S*1207 Session 112 (1997-1998)
S*1207 Concurrent Resolution, By Peeler, Anderson and Fair
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE SINCERE APPRECIATION AND HEARTFELT
GRATITUDE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH
CAROLINA TO THE STAFF OF THE ST. FRANCIS HEALTH SYSTEM OF GREENVILLE COUNTY
FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND VALUABLE SUPPORT TO THE EXCHANGE
PROGRAM BETWEEN ST. FRANCIS, CROATIA'S GENERAL HOSPITAL OF ZADAR, AND THE
GERIATRIC AND ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL OF BIOGRAD.
04/21/98 Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-14
04/22/98 House Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-7
A CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
TO EXPRESS THE SINCERE APPRECIATION AND
HEARTFELT GRATITUDE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
TO THE STAFF OF THE ST. FRANCIS HEALTH SYSTEM OF
GREENVILLE COUNTY FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTIONS AND VALUABLE SUPPORT TO THE
EXCHANGE PROGRAM BETWEEN ST. FRANCIS, CROATIA'S
GENERAL HOSPITAL OF ZADAR, AND THE GERIATRIC AND
ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL OF BIOGRAD.
Whereas, a team of Croatian physicians and clinicians will observe
orthopedic surgeries, services, and rehabilitation at St. Francis Health
System of Greenville County as part of the United States Agency for
International Development Program (USAID). The seven-member
team will be at St. Francis April 21 through April 29, 1998. This is
the third visit by Croatian medical professionals; the first team came
to Greenville in March 1996. A team from St. Francis traveled to
Croatia in November 1996 and October 1997; and
Whereas, the exchange program is between the St. Francis and
Croatia's General Hospital of Zadar and Orthopedic Hospital of
Biograd. The program's purpose is to help the Croatian medical
community rebuild and refine its health care delivery system after
five years of war in the Balkans; and
Whereas, the Franciscan Health System/Croatian Partnership is an
affiliation between the Franciscan Health Partnership, Inc., which
includes St. Francis, the General Hospital of Zadar, and the Geriatric
and Orthopedic Hospital of Biograd. The partnership is a three-year
project initiated in August 1995, to help the Croation medical
community recover from more than five years of war. The
partnership is being coordinated by the USAID, American
International Health Alliance, Inc. (AIHA), and the Franciscan Sisters
of the Poor Health System; and
Whereas, USAID selected the Franciscan Health Partnership, Inc., for
a three-year, $2.1 million grant after a competitive review of possible
participants. The health system is the first national health care
system to receive such a grant and the only national Catholic health
care system in the partnership program; and
Whereas, the partnership's goal is to improve health education and
services for the one hundred eighty thousand residents of the Zadar
region, located on the western coast of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea,
about fifty miles from Italy. The partnership is also helping Croatian
hospital officials establish a foundation and begin private
fund-raising; and
Whereas, while in Greenville, the Croatian team will meet with St.
Francis employees to learn about treatment for bond injuries and
conditions, particularly orthopedic surgery, reconstructive surgery,
orthopedic rehabilitation, total quality management, and infection
control. In addition, a team of physicians and administrators from St.
Francis Health System will return to Croatia in June of 1998 for a
further exchange of ideas between Croatian doctors and
administrators in orthopedic procedures; and
Whereas, the Croatian team members coming to Greenville include:
Jasa Pavic, MD, Trauma Surgeon; Josip Labar, MD, Orthopedist and
Hospital Administrator; Ljubica Labar, MD, Physiatrist; Vjekoslav
Antic, Orthopedist; Matia Juracev, Physiotherapist; Ivan Bacic,
General Surgery Resident; Robert Karlos, Pediatric Surgery Resident;
and Mila Labar, Interpreter; and
Whereas, the St. Francis Health System team members include: Tom
Pace, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon; Bill Munley, Rehabilitation
Administrator; Joe Golob, Inpatient Rehabilitation Director; Judy
Pew, Director of Risk Management/Infection Control; Chris
Rosenthal, RN, Surgical Services Director; Jane Lankford, RN,
Surgical Services Educator; Julie Peterson, RN, Operating Room
Nurse; Laurie Culpepper, OTR; Vikki Ford, PT; Debbie Ridgeway,
Materials Management Director; Brian O'Rourke, Vice President of
Development; Jan Holloway, Administrative Secretary; and Carolyn
Bobo, APR, Director of Public Relations; and
Whereas, as a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Health
System, St. Francis Health System is dedicated to continuing the
healing ministry of Jesus throughout the world. The Croatian
Partnership fits with activities supported by the Sisters in Italy,
Germany, Senegal, and Brazil. In 1996, St. Francis Health System
contributed $18.6 million in charity and community services; and
Whereas, St. Francis' presence in South Carolina began in 1932,
when the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor religious order arrived in
Greenville to operate the city's first private, not-for-profit hospital.
Today, St. Francis has grown into a system with two hospital
facilities, outpatient services, home care, physician division, benefits
network, and philanthropic foundation that provides quality,
cost-effective care to Upstate residents. The system also continues
the Sisters' mission to care for those less fortunate. In 1997, St.
Francis contributed more than $18 million in quantifiable benefits to
the poor and underserved in Upstate South Carolina; and
Whereas, it is our unanimous opinion that the St. Francis Health
System provides a positive role model for other health care facilities
to pattern their services and programs; and
Whereas, we are extremely proud of the St. Francis Health System
and their loyal team who have given unselfishly of their time and
energy to ensure the Croatian team returns home with additional
medical technology, encouragement, and inspiration. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives
concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina, by this resolution, express their sincere appreciation and
heartfelt gratitude to the staff of the St. Francis Health System of
Greenville County for their outstanding contributions and valuable
support to the exchange program between St. Francis, Croatia's
General Hospital of Zadar, and the Geriatric and Orthopedic Hospital
of Biograd.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to
St. Francis Health System.
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