The Saint Francis Healthcare System Annual Meeting was held Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 6 pm in the Show Me Center. Nearly 800 donors, community leaders, Board members, physicians, volunteers and employees attended to celebrate another year of success for Saint Francis.

The quality of care at Saint Francis Medical Center was a topic of the night; opening with Saint Francis Healthcare System Board of Directors chair Dennis Marchi relaying that, with the Medical Center's focus on quality, also comes the idea of transparency, including submitting to clinical reviews, examining results and sharing them with the community.

Thomas S. Diemer, MD, Medical Staff President, continued the theme, saying, "The more we share our outcomes, our successes and our opportunities to improve, the more transparent we become as an organization." He concluded, "This transparency brings knowledge and information to patients and their families, so they too can see that 'The Difference Is Clear.'"

A special salute was given to Harry E. Rediger, retiring chair of the Saint Francis Healthcare System Board, after serving 17 years on the Board and 10 years as its chair.

Steven C. Bjelich, FACHE-D, President and CEO of Saint Francis, continued by announcing the future growth that will be evident in 2008. These improvements will include a new hospitality waiting area for families of patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Cardiac Care Unit (CCU); updated patient rooms on the second and third floors; new cafeteria space allowing for expansion of the kitchen and dining area; and expansions and improvements in Occupational Medicine to better serve the business community.

The highlight of the evening occurred when the most exciting expansion plans for the coming year were revealed – the renovation of the Gene E. Huckstep Emergency Center/Level III Trauma Center, which will include private rooms with universal beds, specially equipped carts to fill every patient's procedure needs, new family waiting areas and immediate access to computerized tomography (CT) scanners.

"I am excited about our plans to expand the Medical Center, our plans to provide this community and the region access to the newest and best medical care," said Bjelich. "We are blessed to have a Board and Leadership team that are supportive of our growth and who understand the long-term impact this will have on the medical community in Southeast Missouri."

Kyle E. Brost, OD, Saint Francis Foundation Board of Directors chair, announced the Foundation's contribution amounts for this year. The Foundation was successful in securing approximately $955,000, a portion of which will be used to support capital expansion projects and in acquiring new medical technology for the region. To remain fiscally responsible in preparing for the future, 30 percent of the funds will be put in reserves for later expansions and improvements.

The Saint Francis Annual Meeting was an evening to celebrate success in medical care, made possible by its physicians, nurses, board members, volunteers, employees and supporters. The evening also featured the Southeast Missouri State University Air Force ROTC presenting the Missouri and United States flags.

Saint Francis Healthcare System is the umbrella organization of Saint Francis Medical Center and Saint Francis Health Development Services. Additionally, the Healthcare System has medical partnerships and joint ventures with the Cancer Institute of Cape Girardeau, LLC.; Poplar Bluff Medical Partners; and Landmark Hospital. The Cancer Institute brings some of the world's most sophisticated cancer-fighting technologies to Southeast Missouri. Poplar Bluff Medical Partners consists of 39 physicians representing a variety of specialties in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and operates a diagnostic center, an ambulatory surgery center and a physician office building that is currently under construction. Landmark Hospital is a joint venture with Landmark Healthcare, Inc. to bring a long-term acute care hospital for catastrophic and/or chronic, medically complex conditions to residents of Southeast Missouri.