ECHO
July 2018 Vol. 20 Issue 7
STORIES AND NEWS FROM THE HSS FAMILY
Annual Service Award Dinner Honors Dedication of HSS Family Members
T
HSS Supports 2018 NYC Pride
On a Friday evening in early June, this was on full
H
display as members of the HSS family celebrated
our commitment to our mission of providing the
he success of HSS can be attributed to many
SS was proud to serve as a bronze sponsor
factors, but one in particular sets us apart
of 2018 NYC Pride, the largest lesbian, gay,
from all other organizations – our culture.
bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+)
event in the nation. This sponsorship supported
the 63rd Annual Service Award Dinner at the Grand
highest quality care for all without regard to age,
Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan.
race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, national origin,
The event honored 128 individuals who have
culture, language, physical or mental disability,
dedicated many years of hard work, support
socioeconomic status, veteran or military status,
and loyalty to HSS. This year, we had 94 HSS
marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender
family members celebrating 15 years of service,
identity or expression, or any other basis.
29 celebrating 25 years and five celebrating
membership is comprised of current regular
“HSS welcomes and celebrates individuality as
40 years of service.
full-time and part-time employees, members of the
a core of strength of our team and those we serve,
“The individuals honored at the Service Award
Board of Trustees, medical staff and volunteers who
at home here in New York and around the world,”
Dinner are the true embodiment of the spirit of HSS
have completed 15 continuous years of service.
said Lou Shapiro, President and CEO. “The LGBTQ+
and our culture of excellence, passion, integrity and
Overall, the club now has more than 1,300 members,
community is an important part of that, and so we
teamwork,” said Lou Shapiro, President and CEO,
including Chitranjan S. Ranawat, MD, Attending
were especially pleased to support this year’s
who welcomed guests to the dinner along with
Orthopedic Surgeon. Dr. Ranawat took the stage
Pride events.”
Todd J. Albert, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief and Medical
during the event to share his memories of HSS
Director. “I continue to be amazed year after year
with the approximately 350 guests in attendance.
at the number of HSS family members who have
In addition to celebrating the Club’s newest
spent so much of their careers and their lives with
members, we also remembered our beloved
our organization.”
colleagues who are no longer with us. C. Ronald
Founded in April 1955, the Service Award Club was
MacKenzie, MD, Attending Physician, shared a
created to recognize the long and faithful services
touching invocation, thanking these individuals for
of those who have had an affiliation with HSS. Its
all they did to make HSS so extraordinary.
CONTINUED on page 2
Team HSS participated in the Pride March, with 200 individuals representing our organization at the event, marching alongside thousands of other teams and individuals. This year’s event was the largest turnout in NYC Pride history, with a record 2.2 million people in attendance. In addition, we had a booth at the PrideFest street fair, where we saw hundreds of people stop by to learn more about our mission, vision and world-class patient care.
CONTINUED on page 3
Inside
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2,000 Patient Stories and Counting Sharing Our Knowledge and Expertise in Peru
HSS Recognized for Pediatric Orthopedic Care
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Annual Service Award Dinner Honors Dedication of HSS Family Members CONTINUED FROM COVER Pam Katkin, PA-C, Administrative Director,
he HSS Lerner
Physician Assistants, and President of the Service
Children’s
Award Club, addressed the crowd, thanking
Pavilion was
everyone for their service, recognizing members of
recently recognized
the Service Award Club Committee and introducing
by U.S. News & World
Amy Broffman, Fellowship Coordinator, Academic
Report on its “Best
Training, as the President-Elect.
Children’s Hospitals” list for pediatric
“It has been an honor to serve as president of the
orthopedics for the
Service Award Club Committee over the past two
second year in a row.
years,” said Pam. “I am so proud to be a part of HSS
This year, we have
and a member of the Service Award Club, which
advanced to become
represents a group of people who are committed,
honorees with certificate packets in recognition of
the top ranked hospital for pediatric orthopedics
caring and supportive in everything that they do.
their dedication and service to HSS.
in all of New York City, and our overall ranking
Congratulations to everyone recognized this year,
A special thank you to all members of the Service
for pediatric orthopedics improved from No. 28
and thank you for your service.”
Award Club Committee for helping to organize this
to No. 21.
Finally, to honor the newest members of the Club,
special event: Sherry Backus, Amy Broffman,
HSS is pleased to be recognized among the nation’s
Bruce Slawitsky, Senior Vice President, Human
Liliana De Jesus, Arlene Edwards, Glenn Garrison,
top children’s hospitals, as providing world-class
Resources and Service Excellence, presented the
Mary Hargett, Pam Katkin, Bruce Slawitsky,
care for our youngest patients is something we take
15 and 25 year honorees with pins and the 40 year
Wayne Wright and Barbara Wukovits.
pride in. “I am extremely proud of the members of the Pediatric Orthopedic Team at HSS who provide outstanding and complex clinical care and who also are involved in innovative clinical research,” said Roger Widmann, MD, Chief of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery. We have seen a steady improvement in our rankings from last year, including a large increase in our reputation score. “At HSS we provide the best care possible to all patients, including those in the Lerner Children’s Pavilion,” said Lou Shapiro, President and CEO. “As always, we will continue to strive to do even ‘better’ to improve on what we know is already great pediatric patient care. Thank you to all HSS family members for all that you do for our patients each and every day.”
HSS to Extend Reach with New Hudson Yards Location Making Rounds News & Insights from Lou Shapiro, President and CEO
care provided will be consistent with HSS
to 2020, HSS is focusing on growth and
quality standards.
expansion to make care more convenient
“We are expanding the HSS system as part of a
to those who need it. In mid-June, HSS announced
broader strategy to bring world-class care closer
Access “Making Rounds” at www.hssmakingrounds.com
a plan to open a new outpatient center at 35 Hudson
to where quality-minded consumers live and work,”
to read the below posts and more. I look forward to
Yards, a new building that is easily accessible by
said Lou Shapiro, President and CEO. “The Hudson
your comments.
the Number 7 subway line, commuter rail services,
Yards location will also enable us to help more large
West Side Highway, Lincoln Tunnel and Hudson
employers to control the large and rising costs of
River ferries.
musculoskeletal conditions.”
Scheduled to open in 2019, the approximately
This new location is another example of how HSS
15,000 square foot center will be dedicated to
is getting ‘bigger’ by being ‘better.’ As the demand
the diagnosis, treatment and management of
for our excellent care continues to grow, our
musculoskeletal conditions. Open to the public
organization will continue to grow as well,
via direct access, it will feature physician offices,
allowing our patients to have more convenient
diagnostic imaging and physical therapy services.
access to HSS.
– Lou Shapiro • Stories Are Best • How You Move Is Why We Ride • A Long History of Leaders • The Many Feelings of Pride • LBA
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A
s we continue to travel on our Roadmap
As with all of our outpatient centers, the patient
HSS Supports 2018 NYC Pride CONTINUED FROM COVER As an organization, HSS has been recognized for
who come through our doors” said Susan Flics,
excellence in inclusiveness by the Human Rights
Vice President of Operations and Executive Sponsor
Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the largest national
of our LGBTQ Committee. “HSS is committed to
LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the US. This year
ensuring that all people receive the highest quality
marked the fourth consecutive year that HRC named
musculoskeletal care in a safe and welcoming
HSS a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.” Under
environment. Participating in 2018 NYC Pride
the leadership of Jillian Rose, Director of Community
provided an opportunity for us to share our
Engagement, Diversity and Research and Team
message of inclusion with the community.”
Leader of the LGBTQ Committee, we have achieved
A special thank you to Susan Flics, Jillian
high marks in the areas of nondiscrimination, LGBTQ+
Rose, Roberta Horton, Christopher James,
education and training, and in our demonstration of
Nica Marcellus, Matthew Buchalter, Joanne
commitment to equitable and inclusive care.
Melia, Lori Furnari, Rachel Sheehan, Tracy
“HSS embraces everyone regardless of race, religion,
Hickenbottom, Carol Crescenzo and all members
or sexual or gender identity. Our mission is to heal all
of the LGBTQ Committee.
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Drs. Crow and Salmon Named Honorary Members of EULAR
M
ary K. Crow, MD, Physician-in-Chief
and Chief of Rheumatology, and Jane E. Salmon, MD, Attending Physician, were
Wellness Committee Encourages HSS Family Members to Create a Culture of Health
T
Williams and Renee Wilson.
the Create a Culture of Health Competition in 2017.
goal of climbing Mount Everest as a team, which is
This spring, the committee ran the competition
equivalent to 3,871 flights of stairs. They surpassed
for the third time with nearly 100 participants
their goal by the end of the competition period,
committing to improve their health and wellness.
climbing a combined 6,173 flights of stairs! The
HSS family members participating in the
competition brought team members together and
he health of the entire HSS family is
Pamela Riley, Rachelle Schwartz, Elena Ting, Efehi
something we take very seriously, which
is why the HSS Wellness Committee started
For their wellness initiative, The Stair Masters set the
recently named honorary members of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) during the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Amsterdam.
competition were asked to create a team and
challenged them in new ways, helping to improve
develop a wellness initiative with specific goals and
their fitness and overall wellbeing.
outcomes. The initiative could focus on any aspect
“The challenge provided an opportunity to hold
of wellness, such as healthy eating, fitness, finances
myself accountable to do a particular amount of
or spiritual, emotional and professional growth.
exercise every day,” said Julie Filippini, RN, Case
At the end of the five week competition period,
Manager and Team Captain of The Stair Masters.
teams submitted a video highlighting their goals
“I was more than happy to ask people to join the
and accomplishments.
group as I knew it would be beneficial to everyone
Members of the HSS Wellness Committee met to
involved, as well as keep me motivated. Everyone
review the entries and select a winning team based
that joined the team was enthusiastic, determined
on demonstration of peer support, innovation, use of
and involved. Their excitement and dedication made
goals and outcomes.
the challenge that much more fun.”
“We were so impressed by the creativity, teamwork
The Stair Masters, along with the other teams that
the burden of rheumatic conditions and to improve
and outcomes of every team initiative,” said Laura
participated in the competition, were treated to a
the treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of
Jasphy, EdD, LCSW, Clinical Social Worker, Case
luncheon in the Richard L. Menschel Education
musculoskeletal diseases. EULAR represents the
Management Department, who organized the
Center to celebrate their accomplishments. The
scientific societies of rheumatology in all the
competition. “With each competition, the teams
team located at the HSS Long Island Outpatient
European nations, health professional associations
continue to up the game and exceed expectations.
Center enjoyed a celebratory lunch onsite as well.
and organizations for people with rheumatism.
The programs that the teams created really showed
During the luncheon, attendees had the chance to
Founded in 1947, EULAR’s mission is to reduce
a commitment to health and wellbeing and also
view the video submissions from all participating
highlighted the amazing teamwork and camaraderie
teams, and everyone was impressed with what their
that exists within the HSS family.”
colleagues had accomplished. Laura also presented
organization began nominating its first overseas
In the end, the committee named The Stair Masters
the winning team and the two runner-up teams,
individuals in 2017. Dr. Crow is among the first two
as the competition winners. Team members included
Fitness Champions and 65 Jump Street, with prizes.
Americans honored in 2017, and Dr. Salmon is the
Nana Bediako, Meghan Burnett, Nancy Doldus,
Congratulations to all HSS family members
third American recognized.
Julie Filippini, Susan Hansen, Anne Catherine
who participated in the Create a Culture of
Congratulations Drs. Crow and Salmon on this
Hundhausen, Dina Mazzella, Nonie Meritt,
Health Competition!
As a mark of distinction, EULAR elects honorary members based on their outstanding service in accomplishing the organization’s objectives. The
outstanding honor!
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.
The Stair Masters were named the winners of the competition, surpassing their goal of climbing 3,871 flights of stairs!
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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Members of the runner-up team 65 Jump Street, which included Micah Banner, Jack Banos, Tracy Barbot, Megan Bouchard, Samantha Delson, Nicole Diaz, Marguerite Ellinger, Bryan Guss, Rachel Kramer, Thimothan Manickawasagar, Linna Quigley, Charlotte Reardon, Dionica Shepherd, Jo Ann Stern and Ellen Verdibello.
Members of the runner-up team Fitness Champions, which included Adena Batterman, Veronica Colacurcio, Rosalia Duarte, Melissa Flores, Lillian Mendez, Steven Ortiz, Randy Rodriguez, Jillian Rose, Nadine Spring, Priscilla Toral, Erin Treemarcki, Paola Viloria and Joan Westreich.
HSS Hosts 2nd Annual Professional Sports Medicine Conference
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he impact HSS has on the field of
professionals in the field to help improve the quality
The goal of the conference was to educate others
musculoskeletal health is far reaching, and
of patient care and safety.
to improve the quality of patient care and safety.
we are constantly looking for new ways to
More than 150 sports medicine professionals,
Nearly 20 HSS physicians, along with guest faculty
share our vast expertise and impressive knowledge
including physical therapists, physical therapist
from other leading institutions in the field, presented
with others in the field. On June 15 we did just that
assistants, athletic trainers, orthopedists, sports
on topics including offseason strength and
when HSS hosted the 2nd Annual HSS Professional
medicine physicians, physiatrists and primary care
conditioning, complex cases and concussions.
Sports Medicine Conference at MetLife Stadium in
physicians attended the Professional Sports
“Last year’s inaugural HSS Professional Sports
New Jersey.
Medicine Conference to learn about the latest
Medicine Conference was such a success, and we
At HSS, our physicians and rehab specialists are
strategies for treating the professional athlete.
were thrilled at the opportunity to once again bring
experts in the field of sports medicine and caring
Attendees included medical and training personnel
together top clinicians to share best practices in a
for the professional athlete, with our clinicians
from professional sports teams and organizations
collaborative environment,” said Bryan Kelly, MD,
serving as team physicians and athletic trainers
such as the Boston Celtics, New England Patriots,
Chief of the Sports Medicine Service and Director of
for more than 20 professional and collegiate teams
NY Mets, NY Giants, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY
the Conference. “Attendees were able to learn from
and organizations, and fielding more than 45,000
Islanders, NJ Devils, Hartford Wolfpack, NY Knicks,
experts at HSS and other top organizations to
patient visits each year. Because of this, it is important
Brooklyn Nets, NY Red Bulls, Iona College, Rutgers
achieve the common goal of better patient care
that we spread our knowledge and educate other
University, Saint Peter’s University and West Point.
across multiple sports.”
Members of the HSS Women’s Sports Medicine Center at the conference
HSS sports medicine surgeons Riley Williams, MD; Samuel Taylor, MD; and Bryan Kelly, MD, along with Peter Asnis, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital
2,000 Patient Stories and Counting
A
t HSS, our purpose is to help people get
& Social Media. “Those qualities are only becoming
back to what they need and love to do better
more important.”
than any other place on the world. We have
To help increase visibility of the forum, the social
changed the lives of countless patients through our
media team encourages patients to share their
world-class care, and that has not gone unnoticed.
stories through Back in the Game whenever they
Thank you to Kevin Finkelstein of Mount Vernon, NY for sharing what proved to be the 2,000th patient-submitted story on our Back in the Game forum!
In 2015, HSS launched Back in the Game, a one-of-a-
receive a note or testimonial on one of our social
While I was
kind patient engagement platform that highlights
media channels. Additionally, they create Back in the
in the Navy
how HSS is helping people return to their best
Game postcards that feature story submissions for
going through
selves. Through the forum, patients are able to share
physician offices to hand to their patients when they
BUD/S (Basic
their stories of how HSS helped them get “back in
hit recovery milestones. Back in the Game patient
Underwater
the game.”
stories are featured each week on Facebook and
Demolition SEAL
In June, we hit a significant milestone on the forum –
Twitter, and the team frequently hosts Facebook Live
selection), I fell
our 2,000th patient-submitted story. That represents
broadcasts highlighting Back in the Game patients
from height and
2,000 patients who have not only chosen HSS for
discussing their HSS journey and answering viewer
was injured.
care, but who had a positive experience and chose to
questions about their care and treatment.
This necessitated
share their stories with us, with other patients and
“Thanks to the support of many physicians and
with those considering HSS for their own care.
their offices, the number and variety of new stories
To date, we have seen stories submitted from
grows every week,” said Otis Gamboa, Manager,
37 different states and 29 countries, representing
Social Media. “We get lots of very positive feedback
200 different conditions treated. The impact of the
on the forum, which has been visited well over a
I am quite literally already up and running
forum has been evident, with patients mentioning
million times.”
and ready for the next stage of my life thanks
similar experiences on Back in the Game.
Share Your Story!
“The Back in the Game forum supports the desire
If you have been a patient at HSS and experienced
of many patients to share their story, and the
our world-class care firsthand, we encourage you to
appetite among many potential patients to make
submit your story on our Back in the Game forum!
of others,” said Tracy Hickenbottom, Director, PR
two of which were performed by Dr. Anil Ranawat. The surgeries were a fantastic success.
to Dr. Ranawat and his team. While I won’t
that they chose HSS for care after reading about
care decisions based on the trustworthy experience
four surgeries,
Visit HSS.edu/BackInTheGame to share your story.
be returning to the military, I’m looking forward to returning to and exceeding the physical peaks I had reached prior to my injury, and continuing to serve people through the legal profession. Thank you, Dr. Ranawat!
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New Medical Staff Alberto Carli, MD Alberto Carli, MD, is an Assistant Attending Surgeon at HSS specializing in joint replacement surgery involving the hip and knee. He sees patients at the Paramus Outpatient Center, as well as the HSS Main Campus. Dr. Carli completed medical school and orthopedic residency training, as well as a Master’s of Science in experimental surgery, at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He then completed two fellowships in joint replacement surgery here at HSS and was subsequently awarded the Maurice Muller travelling fellowship, learning from leaders in joint replacement surgery across Europe. Dr. Carli received the Research Excellence Award for the ARJR service during his fellowship and has also received research awards from the ORS/OREF, Ruth Jackson Orthopedic Society and Canadian Institute for Health Research. In addition to treating patients suffering from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, avascular necrosis, hip dysplasia and arthritis due to metabolic or genetic disorders, Dr. Carli also treats patients who have had complications from previous joint replacement surgery. His priority is to ensure that patients understand their diagnosis, feel empowered in making the decision to proceed with surgery and feel satisfied with their recovery.
Bella Mehta, MBBS, MD Bella Mehta, MBBS, MD, is an Assistant Attending Physician at HSS in the Department of Rheumatology. She specializes in the care of patients with various rheumatic conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis, and has a particular interest in adult-onset Still’s disease. After receiving her medical degree from Terna Medical College in Mumbai, India, Dr. Mehta completed an internship and residency at Westchester Medical Center at New York Medical College. She then completed her fellowship here at HSS. Dr. Mehta is actively involved as an investigator in numerous clinical studies focusing on disparities in rheumatologic diseases and has been the recipient of several awards for her research studies.
Melanie Chapekis Prior, MD Melanie Chapekis Prior, MD, is an Assistant Attending Pediatrician at HSS. She is passionate about clinical care and patient education, working collaboratively with families to optimize the perioperative experience for all children. After receiving both her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Michigan, Dr. Prior completed a general pediatrics residency at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill-Cornell. Dr. Prior also holds the academic title of Assistant Professor in Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College, where she continues to mentor pediatric residents.
Employee of the Month July 2018 – Dennis Manansala Congratulations to Dennis Manansala, Employee of the Month for July. Dennis is a Patient Access Specialist working at several HSS Regional Locations who has been a member of the HSS family for more than 13 years. Described by colleagues as a team player, Dennis is always willing to lend a helping hand. He is extremely knowledgeable and often assists team members with questions and issues related to Epic and computers. He helps to ensure efficient patient workflows and consistently handles high volume workloads with ease. Dennis always greets patients and coworkers with a smile and a helpful attitude. He is willing and able to share his vast knowledge with any and all team members. Dennis is punctual, courteous and a true pleasure to work with, making him a most deserving Employee of the Month.
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Sharing Our Knowledge and Expertise in Peru
A
s HSS continues to grow, it is important
In addition, the physicians, who were the first to
that we maintain a focus on extending our
travel to Peru on behalf of HSS, presented on their
reach and raising our visibility in key regions,
respective fields of specialty.
including Latin America. This spring, the International
“In the last 150 years, we have established the best
Center and the Global Sports Marketing and
surgical programs and musculoskeletal services
Business Development Department hosted a dinner
available in the world,” said Dr. Press. “This trip to
reception in Lima, Peru where key members of the
Peru gave us an opportunity to share a little bit of
local community were given the opportunity to learn
what we do with individuals who are in need of
more about our knowledge and expertise in the field.
excellent musculoskeletal care.”
During the event, Emil Calcano, Chief of Global
“Caring for individuals and helping them return to
Sports Marketing and Business Development, and
their everyday lives is part of my mission at HSS,”
in facilitating all aspects of their visit from the
added Dr. Coleman. “We want to extend that care to
moment they arrive at HSS.
to an audience of 100 individuals regarding HSS’s
individuals around the world, including in Peru, so we
Following the reception, several local news outlets fea-
growth in Latin America and our dedication to
can help them get back to doing what they love to do.”
tured information and photos from the event, as well
The event ended with a presentation from
as injury prevention tips from HSS that were shared
Gloria Ramirez, Patient Relationship and Business
with medical publications. This media coverage helped
Brian VanVelzor, AVP, International Center, spoke
providing world-class patient care. Following, Struan Coleman, MD, PhD, Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, and Joel Press, MD,
Emil Calcano, Dr. Coleman, Gloria Ramirez, Dr. Press and Brian VanVelzor at the event in Peru
Development Manager, who talked about her role
to further spread our knowledge and expertise in Peru.
Physiatrist-in-Chief, spoke about our growth in the
as an HSS International Center representative.
HSS will continue to expand our presence in Peru
country as part of our commitment to providing the
This includes her dedication to providing
throughout the year, with an additional event focused
highest quality care to the international community.
international patients with guidance and her help
on women’s sports medicine scheduled this fall.
Employee Safety Zone Keith Karwelies and the Orthopedic Specialty Care Unit In this month’s Employee Safety Zone, we are featuring Keith Karwelies, Patient Care Director for the Orthopedic Specialty Care Unit (OSCU). Keith and the OSCU team serve as a great example of a “best practice” unit when it comes to employee safety and specifically safe patient handling. Tell us about your unit and the types of patients you see regularly. The OSCU is HSS’s dedicated surgical intensive care unit. Our nursing staff provides care to our most complex and critically ill patients. Although the typical length of stay in the OSCU is short, the care of these patients is highly involved. While on the OSCU, these patients are often intubated, sedated and completely immobilized. Immobility and increased susceptibility to shear and friction leave these patients vulnerable to skin breakdown. Similarly, the nursing staff is at increased risk of personal injury when transferring and repositioning these patients. As a result, safe patient
OSCU team members Kate Riva, Kelly McNamara, Allyson MacDougall, April Real, Nicola Russell, Keith Karwelies and Stephanie Niu
handling is a vital component of the high-quality nursing care we provide on the unit. What do you feel contributes to the safe environment in the OSCU? Teamwork helps the OSCU nursing staff stay safe from injuries of strain and sprain. When it comes to safe patient handling, we regularly offer to assist each other with patient repositioning and never hesitate to ask for assistance when mobilizing or transferring patients. Maximizing the fullest potential of our resources allows the nursing staff to work efficiently in a critical care environment. Therefore, in addition to working as a team, on the OSCU, we encourage the staff to utilize our safe patient handling equipment. The HoverMatt system has quickly become a team favorite. The HoverMatt is a newer piece of safe patient handling equipment. How has that helped your team? With the use of the HoverMatt, fewer nurses are required to safely reposition and transfer larger, less mobile patients. This is an important factor on the OSCU because we are a small unit with an equally proportionate number of staff members. Additionally, because of their sedated state and overall immobility, the typical OSCU patient cannot assist in their own positioning. This places the nursing staff at greater risk for injury. The use of the HoverMatt has allowed the OSCU nursing staff to remain injury free when working with these complex patients. We have successfully used the HoverMatt with patients in excess of 400 lbs. and, most recently, the HoverMatt was utilized as a regular part of daily care when working with a poly-trauma patient who sustained fractures to his spine, arm, ribs, pelvis and legs. With as few as two nurses, the use of the HoverMatt allowed us to safely reposition him in bed, transfer him between beds and chairs, and transfer him onto equipment in other practice areas such as MRI and CT. That’s amazing! What do you think contributed to the change in the way they handle patients? Change never comes easily. As they were instructed during their earliest days of training, many of the OSCU nurses had been relying on the classic methods of patient positioning and transferring, which involved gathering extra staff for assistance. Although effective, it wasn’t always efficient and it didn’t always prevent personal injury. With encouragement from their patient care director and in-servicing from both the unit’s clinical nurse specialist and the body mechanics coordinator, the staff has come to embrace newer approaches to safe patient handling and the equipment associated with it. We continue to use morning rounds and daily huddles as opportunities to identify patients and clinical scenarios where this equipment could be beneficial. Now that the team has realized how simple the equipment is to use, how helpful it can be and the positive results it produces, they actively suggest its incorporation into daily practice. Thank you for sharing, Keith, and for empowering your team to ask for help and make use of the equipment that’s available to keep patients and HSS family members safe. If you know of a department or employee that we should feature in the Employee Safety Zone, send us an email at EmployeeSafety@HSS.edu.
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Milestones Nursing
Rehabilitation
• Congratulations to the following members
• The following clinicians earned their OCS
• Magdalena Oledzka, PT, DPT, MBA, PCS, c/NDT, was quoted in an article on “Movement Matters” in Parenting magazine.
of the Department of Nursing for receiving
certifications: Dana Aaron, PT, DPT, OCS; Astrid
certifications during the second quarter of 2018:
DiVincent, PT, DPT, OCS; Jamie Lamb, PT, DPT,
Jennifer Albano, RN, CCRN; Khasiem Allah, RN,
OCS, PMA®-CPT; Nick Maroldi, PT, DPT, OCS,
Mayerhofer, PT, DPT, MSPT, MTC, CSCS, SFMA,
CNOR, ONC; Anna Barinova, RN, ONC; Danielle
SFMA; Jay Mizuta, PT, DPT, OCS; Randy Pifer,
USATF-1; and Lee Rosenzweig, PT, DPT, CHT,
Bianchino, RN, ONC; Patricia Horan, RN, ONC;
PT, DPT, OCS; and Christi Reinhardt, PT, DPT,
OCS, were each quoted in separate articles for
Kerri Kinsella, RN-BC; Leticia Lista, RN, CEN;
OCS. Michelle Cilenti, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS,
U.S. News & World Report.
Rebecca Lyons, RN, ONC; Renee Nicholson,
CSCS, USATF-L1, and Curtis Wu, PT, DPT, OCS,
RN, CAPA; Aquanna Ratcliff, RN-BC; Mame
SCS, CSCS, earned their SCS certifications.
quoted in an article on “5 Signs You Shouldn’t Try
Serwah-Boah, RN-BC; Callie Starzee, RN, CEN;
Michelle Darnell, PT, DPT, CHT, became a
to Push Through a Workout” in Silver Sneakers.
Jocelyn Suanico, RN, CPAN; and Maria Zayas,
Certified Hand Therapist.
RN, ONC.
• Stephen Fealy, MD, was an author on the paper “Non-Operative Treatment of Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries with and without Platelet-Rich Plasma in Professional
• Polly de Mille, RN, MA, RCEP, CSCS, USAT, was
• Tiffany Chag, MS, RD, CSCS, was quoted in an
• Eugenia Papadopoulos, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, led
Research, Academic and External Activities
• Ioonna Félix, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, CTPS; Jason
a team that competed in the 2nd Annual Health Innovation Hackathon at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Clinical and Translational Science Center. Their 3D-printed prosthesis won them a shared Novel Technology Team award. • Roger F. Widmann, MD, and Michelle Yang, PT,
Baseball Players: A Comparative and Matched
DPT, co-hosted an HSS Facebook Live event for
Cohort Analysis,” which won the AOSSM 2018
Scoliosis Awareness Month, with reached more
Fellow Research Award - Clinical Science.
than 31,000 individuals.
article on “How to Hone Your Hydration” in Runner’s World. • Erica Fritz, PT, DPT, OCS, was quoted in an article on “How to Relieve Knee Pain” in Consumer Reports. • Thank you to everyone who supported the runners in the HSS Recovery Zone at the NYRR Queens 10K: Jessica Flores; Ashley Fluger, CSCS, CPT; Blake Karavas; William Marrone, PT, DPT; Yukiko Matsuzaki, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS; Anil Nandkumar, PT, DPT; Jessica Qiu; and Alex Shafiro, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS.
Picture This
Welcome Kristen Alexander, Beemnet Amdemicael, Taylor C. Anzilotti, Gucci Atehortua, Caroline M. Benson, Julianne P. Bowlin, Caroline Boyle, Daviana Caba, Jennifer Castillo, Mamadou F. Cisse, Aisling T. Coffey, Francesca A. Cortese, Julissa H. de los Santos, Alioune Diane, Kaitlyn E. Donald, Adriana Echeverria, Daniela Elezovic, Anthony Finocchiaro, Olivia P. Ford, Marianna B. Frey, Jonathan H. Garfinkel, Kevin Gazzale, Brittany Genovese, Margaret M. Goonan, Madison R. Heath, Oscar A. Hoffman, Timothy F. Kane, Haemin Kim, Zef Krasnigi, Alexandra N. Krez, Carlene A. Kurschinski-Rivera, Cristina LaMarca, Colette L. Lawrence, Sonia Lee, Andrew T. Levine, David L. Lewis, Ana M. Lopez, Tehila E. Mandelbaum, Erin E. Marchini, Anna Mart, Marcia Martinez, Dana Mayell, Rena K. Mehta, Luke G. Menken, Keith Montalvo, Gabe C. Novac, Peter Sang Uk Park,
For the 14th consecutive year, members of the HSS family participated in a European cycling tour. This year’s destination was the majestic Dolomites, just north of Milan, Italy, where Team HSS climbed more than 30,000 feet over five days, covering more than 200 miles. The team donned a special jersey decorated with the Edelweiss, the official flower of the Italian Dolomites, in loving memory of a participant from prior trips.
Compliance Helpline Reminder
Amanda Pecovic, Mary Peng, Breanna A. Polascik, Kara N. Powers, Deja S. Pressley, Paul Pricop, Joanna Radutman, Richard Rangel Vargas, Vindhya Rao, Michelle A. Richardson, Jasmin Rivera, John A. Roberts IV, Stacy B. Robustelli, Marielle R. Rogoff, Katherine Rudkin, Rosemarie Saccoccio Xenos, Laedi Marie S. San Luis, Kristen A. Santiago, Amanda Scheer, Lindsay M. Schlichte, Kolline J. Schramm, Anne Serrano, Spencer Shadel, Sara Shanaj, Dina Sheira, Shaneth Simmons, Marie Syku, Stephanie Taormina, Crystal Tejada, Sarkis Telyan,
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.
Verdejo, Claire I. Verret, Sarah E. Waldman, Grace Wang, Ziqi Wang, Danielle W. Williams, Jason Wong, Marisa Wong, Yunwei Xia, Justin Zhu, Maryann Zuk
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.
Editor:
Marisa DeFilipps
The Compliance Helpline number is 888-651-6234.
Executive Editor:
Rachel Sheehan
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
Editorial Committee:
Lisa Goldstein, Bruce Slawitsky, John Englehart
retaliation against an employee who reports a compliance issue in good faith.
Next Issue:
August 2018
If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Corporate Compliance office directly at x2398.
8
Jameala C. Thomas, Haley N. Tornberg, Amber Torrence, Karolina Treska, Luis J.
echo@hss.edu