March 2011 - SUNY Upstate Medical University

SYRACUSE, NEW YORKMarch 2011INSIDEHeart & Vascular Center OpensUpstate devotes much of a wing ofthe hospital to its expanded heartand vascular surgery services.Page A2Award-winning Open Heart Surgery& Diabetes CareHeart surgeon Gregory Fink MD isrecognized as one of the top NYS openheart surgeons; Upstate’s JoslinDiabetes Center receives nationalNCQA recognition.Page A5UPSTATE’S NEW HEART &VASCULAR CENTER OFFERS UNIQUE-TO-CENTRAL NEW YORK DIAGNOSTICAND TREATMENT CAPABILITIES.Hyperbaric Oxygen TherapyUpstate’s Hyperbaric MedicineProgram — the only hospital-based,24/7, acute care program in the region— is nationally recognized.Page A6Knowing changes everything.SMA1

Heart & Vascular CenterUpstate’s Vascular Surgery team, from left:M. Asad Khan MD, RVT, assistant professor of surgery;Michael J. Costanza MD, associate professor of surgery;Vivian Gahtan MD, chief, section of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Services;and Kwami S. Amankwah, assistant professor of surgeryHEART & VASCULAR CENTEROPENSThe Upstate Heart and Vascular Center(HVC) opened in January 2011. The18,500-square-foot center is located onthe renovated sixth floor of Upstate UniversityHospital in Syracuse.The center, which has a staff of 30, offersinvasive and non-invasive cardiac diagnostic testingin one space with integrated data managementsystems for maximum efficiency.An endovascular imaging suite accommodatesperipheral* and hybrid** vascular and cardiac* procedures on arteries that lead from the heart to other organs** a combination of invasive and non-invasive proceduresUpstate is the only hospital inCentral New York offering thenew Stereotaxis magnetic navigationsystem, pictured above. The systemis used to treat abnormal heartrhythms.Luna Bhatta MD, assistant professorof medicine, (left) is director of theStereotaxis program and of Electrophysiology.A2Upstate Connect: 800-544-1605 for Physician-To-Physician Service

The new vascular hybrid suite, above, is one ofthree diagnostic labs in the new Upstate Heart andVascular Center.procedures; a digital-based cardiac catheterizationlab; a new Stereotaxis magnetic navigationsystem; and expanded echocardiographycapabilities that offer 3D and 4D imaging.Cardiac computed tomography and magneticresonance imaging capabilities are also expandedin the new center.The Center features an 8-bed recovery area andfamily and patient education and consultationcenters and waiting rooms. ■Chantel Henry RT(R), radiology, with James Fitzgerald RNand James Glowacki RT (R), cardiac catheterization lab,in the control room.Upstate Connect: 800-544-1605 for Physician-To-Physician ServiceA3

Heart & Vascular CenterMembers of Upstate’s Electrophysiology Lab team, from left:Jen Lagoy RT(R); Amy Tetrault RN, supervisor; Dee Geb RN;and Lynne Costello RN.Ann Clancy PA-C, NP-C of the cardiac catheterizationlab, at the nurses’ station of the new UpstateHeart and Vascular Center.Upstate Heart & Vascular CenterPatient Amenities■ Eight outpatient rooms forprep and recovery■ One private room for obese/bariatric patients■ Patient/family lounge■ Private consultation/conferencecenterDrs. Amankwah and Costanza look at newequipment in the hybrid vascular suite.A4Upstate Connect: 800-544-1605 for Physician-To-Physician Service

Key Member of Open HeartSurgery Team RecognizedUpstate University Hospital’s cardiacsurgeon Gregory Fink MD had one of thelowest cardiac mortality rates in the statefor open heart surgery between 2006 and 2008,according to a recently released report from theNew York State Department of Health. Fink,Upstate’s chief of cardiac surgery and anassociate professor of surgery, was one ofonly five heart surgeons in New York with astatistically lower-than-average mortality rate. ■QUALITY AWARD FORDIABETES CARE AT UPSTATETen members of Upstate Medical University’sJoslin Diabetes Center medical staff havebeen recognized by the National Committeefor Quality Assurance for excellence in the careand treatment of patients with diabetes.The nine physicians and nurse practitionerhonored participated in the statewide DiabetesCampaign Collaborative, a joint initiative of theHealthcare Association of New York State and theNew York State Health Foundation. The goal is toreverse the diabetes epidemic in New York bypromoting excellence in clinical care and fosteringa comprehensive, coordinated care system forpatients with diabetes.The survey process measured clinical practicesand outcomes known to improve the health ofpatients with diabetes. The survey process is partof the Diabetes Recognition Program establishedby the National Committee for Quality Assuranceand the American Diabetes Association.“This recognition speaks to our ongoing commitmentto quality at Upstate and demonstrates toRecognized for delivering excellent care: Roberto IzquierdoMD, Lewis Johnson MD, Jennifer Kelly MD, Cathy Bazan FNP,Ruth Weinstock MD, Barbara Mols-Kowalczewski MD, RachelHopkins MD, Steven Zygmont MD, Barbara Feuerstein MD,and Irene Sills MD.patients and the community the outstanding careUpstate offers in its Joslin Diabetes program,”said David Duggan MD, chief quality officer andmedical director of Upstate University Hospital.The Joslin Diabetes Center treats patients from20 counties in Central New York, and conductsnumerous clinical trials. It is located at 3229 EastGenesee Street, Syracuse, across from NottinghamHigh School. ■Upstate Connect: 800-544-1605 for Physician-To-Physician ServiceA5

Upstate’s Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment team. From left, seated: Kim Rouselle RN; Marvin Heyboer III, MD, FACEP, FACCWS,UHM, director; from left, standing: Derek Cooney MD, Maggie Lunderman RN, Kathy Heater RN, Eileen Zimmerman RN,Daniel Olsson DO, Michael Holland MD, Norma Cooney MD, and Peter Mariani MD.Upstate’s Hospital-basedHYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPYHyperbaric oxygen therapy — originally usedto treat deep-sea divers with “the bends”—is now used to treat a number of othermedical conditions (see list at right).Marvin Heyboer III, MD, FACEP, FACCWS, UHM,medical director of Upstate Hyperbaric Medicine,explains the treatment: “Hyperbaric patientsbreathe 100 percent oxygen at increased atmosphericpressure. This pressurized, concentratedoxygen enters blood and tissue, resulting in manybeneficial effects including promotion of healing inproblem wounds and radiation-injured tissues.”Upstate treats all conditions approved by theUndersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS),and the physicians and nurses in the hyperbaricoxygen therapy unit place great emphasis oncommunication, in this specialty that is notwidely available or understood.“We provide the referring physician with frequentstatus reports throughout the course of a patient’streatment,” says Dr. Heyboer. “Our staff answersquestions from physicians, patients and familymembers prior to, during, and after treatment.”The Hospital AdvantageUpstate University Hospital has the only hospital–based Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy unit in CentralNew York which is available 24-hours-a-day,seven-days-a-week. As a hospital–based unit, thestaff has ready access to other skilled health professionalsand the resources of the entire hospital.FellowshipsThe Division of Hyperbaric Medicine has a fellowshiptraining program in Undersea and HyperbaricMedicine, one of fewer than ten accredited programsin the country. Faculty are involved in theongoing training of fellows with clinical oversight,didactic lectures, and a monthly journal club.A6Upstate Connect: 800-544-1605 for Physician-To-Physician Service

Conditions Treated■ Late-effect radiationinjury■ Problem wounds(such as non-healingdiabetic foot ulcers)■ Carbon monoxidepoisoning■ Decompressionsickness■ Air gas embolism■ Gas gangrene■ Necrotizing fasciitis■ Compromised flapsand grafts■ Severe crush injury■ Exceptional blood lossanemia (when religiousbeliefs or an inabilityto cross–match bloodmake transfusionimpractical)Accreditedwith distinction by theUndersea & HyperbaricMedical SocietyExpert CliniciansThe physicians in Hyperbaric Medicine at UpstateMedical University are nationally recognizedexperts in the field, and most are board certifiedin the specialty. They have presented at nationalmeetings and are actively involved in both thenational and regional Undersea and HyperbaricMedicine Society. In addition to many years ofpractice in the specialty of hyperbaric medicine,their physicians and nurses have experience inemergency and critical care medicine.Upstate staff members often advise other hyperbaricoxygen therapy centers and are involved incommunity education activities. ■A Patient’s StoryFrank, 63, was treated in Upstate’s hyperbaricoxygen therapy unit recently.Twelve years ago, Frank had a cancerous tumorremoved from his tongue and subsequent radiationtreatments (41) destroyed his teeth. Frank gotdentures, which rubbed against his jaw, andeventually caused a hole in his jawbone and avirulent infection. Six weeks of aggressive antibiotictreatment failed to eradicate the infection, andFrank was referred to Upstate University Hospitalotolaryngologist Jack Hsu MD, and to thehyperbaric therapy unit.Frank began a course of 36, hour-and-a-half longtreatments during which a nurse monitoredhim from just outside the clear chamber,and Frank watched movies.A year after completing his treatment, Frankreports that he is “doing great” and that hisdoctors say “everything looks good.”Upstate Connect: 800-544-1605 for Physician-To-Physician ServiceA7