Services at Sisters

Bariatric Surgery (Center of Excellence)

Sisters Hospital was recently named a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS). This designation is awarded to surgeons and programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery. Dr. Joseph Caruana, chief of Bariatric Surgery at Sisters Hospital, began the program in June 2000.

For carefully selected patients who are at least 100 pounds over their ideal body weight and who have failed at conventional methods of weight loss, bariatric surgery can help them lose weight and better manage or eliminate weight-related medical conditions.

To earn a Center of Excellence designation, Sisters Hospital underwent a series of site inspections during which all aspects of the program’s surgical processes were closely examined. Centers receiving the Center of Excellence designation agree to share information on clinical pathways, protocols, and outcomes data to improve the quality of bariatric surgery performed in the U.S.

Sisters of Charity Hospital has been recognized for the third consecutive year with a five-star rating for clinical excellence in bariatric surgery from HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent healthcare ratings organization. In the Third Annual HealthGrades Bariatric Surgery Trends in American Hospitals Study, Sisters Hospital ranked in the top 10% in the nation for bariatric surgery, which includes gastric bypass and laparoscopic procedures.

Cancer Services

Sisters’ Cancer Services Division has joined the ranks of America’s best in cancer care when it was recognized by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer as a Certified Community Cancer Center. Coupled with its educational ties to the University at Buffalo and the special atmosphere of a Catholic Hospital, Sisters’ patients can expect the best possible care.

To read the Sisters Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center brochure, click here.

Cardiac and Neurodiagnostic Services

The Center for Cardiology and Neurodiagnostic Services features an ICAEL accredited echocardiography lab and an AACVPR accredited cardiac rehabilitation program. Available diagnostic tests include EKG, EEG, holter, 2D echo, TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram), and stress testing (exercise, cardiolyte, persantine, and dobutamine).

Childbirth Classes (offered through the Special BirthPlace and HeathConnection)

Preparing for the birth of your baby is a busy, exciting time for you and your family. The Special BirthPlace at Sisters Hospital provides the knowledge you need to make this wonderful time in your life as easy, happy, and memorable as possible. Classes available include Prepared Childbirth, Preparing to Breastfeed, Twinformation, Baby Talk, Sibling Classes, and Natural Family Planning. Click here for more information, including dates, times, costs, and how to register.

Critical Care Services

The hospital’s critical care unit offers high level intensive care and cardiac care for adults with serious medical conditions. Sisters is a strong provider of cardiac care, offering echocardiology, stress testing, cardiac rehabilitation, and other programs.

Emergency Department

The emergency department is staffed 24-hours-a-day, 7 days per week by board-certified physicians specializing in emergency care and nurses trained in critical care.

Imaging Services

Imaging Services available at Sisters of Charity Hospital:

X-Ray/Diagnostic Radiology
Special Procedures
Mammography
CT Scanning
Ultrasound
Nuclear Medicine
MRI (through Seton MRI: 716-862-1MRI)

Laboratory Patient Service Center

(716) 862-1633
Hours:
Monday through Thursday: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday: Closed (except STAT & prescheduled appointments)

Massage Therapy

The Sisters Hospital Massage Therapy Department is open to the public, and is now offering Day, Evening, and Saturday appointments for: deep tissue massage; orthopedic massage; swedish massage; stress reduction; hot stone massage; and treatments of specific pathologies such as Arthritis Frozen Shoulder, neck and back issues, and much more. For more information or to make an appointment, call Sister Susan O'Neil at (716) 862-1386.

Medical Education

Sisters Hospital is approved for residency programs in medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, and osteopathic rotating internships. To assure full accreditation for the graduates of the programs, Sisters Hospital is affiliated with the State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo State College, Canisius College, Daemen College, Trocaire College, D’Youville College, Niagara University, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, and other colleges and universities.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Sisters Special Care Nursery)

Our family centered unit has a dedicated staff with a mission to provide quality care that is compassionate and respectful of human dignity, resulting in the best possible outcome for our tiniest patients. We are a Level III NICU specifically designed for acutely ill or premature babies. Our highly specialized nursing and medical staff are available 24 hours a day to provide expert care in a personal and compassionate manner.

Nutrition Counseling

Private nutritional counseling services are available to women and men by appointment through the Catholic Health System. Your session will take place in a quiet, confidential, and comfortable atmosphere where you will have your questions and concerns addressed by a qualified dietitian. Call (716) 862-1035 for more information or visit our Nutrition Counseling page.

Special BirthPlace

Sisters Hospital Special BirthPlace is committed to excellence in the delivery of perinatal care and services. A holistic approach is utilized considering the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of the patient. Collaboration takes place between nurses, physicians, social work, nutrition, spiritual care, other professionals, and ancillary support services. The Special BirthPlace includes Labor and Delivery, Post Partum, Antepartum, Surgical GYN, Newborn Nursery, and the Special Care Nursery.

The Special Care Nursery is supervised by neonatologists and staffed by nurses certified in the care of sick infants, helping to ensure that the care of newborns is of the highest possible quality. Patient care areas are designed to support a developmentally appropriate environment for the critical or convalescing neonate. Sound absorbent ceiling and floor covering, natural and individualized artificial lighting, and family space at the bedside are incorporated into the unit design.

Sisters Hospital is committed to the health of our tiniest patients by continually striving to improve the care provided to babies and mothers.

Click here for information on Childbirth Education Classes offered through the Special BirthPlace.

Stroke Services (Designated Stroke Center)

Sisters Hospital has been named a Designated Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health. This special designation means Sisters now offers the most advanced stroke care available to help save lives and prevent permanent disability. To quality for designation, hospitals must meet the state’s stringent guidelines for treating stroke patients, including offering timely and comprehensive diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation services.

The key to successful treatment is knowing the warning signs for stroke and seeking immediate emergency care. Warning signs include:

Sudden confusion or trouble speaking
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms, or legs
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking or dizziness
Sudden severe headache without cause

If you or someone you know experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately or get to the nearest hospital with a Designated Stroke Center, like Sisters Hospital.

Wildermuth Reproductive Research and Treatment Center

Infertility is a medical condition that affects 15-20% of married couples in the United States. Far from being a medical condition alone, the inability to become pregnant has a profound influence on a couple's emotional, psychological, and even physical well being. Infertility can cause undue stress on a marriage, many times resulting in spouses growing further apart rather than growing closer together.

Through a generous grant from the Wildermuth Memorial Foundation, the Specialty Center for Women at Sisters Hospital was able to establish The Wildermuth Reproductive Treatment Center. The Center's main focus is to provide support and services to those couples who want to maximize their fertility without resorting to artificial reproductive technologies.

Only diagnostic and treatment techniques that are in accordance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care will be performed at the Center. The Center will reply on Natural Family Planning as an important adjunct to maximizing the couple's fertility. Services offered:

Consultation: Including a review of the couple's history and complete female physical, if indicated.
Diagnostic Evaluation: Including: Hormonal studies, Hysterosalpingography, Ultrasound follicle series, Semen analysis, and Laparascopy.
Treatment: Individualized treatment plans based on the underlying condition causing infertility, including:
- Ovulation induction.
- Microsconservative surgery for endometriosis and adhesions.
- Tubal ligation reversal.
- Hysteroscopic cannulation of the fallopian tubes.
- Hysteroscopic removal of uterine septum and scar tissue.
- Myomectomy.
- Enhancement of cervical mucus.
Education: Utilizing Natural Family Planning, the couple will learn the natural signs of fertility awareness to help in diagnosis and treatment.
Support Services: A Couples Support Group and spiritual counseling is offered to help the couple cope with infertility.
Research: The Center will undertake clinical studies to enhance the knowledge of reproductive medicine.
Financial Assistance: A limited amount of funds will be available to those couples unable to afford certain diagnostic or treatment options.

A woman's closest partner in health care is her primary care physician - the family practitioner, internist, or obstetrician/gynecologist who works with her to keep her healthy and treat illnesses as needed. When care is called for, a team of specialists and other professionals are available at the Specialty Center for Women, located in Sisters Hospital. Services at the Center include breast care, endocrinology, natural family planning, fertility treatment, perinatal medicine, obstetric medicine, urogynecology, post-reproductive gynecology, and gynecological oncology. For more information, please call (716) 862-1965.