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February/March 2013
Volume 6, Issue 1
Mercy Opens New Service To Help Dialysis Patients
Mercy Hospital is pleased to announce the opening of the new Dialysis Access Center (DAC) to help dialysis patients maintain a healthy access
site to receive lifesaving blood cleansing treatment. In above photo, DAC team members include: (l.-r.) Deborah Hetrick, RN, nurse manager ASU,
DPU, & PST; Jeffrey Park, RPA-C; Janet Evoniuk, RN, director of PeriOperative Services; RN; Dr. George A. Blessios, director of DAC; Dawn
Ruettimann, RN; Catherine McDonald, office coordinator; and Tonya Bosch, RN. Christina Proefrock, RN, is missing from photo.
In This Issue
2 •Sparkling Dish Machine
•Associate Council Update
3 •Angel of Mercy is Thanked
4 • Kudos to Family BirthPlace
• LOVE Award Honorees
5 • Central Transport Shines
• Waiting Room Underway
6 • Mercy At Work
Submit news items to:
Melanie Griffis, Public Relations
Manager at mgriffis@chsbuffalo.org
It is estimated that 1,300 people in
the Buffalo region require dialysis
treatment for kidney failure – a
number that continues to increase by
about 12% annually.
In response to the growing need
for vascular access services, Mercy
Hospital has opened a Dialysis
Access Center (DAC) to provide
comprehensive care for dialysis
patients in one convenient location.
One of the biggest problems facing
dialysis patients is maintaining
their vascular access site, so
they can continue receiving this
lifesaving blood cleansing treatment.
Sometimes, even when patients are
careful, their access site can become
clogged, infected or develop other
complications, requiring immediate
medical attention.
The DAC is focused on helping
patients manage their care and keep
their access sites in good condition
for uninterrupted dialysis treatments.
The center is staffed by a team of
surgical interventionalists, physician
assistants, registered nurses, and
special procedure and ultrasound
technicians. Together, this team of
renal specialists employs the latest
evaluation tools, treatments and
Continued on page 2
Page 1

Dialysis Center Opens,
continued from page 1
New Dish Machine Sparkles With Savings
surgical interventions to help patients
maintain their vascular access.
“Our center’s advanced clinical management
system enables us to develop
individual treatment plans for our
patients and enhances communication
with their referring physicians,”
said Dr. George Blessios, medical
director of the DAC at Mercy Hospital.
“It also provides vascular access
coordination and tracking, management
of complications, referrals for
interventions, and outcome analysis.”
The DAC is located on the 4 th floor
of the hospital (Main building). For
more information, or to make an
appointment, please call the Dialysis
Access Center at 819-9750. v
Associate
Council
UPDATE
The Mercy Associate Council,
representing patient care units
and departments throughout the
hospital and offsite locations, meets
monthly with a goal to make Mercy
an outstanding place to work while
improving overall communications.
The Health & Wellness Team
recently introduced Zumba classes,
the latest exercise craze that is
sweeping the country. Classes are
held on Wednesdays from 1:00 pm
to 1:45 pm and 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm
in the Marian Building conference
room, basement floor. Classes are free
for hospital gym members and nonmembers
are $5 per class.
In other news, the Wellness Team
just launched their 2 nd Annual
Smallest Winner Contest running
from January 21 through March 21.
Read about all the winners in our
next Mercy Connection.v
Food & Nutrition staff, pictured above, celebrated the arrival of a new high-efficient dish machine
that washes over 200,000 food service items monthly and features significant cost savings that
stack up instead of the dishes, including: electrical cost to heat the water- $5,787 per year versus
$10,251; water cost- $508 (169,000 gallons) per year to operate 8 hours per day, 7 days a week,
compared to $1,157 annually; water usage- 58 gallons per hour versus 132 gallons per hour; and
chemical usage- $923 annually versus $2,101. Now, these are savings that really clean up!v
As we continue on our quest of Enhancing
the Patient Experience, we
are reminded of suggestions provided
by the Studer Group, a national
organization committed to helping
hospitals achieve high quality care
and patient satisfaction.
The “10/5 Rule”
The “10/5 Rule” helps assure patients
and visitors that we are attentive
and responsive to them.
Jeffrey Park, PA, and Dawn Ruettimann, RN visit a
»» When patients or visitors come patient in the new Dialysis Access Center.
within 10 feet of any associate,
we make eye contact and smile.
»»
Within 5 feet, we greet the patient
or guest.
The rule applies when somebody
approaches us while we are on the
phone talking with a different person;
if we are riding the elevator; walking
in the hallways/stairwells or parking
ramp; or visiting the cafeteria. It is
also the way we treat our fellow coworkers,
physicians and staff.
»»
»»
Some Key Questions To Ask
Is there anything else I can do for
you I have the time.
May I take you where you are going
»» Is there anything I can do to make
this better
“Sorry, Glad, Better”
The Studer Group’s “Sorry, Glad,
Better” suggests some ways to respond
to a patient’s concern or poor
experience...“I’m sorry this happened.
I’m glad you told me about it.
What can I do to make things better”
Words Never To Say
• Staff is at lunch
• We’re too busy
• We’re short staffed
• Nobody is available
• That’s not my job; I don’t knowv
Page 2

Referee Thanks His Angel of Mercy
by Thomas Gugino
Contributing Writer
Martek and Hudecki
reunite at Mercy Hospital.
Jim Martek,
a local
high school
basketball
referee had a
recent brush
with death,
but thanks
to Melissa
Hudecki, an
athletic trainer
with Catholic
Health AthletiCare,
he
will live to see
another day.
On the evening of January 4, Martek
was officiating a girl’s high school
basketball game between Mount
Mercy Academy and Christian
Central Academy, when he suddenly
collapsed to the floor.
“The last thing I remember was
walking into the locker room to get
dressed. And then the next thing, I
was waking up in ICU,” said Martek,
a 54 year-old mortgage risk manager
from Lancaster, NY.
Luckily for Martek, trainer Melissa
Hudecki, whom he has known for
years through area sports circles,
sprang into action. Realizing he had
experienced what she thought was
an apparent heart attack, she called
upon her Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
(CPR) training and the use
of an automatic external defibrillator
(AED) to revive him. Buffalo firefighters
then stepped in to continue
the resuscitation efforts.
Martek was taken by ambulance to
Mercy Hospital where he was put
into a medically induced coma with
hypothermia therapy under the direction
of neurologist Catalina Ionita,
MD. By lowering his body temperature,
Dr. Ionita was able to stabilize
Martek’s critical condition. When he
woke up two days later, he had no
recollection of what had happened.
“We use the hypothermia
treatment
to protect the brain
in the resuscitation
process,” said Dr.
Ionita.
Before going home
on January 10, Dr. Catalina Ionita
Martek had a chance
to thank Hudecki and his caregivers
during a reunion planned at the hospital.
A gathering of staff and news
reporters watched as the two met
eyes and embraced. With an outpouring
of emotion, Martek told her, “If it
wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.”
He called her his “Angel of Mercy.”
According to Cardiologist Dr. Rob
Wall, who was also on hand for the
reunion, Martek’s event was caused
by an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).
He noted, “The death rate
associated with what Mr. Martek experienced
is very high. Only less than
five percent of
people actually
survive, and
fortunately he
is alive and it
started with
Melissa.”
To prevent
Martek from
Dr. Rob Wall, cardiologist
experiencing
similar future events, Dr. Wall
implanted a small heart monitoring
device in Martek’s chest, similar to a
pacemaker, that can detect an arrhythmia
and immediately correct it
by delivering energy to the heart.
Martek expressed extreme gratitude
toward all of those involved in
saving his life. In an effort to “pay it
forward,” he pledged that his new
year’s resolution is to receive proper
CPR training, so that one day, he may
be able to save someone else’s life.v
Sweet Mercy!
People In The News
Kulwant S.
Bhangoo,
MD, was
recently
inducted
into the
Cosmetic
Surgery
Hall of
Fame at the Dr. Bhangoo accepts award
International from Parvathy Omnakuttan,
Cosmetic Miss World Runner-up.
Surgery Symposium held in
Kovalam, India last November.
Dr. Bhangoo delivered a keynote
lecture on Recent Advancements in
Facelift Surgery and a guest lecture on
Challenges in Rhinoplasty. v
Congratulations
to Anne
McGillicuddy
who was
recently
presented the
Mercy Charism
Award from
Mount Mercy
Academy. As
Director of
Anne McGillicuddy
Volunteers &
Guest Relations, she is the key Mercy
liaison for a high school shadowing
and internship program with MMA
and Bishop Timon High School. v
A registered
nurse at Mercy
Hospital for
over ten years,
Bruce Trzepacz
stepped into
his new role
as nurse
manager of
the Emergency
Bruce Trzepacz
Department (ED)
in July of 2012. He and his family
reside in Marilla where he is a
volunteer EMT for the Jamison Road
Volunteer Fire Company. v
Page 3

Baby Girl Arrives
12-12-12 at 12:12 pm
Family BirthPlace Recognized for Quality Care
Baby Skyler Woronchuk, daughter of Halie
Woronchuk and Kip Hund of Hamburg,
(pictured above) will have an easy time
remembering her birthday, right down to
the minute—born 12/12/12 at 12:12 pm at
Mercy. The next day, Buffalo Bills mascot,
Billy Buffalo, presented the family with a Jim
Kelly #12 gift package in honor of the famous
#12! Kim Mecca,CNM, right, helped deliver
the bundle of joy.v
Meet Our
Residents
Dr. Daniel Molloy was inspired to become
a doctor while working at Mercy Hospital.
Mercy Hospital is an active educational
site for the University of Buffalo
(UB)/Catholic Health Internal
Medicine Training Program. In this
issue, we would like to introduce
Dr. Daniel Molloy.
Born at Mercy Hospital and a
former Mercy associate, Dr. Molloy
said, “It feels great to be back at
Mercy as a resident.”A graduate of
Ross University School of Medicine
in the Caribbean and the University
of Buffalo, he worked at Mercy as
an assistant in the ER and a rehab
aide while in college. A 3 rd year resident,
he will graduate in June and
hopes to become a hospitalist. v
Mercy Hospital’s Family BirthPlace, which includes Maternity and Labor & Delivery Services,
recently earned the MORE OB Recognition Award for its outstanding performance in the
application of knowledge, communication and teamwork to make quality care and patient safety a
top priority. Mercy was selected to be a demonstration site for MORE OB (Managing Obstetrical
Risk Efficiently) in 2012, which is a national patient safety, professional development and
performance improvement program offered by Salus Global Corporation. Pictured above, Salus
Global representative Sheri DeMeester, far left, presents the award to Dr. Lawrence Gugino,
chair of Mercy’s OB/GYN Department and several members of the BirthPlace team.v
LOVE Awards Honor Caring Associates
The LOVE Award (Living
Our Values Effectively)
is designed to recognize
outstanding associates
throughout Catholic
Health who demonstrate a
commitment to our values
in their daily work.
Our 2 nd quarter LOVE
Award winner was Marcy
Doyle, RN, of Labor & Delivery.
Jim Fitzgerald, PA,
of the Emergency Center
received 3 rd quarter honors.
In the 4 th quarter, staff from
8 McAuley East, Maternal/
Child, and Labor & Delivery
were recognized.
A LOVE Awards Luncheon
was held on Valentine’s
Day at the hospital to
pay tribute to all the 2012
nominees and winners for
their heartfelt actions. v
The LOVE Award was presented to Jim Fitzgerald, PA, by
Dr. Richard Elman, left, and Mercy President & CEO C.J.
Urlaub with many co-workers and family present.
Sister Mariella Enright gives Nurse Manager Maureen
Sullivan a hug during the 8 East LOVE Award
presentation while Sister Sheila Marie Walsh looks on. v
Page 4

The spotlight
shines on the
Central Transport
Department, a staff
of 52 associates
who work roundthe-clock
to
transport patients
throughout
the hospital,
including inpatient
and outpatient
discharges.
Did you know
that this bustling
staff is on target to
complete 167,000
patient transports
in 2013 Currently,
the team averages about 535 patient
moves per day. Over the past two
years, they have been successful in
reducing average trip times from
30 minutes to just under 22 minutes
per transport. In addition, new
Service Spotlight
Some members of the busy Central Transport Team are from left, Mike
Galbraith, director; Mike O’Connell; Denise Tomilo; Barb Knightner
and Damon Hendrix. Barb LeCounte, manager, is missing from photo.
Teletracking technology introduced
last December uses “dispatch logic”
to match the most appropriate
transporter to the nearest prioritized
job. One might say this busy Central
Transport team is truly on the move! v
Grant Benefits New Waiting Room
The Mercy Hospital
Foundation received a
grant for $375,000 from
the Margaret L. Wendt
Foundation to complete
a $500,000 renovation
of the surgical waiting
room at Mercy Hospital
of Buffalo to be named
The Margaret L. Wendt
Family Center.
“The number of patients turning to
Mercy for care has steadily increased,
not only in the Emergency Department,
but in our surgical services as
well,” said Mercy Hospital President
& CEO C.J. Urlaub. “When you have
a loved one in the operating room,
it can be a stressful time. Our new
surgical waiting room will provide
a peaceful and comfortable environment
for our patients’ families.”
An artist’s rendering of the new family waiting room
The new family waiting room, that
will be located on the 3 rd floor near
the Mercy Café, will feature advanced
technology to track a patient’s
progress throughout the surgery,
enabling their loved ones to stay
constantly informed. New consultation
rooms will be added as well to
provide space for private discussions.
This project is being funded through
the Mercy Hospital Foundation.v
Stroke Education
Room Dedicated
Stroke Center staff recently gathered to bless
and dedicate its new Stroke Education Room
on 5 McAuley West. The room was named in
honor and memory of Charleen Grzybowski.
Since 2009, her family has coordinated an annual
golf tournament to benefit stroke services
at the hospital. To date, the Grzybowski family
has donated $14,500 to the Mercy Hospital
Foundation. Pictured above, Chris Grzybowski
presented a $5,000 donation from proceeds
raised at their 2012 golf event. Save the date
for this year’s tournament, set for August 19,
2013 at Fox Valley Country Club.v
Facility Updates
Construction projects continue
throughout the hospital campus. In
the parking ramp, a new Lorraineside
elevator is expected to be completed
in March. When operational,
work will then begin to modernize
the Alsace elevator.
In other construction news, the
Cashiers office was relocated off the
main lobby; the Foundation moved
to the former cashiers area on the 3 rd
floor; and Spiritual Care moved to
the former Foundation office on the
3 rd floor near the chapel. A newly
constructed Admissions office will
soon open near the front entrance.
Cashiers Phyllis Dunning, left, and Susan
Betlewicz are busy in their new office.v
Page 5

Mercy at Work
Mission Corner
Mary Pat Barth, VP, Mission Integration
Dedicated Associates Honored
In 2012, there were 198 dedicated associates
who reached 5 and 10 years of service to
Catholic Health. A luncheon was recently
held at the hospital to recognize and present
these associates with their anniversary
pins. Pictured above are: (l.-r., standing)
Elgina Baker of Hospitality Services;
Jonathan Hendrix of Environmental
Services; Catherine Williams, RN, Christine
Michaels, RN, (seated) Ashley Prezyna,
Immediate Treatment Assistant; and Jessica
Nice, RN, of 5 McAuley West.v
Passport to Mercy Fair is a Hit!
More than 500 associates recently took an
“Around the World” Tour of Mercy Hospital
at the Passport to Mercy Fair. The
Fair featured stops in England (Foundation),
Germany (Administration); Switzerland
(Finance); U.S.A. (Facilities & Parking);
Italy (HR); China (Associate Council); Poland
(Patient Experience); Ireland (Spiritual
Care); France (Infection Control); Canada
(Respiratory); and Mexico (Quality). Mary
Ellen White of Maternity won the Grand
Prize $500 Southwest Airlines voucher.v
Win Movie Tickets By Completing Puzzle!
Steve McKee, Mercy’s physician
liaison, is our latest winner! Associates,
physicians and volunteers are
invited to complete the Associates In
The Know puzzle for a chance to win
a pair of free movie tickets.
Just drop the completed puzzle in
the designated box in the hospital
cafeteria, or fax completed puzzles to
Melanie Griffis at (fax) 828-3499, to
enter the drawing.
Name________________________
Phone_____________
ACROSS
1 Proceeds from the Autumnal will
benefit the new ______room
4 Mercy held the first _______to Mercy DOWN
Fair to keep associates informed 2 Staff should show _____ for their actions
7 Associate Council’s Communications 3 Associate Council’s Mission Committee
Team has nursing, admissions, and held their annual _____Sale
imaging services on the _________ 5 For guidance, the ____for Annointing the
8 This department has plumbers,
Sick can be found on the Intranet
electricians, engineers & mechanics 6 Associate Council’s Wellness Committee
10 Mercy is rated in the ____ 100
started a _______class on Wednesdays
hospitals in the country for orthopedic, 9 Patients can now use ______ for virtual
spine and prostatectomy
visits with relatives and friends v
At the successful Maternity Bake Sale
were: (l.-r.) Nancy Peterson, Sister Carmen
Gualtieri, Linda Pollinger, Elaine Keegan,
and Debbie Stamer.
The entire Mercy Hospital family
continues to show a huge heart
when it comes to giving to people
in need. Several events were held
throughout the holiday season to
raise money for the Helping Hands
Fund and the City Mission. Dozens
of families were helped through the
Adopt-a-Family program, many
of whom were identified through
our Mission Integration Office. The
annual Maternity Bake Sale raised
$939 and the Holiday Basket Raffle
raised nearly $2,500. The Christmas
Mitten Tree filled up twice with
donations going to families in need
in our community. These caring
and generous efforts continue to
demonstrate the Spirit of Mercy and
our Catholic Health Mission! v
Read Across America
Mercy President & CEO C.J. Urlaub joined
other community leaders at Lorraine Elementary
School in South Buffalo on March 1 to
participate in Read Across America Day. v
Page 6