March 2017 Vol. 19 Issue 3
ECHO STORIES AND NEWS FROM THE HSS FAMILY
Cara Ann Senicola Honored as 2016 Employee of the Year
Orthopaedic Residency Program Recognized as Top in the US
ur culture lies at the foundation of the
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Roadmap to 2020 and is also one of the keys to our success. The HSS culture, and
the more than 5,000 members of the HSS family
he HSS Orthopaedic
On February 21, we honored 12 individuals who
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exemplify the HSS culture and serve as role models
residency program in the
for their colleagues at the Employee of the Year
US on Doximity’s Residency
ceremony. During the ceremony, Cara Ann Senicola,
Navigator reputation and research list for the third
Manager at our JP Morgan Midtown rehabilitation
consecutive year. Doximity is the largest community
who embody it, contribute greatly to our position as the leader in musculoskeletal health.
facility, was named Employee of the Year 2016. The ceremony, which was attended by HSS family members from across the organization, as well as friends and family members of the honorees, opened with a welcome from Bruce Slawitsky, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Service Excellence. “Today we celebrate the best of the best,” he said. Bruce then introduced the 2016 Employee of the Month winners who were being honored at the ceremony. “These 12 members of the HSS family do a truly outstanding job every day.” He went on to recognize the members of the Employee of the Month Committee who represent virtually every area of the Hospital and have the difficult job of selecting the monthly winners, as well as the Employee of the Year recipient.
Residency Program was recognized as
the top orthopedic surgery
Lou Shapiro, Cara Ann Senicola, JeMe Cioppa-Mosca and Bruce Slawitsky pose with the Employee of the Year Award.
of physicians in the country with more than 70
organization,” said Lou. “This award is almost
Selecting a residency program is a big decision for
impossible to conduct because there are 12 people
new physicians. According to Doximity, “over 52,000
who represent 5,000 more who are just as dedicated.
US physicians have contributed nominations, ratings
On behalf of everyone who depends on HSS for what
and handwritten reviews to help medical students
we do and all the people who enable that to occur,
find the right training program. Residency Navigator
I want to thank you.”
combines their feedback with objective data on
Lou then announced Cara as the 2016 Employee of the Year winner. Cara graciously accepted her award as those in attendance gave her a standing ovation. Cara, who has been a member of the HSS family for nearly 10 years, has greatly contributed to the expansion of HSS care in alternate locations. Prior to working at JP Morgan, she worked at the rehabilitation facility at Goldman Sachs. Cara was selected as the
Bruce next introduced Lou Shapiro, President and
winner because she exemplifies all the best attributes
CEO, who addressed the crowd.
of a caring coworker and clinician, and she is well-
“What makes us amazing is not the building or
respected as a clinical mentor and colleague.
the technology, but the people who work for this
percent of US doctors as verified members.
residency programs across 27 specialties, and ‘alumni outcomes’ analysis from analyzing the CVs and career paths of all US physicians.” The result is an interactive tool designed by Doximity for third and fourth year medical students to select the best program for their needs. Under the direction of Mathias Bostrom, MD, Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, the Hospital’s program allows orthopedic residents to develop a broad-based skillset over five years, including musculoskeletal research, a well-rounded surgical education and a mastery of the fundamentals of
CONTINUED on page 2
orthopedic surgery. Residents are required to participate in either basic or clinical research and present a paper in the last year of residency. HSS receives more than 600 applications in a typical year for nine residency spots. Currently, 46 residents are enrolled in the program. “We are extremely honored to have our orthopedic residency program recognized by Doximity for the third year,” said Dr. Bostrom. “Residency is a very important step in any physician’s career, and selecting the right program is key. At HSS, we strive to provide the best possible educational, clinical and research training to our residents to prepare them to be the next generation of leaders in the field.”
Inside
Members of the Rehabilitation Department congratulated Cara on her award.
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Leadership Academy Graduation Epic Upgrade
Michael Parks, MD, Honored at Harlem Fine Arts Show
Cara Ann Senicola Honored CONTINUED FROM COVER After Cara was announced as the winner, JeMe Cioppa-Mosca, Senior Vice President, Rehabilita-
ichael Parks, MD, Associate Attending
tion, took the stage to congratulate her and share
Orthopedic Surgeon, was among 15
some kind words.
African Americans in medicine honored
“Cara has a smile that lights up the world and a heart
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on February 16 during the eighth anniversary of the
of gold,” said JeMe. “It’s a very special skillset to take
Harlem Fine Arts Show (HFAS). The event, which
the culture of HSS and embed it in someone else’s
took place at the Riverside Church, in Harlem, NY,
home. She does this so seamlessly, and she is an
promoted health and wellness by embracing the
incredible mentor and clinical leader.”
medical community and showing the parallel between art and health. The goal of the event was to showcase and celebrate African Americans in the medical field, as well as raise awareness about medicine as a career choice for young people. “It was a special honor to be recognized by a community of artists who light up the lives of each of us,” said Dr. Parks. “Having cared for a number of the organizers and patrons it made this recognition
Finally, Cara addressed the crowd to say thank you and also congratulate all of the other Employee of the Month winners. “When I think about HSS, I think about opportunity – the opportunity to learn and grow,” said Cara. “It is really fun to take the culture and love at HSS offsite. I am so thankful to work with my colleagues every day. Thank you for this opportunity!” Congratulations to Cara and all of the 2016
more meaningful.”
The Employee of the Month winners posed with Lou Shapiro, President and CEO. (Top row, l-r) Vincenzo Bongiorno, Jake White, Geri Pimentel, Ryan Dunne, (middle row, l-r) Sue Xiao Yu, Sandy Vien, Johnny Tam, Liliana De Jesus, Dave Sousa, (bottom row, l-r) Lorena Aviles, Cara Ann Senicola and Susan Mollica
Employee of the Month winners!
Department of Neurology Offers Patients Virtual Appointment Options roviding quality patient care and experience
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is a priority across all departments at HSS. Earlier this year, the Department of Neurology
began implementing new technology to make care more accessible and convenient through TeleHealth, a web-based telemedicine portal that allows HSS physicians to conduct virtual appointments with patients. According to Dale J. Lange, MD, Chairman of Neurology and Neurologist-in-Chief, TeleHealth works just like Skype or FaceTime, but in a HIPAA compliant network that ensures safety and security Dr. Parks was honored at the Harlem Fine Arts Show in mid-February.
of patient information. Patients can make a formal appointment, but instead of coming to HSS to see a physician, the appointment is conducted virtually. “Many of our patients find it difficult to come to HSS because of weakness,” said Dr. Lange. “TeleHealth enables us to visit real-time and address urgent and
Making Rounds News & Insights from Lou Shapiro, President and CEO
Dr. Lange and members of the Department of Neurology demonstrate the TeleHealth portal.
TeleHealth provides a perfect venue to conduct
“This gives us a different option, and now it has
a virtual appointment and observe the patient.
become part of my routine to give patients the
We are able to obtain an interactive history and
option to follow up with me to discuss lab results,
form a thorough analysis of language and movement.
care management or answer questions,” said Dr.
Access “Making Rounds” at www.hssmakingrounds.com
With TeleHealth, physicians can now see the quizzical
Lange. “Many people come from far away to see us
to read the below posts and more. I look forward to
look on a patient’s face or observe their body language
for our diagnostic expertise. There is not always a
your comments.
while speaking with them.
need to have an in-person visit when a face-to-face
To date, more than 10 patient encounters have
TeleHealth visit would suffice.”
taken place via TeleHealth. The patients who have
TeleHealth puts HSS at the forefront of a national
– Lou Shapiro • Higher Ambition
used the technology have been extremely pleased
shift toward providing patients with high-quality,
• A Week In the Life of HSS
with the results. They feel as though they are having
convenient virtual care options in addition to the
• Talent and Growth
a personal visit with their treatment team in their
traditional ways that we deliver care. Dr. Lange sees
own home. It is convenient and easy, especially for
telemedicine expanding in the department and in
those who live far away from HSS or have difficulty
medicine in general, becoming integrated throughout
traveling into Manhattan.
other departments across HSS.
• Emotions • Employee of the Year Award Honors HSS Culture
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non-urgent needs without waiting for appointments.”
HSS Welcomes Drs. Bauer, Osei, Qureshi and Rodriguez SS is proud to welcome four new prominent
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physicians across different departments in the Hospital – one chief of services and
three orthopedic surgeons. These new physicians
represent some of the top medical talent in the world. Their depth and diversity of experience will further enhance our world-class patient care and expand the Hospital’s commitment to delivering high quality outcomes to patients. “For the past 150 years the success of HSS has been driven by the caliber of its physicians – all global
Dr. Thomas Bauer
Dr. Daniel Osei
Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi
Dr. Jose Rodriguez
leaders in the fields of orthopedics and rheumatology,”
guidance, the Department of Pathology and Labora-
Mount Sinai Hospital where he was an Associate
said Lou Shapiro, President and CEO. “Attracting top
tory Medicine will continue to act as an invaluable
Professor of Spinal Surgery in the Department of
medical talent is one of the reasons why we have
resource for all of our clinical departments across
Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of Minimally Invasive
been ranked No. 1 by U.S.News & World Report for
the Hospital. Dr. Bauer comes to HSS from Cleveland
Spine Surgery. Dr. Qureshi was also the Chief of
seven consecutive years.”
Clinic, where he practiced in the Department of
Spinal Trauma at Elmhurst Hospital Center. He will
Added Todd Albert, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief,
Anatomic Pathology since 1983.
see patients both in Manhattan and at the HSS
“All of our physicians have one goal, and that’s
Daniel Osei, MD, MSc, returns to HSS as a hand and
Outpatient Center in Paramus.
to provide an unmatched level of personalized care
upper extremity surgeon, effective May 1. Dr. Osei
Jose Rodriguez, MD, joins HSS as an adult
to patients. We are constantly working to identify
specializes in microvascular reconstruction. He
reconstruction and joint replacement surgeon
ways to enhance the value of care and are pleased
comes to us from Washington University in St. Louis
beginning on April 3. Dr. Rodriguez specializes
to welcome this incredible set of new leaders to the
where he practiced hand surgery since 2012 and
in the treatment of traumatic and developmental
HSS family.”
served as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic
conditions of the hip and knee. He completed his
New appointments include: Thomas Bauer, MD,
Surgery. Dr. Osei earned his medical degree at
residency here at HSS and returns to us from
PhD; Daniel Osei, MD, MSc; Sheeraz A. Qureshi,
University of Pennsylvania before completing his
Lenox Hill Hospital where he served as Chief of
MD, MBA; and Jose Rodriguez, MD.
residency here at HSS.
Reconstruction Arthroplasty and the Director
Thomas Bauer, MD, PhD, will join HSS as the new
Sheeraz A. Qureshi, MD, MBA, joins HSS as a spine
of the Arthroplasty Fellowship Program.
Pathologist-in-Chief on April 19. Under Dr. Bauer’s
surgeon starting on April 1. He comes to us from
HSS Leadership Academy Graduation Celebrates Strong Leaders Across the Hospital trong leaders at all levels of the organization
President, Human Resources and Service Excellence,
help contribute to our success. On March 3,
who explained the program to those in attendance
15 members of the HSS family were honored
and congratulated the graduates.
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for their commitment to leadership at the HSS
Next, Lou Shapiro, President and CEO, addressed
Leadership Academy graduation ceremony.
the crowd.
The HSS Leadership Academy is a competency
“Our success as an organization is determined by
based program sponsored by the Organizational
people, culture and leadership,” said Lou. “If we have
Learning and Development Department designed
really strong people at the front line of leadership we
to develop leadership skills and knowledge for
will be able to succeed. You’re taking the time to
frontline management. The goal of the program is
invest in building your leadership abilities, and I want
to support the mission, vision, values and strategic
to thank you for that. You should be very proud.
plan of HSS through training, development and
Shared leadership in our Roadmap
education in order to produce a culture of excellence
means that the more than 5,000
and high performance.
individuals at HSS are responsible
This year’s graduation marked the fourth for HSS
for moving us on our pathway.”
Leadership Academy, which has seen a total of
Finally, Denise Williams, Director,
62 individuals complete the program. Frontline
Organizational Development, and
managers can request and/or be selected by their
one of the creators of the Academy,
own managers to participate in the program. They
took the stage to announce the
are required to complete 10 classroom-based courses,
names of the graduates while Lou
which are taught by subject matter experts across
handed them their certificates.
HSS on topics such as operational excellence, the
Denise also offered some words of
strategic plan and employee engagement. In addition,
advice. “Just remember – learning
they must complete two online courses. The entire
is a lifelong experience and it
program can be completed in one to two years.
doesn’t end with this. Continue
This year’s graduation ceremony opened with an
to learn in other capacities and
introduction from Bruce Slawitsky, Senior Vice
continue on your journey.”
Congratulations to the 2017 Leadership Academy graduates! Cynthia Bruder
Dina Mazzella
Christopher Bush
Francine Meyers
Nick Calabro
Titilayo Ologhobo
Yesenia Correa
Bentley Ottway
Marlo Delfin
Alfred Pagan
Oluwatola Gbemi
Brittany Soto
Susan Hansen
Maura Watson
Mike Marzen
HSS Leadership Academy graduates pose with Lou Shapiro and Denise Williams.
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HSS Experts Share Knowledge in Florida
Epic Upgrade in May Will Further Enhance Care Delivery n January 2016, HSS went live with the 2015 version of Epic, our electronic health record
will have a significant impact on their existing
system, to help improve the patient experience
workflows. Highlights of the enhancements and new
panel event at The Breakers in Palm Beach,
I
will attend classroom training since the changes
and the way we deliver care. Like any software
functionality, along with tip sheets and PowerPoint
FL on March 6. During the event, HSS
platform, Epic requires ongoing upgrades, updates
presentations, will be available via the Epic intranet
experts shared advice and participated in a Q&A
and changes focused on improving the usability
starting in late April.
session with the nearly 300 individuals in attendance.
of the system.
Preparation for the 2017 Epic upgrade is well
Lou Shapiro, President and CEO, welcomed
On Sunday, May 7, HSS will upgrade to the 2017
underway at HSS. Interactive sessions facilitated
guests and introduced the panel, followed by
version of Epic. The upgrade will occur during
by IT analysts and instructional designers to high-
Todd Albert, MD, Surgeon-In-Chief, who spoke
a downtime that begins at 4:00 am and lasts
light new features and enhancements for the HSS
about the state of HSS. Panelists and topics included:
approximately four hours. An extensive plan
family started in February and will extend through
• David W. Altchek, MD, Attending Orthopedic
SS hosted its fifth annual “HSS In Florida”
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has been developed to ensure the upgrade goes
the beginning of May. These sessions are primarily
Surgeon and Co-Chief Emeritus, Sports Medicine
smoothly with limited impact on HSS caregivers.
being offered as part of existing departmental staff
& Shoulder Service
Staying up-to-date on the latest features and
meetings to minimize disruption of patient care.
Biologics and Healing Therapies
functionality so that the system works best for
In collaboration with the IT Epic team and
HSS is a key reason to upgrade our current version
governance groups, Epic Experts (formerly
of Epic. Upgrading to 2017 will improve the use of
known as Super Users) continue to play an
Epic for the HSS family and will enable us to stay
integral role in the successful adoption and use
Attending Physiatrist
current with regulatory requirements and transfor-
of Epic at HSS. Epic Experts support departments
Non-Operative and Minimally Invasive Treatments
mation goals related to the electronic health record.
across the organization and can be easily identified
“The appetite for enhancing the use of Epic at HSS
by the “Epic Expert” designation on their employee
Orthopedic Surgeon
is very strong, and the upgrade to version 2017 is
ID badges. The focus and role of Epic Experts during
Computer Assisted Total Knee Replacement
the next step in making Epic work better for our
the 2017 upgrade will be to provide key information
physicians, staff and patients,” said Jamie Nelson,
to colleagues within their departments, assist with
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.
“how do I” questions and serve as liaisons between
• Lionel Ivashkiv, MD, Chief Scientific Officer Healthy Longevity • Jennifer Solomon, MD, Assistant
• Seth Jerabek, MD, Assistant Attending
Finally, Paul M. Pellicci, MD, Attending Orthopedic Surgeon and Chief Emeritus, Hip Service, moderated
the IT Epic team and their respective areas.
a Q&A session where those in attendance asked
More than 20 existing HSS governance groups,
questions on topics such as joint replacements, stem
comprised of more than 200 individuals across
cell therapy and new technologies. Following the
the organization, have guided the decisions for
user testing during the last two weeks of April.
event, a cocktail reception was held at The Breakers.
which of the new features and enhancements will be
Guided by IT analysts and instructional designers,
Epic Experts will participate in upgrade end
implemented with the 2017 upgrade. Our governance
participants will walk through enhanced workflows
groups determined, via a scoring system, which
in the upgraded system to experience and test
enhancements best support the HSS strategic goals
out the new features and to share these changes
and will add the most value, resulting in the approval
with colleagues. An updated Epic playground
of more than 1,400 changes. Some of the new features and enhancements will require training in the form of tip sheets and PowerPoint presentations, but many changes
environment will also be made available in mid-April for HSS family members to access and try out new features prior to the upgrade go-live. More information about the 2017 Epic upgrade
are intuitive, requiring no training. The Case
and how it will impact members of the HSS family
Management and Anesthesia Departments are
will be shared in the April issue of ECHO, including
the exception; individuals in these departments
enhancements to MyHSS, our patient portal.
Drs. Pellicci, Altchek, Solomon, Jerabek, Albert and Ivashkiv shared expert advice with those in attendance.
More than 300 guests gathered to hear HSS experts speak on new technologies and advances in musculoskeletal care.
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In preparation for the 2017 Epic upgrade, the HSS IT Department meets weekly to discuss progress and key next steps and address any challenges to ensure a smooth transition for members of the HSS family in May.
Inflammatory Arthritis Center Focuses on Education for Gout Patients he Inflammatory Arthritis Center (IAC) at
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in the study provided feedback that they saved
is needed to not only manage gout, but to manage
HSS is committed to improving the lives of
time due to nurses providing extensive education.
these additional problems.
people with inflammatory arthritis through
They also believed their patients were able to better
“It is important to note that diet alone will not ‘cure’
individualized, high-quality patient care, including
manage their gout.
most people with gout and that you still need med-
education. One of the diseases treated by physicians
Further, to bring this essential disease-specific
ication,” said Dr. Fields. “It is an integrative approach.”
at the Center is gout.
information to a larger patient population, a gout
Symptoms, causes and treatment of gout are
More than 8.3 million individuals in the US have
symposium was held last spring to discuss treatment
complicated and it is difficult for a physician to fully
gout, a form of inflammatory arthritis that results
plans and goals, as well as answer any questions
explain during a brief medical visit. Having the oppor-
from an excess of uric acid in the blood. Gout,
patients might have about the disease.
tunity to hear from healthcare providers in person at
which in most cases is genetic, causes severe joint
As a first step, Adena Batterman, MSW, LCSW,
the symposium was extremely beneficial to patients.
inflammation most commonly located at the base
Senior Manager, Inflammatory Arthritis Support
of the big toe, which can be extremely painful.
The gout symposium was part of a larger mission
and Education Programs, Department of Social Work
Patients with gout often experience attacks, or
for the IAC to further develop a strong patient
Programs, developed a needs assessment that was
periods of inflammation, that can become worse
education initiative. Last fall, a symposium was held
administered to 100 gout patients. The goal was to
and more frequent over time.
on rheumatoid arthritis, and in May, another will
discover their specific needs for assistance and
take place on ankylosing spondylitis. All of these
At HSS, our rheumatologists see patients with gout
support in managing their illness. The results of this
events, in collaboration with the Department of
daily to help diagnose, treat and manage the disease.
assessment helped inform the curriculum of the
Education and Academic Affairs, are also taped
Theodore R. Fields, MD, FACP, Attending Physician
gout symposium and were also presented at the
and will be available on demand in an online patient
and Clinical Director of the Early Arthritis Initiative,
American College of Rheumatology 2016 Annual
education library.
part of the IAC, specializes in the treatment of gout
Scientific Meeting.
at HSS.
At the symposium, Dr. Fields addressed patients to
education and support to our patients through
“One of the biggest challenges we see with gout
discuss disease background, causes, diagnosis and
events like the gout symposium and others,” said
patients is that in between attacks they tend to feel
treatment. He emphasized the importance of finding
Dr. Fields. “These educational components help
good,” said Dr. Fields. “Because of this, it is a challenge
a medication plan that works best for each individual
solidify our focus on providing the highest quality
to get patients to stay on their medication. When
and of staying on that plan, even when attacks are
care to our patients with inflammatory arthritis.”
talking about gout, we use the word ‘cure’ because
under control.
we can get patients to be gout free if they get on
In addition, Dana Pitman, MS,
and stay on the right medication.”
RD, CDN, Clinical Nutritionist I,
To help improve care of patients with gout and
spoke about dietary triggers for
encourage them to stay on their medication,
gout. There is a lot of misinforma-
Dr. Fields developed a study of a multidisciplinary
tion about diet for gout patients,
group committed to educating and monitoring new
and it is important for them to
HSS patients with gout for one year. During the study,
understand how diet affects
which was published in October 2016, patients
attacks. Many gout patients
were given an exam to test their knowledge on gout.
tend to have other associated
After the test, nurses spent time educating patients.
conditions, such as diabetes,
Additionally, pharmacists called patients monthly to
kidney problems, obesity or
make sure they were staying on their medication
high cholesterol, so it is crucial
and to answer any questions. Physicians with patients
to understand what type of diet
“It is crucial that we provide the best possible
An infographic available on HSS.edu provides patients with information on gout. A section of that infographic is shown here.
New Medical Staff Dorothy A. Fink, MD Dorothy A. Fink, MD, is an Assistant Attending Physician at Hospital for Special Surgery specializing in endocrinology with a focus on bone health, women’s reproductive health and perioperative diabetes management. After receiving her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Fink completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She trained as a fellow in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Columbia University Medical Center. During her fellowship, Dr. Fink worked as a women’s health scholar at the Center for Menopause, Hormonal Disorders and Women’s Health. Dr. Fink is a nationally certified menopause practitioner with a focus on metabolic bone disease. She works with adolescents and young adults to attain peak bone mass. As a former ballet dancer herself, Dr. Fink treats dancers with irregular menstrual cycles and fractures. She also works with the preoperative diabetes team to optimize glucose control for patients prior to surgery.
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Back in the Game SS’ online patient forum – Back in the Game –
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HSS Provides Once-in-a-Lifetime Skiing Experience for Pediatric Patients
now has more than 1,600 patient stories! The postings share how HSS helped patients get
“back in the game.” Every month we will include one of the stories that highlights the extraordinary care members of the HSS family provide.
Read how HSS helped Brenton Hard of Astoria, NY get back in the game. In May 2015, I injured my right knee playing for the professional Ultimate Frisbee team in NYC. The injury consisted of a sharp pain at the front of my knee and constant throbbing, which restricted me from anything more than lightly jogging with extreme discomfort. After consulting with other doctors/hospitals in NYC and frustratingly receiving misdiagnoses and poor patient care, I finally obtained a consultation with Dr. Moira McCarthy. Within our first appointment she properly diagnosed me as having cartilage damage in my kneecap and a partial patella tendon tear. She took the time to help me understand the
n March 2, HSS brought nine pediatric
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progressed in their
patients, along with their families, to Windham
abilities throughout the
Mountain Resort in Windham, NY for a day
day. It also provided a
of skiing. This trip was part of the Adaptive Sports
great opportunity for
Academy operated by the Lerner Children’s Pavilion,
socialization between
which runs a variety of local, regional and national
families and peer support.
trips for HSS pediatric patients.
“Each year, I look forward
The children who took part in the trip ranged in
to skiing alongside the
age from eight to 21 and have a variety of physical
children to watch as they
disabilities affecting their upper and/or lower
surpass their goals and
extremities, including cerebral palsy. They were paired
expectations and realize
with volunteers from the Adaptive Sports Foundation
all their bodies can do,”
to learn how to ski despite physical limitations using
said Dr. Scher. “The
Dr. David Scher poses with two of the children on the ski trip.
adaptive ski equipment. The group was pleasantly
Windham ski trip is a unique opportunity for me to
surprised to find that three of the volunteer instructors
spend time with and support my patients outside of
had personal connections to HSS, including Susan
their hospital visits.”
Marconi, RN, an HSS nurse; a grateful patient of
The children had an amazing experience and
James Farmer, MD; and the grandmother of a patient
realized that they have the ability to accomplish
of Daniel Green, MD, all of whom were eager to give
their goals. The children and their parents com-
back to HSS and its youngest patients.
mented that their confidence was built and they
Also on hand to help the children were six members
were happy to have a day where the focus was not
of the HSS family – Peyton Katz, Pediatric Patient
on correcting disabilities, but on acquiring new skills
and Family Care Coordinator; Lisa Drefus, PT, DPT;
and abilities. In fact, they even asked about next
Lorene Janowski, DPS, OTR/L, MS, C/NDT; John
year’s ski trip on the way home.
Denneen, Director, Pediatric Service Lines; David
Thank you to all members of the HSS family and phil-
Scher, MD, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon; and
anthropic community for making this trip possible!
Richard Fleury, Executive Director, HSS Radiologists.
issues with terms I could understand and drawings. She then laid out options for me, the last one being surgery. After following the subscribed plan there was unfortunately no significant improvement, thus in September we decided to move forward with surgery. I consider myself extremely lucky to have been in Dr. McCarthy and her staff’s care during this process, with an additional huge thank you to her office manager, Alicia. My insurance company was not easy to deal with, but they did everything they could to sort it out.
The purpose of the ski trip, which is an annual event, is to expose patients to new physical challenges and social experiences and to reinforce their therapy goals. The trip also encourages independence, which was made evident as the children gained increased self-esteem Nine pediatric patients from the Lerner Children’s Pavilion went skiing at Windham Mountain Resort. and self-confidence as they
The surgery ran extremely smooth. Every staff member was incredibly professional, with excellent patient oriented care. The healing and physical therapy recovery, however, was certainly not easy,
Employee of the Month
but I stuck with it and within five months I was running again and have been able to do serious
February 2017, Tatyana Litvinko
hiking, backpacking and back to Ultimate less than
Congratulations to Tatyana, Employee of the Month for February!
one year after the surgery.
Tatyana is a Patient Services Liaison in the Department of Service
Since the surgery in November 2015, my fiancé,
Excellence who has been a member of the HSS family since 2015.
Amelia Ni, and I have relocated to Phoenix, Arizona.
She has been described by her colleagues as upbeat, courteous and
She is actually a previous employee of HSS and is
professional and a great role model for other team members.
about to complete her first year of medical school.
Working in a Family Atrium at the Hospital, Tatyana interacts with
Out here I have been able to take full advantage of
patients and family members on a daily basis. She does so with a posi-
the surgery Dr. McCarthy performed on my knee
tive attitude and always goes above and beyond to make sure all needs
and am outside several times per week running,
are taken care of. Several visitors have praised Tatyana for her caring
playing sports and hiking. My overall quality of life
demeanor and her sincere concern for the well-being of patients.
has increased significantly because of Dr. McCarthy and her HSS team. I would like to express deep gratitude toward them and HSS. You treated us like family and I would come back in a heartbeat, but hopefully won’t need to!
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Tatyana is a quick learner and is always available to share her knowledge with her colleagues. She is extremely reliable and has established excellent relationships with various departments across the Hospital. She is respected for her hard work, calm yet strong character and her willingness to always help.
HSS Inspires Generations of the Davidson Family
Employee Activities Committee Spreads Cheer with Chocolate Kisses
randon Davidson’s journey to Hospital
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“I was impressed
for Special Surgery began long before he
with the speedy
joined the Department of Service Excellence
diagnosis, treat-
as a Patient Services Liaison. His father, William
ment and physical
Davidson, MD, was an orthopedic resident and hand
therapy all
fellow at HSS, completing his fellowship in 1975. He
under one roof,”
then moved to San Diego with his family where he
Brandon said.
I
joined the practice of San Diego Orthopedics.
After living in
Bienstock, NP, Nurse Practitioner, Occupational
In addition to his practice, Dr. Davidson taught
New York for
Health, more than 1,300 bags of kisses were sold
residents in hand surgery at Children’s Hospital for
several years,
and delivered by EAC members to HSS family
eight years and served as Chief-of-Staff and Chief of
Brandon decided
members across the Hospital.
the Orthopedic Residency Program at Scripps Mercy
to begin a new
Hospital. For 18 years, he was also a member of the
career in the
Mercy Outreach Surgical Team, making annual trips
medical field and
to colonial cities in Mexico to treat children born with
was immediately
congenital anomalies.
drawn to HSS once again. While completing his
As a child growing up in San Diego, Brandon recalls
pre-medical requirements, he began volunteering
the name Hospital for Special Surgery often men-
in the 4th Floor Family Atrium and the James M.
tioned in conversation, always praised as a place
Benson Sports Rehabilitation Center. Shortly after,
where his father was proud and thankful to have
a position opened up in the Department of Service
received training. “It is no coincidence that these
Excellence, and Brandon was thrilled to continue as
early impressions led me to seek out HSS later
a member of the HSS family.
n the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, the Employee Activities Committee (EAC) sold chocolate kisses through the “Say Thank You
with Kisses” program. Led by EAC member Ann
While walking through the Hospital, Brandon came across a photo of his father from 1975 in the Hall of Residents on the 8th floor.
in my adult life,” said Brandon.
“I always had an incredibly favorable impression of
Many years later, as an adult living in New York City
HSS as a kid,” said Brandon. “My dad spoke about
with a career as a professional dancer, Brandon
HSS with such reverence and respect. Even before
sustained a hand fracture. At the advice of his father,
I had my personal experience here I had an impres-
Brandon came to HSS to seek treatment from
sion of the hospital from my dad, and the culture of
Andrew Weiland, MD, Attending Orthopedic Surgeon.
compassion shined through when he spoke about it.”
The EAC has raised more than $20,000 since this program began to benefit the Pediatric Outreach Program and SNEAKER, an HSS-sponsored program that provides nutritional education to children. Not only are EAC members proud to support these great causes, but they are also pleased to know this program brings smiles to the faces of HSS family members who send and receive the chocolate kisses.
Employee Safety Zone What is Syncope? This month we’d like to discuss syncopal episodes, a common occurrence we see reported through the RL Occurrence Reporting System. A syncopal episode, or syncope, is the medical term for fainting. It is
Ann Bienstock delivers chocolate kisses to Anna Berg, NP, as part of the “Say Thank You with Kisses” program.
typically triggered by a sudden, temporary drop in blood pressure, which leads to loss of consciousness. It can happen at any age and usually only lasts a few seconds or minutes. Our patients often experience syncope while in the Hospital recovering from surgery. They may experience this when: • Sitting up for the first time after surgery. They may sit up too fast and become dizzy. • Holding their breath. Some patients hold their breath to bear the pain, only to pass out moments later. Some hold their breath while straining in the bathroom, only to pass out while on the toilet. • Performing a strenuous task. Some patients overdo it several days after surgery, and their bodies are not up to dealing with that kind of stress. Anyone can have a syncopal episode. It is not limited to a patient post-surgery. Signs and symptoms of a syncopal episode include: • The person will report feeling dizzy or lightheaded. • They will look pale and sweaty.
Joint Commission Reporting Hospital for Special Surgery is committed to providing safe, quality care to all of its patients. In the event you have a concern regarding the safety or quality of care provided by the Hospital or the Laboratory, you may report these concerns to the Joint Commission. Please be assured that no retaliatory disciplinary action will be taken if an employee makes such a report. In addition, the Joint Commission has stated that your name will be treated as confidential information, and will not be shared with any other party. You may file your report in the following ways: 1. By e-mail:
complaint@jointcommission.org
2. By fax:
Office of Quality Monitoring, 630-792-5636
3. By mail:
Office of Quality Monitoring The Joint Commission One Renaissance Boulevard Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
• They may stop talking a few seconds before it happens. • They may close their eyes. What you can do: • Act quickly! • Help them to sit or preferably lie down. • Call for help immediately. Remember, an unconscious person is heavy, “dead weight.” Please contact EmployeeSafety@HSS.edu for additional tips or questions.
For fax and mail reports, submissions must be on a Quality Incident Report Form available on the Joint Commission website at www.jointcommission.org. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Executive Offices at x1236.
7
Milestones Case Management • Laura Jasphy, EdD, Clinical Social Worker in Case Management, was awarded the degree of
Study Sections, Editorial Boards, Professional Organization Roles
• Aviva Wolff, OTR, CHT, wrote a blog post for
• Timothy Wright, PhD; Mathias Bostrom, MD;
ASSH HandCare offering “Advice from a Certified
Doctor of Health Education by Teachers College
and Marjolein van der Meulen, PhD, were
Hand Therapist: Can a T-Shirt Improve Posture
Columbia University on February 8. A member of
invited faculty for the 2016 Clinician Scholar
and Help Treat Arm Pain?”
the Employee Wellness Committee and lifestyle
Career Development Program sponsored by the
wellness coach, Laura plans to build on her study
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons,
findings by continuing her efforts toward creating
the Orthopaedic Research and Education
a culture of health and improving employee
Foundation and the Orthopaedic Research
well-being at HSS.
Society. The Program brings the best and the
Research, Academic and External Activities New Grant Awards • Miguel Otero, PhD, received a new Exploratory/ Developmental Research grant from the NIH/ National Institute on Aging (NIA) to study “Impact of the DNA Methylome in Chondrocyte Hypertrophy in OA.”
• Hector Lozada, PT, DPT, OCS, had his Orthopedic Residency case report “Addressing Yellow Flags in the Care of a Patient with Chronic Neck Pain” printed in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice.
brightest among young orthopedic surgeons seeking academic careers together with faculty to discuss topics around career development.
• Erica Fritz, PT, DPT, OCS; Randall Pifer, PT, DPT; and Christi Loftus, PT, DPT, presented “Total Knee Arthroplasty: The Evolving Standard of Care
Lectures and Symposia
and the Use of Multiple Modalities to Optimize
• Scott Wolfe, MD, was the Grand Rounds
Patient Outcomes and Satisfaction” at HSS
speaker at Massachusetts General Hospital
Rehabilitation Grand Rounds.
in Boston, MA, and presented a talk entitled “Parsonage Turner Syndrome, AIN and Hourglass Constriction….New Insights into Old Mysteries.”
Picture This
On March 8, instructors from Educational Light School of Chess and Math, a local chess program, visited the Hospital to play chess with children throughout the Lerner Children’s Pavilion. The goal of the program was to expose the children to the game, which has numerous cognitive and physical benefits, and hopefully inspire them to continue playing when they leave the Hospital. The children were extremely happy to have this experience while at HSS.
Compliance Helpline Reminder The Compliance Helpline is a service for employees who wish to anonymously or confidentially report suspected violations of the Hospital for Special Surgery’s Code of Conduct, officially stated policies or relevant public laws and regulations. This includes concerns about patient safety. The Helpline does not replace other resources available to you, including supervisors, managers and Human Resources staff, but it is an alternative channel available to you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is operated on our behalf by National Helpline Services, Inc., an independent firm.
Welcome Carla Aliaga, Joan Altman, Amanda J. Aracena, Gaseby Barthelemy, Sandra Bento, Gavin Berger, Elissa H. Bergman, Kaitlyn M. Berrian, George A. Birch, Sharon Blaggrove, Christina Bridgenauth, Edward W. Buist, Lisa Campbell, Alana Charles-Cunningham, Felicia Chen, Michelle Cilenti, Chaina Collado, Denise Colvert, Montgomery T. Croker, Lesley Cruz, Veronica S. Darden, Amalia Delicari, Danya DeMeo, Dinesh K. Deochand, Amanda V. Eckenrode, Hassan Farooq, Eric K. Favors, Leila H. Fidelman, Danny M. Flores Castro, Aimee Fong, Anthony Forti, Fernando A. Frias, Nastashia Garcia, Christopher T. Garnett, Dymphna Gilhooley, Rafal Golinski, Karen Gourlay, Nancy B. Grant, Bryan A. Guss, Marissa Guttenberg, Simone M. Hannah-Clark, Sivoy Harris, Hema Harrypersad, Timothy Healy, Darius A. Hicks, Thomas S. Higginbotham, Veronica Hudson, Khrystina Jackson, Shauna S. Jenkisson, Sean J. Joshua, Ashley M. Keegan, Aubrey A. Kenderdine, Imran Khan, Usman Khan, Rafia Khursheed, Tri B. Khuu, Aswani K. Kilaru, Bliss M. Kwakumey, Anum S. Lalani, Sophia Lamberty, Shayna LaSala, Ye Ji Lee, Diandra A. Leonard, Hava Ljubanovic, Jonathan Lo, Alexandra P. Mace, Rania Mahmoud, Louella Marshall-Bodon, Erisa Maska, Eileen McHale, Courtney T. McKenzie, Carly M. McNeil, Steven Mendoza, Patrick W. Mensah, Katrina L. Mercado, Santiago Mercado, Nabila Meziani, Tara J. Morrissey, Katherine A. Mulraney, Ahava Muskat, Kelli Nelson, Chelsea S. Nicholas, Marc A. Nolan, Martha Nyamekewuly, Veronica A. O’Donnell, Nathaniel Obeng-Adei, Kelly Oehm, Gregory Pando, Sofya Panteleimonov, Nicole Passalacqua, Emily L. Polhemus, Jeimy E. Polo-Giraldo, Jannat Rahman, James Reed, Emanuel Remilus, D’Andra N. Richards, Obioma Richardson, Andrew Riley, Jessica Rivera, Jizelle Rodriguez, Nelson Rodriguez Jr., Kristina Romano, Angela Romeo, John Salva, Sonia Salvador, Michael R. Sandberg, Christina Segovia, Robert Sockol, Peter A. Sorrento, Michael A. Spagnuoli, Jessica Sylvester, Nadeisha Taylor, Vonetta Tillman, Rochelle Torrence, Gnanesh Vaithur Prakash, Michael Vanegas, Jason E. Viruet, Lorena Vivas, Sarie Q. Weiss, Kelly C. Wong, Geoffrey Wright, Chao Ye, Kelly Yip, Deborah Yoon
The Compliance Helpline number is 888-651-6234.
Editor:
Marisa DeFilipps
All information will be kept confidential unless the law requires it to be shared with law enforcement authorities. Hospital for Special Surgery policy forbids any retribution or retaliation against an employee who reports a compliance issue in good faith.
Executive Editor:
Rachel Sheehan
Editorial Committee:
Lisa Goldstein, Bruce Slawitsky, John Englehart
Next Issue:
April 2017
If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Corporate Compliance office directly at x2398.
8
Rehabilitation
echo@hss.edu