Fall 2011 - Catholic Health System
Fall 2011 - Catholic Health System
Fall 2011 - Catholic Health System
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<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
Volume 2, Issue 4<br />
In This Issue<br />
Heart Center at Mercy Hospital Receives STS Award<br />
Kenmore Mercy Receives Joint Commission<br />
Certifications for Stroke and Orthopedic Services<br />
enmore Mercy Hospital has been awarded three<br />
K special certifications from the Joint Commission<br />
for its stroke care and knee and hip replacement services.<br />
It is the first Buffalo area hospital and one of only five in<br />
the state to receive Joint Commission Certification for<br />
Total Knee and Total Hip Replacement. It is also the<br />
first <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> hospital and one of only two in the<br />
area to achieve Advanced Primary Stroke Certification,<br />
which recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts<br />
to foster better outcomes for stroke patients.<br />
As the nation’s most trusted healthcare certification<br />
and accrediting body, the Joint Commission conducted<br />
an extensive, on-site review at Kenmore Mercy in July.<br />
A team of expert reviewers looked for compliance with<br />
standards of care specific to the needs of patients and<br />
families, including infection prevention/control, process<br />
improvement, leadership and medication management.<br />
“Achieving these certifications is a tremendous accomplishment<br />
for our hospital,<br />
our Knee & Hip<br />
Center and our<br />
stroke and orthopedic<br />
teams,” said<br />
James Millard,<br />
hospital president<br />
& CEO. “It<br />
also underscores<br />
our commitment<br />
to provide the<br />
very best stroke<br />
care and knee and hip replacement services.”<br />
In addition to this recognition, Kenmore Mercy is a<br />
<strong>Health</strong>Grades® five-star hospital for joint replacement,<br />
a Blue Distinction Center for Knee & Hip Replacement,<br />
and a New York State Designated Stroke Center.<br />
Becoming a<br />
Pioneer ACO<br />
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It takes a village...the Heart Center Team at Mercy Hospital.<br />
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he Heart Center at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, the<br />
T surgical center of <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s Cardiovascular<br />
Services program, has been awarded a three-star national<br />
quality rating for 2010 by the Society of Thoracic<br />
Surgeons (STS). Less than<br />
14% of the 900 participating<br />
hospitals across the country<br />
received the three-star rating<br />
– the highest award under the<br />
STS quality rating system –<br />
for heart bypass surgery, also<br />
called coronary artery bypass<br />
graft surgery or CABG.<br />
As the nation’s premier<br />
professional society for cardiothoracic<br />
surgeons, STS<br />
is dedicated to enhancing<br />
the quality of patient care<br />
through education, research and advocacy. “The STS rating<br />
is national validation that our doctors and heart surgery<br />
program rank among the very best in the country,”<br />
said Jason Jankowiak, vice president of Cardiovascular<br />
Services. “For patients, it means that our bypass surgery<br />
program meets the highest standards for quality, safety<br />
and achieving the best outcomes.”<br />
STS recently developed a comprehensive system that<br />
allows patients to compare the quality of cardiac surgery<br />
among hospitals nationwide. “We have been participating<br />
in STS’ voluntary rating system since 2008 to further<br />
demonstrate our commitment to deliver the highest<br />
quality cardiac surgery services,” said Julie LaManna,<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> senior director of Cardiac Services.<br />
“STS relies on the largest single-specialty<br />
database in the<br />
country, with over 900 hospitals<br />
and 3.5 million patient<br />
records, to arrive at its quality<br />
ratings.”<br />
C.J. Urlaub, president &<br />
CEO of Mercy Hospital,<br />
credits the entire staff for this<br />
achievement. “We are very<br />
proud of our team of surgeons,<br />
nurses and other healthcare<br />
professionals whose hard<br />
work and dedication to excellence<br />
have allowed us to earn this prestigious quality<br />
rating,” he said. “This national recognition is also<br />
good news for our community. Having one of the most<br />
highly-rated heart surgery programs in the country right<br />
here at Mercy Hospital gives our patients peace of mind<br />
that the care they receive at <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> is among<br />
the best available anywhere.”<br />
The Heart Center also achieved the STS threestar<br />
national rating for the periods covering January -<br />
December 2008 and July 2008 - June 2009.<br />
Don't miss the Patient Experience update on page 5.<br />
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Marcus Romanowski, MD, Chair of Orthopedic<br />
Surgery at Kenmore Mercy, speaks with knee<br />
replacement patient Rita Kirk of Amherst.<br />
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As government leaders try<br />
to slow the growth of<br />
healthcare spending, while improving<br />
quality and access to care,<br />
new models of healthcare delivery<br />
are emerging. Accountable<br />
Care Organizations or ACOs,<br />
one of the new models to come<br />
out of the federal government’s<br />
health reform legislation, promise<br />
better patient care, while controlling<br />
rising healthcare costs.<br />
By definition, an ACO is a<br />
network of doctors and hospitals<br />
that share responsibility for caring<br />
for a select group of patients.<br />
Under the new federal law,<br />
ACOs would agree to manage<br />
all of the healthcare needs of a<br />
group of Medicare beneficiaries.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Medical Partners,<br />
on behalf of our physicians and<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>, recently submitted<br />
a proposal to the Center<br />
for Medicare and Medicaid<br />
Services (CMS) to become<br />
a “Pioneer Accountable Care<br />
Organization.” This pilot program<br />
will test the effectiveness of<br />
ACOs and prepare the way for<br />
other groups to develop ACOs.<br />
Pioneer ACOs are designed<br />
around three key principles,<br />
called the Triple Aim: to improve<br />
the health of the population,<br />
enhance the patient experience,<br />
and reduce the cost of care.<br />
In order to achieve these goals,<br />
continued on page 2<br />
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<br />
Joe McDonald<br />
President & CEO<br />
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Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence<br />
Living<br />
our<br />
Mission<br />
Standards of Behavior –<br />
How Do We Measure Up?<br />
Recently, you received a new Standards of Behavior/<br />
Mission Integration and Values pamphlet. This is a very<br />
special document and we ask that you spend some time<br />
reflecting on this information.<br />
As you open the pamphlet for<br />
the first time, you will find on the<br />
left panel the phrase, “Not only<br />
did we choose you, but you chose<br />
us because a job is more than a<br />
place to work, it is your calling.”<br />
On the right panel, in large print<br />
you find the words, “We believe<br />
in you!” Have you ever noticed<br />
that we are often asked to state<br />
our beliefs in creeds when we<br />
go to church, or as we recite the<br />
Pledge of Allegiance during a<br />
meeting or event? But how often<br />
do people, especially employers,<br />
say, “We believe in you.”<br />
As you open the final folds<br />
of the pamphlet, you will find<br />
the familiar values of <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong>. Here is both a special<br />
Standards of Behavior,<br />
Mission Integration,<br />
and Values<br />
chsbuffalo.org<br />
gift and a special challenge for each of us. Spend time<br />
reflecting on the examples your peers have identified to<br />
illustrate the values we embrace. Take the time to find the<br />
words or phrases that demonstrate how you live these values<br />
in your daily work.<br />
Each associate may make different choices, but when<br />
you choose the words that best describe who you are and<br />
how you live and integrate the values of <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
into your work, be sure they make our Mission come alive<br />
for you. And more importantly, try to live by them every<br />
day; they will become your “Mission measuring stick.”<br />
When times are difficult, and they will be, rely on the<br />
measuring stick you have created to guide you. These special<br />
words will stay with you and become your strength.<br />
Just remember, that measuring sticks fit only the person<br />
who created them. So do not judge other associates by<br />
your measures, just keep being your best self.<br />
So, whether this is your first day in <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>, or<br />
you’ve been with us for years, we welcome you because we<br />
chose you, and most of all, we believe in you!<br />
Mercy Hospital Receives Pinnacle Award<br />
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo has been<br />
awarded the <strong>2011</strong> Pinnacle Award for<br />
Quality and Patient Safety by the <strong>Health</strong>care<br />
Association of NYS. The award recognizes<br />
significant achievements by member<br />
organizations in quality improvement and<br />
patient safety. Mercy was one of only three<br />
hospitals statewide selected for this honor.<br />
Mercy was recognized for its Improving<br />
Hospital Access and Efficiency of Care program,<br />
which enhanced admission practices<br />
throughout the hospital. The program is<br />
focused on reducing wait times in Mercy’s<br />
new Emergency Center and streamlining<br />
direct admissions from doctors’ offices and<br />
transfers from other hospitals.<br />
Through the creation of a Comprehensive<br />
Admission Reception Expert (CARE)<br />
unit and 24/7 Patient Access Center (PAC),<br />
Go Green Efforts<br />
Hitting the Road<br />
Since its inception in 2008, <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s Go<br />
Green Team has been looking for ways to integrate<br />
“green” initiatives within our ministries. From system-wide<br />
recycling efforts to electronic and pharmaceutical<br />
disposal programs, we have made our<br />
mark on reducing our mark on the environment.<br />
One of our proudest moments was being named an Environmental Protection Agency<br />
(EPA) Green Power Partner for our use of wind-generated energy.<br />
With a fleet of Courier Service vehicles in our system, driving hundreds of miles each day,<br />
it was only a matter of time before we looked at ways to reduce our gas consumption. In late<br />
2009, we began replacing our older model 6-cylinder vans, getting only 16 miles per gallon,<br />
with new 4-cylinder Ford Transit Connects averaging about 24 miles per gallon. Comparing<br />
our gasoline consumption through the first seven months of <strong>2011</strong> to the same period in<br />
2010, we have used about 1,200 less gallons of gas.<br />
Besides the tremendous environmental impact, our system has saved nearly $5,000 in<br />
gas expenses. “We now have six fuel-efficient vehicles on the road,” said Logistics Manager<br />
Joseph Molnar. “We are very pleased with the results and expect the savings to continue.”<br />
As an added bonus, the new courier vehicles are being outfitted with vinyl graphics promoting<br />
our <strong>Health</strong>Connection referral line. “These vehicles are like traveling billboards<br />
around town reminding people to call <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> when they need health information<br />
or a physician referral,” said Molnar. “It’s a win-win for <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>, reducing our operating<br />
costs while marketing our high quality services.”<br />
Pioneer ACO<br />
Continued from page 1<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> is working closely with<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Medical Partners to use the best<br />
clinical and operational practices, the most<br />
advanced technology, and the most skilled<br />
healthcare teams in our physician offices and<br />
throughout our system.<br />
The key to success for Pioneer ACOs will<br />
be improving the coordination of care and<br />
actively engaging patients and families in<br />
their own plan of care. Success will be measured<br />
by reducing the number of avoidable<br />
hospital admissions and readmissions; eliminating<br />
unnecessary tests and procedures;<br />
reducing medical errors and complications;<br />
and increasing patient satisfaction.<br />
For <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>, becoming a Pioneer<br />
ACO will give us a new framework to<br />
enhance care in our hospitals and health<br />
centers. For our patients, it will improve<br />
the coordination and transition of care to<br />
enhance our efforts to provide safe, high<br />
quality, patient-centered care.<br />
This pilot program will require us to work<br />
more closely with our physicians to deliver<br />
timely and effective care – something<br />
we already do through <strong>Catholic</strong> Medical<br />
Partners. As an extension of the programs<br />
we already have in place, the Pioneer ACO<br />
model will reward providers that focus on<br />
Gloria Pirowski, RN, BSN, hospital flow manager (far<br />
right), stands with the CARE Unit team (l to r): Tammy<br />
Goodemote, RN; Stephanie Jedrzek, RN; Dodie Driebelis,<br />
RN; Tina Donovan, RN; and Carrie Evoy, RN.<br />
Mercy Hospital was able to reduce wait<br />
times in its Emergency Center, from 2009<br />
to 2010, while increasing patient visits by<br />
12.3%; and expedite hospital admissions,<br />
discharges, and patient transfers from other<br />
healthcare facilities. Physician and patient<br />
satisfaction scores also improved.<br />
prevention, early detection and treatment,<br />
and effective transitions of care for patients<br />
with the greatest need.<br />
Generally speaking, the most efficient<br />
and effective healthcare is found in systems<br />
where clinical care is integrated, coordinated<br />
and proactive. <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> is well<br />
positioned to become a Pioneer ACO and<br />
has demonstrated that our commitment to<br />
clinical integration is producing results.<br />
Only 30 health systems in the country<br />
will be selected as Pioneer ACOs out of<br />
160 competing for this designation. If given<br />
the opportunity, I believe we will achieve<br />
breakout performance for <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
and <strong>Catholic</strong> Medical Partners and serve as<br />
a model for other providers.<br />
I have often said that there are those who<br />
wait for the future to unfold and those who<br />
work to create their own future. We live and<br />
work in a turbulent healthcare environment,<br />
with little relief in sight. Our best chance for<br />
long-term success is to take advantage of the<br />
opportunities we are given to chart our own<br />
course for the future.<br />
Whether we are selected for the Pioneer<br />
program or not, the Accountable Care<br />
model is clearly in our future and the<br />
promise it holds for healthier communities<br />
and more affordable care. Thank you for<br />
all you do to support these efforts and for<br />
sharing this journey with us.<br />
2<br />
chsbuffalo.org
Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence<br />
New Renovations at St. Joseph Campus<br />
Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus has<br />
completed two important renovation projects enhancing<br />
care and improving the patient experience for bariatric<br />
surgery and dialysis patients.<br />
Thanks to more than $300,000 in renovations and<br />
new equipment, St. Joseph Campus is now offering<br />
Gastric Lap Band surgery. Dang Tuan Pham, MD,<br />
and Mark Cavaretta, MD, are now performing the<br />
procedure at both campuses of Sisters Hospital. Hall 4<br />
at the St. Joseph Campus has been renovated, including<br />
new bathrooms and room furnishings, to provide<br />
a more comfortable experience for patients following<br />
lap band surgery. This new service complements the<br />
Bariatric Surgery Program at Sisters Hospital Main<br />
Street Campus, which has received numerous local<br />
and national awards for its quality outcomes.<br />
St. Joseph Campus’ new Hemodialysis Suite was<br />
funded through a generous grant from the Sisters Hospital Foundation. The new suite, on<br />
Hall 2, features two patient treatment areas with flat screen TVs to provide dialysis patients<br />
with a more private and comfortable setting for their treatments, which can take up to four<br />
hours. The area also includes a handicapped-accessible bathroom, and separate clean and<br />
soiled utility rooms.<br />
Hemodialysis services began at the former St. Joseph Hospital in 2006 with 42 treatments<br />
performed the first year. Previously, all of the dialysis supplies were housed in a<br />
variety of areas, which decreased accessibility and efficiency for the staff. In 2010, 986<br />
treatments were provided at St. Joseph Campus, demonstrating a significant increase in the<br />
number of patients with renal disease and a need to enhance care and service.<br />
Sisters and Mercy Receive<br />
<strong>Health</strong>Grades® Quality Awards<br />
Two <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> hospitals have received<br />
top honors from <strong>Health</strong>Grades for<br />
achieving nationally recognized quality<br />
outcomes. Sisters Hospital received <strong>Health</strong>-<br />
Grades Five-Star Quality Award – the<br />
highest honor under <strong>Health</strong>Grades' rating<br />
system – for its Bariatric<br />
Surgery program and<br />
Mercy Hospital received<br />
the same award for its<br />
Maternity and Gynecologic<br />
Surgery programs.<br />
Sisters’ designation<br />
ranks the hospital number two in New York<br />
State and among the top 5% in the nation<br />
for bariatric surgery for the third year in a<br />
row. Mercy Hospital’s award ranks it among<br />
the top 15% of hospitals in the country for<br />
maternity care and gynecologic surgery.<br />
The Bariatric Wing at Sisters Hospital<br />
includes 10 private rooms with special furnishings<br />
and features to make patients as<br />
comfortable as possible during their stay.<br />
“We provide a full complement of services<br />
to support patients before, during and after<br />
MCCC Receives Fidelis Grant<br />
The Mercy Comprehensive Care Center<br />
(MCCC) has been awarded a $38,600 grant<br />
from the Fidelis Care Community Grant<br />
Fund to purchase new x-ray equipment. Located<br />
at 397 Louisiana Street in Buffalo’s “Old<br />
First Ward,” the MCCC is <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s<br />
first primary care “supercenter” offering adult,<br />
pediatric, and OB-GYN primary care services,<br />
in addition to on-site podiatry, nutrition,<br />
social work, x-ray and laboratory services.<br />
Formerly known as the Mercy <strong>Health</strong> Center,<br />
the MCCC opened in January following<br />
a $3.8 million construction and renovation<br />
project resulting in a new 22,000 square-foot<br />
addition to the facility. Serving a low-income,<br />
chsbuffalo.org<br />
Cutting the ribbon on the new Hemodialysis<br />
Unit are (left to right): Judy Sowers RN,<br />
Dawn Crosman RN, Dr. Basharat Ali, Dr.<br />
Mohamad Shafi and Shannan Pasternak.<br />
surgery,” explains Joseph Caruana, MD,<br />
Chief of Bariatric Surgery at Sisters Hospital.<br />
“We provide the resources patients need<br />
for long-term success.”<br />
As the nation’s leading independent source<br />
of physician information and hospital quality<br />
data, <strong>Health</strong>Grades’<br />
quality reports help<br />
patients make more<br />
informed healthcare<br />
decisions. The reports<br />
find patients who receive<br />
care at five-star<br />
hospitals generally have fewer complications<br />
and better outcomes.<br />
“These ratings reflect the excellent care<br />
provided by our physicians, midwives and<br />
staff,” said Aimee Gomlak, vice president<br />
of Women’s Services. “We not only offer a<br />
wide variety of women’s services and a full<br />
continuum of care throughout <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong>, but we continue to invest in the<br />
latest medical technology and facility upgrades<br />
to ensure a safe and comfortable patient<br />
experience.”<br />
(From l to r) Mercy President & CEO C.J. Urlaub;<br />
Fidelis Care representatives Mary Ellen DeCarlo and<br />
Laura Mongeon; Michael Reilly, VP of Primary Care<br />
Services; Peggy Jetter, Mercy Director of Imaging;<br />
Terrie Livingston, Katie Weir, and Mark Shilling.<br />
high-risk population, the project was funded in part by a $1.5 million HEAL grant from<br />
New York State designed to improve access to quality primary care for communities in<br />
need across the state.<br />
Secured by the <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Grants Department, the Fidelis grant will enhance radiology<br />
services at the MCCC. Fidelis Care, the New York State <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan, uses<br />
its Community Grant Fund to support organizations that share its mission and help bring<br />
hope and healing to the underserved. Fidelis Care serves more than 715,000 members in<br />
58 of New York’s 62 counties.<br />
Osteoporosis Resource<br />
Center at Sisters Hospital<br />
Thirty years ago, most people thought osteoporosis, and<br />
the broken bones often associated with the condition,<br />
were part of the normal aging process. Today, that view<br />
has changed and medical researchers know there are many<br />
ways to protect our bones throughout life. Despite these<br />
advancements, more than 10 million Americans have<br />
been diagnosed with osteoporosis, and another 34 million<br />
are at risk of developing the disease.<br />
The good news is that it’s never too early or too late to<br />
take steps to improve your bone health. Through a wide<br />
range of community initiatives, the Western New York<br />
Osteoporosis Resource Center (WNYORC) at Sisters of<br />
Charity Hospital has brought bone health education and<br />
osteoporosis screenings to over 27,000 men, women and<br />
children since 2003.<br />
Recently, the Rite Aid Foundation presented WNY-<br />
ORC with a $9,760 grant to provide bone density screenings<br />
to 500 medically underserved individuals who would<br />
not otherwise have access to this diagnostic care.<br />
On hand for the check presentation (from l to r): Maureen McCabe, WNY-<br />
ORC program coordinator; Robert Augustine, Rite Aid District Manager;<br />
Gary Kincel, Rite Aid Regional Pharmacy Vice President; and Peter U.<br />
Bergmann, Sisters Hospital president & CEO.<br />
Prevention is key in this effort, and requires both awareness<br />
and education. Major funding for WNYORC has<br />
traditionally been provided by the New York State Department<br />
of <strong>Health</strong>. Last year, due to budgetary pressures,<br />
the state limited its funding to community education, excluding<br />
clinical services such as preventative screenings.<br />
<strong>Health</strong> experts know that preventative screenings reduce<br />
injury and disability related to osteoporosis. For that<br />
reason, Sisters Hospital sought a committed community<br />
partner to underwrite the cost of bone density screenings<br />
for women throughout Western New York, particularly<br />
the medically underserved and those at risk.<br />
Would You Like to Win<br />
a $100 Gift Card?<br />
Do you know someone who could benefit from a home<br />
response medical alarm system? Simply refer them to<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Home Response and you will be entered<br />
into a quarterly drawing to win a $100 gas card.* <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> Home Response provides 24/7 emergency assistance<br />
at the touch of a button, giving clients and their<br />
families greater peace of mind. It’s the perfect solution for<br />
families who aren’t always available or don’t live near an<br />
elderly or disabled loved one. For more information, or to<br />
make a referral, call 447-6309.<br />
*Offer available for current <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> associates only.<br />
Associates of McAuley Seton Home Care, Mercy Home Care,<br />
and Sisters Long Term Home Care are not eligible.<br />
3
Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence<br />
Miracles and Wonders<br />
Through Technology<br />
New Treatment Prevents<br />
Blindness in Preemies<br />
Premature babies face many health challenges. Sisters<br />
of Charity Hospital became the first hospital in Western<br />
New York to use a new medication therapy to treat<br />
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a leading cause of<br />
blindness in premature infants.<br />
ROP is caused by the abnormal growth of blood vessels<br />
in the retina of premature infants. It generally begins<br />
during the first few days of life and may progress rapidly<br />
to blindness over a period of weeks. The new treatment,<br />
which involves injecting an anti-cancer drug called Avastin<br />
into the infant’s eyes, helps stop the growth of new<br />
blood vessels.<br />
Drs. Singhal (far left) and Dukarm (right) look on as Dr. Fasiuddin (left)<br />
performs the new ROP treatment on a baby girl in Sisters NICU.<br />
Airaj Fasiuddin, MD, an ophthalmologist with <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong>, along with Sisters Hospital neonatologists<br />
Kamal Singhal, MD, and Robert Dukarm, MD, performed<br />
the delicate procedure in late June on a “preemie”<br />
in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Just<br />
over four pounds at the time of the procedure, the baby<br />
girl was born on April 6 at 24 weeks, weighing just one<br />
pound, four ounces. Since the procedure, her vision has<br />
significantly improved.<br />
The Avastin treatment offers several advantages for the<br />
premature babies. When compared to conventional laser<br />
therapy, which takes about three hours, the Avastin procedure<br />
takes about 30 minutes under a local anesthetic<br />
and offers significant benefits for restoring eyesight and<br />
preserving peripheral vision. It also eliminates the need<br />
for anesthesia and placing the baby on a ventilator, which<br />
can be particularly stressful for premature infants.<br />
Since ROP is responsible for more blindness among<br />
children than all other causes combined, it is important<br />
that premature babies be screened. In February, the New<br />
England Journal of Medicine released a study on the effectiveness<br />
of Avastin for treating ROP.<br />
Congratulations to AthletiCare scholarship recipients Kayla<br />
Hennessey from Frontier High School and Sarah Kingston from<br />
Mt. St. Mary's Academy. Kayla is studying Athletic Training<br />
and Physical Therapy at Marquette University. Sarah, the<br />
daughter of Sisters NICU Nurse Stacey Kingston, is studying<br />
Speech Pathology at Syracuse University. Pictured left to right<br />
for the award presentation are: Tim Williams, ATC; Kayla;<br />
Rick Szabala, Sr. PT AthletiCare/MACC, Sarah; Kelly<br />
Finkowski, PT, ATC, manager Sports Outreach; and Chris<br />
Sage Kane, VP Partners In Rehab & AthletiCare.<br />
4<br />
Six-Year-Old Helps Babies at Mercy<br />
Hospital with Special Donation<br />
Six-year-old Grace Koncikowski of Blasdell is already<br />
showing what a big heart she has. This summer,<br />
she set up a lemonade stand and raised $75<br />
for Mercy Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.<br />
According to her mother Jeanette, she had a very<br />
good reason for her thoughtful deed. “Grace told<br />
me she wanted to do something to help the ‘sick<br />
babies’ at Mercy, where she was once a preemie,”<br />
said the proud mother in a note to the hospital.<br />
Grace and her family were invited to the hospital<br />
in August where she was recognized by Mercy<br />
President & CEO C.J. Urlaub and Mary Ann<br />
Murphy, director of Maternal and Child Services,<br />
for her generous donation. “I was at this bookstore and I was thinking of what we can do<br />
for the babies,” Grace said. “And, I thought of a lemonade stand to raise money.”<br />
During her visit, Grace got to see where she was born and peek in on some babies in the<br />
hospital’s nursery. With news cameras in tow, she received a gift basket and certificate of<br />
appreciation for her kind deed and presented Urlaub with a drawing of the hospital.<br />
Besides being born at Mercy, Grace, who is the daughter of Mark and Jeanette Koncikowksi,<br />
has another special connection to the hospital. Her late grandmother, Judy Koncikowski,<br />
was a beloved nurse who worked at Mercy for more than 20 years.<br />
In an effort to expand holistic healthcare<br />
to area women, <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> is partnering<br />
with Horizon <strong>Health</strong> Services to offer<br />
on-site behavioral health services at its M.<br />
Steven Piver, M.D. Center for Women’s<br />
<strong>Health</strong> and Wellness at Sisters Hospital.<br />
As the area’s<br />
largest provider<br />
of mental<br />
health, and<br />
substance abuse<br />
services, Horizon<br />
will provide<br />
a psychiatric social<br />
worker to see patients at the Piver Center,<br />
offering behavioral health assessments<br />
and counseling services. Patients needing<br />
further evaluation and treatment will be referred<br />
to one of Horizon’s 13 area locations.<br />
“Since we opened the Piver Center in early<br />
2010, our goal was to provide area women<br />
with holistic, female-focused healthcare to<br />
rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit,” said<br />
Aimee Gomlak, vice president of Women’s<br />
Services for <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>. “This new relationship<br />
with Horizon will enable us to offer<br />
our patients behavioral health services to<br />
Kenmore Mercy Hospital has joined the “Meatless Monday”<br />
movement, by leaving meat off its cafeteria menu one<br />
day a week. The hospital’s Dining Inn Café is now offering<br />
vegetarian entrees on Mondays to help educate and inspire<br />
people to eat fewer animal products – a great way to live<br />
“greener” and eat healthier.<br />
Meatless Mondays began during World War I, when<br />
Americans were encouraged to give up some of their food<br />
staples to aid the war effort. During World War II, it became<br />
a way to help supply food for war-torn Europe.<br />
Decades later, the purpose has changed, but the method is<br />
much the same – get creative and go meatless one day a week.<br />
Today, the movement is spreading across the globe as people<br />
become more aware of the impact their food choices have on<br />
the environment.<br />
Grace gets a handshake from C.J. Urlaub as her<br />
mother and sister look on.<br />
Piver Center Teams Up with Horizon<br />
to Offer Behavioral <strong>Health</strong> Services<br />
complement the medical care we provide.”<br />
Counseling services will be available for<br />
a variety of behavioral health concerns including<br />
anxiety, depression, postpartum issues,<br />
grief and loss, and marital and parental<br />
adjustment issues. “Our mission is to help<br />
our clients improve their<br />
quality of life and achieve<br />
their personal recovery goals,”<br />
said Brenda Banach, vice<br />
president, Outpatient<br />
Operations<br />
for Horizon.<br />
“We are<br />
looking forward<br />
to working with<br />
the Piver Center<br />
to provide this specialized care.”<br />
In addition to the new behavioral health<br />
services, the Piver Center offers gynecologic<br />
oncology, minimally invasive GYN surgery,<br />
urogynecology, obstetrics, infertility treatments,<br />
a center for eating disorders, digital<br />
mammography, bone densitometry, ultrasound<br />
and massage therapy. Appointments<br />
can be made by calling 862-1965.<br />
Meatless Mondays at Kenmore Mercy<br />
Chef Chris Rickers prepares vegetables<br />
for a Meatless Monday dish.<br />
“Veggie-centric meals are healthier, less expensive, better for the animals and better for<br />
the planet,” said Kathy McAlpine, Food Services manager at Kenmore Mercy.<br />
The increased production of meat uses large amounts of land and water, produces significant<br />
greenhouse gases, and is a major factor in water pollution worldwide. In addition,<br />
reducing meat intake can also lessen a person’s risk for developing chronic conditions like<br />
obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.<br />
Meatless Monday is Kenmore Mercy’s latest sustainable food effort. In 2010, the hospital<br />
became the first in the area to serve herbs and vegetables from its rooftop garden. Read<br />
more about the Meatless Monday campaign at www.meatlessmonday.com.<br />
chsbuffalo.org
Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence<br />
Pursuing Excellence – Enhancing the Patient Experience<br />
Eight is Not Enough -<br />
Striving to be a "10"<br />
As we continue our efforts to improve our<br />
patient satisfaction scores, we would like to<br />
thank everyone for their hard work to Enhance<br />
the Patient Experience. This graph tracks our<br />
results this year for patients who rate their<br />
overall hospital experience a 9 or 10. As you<br />
can see, we are making some progress, but we<br />
still have room for improvement to reach the<br />
top performing hospitals. Because these scores<br />
are based on a very small sample of patient<br />
surveys, it will only take a handful or patients<br />
to move their scores from a 7 or 8 to a 9 or 10<br />
to have a dramatic impact on our overall percentages.<br />
If we continue to demonstrate the<br />
“Pursuing Excellence Expectations” listed below,<br />
the top decile is within our reach!<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Patient Experience (Satisfaction) Results Through 6/11<br />
Overall Hospital Rating (% of patients who gave a hospital rating of 9 or 10)<br />
Benchmarks<br />
January February March April May June YTD Top NYS US<br />
<strong>2011</strong> <strong>2011</strong> <strong>2011</strong> <strong>2011</strong> <strong>2011</strong> <strong>2011</strong> <strong>2011</strong> Decile Avg. Avg.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> 60% 68% 54% 65% 60% 63% 63% 82% 59% 67%<br />
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo 44% 61% 52% 48% 61% 56% 53% 82% 59% 67%<br />
Kenmore Mercy Hospital 73% 88% 68% 79% 59% 81% 74% 82% 59% 67%<br />
Sisters Main Street Campus 70% 64% 53% 67% 63% 59% 53% 82% 59% 67%<br />
Sisters St. Joseph Campus 58% 61% 43% 75% 56% 47% 55% 82% 59% 67%<br />
Letters from the Heart<br />
McAuley Seton Home Care<br />
To Everyone at McAuley Seton,<br />
With a sincere heart I would like to express my thanks<br />
for the wonderful care and compassion I was shown<br />
during my recovery. Everyone you sent me helped me to<br />
heal.<br />
Dear Barbara,<br />
Again I want to thank you for the kindness and tender<br />
loving care you gave me during my recovery. In my<br />
prayers I asked God to send me a good person and you<br />
appeared at my door.<br />
The <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>System</strong> is blessed to have an angel<br />
like you in their organization. God bless you.<br />
Sisters of Charity Hospital<br />
Dear Mr. Bergmann,<br />
There are events that occur in your life that impact you<br />
forever, such as the birth of a child. Your memory of these<br />
events is largely based on your enjoyment or discontentment<br />
with the overall experience. Our recent experience<br />
with the birth of our child at Sisters Hospital was such<br />
a delightful one, that we feel compelled to share it with<br />
you.<br />
As we prepare for the next phase of our life with our<br />
new addition to the family, we will always have fond<br />
memories of our experience at Sisters Hospital and want to<br />
thank you for making this life changing experience extra<br />
special.<br />
Continuing Care - McAuley Residence<br />
Our mother was an incredible woman. She was an<br />
immigrant who struggled early in life to provide her<br />
children with the best possible life. When our mother<br />
needed skilled nursing care we agreed that she deserved<br />
the finest possible. No one would have predicted that her<br />
final journey would last almost two years.<br />
We have enormous respect and admiration for what<br />
you do on a daily basis. Although our mother could not<br />
communicate with us, we could see she was well cared<br />
for and treated with dignity. There are no words that<br />
can adequately convey our gratitude for the care she received.<br />
We regard you as angels who guided our mother<br />
on her journey home.<br />
Pursuing Excellence Expectations -<br />
It's All Part of the Job<br />
When we began our “Pursuing Excellence” journey to enhance the patient/resident experience, we<br />
created a set of eight expectations that all associates must follow (see below) to achieve our goals<br />
of enhancing quality and patient safety, while providing our patients, residents and their families<br />
with the very best care and service. These expectations are not really anything new, but they are a<br />
new way to look at our Values of Reverence, Compassion, Justice and Excellence, and the guiding<br />
behaviors we should all demonstrate in the workplace.<br />
Earlier this year, all associates were asked to fill out a self-assessment based on examples of the<br />
guiding behaviors related to each expectation. Managers were then asked to fill out the same assessment<br />
for each of their associates. Beginning in October, these assessments will become part of<br />
the annual performance review.<br />
In 2012, and each year going forward, associates will be asked to fill out a new self-assessment<br />
based on these eight expectations. This will help us continually improve our performance and focus<br />
our efforts and attention on making these expectations and guiding behaviors second nature in our<br />
daily work and in our interactions with our patients, residents, their families and one another.<br />
It’s easy to see how these expectations relate to our Values. For example, Interact Respectfully and<br />
Compassionately shows reverence, compassion and justice, while Pays Attention to Detail demonstrates<br />
excellence. This process of self-assessment and review will help us connect the dots between<br />
our Pursuing Excellence Expectations and Guiding Behaviors and the Values that are at the heart of<br />
everything we do in <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>.<br />
Expectations for Enhancing the Patient/Resident Experience<br />
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chsbuffalo.org<br />
Tell us what you think…<br />
Submit your suggestion to<br />
improve the patient experience at:<br />
www.chsbuffalo.org/PatientExperience<br />
Associate Feedback…<br />
I think physicians, nurses and aides need to remember that<br />
even though they may have seen 50 patients that day, it may<br />
be the first time that patient has been in OR, ER or just having<br />
a simple procedure. We seem to forget that! Just think of<br />
how upset you would be if a family member were not treated<br />
properly.<br />
* * *<br />
I was asked by a visitor in the cafeteria one evening, "Why<br />
don't they serve real food here? Visitors would like to have<br />
mashed potatoes. I'm too nervous to eat greasy grilled food. This<br />
will only upset my stomach. This hospital is so big, it should<br />
offer a real dinner."<br />
* * *<br />
All rooms should be equipped with an IV pump, ready to get<br />
patients' fluids up and running. We shouldn't have to run<br />
around the hospital to find pumps!<br />
* * *<br />
In order to provide the best care possible, we as employees must<br />
be staffed adequately and have all the necessary equipment<br />
available to do so.<br />
* * *<br />
Magazines and newspapers should be offered on a cart to the<br />
patients. Some of them are not TV watchers. We should also<br />
keep magazines in the waiting rooms for the family. It is an<br />
"added" touch.<br />
5
Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence<br />
Medication Reconciliation Goes Electronic<br />
6<br />
Home Care<br />
News & Events<br />
LOVE Award &Kudos Winners<br />
Danielle Foster, PT, McAuley Seton Home Care, and<br />
Audrey Baker, home health aide, Mercy Home Care, are<br />
the 2nd quarter LOVE Award recipients.<br />
Congratulations to the following winners of the Kudos<br />
movie passes: Nancy Brady, June; Jen Bosetti, July; and<br />
John Buono, August.<br />
Mission Activities<br />
A special thank you to everyone who supported our 7th<br />
Annual Hot Dog Roast on July 21. Nearly $700 was raised<br />
to support our Helping Hands Fund, the Food Bank, and<br />
the Home Care Mission Fund, which assists our patients/<br />
families who are in need.<br />
<br />
As in previous years, the Home Care Mission Committee<br />
collected school supplies for students at the St.<br />
Monica and St. Augustine Scholars’ Programs. This very<br />
successful endeavor provides the students with the school<br />
supplies they need during the school year.<br />
<br />
The semi-annual Home Care Auction/Bake Sale will be<br />
held on Thursday, October 20 at the AppleTree Business<br />
Park. This delicious event features a variety of home baked<br />
treats and a gift basket raffle. Raffle tickets are 25/$5.<br />
Compliance and the<br />
Patient Experience<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s value of “Excellence” commits us to<br />
deliver high quality patient care. Our acknowledgement,<br />
documentation and prompt response to patient concerns<br />
provides the opportunity to re-establish trust and build<br />
valuable relationships with our patients and their families.<br />
The lessons learned from correcting incidents provide<br />
valuable insight into the importance of meeting our<br />
patients’ needs and additional opportunities to increase<br />
compliance throughout the system.<br />
A bad patient experience can result in negative publicity<br />
for <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>. A patient who has entrusted their<br />
care to <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> would be very disappointed if:<br />
Their medical record, containing Protected <strong>Health</strong><br />
Information (PHI), were disclosed to an unauthorized<br />
recipient because a fax number wasn’t verified;<br />
Their identity was assumed by another individual, and<br />
we did not recognize the identity theft; or<br />
Language barriers prevented us with communicating<br />
effectively with a non-English speaking patient.<br />
We can help reduce the number of negative Compliance<br />
reports by:<br />
Upholding patient rights such as access to care, confidentiality<br />
(HIPAA) and language assistance<br />
Using two identifiers for patients and records<br />
Accurately completing all documentation<br />
We should know the <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Values – Reverence,<br />
Compassion, Justice and Excellence – and display<br />
them in our daily work. We should also follow all policies<br />
(available on Compliance 360) and our Code of Conduct.<br />
Most important, we must pay attention to details…if you<br />
are uncertain or do not understand something, ASK (always<br />
seek knowledge).<br />
Associates have a duty to report suspected or potential<br />
violations. Please contact: Anne Mason, Compliance &<br />
Privacy Officer, at 821-4469; Compliance Line at 1-888-<br />
200-5380; or the HIPAA Hotline at 862-1790.<br />
It’s not uncommon for patients to arrive in the ER or for surgery with a laundry list of<br />
medications or even a paper bag full of half-used pill bottles. Making sure patients continue<br />
to take their medications without any dangerous interactions with new ones that may<br />
be prescribed while they are in the hospital, is the concept behind “medication reconciliation.”<br />
This important process takes place on admission and at discharge.<br />
Until now, medication reconciliation has largely been a manual process subject to the<br />
limitations of doing things on paper. Soarian Electronic Medication Reconciliation or<br />
“Med Rec” was launched at Mercy Hospital on September 12 and will be introduced<br />
across the system by late October.<br />
The adoption of Med Rec brings us another step closer to mandatory Computerized<br />
Physician Order Entry (CPOE), which will be required by February 1, 2012. With this<br />
new process, nursing staff will collect an electronic list of home medications. The physician<br />
will then complete the medication reconciliation process electronically in Soarian.<br />
This same process will be completed when the patient is discharged. The nurse will review<br />
the medications with the patient and provide a paper copy of the electronic discharge<br />
medication reconciliation.<br />
Med Rec is quicker and safer – eliminating handwriting legibility issues and providing<br />
automatic alerts for adverse drug interactions or allergies. It also follows the same process<br />
as CPOE, so it will help physicians become familiar with that system as well.<br />
RMC Military Committee Supports Troops<br />
As our nation marked the 10th anniversary<br />
of September 11, we were all reminded<br />
of the tragic events of that day and how we<br />
felt as a nation and community. For a group<br />
of associates in <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s Revenue<br />
Management Center (RMC), it was that<br />
lingering feeling that prompted them to do<br />
something to recognize the brave men and<br />
women who serve in our military.<br />
From there, this patriotic group formed<br />
the RMC Military Committee. The group<br />
“adopts” military personnel and their families,<br />
sending care packages oversees and providing<br />
gift cards to families with children<br />
here at home. They also support families of<br />
wounded or fallen servicemen and women.<br />
Accounts receivable clerks Marie Nespal<br />
and Jennie Westlake co-chair the committee.<br />
“Like so many people, we felt helpless<br />
after 9-11 and were searching for a way to<br />
simply say thank you to our military heroes,”<br />
said Marie. “We wanted to do something to<br />
let them know we care and appreciate the<br />
sacrifices they are making.”<br />
The group relies on fundraising to support<br />
its efforts. A snack table sits in one corner<br />
of the RMC with goodies for sale. The<br />
committee keeps it stocked with munchies<br />
and uses the proceeds to fund its activities.<br />
Front-Jennie Westlake, Kate Fisher and Marie Nespal.<br />
Back-Geri Whetstone, Pat Mulak, Holly Riford, Sandy<br />
Pappas, Pat Kelly, Diane Garguiolo and Pat Hoffman.<br />
They also hold raffles and other contests to<br />
raise money for the cause.<br />
Through word of mouth and family and<br />
friends, the committee gets names of local<br />
military heros and their families to support.<br />
“This is something anyone can do,”<br />
said Jennie. “It gives you a good feeling to<br />
know you are raising the spirits of someone<br />
serving in the military or a family waiting<br />
for his or her safe return.”<br />
For more information on the RMC Military<br />
Committee, contact Marie at mnespal@chsbuffalo.org<br />
or Jennie at jwestlak@<br />
chsbuffalo.org.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Supports High School<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Science Programs<br />
With a new school year in full swing, <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> is continuing its educational<br />
partnerships with Mt. Mercy Academy, Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School and Buffalo’s<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Science Charter School.<br />
Developed in 2009, the <strong>Health</strong> Science Program with Mt. Mercy and Bishop Timon<br />
continues to provide unique leaning opportunities for students interested in careers in the<br />
health professions. <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> doctors, nurses and other clinical professionals participate<br />
in a variety of activities to support the students' academic endeavors including shadow<br />
and mentoring programs, internships and community service opportunities. Through the<br />
program, Mt. Mercy offers tuition discounts for students of <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> associates.<br />
The <strong>Health</strong> Science Charter School, which opened in Tonawanda last year, has moved to<br />
its new home at the former St. Vincent’s Orphanage on Riley Street in Buffalo. This year,<br />
the school welcomed a freshman and sophomore class, and will add a new class each year<br />
until it offers a complete curriculum from grades nine through twelve.<br />
The new location brings the students closer to Buffalo’s<br />
medical community, including nearby Sisters Hospital,<br />
for field trips and service learning opportunities.<br />
It has also breathed new life into this historic landmark,<br />
which has received $5 million in interior and exterior<br />
renovations and new furnishings and equipment<br />
to offer the students a safe, secure and technologically<br />
advanced learning environment.<br />
All these efforts are designed to encourage and support<br />
students who are interested in health careers to<br />
The new <strong>Health</strong> Science Charter School. develop future health professionals in our community.<br />
chsbuffalo.org
Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence<br />
Around the <strong>System</strong>...<br />
Ed Lanthier, MBA, CBET, has been<br />
named manager of Biomedical Engineering<br />
in <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s IT Department. In<br />
this position, he will provide leadership,<br />
direction and support for the wide range<br />
of biomedical systems and devices our<br />
clinical professionals rely on each day. Prior<br />
to joining <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>, Ed served<br />
as a Clinical Engineering Manager with<br />
Trimedx, LLC, and was director of Clinical<br />
Engineering & Facilities Management at<br />
Niagara <strong>Fall</strong>s Memorial Medical Center.<br />
* * *<br />
Sarah McGovern has been promoted<br />
to the newly created position of Quality &<br />
Patient Safety Analyst for Long Term Care.<br />
In this role, she will assist in the coordination,<br />
implementation and monitoring of quality<br />
and patient safety activities for our five long<br />
term care facilities and two adult homes.<br />
Sarah joined Continuing Care in 2007 as<br />
administrative assistant to the vice president<br />
of clinical services.<br />
chsbuffalo.org<br />
Tineka Pace has been named Telemetry<br />
nurse manager at Sisters Hospital, St. Joseph<br />
Campus. Prior to joining <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>,<br />
she was manager of the Telemetry Unit at<br />
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. She<br />
received her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing<br />
from the University at Buffalo and holds<br />
certifications in Nursing Leadership from<br />
Canisius College, and Executive Change<br />
and Management from Daemen College.<br />
* * *<br />
Mission Integration welcomes its new<br />
executive resident William Vaughan. He<br />
will be working with our Mission leaders to<br />
bring ministry experience to his educational<br />
training. He received his Bachelor's degree<br />
in Religious Studies from Canisius College<br />
and is completing his Master's degree in<br />
Theology at Christ the King Seminary. He<br />
previously served as a Campus Minister<br />
for the Newman Center at Buffalo State<br />
College and has devoted much of his life to<br />
work in pastoral ministry.<br />
Joe McDonald Receives ACHE Award<br />
Joe McDonald, president & CEO of <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>, has been<br />
awarded the Senior Level Regents Award from the American College<br />
of <strong>Health</strong>care Executives (ACHE). This national award is presented<br />
to senior level healthcare executives who have significantly contributed<br />
toward the advancement of healthcare management excellence<br />
and the achievement of ACHE’s goals.<br />
Since joining <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> in 2002, McDonald has implemented<br />
a comprehensive strategic planning process to review <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong>’s programs, services and relationships with the medical community<br />
to better fulfill its mission and meet the healthcare needs of<br />
the region. During his tenure, <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> has experienced a growth in services, introduced<br />
advanced information and medical technology, improved quality and safety, and<br />
returned to fiscal stability.<br />
A healthcare executive for more than 25 years, McDonald’s leadership philosophy revolves<br />
around the concept of empowering organizational leaders to make decisions, developing<br />
new leaders internally, and providing managers and caregivers with the tools and support<br />
they need to deliver the highest quality care. With his guidance, <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> is becoming<br />
the provider of choice for private practice physicians in Western New York and a recognized<br />
area leader among the country’s highest performing health systems.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Names New VPs<br />
Mary Pat Barth<br />
Marty Boryszak<br />
Melanie Vlosky Duhaine<br />
Mary Pat Barth has been named vice president of Mission Integration<br />
at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo. As part of <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s<br />
Mission leadership, she will be responsible for Mission, Ethics, Spiritual<br />
Care, Ministry Formation and Community Benefit at Mercy<br />
Hospital. A native of Buffalo, she received an MS in Education from<br />
Canisius College, an MS in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University<br />
in Chicago, and is a trained spiritual director. She is returning to<br />
Buffalo after many years of working in leadership positions at numerous<br />
colleges and universities including Our Lady of Holy Cross<br />
College in New Orleans.<br />
Marty Boryszak has been named vice president of Operations<br />
for St. Joseph Campus. In this expanded role, Marty will have operational<br />
responsibility at St. Joseph Campus while maintaining his<br />
director of Finance responsibilities for the combined campuses of<br />
Sisters of Charity Hospital and Women’s Services. In his new role,<br />
he will assume administrative responsibility for driving performance,<br />
implementing operational and strategic initiatives, and interacting<br />
with physicians and staff at the St. Joseph Campus. Marty holds<br />
an MBA from St. Bonaventure University and a Bachelor’s Degree<br />
from SUNY Buffalo.<br />
Melanie Vlosky Duhaine, RN, BSN, M.Ed., has been named<br />
vice president of Clinical Services for Continuing Care. In this role,<br />
she will be responsible for the development and execution of strategic<br />
clinical initiatives to support <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s Long Term Care<br />
and Subacute Care services. She is returning to Buffalo after serving<br />
as director of Nursing at Kindred <strong>Health</strong>care in Boston, Massachusetts.<br />
Throughout her career, she has held several administrative and<br />
teaching positions. Her clinical experience includes medical, surgical,<br />
pediatric and critical care nursing. She holds a Bachelor’s degree<br />
from Niagara University and a Nursing degree from D’Youville<br />
College. She received a Master’s degree in Education Administration<br />
and a NYS Teaching Certificate from SUNY Buffalo.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> University offers more than 70 courses<br />
that assist leaders in improving their performance and enhancing<br />
their ability to carry out our Mission. Below is<br />
a sampling of upcoming courses. Courses are specifically<br />
tailored to the needs of associates – clinical, non-clinical,<br />
management, supervisory, financial, operational, customer<br />
service, mission enhancement, and more.<br />
October <strong>2011</strong><br />
7 Public Speaking (CH351)<br />
11 HIPAA/HITECH Regulations (CH386)<br />
12 Leadership in the Healing Ministry (CH377f )<br />
13 Generations in the Workplace (CH357c)<br />
20 Delegation (CH354)<br />
21 Leading with Emotional Intelligence (260)<br />
November <strong>2011</strong><br />
2 Corporate Compliance (CH399)<br />
4 Manager Core Curriculum (CH394)<br />
10 <strong>Health</strong>care Ministry and Mission Leaders<br />
Formation (CH377g)<br />
11 Performance Appraisals/Management (CH309)<br />
29 The Healing Ministry (CH377c)<br />
All classes are held at the <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Staff Development<br />
Education Center, AppleTree Business Park, Suite 8A,<br />
unless otherwise noted. For more information, including<br />
class times or registration help, contact Cory Sikorski at<br />
csikorski@chsbuffalo.org or (716) 706-2541.<br />
Macholz Named Financial<br />
Executive of the Year<br />
Congratulations to Dave Macholz,<br />
vice president Finance/corporate controller,<br />
on being named a “Financial<br />
Executive of the Year” by Business<br />
First. Dave will be recognized during<br />
a luncheon at Salvatore’s in October.<br />
As a key member of our finance<br />
team, he made significant contributions<br />
to the successful turnaround of<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>. Under his leadership, we have been able<br />
to save millions of dollars in interest costs, while increasing<br />
access to capital dollars for strategic projects.<br />
Dave has led major initiatives to improve our financial<br />
performance including automating our capital and operating<br />
budget process. He has also spearheaded a productivity<br />
initiative across <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> resulting in millions<br />
of dollars of savings for our system.<br />
<strong>2011</strong> Flu Shot Dates<br />
All associates, volunteers and staff are strongly encouraged<br />
to get a flu vaccine to protect themselves and our<br />
patients. Please present your <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> ID at any<br />
of the following locations to get a free flu shot.<br />
AppleTree Business Park ~ Suite 48 CR B & C<br />
October 6 ~ 6:00 - 11:15 am & 12 noon - 5:00 pm<br />
Kenmore Mercy Hospital ~ Community Room<br />
October 10 ~ 6:00 - 11:15 am & 12 noon - 5:00 pm<br />
St. Joseph Campus ~ Community Room<br />
October 14 ~ 6:00 - 11:15 am & 12 noon - 5:00 pm<br />
Sisters Hospital ~ Marillac Room<br />
October 17 ~ 6:00 - 11:15 am & 12 noon - 5:00 pm<br />
Mercy Hospital ~ CR Main A & B<br />
October 21 ~ 6:00 am - 11:15 am & 12 noon - 5:00 pm<br />
Nazareth Campus ~ CR A & B<br />
October 25 ~ 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon<br />
Mercy Ambulatory Care Center ~ Conference Room<br />
October 27 ~ 10:30 am – 3:30 pm<br />
7
CONNECTIONS is produced by:<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
Creative Services Department<br />
2875 Union Road, Suite 23-24<br />
Cheektowaga, NY 14227<br />
Email submissions to:<br />
knati@chsbuffalo.org and<br />
kjc4281@chsbuffalo.org<br />
PRSRT FIRST-CLASS<br />
US POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
BUFFALO, NY 14240<br />
PERMIT #2469<br />
Important news for associates, their families, and friends of <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>.<br />
2875 Union Road, Suite 23-24<br />
Cheektowaga, NY 14227<br />
All submissions are subject to editing and<br />
are published at the Editor’s discretion.<br />
Voice of the Associate<br />
We are one of the<br />
Best Places to Work<br />
because of YOU!<br />
Let your voice<br />
be heard!<br />
All responses will remain anonymous.<br />
October 2 – 15<br />
Computers and paper surveys will be available.<br />
Survey can be completed within 10 minutes!<br />
Access the survey online by typing in this URL:<br />
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VOA<strong>2011</strong><br />
Associates who participate will be<br />
eligible to win an iPad or gift card.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s Values:<br />
Reverence, Compassion, Justice, Excellence<br />
HR<br />
Benefit News<br />
Not a First Choice<br />
Participant Yet?<br />
Why Not?<br />
What could you do with some extra cash in your pocket? Did you know<br />
that you could save annual out-of-pocket health premium costs ranging<br />
from more than $800 for family coverage and $150 for single coverage,<br />
simply by switching from your current health plan to <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
First Choice? Besides the premium savings, there’s even more important<br />
reasons to switch to First Choice.<br />
By enrolling in First Choice, you are not only getting a high quality<br />
health plan, with comprehensive benefits and excellent customer service,<br />
but the savings continue with zero co-pays and zero deductibles for most<br />
eligible services. And because First Choice covers most eligible services in<br />
full, there’s no annoying paperwork or claim forms to fill out.<br />
With 97% of area physicians participating in the plan, <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>'s<br />
high quality continuum of care, and coverage for specialty<br />
services not offered within our system, First<br />
Choice has you covered.<br />
Introduced by <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> in 2009<br />
to control rising health insurance costs,<br />
First Choice is gaining popularity and soliciting<br />
positive comments from our associates.<br />
In <strong>2011</strong>, nearly 1,000 <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> associates are enjoying the benefits of<br />
First Choice, with an overwheming number<br />
rating the plan good or excellent.<br />
In addition to the cost savings, First Choice offers<br />
another big advantage over other health plans. Because First Choice relies<br />
on participants using <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> programs and services, more of our<br />
health coverage costs remain in our system, strengthening our bottom line.<br />
That helps protect jobs and enables <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> to make improvements<br />
throughout our system.<br />
Keeping <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> strong is in all our best interests. So while<br />
most other health insurance plans are facing double-digit increases this<br />
open enrollment season, First Choice is your obvious choice for high quality,<br />
affordable health coverage. If you are not already a member, learn more<br />
about the advantages of First Choice by contacting your ministry Human<br />
Resources office.<br />
Keeping it All in the Family<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> - Leading the Way<br />
in Community Education<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s Community Education Programs are the most extensive<br />
in the region offering wellness and disease prevention teachings. The<br />
Community Education department provides, free of charge:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
telephone line and <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> website<br />
Working with our designated service line teams – Cardiac, Neuro/<br />
Vascular and Women’s Services – Community Education is helping to<br />
spread the good works of <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> at featured community events.<br />
Living with Stroke – <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> physicians joined stroke survivors<br />
in May to present information on the latest advances in stroke care. More<br />
than 160 patients, family members and caregivers attended the program.<br />
Stroke & Cardiovascular Care for EMS Providers – Community<br />
Education hosted this special education program for 300 area Emergency<br />
Medical Service (EMS) providers. <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> physician presenters<br />
provided valuable information to assist first responders who transport<br />
stroke and cardiovascular patients to our emergency departments. These<br />
types of programs help keep the EMS community updated on developments<br />
within our emergency departments and our technical capabilities.<br />
Heart <strong>Health</strong> for Women – Heart<br />
disease is the leading cause of death<br />
among women. <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> is<br />
the only health system in the region<br />
pairing women’s services with cardiac<br />
services to create a unique care experience<br />
designed to meet the special<br />
needs of women with heart disease.<br />
In August, nearly 200 women joined<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> cardiologists and<br />
OB-GYNs for a special program<br />
on disease management, prevention,<br />
and emerging treatments for cardiac<br />
conditions in women.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> heart patient Rita Lauricella<br />
(right), pictured with Gina LaFountain from<br />
Continuing Care, provided an insightful look<br />
into her experience as a heart patient during<br />
our "Heart <strong>Health</strong> for Women" program.<br />
8 chsbuffalo.org