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WINTER 1995 ISSUE
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SINAI HOSPITAL
Happy About HAP
researchers," adds David Siegel, M.D., HAP Medical
inai Hospital is pleased to announce the forma-
Director and Vice President of Health and Medical
tion of a network with Health Alliance Plan (HAP).
Affairs. "We're pleased they've joined HAP."
Sinai now has 114 primary care physicians and
Sinai's affiliation with Health Alliance Plan promis-
182 specialists as HAP providers.
es a healthy course for the hospital's future, Rosenberg
"These physicians — participants in the SinaiCare
predicts. "The market is changing, and we intend
Physicians Hospital Organization (PHO) — are inde-
to evolve with it to continue to meet the needs of our
pendent physicians and full-time staffers working with
community."
the hospital in a true partnership. They are commit-
Participating physician directories are available
ted to provide the broadest and most thorough health
by calling HAP Member Services at (313) 872-8100.
care to the patient population," says Howard Rosen-
berg, Executive Director of Managed Care and Presi-
dent of SinaiCare PHO.
When Sinai decided that an al-
liance with a regional managed
care network would permit it to ex-
tend its services to the entire com-
munity, it selected the largest and
one of the most respected HMOs in
Michigan. HAP is fully accredited
by the National Committee for
Quality Assurance, a leading non-
profit, external review organization
whose board includes independent
quality experts, healthcare experts
and representatives from union and
consumer groups.
Likewise, HAP is pleased with
the association. "The HAP-Sinai
network strengthens our provider
system and offers HAP members
more choices in Michigan," says
Roman Kulich, HAP Group Vice
President and Chief Operating
Officer.
"Sinai physicians are recognized
in the medical community as out- Sinai and HAP engaged in a joint advertising campaign which included print, radio, transit
standing clinicians, educators and and billboard advertising (as shown above).
A
NEW STAR IN OUR
SYSTEM.
of the Matter:
The Quest for Perfection
S PECI AL ADVERTI SEME NT
T
he young man will die
without heart surgery.
The surgeons are confi-
dent that his condition could be
successfully treated, but they
cannot operate on him. He is
a Jehovah's Witness and his re-
ligious beliefs prohibit him from
receiving any blood products.
"It's almost like doing surgery
with one hand tied behind your
back," explains Stephen Gun-
ther, M.D. Chief of Sinai
Hospital's Section of Cardio-
vascular Disease. "What
distinguishes Sinai from
other institutions,
however, is our will-
ingness to commit
our expert per-
sonnel to treating
certain high-risk
groups of patients
that other institutions
might reject as too chal-
lenging."
What does that commitment
mean? Nothing less than per-
fection.
"In order for us to treat a pa-
tient who is a Jehovah's Wit-
ness, for example, our overall
approach to cardiac care has to
be perfect," says Dr. Gunther,
who also directs Sinai's cardio-
vascular training fellowship
program. That approach, he as-
serts, must also include ideal
pre- and post-operative care as
well as flawless surgery.
"Our willingness
to take care of this
underserved
population
reflects our
confidence
in our skill
and approach
to all patient
care," Dr. Gunther
says. "Minimal blood
loss surgery demands
extraordinary cardiac surgical
techniques. That level of talent
and skill benefits all our
patients."
Sinai is also dedicated to
developing cost-effective, "cus-
tomized" therapy for each indi-
vidual cardiovascular patient.
Each plan includes recommen-
dations for every aspect of
patient care through diagnosis,
prevention, treatment and
rehabilitation.
Sounds great, you may say,
but what about the heart of the
matter: Results?
"Among the 40 Jehovah's
Witnesses upon whom we op-
erated between January and
November of 1994, we had only
one death," Dr. Gunther re-
ports. 'That is a mortality rate
of 2.5 percent. Compared to a
national standard of 6 percent
for all patients, these results
are truly remarkable."
At Your Service:
A Whole Team of
Vascular Experts
disturbing contradiction exists in the response
to vascular disease in Michigan. While our
„A state has the dubious distinction of being only
second to Kentucky in the nation in per
to incidence of vascular disease, the Detroit
area is largelydeficient in offering comprehensive treat-
ment for this disabling disorder.
Vascular disease, a chronic condition with many
adverse effects, including the clogging of the aorta and
vessels in the legs, neck and head, commonly strikes
those with high blood pressure or diabetes. Sinai Hos-
pital's cardiovascular service team recognizes the need
for an aggressive, comprehensive, coordinated approach
to prevention and treatment for patients in southeast-
ern Michigan.
"We can actually reverse or, at the very least, reduce
the progression of vascular shut-down," says Dr.
Stephen Gunther, Sinai's Cardiovascular Disease sec-
tion chief. He stresses the significance of the correct
diagnosis and treatment: "Unlike cardiac problems,
which tend to kill people immediately, vascular disease
is chronic and debilitating over the years. The patients
are miserable. Some vascular disease cases progress
to the point that the patient's feet or legs must be
amputated."
These patients need a great deal of professional guid-
ance from a variety of medical specialists, and, for a
number of reasons, often get bounced from doctor to
doctor. In response to their real need for appropriate
treatment, provided as cost- effectively as possible, Sinai
has established a vascular disease diagnostic lab at
Sinai's Hechtman Health Center. This conveniently
located facility, located in Oakland County, north of
13 Mile Road on Telegraph Road in Bingham Farms,
is designed to meet the challenge of providing superi-
or care to those with vascular disease.
"We brought the best medical minds together so that
the patient gets optimal, customized treatment in one
place at one time," Dr. Gunther explains.
Imagine going to one out-patient clinic where your
problem is studied by an interventional radiologist
using the most sophisticated non-invasive tests, a lipid
"
We brought the best medical minds
together; so that the patient gets
optimal, customized treatment..."
specialist, a cardiologist, a diabetes expert, a dietician,
a smoking cessation therapist and a vascular surgeon.
Now imagine that they all share the common goal of
preventing the need for major surgery.
"Even if the patient comes to us needing surgery, we
still strive to provide extensive follow-up care," Dr.
Gunther says. "By providing comprehensive rehabili-
tation and counseling after surgery, we hope to prevent
further problems."
The vascular disease diagnostic lab at Sinai's Hecht-
man Health Center accepts self-referrals as well as
physician referrals. The multi-disciplinary team is ready
to evaluate each case and make recommendations for
treatment and management, often referring the
patient back to his or her original doctor for further
follow-through.
Dr. Gunther stresses the need for early diagnosis.
"The earlier the treatment, the less likely the patient
is to have long-term complications."
Sinai's team of vascular disease specialists offers not
only early diagnosis and treatment, but the precisely
correct treatment to suit each individual patient's needs.