Mount Vernon, Illinois – Within his first six months at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, cardiologist Lincoln Shenje, MD, has helped introduce cardiac procedures commonly performed at St. Louis ministries to Southern Illinois.
In partnership with the cardiology, cardiothoracic, and structural heart teams at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Dr. Shenje is now performing trans aortic valve replacements and heart catheterization, as well as CT scans and ultrasound imaging at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital.
“We have set up a nice collaboration with Saint Louis University Hospital where we do the entire workup here, and then we will collaborate closely with the Saint Louis University Hospital. This reduces the burden and stress on our patients, as they will end up driving to St. Louis once or twice throughout the entire process.”
Dr. Shenje also discussed several new technologies at SSM Health St. Good Samaritan Hospital which have helped to further the quality of care and resources for Southern Illinois patients.
“We have new technology in the Cath lab that allows us to perform PFO (patent foramen ovale) closures. We did our first PFO closure here at Good Sam a couple of weeks ago. Everything went well,” Dr. Shenje explained. “We have new technology in the Cath lab that allows us to do that, as well as an intracardiac echo where we look inside the heart chambers and make sure everything is amenable and then close the hole in the heart for patients who have had strokes.”
Dr. Shenge, who has practiced at two SSM Health ministries in the St. Louis and Southern Illinois area, commended SSM Health for its long lasting commitment to infrastructure and integrated care.
“SSM Health invests a lot into infrastructure, and the quality of their buildings. SSM Health hospitals are of the highest level that I have seen in my career,” said Dr. Shenje. “SSM Health is also a very good network at integrating patient care so that the patients can go to a one-stop shop to get all of their care needs met. From primary care to specialist care, it is all integrated so that our hospitals can communicate with each other and consult with each other so that the patient gets the best care. That is a special, unique attribute at SSM Health.”
Born in Zimbabwe, Dr. Shenje studied in the United Kingdom, where he received top prizes for cardiovascular research for young researchers. He would go on to further his education in the United States, attending a residency at Mount Sinai while training at John Hopkins University. During his tenure with SSM Health, Dr. Shenje has practiced at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City and SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon.
About SSM Health
Nationally recognized for quality and innovation, SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit, fully integrated health system working to advance health equity and empower all people to achieve their full potential.
With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health provides convenient access to high-quality community-based services as well as world-class academic medicine, clinical trials and research studies. The organization’s footprint includes hospitals, physician offices, outpatient and virtual care services, senior care, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a fully transparent pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company and an accountable care organization. As one of the largest employers in every community it serves, the organization’s 40,000 team members and 15,000 providers are dedicated to fulfilling SSM Health’s Mission: “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.” For more information, visit ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
