Saint Francis Announces Affiliation With Cleveland Clinic for Cardiovascular Services
Saint Francis Medical Center announced a new affiliation today with Cleveland Clinic’s Sydell and
Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute, which will offer patients in the region access to even
better cardiac care. With this affiliation, Saint Francis’ Heart Hospital will have access to the best
practices that have helped Cleveland Clinic’s heart program achieve the No. 1 ranking from U.S. News
and World Report for 19 consecutive years.
“With this affiliation, Saint Francis’ already exceptional cardiac care is taken to the next level,” said
Steven C. Bjelich, FACHE-D, President and Chief Executive Officer at Saint Francis. “With our selection
as Missouri’s only hospital with this affiliation, we have the opportunity to collaborate with Cleveland
Clinic, strengthening all elements of cardiovascular medicine and cardiovascular surgery at Saint
Francis.”
In January 2013, Cleveland Clinic began a six-month review of every element of the cardiology and
cardiovascular surgery at Saint Francis. The review included three site visits from physicians as well as
the Cardiovascular Program Director at Cleveland Clinic. Key stakeholders within the Heart Hospital and
the Cleveland Clinic team took a critical look at physicians, staff, patient care delivery, invasive and noninvasive cardiology, and electrophysiology.
At the conclusion of the review, representatives of Cleveland Clinic provided a report with a plan on
further development and enhancement of our cardiac services. The Saint Francis Healthcare System
Board accepted the invitation to affiliate formally with the Cleveland Clinic and to pursue their plan.
Based on those recommendations, an action plan has been developed. Cleveland Clinic will collaborate
with Saint Francis staff on how to deal with complex medical situations and utilize the newest
technologies and innovations. They will also share best practice knowledge in all the cardiac subspecialties.
“Our ultimate goal is to improve patient outcomes,” said Edward M. Bender, MD, FACS, cardiothoracic
surgeon at Saint Francis. “Our Heart Hospital has a reputation as a top-notch institution. Now, we have
access to the most groundbreaking treatments and practices in the country.”
This new affiliation means that physicians and medical professionals will travel from Cleveland Clinic to
Saint Francis to collaborate with physicians and surgeons on improving care, quality and outcomes.
“When we see patients, we will have even more experts weighing in on the best treatments for each
particular case,” added Bender. “In some situations, access to the latest protocols could save our patients’
lives.”
With 50 private rooms, Saint Francis’ nationally-recognized Heart Hospital provides a full range of
cardiac care from a highly-skilled team of cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Staff members
provide a full suite of cardiovascular care with advanced diagnostics, leading-edge cardiac interventions
and surgeries, risk assessments and rehabilitation.
Saint Francis is a 282-bed facility serving more than 650,000 people throughout Missouri, Illinois,
Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. Guided by our mission to provide a ministry of healing and wellness
inspired by our Christian philosophy and values, we have become a progressive, innovative regional
tertiary care referral center. Our major service lines, which have received national recognition, include the
Neurosciences Institute; Saint Francis Orthopedic Institute; Family BirthPlace, featuring the region’s first
Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Heart Hospital; Saint Francis Emergency and Trauma Center with
Convenient Care; Cancer Institute; and Fitness Plus. In 2011, Saint Francis opened its 208,000-squarefoot combined Heart Hospital Cancer Institute, where patients have access to advanced treatments and
technology – under one convenient roof. Saint Francis is proud to be ranked on Modern Healthcare
magazine’s prestigious Best Places to Work in Healthcare list for six years in row (2008-2013).