Mercy Hospital Connections - Winter 2018/2019

Mercy Hospital of Buffalo

Connections

News and announcements for associates, patients, and their families.

Winter 2019

It’s That Special Mercy Touch!

ER Medical Director Dr. Ed Cosgrove and Nurse Director Heidi Kirsch, hand out EKG machines to area EMS as Dr. Ali Masud and CNO Shari McDonald look on during a presentation event at the hospital.

Recognizing an urgent community need that could help save lives for heart attack patients, Mercy Hospital recently donated EKG machines to 18 area volunteer fire departments located in outlying, rural areas.

The need was identified at an American Heart Association (AHA) conference last June where physician and EMS leaders discovered that many local fire departments do not have EKG machines and lack the funds to purchase this critical equipment.

Mercy’s EMS Liaison Emily Rowles, Director of Neuroscience Clinical Services Nancy Stoll, and Stroke Coordinator Alexandria Foley; along with Director of Grants Rachael Nees, were able to secure grant funding to purchase and donate the EKG machines.

The portable units will help the first responders check a patient’s heart rhythm in the field to determine if they may be having a heart attack. The hospital is also providing EMS training on the use of the EKG machines.

Companies were from: Ashville, Canaseraga, Findley Lake, Independence, Portville, Ripley, Clarksville, Ellery Center, Ellington, Machias, Andover, Celeron, Stockton, Marilla, Arcade, Cowlesville, Forrestville, and Hamburg.

The Heart Center team at Mercy Hospital recently celebrated its three-star quality rating for heart bypass surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), placing the heart surgery program among the top 6.24% in the nation.

Heart Center Rated Among Elite in the Nation The Heart Center at Mercy Hospital has been awarded a distinguished three-star national quality rating by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and outcomes in heart bypass surgery for reporting periods January 2017 to July 2018. Only 6.24% of the 1,012 participating providers across the country received a “three-star” rating – the highest award under the STS quality rating system – which places Mercy Hospital among the top hospitals for heart bypass surgery in the United States and Canada.

“It is important to voluntarily share quality data to tell the public how we are doing and to compare ourselves to other similar heart surgery programs on a national scale,” said Dr. Stephen Downing, Chair of Mercy’s Cardiothoracic Surgery Department. “Our three-star rating reflects our dedication to exceeding national standards of excellence as well as our commitment to best serve our patients.”

The STS star rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in healthcare, rating the benchmarked outcomes of cardiothoracic surgery programs across the United States and Canada. The star rating is calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures performed by an STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database participant.

“The STS rating is national validation that our healthcare team and heart surgery program rank among the very best in the country,” said C.J. Urlaub, Mercy Hospital President & CEO. “For patients, it means that our heart bypass surgery program at the Heart Center meets the highest standards for quality, safety and achieving the best outcomes.”

Sweet Mercy!

People In The News

Dr. Susan Littler, MD, PhD, center, teaches an OB SIM class to first responders at the Elma Fire Department with the Noelle child birthing simulator.

Other EMS classes offered include: Stop the Bleed; Neuro SIM; Cardiology emergencies; and Dialysis emergencies. For more info, contact EMS Liaison Emily Rowles at 716-462-9245.

Ashley McCorkle, MD, has joined the staff of the OLV Family Care Center. Board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, she completed her residency Dr. Ashley McCorkle at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine.

She earned her Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. She previously served as a Research Assistant at the Kentucky Women’s Health Registry.

Welcome to Angie Boggs, who was recently named Nurse Manager of the 5 McAuley West Unit. With over 20 years of nursing experience, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Angie Boggs Nursing from Daemen College. She previously served as a nurse manager with McAuley Seton Home care.

Diane Glowacki, MSN, RN, CNRN, CMC, was recently named Nurse Manager of the Medical Rehab Unit (MRU).

She earned her Master of Science degree in Diane Glowacki Nursing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist from D’Youville College and holds nursing certifications as a CNRN (Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse) and CMC (Cardiac Medicine Certification).

Since 2006, Diane served as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Mercy Hospital and currently chairs the Nursing Research Council and co-chairs the Professional Practice Council.

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EMS “Superheroes” Honored at Dinner Mercy Hospital recently honored 26 local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers, many of whom volunteer as paramedics in their communities, at its First Annual EMS Awards Dinner held at Michael’s Banquet Facility in December.

Mercy Flight staff are congratulated by

Catholic Health executives at the dinner.

First responders recognized include: Mercy Flight of WNY- EMS Shore FD- Garrett Hileman, KenAgency of the Year, James Hamon, neth Erler, Mark Flack, and Jon Jennifer Crotty, Eric Barkey, Sarah Good; AMR Ambulance- Steven Sporski, Matthew Elderkin and Werner, Brianne Meyer, John Daniel Hankey; Arcade RescueWilger, and Kaitlyn Meyer; and Brian Meyers, Justin Haggerty, Strykersville FD- Crystal Radecki, Christopher Gleason, Jacob AnAndrew Hope, Eric Kirsch, John derson and Dan Reisdorf; Monroe Green, Douglas Schwab, William Ambulance- Robert Mann; Lake Perl and Edward Mest.

Congratulations to our DAISY Award Winners Mercy Hospital presented its 3rd Quarter DAISY Awards to Danielle Butticci (7W), Kelly Schoenfelder (7W), and David Kuster (5W).

The DAISY Award, which recognizes ex- Danielle Butticci and Kelly Schoenfelder, center, celebrate traordinary compas- their DAISY Awards surrounded by their 7 West team. sionate nurses, was country and world participate in established by the National DAISY the program.

Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of ITP, Nomination forms can be found in an auto-immune disease. Today, the lobby, surgical waiting room, nearly 2,500 hospitals across the nurses stations, and cafeteria.

Labor-Management Committees Update As part of ongoing labor management initiatives, the Workplace Safety Committee has announced some security enhancements and workplace violence Mercy’s Security Team, pictured above, are focused on safety. prevention efforts visitor pass requirement system in implemented over the past year. the Emergency Center; dangerous person and active shooter staff These include: panic buttons training in process; and workplace installed throughout the hospital violence prevention staff trainand at the MACC; 24-hour “armed” ing in process. Along with these security; addition of a third holdsefforts, a Workplace Violence trained guard resulting in three Prevention Poster will soon be disholds-trained guards on all shifts; played throughout the hospital.

Shari McDonald Leads Go Red for Women Erie County Legislator, Lynne Dixon, presented a proclamation to Shari McDonald, MSN, RN, Mercy Hospital Vice President of Patient Care Services and CNO & Chair of the 2019 American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign on January 28.

People In The News

Legislator Lynne Dixon presents a county The proclamation honored proclamation to Go Red for Women Chair McDonald, her leadership team, and Catholic Health for Shari McDonald, AHA Executive Director Marc Natale, left, and Mercy COO Eddie Bratko. their work in support of the month-long campaign in Febmothers, sisters, daughters and ruary designed to increase awarefriends,” said McDonald. “My hope is that the messages we send in ness of heart disease in women. this campaign will inspire women to take action and help us fight “I want to thank the Erie County our greatest health threat—heart Legislature for recognizing the disease.” importance of heart health for our

8 East Unit Pilots System’s First Digital Whiteboard Mercy’s 8 East Unit has become the first patient care unit in Catholic Health to implement a digital whiteboard at the nurse station.

“Replacing the Pictured in front of Catholic Health’s first digital whitedry-erase board, the new whiteboard board are 8 East Unit staff, l.-r., Mary Nolan, PA, of Sound Physicians; Linda Santiago, RN; Rukaya Khan, MD, Sound; creates situational Irene Flemming, RN, Sound; Gigi Moran Ohar, RN; Donna awareness in a McCourt, RN, Case Management; Nurse Manager Desiree HIPAA compliant Korbs, RN, and Debra Grzybowski, unit clerk. manner for the entire healthcare pilot project. “This is an exciting team,” said Gloria Pirowski, System tool that will enhance communiDirector of the CH Referral Support cation among staff and improve patient care and hospital flow.” and Transfer Center, who led the

New Program Has Medical Equipment Moving Mercy Hospital rolled out a new Movable Medical Equipment (MME) service to help manage our movable equipment, such as IV pumps, wound VACS, SCD pumps and feeding pumps.

A contracted service through Trimedx®, Erdal Kucuker joined the hospital in May of 2018 to serve as MME Site Manager. Director of Maternal-Child Services Mary Ann Murphy headed the initiative.

“We ensure that clean equipment is accessible at all times, working

Sweet Mercy!

Erdal Kucuker, MME Manager, and Mary Ann Murphy, nurse leader overseeing the program, explain the process in a Keeping Connected at Mercy video. View this and more at chsbuffalo.org/mercyconnected.

properly and moving smoothly and faster throughout the hospital,” said Kucuker.

Chef Chris Damiani and guest host Karen Calandra, RN, made a “Power Wrap and Mango Yogurt Parfait” during our latest Cooking Well at Mercy show. Pictured above, Chris serves samples to Deanna Messinger, Kathy Guest-Shadrack, and Shari McDonald. To view, visit blog.chsbuffalo.org/ cooking-well-power-wrap-mango-yogurt-parfait/ .

Douglas Diver, MS, BSN, RN, was named Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) Supervisor at Mercy Hospital. He previously served as Assistant Nurse Manager/Critical Care Douglas Diver Transport Coordinator at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Rochester (UR) and a master’s degree in Business Administration from UR Simon Business School.

Erdal Kucuker, was named Movable Medical Equipment (MME) Site Manager, a contracted service through Trimedx®. He previously worked as an operations manager at an inpatient Erdal Kucuker substance abuse rehab facility. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester.

Alexis Trifunovic, BSN, RN, has been named Supervisor of Invasive Interventional Services and the Mercy Interventional Unit (MIU).

She previously worked in Mercy Hospital’s Cardiac Alexis Trifunovic Cath Lab for over three years and began her career in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Erie County Medical Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Daemen College, and is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)/Basic Life Support (BLS).

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Mercy at Work

Over the past year, you may have seen Dr. George Moore, a retired general surgeon at Mercy, playing his piano keyboard in the lobby. Now, he is tickling the ivories on a new baby grand piano, thanks to an anonymous donor. Dr. Moore is pictured above at a dedication held in December. A lifelong member of the Mercy family, he started as an elevator operator and orderly at a young age and returned as a surgeon in 1971. His father, Dr. Vincent Moore, who served as Chief Radiologist at Mercy in the ‘40s, would let little George tag along to the hospital sometimes. Thank you, Dr. Moore, for your longtime dedication to Mercy.

Nurses Kayla Anderson (Float Pool), left, and Mary Ormond (7E/8E) are all smiles at the annual Holiday Luncheon sponsored by Mercy’s Medical Staff.

Driving Good Health at the Local Auto Bureaus As part of American Heart Month in February, the Erie County Clerk’s office and Mercy Hospital teamed up for the second year to offer free blood pressure screenings at auto bureaus across the county.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in Erie County and the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. In fact, Erie County residents experience 33% more heart disease death than the average U.S. citizen.

“We thank Clerk Kearns for his concept of using this non-traditional setting of a busy auto bureau office to screen community

Clerk Mickey Kearns, left, and Mercy President & CEO C.J. Urlaub kicked off the 2nd annual auto bureaus’ blood pressure screening program in early February.

members for high blood pressure and educate people about ways to keep their heart healthy,” said C.J. Urlaub, President and CEO of Mercy Hospital.

Annual Ball Raises $180,000 for OR Upgrades More than 380 attendees helped raise $180,000 at the Mercy Hospital Foundation’s 10th Annual Autumn Ball. The event was graciously led by 2018 Autumn Ball Chairs Martin and Amy Jo Griffith and Maureen Athoe.

The Stroke Center team; stroke survivor and honHeld at the Rich’s Atrium oree Tom Witakowski, center; Dr. Lee Guterman; in November, this dazzling and Dr. Steve Dofitas gather at the Autumn Ball. affair honored Russell Salvatore, who recently donated Jennifer Driscoll; and Physician $500,000 to Mercy Hospital; Nurse Champion Dr. Jeffrey Steinig. of Distinction Shari McDonald, who serves as Mercy’s Chief Nurs- Proceeds supported Mercy’s Operating Room Modernization Project. ing Officer; Nurse of the Year

Mission Corner AHA’s Michelle Mason, far right, stopped by Mercy’s Maternity Unit to kick off the Little Hats, Big Hearts program. Babies born during February received a tiny red hat, knitted by community volunteers, to promote family heart health.

Best wishes to Elaine Suarez, who recently retired from her volunteer post in the surgical waiting room. She is pictured here with Volunteer George Stephens, Volunteer Coordinator Lisa Carey, and Volunteer Director Heide Cornell.

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The “Season of Giving” is always a busy time at Mercy. Associates and community members generously filled the “Mitten Tree” four times with scarves, hats, mittens and gloves that were donated to the Mercy Comprehensive Care Center (MCCC), OLV Family Care Center, Gerard Place and St. Vincent DePaul Society. In addition, the holiday Adopt-a-Family program touched the lives of 72 people, including 37 children.

The Knights of Columbus Council at Christ the King Seminary and VP of Mission John Kalinowski, who serves as Grand Knight of the Council, donated 24 children’s win-

John Kalinowski, VP of Mission, drops off coat donations from the Knights of Columbus to the MCCC’s Manager Jeanne O’Hara, right, and Kathy Bragagnola.

ter coats to the MCCC and OLV-FC Clothes Closets.

Next up, look for details about Mission’s upcoming Basket Raffle to benefit hospital charities.