OM on M ISE ’t M ay W is De 30 – EE s J K t In ails une 20 se in 7 19 rt
1000 South Avenue • Rochester, NY 14620 • highland.urmc.edu
Year-End Edition
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Jessica R. Mahoney, PA-C, has served as a surgical physician assistant at Highland since 2004. Mahoney was nominated by administration staff and colleagues for the award.
February 2019
The Distinguished Physician and APP of the Year awards recognize one physician and APP each year that exemplifies the Highland Promise, outstanding patient care skills and is professional and courteous, compassionate and supportive, and an excellent role model.
Material Handler Materials Management Dept. 6
2. Valerie Aarne, Marie Aarne, and Christina Aarne-Lawrence sit for a photo that commemorates the family’s tradition of commitment to patient care. 3. Wilmot Warriors, Nicole Grossman, Sarah Grossman, John Aarne, and Valerie Aarne, participate in the Wilmot Cancer Institute’s annual Wilmot Warrior Walk.
Rayqwaun Blocker
Birth Data Registrar Obstetrics Gynecology Dept.
Amy Burchell
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January 2019
supporting their coworkers, and delivering the ICARE Values.
1. Phyllis LeFrois, Matt Greenfield, Maiya Greenfield, Rich LeFrois, Jennifer LeFrois, and John LeFrois 2. John Donovan, Laurie Massaro, M.S., B.S.N., R.N., Michelle DeCaro, and Paul Palermo. 3. Meghan Devlin, Matt Devlin, and Wendy Boyce 4. Murray Duncan and Mary Duncan 5. Jim Etsler and Sara LaCava, M.S., R.N.,CPAN, CAPA 6. John Mahoney, Jessica Mahoney, PA-C, Joseph Kosiorek, and Samantha Kosiorek, PA-C 7. Devina Balkissoon and Rishi Balkissoon, M.D., M.P.H. 5
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During her career, Aarne witnessed the introduction of fax machines, pulse oximetry, and a nurse/patient ratio that has tripled from two to seven patients per nurse since 1981. In a profession where a recent study found 28 percent of ED nurses will experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in their careers, Aarne learned early that she must maintain good mental health self care.
1. Valerie Aarne, M.A.L.S., B.S.N., NE-BC, graduated from CrouseIrving Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Syracuse in 1981. 1
Today Valerie leads 23 nurses and support staff in Highland’s Medical Imaging department, has written six clinical “Fast Facts” series textbooks, and numerous edition releases on topics including nurse triage, radiology, and Emergency Department clinical care over her 41-year career. A native of Cortland, New York, Aarne was introduced to nursing when she began donating plasma to the American Red Cross while a college student. She began her career in health care as a nurse’s aide in 1978 and graduated from nursing school in 1981. She has worked at various hospitals including Strong Memorial Hospital, before transferring to Highland in 2011. Valerie Aarne, M.A.L.S., B.S.N., NE-BC, Nurse Manager, Medical Imaging, is more than a dedicated nurse delivering Highland Hospital’s brand of compassionate care. She is an inspirational leader and an acclaimed author who has expanded nursing opportunities for new clinicians, donating hundreds of clinical textbooks to nurses around the world.
Many of Aarne’s patients have had lasting effects on her. “I once cared for an ICU patient in Elmira who was very sick and had teenage children at the time,” she said. “I learned so much from her about life, dying, and the importance of family. Because of her, I learned that, although we’re scientists who touch patients, we have to remember that we’re also humans caring for humans. This patient helped me mature as a nurse and learn that nursing is much more than passing medicines and taking blood pressures.” “It can really hurt when you become close to patients. While caring for three pediatric burn victims at a hospital ED in Syracuse, I stopped and looked across the room from the nurse’s station to take in everything that was happening. I quickly realized I had to build a cement wall, high enough that I could reach over, touch, and care for these patients, but still protect myself from burning out later in my career,” said Aarne.
Leaving a Legacy One Day at a Time A Highland Hospital employee newsletter.
May/June 2019
Highlights HIGHLAND
Message from
Steve Goldstein President & CEO
Tom Campbell, M.D., Stepping Down as Family Medicine Chair
PI Project Improves Patient Care
Thomas L. Campbell, M.D., has chosen to step down as chair of the Department of Family Medicine in July, having served as the department’s leader for 15 years. Renowned for his work on the influence of the family on health, Dr. Campbell was first attracted to Rochester’s biopsychosocial model as a resident nearly 40 years ago.
Cindy Becker
Vice President & COO
Following a behavioral and psychosocial medicine fellowship with pioneer George Engel, M.D., and family therapy training in the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Campbell rose quickly through the URMC ranks, becoming a full professor of both Family Medicine and Psychiatry in 1998. After serving a year as interim chair, in 2004 he was named the William Rocktaschel Professor and Chair of the Department of Family Medicine.
Each year, we have the opportunity to celebrate National Hospital Week and our own Promise Week. These weeks allow us to reflect on the impact of our employees, physicians, and volunteers. They afford us the opportunity to spotlight the key role we each play in supporting the health and wellbeing of our community.
Dr. Campbell plans to take a one year sabbatical during which he will return to academic work on families and health. He looks forward to returning to the Department and his clinical practice in July 2020 and plans to resume teaching as well.
We are very proud of our accomplishments in the last year at Highland, which you can see in the fold out portion of this newsletter. We’ve received multiple awards and accreditations for our quality, enhanced our service lines, and completed many renovations and improvements throughout the hospital. We know that with all this construction comes the need for flexibility, but it also creates a modern, technologically advanced facility that enables us to provide quality, patientand family-centered care and improve the health of our community. We will continue to grow and improve, especially with one the largest expansions in Highland’s history on the horizon—construction of a new patient tower, and conversion to nearly all private patient rooms.
Implantable Device Treats Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Highland’s OR and Sterile Processing Departments (SPD) have successfully reduced the presence of bioburden on surgical instrumentation. Bioburden incidents are consistently measured under one percent after completing the point-of-use cleaning OR performance improvement project in December 2018. The achievement was recognized with a Gold Award in the Team Excellence category at the 2019 Greater Rochester Quality Council (GRQC) Performance Excellence Ceremony on May 8. “The success of this project speaks to the value of interdisciplinary teamwork and working towards a common goal,” said Nick Walters, B.S.N., MS, Associate Director, SPD. “Our Project Manager, Stephanie Romney, R.D., introduced helpful tools to manage the project and to utilize after its implementation,” said Walters. Walters co-led the project with Caitlin Smith, B.S.N., M.S., CNOR, Director, Perioperative Nursing. When surgical instrumentation from SPD is sent to the OR, it must be
Rochester Medical Center, who performs the procedure. “Because of this, patients who are good candidates for Inspire typically have very good outcomes when it comes to treatment for their obstructive sleep apnea.” Ideal candidates for the procedure have been diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, have had a sleep study within the past five years, and have tried a CPAP device but weren’t able to benefit from it. Patients must also have a body mass index (BMI) of 32 or below. Candidates will undergo a procedure called a drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) with Dr. Karelsky to evaluate whether the device is right for their anatomy.
Highland Hospital is now the first hospital in the Rochester region to offer an implantable device called a hypoglossal nerve stimulator (Inspire®) as a treatment for patients who suffer from moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
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“Selective upper airway stimulation, or ‘Inspire’, is different from other procedures for obstructive sleep apnea because it can improve the tone of airway muscles during sleep,” said Sveta Karelsky, M.D., Chief of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Highland and Associate Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology at the University of
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Beyond our clinical excellence and compassionate care, we are continually impressed with the demeanor and attitude of our team— the culture we’ve created here at Highland. We have a mission, and a vision, and we are continuously transforming as we move toward it. You are a crucial part of our efforts. We would not have gotten to where we are without your drive to provide ever better patient care. Thank you for all that you do. We’re excited to see all we can accomplish in the coming year.
PR
Jessica Mahoney, PA-C Ashish Boghani, M.D., FACP, FHM
Dr. Boghani is a Highland hospitalist and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He spearheaded the development of the Highland hospitalist group and served as chief for 15 years before stepping down in 2017. Boghani was nominated for the award by administrators, colleagues, and other coworkers for healthcare excellence. Highland Hospital has honored Ashish Boghani, M.D., FACP, FHM, as 2019 Distinguished Physician, and Jessica R. Mahoney, PA-C, as Advanced Practice Provider (APP) of the Year.
Highland Hospital Honors Distinguished Employees Physician and Advanced of the Month Hospital Employees of the Month go Practice Provider of the Year Highland above and beyond in caring for our patients, Special thanks to Highland Hospital’s Board Chair, Richard LeFrois for his generous donation and to co-chairs Timothy Lum, M.D., Nancy McKnight, M.D., Richard LeFrois, Phyllis LeFrois, John LeFrois, Jennifer LeFrois, Matt Greenfield, and Maiya Greenfield for their vision and leadership.
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A total of 1,021 seats were sold at the event, where guests enjoyed cocktails, a whimsical garden theme, aerial performers, and music by the Silver Arrow Band. Highland Hospital’s 13th Annual Gala, held April 6, successfully raised $1.3 million including a $1 million commitment from Rich LeFrois and his family. Funds will support Highland’s Private Bed Modernization Project.
Highland Hospital Gala
SPOTLIGHT ON…
sterile or free of living germs or microorganisms. Unsterile contaminants are called bioburden. While bioburden is not only a risk factor for surgical site infections, it is also a risk factor for surgical case delays, surgical case cancellations, instrumentation damage, and a whole host of costly inefficiencies. The project’s target was to reduce the presence of bioburden on surgical instruments by establishing standardized processes and procedures in the first step of the decontamination process, known as point of use cleaning. The project also aimed to create a quality assurance process to ensure sustainability. “Project sustainability occurs when process improvements are engrained in our culture and supported by leadership to ensure systemic change,” said Romney. Highland’s Late Tray Project, led by Jean Wingard, R.D., and supported by Romney, earned a Bronze Award in the Team Excellence category during the GRQC Awards. This project reduced meal “late trays” sent to patients.
Environmental Services Department
Did you know Highland Hospital’s Environmental Services (ES) department cleans over 100,000 inpatient and ED rooms every year? “While the ES team is a backbone to Highland, they are often unsung heroes. Without them, we would not be able to maintain a successful operation,” said Deb Zicari, Director, Support Services. The ES department is responsible for cleanliness of patient rooms, ORs, public spaces, floor care, carpet care, upholstery, windows, waste management, and pest control. More than 100 full time employees are led by Horace Little, Manager, Environmental Services. As one of the hospital’s larger departments, significant responsibility is placed on ES staff members to ensure all corners of the hospital are consistently clean, which includes unique sanitation requirements that vary between public, sterile, office, and patient care spaces. “When I walk through our hospital, I’m very proud of the people who work in environmental services because I know they are doing their best every day,” said Zicari.
Some of the team’s responsibilities include • Red-bag autoclaving (a process where regulated medical waste is autoclaved for sterilization so that it can be processed in a landfill) • Pathology and chemotherapy waste • Electronic waste • Medical waste • Recycling • Sharp collection and disposal The department operates 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Its goal is a constant focus on maintaining the cleanest health care facility in the area. Fast Facts • 122 team members • 100,000 daily cleans annually (based on hospital census levels) • 1,850 discharge cleans per month, or more than 22,000 per year • 130 Emergency Department turnovers per day, or 47,450 per year
New Sound at Sands Cancer Center
• 4,160 operating room terminal cleans per year • 375 work orders per month, or over 4,500 per year (includes requests such as room set up, spill cleanup, and vacuuming)
Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Sands Cancer Center at Thompson Health was recently presented with a “Good Luck” gong that patients use after completing radiation treatments. Donated by retired Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra percussionist, William Cahn, the gong comes from his instrument collection. “No matter how you hit it, you are expressing yourself since your reason for being there can daunting,” said Cahn. “When patients use the gong after their treatments, we clap for them. It’s a really positive activity they do during a stressful time,” said Marianne Albrecht, Chief RT (T), and Clinical Manager. The Sands Cancer Center is a Highland Hospital outpatient site.
• 1,400 tons of waste removal per year • 537,000 sq. ft. maintained • More than 4 tons of electronic waste processed annually Top L-R: Adrian Smith, Andrew McCloud, Anthony Jenkins, David Johnson, Negasse Asfaha. Bottom: L-R: Ebony Buckingham (Transport), Evelyn Bonet, Selam Ghebreslasie, Odellor Tarnue, Hari Timsina