ECHO
May 2018 Vol. 20 Issue 5
STORIES AND NEWS FROM THE HSS FAMILY
Recognizing the Extraordinary Work of our Nurses
Dr. Michael Parks Inducted as OREF President
I
H
n March, Michael L. Parks, MD, Vice Chair for
SS nurses are the best in the world at what they do and are crucial to the success of our
Quality and Clinical Director of Orthopedic Surgery,
organization. To honor and thank our nursing
was inducted as president of the Orthopaedic
colleagues at HSS, we joined in the celebration of National Nurses Week from May 6-12 with several different events. The theme of this year’s week was “Nurses: Inspire, Innovate, Influence.”
Research and Education Foundation (OREF) at the
The Nursing Leadership Panel
OREF Board of Trustees Meeting in New Orleans. Dr. Parks will serve a two-year term in this position.
“It’s important that you find something you are
On May 7, we held a Nursing Leadership Panel,
most happy with and pursue it,” said Ann. “Try to
which showcased the journey of some of our nursing
find something you really appreciate and love and
leaders. Panelists included Stephanie Goldberg,
you will succeed.”
SVP, Patient Care Services, and Chief Nursing
“As nurses grow and develop, the profession grows
Officer; Ann LoBasso, VP of Nursing Operations;
and develops and the patients get better care,”
Ron Perez, VP of Perioperative Operations; Patricia
added Ron.
Quinlan, AVP and Chief Learning Officer; Eileen
On May 8, the first ever Patient Care Assistant (PCA)
Finerty, AVP, Infection Control and Occupational
Reception took place to recognize our dedicated and
Health Services; and Ingrid Herrera-Capoziello,
hardworking PCAs. The PCAs at HSS work with
Coordinator, Clinical Education.
patients under the supervision of physicians and
Each panelist shared stories of his or her journey
nurses and play an important role in our world-class
Dr. Michael Parks with Dr. David G. Lewallen, OREF Past President, and Dr. John J. Callaghan, a past president and trustee
in the nursing profession and how they became
patient care. The relationship between the PCA and
The mission of OREF is to improve lives by supporting
the leaders they are today. Although their journeys
the nurse is extremely important, as successful
excellence in orthopedic research. Since its founding
were all different, the end results were the same –
teamwork helps to keep the patient safe.
in 1955, OREF has awarded more than 4,700 grants,
they each found a fulfilling career as a leader in
The event started with an interactive education
providing more than $146 million in support of
the field of nursing. They also encouraged those
session on falls led by Doreen Johnson, MSN, RN,
orthopedic research. It is led by a Board of Trustees
in attendance to consider leadership positions and
ONC, Nurse Educator, and Jon Cinkay, PT,
made up of orthopedic surgeons across the country
to always strive to achieve even greater heights,
Coordinator of the Body Mechanics Program.
and key members of the business community.
sharing some advice and knowledge they have
Doreen discussed reasons why patients fall, how
“OREF is the leading grant resource for new
gathered along their journeys.
to prevent falls and what to do if a fall does occur.
investigators by providing important financial
“Never take anything because it is easy,” said
Following, Jon demonstrated the Viking lift, which
support necessary to provide a foundation for their
Stephanie. “A significant attribute of a good leader
can be used to lift patients off the ground when
careers,” said Dr. Parks. “I am honored to lead this
is taking on challenging situations and making
they do fall. Using a lift is safe for both patients
organization as it continues to support research
them better.”
and HSS family members assisting them.
to improve function, eliminate pain and restore
CONTINUED on page 2
mobility, thereby making life better for all patients.” As OREF president, Dr. Parks will serve as the principal executive officer and will supervise and control the business and affairs of the Foundation. He will preside over meetings of the Board of Trustees and perform all duties incident to the office of Board President. Prior to his induction as president, Dr. Parks served as co-chair of the OREF James R. Urbaniak, MD Mentor Campaign, which raised money to fund research in regenerative medicine and cellular therapies.
Inside
Winners of the Nursing Excellence Awards
2 3
Outstanding Patient Experience Recognized by Healthgrades Dr. Liguori and Mary Hargett Honored by ASRA
Outstanding Patient Experience Recognized by Healthgrades
O
ur patients are our number one priority at
HSS. Each member of the HSS family does everything
possible to make sure patients are not only receiving the best care, but also the best overall patient experience. We have been recognized for these efforts by our patients themselves, as well
Recognizing the Extraordinary Work of our Nurses CONTINUED FROM COVER Following the presentation, five PCAs were
the organization, and a video from Todd Albert, MD,
presented with Patient Care Recognition Awards
Surgeon-in-Chief and Medical Director, thanking all
for their demonstration of excellence in patient
of our nurses for their hard work and dedication to
care. The award winners were selected by their
our patients.
colleagues. A nurse from each winner’s respective
Stephanie congratulated our 62 nurses who became
unit shared kind words about the PCA and presented
board certified or recertified since January 2017. She
him or her with the award. After the ceremony, a
then presented the Friend of Nursing Award to Lenny
reception was held for the winners. The Spiritual
Bonanno, Director of Housekeeping, to thank him for
Care Department was present to lead a blessing of
his support of nurses over the years. Finally, she
the hands ceremony for members of the HSS family.
presented 18 deserving nurses with the Nursing
On May 9, the annual Nursing Excellence Awards
Excellence Awards.
Ceremony took place. The event included a welcome
Thank you to all of the nursing staff at HSS for the
by Stephanie, a presentation on LifeWings by
extraordinary care you provide to our patients
Colonel Korky Von Kessel, Senior Vice President of
each and every day!
as by several outside organizations. Recently, HSS was named a recipient of the
Congratulations to the award winners during National Nurses Week!
Healthgrades® 2018 Outstanding Patient Experience Award™. This marks the fourth consecutive year we
PCA Awards
Zach Dolkart, RN
Alexandra McGraw, RN, CCRN
have received this distinction, which places us
Alex Alvarez
Agnes Fajutagana, RN, CNOR
Kara Naus, RN, ONC
Carmen Cabrera
Priscila Freeman, RN
Ryan Racuya, RN
Desa Handley
Adero Gaudin, RN
Julia Rauch, RN, ONC
patients,” said Lou Shapiro, President and CEO.
Milandro Milano
Claudia Gomez, RN, ONC, TNCC
Penelope Sukal, RN
“Without our excellent patient care, HSS would not
Dave Sousa
Michelle Gomez, RN
Rebecca Weinstein, RN
be the leading organization that it is today.”
Nursing Excellence Awards
Heonjung Kim, RN, CNOR
Renee Wilson, RN, CCM
Healthgrades is a quality ratings organization and
Danielle Bianchino, RN, ONC
Stephanie Klingele, RN
Joanne Croke, RN
Amanda Marino, RN
among the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide. “This recognition is a testament to our focus on providing the best care possible to all of our
the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. They evaluated 3,478 hospitals that submitted at least 100 HCAHPS patient experience surveys to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), covering admissions from April 2016 through March 2017 to identify hospital performance in the area of patient experience. The patient experience surveys focused on the care and services patients received at HSS. They measured patient satisfaction with metrics such as cleanliness of our environment, communication about medications and the willingness to recommend HSS to friends or family, among others.
Patients Thank HSS During National Patient Experience Week
F
rom April 23-27, HSS celebrated National Patient Experience Week, a week to recognize and celebrate healthcare professionals who
enrich the overall patient experience. At HSS, that
The staff, nurses and doctors at HSS are all
includes every member of the HSS family, as we all
outstanding. From check-in to discharge
Thank you to all members of the HSS family for
contribute to providing the best possible experience
everything was great, as usual.
making this possible through your contributions
for our patients, from the moment they first make
and dedication to HSS!
contact with us, whether it is over the phone, via the web or in person at any of our locations.
Making Rounds News & Insights from Lou Shapiro, President and CEO
To celebrate the week, cards were created to hand to patients thanking them for choosing HSS for their care. Patients were also invited to share their experience with us or recognize a staff member who
Access “Making Rounds” at www.hssmakingrounds.com to read the below posts and more. I look forward to your comments. – Lou Shapiro • Representing Team HSS
positively contributed to their journey at HSS. We received many responses from patients and family members who were appreciative of the care and treatment they received.
Thank you to every member of the staff. They all have a smile on their faces and go out of their way to help. They are well trained and at the top of the class. It makes the hospital stay so pleasant. Thank you everyone! This is my husband’s second surgery with your hospital. Our first experience on all levels was exemplary. We also highly recommended it to one of our friends in NJ.
Providing an outstanding patient experience is one of the most important things we can do as an
HSS provides superior patient care. Everyone
organization, and it is clearly recognized by our
treats patients and family with care, respect,
patients and visitors. Thank you to every member
warmth and attention. Every effort is made to
• Move Mountains
of the HSS family who goes above and beyond to
keep the patient informed and comfortable.
• First Impression
ensure that our patient experience is second to none!
• Educating Female Leaders of Tomorrow • Celebrating You
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What our patients are saying…
Dr. Liguori and Mary Hargett Honored by ASRA
G
regory A. Liguori, MD, Anesthesiologist-in-
Chief, has made extraordinary contributions
to the teaching and practice of regional
anesthesia. Because of this, he was selected to receive the 2018 Distinguished Service Award by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA). The award was presented on April 19 at the 2018 World Congress on Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine in New York City. “It is among the greatest honors of my life to receive
Dr. Liguori with Asokumar Buvanendran, MD, President of ASRA
Mary Hargett with Stavros Memtsoudis, MD, PhD, Attending Anesthesiologist, who introduced Mary and Dr. Liguori at the event, and Asokumar Buvanendran, MD, President of ASRA
I have admired,” said Dr. Liguori. “I have dedicated
Dr. Liguori also works to develop and enhance fellow
“I am honored to receive this recognition from ASRA,”
my career to expanding the use of regional anesthesia
and resident skills at HSS utilizing cutting-edge
said Mary. “This Society has always been very
in orthopedics to enhance quality patient care and
educational technology including the expansion and
welcoming to me, and I have enjoyed collaborating
training future leaders in the field.”
growth of ultrasound-guided regional techniques,
on events and projects to improve the educational
this award, and I am humbled to be included among the ranks of so many leaders in ASRA whose careers
a regional-focused simulator program and a novel
experience for fellows and residents. I am also
cadaver lab curriculum.
deeply grateful to the Regional Anesthesiology and
practice here at HSS. Under his leadership, more
During Dr. Liguori’s tenure as Chief, the Department
Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship Directors Group –
than 85 percent of procedures are performed with
of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management
past and present members – who have been so
regional anesthesia, and more than 98 percent of
at HSS has grown from 25 anesthesiologists to more
supportive of my efforts.”
joint replacements are performed utilizing neuraxial
than 70 anesthesiologists and pain management
Mary is an author on all three versions of the Regional
techniques. These anesthetic methods have been
specialists, all while improving overall patient
Anesthesiology Fellowship guidelines, as well as
proven to result in a lower incidence of medical and
satisfaction scores.
several additional peer-reviewed articles, many of
surgical complications, as well as lower opioid use
In addition to Dr. Liguori’s award, Mary Hargett,
which focus on education and training. She has
in the peri-operative period.
Director of Education and Clinical Initiatives for the
served as the administrator for the North American
In addition, Dr. Liguori has played an integral role in
Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain
Fellowship Directors’ Group, a voluntary group of
expanding education programs at HSS, including the
Management, received the Distinguished Service
more than 70 fellowship programs, since its inception
Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine
Award-Special Recognition at the 2018 World
in 2002. She has also been the administrative leader
Fellowship. Since its inception in 1987, more than 130
Congress for her vital contributions to ASRA’s educa-
for the HSS Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain
regional anesthesiologists have graduated. While at
tional mission. Mary, who has been a member of the
Medicine Fellowship Program, as well as all of the
HSS, fellows are exposed to a high volume of regional
HSS family since 1988, was recognized for her endless
HSS-affiliated anesthesiology residency rotations
anesthetics in orthopedics, and some of these
energy, enthusiasm and organizational efforts in
since 1995.
physicians have gone on to serve as leaders and
support of fellow and resident events and activities
Congratulations to Dr. Liguori and Mary on these
directors at major hospitals.
at the ASRA spring and fall meetings. This is the first
well-deserved recognitions!
Dr. Liguori, who has been a member of ASRA for 27 years, has contributed greatly to the anesthesia
time that ASRA has bestowed this special award.
HSS Board of Trustees Welcomes New Co-Chairs
I
n late April, HSS hosted the Annual Meeting
Bob, a Partner and CEO of Perella Weinberg
of the Board of Trustees. During the meeting,
Partners, an independent global advisory and asset
members of the Board and HSS leadership are
management firm, has been a member of the Board
given the opportunity to report on and discuss the
since 2009. He has served as Co-Chair of the Finance
accomplishments of the prior year, as well as plans
Committee and is a member of several other Board
for the year ahead. This year’s meeting also
committees. He previously served as Deputy Mayor
represented an important change at HSS, as Ken
for Economic Development for The City of New York
Wilson officially transitioned his role of Board Chair
in the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
to Tom Lister and Bob Steel as Co-Chairs of the
Bob is Chairman Emeritus of the Aspen Institute’s
HSS Board of Trustees. Ken, who has been a member of the HSS Board for more than 20 years, served as Board Chair from 2013-2018. Under Ken’s leadership, HSS has thrived in a changing healthcare environment, sustained our leadership in musculoskeletal health and guided the direction for the path that will set us up for continued success. Ken, who is Senior Advisor at the global investment management corporation BlackRock, Inc., will continue to serve on the HSS Board and remain active as a Chairman Emeritus. As new Co-Chairs of the HSS Board, Tom and Bob bring a wealth of experience to our organization.
Tom Lister, Ken Wilson and Bob Steel at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees
An HSS Trustee since 2011, Tom served as Vice Chair of the Board and as Chair of the Audit Committee, and is currently a member of multiple Board Committees. He brings to HSS his knowledge and experience as Co-Managing Partner of the international private equity firm Permira, based in London, New York and Frankfurt. At Permira, he serves on the Investment Committee and Executive Committee and is responsible for the firm’s fundraising efforts.
Board of Trustees and has also served as Chairman of Duke University’s Board of Trustees and the Duke University Health System. “The entire HSS family thanks Ken Wilson for his trusted leadership over the years, and looks forward to his continued leadership as an active member of our Board.” said Lou Shapiro, President and CEO. “We are also happy to welcome Tom Lister and Bob Steel as leaders in their new roles, bringing their experience as accomplished leaders of their own institutions and their experience serving on and leading other Boards.”
Prior to joining Permira in 2005, Tom was a Partner
Thank you Ken, Tom and Bob for your commitment
at Forstmann Little & Co private equity firm.
to HSS!
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Female Leaders at HSS Encourage Young Women to Follow in Their Footsteps
O
n April 21, HSS teamed up with longtime
corrections, reconstruct ACLs and PCLs, reduce
not have otherwise considered,” said Jennifer. “It is
partner The Perry Initiative to host a
displaced ankle fractures with plates and screws,
important that we encourage women to join these
hands-on workshop aimed to inspire and
and straighten broken femurs. In addition,
professions, and teaching them at a young age is a
encourage young women to consider careers in
Suzanne Maher, PhD, Senior Scientist in the
great way to do that.”
orthopedic surgery and engineering. Local high
Department of Biomechanics, and Moira McCarthy, MD, Assistant Attending Orthopedic Surgeon,
“I was so proud of the young women who attended
school students attended the day-long program at HSS where they were given the chance to realize
inspired the girls with stories of their paths to
potential and were excited to learn about being
their potential and learn to be leaders.
becoming successful professionals in their
leaders in orthopedic surgery and engineering,”
Led by Jennifer Hammann-Scala, CST, Manager
respective fields.
added Dr. Doyle. “I hope they will take what they
of the HSS Bioskills Education Lab, and Shevaun
“We were so pleased to be partnering with The Perry
learned during this experience and continue to serve as leaders moving forward.”
Mackie Doyle, MD, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon,
Initiative again to provide these young women with
the students learned how to perform scoliosis
the opportunity to learn about careers they might
Jennifer Hammann-Scala assisted the students with suturing pigs feet.
Dr. Kristi Wood, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Fellow, demonstrated the intricate workings of the human spine.
the workshop because they recognized their
Dr. Doyle showed the students how to perform a femoral osteotomy.
About The Perry Initiative The Perry Initiative is committed to inspiring young women to be leaders in the fields of orthopedic surgery and engineering by running hands-on outreach programs across the country for female students in high school, college and medical school. According to The Perry Initiative, women make up only 6.1 percent of fully accredited practicing orthopedic surgeons, and only 12.4 percent of faculty members at engineering schools are women. The organization, which was founded in 2009, is named after Dr. Jacquelin Perry, who was one of the first 10 female orthopedic surgeons in the country and served as a mentor to countless women and men in the field throughout her career.
Members of the HSS family spoke to the 17 students participating in the event about pursuing careers in orthopedic surgery and engineering.
Celebrating Myositis Awareness Month
O 4
n May 5, HSS celebrated Myositis
a group discussion where members of the Myositis
“This annual event is so important for our patients
Awareness Month with an annual event
Support Group shared stories of their everyday lives
with myositis, as well as their families and support
to help raise awareness for the rare
living with the disease.
systems, as it gives them a chance to connect with
autoimmune disease. Members of the HSS Myositis
To conclude the event, David Fernandez, MD, PhD,
one another and learn more about the condition,”
Support Group gathered together for the event,
Assistant Attending Physician and Medical Advisor
said Suzan Fischbein, LCSW, Coordinator of the
which took place in the Richard L. Menschel
of the HSS Myositis Support Group, presented on
Myositis Support Group and organizer of the event.
Education Center at HSS.
the latest research and treatments in myositis.
“HSS is a trusted resource for our patients, and
The event began with yoga and meditation focused
He shared that there is a growing body of research
opportunities like this make such a difference in
on mind-body practices for people with medical
in myositis, which was of great interest to those
their lives.”
challenges. Following were light refreshments and
in attendance.
Lerner Children’s Pavilion Adaptive Sports Academy Hosts Sports Skills Day
O
n April 15, the Lerner Children’s Pavilion
Saleana Negron, Child Life Program Assistant; and
Adaptive Sports Academy once again
Peyton Katz, CCLS, Pediatric Patient and Family
provided an unforgettable experience for
Care Coordinator, attended the event to support and
pediatric patients with a sports skills day at
cheer on the children.
Fastbreak Sports. Thirteen children with cerebral
“Each child was able to walk away saying they tried
palsy and other conditions that affect body
something he or she had never done before, learned
movement, muscle control, posture and balance
a new skill and, most importantly, had fun,” said Lisa
participated in the event, which focused on
Ipp, MD, Chief of Pediatric Medicine. “We hope this
basketball, soccer and softball skills training.
experience inspires the kids to continue practicing
Coaches from Fastbreak Sports, along with help
and developing their newfound skills and, more
from NY Knicks alum Larry Johnson and members
broadly, to always be willing to try new, seemingly
of the Red Bulls Street Team, provided instruction
challenging things in life.”
to participants. HSS family members Theresa
A special thank you to Pediatric Council Member
Chiaia, PT, DPT, Section Manager, Sports Medicine PT; Michelle Yang, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist;
Kimberly Klimczak for coordinating the event and to Fastbreak for sponsoring the sports clinic!
New Medical Staff Weijia Yuan, MD Weijia Yuan, MD, is an Assistant Attending Rheumatologist at HSS. She treats patients with all rheumatic conditions, including those in the pre-disease stage, often focusing on prevention. Dr. Yuan received her medical degree from Shanghai Second Medical University in China. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Renji Hospital and New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and pursued her specialty in rheumatology as a fellow at HSS. Before returning here, she worked in private practice in Brooklyn and at Weill Cornell Medicine Practice at Brooklyn Heights and lower Manhattan. Through her practice of rheumatology, Dr. Yuan has come to understand that lifestyle changes are powerful, yet often overlooked. She discusses lifestyle modifications with all of her patients with the belief that focusing on the body as a whole will help address the root cause of autoimmunity.
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Back in the Game
H
SS’s online patient forum – Back in the Game – now has more than 1,900 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 Tiffani Francisco of New York, NY get back in the game. I LOVE HSS! I tore my ACL and MCL while skiing a back bowl in Alta. Fortunately, it happened at the end
Department of Radiology and Imaging Installs Brand New MRI Unit
A
tools, technology and equipment and making
imaging sequences”
updates when necessary.
said Hollis Potter, MD,
Recently, the Department of Radiology and Imaging
Chairman of the
took down the longest-running MRI unit at HSS
Department of
that was still scanning patients, a Signa 1.5T,
Radiology and Imaging.
S3 platform unit. This was the very first magnet
“We are excited for
installed at HSS in January 1990 and was used to
this new technology,
scan our first MRI patient.
which will go a long
t HSS, we are constantly looking for ways to
HSS well, providing the
make our already world-class patient care
hardware for our first
even better. This includes evaluating our
cartilage-sensitive
of the trip. I first met
We are replacing the unit with a brand new, state-
with Dr. Leali for the
of-the-art 1.5T Artist magnet with integrated coil
initial consultation
technology. This new technology will improve image
and I was a complete
quality, increase efficiency and create a more
teary-eyed mess.
streamlined workflow.
Dr. Leali understood
“Our longest running MRI unit helped us provide
how distraught I was. He took the time to ensure that
care to so many patients over the years and served
way in helping us to provide even better care moving forward. It is so important
that we continue to improve on the already high-quality care we are giving to our patients in every way possible.”
I understood all of the possibilities. By the end of our visit the tears had turned to optimism and smiles and I had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Nawabi. When I met with Dr. Nawabi I was struck by his kindness, patience and his expertise. He connects to the person behind the injury and is invested in their goals for recovery. Mind you, I was extremely nervous about having any surgery, yet I knew that in order to keep up with my passions it was necessary to have a stable and strong knee. I love being active: skiing, stand up paddle board, hiking, cycling, yoga, etc. Dr. Nawabi thoroughly explained the all-in-one ACL reconstruction and the benefits of postponing the surgery to give the MCL a chance to heal. The knee was placed in a brace and the wait was absolutely worth it – the MCL healed completely. My “new” hamstring ACL is up for ALL of it! Strength and stability to ski with and a perfect range of motion for yoga poses. The photo is an image taken six-months after the surgery! I am even certain that the left knee would even be happy to run a marathon!
Members of the MRI Division say goodbye to the longest-running MRI machine at HSS.
Employee of the Month May 2018 – Jacinta Butcher Congratulations to Jacinta, Employee of the Month for May. Jacinta is a Patient Care Assistant on 8 East who has been a member of the HSS family since 2011. She has a positive attitude and approach with both patients and team members, and is a leader in her department. Jacinta assists in maintaining the flow on her floor and constantly goes above and beyond to help patients with creative solutions. She takes the time to brainstorm with other PCAs and RNs to resolve all problems. She serves as a role model to team members, leading by example with her displays of dedication and teamwork. There is never a day at work that Jacinta does not treat her patients with compassion. She motivates her peers daily and is a true inspiration to all. Her dedication to HSS and her job is unbelievable, and she truly makes HSS a better place.
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Dr. Potter poses with Maricia Bolisca, an MRI Technologist who was working in the MRI Department when the original machine was installed in 1990.
HSS Uniondale Journal Club Allows Knowledge Sharing in the Field of Rehabilitative Care
I
n an effort to share knowledge and ideas and
learn from others in the field, James F. Wyss, MD,
PT, Assistant Attending Physiatrist at the HSS
Main Campus and HSS Long Island, recently started a quarterly HSS Uniondale Journal Club for local physical therapists and physicians in the Uniondale, NY area. During the first meeting, which took place at HSS Long Island in early April, 10 clinicians joined together to share educational articles and information with each other with the goal of focusing on improving rehabilitative care. “The first Journal Club meeting was a success, with everyone in attendance learning from one another on ways to improve upon what we are already doing when it comes to rehabilitative care for our patients,” said Dr. Wyss. “It is always helpful to hear opinions and ideas from other professionals in the field. This meeting provided HSS a chance to share our knowledge on rehab, but to also learn from others who are practicing nearby.”
Members of the HSS Uniondale Journal Club include Jana Herr, Dr. Jennifer Amato, Raymond Bowles, Dr. James Wyss, Glenn Granzin, Heather Williams, Jessica Paparella, Frank Hoeffner, Nicole Maniscalco, Glenn Rowell and Chris Prentiss (not pictured).
Employee Safety Zone Sports PA Team This month, we are continuing our series on members of the HSS family and their roles in Employee Safety. We spoke with Danielle Galan, Sports Physician Assistant and member of the Employee Safety Committee, about her department’s role in safety. We hope you enjoy learning more about what they do and how they work together to stay safe! What does the staff do to keep safe and remain engaged in safety? The Sports PA team is in the OR on a daily basis. This type of work is physically demanding. To keep safe and avoid injury we utilize all team members and/or roller boards when moving patients. We observe best practices when operating to avoid exposure to sharps, such as minimizing sharps hand-off, and observing a “safe-zone” where all sharps are placed on mayo stands. As standard practice, you will always see us in the OR with waterproof boots and glasses to avoid splashes. Do you have department huddles that cover safety? When getting to the OR we have a brief huddle with the staff before the case begins to review potential hazards. Discussing contingencies before they occur helps us watch out for red flags and allows us to work best at communicating as a team. Does the staff feel empowered to report safety concerns in the Occurrence Reporting System – for their own injuries or even good catches? Yes. We are in a high-risk environment with potential for needle sticks and splashes. It is important to highlight good catches, which allows us to continue best practice. It is also an opportunity to avoid recurring mistakes. What is the toughest part of the team’s job? It is tough to keep the momentum going after standing for long shifts, engaging in physically demanding tasks and keeping up with varying surgeon preference. However, every patient deserves every one of us to give them our best. What are the most common hazards that the team faces? We perform a high number of arthroscopy cases that result in wet floors. The equipment we use requires a network of wires and tubing. There are trip hazards everywhere. Is there anything special that the team does to prep themselves for a long day or to keep them going strong through the day? We all wear compression socks to avoid leg swelling from standing all day. In between cases we will keep hydrated and/or grab a bite to eat. Coffee helps! Most importantly, if we get a few moments throughout the day to talk with each other we offer support and motivation. What makes the team great at what they do? We have autonomy in the OR making grafts for ligamentous reconstructions and are proficient at multiple types of sport-related cases including shoulder, hip, knee, elbow and joint replacement. Our daily tasks vary and we take pride in keeping our skills and knowledge relevant. Most importantly, we care about the patients and the quality of care they receive here. What does the team love most about the job? Due to the physical demand of our positions we understand what other members of our team contribute. We are always willing to lend a hand. It is comforting to come to work every day knowing that support is behind you. Also, the variety of procedures we do lends itself to maintaining interest. I hope you were all inspired by what the Sports PAs do and the steps they take to make sure they are safe every day. If you’d like your department featured in the Employee Safety Zone, send us an email at EmployeeSafety@HSS.edu.
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Milestones Rehabilitation • Adam Pratomo, PT, MSPT, SFMA, COMT, became a certified orthopedic manual therapist. • Jaclyn Smulofsky, PT, DPT, SFMA Level 1, earned her Selective Functional Movement Assessment Level 1 certification.
• Tiffany Chag, MS, RD, CSCS, became a M.E.L.T. Level 1 Instructor.
• Glenn Garrison, CPO, was quoted in an article on “How Startup Parachute Health Is Bringing
• Jaime Edelstein, PT, DScPT, COMT, OCS, CSCS,
E-Commerce To Your Crutches” at forbes.com.
was quoted in an article for the Palm Beach Daily News on “Experts: Staying fit important but don’t exercise through pain.”
Picture This
Welcome Jeremy M. Abolade, Emily C. Aguilar, Sarah L. Amanquanor, Akina Awano, Vijay Balakrishnan, Sharon J. Benson-David, Katrina E. Brown, Michael T. Byrnes, Lexus Cabreja, Dolores K. Callahan, Luz E. Castillo Lora, Joy Camille D. Cielo, Jaclyn E. Clark, Molly A. Cullinan, Stefania Curcio, Linda A. Desiderio, Valerie DiStefano, Henry Dong, Brooke L. Duffany, Erlyne Etienne, Marie Feaser, Edwin R. Fernandez Grullon, Erin M. Foy, Hye Yeon Glass, Mikhaila A. Goldman, Angela Grumley, June V. Habiak, Arlene Hidalgo, Jenna E. Horowitz, Shiamoon Islam, Michelle Jang, Michael E. Johnson, Kellieshia G. Kelly, Ethan C. Krell, Karen Lechner, John Li, Mary Jean Logan, Giorgio Lopez, Caitlin D. MacCourtney, Walker J. Magrath, Hannah J. Marcus, Stephanie M. McCarthy, Cindy E. Mendez, Yesenia Moran, Chelsea J. Nimmo, Demetrius Owens, Jesenia Quinonez, Michelle P. Ramos-Drake, Susan R. Rodriguez, Sonia Ronacher, Kathryn M. Ross, Anna M. Ruchalowska-Pine, Timothy Rupp, John D. Sadler Jr, Yolanda Scarlett, Mark Schepis, Lindsay Schwartz, Michelle Sheyon, Alexandra Sideris, Amanda B. Slaboden, Jessica Small, Madhavi L. Somaraju, Bryan G. Suertegaray-Santana, Ambar M. Tavera, Devon T. Trenkle, Samuel Vasquez, Alexander M. Vesprey, Nicole M. Villanueva, Corey Ward, Jae eun Yoo, Weijia Yuan, Carolyn Zuba
In late April, HSS teamed up with USA Football and the NY Giants to host a special Sports Performance and Training Seminar weekend at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ to kick off the 2018 Heart of a Giant Awards program. Led by Dr. Samuel Taylor, Assistant Attending Orthopedic Surgeon and Giants Associate Team Physician; Jamie Osmak, Sports Performance Coordinator; and Dalvin Tomilson, Giants Defensive Tackle, the program taught important drills and exercises to prevent injury to the high school athletes in attendance.
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 email:
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
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.
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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. The Compliance Helpline number is 888-651-6234. 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. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Corporate Compliance office directly at x2398.
Editor:
Marisa DeFilipps
Executive Editor:
Rachel Sheehan
Editorial Committee:
Lisa Goldstein, Bruce Slawitsky, John Englehart
Next Issue:
June 2018 echo@hss.edu