HSS ECHO - July 2017

ECHO

July 2017 Vol. 19 Issue 6

STORIES AND NEWS FROM THE HSS FAMILY

HSS Paramus Expansion Provides More Options for Care

Annual Award Dinner Recognizes Individuals for Service to HSS

T

passion for the work they do. This was extremely

P

evident at the 62nd Annual Service Award Dinner

Center officially expanded to include best-in-class

in early June, where 114 members of the HSS family

rehabilitative treatment for patients in addition to

were honored for their lasting contributions to the

the services already offered.

Hospital. Six employees reached 40 years of service,

The 4,522 square-foot expansion, which took

he HSS family is made up of individuals who are committed to the mission and purpose of our organization and have pride and

roviding patients with more options for quality care closer to home is a priority at HSS, which is why we opened the HSS

Paramus Outpatient Center in 2014. On June 26, the

27 employees reached 25 years of service and

about one year to complete, features three private

81 employes reached 15 years of service.

treatment rooms, three individual treatment bays

“Each year, I continue to be amazed by how many

and state-of-the-art rehab equipment, including

members of the HSS family have dedicated so much

stationary bikes, Nu Step, Normatec compression,

of their time, and their careers, to supporting the

Game Ready ice machine and hand treatment

mission of our organization,” said Lou Shapiro,

specific equipment including material for custom

President and CEO. “These individuals are the true embodiment of the spirit of HSS and our culture of

splinting. Five physical and occupational therapists A special award presentation also took place on the

are located onsite to provide specialized care

excellence, passion, integrity and teamwork.”

day of the event at the FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital

for patients. Patients have direct access to

More than 300 past and present HSS employees

in Ghana where several HSS family members were

make an appointment with a therapist without

attended the dinner, which took place at the Grand

participating in a service trip. Lucia Fabrizio, Nurse

a physician prescription.

Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. Bruce Slawitsky, Senior

Practitioner, was presented with an award for her

Vice President, Human Resources and Service

15 years of service to HSS by Service Award Club

Excellence, opened the event with a welcome, followed

members Ron Perez, Vice President of Perioperative

by congratulations from Lou and Todd Albert, MD,

Services; Marcia Julius, Senior Patient Care Assistant;

Surgeon-in-Chief. C. Ronald MacKenzie, MD,

Wing-Yee (Mazza) Chin-Ng, CN II; and Glenn

Attending Physician, then delivered the invocation.

Garrison, Director of Prosthetics and Orthotics.

At the event, Pam Katkin, PA-C, Administrative

“Congratulations to all of the new inductees,”

Director, Physician Assistant Department, was

said Barbara. “It was both my pleasure and honor

announced as the new president of the Service

to have been president of such an institutionally

Award Club. Founded in 1955, the club recognizes

important club.”

the long and faithful services of those who have had

Added Pam, “It was an amazing celebration of

an affiliation with HSS. Pam took over from former

dedicated employees who should all be proud

president Barbara Wukovits, Director, Pain Services,

of the work they have done and the difference

The Rehab team at HSS Paramus includes Gwen Weinstock-Zlotnick, OT, PhD, CHT; Curtis Wu, PT, DPT, CSCS; Katrin Ramsey, PT, DSc, CLT; Scott Silvering, PT, OCS; and Aviva Wolff, EdD, OT, CHT.

Anesthesia Staff.

they have made in the lives of our patients!”

“We are continually surveying patient needs in

Pam addressed the crowd at the event, thanking

A special thank you to all Service Award Club

the communities we serve and have found that

the other members of the Service Award Club and

Committee members and to Liliana De Jesus

the demand for high quality rehabilitative care is

congratulating the newest additions. Following, the

and Bruce Slawitsky for making this event such

significantly increasing,” said JeMe Cioppa-Mosca,

40, 25 and 15 year awards were presented.

a success.

Senior Vice President, Rehabilitation. “It’s also a convenience for New Jersey residents who are treated at HSS in Manhattan for surgery, but would prefer to access the same world-class rehabilitation closer to home.”

CONTINUED on page 2

Inside

5 6

Epic Experts HSS at FOCOS Hospital

HSS Paramus Expansion

Dr. Thomas P. Sculco Honored at Annual Tribute Dinner

CONTINUED FROM COVER The now 11,812 square-foot HSS Paramus Outpatient

I

n early June, HSS held its 34th Annual Tribute

Dinner at the American Museum of Natural

History. The gala raised more than $3.7 million

Center offers a full suite of services, including medical

that will help enable HSS to continue to provide the

diagnosis, radiology and imaging services, pre- and

highest level of expert and compassionate care for

post-operative care, and non-surgical injury manage-

our patients.

ment. Fourteen HSS physicians are available to see patients, and specialties include orthopedic foot and ankle, pain management, pediatric orthopedic surgery and scoliosis, spine, neurology, sports medicine and rheumatology. Since 2014, the Center has had meaningful growth with nearly 11,000 outpatient visits.

The event was co-chaired by Board of Trustees Members Kathy Leventhal and Ellen Wright and was hosted by Maria Bartiromo, Anchor and Global Markets Editor at Fox Business News. Additionally, Board of Trustees Members Alan MacDonald and Kathryn Chenault served as dinner vice chairs and

Thomas Sculco, MD; Peter Sculco, MD; and Todd Albert, MD

“We are proud of the diverse offerings available

Patsy Warner as honorary chair, along with Mario J.

at HSS Paramus, where we are able to provide

Gabelli, Chief Investment Officer of Gabelli Funds,

“For four decades, Dr. Sculco has demonstrated

our patients with comprehensive musculoskeletal

who served as the 2017 underwriter.

a relentless commitment to advancing the field

Following a cocktail reception in the museum’s

of orthopedics and has played an important role in

Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda, the nearly 900 guests

positioning HSS as the world’s leader in unmatched

care, including advanced services in orthopedics, rheumatology, radiology and physical therapy” said Anil Ranawat, MD, Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon and Medical Director at HSS Paramus.

“Patients stand at the foundation of our organization, and expanding HSS Paramus is just one of many ways that we are taking our personalized and best-in-class care to the next level.”

in attendance made their way to the Milstein Family

musculoskeletal care,” said Lou Shapiro, President

Hall of Ocean Life for the main reception where

and CEO. “His efforts to improve the success and

Thomas P. Sculco, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus,

longevity of implants are benefitting patients around

was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

the world.”

After a touching video highlighting Dr. Sculco’s

Added Todd Albert, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief,

life and achievements, his son Peter Sculco, MD,

“Dr. Sculco is a pioneer of less invasive surgical

Assistant Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, introduced

techniques, including the design of instruments.

his father and presented him with the award. The

He has dedicated his career to providing superior

crowd, including his wife and daughter, members

patient outcomes in hip and knee replacement and

of his office staff and colleagues who have worked

we are honored to call him one of our own.”

with him over the years, erupted in a standing ovation.

Congratulations to Dr. Sculco on this well-deserved

Dr. Sculco then addressed the audience, thanking

honor, and thank you to all HSS family members who

those who have contributed to his success.

helped make the event a success!

Event chairs Kathy Leventhal and Ellen Wright

Thomas Sculco, MD, with host Maria Bartiromo and Mario J. Gabelli

Lou Shapiro with former NFL coach Bill Cowher

The gala was held in the Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life at the American Museum of Natural History.

Making Rounds News & Insights from Lou Shapiro, President and CEO

Access “Making Rounds” at www.hssmakingrounds.com to read the below posts and more. I look forward to your comments.

– Lou Shapiro • United We Stand • Honoring Our Founding Fathers • HSS Impact Reaching Others • Possible and ‘Get To’ • Celebrating HSS

2

HSS Serves as First-ever Official Hospital of UFC

A

t HSS, we care for athletes at all levels, from

Bryan Kelly, MD, Chief of the Sports Medicine

youth sports leagues all the way to profes-

and Shoulder Service, will serve as UFC’s Head

sionals. Athletes who need the highest level

Consulting Orthopedic Surgeon. He will lead

Dr. Wilson Honored

by Kent School in CT

E

arlier this year, Philip D. Wilson Jr., MD,

who served as HSS Surgeon-in-Chief from

1972 to 1989, was inducted posthumously

of care come to the best of the best, which is why

a team of HSS orthopedic physicians, including

into the Reverend Frederick H. Sill, O.H.C. Society at

we serve as the official hospital for some of the most

Daphne Scott, MD; Andrew Pearle, MD; Mark

Kent School in Kent, CT. The Sill Society, which was

demanding professional teams, leagues and organiza-

Drakos, MD; Gregory DiFelice, MD; Osric King, MD;

established in 2006 in recognition of Kent School’s

tions across the country. Recently, we added UFC, the

and Robert Marx, MD, MSc, FRCSC, who will serve

founder, recognizes former Kent students whose

premier mixed martial arts organization, to that list.

as UFC orthopedic consultants and will be on call

personal achievements have brought honor and

Earlier this year, it was announced that UFC, an

during UFC events.

distinction to themselves and to Kent. Since 2006,

organization with massive and growing popularity

“Injuries are an inherent byproduct of playing sports,

the Sill Society has recognized individuals who

worldwide, selected HSS to serve as their first-ever

especially at the elite and professional levels,” said

have contributed in many different fields, including

official hospital. The new multi-year partnership

Dr. Kelly. “HSS has helped thousands of athletes get

medicine, government, journalism and the arts.

provides UFC with access to HSS sports medicine

back in the game and offers unmatched orthopedic

According to Denny Mantegani, Director of Alumni

physicians, who will serve as orthopedic consultants

care. We look forward to working with the UFC to

Giving at Kent School, Dr. Wilson, who graduated from

in conjunction with the brand’s medical team.

keep players healthy and safe.”

Kent in 1938, was selected for induction into the Sill

“Our purpose is to help people get back to what

In addition to providing care to UFC athletes, HSS is

Society in recognition of his many contributions to the

they need and love to do, better than any other place

also assisting UFC in the recruitment and placement

field of orthopedic surgery, including his introduction

in the world,” said Lou Shapiro, President and CEO.

of physical therapists who will be onsite at the brand

of the total hip replacement to HSS. His vision and

“We are privileged to now support UFC as we do other

new HSS Sports Rehabilitation Center at the UFC

leadership helped the Hospital to become the innovative

high performing athletic organizations, including the

Performance Institute in Las Vegas. The 30,000

center of modern orthopedic surgery that it is today.

Brooklyn Nets, New York Giants, New York Knicks,

square-foot state-of-the-art facility provides world-

Charles N. Cornell, MD, Attending Orthopedic

New York Mets, New York Red Bulls, New York

class benefits and services to all athletes competing

Surgeon, wrote a letter of recommendation to Kent

Road Runners and many others.”

under the UFC banner.

School on Dr. Wilson’s behalf. “Consistently dedicated patient care was his mantra and practice. Those of us lucky enough to be in his shadow had the opportunity to observe the benefit of his approach. Our gratitude is infinite. He gave more than we should have expected. The HSS he built has become that light shining upon the hill.”

Added Mary Birnbaum, who worked as Dr. Wilson’s administrative assistant for more than six decades, “Dr. Wilson realized the need for research in orthopedics and helped establish the leading facility for orthopedic research in the United States. He brought Hospital for Special Surgery to the forefront of orthopedics and led the Hospital to become the leading institution of

The brand new HSS Sports Rehabilitation Center at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas opened earlier this year.

its kind in the world.”

Case Management Unit Recognized for Patient Care

T

he Case Management Department strives

process with patients and always do their best to

works independently, they are a cohesive unit and

to ensure the highest quality patient services

make them feel calm and comfortable. They make

have consistent messaging with their patients.

through careful planning and coordination,

their care personalized, taking time to speak to all

Congratulations to the team, and thank you to

utilizing appropriate resources to maximize patient

patients and answer any questions they might have,

the entire Case Management Department for your

recovery and foster a sense of wellbeing. Recently,

no matter how long it takes. While the team mainly

dedication to excellent patient care!

The 7th Floor Case Management Unit includes Julie Filippini, RN; Melissa DeAngelis, RN; Joanna Wealcatch LCSW; Elizabeth Kautz, RN; and Jenny Sanchez, RN.

The 6th Floor Case Management Unit was also recognized for having the most improved Press Ganey scores in 2016.

The team includes Anne Catherine Hundhausen, RN; Lauren Petrillo, RN; Jennie Spector, LCSW; and Maureen Griffin, RN.

the 7th Floor Case Management Unit was recognized for their outstanding approach to patient satisfaction, having scored the highest of all units on the 2016 Press Ganey survey. The team was celebrated during a Case Management staff meeting, where they were presented with an award.

“The 7th Floor Case Management team is committed to delivering the highest level of care, and their patients value their commitment,” said Susan Hansen, BSN, MA,CCM, Nurse Manager.

Team members include Melissa DeAngelis, RN; Julie Filippini, RN; Elizabeth Kautz, RN; Jenny Sanchez, RN; and Joanna Wealcatch, LCSW. When asked what led to their high scores, unit members replied that they have a strong communication

3

HSS and New York Road Runners Expand Partnership

H

SS has partnered with New York Road Runners (NYRR) since 2009 to help athletes hit the ground running as they

Walking for a Cure

I

n late May, HSS once again served as the local

“Leading this wonderful event for the last 10 years

presenting sponsor for the Arthritis Foundation’s

has amazed me!” said Paola Monzon, Administrative

annual Walk to Cure Arthritis, an initiative that

Manager, Radiology & Imaging, who organizes the

raises awareness and funds for arthritis research.

event for HSS. “The amount of support and donations

Together, more than 200 members of Team HSS –

we get from HSS and its employees makes this

employees, patients, friends and family members –

cause a successful one. It’s wonderful to know

participated in the event, which took place at Foley

that we strive to find a cure through our research

Square Park in Manhattan.

and knowledge.”

partnership nearly doubled in size to include even

Before the walk, Jillian Rose, LCSW, MPH, Assistant

A special thank you to all team captains, volunteers

more support for runners throughout New York City.

Director, Social Work Programs, spoke to the crowd

and everyone who donated!

prepare for various races throughout the running season. Earlier this year, we announced that our

about the physical and emotional challenges of living with arthritis. In addition, Steve Weatherford, fitness expert and former NFL player, along with HSS Physical Therapists Danielle Edwards and Marlena Albanese, led participants in a stretch and pre-walk warmup.

To date, Team HSS has raised more than $70,000 for the cause through donations and cupcake sales held in the main Hospital. We are continuing to raise money with additional cupcake sales through the end of July.

Members of Team HSS pose in front of the HSS Recovery Zone at the Queens 10K, which took place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 17.

Beginning in the 2017 race season, HSS is now serving as the Official Hospital of the entire NYRR Five-Borough Series, which includes the United Airlines NYC Half, the Airbnb Brooklyn Half, the NYRR Queens 10K, the New Balance Bronx 10 Mile and the NYRR Staten Island Half. This race series, which leads up to the New York City Marathon, is a celebration of each unique NYC borough. HSS rehabilitation experts will be onsite at each event in our Recovery Zone to help runners stretch and address any injuries after the races.

In addition, HSS experts will host classes at the NYRR RUNCENTER, a new community running center that serves as a meeting place for all members of the running community to come together to improve their health, fitness and overall wellbeing. These free classes include foam rolling, strength training and nutrition.

To further educate runners, HSS is teaming up with NYRR to host a Facebook Live chat once a month, as well as an “Ask the Experts” blog post on the NYRR blog. HSS sports medicine physicians also began working on a research study in partnership with NYRR to address healthy marathon training and injury prevention.

Compliance Helpline Reminder

“We are excited to partner with NYRR on all of these opportunities,” said Emil Calcano, AVP, Global Sports Marketing and Business Development. “They allow runners to get expert advice from members of the HSS rehabilitation and performance team, as well as sports medicine and primary care physicians, to ensure that they are as safe and healthy as possible while running this race season.”

The Compliance Helpline is a service for employees who wish to anonymously or confidentially report suspected violations of the Hospital for Special Surgery’s Code of Conduct, officially stated policies or relevant public laws and regulations.

This includes concerns about patient safety.

The Helpline does not replace other resources available to you, including supervisors, managers and Human Resources staff, but it is an alternative channel available to you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is operated on our behalf by National Helpline Services, Inc., an independent firm.

The Compliance Helpline number is 888-651-6234.

All information will be kept confidential unless the law requires it to be shared with law enforcement authorities. Hospital for Special Surgery policy forbids any retribution or retaliation against an employee who reports a compliance issue in good faith.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Corporate Compliance office directly at x2398.

4

Epic Experts Enhance EHR Communications and Support

A

of Epic in May. They helped test changes to the

More than 275 members of the HSS family

to stay connected and receive the support they

system, generated awareness of the upcoming

have benefitted from being involved in the Epic

need regardless of their work location. The Epic

changes with colleagues and participated in system

Expert program, which continues to offer a unique

Expert program provides an interconnected link

demonstrations of the new functionality to increase

opportunity for knowledge sharing, learning and

of internal expertise across the Hospital and our

their understanding so they could reinforce the

professional growth. Epic Experts will continue to

regional locations that is essential for ongoing

changes in their respective areas.

play an integral role in helping colleagues learn

communication and support of our Epic electronic

“The IT Training team, under the leadership of

how to best use the EHR and stay engaged as we

health record (EHR).

Jonathan Mason, has done an extraordinary job

continue to make the system work better for HSS.

“As an extension of the IT training team, Epic

developing and implementing the program,” said

If you are interested in learning more about the

Experts provide an important communications

Karen Cohen, Assistant Vice President, Information

opportunity to become an Epic Expert, please ask

channel across the organization, enabling a strong

Technology. “Likewise, departmental leadership has

your manager to contact Jonathan Mason at

connection between operations and IT,” said

made the program a priority, allocating time for staff

MasonJo@HSS.edu for details.

s our organization continues to grow,

Most recently, Epic Experts played an instrumental

within their departments to stay actively engaged,

it is becoming increasingly important

role in the successful upgrade to the 2017 version

which has contributed to its overall success.”

to enable better ways for the HSS family

Jonathan Mason, IT Training Manager.

As part of their role, Epic Experts attend monthly meetings facilitated by IT instructional designers where they share feedback gathered from colleagues and learn about upcoming system changes. They then provide updates to colleagues on different Epic initiatives and projects, enabling efficient bidirectional communication. With their advanced knowledge of system capabilities and understanding of how the system is used, Epic Experts are an invaluable liaison between operations and IT to help drive continuous improvement to the EHR. Epic Experts also assist colleagues with “how do I?” questions and can be easily identified by the “Epic Expert” designation on their employee ID badges.

“Answering questions on the spot without having to reach out to an instructional designer, analyst or the Help Desk can be a huge time-saver and satisfier,” said Martha Danielak, PT, DPT, IT Instructional Designer.

Epic Experts in the Rehab Department have seen the many benefits the program has provided to the HSS family.

Epic Expert Spotlight: HSS Rehabilitation The HSS Rehabilitation Department represents a great example of how the Epic Expert Program has benefitted the HSS family across multiple locations.

We invited several Rehab colleagues to share their experience with the program below.

“Being an Epic Expert has given me exposure to a different aspect of HSS that is not directly related to patient care, but has a large impact on the patient experience. I have gained a greater appreciation of the work that takes place to implement and maintain an EHR system so that clinicians can maximize their time focused on direct patient care.” – Curtis Wu, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, Advanced Clinician, HSS Rehabilitation Paramus “I have fostered new working relationships with individuals I may not have otherwise had the opportunity to work with. I like being involved in the development process and helping my colleagues interact with the system.” – Andrea Tychanski Papson, PT, DPT, SCS, CMPT, ATC, CSCS, Advanced Clinician, Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center “Epic Experts were on hand during the upgrade to preview changes and anticipate any issues we thought may occur. Making ourselves familiar with the modifications eased the transition for staff knowing that they had Epic Experts to reach out to if a question did arise.” – Alayna Mallon, Billing Supervisor, Rehabilitation “Being informed about the updates and partaking in the meetings has allowed me to advocate for colleagues in my area who are not as involved to ensure they have the most optimal system to utilize in their clinical practice.” – Jason Mayerhofer, PT, DPT, MTC, CSCS, SFMA, USATF-1, Clinical Supervisor, HSS Onsite Physical Therapy at American Express “As an Epic Expert, I make sure my team and colleagues have someone by their side they know will be able to help them when needed.” – Angelo Toro, Rehabilitation Mobility Technician Coordinator, Acute Care Rehabilitation “I like getting a glimpse of what's to come and taking feedback from my colleagues to try to better tailor Epic to our specific way of doing things in Sports Rehab.” – Robyn Browne, Patient Access III, Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center “Becoming an Epic Expert has helped me further develop my leadership skills and the ways in which I offer support and encouragement to colleagues.

Having this additional experience was helpful as I transitioned into my role as manager of the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Center at HSS.” – Erica Fritz, DPT, OCS, SFMA, Manager, Orthopedic Physical Therapy Center

5

Back in the Game

H

SS’ online patient forum – Back in the Game – now has more than 1,700 patient stories! The postings share how HSS helped patients get

“back in the game.” Every month we will include one of the stories that highlights the extraordinary care

HSS Family Members Bring Best Practices to Ghana

I

n June, nine members of the HSS family traveled

to the Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS) Hospital in Accra, Ghana to help

bring HSS care across the world. Founded by

members of the HSS family provide.

Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, MD, Chief Emeritus of the

Read how HSS

HSS Scoliosis Service, the FOCOS Hospital provides

helped Alice of

comprehensive, affordable orthopedic and spine

New York, NY get

care to underserved communities in Ghana and

back in the game.

throughout West Africa.

I was diagnosed

HSS clinicians and researchers have been traveling

with reflex sympa-

to FOCOS Hospital independently since April 2012

thetic dystrophy

and as part of the Hospital for Special Surgery/

Charles Fisher, Keesha Holmes, Lucia Fabrizio, Mina Tieku, Glenn Garrison, Ron Perez, Jason Mayerhofer, Marcia Julius and Mazza Chin-Ng pose for a photo outside FOCOS Hospital in Ghana.

/complex regional

FOCOS Hospital Humanitarian Affiliation since July

pain syndrome

2014. Unlike past trips where HSS family members

join their respective departments. Each HSS family

(RSD/CRPS)

provided clinical care to FOCOS patients, this trip

member worked with FOCOS staff to observe and

after ankle surgery

focused solely on advising, mentoring and sharing

make recommendations based off of best practices

(not at HSS). Unable to stand or walk for longer

best practices with FOCOS staff. FOCOS committee

that have been successful at HSS. For example, in

than five minutes, I was suffering on many levels.

members Ron Perez, Vice President of Perioperative

the outpatient department, HSS team members

I could not put on shoes or socks. The pain was

Services; Glenn Garrison, Director of Prosthetics

helped improve patient flow and intake; in the OR,

excruciating, a 9 out of 10. From the research I did,

and Orthotics; Lucia Fabrizio, Nurse Practitioner;

orientation materials were reviewed for efficiency;

I wasn’t optimistic that I would ever have relief.

and Charles Fisher, Assistant Vice President of

and in central sterile, best practices were imple-

People are debilitated by this disease.

Rehabilitation Medicine, participated in the trip

mented to raise quality to an even higher level. The

My painful blue foot and I were fortunate to find

along with Wing-Yee (Mazza) Chin-Ng, CN II;

HSS team not only shared their best practices, but

Dr. Gungor! I was given an appointment right away.

Keesha Holmes, Patient Care Director; Marcia

also learned from best practices and ideas of the

He immediately knew what would be most effective

Julius, Senior Patient Care Assistant; Jason

FOCOS team members.

and took the time to explain all the details. After

Mayerhofer, Clinical Supervisor, PT, American

“FOCOS staff was happy that they were able to

some diagnostic testing I underwent six lumbar

Express; and Wihemina (Mina) Tieku, CST II,

speak up and their ideas were heard and validated,”

sympathetic blocks with Dr. Gungor.

Central Sterile Supply.

said Lucia. “They really saw us as great partners, and

I cannot say enough about the superb team. From

When the team arrived they took a day trip with

I have already heard from some of the FOCOS nurses

my first encounter with office staff to the nurses,

Ghanaian locals where they learned about the culture,

that they are implementing our best practices.”

technicians and of course Dr. Gungor I felt like I was

history and socioeconomic state of the country. This

The FOCOS staff appreciated all that the HSS team

the only patient in the hospital!

helped them to put what they were doing into context

did for them on the trip. HSS and FOCOS Hospital

and also provided a great bonding experience.

both look forward to keeping the partnership in place

“The cultural trip helped build camaraderie among

and continuing our relationship in the future.

daughter. Dr. Gungor gave me my life back.

our team” said Glenn. “During our time in Ghana, I met

“It’s all about giving, and every member of our

To others suffering with RSD/CRPS, please know

people from HSS I didn’t know and we got to interact

team has that common drive to give back,” said

you can conquer this. I am eternally grateful to

and build special relationships with each other. The

Ron. “What they do at FOCOS is remarkable by any

Dr. Gungor and HSS.

enthusiasm of our team was infectious, especially

standards, but especially because of where they are

The result is I am in almost complete remission.

I am able to walk, work and take care of my

from those who had not been to Ghana before. That

located. We are honored to be a part of that.”

really brought the best out of us as a team.”

For more information on FOCOS, go to

Following the cultural trip, the team participated in

http://intranet.hss.edu/committees/FOCOS

orientation at FOCOS Hospital and then went on to

or email focos@hss.edu.

Employee of the Month June 2017, Martha Danielak Congratulations to Martha, Employee of the Month for June! Martha is an IT Instructional Designer who has been a member of the HSS family since 2006. Martha is a leader in her department who truly raises the bar for the entire team.

Martha’s work ethic is second to none. She routinely turns out top level work in every aspect of her job. Whenever a question or problem arises, Martha dives deep into understanding the cause in order to find the best and most efficient solution.

Whether she is leading a training session for new employees, responding to an Epic-related issue or creating training materials to enhance an Epic user’s experience, Martha gives her all to the project. She embodies the passion and dedication that HSS was built upon and demonstrates it every day both in her work, as well as her interactions with colleagues.

6

Team HSS Participates in Annual Corporate Challenge

I

n early June, nearly 600 members of Team

Susan Cardamone, Director, Anesthesiology,

Ann Bienstock, Nurse Practitioner, Occupational

HSS participated in the 41st Annual J.P. Morgan

served as team captain and organized the event

Health; and Annie LoBasso, Vice President,

Corporate Challenge in Central Park. The 3.5

for HSS. A special thank you to race night volunteers

Inpatient Operations, as well as Department of

mile race series, which takes place in cities across

Elvi Taveras, Administrative Coordinator, Anesthesi-

Anesthesiology office staff for all of their hard work

the country, celebrates teamwork, camaraderie

ology; Lisa Rivera, Staff Secretary, Anesthesiology;

behind the scenes!

and community.

Team HSS posed for a photo in the Belaire Courtyard before the race.

Employee Safety Zone If you see something, report it!

In November 2009, HSS implemented its first online occurrence reporting system to help identify potential or actual risks that may result in an injury to a patient or HSS family member.

The HSS Occurrence Reporting System is available to all employees and can be accessed through a link in the Tools section on the HSS intranet. All you need is your network ID and password to log in. Once in the system, you can report employee, patient, environmental, system and even visitor events.

In 2016, 2,891 total occurrences were reported; 522 of those were employee incidents. We encourage the reporting of occurrences and even potential hazards because the more we know, the more we can fix! You have the option to submit a report anonymously, but please be aware that NO punitive action will come from a report. This information is of great value to all of HSS to help us identify a potential problem that may concern more than just you.

A lot of positive changes have been made because of reported employee events. For example, following an increase in employee slips and falls due to wet floors, we installed pop-up ‘Wet Floor’ signs around the Hospital to help increase awareness. Over the years, data has shown that a top injury is a strain due to both patient and equipment handling. Because of this, we recognized the need for a Body Mechanics Program, which is now our most successful program for employee safety to date.

Here’s what you need to know: • If you sustain a work related injury OR if you observe a hazardous condition, please report it in the system within 24 hours AND inform your manager/ supervisor immediately.

• Do not work if injured!

• It is important to note that this injury may not be a result of a specific event, as many work related injuries are caused by repetitive, seemingly benign movements or even something as simple as a poorly designed office setup.

• If for some reason you are unable to enter the report yourself, your manager/supervisor or a colleague can enter it on your behalf. There is also a kiosk in Occupational Health where you can fill out a report.

Once the report is submitted, an email alert is sent out to your manager/supervisor, Risk Management, Occupational Health and the Body Mechanics Team.

At this point, the investigation begins. Your manager will review the incident with you to make sure that you are ok. If there were environmental factors involved in the incident, changes may be needed to prevent additional injuries in the future.

A few things to note: • If you report a strain or sprain, we will set you up with a 1:1 appointment with a physical therapist to review the incident and recommend ways to prevent future injury. This 1:1 will also serve to give you an idea of what services may be useful for you to seek out if you are in pain.

• For environmental incidents, we work with a number of departments including Engineering, Environmental Services and Security to help fix the issue.

An increase in reporting of incidents AND good catches represents a healthy culture of safety!

If you have any questions about the Occurrence Reporting System or the Body Mechanics Program please email us at EmployeeSafety@HSS.edu.

7

Milestones Case Management • Tanisha Rowe, MA, Special Projects and Systems Coordinator in the Case Management Department, graduated in May 2017 from CUNY School of Professional Studies with a Master’s Degree of

“Pre-Operative Physical Therapy Education Improves Post-Operative Function and Satisfac-

Aviva Wolff, EdD, OT, CHT; and Wen-Yau Jennie

tion Post Total Joint Arthroplasty” for the EFFORT

Yen, PT, DPT, CHT, CLT.

Annual Congress in Vienna, Austria.

• Theresa Chiaia, PT, DPT, presented at the live

• The HSS Leon Root, M.D. Motion Analysis

Arts with a concentration in Health Care Policy

Laboratory team was well represented at the

and Administration.

Gait & Clinical Movement Analysis Society Annual

Rehabilitation • The Leon Root, M.D. Motion Analysis Lab was

Meeting. Sherry I. Backus, PT, DPT, MA, was co-director of a pre-conference workshop and session moderator. Howard Hillstrom, PhD, was

accredited by the Commission for Motion Labora-

a session moderator. Aviva L. Wolff, EdD, OT, CHT,

tory Accreditation (CMLA), making it only one of

served as chairperson of the Awards Committee.

11 accredited laboratories in the United States.

Lisa Drefus, PT, DPT, Cert. Schroth Scoliosis

• Robert Turner, PT, DPT, OCS, MS, OM, PMA®-

Therapist; Siobhan Clarke, PT, DPT, PCS;

CPT, earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy

Karen M. Resnik, PT, DPT, PCS, CKTP; Jayme

from Arcadia University.

Burket-Koltsov, PhD; Emily R. Dodwell, BSc, MD,

• Alayna Mallon, MBA, earned her Master of Business Administration from Hofstra University.

• William Behrns, PT, DPT, OCS, coauthored an

Gwen Weinstock-Zlotnick, PhD, OTR/L, CHT;

streaming webinar Patellofemoral Instability: How and When to Fix it and How to Avoid Complications.

• The seventh annual PSAL Football Combine was held at the James M. Benson Sports Rehabilitation Center and Tisch Sports Performance Center. 122 players from 16 schools were tested for the coming season. The HSS team covering the event included John Cavanaugh, PT, MEd, ATC, SCS; Frances Baratta-Ziska, PT, DPT, MS, PCS, C/NDT; Robyn Browne, Managed Care Liaison; Theresa Chiaia, PT, DPT; Michelle Cilenti, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, USATF-L1; Polly de Mille, RN, MA, RCEP, CSCS,

MPH; David M. Scher, MD; and Leon Root, MD,

USAT; Marivic Faustino, Managed Care Liaison;

coauthored a poster presentation.

Ioonna Felix, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS; Aimee Fong,

• Julia Doty, OTR/L, CHT, and Alexandra

Rehab Tech; Joel Guzman, ATC; Jessica Hettler,

article on “On-Ice Return-to-Hockey Progression

MacKenzie, OTR/L, CHT, co-chaired The

PT, DPT, ATC, OCS, SCS, Cert. MDT; Jamie Lamb,

After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction”

Traumatic Elbow, the first HSS Rehabilitation

PT, DPT, PMA®-CPT; Michael Levinson, PT, SCS,

in Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.

AOTA approved course. HSS faculty included:

CSCS; Justin Maher, SPT; Courtney McKenzie,

Emily Altman, PT, DPT, CHT, OCS, CLT; John

Rehab Tech; Joseph T. Molony, Jr., PT, MS, SCS,

Indalecio, OTR/L, CHT, MS; Nick Maroldi, PT,

CSCS; Robert Sokol, Rehab Tech; Andrea

• Rupali Soeters, PT, MEd, PhD; Peter White; Jayme Burket; Mary Murray-Weir, PT, MBA; Michael M. Alexiades, MD; and Amar S. Ranawat, MD, coauthored a presentation on

DPT, SFMA; Eugenia Papadopoulos, OTD,

Tychanski, PT, DPT, ATC, SCS, CMPT, ART,

OTR/L, CHT; Emily C. Sloane, OTR/L, CHT;

CSCS; and Pawel Wawrzyniak, PT, DPT, SCS.

Welcome

Picture This

Chris A. Adjei, Robert Alvarado, Christian Annunziata, John M. Apostolakos, Sandra Baez, Lauren A. Barber, Ibrahima Barry, Hoshane L. Brown, Christopher M. Brusalis, Joy Buechler, Julio Cabanillas, Ashleigh L. Clark, Stephanie Clavijo, Paul E. Coyne, Stephen M. Dillard, Jessica A. Dolan, Daniel A. Driscoll, Bridget Ellsworth, Jerry P. Felisme, Casey L. Forman, Michael Friedman, Emma K. Furlone, Marissa A. Gavilan, Reuven Gelfarb, Radha Gosalia, Benjamin J. Hardy, Jackson Jacob, Rishabh Jethanandani, Mark Langhans, Christina J. Lepore, Serena Lian, Abigail G. Maguire, Natalie P. Marks, Sarah E. McCord, Diane C. McEniry, Mary E. McMahon, Stephanie Medina, Lauren Mixon, Rachelle Morgenstern, Kirstin Morrison, Kyle Morse, Melissa H. Murray, Kathleen L. Nelson, Kelley M. O’Leary, Caitlin L. Penny, Ambar Picon, Mark Joseph J. Platon, Seda A. Port, Ruta Pranaityte, Roger Ramjit, Katrin L. Ramsey, Naomi L. Roselaar, Lori Ruane, Jonathan M. Schachne, Nicolas A. Selemon, Mahdi Shabazz, Tony S. Shen, Carlos Soto, Niloofar S. Steele, Rebecca B. Tonnessen, Idelle Vaynberg, Luz S. Velez, Ethan Williams, Joshua Wright-Chisem, Olivia Wuest, Anna Yusov

Joint Commission Reporting Hospital for Special Surgery is committed to providing safe, quality care to all of its patients.

In the event you have a concern regarding the safety or quality of care provided by the Hospital or the Laboratory, you may report these concerns to the Joint Commission.

Please be assured that no retaliatory disciplinary action will be taken if an employee makes such a report. In addition, the Joint Commission has stated that your name will be treated as confidential information, and will not be shared with any other party.

You may file your report in the following ways: 1. By email:

complaint@jointcommission.org

2. By fax:

Office of Quality Monitoring, 630-792-5636

3. By mail:

Office of Quality Monitoring The Joint Commission One Renaissance Boulevard Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

For fax and mail reports, submissions must be on a Quality Incident Report Form available on the Joint Commission website at www.jointcommission.org.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Executive Offices at x1236.

8

Earlier this year, HSS hosted Dr. Christos Vottis and Dr. Dimitrios Papadopoulos, surgeons visiting from Greece as part of the HSS Stavros Niarchos Foundation Academic Visitor Program. The surgeons, who are pictured here with Roula Siklas, Program Officer, and Vasili Tsamis, Chief Operating Officer of the Foundation, observed surgical and clinical care at HSS and were exposed to best practices and the HSS culture of excellence. On April 25, at the conclusion of the program, they celebrated at a luncheon hosted by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Editor:

Marisa DeFilipps

Executive Editor:

Rachel Sheehan

Editorial Committee:

Lisa Goldstein, Bruce Slawitsky, John Englehart

Next Issue:

August 2017 echo@hss.edu