News, announcements, and vital information for associates, their families, and friends of Mercy Hospital of Buffalo Spring 2017
Mercy Nursing Facility associates enjoyed a “sweet” celebration in March to recognize their DOH Top Performing Nursing Home rating. Delivering donuts to staff were: (l.-r.) Marie Packard; Kathy Dyson; Susan Hughes; Rachel Hughes; Kelly DiPronio; Beth Gould; Deb Novak; Executive Director Patricia O’Connor, and Edwin Mack.
In This Issue
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• Daisy Awards Honor Great Nurses • New Diabetes Tips Sheet Rolled Out • Update on Labor-Management Efforts • MCCC Gets Grant To Improve Health • Trinity Medical Cardiology Group Formed • St. Patrick’s Day Parade Marched On! • CEO Launches Video Podcast Series • Girl Scouts Bring Gifts For Kids in ER • 2017-18 Charities of Choice Announced
Submit news items to: Melanie Griffis, Public Relations Manager at mgriffis@chsbuffalo.org; 716-828-3747
Mercy Nursing Facility ranked top 5% in NYS For the second year in a row, the Mercy Nursing Facility (MNF) at the OLV Senior Neighborhood was named a Top Performing Nursing Home by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). This designation places the long term care facility affiliated with Mercy Hospital in the top 5% of nursing homes in the state. To receive this recognition, nursing homes must achieve top 5% quintile performance in the NYSDOH Nursing Home Quality Initiative (NHQI) for the last three consecutive years. The NHQI is an annual performance evaluation project designed to improve quality care for residents in Medicaid-certified nursing facilities. Eligible nursing homes are awarded points for various performance measures, including quality, compliance, and efficiency.
“We are very proud to be named a Top Performing Nursing Home,” said Patricia O’Connor, Executive Director of the Mercy Nursing Facility. “This achievement is a reflection of the dedication of our entire staff, who treat our residents as family and work together as a team to provide outstanding care and service.”
The facility was also recently awarded the “Embracing Quality” Award from Providigm and the 2016 “Excellence in Action Award” for outstanding resident satisfaction from the National Research Corporation (NRC) for the fourth year in a row. For more information on the NYS Nursing Home Quality initiative visit: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_ care/medicaid/redesign/nursing_ home_quality_initiative.htm.
Sweet Mercy! People In The News
Mercy Hospital on AM Buffalo...Cardiologists, Dr. Nadeem Haq and Dr. Joseph Gelormini joined cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Stephen Downing as recent guests on WKBW’s AM Buffalo program to discuss the life-saving, non-surgical TAVR procedure to treat severe aortic stenosis. TAVR provides a heart valve replacement option for cardiac patients who may not be able to undergo traditional heart surgery.
Mercy Appointments Announced Congratulations to Tisha Luciani who was named Director of Financial Services at Mercy Hospital. Joining Catholic Health in 2008, she served as Director of Financial Services at Kenmore Mercy Hospital for eight years Tisha Luciani and most recently worked in the same capacity at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital. She holds an MBA from St. Bonaventure University and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Buffalo. Jennifer Attfield, RN, BSN, has been appointed Director of Cardiac Clinical Services. Joining Catholic Health in 2003, she previously served as the Manager of Non-invasive Cardiac Services for Sisters Jennifer Attfield of Charity Hospital and its St. Joseph Campus. In her new position, she will oversee non-invasive cardiac services and the heart failure program throughout the system. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Buffalo.
Nancy Stoll, RN, BSN, has been named Director of Neuroscience Clinical Services at Mercy Hospital. In her new role, she oversees the Mercy Comprehensive Stroke Center. Over the past thirteen years, Nancy has held various leadership Nancy Stoll positions within Catholic Health, previously serving as the Practice Administrator for Primary Care and OB/ GYN since 2008. She began her career in 1994 as a staff nurse at Mercy Hospital. She holds a BSN from Daemen College and is a graduate of Trocaire College.
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Daisy Award recognizes extraordinary nurses Mercy Hospital recently launched its Daisy Award quarterly recognition program for nurses. Our First Quarter Daisy Award Winners were: Amanda Coleman, RN, BSN, SCRN – ICU, Tina Knop, RN, SCRN – ICU, and Kevin Buck, RN – 6 West. The DAISY Award—which recognizes “extraordinary nurses” providing compassionate care—was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at 33 of ITP, an auto-immune disease. Today, over 2300 hospitals participate in this program. Anybody can nominate a nurse for the award. Nomination forms can
Amanda Coleman, left, received the Daisy Award during a surprise ceremony in the ICU attended by several nurse leaders and staff. Looking on are, l.-r., Daisy Coordinator Cheryl Robinson; Kristin Fisher and Jennifer Morath.
be found in the main lobby Daisy display table, surgical waiting room, nurses stations, and cafeteria.
Quick Tips sheet enhances diabetes education In October 2016, Mercy Hospital nurses began using a new Diabetes Education Quick Tips sheet as an additional patient education tool. The reference sheet was so well received that it was recently rolled out to the
Tonna Hinton, center, with Nurse Manager Judy Humes, uses the sheet with a patient.
entire Catholic Health System. Improvements have already been seen in patient satisfaction scores and reduced hospital readmission rates among diabetes patients.
Our very own Mercy nurse Tonna Hinton, BSN, came up with the idea while working on a project for her RN to BSN program. She took the hospital’s existing diabetes education protocol and summarized key points with visual graphics in an easy-tofollow format. With the support of the hospital’s diabetes education nurse and a review by staff endocrinologists, the quick tips sheet was successfully piloted on the 5 McAuley East Unit in August of 2016. Copies of the sheet are also available for patients to take home.
Labor-Management Committees Update Mercy Hospital and the CWA are making great strides in the workplace with the new labormanagement committees formed as a result of negotiations. Recent efforts have surrounded two revitalized committees— RN Staffing; STC (service, technical, clerical) Staffing; and two new committees—Safety; and Nurse Retention.
A weekly basket drawing is one of many ways the Nurse Retention Committee shows their appreciation to the 140 nurse preceptors who assist in the training of new nurse hirees. Pictured above, from left, are: Chris Anderson; Dave Kuster; Deana Lambert; Tracy Murphy; Julie Ponce; Kelly Jarnot; Traci Ryan; Brynn Kell and Roz Lawrence.
An early success of the collaboration is the Nurse Preceptor program where 140 nurses agreed to be preceptors, performing their regular duties while also
onboarding newly-recruited nurses. These preceptors are being recognized through weekly gift basket drawings, lunch vouchers and more.
MCCC participates in national wellness program Western New Yorkers are now able to get Heart Smart for Life thanks to a generous $165,770 grant from the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation (AHF) to combat heart disease in one of Buffalo’s poorest neighborhoods. The Mercy Hospital Foundation is one of only ten nonprofit organizations across the country to receive this funding as part of AHF’s Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM program.
People In The News
Staff gathered to watch the national Heart Smart rollout event on TV with guest speaker MCCC manager Jeanne O’Hara, pictured on the screen. From l. - r. are: Kathy Bragagnola; Ann Marie Smokowski; Laurie Rath; Darlene Schneck, and Jan Morgan.
The Heart Smart for Life program is based out of the Mercy Comprehesive Care Center (MCCC) located on Louisiana Street in the city’s “Old First Ward.” It is a collaborative initiative aimed at ensuring vulnerable populations – those people who otherwise might fall through the cracks – have access to nutrition education, free health screenings, wellness programs, and other resources focused on preventing heart disease.
The program offers participants educational sessions on healthy eating, exercise, and behavioral health issues. Weekly exercise sessions are available at the local community center, which is a Heart Smart partner.
The program is free and open to the community; participants do not need to be current MCCC patients. For more info, call 716-923-6152.
Catholic Health forms Trinity Medical Cardiology Catholic Health is pleased to announce the formation of its new physician practice network, known as Trinity Medical Cardiology. In recent developments, Buffalo Heart Group, LLP, joined the practice in January and Cardiology Group of WNY, PC, came on board in March.
programs in New York State.
Along with the Heart Center, Mercy Hospital Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates and Mercy Hospital Electrophysiology Services, the physician network has become one of the most advanced and wide-ranging cardiac
Both cardiology groups that have transitioned to Trinity Medical Cardiology continue to see patients from their existing offices located throughout the Western New York area, including Cheektowaga, Williamsville, Orchard Park, Hamburg, Buffalo, Lockport and Niagara Falls.
Mercy Hospital was once again proudly represented in the Annual “Old Neighborhood” St. Patrick’s Day Parade held on March 11.
Practice Model. Special thanks to all the volunteers and committee members, and lead coordinators, Melissa Welch and Kathy Gray.
Despite the cold, the parade marched on!
With temperatures dipping down to the single digits, a hearty group of associates and their family members braved the cold and stepped out for this longstanding community tradition. This year’s float featured a huge “tree” of balloons, inspired by Nursing’s new symbol for its Professional
Sweet Mercy!
Pictured above, associates, family and friends who braved the cold gather for a photo before the parade kicks off.
Dr. Sara Koritz Interviewed...Dr. Sara Koritz, a laborist at Mercy Hospital, was interviewed by Channel 4 News Reporter Rachele Mongiovi about new guidelines from the FDA and EPA on fish consumption for pregnant women. The FDA recommends 8 to 12 ounces of lower mercury fish that includes salmon and halibut. However, pregnant women should avoid big fish such as swordfish and white albacore tuna.
Mercy Appointments Announced Katie Klaes, RN, BSN, has been named Nurse Manager of the Mercy Ambulatory Care Center (MACC) in Orchard Park. She previously worked in the Emergency Department at Sisters Hospital, St. Joseph Campus. Kathleen Klaes She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the Emergency Nurses Association. A Certified Clinical Research Professional, she holds a BSN from Daemen College and is currently pursuing her MSN at Daemen College as well.
Welcome to Jonathan Delay, RN, BSN, who joined Mercy Hospital as the Nurse Manager of the 6 McAuley East Unit. He began his career at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester in 2009. Two years later, he was promoted to an Assistant Manager and then Jonathan Delay a General Manager in the patient care unit where he worked. A nursing graduate of Trocaire College, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Nursing at the University of Rochester. Mercy welcomes Desiree Korbs, RN, BSN, who was named the Nurse Manager of the 7 East, 8 East and 4 North Units. With 14 years of management experience, she previously served as the Nurse Manager of the Emergency Desiree Korbs Department at Buffalo General Hospital. Desiree earned her nursing degree at Erie Community College, and her BSN through Walden University in Minnesota.
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Mercy at Work
Honoring our Physicians... As part of Doctors Day festivities in March, the Transfer Center staff did an “about face” and provided a prescription for our hospitalists and intensivists. The prescription label that read, “Take sweet things every four hours,” was placed on a large glass jar filled with candy. The only side effect was lots of smiles! In above photo, Keri Hendrix presents Dr. Harry Kahlon with his “prescription.”
Administrators from Guangxi University in China recently toured Mercy Hospital as part of an education partnership between Guangxi and D’Youville College. Mercy President & CEO C. J. Urlaub, who serves as Vice Chair of D’Youville’s Board, hosted the group and Assemblyman Michael Kearns presented a proclamation.
CEO launches video podcast series for staff Improving communication to our associates continues to be one of the top priorities at Mercy Hospital, and is a request that frequently comes up on our Voice of the Associate surveys. With a workforce of over 3,000 associates and volunteers, in a 24/7 environment, finding an effective way to reach everybody is challenging. However, Mercy Hospital President & CEO C. J. Urlaub came up with the idea of a video podcast series that features key messages that can be viewed on associates’ cell phones or computers any time of day or night. The new podcast series, called “Keeping Connected at Mercy,” can be accessed through a private
By day, Melissa Guarino is a clinical pharmacist in the Mercy Emergency Department, and by night, she volunteers as a Girl Scout Daisy troop leader. She recently organized a service project for the girls that involved making “care packages” for kids visiting the hospital ER. Melissa’s daughter, Taylor Guarino, and her Daisy troop of first graders, along with a third grade Brownie troop, from Maple West Elementary School made “care packages” that include a coloring book and crayons inside a bag decorated with handdrawn pictures and nice messages like “I hope you feel better!”
Mission Corner
Pharmacist Ashley Kapanek received Catholic Health’s 1st Quarter “Great Catch Award.” The program honors associates who identify potential patient safety issues. Pictured above, President & CEO C. J. Urlaub; Director of Patient Safety Lori Dufresne and Lead Pharmacist Donna Carr present the award.
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For questions or to get the link, contact Melanie Griffis at 828-3747 or email at mgriffis@chsbuffalo.org.
Girl Scouts donate “care packages” to ER
“I saw the idea on Pinterest and it clicked when I remembered watchStudents from John A. Sciole Elementary School presented our Family BirthPlace with over 100 children’s books in celebration of the Lancaster Central School District’s 4th Annual Day of Kindness in February.
YouTube page or through the Mercy homepage on the Catholic Health intranet. These video messages are only two to four minutes in length and new podcasts will be posted on a regular basis. To date, there are three messages posted and more to come.
The 2016 TEAM LOVE Award was presented to the Mercy Comprehensive Care Center (MCCC) at the March CHS Management Meeting. MCCC was the first team to receive this recognition that will be awarded annually to recognize collaborative team efforts that exemplify our mission and values.
Taylor Guarino, right , and Kaitlin Pauly deliver the “care” packages to the ER.
ing a child in our ER ask his nurse for a pen and paper so he could make a card for her,” said Melissa. Special thanks to Melissa and the girls for bringing out the “care” in caring with these gifts for the kids.
MCCC Manager Jeanne O’Hara and Darlene Schneck (front row, right) accepted the TEAM LOVE Award.
Catholic Health has announced its Charities of Choice for 2017-2018. They are: the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which operates a youth summer camp, a discount store and dining hall to help those in need;
Gerard Place, which provides housing for homeless mothers and their children; and the Casey House Youth Shelter, part of Family & Children’s Service of Niagara that provides shelter for runaway teens.