News, announcements, and vital information for associates, their families, and friends of Catholic Health.
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Living Our Mission Kenmore Mercy Surgery Expansion Project
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Miracles & Wonders Through Technology The Healing Power of Plants
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Foundations of Catholic Health Rehabilitation Services Clinical Ladders
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HR Benefit News Community Education
Winter 2015
Welcome Mount St. Mary’s Associates! As we continue with plans to have Mount St. Mary’s Hospital join Catholic Health, we would like to begin sharing news about both organizations with one another. Connections will now feature articles about Mount St. Mary’s to help us all get to know one another a little bit better.
Advanced Eye Surgery Now Available at St. Joseph Campus
Catholic Health Receives Area’s Highest Ratings from Healthgrades and Leapfrog in National Quality Reports As the healthcare quality leader in Western New York, Catholic Health was recently recognized by two of the nation’s leading independent quality rating organizations – Healthgrades and Leapfrog – for its quality outcomes and record of patient safety. Once again, Catholic Health hospitals received the most Five-Star and Service Excellence Awards of any local provider from Healthgrades and the area’s top Patient Safety Scores from Leapfrog. The Healthgrades awards highlight achievements in 33 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions. In addition to 21 Five-Star Awards, Catholic Health hospitals also received six Service Excellence Awards for outperforming hospitals across the county in Cardiac Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Joint Replacement Surgery, Neurosurgery and Prostate Surgery. In the latest Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score report, which grades hospitals from “A” to “F” for how well they protect patients from errors, injuries and infections, Kenmore Mercy Hospital received the area’s only “A” score, while Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and Sisters of Charity Hospital and its St. Joseph Campus all received “B” ratings.
The recently renovated surgical suites at Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus are now home to some of the most sophisticated eye surgery in Western New York. The physicians of Retina Consultants of Western New York moved their surgical practice to St. Joseph Campus last fall. The group, which includes doctors Faruk Koreishi, Paul Lee, Christopher Jermak, Mehdi Khan and Ramakrishna Ratnakaram, is the area’s largest retina practice. Specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the retina and vitreous of the eye, the practice’s main areas of focus are macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Macular degeneration affects older adults and results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field. Diabetic retinopathy is caused by complications of diabetes, which can eventually lead to blindness. It can affect up to 80 percent of all patients who have had diabetes for 10 years or more. Last summer, Catholic Health unveiled its new Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU) at the St. Joseph Campus. The new ASU, which replaced a freestanding facility in Williamsville, is designed for outpatient surgical procedures and encompasses more than 10,000 square feet of new and renovated space. “We are pleased to welcome Retina Consultants to St. Joseph Campus,” said Martin Boryszak, COO for Sisters Hospital. “We are seeing strong growth in ambulatory surgery and increased interest from a number of surgical practices. Our state-of-the-art facility and central location makes St. Joseph Campus an attractive setting for both physicians and patients.” Pictured above: Dr. Mehdi Khan is one of five physicians at Retina Consultants of WNY who perform advanced eye surgery at St. Joseph Campus.
“Today, more patients are using healthcare quality information they find on the Internet to find a doctor, choose a hospital, or compare medical services,” said Joe McDonald, president & CEO of Catholic Health. “As leading national authorities on healthcare quality and safety, these recognitions from Healthgrades and Leapfrog speak volumes about the qual-
ity of care patients can expect to receive at Catholic Health, but we will not be satisfied until all our hospitals receive five stars and ‘A’ scores across the board.” Healthgrades evaluates millions of Medicare records to arrive at its star ratings, with five stars being “better than expected,” three stars “as expected,” and one star “worse than expected” in each category. “Patient safety remains a top priority for Catholic Health and it is clear our efforts are paying off in terms of fewer errors and better outcomes.” Brian D’Arcy, MD, senior vice president/ chief medical officer, Catholic Health
According to Healthgrades research, patients treated for a procedure at a five-star hospital have a lower risk of dying or developing complications than if they were treated at a one-star hospital for the same procedure. The Leapfrog Group, an independent industry watchdog, uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data on patient injuries, medical errors and infection rates to grade hospitals on their overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm. “Patient safety remains a top priority for Catholic Health and it is clear our efforts are paying off in terms of fewer errors and better outcomes,” said Brian D’Arcy, MD, senior vice president/chief medical officer. Catholic Health’s quality ratings are available online at www.knowyourhealthcare.org.
News from Joe McDonald, President & CEO
Catholic Health Looks Forward to the Year Ahead – Continued Growth and Development for 2015 The new year is a good time to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future. In looking back over 2014, we have a lot to be proud of and much to be thankful for. It was a very good year for Catholic Health in terms of our quality performance, financial stewardship, and transformational leadership. But rather than rest on our past accomplishments, we must build on this progress. A key initiative for us this year is continuing on the path to have Mount St. Mary’s Hospital become part of Catholic Health. This is an exciting opportunity for both our ministries and one that will preserve and strengthen Catholic healthcare in the Buffalo-Niagara region for years to come. In December, our Certificate of Need to assume responsibility for Mount St. Mary’s from Ascension Health was approved by New York State, moving us one step closer to making this vision a reality. Our joint Executive Committee and Task Force teams are meeting
to develop and implement a comprehensive transition plan to ensure our success. We will also look to Mount St. Mary’s to add new members to our Board of Directors to represent the hospital and the residents of Niagara County. With the formal announcement from Judy Maness that she will step down as president & CEO of Mount St. Mary’s when the transition is complete this summer, we have begun a search for a new CEO. I would like to extend my gratitude to Judy for all she has done for the hospital and the Niagara community during the past 18 years and for her generous support throughout this transition. I would like also to extend a warm welcome to Mount St. Mary’s associates who are reading Connections for the first time. We hope you will find this publication useful and encourage you to share this information with your family, friends and neighbors. Continued on page 2
Living Our Mission
Kenmore Mercy Begins Surgery Services Project With recent approval by the New York State Department of Health to relocate and modernize its Pre-surgical Holding and Post Anesthesia Care units, Kenmore Mercy Hospital is ready to begin the next phase of its Surgical Services Project. As Catholic Health’s Orthopedic Campus of Excellence, Kenmore Mercy has seen its surgical volume grow. The latest project calls for an $8 million renovation of the hospital’s old Emergency Department – space that was vacated when Kenmore Mercy opened its new ER in 2013.
Believe in Giving Supports Friends of Night People When Catholic Health first introduced its Believe in Giving Program in 2007, our goal was to focus our charitable support among area organizations that share our mission to serve those in need. Since that time, we have supported Gerard Place, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Food Bank of WNY, Buffalo City Mission and our own Helping Hands Funds. In 2015, we are beginning a new partnership with Friends of Night People (FONP), along with continuing to support our associate Helping Hands funds. From its home on Hudson St. in Buffalo’s Allentown neighborhood, FONP feeds the homeless, destitute, and working poor, but they do so much more than just provide a warm meal 365 days a year. Once inside, individuals and families learn they are important, find hope and realize they are not alone. A client choice food pantry provides fresh produce, milk, and other wholesome foods to many people in the community suffering from food insecurity. Medical clinics staffed by volunteer doctors provide general medicine, podiatry and ophthalmology care. A case management program helps those who are ready to begin living a more productive life get personalized assistance with housing, job readiness and more. In the coming months, Catholic Health will help FONP improve the quality of life of those less fortunate, while improving the overall health of our community. We will introduce many opportunities for you to become more involved at FONP, perform collection drives, attend FONP events, and meet the organization’s volunteers and staff to develop a better understanding about how our support can impact the community. Payroll deduction contributions for FONP and our Helping Hands funds are available by contacting your Human Resources Department. To learn more about FONP, visit www.friendsofnightpeople.com or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Our Mission WHY WE EXIST
We are called to reveal the healing love of Jesus to those in need.
Our 2O2O Vision W H AT A R E W E S T R I V I N G T O D O
Inspired by faith and committed to excellence, we will lead the transformation of healthcare in our communities.
Our Values W H AT W E B E L I E V E I N
Reverence, Compassion, Justice, Excellence
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When complete, the 18-month project will enable Kenmore Mercy to increase its Presurgical Holding Unit from 22 patient bays with six private rooms to 30 patient bays with 11 private rooms. The Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) will increase from 10 patient bays to 11, plus an additional isolation room. “We continue to see a significant increase in the number of surgeries performed at Kenmore Mercy,” said hospital President & CEO James Millard. “The planned expansion of
Bob Fritschi (left), Catholic Health facility planner, and Nick Wells, project manager with Telco Construction, discuss next steps in Kenmore Mercy’s Surgical Services project in the former Emergency Department.
our holding and recovery areas, will support the growth we are seeing in orthopedics, neurosurgery and general surgery, while giving our surgeons and OR staff a more modern and efficient environment to work in.” Overall, surgical volume at the hospital has increased seven percent since 2011 and is projected to reach 6,300 surgeries in 2015. The pre-surgical holding area is expected to be completed by late 2015, with the new PACU slated to open in mid-2016.
Copy Paper Usage – The Numbers May Surprise You When we think of all the things we recycle, paper is probably one of the first things that comes to mind. But what if we could reduce the need to recycle paper and its related costs, by simply reducing the amount of paper we use in the first place? That’s the goal behind Catholic Health’s Go Green copy paper initiative. In 2014, our hospitals alone used more than 63,000 reams of paper at a cost of nearly $166,000. At 500 sheets/ream, that’s more than 31 million sheets of copy paper! Imagine the impact we could make, if we all took steps to reduce the copy paper we use each day. While copy paper is relatively inexpensive, the numbers really adds up when you include the cost of maintaining printers and copiers, mailing correspondence, general recycling and document destruction. In the end, the most effective paper reduction strategy is attacking paper waste at the source.
Consider the following copy paper reduction tips before you hit PRINT:
• Print and copy on both sides. Multi-
function printing devices at the ARTC, coming soon to other Catholic Health facilities, default to print double-sided, B&W copies.
• Use email instead of printing or faxing. • Adjust fonts, margins and spacing to fit more text on a single sheet.
• When copying, reduce size to fit two or more pages of a report, book, or power point on one sheet of paper.
• Reuse paper printed on one side for “draft” documents or scratch pads.
• Use electronic data storage instead of hard copy files.
• Eliminate duplications from databases.
Visit: chsbuffalo.org/AboutUs/Green
News from Joe McDonald, President & CEO continued from page 1 Continuing our system-wide focus quality and patient safety, all our hospitals will be surveyed by the Joint Commission in 2015. As the gold standard in healthcare accreditation, we are proud of our association with the Joint Commission, and what this recognition means for our associates, patients and the community. Recognizing our responsibility to serve the broader community, our new affiliation with Orleans Community Health and our ongoing affiliation with Bertrand Chaffee Hospital in Springville are bolstering healthcare services in those communities and giving patients in outlying areas greater access to specialty care within Catholic Health. Our work with WCA Hospital in Jamestown is enhancing cardiac care in that community. Here at home, we have new projects and collaborations on the horizon that are helping us achieve the “Triple Aim.” Watch for more information on this in future issues of Connections, as we develop new and better ways to enhance the patient experience, improve
the health of our community and control the rising cost of care. Despite the great progress we are making, we all know too well there will be challenges ahead, but I have the utmost confidence in our team. Our response to the “Snowvember” storm was a perfect example of the hard work and determination that is so prevalent throughout our system. While this storm was one for the record books, in typical Catholic Health fashion, everyone pulled together to protect the welfare and safety of our patients, residents and one another. I am grateful to everyone who went above and beyond, and want you to know your efforts were truly appreciated. With your continued support, I anticipate another strong year for Catholic Health, as we welcome Mount St. Mary’s into our fold, grow services throughout the area and deliver on our long-standing mission to reveal the healing love of Jesus to those in need.
Catholic Health Announces New Board Chair William K. Buscaglia, Jr., principal and co-owner of DeSpirit Mosaic & Marble Co., Inc., has been named chair of the Board of Directors of Catholic Health. A respected business and civic leader, Mr. Buscaglia has served on William K. Buscaglia, Jr. the Catholic Health Board since 2010. Prior to that, he served on the Catholic Health Acute Care Board.
Louis Baumann, MD, WNY Urology Associates
In addition to his service to Catholic Health, he is also a member of the Erie County Bar Association and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. He attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and received his Juris Doctor degree from SUNY Buffalo.
Joseph Saffire, managing director and head of Commercial Financial Services, First Niagara Bank, NA
Other new members named to the Catholic Health Board include:
Steven D. Timmel, executive director of Financial Administration, Diocese of Buffalo
Candace Johnson, PhD, deputy director, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and chair of the hospital’s Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics Michael Murray, CPA, retired partner, Ernst & Young Sr. Kathleen Natwin, DC, sponsor liaison for Ascension Health David L. Rogers, CEO & co-founder of Sovran Self Storage
Sheldon Smith, Esq., partner, Nixon Peabody, LLP
What’s New at Mount St. Mary’s “Smart Pumps”
New Lab & Imaging Center
An investment of more than $500,000 is bringing new “smart pumps” to the bedside at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital. The Smart Pump technology enhances patient safety through the safe administration of medications and fluids. It is designed to protect patients and caregivers from IV medication errors.
Mount St. Mary’s Hospital has opened an Imaging & Laboratory Service Center at 7300 Porter Road in the Town of Niagara, adjacent to Niagara Family Medicine. The center offers patients a convenient off-site location for blood work, ultrasound and X-Rays. It will complement the extensive array of services offered on the hospital’s Lewiston campus.
The system is built around a defined list of medications, mediBack to School Fun cation concentrations and medication limits Nursing staff at Mount St. Mary’s are being trained on the The musical sounds specific to clinical ar- hospital’s new “smart pumps.” of the “A-B-C Song” eas. It provides protecand “Happy Birthday Song” rang through tion for dose, duration and delivery rate on a the Lewiston-Porter Primary Education full range of infusion medications and limits Center as a team of volunteers from Mount cannot be overridden by clinicians, without St. Mary’s conducted handwashing clinics an alert. for the children in Pre-K through grade 2. More than 400 students participated in the Staff from nursing are now participating program as our team visited every classroom in an extensive training program to put the in the school. technology to use throughout the hospital.
Purchasing Prepares for ERP With Realignment One of the biggest challenges in healthcare supply chain (purchasing) management is the ability to ensure that the right supplies are available for the right people at the right time. Situations where inventory is missing, expired or overstocked is a problem for patients and staff alike. With four hospital campuses and dozens of other locations, Catholic Health has more than 100,000 items we order and stock regularly. This list is complex and lends itself to inconsistencies in products offered to our patients and in requisitioning and replenishing supplies among our facilities. As Catholic Health moves toward a single corporate structure, our Supply Chain plays
Robin Thompson (second from left) joins Distribution Supervisors (L to R), Jim Miller (SOCH & SCJ), Sabrina Kaitanowski (KMH) and Nick Long (MHOB).
Service Spotlight
a critical role in not only achieving efficiencies and cost savings, but also ensuring a consistent experience for patients and staff. In advance of the April 2015 ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) implementation, Supply Chain associates are being brought together under a single system-wide structure, all working as a team toward the same priorities. A new Inventory Manager, Robin Thompson, has joined Catholic Health to oversee the distribution areas and incorporate the inventory process. Additionally, distribution supervisors are moving to a centralized reporting structure.
LIFE Program at OLV Turns Five Catholic Health’s Living Independently for Elders Program, or LIFE as it is called, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary serving residents throughout Erie County. A state and federally-funded Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), LIFE began in 2009 with a handful of clients and families looking for an alternative to traditional nursing home care. Today, from its home base at the OLV Senior Neighborhood in Lackawanna, LIFE provides a wide array of medical, adult day, support and transportation services to more than 190 participants. It also offers a “LIFE at Home” program for seniors who need ongoing medical management to maintain their independence, but are not able to attend the LIFE Day Center. Under the medical direction of Dr. Bruce Naughton, with physician services provided by board-certified gerontologist Dr. Amy Becker, LIFE includes a team of nurse practitioners, physical and occupational therapists and other support staff to meet the needs of clients in their homes and in the Day Center. In conjunction with Catholic Charities of Buffalo, LIFE also provides adult day services at two area parishes. The “Gathering Place” at St. Stanislaus and St. Benedict parishes provides seniors with needed social and support services in convenient community-based settings. “These programs not only extend LIFE’s reach throughout the community, but provide valuable support to families caring for aging loved ones,“ said John Beyer, executive director of LIFE. “As we look to the future, we hope to continue developing community partnerships to help area seniors maintain their independence.” Participation in LIFE is open to Erie County residents age 55 or older who qualify for nursing home care but choose to live at home with assistance. For more information, contact Karen Shalke, LIFE representative at (716) 819-5061 or visit chsbuffalo.org/LIFE. Pictured above: Participants in the LIFE program enjoyed musical entertainment from “Cowboy Dan” during Birthday Week celebration activities at the LIFE Day Center in November.
Ringing in the New Year
These changes are aimed at standardizing and streamlining processes to ensure adequate levels of inventory, manage internal controls, and allow clinical staff to focus on patient care rather than supply issues. Supply Chain transformation is a key component of the ERP implementation, also known as IMPACT. Through standardization, centralization and new technology, this transformation will help ensure that the patient experience is the same at Sisters Hospital as it is at Mercy Hospital, and the clinical practice experience is the same at Kenmore Mercy as it is at St. Joseph Campus and throughout Catholic Health.
With a January 6th due date, Jeff and Beth Walkowicz thought they had at least another week to prepare for the arrival of their first baby. However, Kate Elizabeth, weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces, made a much grander entrance as Erie County’s first baby of the new year – arriving at Mercy Hospital at 4:16 a.m. on January 1. The Alden couple, pictured with Mercy nurse Lorie Gunderman, received an engraved photo album, Toys R’ Us gift card, and lots of media attention, to celebrate their special New Year’s delivery.
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Miracles & Wonders
What’s in a Name – Trinity Health Unveils New Name and New Look After 18 months of operating as CHE Trinity Health, following the merger of Catholic Health East and Trinity Health in 2013, the nation’s second largest Catholic health system, and a co-sponsor of Catholic Health, will now be known simply as Trinity Health. Along with its name, Trinity Health unveiled a new logo, honoring its heritage and opportunities for the future. The logo features a cross formed by the wings of four doves – symbols of love, peace and caring. The three purple doves reflect the Holy Trinity, while the one green dove symbolizes openness to new partners and ideas.
Sisters Hospital Offers New Treatment for Incontinence More than 50 percent of older Americans suffer from some form of incontinence according to a study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. An innovative new procedure being offered at Catholic Health’s Sisters of Charity Hospital, however, may bring relief to those in our community who suffer from the physical and emotional discomfort of incontinence. Brian Matier, MD, a colon rectal surgeon with the Buffalo Medical Group, is the first physician in Western New York to perform Sacral Neuromodulation, a procedure that can help some people control bowel incontinence. The treatment involves the implantation of a device to stimulate nerves that support the muscles in the pelvic area that affect bowel control. Sisters of Charity Hospital is the only hospital in the region that offers this procedure. “Incontinence has many causes and affects thousands in our community every year, especially women,” said Dr. Matier. “It can be an extremely emotionally troubling experience for those who suffer from it, and until recently, patients would need to travel to Rochester for this therapy.” Incontinence occurs when the loss of bowel or bladder control is enough to cause discomfort or distress. Generally, it’s a sign that part of the bowel control system is not working as it should. The Sacral Neuromodulation procedure involves implanting a small device, about the size of a pocket watch under the skin in the upper buttocks. This device stimulates the appropriate nerves by using mild or moderate electrical impulses. By doing this, it can help restore coordination between brain, pelvic floor, bowel, and sphincter muscles. “Incontinence is a difficult and often embarrassing health problem and being able to offer a promising treatment like this is a way to help our patients with compassion and dignity,” said Peter Bergmann, president and CEO of Sisters of Charity Hospital. The CDC notes that there are significant costs linked to incontinence. In 2010, the average cost for bowel incontinence was estimated at $4,100 per person. Pictured above: This small device, implanted under the skin, delivers electrical impulses to help patients regain bowel control.
Most Admired Companies Western New York has countless companies that work to improve their workplaces and the community at large. Successful, thriving companies don’t just happen, it takes hard work, patience and perseverance – traits that we all admire. In December, Business First recognized Catholic Health as one of 16 of “WNY’s Most Admired Companies.” We are proud of this recognition and even prouder of the associates and physicians who made it possible. Since its inception in 1998, Catholic Health has strived to improve the health of our community by providing millions of dollars in charity care and community benefit each year. And that’s something to admire!
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Rick Gilfillan, MD, president & CEO of Trinity Health (left), joined Joe McDonald during a visit to the Administrative & Regional Training Center in December.
Trinity Health is one of the largest multiinstitution Catholic healthcare delivery systems in the nation, serving people and communities in 21 states. Along with Trinity Health, Catholic Health is a member of Ascension Health and the Diocese of Buffalo.
Orchard Park Man Thankful for Free Hip Surgery The Snowvember storm took his home, years of working in a train yard damaged his hips, but this past Thanksgiving, Melvin Bluhm was a thankful man.
Arthritic disease is the most common cause of disability in the U.S., affecting approximately 48 million people, or more than 21 percent of the adult population.
In December, he received a very special gift. “Painful and non-functioning knees and hips Thanks to Operation Walk USA; John Reare a tremendous hindrance to quality of picci, MD, DDS; and life,” said Dr. Repicci, Kenmore Mercy HosKenmore Mercy’s forpital, Melvin received mer chief of Orthopedic a free hip replaceSurgery. “It can make ment for degenerative completing even the joint disease that has simplest task excruciatleft him in constant ingly painful or impospain and with limited sible. Through Operamobility. His treatment tion Walk USA, we are – including surgery and making it possible for pre-and post-operative people, who have often care – was provided at lived with disability for no cost as part of this Physical Therapist Christie Petre works with Melvin Bluhm decades, to return to national program. work and other activion exercises to improve his hip mobility. ties they enjoy.” Just prior to his surgery, Melvin’s roof collapsed and his home was condemned. DeWhile other individuals applied for the spite all that, the Orchard Park resident said complimentary surgery, Melvin was the only he got the gift he wanted most this Christone who met all of the necessary requiremas. “I was in excruciating pain,” he said. ments, which included financial need and “Dr. Repicci gave me my life back.” A second having family support to ensure a successful time beneficiary of Operation Walk USA, recovery. Melvin, who received his left hip Melvin was forced to use a cane or walker to replacement in 2013, plans to rebuild his get around. home this spring with help from his son.
Mercy Hospital and Botanical Gardens Promote Healing Power of Plants Mercy Hospital and the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens share deep roots in the South Buffalo community. The hospital recently announced that it will be the major sponsor of a new outdoor Healing Garden slated to open in the spring of 2015. Mercy Hospital is also sponsor of the Gardens’ indoor Medicinal Garden that opened in 2010. Both gardens are designed to educate the community about the healing and medicinal powers of various plants. “We are proud to partner with the Botanical Gardens on these projects that focus on health and healing,” said Mercy Hospital President & CEO C.J. Urlaub. “It’s a natural tie-in to what we do every day.” The Medicinal Garden at the Botanical Gardens provides visitors with a better understanding of the importance of medicinal plants and how they are used in traditional, herbal and modern medicines. It also strengthens awareness of the interdependence between humans and plants. A planting day was held last summer for the Healing Garden in preparation for a Spring 2015 opening. The outdoor garden will be a place for spiritual healing, meditation and re-
Mercy Hospital Pharmacist Patrick Gannon staffs the Medicinal Garden exhibit during a community day at the Botanical Gardens.
flection, where visitors can enjoy the simple healing power of the natural world. In honor of National Heart Month, the Botanical Gardens will be hosting a health fair on February 28 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Included with the day’s paid admission will be botanical displays highlighting plant sources used in medications to treat heart and cardiovascular disease, blood pressure education and health screenings. Catholic Health’s Mission on the Move will provide cholesterol and blood pressure screenings. The event is co-sponsored by Mercy Hospital and D’Youville School of Pharmacy.
Access Your Health Information the Right Way Catholic Health associates may know better than anyone the value of taking an active role in their healthcare. As healthcare professionals, we also know the value of having access to important healthcare information. Corporate policies and HIPAA laws regulate patient information associates can access – you are even prohibited from looking up your own health records on Catholic Health’s clinical information systems like Soarian. So how do associates safely, securely, and appropriately access their clinical information? The answer is – the same way our patients do, through Catholic Health Connect. Catholic Health Connect is a secure, webbased patient portal that allows users to look up their own clinical information on inpatient and outpatient services delivered at Catholic Health. This includes things like discharge instructions, labs results and radiology reports. New mothers who use Catholic Health Connect also have access to their
baby’s information as well. More and more, patients are being encouraged to take an active role in their care and to make better informed decisions. Access to this information will help them do just that.
Catholic Health Connect is available, without charge, to any patient who received care at Catholic Health. Signing up and using the portal is fast, easy, and secure. Although many people already have access to a patient portal through their primary care physician, a Catholic Health Connect account allows you to access hospital-generated information faster than you can receive it from a secondary portal. Visit catholichealthconnect.org to sign up today and tell your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same!
Language of Caring Enhances Patient Experience Continuing to provide associates with the training, tools and techniques they need to “WOW!” our patients and their loved ones, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo rolled out the Language of Caring (LOC) program in 2014 as another step toward its goal of outstanding patient care. Over 40 associates, managers, and physicians were trained as “LOC facilitators” and led the Language of Caring Jumpstart sessions to introduce the program to staff. Over 2,500 associates and physicians attended these sessions that kicked off this 10-module program designed to improve the patient experience. LOC is designed to give staff the skills to consistently provide exceptional experiences to patients, families and each other. The first of 10 (30-minute) modules began in March 2014. Currently, department managers or designees are presenting the LOC training Module 5 - Showing Caring Nonverbally. In February 2015, Mercy associates will practice these nonverbal skills and techniques with a Habit Builders Month for the module.
The Faith Community Nurse Program has evolved over the last 19 months, with the creation of key marketing brochures, new policies and an updated church survey. This ecumenical program has also received $65,000 in grants from community agencies seeing the benefits in this ministry. As an example, the FCNP is representing Catholic Health on several community health committees, assisting in identifying and addressing local health needs. Several religious congregations have joined Catholic Health’s Faith Community Nursing Program. They are making a difference
Cuddle Cot Offers the Irreplaceable Gift of Time Losing a baby at birth or just before birth is heartbreaking for any parent. Helping parents mourn their loss, while giving them precious time to spend with their baby is the idea behind a new medical device first introduced in the U.S. at Sisters of Charity Hospital. The “Cuddle Cot” is a specially designed electric cooling pad placed in a baby basket or bassinet that helps bereaved parents by giving them as much time as they need with their baby. Warm hospital rooms can accelerate the decline of the infant’s body. The Cuddle Cot slows the process by gently and quietly cooling the infant’s body, sparing parents the trauma of being separated from their baby before they are ready.
Language of Caring facilitators were recognized at a special gathering to celebrate the successful kickoff of the patient experience program.
Language of Caring Modules: 1. Introducing The Language of Caring 2. Heart-Head-Heart 3. The Practice of Presence 4. Acknowledging Feelings 5. Showing Caring Nonverbally 6. Explaining Positive Intent 7. The Blameless Apology 8. The Gift of Appreciation 9. Say it again with HEART 10. LOC: From Good to GREAT
Faith Community Nursing – Making Good Stewards of What God Has Given The Faith Community Nurse Program (FCNP) at Catholic Health strives to address a common need that faces every community in Buffalo: enhanced and increased quality of life through whole person wellness, disease prevention and spiritual well-being. This is accomplished through the placement of nurses within faith communities and their endorsement that each individual be in command of his or her own health.
Enhancing the Patient Experience
in their member’s lives, as well as others within the surrounding community, by offering health related activities and programs. To date, there are six churches representing three different faiths under this program. Faith Community Nursing is a specialty practice recognized by the American Nurses Association and the Health Ministers Alliance. Each Friday and Saturday, from February 27 - March 21, the FCNP, in partnership with Parish Nurse Ministries of New York, Inc. and Trocaire College, will host “Foundations of Faith Community Nursing.” This educational program will provide registered nurses with training and information to begin a nursing ministry within their faith community. The program is open to RNs of any faith. For more information on the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing program, contact Yvonne Askew, RN, Catholic Health coordinator of Faith Community Nursing, at 220-5098 or at yaskew@chsbuffalo.org.
For many grieving parents, having this gift of time to dress, hold and cuddle their baby provides comfort and peace. Corey Kruss, who lost her son Weston Elijah at Sisters Hospital in July, expressed her appreciation for the Cuddle Cot in a letter to the manufacturer. “It gave us the irreplaceable gift of time,” she said. “Most parents are blessed to have many memories and experiences with their children. The only experience I will ever have with my son is the time I spent with him in the hospital after delivery. Having access to a Cuddle Cot gave me the opportunity to spend several uninterrupted hours with him so that I might carry that one and only memory with me.” Donated by Sisters Hospital Foundation, the Cuddle Cot is one of many ways the hospital’s Footprints on the Heart Perinatal Bereavement Program helps families cope with their loss. “Parents prepare for months for the birth of their baby and when a loss occurs, they should have the time they need to say goodbye,” said Amy Creamer, perinatal bereavement coordinator at Sisters Hospital. “The Cuddle Cot gives us another way to help parents through this difficult time.” First introduced in Europe, the Cuddle Cot has helped many families at Sisters Hospital over the past year, and is now available at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo thanks to a generous donor. For more information on the Footprints on the Heart Program at Sisters Hospital, visit www.chsbuffalo.org/services/pregnancyloss. Pictured above: The Cuddle Cot is available at Sisters and Mercy hospitals to helps families experiencing infant loss.
A Golden Anniversary Barbara Popadick, RN, at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, and Catherine LaRue, OR technician at Sisters Hospital, joined Joe McDonald for the Annual Associate Recognition Dinner held at the Hyatt Regency in October. Barbara, Catherine and Shirley Reed, nurse assistant at Mercy Hospital (not present), were honored for 50 years of service to Catholic Health. To see a complete list of the 2014 honorees, visit www.chsbuffalo.org/anniversaries.
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Foundations of Catholic Health
Foundation News Charitable Grants Enhance Care in Catholic Health TechFoundation Catholic Health received a $25,000 grant from TechFoundation to purchase the Linked Senior adaptive technology program to enrich the lives of residents in our senior care facilities. “We are pleased with Linked Senior’s performance in providing person centered care and enriching the lives of our residents,” said Stan Gasiewicz, COO for Catholic Health Home & Community Based Care. “We can see the benefits Linked Senior offers and are excited to explore its many uses in all of our facilities. We are grateful to TechFoundation for this wonderful opportunity.” Linked Senior is a cloud-based dementia therapy software program that uses interactive touch-screen tablets and kiosks to engage residents in customized activities to meet their cognitive and physical ability. The program features a library of music, movies, magazines and other activities that provide users with a wide range of education, information and therapy options. TechFoundation is a Cambridge-based, nonprofit organization that delivers technology, expertise and capital to help nonprofit organizations. “The good work Catholic Health does every day will be enhanced by this technology,” said David Altshuler, executive director of TechFoundation. “Targeted technology investments like this are at the heart of the TechGrants program.” Ronald McDonald House Charities Catholic Health received an $11,400 grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities of WNY to purchase a new infant warmer (like the one pictured here) for Mercy Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Mercy Hospital has a Level II NICU that cares for babies as young as 32 weeks of age. At this age, infants may not have enough body fat to Infant warmers regulate body regulate their body tempera- temperature in premature babies. tures and are prone to hypothermia. To warm their tiny bodies, the NICU uses infant warmers that provide consistent radiant heat. “It’s the standard of care for premature infants and updating our equipment on a regular basis is essential to maintain the highest quality care,” said Aimee Gomlak, vice president of Women’s Services at Catholic Health. For over thirty years, Ronald McDonald House Charities of WNY has been supporting programs that benefit area children. “The Mercy Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is one such program that has a positive impact on the lives of children in our community,” said Sally Vincent, executive director of the local charity.
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Clinical Ladders Recognize Professional Development in Rehabilitation Services Since 2006, Catholic Health Rehab Christina Kane, vice president of Services has offered a unique professional Musculoskeletal Services, presented the development opportunity for clinicians awards during a reception held in November. working in Congratulations to AthletiCare and our 2014 Clinical Partners In Rehab. Ladder recipients: Awarded annually, the “Clinical Level 3 Ladders” program recognizes the Joseph Baumgarcontributions den, PT; Andrea our physical and Brockman, OT; occupational Jeff Castiglione, therapists and PT; Tom Coleman, Rehabilitation Services Clinical Ladders Class of 2014. speech/language PT; Kira Krepathologists make mer, PT; Joseph Lorenzetti, PT; Emily to Catholic Health and our community. Madeja, PT; Erin Reedy, SLP; and Kara Trippi, SLP. All applicants must submit a portfolio of their professional development activities Level 2 and involvement in initiatives that benefit patients or the community. In addition to Matthew Clemens, PT; Maura Clune, achieving advanced degrees and clinical OT; Patricia Cutrona, SLP; Aaron certifications, recipients are awarded Deckert, OT; David May, PT; Anne Schukraft, PT; Rick Szabala, PT; MatClinical Ladders for the work they do to thew Touchette, PT; Jeremy Voorhees, advance their clinical practice. PT; and Diane Weissman, OT.
HCBC Announces New Appointments; Progress Continues on Sale of Senior Care Facilities Catholic Health Home & Community Based Care (HCBC) is pleased to announce the appointments of Dawn Clabeaux, BSW, MS, as administrator of McAuley Residence and Matthew G. McDougall, OT, MS, as administrator of St. Francis of Williamsville. Dawn served as administrator at St. Francis of Williamsville since 2012. In her new role, she will provide administrative oversight for skilled nursing and subacute services at McAuley Residence, located behind Kenmore Mercy Hospital.
Dawn Clabeaux
Prior to joining Catholic Health, Dawn served as administrator of the Lutheran Home & Rehabilitation Center. With nearly 30 years of experience in long term care, she is a member of the Network in Aging Membership Committee.
Matthew previously served as vice president of Operations and administrator of Brompton Heights for the Hamister Group. During his career, he also served as administrator of the Skilled Nursing Facilities at DeGraff Memori- Matthew McDougall al and Millard Fillmore Gates hospitals, and assistant administrator at the Waterfront Health Care Facility. As announced last year, plans continue with the sale of St. Francis of Williamsville, St. Elizabeth’s of Lancaster and St. Vincent’s of Dunkirk to Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services (CHMS). The sale of St. Francis should be completed this spring, while St. Elizabeth’s and St. Vincent’s are expected to follow later this year. Representatives of CHMS continue to meet with residents, families and staff at the three facilities to share their plans for the future.
Medaille College Teams Up with Catholic Health to Offer Integrated Healthcare Delivery Program Medaille College has added an Integrated Healthcare Delivery program to its business curriculum. Students can receive an Advanced Certificate through a 42-week, 24-credit program or a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Integrated Healthcare Delivery. The program was developed in conjunction with executives from Catholic Health, who were looking to prepare their leadership to embrace the highest levels of teamwork and collaboration across the community in order to achieve the goals of integrated healthcare delivery. Medaille College was approached by Catholic Health officials to develop the program as the college’s business curriculum differentiates itself by teaching its students to be critical thinkers. The program has been designed to provide healthcare professionals with essential leadership skills – skills that will be required to implement integrated healthcare delivery solutions in the wake of population health and healthcare reform. Medaille recognized that to improve health
William Weeks (left), Medaille College clinical associate professor, conducts a leadership class at the ARTC.
and wellness offerings in Western New York, its leaders would have to think systemically about how the different facets of healthcare fit together. The goal of the program is to develop healthcare leaders who think more like a team to work interdependently with one another and with other providers. The program began in September with 17 executive level students from Catholic Health and Catholic Medical Partners. Medaille is currently accepting students for its next start date. For more information, visit http://www.medaille.edu/ihdc.
HIPAA Compliance
Around the System... Dave Brown has been named director of Perioperative Business Operations at Sisters of Charity Hospital. Dave joined Sisters Hospital in 2002 as a Central Sterile Processing technician and most recently served as OR business manager. In his new role, he is responsible for OR utilization, supply management and charge entry at Sisters Hospital’s Main St. and St. Joseph campuses. He holds an MBA in Healthcare Administration. ••• Lisa Brucato has been named Human Resources generalist III for Sisters of Charity Hospital. Lisa comes to Catholic Health from previous roles in New York City as a Human Resources Manager and Business Partner. She will support Sisters Hospital’s two campuses, along with Catholic Health Human Resources. She has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Buffalo. ••• Shirley Duane has been named director of Stroke Services for Catholic Health. She previously served as stroke coordinator for Mercy Hospital. As director, she will coordinate patient and provider needs to enhance quality and grow stroke services throughout Catholic Health. A licensed Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Neuroscience RN, Shirley holds a BA in Nursing and MSN in Nursing Administration from SUNY Buffalo. ••• Dr. Michael Edbauer, chief clinical officer for Catholic Health and chief medical officer for Catholic Medical Partners, received the Dr. Bernard L. Martin Distinguished MBA Alumni Award presented by Canisius College. The award, which was presented during the school’s Annual Business Awards Dinner, honors a distinguished graduate of the Canisius College MBA program. ••• Karen Hughes, MS, LSS, BB, has been named director of Clinical and Operational Effectiveness for Catholic Health. In this new role, she will coordinate LEAN SixSigma training and development in collabo-
ration with Catholic Health University and lead LEAN Six-Sigma projects focused on achieving top-decile performance. Karen joined Catholic Health in 2009 as director of Outpatient Rehab & Sports Outreach. ••• Patricia O’Connor, administrator of the Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV, has been named to the New York State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators by Howard Zucker, MD, JD, acting commissioner of the NYS Department of Health. The board oversees professional standards, including training, education and disciplinary action, for nursing home administrators. ••• Montique V. Williams, MBA, has been named Director of Financial Services for Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and Catholic Health Cardiovascular Services. Prior to joining Catholic Health, he served as a senior decision support advisor for Kaleida Health. With an MBA from the Simon Graduate School of Business at the University of Rochester, he also held positions with KeyBank, M&T Bank and the Principal Financial Group.
System Achievements Sisters of Charity Hospital was named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by the Joint Commission. This achievement demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to evidence-based interventions and for achieving excellence in its performance measures for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia, and Surgical care. ••• Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV received the “Excellence in Action Award” from My InnerView. Presented by the National Research Corporation, the award recognizes superior commitment to Skilled Nursing Care. It is given to those facilities that achieve resident satisfaction scores within the top 10% in the nation for respondents who rate the facility as “excellent.”
Catholic Heath Online Services Introduces Redesigned Website and New Prayer App In a web-based world, the goal of any business is to help customers find its products and services more easily. That was the goal behind the recent redesign of Catholic Health’s website. The system’s Online Services Department launched the redesigned website to better serve our patients, generate new referrals for our providers and help site visitors more easily find the locations and services they need. New features include: • A streamlined home page design to maximize provider referrals and allow easy access to service lines. • A more robust physician directory that displays provider locations on a map and allows the user to search for providers within a specified radius. • Patient-focused navigation that highlights information patients frequently seek out, like how to pay a bill or request medical records. • Google maps of our locations that allow patients to find the Catholic Health site closest to them.
• Improved styling for testimonials, callsto-action and images that draw attention to important items. • A database of Catholic Health locations, services and providers to improve accuracy of changes to the site. If you contribute content to the website, learn more about the website’s capabilities by downloading our Contributor’s Guide on the Catholic Health intranet at my.chsbuffalo.org. Click on “Departments,” “Communications” and “Online Services” to access the guide. Prayer App for Managers In addition to the new website, the Online Services Department has introduced the “Catholic Health Prayer App.” This app gives associates instant access to a large selection of prayers to be used at meetings and events. It includes general prayers, seasonal prayers and prayers for special occasions, such as a blessing or dedication. To download the prayer app, visit the app store on your smart phone and search for “Catholic Health Prayers.”
My Lips Are Sealed or Are They? Consider the following exchange between floor nurses Mack and Susan, and Health Information Clerk Amanda.
Mack: Hi Amanda! I hear congratulations are in order. Susan: That's right. Barb from the lab told us the good news! When are you due? Amanda: Oh! I wonder how Barb found out? I haven't shared that information with anyone here at work! It is easy to form personal relationships with the people that we work with. This can involve celebrations, successes and sad occasions. However, when working in healthcare, we must be extra careful that these situations don‘t end up being HIPAA privacy violations. The scenario above is a great example of associates inappropriately sharing Protected Health Information (PHI). In this instance, the patient happened to be a co-worker. Everyone is entitled to have his or her health information protected. Unless you have a work-related reason to access PHI, do not do it. Guarding PHI and the privacy of ALL our patients is our top priority. Unauthorized access or disclosure of Protected Health Information can result in corrective action, up to and including employment termination. - Health Care Compliance Strategies, Inc. (HCCS), 2013
Safeguarding PHI is everyone’s responsibility. Report suspected or actual breaches of PHI to: Leonardo Sette-Camara, Esq., Compliance & Privacy Officer, at 821-4469; the HIPAA Hotline at 862-1790; or the Compliance Line at 1-888-200-5380. All calls are confidential and you may remain anonymous.
Nurse’s Week Conference Focuses on Women’s Health Catholic Health WomenCare and Sisters of Charity Hospital will host its Second Annual Nurse’s Week Conference on Tuesday, May 5 from 7:30 a.m. - 12 noon at the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, located at 225 Como Park Boulevard in Cheektowaga. The conference entitled “Fifty Shades of Aging,” is open to all and will explore women’s health along the continuum. During the half-day conference, Dr. Sylvia Regalla, an expert in women’s health, will present information on the “brain/gut” connection to good health; Dr. Mrinalini Meesala, medical director of Women’s Heart Health at Catholic Health, will discuss women and heart disease; and Kathy Aebisher, PT, an expert on women’s pelvic floor dysfunction, will discuss pelvic health. More than 120 nurses from across the region attended last year’s conference, “What Every Nurse Should Know about Breast Cancer.” The program provided information to support patients and loved ones, while raising $1,000 for the Breast Cancer Network of WNY. Nurses will receive 3 Clinical Education Unit credits for attending the conference. The registration fee is $25. For more information, contact Diane Ceravolo at dceravolo@chsbuffalo.org.
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144 Genesee Street Buffalo, NY 14203
W i nte r 2 0 1 5
February 2 – 17 Access the survey from home at: https://survey.confirmit.com/wix6/p3072221416.aspx
Email submissions to: Krista Nati at knati@chsbuffalo.org or JoAnn Cavanaugh at kjc4281@chsbuffalo.org
Catholic Health Creative Services and Public Relations Departments 144 Genesee Street, Floor 6 Buffalo, NY 14203
Computers and paper surveys will be available.
Connections is produced by:
News, announcements, and vital information for associates, their families, and friends of Catholic Health.
Let your voice be heard...
Associates who participate will be eligible to win an iPad or a giftcard. Catholic Health’s Values: Reverence, Compassion, Justice, Excellence
All responses will remain anonymous.
Pregnancy Expo The 403(b) contribution limits are increasing this year! However unless you made changes, your current deferral election automatically carried over to 2015. So, be sure to maximize your savings opportunity.
Beginning January 2015, the 403(b) contribution limits will be:
Age 2015 Total Contribution Limit Under 50
$18,000
50+
$24,000 (an extra $6,000)
It’s easy to help boost your retirement savings:
► ► ►
Review your current deferral rate or deduction amount and make any necessary adjustments. You can contribute up to 90% of each paycheck until you reach the annual limit amount. However, keep in mind that your paycheck must cover all necessary taxes, deductions and withholdings. To increase your contributions to the Catholic Health 403(b) Retirement Plan, call the Fidelity Benefits Center at (800) 343-0860 or log on to www.netbenefits.com/atwork.
Keep in mind that investing involves risk. The value of your investment will fluctuate over time and you may gain or lose money.
Questions? Fidelity can help. Call (800) 343-0860 or log on to www.netbenefits.com/atwork.
Join us for a free family-friendly event to learn about all aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and babies. Win a car seat and other great prizes.
March 7, 2015 10am – 2pm at the Millennium Hotel 2040 Walden Avenue
Bring the whole family to this free event. Health Experts • Exhibitors Demonstrations • Prizes Mom’s Lounge • Kid’s Room Free Parking • Refreshments Space is limited – call (716) 447-6205 or register online at chsbuffalo.org/PregExpo to reserve your spot. #CHPregExpo