In 2023, the Cayuga Health team produced unprecedented expansion opportunities to provide more comprehensive, locally focused, patient-oriented care to our communities. Read about these endeavors and more in the pages that follow.
This past year, we welcomed more than 60 new physicians and advance practice providers caring for our communities under the Cayuga Health banner. The medical group expansion included practice acquisitions: Family Medicine Associates; Dryden Family Medicine; and Ithaca Plastic Surgery. We are also pleased to have extended Cayuga Health System expertise in several specialties including anesthesiology, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, oncology, neurology and urology.
Outpatient practice space grew by 20,000 square feet of new space in Cortland in February 2023 and an additional 65,000 square feet in a brand-new five-story medical office building, “Cayuga Park,” which opened in downtown Ithaca in the fall. Both were built with patient and employee communication, well-being and experience at the forefront of design.
Cayuga Health launched an innovative approach to emergency medical services in partnership with the Schuyler County Legislature. Schuyler EMS has already created a measurable improvement in response times for those needing care in Schuyler County.
Our focus has reached beyond who and where to how care is delivered. The Nursing and Patient Services teams developed a care model—or framework—that places the heart of their daily work around six values that support person-centered care regardless of setting or functional role. Another example: Cayuga Health Partners was recognized by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for accomplishments in building partnerships to address health-related social needs and improve health equity—a major emphasis of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program.
We are so grateful to the community for giving Cayuga Health votes of confidence with a record-breaking year for fundraising. We publicly announced our Transforming Care Campaign in the fall with more than $4 million pledged toward cancer care, workforce development and Seneca View renovations.
Simultaneous to these tremendous efforts, we have made significant investments and progress on our journey to become a more sophisticated Integrated Delivery Network. In 2024, expect to see new innovative relationships with diverse partner organizations. By 2025, we will launch a new electronic medical record that connects all of Cayuga Health’s caretakers on one system and creates a seamless experience for patients at any Cayuga Health location.
We offer a hearty thanks and congratulations to the Cayuga Health team for a year of astounding accomplishments. We have no doubt that you will continue to set ambitious goals and achieve them with our shared determination to serve our patients and create value for our community.
Sincerely,
Martin Stallone, MD
Tom LiVigne President and CEO, Cayuga Health Chair, Cayuga Health Board of Directors
1 Message From Leadership
2023 was an exceptional year for Cayuga Health and the communities we serve.
2 Growing to Better Serve Our Communities
Cayuga Health is constantly evolving to provide patients with the best possible care.
4 Expert Cancer Care Close to Home
Comprehensive, local treatment leads to a successful outcome for a Cayuga Cancer Center patient.
5 Our Impact in Numbers
Statistics show the breadth and depth of Cayuga Health’s caring.
7 A Year of Recognition
We put our patients first, and it shows.
8 Supporting Diversity
How we’re building inclusivity for our patients and staff.
10 Philanthropy
Tom Seaman’s gift: A legacy of love | Brenda WarrenFitch, steadfast volunteer for the Schuyler Health Foundation, Cayuga Health staff member and Schuyler County resident. | Thanks to the generosity of donors, the Cayuga Cancer Center will raise the level of care our patients receive. | CMC Gala and November Splendor
14 Nursing Initiatives Improve Patient Care
The commitment and dedication of our nursing staff and our attention to patient comfort set us apart.
17 Welcome New Practitioners
MISSION STATEMENT
Cayuga Health
System will remain the region’s leading healthcare system, and most trusted driver of integrated health services, together with valued partners. We empower our people and employ our capabilities to equitably improve the well-being of the communities we serve.
On the Cover:
Carol Berlin, MD, Timothy Kujawski, PA, Hannah Potts, NP, and Heather Sabo, PA, are among the providers and staff excited to be seeing patients in the new state-of-the-art Cayuga Park facility near the Ithaca waterfront.
FROM NEW MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDINGS TO NEW SPECIALTY SERVICES, CAYUGA HEALTH IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING TO PROVIDE PATIENTS WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE.
In keeping with our mission to equitably improve the well-being of the communities we serve, Cayuga Health added exciting new facilities and services in 2023. We’re proud to highlight them on these two pages.
Cayuga Park
After just over two years of construction, Cayuga Park opened in the fall along State Route 13 in Ithaca. With plentiful parking and bus access, the state-of-the-art facility is adjacent to the inlet and near the downtown. This brand-new medical office building features:
l Natural light and a warm ambiance
l Onstage, offstage care for calmer patient experience
l Consolidated services, allowing for more efficient care The facility consolidates into one location a number of services, including:
l Cayuga Women’s Health
l Cayuga Immediate Care (with increased hours)
l Cayuga Primary Care Family Medicine
l Coming soon: Cayuga Cancer Center
Cortland Tompkins Street
In March, Cayuga Health opened a new physician office building at 260 Tompkins Street in Cortland. The new location
consolidates several of Cayuga Health’s Cortland and Homer locations, providing a new level of convenience and efficiency for patients.
The new state-of-the-art facility hosts Cayuga Health’s primary care with integrated behavioral health services, cardiology, neurology, surgery, pulmonology, ENT (ears, nose and throat), occupational medicine and sleep practices. The facility will also include lab services.
Several practices—Cayuga Orthopedics Cortland office, Cayuga Orthopedics Walk-in Care, Cayuga Sports Medicine and Cayuga Pain Management—remain at their current location at 1122 Commons Ave.
Schuyler EMS
In January, Schuyler County and Cayuga Health launched full operations of Schuyler Emergency Medical Service (EMS), operated by Cayuga Health Transport.
The contract between the county and health system provides increased access to ambulance and other emergency medical services for local residents. The goals for the service staffed by emergency medical technicians and paramedics include quick response times, quality care, operational efficiency, sustainability and innovation. Schuyler EMS has been met with favorable public response and successfully met
benchmarks in its first year.
Schuyler EMS ambulances are dispatched through the county 911 system from stations in Watkins Glen, Odessa and Tyrone.
In March, Cayuga Health formally affiliated with Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (CARS).
After working in partnership with CARS for many years, this new affiliation enhances access and continuity of care for those with substance use disorders.
CARS offers outpatient and residential substance use disorder services, an opioid treatment program and a comprehensive, longerterm residential treatment program for men at the 60-bed Residential Addiction Recovery Center in Trumansburg.
In June, Dryden Family Medicine became part of Cayuga Medical Associates (CMA), bringing together two well-respected organizations and expanding quality care to the community.
Led by Howard Silcoff, MD, and Mason Sopchak, DO, the practice has earned an excellent reputation for delivering outstanding medical care. The new practice continues to provide comprehensive care to patients while maintaining personalized attention and compassion.
diagnosis. Rebecca Hamilton, RN, Director of 4 North Medical and 4 South Telemetry at Cayuga Medical Center, oversees the EMU’s operation. She and her team watch patients closely, ensuring that they are not finding the monitoring too stressful. The team encourages patients to bring a friend or family member so that someone is always with them.
“One of the goals of the program is to capture seizures on the EEG and through imaging,” Hamilton says. “For example, using those tools, Dr. Correll was able to correct a decade-old misdiagnosis of a patient with intellectual disability and severe cerebral palsy. She found that this patient didn’t have epilepsy after all. Her movements were the result of her cerebral palsy, a finding that was a relief to her family.”
Ithaca Plastic Surgery with Dr. David Monacelli joined Cayuga Health in August, bringing plastic surgery to the health system.
Located on Brentwood Drive, Cayuga Plastic Surgery provides both medically necessary and aesthetic surgical procedures.
In September, Cayuga Health welcomed urologist Dr. Jason Cohen, filling an unmet need for urology services in the community.
Based at Cayuga Medical Center, Dr. Cohen offers advanced urologic care, including medical and surgical options. Dr. Cohen’s safe, effective treatments use the most advanced technology, with robotic-assisted procedures, holmium laser treatments and incisionless techniques. His goals are to minimize pain, shorten recovery times and improve quality of life for his patients.
Cayuga Medical Center’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) opened in July and has already made a difference in the lives of numerous patients. Under the direction of Cynthia Correll, MD, a neurologist with expertise in epilepsy, the unit serves patients who need round-the-clock monitoring for a few days to adjust medications, identify the location of seizures or confirm a
Dr. Cohen’s focus areas include: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia treatments, elevated Prostate-Specific Antigens, hematuria, incontinence, kidney stones, erectile dysfunction, prostate and kidney cancers, vasectomy, bladder cancer and robotic prostatectomy. Dr. Melanie McNally joined Cayuga Urology in February 2024.
In the winter of 2020, Michael Bartone was feeling under the weather and decided to go see a doctor. At the time, he was in Sarasota, Florida, where he spends the winter, away from the cold in his hometown of Watkins Glen, New York.
He thought he had a sinus infection, but his problem turned out to be much more serious.
“The doctor in Sarasota found a polyp and referred me to a physician in Syracuse, who made the cancer diagnosis,” Bartone recalls. “I went to Cayuga Cancer Center in Ithaca, near my home. I was familiar with the Center and knew I would receive top-notch care.”
The news from the oncology team at the Cayuga Cancer Center was sobering. They diagnosed Bartone with stage 4 nonHodgkin’s lymphoma, which had started in his nose and spread to his colon—a rare occurrence. The doctors recommended that Bartone start chemotherapy as soon as possible.
Bartone, now 73, knew that he had a long road of treatment ahead, so before he embarked on that journey, he decided to get a second opinion. He went to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. “The doctors there confirmed the diagnosis. They told me that the documentation provided by Cayuga Cancer Center was among the best they had ever seen. I went home reassured and ready to go.”
As he suspected, chemotherapy was a long, intense process. His regimen lasted six months, and he went for an infusion every three weeks. Thankfully, he didn’t have to travel far for his followup appointments. “I was able to go to Schuyler Hospital, which is only five minutes from my house,” says Bartone. “That made my life easier, especially since I was often tired from the chemo.”
Just when Bartone thought his treatment was nearing the end, he experienced a serious setback. The doctors noticed something on a brain scan that they thought looked like a tumor. The team wanted him to have chemo injections directly into his spine, which Bartone found frightening.
“I didn’t want to do it, but a physician assistant, Avery Marzulla, persuaded me to go forward with the treatment. She was with me every step of the way. I was very grateful for her support,” Bartone says.
Fortunately, Bartone is in remission. He goes back to Cayuga Cancer Center every six months for blood tests and scans. Marzulla and oncologist Timothy Bael, MD, Medical Director at the Center, monitor his posttreatment surveillance.
“Skilled providers at the local hospital meant that I could stay home during treatment,” says Bartone. “That meant the world to me.”
Along with many other patients, Bartone is on a new phase of his cancer journey—survivorship. Hannah Potts, PhD, Nurse Practitioner and Coordinator of the Survivorship Program, has been building this program, with an emphasis on meeting patients’ needs. “That could include physical therapy, nutrition support, or group therapy,” she says. “We also develop treatment plans that identify post-treatment care. We are locally focused and are proud that we can offer so many services in our community.”
THREE
URGENT and IMMEDIATE CARE CENTERS PROVIDERS in network throughout Cayuga Health’s service areas
Cayuga Addiction and Recovery Network
l $675 million economic impact in 2023.
l 8% increase over 2022 impact.
l Our hospitals generate more than 3,500 local jobs. Schuyler Hospital in Montour Falls is the largest employer in Schuyler County, and Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca is the second largest employer in Tompkins County.
l Cayuga Health invested more than $117 million in community benefit (based on a report released by the Healthcare Association of New York State).
IN 2023, STAFF THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM MANAGED :
1.4 MILLION+
886,665 PATIENT VISITS
VISITS across the network
OUTPATIENT Visits:
565,104
INPATIENT Days:
33,053
8,094 had
URGENT CARE Visits:
21,359
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS:
39,363
SURGICAL Visits: (inpatient and outpatient)
AtCayuga Health, we strive to continuously improve the quality of the care we provide and to make sure that healthcare is readily available to everyone in our communities. It’s gratifying to be recognized by national organizations for our efforts. Read on to learn more about the awards we received in 2023.
Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) was recognized as a four-star hospital by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In addition, CMC received four stars for patient experience. CMC is the only healthcare facility in the region to receive four stars or better for both the overall and patient experience scores.
The overall rating summarizes a variety of measures on common conditions that hospitals treat, like heart attacks or pneumonia. CMS considers whether or not a healthcare provider gives recommended treatment based on
standards of care and evaluates the outcomes of all treatments provided.
CMC has received the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Gold Plus Award for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and lifesaving care. This quality achievement attests to CMC’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
CMC earned the American Stroke Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a two-year period.
CMC also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most upto-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
Both CMC and Schuyler Hospital (SH) were recognized for fair share spending by the Lown Institute
Based on 2020 tax records, the Lown Institute determined that both CMC and SH had a “fair share” surplus in 2020, which means we spent more on financial assistance and community investment than the estimated value of our tax exemption.
CMC was recognized with the Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™ by Healthgrades. The award acknowledges hospitals throughout the United States that deliver superior patient outcomes in coronary intervention procedures. Procedures include angioplasty with stent. CMC was among just 170 hospitals in the country recognized.
U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, designated CMC as one of just eight 2024 High Performing Hospitals for Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) in New York State. This is the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
CMC earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by objective measures of quality. These include C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, early elective delivery rates, birthing-friendly practices and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.
HOW WE’RE BUILDING INCLUSIVITY FOR OUR PATIENTS AND STAFF.
At Cayuga Health, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are strategic priorities, and when they are incorporated into everything we do, all of us thrive. We are committed to building a house of diversity, equity and inclusion, where we provide the highest quality care for all patients, create a sense of belonging for all employees and support the healthiest communities.
An astute nurse recognized that skin and hair products at our hospitals did not reflect the needs of Black and Brown populations, a significant gap.
“For Black and Brown people, hair is an important symbol of cultural identification and is used to reflect moods, taste and spiritual affiliation,” says Chief Nursing Officer Naph’tali (Tali) Edge. “Once we recognized the problem, we contacted Herb Alexander, Chief Diversity Officer, and the DEI committee to bring these products to our community.
“These additions proved to be very important to our patients,” says Edge. “They further support people in our care, improve their confidence and enhance the patient experience.”
With the number of available nurses decreasing, we are starting to work with international nurses, who bring many benefits to our health system.
“There is evidence that suggests that the quality of care for patients from underrepresented groups improves when the providers look like they do,” says Edge. “The bottom line is that we want to execute our mission to provide equitable care. This effort is moving us in that direction.”
To encourage dialogue and offer support among diverse staff members, we have launched two Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
The LGBTQ+ ERG launched in 2023, and the ERG for Black and Brown Healthcare Workers rolled out in the beginning of 2024, with additional ERGs in the works.
At Cayuga Health, person-centered care is a guiding principle for change. To achieve “person-centeredness,” our team began by looking at policies and processes through a health equity lens.
“From an organizational standpoint, we ask ourselves if any of our policies and processes inadvertently create barriers to care,” explains Reyna Florentino, Assistant Vice President of Quality, Accreditation, and Performance Improvement. “We recognize that culture change is hard and takes time,” says Florentino. “But we are committed to staying on this path to create an environment where patients know that our team is there for them and will heal with them.”
Learn more at www.cayugahealth.org/about/ diversity-equity-and-inclusion
Our diversity, equity and inclusion team has developed many programs that bring important benefits to patients, staff and the communities we serve.
In partnership with Respectful, Equitable Access to Compassionate Healthcare (REACH) Medical, Cayuga Health is training resident physicians and nursing students from Tompkins Cortland Community College on topics like health equity, social determinants of health, and addiction medicine as part of the Rural Health Equity Training Collaborative.
Jennifer Gil-Rai, MD, Health Equity Curriculum Specialist, explains, “One of our goals is to build trust with community partners. From the feedback we’ve received from students, we’re making progress in training more knowledgeable and empathetic clinicians.”
Cayuga Health also partners with the Ithaca College Physician Assistants (PAs) Program. This program helps students understand that there is no “one size fits all” in medicine.
Training includes social determinants of health, gender diversity and strategies to address implicit bias.
“The program is in its infancy, but we have the full support of the leadership team,” says PA student Jordan Beckley. “We are working alongside Cayuga Health to build a more equitable community.”
We are committed to improving the health of our community by addressing health disparities. This begins with accurate demographic information, including race, ethnicity, gender identity and other factors.
We launched the “We Ask Because We Care” campaign to help explain to patients why we were asking these questions and to train staff on the best practices for gathering and using this information.
Not only will this information help us provide culturally competent care, but it can also help us improve population health (see below).
Cayuga Health has been able to use demographic data to create a comprehensive health equity dashboard that can show gaps in care and track our progress to close them.
For example, we can see how many patients have received mammograms and if there are any differences across factors like race, language, sexual orientation, etc.
“What’s exciting about this work is that we can track in real time how we’re doing on a range of quality measures,” says Amy Carver, Assistant Vice President, Clinical Integration & Population Health. “With this information, we can address disparities through targeted interventions.”
Since 2021, Cayuga Health has partnered with the Human Services Coalition to identify patients with unmet social needs, such as food insecurity, housing instability or childcare concerns, and then connect them with community resources. By the end of 2023, more than 26,000 screenings have been conducted across seven primary care practices.
Lara Parrilla, Manager of Community and Academic Partnerships at Cayuga Health Partners (CHP), says, “By the end of the year, we expect all 18 primary care practices that are part of CHP to participate in the program, raising the number of patients screened to 60,000. This could result in as many as 13,000 referrals.”
A transformation grant from New York State is helping to enhance our technology and increase the number of organizations in the referral network.
Schuyler Hospital has also started screening for the social needs of patients in the Emergency Department.
“We’re still working on developing our referral network, but those who identified an unmet social need will receive a call from a navigator to discuss where they can go for help,” explains Jackie Collins, Clinical Informatics and Quality Incentive Specialist. “We’re also partnering with NY Connects, a group that can refer people to appropriate social service agencies. Representatives from NY Connects are sitting in our clinic one day a week to be available to our patients.”
Working with Cornell University and the local Cooperative Extension, prehealth and premed students from marginalized communities, those who are first-generation, and students of color are working as social navigators.
An unexpected outcome of the program is that the Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University has turned the training component into a course about social care navigation. “The benefit for us is that we’re able to scale up the program relatively quickly,” says Parrilla. “We’ve found that navigators are so important. They bridge the gap between physicians, who often don’t have time to talk, and patients, who have big problems they don’t know how to solve. Patients end up feeling understood and valued. We’re pleased that we’re able to meet the needs of patients in multiple ways.”
As part of our health equity work, we were pleased that Cayuga Health Partners (CHP) was presented with the inaugural Circle of Excellence Health Equity Award from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. CHP was recognized for its creation of a closed-loop referral process that, in partnership with Human Services Coalition community health advocates, integrates social needs screening, connects patients directly to local resources in the community, and provides direct feedback back to providers. By addressing unmet social needs, CHP is taking steps to address major barriers to health and well-being for vulnerable populations in the community.
Tom Seaman’s gift ensures cancer patients will continue to have access to world-class care
close to home.
Thomas Seaman made a multi-year commitment of $1 million to the Cayuga Medical Center Foundation to support the Cayuga Cancer Center. This generous gift, one of the largest ever made to Cayuga Health, was made in loving memory of Seaman’s wife, Jean Seaman, who received care from the Cayuga team.
Seaman and his family are longtime residents of Tompkins County. Seaman spends time in Vero Beach, Florida, but still considers Trumansburg home. The Seamans were initially recruited to Ithaca in 1959 by BorgWarner. They then had stops in Detroit and the United Kingdom before returning in 1969.
After serving as General Manager and overseeing the construction of the new plant in Lansing, Seaman left BorgWarner and has been involved with many business ventures, including real estate development.
Together the Seamans raised four children: Pat, Jay, Kate and Tom. With this much history, the family developed a tight bond with this community.
“Enhancing the capabilities of Cayuga Health, particularly its cancer care, to better serve the community is a worthwhile goal and one that the Seaman family is pleased to contribute toward,” said Seaman. “This is a way to honor Jean’s memory in a manner that supports the health system’s efforts to care for a community and region that is so important to us.”
“The support Mr. Seaman and the entire Seaman family are providing will have a meaningful and
Brenda Warren-FItch, a Schuyler County resident, is a steadfast volunteer for the Schuyler Health Foundation and a member of the Cayuga Health staff.
long-term positive impact on our patients and the cancer care we can provide,” shared Dr. Timothy Bael, Medical Director for Oncology Services at Cayuga Health. “This investment will help to ensure that we continue to have the equipment and facilities to support the needs of our patients.”
The funds from this generous commitment will secure equipment that improves the patient experience during diagnosis or treatment. These include vascular access, imaging and surgical treatment.
For a number of the past 10 years, Brenda Warren-Fitch has served as Chair of the Board for the Schuyler Health Foundation, providing firm leadership to ensure a steady stream of funding for Schuyler Hospital and Seneca View Skilled Nursing Facility. Her leadership coincides with the affiliation of Schuyler Hospital with Cayuga Medical Center, a collaboration that continues to grow and thrive. Warren-Fitch is no stranger to the local community or Cayuga Health. “I grew up in Watkins Glen and have been a radiology technologist with Cayuga Medical Center since 1997,” she says. “Because I worked on the employee campaign for Cayuga Medical Center and was familiar with Schuyler Hospital, I was recruited for the Board. My mentor, Ken Wilson, was the founder of the original Health Foundation in 1987, and he has rejoined the Board in recent years.”
Board members are volunteers, but they take their role seriously, working hard to govern foundation operations and provide strategic direction. Over the years, there has been a steady increase in donations, something that can be credited, in part, to Foundation Board members like Warren-Fitch, who care for the hospital and the crucial role it plays in their home community.
Housed in the new Cayuga Park building, the Cayuga Cancer Center will raise the level of care our patients receive.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Transforming Care Campaign has raised more than $4 million for a variety of projects (see sidebar), including $2.52 million for the new 11,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Cayuga Cancer Center, on the third floor of the newly constructed Cayuga Park. Located on the waterfront, the building has met the highest architectural standards, including excellent air quality and light and design features with patients’ comfort and well-being in mind.
Numerous gifts from donors have enabled us to provide the following:
n The new Cayuga Cancer Center will offer a unique experience for patients, starting with an expanded waiting room that is more accessible and easier to maneuver in.
n The large exam rooms feature the newest equipment to improve comfort and offer better access for those with decreased mobility. The increase in the number of exam rooms provides smoother transitions between patients to
decrease patient wait times while offering space for extended education and counseling visits when needed.
n A chemotherapy suite boasts an expanded footprint and 16 chemo stations with improved privacy and flow for nurses to safely and efficiently care for patients during treatment. Best-in-class chemotherapy chairs offer the most comfort possible with heat and massage included.
“The generosity and support of our community are allowing us to further develop and create access to advanced cancer care for Ithaca and the southern tier in a comfortable and patientcentered clinical space,” says Timothy Bael, MD, Medical Director for Oncology Services, Cayuga Health System. “Our state-of-the-art facilities at Cayuga Park allow us to continue to expand the exceptional care we provide along every step of the cancer journey. This more and more includes advanced diagnostics, targeted and immune cancer therapy, genetic tumor profiling, genetic counseling and access to clinical trials.”
The Transforming Care Campaign for Cayuga Health launched in 2022 and has targeted several initiatives for patients across the region. The most ambitious part of the campaign has been the construction of a new building that houses our state-of-theart Cancer Center in Ithaca (at left).
Other projects underway include:
n Improving the activities spaces at Seneca View and adding services such as aromatherapy, crafts and music therapy.
n Modernizing the elevator at Seneca View.
n Renovating a hair salon in Seneca View.
n Increasing opportunities for professional development and education throughout the system.
n Supporting initiatives to attract and retain top-tier talent.
Cayuga Health organized two highly successful fundraising events in the fall of 2023, the CMC Gala and November Splendor, to support its ongoing healthcare initiatives. Guests were treated to a live auction, raffles, exquisite cuisine, entertainment and inspiring speeches highlighting the impact of their contributions.
Both events garnered tremendous community support, raising significant funds to enhance local healthcare. Proceeds from the events will support the Transforming Care Campaign. Cayuga Health expresses gratitude for the overwhelming support received during these events for both the Schuyler Health and Cayuga Medical Center Foundation.
The Cayuga Medical Center Foundation Gala was held at the Inn at Taughannock Falls on October 13. The Cayuga Medical Center Medical Staff, Triad Foundation, Tompkins Community Bank, Harris Beach PLLC & HOLT Architects graciously sponsored the event. Our Gala committee was led by the fantastic co-chairs Bonita Lindberg and Lisa LiVigne!
Planning support was provided by CRN E vents. Francis Audio provided sound, lighting and video production. Music was provided by Splash Band. Flowers were by Willow Floral Studios. Glassware was donated by Cooley Group, and bespoke glass star ornaments were handmade by Lisa Burns Studio. Photos by Gary Hodges.
November Splendor was a fun night benefiting the Schuyler Health Foundation on November 4. The band Shine—new to the event this year— was loved by all who attended. We were excited to bring back the live auction this year, in addition to a silent action. Also new this year: a ring raffle and a Red, White and Bubbly wine pull. In addition, we auctioned off the sustainable centerpieces.
Attendees enjoyed winning something to take home to grace their fall tables. The Harbor Hotel presented a wonderful festivity and meal. Thank you to MarCom’s Caitlin Murphy for serving as our photographer for the evening.
AtCayuga Health, our nurses are at the heart of the care we provide. They have unique insight into patient needs and are an integral part of our efforts to continuously improve. Our nurses make the difference by embodying the spirit of compassion and leading the way in delivering evidence-based, quality care. In 2023, our nursing teams implemented many impactful initiatives to improve our community’s health and well-being. Key programs are outlined in this section.
In a significant step toward our ongoing Zero Suicide commitment in 2023, Cayuga Health implemented essential screening and safety protocols demonstrating our dedication to proactive mental health support and suicide prevention within our health system.
•Suicide Risk Screening: The Columbia Suicide Screening Risk tool is now standard practice for all patients.
•Safety Plans: Patients at moderate to high risk for suicide receive personalized Suicide Protection Safety Plans, including aftercare recommendations.
•Depression Screening: Screenings identify patients with moderate- to highrisk mental health status, with tailored follow-up plans.
As part of our commitment to effective opioid risk management in acute care, Nursing Patient Care Services implemented the standard of care for opioid risk/ misuse screening by utilizing the validated Brief Risk Questionnaire.
• Proactive Screening: The Brief Risk Questionnaire assesses opioid risk factors for patients aged 18 and older across multiple units.
• Compassionate Communication: Nurses are trained to support patients and help them minimize negative feelings during screenings.
This ongoing initiative aligns with our patient safety focus, ensuring responsible opioid use and preventing potential harm, while also maintaining compliance with Joint Commission standards.
Cayuga Health rolled out a clinical pathway for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Under the leadership of Lavanya Kodali, MD, physician lead for COPD, and Elizabeth Clarke, System Nursing Administration Coordinator, the program has gotten off to a strong start, resulting in state-of-the-art care for a growing number of COPD patients.
“Think of a clinical pathway as a roadmap to providing interdisciplinary care to patients following evidence-based treatment guidelines, which merge the latest research with clinical care,” explains Clarke. “The pathway monitors all aspects of care, including time spent in the hospital, the role of members of the multidisciplinary care team, and how to communicate effectively with patients.”
The pathway also incorporates education strategies that improve patient outcomes and experience. “Patients are on the right path when they understand their condition and treatment, know how to monitor it and have a common language for communication with their care team,” says Clarke.
Our hospitals saw a significant reduction in patient falls by aligning falls prevention policies, standard work and protocols. Compared to 2022, total falls decreased by 28 percent. Even more impressive, falls with injury declined by 37 percent.
This achievement is attributed to the Falls Prevention Committee’s detailed analysis of incident reports and identifying risk factors and trends. Key tactics include:
• Red Rounds: Consistent use of “red rounds”—with a focus on fall prevention—ensures that proper safety precautions are in place for patients considered at high risk.
• Post-Fall Huddles: In-depth debriefs uncover improvement opportunities.
• Comprehensive Documentation facilitates trend analysis and intervention evaluation.
• Staff Education: Ongoing training reinforces best practices.
Cayuga Health’s nursing teams developed a care model based on values focused on person-centered care: communicate, engage, excel, care and empower. Clinical staff use the Professional Practice Model or Care Model as a framework that supports them in their everyday practice throughout our organization, regardless of setting or functional role. It ultimately describes what we do, why we do it and how we do it—a reflection of LOVE = living our values every day. We have continued to see and hear examples of how these values are upheld and lived each day in interactions with our patients, care partners, community and each other.
2023 saw several initiatives that elevate the patient experience at Cayuga Health, including those outlined below.
As part of our commitment to improving patient experience, Cayuga Medical Center launched a Discharge Hospitality Lounge in April. This concept is an evidence-based practice that allows discharged patients to be moved from inpatient rooms to a designated area with amenities while they await transportation home. Since the successful pilot, the Discharge Lounge has been activated on multiple occasions to support patient surges.
The Discharge Hospitality Lounge aligns with our journey to achieving the Planetree designation and person-centered care by providing:
• A comfortable area with TV, phone and refreshments
• Easy access for pick up by family and friends, as well as to restrooms and our Garden Café
• An opportunity to engage our patients in their self-care with the availability of written materials and brochures regarding resources available through Cayuga Health System as well as the community
Patients who meet set criteria are identified during daily case management rounds with the interdisciplinary team.
A hospital stay is stressful and disruptive for patients and their families, but two programs at Cayuga Health—Care Partner and Patient-Directed Visitation—are helping to make time in the hospital more comfortable.
The Care Partner program allows patients to select a friend or family member to provide support in the hospital. Care partners receive training and are empowered to help their loved ones by providing items such as snacks, beverages and warm blankets and keeping them company during difficult moments.
Care partners also play an active role in discharge readiness, which supports success post-discharge. “Partners feel empowered knowing that they can take care of their loved one at home, and patients are getting the care and support they need,” Christine Payton, RN, MSN, Director of the Surgical Stay Unit and the Physical Medical Rehabilitation Unit. The program has been in place since 2021, and Payton says it has been a win-win for staff, partners and patients.
As the Care Partner program evolved, it became clear that there were other areas where patients could be more engaged in their care. Patient-Directed Visitation was implemented in July at Cayuga Health’s hospitals. At the patient’s direction, visitors may be with them outside traditional “visiting hours.” This control may reduce a patient’s anxiety, provide comfort and foster trust and collaboration between hospital and family caregivers. “We have found that the program helps patients balance their wish for support with their need for privacy,” says Naph’tali (Tali) Edge, Chief Nursing Officer. “This is a core component of patient-centered care and one of the ways we are advancing health and promoting healing at Cayuga Health.”
WE’RE WORKING TO ENSURE CAYUGA HEALTH NURSES ARE ENGAGED AND HAVE EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE LEARNING.
Attracting and retaining well-qualified nurses who are continuously improving their skills is an important way we make sure our patients receive the best nursing care possible. Four key nursing initiatives are outlined below.
The Nursing and Patient Services (NPS) team started a Clinical Ladder program in 2023 as a professional development tool to build clinical skills and competency, improve patient safety and quality of care, increase engagement and satisfaction, and strengthen retention. The program centers around Patricia Benner’s Novice to Expert theory and offers NPS staff an opportunity to grow their clinical and leadership skills via utilization of evidence-based practice and research, completion of continuing education, exposure to project management and quality improvement, and the like.
“A unique feature of the program is that it’s based on the interests and goals of each participant,” says Chief Nursing Officer Naph’tali (Tali) Edge. “The program is an investment in our people that raises the bar of professional excellence while providing recognition and advancement opportunities.”
In June, the NPS division implemented a professional certification program. Certification is a demonstration of expertise and skill in a respective field of practice and has been proven to build knowledge and increase staff confidence in their decision-making for improved patient outcomes. In addition, evidence reported in the Journal of Nursing Administration suggests that certified nurses claim higher job satisfaction and their patients experience improved safety and satisfaction.
CHS nurses are supported by their leaders throughout the process. There are several pre-approved certifications plus an opportunity to formally request to enroll with others not yet on the list. Resources are available for staff reference, and team members are encouraged to sit for certification. Successful certification expenses are eligible for reimbursement.
This year, 28 nurses graduated from Cayuga Health’s Nurse Residency transition-to-practice program that provides newly graduated nurses with tools, skills, and knowledge to help them excel in their careers. The yearlong program includes classroom instruction, clinical skill practice and a final evidence-based practice project. Nurses who complete the nurse residency program are more equipped to handle complex medical situations, effectively communicate with patients and families, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals.
Empowering our NPS staff is critical in our journey to nursing excellence. An imperative step is to ensure robust shared governance, a process in which decisions are made by people interacting directly with patients. An integral part of shared governance at Cayuga Health is our department-based or Unit Practice Councils. These councils engage in regular meetings to work on initiatives to improve quality of care, patient safety, patient and employee experience, and financial stewardship.
In 2023, a few of the initiatives included, but were not limited to: noise level audits to support our Quiet Campaign; guidelines to ensure a process for floating staff to areas that need help; monthly employee spotlight to introduce and recognize our staff; acuity tools to help determine staffing support based on the patient’s condition and needs; collaborative and shared work roles between disciplines; and streamlining work through protocols and bundles. Person-centered care is the common purpose of every Unit Practice Council and committee. Shared governance makes sure we keep the patient at the heart of everything we do.
Please join the Cayuga Health family in welcoming these talented providers to our medical staff. More than 60 providers in 20 specialties joined the CH team in 2023.
Sameer Acharya, MD Internal Medicine
Tandy Agostini, MD Gastroenterology
Anurag Aryal, MD Internal Medicine
Caleb Baxter, DO Anesthesiology
Mashhood Bodla, MD Internal Medicine
Ashley Choe, MD Critical Care Medicine
Jason Cohen, MD Urology
Cynthia Correll, MD Clinical Neurophysiology/Neurology
Lloyd Darlow, MD Family Medicine
Zoe Demarest, MD Family Medicine
Hilary Dietz, MD Oncology/Hematology
Nicholas Downs, DO Family Medicine
Eli Finkelzstein, MD Infectious Diseases
Caitlin Foor-Pessin, MD Gastroenterology
Samuel Francis, MD Pulmonary Disease
Daniela Granzo, MD Emergency Medicine
Jodi Grossfeld, MD Dermatology
Asha Gupta, MD Allergy & Immunology
Nauman Hamid, MD Critical Care Medicine
Nima Hazrati Pour Fard, MD Internal Medicine
Jaspreet Johal, MD Neurology
Brittany Jones, MD Psychiatry
Samantha Kamp, MD Psychiatry
Sergy Lemeshko, MD Diagnostic Radiology
Jeffrey Lewis, MD Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Omotoke Missih, MD Anesthesiology
Jason Mitchell, MD Diagnostic RadiologyTelemedicine
David Monacelli, MD Plastic Surgery
Munu Napit, MD Internal Medicine
Gurinder Rana, MD Critical Care Medicine
Joshua Regal, MD Surgery
Amna Riaz, MD Internal Medicine
Joshua Regal, MD Surgery
Fahed Saada, MD Neurology
Elizabeth Seymour, MD Family Medicine
Mohammad Shahab, MD Neurology
Howard Silcoff, MD Family Medicine
Kathryn Simms, MD Anesthesiology
Mason Sopchak, DO Family Medicine
Kathryn Simms, MD Anesthesiology
Abraham Taub, MD Emergency Medicine
Sharon Ziegler, MD Family Medicine
Heather Zimba, MD Family Medicine
Hannah Armstrong, NP Hospital Medicine
Sarah Batschelet, FNP Family Medicine
Kristen Canzler, NP Hospital Medicine
Brian Clark, CRNA Anesthesiology
Laura Connor, PA Emergency Medicine
Hannah Cramer, NP Women’s Health
Bradley DeWitt, PA Pulmonary
Marlee Drumheller, PA Neurosurgery
Jonathan Edelman, FNP Orthopedics
William Frutiger, PA Urology
Lisa Grove, CNM OB-GYN
Bridgette Heath-Isigan, FNP Pulmonary
Kelli Hektor, PA Family Medicine
Selina Lenetsky, NP Psychiatry
Carly Linick, PA Family Medicine
Emilee Mackey, FNP Neurology
Christine Monacelli, FNP Family Medicine
Ruthanne Parsons, FNP Family Medicine
Rebecca Reimer, PA Primary Care
Sarah Roach, FNP Family Medicine
Sarah Singlar, FNP Family Medicine
Sharinne Sukhnanand, FNP Family Medicine
Linda Wieselquist, FNP Palliative Care
Lisa Williams, PA Emergency Medicine
Lee Witherow, CRNA Anesthesiology
Katharine Bills Woods, PA Pain Medicine
CAYUGA CANCER CENTER
401 Cayuga Park Lane, Suite 300
10 Arrowwood Drive
607-272-5414
CAYUGA CENTER FOR HEALTHY LIVING 310 Taughannock Boulevard
607-252-3590
CAYUGA CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES
1301 Trumansburg Road, Suite R 607-241-1118
CAYUGA CENTER FOR METABOLIC AND BARIATRIC SURGERY
310 Taughannock Boulevard
607-252-3555
CAYUGA CENTER FOR SPORTS MEDICINE AND ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
310 Taughannock Boulevard
607-252-3580
CAYUGA DIABETES AND ENDOCRINOLOGY
1020 Craft Road, Suite A 607-339-0670
CAYUGA GASTROENTEROLOGY
1020 Craft Road, Suite C 607-339-0788
CAYUGA HEALTH AT ITHACA COLLEGE
Hammond Health Center
607-274-3177
CAYUGA HEART AND VASCULAR
201 Dates Drive, Suite 101
40 Catherwood Road
607-272-0460
CAYUGA IMMEDIATE CARE WALK-IN
401 Cayuga Park Lane, Suite 101
CAYUGA VIRTUAL CARE
cayugahealth.org/telehealth
607-319-5900
CAYUGA NEPHROLOGY
201 Dates Drive, Suite 310
607-273-9111
CAYUGA NEUROLOGY
905 Hanshaw Road, Suite A
607-273-6757
CAYUGA ORTHOPEDICS
16 Brentwood Drive, Suite A 607-272-7000
CAYUGA PAIN MANAGEMENT
101 Dates Drive
10 Arrowwood Drive
607-274-4287
CAYUGA PHYSICAL THERAPY
10 Brentwood Drive, Suite A
310 Taughannock Boulevard
607-274-4159
CAYUGA PLASTIC SURGERY
22 Arrowwood Drive, Suite B 607-266-0483
CAYUGA PRIMARY CARE|CAYUGA PARK
401 Cayuga Park Lane, Suite 201 607-277-4341
CAYUGA PRIMARY CARE|DRYDEN
5 Evergreen Street 607-844-8181
CAYUGA PRIMARY CARE|COMMUNITY CORNERS
905 Hanshaw Road, Suite C 607-277-2170
CAYUGA PRIMARY CARE|ITHACA MALL
40 Catherwood Road 607-339-0494
CAYUGA PRIMARY CARE|WOMEN’S HEALTH
401 Cayuga Park Lane, Suite 501 607-339-0625
• Gynecology
• Primary Care
607-339-0400 (Huynh)
• Comprehensive Breast Care
CAYUGA RHEUMATOLOGY
1301 Trumansburg Road, Suite R
40 Catherwood Road
607-257-2920
CAYUGA SURGICAL SPECIALISTS
310 Taughannock Boulevard
607-273-3161
CAYUGA UROLOGY
101 Dates Drive, 3rd Floor
607-319-5747
CAYUGA WELLNESS CENTER
310 Taughannock Boulevard, Suite 1C 607-252-3500
CMA OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
16 Brentwood Drive, Suite A 607-339-0680
HOSPITALIST/CRITICAL CARE SPECIALISTS OF CMA
101 Dates Drive
607-274-4296
NEUROSURGERY SERVICES OF CMA
905 Hanshaw Road, Suite A 607-269-0033
PULMONOLOGY & SLEEP SERVICES
201 Dates Drive, Suite 301 607-882-2277
CORTLAND
260 Tompkins Street
CAYUGA PRIMARY CARE|TOMPKINS STREET
607-756-9941
• Adult and Pediatrics
• Women’s Health
CAYUGA HEART AND VASCULAR
607-272-0460
CAYUGA NEUROLOGY
607-428-8004
CAYUGA DIABETES AND ENDOCRINOLOGY
607-339-0670
CAYUGA SURGICAL SPECIALISTS 607-273-3161
CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES 607-753-0683
ENT SERVICES OF CMA 607-428-8004
NEUROSURGERY SERVICES
607-269-0033
CAYUGA PAIN MANAGEMENT 607-274-4287
CAYUGA WOMEN’S HEALTH
COMPREHENSIVE BREAST CARE
607-339-0400
PULMONOLOGY & SLEEP SERVICES 607-882-2277
Commons Avenue
CAYUGA CANCER CENTER
1081 Commons Avenue 607-272-5414
CAYUGA ORTHOPEDICS
Immediate Care Orthopedic Walk-In Clinic
1122 Commons Avenue 607-428-8004
CAYUGA SPORTS MEDICINE
1122 Commons Avenue 607-252-3580
CORTLAND URGENT CARE
1129 Commons Avenue 607-756-7200
Main Street
CAYUGA WOMEN’S HEALTH
103 N. Main Street 607-758-9977
CAYUGA PHYSICAL THERAPY
10 N. Main Street 607-428-8020
CAYUGA CANCER CENTER
220 Steuben Street, Montour Falls 607-272-5414
REHABILITATION SERVICES
220 Steuben Street, Montour Falls 607-535-8616
MONTOUR FALLS PRIMARY CARE
220 Steuben Street, Montour Falls 607-535-7154
OVID PRIMARY CARE CENTER
2138 West Seneca Street, Ovid 607-869-2541
SCHUYLER SPECIALTY SERVICES
220 Steuben Street, Montour Falls 607-210-1968
• Cardiology
• ENT
• Gastroenterology
• Orthopedics
• Pulmonology/Sleep Services
• Surgical Specialists
• Women’s Health
SENECA VIEW SKILLED NURSING
220 Steuben Street, Montour Falls 607-535-8611