STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT

STURDY MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL
|
2014
ANNUAL REPORT
table of contents
fiscal year
2014
Annual Report
PRESIDENT’S
Message 2014
Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 was filled with notable
successes, challenges, and changes for Sturdy
Memorial Hospital. One of the changes
involved my transition to the chief executive
role in March 2014. Being a member of the
management team since 1987 and being
involved in most, if not all, of the major events
at Sturdy since then, made for a relatively
seamless transition.
7
Clinical and Programmatic
Highlights
4
8
3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
4
A CUT ABOVE IN SURGICAL CARE
Surgeons and patients share their
experiences at Sturdy
6
FISCAL YEAR 2014 STATISTICS
10
10
THE UPPER HAND OVER DIABETES
The Diabetes Management Program helps
patients self-manage the disease
12
CANCER CARE UPDATE
STAR Program® (Survivorship Training
And Rehabilitation), 3D Mammography,
and Brigham and Women’s/Sturdy Memorial
Radiation Oncology Center
7 13
FOSTERING COMPASSIONATE CARE
Staff participate in Schwartz Center Rounds® and
share the challenging emotional and social issues
they face in patient-care settings
8
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Listing of programs Sturdy participated in
to benefit our neighbors throughout Fiscal Year 2014
ACCREDITATIONS/LICENSURE...
Awards/Recognitions, and Corporate
Memberships
14
RESPONDING TO A HEALTH CRISIS
Sturdy’s preparedness efforts for potential
health crises, from influenza to hurricanes
15
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
2 | STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report
A challenge for Sturdy and our health care
counterparts continues to be the ability to
respond to the constant and rapid changes
in our industry while ensuring optimumquality and safe care, and to provide patientcentered, outstanding service. It takes a team
and it takes the right attitude. We have both
at Sturdy Memorial Hospital.
Sturdy’s leadership as a pillar of quality
and safety was acknowledged in FY 2014. The
Joint Commission named Sturdy as one of its
Top Performers on Key Quality Measures®,
one of approximately 300 hospitals out of
4,071 Joint Commission-accredited hospitals
to have received this designation for three
consecutive years. We received an “A”
Hospital Safety Score from The Leapfrog
Group. Other awards and achievements are
listed on page 13.
We have an excellent, comprehensive
cancer program that is staffed by clinically
exceptional and compassionate physicians
and nurses. We treat most cancers and
participate in many clinical trials. Our team
includes surgeons, hematologists/oncologists,
medical subspecialists, pathologists, radiation
oncologists, radiologists, and advanced
oncology certified nurses (AOCNs) in our
Outpatient Oncology Department. Radiation
therapy is provided through our new joint
venture with Brigham and Women’s Hospital
at the Brigham and Women’s/Sturdy
Memorial Radiation Oncology Center in
Mansfield. At the end of FY 2014, 82.1 percent
of all cancers diagnosed at Sturdy were
treated at Sturdy. We began the process of
qualifying for STAR Program® (Survivorship
Training and Rehabilitation) Certification
in recognition of Sturdy’s capability to offer
complete cancer rehabilitation services.
Among other clinical accomplishments
were improved management of pneumonia
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) patients with earlier and more
aggressive therapy services during admission.
Ensuring Safe, High-Quality
Care and Excellent Service
Several longtime initiatives representative
of our commitment to practices and processes
that work, continued. The Sturdy Quality and
Service Excellence Committee (QSEC), now
in its 25th year, oversees focused, organized,
annual initiatives to improve service and
quality in meaningful and measurable
ways. The Adverse Events Initiative (AEI)
Committee, active for 18 years, continued
reviewing clinical processes and responding
to opportunities to prevent errors from
reaching patients. Our medical staff peer
review process also continued in FY 2014.
Sturdy instituted Schwartz Center
Rounds®, which allow caregivers to openly
discuss challenging emotional and social
issues they face in the patient care setting.
Research outcomes on the benefits of
instituting these Rounds include improved
patient satisfaction, better care planning,
and a better ability to facilitate palliative care
planning.
Work also continued toward our becoming
a completely electronic health record (EHR)
system, including medication reconciliation
and improved discharge instructions.
Patient satisfaction programs for our
Emergency Care Center, which delivers
care to more than 50,000 patients annually,
as well as Surgical Day Care exceeded our
goals this year. They both ranked above the
90th percentile in two of four quarters when
compared to the national Press Ganey®
patient satisfaction database.
Maintaining a High-Caliber
Professional Staff
We know that, when possible, patients
prefer to get their health care locally and
in familiar surroundings. Having a highcaliber, professional medical staff is priority
and Sturdy continually looks for ways to
strengthen its medical services to be able
to meet the needs of our communities.
Seven physicians joined us in FY 2014.
Additionally, Sturdy Memorial Associates
added its 17th practice when three experienced
gastroenterologists from the community
joined Attleboro Gastroenterology Associates.
There is a continuing national trend toward
providing more services on an outpatient
basis. Our entire health care delivery system
is moving from being inpatient-centric
to ambulatory-centric. Sturdy is actively
engaged in assessing its service line and
invests accordingly to ensure we remain
competitive.
Community Involvement
We remained active in our communities.
Programs the Hospital and our staff
participated in, including numerous familyrelated events and public health education
and screening programs, are listed on pages
8 and 9.
Strong Financial Performance
Sturdy was solidly in the black in FY 2014,
marking our 29th consecutive year of financial
stability and the Hospital’s most successful
year financially. The bottom line attributed
to current year operations was $12,518,082.
Operating expenses for the year totaled $149
million. The Hospital delivered $5.5 million in
uncompensated care for services provided to
those who could not or would not pay.
Additionally, the Foundation raised a total
of $1,891,155 to support our clinical activities.
A donor was identified after which to name
the four-story building we constructed
several years back. The Augat Foundation
Patient Services Building was christened in
February 2014.
Strong for Our
Communities Tomorrow
Our ability to achieve so much and
continue to thrive is due to contributions
by employees, physicians, volunteers,
senior leadership, and Board members and
supporters, for whom I am exceedingly
grateful.
Sturdy Memorial Hospital has served its
communities for more than a century and
is the hospital of choice for the majority of
residents in our service area. We continue to
be a work in progress, navigating health care
and societal change as it happens. We are
well-positioned to respond to changes that
are sure to come, and are financially secure
due to years of fiscal responsibility.
We remain committed to providing safe,
high-quality care and the best possible
patient experience. We also diligently
continue to explore ways to ensure we have
the depth of services area residents need to
get their care close to home.
Sincerely,
Bruce Auerbach, MD
President &
Chief Executive Officer
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report | 3
“I’ll never forget what Dr. Statman said when
he visited after my surgery.”
Jackie Robbins, sitting in the Outpatient
Oncology Department waiting area in her
peach-colored volunteer jacket and Sturdy
Memorial Hospital name badge, smiles.
“I hadn’t done my hair in the week I
recovered at the Hospital, I was in a johnnie
and had an ostomy bag—and said to him,
‘Dr. Statman, you’ve truly seen me at my worst.’
He just laughed and said ‘No, I saw you at your
worst before your treatments. Your insides were
fighting you.’”
Robbins was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal
cancer in 2012. She underwent chemotherapy,
radiation therapy, and several surgeries at
Sturdy. Robbins’ was an advanced, difficult case,
rendering a permanent ostomy likely.
“But she didn’t want that,” says Dr. Richard
Statman, board certified General Surgeon
with specialization in Oncological Surgery. He
performed a sphincter-sparing rectal resection
that warranted only a temporary ileostomy,
removed five months later.
Robbins, 50, a resident of Cumberland,
Rhode Island, has returned to all the things she
loves, including volunteering every Tuesday
in Sturdy’s Oncology Department to “support
Sturdy the way their doctors, nurses, and
treatments have supported me.”
“Employing methods and tactics that
minimize pain and hospital stay, shorten
recovery times, improve safety, and enhance
quality of life, are our goals here,” says
Dr. Statman.
A CUT ABOVE
in surgical care
{ }
“Everyone I dealt with in
Surgical Day Care
was outstanding.
They all deserve kudos.
I was well taken care of
and their concern
was evident in
everything they did.”
– Evelynn F.
4 | STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report
General and Oncological Surgery
As a general and oncological surgeon,
Dr. Statman’s surgical coverage is vast. His
practice consists of intra-abdominal procedures
including appendectomies, hernia repairs,
and surgeries on the gallbladder, stomach,
small bowel, colon, and rectum. He performs
surgeries on the breast and other soft tissues.
And Dr. Statman also operates in emergency
and acute situations.
“Sturdy is a pretty unique place,” says
Dr. Statman, who’s been here since 1998. “We
have substantial caseloads and volumes”—
close to 10,000 surgeries are performed each
year at the Hospital—“and our surgeons are
experienced and board certified. Patients
here aren’t being operated on by residents
and doctors-in-training, which is the case
in teaching hospitals and academic medical
centers.
“But while we’re cutting-edge,” Dr. Statman
continues, “we’re not overconfident. We know
our limitations. We do the tried-and-true
procedures that are best for our patient base
as a community hospital, so they don’t have to
surgery continued
Jackie Robbins
Austin White
travel far for advanced surgical procedures.
And in rare, complicated cases where we
know the larger, urban hospitals have the
resources to handle, we refer our patients
there.”
In Robbins’ case, where her cancer had
spread to 90 percent of her liver, she needed a
groundbreaking kind of surgery. Dr. Statman
knew of a complicated hepatectomy
procedure that a liver specialist at a Boston
hospital performed, and referred Robbins to
this facility.
“I have empathy for my patients and want
the best for them, whatever—and wherever—
that is,” says Dr. Statman.
“I was scared to leave Sturdy for this
surgery,” says Robbins. “But Dr. Statman was so
reassuring and just kept saying, ‘You can do
this.’ What a genuine, compassionate person.”
Sturdy surgeons keep current with
innovative, sophisticated techniques to offer
patients a wide range of surgical services
locally. These include minimally invasive
procedures, which involve small incisions
and instruments, allowing faster recoveries
and less scarring. In particular, our general
surgeons regularly perform laparoscopies, a
type of minimally invasive procedure dealing
with the abdominal or pelvic cavities.
Orthopedic Surgery
As in general surgery, minimally invasive
procedures continue to gain momentum in
orthopedic surgery. Dr. James Snead, board
certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports
Medicine Specialist, has a unique expertise in
shoulder, hip, and knee arthroscopies, which
are minimally invasive procedures of the joints.
“In the last decade, the use of arthroscopy
in repairing tears in the rotator cuff, labrum,
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and other
tendons and ligaments, as well as to treat
traumatic injuries and degenerative diseases
like arthritis, has grown,” says Dr. Snead.
“Arthroscopy is commonly a same-day
procedure. Full recovery can take just three
to four months, getting people back to their
Ralph and Anita Uva
activities, work, even competitive sports,
sooner.”
Austin White, 18, is a North Attleboro
High School senior and was a varsity football
player. Early in the season, he was doing drills
during practice when a teammate collided
into his knee. He visited Dr. Snead, who
diagnosed the knee injury as an ACL tear and,
three weeks later, performed an arthroscopic
ACL reconstruction.
According to Dr. Snead, “ACL tears are
common traumatic injuries and result in
pain, swelling, and instability. But they can’t
heal on their own without surgery.”
“The injury was unfortunate because it
was my senior year,” says White, a lineman
who has played since freshman year. “But
the surgery combined with PT at Sturdy is
helping me get back into the game.” White
plans to attend a university but before that, a
post-graduate year at a prep school so he can
regain strength and his competitive edge for
collegiate football.
When discussing the surgery, White admits
he was at first nervous. But he soon felt
comfortable with Dr. Snead and staff, trusting
them to provide the highest-quality care,
tailored to his needs.
“Trust is so important when it comes
to patients selecting the right surgeon, for
any type of procedure,” says Dr. Snead. “So I
treat my patients like family members. What
would I want for one of my kids or for my
mother, father, or grandfather? The best care
available. Providing this, while helping them
understand the procedure and encouraging
them to ask as many questions as they need,
helps patients feel as comfortable as possible.”
Gastroenterology
Dr. Mark Robbin, board certified
Gastroenterologist, routinely performs
endoscopies, another type of minimally
invasive surgery. “Endoscopies are intended
to diagnose and treat diseases affecting
the esophagus, stomach, small and large
Ann Bissonnette
intestines, as well as the liver, pancreas,
gallbladder, and bile duct,” says Dr. Robbin.
“This includes abnormal growths and polyps,
obstructions, ulcers, and bleeding in the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract.”
One man—Ralph Uva, a resident of
Mansfield—is very familiar with endoscopies.
A few times a year he sees Dr. Robbin, who,
via upper endoscopy, dilates or stretches
areas of scar tissue that continually builds up,
owing to his gastrectomy performed at
Sturdy in 1994. This surgery removed Uva’s
stomach: his treatment for a diagnosis of
stage 3 stomach cancer and esophageal
cancer.
“Years before that, Ralph had a radical
prostatectomy to treat his prostate cancer, a
hydrocele repair, an appendectomy, a hernia
repair, gallstone and kidney stone surgeries,
and surgery for a duodenal ulcer, all at
Sturdy,” says his wife Anita Uva. “He’s a Sturdy
boy.”
“I wouldn’t go anywhere else,” he says.
At 85, Uva has had his fair share of medical
hurdles. But the surgeries have helped him be
able to enjoy life; over the last 20 years, he’s
visited family as far as Arizona and driven to
Cape Cod annually for vacation.
Uva adds that having the support of Sturdy
has helped him get through these obstacles.
“The surgeons don’t just operate and wash
their hands of it; they follow up and care
about their patients,” says Uva. “Between
Sturdy, Dr. Robbin, the nurses, and staff, I
just can’t say enough good things about them.
They’re like family.”
Urogynecological Surgery
Urogynecologists Dr. Barbara Stricker and
Dr. Ralph Philosophe, who are board certified
in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as
Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive
Surgery, specialize in advanced, minimally
invasive surgeries. These include laparoscopic
procedures that can correct ovarian,
vaginal, uterine, and urinary problems.
>
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report | 5
FY 1 4 statistics
surgery continued
“Newer urological procedures we do
include advanced neuromodulation, which
involves placing a small pacemaker-like device
just under the skin to help patients with
overactive bladder that’s refractory to other
treatments,” says Dr. Stricker. “This treatment
has transformed patients’ lives who have been
severely limited by the embarrassment that
urinary and fecal incontinence can bring.”
Ann Bissonnette, 61, has lived with
multiple sclerosis (MS) since 1981, which
played a role in her overactive bladder
issues. In 2013, when other treatments
weren’t cutting it, Dr. Stricker performed the
neuromodulation surgery, called InterStim®.
“Before the surgery, I couldn’t go anywhere;
I had to ‘go’ too often,” says Bissonnette,
a resident of North Attleboro. “Now I can
vacation to New Hampshire, Maine, and
Aruba without hassle and play outside with
my grandkids without interruption. The
surgery has given me independence and the
ability to stay active, and connected.”
Gynecological surgeries that Drs. Stricker
and Philosophe perform laparoscopically
include hysterectomies and surgeries for
fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian masses, and
pelvic pain.
They also perform a unique procedure
called tubal ligation reversal. “Tubal
ligation reversals are microscopic surgeries
that reattach the fallopian tubes that were
formerly, surgically interrupted to prevent
pregnancy,” says Dr. Philosophe. Women
who regret having their “tubes tied” have the
>>
option of tubal ligation reversal, so they may
become pregnant.
“Whenever possible, we opt for minimally
invasive techniques to reduce hospital stay,
pain, and recovery times,” says
Dr. Philosophe.
Surgery at Sturdy
“At Sturdy, it’s important to us that our
patients feel they’re not ‘just a number,’”
says Dr. Marcy Bernstein, Chief of Surgery
and board certified General Surgeon. “Our
surgical team is truly committed to providing
conveniently located, individualized, and
complete care.”
Sturdy provides local access to a broad
array of advanced surgical services that
some people associate only with larger,
city hospitals. In addition to general,
emergency, oncological, orthopedic,
gastroenterological, urological, and
urogynecological surgery, we also provide
ophthalmological, oral-maxillofacial,
otolaryngological (ear, nose, and throat),
thoracic, and vascular surgery, among other
specialties.
Our experienced, well-trained surgeons
use advanced technologies to provide
sophisticated procedures, whether they are
elective or emergent, same-day or inpatient.
They follow the strictest safety protocols.
And they work together to ensure patients
are as comfortable and informed as possible
throughout the surgical process.
For more information about surgeries at
Sturdy, visit www.sturdymemorial.org.
Patients Admitted
6,685
Patient Days
27,247
Births
737
Average Length of Stay
4.1 days
Emergency Care Center Visits
51,551
Mansfield Health Center Visits
22,084
Occupational Health Service
Visits
12,229
Laboratory Tests
498,468
Physical/Occupational
Therapy Visits
25,050
Radiology Tests
41,355
Speech Therapy Visits
1,796
“At Sturdy, it’s important to us
that our patients feel they’re
not ‘just a number.’ Our surgical
team is truly committed to
Mammograms
13,153
Ultrasounds
11,085
individualized, and complete care.”
Employee FTEs
958
Dr. Marcy Bernstein
Chief of Surgery
Volunteer Hours
75,176
providing conveniently located,
Cardiac Rehabilitation Visits
13,322
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Visits
4,855
6 | STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report
Wound Management
Services Visits
4,572
FOSTERING
compassionate care
Health care isn’t just about diagnosing
and treating. It’s also about connecting on
a human level. The Schwartz Center for
Compassionate Healthcare, a patient-founded
nonprofit, is working to strengthen these
personal connections and patient-caregiver
relationships, which enhance outcomes and
satisfaction.
Recently, Sturdy brought the Schwartz
Center Rounds® program to its staff. On
a regular basis, caregivers from multiple
disciplines—including physicians, nurses,
social workers, allied health professionals,
and chaplains—are invited to come together
to share the challenging emotional and social
issues they face in patient-care settings.
“Advanced technologies, cutting-edge
procedures, and cost-efficient administration
{
get a lot of the attention in today’s fast-paced,
ever-evolving health care environment,” says
Dr. Michael Thursby, board certified Internist
and Nephrologist, and Physician Leader
of Sturdy’s Schwartz Center Rounds. “But
also fundamental to health care delivery is
compassion.”
Heather Herlin, MSN, RN, Intensive
Care Unit (ICU) Clinical Nurse Educator,
says that Schwartz Center Rounds help
“reinforce compassion in the patient-provider
relationship.” Whereas clinical rounds
focus on solving problems, Schwartz Center
Rounds hone in on the human dimension of
medicine. “Caregivers have our own personal
emotions and baggage of experiences coming
in to each patient encounter, which we need
to overcome or adjust in order to respond to
}
patients’ and families’ needs. The Rounds
help give us greater insight into our responses
and feelings, which lends to increased
feelings of compassion toward each other and
the people we care for, particularly in times of
worry or grief.”
According to Dr. Thursby, “Schwartz Center
Rounds offer a comfortable, confidential
platform where we as caregivers can openly
share our experiences and in doing so, help
unburden ourselves and find consolation
in hearing others’ relatable stories, better
understand and connect with each other and
our professions, and appreciate each other’s
contributions to patient care.”
More than 350 hospitals across the country
have adopted the Schwartz Center Rounds
program. Evaluations of the program have
revealed that caregivers who attend multiple
Rounds feel less stressed and isolated. Sturdy
supports this program to foster compassion
and communication not only for our patients,
but also among our caregivers.
“The care and professionalism at Wound Management
Services is outstanding. Although there are facilities
much closer to our home, we find it is worth the trip to
be treated at such a great unit. The doctor and staff are
exemplary. Sturdy should be very proud.” – Steven G.
Wound Management Services celebrates its
20th Anniversary (1995-2015)
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report | 7
COMMUNITY Benefits
Sturdy’s employees, medical staff, and volunteers are involved in
a wide variety of activities that benefit our neighbors. Following
are some of the many programs we participated in during
Fiscal Year 2014.
AARP Driver Safety Program
Adult & Infant CPR
Advanced & Basic Cardiac Life Support
American Cancer Society Relays for Life
American Heart Association Go Red Day
Attleboro 100th Birthday Celebration
Attleboro Arts Museum
Attleboro Expo for the Senses
Attleboro Food Bank
Attleboro Halloween Party for Children
Attleboro High School-Based
Health Center
Attleboro High School Career & Technical
Advisory Committee
Attleboro High School Senior Class Project
Attleboro Library Community
Resource Fair
Attleboro Winter Night Festival
Attleboro YMCA Health Fair
Bladder Control Informational Sessions
Blood Drives
Blue Plate Dinner Specials
Breast Cancer Support Group
Breastfeeding Classes & Support
Breathing Club
Cancer Care Coordination Services
Cancer Information Line
Cancer Professional Education Program
Cancer Screenings
Cancer Support Group
Cancer Survivors’ Day
Childbirth Education Programs
Childhood Lead Action Project
Christmas Is For Kids
Cradle Care 24-hour Info Line
Diabetes Education & Support
Emergency Preparedness Training
EMS Education/Medical Oversight
Financial Assistance Counseling
Foot Screenings
Foxboro Founders Day
Friends & Family of Patients with Cancer
Support Group
Future Nurses’ Day
Global Safety Day
Gloria Gemma Hope Bus
Hand Washing Public Education
Palliative Care Public Education
Health Agent Educational Meetings
Health Screenings
“HealthyChoices” Program for School Children
Healthy Steps Dance Program for
Cancer Patients
Heart Health Fair
Infant Massage
Lactation Consultations
Lee’s Pond Festival
LIVESTRONG Program with YMCAs
Look Good, Feel Better
MADD Project Red Ribbon
Mansfield Arts in the Park
Mansfield Halloween Parade
Mansfield Movies with the Stars
Mansfield Summer Concert
Medical Profile Cards
Multiple Sclerosis Support Group
New Moms Group
North Attleboro Back to School Shuffle
Norton Summer Concert
Gloria Gemma Hope Bus
8 | STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report
Nutrition Education & Outreach
Orthopedic Injury Prevention
Informational Sessions
Ostomy Support Group
Palliative Care Public Education
Pan-Mass Challenge
Parkinson’s Support Group
Pastoral Care Program
Perinatal Bereavement Services
Physician Referral Line
Plainville Fall Festival
Infant Massage
Uncompensated Care — $5.5 million for those
who could not or would not pay
United Way Campaign
Valet Parking (complimentary)
Volunteer Day Luncheon & Student
Essay Contest
Walk for Hunger
Wellness Programs & Lectures
Wheaton College IRB Committee/
Board Member
Wheaton College Practicum
Wound Management Community
Lectures
Wound Management Right at
Home In Service
YMCA Healthy Kids Day (Attleboro,
Foxboro, North Attleboro, Seekonk)
Yoga Classes
Youth Mentoring Programs
Youth Sports Team Sponsorships
*we serve medical and nursing students as
well as student interns from more than 50
schools and colleges.
Blood Drives
Serving Community
Organizations
Membership in, collaboration with, and
appointments to the boards of community
organizations allows Hospital staff to share their
expertise. Sturdy proudly contributes to more
than 30 area boards, medical associations, and
service organizations in our communities.
Orthopedic Injury Prevention
Informational Sessions
Plainville Food Pantry
Poison Control & Prevention Kits
Prostate Cancer Support Group
Pulmonary Patient Social Activities
Reach Out and Read (ROAR)
Reduced-Priced Mammograms (1st Friday of
each month)
Rehoboth Youth Soccer Opening Day
School to Career Credit for Life Fair
Seekonk Summer Concert
Senior Spectacular
Sharps Disposal Program with Area Fire
Departments
Sibling Classes
Sleep Apnea & CPAP Informational
Sessions
Speaker’s Bureau
Sponsorship of Families at the Holidays
Stroke Public Education
Stroke Support Group
Student Intern/Extern Programs*
Sturdy Day at Capron Park Zoo
Sturdy Kids’ Party
Summer of Work & Learning Program
Take Our Children to Work Day
The Literacy Center/BCC Collaborative
Trip to Jane & Paul’s Farm
Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA & Lee’s Pond Festival
{
“The MS Center offers great, comprehensive care.
The staff take into consideration my
concerns, listen to my opinions, and answer
my questions. They’re all very professional
and friendly.” – Karen D.
Multiple Sclerosis Center celebrates its
20th Anniversary (1995-2015)
}
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report | 9
{
“If I were injured in front of a
major Boston hospital, I would demand to
be taken to Sturdy. I know and trust your
level of care, and I say to anyone who
asks, you provide the best care available.”
– Renate S.
}
UPPER
HAND
over diabetes
THE
10 | STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report
diabetes continued
Nineteen-year-old
Andrew Kerr keeps busy
with two jobs in sales
and marketing, four to
five weekly trips to the
gym, and spending time
with friends and family.
And let’s not forget:
checking his blood
sugar eight times a day.
Kerr, an Attleboro resident, can’t forget
to check his blood sugar—he has type 1
diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease
wherein the body does not produce insulin,
a hormone that converts sugar, starches, and
other food into energy needed for daily life.
Type 2, the more common form of diabetes,
is also a chronic disease but happens when
the body either resists the effects of insulin
or doesn’t produce enough of it. Treatments
for diabetes include insulin therapy,
nutrition and exercise, and blood sugar (i.e.
glucose) management. The disease becomes
problematic with insufficient management of
insulin and blood sugar levels.
“I test my blood sugar every couple hours,
and keep insulin and glucose tablets with me
at all times in case my glucose levels spike too
high or dip too low,” says Kerr.
High blood glucose, also called
hyperglycemia, happens when there isn’t
enough or any insulin in the body and if
left untreated, can lead to ketoacidosis
and diabetic coma. Low blood glucose,
or hypoglycemia, can cause a number
of symptoms including dizziness and
delirium, and lead to seizures or coma. Both
acute conditions are life-threatening. And
prolonged blood sugar levels above or below
healthy thresholds can, over the years, lead
to chronic complications such as vision loss,
kidney failure, nerve damage, amputations,
heart disease, and stroke.
Management
Needless to say, diabetes demands roundthe-clock maintenance and accountability.
That’s why Sturdy Memorial Hospital offers
the Diabetes Management Program, awarded
the American Diabetes Association (ADA)
Education Recognition Certificate in the fall
of 2014 for being a quality diabetes selfmanagement and education program.
“The multidisciplinary Program educates
{
patients and empowers them to take
ownership of their diabetes, which are
essential components of effective diabetes
treatment,” says Peg Flocco, BSN, MEd, RN,
Patient Education Coordinator and Certified
Diabetes Educator. The Program meets the
needs of patients with type 1, type 2, and
gestational diabetes (high glucose levels
during pregnancy).
Kerr, a participant of the Program, meets
regularly with the Diabetes Educator as well as
his primary care physician, endocrinologist,
and nutritionist at Sturdy. “My team at
Sturdy helps me find the right combination of
medications and diet so I can continue to lead
an active, busy life while maintaining healthy
blood sugar and body weight,” says Kerr, who
was diagnosed in 2010. He has trouble keeping
weight on, particularly because his diabetes is
comorbid with celiac disease, a type of gluten
intolerance. Finding gluten-free foods that
also regulate his blood sugar is an ongoing
challenge that his care team is helping him
meet.
According to Flocco, the Diabetes
Management Program focuses on seven
self-care behaviors for improved well-being
and quality of life: healthy eating, being
active, monitoring blood sugar, taking
medication, reducing risks, problem solving,
and healthy coping. “We assess patients’
individual needs, concerns, and obstacles
in these areas, and then work with them to
develop a plan, achieve their goals, and live
healthier, longer lives,” says Flocco.
Pervasiveness
Nationally, the prevalence of diabetes is
high: 9.3 percent of the population, or 29.1
million Americans, have been diagnosed,
according to the ADA. The Massachusetts
Department of Public Health (MDPH)
reports seven percent of adults with diabetes
and four percent with prediabetes in the
State. This increasingly common disease
is also considered a leading cause of death
and disability nationally and locally,
substantiating the need for action.
Dr. Steven Frank, Medical Director of
Sturdy Memorial Associates and board
certified Family Medicine Physician,
considers the Diabetes Management Program
a “coordinated, essential resource for the
“This was my second delivery at Sturdy. I have
always felt confident that my well-being was being
cared for with the highest level of expertise.
My husband and I can’t thank the Maternity staff
enough for caring for me and my newborn.
I was always kept informed.” – Alissa M.
}
communities Sturdy serves.”
“Successful management of diabetes
lends to fewer disease complications across
the spectrum—from skin problems and
neuropathy to heart disease and stroke,” says
Dr. Frank. “Sturdy’s Program is helping to
remove education and motivation barriers,
encouraging patients to persevere with selfcare behaviors for the long term.”
Dr. Frank and other Sturdy physicians
refer appropriate patients into the Diabetes
Management Program because it strengthens
continuity of care, therefore improving
treatment adherence and patient outcomes.
“Patients I’ve referred into the Program
have increasingly positive resolve, feedback,
and results,” says Dr. Erik Watson, board
certified Internist.
Maintaining an extensive care continuum
is a Sturdy benchmark—its 11 primary care
physician practices are recognized as PatientCentered Medical Homes (PCMH) by the
National Committee for Quality Assurance
(NCQA), which signify a commitment to
coordinating the full spectrum of patient
care.
“Diabetes is so pervasive in our society and
locality,” says Lucy Lukoff, BSN, RN, MMHS,
Director of Nursing Quality, “but so too is
help. Sturdy’s Diabetes Management Program
makes comprehensive assistance more
accessible for patients in our communities.”
Support
The Diabetes Management Program at
Sturdy is a resource for not only patients with
diabetes, but also their support systems. “My
health care team as well as family, friends,
and coworkers provide a level of support
that’s crucial to my well-being,” says Kerr.
“They encourage me and recognize low blood
sugar symptoms when I can’t, helping me to
take action so I can prevent complications
and hospitalizations. Everyone is so involved,
helpful, and caring.”
In conjunction with the Program,
Sturdy also offers nutritional counseling,
endocrinology, ophthalmology, podiatry
services, a wellness exercise program, and free
diabetes support groups. To learn more about
Sturdy’s Diabetes Management Program,
please call the Diabetes Office Coordinator at
508-236-7151.
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report | 11
Accreditations/Licensure
Sturdy Memorial Hospital is licensed by the State of Massachusetts to
provide acute care hospital services. Sturdy Memorial Hospital is proud
to be accredited by the following:
American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Five-Year Accreditation of the Sleep Lab
American Association of Blood Banks
American College of Radiology
American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer Three-Year Program
Accreditation (accreditation maintained since 1988)
American Diabetes Association – Education Recognition Certificate Awarded to the
Outpatient Diabetes Management Program
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – Clinical Laboratory Improvement
Amendments (CLIA)
College of American Pathologists (CAP) – Accreditation of Laboratory Services
Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Designated Primary Stroke Service
Massachusetts Department of Public Health for Radioactive Materials
The Joint Commission
CANCER CARE
update
Awards/Recognitions
STAR Program® (Survivorship
Training And Rehabilitation)
Cancer treatment involves powerful
medications and therapies that attack cancer
cells. But some damage to healthy, normal
cells, is unavoidable. Surgery, chemotherapy,
immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and
other treatments are associated with various
challenges that can impede patients’
physical, social, psychological, and vocational
functioning. Helping to mitigate the adverse
effects of cancer and aggressive treatments
is oncology rehabilitation, an increasingly
integral piece of the cancer care continuum.
Recently at Sturdy, the Oncology
Department initiated the STAR Program®
(Survivorship Training And Rehabilitation).
This hospital-wide multidisciplinary program
supports patients living with cancer or in
remission. It involves services such as physical
therapy; occupational therapy, including
lymphedema treatments; speech therapy;
nutrition; mental health counseling; wellness,
pulmonary, and cardiac rehabilitation
programs; and social services.
“Sturdy is fully committed to the STAR
Program,” says Karen Messier, MSN, RN,
AOCN, Oncology Program & Clinical
Manager. “Oncology rehabilitation can
help improve treatment side effects such as
fatigue, malignant and nonmalignant pain,
deconditioning, loss of range of motion,
reduced physical strength, and lymphedema,
which is swelling in the arms or legs due
to lymph node removal as a part of cancer
treatment.”
Staff assess patients’ individual needs
before initiating rehabilitation. Clinical
identifications and findings are then reported
to Kathy Martin, BSN, RN, OCN, Oncology
Program Nurse Navigator, who ensures
patients’ referrals to appropriate services.
“With the help of oncology rehabilitation,
once high-functioning individuals who
are suffering from the side effects of lifeprolonging cancer treatments, can return to
work or school and the lifestyles and activities
they once enjoyed,” says Martin.
According to Messier, “The STAR team
understands the benefits of oncology
rehabilitation, and will receive ongoing
education to continue to deliver state-of-theart oncology rehabilitation services at Sturdy.”
3D Mammography
The Mammography section of the Imaging
Department acquired two Hologic® Genius
3D Mammography units in the fall of 2014.
3D Mammography, also known as Digital
Breast Tomosynthesis, is a breakthrough
technology that was approved by the Food
12 | STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report
and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011 to
be used in combination with standard 2D
Digital Mammography for breast cancer
screening. It does not replace standard
digital mammography, but instead augments
Sturdy’s imaging arsenal for detecting breast
cancers in early stages.
“In the community hospital setting,
Sturdy is ahead of the curve in obtaining
this new and exciting technology,” says
Dr. Kenneth Kaplan, Chief of Radiology and
board certified Radiologist.
3D Mammography, which takes numerous
images of each breast, allows for 3D image
reconstruction of the breast tissue and
appears to be most useful in women with
mammographically dense breasts. “This
enables radiologists to identify very small
and/or subtle masses and distortions that
might otherwise have been mammography
occult, or hidden, on conventional digital
mammograms,” says Dr. Kaplan. In a large
retrospective study published in the Journal
of the American Medical Association (JAMA),
3D Mammography was shown to increase the
detection rate of invasive breast cancers by up
to 41 percent, reduce false positives by up to
40 percent, and reduce the number of women
called back for additional imaging by up to 15
percent.
“The goal of screening mammography
is early detection of breast cancer to allow
for more treatment options and better
treatment outcomes,” says Dr. Kaplan. “3D
Mammography will provide a significant
step forward in the breast cancer screening
process.”
*A 3D Mammography Open House will
be held Thursday, February 26 from
4 - 6pm in the Imaging Department at
the Hospital. To register, please call
508-236-8019.
Radiation Oncology Center
in Mansfield, Massachusetts:
Name Change & Collaboration
Also last fall, Sturdy announced a new
collaboration—Brigham and Women’s/
Sturdy Memorial Radiation Oncology
Center—at 89 Forbes Boulevard in
Mansfield. The site, previously operated
by Sturdy and Shields Health Care Group,
has established a collaboration between
Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Sturdy
Memorial Hospital and enhances access to
state-of-the-art radiation treatment and
patient care.
The patient-centered care team is
comprised of board certified radiation
oncologists, skilled radiation therapists
and physicists, and highly trained nurses.
The practice, which shares the procedures,
resources, expertise, and the highest
standards of quality assurance between the
hospitals, can be reached at 857-307-3700.
Employee Influenza Vaccination Compliance Rate of 99 Percent (one of three hospitals
in Massachusetts to achieve this designation)
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Honor Roll “With Distinction” – Sturdy
Affiliated Physicians
Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) Hepatitis B Honor Roll (Maternity Unit achieved
one of the highest reported rates in Massachusetts for protecting newborns from hepatitis B)
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Breastfeeding Achievement Award
New England Society for Healthcare Communications (NESHCo) Gold Lamplighter
Award for Sturdy’s 100th Anniversary Campaign
Nursing Leadership and Advocacy – Marita Prater,Vice President for Patient Services
and Chief Nursing Officer, Received the Mary B. Conceison Award for Excellence in
Nursing Leadership and The Janet Madigan Advocacy Award
The Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures®
The Leapfrog Group “A” Hospital Safety Score
Corporate Member
American Association of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehab (AACVPR)
American Hospital Association
Massachusetts Association of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehab (MACVPR)
Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors
Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals
Massachusetts Department of Public Health – Southeastern Massachusetts (Region 5)
Emergency Preparedness Consortium
Massachusetts Hospital Association
The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, FDA Certified Mammography Facility
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report | 13
{
“I’m still in awe at the excellent care I received in
the Emergency Care Center, from start to finish.
Everyone was so wonderful to me and
my husband. They explained everything to me
with care and patience, and respect for privacy.”
– Hope C.
}
LEADERSHIP
and management
Board Members 2014
to a health crisis
RESPONDING
Sometimes we have fair warning. Like the
summer of 2014, when the news of Ebola in
West Africa reached crisis proportions. Or
every June, when hurricane season officially
starts as well as each fall, when flu season
begins. When we get wind of impending
storms and epidemics we have time to prepare
for these particular threats. But whether or
not we have advance notice, Sturdy Memorial
Hospital has a responsibility to our patients,
community residents, and staff to respond to
public health crises.
That’s why we continually prepare for
possible scenarios.
What exactly is a public health crisis?
Really, it’s any situation or disaster that bears
health consequences with the potential
to overwhelm one or more geographic
areas, necessitating emergency medical
response. Examples include outbreaks of
infectious diseases such as influenza and
Ebola; severe weather and natural disasters;
food, water, or air contamination; chemical,
radiologic, nuclear, or explosive disasters; and
bioterrorism and terrorist attacks.
“In Sturdy’s community, our highest
vulnerabilities are weather disasters such
as severe thunderstorms and blizzards,”
says Dr. Brian Patel, Associate Chief of the
Emergency Care Center. “Other priorities
are influenza and Ebola—though the risk to
us has been very low—as well as chemical
disasters, infrastructure failures, and
information systems (IS) malfunctions. And
we are always prepared for potential mass
casualty incidents, given our close proximity
to Interstate 95 as well as the Xfinity Center
in Mansfield and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
Concert and sports venues can be scenes for
moshing, crowd surfing, and drug and alcohol
use and overdoses.”
Sturdy’s preparedness efforts are founded
in our Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs).
“The Plans detail organized approaches
to managing potential disasters that may
arise and involve prevention, mitigation,
and recovery activities, allowing us to
respond efficiently and effectively,” says
David Denneno, APRN-BC, MSN, MEd,
CEN, Resource Specialist & Emergency
Preparedness Coordinator. “We have more
specific strategies and procedures in place for
the scenarios that have a higher probability
of occurring in our area as delineated by our
hazard vulnerability analysis.”
Regular education on the disaster
plans, which are continually reviewed and
updated, happens among all Hospital staff
so that everyone stays informed of response
protocols. “However, just as if not more
important is experience, which is enhanced
by regular drilling and continual practice
among all staff,” says Maureen Metters, MS,
RN, Director of Emergency and Ambulatory
Services. “For instance, Sturdy has conducted
drills on chemical disasters and appropriate
decontamination of these patients,
management of a high volume of influenza
patients, and identification and management
of Ebola patients.” These drills also test the
efficacy of the EOPs.
“While we routinely plan, train, and
practice,” says Denneno, “we also ensure
solid communication and relationships
with external response agencies and
organizations.” Sturdy is a member of the
Southeastern Massachusetts, or Region 5,
Emergency Preparedness Consortium, which
14 | STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report
meets monthly. “What this facilitates is our
collaboration with other hospitals within our
region, and mutual aid should a significant
health crisis necessitate outside assistance.”
“If, for example,” says Dr. Patel, “Sturdy
experiences an influx of influenza patients
where our resources begin to be strained and
we need further assistance with appropriately
managing these patients, we would ask for
external support, and vice versa.”
Sturdy also collaborates with the
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
(MDPH) as needed, based on crisis severity.
According to Dr. Patel, “During times of
public health crises, we remain in close
communication with the MDPH, as we have
done with, for example, weekly calls regarding
Ebola preparedness as well as situation
updates via email during influenza outbreaks
and the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.”
Area residents can have confidence in
Sturdy’s readiness to respond to public health
crises. Part of that response is communicating
with our neighbors so they too can be notified
of situations pertinent to their lives and
localities. Sturdy uses mediums including our
own website (www.sturdymemorial.org) to
disseminate this information.
Community members should also use
trusted resources provided by the MDPH
(www.mass.gov) as well as the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention or CDC
(www.cdc.gov), rather than the media, for
accurate, updated, and reliable statewide and
national health news. Staying informed helps
build community resiliency in the face of
public health crises.
SHV, Inc.
Officers
Karen Bodell
President
Catherine White
Chairman & Treasurer
Betty Larson
Clerk
Board Members
Marco Arismendi
Bruce Auerbach, MD
Betty Larson
Raymond Petit, MD
Leonard Pinault
Christopher Sweet
Max Volterra
Sturdy Memorial
Associates, Inc.
Officers
Mark Robbin, MD
President
Joseph Casey
Treasurer
Pamela Miale
Clerk
Board Members
Bruce Auerbach, MD
Steven Bensson, MD
Pamela Miale
Timothy O’Neill
Mark Robbin, MD
Richard Smith, MD
Robert Thresher
Sturdy Memorial
Associates, Inc.
Management
Bruce Auerbach, MD
President & Chief
Executive Officer
Cheryl Barrows
Vice President for
Human Resources
Joseph Casey
Treasurer & Chief
Financial Officer
Steven Frank, DO
Medical Director
Lisa McCluskie
Chief Marketing &
Planning Officer
Pamela Miale
Chief Operating Officer
Sturdy Memorial
Foundation, Inc.
Board of Directors
Officers
Ralph Schlenker
President
Timothy O’Neill
Vice President &
Chairman of the Board
Mark Robbin, MD
Treasurer
Richard DiGiacomo
Clerk
Board Members
Bruce Auerbach, MD
Patricia Cochrane
Frank Cook
Richard DiGiacomo
Mayor Kevin Dumas
Greg Kayata
Donna Kimmel
John Korona
Timothy O’Neill
Mark Robbin, MD
Carlos Rueda, MD
Ethel Sandbach
Ralph Schlenker
Thomas Sprague
Robert Thresher
Michael Thursby, DO
Catherine White
Mark Young, MD
Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Board of Managers
Officers
Timothy O’Neill
Chairman of the Board
Joseph Casey
Treasurer
Richard DiGiacomo
Clerk
Board Members
Bruce Auerbach, MD
Patricia Cochrane
Frank Cook
Richard DiGiacomo
Mayor Kevin Dumas
Greg Kayata
Donna Kimmel
John Korona
Timothy O’Neill
Mark Robbin, MD
Carlos Rueda, MD
Ethel Sandbach
Ralph Schlenker
Thomas Sprague
Robert Thresher
Michael Thursby, DO
Catherine White
Mark Young, MD
Sturdy Memorial
Hospital
Medical Staff 2014
Executive Committee
Steven Frank, DO
President & Chair
Jean Siddall-Bensson, MD
Vice President
Michael Thursby, DO
Immediate Past President
Jonathan Shapiro, MD
Secretary/Treasurer
Carlos Rueda, MD
Medical Director
Brian Kelly, MD
Ambulatory Care
Mark Lebovits, MD
Anesthesiology
Joseph DiCola, MD
Cardiology
John Biernacki, DMD
Dentistry
Steven Frank, DO
Family Practice
Kenneth Kaplan, MD
Imaging
Glenn Tucker, MD
Internal Medicine
Lawrence Greb, MD
Obstetrics/Gynecology
J. Jeffrey Poggi, MD
Orthopedics
Richard Smith, MD
Pathology
Bradford Germain, MD
Pediatrics
Marcy Bernstein, MD
Surgery
Marco Dirks, MD
At-Large Member
Heather Hardie, MD
At-Large Member
George Waters, MD
At-Large Member
Bruce Auerbach, MD
President & Chief
Executive Officer
(Ex Officio)
Sturdy Memorial
Hospital
Senior Management
Bruce Auerbach, MD
President & Chief
Executive Officer
Carlos Rueda, MD
Vice President, Medical
Director & Chief
Medical Officer
Cheryl Barrows
Vice President for
Human Resources
Joseph Casey
Treasurer & Chief
Financial Officer
William Florentino
Chief Development
Officer of the Sturdy
Memorial Foundation
Brian Kelly, MD
Chief of Ambulatory
Care/Emergency
Medicine
Lisa McCluskie
Chief Marketing &
Planning Officer
Robin Morris
Vice President for
Clinical Services &
Integrity Officer
Marita Prater
Vice President for
Patient Care Services &
Chief Nursing Officer
We welcome your comments and suggestions on
issues or services. Please send them in writing to:
Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Attn: Public Relations Dept.
P.O. Box 2963
211 Park Street
Attleboro, MA 02703
www.sturdymemorial.org
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2014 Annual Report | 15
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
AMAZING MEDICINE
SURPRISINGLY CLOSE
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