August Echo 2013 by Hospital for Special Surgery

August 2013 Vol. 15 Issue 8

ECHO THE EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER OF HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY

HSS Celebrates Accomplishments

Countdown to Launch of ICD-10

or the fourth consecutive year, HSS has taken the number one spot for orthopedics nationally in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. In addition, the Hospital ranked at number four in Rheumatology. “All members of the HSS family should be proud of this achievement as it reflects our commitment to excellence and to providing the highest quality patient care,” said Lou Shapiro, president and CEO. “You consistently meet and exceed the high standards we set for ourselves to provide unsurpassed care and outcomes. People choose to travel to HSS from around the country and the world for their care because of our incredible culture that translates into a consistent commitment to excellence in patient care and safety.”

he Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services mandated that by October 1, 2014, all HIPAA-covered entities, including hospitals, health care practitioners and public

HSS has been among the top-ranked institutions in orthopedics and rheumatology for 23 consecutive years. At the recent Ice Cream Summerfest on August 6, the Hospital celebrated not only the rankings, but the many accomplishments this year, including the successful Joint Commission Survey, the second consecutive Gallup Great Workplace Award and being in the 99th percentile for “likelihood to recommend” for 20 consecutive quarters. CONTINUED on page 2

Members of the Health Information Management coding team who have been totally immersed in the preparation for the transition to ICD-10.

and private healthcare research institutions, must transition from ICD-9 to the ICD-10 coding system. To prepare, HSS implemented an early adoption program in 2012 to launch the new coding system on October 1, 2013 for the systems that are ready to begin the transition to ICD-10. ICD-10 is the World Health Organization’s international standard used for inpatient and outpatient diagnoses, as well as inpatient procedures. Codes are the language of healthcare and impact virtually all areas of the industry. Upgrading to ICD-10 captures significantly more detailed data which can be used to make ongoing improvements in patient care, quality reviews, medical research, reimbursement and electronic health records. The transition to ICD-10 represents a significant undertaking and impacts every aspect of the Hospital and physicians’ revenue cycle, as well as clinical documentation, patient care and information technology. The early adoption program includes ongoing education and training CONTINUED on page 3

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HSS Supports Health of High School Football Players New York Red Bulls Visit Pediatric Patients

Message from Lou Shapiro: Preparing for the Flu Season

ear Colleague,

The flu season will soon be here and it is important that all members of the HSS family are prepared. We are all accountable for providing a safe environment at HSS. The flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting our patients, our colleagues, yourselves and loved ones against being infected. Lou Shapiro, president and CEO, This year a new receives his flu shot from Ann R. regulation has been Bienstock, M.S., R.N., Occupational Health Services, in 2012. put in place for all healthcare and residential facilities and agencies in the state of New York, entitled “Prevention of Influenza Transmission by Healthcare and Residential Facility and Agency Personnel.” This regulation will be in effect for the flu season.

More information will be communicated to all staff over the coming weeks about this regulation through various channels, so please be on the lookout for these important messages. We are committed to providing our patients with the highest quality of care in the safest environment possible and every member of the HSS family is key to making this happen. Getting your flu vaccination will help ensure that we can continue to provide the high quality of care that is a hallmark of HSS during the flu season. I thank all of you in advance for your cooperation and commitment to keeping our patients and your colleagues safe. You can find upcoming dates for flu vaccinations offered at HSS on page 7. With appreciation, Lou

Access “Making Rounds” www.hssmakingrounds.com, to read the below posts and more. I look forward to your comments. – Lou Shapiro • • • • •

Growth and Diversification Efficiency Alignment Value Focus

HSS Celebrates CONTINUED from the cover

Some members of the HSS family shared their thoughts on our accomplishments and what it means to them to be part of an institution consistently recognized as the leader in our areas of specialty. Norma Bonaiuto, office manager in Dr. Leon Root’s office who has been working with him for the past 35 years, commented on our continued success and recognition. “Our recent number one ranking is a wonderful accomplishment, but then again we’ve been number one for so many years, I’ve come to expect it,” said Bonaiuto. “When I come to work, I feel as though I’m coming home to family. I don’t just work for Dr. Root, I work for the Hospital. We all have to work together and I am proud to be a part of HSS and of our accomplishments.” Fran Meyers, who works in the Service Excellence Department as supervisor of the AMS Visitor and Family Atrium added, “The Hospital is very interested in their employees, from events like this ice cream social, to tuition reimbursement and supporting employee growth – it’s a great place to work – I love working at HSS. I’m not surprised we’ve received the Gallup Great Workplace Award for two years in a row. In my department, our employees are very hard-working, engaged and care about people and I think you find the same theme throughout the Hospital.” “As a part of the Physician Referral Services team, all of these accomplishments make me proud,” said Andrea Houston, senior physician referral

representative. “We talk with patients each and every day and are happy to tell them we’re number one. We know we’re bringing them into a Hospital that is the best, which is evident in our many successes and the recognition we receive – by the Joint Commission, by Gallup and by the other patients who refer them here.” “It is extremely important that others outside of HSS understand the achievement going on within,” said Kevin Harrison, security officer. “Receiving recognition is always gratifying – top rankings, awards and successful surveys are pats on the back saying, ‘well done.’ I think we should feel a sense of pride.” When asked how our Security team contributes to the overall success of the Hospital, Harrison commented, “We provide a protected environment for staff, patients and the public, but we have another role as well – customer relations. Everyone that comes to HSS is treated with the utmost respect and kindness. Facilitating a safe and efficient environment for employees and patients is an important part of our mission as Security.”

HSS Volunteers Celebrated at Summer Luncheon

n July 25, a record number of HSS volunteers were celebrated for the selfless service they provide throughout the year. The Annual Summer Luncheon, hosted by the HSS Volunteer Department, took place in the Richard L. Menschel Education Center. During the special lunch, volunteers were treated to an entertaining presentation by Sabrina M. Strickland, M.D., sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, titled, “Why my job is so cool!” With humorous anecdotes, Dr. Strickland recounted how she made a childhood dream of becoming an orthopedic surgeon a reality. “It’s a mystery to me that everyone doesn’t want to be an orthopedic surgeon,” explained Dr. Strickland. “I actually get to fix things and sew things back together. When people break bones it’s like putting

a puzzle back together.” One of the aspects she enjoys most about her job is that there is no such thing as a typical day for an orthopedic surgeon. “It doesn’t exist. I handle different cases and different surgeries everyday. That’s why I like it.”

Countdown to Launch

Teamwork is also a major reason why Dr. Strickland describes her job at HSS as ‘cool.’ “I get to work with amazing people. Everyone is geared up to a very common goal of getting the patient back to a specific lifestyle.”

for physicians, nurses and staff interacting with ICD-10. Additionally, a variety of workgroups consisting of more than 150 staff members focus on areas including: Information Technology, Education, Health Information Management (HIM), Revenue Cycle, Managed Care, Physician Practice Training, Data Analysis, Patient Accounting and Finance, Clinical Documentation and Communications. Leading the efforts are an ICD-10 Steering Committee, Project Management group as well as members from the Hospital’s leadership team.

Following Dr. Strickland’s presentation, Wendy Yondorf, director of the Volunteer Department, thanked all of the volunteers for their dedication and hard work. This summer the number of college students participating in the volunteer program increased by 27 percent. The students serve primarily in the Atriums, Research, Motion Analysis Lab and Physical and Occupational Therapy. All volunteers play an essential role and HSS wouldn’t be able to accomplish what it does on a daily basis without the extraordinary service of the nearly 340 individuals who commit their time to the Hospital.

Dr. Strickland presents to volunteers during the luncheon on, “Why my job is so cool!”

Erica Sandoval, LMSW, program coordinator, Charla de Lupus/Lupus Chat® (center) and volunteers (left to right) Ashley Barros-Rashid and Joselis De la cruz.

HSS in Queens

For certain procedures, such as surgery, the patient will be directed to the main campus for care. Afterwards, many of these patients often return to Queens for postoperative and other required care.”

SS Queens, the Hospital’s physician office in Fresh Meadows, recently underwent renovation, including a remodeled x-ray room.

Physicians from ARJR, Physiatry, Sports Medicine and Limb Lengthening Services see patients at this location, as well as at their offices at the Hospital’s main campus in Manhattan. HSS staff at the site include a radiology technologist, radiology registrar, medical assistant, clerk and office manager. “The goal of this office is to serve patients in Queens and the surrounding community with the same high-quality care, closer to home, that is the hallmark of HSS,” said Osric King, M.D., sports medicine physician. “There are excellent HSS physicians who provide many services in this office.

HSS Queens staff (from left) Dennis Manansala, radiology registrar; Lisa Tseng, medical assistant; Bethania Trigo, office manager; and Elizabeth Seemungal, radiology technologist, joined by Robin Brendel (center), director, Offsite Physician Practice Management. Not pictured: Heratie Ramkaran, clerk.

HSS Queens Physicians (from left) Answorth A. Allen, M.D.; Austin T. Fragomen, M.D.; Geoffrey H. Westrich, M.D.; Osric S. King, M.D.; and Stephen G. Geiger, M.D.

CONTINUED from the cover

Although the healthcare industry in the U.S. is behind the rest of the world in the adoption of this updated coding system, it is important to remember that the United States uses the code set for reimbursement while other countries do not. According to Roberta Bosanko, M.S., CDIP, CCS-P, CPMA, CPC-P, CEMC AHIMA ICD-10-CM/PCS, training instructor, senior director of ICD-10, HSS is well ahead of other healthcare facilities in the U.S. on implementation. “Our early adoption program has set us on a path to ensure we are well prepared for the October 2014 deadline mandated by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” she said. “HSS was designated as a leader in the ICD-10 transition by the National ICD-10 Pilot Program, and other facilities across the United States are turning to us to share best practice and knowledge.” Members of the HIM team have fully integrated the early adoption program. They are currently performing dual coding, which is the process of coding inpatient care first in ICD-9 to submit claims and then in ICD-10 for testing. The HIM team has accomplished this critical milestone under the leadership of Glenn Rispaud, director, HIM and Jacqueline Marshall, assistant director, HIM. “The entire HIM team has been working hard to ensure that we are fully prepared for the move to ICD-10,” said Rispaud. “Going from approximately 18,000 unique codes in ICD-9 to about 150,000 unique codes in ICD-10 takes an immense amount of education, training and time. I’m proud of the work our team has done so far in preparation.” Under ICD-10, approximately 40 percent of the increase in volume of codes occurs in the musculoskeletal system. A code assignment for one condition in ICD-9 is straightforward and involves only a handful of code choices, while ICD-10 offers many more choices for the same condition. Bosanko added, “The mandated ICD-10 code set can be utilized to allow HSS to further highlight and communicate our excellent clinical outcomes, quality and advances in research, which are also tied to two of our strategic priorities – “Maximize Quality and Efficiency: Operational Excellence” and “Advance through Research and Innovation.” If you have any questions or need assistance preparing for the transition to ICD-10 please contact Roberta Bosanko, bosankor@hss.edu or Valerie Fernandez, fernandezv@hss.edu.

up close HSS Supports Health of High School Football Players

popular program at HSS that safeguards the health of high school football players once again proved its value to the community. On August 3, the Hospital’s free annual medical screening for football players in the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) attracted 119 students from 22 schools in all five boroughs of New York City.

The teen athletes, many of whom braved the rain and arrived via the subway with their coaches or parents, received a comprehensive pre-season physical and evaluation to ensure they were fit to play the strenuous sport. Medical clearance is mandatory for all city high school students wishing to play football, and most of the teen athletes left with wide smiles on their faces when they were given the green light to participate.

From left, Dr. Rodeo, Dr. Kinderknecht, John Cavanaugh, Commissioner of PSAL Football Jerry Epstein and KIPP NYC College Prep Football Coach Mike DeFazio.

More than 20 sports medicine specialists, primary care physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists and other health professionals from HSS recorded the students’ medical history; checked their heart, lungs and vision; tested strength and flexibility; assessed their posture and balance; even measured how far they could jump. “Participation in sports is awesome. We want to make sure it’s safe,” said James Kinderknecht, M.D., medical director of the PSAL Football Clinic.

A common concern for a number of teens was tight hamstring muscles, and they were prescribed stretching exercises. One student with lower back pain was sent for an x-ray and MRI. Another was found to have high blood pressure, and his coach said he would call his mother as soon as they left HSS to let her know. “It’s a win-win situation for both HSS and the community,” said Scott Rodeo, M.D., co-chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, who participated in the fitness evaluations. “We’re able to provide a valuable service to the community, and it’s a great experience for our residents and fellows who take part.” Timothy Griffith, M.D., a sports medicine fellow at HSS, said he was happy to have the opportunity to participate. “I think it’s great that we can help ensure a safe playing environment for the students, and it also gives us a chance to get to know one another.” During football season, Dr. Griffith and his Special Surgery colleagues will cover the games at several high schools, and any student who is injured can be seen at a weekly clinic at HSS. John Cavanaugh, P.T., ATC, SCS, clinical supervisor, Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center, worked hard to organize the event. “The health screening was a success, and it was made possible by the participation and enthusiasm of the HSS staff who volunteered their time.” He wished to thank the following: Marci Goolsby, M.D.; James Kinderknecht, M.D.; Anil Ranawat, M.D.; Scott Rodeo, M.D.; and Mark Sherman, M.D.; Fellows Kenton Fibel, M.D.; Donald Fowler, M.D.; Brian Grawe, M.D.; Timothy Griffith, M.D.; Jacqueline Munch, M.D.; Jaron Sullivan, M.D.; and Samuel Taylor, M.D.; Physician Assistant Maureen Doyle; Sports Physical Therapists Theresa Chiaia; Jessica Hettler; Sarah Killian; Jocelyn Mastropolo; Kevin Towers; and Physical Therapy Resident Andrea Tychanski; Sports Performance Specialists Kara Federowicz and Jason Machowsky; as well as Assistant Office Manager Ana Flores; and Physical Therapy Interns Josh Ettinger and Anil Nandkumar.

Andrea Tychanski and Josh Ettinger assessed posture and balance.

Dr. Griffith (front) and Dr. Taylor examine athletes during the screening.

New York Red Bulls Visit Pediatric Patients

s part of a community service initiative, players from the New York Red Bulls soccer team will be coming to HSS once a month to visit both inpatient and outpatient pediatric patients. The program ‘kicked off’ on July 23 with the team’s midfielder Dax McCarty and forward Andre Akpan coming to HSS and visiting patients in the Lerner Children’s Pavilion and the CA Technologies Rehabilitation Center. They met with inpatients on the fifth floor, where they signed autographs, talked with them and took photos.

The players then went to the CA Technologies Rehabilitation Center on the ninth floor to visit with more patients who were there for appointments. More photographs were taken and McCarty and Akpan even kicked around a soccer ball with some of the patients. “It was such a treat to have two of the Red Bulls players come visit the kids in Pediatric Rehabilitation! The players were welcomed with high-fives, and were even shown a few moves by two of our seven-year-old patients,” said Kelsie Ganshert, P.T., DPT. “It was great to see the

smiling faces and interactions among some of our shyest kids. The players were so sweet in spending time with each child interested in meeting them and receiving personalized autographs.” HSS has been the Official Hospital of the New York Red Bulls since 2007 with Riley J. Williams, M.D., sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, serving as the team’s Medical Director and Team Orthopedic Surgeon. Photos below of Dax McCarty (in red) and Andre Akpan’s (in blue) visit with pediatric patients.

“It was wonderful seeing the reactions to the Red Bulls players during their visit – the kids and parents were so excited,” said Richard J. Slote, R.N. “The time they spent talking with each of the patients and family members, having their photos taken, and the compassion they showed was really special. Having the Red Bulls players visit enhanced our holistic approach to caring for patients – it raised their spirits and was a positive, fun experience.”

HSS Steps Up to Health

new program, “Step Up to Health,” was recently rolled out encouraging members of the HSS family to use the stairs instead of the elevators. This is an extension of the Up One, Down Two wellness and elevator etiquette program introduced last year. “Taking the stairs instead of the elevators has multiple benefits,” said Bruce Slawitsky, vice president, Human Resources and Service Excellence. “It’s a good form of exercise for members of the HSS family. It also allows more room for our patients and visitors to take the elevators, demonstrating our commitment to excellence in patient care.” Some stairwell doors at the main Hospital are marked with posters conveying positive

messages about the benefits of taking the stairs, and maps are available to help employees locate convenient stairwells. You can visit the Wellness page on the Intranet to download your copy: http://intranet.hss.edu/committees/wellness/.

Jewel James-Rice, phlebotomist and Roshene Cushnie, phlebotomist, take a flight for fitness.

Over the coming months, you’ll hear about different activities taking place around this program – so be on the lookout for future communications. In the meantime, check out some of our HSS “Stair Masters!”

Ellen Orgera, R.N., CN1 and security officer Baldeo Persaud on the fifth floor where a new stairwell poster reminds staff of the benefits of taking the stairs.

Yvonne Elhassani, diet technician, Food & Nutrition and Gwendolyn Charles, patient care assistant, use the stairs instead of the elevator.

Two New Faculty Join Research Team

Third Annual Pediatrics Pajama Party

he HSS Child Life Program celebrated the end of the school year once again at the Third Annual Pajama Party. Pediatric patients, both inpatient and outpatient, attended the event, which took place at the Richard L. Menschel Education Center.

he recruitment of scientifically accomplished and internationally acclaimed research faculty is an essential component of the HSS Strategic Plan and the Priority to “Advance through Research and Innovation.” Recently, two new faculty joined the Research team, Chitra Dahia, Ph.D., who will focus on Soft Tissue Injury and Repair and Franck Barrat, Ph.D., who will focus on Autoimmunity and Immunology.

Franck Barrat, Ph.D.

Lorraine Montuori, LCSW, child life coordinator, Child Life Program, and Saleana Negron, M.S., child life assistant, Child Life Program, who organized the event were pleased with its success. “We always enjoy this event – it’s great to see the children having fun,” said Montuori. “Musical Magic provided by the Ronald McDonald House New York truly added an element of magic to this event,” added Negron.

Ronald McDonald House New York Musical Magic entertained the more than 65 pajama-clad attendees with summertime-themed hits. Volunteers from the HSS Volunteer Department, Project Sunshine and CA Technologies helped the children while they participated in arts and crafts and enjoyed snacks.

Chitra Dahia, Ph.D.

Dr. Dahia joins the Tissue Engineering, Regeneration and Repair Program, adding a new dimension to the understanding of the developmental biology and remodeling of connective tissues with a particular focus on disk degeneration and repair. The overall aim of her research is to translate research findings from the bench-to-the-bedside to treat patients with injuries to soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system. Dr. Dahia joins HSS from the University of Cincinnati where she was assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Barrat joins the Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program bringing expertise in the role of immune system cells in lupus. He comes to HSS from Hoffman-La Roche, where he was a distinguished scientist in the Inflammation Discovery and Translational Area and was previously a senior research fellow and project leader at Dynavax Technologies Corporation.

online store Exercise is a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy the summer weather! Next time you head out for a walk, run, bike ride or hike, don’t forget your HSS performance t-shirt. It wicks away moisture and will keep you cool and comfortable. Visit the online store to order yours – available in men’s and women’s sizes and styles. Remember you can also order items for your department at the online store. www.hss.edu/store.

COUNTDOWN TO

ICD-10

Patient Safety Reporting Hotline To maintain the high quality patient care for which HSS is known, it is the responsibility of all employees to prevent problems before they occur.

ICD-10 Myth or Fact? ICD-10-CM is a reimbursement system, not built for clinicians.

This is a MYTH.

Please use the Patient Safety Hotline, established by the HSS Patient Safety Steering Committee, to inform the Committee about barriers to patient safety, near misses or actual events, recommendations for improvement and unsafe practices. The Hotline is confidential and may be used for anonymous reporting.

The ICD-10 system started its origins at the World Health Organization through the efforts of a team of physicians, clinicians, coders and other healthcare professionals. It was then further modified by a team of clinicians and other healthcare professionals in the United States. The CM at the end of ICD-10-CM stands for clinically modified – the version used in the United States.

Please call (212) 774-SAFE and be sure to provide enough information to facilitate investigation.

About ICD-10: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has mandated that all HIPAA-covered entities, including hospitals, health care practitioners, and public and private health care research institutions, must transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10, a diagnosis and inpatient procedure coding system, by October 1, 2014.

The Hotline does NOT replace existing mechanisms for reporting these issues.

To learn more about ICD-10 and how HSS is planning and preparing for it, please visit http://intranet/ICD-10/.

HSS Physicians Recognized by Weill Cornell Medical College

t the recent annual Celebration of Teaching 2013 event hosted by the Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS physicians, Juliet Aizer, M.D., MPH, and Edward J. Parrish, M.D., received “Awards in Teaching Excellence” in recognition of outstanding contributions as educators. Michael M. Alexiades, M.D., received a “Voluntary Faculty Award,” for his outstanding teaching, service and support of Weill Cornell Medical College’s educational mission and students. The awards were given out by Laurie H. Glimcher, M.D., the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College. All Teaching Excellence awardees are chosen based on student feedback and the Voluntary Faculty awardee is chosen by Dr. Glimcher. Dr. Alexiades had been President of the Alumni Association at Weill Cornell Medical College for two years ending last October as well as

being on the Board of Overseers and on the Student Education and Affairs Committee. He also teaches Medical Preceptorship 1 to students twice a year. Dr. Aizer was recognized for her contribution to the course, “Medicine, Patients and Society II,” which she developed in coordination with HSS Orthopedic Surgeons Friedrich Boettner, M.D.; Scott J. Ellis, M.D.; Anne M. Kelly, M.D; and HSS Rheumatologists Jessica R. Berman, M.D.; Theodore R. Fields, M.D., FACP,; Jessica K. Gordon, M.D.; Stephen A. Paget, M.D., FACP, FACR; Nancy Pan, M.D.; and Sergio Schwartzman, M.D.; as well as orthopedic residents, other staff members and patients who contributed to teaching and learning. Dr. Parrish received the Teaching Excellence award for the “Basis of Disease” Course, which covers the pathophysiology of musculoskeletal disease, immunology and rheumatology. More than 20 rheumatology faculty and three pathology faculty from HSS participated in the course and led to its success. This is the third time that Dr. Parrish has been recognized with the award for this course by Weill Cornell Medical College.

get your flu shot Flu vaccinations will be available in the Richard L. Menschel Education Center on the following dates. • Monday, September 9, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. • Wednesday, September 18, 2 p.m. – 11 p.m. • Monday, September 23, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. • Thursday, September 26, 12 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. • Thursday, October 3, 12:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. • Tuesday, October 8, 2:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. • Tuesday, October 15, 2:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. • Tuesday, November 12, 2:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. Please note: If you are unable to attend one of the above sessions, you can also visit Occupational Health Services Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Thursday and Friday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. No appointment necessary. Occupational Health Services is located at 517 East 71 Street, First Floor. If you receive your flu shot outside of HSS, written documentation must be brought to OHS. Please contact OHS for specifics of what must be included in the documentation.

get to know... Suzanne Jesnes Recently, we sat down and talked with Suzanne Jesnes, M.A., PHR, HR business partner, Immigration and Special Services, who has been a part of the HSS family for more than seven years. Suzanne with her Aunt Carole. In her role, she works with the Hospital’s incoming and outgoing residents and fellows on housing, any required visas and their employment. In addition, she collaborates with hiring managers and employees throughout the Hospital who require work authorization through visa sponsorship. She also facilitates employment for the Research area including research scientists, fellows, coordinators, technicians and assistants. Outside of work, Suzanne spends her time in many different ways. She is an avid speed skater inspired by her Aunt Carole, who has been speed skating since she was 15 – she is now 64 and still competes. Suzanne finally got on skates about five years ago and has been doing it ever since. It even landed her in a 2012 Super Bowl commercial for Century 21 Real Estate skating with eight-time Olympic Speed Skating Medalist, Apolo Ohno.

Suzanne is part of the Flushing Meadows Speed Skating Club, which received training last year from retired Canadian Olympic Speed Skater, Stephen Gough, who is now the coach for the U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Team. Skating alongside her aunt and members of all ages and levels, Suzanne also does the social media for the club. Additionally, she is currently going into her third full-time year of school to attain her doctoral degree in organization leadership and plans to use her professional experience to write

Suzanne and Apolo Ohno at the Century 21 commercial shoot.

her dissertation on the topic of immigration and employment. In the very limited spare time that Suzanne has, she enjoys painting, abstract mostly, and dances as well – both ballet and traditional Greek dance. In association with the ASPCA, she is also trained in helping get stray cats in her home area neutered and ensuring a safe release back into their environment. You can look forward to “getting to know” a different colleague in each upcoming issue of ECHO!

Suzanne at the Flushing Meadows Speed Skating Club.

milestones Rehabilitation • Davis Reyes, P.T., DPT, OCS; Robert Turner, P.T., OCS, M.S., O.M., LAc; and Jaime Edelstein, P.T., DScPT, COMT, CSCS, presented at the Rehabilitation Grand Rounds event, “The Role of the Sacroiliac Joint in Function and Pathology: What is the Myth versus Reality?,” July 10. The program drew record levels of attendance, with 123 people online and 88 onsite. • Sherry I. Backus, P.T., DPT, M.A.; Andrew Kraszewski, M.S.; Andreas Kontaxis, Ph.D.; Mandi Gibbons; Jennifer Bido, B.A.; Jessica Graziano, P.T., DPT, CSCS; Jocelyn Hafer, MA; Howard J. Hillstrom, Ph.D.; and Stephen Fealy, M.D., co-authored a poster presentation on “Shoulder and Scapular Kinematics during the Windmill Softball Pitch: The Effect of Fatigue” at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, July 2013. Anesthesiology At the recent Department of Anesthesiology annual dinner in honor of Graduating Fellows in Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine, the following awards were presented: • Cephas Swamidoss, M.D., was chosen as “Teacher of the Year” by the Graduating Fellows. Dr. Swamidoss was also chosen as 2013 “Teacher of

picture this

the Year” by the Graduating Cornell Anesthesiology Residents, who rotate to HSS several times during their Residency training. • Stephen Haskins, M.D., was the 2013 recipient of “The HSS Attending Anesthesiologists’ Award for Clinical Excellence.” • Guilherme Holck, M.D., was the 2013 recipient of “The Nigel E. Sharrock Award for Academic Excellence,” which is decided by the Department’s Academic Leadership Team and Research Leadership Teams. Research • Peter Torzilli, Ph.D., was a Member of the Advisory Council to the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, and a Member of the Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Devices Panel, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health & Human Services in Gaithersburg, MD. • Steven Goldring, M.D., was a guest speaker at the 8th International Congress on Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis held in Pisa, Italy. • Jane Salmon, M.D., was Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigational Network Visiting Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE.

welcome Jose Acevedo, Eliz Agopian, Ehimare I. Akhabue, Alvin A. Almonte, Dexter F. Arbotante, Ashley Bigoya, Taylor J. Bostonian, Laquan Breeden, Caroline M. Brial, John M. Calandra, Kaitlin M. Carroll, Cristian Castillo, Victoria Castillo, Jennifer Cheng, Stuart Cohen, Brian De Palma, Elena Dempsey, Ayelet Evrony, Katelyn Fahey, Marina Fay, David R. Fernandez, Kenton Fibel, Jonathan Flug, Ryan C. Foster, Christian Geannette, Mandi W. Gibbons, Julia P. Gromis, Coline Haxaire, Leslie Hayman, Kayla A. Hazel, Sarah Healey, Toni-Marie Hendricks, Christina Herrero, Risa W. Hoffman, Jessica Hoyte, Allan E. Inglis Jr., Jennifer Jaromahum, Gaelle A.Joanis, Shanthini Kasturi, Jayme C. Koltsov, Boris V. Koustikov, Andrew Y. Lai, Allison Li, Helen Lopez, Gregory Malzberg, Michela Manni, Erin E. Manning, Kleio Mavragani, Nabil Mehta, Madison Munoz, Anil Nandkumar, Farzana Nuruzzaman, Ogonna K. Nwawka, Justin Oppenheimer, Kristine M. Ostrem, Ophelia Owusu, Christie R. Palagonia, Cinandra Palmer, Elizabet Peraj, Katelyn Perry, Vinh Phan, Uzma Rahman, Nitin Roper, Sheri A. Rowley, Carol A. Ruland, Rosemarie Santoro, Elizabeth Schulman, Tifarah N. Simon, Ekaterina Skolotneva, Darryl Sneag, Christopher M. Sohn, Parbatee A. Spence, Sarah F. Taber, Marcia R. Voigt, Jeanne Yu

Polly de Mille, R.N., M.A., RCEP, CSCS, exercise physiologist at the Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center, appeared on the ABC-TV show, The Lookout, to help reporter Juju Chang evaluate a body wrap product to see if it lives up to its extreme calorie burning and weight loss claims. You can watch the video online at http://www.hss.edu/newsroom_calorie-burn-weight-loss-claims.asp

Joint Commission Reporting Hospital for Special Surgery is committed to providing safe, quality care to all of its patients. In the event you have a concern regarding the safety or quality of care provided by the Hospital or the Laboratory, you may report these concerns to the Joint Commission. Please be assured that no retaliatory disciplinary action will be taken if an employee makes such a report. In addition, the Joint Commission has stated that your name will be treated as confidential information, and will not be shared with any other party. You may file your report in the following ways: 1. By e-mail: complaint@jointcommission.org 2. By fax: Office of Quality Monitoring, 630-792-5636 3. By mail: Office of Quality Monitoring The Joint Commission One Renaissance Boulevard Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 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.

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. The Helpline does not replace other resources available to you, including supervisors, managers and Human Resources staff, but it is an alternative channel available to you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is operated on our behalf by National Helpline Services, Inc., an independent firm. The Compliance Helpline number is 888-651-6234. All information will be kept confidential unless the law requires it to be shared with law enforcement authorities. Hospital for Special Surgery policy forbids any retribution or retaliation against an employee who reports a compliance issue in good faith. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Corporate Compliance office directly, at x2398.

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Rosanna Selinski Rachel Sheehan Lisa Goldstein, Deborah Sale, Bruce Slawitsky, Shelley Rosenstock September 2013 echo@hss.edu