Heartbeat Magazine - Spring 2016 by St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center

Heartbeat The Magazine of St. Francis Hospital The Heart Center®

Spring 2016

New Destination For Outpatient Care • 2200 Northern Blvd Offers One-Stop Medical Services • Cancer Institute Gets Highest Possible Accreditation in New Expanded Site

Welcome

In this Issue

The Heart Center Adds New Beats St. Francis Hospital has been synonymous with world-class cardiac care for nearly forty years. Over a decade ago, we realized that if we were to continue to thrive and grow, we needed to bring the same levels of excellence and innovation in cardiology and heart surgery to other areas of patient care. So we embarked on an ambitious plan to grow non-cardiac service lines and expand and update our facilities. The blueprint also called for significant investments in facilities and equipment for our renowned cardiac specialties. The plan included expanding services in orthopedic surgery, cancer care, and other types of general surgery. We invested almost $250 million in new facilities over the last decade – with additions and improvements continuing today. They included the DeMatteis Pavilion and its 14 ORs dedicated to non-cardiac surgical procedures, renovation and major technological upgrades of the hospital’s existing cardiac ORs, expansion and renovation of the Emergency Department, and most recently establishing a dedicated Cancer Institute as part of a new outpatient facility at 2200 Northern Boulevard in East Hills. The results of this plan have been impressive. Orthopedic surgeries at St. Francis have more than tripled in the last five years, making the hospital’s program one of the busiest on Long Island. Just as striking, the number of cancer treatments delivered at St. Francis has grown over 400% since the Cancer Institute began operating in 2012. In addition, we are proud of the fact that our Cancer Institute was recently awarded the highest initial accreditation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. St. Francis also continues its growth and leadership in cardiac care. Our Heart Valve Center is in its second year of pioneering work to treat valve disease through innovative procedures such as TAVR and MitraClip. At the same time, our Cardiac Catheterization Lab is breaking new ground in intravascular imaging, which promises to transform the treatment of coronary artery disease. We are making significant investments in renovating and expanding the Cath Lab, as well as adding an additional Hybrid Cardiac OR to facilitate advanced procedures. These recent changes have created many great synergies that are best exemplified by our new ambulatory center at 2200 Northern Boulevard, our largest facility expansion in decades. Anchored by the Cancer Institute, the center will also provide patients with a highly convenient, well-coordinated facility capable of fulfilling several outpatient clinical needs all under one roof. It is a reflection not only of how healthcare is changing, but of how at St. Francis we are always looking for innovative new ways to put patients first.

First CoreValve Patient on LI Celebrates Twin Anniversaries 3 Fond Memories of Nancy Reagan 3 Student Athlete Cardiac Screening Program Goes Mobile 4 U.S. News Ranks St. Francis One of the Nation’s Best Hospitals 4 Getting Social via Facebook 4 A Future for the Stethoscope? 5 St. Francis Leads LI in Patient Satisfaction 5

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Features The Medical Mall: Putting the Patient First 6 Magnet Accreditation for Nursing Excellence 10 Q&A: On-Guard for Infectious Disease 11 Giving Back The Ladies of the Guild 12 Cancer Institute Receives Grants 12 Planned Giving: John Brancaccio 13

Vital Signs Launch of Women’s Heart Program 15 Heart Valve Center Pioneers the Way 15 page 15

Latest Approaches to Treating Heart Failure 16 Congenital Heart Disease Specialist Joins SFH 17 SFH First in Nassau to Introduce Robotic Orthopedic Surgery 17 Cancer Institute Earns Accreditation 18 SFH Gets Gold for Both Stroke and Heart Failure Care 18

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Twin Anniversaries: First CoreValve Patient on LI Celebrates 5 Years of Recovery and 68 Years of Wedded Bliss “It seems like we just met only yesterday,” says the devoted husband, who still calls his wife “Babe.” Their relationship has lasted nearly seven decades, yet grew even stronger after Mr. Leto was implanted with the minimally invasive device that allows elderly patients with aortic valve stenosis to avoid open-heart surgery -giving the close couple a new lease on life. Newell Robinson, M.D., Chairman of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at St. Francis, held a stethoscope to the chest of his history-making patient and after hearing the results remarked, “Sounds as good as the day we put it in.” Dr. Robinson, who oversaw the replacement with George Petrossian, M.D., Co-Director of the Heart Valve Center at St Francis, said: “This therapy came along at a great time.” The minimally invasive procedure has given the still active senior and his wife a chance to travel to their timeshare in Aruba and pursue his passion of growing fig trees in the backyard of their West Hempstead home. An Italian immigrant, who grew up poor, Mr. Leto prides himself on the Heartfelt Reunion: Research nurses at St. Francis gave hearts and flowers to CoreValve patient Anthony Leto and his wife crown pork roasts he brought home as a butcher, and continFanny to commemorate two anniversaries. ues to cook and clean for the love of his life. He recently drove her for a special birthday meal in his prized Cadillac. Anthony Leto made headlines when he became the first patient on Long The couple credits their longstanding relationship to good natured banIsland to receive the revolutionary CoreValve TAVR device thanks to doctors tering. “We argue a lot,” says Mrs. Leto with a sweet smile. “But I always let at St. Francis. But the 97-year-old retired butcher recently captured the her win,” adds her adoring husband. Although they recently gave up their media spotlight once again when he celebrated two special anniversaries at timeshare, they still maintain their first priority in life. “We have each other the Hospital -- his fifth anniversary of receiving the life-saving cardiac proceand that’s enough,” he says. dure and the 68th anniversary of being married to his wife Fanny.

Bariatric Program Named Center of Excellence 18

Staff News Peter Lementowski, M.D. 19 Jay Bosworth, M.D. 19 page 17

Amy Solon, M.D. 19 Anne Vinokur, M.D. 19

Heartfelt Memories A ‘Little Angel’ Remembers 19

Heartbeat

Ruth E. Hennessey Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Heartbeat

In the News

is published by St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center®. Questions or comments can be directed to St. Francis Hospital, Office of Public Affairs & Marketing, 100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn, New York 11576. (516) 705-6655. Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved. St. Francis Hospital is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island, the healthcare ministry of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Editor: Paul Barry. Writers: Jay Caruso, Rosemary Gomez. Editorial assistant: Debra Tischler. Contributing photographers: William Baker and Steve Moors. Designer: Roger Gorman, Reiner Design.

Best wishes,

From the EVP & Chief Administrative Officer 2

In the News

Fond Memories of Former First Lady Nancy Reagan at St. Francis When news first broke of the death of former First Lady Nancy Reagan, the story really hit home at St. Francis. Robert Vizza, former president and chief executive, shared some heartfelt recollections with several major media outlets about two visits she made to the Hospital. Reagan, who died at age 94, brought a boy and girl from South Korea to St. Francis aboard Air Force One in 1983 for life-saving heart surgery. She returned five years later when a hallway at the Hospital was named in her honor. But with one condition - that the two children, who had been adopted by a family in Arizona, be there. “She didn’t even let the security guards in the office,” said Vizza of Reagan’s 30-minute meeting with the children in his office. He recalled the then-First Lady pulling out two clear jelly bean jars with White House seals from her purse and giving the children the candy. “They talked about school and their lives in America. It was a warm visit,” Vizza said, adding that Reagan was “very friendly, very open”—the epitome of a First Lady.

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In the News U.S. News & World Report Ranks St. Francis One of the Best Hospitals in the Nation. Again.

St. Francis Hospital’s Student Athlete Cardiac Screening Program Hits the Road St. Francis Hospital has gone mobile to provide free cardiac screenings. The pilot launch took place at St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington where attendance was great. The mobile destination marked the first time the popular program, which recently celebrated its sixth anniversary, provided potentially life-saving screenings off-site to high school student athletes, grades 9 through 12. The goal is to detect and assess potential cardiac abnormalities which may put a strain on an athlete’s heart, particularly when he or she is engaged in strenuous physical activity “Over the last six years we have screened nearly 1,400 students in our local community, and over 100 abnormalities have been identified, some of which have had life-saving consequences,” says Sean Levchuck, M.D., Chairman of Pediatric Cardiology at St. Francis and director of the program. “We look forward to further expanding our efforts to this new venue.” The program includes an exam, EKG, and Echocardiogram. Dr. Levchuck evaluates the results at the time of each student’s screening. Student athletes are required to pre-register in advance of the screening. For more information about the program, please call (516) 629-2013. Or visit our website to download a health history form. Just type in “Student Athletes” in the search field on our home page.

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For the ninth consecutive year, St. Francis Hospital has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best hospitals in the nation. St. Francis was ranked #13 for Cardiology & Heart Surgery nationwide. It also rated among the top 50 hospitals in the U.S. in three other adult specialties: Gastroenterology & GI Surgery; Geriatrics; and Orthopedics - the only hospital on Long Island to be nationally ranked in any adult specialty. St. Francis was also the top-ranked hospital on the Island once again and rated #4 in New York State. “To consistently receive this nationwide recognition in cardiology and heart surgery as well as non-cardiac specialties is a testament to our ongoing mission of providing excellence in patient care,” says Ruth Hennessey, EVP & Chief Administrative Officer of St. Francis Hospital. St. Francis was also recognized by U.S. News as high performing regionally in three specialties: Neurology and Neurosurgery, Pulmonology, and Urology. Less than 3 percent of the nearly 5,000 hospitals that were evaluated for Best Hospitals 2015-16 earned national ranking in even one specialty. According to U.S. News, the Best Hospitals rankings are designed to be a resource for patients who need a high level of care because they face particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or are at higher risk because of age or multiple health problems. Objective measures such as patient survival and safety data, adequacy of nurse staffing levels, and other data largely determined the rankings in most specialties. To see the complete list of top rated hospitals and find out more about how they were chosen, log on to: http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals

Patients Get Social Social media is more and more a key part of any organization’s information pipeline. That’s why St. Francis has a Facebook page. It’s a great resource – for patients and employees alike. You’ll find news items, like our remembrance of Nancy Reagan; health screenings and fitness programs; plus our accolades, like our recent Magnet accreditation for outstanding nursing – remember all those celebratory cupcakes? Most importantly, our Facebook page is where patients of St. Francis Hospital and their families can post their honest feedback, like this recent entry: “Thank you soooo much to the amazing staff for taking such great care of my son while he is here. Everyone is so professional and attentive!! I couldn't ask for a better staff of nurses, aides, or doctors.” Login to Facebook and go to St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center. And be sure to hit Like!

Father and Son Cardiologists Give Their Expert Opinions in Debate over Future of Stethoscope Ronald J. Gulotta, M.D., cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer at St. Francis Hospital, and his father Stephen, a retired cardiologist, were featured extensively in a Newsday article focusing on the 200th anniversary of the stethoscope. While some physicians never leave home without theirs, others question the need for “perhaps the bestecognized symbol of the medical profession,” as health care goes more high tech. Dr. Gulotta thinks younger doctors don’t know how to use a stethoscope to diagnose conditions the way physician’s of his fathers’ generation did. His dad definitely agrees. “I’ve seen young cardiologists examining patients in emergency rooms,” says the elder Gulotta. “They are ostensibly good cardiologists. But they’ll listen to one spot with a stethoscope for two seconds, then another spot for two seconds and they’re finished.” The younger Gulotta says he too has seen a decreasing reliance on the stethoscope by younger graduates and he’s saddened by it – adding that the cardiac physical exam used to be the gold standard for physicians of his father's generation, but is now becoming a dying art. “I graduated from medical school in 1986 and it’s still important,” says the son. “As a cardiologist, there is still emphasis on the utility of it. But we have the CT scan and echocardiography. Those technologies really gave us the real structure and anatomy, so when there’s a murmur you can actually visualize it.”

St. Francis Leads Long Island in Patient Satisfaction Survey

According to a federal survey, more than four out of five patients treated at St. Francis Hospital last year rated their overall experiences highly, giving it the highest rate of satisfied patients among Long Island hospitals.The stats appeared in a Newsday.com article-showing St. Francis at the top of the list when it comes to recommending the Hospital to friends and family. “We stress communication with patients as an integral part of patient satisfaction,” said Ruth Hennessey, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at St. Francis, where 81 percent of patients gave it a score of nine or 10 out of 10. “That applies to our security guards who greet patients to nurses and doctors.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services randomly selected and surveyed adult patients at least 48 hours after they were discharged.The 32-question survey asks about various areas of hospital care such as cleanliness, the quality of communications with nurses, doctors, and hospital staff as well as administrative services like payment, discharge, and care transfer. Heart Center Adds Some New Beats Newsday ran a two-page article on St. Francis Hospital spending close to $250 million to expand its noncardiac services including oncology, orthopedic surgery, and neurosurgery. The report cited the Hospital’s largest clinical expansion to establish a 189,000 square-foot Cancer Institute and other ambulatory facilities at the former headquarters of the Pall Corp. at 2200 Northern Blvd. It also highlighted the DeMatteis Pavilion with 14-state-of-the-art operating rooms for noncardiac procedures. “My goal is that if you live on Long Island, and you’re sick with anything complex, you choose St. Francis Hospital,” said Alan Guerci, M.D., Chief Executive of Catholic Health Services and former CEO of St. Francis.

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Cover Story

New Outpatient Center Designed to Put Patients First

it reflects St. Francis Hospital’s ongoing commitment to meet the growing demand for non-cardiac specialties, such as cancer care. Joining the Cancer Institute at 2200 Northern Boulevard are several other medical practices affiliated with St. Francis Hospital, as well as St. Francis Diagnostic, an outpatient imaging center. The facility will soon be the home of St. Francis Radiation Oncology and a new ambulatory surgery center. The complex, the former site of the Pall Corporation, offers ample parking for patients and their families.

The Cancer Institute Settles Into its New Home

or far too many cancer patients, the stress of coping with a serious medical condition is only made worse by the travel and multiple interactions involved in seeing one specialist here, getting tests or images there, then scheduling infusion therapy or surgery elsewhere – each time entering into a new dialogue with a new set of health providers. The vision behind the historic expansion at 2200 Northern Boulevard in East Hills was to provide Long Island patients with state-of-the-art medical care in a convenient, comforting environment, all under one roof and close to home. “Being diagnosed and treated for cancer can be an extremely stressful experience. Our mission is to provide the very best treatment in a

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very comfortable setting,” said Bhoomi Mehrotra, M.D., Director of the Cancer Institute as well as Director of Oncology. “Our motto is We put our heart into cancer care; it’s something we all take very seriously.” The new Cancer Institute in East Hills is housed in a large, modern facility using advanced technology and staffed by an expanded team of seasoned professionals. Largely funded through private philanthropy,

When St. Francis Hospital first launched its Cancer Institute in December 2012, it quickly became apparent that the institute would need room to grow if it was to become the interdisciplinary program envisioned by the hospital. “Our governing vision was to create a facility where patients can be treated with all their doctors under one roof, communicating in close contact with each other for the patient’s benefit,” Dr. Mehrotra said. “Now we have it – a comprehensive facility that includes all the disciplines of oncology: medical oncology, surgical oncology, imaging services, infusion therapy and, soon, radiation oncology.” At the new facility’s core is a conference center for multi-disciplinary tumor boards, a reflection of St. Francis Hospital’s commitment to providing individualized, continuous care. “This allows both hospital staff and community doctors from various specialties – along with critical ancillary support services such as genetic counseling, social workers and nutritionists – to assemble on a regular basis and review each patient’s situation in a prospective manner,” Dr. Mehrotra said. With an established center for discussion, all members involved in a patient’s care can arrive at a consensus and tailor a therapeutic plan to each patient’s needs. “Everybody’s situation is different, whether it’s a unique tumor, an unusual social situation, or a psychological or nutritional challenge,” Dr. Mehrotra said. So why does a hospital classically known as a heart center need an

“Our governing vision was to create a facility where patients can be treated with all their doctors under one roof, communicating in close contact with each other for the patient’s benefit.”

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Cover Story

“As we move forward,we expect to gain a reputation for providing the best possible cancer care.” (continued from page 7)

St. Francis Diagnostic Offers One-Stop Imaging St. Francis Diagnostic, a new outpatient diagnostic imaging center, is located adjacent to the Cancer Institute – Suite 100C at 2200 Northern Blvd in East Hills, New York. At the new center, patients have access to the following state-of-the-art imaging modalities: • CT Scan • PET CT • 3T MRI • Ultrasound • Diagnostic Radiology The center is also beginning to perform diagnostic echocardiograms and is currently the only hospital on Long Island using the powerful 3T MRI for cardiac applications. Nathanael Reichek, M.D., the Director of Research and Cardiac Diagnostic Imaging, is using MRI for promising research that will assess the impact of chemotherapy on the hearts of cancer patients. Another exciting study examining how the brain governs the functions of the heart will soon be under way. The decision to locate the new diagnostic center at 2200 was made with the patient’s convenience in mind, placing it just steps away from several of our affiliated physician’s offices. In most cases, patients can be accepted without a prior appointment, adding to the convenience. The center offers the latest technology along with a patient-centered approach that caters to individuals’ needs. St. Francis Diagnostic imaging results are interpreted by some of the most experienced radiologists and cardiologists in the region. “Our patients rely on us for all of their imaging needs,” according to Scott Sherman, M.D., Chairman of Radiology. “Our focus on high quality medical imaging reiterates our excellence in patient care at St. Francis.”

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associated cancer institute? “People are living longer, which is great. Yet as we age the risk of cancer increases, and it can often co-exists with heart disease, which presents quite a challenge,” said Dr. Mehrotra. What often happens is a heart patient will have images taken that uncover a previously undetected tumor. In those cases, the patient needs the total care of both medical specialties, all working hand-in-hand. “We are lucky to have the top-notch skills sets of our cardiology colleagues,” said Dr, Mehrotra, “They are always active participants in cases of involving both heart disease and cancer. They are strong advocates for their patients and we welcome that.” The Cancer Institute enables specialists from their respective disciplines to come together and communicate freely with one another to come up with a cogent plan for each individual. It’s all about putting the patient first. The strategy is having an impact. In December 2015, SFH’s Cancer Institute was awarded full accreditation as a comprehensive cancer center with commendation by the Commission on Cancer – the highest recognition the commission awards a new program. “We are all very proud of making this vision a reality,” said Dr. Mehrotra. “As we move forward, we expect to gain a reputation for providing the best possible cancer care.”

Coming Soon: On-Site Radiation Oncology Services St. Francis’ Cancer Institute will soon offer a division of radiation oncology on-site. “Currently our radiation oncology facility is based in Garden City,” said Dr. Mehrotra, “but we are in the process of developing space here at 2200 Northern Boulevard. So ultimately we’ll be able to offer patients at least two locations to choose from, each managed by SFH’s Cancer Institute.” Once deployed at 2200, the radiation oncology facility’s staff will include three radiation oncologists known for their expertise in various types of cancer treatment across the tri-state area.(See page 19) “We are delighted to welcome them to our Cancer Institute,” said Dr. Mehrotra. “The inclusion on an on-site radiation oncology facility will strengthen the continuity of care that patients with a cancer diagnosis often need.”

Surgery in the morning. Dinner at home. The new outpatient center at 2200 Northern Blvd will soon be joined by the East Hills Surgery Center, a joint venture between St. Francis Hospital and local physicians to provide ambulatory surgery. The center will utilize 16,000 square feet, featuring five operating rooms, each specializing in procedures that allow patients to return home the same day. By moving less complex outpatient surgical procedures to the East Hills Surgery Center, St. Francis Hospital can concentrate its main campus operating rooms on the more intensive cases. "This is part of a growing trend," said Ruth Hennessey, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. “The East Hills Surgery Center will offer orthopedic, ear/nose /throat, vascular, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, pain management and other general surgery.” “The center expects to perform over 3,700 procedures our first year, with that number rising 5% annually through our third year,” said Patricia Daye, VP of Ambulatory Services. The ambulatory surgery center is part of the overall “medical mall” concept, creating a one-stop environment wherein a patient can see a specialist, have any type of testing they need, and if necessary schedule surgery. “The same place/same day experience makes it much easier on the patient,” said Hennessey.

Making An Entrance: User-friendly lobby directory offers touch-screen interactivity, allowing visitors to simply tap a physician’s name or suite number to then be shown a path to the office.

Meeting the Growing Need for Outpatient Surgery As Nassau County’s baby boomers age, there’s more and more demand for orthopedic surgeries to repair injuries and keep everyone as active as they’d like to be. “St. Francis did more than 2,500 cases in 2015, including 1,100 total joint replacements, among the highest volumes on Long Island,” said Richard D’Agostino, M.D., Director of Orthopedic Surgery. “Once the Ambulatory Surgery Center opens in summer of 2017, they will handle most of these outpatient cases. That will allow more room for inpatient surgery in our main OR.” It’s interesting to note that most patients seen by St. Francis’s sports medicine division could be treated at the coming outpatient center. Good news for weekend warriors and hospital administrators alike.

Serenity Now Visitors to 2200 Northern Blvd invariably comment on the calming environment. That’s no accident. It was felt from the get-go that patients -- particularly those seeking cancer care -- should feel a reassuring sense of tranquility upon entering. Our Facilities team worked with architectural designers as well as our clinical teams to carefully plan the spaces, flows, and color schemes in a way that would sooth the anxious spirit. Beyond the structural and cosmetic design, furniture and fabrics were selected to fit the environmental mood. “We get so many positive comments from our visitors,” said Patricia Daye, VP of Ambulatory Surgery. “Our design is definitely a positive factor in assisting the patient through their treatment. It goes to show, we are all 3-dimensional human beings.”

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Q&A

Staying On-Guard Against Infectious Disease

St.Francis Hospital Earns Magnet Designation for Nursing Excellence for the Third Time Nursing Leadership Ann Cella, MA, MEd, RN, NEABC, (center in red) pictured with (from left to right) Kathleen Engber, MA, RN-BC, NE-BC; Donna Rebelo, MSN, RN, NE-BC; Kathleen GilliganSteiner, MA, RN, NE-BC; Margaret Ochotorena, MS, RN, NE-BC; and Diane Mamounis-Simmons, MS, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR; played a crucial role in once again securing Magnet designation for SFH.

St. Francis Hospital has once again received one of the most coveted and prestigious honors a hospital and its nurses can achieve – the Magnet designation for excellence in nursing care. This recognition is the result of a rigorous evaluation that included extensive interviews and reviews of nursing

care,” says Ann Cella, M.A., M.Ed, R.N., NEA-BC, Senior Vice President of Patient Care

services, clinical outcomes, and patient care and satisfaction. It marks the

and Chief Nursing Officer.

third time in a row that the Hospital has received this highly regarded

The Magnet™ program was created and is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). It recognizes healthcare organizations that demonstrate

nationwide recognition. Only about seven percent of hospitals in the U.S. have earned the Magnet™ desig-

excellence in nursing philosophy and practice, adhere to national standards for

nation. St. Francis has been a Magnet Hospital since 2006. It is one of only four hos-

improving patient care, have an active research program, and display leadership and

pitals on Long Island to hold this national distinction and the only hospital in Nassau

sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity.

™

The ANCC is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association and is the largest

County to be designated three times. “We are extremely proud to have earned Magnet designation for the third time. It ™

and most prominent nursing credentialing organization in the United States. St.

reflects what our patients know firsthand – that nurses at St. Francis work together as

Francis Hospital’s Magnet™ designation, which included annual reviews, is valid for

a team to uphold the utmost standards in providing compassionate and high quality

four years.

PHYSICIANS AT 2200 NORTHERN BLVD, EAST HILLS, NY CARDIAC INTERVENTIONAL GROUP Suite 132 (516) 626-0700 Stephen Mezzafonte, M.D., Joseph Minadeo, M.D.

ADVANCED INTERNAL MEDICINE Suite 133 (516) 352-8100 Craig Grobman, D.O., Javier Morales, M.D., Leon Schwechter, D.O., Masooma Sheikh, D.O.

ISK AT ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL - ORTHOPAEDICS Suite 121 (516) 705-1044 Michael Kang, M.D., William Long, M.D., Craig Radnay, M.D., Timothy Reish, M.D.

GREAT NECK HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY, P.D. Suite 204 (516) 482-0080 Rita Weiss, M.D., PhD

LONG ISLAND ORTHOPAEDIC & JOINT REPLACEMENT SERVICES Suite 115 (516) 325-7310 Frank DiMaio, M.D., Peter Lementowski, M.D.

LONG ISLAND PLASTIC SURGICAL GROUP, PC Suite 201 (516) 439-5500, DEEP BLUE Medical Spa Tommaso Addona, M.D., FACS, Bruce W. Brewer, M.D., FACS, Jerry W. Chang, M.D. Barry K. Douglas, M.D., FACS, Laurence T. Glickman, M.D., MSc, FACS, Matthew S. Kilgo, M.D., FACS, Frederick N. Lukash, M.D., FACS, FAAP, Noel B. Natoli, M.D., Richard G. Reish, M.D.

NY CARDIOLOGY Suite 112 (514) 484-6777 George Petrossian, M.D., Aimee Cowan, M.D., Kiran Reddy, M.D. (starts July 1) NEW YORK SURGICAL PARTNERS Suite 125 (516) 627-5262 Mitchell Chorostl, M.D., George DeNoto III, M.D., Gary Gecelter, M.D., Michael Giuffrida, M.D., Eugene Rubach, M.D. ONCOLOGY ASSOCIATES Suite 111 (516) 325-7500 Bhoomi Mehrotra, M.D., Director, Oncology & Cancer Institute, Dilip Patel, M.D., Director, Malignant Hematology, Rajasree Roy, M.D., Physician, Hematology/Oncology, Wallace Chan, M.D. ST. FRANCIS PAIN ASSOCIATES Suite 120 (516) 563-7910 Patrick F. Annello, M.D. Director, Patrick DePippo, M.D. PC, Suite 126 (516) 365-5333 Daniel H. Sajewski, M.D., Rajiv K. Shah, M.D.

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NEURO-AXIS NEUROSURGICAL ASSOCIATES, PC, Suite 127 (718) 459-7700 Richard W. Johnson, M.D., FACS, Rick Madhok, M.D., David Chen, D.O., John I. Miller, M.D., FACS, Harrison T. Mu, M.D., FACS, Nicholas Post, M.D. NORTH SHORE INFECTIOUS DISEASES CONSULTANTS, PC, Suite 205 (516) 767-7771 Travel Medicine Consutants of Long Island, PC, David Brieff, M.D., Alan Bulbin, M.D., Dava Klirsfeld, M.D., Vitaliy Krol, D.O., Hermes Lopez, M.D., Farah Shams, M.D., Nathalie Schulhof, M.D. INTERVENTIONAL NEURO ASSOCIATES (Suite 207 – Coming April 2016) Karthikeyan M. Arcot, M.D., Jeffrey Farkas, M.D., Ambooj Tiwari, M.D., MPH, David Turkel-Parrell, M.D. GENERAL ADULT NEUROLOGY STROKE & CEREBROVACULAR DISEASE (Suite 128-coming April 2016) Keith A. Siller, M.D.

t. Francis Hospital has a rigorous program for minimizing the potential risk of patients contracting an infection during their treatment and recovery. As Director of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Stewardship, Alan Bulbin, M.D. is responsible for ensuring the effective treatment of those infected and – just as importantly – preventing of infection to others. He also bears responsibility for stewarding the Hospital’s protocols and guidelines governing the use of antibiotics. He received his medical degree from University of South Florida College of Medicine and has an infectious disease practice based in East Hills, NY. Dr. Bulbin has been associated with St. Francis Hospital since 1993. Heartbeat: St. Francis Hospital is largely focused on cardiac care. What makes infectious disease a shared concern? Alan Bulbin, M.D.: In any hospital or patient care environment, there is always the risk of infection. Some patients come for treatment of a community associated infection, so naturally they’re bringing that into our environment. But other patients, uninfected, are coming to us for invasive procedures, planned or unplanned. They are particularly vulnerable to the risk of infection, because they tend to be older and are often coping with multiple medical problems, which means that their resistance is low. Heartbeat: How do we neutralize the risk? AB: We maintain a strong barrier to infection through a number of protocols -- from sanitizing the environment, safeguarding patients and visitors with the use of personal protective equipment including masks, gowns, gloves, and most importantly, hand hygiene. Heartbeat: How do we measure our effectiveness in terms of infectious disease control? AB: Our team is constantly tracking our rate of infection, which we report to the State. I’m happy to say we stack up very well as compared to many other

hospitals. But we always want to do better and this is actually a particular goal of ours, to sharply decrease the incidence of hospital borne infection. Heartbeat: When infections do occur, are antibiotics the go-to solution? AB: They are and they aren’t. We actually make a deliberate effort not to prescribe antibiotics if we don’t really need to. You have to remember that systemic antibiotics kill off all bacteria, healthy and unhealthy. And because we spent decades over-using antibiotics, many bacterial organisms are now resistant. Heartbeat: Is the use of antibiotics at St. Francis Hospital tightly controlled? AB: Yes it is. Actually, that is one of my major responsibilities. My team monitors when and how antibiotics are to be used. We are in constant dialogue with our staff to promote effective choices and provide education. Heartbeat: Zika is in the news. What do we know about it? AB: It is a virus spread via mosquito bites and poses the greatest risk to a developing fetus in the first trimester. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that pregnant women, or those trying, avoid travel to areas with active mosquito transmission. Some experts predict that Zika could make it to the USA, as the same mosquitos live here. Sexual transmission from infected partners has also been described. Heartbeat: What are the symptoms of Zika? AB: Fever, muscle, joint pain, headache, rash, and malaise. It’s relatively mild and those infected usually recover without any residual effects. The bigger concern surrounds infection of pregnant women and the association with subsequent fetal birth defects. Heartbeat: Does travel-related infection impact St. Francis Hospital? AB: On occasion. There’s an instructive parallel between being medically prepared for travel to a faraway place and being medically prepared to enter a hospital. Just as travelers are advised to get vaccinated or take the appropriate medical prophylaxis before traveling, say, to Africa for a photo safari, or the Amazon, so should at-risk patients be prepared before entering a hospital. The point is the same in both scenarios – you want to keep your guard up. As always, don't forget to wash your hands frequently, even if you find yourself in a hospital bed. You can ask the same of any caregivers. And, stay up to date with all appropriate vaccinations and your current medications. St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ®

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Giving Back

The Ladies of The Guild

Planned Giving John Brancaccio

Always there. Always part of the solution. When most people think of St. Francis Hospital, they likely think of its reputation for medical excellence or long history of honors for outstanding cardiac care. And yet as important as our medical expertise is, it’s also vitally important that St. Francis continue to develop and expand, which requires a continuing stream of financial support. Guild Board: Back L. to R.; Linda Urick, Rose Emmanuele, Sr. Pauline Gilmore, Elsa Fries, Donna Jabbour Quinn, Inge To assist in that ongoing endeavor, there’s The Guild of St. Costa, Joan Vizza, Kay Lynch, Dorothy Chiariello, Joan Bassett, Mary Di Paola, Anne Maione. Front L. to R.; Mary Francis Hospital Foundation. Founded in 1941, The Guild is a Barone, Madelyn Vallone, Joan Durso Serra, Sandi Landon, Lynne Arcara, Joan M. Brakman. Not Pictured; Virginia Bolla, Laura K.V. Dougherty, Irene Lyons, Rita Syracuse. major auxiliary assisting the Hospital in its fundraising efforts. Started by thirteen women from Long Island’s north shore is achieved, it will constitute The Guild’s fourth $1 million dollar gift to the Hospital. communities, The Guild vowed early on to assist the Hospital in its mission. What motivates The Guild’s board members? Each has her own particular Back then, St. Francis Hospital was still a small sanatorium, providing treatment point of view. “For me it’s a sense of continuing a great legacy,” says Joan M. and respite for children suffering from rheumatic fever. Today, The Guild is over 500 members strong with a membership that spans Long Island and the surrounding Brakman. “My mother was on the first board and worked on the first luncheon areas. Members are actively involved in hosting fundraising events as well as fashion show.” operating the Gift Shop at the Hospital. The Guild’s dedicated members also host “Giving to others just adds to one’s sense of purpose in life,” says Sandi the Heart to Heart Luncheon in January, A Fall Luncheon in October, a Holiday Tree Landon. “The rewards that come back are much greater than those you give.” of Lights in December, and participate in Americana Manhasset’s Champions for “Being a board member of The Guild of St. Francis Hospital Foundation has Charity holiday shopping fundraiser in early December. truly enriched my life,” says Assistant Treasurer Inge Costa. “Being able to give As a top income-producing auxiliary in New York State, The Guild of St. Francis back to the Hospital brings its own manifold blessings.” Hospital has been cited by HANYS for its exemplary fundraising efforts, directly “It’s a funny thing, but most of the people who’ve joined The Guild do so after affecting the quality of health care available in our community. Over the past several coming to St. Francis Hospital during a very challenging time,” says current years, The Guild has helped finance such projects as the expansion of the President Joan Durso Serra. “They experience something truly life changing, then Ambulatory Care Unit, the site of thousands of same-day surgeries each year. make a new beginning by committing to being a part of the St. Francis community.” They’ve also played a major role in the development and growth of the new The Guild is always looking for new members. Interested? To speak with a Research Institute of St. Francis Hospital, the renovation and expansion of the Guild Member, please call (516) 629-2048. Emergency Department, and also a new outpatient-operating suite as part of the “It’s a wonderful group of women to journey with,” adds Rose Emanuel. “It’s Hospital’s Master Facilities Renovation Plan. Most recently, The Guild pledged gratifying to be able to work and share with so many selfless and like-minded $1 million to benefit the Hospital’s Master Facilities Renovation Plan. Once this goal ladies.”

Cancer Institute Receives Research and Community Outreach Grants

L. to R.: Dr. Reichek; Barbara Buckley, VP of Research at MWCABC; Dr. Mehrotra; Dorothy Forte, VP of Outreach at MWCABC; and MWCABC Research Committee member Fiona Galbraith.

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The Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer (MWCABC) has awarded St. Francis Hospital a $100,000 research grant. Their support will help fund a study to evaluate new methods for detecting the risk of heart failure in patients receiving chemotherapy. Working closely together, cardiologists and oncologists at St. Francis Hospital are evaluating the use of technology to identify early signs of cardiotoxicity which can result from the use of certain chemotherapy agents, including those commonly administered to treat breast cancer. By determining the best way to detect early changes in a patient’s heart health, the medical team can take measures which will allow them to effectively deliver cancer treatment while preventing the patient from advancing toward heart failure. Generous support from MWCABC’s outreach committee and their Junior Coalition has also helped to launch and expand a restorative yoga program for cancer patients and survivors at St. Francis Hospital. The Junior Coalition made an additional grant to sponsor St. Francis Hospital’s new healthy cooking workshop for teens with a parent undergoing cancer treatment, which will be held for the first time in 2016. Bhoomi Mehrotra, M.D., Director of Oncology and Director of the Cancer Institute, and Nathaniel Reichek, M.D., Director of Research, recently accepted this support on behalf of St. Francis Hospital from MWCABC. Drs. Mehrotra and Reichek, along with Haoyi Zheng, M.D., an echocardiologist and expert on cardio-oncology, are principal investigators for the study.

Stepping Up to Help Others with Heart Valve Disease Heartfelt Mission: John Brancaccio, pictured here working out at the DeMatteis Center in Greenvale, doesn’t tread lightly when it comes to promoting high quality cardiac care close to home.

John Brancaccio knows firsthand how stressful it can be to be diagnosed with heart valve disease. He was at his father’s bedside when he passed away from aortic valve stenosis, and was diagnosed with the very same condition himself years later. But 25 years after undergoing open-heart surgery to have his valve replaced and surviving amazing odds, the 90-year old retired mechanical engineer has made it his mission to help others by creating his legacy to ensure the future of the Heart Valve Center at St. Francis Hospital. “There are many charitable options available today, if you are in a position to give. But my attitude is to provide help where the goal and outcome is almost an immediate impact in the lifestyle of an individual human being,” says John about his commitment to the Heart Valve Center— soon to be named The John Brancaccio Heart Valve Center at St. Francis Hospital, thanks to John’s transformational bequest. Game, Set and Match The avid tennis player and longtime Suffolk County resident knew he had found the perfect philanthropic “match” thanks to pioneering physicians at St. Francis and their minimally invasive approach in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). “This was a situation where medicine and technology came together to create a program that can provide immediate relief to fragile seniors who have no other option, it’s a real home run!” he says. When John was diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis after fainting on

a tennis court in 1991, there was only one option for aortic valve replacement and it was surgery. His first priority was to do some of his own research. “I wanted to see if I could find a hospital and physicians on Long Island who could perform the procedure as safely here as the best doctors in Manhattan.” The professional engineer discovered a winning team in Richard Shlofmitz, M.D., an interventional cardiologist who’s now Chairman of his Department at St. Francis, and Paul Damus, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon who has since retired from St. Francis. In for the Long Run After being given the option of a mechanical valve or a porcine one, John chose the latter even though he was told it could last only 8 to 10 years. But he’s defied the odds and it’s lasted a quarter of a century, part of which he attributes to his lifelong and current cardio training programs and consistent stress test monitoring. In addition to playing tennis, he was a former track star, skier, and ballroom dancer who always made exercise an integral part of his routine. When John expressed his interest in making a bequest to benefit the Heart Valve Center prior to finalizing his plans, the Development team at St. Francis was able to offer John an opportunity to witness his transformational gift during his lifetime – a ceremony to commemorate his generosity will be held this May. The John Brancaccio Heart Valve Center will be his lasting legacy so the next generation will benefit from continued advancements through less invasive approaches to patients, where none existed before. St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ®

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Vital Signs

Heart Valve Center at St. Francis Continues to Pioneer the Way for Cardiac Innovations Richard Shlofmitz, M.D., performing OCT-guided angioplasty at St. Francis Hospital, and transmitting live by video link to a New York City conference focused on innovations in intravascular imaging.

Madhavi Kadiyala, M.D., Director

St. Francis Leads Global Research Study To Shed Light on the Value of OCT-Guided Angioplasty St. Francis Hospital is pioneering a new technology that promises to provide cardiologists with a dramatically enhanced ability to visualize and map coronary artery blockages and determine their size, shape, composition, and effect on blood flow. Called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and already incorporated into the OPTISi system by St. Jude Medical, this advanced imaging modality is now the focus of a global research study led by Richard Shlofmitz, M.D., Chairman of Cardiology Although cardiac catheterization is the long-time gold standard to assess blockages in coronary arteries, the field began to expand when intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) entered the picture about 10 years ago. “Now with the introduction of OCT-guided angioplasty, we’re in a new phase, expanding the potential of IVUS exponentially,” says Dr. Shlofmitz. With OCT “there are cases where you can rule out the need to place a stent. Conversely, when they are needed, you can custom-fit them with great precision,” Dr. Shlofmitz says. “It’s a potentially revolutionary technique for imaging of the coronary arteries.” The ILUMIEN III trial – short for Optical Coherence Tomography Compared to Intravascular Ultrasound to Guide Coronary Stent Implantation: A Multicenter Randomized Trial in PCI – is randomizing patients to receive an angiogram, IVUS, or OCT. Even then, all patients will have OCT performed at the end of the trial to gauge how much more precise that technology is as compared with the other options. The multinational trial is taking place at 64 sites globally, with results expected this summer. Only 1% of heart centers are using OCT-guided angioplasty right now. Because of its early commitment to OCT, St. Francis has enrolled more patients than any other site. “We’ve done more OCT than anyone else in the world within the trial,” notes Dr. Shlofmitz. “St. Francis is committed to the OCT project because we feel it will be the future of angiography,

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enabling us to optimize angioplasty management before and after procedure to improve outcomes.” With an increased emphasis on research and education, Dr. Shlofmitz has trained more than 60 physicians from other hospitals on how to perform OCT-guided angioplasty at St. Francis. In March, he also co-directed an international conference on intravascular imaging, at which OCT was center stage. The meeting, held at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, was co-sponsored by The Cardiac Research Foundation and St. Francis Hospital, drawing over 200 leading interventional cardiologists. “Imaging is everything,” said Dr. Shlofmitz at the conference. “I believe the ILUMIEN III trial will help establish OCT’s position as the imaging mechanism of choice for angioplasty.”

Louise Spadaro, M.D., FACC

Special Care For Women’s Hearts Did you know that heart disease is the number one cause of death in women in the United States? One out of three women will die of heart disease, which often times presents with different signs and symptoms in women than it does in men. As one of the nation’s leading cardiac centers, St. Francis Hospital has launched a new heart program designed to specifically meet the needs of women. “Our goal is to identify women who may be at increased risk and provide them with strategies to help reduce those risks and foster research to further the understanding of the specific nature of women’s heart disease,” says Madhavi Kadiyala, M.D., a cardiologist and Director of the new program. “We want to provide women with a one-stop destination for comprehensive cardiac and preventive care, where many of their unique needs can be addressed without having to go to multiple locations,” says Louise Spadaro, M.D., a cardiologist and Director of the Outreach Program at St. Francis. Services at the Women's Heart Program, located at the DeMatteis Center in Greenvale, include: • Prevention and Early Detection of Coronary Artery Disease • Research in Women’s Heart Disease • Integrative Care Including Meditation/ Yoga/ Tai-Chi • Cardiac Fitness/Rehabilitation • Nutritional Counseling • Coronary Calcium Screening and Advanced Cardiac Imaging

Worldwide Leaders in Interventional Cardiology: Dr. Richard Shlofmitz (second from left) co-directed a clinical workshop in Manhattan that included included Nathanael Reichek, M.D., Director of Research and Cardiac Diagnostic Imaging, Jeffrey W. Moses, M.D. interventional cardiologist, Thomas Pappas, M.D., Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Andrew D. Berke, M.D., interventional cardiologist, and Andrew Lituchy, M.D., interventional cardiologist.

The program partners with radiologists, gynecologists, primary care providers, nutritionists, physiologists, and psychologists to offer women comprehensive diagnostic testing and treatment. It recognizes and treats the unique cardiovascular needs of women during all stages of life. To schedule an appointment or for more information call (516) 622-4555.

Since it first opened in early 2014, the Heart Valve Center at St. Francis has been making it easier and more streamlined for patients to get treatment for cardiac valvular disease by providing a one-stop destination for screening and evaluation. “Instead of returning for multiple appointments, patients are able to see an interventional cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon and get various testing done in one day,” says George Petrossian, M.D., Director of Interventional Cardiovascular Procedures, who is co-directing the new center. “In close to 70% of patients, we are able to answer the question that day about whether they are a candidate for any of the procedures, and we get them closer to being treated,” says Newell Robinson, M.D., Chairman of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery and co-director of the center. The growth of transcatheter aortic-valve replacement, or TAVR, has played a large role in the growth of the center. St. Francis Hospital is one of the leading medical centers in the U.S. to offer TAVR, and more than 630 TAVRs have been performed here since 2011.There were about 280 TAVR procedures performed via the Heart Valve Center in 2015, and an anticipated 450 TAVR procedures will be done in 2016. “Patients have roughly a 50% chance of living only two years without treatment. With TAVR treatment we’re able to improve that dramatically. It’s the most profound change in therapy I’ve seen in cardiology in the 30 years I’ve been a physician,” Dr. Petrossian says. Physicians who see Pioneers in Heart Valve Treatment (from left to right) patients at the Heart Valve George Petrossian, M.D., Newell Robinson, M.D., and Andrew Berke, M.D. Center are involved with other innovations that can improve patient care, some of which are undergoing clinical trials. Interventional cardiologist Andrew Berke, M.D., is using the MitraClip in patients who have problems with leaky mitral valves. “Typically in the past, if there was significant leakage, the only treatment was open heart surgery,” he says.With the MitraClip, the device is placed percutaneously. As a result, recovery is much quicker. “I’m able to send patients home one or two days after the procedure and get them back to a routine a couple of days later,” Dr. Berke says.That’s a stark contrast to a four- to eight-day hospital stay and a four- to six-week recovery at home with open heart surgery. St. Francis is one of only a few hospitals in the U.S. able to offer the MitraClip. Dr. Berke hopes that ongoing national clinical trials will eventually help to expand its use to a larger patient population. St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ®

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Vital Signs The Latest Approaches for Treating Heart Failure at St. Francis being offered closer to home at St. Francis, but now he has follow up visits with Timothy J.Vittorio, M.D., Medical Director of the new program. “It has changed my life,” says Mr. Lozito. “Before receiving LVAD, my breathing was down to nothing. I lost all of my strength and my weight went down 40 pounds from 165. Now I never get short of breath. I recently took a trip to Washington D.C. and did a lot of walking, but it had no effect on me.” For more information on the program, please call: (631) 6893330. CardioMems Monitoring System Marks First Anniversary at St. Francis In an effort to reduce hospital readmissions and complications from congestive heart failure, St. Francis Hospital is now using an FDAapproved device to monitor patients who suffer from this cardiac disease.The new technology called CardioMEMS, relies on an implantable device to keep tabs on heart failure patients around the clock from the comfort of their own homes. The high-tech device contains a wireless monitor that is implantNew Hope for Congestive Heart Failure Patients: St. Francis launches Left Ventrical Device LVAD) program. ed inside the pulmonary artery. It typically takes about 10 minutes From left to right: Edward Lundy, MD, PhD, Surgical Director; Alfred Lozito, Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics to implant in the Cath Lab and patients can go home the very Patient; Timothy Vittorio, MD, Medical; and Jaime McDermott, MSH, RN-BC, ACNP-BC,CCRN-CSC, Administrative Director. same day. “The purpose of this device is to actively measure the pressure in someone’s Whether it is participating in major nationwide studies or heart when they are home on a daily basis,” says Richard Shlofmitz, M.D., launching new programs for people suffering from conChairman of Cardiology at St. Francis Hospital. “If there’s any evidence that the gestive heart failure, St. Francis continues to set the pace patients are having heart failure, they can be treated before their condition for helping patients deal with this debilitating disease. gets worse.” So far, Dr. Shlofmitz has implanted nearly 20 of the tiny sensors in congestive St. Francis Launches First LVAD Program in Nassau County heart failure patients with excellent success rates. In keeping with its reputation as a nationwide leader providing innovative heart procedures, St. Francis became the first hospital in Nassau County to offer Left SFH Takes Part in Nationwide Study that Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) therapy to patients suffering from advanced Could Change the Face of Treating CHF heart failure.This major initiative by the Kroll Family Center for Heart Failure St. Francis is recruiting patients to participate in a national study that is exploring and Circulatory Support offers new hope for patients who are awaiting transa new therapy for treating patients suffering from chronic heart failure with plants or who are physically unable to undergo heart surgery. advanced symptoms. Led by Timothy J.Vittorio, M.D., Director of the Center LVAD is an implantable mechanical device that is used to partially or comfor Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics and the principal investigator of the study at pletely replace the pumping function of a failing heart. It offers a longer term the hospital, it will explore the use of the Barostim neo System™. The solution to short-term heart pumps that are typically used for patients recoverimplantable device, which has already been approved in Europe for heart failure, ing from heart attacks or heart surgery. but is still being investigated in the U.S., is designed to trigger the body’s natural “Our mission is to provide the very best care for patients suffering from systems in order to regulate and improve heart function and reduce heart failure advanced heart failure,” says Edward F. Lundy, M.D., Ph.D, Surgical Director of symptoms. the program. “This device is designed to not only relieve symptoms and improve “We are excited to be participating in this major study and are hopeful our our patients’ quality of life, it also can slow down the progression of the disease patients will significantly benefit from this new therapy in the near future,” says and reduce their need for emergency room and hospital visits.” Dr.Vittorio. Alfred Lozito, a retired sales rep from Oceanside, has experienced the benefits firsthand. He received an LVAD in July 2014 at another hospital before it was For more information of the study, please call: (516) 629-2090.

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Adult Congenital Heart Disease Specialist Joins SFH For nearly 60 years, Mary Mallilo lived with being blue – not mentally, but physically. The Huntington Station office assistant had open- heart surgery at the age of three to repair an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) or hole in her heart. She underwent the procedure at a time when it was in its early stages and miraculously survived, but was left with a perplexing side effect. Her face and hands were blue. “It was getting worse and worse. My lips were dark purple and people would ask me what color lipstick I was wearing. I would tell them that it was my natural color,” she says. After being constantly out of breath and seeing a half dozen specialists including cardiologists and pulmonologists, Mary finally got the answer to a lifelong mystery from Marlon Rosenbaum, M.D. The adult congenital heart disease specialist, who recently joined St. Francis, diagnosed her condition as soon as he saw Mary’s face. “She came into my office with a shopping bag full of medical records. I knew what was wrong before even looking at her records,” says Dr. Rosenbaum, who previously diagnosed several other patients with the same condition. Mary’s vena cava, a large vein that carries deoxygenated blood to the heart, had to be re-routed because it was mixing oxygen-rich, red blood with oxygen-poor, blue blood. After undergoing open heart surgery, the mother of two, who endured difficult pregnancies, was finally able to breathe a lot easier. “When my sister first saw me after surgery, she said ‘Oh my God, you have pink lips!” recalls Mary. “A friend told me that I had to rerecord the message on my answering machine because I was no longer puffing when I spoke.” Dr. Rosenbaum says Mary’s case underscores the need for cardiologists with his fellowship-trained speIn the Pink: Mary Malillo is no longer blue thanks to adult congenital heart disease specialist Marlon cialty. He remembers when Rosenbaum, M.D. there were only a handful of physicians like him, who had the expertise to treat adults with congenital heart disease. Now with improvements in surgery, patients are living longer lives. In fact, there are an estimated 1,250,000 people in the U.S. who have this condition. “It used to be considered a success story if a patient made it to adulthood. There wasn’t much anticipation that one day we were going to have a huge number of survivors with underlying issues, who would need medical follow-ups when they became adults and could no longer see pediatric cardiologists,” says Dr. Rosenbaum. For Mary, the office visit turned out to be a true blessing. She recently joined a gym and is looking forward to finally being able to exercise after years of sitting on the sidelines. “I’ll actually be able to use a treadmill for the first time in my life.”

St. Francis Is the First Hospital in Nassau County to Introduce Robotic Orthopedic Surgery

St. Francis Unveils New Robot: Kevin A. Cassidy, M.D., (r.) pictured with Richard D’Agostino, M.D., (l.) gets ready to perform the first robotic partial knee replacement at St. Francis.

St. Francis Hospital’s new surgical robot is setting a new standard for excellence. The Hi-tech imaging of the knee: state-of-the-art MAKOplasty® surgical robot The MAKOplasty surgical robot provides GPS-like technology for orthopedic delivers pinpoint accuracy for partial knee surgery. replacements, offering patients reduced pain, shorter recovery times, and greater success rates. St. Francis became the first hospital in Nassau County to use the robotic technology. Relying on a surgeon’s expert hands, it allows for extremely precise knee joint reconstruction, promising optimal results for patients who qualify. “Replacing a knee is basically like retreading a tire,” says Richard D’Agostino, M.D., Director of Orthopedic Surgery at St. Francis. “This robot provides us with a GPS image of your knee and calculates how much bone needs to be replaced,” says Richard D’Agostino, M.D., Director of Orthopedic Surgery at St. Francis. "It sends up a red light to avoid any close calls so the implant goes in perfectly.” Kevin A. Cassidy, M.D., the first physician to perform the robotic orthopedic surgery at St. Francis, extols its virtues over traditional knee replacement. “It’s incredibly precise and the recovery time is almost immediate,” he says. “Patients start feeling better within the first six weeks.” People with arthritis in one part of their knee – about 25 percent of knee replacements – are considered suitable candidates for the surgery. Patients can go home within 24 hours after undergoing the robotic procedure. While full recovery for a knee replacement is usually a year, doctors credit the new robot with decreasing that time to six months. St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ®

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Vital Signs St. Francis Hospital’s Cancer Institute Earns Highest Recognition Possible in Its First Survey The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted three-years of Full Accreditation with Commendation to the Cancer Institute at St. Francis Hospital. To earn this national accreditation, a cancer program must meet or exceed 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. St. Francis Hospital’s Cancer Institute was recognized for taking a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care. “We put our heart into cancer care and this nationally esteemed accreditation is a reflection of the ongoing commitment of our medical staff in providing the very best treatment for our patients,” says Bhoomi Mehrotra, M.D., Director of Oncology and the Cancer Institute. The CoC Accreditation Program provides a framework to improve the quality of patient care. This includes various cancer-related programs that focus on the full spectrum of cancer care including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, life-long follow up for survivorship and recurrent disease, and end-of-life care. Patients also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient centered services including a survivorship care plan. Like all CoC-accredited facilities, The Cancer Institute at St. Francis Hospital maintains a cancer registry and contributes data to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society (ACS). This nationwide oncology outcomes database is the largest clinical disease registry in the world. Data on all types of cancer are tracked and analyzed through this database and used to explore trends in cancer care. CoC-accredited cancer centers, in turn, have access to information derived from this type of data analysis, which is used to create national, regional, and state benchmark reports. These reports help these facilities with their quality improvement efforts. ACS estimates that more than 1.6 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2016. There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, representing 30 percent of all hospitals. CoC-accredited facilities diagnose and/or treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients.

To contact any of the physicians or surgeons mentioned in this publication, please call 1-888-HEARTNY (432-7869).

Bariatric Surgery Program at St. Francis Hospital Named Center of Excellence The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) has designated St. Francis Hospital a nationally accredited surgical weight loss center. The MBSAQIP distinction, which stands for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgical Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, recognizes St. Francis for providing safe, high quality care for patients. A bariatric surgery program has to undergo rigorous review to achieve accreditation as a center of excellence. Qualifying measures include proving that it can maintain the necessary resources and standards of practice to assure that patients get the best care. All accredited centers are required to report patient outcomes to the MBSAQIP database.

St. Francis Hospital Gets Gold Again for Excellence in Both Stroke and Heart Failure Care For the fifth year in a row, St. Francis Hospital has received the Get With The Guidelines®Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in ensuring that stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) initiative helps hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. St. Francis earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include aggressive use of medications such as clot-busting and anti-clotting drugs, blood thinners and cholesterol reducing drugs, preventive action for deep vein thrombosis, and smoking cessation counseling. St. Francis Hospital also received a Get With The Guidelines®–Heart Failure Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award in 2015 for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation secondary prevention guidelines for patients with heart failure. This nationwide quality improvement program helps hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients. Numerous studies have cited the program’s success in achieving patient outcome improvements, including reductions in 30-day admissions, since it was launched in 2005. According to the American Heart Association, about 5.1 million people suffer from heart failure. Each year, 670,000 new cases are diagnosed and more than 275,000 people will die of heart failure. However, many heart failure patients can lead a full life when their condition is managed with proper medications and devices and with healthy lifestyle changes.

Heartbeat

Spring 2016 • St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ®

“As some of the most experienced healthcare providers in the region, we know how important it is to offer the most appropriate weight loss options for patients facing serious health challenges from chronic obesity,” says Shawn M. Garber, M.D., FACS, FASMBS, Director of the Bariatric Surgery Program at St. Francis Hospital. “Our highly skilled, board-certified surgeons have one of the largest caseloads in the Northeast, and they have been consistently recognized for their excellent success rates.” For more information on the program or to make an appointment, call: 1-888-851-0555.

Staff News

Heartfelt Memories

Peter Lementowski, M.D., has joined Long Island Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Services, a division of St. Francis Physicians Associates, based at 2200 Northern Blvd in East Hills. Dr. Lementowski’s specialty is Orthopedic Surgery, Primary and Revision Hip and Knee Replacement, Hip and Knee Arthroscopy. A graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Lementowski served his residency in Orthopaedics at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College. He completed a fellowship in Adult joint reconstructive surgery at the Presbyterian Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lementowski brings much clinical experience, having served on the Orthopedic Voluntary Staff at South Nassau Communities, as Academic Attending Physician at North Shore/Long Island Jewish Hospital, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and as Administrative Chief Resident at Westchester Medical Center’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He speaks English and Polish

Jay L. Bosworth, M.D., F.A.C.R., has been appointed Director of Radiation Oncology. He graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and served as Director of Radiation Oncology at North Shore University Hospital for almost 20 years before entering private practice. Dr. Bosworth has been listed annually by Castle Connolly as one of the top radiation oncologists in the NY Metropolitan Area. He has published and presented at local and national cancer meetings on breast, prostate, and eye tumors. Dr. Bosworth is a member of the American Society for Clinical Oncology and serves on cancer society committees for the American Society for Radiation Oncology and American Society for Breast Diseases. He is a past President of the NY Cancer Society.

Amy N. Solan, M.D., has joined the Cancer Institute at St. Francis Hospital as Radiation Oncologist based in Garden City. Dr. Solan is a Board Certified Radiation Oncologist with clinical experience in the treatment of all tumor types. She specializes in the management of breast, lung, and gastrointestinal malignancies. Dr. Solan uses state-of-the-art technology and treatment techniques, including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), and Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI). Treatments are customized to each individual patient with a focus on optimizing cancer cure rates while minimizing side effects. Dr. Solan helped develop the St. Francis Stereotactic Radiotherapy program, which utilizes precisely focused, high-dose radiation to treat small tumors in the brain, lung, and other body sites. Dr. Solan completed her residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center and was awarded membership into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society during her medical training. She has participated in research in the areas of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and radiation physics and has several peer-reviewed publications.

Anne F. Vinokur, M.D., has joined the Cancer Institute at St. Francis Hospital as Radiation Oncologist based in Garden City. She is a board certified radiation oncologist, treating adult malignancies with special interest in breast cancer, gynecological cancers, skin cancer, lung and gastrointestinal malignancies. She graduated from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her residency in radiation oncology at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. Dr. Vinokur has been in private practice on Long Island for over 20 years. She is a member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the New York Medical Society and the New York Metropolitan Breast Cancer Group. She sat on the Board of Advisors for the Long Island Chapter of the American Cancer Society. Dr. Vinokur has presented annually at local meetings on breast and ovarian cancer.

A ‘Little Angel’ Remembers In 1957, Michael Toscano was diagnosed with rheumatic fever. He was just 4 years old. His family originally turned to another hospital for his treatment. “They experimented with cortisone but didn’t get very far,” recalls Michael. “After six months, the doctors recommended I go to St. Francis Hospital, which was known for its early involvement with rheumatic fever.” Young Michael was placed in a dormitory along with twelve other boys. He would not leave for almost five years. At the time of his eventual departure, at age nine, he was told he was St. Francis Hospital’s longest recorded case of rheumatic fever. “The nuns and doctors at St. Francis took excellent care of me,” said Michael, who is now 62 and lives in upstate New York. Beyond medical treatment, that care included schooling and catechism. There were chores to do as well, such as laundry, peeling potatoes or shucking corn. “The local farmers on Long Island would donate vegetables to us. The nuns put the stronger kids to work. We were happy to pitch in.” Asked what he remembers most, Michael, says, “I can never forget Sister Jean; she was a second mother to me. She could be stern, but her strictness was dipped in love. She would always call me her ‘little angel’.” Michael also recalls Dr. Gaspar Gulotta. “He would always give me hope, telling me not to worry; that one day I would go home and be able to play like other boys. Eventually he was right, but I was essentially bed-ridden or confined to a wheelchair until they could get my strength up. It took time, but I’m grateful I was able to avoid open heart surgery.” Young Michael was able to forgo surgery because of St. Francis Hospital’s early use of steroid therapy and antibiotics. The Hospital’s leadership in interventional therapy would eventually make open heart surgery for children a thing of the past for most rheumatic fever sufferers. “I think of Sr. Jean, Dr. Gulotta and the many others at St. Francis who helped me through my difficult childhood most every day,” reflects Michael. “They’re always in my thoughts and prayers.”

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ®

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Spring 2016

Heartbeat

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St. Francis Hospital Foundation 42nd Annual Golf Classic

Monday, June 6 The Creek Meadow Brook Club Nassau Country Club Surf & Turf Dinner at The Creek Individuals and foursomes are welcome. Golf reservations will be assigned on a first come, first served basis.

stfrancisheartcenter.com, click on “Ways to Give”

or call: (516) 705-6655