NOVEMBER 2022
Mercy Monthly MERCY Minute MARTY’S
Monthly Message
In early September, Marty Boryszak, Senior Vice President of Acute Care Services at Catholic Health, was also named President of Mercy Hospital of Buffalo. In this new role and added responsibility, he will be focused on strengthening and rebuilding the hospital for the future. He will provide a monthly message to associates in this new Monthly Minute column.
There is no doubt that we’ve been through a lot of challenges these past couple years—the pandemic, the strike, and so much more. I’ve taken on this new role as President of Mercy Hospital to drive change and make some positive improvements here to strengthen and position us for a successful future. Let me introduce myself to you. I was born and raised in South Buffalo...this is my neighborhood. My parents still live just blocks away. My mother was a nurse at Catholic Health for 42 years and I know what it was like growing up with a parent in healthcare. In a 24/7 operation, there is a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Long story short, I care deeply about this hospital. As I mentioned in our recent Town Hall meetings, our success will be driven by less looking backward in the rearview mirror and more looking ahead through the windshield. Our Town Hall meetings were just a first step in many more coming down the road to get us all on the same page and running in the same direction. The Town Hall Meetings, which we hope to schedule twice a year, are important face-toface forums not only to learn about news at Mercy, but more importantly, an opportunity for our staff to provide feedback, ask questions and voice concerns. A special publication summarizing our recent meetings including questions brought up and submitted to our Suggestion Box is being provided with this month’s Mercy Monthly Minute.
Passport to Mercy Fair...It was Out of this World! This year’s 10th Annual Passport to Mercy Fair was Out of this World for the nearly 600 Mercy associates who traveled through the outer space-themed event to learn all the latest information about our hospital. Twelve departments decorated their stations with a famous space movie or show and handed out candy as they relayed important messages to staff along the way. Respiratory Care Services (RCS) Nurses Becky Slager and Kelly Willard visit the won the Best Decorated Station Star Wars station with Sheleka Massey. with a “Star Wars” theme coordiwinners: Skyler Ferington-Morgan, nated by RCS Manager Sheleka Nurse Assistant (6 West)—$500 Visa Massey. Patient Care Services with gift card; Justin Selvaggio from Raits “Men in Black” station was just a diology (MACC)—$250 Tops gift card; handful of votes behind for second Beth Colarusso, NP in Palliative Care place honors. —Russell’s Dinner/Overnight package; Special thanks to the Mercy Medical and Keith McClure from Sterile Prep Staff who generously donated the —“Under the Stars” Season Pass to raffle prizes. Congratulations to our Delevan Drive-In.
Autumn Ball Raises More Than $100,000 More than $100,000 was raised for hospital services at the Mercy Hospital Foundation’s “Queen of Hearts” Autumn Ball held at the Powerhouse on October 7. Over 250 supporters and friends were not late for this very important date that honored Dr. Timothy Gabryel, Vice President of Medical Affairs, with the Dr. Thomas A Raab Physician Champion Award; Christina Tobin, Vice President of Operations, with the Nurse of Distinction Award; Liz Clancy with the Staff Nurse of the Year Award, and Ann Swan was recognized posthumously with the Community Partner Award. Major sponsors of the event included
Autumn Ball Honorees were (l.-r.) Christina Tobin, Dr. Timothy Gabryel and Liz Clancy.
The McGuire Group, Absolut Care, Aramark, Southtowns Radiology, and Allpro Parking. A “Mission Moment” Raise the Paddle event benefited a major cardiac cath lab upgrade project underway at the hospital.
MERCY
NOVEMBER 2022
Sweet Mercy! PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Keri Hendrix, RN, BSN, was recently named Nurse Manager of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). With over sixteen years of nursing experience, she previously served as the Supervisor of the CHS Transfer Center, overseeing patient bed placement and facilitation Keri Hendrix of transfers throughout the system. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from D’Youville College in 2006. Amy Peterson, BSN, MSN, was recently named Supervisor of the Float Pool. Joining Catholic Health in 2000, she previously served as a clinical educator for Catholic Health, and prior to that, she was a NICU nurse at Sisters of Charity Hospital. She holds both MSN and BSN degrees from Roberts Wesleyan College.
Amy Peterson
Melenie Leuer, RN, BSN, was named Nurse Manager of the 5 Center Unit. Starting at Mercy Hospital as a nurse assistant in 1993, she transitioned to nursing in 2005 working on 7 West Unit, ED and the Rapid Response Team through 2018. She Melenie Leuer previously served as a Case Manager at Sisters of Charity Hospital. She earned her BSN degree from D’Youville College and is currently pursuing her MSN from SUNY Empire State College. Jaclyn Meyer, RN, CCRN, was named Supervisor of the Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU). She joined Mercy Hospital in 2012 as a nurse on the 7 West Unit and has worked as a nurse in the CVICU since 2014. A certified critical care nurse and ECMO specialist, Jaclyn Meyer she holds a BSN degree from Daemen College and her RN degree from Erie Community College.
Mercy is First in WNY to Launch New EMS App It’s a game-changer! Mercy Hospital became the first hospital in the region to launch a smartphone app to enhance communication between EMS providers in the field with hospital physicians. It is expected to save valuable time for the care of emergency heart and stroke patients. Pulsara is a secure app that works on a smartphone or tablet device, offering two-way, real-time triage and assessment consultations while patients are on route to the hospital.
Better yet, Catholic Health is offering this new communication system at no cost to our EMS community.
Lab Achieves Successful Joint Commission Survey Congratulations go out to the Laboratory Services team who successfully completed an onsite Joint Commission Survey— a rigorous quality review of practice standards, elements of performance and patient safety. Surveyors found only nine opportunities for improvement. Hats off to the Lab Team!
A Warm Welcome
TO OUR NEW MERCY ASSOCIATES Shannon McNally Rehab- PT Gwenith Hampton 5 Center Tashelle German 5 Center Mia Everette 5 Center Megan Calabrese 5 North Brittany Shingleton 5 East Keyana Palmer 5 West Danyelle Ravenell 5 West Natasha Scott 6 East Stephanie Marvel 6 West Crystal Thomas 6 West Valerie Emerson 6 West Karen Hartmann 7 East Lashanique Jones 7 East Tenika Cooper 7 West Dasia Morman Float Pool Lois Ganschow Cardiac Cath Auryelle Moore Central Transport Brandon Riederer Central Transport Cerrah Campbell Dietary
Lutrell Reed Dietary Jonathan Mazurczak Mercy ED Joshua Mendez Mercy ED Andrew Liberati Mercy ED Mary Swanson Mercy ED Gustavo Borrayo Mercy ED Lisa Guzzo Mercy ED Elijah Halter Mercy ED Victoria Trzcinski-Jurenovich MACC ED Robert Williams EVS Nalijah Squires Cobbina- MACC EVS Andrew Krajewski Facilities Victoria Reynoso ICU Petra Hongamata ICU Sarah Mitzel Lab Kyle Bullis Neuroscience Sierra Lewis Patient Care Tyler Tanevski Radiology Sara Rodriguez Switchboard Christie Goodman-Williams- Thoracics