INSIDE Healthcare HOLIDAY ISSUE 2018
Awarded the Leapfrog A — 3 Surgical Services Staff Earns CNOR — 4 Welcome Physicians — 5 Fire and Ice Gala — 6
Oswego Health
INSIDE HEALTHCARE
Inside Oswego Health
A Publication of Oswego Health 110 W. Sixth St., NY 13126 315-349-5511
— Michael Harlovic, President and CEO for Oswego Health
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM Michael Harlovic President and CEO of Oswego Health
While we are in the midst of the busy holiday season, at Oswego Health we are reveling at several outstanding recent achievements. Oswego Hospital has once again earned the highest grade for its patient safety, an A awarded by The Leapfrog Group. I might add that we are the only hospital within 100 miles to have earned the top letter grade.
Jeff Coakley Oswego Health Executive Vice President & COO for Oswego Hospital Renato Mandanas, MD Chief Medical Officer Jason Santiago Vice President & COO, The Manor at Seneca Hill & Springside at Seneca Hill Valerie Favata Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer Margaret Glass Vice President of Ancillary Services and Privacy Officer Eric Campbell Chief Financial Officer Barry Ryle Chief Information Officer Marq Brown Vice President of Human Resources
COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING Marion Ciciarelli Senior Director of Communications Jennifer Martin Director of Marketing Anne Raham Communications Coordinator
Along with this accolade, 10 registered nurses from our surgical services department have successfully achieved CNOR certification. This too is quite an achievement for our staff and signifies that we have some of the highest skilled nurses working at your local hospital. You can read more about both these honors in our holiday edition of Inside Healthcare. The health system continues to recruit exceptional physicians and other staff members ensuring the best, most modern medicine, right at home. Some of these medical professionals are profiled in this issue. We also share details on our wildly successful inaugural Fire & Ice Gala held in October. The event surpassed our expectations, selling out, demonstrating the community’s support of local healthcare services. In closing, I hope you and your family enjoy your own celebrations this holiday season and that the coming year is full of good health. Sincerely,
CORRESPONDENCE
Michael A. Harlovic
Oswego Health Development & Community Relations 110 W. Sixth St., Oswego, NY 13126
Oswego Health President and CEO
dearoh@oswegohealth.org — ©2018 facebook.com/oswegohealthcare for Oswego Health community news, events and medical information twitter.com/oswegohealth oswegohealth.org for newsletters, medical information, provider listings and more Information in this issue comes from a range of medical experts. If you have any questions or concerns about specific content that may affect your health please contact your health care provider.
The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents in our community. Inside this edition of — INSIDE HEALTHCARE Awarded the Leapfrog A — 3 Surgical Services Staff Earns CNOR — 4 Welcome Physicians — 5 Fire and Ice Gala — 6
Once Again Awarded the Grade “A” This distinction for hospital safety awarded by The Leapfrog Group Oswego Hospital has once again earned the distinction of the top letter grade of ‘A’ for hospital safety, awarded by prestigious The Leapfrog Group. Only eight percent of the hospitals in New York State earned an ‘A’ as part of the fall 2018 survey. Oswego Hospital is also the only facility in an 100-mile area to earn the top letter grade of A.
of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions.
The Leapfrog Group provides letter grades for more than 2,600 hospitals nationwide twice a year. By achieving the top letter grade, Oswego Hospital joins hospitals across the country in providing the highest quality of patient care. Using 28 evidence-based measures of patient safety, The Leapfrog Group calculates a numerical score for all eligible hospitals in the United States. This score is then translated into a patient safety letter grade with A being the highest possible grade. “It’s to the credit of our physicians, nurses and other clinicians that Oswego Hospital has earned the top letter grade,” said Oswego Health President and CEO Michael Harlovic. Chief Medical Officer Renato Mandanas, M.D., who oversees quality at the health system, adds that the top letter grade recognizes the fact that community members can receive the best care close to where they live and work. “Oswego Hospital has highly trained and knowledgeable physicians, nurses and other care givers that are complemented with the best technology and facilities,” Dr. Mandanas said. “Community members are fortunate to have this level of care right in their community and I encourage residents to visit one of our convenient locations.”
Leapfrog Promotes Safety Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement forward in the quality and safety
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Inside Healthcare Holiday Edition 2018 — 3
Surgical Services Staff Earns Prestigious CNOR Certification Oswego Health’s surgical services nursing staff members have earned the most prestigious certification awarded to the specialty.
vides a higher level of care and that they possess a deeper knowledge of evidenced-based practices,” she said.
A group of ten Oswego Health registered nurses, who provide care in Oswego Hospital’s technologically-advanced surgery center have earned the respected CNOR certification. As the only accredited credentialing program for perioperative registered nurses, CNOR certification is the gold standard. Earning the CNOR credential is a mark of distinction and a highly sought after personal as well as professional accomplishment. “For our department, this is actually groundbreaking,” said Surgical Services Director Shannon Campbell. “Few, if any surgical departments, regardless of their size, have a staff where a majority of the registered nurses have earned this certification.” Ninety percent of the department’s registered nurses have earned certification as a CNOR. The letters, CNOR are not an acronym, but rather indicate that an individual has demonstrated the knowledge and skills that denote competency in the specialized field of perioperative nursing.
Oswego Health surgical services nurses have earned the prestigious CNOR certification. Pictured seated from left, Catherine Bulger, Shannon Campbell and Teresa Traspasso. Standing are Jody Wood, Terri Lutz, RoseMarie Rockwell, Lorrie Galletta, Karen Damico and Lauren Miles. Missing from the photo was Brandi Leaf.
Campbell said the certification translates to better patient care. “Our patients benefit as it signifies that the staff pro-
Joining Oswego Health’s Surgical Team — Howard Simon, MD Joining Oswego Health’s surgical team is Howard Simon, MD, known for implementing several cutting-edge programs and services during his career. Dr. Simon offers office hours in suite 1300 at the Fulton Medical Office Building and provides surgeries in Oswego Hospital’s Surgery Center. Dr. Simon is an accomplished and well-known surgeon, with extensive surgical experience, who has provided surgical care in the Syracuse area hospitals for most of his career. He earned his medical degree from SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, as well as completed his surgical internship and residency
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there. His surgical trauma/critical care fellowship was completed at SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn. Following his fellowship training, Dr. Simon returned to the Syracuse area and developed the area’s first level-one trauma center at Upstate Medical University, which he oversaw for 15 years. He would later become among the first in the area to study advanced laparoscopic techniques, performing the first laparoscopic splenectomy, adrenalectomy, nephrectomy, and gastric bypass in Syracuse. He led Upstate’s minimally invasive program for many years. In addition to introducing these trailblazing programs, he implemented Upstate’s bariatric surgery program and served as its director for 15 years. To make an appointment with Dr. Simon, please call 315592-3939.
Bonding Experience
Oswego Family Physicians joins Oswego Health’s Physician Care PC By Lou Sorendo Oswego County Business Magazine It’s a symbiotic health care relationship. Oswego Family Physicians, among the area’s largest primary care physician practices located at 110 W. Utica St., Oswego, recently became part of Oswego Health’s Physician Care P.C. OFP features Drs. Robert Morgan, Mark Humphrey, Micheal Stephens and Douglas Guenter, as well as two advanced care providers — physician assistant Jessica Digby and nurse practitioner Emily Weston. Morgan is a board-certified family medicine specialist at OFP. He said the merger took about a year before it came to fruition. “It was new for Oswego Health to acquire a large Pictured seated from left are Emily Weston, NP, and Jessica Digby, practice, and absolutely new for me after running an office PA. Standing are Micheal Stephens, MD; Mark Humphrey, DO; for 33 years,” he said. Robert Morgan, MD, FAAFP; and Douglas Guenter, MD. Providing incentive for the move is the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, U.S. legislation that provides a new framework for reimbursing clinicians who successfully demonstrate value over volume in patient care. “Because of things that are changing in health care, it is going to become very difficult for any private office with a large number of health care providers to meet the requirements of the government and still make a living. That has a lot to do with why we entertained this,” Morgan said. He said this is a trend across the board in health care. “I think in five years, there will be no private offices,” he said. Michael Harlovic, president and CEO of Oswego Health, said physicians no longer want to handle the oftentimes cumbersome business aspects of operating a practice. “Similar to the national trend, they are finding it challenging when it comes to administrative and operational responsibilities, such as payor contracting, staffing and regulations related to state and federal agencies that have become a burden,” Harlovic said. Morgan said most of the new, young physicians entering the medical field are not interested in running a business or running an office like a business. “They are interested in being employed because it’s much less work than running a business by yourself,” he said. He said the plan is to grow primary care, and one of the exciting aspects of the merger is that he and fellow phy-
sician Micheal Stephens will help drive development of expanded primary care to better serve the area. “Using Oswego Family Physicians’ successes, Oswego Health will utilize its own recruitment expertise to attract outstanding medical providers to deliver care at the Utica Street practice,” Harlovic added. Allying with the hospital will help the recruitment process, primarily because Oswego Health has access to funding and grant monies. Morgan said administrators at Oswego Health helped make the transition seamless. “It’s the way interaction should happen. There’s no other way to describe it. This is how business acquisition, improvement and looking to the future should be, and the country should work the way we worked. It’s been nothing but good.” OSWEGO C OUNTY
BUSINESS December 2018
Thanks to the Oswego County Business Magazine for allowing us to print an edited version of their story. To read the entire version, please pick up the December/January issue.
/ January 2019
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OswegoCo untyBusine ss.com
CHARITY GIVIN
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Americans are giving record amou organizations such as CNY Comm nts of money to various cause s. Locally, unity Foundation Inside: A list of donate millions companies that every year. donate the most to the United Way
Inside Healthcare Holiday Edition 2018 — 5
Inaugural Oswego Health Foundation
Fire & Ice
Gala
Welcoming the nearly 200 guests from left were Michael Harlovic and Jeff Coakley, along with honorary co-chairs that included local business owners Elisa and husband, Oswego County Legislator Shane Broadwell; Mary Ann Drumm, CRA CEO and Terri Colone, of CRA CFO.
Highlighting Oswego Health’s13 inaugural Fire and Novelis Recognized with Oswego Health’s Saturday, October at 6 p.m. Ice Gala, coordinated by the health’s system FoundaCommunity Partner Award tion, was the presentation of two awards recognizing outstanding local healthcare providers and services. The American Foundry Nearly 200 people attended the dinner dance event Oswego , NY American in October at the beautifully decorated Foundry. The event raised more than $65,000 for local healthcare services. During the festivities, OswegoOswego Health presented Health its Community Physician Award to Padma Ram, MD, Foundation who has been practicing in the community for more than 20 years. Dr. Ram is known to her patients and staff as a tireless advocate for their needs and takes the term “care” to an extraordinary level. Dr. Ram’s During its recent gala, Oswego Health presented Novelis with commitment to caring for her staff and patients in its Community Partner Award. From left, Novelis Plant Manager the Oswego community led her to taking risks and Kevin Shutt, Board Chair Ellen Holst and Michael Harlovic. dedicating the countless hours that only the most dedicated entrepreneurs ever experience. 10/3/2018 Her prac9:57:00 AM Oswego Health Community Physician tice is located on Route 104 East in Oswego. Oswego Health also recognized Novelis with the Award Presented Community Partner Award. While the Novelis Oswego plant continues to recruit new employees to produce more than a billion pounds of high-quality aluminum sheet each year, Oswego Health has introduced convenient primary care services, right into the plant to keep Novelis employees, healthy and productive. These services are also available to the families of employees and retirees. Serving as the Visionary Sponsor was CRA Medical Imaging, with other support from Horizon Health, the Kinney Drugs Foundation, Kronos and Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists. The evening’s emcee was Oswego Health presented its Community Physician Award to CNY Central Meteorologist Molly Matott. Padma Ram, MD. From left, Oswego Health President & CEO Michael Harlovic, Dr. Ram and Oswego Health Board.
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Don’t let allergies, asthma ruin your winter holidays The winter holiday season is a good time to gather wood for the fireplace, pull the decorations out of storage and prepare for festive feasts. It’s also time for those of us with allergies to shift our focus as our allergies have moved indoors—and they’re staying for the holidays. Indoor allergies are a problem for millions of Americans every winter, and almost everything about the holidays can make them worse—from Christmas trees to candles to foods. Avoidance is the first line of defense. If you’re allergic to it, stay away from it. And if you can’t avoid it, make sure you’re prepared to deal with it—with medications and other measures.
Holiday greenery It shouldn’t be a surprise that bringing greenery indoors can increase allergy and asthma symptoms— especially greenery as large as a Christmas tree. Many people are also allergic to terpene, a substance found in the oil of evergreen trees, wreaths and garlands. If holiday greenery causes serious allergy problems, use artificial products. But there are ways to lessen pollen and other allergens on real holiday trees. Try these tips from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
U Wipe the trunk of the tree thoroughly with a solution of
Before you eat The holidays are filled with foods that commonly cause allergies, according to the AAFA. These include wheat, eggs, soy, fish and nuts. It only takes a small amount of food to trigger an allergic reaction. The offending item doesn’t even have to be in the food itself, but merely present on a contaminated cooking utensil. If your child has food allergies, send along a safe holiday snack to school holiday parties.
Visiting or hosting If you’re planning an extended visit with family or friends, let them know about any allergies in your family before your trip. And if you plan to host visitors, ask them about allergies well in advance. Wash bed linens in hot water to reduce dust mites. And don’t wait to vacuum immediately before guests arrive , since that can stir up dust and make allergies worse.
Talk to your doctor Prepare for the holidays by talking to your physician. Be sure that you have any medications you might need. If you have asthma, talk to your physician about getting an annual flu vaccination. You might also want to ask him or her whether you should also be vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia.
1 part bleach and 20 parts lukewarm water
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Use a leaf blower to remove visible grains of pollen from the tree
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Let the tree dry thoroughly in an enclosed porch or garage before bringing it indoors
U If you choose an artificial tree, avoid spraying on pine scents or artificial snow. These can irritate your lungs and aggravate allergies, according to the AAFA.
Decor and more Decorations kept in storage pose another potential problem for people with allergies and asthma. To avoid these problems, store holiday decorations in sealed plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes.
Inside Healthcare Holiday Edition 2018 — 7
Oswego Health 110 West Sixth St. Oswego, NY 13126
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State Senator Patty Ritchie Views Oswego Health 3D Mammography Equipment State Senator Patty Ritchie recently visited Oswego Health’s medical imaging department to see firsthand the advanced 3D mammography equipment that she assisted the health system in purchasing. A $50,000 state grant provided by Senator Ritchie allowed Oswego Health to install a digital breast tomosynthesis. This equipment is also known as three-dimensional(3-D) mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). The equipment is an advanced form of mammography that uses a lowdose x-ray system and computer reconstructions to create three-dimensional images of the breasts. The 3D technology improves the accuracy of mammography and clarifies areas of overlapping tissue. Using tomosynthesis, the breast is compressed as in a mammography exam, but with less pressure. The x-ray tube moves in a circular arc around the breast providing one millimeter slices that produce greater visibility to see tissue details.
In the photo from left are Oswego Health EVP and COO for Oswego Hospital Jeff Coakley; Major Gifts Officer Margaret Barclay; Oswego Health President & CEO Michael Harlovic; Oswego Health Chief Medical Officer Renato Mandanas, MD; Senator Ritchie; Multi-Modality Technicians Shelly LeRoux and Julia Donnelly; and Oswego Health Vice President for Ancillary Services Margaret Glass.
To make an appointment with Oswego Health new 3D mammography equipment, please call 315-349-5540.