Transforming Patient Care Nationwide

June 2008
Volume 1, Issue 4
Transforming Patient Care Nationwide
Helping to transform patient care nationwide are l.-r.: Jackie Roof, NA; Liz LoCicero, RN; Kim Fadeley, RN, Nurse Manager; Sue Popielinski, RN,
Charge Nurse; AnneMarie Bugenhagen, RN; and Daisy Rosa, NA (in front).
In This Issue
2 • Kevin Jensen is LOVE
Award winner
• People In The News
3 • Mercy SNF Moves
• Barb Chiavetta Retires
• Mercy Nurses Honored
4 • Mercy at Work Photos
Submit news items to:
Melanie Griffis
Public Relations Manager
mgriffis@chsbuffalo.org
Nurses across the country
gathered recently to hear
about Mercy Hospital’s
Transforming Care at the Bedside
(TCAB) initiative for pain management
at the National TCAB Conference
held in Chicago. One of three
presenters at the conference, the
Mercy team was represented by
Kathy Guarino,Vice President and
Chief Nursing Officer, Carol Latona,
Director of Medical/Surgical Services,
Kim Fadeley, Nurse Manager
of the 6 McAuley West (6McW)
Unit, and Hend Habir, staff nurse on
6McW.
hospitals nationwide, that has been
chosen to participate in the TCAB
program sponsored by the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation in collaboration
with the American Organization
of Nurse Executives,” said
Carol Latona.
The TCAB concept is to use rapid cycle
improvement efforts initiated by
staff to increase time at the bedside
for direct patient care. After a rigorous
application process coordinated
by Carol, the Mercy Patient Care
Services Department received notice
of acceptance and began the two-year
program in August 2007. The nursing
team designated 6McW as its TCAB
Unit and 5McE as its control unit.
“Mercy Hospital is the only hospital
in Western New York, one of three
in New York State, and one of 64 Continued on page 2
Page 1

Kevin Jensen Receives L.O.V.E. Award
Congratulations go out to Kevin Jensen, Mercy’s 1 st Quarter L.O.V.E. Award
winner. In above photo, he is surrounded by his co-workers at the lab collection station
at the Mercy Diagnostic and Treatment Center in West Seneca, who are l.-r.: Christa
Kintzel, Cathy Freeman, Darleen Tirado, Debi O’Toole, Kevin, Sandy Peters, Sally
Decker, and Debbie Peterson. Recently, Kevin demonstrated his concern for patient
care when he was contacted at home one evening to learn that lab samples from presurgical
patients had not been couriered to the Mercy lab. Kevin became so concerned
about the integrity of the samples that he left his home and drove to the facility. He
was able to search the Pre-test area through the lab entrance and located the patient
samples. Kevin then drove all the patient samples to the hospital and processed them
for testing so that patients would not have to return or have their surgeries cancelled.
This truly demonstrates a level of excellence that we strive for at Mercy and exemplifies
“Living Our Values Effectively (L.O.V.E.). v
Sweet Mercy!People In The News
Janet Evoniak,
RN, BSN, CCP
(certified clinical
perfusionist),
has recently
been named the
Nurse Manager
for cardiac surgery. She is responsible
for the day to day operations of
cardiac surgery and managment of
the cardiac surgery staff.
Janet has worked at Mercy since 2003
as a perfusionist in cardiac surgery.
Prior to that she held positions at
ECMC and Buffalo General Hospitals.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in
Nursing from Brockport State College
and earned a post-baccalaureate degree
in perfusion in 1997 at the Texas
Heart Institute. Residing in East
Aurora, Janet and her husband Chad
keep busy with their three young
children, ages 2, 5 and 6.v
Julio Alvarez-Perez,
M.D. of Mercy Hospital’s
Department of
Surgery, is currently
performing endovascular
repair of aneurysms
using the latest minimally
invasive surgery techniques.
Dr. Alvarez-Perez completed an endovascular
fellowship at the Eastern
Virginia Medical School in Norfolk,
VA in 2006. A staff physician for over
22 years, he explains that when aneurysms
form in the abdominal aorta,
they require repair when there is a
risk of rupturing. He noted that with
the minimally invasive approach to
this procedure that he began performing
at the hospital in the fall of
‘07, patients now experience an overnight
stay versus up to a week before
these techniques were available. v
Transforming Care
Continued from page 1
Kathy Guarino, explained, “The
Transforming Care at the Bedside
initiative measures the success of
rapid cycle improvements through
the use of personal digital assistants
(PDAs), handheld computers that are
carried and rotated among nurses on
the TCAB and control units. Alarms
are sounded on the PDA randomly.
When an alarm is heard, the nurse
carrying the PDA must immediately
input data regarding location, activity
and most previous activity. Data is
collected and analyzed to determine
if TCAB efforts are improving time
spent at the patient bedside.”
Kim Fadeley talked about some of the
staff-driven ideas that have proven
successful on the unit. “Our first
initiative was to simply move the
location of the charge nurse as she receives
the morning report…it immediately
saved time and decreased the
number of interruptions,” she said.
“The pain management initiative
that we reported on at the conference
went through a few trials of ideas
before finding success with using a
plastic clock in the patient rooms that
indicates time for next medication
and helps us assess the effectiveness
of pain management,” she noted.
“There is no fear of coming up with
ideas, trying them out, and abandoning
them if they are not effective. For
instance, we first tried a whiteboard
and then modified it with the clock.”
“Being part of this national program
gives us a valuable opportunity to
network and share ideas,” said Kathy
Guarino. “It allows us to compare
ourselves with like hospitals and
opens up dialogue to learn what
others are doing successfully, and in
turn, those ideas can be planted here
at Mercy as we constantly strive to
improve care to our patients.” v
Page 2

Mercy SNF Moves to New Home at OLV
“I Love Mercy!” says
Retiree Barb Chiavetta
Mercy was “On The Move” as the hospital’s skilled nursing facility found its new
home in the OLV Senior Neighborhood on May 31 st . Several volunteers and associates
from across CHS helped with the move. Celebrating a successful move were from left,
Peggy Bilenski, Continuing Care Division (CCD); Kim Wear- St. Catherine Laboure;
Chris Sage (CCD), Ann Marie Wayne (CCD); Sarah Scheublein (CCD), Eileen Needham,
(Mercy SNF), Michele Sinclair (CCD), and Karen Kozak (CCD).
Dozens of volunteers, friends, and associates
across CHS pitched in to help
the 74 residents of the Mercy Hospital
skilled nursing facility move to their
new home at the OLV Senior Neighborhood
on May 31 st .
Located at the former OLV hospital
campus in Lackawanna, the Mercy
Nursing Facility at OLV features the
latest concept in long term care called
the “Household Model” nursing
home. Residents enjoy a home-like atmosphere
including all-private rooms
and common living spaces.
“This new model of care gives our
residents more control over their
own lives,” said Patricia O’Connor,
Nurses Honored for Outstanding Care
Mercy Hospital celebrated National
Nurses Week in May to recognize
the outstanding 24/7 care our Mercy
nurses provide to our patients.
Culminating the week’s activities
was a special ceremony held on
May 9 th in the hospital’s rotunda to
honor four nurses for their exemplary
contributions. Hend Habir,
RN (6McW) received the 2008 Nurse
of Distinction Award; Jackie DeJoy,
NA (8 McE) was Outstanding NA;
Rose Niemcyski, LPN (MRU) was
Outstanding LPN; and Mary Elizabeth
Genier, Surgical Tech (OR) was
Outstanding Surgical Tech. v
“I don’t feel like a patient,
I feel like a friend.”
- Helen Bausch, Mercy SNF resident
Administrator of the Mercy Nursing
Facility at OLV.
“There are four floors of 21 patients
on each floor,” said O’Connor. “The
smaller groups allow for more attention
and personalization of care.”
Helen Bausch, a Mercy SNF resident,
said she was very pleased with her
new home and added, “I’ve always
had great care at Mercy...I don’t feel
like a patient, I feel like a friend.” v
Kathy Guarino, Mercy Hospital’s Vice President
and Chief Nursing Officer, left, presents
Hend Habir, RN, the 2008 Nurse of Distinction
Award at a ceremony during National
Nurses Week.
"I love Mercy and everybody knows
it," said Barbara Chiavetta (in above
photo) who recently retired from her
position as Director of Volunteers.
For over 21 years, Barb coordinated
the volunteer program at the hospital.
At the top of her retirement plans is
to become an active Mercy Hospital
volunteer herself.
“The hospital is not just a building;
it is a healing center of people," she
said. "We are still very connected to
the Sisters of Mercy, our hospital's
founders. They sacrificed so much for
this hospital and they’re still here for
us," she added.
Through the years, Barb reminisced
about how the role of the volunteer
has changed and how the volunteer
pool itself has thinned out as people
are living “more complex lives with
so many more choices.”
Barb and her husband of 44 years,
Thomas, are residents of Hamburg.
In her retirement, she plans more
frequent visits with her two daughters,
son and four grandchildren who
live out of town. Volunteering with
the children at St. Bernadette's Parish
is also on her agenda. Plus, associates
can look forward to continuing to see
her familiar face around the hospital.
“I already have my volunteer
nametag,” she said proudly.v
Page 3

Mercy at Work
A Big Thank You!
Former patient and
Mercy associate
Lorrie Morvant
wanted to thank all
those involved at
Mercy for saving
her life and for the
great care. She was
recently featured in
the CHS “Miracles
and Wonders”
Annual Report.
Mother’s Day Wishes
New Patient Wristband Training
Peg Townsend, RN and Janice Walton, RN learn
about the new patient wristbands.
Celebrating 50 Years for Father Jack
KUDOS to Christine Wise, RN
Blessing of Hands
Christine Wise,
RN, in the
Mercy SNF
was recently
honored with
a KUDOS
Award.
Jeanette Ippolito, RN, BSN, presents
flowers to new mom Megan Insera.
Students Visit Hospital
Sharon Kimaid, RN, MSN, talks to Mount
Mercy Academy students about surgery.
Proudly Marching in the Parade of Circles
Spiritual care staff gather to celebrate the 50 th
anniversary of Rev. Jack Printzenhoff’s ordination.
EMS Workers Are Thanked
Elayn Young, RN, greets EMS workers with pizza
during National EMS Week in May.
Joy Kent, RN, BSN, Nurse Manager
in Maternal Child, blesses the
hands of Kathleen Clerkin, RN, during
National Hospital Week.
A Taste of Mercy
Darlene
Byrne
(Radiology)
serves
Katie Sacca
during
“The Taste
of Mercy”
event.
Nursing Grand Rounds Educational and Fun
Marching in South Buffalo’s Parade of Circles on June 1 st were l.-r.:
Linda Bain, Jen Merlette, Linda Horton, Mary Ann Murphy, “Sister”
Bettie Woolford’s husband, Anne McGillicuddy, and Bettie. Kim
Williams and Jen Merlette coordinated and chaired the event.
The monthly Nursing Grand Rounds combines learning and fun with door
prizes donated by the Mercy Foundation. From left are: Katie Desiderio,
Gift Shop Manager; Linda Delly RN, BSN; Julie Russell, RN, BSN; Bill
Putman, RN, BSN; Ann Marie Hoffman, RN, BSN; Megan McNamara,
CNA; Wini Robb, RN, BSN; and Julie Avarello, RN, BSN.
Page 4