Bill 1207

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    1207
Type of Legislation:            Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:               Senate
Introduced Date:                19980421
Primary Sponsor:                Peeler
All Sponsors:                   Peeler, Fair and Anderson 
Drafted Document Number:        pt\1895dw.98
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980423
Subject:                        St. Francis Health System of
                                Greenville County, Resolutions

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

Senate  19980423  Received from House
House   19980422  Introduced, adopted, returned
                  with concurrence
Senate  19980421  Introduced, adopted, sent to House

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.