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Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence Home Care News & Events LOVE Award & Kudos Winners Stephanie Nawrocki, Physical Therapist for McAuley Seton Home Care, and Donna Daniels, Home Health Aide for Mercy Home Care, were the LOVE Award recipients for the 4th quarter of 2008. Stephanie and Donna were presented with their certificates and gifts during a special reception held on February 19. Linda Jeffrey is the winner of the KUDOS movie passes for the month of January. Upcoming Events The Annual Home Care Breakfast honoring 2008 LOVE Award recipients and nominees will be held on Friday, May 8, 2009 in the Home Care Conference Center. The program will include an introduction of the honorees and remarks by Joyce Markiewicz, President and CEO of Catholic Health Home Care. Mission Activities The Mission/Spiritual Care Department sponsored a Lunch and Learn focusing on nutrition and healthy eating on March 3 in the Home Care Conference Center. Theresa Amborski, RD, CNSD, Clinical Nutrition Manager at Mercy Hospital, shared information on healthy eating. Many Catholic Health associates who work at the Appletree Business Park attended the program. The Home Care Mission Committee sponsored a Spring Auction/Bake Sale on March 26. Many unique baskets, items and gift cards were auctioned off during the event, which also included a delicious array of baked goods contributed by Home Care associates and friends. Proceeds from this event go directly to the Home Care Mission Fund which is used to assist clients, their families/caregivers, and associates in need. Many thanks to everyone who supported this event. Weight Management Program for Children Nutrition, self-esteem building and positive body image are issues that affect many children. To help instill positive behaviors and healthy eating habits, Catholic Health is sponsoring a free weight management program especially geared for children and pre-teens. The Shapedown Family Weight Management Program is designed for children 8-12 years of age and their parents. The program consists of eight, two-hour sessions conducted over five weeks. The introductory session will be held on April 21 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Catholic Health Education Center, Suite 8A, located in the Appletree Business Park at 2875 Union Road in Cheektowaga. Shapedown is the nation’s leading weight management program for children and pre-teens. It effectively supports families in creating an active lifestyle and a healthy, but not depriving, diet. Parents learn how to tune-up their nurturing skills to curb their child’s emotional overeating and sharpen their limit-setting skills to guide their children towards a healthier lifestyle. Session topics include: nutrition, self-esteem building, positive body image, exercise, goal setting, and healthy behaviors. The remaining sessions will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Catholic Health Education Center on April 23, 28 and 30 and May 5, 7, 12 and 17. Registration is required and space is limited. For more information or to register for the Shapedown Program, call Catholic Health’s Health- Connection at 447-6205. “Clearing the Air” at Sisters Hospital Sisters of Charity Hospital took an important step in the fight against heart and lung disease by becoming a tobacco-free campus on Friday, February 13, 2009, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Using the day as an opportunity to celebrate “healthy hearts,” all tobacco use is now prohibited on the Sisters Hospital campus, including all buildings, off site facilities, parking lots, vehicles, grounds, and adjacent sidewalks. This new Sisters Hospital Tobacco-free Policy will include all visitors and staff throughout Catholic Health, who will be asked to refrain from smoking while on the Sisters Hospital campus. “It’s our responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for everyone who works, visits, or receives care at our hospital,” says Peter U. Bergmann, President & CEO of Sisters Hospital. “We are hoping that those who smoke will use the new policy as an opportunity to quit smoking for good.” As part of the transition to a tobacco-free campus, Sisters Hospital is offering free smoking cessation classes for associates as well as information on free nicotine patches, gum and lozenges through the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 1-866-NYSQUITS (1-866-697-8487) or www.nysmokefree.com. Sisters Hospital is joining a growing trend of health providers across the country, as well as in Catholic Health, who are adopting tobacco-free policies. Kenmore Mercy Hospital went smokefree in 2008, while Catholic Health’s Continuing Care Division and the Nazareth Campus went smoke-free in January. Mercy Hospital will be going smoke-free on July 4. “I want to thank everyone for their cooperation as we ‘clear the air’ at Sisters Hospital,” Bergmann added. New York State Grant Helps Catholic Health Promote Smoke-Free Activities Helping Catholic Health become a healthier place to work and our community a better place to live is the goal behind a grant from the NYS Department of Heath Tobacco Control Program. HealthConnection, Catholic Health’s patient and community education program, received the $9,310 grant in August to support smoking cessation programs throughout our system and the local community. “We have three Catholic Health facilities – Kenmore Mercy, Sisters Hospital and the Nazareth Campus – that are now completely smokefree,” says Sandy Spencer, Director of Patient/ Community Education. “This effort requires a great deal of planning, education and support to be successful. Thanks to the Tobacco Control Grant we have been able to purchase educational tools and smoking cessation materials to support our smoke-free activities.” As part of the grant Catholic Health will: • Develop workgroups to address smoking cessation activities across the system Foundation News... • Provide resources to promote smoke-free campuses among our ministries • Offer smoking cessation programs for patients and staff • Implement community smoking cessation programs at multiple sites • Create training programs for physician liaisons to engage the physician community • Provide smoking cessation education sessions for primary care physicians and staff • Provide middle school students with information on the harmful effects of smoking through the CHAMPS program • Incorporate tobacco cessation information into medical grand rounds. “We’d like to thank the New York State Department of Health for recognizing our commitment to reverse the negative effects of smoking in our community,” Spencer continued. “Through our efforts, we hope to continue ‘clearing the air’ throughout Catholic Health and our community.” Mercy Hospital of Buffalo raised over $700 to support the American Heart Association (AHA) during its “Wear Red Day” on February 13. The event also helped celebrate the 7th anniversary of the opening of the Catholic Health Heart Center at Mercy Hospital. In addition to free blood pressure checks and healthy snacks, volunteers from Cardiac Services and Patient Care Services sold Red Dress pins and held a Valentine’s Day Basket raffle to benefit the AHA. Kenmore Mercy also hosted “Wear Red Day” events on February 13. The Continuing Care Foundation is entering the home stretch of its “Victory for Seniors” Capitol Campaign to support the redevelopment of the OLV Senior Neighborhood. To date, nearly $1.85 million has been raised for the project, which includes the Victory Ridge Senior Apartments, the Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV, the Living Independently for Elders PACE Program, the “Main Street” concourse and Father Baker Gaslight Park. “A little over $100,000 is all that remains before we can claim victory,” says Aimee Gomlak, Vice President of Strategic Redevelopment for Continuing Care and Interim Executive Director of the Continuing Care Foundation. “We hope to announce later this year that the capital campaign has reached its goal.” To help support these efforts and other fundraising programs, the Continuing Care Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Marion Grimes, Sharon Dickinson, and Kristine Eimiller to its fundraising staff. Marion Grimes, BA, MSW, MSEd, has joined the Continuing Care Foundation to help develop major gifts and other forms of planned giving. Her experience as an Administrator and Development Officer at OLV Homes of Charity and Director of Development and Gift Planning for the Sisters of Mercy, provides a unique background and special expertise to help expand giving opportunities for the Continuing Care Foundation. She is a member of the WNY Planned Giving Consortium, Leave a Legacy-WNY, and the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning. Also joining the Continuing Care Foundation team are Sharon Dickinson, Development Coordinator, and Kristine Eimiller, Administrative Assistant. Sharon most recently served as Development Assistant for Mercy Hospital of Buffalo. Kristine previously worked in the Catholic Health Corporate Office. 6 www.chsbuffalo.org
Around the System... Russell Carlson, M.D., has been named Chairperson of the Western New York Cancer Coalition (WNYCC). The coalition includes more than 60 area organizations dedicated to reducing cancer rates and improving outcomes for people with cancer. The group is focusing on four areas of the New York State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan – early detection, health promotion, public policy and research. • • • Congratulations to the following members of our Catholic Health family who have been named to Business First’s “Healthcare 50” list: Carolyn Piver Dukarm, M.D., Center for Eating Disorders; Dennis Horrigan, Executive Director of the Catholic Independent Practice Association; Mark Sullivan, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Health; and Patricia Weeks O’Connor, Executive Director of the OLV Senior Neighborhood. These healthcare leaders will be featured in Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence an upcoming issue of Business First highlighting the achievements of individuals who are making a difference in healthcare in our community. • • • Mike Ruszaj, has been named Supervisor of Office Services in the Facilities/Engineering Department at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Mike has served in a per diem role at the hospital for several months and has 20 years of experience in Facilities operations including Environmental Services, Linen and Food Service. • • • Michael Wendel has been named Laboratory Supervisor at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Mike comes to Catholic Health with a broad base of experience in Laboratory Services, serving as a clinical laboratory technologist, senior medical technologist, and laboratory manager. Mike is returning to the Lab at Kenmore Mercy where he worked from 1993 to 1999. Catholic Health Partnering to Implement Career Pathway Grant by David Zapfel, Project Director Strategic Workforce Planning Department Catholic Health is partnering with the Buffalo and Erie County Workforce Investment Board and other local employers and educational programs to implement a new Career Pathway Grant that that will prepare individuals for employment in jobs that offer advancement opportunities and career ladders. This grant focuses primarily on occupations in the healthcare field that provide individuals with a clear, reliable path for building skills and progressing up the career ladder. This partnership brings together expertise in recruiting eligible candidates, training resources, support services, placement assistance, employment opportunities, and reinforcement in the value of continuing along a career pathway. Targeted career pathways can begin at the most basic level helping participants obtain their GED and/or Work Readiness Credentials. This will prepare individuals to begin their climb up the career ladder by taking healthcare positions in such areas as Nutritional Services, Environmental Services, Patient Support, and Patient Registration. Once employed in these positions, associates will be encouraged to begin the next step in their professional development by enrolling in training courses leading to a variety of certifications and positions with progressively higher pay. These positions include Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomist, Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Office Assistant and Central Supply Technician. Moving to higher paid, more skilled positions, will encourage many individuals to continue their education and obtain an Associates Degree in occupations such as Radiologic Technologist, Respiratory Therapy Technician, Licensed Practical Nurse, MRI Technologist, CT Scan Technologist, and Medical Lab Technician. To learn more about this exciting new opportunity, and to see if you qualify, please call 845-6003. Around Continuing Care... Residents and associates in Catholic Health Long Term Care have been anxiously waiting to get out and about in their new vans. Thanks to generous grants, both Father Baker Manor and St. Francis of Williamsville recently took ownership of new vehicles for transporting residents to community activities and events. On February 11th, a blessing was held aboard the Father Baker Manor Van prior to its inaugural trip taking residents to the Gardenview Restaurant for lunch. The celebration included lots of laughs and serenading as everyone gathered for the blessing as On February 9, Joe McDonald, President & CEO of Catholic Health (pictured right), visited the Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV to present Catholic Health East’s “Achieving New Heights in Resident Satisfaction & Service Excellence” award to Pat O’Connor, facility Administrator (pictured center). The award recognizes the greatest improvement in resident satisfaction among all CHE long term care facilities surveyed in 2008. the van embarked on its maiden voyage. In the very near future, the vans will display exterior artwork bragging about Catholic Health services. Safe travels! John Herman Joins Mercy Hospital John Herman has been named Chief Operating Officer at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo. He has been with Catholic Health for more than 12 years, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. In recent years, John was instrumental in more than $9 million in capital projects at Kenmore Mercy, including the expansion of the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, the development of a new Interventional Radiology Suite, and the recent opening of the Williamsville Diagnostic Center. He also helped position the hospital as a HealthGrades Center of Excellence in Joint Replacement Surgery for the past three years. Throughout his career with Catholic Health, he has served in a variety of leadership positions, including Vice President of Operations at Kenmore Mercy Hospital and System Director of Health, Safety, Security and Environment for Catholic Health. He also served as System Director of Safety at Kenmore Mercy and Mercy Hospitals from 1996 to 1999. A Buffalo Business First “Forty Under 40”Award recipient, John holds an Executive M.B.A. with Distinction from the University of Buffalo. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Community Advisory Panel for the Town of Tonawanda. He also serves as the Junior Leader and adult member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Catholic Health Executives Named to Board Posts Joe McDonald, President & CEO of Catholic Health, has been elected Treasurer of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) Board of Trustees. McDonald was named to the Board in 2008 and also serves on HANYS Solutions and the Executive, Compensation and Audit Committees. HANYS is the principal advocate for more than 550 non-profit and public hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, and other health care organizations throughout New York State. HANYS’ volunteer Board of Trustees is responsible for managing the Association’s activities. John Davanzo, Senior Vice President of Regional Development for Catholic Health, has been named to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care Board of Trustees. Through his service on the board, John will help advance the work of Hospice Buffalo which provides medical care, as well as emotional and spiritual support to patients with advanced illness and their families. To help support this effort, Catholic Health hospitals offers specially furnished inpatient Hospice Rooms, providing a special level of comfort and care to patients and their families. Stanley Gasiewicz Earns Management Certification Stanley Gasiewicz, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer of Continuing Care, has been named a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare executives. As a Fellow, Gasiewicz can now use the FACHE credential after his name, which signifies board certification in healthcare management. ACHE Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and must undergo recertification every three years. www.chsbuffalo.org 7
Page 1 and 2: March/April 2009 Volume 2, Issue 4
Page 3 and 4: Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise
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In This Issue2 3 4 5 6 7 8 - Catholic Health System

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