By Wendell Hutson, DNAinfo.com/Chicago on May 7, 2013, reprinted by permission

ENGLEWOOD — Eric Hood has been without a valid state identification card for two years.

In June, the Englewood resident will have a chance to obtain a new one without leaving his South Side community.

On June 20 the Secretary of State’s Office will park its Mobile Driver Services Facility van in front of St. Bernard Hospital and Health Care Center, 326 West 64th St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so Hood and anyone else can renew or receive a driver’s license or state identification card.

“Now all I need is to come up with the money to get a state ID,” said Hood, 47. “I lost my driver’s license in 2000 for a DUI and have not been able to get to the Secretary of State’s office to get an ID.”

Derek Michaels, a spokesman for St. Bernard Hospital, said it partnered with the Secretary of State’s office to bring this service to Englewood to help both senior citizens and residents like Hood.

Read the rest of the story at DNAinfo.com Chicago:
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130507/englewood/drivers-license-services-coming-st-bernard-hospital-englewood

Evelyn Jones from St. Bernard Hospital on Vimeo.

Reprinted by permission of StreetWise.org
By Ellen Garrison, StreetWise Editorial Intern

At St. Bernard’s Children’s Dental Clinic, Dr. Vipul Singhal takes pride in offering high-quality dental care at affordable prices.

Without the proper instruction early in life, children will not form the habits necessary to keep their teeth healthy. Dr. Singhal’s clinic aims to not only clean and maintain healthy teeth, but to teach the kids how to take care of their own teeth.

“If children have cavities and other problems, there are two things. First is their physical status,” said Dr. Singhal, “second is their psychological status. No matter what, if a child loses teeth, the child will be in pain and the child will not be confident.”

Singhal focuses not only on the first, the pain, but also the second. He believes that teeth are important for not just eating the right diet, which includes hard foods that require strong teeth, but also for maintaining self-confidence from a young age.

Singhal said he has seen children only 2 or 3 years old missing front teeth who feel uncomfortable. “So it is not only the adults who feel awkward, emotionally compromised. Even the children feel that way,” Singhal said. And then when they are surrounded by their peers, most notably in school, they feel awkward and out of place. And they have trouble learning.

Poor dental health not only leads to a soft food diet, but also to greater problems in the body. Plaque buildup in the mouth can travel through the bloodstream and clog arteries and veins near the heart. “[Dental health] is very important for systemic problems,” said Singhal. “There is a link.”

Singhal and his staff of four general dentists and two part-time pediatric dentists have a 99.5 percent approval rating with their clientele, as per the surveys each patient fills out. Every patient treated by the clinic is also surveyed about how the service could be made better: by having different hours or being open different days. As it is, the clinic guarantees an appointment within seven days of the client’s call and promises to either warn of a wait or to seat patients immediately upon arrival. In the last year, the clinic had 6,000 patient visits. The article continues on Streetwise.org: http://streetwise.org/2013/03/st-bernards-dental-clinic-gives-children-their-smile/

By Daniel P. Smith – Contributor, Catholic New World Newspaper

Two icons of local Catholic health care are leaving their longtime leadership posts.

Sister Sheila Lyne, who served as president and CEO at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center, 2525 S Michigan Ave., for 27 years over two separate stints, announced her retirement in December, while Sister Elizabeth Van Straten, a Religious Hospitaller of St. Joseph, departed her position as president and CEO of St. Bernard Hospital, 326 West 64th Street, on Jan. 1.

Father William Grogan, the archdiocese’s vicar for health care, credited both Lyne and Van Straten for shepherding their respective hospitals through challenging times.

“These are two highly competent individuals who built on the foundations of their predecessors, but also gained the experience and insights to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other health care administrators and industry personnel,” Grogan said.

He also praised both religious leaders for maintaining each institution’s caring mission and their dynamic involvement in health care policymaking, particularly for the non-insured and underinsured.

“Both of these hospitals cared for people that others walked away from and did this out of service to God,” Grogan said. “The religious commitment of both of these women allowed others to see Christ in action.”

Article continues at http://www.catholicnewworld.com/cnwonline/2013/0203/9.aspx

Assisted by Mel Bibay (left) and Carolyn Brooks of the Physical Medicine Department, St. Bernard Hospital CEO, Charles Holland (seated), tries out the new NuStep T5xr. Now available as part of the Hospital’s comprehensive physical medicine services, the T5xr is a useful complement to the other physical therapy services offered at St. Bernard.

A recumbent cross trainer, the T5xr is the latest innovation in cardiovascular and strength fitness equipment. It features a smooth stepping motion to simulate a natural walking pattern while simultaneously moving the arms.

 

St. Bernard Hospital paid tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy on Friday, January 18, 2013 during its 16^th Annual Humanitarian Service Award and Celebration. Held in the Hospital’s Chapel, this year’s event recognized the service and dedication of Illinois State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins, 16^th District, to the ideals of Dr. King – fairness, justice and dignity for all people. Senator Collins has been an avid supporter of numerous social issues, healthcare and safety net hospitals.

Henry Wiggins, M.D., Chief Radiologist at St. Bernard Hospital, presided over the event. Dr. Wiggins began the ceremony by reminding those present of the legacy of Dr. King and the fragility of the gains won. He introduced the speakers and performers for the afternoon.

Providing a call-to-action keynote address, 20^th Ward Alderman, Willie B. Cochran entreated the attendees to get involved in their communities and not sit on the sidelines. Alderman Cochran passionately explained the need for the people to make their voices heard. “Let your legislators know what you think’ he exclaimed.

Organized by the St. Bernard Community Relations Committee, the event was chaired this year by Beverly Russell and Regina Haslerig. Ms. Haslerig delighted the crowd with her stirring signing. The event also included performances by praise dancers from St. Benedict the African Catholic School, and pianist Marlienne Oates, a registered nurse at St. Bernard, who accompanied the songs and provided music for the event.

St. Bernard Hospital’s annual tribute to Dr. King is a special event that brings together many members of the Englewood community and beyond to honor Dr. King’s legacy and his philosophy of non-violence.

The Christian values of giving and compassion are put into action at St. Bernard Hospital where their Adopt-A-Family program, now in its 20^th year, provides baskets of food and toys for area families. Each department of the Hospital, along with some private donors, adopts one or more families in need and contributes to Christmas baskets for their selected families. This year the staff provided baskets for 55 families.

Consultant Redessa Harris (left) and Adopt-A-Family Chair Barbara Young

The Hospital’s Englewood neighborhood has one of the highest rates of poverty in Chicago. There are many parents who are unable to provide basic necessities for their families. Retiring Community Relations Committee Chair, Barbara Young, who has directed the program for more than 17 years, says she does it because “I like giving and I think this is a great opportunity to help the community.” Ms. Young and her community relations team, working with area churches, community and social service agencies gathers lists of families in need of support during the holidays. “Today with the economy and the hardships facing families it is important that we try to do something to help.” she says. And they do help. Read more >>

By Alice Hohl, October 30, 2012
reprinted by permission of LincolnSquarePatch.com
 
500 free mammograms are being offered in November to address women in need and acknowledge that breast cancer assistance should extend beyond the month set aside to raise awareness.

The Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force will be providing more than 700 free mammograms to uninsured Chicago-area women next month in an event dubbed “Beyond October.”

The effort, a nod to needs that extend beyond Breast Cancer Awareness Month, wil lhelp address the gap between those who should receive regular screenings and those who can afford to do so.

Article continues at http://lincolnsquare.patch.com/articles/beyond-october-free-mammograms-for-women-in-need

Note: St. Bernard Hospital is offering 150 free mammograms to area women.

St. Bernard Hospital along with Illinois State Representative Esther Golar (D), will host a free health fair for school-age children on Saturday October 13, 2012 from 10am until 4pm. The hospital will provide free lead testing, dental screening, school physicals, sports physicals and vaccinations for area kids. Children must be accompanied by their parent or guardian, and parents are asked to bring shot records.

St. Bernard Hospital is located at 326 West 64th Street in Chicago. Parking is free and there is easy access to the CTA Red Line and bus lines.

Click below to view and download a copy of the flyer.
  6th District Health Fair 10-13-2012

About St. Bernard Hospital
St. Bernard Hospital was ranked among the top 5% in the nation for emergency medicine, according to the 2011 HealthGrades^® survey of U.S. hospitals. For 2012 St. Bernard achieved five-star quality ratings from HealthGrades for Heart Failure Treatment and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Founded in 1904 by the Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph, St. Bernard continues its mission to care for the sick and promote the health of the residents in the community while witnessing the Christian values of respect, dignity, caring and compassion for all persons.

BY: WENDELL HUTSON, The Chicago Crusader

Cierra Washington was all smiles after recently visiting a local dental clinic in the Englewood community on the South Side.

“He (the dentist) said everything looks good and that I should keeping brushing and flossing my teeth,” the seven year-old told Examiner.com. “Some kids don’t like coming to the dentist but I do because he gives me gifts when I am done.”

For so long the Englewood community has been known for such things as crime, unemployment and poor economic conditions for its residents, who are predominately black, according to census data.

But one hidden gem about the community is its pediatric, dental clinic at St. Bernard Hospital. The medical institution has been a part of Englewood since it opened in 1904. Read more >>