April 2016 Vol. 18 Issue 4
EC HO
THE EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER OF HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY
HSS Honors Tara Huber as 2015 Employee of the Year ard-working, dedicated and caring
H
employees are at the heart of every successful organization, and HSS is
no exception. This was evident at the March 25
Research Institute Laboratories Continue Crucial Work in Nearby New Home
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celebration where Tara Huber, education coordinator in the Radiology Department, was honored as Employee of the Year for 2015.
he Research Institute at HSS is fundamental to the Hospital’s mission of improving patient care and advancing the field of
musculoskeletal medicine. It is made up of more
The ceremony began with a welcome from
than 230 scientists and staff members, who are
Bruce Slawitsky, senior vice president, Human
singularly focused on bench-to-bedside research
Resources and Service Excellence. “Today we
identifying the mechanisms underlying muscu-
celebrate the best of the best at HSS,” said Bruce.
loskeletal and autoimmune conditions, and
He introduced and honored the 12 Employees
discovering and developing effective approaches
of the Month from 2015 to overwhelming rounds
for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic
of applause from the crowd, and explained the
and rheumatic diseases. The distinguishing features
process by which Employees of the Month are selected. After receiving a nomination from
Tara and her husband, Neil Huber, celebrate her honor.
colleagues, each individual is reviewed by the
Next came the moment everyone in the room was
Employee of the Month committee and one HSS
waiting for as Lou announced Tara as Employee of
employee is selected as Employee of the Month. Bruce then introduced Lou Shapiro, president and CEO, who continued to praise the HSS family.
the Year. Tara approached the stage to a standing
of the Research Institute include a focus on musculoskeletal conditions, integration of basic scientists and clinical investigators and a team approach to translational research.
ovation from the packed crowd. Among those cheering her on were her colleagues in the Radiology Department and her husband, Neil Huber, MRI
“At the core of great culture is having a group
Technician here at HSS.
of people who are committed to doing the best they can possibly do and serving as role models, both as individuals and team members,” said Lou. “HSS is
“It is a complete honor, and I am shocked!” said Tara. “Thank you so much to everyone here.”
blessed with a great culture and we have a collection
Tara was honored as Employee of the Month in
of individuals who embody that spirit.”
June 2015 for her outstanding work ethic, sunny
He addressed all of the 2015 Employees of the Month, stating, “All 12 of you are representatives of all employees who carry the culture of HSS, and you stand out as being selected as the role models of all role models. You should all be extremely proud of yourselves.”
disposition and can-do attitude. She excels at her job, efficiently carrying out all of her responsibilities, which include communicating to fellows, residents, visitors and students, and scheduling educational meetings and Grand Rounds.
CONTINUED on page 2
Research technician Min Joon Lee, research assistant Eirini Bournazou and postdoctoral fellow Giancarlo Chesi help organize the new lab.
With more than $30 million in support annually from the National Institutes of Health, foundations, industry and philanthropic organizations in support of our laboratory and translational and clinical research activities, our interdisciplinary research teams comprised of clinicians and scientists work tirelessly together to solve disease-related problems.
CONTINUED on page 2
Inside
The Radiology Department showed their support for Tara at the ceremony.
3 4 6
eAcademy Extends Reach Rehab Makes Epic Transition HSS at AAOS 2016
HSS Honors Tara Huber CONTINUED FROM COVER Her colleagues in the Radiology Department
Carolyn Sofka, M.D., associate attending radiologist,
were thrilled that Tara was selected as Employee
also congratulated Tara and complimented her hard
of people don’t know me in the hospital,” said Tara.
of the Year and had only compliments to give Tara
work. “Tara is an exceptional asset to the department.
“This is such a nice honor and a great award.”
at the ceremony.
She really stays on top of her work and goes above
Tara also thanked Dr. Potter, Dr. Sofka and Douglas
Hollis Potter, M.D., chairman of the Department
and beyond.”
Mintz, M.D., associate attending radiologist, for
Tara was excited, surprised and overwhelmed at the
their support.
of Radiology and Imaging, could not attend the
“I was really honored and also shocked because a lot
ceremony in person, but still offered her congratula-
honor, acknowledging the caliber of employees she
Congratulations Tara and all 2015 Employees
tions via iPhone held up to the podium microphone.
was up against.
of the Month!
“Tara is an extraordinarily wonderful person. She is the cornerstone of the education department.” Ed White, vice president, Radiology, added, “Tara is the go-to person in the department. She is a great person who knows what to do and how to get things done.” Ed also serves on the Employee of the Month committee and noted how difficult it is to select an honoree each month. “We have great debates every month to pick the Employee of the Month, and when we have to pick the Employee of the Year it is extremely difficult.”
2015 Employees of the Month include (top row, l - r) Dominic Hernandez; Patricia O’Neill; Aneta Kurzawa; Trevor Henry; Sean Donegan; (middle row, l - r) Jose Guerra; Allana Worgha; Lou Shapiro, president and CEO; Tara Huber; Jessica Gaston; (bottom row, l - r) Eduardo Ramirez; Wendy Corbi; and Sunita Hoo.
Tara with Ed White, vice president, Radiology
Research Institute Laboratories CONTINUED FROM COVER Critical to the success of the Research Institute are
about three months to complete. This required
research leadership and faculty looked at
high-performing laboratories dedicated to basic and
extensive preparation and a meticulous start-to-finish
natural collaborations that have developed over
translational musculoskeletal research. The Research
plan for the relocation, according to Risë Schwab,
time and organized the space accordingly to allow
Institute lab space received a significant upgrade
Ph.D., executive director, Research Operations.
those collaborative relationships to continue to
this year when, after several years of planning, the
A massive amount of supplies, specialized equipment,
foster and grow into new lines of novel research.
labs moved into a new home at 515 East 71st Street.
files, freezers, chemicals and other laboratory items
The 35,000 square-foot space spans five floors in
needed to be carefully transported to the new space.
the building and includes state-of-the-art laboratories;
In addition to providing the Research Institute with
growth and expansion space for new recruitments;
allow the Research Institute to continue its
upgraded lab space, including freezer rooms, tissue
specialized labs supporting collaborative research;
nearly six decade journey toward leading and
culture rooms and shared storage areas, the move
and a large, modern conference center that can
determining the future directions of muscu-
allowed the Research Institute to reevaluate the
loskeletal research. “This expansion to new
organization of the labs.
labs will further allow the Research Institute
“The relocation gave us an opportunity to organize
to expand collaborations between scientists and
accommodate more than 50 people. The new labs have an open floor plan; bigger bench tops, which allow for more work space; and a much more streamlined design that helps improve the overall workflow. Vincent Grassia, Jr., vice president, Research Administration, noted that the success of the design, construction and relocation of the Research Institute labs was a collaborative effort between faculty, staff,
2
Lionel Ivashkiv, M.D., chief scientific officer, explained that the new laboratory space will
things better and offer a fresh start to meet the
clinicians and solidify our leadership into transfor-
growing demands of our research effort,” said Risë.
mative areas of research, including genomics,
“The opportunity for collaboration is a lot better in
mechanotransduction, stem cells, aging, tissue
the new space. Everything is new and contemporary,
repair and personalized medicine.”
which is nice for staff.”
construction managers, architects and our col-
According to Erik Attia,
leagues at Weill Cornell. “Early on in the process,
manager, Research Labs,
nearly three years ago now, we convened a space
“Now that the move is
task force, chaired by one of our leading scientists,
complete and staff has
Carl Blobel, M.D., Ph.D., the Virginia F. and William
been utilizing the new
R. Salomon Chair in Musculoskeletal Research, to
space for a few months,
work with faculty, staff and architects to design our
we’ve started to adjust the
future home. This effort gained insight from our staff
location of equipment to
as to what works and what we needed. Their input
optimize the layout of
was invaluable.”
our environment.”
The move itself, which was coordinated by a com-
Instead of organizing the
pany specializing in laboratory relocations, took
labs solely by discipline,
Postdoctoral fellow Joubert Kharlyngdoh works at a biosafety cabinet.
Postdoctoral fellow Kazuki Inoue works at the bench in the new lab space.
HSS eAcademy Extends Reach Globally atients from across the country and all
webinars and on-demand CME courses. HSS
over the world turn to HSS because of our
eAcademy is on track to continue producing
outstanding reputation. But they are not
content at that rate in 2016.
P
HSS Welcomes New Chief Innovation Officer
the only ones. Health care providers from more
In fact, our platform has more online orthopedic
than 120 countries also turn to HSS as the leader
programming than Mayo Clinic, Massachusetts
in musculoskeletal health for educational programs
General Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins
through HSS eAcademy, allowing us to leverage
and NYU Langone Medical Center combined.
H
our expertise to establish positioning and grow
According to Martha, what sets us apart is that
our reputation as part of our journey from a focused
innovation officer and
we are creating content across different disciplines
factory to a knowledge factory.
senior vice president,
representing nearly every subspecialty, including
Innovation and Business
HSS eAcademy is the Hospital’s electronic, digital
surgery, anesthesiology, rehabilitation, pediatrics
Development. Lenny will
platform for distribution of education and academic
and rheumatology.
lead the HSS Innovation
programs to professionals focusing on new medical
“HSS eAcademy is a tool that is helping to secure
Center and its broader
procedures, technological advancements in health
our position as the most-trusted educator in the
initiatives to cultivate and capitalize on the culture of
care and cutting-edge developments in medical
field,” said Mathias Bostrom, M.D., attending
innovation and business development that has long
research. According to Martha O’Brasky, MPA, vice
orthopaedic surgeon and vice chair of Education &
been a defining characteristic of HSS.
president, Education & Academic Affairs, prior to 2013,
Academic Affairs. “The technology available today is
100 percent of HSS’ education was done in person,
“Lenny brings over 15 years of experience pioneering,
eliminating many barriers that used to exist, allowing
but as technology evolved and the market shifted, it
developing and executing business entities that has
eAcademy to support and strengthen our education
was clear that we needed to enter the online arena.
driven volume, revenue and brand awareness for
platform both outside and inside HSS.”
the enterprise,” said Lou Shapiro, president and
“We created HSS eAcademy, constructing
In addition to leveraging our brand externally,
CEO. “His appointment is evidence that innovation
a digital pathway to extend our reach to a global
HSS eAcademy has also become an invaluable
will be an even more important ingredient to
community leveraging technology,” said Martha.
internal asset, supporting education training and
our future.”
“HSS eAcademy is a platform that houses and
information sharing as part of our hub-and-spoke
hosts all of our digital professional offerings
Lenny began his medical career as a nurse and later
strategy. The platform is also being used to create
and has become a brand extender.”
went on to co-found companies, such as Quality
pre-classroom education content that our residents
Reviews Inc.’s Rate My Hospital. He most recently
Over the last year, HSS eAcademy has become a
can access 24/7, on or off campus, prior to the
served as the chief communications officer, chief of
focus of the professional arm of our academic mission
actual classroom setting. This “flip-classroom”
access services and senior associate dean for global
and experienced tremendous growth. New strategies
format allows for faculty and trainees to maximize
communications, branding and reputation at the Icahn
have been developed and implemented, including
the in-person conference time and focus on
School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In addition to his
adding a live-streaming component to much of our
discussion-based, interactive learning, which is
vast experience in the healthcare industry, Lenny also
CME and CEU education being done in a live setting
a more powerful way to educate and learn.
works as a prominent street artist in New York.
and designing didactic, on-demand educational offer-
“This portal is an asset that is creating lots of
ings while building a musculoskeletal video library.
“I’m really excited to be here at HSS in this environ-
opportunities,” said Martha. “Our growth has been
ment,” said Lenny. “My vision is to deliver and continue
To help develop and implement those strategies, the
continual, and the appetite for HSS content is very
down the pathway to sustained leadership to help
Education Modalities Council was established in late
strong, especially on the international side.”
transition HSS from a focus factory to a knowledge
2015 and began meeting in January 2016. Chaired by
To help drive the growth and feed that appetite,
factory through innovation and ideas. Everyone here
Steven Haas, M.D., attending orthopedic surgeon and
we have established a fluid pipeline working in
works hard to contribute to our mission, and I want
chief of Knee Service, the council works to leverage all
partnership with our renowned faculty and thought
everyone in the HSS family to feel like they are a part
of our education modalities including eAcademy, the
leaders to produce new and exciting content.
of the innovation team.”
Bioskills lab and the HSS Journal, among others.
We are also looking at additional marketing and
To encourage the HSS family to further their
“We are growing our infrastructure and integrating
communications strategies to extend the reach
involvement in innovation, Lenny and the innovation
a reference library, and we have enhanced our live-
of HSS eAcademy even further in the future.
team will be holding open office hours every Thursday
streaming platform by
SS is proud to welcome Lenny Achan, RN,
MA, ANP, as the new chief
and Friday from 9:00 – 11:00 AM beginning in May.
adding a two-way inter-
To schedule an appointment, please email
active chatroom during
innovation@hss.edu.
live programs,” said Martha. “We also started to generate a calendar
Making Rounds
for executing webinars.”
News & Insights from Lou Shapiro, President and CEO
More than 200 new offerings were available in 2015, a 55 percent
Access “Making Rounds” www.hssmakingrounds.com,
increase from the
to read the below posts and more. I look forward to
previous year. This
your comments.
included more than 500
– Lou Shapiro
eLearning offerings from • One Word
nearly every subspecialty in several different
• Roadmap to 2020: Part 7
formats, such as livestreaming, interactive
HSS eAcademy offers eLearnings from nearly every subspecialty at the Hospital.
• Roadmap to 2020: Part 6
3
HSS Rehabilitation Makes an Epic Transition
H
SS Rehabilitation provides a wide range of
in the first wave and help other departments with their
physical, occupational and speech therapy
transitions to Epic in the subsequent waves.”
training included a simulation lab. During simulation,
services for adults and children. After surgery
For Pediatric Rehabilitation, one of the best features of
clinicians documented in Epic in their actual clinical
at HSS, the Acute Care team helps patients get back
the Epic electronic medical record has been the avail-
environment with Surface Pro tablets, as they evalu-
on the road to recovery. Exceptional outpatient reha-
ability of physician notes, prescriptions and imaging
ated and treated volunteers pretending to be patients.
bilitative care is also provided in New York, New Jersey,
immediately after patients are seen by pediatric ortho-
They also attended a personalization lab where they
Connecticut and Florida. Performance and wellness
pedists. “By the time the child and their parents arrive
learned how to customize Epic documentation to their
services including massage therapy, Pilates, perform-
on the 9th floor to receive a home program, crutch
own needs. In support of the next roll-outs, staff mem-
ance testing and training, and nutrition counseling are
training or full assessment, the therapist is able to
bers who have caught on quickly are able to help their
also available for patients and community members.
review all pertinent documentation,” said Magda.
colleagues and build relationships in the process.
With the transition to Epic, a major win for HSS
Care coordination between pediatric orthopedists and
A key success factor for HSS Rehabilitation was open
Rehabilitation and the entire HSS family is quick
pediatric rehabilitation therapists has also improved.
lines of communication, including setting expectations
access to all the information caregivers need to
Magda further stated, “I am currently seeing a patient
and acknowledging the difficulties that the team may
provide the best care for our patients. Here is HSS
with a complex medical history. The patient is followed
encounter. “We asked a lot of our team to take on a new
Rehabilitation’s story on their journey to “One
by rheumatology and orthopedics. Thanks to Epic,
set of skills, work long hours and help navigate patients
Patient. One Record. One HSS.”
I have easy access to the medical history, medica-
though the new processes,” said JeMe Cioppa-Mosca,
Perspective of Pediatric Rehabilitation
tions, and I can review changes in the medical plan
PT, senior vice president, Rehabilitation and executive
as needed. I am more informed when treating my
sponsor for the Epic Ambulatory Advisory Committee.
patient and better able to answer any concerns and
“I made it clear that I understood exactly how chal-
make recommendations in sync with the physician.”
lenging the process would be, and that we were all in it
HSS Rehabilitation went live with scheduling and registration in Epic at all non-corporate locations, as well as clinical documentation at Pediatric Rehabilitation as
together. I am so proud of what we have accomplished
part of the January 31, 2016 go-live. According to
Preparation is Key
Magda Oledzka, PT, DPT, MBA, PCS, c/NDT, director,
HSS Rehabilitation has amazing Credentialed
Pediatric Rehabilitation, “Staff have adapted to Epic
Trainers and Super Users who learned the system
with open minds, extensive preparation and excitement.
inside and out allowing them to successfully train
Now that we are in the midst of it, we are so glad to be
staff and translate previous workflows into new
Involving staff that directly care for patients in the
processes. Four Rehab staff became Credentialed
whole process from the beginning through post-live
Dana Rose, PT, DPT, OCS, staff therapist, Spine Therapy Center, documents key information about her patient in Epic while keeping her engaged.
Pawel Wawrzyniak, PT, DPT, SCS, staff therapist, Integrative Care Center, demonstrates how the Surface Pro tablet is used while staying focused on the patient and delivering quality care.
4
In addition to classroom instruction, HSS Rehabilitation
together and look forward to the great things ahead as we continue to transform care delivery at HSS.”
A Team Effort
Trainers and taught Rehab as well as staff
has been key to a smooth transition. Charles Fisher,
throughout the Hospital.
PT, MPT, MBA, assistant vice president, Rehabilitation,
Oscar Alvarado, a member of the HSS Rehabilitation
points out that the Rehab staff are the ones who
clerical team, received credentialing in the Cadence
perform the workflows on a daily basis and, therefore,
scheduling application. Physical therapists Maureen
have provided the best feedback for what works and
Suhr, Martha Danielak and Jun Bak received creden-
what needs to be improved. Rehabilitation leadership
tialing in Epic Inpatient and Ambulatory applications.
took the feedback of the whole team to improve all
Their full-time work as trainers as well as providing
aspects of workflows, documentation and orders for
support during go-live have been key for staff quickly
the transition to Epic.
adapting to the new ways of doing things.
“Being able to assist in content development has
Staff were appreciative that Karen Juliano, senior
allowed me to form Epic to my specific role and clinical
manager, Education, successfully obtained New
abilities” stated Scott Siverling, PT, OCS, clinical
York State CEU’s for Ambulatory and Inpatient Epic
supervisor, Integrative Care Center. Ideas for changes
training of the physical therapists, occupational
came from the staff, which has contributed signifi-
therapists and speech language pathologists.
cantly to a successful transition for HSS Rehabilitation.
Scott Siverling, PT, OCS, clinical supervisor, Integrative Care Center, uses his Surface Pro tablet with ease as he documents key information alongside his patient.
A Focus on Benefits The use of Epic has improved care delivery and the patient experience for HSS Rehabilitation in many ways. Here are a few highlights: • Pre-registration: Having registration completed by the time patients arrive has been a big win for HSS Rehabilitation Outpatient Access staff. This allows for patients to experience a quicker check-in process. • Ordering Durable Medical Equipment (DME): For Rehabilitation Acute Care, a big win has been the process for ordering durable medical equipment (DME). Prior to Epic, staff had to send a message through the Climacs system to the vendor requesting certain items, such as walkers or canes. Staff also had to document in their note which devices they were requesting for the patient. With Epic the request for DME is automatically sent to the vendor from the documentation of DME in flowsheets. This makes the process much more efficient. • Schedulable Orders: With physicians entering orders electronically in Epic, staff can now select the order and schedule directly from it. This makes the scheduling process much easier and faster.
live with clinical documentation in Epic. Having this clinical documentation as part of the Epic record is a benefit to all clinicians, who will be able to find documentation more easily. “All of the time and dedication put into Epic by the
HSS in Connecticut n addition to helping care for patients at the
I
Stamford Outpatient Center and the new Sports
Rehab facility, HSS has been extremely active in
Rehabilitation team prior to go-live has made for a
Connecticut over the past several weeks.
seamless transition and a great first week”, stated
• Sam Taylor, M.D.,
Dana Rose, PT, DPT, OCS, staff therapist, Spine
assistant attending
Therapy Center.
orthopedic surgeon,
Rehab staff, IT and Epic colleagues, and those
spoke with the CT
providing “at-the-elbow” support reported the
Rush, a premier
first few days went smoothly with no major
youth soccer
issues. Teams were responsive to troubleshoot
program with
any minor issues quickly to ensure a seamless
four locations in
patient experience.
Connecticut, about
According to Mary Murray-Weir, PT, vice president,
the ABC’s of ACL
Rehabilitation, “We were ready. We completed
and meniscus
backloading of flowsheets in Epic the Friday before
health. More
go-live with all of our Rehab staff in the same room
than 100 players,
at the same time. If anyone had a question, everyone
parents and
benefited from the response. It also gave staff a
coaches attended
confidence boost in feeling more comfortable with
the event, which took place at the HSS Stamford
clinical documentation in Epic in advance of using
Outpatient Center on April 6.
the system with patients present.”
Sam Taylor, M.D., speaks with players, parents and coaches at the CT Rush event in Stamford.
• The HSS Greenwich Cup, a multi-sport series
The Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center
launched in partnership with Greenwich Parks
• Functional Milestone Data Collection: Eliminating
went live with clinical documentation on May 2,
and Recreation, kicked off on April 10 with its first
the use of multiple forms for collecting information
and will be followed by the Orthopedic Physical
event, the HSS Greenwich Cup Half Marathon.
has also been a major win for Rehabilitation Acute
Therapy Center, Hand Therapy Center, Motion Analysis
More than 600 runners participated in the race.
Laboratory, Florida and Corporate Off-sites on June 6.
Additional events in the series, including the HSS
Care. The functional milestone data collection process prior to Epic required staff to fill out additional paper forms, which were batched and then manually entered into a database. With Epic, the data is automatically pulled into a report so there is no extra documentation, no batching and no need to have someone perform data entry into the database. It has been a big win for HSS Rehabilitation and has reduced duplicative documentation and made the process more efficient.
According to Carol Page, PT, DPT, CHT, director, Quality/Operational Excellence, Rehabilitation, “The biggest challenge we foresee, even as we are still in the initial rollout period, is that our staff is so excited with the possibilities for optimizing Epic
Greenwich Cup Triathlon and the HSS Tour de Greenwich XXXII 20-Mile Bike event, will take place later this year. • HSS served as a proud supporter of Focus on French Cinema, an international independent
that it will be hard to keep up with implementing
film festival showcasing contemporary French-
all their great ideas.”
language films from around the world. French film
The transition to Epic at HSS continues to be critical to maintaining and strengthening our
An Update on the Epic Rollout
position as a world-class organization. Stay tuned
As planned, clinical documentation functionality
as we will continue to highlight our Epic journey
in Epic for HSS Rehabilitation is being rolled out in
and how the EMR is being used by members
waves. On Monday, April 4, 2016, the Spine Therapy
of the HSS family across different departments
Center and the Integrative Care Center (ICC) went
and disciplines.
star Nathalie Baye was one of many who attended a special event screening of the popular French film, The Return of Martin Guerre, sponsored by HSS at the Avon Theatre in Stamford.
HSS Wants You to Take a Walk The Employee Walking Program is back. It’s simple: check in and get moving! You can walk as far as you want at your own pace, and can take to the streets alone or with a friend. Participants can also enter into raffles to win great prizes and earn Vitality points along the way. Details Dates: Thursday, May 26 – Tuesday, August 23 Time: Anytime between 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Where: Check in at the table outside of the Belaire Café and then walk wherever you’d like To register for the Walking Program, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2MW2QHZ. For more information, contact Alanna Perlstein,
(Pictured l - r) Dana Rose, PT, DPT, OCS, staff therapist, Spine Therapy Center, is working closely with her patient. Lee Rosenzweig, PT, DPT, CHT, OCS, advanced clinician, Spine Therapy Center; Brian Goonan, PT, DPT, advanced clinician, Spine Therapy Center; and Varsha Seemangal, PT, DPT, MST, staff therapist, Spine Therapy Center, are trying out their new Epic tools.
CHES at extension 1613.
5
HSS at AAOS 2016 t this year’s American Academy of
HSS Farmers Market Open for Business f you’ve ever wished for your very own farmers
“We are providing really good, fresh, locally sourced
market right here at HSS you are in luck. The
food to employees, and they are also supporting local
Employee Wellness Committee has brought
farmers,” said Dana. “It’s a great way to try new foods
A
I
Farmigo, a weekly online farmers market, to the
because it is seasonal and available locally, and there
and leading research in orthopedics.
HSS Family.
are fresh and healthy foods that are convenient to
• Geoffrey Westrich, M.D., attending orthopedic
Founded in 2009, Farmigo creates a food system that
keep at work and snack on.”
surgeon, presented a study about the benefits
is better for everyone by fostering a direct connection
For more information on Farmigo, please contact Dana Pitman at pitmand@hss.edu.
Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual
Meeting in Orlando on March 1 - 4, HSS
presented several studies related to innovations
of using tranexamic acid or TXA to reduce blood
between farmers and the consumers who eat their
loss and transfusion rates associated with joint
food. The organization helps to set up communities
replacement surgery.
of people who are interested in hosting local-food
• Seth Jerabek, M.D., assistant attending
Did you know?
pickups in their area. Members can then join a
orthopedic surgeon, presented a study that
specific community, place an online order and pick
Placing one monthly Farmigo order will earn
indicates patients considering hip replacement
up their food at a designated location once a week.
you 50 Vitality points that month.
surgery should wait to undergo the procedure
Thanks to an effort by Employee Wellness
Learn more about the Vitality program at
until three months after receiving a steroid
Committee member Dana Pitman, MS, RD, CDN,
www.powerofvitality.com.
injection to relieve hip pain.
clinical nutritionist, HSS now has its very own
• Riley J. Williams, III, M.D., associate attending
Farmigo community. Ordering fresh and healthy food
orthopedic surgeon and director of the Institute
through the program couldn’t be easier. Simply visit
for Cartilage Repair, published a study that
www.farmigo.com/hssfarmersmarket to sign up and
indicates patients over 40 benefit from cartilage
start adding items to your basket. Each week you will
“plugs” to repair damage to knee cartilage.
have until Sunday at midnight to place your order. The
• HSS researchers Jayme Burket, Ph.D., and Stephen Lyman, Ph.D., published a study that indicates a knee replacement surgery completed at high-volume hospitals is less costly over a patient’s lifetime and provides better outcomes. • Lawrence Gulotta, M.D., assistant attending orthopaedic surgeon, published a study that supports the benefits and provides data outcomes related to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
next day, the farmers and producers harvest and pack your items to be delivered to HSS every Wednesday for pickup. You can order whatever you want each week, skip a week or even place weekly recurring orders. There are no order minimums or delivery fees. According to Farmigo, the average distance items travel to get to your grocery store is 1,500 miles, while the average distance items travel to get to a farmers market is only 50 miles. Not only does this give you the option to try locally sourced, delicious new foods, but it also allows you to help support local
Additionally, HSS won Best Poster in the Spine
farmers and producers. Through Farmigo, 60 percent
Section for a poster authored by Darren Lebl, M.D.,
of the money you spend goes directly to the source!
F.A.A.O.S., assistant attending orthopaedic surgeon,
Farmers and producers purchase and harvest only
Tucker Callanan, research coordinator, Frank
what is ordered to reduce waste, and anything
Cammisa, Jr., M.D., attending orthopaedic
leftover goes to a local food bank.
Farmigo rep Mike D’Armi offers samples of locally sourced food and explains the benefits of the program to HSS employees.
surgeon, and Celeste Abjornson, Ph.D., director of Spinal Research.
New Medical Staff Compliance Helpline Reminder Emerald Lin, M.D. 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.
Dr. Emerald Lin is an assistant attending physiatrist at Hospital
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.
University Medical Center and her residency at Mount Sinai.
The Compliance Helpline number is 888-651-6234.
as the medical director and educational program director of
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.
the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic. She received the Magnum
If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Corporate Compliance office directly, at x2398.
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for Special Surgery with a special interest in concussion rehabilitation, spasticity and sports medicine. She received her medical degree from UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and went on to complete her internship at Richmond Additionally, she completed a fellowship in traumatic brain injury at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. Prior to joining HSS, Dr. Lin worked as a traumatic brain injury physiatrist at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia, where she served
Opus Certificate of Appreciation “For Going Above and Beyond” in 2014 and currently serves as president of the New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Lin strongly believes in patient education and partnership with the goal of restoring function and quality of life.
Charla De Lupus Hosts Successful Girls Night Out Event SS partnered with Project Sunshine to hold
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through a similar experience and to enjoy a night of
the annual Charla de Lupus Girls Night
pampering if they were unable to attend their own
Out/Parents Spa Day on April 7 for young
prom or school dance. While the girls enjoyed the
women with lupus and their parents and caregivers.
event, their parents and caregivers were invited to
During the event, which was hosted by the Charla de
a relaxing spa night in appreciation of all they do.
HSS Volunteer and Donor Recognized by United Hospital Fund SS volunteer and donor Fred Jacobson was
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honored at the United Hospital Fund’s (UHF) 23rd annual Hospital Auxilian and Volunteer
Lupus (Lupus Chat)®
Achievement Awards ceremony on March 18.
Program at HSS, about
Fred, along with 86 other volunteers and auxilians in
20 patients enjoyed a night
the greater NYC area, was selected by UHF from
of fun picking out prom
among thousands who donate their time to providing
dresses and getting their
service to hospitals each year. As an experienced hiker,
hair and make-up done.
Frederick helps orthopedic surgery patients feel less
Miss USA 2015 Olivia
anxious by talking about his experience recovering
Jordan joined HSS and
from his own knee replacement.
Project Sunshine staff to
Congratulations to Fred on receiving this prestigious
help the girls. The event
honor, and thank you for supporting HSS!
provides a great opportunity for young women living with lupus to interact with others who are going
Miss USA 2015 poses with the young women who attended the Girls Night Out event on April 7.
HSS Recognizes Lab Professionals as Key Members of Health Care Team SS is proud to honor the nearly 100
they perform every day saves lives, reduces
laboratory professionals and pathologists
morbidity and helps control the cost of care.
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who play a vital role in the care of our
Today, with advances in analytical science and
patients during Medical Laboratory Professionals
automation – and as cost pressures reduce patient
Week. This special week, which takes place from
stays in the hospital – work performed in the labora-
April 24 – 30, was created by the American Society
tory is more important than ever.
for Clinical Laboratory Science to help increase
Please join us in celebrating Medical Laboratory
public understanding of and appreciation for clinical
Professionals Week by acknowledging HSS medical
laboratory personnel.
laboratory professionals and pathologists for their
Since lab professionals often work behind the
dedication and commitment to their profession and
scenes, few people know that the critical testing
to quality patient care.
Fred Jacobson is congratulated by UHF president Jim Tallon.
Joint Commission Reporting
Employee of the Month Jake White, April 2016 Congratulations to Jake, Employee of the Month for April! Jake is a nurse in the Pre and Post Op Call Center who has been a member of the HSS family since 2012.
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.
on a daily basis.
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.
Jake has been called an excellent nurse by his colleagues
You may file your report in the following ways:
He is a team player who brings joy to those around him
and takes the time to engage both patients and staff. He is
1. By e-mail:
complaint@jointcommission.org
eager to learn new things and is always willing to share his
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
knowledge and experiences with others. If he is unsure of something he will do whatever it takes to find answers and get the job done, even if it means staying late. In addition to being great at his job, Jake has a positive demeanor and sense of humor that brings a smile to the faces of his patients and colleagues. He can always be counted on to cheer up others when they are feeling down.
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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Milestones Rehabilitation • Polly de Mille, R.N., M.A., RCEP, CSCS, USAT, appeared on a segment on The Dr. Oz Show measuring the effectiveness of fitness trackers. • The team at HSS Spine & Sport participated in the expo for the EAU Palm Beach Marathon & Run Fest. They also hosted a water station, and won a prize for Best Theme in the Wacky Water Station Competition sponsored by Life Time Fitness. • Aisling Toolan, P.T., DPT, SCS, CSCS, and Riley J. Williams III, M.D., presented at the Major League Soccer (MLS) 2016 Medical Symposium, jointly provided by Hospital for Special Surgery Office of Continuing Medical Education and Major League Soccer in Fort Lauderdale. • Aisling Toolan, P.T., along with Kelsie Ganshert, P.T., DPT, and Daniel W. Green, M.D., M.S., FAAP, FACS, were invited to speak at the “Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRISM)” meeting in San Diego. Kelsie delivered a talk on behalf of the group titled, “How We Do RTP Evaluation After ACL-R (Differently) at HSS.” • Robert Turner, PT, OCS, MS, OM, LAc, PMA®CPT, was the activity director for the HSS course Foot Fundamentals: Mastering the Art of Foot &
MDT, SFMA; Dana Rose, PT, DPT, OCS; and Erin
presented “Advances in the Treatment of the
Singleton, PT, DPT, OCS.
Athlete’s Hip” for MedSport at the University
• JeMe Cioppa-Mosca, PT, MBA; Matthew Pugliese, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC, Cert MDT, SFMA;
of Michigan. • Jennifer Jezequel, PT, DPT, PCS, presented
and Matthew Titmuss, PT, DPT, presented at
“Physical Therapy in Childhood Rheumatic
the International Arthroplasty Symposium,
Disease” at NYU’s 7th Annual Pediatric
co-sponsored by HSS and Hospital Alvorada
Rheumatology Update for Clinicians.
in São Paulo, Brazil.
• Aviva Wolff, OTR, CHT, EdD(c), presented “Therapy for Scapholunate Dissociation,”
• Howard J. Hillstrom, PhD, presented on Knee Osteoarthritis: Experimental and
“Biomechanics of Elbow Stiffness and Implica-
Computational Approaches Towards Understanding
tions for Rehabilitation,” and “Elbow Instability –
Pathomechanics and the Effect of Treatment
Diagnosis and Management,” and moderated
at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology
a breakout session on “Wrist Biomechanics,
Mechanical Engineering Seminar in Haifa, Israel.
Dynamic Stability and Function” at the 2016
• Presenters at the 2016 Combined Sections Meeting in Anaheim, CA were: Theresa Chiaia, PT, DPT; Lisa Drefus, PT, DPT, Cert Schroth Scoliosis Therapist; Coleen Gately, PT, DPT, CHT, CLT; Jorge Giral, PT, DPT, SCS, COMT, CSCS; Rupali Joshi, PT, PhD; and Andrea
Hand Rehabilitation Foundation Meeting. • Polly de Mille, RN, MA, RCEP, CSCS, USAT; Julie Khan, PT, DPT; Jason Machowsky, RD, CSSD, RCEP, CSCS; and Jamie Osmak, CSCS, USATF, CGFI-1, presented at the NYC Half Expo. • The HSS Recovery Zone at the NYC Half 2016 saw over 650 runners. Rehabilitation staff were:
Tychanski PT, DPT, ATC, CSCS. • Julia Doty, OTR/L, CHT, presented “Rehabilitation Pearls After Shoulder Replacement” at the HSS course Shoulder Arthroplasty: From (Dr.) Neer to Now.
Lauren Alix, PT, DPT; Katrina Cook, student; Polly de Mille, RN, MA, RCEP, CSCS, USAT; Astrid Divincent, PT, DPT; Guisi Gerbino, PT, DPT; Jaclyn Graff, PT, DPT; Anthony Harrelson, senior rehabilitation technician; Julie Khan, PT,
• Polly de Mille RN, MA, RCEP, CSCS, USAT,
DPT; Jordan Luithle, managed care liaison; Ann
PT, DPT, OCS, CKTP; Jonathan T. Deland; Lisa
presented “A Visit to the Performance Lab:
Kokinda, practice manager; Jason Machowsky,
Drefus, PT, DPT; Scott J. Ellis, MD; Howard J.
Maximizing Your Physiology” at the 7th Annual
RD, CSSD, RCEP, CSCS; Nick Maroldi, PT, DPT,
Hillstrom, PhD; Hector Lozada, PT, DPT, MCMT,
Endurance Sports Education Night.
Ankle Rehabilitation. Presenters were Erin Corbo,
CKTP; Leigh-Ann Plack, PT, DPT, USATF-1; Matthew Pugliese, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC, Cert
SFMA; Andrea Minsky, PT, DPT; Jamie Osmak,
• Pete Draovitch PT, MS, ATC, SCS, CSCS, and Jaime Edelstein PT, DScPT, COMT, OCS, CSCS,
Picture This
CSCS, USATF, CGFI-1; Matthew Powers DPT, CSCS; and Curtis Wu, PT, DPT, CSCS.
Welcome Caroline E. Accardi, Labake R. Akindele, Sally Alwesabie, Amanda E. Bishop, Christopher Boroanka, Erin Campbell, Mheljun Capre, Camila Carballo, Jose L. Carchi, Meagan A. Carter, Han-Lian Chien, William Chow, Angela L. Christie, Alba A. Colon, Matthew W. Connallon, Luis D. Contreras, Henry T. D’Souza, Harry Davis, Keith Davis, Madeline R. Degner, Amanda R. DelGiudice, Paula Domatiera, Michael Doolam, Rosalia Duarte-Alban, Hannah R. Ferderber, Anthony J. Ferrara, Christina A. Fynn, Cole G. Gaidemak, Gordana Gilbert-Petrovic, Ruben Gonzalez, Danielle C. Gorga, Aja R. Green, Jinette James, Elizabeth M. Herbert, Cleave C. Hodge, Sheena Hutchinson, Minru Hwang, Raeanne Irwin, Alexandra Jaramillo, Johanne Jasmin, Jennie Jeune, Bridget Jivanelli, Cynthia Kuang, Kyla T. Lafond, Anna Larkin, Matthew G. Lewis, Randy J. Lewis, Emerald Lin, Alanna Little, Lauren E. Logos, Devonie Gail Manzano, Caridad Marrero, Alexandra McGraw, Lauren A. Mogelnicki, Lei Meng, Arif Mohammed, Lucy Moore, Angela Mullins, Daphna Lorraine Newman, Kristy L. Niitzel, Mollie Nolan, Azizah Odesesan, Jean Y. Park, Angelo J. Pegno, Sam Pilku, Martha Plack, Amaris Quinones, John Rakowicz, Astley A. Robinson, Leli M. Robles, Deirdre A. Rogers, Heidy C. Salcedo, Rabab Shaddoud, Stacie M. Smith, Eldar Spahic, Elizabeth Staszewski, Rita L. Stathis, Angelice M. Tejada, Seethal S. Thomas, Kristen A. Tilley, Vince N. Tran, Michelle Vila, Nora C. Wallace, Loni L. Weinman, Eric Witkowski
The Westchester Knicks partnered with HSS, the Official Hospital of the team, to celebrate First Responders Night on March 30. Jo Hannafin, M.D., Ph.D., attending orthopedic surgeon, Mark Drakos, M.D., assistant attending orthopedic surgeon, and Brett Toresdahl, M.D., assistant attending physician, along with members of FDNY 343, a charitable foundation honoring the 343 FDNY members who lost their lives on September 11th, were presented replica Westchester Knicks jerseys during a pregame ceremony. In addition, there was a silent auction of game-worn, signed jerseys with proceeds benefitting FDNY 343.
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Editor:
Marisa DeFilipps
Executive Editor:
Rachel Sheehan
Editorial Committee:
Lisa Goldstein, Bruce Slawitsky, John Englehart
Next Issue:
May 2016 echo@hss.edu