ncy iac Care. - Crouse Hospital

YourCare
2013/I s s u e 2
A PUBLICATION FOR THE COMMUNITY FROM CROUSE HOSPITAL
Crouse Institute
for Robotic
Surgery
ALSO:
At Your Request In-Room Dining
New Patient Tracking Technology
Crouse Moms Treated to Midwifery Service
Naming Gift
Benefits Cardiac Care
Celebrating the Rich
History of Crouse
I
n June the Onondaga Historical Association
presented its OHA Medal, which has been
awarded just 20 times since its inception in 1945.
The Medal is OHA’s highest recognition to individuals, organizations and businesses that have made
important contributions to the preservation, study
and interpretation of Onondaga County history.
A recipient of this honor was Crouse Hospital
Library Manager and Archivist Kristine Delaney for her
work over many years of documenting and preserving
the hospital’s 126-year history and that of our College
of Nursing, celebrating its centennial this year.
“It is significant to know that these histories are
well cared for, thanks in no small way to Kristine’s
hard work,” said Gregg Tripoli, OHA’s executive
director. In 2007, Kris collaborated with OHA
on Crouse’s 120th anniversary, along with an
accompanying booklet and video.
Crouse is proud to serve as the host site
for OHA’s 17th annual Glorious Workplaces
Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 9. Tours begin at
5 p.m., with dinner at seven. For information
and tickets, call the OHA at 315/428-1864,
ext. 312.
Bob Miron, Joseph Battaglia, MD, Diane Miron and Paul Kronenberg, MD (left to right).
C
rouse Hospital’s Cardiac Care
The Miron’s financial support
Center was named recently in
will allow the hospital to replace one of
honor of Central New York
its three catheterization labs; purchase
couple Diane and Bob Miron, who
new ultrasound equipment for the
have donated a significant gift to the
echocardiography suite; and establish
Crouse Health
fund
“We made this gift so an endowment
Foundation to
to support
benefit cardiac others may be saved through future needs.
care at Crouse now the work of this amazing “Diane and I
cardiac care team.” have made this gift
and in the future.
— Bob Miron
“We celebrate a new name — the
so the lives of
Diane and Bob Miron Cardiac Care
others may be saved and improved
Center — and a new era for cardiac
through the work of this amazing
care at Crouse Hospital,” said CEO
cardiac team,” said Bob.
Paul Kronenberg, MD. “None of this
would have been possible without the
The Diane and Bob Miron
vision, caring and generous spirit of
Cardiac Care Center at
these two very special Crouse friends.”
Crouse Hospital
The Miron’s gift was made with
much appreciation for Crouse that
ore than 36,000 interventional and
began over a decade ago. When Bob
diagnostic heart care services for patients
began having heart problems, it was
of all ages take place at Crouse Hospital each
the start of an evolving relationship
year. Crouse was the first hospital in New York
with Joseph Battaglia, MD, medical
State to earn dual chest pain and heart failure
director of the center and partner in
accreditation and is home to the region’s only
Cardiology, PC.
pediatric cardiac catheterization program.
“Each time I needed access to
For more information about
cardiac services at Crouse, we’ve been
cardiac care at Crouse,
impressed by the skill, treatment and
visit crouse.org/
teamwork of the physicians, nurses,
cardiac
technicians and staff,” said Bob.
M
2
YourCare
Patients Enjoy
In-Room Dining Service
fit within their physicians’ instructions.
Once the order is placed, kitchen
team members access the order and,
in assembly-line fashion, build a tray
for the patient step-by-step until
it’s complete.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. D’Amico…
How may I help you?”
“Good afternoon… I’d like the
Chicken Stir Fry with Vegetables,
a fruit cup, a carton of 1% milk
and a cup of decaf coffee.”
“That sounds delicious! Your order
will arrive in 30 to 45 minutes.”
T
“The menu is gorgeous,
food selection extensive,
meals tasty and the service
fast and courteous.”
his exchange may sound like
a hotel guest ordering room
service. While she had requested
lunch to be delivered, Sara D’Amico’s
actually a new mom who gave birth
to her first baby the day before at
Crouse Hospital.
Sara and other patients are enjoying a new service that allows them
to order meals and snacks from an
extensive restaurant-style menu. At
Your Request – Room Service Dining
was developed by Sodexo, a leading
food management company that
oversees the Crouse nutritional
services operation.
“At Your Request was amazing,”
said Sara. “The menu is gorgeous,
food selection extensive, meals tasty
and the service fast and courteous.”
That’s just what we like to hear, since
enhancing the patient experience is
one of Crouse’s most important
strategic initiatives.
From 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.,
patients can phone the At Your
Request call center with orders.
Patients’ dietary information is checked
via computer, ensuring items requested
Crouse Supports National
Health Campaign
While patients have been giving
the new hospital in-room dining experience five stars, families appreciate
At Your Request as well. If a loved
one is unable to order on their own
for any reason, a family member may
call from in or outside the hospital to
place an order on the patient’s behalf.
For more information about Room Service Dining
at Crouse, visit crouse.org/atyourrequest
— Sara D’Amico
“Our goal is to deliver each
meal within 45 minutes of a patient’s
call,” says Alec Neider, director of
Nutritional Services. “Since launching
in July, we’ve been averaging 30 minutes from time of request.”
Greg Brown delivers lunch
to Sara D’Amico.
H
ealthy Monday is a national initiative to help end chronic preventable diseases by offering weekly prompts
to support people in starting and sustaining healthy behaviors. One of the initiatives is Meatless Monday,
which encourages eating meatless meals at least one day each week. Crouse Hospital’s Clock Tower Café is
proud to partner with Syracuse University’s Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion on this public health initiative.
Healthy Monday was founded in 2005 in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and
Public Affairs. Sodexo, Crouse’s food management partner, was one of the first major coporate supporters of
Meatless Monday.
crouse.org
3
The Crouse Institute for Robotic Surgery
Most Advanced Tools. Most Trusted
F
Robotic Fast Facts
The da Vinci surgical system benefits
patients through potential shorter hospital
stays, less blood loss, minimal scarring
and faster recovery times.
Crouse Hospital’s robotic surgery program
is the largest in the region, with more than
600 procedures performed in 2012.
In the five years since robotic surgery at
Crouse has been offered, more than 1,000
GYN procedures have been performed.
David Albala, MD, Crouse’s chief of urology,
is the former director of the Center of
Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urological
Surgery at Duke University Medical Center.
Crouse is a designated national training
site for colorectal robotic surgery (one of
only seven nationally), providing training
for surgeons from across the U.S.
“Best Hospitals 2011,” US News & World
Report: 100 percent of the top ranked
cancer, urology and gynecology hospitals
in the U.S. operate at least one da Vinci
system. Crouse Hospital has two.
crouse.org
Meet Crouse robotic surgeons and hear
their philosophies about patient care at
crouse.org/roboticvids
4
YourCare
or Chittenango resident Rita
Schmedicke, minimally invasive surgery with the da Vinci
surgical system was the clear choice
for a quick recovery and return to
her full life.
The retired elementary school
art teacher, 71, had noticed some
unusual spotting in late November
of last year. A biopsy taken by
her regular gynecologist revealed
cancerous cells. Treatment recommendation: a full hysterectomy.
“Dr. [Carla] Liberatore consulted with me on what my options
were, and then made an immediate
appointment with a surgeon who she
said had an excellent reputation.”
with traditional “open” surgical
procedures. Rita’s hysterectomy
was performed Jan. 14, and she
was home the next day.
A week later, with only Tylenol
to relieve some residual pain, she
had resumed her normal activities,
including walks with Penny, her
13-year-old Pomeranian, described
by Rita as “my lucky Penny.”
Choosing Wisely
Rita’s first meeting about her
surgery with Dr. Cunningham was
last December. “I immediately got
a sense she was very knowledgeable and highly capable,” says Rita.
“She explained things very clearly.”
Further adding to Rita’s trust
Regional Robotics Leaders
and confidence in her soon-to-be
That surgeon was Mary
surgeon was the fact that she had a
Cunningham, MD, a partner, along
friend who’d also been treated by
with Douglas Bunn, MD, in GYN
Dr. Cunningham and liked her very
Oncology of CNY. They are the
much. “I got a good feeling about
regional leaders in robotic gyneDr. Cunningham right away, which
cologic oncology
added greatly to
surgery, performing “I got a good feeling
my peace of mind.”
about Dr. Cunningham,
more than 200
She also got a
procedures a year which added greatly to good feeling about
between them.
my peace of mind.” having her procedure
Drs. Cunningham
done robotically using
— Rita Schmedicke
and Bunn launched minimally
one of two da Vinci
invasive robotic surgery at Crouse
systems in the Witting Surgical
Hospital in 2008, a multi-specialty
Center at Crouse.
program that today is the largest in
Skill Plus Technology
the area, with more than 600 proceDr. Cunningham, who has
dures performed last year alone by
performed
more than 500 robotic
seven specially trained surgeons.
surgeries since 2006, says the system’s
advanced 3D imaging capability
Experience Counts
allows the surgeon to view the
Although often referred to as a
“robot,” the da Vinci cannot operate internal area with significantly
enhanced clarity over other options.
on its own, says Dr. Cunningham.
“The robot gives us much better
The surgery is performed 100 percent
by the physician, which is why expe- vision and manipulation ability of the
instruments, which is especially critical
rience is so important.
when we’re operating around major
Surgery with da Vinci may offer
less pain, less scarring, a shorter hos- blood vessels in the pelvic and abdominal areas,” says Dr. Cunningham.
pital stay and faster recovery than
d Hands.
Excellent Nursing Care
“Knowing that she had had so
much experience with the robot and
the type of surgery I was having
was important to me. I felt I could
depend on her for a good outcome,”
says Rita, who also credits the
excellent nursing care she received
at Crouse following her procedure.
“The nurses gave me the information
I needed to monitor my recovery and
recuperation progress at home.”
Today, Rita feels great, is cancer
free and is fully enjoying her days
relaxing with Penny and family.
“I’m blessed to have had a great
outcome,” Rita says, “thanks to
great medical care at Crouse.”
Women’s Oncology
Surgeon Joins
Crouse Medical Staff
W
e’re pleased to welcome Rinki
Agarwal, MD, to Crouse Hospital.
A gynecologic oncology surgeon,
Dr. Agarwal was affiliated most recently with U.C.
Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where she
completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology
in 2012. Dr. Agarwal, who is also Assistant
Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology at Upstate Medical University, will
work closely with Crouse GYN oncology surgeons
Mary Cunningham, MD, and Douglas Bunn, MD.
Urology
David Albala, MD
Po Lam, MD
Harvey Sauer, MD
Rita Schmedicke credits the skill and expertise of Dr. Mary Cunningham for her “great outcome”
after robotic surgery at Crouse earlier this year.
Gynecology
Sargon Bebla, MD
Carla Liberatore, MD
it a l
y•
ger
Colorectal
David Nesbitt, MD
John Nicholson, MD
ic
bot Sur
o
at Cr
The Crouse Institute
for Robotic Surgery is
proudly affiliated with
the following surgeons:
• Ro
A native of India, Dr. Agarwal completed her
medical education at D.Y. Patil Medical College
in Bombay. She also completed a fellowship in
clinical genetics at Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer in New York City in 2009 and her
residency in the Department of OB/GYN at
Yale University School of Medicine in 2007.
use o sp
H
GYN Oncology
Mary Cunningham, MD
Douglas Bunn, MD
Rinki Angwal, MD
General Surgery
Brian Anderson, MD
Kenneth Cooper, DO
Jeffrey DeSimone, MD
crouse.org
5
The Crouse Institute for Robotic Surgery
Crouse First to Offer Single-Site Gallbladder Surgery
D
o you have gallstone disease? You’re not alone: About
one million Americans are diagnosed with the ailment
every year, with 800,000 operations performed annually.
Dr. Cooper is the first surgeon in Syracuse to use the
advanced da Vinci surgical system to perform gallbladder
removal using the single-site technique, which requires just
one tiny incision rather than the four previously needed.
If you’re facing gallbladder surgery, consider Crouse, the
only hospital in Syracuse currently offering a procedure called
Another benefit of the single-site approach is
single-site robotic surgery. The
cosmetic, says Dr. Cooper,
“Facing gallbladder
benefit? Virtually no scarring
since there’s only one
surgery? Today, patients at small incision in the
and minimal pain.
Crouse have a choice.”
navel, leaving a tiny,
Twenty years ago, surgery
—
Kenneth
Cooper,
DO
nearly
invisible scar.
to remove the gallbladder entailed a
large abdominal incision and several weeks’ recovery time.
Today, however, minimally invasive surgical techniques
have made open gallbladder removal nearly obsolete,
according to Kenneth Cooper, DO, a Crouse surgeon and
partner in CNY Surgical Physicians.
Five years ago, traditional laparoscopy was the
only minimally invasive surgical option for gallbladder
removal, says Dr. Cooper. “But today, patients at
Crouse have a choice.”
Kenneth Cooper, DO
Let’s Operate! Partnership with the MOST Highlights Advances in Robotic Surgery
C
rouse Hospital recently partnered with the
Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science
and Technology in Syracuse to provide a unique,
hands-on opportunity to show how surgeons are
using robotic technology to revolutionize surgery.
Our robotic surgeons and physician assistants
staffed the two-day educational event, which
broke weekend attendance records at the MOST.
6
YourCare
Surgical Patient Tracking Technology
Eases Worry, Fears of Family Members
Behind the scenes in the Witting Surgical Center, it’s “command central” as two large flat-screen monitors display the specific, real-time location of each
patient as they progress through the surgical process. This same password-protected information is available to family members.
Y
our loved one’s in surgery,
through the surgical process, status
while you’re wondering how
updates — each clearly labeled with the
he or she’s doing and when
patient’s identifying number — appear
the procedure will be done. To help
on a waiting room flat-screen monitor.
reduce the anxiety family members
“We don’t want our
experience, Crouse Hospital has
patients’ families stressed.
installed a new, high-tech patient
tracking system in its Witting Surgical
We want them to know
Center waiting area.
what’s happening.”
The GE Healthcare technology
— Jill Hauswirth, RN
provides real-time status updates as
Color-coded bubbles denote stages
patients move through the surgical
in
the
surgical process: patient is in the
process, giving a virtual view on a flatpre-operative
area (red); patient has
screen monitor in the waiting area.
arrived in the OR (blue); surgery has
Each surgical patient is assigned a
started (green); surgery has been comunique ID number given only to family
pleted and patient is in recovery (pink);
members or whomever else the patient
patient has left recovery and has been
authorizes. As the patient moves
moved to a nursing unit (orange).
Welcome New Crouse Physicians
Cardiology
Jamal Ahmed, MD
Traian Anghel, MD
Dermatology
Joseph Housel, MD
Emergency Medicine
Francine Cantor, MD
Michael Jastremski, MD
Medical Imaging
Nicholas DeMartini, MD
John Stewart, MD, PhD
Ronald Viola, MD
Medicine
Antoine Azar, MD
Adam Berg, MD
Pratik Dalal, MD
James Gregory, MD
Edward McDonald, MD
Ada Obidke, MD
Syed Ur Rehman, MD
Elizabeth Riccardi, MD
OB/GYN
Rinki Agarwal, MD
Rachana George, MD
Leah Kauffman, MD
Pediatrics
Winter Berry, DO
Susan Demartini, MD
Priyanka Kaul, MBBS
Ophthalmology
Bryant Carruth, MD
Rajeev Seth, MD
Surgery
Scott Albert, MD
Amit Goyal, MD
Theresa Ruddy, MD
Prashant Upadhyaya, MD
Orthopedics
Naven Duggal, MD
Neurology
Carmen Maria Martinez, MD Thomas Haher, MD
Francisco Vega-Bermudez, MD J. Alan Lemley, MD
Urology
Jeffrey Sekula, MD
“We know it can be stressful
not knowing where your loved one
is during surgery. We don’t want our
patients’ families stressed and worried.
We want them to know what’s happening. That’s the benefit of this new
technology,” says Jill Hauswirth, RN,
director of surgical services.
Patient status updates are entered
into the system in real time by operating room staff and are also displayed
in the OR for clinical staff to monitor.
Information desk volunteers and staff
of the hospital’s Patient and Guest
Relations department also have access
to the patient status updates.
crouse.org/patienttracking
Physicians Appointed to Board
T
wo prominent Crouse Hospital physicians have
been appointed to three-year terms on the
hospital’s board of directors: Cardiologist James
Longo, MD, (left) and Hayes Wanamaker, MD, (right) an
ear, nose and throat specialist. Dr. Longo, board certified
in internal medicine and cardiovascular
disease, serves as Medical Director for Telemetry for the
Miron Cardiac Care Center and is a partner in Cardiology,
PC. Dr. Wanamaker has served as Chief of the Department
of Otolaryngology at Crouse since 1998 and is a partner in
Ear Consultants of Central New York.
crouse.org
7
Stephen Brown, MD
Partner, CNY Women’s Healthcare
Stephen Brown, MD, a partner in CNY Women’s
Healthcare, is board certified in obstetrics and
gynecology. A graduate of St. Lawrence University,
he received his doctor of medicine degree from
Georgetown University and completed his
residency in OB/GYN at Dartmouth Medical
Center. Raised in Morrisville, he resides in
Marcellus with his wife and three children.
Q&A
Topic:
PRegnancy
& Birthing
What do like best about your job?
I enjoy sharing in the birthing experience. It’s a
true miracle.
Is it OK to exercise during pregnancy?
In most cases yes. But patients should always check first
with their doctor regarding specifics and any limitations.
How did you decide to go into
obstetrical medicine?
During medical school I was fortunate to have
outstanding mentors who helped me find the joy
within the chaos of obstetrics.
What’s considered a “healthy” amount
of weight to gain during pregnancy?
Every patient and every pregnancy is unique. The
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has
specific guidelines, but the general rule of thumb
is between 10 and 30 pounds.
What considerations should expectant moms think about when choosing
a hospital for the birth of their baby?
The most important consideration is to have a
comfortable and open relationship with your obstetrical
provider. It’s equally important to understand the level
of care and service your delivery hospital is able to
provide. This includes around-the-clock anesthesia
care, various birthing options, use of midwifery
services and level of neonatal expertise, should
these services be needed.
Why do you like working
at Crouse Hospital?
Crouse combines truly exceptional care at the highest
level in obstetrics, neonatal and anesthesia care with
onsite high-risk OB support, radiology and pediatric
specialties, including the only pediatric cardiac catheterization service in the region. Crouse also has the most
experienced OB and NICU nursing teams in Central
New York.
A recent British study suggests
moderate drinking during pregnancy
is not harmful. What’s your take
on this?
There are other studies that suggest timing of alcohol
intake during pregnancy may be a factor. However,
we cannot determine actual timing of development
in utero. Therefore, the smartest and safest
advice is to not drink alcohol at all when
you’re pregnant.
What’s the one piece of advice
you’d impart to new parents?
That’s simple: Sleep whenever possible!
What do you like to do in your
spare time?
Spend time with my family in the Adirondacks.
For more information about maternity care at Crouse, visit crouse.org/babies
8
YourCare
First Steps Childbirth
Education Classes
G
enerations of parents-to-be have learned
how to navigate pregnancy, birthing and
parenting from the family-centered experts
at Crouse Hospital. If you’re expecting, we
invite you to take a tour of our Kienzle Family
Maternity Center and enroll
in any of our regularly
scheduled classes.
Call 470-5727 or
visit crouse.org/
maternityclasses
Crouse Moms Treated
to Midwifery Service
M
eet Certified Nurse Midwife
Mary Thompson. Born in
South America and educated
in England, Mary is a medical pioneer
in Central New York, having been
among just a handful of midwives in
Syracuse during the early 1980s.
With 30-plus years delivering
babies in private practice, Mary
joined Crouse’s medical staff more
than a year ago, making her the
first midwife to be employed by the
hospital full time.
Providing Personalized Care
Mary’s role is to provide personalized attention to expectant mothers,
making them as comfortable and
cared for as possible during the birthing process. “Hospitals are associated
with illness,” says Mary, who is also a
family nurse practitioner, “but giving
birth is natural, a joyous celebration
of bringing forth life.”
MATERNITY
MONDAYS
@ Crouse
parents:
For moms, dads & grand g
isin
Ra
on
News & Tips
Newborns through Teens!
on
Featured every Monday ital
osp
Facebook.com/CrouseH
Midwives are trained to recognize
signs of abnormalities during pregnancy and birth, but also to support
the mother in treating this time as the
‘normal’ life event it is. According to
Mary, “The best scenario is a healthy
mom, a healthy baby and as little
medical intervention as possible.”
More babies are delivered
at Crouse than any other
Central New York hospital.
Historically, midwives primarily
attended births in Europe, as they
do today, yet in America, the role of
obstetricians during labor increased
in the early 1800s. During the 1970s,
the profession of midwifery enjoyed
a revival, and today these trained and
certified professionals work in collaboration with OB/GYNs. Although
long associated with home birthing,
midwifes deliver about 99 percent of
their babies in hospitals.
Supporting OB Physicians
In addition to benefitting women
in labor in our Kienzle Family
Maternity Center, Mary’s presence
adds an additional layer of comfort
for the physicians who’ve been caring
for them during pregnancy.
“Knowing Mary is on staff, right
at Crouse tending to their needs,
allows our OB doctors to care for
other expectant moms in their offices
as patients here progress through the
stages of labor,” says Chief Medical
Officer Ron Stahl, MD, whose
specialty is obstetrics.
Mary, who’s delivered more than
3,000 babies, also enjoys her other
role: Serving as a mentor to OB residents who assist physicians with
deliveries at Crouse. “I know they get
much training in technology, but I
especially like helping young doctors
see how a mother laboring normally
should be treated.”
She also appreciates working
with her fellow midwives who deliver
at Crouse. “Assisting with each birth
is a privilege, and I’m very proud to
see how my profession has evolved
in Syracuse over the years.”
crouse.org
For more information about delivering
at Crouse and to view a video about our
Kienzle Family Maternity Center, visit
crouse.org/babies
Expect the Best. Even for the Unexpected.
I
n addition to the comfort of having a midwife on staff, you can deliver at Crouse knowing that
if your baby requires unexpected additional medical attention, the Baker NICU is just one floor
away. Crouse is home to the region’s only New York State-designated Level 4 neonatal intensive
care unit, where we care for premature and critically-ill infants from a 15-county region.
To learn more about the Baker NICU, visit crouse.org/nicu
crouse.org
9
Senator Schumer
Advocates for
Tighter Prescription
Drug Control
A
s the region’s leading provider of chemical
dependency treatment services, we
were pleased to host a recent press event by
Sen. Charles Schumer to push for tighter
control of Hydrocodone and its reclassification
as a Schedule II drug. Pictured at the podium
is Sen. Schumer, along with Crouse CEO Paul
Kronenberg, MD, Michele Caliva, director of the
Upstate Poison Control Center, and Onondaga
County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick.
This is a timely and much-needed step as
prescription drug abuse in Central New York
has increased dramatically in the past year.
Crouse Addiction Expert
Appointed to ASAP Board
M
onika Taylor, manager of Outpatient
Chemical Dependency Treatment
Services at Crouse Hospital, has been
appointed to the board of directors of the New
York State Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
Providers (ASAP). Its mission is to support
individuals, groups and organizations that
prevent and alleviate the consequences of
substance abuse in the state. Crouse operates
the only hospital-based substance abuse treatment service in Central New York, including the
area’s only opioid treatment program.
10
YourCare
Innovation in
Healthcare:
Crouse and Community Partners
Continue Lean Six Sigma Training
I
n an emergency, immediate treatIn 2012 Crouse began the
ment is critical. While advanced
innovative training and performance
technology plays a big role, rapid
improvement collaboration with
response can only happen when
Rural/Metro and the Rochester
efficiency of care and teamwork
Institute of Technology.
are present.
Welch Allyn Joins Team
To make sure these happen conThis year engineers from Welch
sistently for each patient who arrives
Allyn — a global leader in the manvia the emergency room — as well as ufacturing of medical products based
for those having scheduled procedures in Central New York — joined the
— Crouse Hospital is continuing to
training program, formerly comprised
partner with local
“At Crouse, we continually of just EMS
agencies to learn
push ourselves to become providers
and apply two
and hospital
a better organization.”
tried-and-true
staff. The new
— Michael Jorolemon, DO well-rounded inimanufacturing strategies in the
hospital setting: “Lean” and
tiative was made possible by a New
“Six Sigma.”
York State Business Development
grant managed through Onondaga
In fact, the Crouse program is
Community College.
the first and only Lean Six Sigma
training program in the U.S. that
Professors from RIT’s Center for
includes a hospital, emergency
Quality and Applied Statistics and
medical services (EMS) providers
the Center for Excellence in Lean
and a manufacturer.
Enterprise taught the course that 25
participants have just completed,
“At Crouse, we continually
earning RIT’s Lean Six Sigma
push ourselves to become a bet“Green Belt” certification.
ter organization,” says Michael
Jorolemon, DO, Senior Quality
“Gathering the collective wisdom
Officer for Emergency Services.
of our EMS partners — where care
begins — plus the Crouse care proLean, but Not Mean
viders and Welch Allyn team has
Lean Six Sigma had been used
created a unique partnership that will
for several years in a number of areas serve all our patients well as we work
to improve processes in patient care,
together to advance healthcare in our
hospital operations and the emerregion and beyond,” says Crouse
gency department. The two strategies Chief Quality Officer Derrick Suehs.
combine to decrease waste within a
crouse.org
process and decrease variation within
a system. The result? An efficient
To learn more about Lean Six Sigma and our other
and effective standard of care.
quality initiatives, visit crouse.org/quality
Listening and Learning
for Better Patient Care
D
elivering the best patient care
Our first patient advisor is
experience is a goal shared by
Tony Wagner, senior director for
every member at every level
new product development at Welch
of Crouse Hospital’s healthcare team. Allyn, a leading global manufacThat’s why we actively listen to —
turer of healthcare products based in
and learn from — patients and their
Skaneateles Falls. Wagner has been
family members.
involved in the hospital’s recent Six
This is especially important when Sigma training with Welch Allyn and
things don’t go as planned. After all,
“We’re excited about this
who could possibly understand the
patient and family experience better group’s potential to help us
than, well, patients and families?
become a better hospital.”
— Derrick Suehs
“These are our customers and
their voices are a valuable resource
area emergency medical services
for our quality improvement and
providers [see article on page 10].
patient experience efforts,” says
“Community health is achieved
Crouse’s Chief Quality Officer
one
patient at a time,” says Wagner.
Derrick Suehs.
“I respect Crouse’s mission to hear
Crouse is developing a Patient
every patient’s story,
Advisory Group, made up of interested
and advocate for
community volunteers who’ll serve
their well-being.
as advisors by engaging in producI want to be a
tive dialogue; providing feedback on
part of that.”
satisfaction initiatives, programs and
services; and identifying opportunities
Tony Wagner
for improvement.
The advisors will also have a
seat at the table at key operational
meetings, including the hospital’s
Patient Care Improvement Council,
which meets monthly to review and
discuss quality improvement initiatives.
“We’re excited about this group’s
potential to help us become a better
hospital,” adds Suehs. “We’ll be
recruiting additional representatives
who, like Tony, believe in the Crouse
mission and want to make a difference in how we deliver patient care
to our community.”
If you’re interested in learning
more about the Patient Advisory
Group at Crouse, email derricksuehs@
crouse.org
Out of Africa…In Casts
T
his is one in a million: Two Syracuse residents — University of Rochester student Ellie Law and
Syracuse University professor Chris DeCorse — just happened to be in Africa in early June.
Chris, chair of SU’s Department of Anthropology, was in Sierra Leone on an archeological dig
and Ellie, three thousand miles south, was hiking in the desert in Namibia in Southern Africa.
Through an amazing coincidence, both ended up in Crouse Hospital’s Emergency Department on
the very same day, just hours apart.
Chris had an accident while docking a boat, slipping and breaking his tibia. At around the same time
his accident occurred, Ellie took a serious tumble down a 12,000-foot sand dune and broke her tibia.
In agony, she spent the night alone waiting for help to arrive in freezing temperatures surrounded by
a pack of hungry jackals.
Ellie and Chris are now both at home, on the mend, after undergoing orthopedic surgery — on
the same day.
The final twist of fate: both patients (who did not know each other prior to being admitted to our
orthopedic unit) have a Crouse connection: Ellie is the daughter of a Crouse nurse; Chris is the brotherin-law of one of our Human Resources specialists.
crouse.org
11
Cutting HACs a
Win-Win for Healthcare
H
Crouse Clock Tower
Graces Girl’s Bedroom
W
hen Kerri Arthur contacted Crouse
Hospital through our website, we were
happy to help make her daughter’s dream
come true.
The Syracuse native explained the family had
moved to North Carolina and that her daughter,
Mira, loved the Crouse clock tower and would be
thrilled to have it for her newly decorated bedroom.
On July 22, CEO Paul Kronenberg, MD, presented eleven-year-old Mira with a framed black
and white print of the clock tower. Mira and her
mom, along with little brother, Nolan, were visiting
Central New York and stopped by her favorite landmark to receive her gift from the Crouse family.
Three generations of Crouse “babies” — Mira, her
mom Kerri and grandmother Linda Kosakowski —
posed alongside Dr. Kronenberg with the iconic
clock tower in the background.
When asked where she planned to hang her
new print, Mira replied immediately, “Right above
my bed.”
ospital-acquired conditions are
known in the healthcare world as
“HACs.” And one of our favorite
expressions at Crouse Hospital is HACNO! That’s because these conditions
cause additional patient discomfort — and
increase the cost of care dramatically.
Reducing complications is a major
focus of safety initiatives at Crouse. We’ve
been participating in Partnership for
Patients, a federal program that aims to
make hospital care not only safer, but also
more consistent and less costly.
HAC-NO!
Crouse staff work together to prevent
any kind of infection, but one HAC we’ve
put particular emphasis on is known as
CLABSI, an acronym for central line
associated bloodstream infections.
Found in every hospital, a CLABSI
can occur when a bacterial or fungal
infection develops in patients with a central venous catheter. Patients with severe
and complex illnesses tend to be at higher
risk for such infections.
CLABSI Infects
Patient Care, Costs
Reducing CLABSIs is not only
important for patient care, but each
occurrence of these infections can add
more than $30,000 to the cost of a
patient’s hospital stay.
In early 2012, Crouse started a pilot
project to reduce the overall incidence of
CLABSIs. Three units — 5 South Irving,
the Intensive Care Unit and 7 Memorial
— were selected since their patients typically have a central venous catheter as
part of their treatment plan.
“Our team’s goal was to aggressively
pursue a hospital-wide rate of zero line
infections,” says Nurse Manager Laurie
Fegley, RN.
Pilot Program Successful
Staff members from nursing, infection
control and quality improvement identified
improvements using evidence-based guidelines and Six Sigma strategies [see related
article on page 10]. Key elements included
renewed education; encouraging earlier
removal of central venous catheters as
appropriate; improving coordinated central
line care; and incorporating staff ideas, all
with an eye toward reducing or eliminating
any possibility of central line infections.
The pilot on the three units has been
successful: In the first quarter of 2013,
there were no CLABSIs reported on two
of the three units, and just two on the
third unit, reports Fegley.
The program is now being expanded
to other areas of the hospital, which has
seen its overall number of CLABSIs reduced
from 21 in 2010 to just three hospital-wide
during the first quarter of 2013.
View video: crouse.org/germinators
Fearless Foursome
T
hese four gentlemen — Syracuse University Athletics Team Physician
Brad Raphael, MD; SU Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim; SU Football
Coach Scott Shafer; and SU Head Team Physician Irv Raphael, MD —
braved 90-plus degree temps on July 15 at Bellevue Country Club for a
great cause: to support the Baker Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Crouse
Hospital. We thank the 228 golfers who took part in the 12th annual
Crouse Golf Classic, which raised more than $100,000
for the NICU, the state-designated regional referral
center for neonatal care.
To view a photo gallery from the tournament,
visit: crouse.org/golf2013
12
YourCare
Morgan’s Journey Continues
I
f you listen to “Ted and Amy in the Morning” on 93Q, you know that
Ted Long has shed more than 140 pounds since becoming Crouse’s
first bariatric surgery patient in September 2011. His wife, Bobbie
(pictured below, far left), has lost more than 95 pounds. This past
spring, Morgan Taylor became Ted’s protégé, taking tips from
the popular DJ and talking about weight loss on air and in
videos. Morgan is now down 110 pounds since her procedure
in October 2012. Watch for her updates on our website and
Facebook and cheer her on!
Hear Morgan’s updates on
Follow Morgan’s weight loss journey on
facebook.com/crousehospital
Ongoing Support Key to
Weight Loss Success
O
ngoing support is a key element to losing weight —
and keeping it off. Just ask the ladies below! Have
you had weight loss surgery? We invite you to attend our
free monthly Bariatric Surgery Support Group on the second
Wednesday of each month, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Upcoming dates:
Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13, Dec. 11, Marley Education
Center. To register, call 315/472-2464 or visit
crouse.org/bariatrics.
Getting Healthier. Feeling Better!
Y
ou may have seen these gals in print ads and on billboards or buses. They’ve become
known as the Crouse Weight Loss Ladies, only fitting because they’re friends, had
their bariatric surgeries at Crouse and still support each other as they continue to lose and
maintain their weight losses, now more than 500 pounds among them. Bobbie Long, Kathy
Taylor, Val Strong, Renee Tarbell and Karen McGean (left to right) are each amazed at what
they’re now able to do since losing so much weight — and how they feel!
crouse.org
Learn more about how weight loss surgery at Crouse has changed the
lives of these five local women. Visit crouse.org/ladieslose
Crouse Weight Loss
Program Now National
Center of Excellence
W
hen asked, most bariatric surgery patients
say they’ve chosen Crouse because of
the understanding and acceptance they feel after
meeting surgeons Jeffrey DeSimone, MD, and
Kenneth Cooper, DO. That level of trust has been
confirmed by the American College of Surgeons
(ACS), which has accredited Crouse Hospital’s
Weight Loss Surgery program as a Level I
bariatric ‘center of excellence’ facility.
The ACS Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program
(MBSAQIP) extended the center of excellence
status just two years after Crouse began the
program.
Since 2011, Drs. DeSimone and Cooper
have performed more than 300 weight loss
surgical procedures between them. The
accreditation confirms Crouse demonstrates
the highest quality of care for its bariatric
patients before, during and after their surgeries.
For more info: crouse.org/bariatrics
Is Weight Loss
Surgery Right for You?
H
ave you struggled to lose weight through diet
and exercise with no long-term success?
Then weight loss surgery at Crouse Hospital may
be right for you. We invite you to attend one of our
free informational seminars held the first Tuesday
and third Thursday of each month from 4:30 to
6:30 p.m. at Crouse Hospital’s Marley Education
Center. Upcoming seminars:
Sept. 3 & 19
Oct. 1 & 17
Nov. 5 & 21
Dec. 3 & 19
To register, call 315/472-2464
or visit crouse.org/bariatrics
Get the Facts
For more information, contact Cindy Cusson, RN,
administrator for Crouse’s weight loss surgery
program, at 315/470-8974.
Crouse is proud to partner with Central New York
Surgical Physicians.
crouse.org
13
Breast Imaging Technology
Exceeds Expectations
A
fter just four months of use, Crouse radiologists have
found our new 3D breast tomosynthesis technology
to have exceeded even their own expectations as a tool for
diagnosing breast cancer.
Crouse Breast Health Center Medical Director Stephen
Montgomery, MD, reports he and his colleagues are finding
about two cancers a week — small invasive tumors that cannot
be seen on conventional 2D mammograms. This early detection can
lead to better outcomes.
Last year, the Crouse Breast Health Center performed more than 10,000
mammograms. Because of this volume, Crouse needs to acquire an additional
system — at a cost of $450,000 — to accommodate all patients.
The purchase of “tomo” technology was funded entirely by the Crouse
Health Foundation through the generosity of the Saint Agatha Foundation and
other supportive Crouse friends.
To date, $200,000 has been contributed toward purchasing an additional
system, including recent grants from the Central New York Community
Foundation and the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation.
Campaign for 3D
If you would like to donate, please contact Carrie Berse at 315/470-7004
or email CarrieBerse@crouse.org. You can also visit crouse.org/
give/foundation and click on the “Donate Now” link.
Komen Awards Grant to Crouse
T
he Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central New York awarded Crouse
Hospital a $48,700 grant to increase awareness of the availability of
free and reduced-cost breast health services, particularly among
underserved, underinsured and uninsured women in Onondaga County.
With the help of the Komen grant, Crouse aims to increase the number
of women who get tested for breast cancer through community outreach and
Crouse Breast Health Center programs.
The hospital continues to work on lessening the impact of the barriers of
poverty, as well as the lack of education and access to breast healthcare services.
“We are dedicated to providing the best possible screening and treatment
services to all women,” says Stephen Montgomery, MD, medical director of the
Crouse Breast Health Center.
Free Screenings for Uninsured Men and Women
Onondaga County’s Cancer Services Program (CSP) offers free
cancer screening for uninsured men and women ages 50 to 64 and free
mammograms and Pap tests for women ages 40 to 64 who do not have
health insurance. To register for a free colorectal screening, mammogram
or Pap smear, call 315/435-3653.
College of Nursing Appoints New Director
P
at Zawko, EdD, RN, has been appointed
Director of the Crouse Hospital College of
Nursing. Zawko is filling the position vacated when
the college’s former leader, Ann Sedore, PhD, RN,
was named Chief Nursing Officer of the hospital
in March of this year.
OF
I I
M X
M C
•
N
Y
•
COLLEGE
RSING
NU
OUSE HOSP
CR
I
L
TA
SY
RACUSE
,
“Dr. Zawko will be a strong
support as Crouse continues to
strive for nursing and institutional
excellence,” said Sedore. “Her
nursing background, educational
experience, professional leadership and knowledge
of our community will serve her and the college well.”
Zawko most recently served as Associate
Clinical Professor of Nursing and Director of Online
Learning at Upstate Medical University, where she
was nominated for the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for
Excellence in Teaching. She holds a doctorate in
educational leadership, curriculum and instruction
from University of Phoenix and a master’s degree in
Nursing Administration from SUNY IT at Utica Rome.
Pat Zawko, EdD, RN
College of Nursing Hosts Homecoming Weekend
T
he Crouse Hospital College of Nursing is celebrating
its 100th anniversary during 2013 with a major event
this fall for alumni and friends: its first-ever Homecoming
Weekend. Alumni and their families and friends are invited
to be part of the festivities Friday through Sunday,
Oct. 18-20. Visit crouse.org/nursing100
or call the college at 315/470-7481 for more
details or to receive an invitation.
14
YourCare
SportsCare Medicine Program at Crouse Hospital
e
h
t
r
o
f
CCrouse
!
h
c
n
u
r
C
’’CCuse & W
e’re proud to be the official hospital of Syracuse University Athletics
and official sports medicine hospital of the Syracuse Crunch.
Join us this season on the Crouse Hospital Facebook fan page and follow
@CrouseHospital on Twitter to cheer on our hometown teams!
Getting Back
in the Game 2013
M
ore than 100 sports medicine professionals
who coach and care for athletes at all
levels in all sports gathered Aug. 3 at Syracuse
University’s Lampe Athletics Complex for the
second annual symposium hosted by Crouse
Hospital and SU Athletics. Kudos to these pros
for taking time out to learn more about injury
prevention and treatment and to our sports
medicine physicians for giving our local
athletes the all-star treatment!
Overdid it?
After-hours orthopedic care for all ages – kids to adults.
Walk-Ins Welcome!
SportsCare Saturday:
A Winning Event
A Service of Crouse Hospital
M
embers of Crouse’s sports medicine team hosted an
open house at SportsCare Express in DeWitt. Irv and Brad
Raphael, team physicians with Syracuse University Athletics, were
on hand to welcome attendees, as were Crouse concussion expert
Paul Klawitter, MD, (back) and Syracuse Crunch Team Physician
Dan DiChristina, MD, (right). Football Hall of Fame legend Floyd Little
signed copies of his new book, Promises to Keep. The event also
featured free heart health screenings, sports injury assessment and
information on managing concussion.
crouse.org
15
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.
©2013 All rights reserved.
No insurance? No problem! Free Health Tests for Adults
Sept. 28, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community School,
416 E. Raynor Ave., Syracuse
C
rouse Hospital again is a sponsor of the annual Get Health Connected Screening
Fair. This commitment to promoting community health includes offering convenient,
FREE health screenings for cancer, heart disease, vascular disease, HIV, glaucoma and
more. Dozens of local health agencies, insurers and each of the Syracuse hospitals join
together for this effort to reach people who are uninsured, underinsured or lack access
to care. Please spread the word to those who may benefit. Call 315/464-8668 for more
information or visit crouse.org/gethealthconnected.
Shalini Suryanarayana is back home with Buddy after trusting her
heart to the cardiac care and emergency services team at Crouse.
Tribute
Evening
Friday,
Sept. 27
Join us for a gala evening in honor of
Crouse leader extraordinaire, Betsy Hartnett.
For details and ticket information, visit
crouse.org/tributeevening2013
crouse.org/chest-pain
When Minutes Count
Emergency
Cardiac Care.
Proud to be the first hospital in NYS to earn dual
Chest Pain and Heart Failure center accreditation.*
*Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
Proud to be the official
hospital of SU Athletics.