2010 (871 reads)

CLEVELAND – Stop by for free health screenings and information as well as fun activities for kids, raffles and giveaways for everyone at the University Hospitals (UH) Otis Moss, Jr. Health Center community-wide health fair, LIVE LONG, LIVE STRONG, on Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center is located at 8819 Quincy Ave in Cleveland.

The event will feature the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, Mammo Van, Cleveland Sight Mobile, Dept of Public Health Mobile, American Sickle Cell Anemia Association, NORA HIV testing, University Hospitals Audiology and Respiratory Depts,among others.

The aim of LIVE LONG, LIVE STRONG is to empower residents of Fairfax and Greater Cleveland by providing information to maintain and improve their health.

Dr. David and Enid Rosenberg Donate $1 Million to University Hospitals Vision 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010 (1193 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) has received a $1 million donation from Dr. David and Enid Rosenberg to advance UH’s Vision 2010 strategic plan. In honor of the couple’s generosity and longtime relationship with the health system, UH is naming the Enid B. and David M. Rosenberg, MD, Conference Suite at UH Ahuja Medical Center.

The 1,300-square-foot Rosenberg Conference Suite will be a key component of the UH Ahuja Medical Center campus, scheduled to open in Beachwood in early 2011. The Rosenberg Conference Suite will house executive board meetings as well as gatherings of the medical staff, executive and clinical leadership and members of the community. It will have state-of-the-art wireless and audiovisual capabilities and will also be used for community education and staff training.

University Hospitals commits $200,000 to Cleveland Ace Mentor Scholarship Program
Monday, December 06, 2010 (1505 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio, has committed to a donation of $200,000 to the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland over the next four years. The ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland is an affiliate of the ACE Mentor Program of America, a national non-profit organization which provides outreach and mentoring for students in 226 markets across the country.

Gilbane Building Company and University Hospitals are co sponsors of the ACE program and brought it to Cleveland in 2008. “We are thrilled to support the ACE program and strongly believe that the mentoring relationships developed through this program are invaluable to Cleveland students as they continue their education and training in the fields of architecture, construction and engineering,” says Margaret Hewitt, Vice President of Construction, UH.

Clifford V. Harding, MD, PhD, Named Chair of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center
Monday, January 17, 2011 (1137 reads)

CLEVELAND – Culminating an extensive national search, Clifford V. Harding, MD, PhD, accomplished researcher and pathologist in the fields of immunology, oncology, and infectious disease, has been named Chair of the Department of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center.

Dr. Harding has been a member of the School of Medicine and University Hospitals communities for nearly 18 years, and in 2008 he assumed the role as the Department’s Interim Chair. In his new role as Chair, Dr. Harding will lead a rapidly growing department by overseeing the research and clinical activities of more than 150 faculty and staff with expertise spanning medical disciplines, including cancer, immunology, neuropathology, and basic and translational research.

“Dr. Harding is a natural leader in research and education,” says Pamela B. Davis, MD, PhD, Dean, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. “As Interim Chair, he demonstrated a strong ability for developing clinical programs. I have no doubt that as Chair, his integrity, intelligence, strength, and collaborative and integrative abilities will add immeasurable value to the Department and the University.”

Migraine surgery offers good long-term outcomes; UH's Dr. Bahman Guyuron shares promising five-year post operation results
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 (1054 reads)

CLEVELAND – Surgery to "deactivate" migraine headaches produces lasting good results, with nearly 90 percent of patients having at least partial relief at five years' follow-up, reports a study in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

In about 30 percent of patients, migraine headaches were completely eliminated after surgery, according to the new study, led by Dr. Bahman Guyuron, chairman of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.

"Trigger Site" Surgery Reduces or Eliminates Migraine Headaches

Dr. Guyuron, a plastic surgeon, developed the migraine surgery techniques after noticing that some migraine patients had reduced headache activity after undergoing cosmetic forehead-lift procedures. The techniques consist of "surgical deactivation" of "trigger sites" in the muscles or nerves that produce pain.

University Hospitals Transplant Institute establishes Education and Evaluation Center in Akron
Monday, February 07, 2011 (1101 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals has established a satellite Transplant Institute Education and Evaluation Center in Akron, bringing the health system’s renowned transplant services to Summit County and surrounding communities.

The satellite location, scheduled to open on February 8 at 1 Park West (at the intersection of I-77 and White Pond Road) will initially provide kidney transplant education and evaluation services to patients with kidney failure who are potential candidates for the procedure. This new location fills a need in the community for these services following the closure of the kidney transplant program in Summit County two years ago. UH also plans to establish transplant evaluation clinics for patients with liver, heart and lung failure.

"Our transplant team has recognized that local access to a transplant program is vital to patient’s decision about transplant as a treatment option for organ failure,” says James Schulak, MD, Director of the UH Transplant Institute. “For example, in Northeast Ohio a patient on the kidney transplant waiting list will wait (on average) three to five years to receive a deceased donor kidney for transplantation. Every day that a patient waits to pursue this treatment option matters.”

Lack of sleep found to be a new risk factor for colon cancer
Tuesday, February 08, 2011 (2248 reads)

CLEVELAND – An inadequate amount of sleep has been associated with higher risks of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and death. Now colon cancer can be added to the list.

In a ground-breaking new study published in the Feb. 15, 2011 issue of the journal Cancer, researchers from University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, found that individuals who averaged less than six hours of sleep at night had an almost 50 percent increase in the risk of colorectal adenomas compared with individuals sleeping at least seven hours per night. Adenomas are a precursor to cancer tumors, and left untreated, they can turn malignant.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to report a significant association of sleep duration and colorectal adenomas,” said Li Li, MD, PhD, the study’s principal investigator, family medicine physician in the Department of Family Medicine at UH Case Medical Center and Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “A short amount of sleep can now be viewed as a new risk factor for the development of the development of colon cancer.”

University Hospitals system approach to stroke care increases the use of tPA Therapy by 13.5-fold
Friday, February 11, 2011 (1379 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center recently reported that it has increased the use of tPA or “clot busting therapy” for ischemic stroke by 13.5 times throughout UH system hospitals since implementing the System Stroke Program (SSP). Launched in 2008, SSP sought to increase access to the lifesaving treatment for acute (urgent) ischemic stroke patients in the 15 counties surrounding Cleveland.

tPA is Tissue Plasminogen Activator, a drug that dissolves blood clots and must be administered intravenously within 4.5 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms to be effective. tPA is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the acute treatment of stroke and although tPA was approved for use in 1995, many hospitals did not have systems in place to evaluate or treat patients with this therapy.

Nationally, administration for stroke has increased in recent years through the development of Stroke Centers. However, the overall rate of use remains very low. According to a recently published study, the use of tPA increased nationally from less than 1 percent in 2001 to 2.4 percent in 2006.

Dr. Vikram Kashyap Appointed New Chief of Vascular Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Wednesday, March 02, 2011 (1464 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center recently appointed Vikram Kashyap, MD, FACS, as the new Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy.

Dr. Kashyap will also serve as the Co-Director of the UH Harrington-McLaughlin Heart & Vascular Institute and as Associate Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. His specialty interests include endovascular therapies, cerebrovascular disease, aortic pathologies and atherosclerotic occlusive disease. He is board-certified in vascular surgery, and he is a registered vascular technologist.

His research interests include atherosclerosis and thrombosis and he is the principal investigator on a study of endothelial function in peripheral arteries and several studies of new vascular stents, grafts and prostheses. Dr. Kashyap is widely published in peer-reviewed medical journals and has authored or co-authored more than 80 articles and book chapters.

UH Hospitals Rank Prominently in Cleveland in U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals Metro Area Rankings; Also earns “Thomson Reuters Top 100 hospitals” ranking for 6th consecutive year
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 (1475 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center and three other UH hospitals ranked prominently in Cleveland in U.S. News & World Report's first-ever Best Hospitals metro area rankings, available online at www.usnews.com/hospitals. UH Case Medical Center ranked in 12 specialties, St. John Medical Center in four and UH Geauga Medical Center in three. Additionally, Southwest General Health Center, a partnership hospital, had four specialties ranked.

The new rankings recognize 622 hospitals in or near major cities with a record of high performance in key medical specialties, including 132 of the 152 hospitals already identified as the best in the nation. There are nearly 5,000 hospitals nationwide.

U.S. News created Best Hospitals more than 20 years ago to identify hospitals exceptionally skilled in handling the most difficult cases, such as brain tumors typically considered inoperable and delicate pancreatic procedures.

University Hospitals awards $50,000 to students in ACE Mentor Program
Monday, May 02, 2011 (816 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio, will award $50,000 in scholarships to students at the ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering) Mentor Program. This is the first scholarship award made from the health system’s $200,000 donation to the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland to be distributed over the next four years.

The announcement will be made at the annual ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland banquet on Tuesday, May 3 at Windows on the River at 5:30 where students will present their final design projects and a total of 13 high school seniors will be awarded scholarships. The Cleveland program is an affiliate of the ACE Mentor Program of America, a national non-profit organization which provides outreach and mentoring for students in 226 markets across the country.

Alfred M. Rankin, Jr. named Chairman of University Hospitals Board of Directors; UH elects new board members to UH, UH Case Medical Center Boards and Community Hospital Boards
Wednesday, May 04, 2011 (1163 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) announces the election of Alfred M. Rankin, Jr. as the new Chairman of the UH Board of Directors. Mr. Rankin, who has served on the UH Board of Directors for more than 25 years, is Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-based NACCO Industries Inc.

"Al is a lifelong Clevelander who is thoroughly committed to the cultural and economic growth of Northeast Ohio,” says Thomas F. Zenty III, CEO of UH. “He is a committed leader in our community as an executive and philanthropist and is highly regarded for his numerous civic involvements, including serving as an integral member of our board for more than two decades.”

Mr. Rankin succeeds Monte Ahuja, immediate past Board Chairman, who will remain as an active member of the UH Board and continue to serve as Co-Chair of “Discover the Difference: the Campaign for University Hospitals,” the health system’s $1 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign.

New state-of-the-art, 24/7 Emergency Department Open at UH Twinsburg Health Center
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 (1135 reads)

TWINSBURG – University Hospitals Twinsburg Health Center, 8819 Commons Blvd., opened a state-of-the-art Emergency Department (ED), operational 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The $2.4 million ED is fully integrated medically and operationally with the new UH Ahuja Medical Center located at I-271 and Harvard Road in Beachwood.

“Our new state-of-the-art ED exemplifies our commitment to the growing Twinsburg and surrounding communities and our desire to provide the highest quality health care to our patients,” said James J. Benedict, Jr., President of UH Ahuja Medical Center. “We will be able to respond to all medical emergencies including strokes and heart attacks. In addition, we can provide critical care transport for patients needing a higher level of care, such as interventional catheterization and hospitalization if necessary at UH Ahuja Medical Center or UH Case Medical Center.”

The 3,400-square-foot Twinsburg ED offers a wait time of no more than 30 minutes. The facility will house a full complement of radiology and laboratory services, such as digital radiography, CT and ultra-sound imaging.

Pacemaker implantation for heart failure does not benefit nearly half of the patients
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 (1161 reads)

CLEVELAND – A new meta-analysis study led by physician researchers at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center, to be published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, shows that three-lead cardiac pacemakers implanted in those with heart failure fail to help up to 40 percent of patients with such devices.

“These findings have significant clinical implications and impact tens of thousands of patients in the U.S.,” said Ilke Sipahi, MD, Associate Director of Heart Failure and Transplantation at UH Case Medical Center and Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “In this in-depth analysis, we found that pacemaker patients with less severe electrical disturbance in their hearts did not receive any benefit whatsoever from these expensive and potentially risky implants. Given the abundance of data showing lack of efficacy in this patient population, current treatment guidelines should be changed.”

Dr. Sipahi, along with James Fang, MD, Director, Clinical Cardiovascular Services at UH Case Medical Center and Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, investigated the treatment method known as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). This highly sophisticated treatment technique involves pacing both ventricles of the heart in an attempt to correct the impaired synchrony during contraction of the heart.

Murdough gift establishes first Master Clinician distinction at University Hospitals; Family honors Dr. Conor Delaney with inaugural award
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 (1847 reads)

CLEVELAND – Joy and Thomas Murdough, Jr. have given $1.25 million to establish University Hospitals’ (UH) first Master Clinician award. The Master Clinician award honors a physician-scientist’s exemplary contributions to the practice and science of his or her medical specialty.

Renowned for his unique expertise in minimally invasive colorectal procedures, Conor P. Delaney, MD, PhD, Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Colorectal Surgery at UH Case Medical Center, was selected as the inaugural recipient and named the distinguished Murdough Master Clinician in Colorectal Surgery.

Established in perpetuity, a Master Clinician award recognizes outstanding physicians and supports their clinical research and other key endeavors.

University Hospitals receives $2 million gift from Linda and Les Vinney to advance cancer genetics
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 (1402 reads)

CLEVELAND – A $2 million gift from Linda and Les Vinney will accelerate University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center’s national leadership in cancer genetics. Named in recognition of the couple’s exceptional generosity, the Linda and Les Vinney Biorepository and Genomics Facility will play a key role in advancing genomic knowledge and hastening important discoveries and new cancer therapies.

“Cancer genetics is a rapidly exploding field. This newly established, state-of-the-art biorepository will fuel the development of novel genetic screening tests, critical in the identification of cancer-causing genetic changes and help us devise precise and effective treatments,” says Stan Gerson, MD, Director, UH Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “The gift will also support program activities in informatics, biostatistics and cancer genetic counseling, which is critical for families with multiple cancers, giving hope to patients diagnosed with cancer now, and for generations to come.”

UH Case Medical Center ranks prominently in U.S. News’ Best Hospitals guide; joins an elite list of only 140 hospitals nationwide
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 (1871 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center once again is ranked prominently among the top hospitals in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s latest hospital rankings.

UH ranked in 11 medical specialties in U.S. News’ national rankings; four more than in 2010. The hospital joins an elite group of only 140 hospitals – just three percent – out of nearly 5,000 eligible hospitals nationwide named in the magazine’s 2011-12 Best Hospitals.

UH Case Medical Center is nationally ranked in:

Cancer (#36)
Diabetes & Endocrinology (#39)
Ear, Nose & Throat (#28)
Gastroenterology (#25)
Geriatrics (#23)
Gynecology (#36)
Nephrology (#47)
Neurology & Neurosurgery (#47)
Orthopaedics (#23)
Pulmonology (#33)
Urology (#49)

University Hospitals and Centerre Healthcare announce joint venture to open Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital
Friday, August 12, 2011 (1463 reads)

CLEVELAND, OH and NASHVILLE, TN – University Hospitals (UH) in Cleveland, OH, and Nashville-based Centerre Healthcare Corporation announced today a joint venture to construct a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Beachwood, OH.

Scheduled for completion in October 2012, the state-of-the-art facility will provide physical, occupational and speech language therapy along with specialized rehabilitation nursing and a wide range of clinical services for patients recovering from complex neurological, orthopaedic and cardiac conditions as well as traumatic injuries. The facility will also provide patients with highly specialized therapy programs such as a dedicated brain injury unit and specialized stroke program.

New prostate cancer screening test shows promise for diagnosis
Monday, August 15, 2011 (1367 reads)

CLEVELAND – A new prostate screening test developed by AnalizaDx, Inc., a Cleveland-based biotech company, and studied by researchers at the Seidman Cancer Center at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center along with colleagues at the Cleveland Clinic, the Veterans Administration Boston Healthcare and the National Cancer Institute, may prove to be a promising new tool in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The study which will be published in the September issue of Urology found that this new screening test, the PSA/SIA assay, may be more sensitive in detecting prostate cancer than traditional screening methods.

“This has the potential to be a major advance in the development of more accurate tests for prostate cancer diagnosis,” says Mark Stovsky, MD, Principal Investigator and lead author of the study, urologist at UH Case Medical Center and Associate Professor of Urology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men but traditional screening is not very accurate. This test provides a new way to look at prostate cancer diagnosis utilizing a novel biological assay which differentiates PSA molecular structures arising from cancer versus non-cancerous glands.”

Loss of spouse, smoking and heavy drinking increase risk of hair loss for women
Thursday, September 22, 2011 (754 reads)

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center’s renowned plastic surgeon Bahman Guyuron, MD has potentially uncovered new contributors to hair loss in both men and women.

Age and genetics have traditionally been considered the most reliable predictors of both female and male hair loss. However, two new studies involving identical twins to be presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) annual conference on Sept. 24 reveal that being a widow, divorcee, or a heavy smoker can wreak havoc on one’s hairline, especially if you’re a woman.

“Never before has the role of some of these factors been documented,” said Dr. Guyuron, Department Chairman of Plastic Surgery at UH Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University. “While genetics remain a strong predictor of some types of hair loss, introducing certain stressful or unhealthy factors into a person’s life can result in more hair loss.

Diaphragm pacing system receives FDA approval for use with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients
Thursday, September 29, 2011 (598 reads)

CLEVELAND – An electronic system that stimulates the nerve of the diaphragm muscles has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The system called NeuRx Diaphragm Pacing System (DPS) will help ALS patients breathe longer without the aid of a ventilator.

Dr. Raymond Onders, the surgeon at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center who helped develop and test DPS and who lost his own sister to ALS this past year, began testing DPS 15 years ago on spinal cord injured patients such as the late actor Christopher Reeve. In 2004, this research expanded to included patients with ALS patients whose progressive muscle weakness leads to an inability to breathe without ventilator support.

“I lost my sister to this devastating disease during the FDA approval process,” said Dr. Onders. “I also have seen the significant benefit diaphragm pacing can provide to patients. Diaphragm pacing has improved the breathing and quality of life of many of the patients I have treated. I am committed to searching for the cure for this disease but until then and with this approval we are now able to continue helping ALS patients until that cure is found,” said Dr. Onders who is Director of Adult Minimally Invasive Surgery at UH Case Medical Center and who holds the Margaret and Walter Remen Chair in Surgical Innovation and is Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Expandable prosthesis resolves advanced aortic valve disease; University Hospitals Case Medical Center physician-scientists participate in new multidisciplinary program and clinical trial
Tuesday, October 04, 2011 (943 reads)

CLEVELAND - Among individuals 65 years and older, as many as 30 percent have aortic valve sclerosis or stenosis and as a result of their deteriorating health, cannot enjoy a normal lifestyle.

“The aortic valve is a gatekeeper,” says Marco Costa, MD, of University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical in Cleveland. “If it isn’t functioning properly, there is less blood flow to the body and patients may experience fatigue, fainting, stroke, poor kidney function and heart failure. If untreated, 50 percent of individuals will die in the first year. Patients with aortic valve stenosis must be evaluated by a heart specialist to determine the best options for therapy.”

Dr. Costa is the Director, Interventional Cardiovascular Center and Research & Innovation Center, UH Harrington-McLaughlin Heart & Vascular Institute at UH Case Medical Center, and Professor of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

University Hospitals to establish new UH Aurora Health Center
Monday, October 03, 2011 (997 reads)

CLEVELAND – Residents of Portage County and surrounding communities will soon have access to University Hospitals physicians and services closer to home at the new UH Aurora Health Center. University Hospitals (UH) will transform an existing 7,500 square foot office building in Barrington Town Center, 55 Chillicothe Road, into the UH Aurora Health Center by January 2012.

UH Aurora Health Center, conveniently located along Route 306 and Route 82, will offer family medicine, urgent care, as well as advanced laboratory and radiology services.

“At University Hospitals, we are continuously working to better meet the medical needs of our community and provide the highest quality health care to our patients,” said Achilles Demetriou, MD, PhD, Chief Operating Officer, UH. “We are excited to expand our outpatient services to the growing Aurora area.”

Two studies find low-income dads, community health care workers provide support, but face obstacles in helping low-income moms with breast feeding
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 (660 reads)

CLEVELAND – The low rate of breastfeeding among low-income, inner-city African-American mothers is a health disparity now receiving national attention. Two new studies from University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital highlight some obstacles to increasing the breastfeeding rate in this population and identify methods to address this disparity.

Both studies were led Lydia Furman¸ MD, of UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and were presented Oct. 17 at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in Boston.

“Breastfeeding benefits infants and their mothers, but many barriers exist for mothers who want to breastfeed,” Dr. Furman said. “These studies have helped us to identify some of the obstacles facing women and give us important information to begin to address these issues.”

New Therapy Marks a Milestone in Fight against Cystic Fibrosis
Wednesday, November 02, 2011 (481 reads)

CLEVELAND – Results of the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial published in the Nov. 3, 2011 (embargoed 5 pm ET, Nov. 2, ’11) New England Journal of Medicine, find that the oral medication ivacaftor (VX-770) provides major, sustained improvement in lung function, growth and other signs and symptoms for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The multi-site study marks the first time a drug has been shown to work on the disease process rather than on the symptoms. CF, which has no cure, is the most common lethal genetic disease in Caucasians.

“Ivacaftor represents a significant advancement in the treatment of CF. This study shows that the therapy can safely provide long-term benefits to patients with a specific type of cystic fibrosis,” said Michael W. Konstan, MD, one of the study’s co-authors and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. “The availability of this medication for these CF patients holds great promise.”

Ivacaftor, a drug developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, targets the underlying cause of CF, with the goal of preventing or slowing the development of related complications. Ivacaftor is a “potentiator” of the mutant CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein – the fundamental defect in cystic fibrosis – and acts by restoring the balance of salt and water on the surface of the airways.

University Hospitals Case Medical Center receives Get with the Guidelines- Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award
Tuesday, November 08, 2011 (519 reads)

CLEVELAND – For the third consecutive year, University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines^®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes UH Case Medical Center’s commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.

To receive the award, UH Case Medical Center achieved of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.

These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.

University Hospitals is world winner for Digital Radiological Imaging Storage, Recovery Solutions
Monday, December 05, 2011 (807 reads)

CLEVELAND – In a world-wide competition, University Hospitals (UH) received the Mission-Critical Innovation Award - Humanitarian/Environmental Impact category presented by the multinational information technology companies Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Intel. The award recognizes UH’s leadership in information technology for groundbreaking work in developing solutions for mission-critical computing.

The award was presented Nov. 28 in Vienna, Austria. Accepting it for UH were Jeffrey Sunshine, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chairman, Department of Radiology, and Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer; Himanshu Pandya, Vice President, Radiology Services, and Karen Erhard, UH Radiology PACS manager.

The Humanitarian/Environmental Impact Award looks at organizations using advanced Itanium-based systems to make a positive impact on society or the environment. (Itanium refers to Intel microprocessors used in enterprise servers and high-performance computing systems.)

University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center tests novel drug that makes brain tumors glow hot pink
Tuesday, December 06, 2011 (993 reads)

CLEVELAND – Just 24 hours after Lisa Rek sang at her niece’s wedding, her husband Brad was driving her to a local hospital.

“The pain got worse. When we got to the emergency room, I said to Brad ‘something is just not right,’” Rek remembers.

After an MRI showed a suspected tumor, Rek was immediately flown to Seidman Cancer Center at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center, where Andrew Sloan, MD, diagnosed her with Stage 4 glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer and the most difficult to treat.

“The tumors are comprised of the brain itself. It looks like brain tissue, it sort of feels like brain tissue. It’s hard to figure out necessarily where tumor ends and swollen brain tissue begins,” says Dr. Sloan, Director of the Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center and Peter D. Cristal Chair in Neurosurgery at UH Case Medical Center and Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Premier Healthcare Alliance Names Three Hospitals in University Hospitals System among 2011 Top Performing Hospitals; UH Geauga, UH Geneva, and UH Richmond medical centers recognized for delivery of care
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 (1229 reads)

CLEVELAND – Three hospitals in the University Hospitals (UH) system, Cleveland, OH, are among the 2011 Top Performing Hospitals in the Premier healthcare alliance’s national QUEST® collaborative. They are UH Geauga, UH Geneva, and UH Richmond medical centers.

Based on year three of the QUEST: High Performing Hospitals collaborative, these hospitals have:

• Increased delivery of recommended evidence-based care to every patient, every time. For example, providing flu vaccinations to all pneumonia patients, or prescribing a high blood pressure or chest pain medication to all heart attack patients prior to discharge.
• Saved lives by reducing avoidable hospital mortalities.
• Safely reduced the cost of care for each patient's hospitalization.