YourCare Summer 2009

IMPROVING PATIENT CARE
Good Sleep,Good Health
or Harry Britt, staying awake is tantamount to staying alive. That’s
because the fifty-something warehouse manager and truck driver spends
most of his workday behind the wheel, navigating the highways and
byways of upstate New York.
From one delivery stop to the next, Britt needs to stay alert and focused,
never knowing who or what may be around the bend. “Coffee was my best
friend,” says Harry, looking back on the years when he relied heavily on caffeine
to overcome drowsiness.
Those java jumpstarts are long gone. Several years ago, Harry was diagnosed
with and has been treated for apnea, a common sleep disorder.
F
Excellence in Cardiac Care
C
rouse Hospital has received the
American Heart Association’s Get With
The Guidelines — Coronary Artery Disease Gold
Performance Achievement Award. The award
recognizes Crouse’s commitment and success in
implementing a higher standard of cardiac care
that effectively improves treatment of patients
hospitalized with coronary artery disease.
Under the program, cardiac patients are
started on aggressive risk reduction therapies
in the hospital, such as cholesterol-lowering
drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers.
They also receive smoking cessation/weight
management counseling and referrals for
cardiac rehabilitation before being discharged.
“Crouse is the only Syracuse
hospital to be recognized with
this designation.”
A hospital that receives the Gold Performance Achievement Award has demonstrated
for 24 consecutive months that at least 85
percent of its eligible coronary patients are
discharged following the AHA’s recommended
treatment guidelines.
Crouse is the only Syracuse hospital to be
recognized with this designation and will be
included in an upcoming advertisement placed
by the AHA in U.S. News & World Report that
commends select hospitals for meeting its
cardiac performance improvement standards.
OUR MISSION
To provide the best
in patient care
and to promote
community health.
2
YOURCARE SUMMER 2009
“Long-term undiagnosed sleep problems can
have serious consequences.”
— STEPHAN ALKINS, MD
Snoring’s No Joke
“Now that I finally get a good night’s rest, I wish I’d listened to my wife sooner,”
he says. “She begged me to go in for testing, but I just wouldn’t do it.” Harry’s wife,
Sue Britt, is a nurse and recognized the classic symptoms of sleep apnea: loud and
intense snoring and irregular patterns of respiration. She also knew that while snoring
is widely joked about, it’s no laughing matter.
“Long-term undiagnosed sleep problems can have serious consequences,” says
Stephan Alkins, MD, medical director of the Sleep Center at Crouse Hospital, who is
board certified in pulmonary disease and sleep medicine. “Untreated sleep disorders
have been linked to hypertension, heart disease, stroke, depression, diabetes and
other chronic diseases.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, 50 to 70 million Americans are
affected by some 88 documented chronic and intermittent sleep problems that can
significantly diminish health and safety. Complicating the situation: most people
overlook sleep issues, as Harry did for so long. While we know to visit a healthcare
provider when we’re in physical distress, the signs of a sleep disorder can be a bit
more elusive and hard to pinpoint.
Can’t Sleep?
So how do you know if you have a
sleep disorder? Sleep problems can take
many forms and can involve too little,
too much or inadequate quality of sleep.
Each problem has its own set of symptoms and treatments. The most common
sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep
apnea and restless legs syndrome, with
indicators running from mild to severe.
If you suspect you may have
a sleeping problem, consult first
with your primary care physician.
He or she can best determine if a sleep
Stephan Alkins, MD, right, and David Wolfe,
review a patient's sleep study at the new
state-of-the-art Crouse Sleep Center.
Tips for
Getting
Enough Sleep
Sleep only when sleepy.
If you can’t fall asleep within
20 minutes, get up, leave your
bedroom and do something.
Don’t take naps.
Get up and go to bed at the same
time every day, even on weekends.
Refrain from exercise at least four
hours before bedtime.
For much of their 32-year marriage, Harry’s snoring kept Sue awake. Pictured in the
Crouse Sleep Center, the Onondaga Hill couple now sleeps soundly thanks to his
diagnosis and treatment for apnea.
study is necessary. According to David Wolfe, MSEd, RRT, supervisor of the hospital’s
Neurophysiology and Sleep Services, once a sleep problem is brought to a doctor’s
attention, diagnosis and treatment usually fall into place.
If your problem requires testing at the Crouse Sleep Center, diagnosis starts with
an interview with a staff physician, who, based on his or her findings, may recommend
that you spend one or two nights, and possibly a day, at the center.
Crouse recently opened an expanded, state-of-the-art facility staffed by licensed
respiratory therapists (polysomnographic technologists) and physicians well versed in
the latest developments in sleep-wake disorders. The six-bed Crouse Sleep Center is
fully accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Stay away from caffeine, nicotine
and alcohol at least four to six
hours before bedtime.
Take a hot bath 90 minutes
before bedtime.
Make sure your bed and bedroom
are quiet and comfortable.
Avoid eating too much or too little.
If working different shifts,
try the following suggestions
Aim for one block of seven to eight
hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Be Our Guest
Unplug the telephone.
Guests — our patients — stay in private, home-like rooms with private baths,
reclining chairs, free cable television and wireless Internet access. Free parking with
valet service and a complimentary continental breakfast are also part of the amenities.
During your visit, sophisticated equipment monitors your sleep patterns and vital signs,
such as breathing, heart and brain activity, blood oxygen level and body movements.
The procedure is not painful and should not interfere with your sleep.
Treatment of sleep disorders is individualized to each patient. Those with apnea
are assisted during sleep by a machine that provides continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP). Other sleep problems can be treated with medicine, surgery or the simple
improvement of sleep hygiene.
Dr. Alkins says that good sleep is not a luxury. “Good sleep is absolutely vital to
overall physical and emotional health, as important as proper diet and exercise. If you
don’t sleep well, you owe it to yourself to discover why.”
Use some kind of “white noise”
such as a fan to block other sounds.
Make sure the room is dark. Light
can prevent a person from reaching
the deepest stages of sleep.
Try to maintain a schedule of three
meals a day on any shift.
How to make an appointment
at the Crouse Sleep Center
A referral from your physician
is required. For more information
call 315/470-7440.
Happy Camper
Harry Britt knows first-hand the wisdom of Dr. Alkins’ advice. “I now get a sound
sleep each night and stay awake all day. I won’t go a night without my CPAP because
it makes such a difference in how I sleep and how I feel the next day,” says Harry, who
even takes the small device with him on camping trips.
“Being treated has made a huge impact on the quality of our lives,” concurs Sue.
“Harry gets better sleep, I don’t stay awake listening to his snoring and I have peace of mind
when he’s out on the road, knowing he’s better rested when he gets behind the wheel.”
CROUSE.ORG
3
IMPROVING PATIENT CARE
Planning for a Successful Surgical Outcome
Dennis Brown, MD, has been
a general surgeon at Crouse
Hospital for 35 years. In 2008,
he was named Senior Surgical
Quality Director to lead the
hospital’s efforts to enhance
surgical outcomes for patients.
re you or a family member facing
surgery? Have you ever wondered
what you would do if you needed
surgery? Most operations are not emergencies and are considered elective surgery.
According to general surgeon Dennis
Brown, MD, some simple tips and information can help you and your physician
achieve a successful surgical outcome.
A
“As a patient, you are the center
of your healthcare team.”
— DENNIS BROWN, MD
Physician Discussion
Before Surgery
• What is the name of the operation?
• What’s going to happen? What are
the expected results?
• Are there any alternative treatments?
• What are the benefits? What are
the risks?
• What will be done to manage your
pain after the operation?
• What type of anesthesia will
you receive?
• What type of safety procedures are
in place at the hospital?
After Surgery
• How long will you be in the hospital?
• How much help will you need when
you go home?
• What is the expected recovery time?
“It starts with asking some simple but
important questions,” says Dr. Brown.
“As a patient, you are the center of
your healthcare team. Don’t ever be shy
about asking your doctor to explain a
procedure that you don’t understand or
to provide more information if you’re
still unclear about something.”
Dr. Brown adds that just as your
physician has a responsibility to provide
information about your procedure, you
as a patient also have responsibilities.
“Surgery goes two ways,” says Dr. Brown.
“We ask that patients help us ensure the
best possible outcome by being as prepared
as possible, and by doing some simple
things like keeping a list of medications
they’re taking.”
• How long will it take until you’ll be
able to resume full activities of daily
life (including getting back to work)?
Financial Questions
• What does the operation cost?
• Are there any anticipated costs not
covered by insurance?
STOP SMOKING! Many post-operative
complications can be prevented when
lungs function normally. Your healthcare team will ask you to breathe
deeply and cough after your operation.
You’ll be able to do this easier and
more effectively if you don’t smoke.
A Note About HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance
is a very important part of surgical care.
Patients must specify the individual(s)
they wish to have their personal healthcare information released to. This information can include biopsy results,
reports and surgical findings. Hospital
staff cannot — and will not — release
any patient information to another
individual unless that person has been
designated by the patient and is listed
on the patient’s HIPAA consent form.
Your Healthcare Team’s
Responsibilities
Answer your questions promptly.
Medications
Write down a list of all your medications.
This should include medication name,
dose and how often you take it. Be sure
to include all medications ordered
by your physician(s), over-the-counter
medications and herbal preparations.
For most people with diabetes,
the recommendations state
your blood sugar should be in
the range of 70-130 before
meals and never any higher
than 180, even after you’ve
YOURCARE SUMMER 2009
Smoking
Patient Responsibilities
Diabetes
4
eaten. Your surgery may be cancelled if
your readings are outside these ranges.
Teach you to cough and
breathe deeply.
Help you get out of bed to
prevent complications.
Give you medication (Heparin,
Arixtra, Lovenox) to prevent
blood clots.
Monitor and manage your
blood glucose.
Monitor and manage your pain.
Coordinate your discharge from
the hospital.
Crouse Hospital Welcomes Congressman Maffei
Benefiting Cardiac Care
A
recent gift by Robert and Diane Miron
has allowed Crouse Hospital’s Cardiac
Care Center to update a vital piece of
equipment. As a way to recognize the work
of Medical Director Joseph Battaglia, MD,
and the Cardiac Care Center’s staff, the
Mirons helped purchase a new intravascular
ultrasound system, allowing the hospital to
replace an older system that was nearing
the end of its useful life.
For decades, the only way of directly
viewing a patient’s coronary arteries was
through angiography. A coronary angiogram
(coronary catheterization) provides a shadow
view of the coronary arteries, which serve
the dual purpose of diagnosis and treatment.
The continuous fluoroscopic TV image allows
the interventional cardiologist to monitor
the various wires, balloons and stents as they
are advanced to open blockages.
“This has very positive
implications for the treatment
of cardiac patients.”
— JOSEPH BATTAGLIA, MD
Intravascular ultrasound has taken that
procedure to the next level. A tiny ultrasound
transducer, or camera, is threaded into the
coronary arteries to give a valuable crosssectional view from the inside out, showing
the physician where the normal artery wall
ends and the plaque begins.
“This has very positive implications for
the treatment of patients, from determining
whether to do an angioplasty to ensuring
that a stent is sized correctly and optimally
placed,” says Dr. Battaglia.
u.s.
Congressman Dan Maffei recently visited Crouse Hospital to
express his support for federal funding of healthcare information
technology, which figures prominently in President Obama’s budget and
stimulus plan. Hospital President and CEO Paul Kronenberg, MD, (middle)
and Congressman Maffei (left) toured the hospital’s cardiac care unit, where
Crouse cardiologists Joseph Battaglia, MD, and James Longo, MD, (right)
demonstrated CareExpress, the hospital’s web-based patient information
portal for physicians.
During a second, more recent visit, the congressman toured the
Emergency Department and held a press conference attended by Crouse
staff, 1199 SEIU leadership and members of several local community
organizations. To see Congressman Maffei at Crouse and for other
hospital news coverage, visit youtube.com/crouseh.
Welcome!
Crouse Hospital welcomes the following physicians to our medical staff:
Medical Imaging
Ronald Alberico, MD
Daniel Cannucciari, MD
Nicholas D’Ambrosio, MD
Jannell Diaz-Horsley, MD
Susan Amy Klein, MD
Steven Leverich, MD
John Loh, MD
Glenn Palmer, MD
Michael Tersegno, MD
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Hugh Forbes, MD
Psychiatry
Hector Biaggi, MD
Ophthalmology
Anthony DeVincentis, MD
Evis Petrela, MD
Nicholas Uzcategui, MD
Surgery
Jiri Bem, MD
George Der Mesropian, MD
Orthopedics
William Lavelle, MD
Stephanie Schmidt, DPM
Edward Wadie, DPM
Medicine
Reshma Kerkar, MD
Atef Mikhael, MD
Otolaryngology
Nicole Anzalone, AuD
Neurosurgery
Eric Deshaies, MD
Zulma Tovar-Spinoza, MD
Pediatrics
Boura’a Bou Aram, MD
Amy Difabio, MD
Karol Kerr, MD
Urology
Adonis Hijaz, MD
Imad Nsouli, MD
Oleg Shapiro, MD
CROUSE.ORG
5
SENIOR CENTERED CARE
Managing Meds
Key to Senior Health
by Cindy Nigolian, RN, MS, CS
Gerontology Clinical Nurse Manager for Senior Services
rugs are powerful tools designed to improve our
health. Yet used by older adults, they can be both
a blessing and a curse.
Aging increases the risk of adverse drug events related to
changes in the way the body breaks down, distributes, stores
and utilizes drugs. Additionally, adults over 65 are prescribed
the highest proportion of medications in relation to the percentage of the population.
Because drugs remain the mainstay of treatment for many
existing acute and chronic conditions, seniors typically take an
average of five prescription and four non-prescription medications daily. They are also prescribed an additional 14 other
drugs annually.
D
Medication Confusion
MEDICATION SAFETY TIPS
Write down questions before you go to the
doctor’s office.
If memory is an issue, bring someone with you to
doctor’s visits.
Keep an updated record of medical history and
medications. Include over-the-counter medications
or herbal supplements you’re taking.
Do not crush pills or open capsules without
consulting a pharmacist.
Use pill boxes or other means of organizing
and tracking medication adherence.
Keep a journal to track how you
feel after taking medications,
particularly new medications.
Keep a journal to track your eating
habits, including coffee, tea and
alcohol. This can make a difference in
how your body reacts to medications.
6
YOURCARE SUMMER 2009
Older adults are more likely to have multiple prescribers
and experience varied transitions through admissions and
discharges from healthcare settings, where previously prescribed medications are discontinued and new medications
“Aging can contribute to the inability to
safely self-manage medications.”
are added. Seniors often utilize multiple pharmacies or borrow
or ‘share’ drugs with friends and families. Aging, with its often
accompanying vision and memory impairments, can contribute
to the inability to safely self-manage medications.
Studies demonstrate that all of these facts place older
adults at the highest risk for adverse effects from medications.
Minimizing these effects, while optimizing management of
disease, takes a unique knowledge of drug response in older
adults and an insight into an individual’s ability to comply
safely with a medical regimen.
Working Together to Avoid Errors
This requires a team approach. Your physician, pharmacist
and, perhaps, a transitions or home care nurse can be critical
to preventing medication errors and poor compliance.
Avoiding adverse effects requires all involved with the
prescribing and taking of medications to be informed and
communicate clearly. The unique needs of some older adults
require special considerations and insight when managing
medications, keeping them as an intended blessing and not
an inadvertent curse.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
Helping Patients
With Sensory Loss
rouse Hospital and Aurora of
Central New York have a long
history of collaboration, including the interpreters Aurora provides
through a contract with the hospital.
The relationship has expanded as a result
of a grant to the two organizations from
the Community Health Foundation of
Western-Central New York.
Aurora has begun working with
the hospital’s Senior Centered Care
service to focus on improving care for
senior patients with hearing or visual
impairments. The partnership began
with an onsite analysis at the hospital
to determine how we accommodate
the needs of these individuals. Next,
professionals with expertise in vision
and hearing rehabilitation will develop
a curriculum to educate hospital staff.
Finally, an overall approach will be
C
Make a Date
With Healthy Aging
T
he 2009-2010 senior living
calendar produced by Crouse
Hospital’s Senior Centered Care service
is more than just days and weeks
on a page. The colorful publication
provides tracking for medications
and healthcare visits, as well as
informative — possibly life-saving —
tips for healthy aging. To obtain a copy,
call the hospital’s Communications
Department at 315/470-7701.
developed that can be shared with
other healthcare facilities.
“A patient’s inability to participate
in his or her care can lead to erroneous
diagnoses or transitions which can have
a negative impact on follow-up care,”
says Christy Bond, MS, FACHE, director
of Senior Centered Care. “This grant
has the potential to help us greatly
improve the quality of care we provide
to sensory-impaired seniors.”
Highlighting Team Excellence
T
he 19th-century author Henry James once wrote, “Three
things in human life are important. The first is to be kind.
The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind.” This philosophy
is embodied by the way Marie Hinds approaches her job at Crouse
Hospital. The Nutritional Services staff member was honored recently
with the 2009 Joan Fernbach Kingson Award because of the many
kindnesses she extends each day to patients and co-workers.
2009 Kingson Award winner Marie Hinds is congratulated by Syracuse
University Professor Eric Kingson (right) and Crouse Hospital President
and CEO Paul Kronenberg, MD, at a recent reception in her honor.
The annual $500 cash award, now in its fifth year, is made
possible by the family and friends of former Crouse patient Joan
Fernbach Kingson, a nurse and educator who died in 2001.
Service or technical workers are nominated by their peers and
then selected by a committee for their involvement in the patient
care process that gives vivid expression to the values of care that
Kingson was committed to in her work with children and families.
Those values include treating each patient as an individual;
respecting the social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and physical
needs of others; and welcoming families into the caring process.
CROUSE.ORG
7
Wellness Update
The rate of new cases of diabetes in the U.S. nearly doubled during
the past decade, the Centers for Disease Control reported recently. The problem is greatest in Southern states, which also have the highest rates of obesity
— a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes (90 to 95% of all cases in this country
are Type 2, formerly called “adult onset”). Moreover,
while about 25 million Americans have diabetes, about
54 million — that is one in four adults — have prediabetes, characterized by mildly elevated blood sugar.
Most people who have diabetes know it, but one-sixth
of those with pre-diabetes are unaware of it, according
to another recent CDC report.
To lessen eye strain when working at the computer, keep the monitor
at arm’s distance, with the top at eye level so that you look slightly down at the
screen. Limit glare by positioning your lamp so it does not
reflect in the screen, dimming overhead lights and closing
blinds. Enlarge print size on the screen, as needed. If you
wear glasses, have the prescription checked regularly —
you may need a special pair for computer work. Don’t forget
to blink often (computer work usually slows blinking) and
take frequent breaks. Artificial tears can be soothing.
If you’re 65 or older, here’s another reason to get the pneumococcal
(pneumonia) vaccine: It may help prevent a heart attack. According to
the Canadian Medical Association Journal, a recent study of people at high
coronary risk found that those who had gotten the vaccine at least a year earlier
were less likely to have a heart attack than their unvaccinated counterparts. Of
course, vaccinated people may be more health conscious,
and that may help explain the apparent benefit. But it is
well known that pneumonia can trigger a heart attack,
and the vaccine may also reduce the risk in other ways,
the researchers noted. Younger people with chronic
disorders (such as lung or heart disease, cancer and
diabetes) should also get the shot.
If you have osteoarthritis of the knee, do strength training, especially for
your quadriceps, the muscles in front of the thighs, which help stabilize the knee
cap and protect against cartilage loss under it. Such exercises can reduce pain
and improve mobility in people with arthritis of the knee,
according to a new review of 18 studies, which used free
weights, resistance machines, and/or elastic bands. People
with knee arthritis typically have weak quadriceps. The
muscles may weaken because arthritis pain discourages
people from exercising, but research suggests that weak
muscles around the knees may actually contribute to arthritis.
Reprinted with permission from the University of California, Berkeley Wellness
Letter. Visit wellnessletter.com for more information. This information is not
intended to replace the advice and care of your physician.
8
YOURCARE SUMMER 2009
N
E
W
S
Tribute
Evening 2009
O
n Sept. 25,
Mary-Pat
Donaldson Northrup
will be recognized for
her dedicated leadership to Crouse and the Central New York
community at Crouse Health Foundation’s
33rd annual Tribute Evening black-tie gala.
The event will feature an extended reception,
gourmet dinner, coffee bar, tribute presentation
and entertainment by Grammy-winning
musician Bruce Hornsby.
For information about tickets, patron
opportunities or program ads, contact
Phyllis Devlin at the Foundation office at
315/470-7008 or phyllisdevlin@crouse.org.
Tickets for Charity
F
or the third consecutive year, the Crouse
Health Foundation has been invited to
be a participating charity in the Turning Stone
Resort Championship, an official PGA TOUR®
event Sept. 28 - Oct. 4 at the Atunyote Golf
Course. The Upstate New York Empowerment
Fund and the Oneida Indian Nation are offering a fundraising opportunity linked to the
golf championship. The
“Tickets for Charity”
program allows you
to purchase tickets
from the Crouse
Health Foundation,
with 100 percent
of the face value
donated back to
Crouse. The Foundation
is selling tickets to the event through Sept. 11.
Contact David Lawrence at 315/470-7469 or
davidlawrence@crouse.org for details.
with Scott Treatman, DO, MPH
TOPIC: STRESS
N
early a third of U.S. adults report "extreme stress" in a recent survey by the American
Psychological Association. A national poll by the National Sleep Foundation earlier
this year revealed that 27 percent of all Americans are unable to get a good’s night sleep,
due to worry about the economy, their jobs or money. Even in the best of times, we can
feel stressed by the normal demands of everyday life.
Is stress really on the rise?
I observe more and more people who say they
are stressed. I attribute this to technology’s impact
on our lives. We can watch news on TV and the
Internet around the clock. We chat and answer
emails and ‘tweet’ at all hours of the day and
night. Everything today is “urgent,” just because
technology allows it. All this also helps blur the
lines between work time and personal time.
What else contributes to high stress levels?
We’re bombarded by advertising that creates
needs out of wants. We’re a “gotta” society:
gotta have it, gotta do it — now. When we
can’t have or do it all, we’re never happy or
satisfied. We also tend to see everything in
this high-speed, high-tech world as a catastrophe: the overnight catalog order didn’t arrive
overnight, the mega-grocery store was out of
the take-out meal du jour. When we “catastrophize” trivial issues, when we fail to see
the bigger picture of what’s really important
in life, we manufacture stress.
How can we de-stress?
Being in nature is calming. Watching a
comedy is stress-relieving. Exercise and
proper diet provide great benefits. We need
to ask if we’re self-medicating with junk
food, alcohol, drugs or tobacco to relieve
stress. Learning acceptance, tolerance,
patience and letting go allows us to
embrace some of the difficult situations
in our lives and dissipates stress.
Can’t we just eliminate stress altogether?
Stress is an inevitable part of life. What we
can do is learn how to relate to stressful
circumstances in ways that result in less
suffering. The best way to do that is to stay
focused on the task at hand. We can also
learn how to let go of our expectations
of how we want things to be and accept
how things really are. We can learn breath
awareness, relaxation responses and use
guided meditation to help us relax and
cope with the stressors we face.
Scott Treatman, DO, MPH,
board certified in family practice
and occupational medicine, is
the Director of Employee Health
Services at Crouse Hospital.
MINDFUL LIVING
& STRESS REDUCTION
COURSE
Starts Wednesday, Sept. 9
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Marley Education Center
765 Irving Ave., Syracuse
This eight-week course helps
people learn how to manage
stress and reduce anxiety.
For more information,
call 315/655-3066 or email
integrativemed@crouse.org.
Celebrating a Quarter Century of Service
rouse Hospital's HelpPeople just celebrated its
COnondaga,
25th anniversary of helping employees from across
Oswego and Cayuga counties. HelpPeople,
the oldest and largest locally-focused employee
assistance program, services more than 100 area
companies — large and small — covering more
than 32,000 employees and their family members.
The program also provides national coverage for local
employers like Sensis, C&S Engineers, Beacon Federal,
O’Brien & Gere and Bond, Schoeneck and King, all of
which have employees located throughout the United
States. Are you able to take advantage
of HelpPeople’s services? Contact your
employer or call 315/470-7447.
CROUSE.ORG
9
LIVING OUR VALUES
Community Members Pay Tribute to Crouse Team
rouse Hospital recently held its annual employee recognition picnic, where
C
employees were treated to a picnic lunch served by hospital leadership,
board members, elected officials and members of the media.
Assemblywoman
Joan Christensen
Serving it up ar
e Crouse Hospi
tal C
r
M
e
D, 93Q’s Amy
if
n
n
Je
’s
Robbins and Se EO Paul Kronenberg,
9
nnel
nator John DeF
Newscha h Onondaga
rancisco
it
Lewke w trict Attorney
is
County D trick
a
p
z
it
F
l
il
B
ber
oard mem
Hospital b was on
k
Jim Carric detail
n
a
e
b
baked
l Stirpe
Assemblyman A
Newschan
n
Dan Cum el 9’s
mings
Senator Da
ve
with Juli Bo Valesky
eheim
ne Mahar
News Team — Way
The WSTM Action
and Jackie Robinson
(left), Matt Mulcahy
Community Service Report Available
rouse Hospital’s 2008
C
Community Service Report
documents the hospital’s commitment to meeting the healthcare
needs of the community over the
past year. It includes information
on hospital highlights, access
to care for the underserved,
community partnerships and the
provision of free or reduced
charge services.
In 2008, Crouse provided $16,297,279 in charity and uncompensated care
to the Central New York community. The report comes in the form of a calendar,
featuring artwork from Syracuse City School District students. To obtain a
copy, call the hospital’s Communications Department at 315/470-7701.
10
YOURCARE SUMMER 2009
n
blyma
Assem gnarelli
a
Bill M
Cheering Up Patients
with Children’s Artwork
N
ext time you’re in our gift shop, take note of
a variety of greeting cards designed by area
first-grade students who’ve attended the hospital’s
Visit-to-Hospital-Land program. The
idea for the cards came from the
Crouse Hospital Auxiliary, which
underwrites this free community
service
program,
now in its
33rd year.
Crouse Delivers Diversity
rouse Hospital is a proud corpoC
rate supporter of the Duck Race
to End Racism, a family-friendly
event that has a profound impact
on our community. Proceeds benefit
Community-Wide Dialogue Against
Racism, a program of InterFaith Works.
At the 7th annual race in early June,
Crouse’s entry, “Momma Crouse and
Her Diverse Duckies,” was selected
as “The Duck That Best Represents
Racial Equity.” Meticulously decorated
on their own time by Dorcas Rodriguez
and Debra Brown, employees in
Crouse employees Debra Brown (left) and Dorcas
the hospital’s Health Information
Rodriguez proudly hold their winning entry,
Management department, Momma
Momma Crouse and Her Diverse Duckies.
Crouse tied
into the event’s theme, since 60 percent of all births in
Onondaga County occur at Crouse Hospital. Here,
doctors and staff are privileged to deliver babies
from all races and creeds, one diverse boy and girl
at a time. Our employees also provide care using
the “Momma Test,” treating patients the way they’d
want their own mother to be treated.
What’s Happening:
Health & Wellness Calendar
MATERNITY & FAMILY EDUCATION
Call 315/470-5716 for details
on these classes:
5-week Childbirth Preparation Seminar:
(6/18, 7/13, 7/18, 7/30, 8/19, 9/14
start dates)
7/10-11, 8/7-8, 9/11-12: Weekend
Childbirth Preparation Seminar
7/7, 8/11, 9/15: Breastfeeding Class
7/21, 9/8: Babycare Class
7/9, 9/10: Sibling at Birth Class
8/15 (9 a.m. - noon), 11/16 (6 - 9 p.m.):
Pregnancy and Labor Massage
7/23, 8/27, 9/17: Family Birth Orientation Class
9/19, 9/26: Infant Massage
8/4: Multiples Class
9/29: CPR
10/3: Big Brother, Big Sister
Tours of Kienzle Family Maternity Center
July: 7, 14, 19, 21, 28
August: 4, 11, 16, 18, 25
September: 1, 15, 20, 22
Tuesday Tours: 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Sunday Tours: 2 - 3:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY HEALTH SEMINARS
10/20; 11/10: Integrative Medicine
Educational Seminars, 6:30 p.m. Marley
Education Center. Call 315/472-2464
to pre-register.
New York State’s first lady, Michelle Paige Paterson (far left) is joined by (left to right)
Crouse employees Shelyta Davis, Desiree Odom, Gemma Lawrence Atkins and
Emma Owens Richardson, from the Onondaga County Cancer Services Program.
Promoting Community Health
rouse staff carried out the hospital's mission of promoting community health by
C
providing blood pressure checks and stroke risk assessments to nearly 150 people
in downtown Syracuse who were celebrating Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated
commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Crouse participated as
a member of the first-ever Dr. Henry Washington Health Pavilion, organized by the
Syracuse Area Black Nurses Association. The pavilion ribbon-cutting ceremony featured
New York State’s first lady, Michelle Paige Paterson, a Syracuse University alum, who
remembered Crouse as “the hospital on the hill.”
COMMUNITY HEALTH EVENTS
7/21: Assemblyman Al Stirpe’s 3rd Annual
Lifesavers Party and Health Fair, 12 - 7 p.m.
Drivers Village, 5885 East Circle Drive,
Cicero. Donate blood, stroke risk assessments,
health information, entertainment.
8/11 (11a.m. - 5 p.m.), 8/12 (7a.m. - 1 p.m.)
Crouse Blood Drive: Crouse Hospital,
736 Irving Ave. Call 470-7123 for appointment.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Ostomy Support Group, 6:30 p.m., second
Tuesday of each month. Call 315/470-7300.
RTS Perinatal Loss Parent Support Group,
7 p.m., second Thursday of each month
Call 315/470-2768.
CROUSE.ORG
11
736 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Syracuse, NY
Permit #460
YourCare is a publication of Crouse Hospital’s Communications
Department. Please call 315/470-7582 with your comments or questions.
The information in this publication is not intended for the purpose
of personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly
from a physician. YourCare may not be reproduced without written
authorization from Crouse Hospital’s Communications Department,
736 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210.
©2009 All rights reserved.
CROUSE IN THE COMMUNITY
Teaching Wellness at Meachem School
M
eachem School held its third annual Wellness Day Celebration earlier this year. The
school’s Health/Wellness and Character Education committees wanted to provide
students with opportunities to engage in activities that encourage healthy eating, emotional
wellness and promote physical activity. Nearly 450 students in pre-K through grade five
participated in the activities. Crouse Hospital, as part of its ongoing partnership with the
Syracuse City School District, provided students information about eating well and staying fit.
NOW
OPEN –OVERNIGHT
GUESTS
WELCOME!
The Secret to
a Good Night’s Sleep
M
ore than 40 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder.
If you’re one of them, the experts at the new Sleep Center at Crouse
Hospital can help. Our team of registered and board-certified professionals is
dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from insomnia,
sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and problems with daytime alertness.
To learn how you can get a good night’s sleep
call 315/470-7440.
We’re All About Sleeping
Which is why we offer guests – our
patients – a comfortable overnight stay
in our brand new center, including:
• Private home-like rooms with private
baths and flat panel TV
• Free parking with valet service
• Complimentary continental breakfast
• Internet access
CROUSE SLEEP CENTER
736 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY