CHRONICLE
November 2014 www.RUMCSI.org
Excellent Joint Commission Survey: Special Thanks to Staff The Joint Commission recently visited Richmond University Medical Center to conduct an accreditation survey. Joint Commission standards go beyond the basics of state and federal regulations, and consistently set high expectations for quality and safety. President & CEO, Dan Messina shares “Our greatest resource is our dedicated team of caring professionals. The unannounced visit brought out the best in our team, and I would like to thank every employee who went above and beyond to ensure this survey was a success. I would also like to congratulate the senior administration for overseeing the process and guiding the hospital toward this success. The report showcased an exceptional team and the outstanding care we provide our patients.”
Three Employees to Receive Community Service Award The Staten Island Not For Profit Association will hold its Community Service Awards Brunch on Sunday November 16th, 11am at the Grand Oaks Country Club. This year, Richmond University Medical Center will be honoring three hospital employees for their dedication to our team and to the community: William Amaniera, Director of EMS, Rita Magnuski, Assistant Vice President of Medical, Surgical, Critical Care Services, and Trientina Campbell, Safety Officer/Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. We congratulate Billy, Rita, and Tina on this recognition. Limited seating is available. If you would like additional information about the event, please contact Andrew Burt at x 2100.
Hospital Conducts Emergency Preparedness Exercise
At the conclusion of the drill Senior Leadership sat down with the disaster preparedness committee and community members to recap the day.
On September 24, 2014 the hospital held its largest full scale Emergency/Trauma exercise utilizing internal/external resources and agencies to test the response of a mass casualty disaster. Our Emergency Preparedness team and Trauma team worked with a number of outside agencies (Port Richmond CERT, FDNY, NYPD, NYCDOH, Seaview Hospital, Priority One, ARES, SIUH, Clove Lakes, NYCOEM, Verrazano Nursing Home) to make the experience as realistic as possible with over a dozen “patients.” A special thanks goes out to all who were involved with the planning and staffing of the incident command center. The exercise allowed us to test the hospital’s response to a disaster situation and evaluate areas for improvement.
A PUBLICATION FOR EMPLOYEES, PHYSICIANS, TRUSTEES, AND VOLUNTEERS OF RICHMOND UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
President’s Update
Message from the President & CEO Daniel J. Messina, Ph.D., FACHE, LNHA Over the past six months, I have witnessed hospital employees become more engaged with the community and with each other. It is exciting to see our growth and transformation as we strive toward new levels of excellence. The sky is the limit! I am so grateful for the dedication and commitment of the hospital staff. Your hard work is certainly reflected in the Joint Commission survey. Since the last unannounced survey in 2011, the hospital has made great strides. Out of over 560 standards there were at the exit conference only 5 direct recommendations and 9 indirects with no national patient safety findings and no conditional findings, an exceptional survey! It is great to be recognized for going beyond the basics of state and federal regulations, and to have our quality and safety recognized. You truly place our patients first! As Thanksgiving nears, I share my gratitude for the wonderful opportunity to lead this great team, and I am thankful for your continuing support. Remember the power of one, you make a difference! Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
It is so important to think about HCAHPS in our daily patient care activities. There are 32 Survey questions, which includes 21 care-focus questions, 4 screener questions, and 7 demographic questions. HCAHPS is administered by participating hospitals to a random sample of adult patients between 48 hours and 6 weeks after discharge. The questions focus on topics that are important to patients and are easier for a patient to rate than commenting directly on clinical quality. The survey asks the patient to rate the frequency of events during their care by answering never, sometimes, usually, or always. These questions are Patient Perspectives of Care and they are as follows:
Nurse Communication Doctors Communication Cleanliness of the Environment Quietness of the Environment Responsiveness of Staff Pain Management Communication and Medications Provision of Discharge Information Transition of Care
Change begins with you. Remember the importance of HCAHPS, you make a difference!
Employee Roundtables with the CEO
On October 17th the hospital with Fran and Frank Reali, joined forces to other cardiac screenings to freshman athletes at Staten Island Academy. In recognition of Richmond University Medical Center’s support of the cardiac screening program, Fran and Frank Reali presented the Medical Center with a donation in the amount of $25,000.
On November 20th, President & CEO Dan Messina, will conduct the first of a series of roundtable meetings with employees from around the hospital who have new and exciting ideas about improvements and changes they would like to see made. The first meeting will be held at Joe & Pats Pizzeria on November 20th at 5:30pm. For details and to RSVP, please call x2100.
November 2014 Rosemarie Stazzone
To Be Honored By Richmond County Medical Society
Have you heard? As part of our Employee Wellness Initiative, we will launch a special weight loss challenge, running from Nov. 17th through Feb. 13th. To register for the challenge, come to a meeting on Friday, November 7th at 11am in the cafeteria. Your BMI, weight, and blood pressure will be documented and each registrant will receive a $100 travel voucher. Contest winner will receive a FREE CRUISE to Bermuda for two! Special thanks to our travel sponsor, Pete Fanizzi & My Going Places Travel. Good luck!
On November 10th, the Richmond County Medical Society will honor Rosemarie Stazzone, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nurse Officer with the Hygenia Award. The event will be held at the Hilton from 7-11pm. In addition, they will honor Dr. James Reilly, Dr. Allan Perel, Dr. Ginny Mantello, Donna Proske, and Councilman Steven Matteo. For more information on the event, please call Stefanie at x2103.
Volunteers of the Month: Sheenali & Shivali Patel Sheenali Patel is currently a sophomore at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania pursing a pre med track. In the next few years she wants to continue volunteering, completing research, and performing community service. Sheenali would like to attend Drexel’s College of Medicine for four years and then pursue a residency in pediatrics, followed by a fellowship in oncology. Her goal for her future is to become a pediatric oncologist/hematologist at a children’s hospital. “Volunteering at RUMC gave me the opportunity to ensure that medicine is the field I want to continue in.” Shivali Patel currently an undergraduate sophomore in the accelerated Doctor of Physical Therapy/Physician Assistant Program at Drexel University. She plans on becoming board-certified in pediatrics, with concentration in orthopedics and hand therapy. “Volunteering has given me the opportunity to learn about the different fields of medicine. I interacted with medical students, interns, residents, physician assistants, physical therapists, and attendings.”
Quality & Patient Care
An HCAHPS Scores Comparison April-June
JulySeptember
Rate hospital 0-10
51
47
Recommend the hospital
51
52
COMM W/ NURSESW/ NURSES COMMUNICATION
73
71
Nurses treat you withwith courtesy/respect courtesy/respect
80
76
Nurses listen carefully to you Nurses explain in way you understand
70 69
69 69
RESPONSE OF HOSPITAL HOSP STAFF STAFF
62
60
Call button help soon as wanted it
59
60
Help toileting as soon soon as as youyou wanted wanted
66
60
COMM W/ DOCTORS COMMUNICATION W/ DOCTORS
76
78
Doctors treat you withwith courtesy/respect courtesy/respect
82
86
Doctors listen carefully to you
74
76
Doctors explain in away wayyou youunderstand understand
73
72
HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT
54
56
Cleanliness of hospital environment
60
59
Quietness of hospital environment
47
52
PAIN MANAGEMENT
68
65
Pain well controlled
65
57
Staff do everything to help help with with pain pain
70
73
COMM ABOUT MEDICINES COMMUNICATION ABOUT MEDICINES
62
56
Tell you what new medicine was for
78
73
Staff describe medicine side effect
45
39
DISCHARGE INFORMATION
75
75
Press Ganey
A Great Facebook Review Jen R. The staff at RUMC is by far the most dedicated, caring and professional group of people I have ever encountered at any hospital. My brother was admitted to the ER at RUMC 2 months ago after no one could figure out what was wrong with him. It too the ER staff 1 hour to find the problem and scheduled surgery for him the following day. They saved his life after every other doctor and hospital tried to figure out what was wrong and failed. Thank you, RUMC.
Patient Satisfaction: A Letter of Thanks A community member recently wrote a letter expressing their gratitude and sharing their appreciation of our employees. We acknowledge the staff who assisted the patient, and thank everyone for going above & beyond with patient care! Please see the letter below:
I would like to let you know about the excellent care I received while an ambulatory patient. First, I was registered by Linda Pernell in pre-registration and then by Barbara Gattulo in PAT. They were efficient and caring. Then on the day of my surgery I was lucky enough to have Vanise Johnstone to prepare me. She was very calming to me and helped me get ready. The anesthesiologist Dr. Dadeck was so concerned for me and also very caring. My wonderful surgeon Dr. Michael Lacqua, explained everything to me before and did a wonderful job on me surgically. Finally I had the best nurse in the recovery room. Her name is Amelda Moriarty. She was so attentive, professional, and genuine. I wanted you to know about your wonderful staff. Yours Truly, Karen
Human Resources News
Amboy Medical Practices Welcomes Family Practice Physician Manisha Rayavarapu, DO has joined the team at Amboy Medical Practice and the Women’s Comprehensive Center. As a family practice physician, Dr. Rayavarapu is able to serve both adults and adolescents. She is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. Dr. Rayavarapu is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, and the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association. Dr. Rayavarapu earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical science at the University of South Florida in Tampa. She then earned her doctorate in Osteopathy at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, FL. Dr. Rayavarapu completed her residency in family practice at Peninsula Hospital Center in Far Rockaway, NY. Dr. Rayavarapu joins Drs. Beylinson, Kudej, and Moretti who provide primary care, endocrinology and OB/GYN services, respectively.
Social Security Accounts are Online The U. S. Social Security Administration is working to notify people of a new tool available. You can now create and manage your own “My Social Security” account online, at www.socialsecurity.gov/my account. Current employees can access their annual Social Security statements, check their earnings record, and see estimates of future retirement, disability, and survivors benefits they or their families may receive.
Welcome October New Hires Carols Herrera Sherene Bond Michael Piccarelli Justin Pointer
OR Tech. Resident Program Director Resident Raisa Tsvaygenbaum Resident Lisette Salom Medicaid App. Rep. Gabrielle Ciulla Food Services Rebecca Davis Dietician Ruth Arsenec Nursing Assistant Mehala Mahaparan Nursing Assistant Tiffany Smith Nursing Assistant Katina Bryant Unit Clerks Sierra Allen Nursing Assistant Harriet Hewlett Registered Nurse David Solano Central Sterile Cert Wrkr Robert Marachilian Clinical RN Spec/Liaison Richard Ortiz Registered Nurse
Nursing Recruitment Sessions Please refer your experienced ED, OR, Cath Lab and Behavioral Health RN’s to our Registered Nurse Open House on: October 30th from 2-4pm Human Resources Office Villa Building 2nd floor
Human Resources News: Employee Recognition Employee Recognition is now scheduled for November 3, 2014, from 1:00-2:00 in the SIPP Auditorium. Let’s recognize the employees that make a difference and raise our HCAHPS scores.
Masquerade Ball
Thank you for helping to make the Masquerade Ball a success! To see more photos, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RichmondUniversityMedicalCenter
Around Town Women’s Health/Fitness Day in the Lobby
Healthy Baby Fair with Babies R Us
ROME Through Richmondtown Event
SIEDC Health and Wellness Expo
Holy White Mass honoring Dr. Otterbeck
Councilwoman Rose’s Community Fair
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk Thanks to everyone who joined us in our community during October! We hope you can continue to help us with our outreach. See the back page for November community events or visit www.RUMCSI.keepandshare.com
November Calendar November Community Outreach Calendar
Wednesday, November 5th, Veterans Event at the Old Bermuda Inn from 9:00am—1:00pm, Vendor Table Wednesday November 5th, 11am-2pm Lung Cancer Awareness Fair in the Lobby Tuesday, November 11th, Lung Cancer Screenings Information Lobby Table from 11:00am—2:00pm Sunday, November 16th, Living Kidney Donation: Expanding Your Transplant Options with NY Presbyterian Lecture in the Sipp Auditorium from 1:00pm—2:00pm, Info Table Saturday, November 22nd, Fall Flat 5k, 10-2pm Sponsor Table To participate as a community outreach volunteer at any of the above events, or for more information, please call x2100.
Save the Date! Thursday, November 20th, Great American Smokeout Details will be shared via email or call x2391
RUMC “Elves” Needed
The Richmond University Medical Center Elves will be sponsoring the ADOPT-A-FAMILY program again this year. The program will focus on the families that utilize our clinics and families in need in our community. Any department, group of people or person who wishes to adopt a family, or make a contribution towards the program, should contact Jennifer Dominguez at x3106. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
Employee Wellness Calendar
Walk with the Doctor—Saturday, November 8th, Silver Lake Park (start at reservoir bridge) at 10:00am with Dr. Otterbeck