ECHO
September 2019 Vol. 21 Issue 9
STORIES AND NEWS FROM THE HSS FAMILY
HSS Family Experiences Culture of Excellence at Annual Engagement Day
T
he culture at HSS is one of the most important characteristics of our organization.
HSS Receives Multiple 2019 Press Ganey Awards roviding our patients with the best possible
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We pride ourselves on possessing a Leadership
experience while in our care is a cornerstone
By All mentality, which reflects the importance,
of the HSS mission. It is, perhaps, one of
contributions and opinions of every HSS family member. To honor and celebrate this, the annual
the most significant parts of our foundation as an
Employee Engagement Day took place on
organization and is evident in everything that we do.
September 10 in the Richard L. Menschel Education
Press Ganey recently recognized HSS for our top
Center. In addition to the event in the Menschel
performance in patient experience, naming HSS
Center, celebrations were also held at Main Campus
as a 2019 Guardian of Excellence Award® Winner.
for overnight staff and at our 777 3rd Avenue offices,
This award honors healthcare organizations for
as well as site-specific activities at regional locations.
reaching the 95th percentile for patient experience,
Like previous years, Engagement Day is the
engagement or clinical quality performance. The
official kickoff to the Gallup Survey. With more than 1,500 HSS family members in attendance, this year’s theme centered around Q12 of the survey – This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow. At the event, attendees had the opportunity to visit tables with information on buddy programs, tuition reimbursement, eAcademy, HSS Florida, regional locations and employee testimonials of ways they grew within the organization.
Guardian of Excellence Award is presented annually “The culture at HSS is a direct product of the
to organizations that sustain performance in the top
values we hold,” said Bruce Slawitsky, Senior Vice
5 percent for each reporting period for the award
President, Human Resources and Service Excellence.
year. This is the seventh consecutive year that HSS
“The Gallup Engagement Survey is extremely
has received this important designation.
important to HSS leadership because it helps us to identify opportunities for continued improvement within our organization.”
“This recognition is a reflection of each of our commitments to the HSS mission of providing the highest quality patient care, improving mobility and
CONTINUED on page 2
enhancing the quality of life for all,” said Chao Wu, Chief Patient Experience Officer and AVP. “Earning this honor was a truly collaborative effort by every single member of the HSS family. It is through shared leadership – with every individual serving as a leader of HSS – that we are able to continuously provide world-class care and overall experience to our patients.” In addition, HSS was also awarded the Pinnacle of Excellence AwardSM for inpatient Experience for the first time ever. The Pinnacle of Excellence Award recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations based on extraordinary achievement. HSS earned the award for maintaining “high levels of excellence” in patient experience for at least three years.
CONTINUED on page 2
Inside
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HSS Celebrates International Translation Day
Annual Ice Cream Social
6th Annual Art & Design Show
Annual Engagement Day CONTINUED FROM COVER Thank you to all volunteers and Engagement
members Dalia Abusharr, Tricia Bonamo, Noelle
Champions who helped make the event so
Carnevale, Richard Chug, Otis Gamboa, Mary
successful. A special thank you to Emma Reuter,
Hargett, Christopher James, Sona Joshi, Eden
Senior Project Manager, Organizational Development,
Kalman, Inderpal Kohli, Melissa Medina, Paola
and Lili De Jesus, Project Coordinator, Human
Monzon, Jessica Podell, Amanda Pupino, Bruce
Resources, who coordinated and oversaw the
Slawitsky, Robyn Townsend, Carole Travers, Arika
event, as well as Employee Engagement Committee
Wright, Violet Yuen and David Zeman.
Making Rounds News & Insights from Lou Shapiro, President and CEO
This award recognizes organizations that have
“HSS is committed to serving patients from around
maintained consistently high levels of excellence
the world in a safe environment,” added Bruce
Access “Making Rounds” at www.hssmakingrounds.com
in patient experience, engagement or clinical quality
Slawitsky, Senior Vice President, Human Resources
to read the below posts and more. I look forward to
performance, and only four organizations nationally
and Service Excellence. “All members of the HSS
your comments.
are given this designation for each category.
family truly exemplify our mission of providing high
“These awards are an endorsement of the hard
quality, compassionate care to our patients, and we
work and dedication our team members provide
are honored to be recognized for this work.”
every day to ensure a positive patient experience,”
Thank you to the entire HSS family for your
said Lou Shapiro, President and CEO. “We’ve earned
dedication to our organization and to our patients.
– Lou Shapiro • Supporting Team HSS • Recognized for World-Class Patient Care • Blog Part 2 – Recognition
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Press Ganey Awards CONTINUED FROM COVER
this national recognition by going above and beyond
This recognition would not have been possible
• The Week Ahead: Input, Connection & Growth
to continually improve upon that experience for
without all of you!
• Looking Ahead
our patients.”
HSS Celebrates International Translation Day roviding outstanding patient care is our
to provide medical information to a patient in the
Patients are able to speak into a phone in their
primary focus at HSS. As an organization,
patient’s preferred language.
preferred language, and a live medically trained
we continuously strive to meet our patients’
“The Language Services Department is joyfully
interpreter communicates their message to the
individual needs and ensure they feel at ease under
overwhelmed with the HSS family members who
care team member. Similarly, event attendees were
our world-class care. To support this, our Language
went above and beyond to become proficient in
educated about the specific techniques and services
Services Department works tirelessly to facilitate
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multiple languages in order to support the HSS
available for deaf and hard-of-hearing, as well as,
the highest quality of care and create a supportive
mission of providing world-class patient care,”
blind and visually impaired patients.
environment to ensure that all Limited English
said Bella Elogoodin, AVP, Service Excellence and
Thank you to all members of the Language Services
Proficiency (LEP), hearing and visually impaired,
Language Services. “This event truly showcases our
Department for organizing this important event and
and other patients and family members with special
commitment to world-class personalized patient
educating the HSS family on the numerous ways we
requests receive care in their preferred language or
care and safety.”
are helping to provide our patients with world-class
are provided with specific accommodations.
The event included demonstration videos presented
care. A special thank you to Alejandro Gonzalez
Over the last several years, HSS has seen a dramatic
by Maria Soto, Compliance Supervisor, Language
Della Valle, MD, for pioneering the Language
growth in the number of patients both domestically
Services, and a playful skit conducted by the
Proficiency Assessment, David Y. Wang, MD,
and internationally who require interpreters. This
Language Services and Service Excellence team,
Austin Fragomen, MD, the International Center,
year alone, we have provided care for 4,528 LEP
directed by Brandon Davidson, Manager, Service
Social Work, the conference center team, Creative
patients. Due to this influx, it is essential that
Excellence, and written by Risa Hoffman, Assistant
Services, the Wellness Committee, the Spiritual
members of the HSS family become advocates
Director, Language Services, and Randa Bahrouni,
Care Department, Occupational Health Services,
who contribute to the diversity and success of our
Interpreter, Language Services, which showcased
the Organizational Learning department and other
organization. For this reason, on September 13,
cultural differences and the role of the medical
HSS family members for assisting with the event.
Language Services celebrated their incredible
interpreter. It also highlighted the use of assistive
advancements during the annual International
devices such as In-Demand and the Martti
Translational Day event, which was attended by
(My Accessible Real-Time Trusted Interpreter)
more than 330 HSS family members.
technology, which allows HSS family members
The event began with an award ceremony to honor
to access an interpreter in more than 250 languages
15 members of the HSS family who have exemplified
via video conference. Brian Vandenberge, husband
their commitment to providing language access to
of Risa, also sang opera to the crowd in Spanish
our patients. Six individuals were awarded for
during a special performance.
successfully completing their Bilingual Language
In addition, attendees were able to try the language
Proficiency Assessment and achieving competency
translation phones being used across HSS that
in the Interpreter Proficiency Assessment, which
allow patients and their care team members
grants those who successfully pass authorization
to successfully communicate with one another.
Risa Hoffman posed with her husband, who performed opera at the event.
Bella Elogoodin presented Dr. David Y. Wang with an award.
Recipients of the HSS Language Services Award posed for a photo together.
Marita Baragiano from the Ambulatory Care Clinic was recognized as Assistive Devices Superuser.
HSS family members performed a playful skit during International Translation Day.
Members of the Language Services Department take a photo with award recipients.
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How Sweet It Is: Annual Ice Cream Social n August 21, as a token of appreciation and
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gratitude for the hard work and dedication to providing the highest-quality patient care,
members of the HSS family were treated to an ice cream social. We also celebrated our recent U.S. News rankings in orthopedics, rheumatology and pediatric orthopedics. We can’t thank you enough for all that you do every day! Without every single member of the HSS family serving as leaders in their individual roles, our many successes would not be possible.
HSS Earns “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” Designation
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SS has once again been designated as
Over the last several years, HSS has put
“This award reflects our ongoing commitment
a “Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality”
a strong focus on raising awareness, providing
and dedication to diversity, medical accessibility
for the fifth consecutive year by the Human
ongoing training and implementing best
and inclusiveness,” Susan Flics, Vice President,
Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the largest
practices around caring for the LGBTQ+
Operations shared. “In this regard, we have
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer
community and fostering inclusivity. We have
undertaken initiatives to address the particular
(LGBTQ+) civil rights organization in the country. This
done this through mandatory annual training
needs of the LGBTQ+ communities. We strive
important designation is a testament to our mission
for all employees, awareness initiatives and events,
to recruit a diverse and empathic staff sensitive
of providing quality care for all and fostering inclusive
participation in the annual NYC Pride March event
to the diverse needs of the patients we serve.”
care for the LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones.
and more.
Adaptive Sports Academy Hosts Three Summer Events For Pediatric Patients hroughout the year, the Adaptive Sports
basics of sailing and were thrilled to take part in a
The days were filled with memorable experiences
Academy at the HSS Lerner Children’s
new activity!
while encouraging mobility and independence.
Pavilion organizes local, regional and national
T
During the second event, our pediatric patients
They often resulted in increased self-esteem,
adaptive programs for kids and teens facing a range
enjoyed surfing in Long Beach, NY. Teaming up with
self-confidence and motivation to live fuller,
of disabilities. These events help patients realize
Skudin Surf, the lessons began with instructions on
more active lives.
new skills and interests, reinforce therapy goals and
land and included how to ride a surfboard. The
allow patients to socialize with other patients. This
participants then took what they learned to the
summer, our Adaptive Sports Academy hosted three
water, with proud parents cheering and crying tears
fun-filled summer events for pediatric patients,
of joy as they watched their children.
friends and families.
Thank you to all the HSS family members who participated in the events and brought smiles to our patients faces! Bridget Assip Sabrina Cerciello Emma Csenge John Denneen Rosemary Derocher Elizabeth Gerosa
Finally, in late August, attendees were treated to a
Kicking off the first of the three events, the Adaptive
day of horseback riding at Endeavor Therapeutic
Sports Academy teamed up with the WaterFront
Horsemanship, Inc. in Westchester County, NY.
Center to offer our pediatric patients a day of sailing
Participants enjoyed a day filled with horse education
and marine education in Oyster Bay, NY. With the
as well as hippotherapy, which provides multiple
help of skilled instructors, participants mastered the
benefits for cognitive, social and physical function.
Patients, friends and family had a fun-filled day sailing.
Pediatric patients enjoyed surfing in Long Beach, NY.
Samantha Jenkins Peyton Katz Ashley Laird Alexandra Laurenzano Marissa Nemirofsky Christina Pierrozzi
The Adaptive Sports Academy offered patients horseback riding lessons.
New Medical Staff Derek G. Hansen, MD Derek G. Hansen, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with specialized training in orthopedic oncology and metabolic bone diseases. Dr. Hansen specializes in the treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors and metabolic bone disease such as osteoporosis, as well as more unusual conditions. He also cares for patients with fractures and those in need of joint reconstruction. Dr. Hansen attended the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and went on to do his residency in orthopedics at Stony Brook University. After graduation, Dr. Hansen completed two fellowships, one in orthopedic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering and the second in metabolic bone disease here at HSS.
Benedict U. Nwachukwu, MD Benedict U. Nwachukwu, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and specialist in hip, knee and shoulder surgery at HSS. He also serves as the Co-Director of Clinical Research for the Sports Medicine Institute. He specifically focuses on areas and procedures including hip arthroscopy, hip labral repair and reconstruction, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and repair, articular cartilage repair and transplantation, meniscus repair and transplantation, arthroscopic shoulder stabilization/labrum repair and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Dr. Nwachukwu attended college at Columbia University and obtained his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He also obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School while a medical student. Dr. Nwachukwu completed his orthopedic surgery residency at HSS and his sports medicine fellowship training at Rush University. Dr. Nwachukwu’s clinical and research interests are focused on returning athletes to sport, as well as joint preservation. He has extensive experience caring for athletes and has previously been a team physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox and DePaul Athletics.
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Back in the Game
Wellness Corner
SS’s online patient forum – Back in the Game
H
– now has more than 2,400 patient stories! The postings share how HSS helped patients
Do The Latest Diet Trends Work?
get “back in the game.” Every month we will include
With so much information in the media about dieting, knowing what to eat can be confusing.
one of the stories that highlights the extraordinary
Making healthy choices is challenging enough without trendy fad diets getting in the way. If you are
care members of the HSS family provide.
overwhelmed by the amount of diets out there, you are not alone. Here is a rundown of current popular
Read how HSS helped Nayelis de Luna of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic get back in the game.
diets and some practical recommendations from an HSS dietitian. Your best bet to making healthy food choices is ignoring diet trend noise, eating in moderation and consulting a medical professional like one of our HSS dietitians for advice.
New York is a beautiful city. It is a dream to get to America, see the Statue of Liberty,
Diet
What it is
Benefits/Reality
Keto Diet
High fat,
Reality:
moderate protein,
• The keto diet should be followed under very strict
and see the people.
very low carb diet
The way of living
medical supervision to treat specific diseases. Studies are limited in the general population and
is so organized as
do not show true benefits for weight loss
well as the places,
• Very restrictive: If you are on a 2,000-calorie
the streets and the respect to
diet, only 100 calories a day can be from
others mainly to
carbohydrates (or about 25 grams)
the disabled.
• What does 25 grams of carbohydrates
From the first day that we arrived at Hospital for
look like?
Special Surgery they treated us like queens – the
1 cup of cooked oatmeal, 1 apple, 1 cup of
doctors and the medical teams are the best in the
sweetened Greek yogurt, ½ cup of quinoa,
world. Edwin Su, MD, there are no words to thank
2 slices of whole wheat toast
him for his kindness, beautiful smile and those
• Remember, you can only choose ONE of these
wonderful hands that God gave him, which made
options for the WHOLE day
it possible for Nayelis to walk. The nurses gave very good treatment, and the therapists were incredible in the way of working with so much love.
Paleo Diet
The hospital food and facilities were the best we’ve
Eating like
Benefits:
cavemen because
• Encourages fruit, vegetable and fish intake;
it’s “more natural”
seen in our lives.
and only consuming For almost 6 months we were in New York, and we
foods obtained
went through great challenges. We had hard times –
from hunting
health issues, a lot of pain, a lot of anxiety to see how
and gathering
Nayelis would turn out – but we always received the
eliminates processed foods Reality: • No grains/legumes: This omits affordable options (lentils, beans) with good nutrients • Not good for athletes
support of the teams that took us there. And to every
• Too much emphasis on meat products
medical situation there was always a quick response
• Overall demonizes certain foods and may cause
from the entire medical team.
social isolation
The Ronald McDonald House was our house because they made us feel like a home. It was full of great people where we could share and
Intermittent
Time restricted
Benefits:
meet many people with different health cases that
Fasting
feeding aka fasting
• May lead to less caloric intake
made us understand the privilege of living in that
for 16 hours, eating
5-star hotel.
for 8 hours
• May have digestive benefits • Can increase appetite and lead to enjoying eating
We are grateful to have had the opportunity to have
the food when you do actually eat it
been in the best place (HSS) and with the best, Ana, Julia, Laura, and the whole team. Thank you
Reality:
for being part of this dream come true.
• Studies have been short and are not on humans • Social impact: Hard to go out with friends • Skipping breakfast: Might miss out on healthy foods you would only eat during this time (oatmeal, yogurt, milks, nuts, seeds) • Can cause intense hunger and make you overeat later in the day/the next day
If you have any questions about nutrition or other HSS Wellness Programs, please contact us at: EmployeeWellness@HSS.edu
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6th Annual Art & Design Show Showcases Talented HSS Family Members n August 30, the Employee Activities
sketches and photography to jewelry, lacework and
“This year’s Art & Design Show did not disappoint.
Committee (EAC) sponsored the
decorative masks.
It is truly gratifying for me to showcase the ‘hidden
6th Annual Art & Design Show where
“Each year, I am more amazed with how talented
talents’ of our accomplished and hardworking HSS
HSS family members were invited to showcase
the HSS family members are,” said Pam Katkin,
family members at this annual event.”
their talents for colleagues and visitors to
PA-C, MBA, Administrative Manager, Physician
Thank you to everyone who participated in the show
enjoy. This included everything from paintings,
Assistant Department, who ran the event for the EAC.
and shared their art with the HSS family!
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The talented HSS family members who shared their work with us include: Srujana Aliminati Erik Attia Grace Bell John Castrogiovanni
Coline Haxaire John Indalecia Sona Joshi William Kennett
Pia Marinkovic Carol Page Khyati Patel Tara Schmidt
Patrice Shea Guangrong Sun Robin Warner
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Milestones Feliza N. Lampitoc-Laluces, RN, CNOR;
Nursing • We are happy to recognize the following nurses for receiving specialty board certification: Marie Antonette Almojuela, RN, CNOR; Bianca Balsamo, FNP-BC; Kelly Binder, RN, CCRN; Faye Daa, RN-BC; Sarah Deleno, RN, CNOR; Alyssa DiGiovanni, RN-BC; Adero Gaudin, RN, ONC; Gloria Gulmatico, RN, ONC; Jayne Hoffmann, NEA-BC; Keesha Holmes, NE-BC; Ruby Kam, RN, CNOR; Kerri Kinsella, RN-BC;
• We are happy to recognize the following HSS
Manuela G. Lomedico, RN, CPN; Betty Loo, RN,
family members for receiving specialty board
ONC; Devonie Manzano, RN, PCCN; Jacqueline
certification in Pharmacy and Central Sterile
Mcavoy, RN, ONC; Lauren Mogelnicki, RN,
Processing: Jawad Saleh, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP,
CNOR; Ronald Monteron, NE-BC; Carolina
and Shawn Espitia, CRCST
Munoz, ONC; Angela Neves, RN, ONC; Stephanie Niu, RN, CCRN; Sun Jung Park, RN, CNOR; Martha Plack, RN, CNOR; Kayla Pochintesta, RN, CCRN; Jennifer Rizzi, RN-BC; Danielle Samuels, RN, ONC, and Danielle Wolf, RN, ONC
Picture This
Welcome Alfredo A. Araujo, Julia A. Baran, Jessica Bassil, Naimish Baxi, Richard D. Bell, Rachel Blechman, Amanda Borges, Nicolette T. Bruno, Carol Ann Budhai, Geoffrey Cloud, Eric Collado-Mejia, Britany Crespo, Daniel Crowe, George Cyril, Maria de los Reyes, Diana Gertel, Campbell Y. Goldsmith, Sophie E. Goloff, Stephanie A. Good, Harry J. Hartnett, Malory E. Hayden, Carlos N. Hernandez Torres, Elena C. Iannece, Jeff Jean-Pierre, Jordan Kaplan, Emilia Klapak, Nechama Korenblit, Emile-Victor Kuyl, Minh Le, Juliana Lebowitz, Melanie Leon, Giannina Li, Anita Malhotra, Megan McLaughlin, Carine J. Moezinia, Omar S. Mohamed, Mark Mohammed, Samuel Mond, Pauline Morrison, Benedict Nwachukwu, Sarah Page, Reynald Paguio, Jennifer E. Piersol, Nicholas A. Perrone, Brittany Popkin, Juan L. Rivera-Correa, Nicolas Sapountzis, Samantha A. Sawade, William Schairer, Denise Scherer, Avery E. Schnell, Elizabeth Schulman, Nicholas R. Sgrignoli, Leila Spangler, Kayla Stewart, Ek Tan, Lisa A. Tarleton, Christopher R. Torres, Gregory Vancek, Curtis Vick, Janelle Wood
The HSS Employee Activities Committee (EAC) organized the annual school supply drive again this year from early August through early September. Supplies donated on the Main Campus and at 777 Third Avenue were distributed to HSS pediatric patients. Our regional locations in Long Island, Paramus, Stamford and Westchester also participated, and supplies donated in each of those locations were distributed to local schools in their respective areas.
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:
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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
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 x774-2398.
Editorial Staff
For fax and mail reports, submissions must be on a Quality Incident Report Form available on the Joint Commission website at www.jointcommission.org.
Editor-in-Chief:
Marisa DeFilipps
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Executive Offices at x606-1236.
Managing Editor:
Stephanie Iannello
Editorial Committee:
Lisa Goldstein, Bruce Slawitsky, John Englehart