News, announcements, and vital information for associates, their families, and friends of Kenmore Mercy Hospital. br ua Septem ber Fe 201 3 r y 2 015
Remodeled 2 West Reopens to Patients In late December, Kenmore Mercy Hospital celebrated the blessing and dedication of its renovated 2 West Patient Care Unit. Staff began receiving patients in November.
James Millard (left) and Dr. Michael Slate (right) congratulate Mary Willis and Lisa Faulhaber.
Outstanding Associates Recognized by Medical Staff Physicians at Kenmore Mercy Hospital have chosen Lisa Faulhaber, PT, from the Physical Therapy Department, and Mary Willis, RN, from the 3 East Patient Care Unit, to receive the hospital’s Annual Medical Staff Associate of the Year Award for 2014. This award recognizes outstanding associates for their service to patients and staff.
“These are individuals whose hard work and dedication represent the spirit of Kenmore Mercy Hospital,” said Michael Slate, MD, president of the hospital’s medical staff.
The patient wing was temporarily closed from October 4 – November 22 to permit remodeling of the unit which, among other updates, features new patient televisions, call systems, whiteboards and patient furniture, made possible by the Kenmore Mercy Foundation.
Other work included a modern color scheme, as well as a new nurses’ station, counter tops, sinks, and updated signage. There are also new side tables, chairs, window sills, cubicle curtains, and bedside tables in patient rooms. The unit was built 40 years ago and has a rich history. According to Cheryl Hayes, vice president of Patient Care Services, “It was originally a skilled nursing facility, then a medical rehabilitation unit. In recent years, it changed specialties to include stroke and hospice care. ”
This unit is also home to Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s new bariatric suite. The suite was made possible by a grant from Assemblyman Robin Schimminger.
With the number of bariatric patients on the rise, it has become necessary for hospitals to routinely take care of patients weighing up to 500 pounds or more. This room and its special equipment will assist the hospital staff in safely caring for this patient population while reducing their own risk of injury. “We continue to maintain our focus on quality of patient care and continuous improvement, which defines us as an organization,” added Cheryl.
The renovation of Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s 2 West Patient Care Unit is just one more example of that continuous improvement.
Lisa graduated cum laude from the University of Buffalo in 2000 with a bachelor of science in physical therapy. She joined Catholic Health in 2004, working for AthletiCare North, prior to joining Kenmore Mercy’s inpatient physical therapy team in 2006.
Mary began her career at Kenmore Mercy Hospital in 1994 as a certified nurse assistant on the cardiac floor. She moved on to become a unit clerk prior to returning to school at Erie Community College to obtain her nursing degree. She has been on the 3 East Patient Care Unit ever since. Congratulations to both of these associates for achieving this honor.
Fr. Bob Schober (center) was joined by the Administrative team and hospital associates for the blessing of the remodeled 2 West Patient Care Unit.
News from Jim Millard, President & CEO
Associate Engagement
It’s hard to believe that we have begun a new year. The last few weeks of 2014 were extremely busy throughout the hospital. In the midst of an already busy holiday season, we were all impacted by flu-related illnesses, construction projects, and winter storms. Thanks to everyone for your hard work and dedication to our patients, and to each other, through all of this.
Congratulations to Jessica Klug, RN, 2 West. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from SUNY Brockport.
As we do every year, we have identified our major priorities, or our “Big Dots,” for 2015. They are Associate Engagement, Patient Safety and Experience, Surgical Services, Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Campus of Excellence, Clinical Integration, Operational Effectiveness and Nursing Excellence. Klug
Walck
Jacob Walck, RN, Operating Room, also received his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Deamen College. Congratulations to Julie Bajor, RN, Intensive Care Unit, for obtaining her Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) specialty certification.
Fran Max, dietitian, was credentialed as a certified nutrition support clinician. She is one of only three dietitians in Catholic Health who have achieved this credential. Jim Bartlett, PharmD, was recently appointed to the position of lead clinical pharmacist for Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Sandy Fuller, MA, Ken-Ton FamilyCare, recently passed her recertification from the American Association of Medical Assistants, Inc.
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Bajor
Max
As you can see, many of these priorities are the same as they were last year. Our newest Big Dot, Associate Engagement, is meant to focus our attention on taking all of the feedback that you’ve been providing us during our Associate Forums, the Culture of Safety survey, and our VOA
survey, and developing a plan to make Kenmore Mercy Hospital a better place for all of us.
To help you remember the Big Dots, you will see articles relating to these topics in the quarterly newsletters and posters throughout the hospital. Our upcoming Associate Forums will also be structured around these themes.
Thank you again to everyone who joined us this past fall at the Associate Forums. We had record attendance, and we received some great feedback from the conversations that we had and from the surveys that you completed. With the next Voice of the Associate survey starting this week, I encourage you to take a moment to let us know what’s on your mind. It truly does help to make Kenmore Mercy Hospital a better place for each of us to work.
Auxiliary Efforts Benefit Kenmore Mercy The Kenmore Mercy Foundation was recently presented with a $58,000 check from the hospital’s Auxiliary. James Millard, hospital president & CEO, received the generous donation from Margret Was, outgoing president of the Auxiliary.
This money will be used by the Foundation for Kenmore Mercy Hospital equipment grants. In previous years, the Auxiliary’s monetary support has enabled the purchase of clinical equipment and
technology used in various hospital departments, all of which help hospital associates further serve the community.
The Auxiliary raises funds in a variety of ways, including selling handmade items; hosting creative events like jewelry sales and new and used book sales; and running the the Willow Tree Gift Shop. Thank you to all of the Auxiliary members for their support of Kenmore Mercy Hospital and this generous donation.
Bartlett
Fuller
Auxiliary members welcomed their 2015-2016 board officers – Joan LeBlanc, treasurer, Jean Gucwa, president, Peg Gruber, vice president, Nancy Lagattuta, recording secretary, and Pat Farrell, corresponding secretary – at their annual holiday luncheon.
LOVE Award Honorees Show Strong Values Over the past year, Kenmore Mercy Hospital honored three individuals with the LOVE Award. The LOVE Award (Living Our Values Effectively) is a quarterly award designed to recognize employees who demonstrate our core values — Reverence,
Compassion, Justice, and Excellence — in their daily work.
Anyone can nominate an associate for the LOVE award – patients, visitors, family members, physicians, volunteers and co-workers. Nomination forms are available throughout the hospital and online.
Living Our Mission
Congratulations to our 2014 winners. 1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
Erica Scherer, Brett Sullivan, RN, radiology technologist ICU
3rd Quarter
Chris Rickers, groundskeeper
New Partnership Helps Those In Need In 2015, Catholic Health began a new partnership with Friends of Night People, an organization that feeds the homeless, destitute, and working poor. From its home on Hudson Street in Buffalo’s Allentown neighborhood, the organization provides food, clothing, medical care, counseling and hope to those in need.
All services are provided free of charge without a sliding income scale. However, Friends of Night People does rely on the generosity of volunteers and contributors.
In the coming months, Catholic Health will play a significant role in helping Friends of Night People improve the quality of life for those less fortunate, while improving the overall health of the community.
Watch for more details from the Mission Integration Committee. There will be many opportunities for associates to volunteer as Catholic Health sponsors events to assist with their needs.
Welcome To New Managers & Supervisors
Anne HedgesCreighton, Director of Nursing, Perioperative Services Anne oversees nursing staff in the Operating Room, Endoscopy, and Interventional Radiology. This includes management of clinical education, unit clerks, nursing assistants, and perioperative scheduling. Anne previously worked at Mercy Flight Western New York as chief operating officer and Buffalo General Hospital as manager of Perioperative Services. She was also an Emergency Room nurse at Kenmore Mercy. Sabrina Kaitanowski, Distribution Supervisor As part of the IMPACT initiative and the expansion of supply chain centralization,
Kenmore Mercy recently welcomed Sabrina to the newly established role of distribution supervisor over Central Supplies. She was previously at Mercy Hospital where she was most recently Materials Management supervisor. She also served as a clerk and administrative assistant for Environmental Services and Case Management. Chris O’Mara Manager of Care Management Chris joins Kenmore Mercy after ten years with Kaleida Health. She previously held positions as a corporate director of utilization management and patient management. She also worked with HealthNow as medical management director.
Mary Hojnacki and Danette Lee present their Thanksgiving basket from the 2E & 2S.
By Mary Pat Barth Vice President of Mission Integration “Love One Another Deeply, From the Heart” ~1 Peter 4: 8 Valentine’s Day is a day of hearts in our culture, and Lent is forty days of heart rendering reflection in preparation for the magnificent celebration of Easter. As I reflect on this invitation from Peter, I recall our Thanksgiving outreach to the underserved, when our hearts overflowed with love.
Ken-Ton church representatives picked up 67 baskets donated by our Mission Integration Committee members and hospital departments.
Without our outreach, many families would not have shared that sacred feast with their children and loved ones.
At Christmas, some departments purchased gifts for “adopted” families. The overwhelming joy of these families was an unforgettable memory for everyone involved. The year 2015 begins our commitment to the new Catholic Health charity, Friends of Night People. This charitable organization “helps the poor, homeless and destitute in Buffalo.”
Valentine’s Day and Lent are golden invitations for us to love one another deeply from the heart, throughout the year. Pope Francis’ Christmas message affirms this invitation with his words: “How much the world needs tenderness today. God’s patience, God’s closeness, God’s tenderness.” May Kenmore Mercy Hospital lead the way with this invitation.
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Orthopedic Campus of Excellence
Orchard Park Man Thankful for Surgery
Associates in the Knee & Hip Center, like Andrea Schmitt, NP, and Sue Wasielewski, RN, played a significant role in the hospital achieving five stars.
Hospital Ranked High by Healthgrades Kenmore Mercy Hospital was recognized by Healthgrades in its national quality report.
The Healthgrades awards are part of its 2015 Report to the Nation, which highlights achievements in 33 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions. This included ranking Kenmore Mercy among America’s 100 best hospitals for both joint replacement and orthopedic surgery for the second year in a row. In addition, the hospital received four five-star awards in a number of categories and three service excellence awards for outperforming hospitals across the county in the areas of orthopedic, joint replacement, neurosurgery and pancreatic surgeries.
Healthgrades has given Kenmore Mercy the Joint Replacement Excellence Award for nine years in a row, which places it in the top five percent in the nation. For its analysis, Healthgrades independently evaluated approximately 40 million Medicare patient records from more than 4,500 hospitals across the country to arrive at its star rating system.
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Christie Petre, PTA (right) works with Melvin Bluhm to improve his hip mobility during inpatient rehabilitation.
Snowvember took his home, years of working in a train yard damaged his hips, but Orchard Park resident Melvin Bluhm is still a thankful man. On December 2, he received a very special gift, the gift of mobility.
“Painful and non-functioning knees and hips are a tremendous hindrance to quality of life,” Dr. Repicci, the hospital’s former chief of Orthopedic Surgery noted.
Thanks to Operation Walk USA; John Repicci, MD, DDS; and Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Melvin received a free hip replacement. His treatment – including surgery, hospitalization and pre-and postoperative care – were provided at no cost to him as part of this national volunteer effort.
However, prior to the surgery, his roof collapsed during the November snowstorm and his home was condemned. The surgery went on as scheduled, and Melvin continued his physical rehabilitation with McAuley Seton HomeCare at his sister’s home in North Tonawanda.
“I just don’t know how to thank them.” said Melvin. “It’s impossible to thank them for what they gave me.” A second time beneficiary of the Operation Walk USA surgery, he suffered for years with pain caused by deteriorated hips. Without insurance, he was in constant pain and forced to use a cane or walker to get around.
Dr. John Repicci
“It can make completing even the simplest task, excruciatingly painful or impossible. Through Operation Walk USA, we are making it possible for people, who have often lived with their disability for decades, to return to work and other activities with few limitations,” he added Fortunately, Melvin did have homeowner’s insurance and as luck would have it, his son is a contractor who will help build a new home after winter.
New Rehab Program Helping Those with Peripheral Arterial Disease AthletiCare recently launched a specially-designed Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) rehabilitation program to help patients walk with reduced pain and more stamina.
The supervised exercise program builds strength so patients can get back to daily activities like grocery shopping, mowing the lawn, and playing with grandchildren. “Not having the ability to walk as much as you like or to walk without pain can be frustrating and limiting,” said Joe Baumgarden, DPT, Cert MDT, manager for AthletiCare.
The goals of the program include: relieving painful walking; helping individuals walk longer distances and for longer periods of time; improv-
ing quality of life; increasing stamina; and helping patients live and function independently.
Surgical Services
The exercise program has other benefits, too, such as weight loss, improved blood circulation, lower blood pressure and increased HDL (the “good” cholesterol). These changes can lower the risk of suffering a heart attack and stroke, or developing cardiovascular disease.
PAD affects about 1 in 20 people over the age of 50, or 10 million people in the United States. Of those, more than half the people with PAD experience leg pain, numbness or other symptoms.
“Let Us Know” during the
2015 Voice of the Associate Survey
Frozen?
Warm up with hot chocolate, marshmallows, and cookies when you bring your completed form to Human Resources (4th Floor).
The VOA runs from February 2 - 17, 2015. Watch the intranet for specific times.
Bob Fritschi, Catholic Health facility planner, and Nick Wells, project manager with Telco Construction, discuss next steps of the Surgical Services project in the former Emergency Department space.
Surgical Services Project Approved by DOH Kenmore Mercy Hospital is geared up for the next stage in its Surgical Services Project. The hospital was recently approved by the New York State Department of Health to relocate and modernize its preoperative holding and post anesthesia care units.
As Catholic Health’s Orthopedic Campus of Excellence, Kenmore Mercy has seen significant surgical volume growth.
The latest project calls for an $8 million renovation of the hospital’s old Emergency Department, space that was vacated when it opened its new ER in 2013.
When complete, the 18-month project will enable Kenmore Mercy to increase its Preoperative Holding Unit from 22 patient bays with six private rooms to 30 patient bays with 11 private rooms. The Post Anesthesia Care Unit will increase from 10 to 11 patient bays, plus an isolation room. “The planned construction of 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 work environment,” said hospital president & CEO James Millard. The presurgical holding area is expected to be completed by late 2015 and the recovery area by mid-2016.
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Patient Safety & Experience
Lauren Krystofik, RN, on 2 West, prepares a whiteboard for an incoming patient.
Whiteboards Result in Better Communication Regardless of your role in healthcare, communication is central to everyone’s job. Effective communication is not just verbal, it can take on many forms. Most recently, Kenmore Mercy Hospital introduced newly designed patient whiteboards on the 2 West Patient Care Unit. These serve as a mechanism to both communicate with patients and engage them in their care.
The installation of these whiteboards, which will eventually be in all patient rooms throughout the hospital, follows recommendations from the Patient & Family Advisory Council. Placed in easy view of the patient, whiteboards are a convenient place for many team members to communicate a wide range of information.
This includes details that are important for the patient to remember, like the name of their nurse, room number, and discharge plans. The whiteboards also have key information about the patient to assist caregivers, including diet restrictions, pain management information, and whether or not the individual is a fall risk. “Communicating effectively with patients and families is a cornerstone of providing quality healthcare,” said Laura Verbanic, director of Quality & Patient Safety.
The whiteboard project is an important step in Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s goal to better communicate with patients.
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Hospital Receives “A” Rating from Leapfrog In the fall 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. “Patient safety is a priority at Kenmore Mercy Hospital and we are honored to receive this high score of recognition,” said Laura Verbanic, director of Quality & Patient Safety. “Our score of ‘A’ reflects the quality of care we provide to each and every patient, every time.” Calculated under the guidance of Leapfrog’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the
Hospital Safety Score uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” score representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm. In the latest report, of the 2,520 hospitals that were issued a hospital safety score, 790 earned an “A.”
Program Planned to Prevent Staff Injuries
Together, this training and equipment, will protect the health and wellbeing of hospital associates. According to recent reports from the United States Department of Labor, healthcare workers are among the most at risk for musculoskeletal disorders as a result of repeated manual patient handling activities.
To improve the safety of Kenmore Mercy’s associates and patients, the hospital is implementing a new evidence-based patient handling program, Move With Care.
In addition, the program will help enhance patient safety and satisfaction. Patient injuries can be attributed to improper lifting or manual patient lifting.
By adopting a minimal manual lift philosophy, in conjunction with special patient handling equipment, the hospital seeks to improve patient care and associate safety.
Part of Diligent, the country’s leading safe patient handling program, Move With Care, makes its debut at Kenmore Mercy Hospital in the next few months. As part of the rollout, a number of associates from each department will be selected as “Master Movers.” These staff members will take part in extensive training to learn the latest safe patient handling techniques, as well as how to operate a variety of patient lift, transfer, and mobility equipment, like the Sara Stedy pictured here.
In turn, they will then train other associates who are involved in the transfer and movement of patients, including nurses, therapists, aides and transport personnel.
The Sara Stedy, demonstrated here by Kattie Tatta, RN, and Amy Shellman, RN, helps to minimize manual handling by caregivers.
Welcome to Our New Physicians Jeffrey Brewer, MD, joined the Surgery Department. He specializes in trauma and laparoscopic surgery, as well as treating burns. He completed his mediBrewer cal education at SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine and a general surgery residency and internship at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Clairice Cooper, MD, joined the Surgery Department. She specializes in laparoscopic and trauma surgery. She completed her medical education at SUNY at Cooper Buffalo School of Medicine, where she also did a general surgery residency.
Michael Giglio, MD, joined the Neurology Department. He diagnoses and treat disorders of the nervous system. He earned his medical degree from Ross UniverGiglio sity School of Medicine. Dr. Giglio completed a neurology residency at SUNY Upstate and an internal medicine internship at the
University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center. In addition, he completed a neurobehavioral fellowship at Strong Memorial Hospital. He treats patients at Invision Health.
Gaurav Jain, MD, joined the Internal Medicine Department. He specializes in interventional pain management and anesthesiology and also has expertise in internal medicine and Jain psychiatry. He completed medical education at King George Medical University in India. His postdoctoral training included a fellowship in pain medicine and anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He completed residencies in internal medicine and psychiatry at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He treats patients at Invision Health.
Clinical Integration
Radiology technologists Katelyn Haug, Jolene Saccomanno, and Heather Proctor frequently use the DEXA for patient scans.
New Bone Densitometry Helping Detect Osteoporosis Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s Imaging Department recently added a new DEXA bone densitometer to help in the treatment and diagnosis of osteoporosis, a condition where bones become weak to the point of breaking.
The bone densitometer uses small amounts of x-rays to produce images of the spine, hip, or even the whole body. A computer analyzes the variances in absorption levels to calculate how much bone mineral is present.
“We continue to upgrade and add new imaging services to Kenmore Mercy Hospital in order to improve patient care and make our services more convenient for patients,” said John Severins, manager of Imaging Services for the hospital. “We are excited about what this new DEXA machine will mean for our patients.” Early detection using a bone density measurement is the best way to help physicians find and treat osteoporosis. A bone density scan is simple, non-invasive and painless exam, designed to measure bone mass in areas such as your spine, hip, wrist, finger, kneecap, shin bone, and heel. The test uses a low dose x-ray to detect signs of bone thinning and mineral loss.
Blood Drive
Community Room Wednesday, February 18 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. For an appointment, please call Volunteer Services at 447-6189.
Osteoporosis is a growing healthcare concern affecting millions of women and men worldwide. However, there are rarely signs until a lot of bone has been lost. The most visible symptoms may include loss of height along with a curvature of the upper back. Bone density scans are recommended if you are age 65 or older regardless of risk.
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Nursing Excellence
Irene McNeill, RN, and Renata Pagels, review a patient’s chart in the ICU.
ICU Seeking Beacon Renewal The Intensive Care Unit is gearing up to pursue renewal of the Beacon Award from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Kenmore Mercy received the silver level of the award in 2012.
This award validates the department’s ongoing work to improve patient outcomes, develop patient- and family-centered care and advance nursing practice.
Knee & Hip Center Nurse Receives DAISY Award Congratulations to Matt Winiarski, RN, from the Knee & Hip Center.
He was recently honored with the fall 2014 DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing.
The DAISY Award is part of a national program to recognize the superhuman efforts nurses perform every day. It was established in 2000 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died of complications of the auto-immune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) at the age of 33. (DAISY is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system). The nomination from a patient’s family explained that Matt, “is possibly the most efficient, professional and thorough nurse I’ve observed.”
They continued, “Matt was exemplary; he made me feel like my loved one was well cared for and in excellent hands.” Each DAISY Award honoree receives a hand-carved stone sculpture, like
shown below, entitled “A Healer’s Touch,” as well as a certificate, and a DAISY Award pin.
Additionally, every one in the unit celebrates with Cinnabons, a favorite of Patrick’s during his illness. If you would like to nominate a nurse at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, visit our website at www.chsbuffalo.org or complete a nomination form and place it in one of the DAISY boxes located throughout the hospital.
To be considered for the award, nurses and nursing leadership must outline their work in the areas of evidence-based practices and processes; patient outcomes; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; leadership structure and process; knowledge management and best practices; and effective communication, among others.
“The ICU has a strong commitment to quality improvement,” said Kristen Parisi, RN, nurse manager of the ICU. “In the past few years, the unit has focused its efforts on creating a healthy work environment and pursuing evidencebased practices, as well as reducing pressure ulcer rates and central line infections.”
In addition, staff continue enriching their education. Many nurses are pursuing bachelor’s and advanced degrees in nursing and other certifications. Most of the ICU nurses have also joined the AACN, and many have taken or are going to take the CCRN exam. “This is an ongoing journey that the Nursing team and all of Kenmore Mercy must continue in order to provide the best care possible to our patients and their families,” added Cheryl Hayes, vice president of Patient Care Services.
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Cheryl Hayes, vice president of Patient Care Services, presents Matt Winiarski, RN, with the Daisy Award.