ECHO - September 2019

ECHO

September 2019 Vol. 21 Issue 9

STORIES AND NEWS FROM THE HSS FAMILY

HSS Family Experiences Culture of Excellence at Annual Engagement Day

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he culture at HSS is one of the most important characteristics of our organization.

HSS Receives Multiple 2019 Press Ganey Awards roviding our patients with the best possible

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We pride ourselves on possessing a Leadership

experience while in our care is a cornerstone

By All mentality, which reflects the importance,

of the HSS mission. It is, perhaps, one of

contributions and opinions of every HSS family member. To honor and celebrate this, the annual

the most significant parts of our foundation as an

Employee Engagement Day took place on

organization and is evident in everything that we do.

September 10 in the Richard L. Menschel Education

Press Ganey recently recognized HSS for our top

Center. In addition to the event in the Menschel

performance in patient experience, naming HSS

Center, celebrations were also held at Main Campus

as a 2019 Guardian of Excellence Award® Winner.

for overnight staff and at our 777 3rd Avenue offices,

This award honors healthcare organizations for

as well as site-specific activities at regional locations.

reaching the 95th percentile for patient experience,

Like previous years, Engagement Day is the

engagement or clinical quality performance. The

official kickoff to the Gallup Survey. With more than 1,500 HSS family members in attendance, this year’s theme centered around Q12 of the survey – This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow. At the event, attendees had the opportunity to visit tables with information on buddy programs, tuition reimbursement, eAcademy, HSS Florida, regional locations and employee testimonials of ways they grew within the organization.

Guardian of Excellence Award is presented annually “The culture at HSS is a direct product of the

to organizations that sustain performance in the top

values we hold,” said Bruce Slawitsky, Senior Vice

5 percent for each reporting period for the award

President, Human Resources and Service Excellence.

year. This is the seventh consecutive year that HSS

“The Gallup Engagement Survey is extremely

has received this important designation.

important to HSS leadership because it helps us to identify opportunities for continued improvement within our organization.”

“This recognition is a reflection of each of our commitments to the HSS mission of providing the highest quality patient care, improving mobility and

CONTINUED on page 2

enhancing the quality of life for all,” said Chao Wu, Chief Patient Experience Officer and AVP. “Earning this honor was a truly collaborative effort by every single member of the HSS family. It is through shared leadership – with every individual serving as a leader of HSS – that we are able to continuously provide world-class care and overall experience to our patients.”

In addition, HSS was also awarded the Pinnacle of Excellence AwardSM for inpatient Experience for the first time ever. The Pinnacle of Excellence Award recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations based on extraordinary achievement. HSS earned the award for maintaining “high levels of excellence” in patient experience for at least three years.

CONTINUED on page 2

Inside

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HSS Celebrates International Translation Day

Annual Ice Cream Social

6th Annual Art & Design Show

Annual Engagement Day CONTINUED FROM COVER Thank you to all volunteers and Engagement

members Dalia Abusharr, Tricia Bonamo, Noelle

Champions who helped make the event so

Carnevale, Richard Chug, Otis Gamboa, Mary

successful. A special thank you to Emma Reuter,

Hargett, Christopher James, Sona Joshi, Eden

Senior Project Manager, Organizational Development,

Kalman, Inderpal Kohli, Melissa Medina, Paola

and Lili De Jesus, Project Coordinator, Human

Monzon, Jessica Podell, Amanda Pupino, Bruce

Resources, who coordinated and oversaw the

Slawitsky, Robyn Townsend, Carole Travers, Arika

event, as well as Employee Engagement Committee

Wright, Violet Yuen and David Zeman.

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

This award recognizes organizations that have

“HSS is committed to serving patients from around

maintained consistently high levels of excellence

the world in a safe environment,” added Bruce

Access “Making Rounds” at www.hssmakingrounds.com

in patient experience, engagement or clinical quality

Slawitsky, Senior Vice President, Human Resources

to read the below posts and more. I look forward to

performance, and only four organizations nationally

and Service Excellence. “All members of the HSS

your comments.

are given this designation for each category.

family truly exemplify our mission of providing high

“These awards are an endorsement of the hard

quality, compassionate care to our patients, and we

work and dedication our team members provide

are honored to be recognized for this work.”

every day to ensure a positive patient experience,”

Thank you to the entire HSS family for your

said Lou Shapiro, President and CEO. “We’ve earned

dedication to our organization and to our patients.

– Lou Shapiro • Supporting Team HSS • Recognized for World-Class Patient Care • Blog Part 2 – Recognition

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Press Ganey Awards CONTINUED FROM COVER

this national recognition by going above and beyond

This recognition would not have been possible

• The Week Ahead: Input, Connection & Growth

to continually improve upon that experience for

without all of you!

• Looking Ahead

our patients.”

HSS Celebrates International Translation Day roviding outstanding patient care is our

to provide medical information to a patient in the

Patients are able to speak into a phone in their

primary focus at HSS. As an organization,

patient’s preferred language.

preferred language, and a live medically trained

we continuously strive to meet our patients’

“The Language Services Department is joyfully

interpreter communicates their message to the

individual needs and ensure they feel at ease under

overwhelmed with the HSS family members who

care team member. Similarly, event attendees were

our world-class care. To support this, our Language

went above and beyond to become proficient in

educated about the specific techniques and services

Services Department works tirelessly to facilitate

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multiple languages in order to support the HSS

available for deaf and hard-of-hearing, as well as,

the highest quality of care and create a supportive

mission of providing world-class patient care,”

blind and visually impaired patients.

environment to ensure that all Limited English

said Bella Elogoodin, AVP, Service Excellence and

Thank you to all members of the Language Services

Proficiency (LEP), hearing and visually impaired,

Language Services. “This event truly showcases our

Department for organizing this important event and

and other patients and family members with special

commitment to world-class personalized patient

educating the HSS family on the numerous ways we

requests receive care in their preferred language or

care and safety.”

are helping to provide our patients with world-class

are provided with specific accommodations.

The event included demonstration videos presented

care. A special thank you to Alejandro Gonzalez

Over the last several years, HSS has seen a dramatic

by Maria Soto, Compliance Supervisor, Language

Della Valle, MD, for pioneering the Language

growth in the number of patients both domestically

Services, and a playful skit conducted by the

Proficiency Assessment, David Y. Wang, MD,

and internationally who require interpreters. This

Language Services and Service Excellence team,

Austin Fragomen, MD, the International Center,

year alone, we have provided care for 4,528 LEP

directed by Brandon Davidson, Manager, Service

Social Work, the conference center team, Creative

patients. Due to this influx, it is essential that

Excellence, and written by Risa Hoffman, Assistant

Services, the Wellness Committee, the Spiritual

members of the HSS family become advocates

Director, Language Services, and Randa Bahrouni,

Care Department, Occupational Health Services,

who contribute to the diversity and success of our

Interpreter, Language Services, which showcased

the Organizational Learning department and other

organization. For this reason, on September 13,

cultural differences and the role of the medical

HSS family members for assisting with the event.

Language Services celebrated their incredible

interpreter. It also highlighted the use of assistive

advancements during the annual International

devices such as In-Demand and the Martti

Translational Day event, which was attended by

(My Accessible Real-Time Trusted Interpreter)

more than 330 HSS family members.

technology, which allows HSS family members

The event began with an award ceremony to honor

to access an interpreter in more than 250 languages

15 members of the HSS family who have exemplified

via video conference. Brian Vandenberge, husband

their commitment to providing language access to

of Risa, also sang opera to the crowd in Spanish

our patients. Six individuals were awarded for

during a special performance.

successfully completing their Bilingual Language

In addition, attendees were able to try the language

Proficiency Assessment and achieving competency

translation phones being used across HSS that

in the Interpreter Proficiency Assessment, which

allow patients and their care team members

grants those who successfully pass authorization

to successfully communicate with one another.

Risa Hoffman posed with her husband, who performed opera at the event.

Bella Elogoodin presented Dr. David Y. Wang with an award.

Recipients of the HSS Language Services Award posed for a photo together.

Marita Baragiano from the Ambulatory Care Clinic was recognized as Assistive Devices Superuser.

HSS family members performed a playful skit during International Translation Day.

Members of the Language Services Department take a photo with award recipients.

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How Sweet It Is: Annual Ice Cream Social n August 21, as a token of appreciation and

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gratitude for the hard work and dedication to providing the highest-quality patient care,

members of the HSS family were treated to an ice cream social. We also celebrated our recent U.S. News rankings in orthopedics, rheumatology and pediatric orthopedics.

We can’t thank you enough for all that you do every day! Without every single member of the HSS family serving as leaders in their individual roles, our many successes would not be possible.

HSS Earns “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” Designation

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SS has once again been designated as

Over the last several years, HSS has put

“This award reflects our ongoing commitment

a “Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality”

a strong focus on raising awareness, providing

and dedication to diversity, medical accessibility

for the fifth consecutive year by the Human

ongoing training and implementing best

and inclusiveness,” Susan Flics, Vice President,

Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the largest

practices around caring for the LGBTQ+

Operations shared. “In this regard, we have

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer

community and fostering inclusivity. We have

undertaken initiatives to address the particular

(LGBTQ+) civil rights organization in the country. This

done this through mandatory annual training

needs of the LGBTQ+ communities. We strive

important designation is a testament to our mission

for all employees, awareness initiatives and events,

to recruit a diverse and empathic staff sensitive

of providing quality care for all and fostering inclusive

participation in the annual NYC Pride March event

to the diverse needs of the patients we serve.”

care for the LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones.

and more.

Adaptive Sports Academy Hosts Three Summer Events For Pediatric Patients hroughout the year, the Adaptive Sports

basics of sailing and were thrilled to take part in a

The days were filled with memorable experiences

Academy at the HSS Lerner Children’s

new activity!

while encouraging mobility and independence.

Pavilion organizes local, regional and national

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During the second event, our pediatric patients

They often resulted in increased self-esteem,

adaptive programs for kids and teens facing a range

enjoyed surfing in Long Beach, NY. Teaming up with

self-confidence and motivation to live fuller,

of disabilities. These events help patients realize

Skudin Surf, the lessons began with instructions on

more active lives.

new skills and interests, reinforce therapy goals and

land and included how to ride a surfboard. The

allow patients to socialize with other patients. This

participants then took what they learned to the

summer, our Adaptive Sports Academy hosted three

water, with proud parents cheering and crying tears

fun-filled summer events for pediatric patients,

of joy as they watched their children.

friends and families.

Thank you to all the HSS family members who participated in the events and brought smiles to our patients faces!

Bridget Assip Sabrina Cerciello Emma Csenge John Denneen Rosemary Derocher Elizabeth Gerosa

Finally, in late August, attendees were treated to a

Kicking off the first of the three events, the Adaptive

day of horseback riding at Endeavor Therapeutic

Sports Academy teamed up with the WaterFront

Horsemanship, Inc. in Westchester County, NY.

Center to offer our pediatric patients a day of sailing

Participants enjoyed a day filled with horse education

and marine education in Oyster Bay, NY. With the

as well as hippotherapy, which provides multiple

help of skilled instructors, participants mastered the

benefits for cognitive, social and physical function.

Patients, friends and family had a fun-filled day sailing.

Pediatric patients enjoyed surfing in Long Beach, NY.

Samantha Jenkins Peyton Katz Ashley Laird Alexandra Laurenzano Marissa Nemirofsky Christina Pierrozzi

The Adaptive Sports Academy offered patients horseback riding lessons.

New Medical Staff Derek G. Hansen, MD Derek G. Hansen, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with specialized training in orthopedic oncology and metabolic bone diseases. Dr. Hansen specializes in the treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors and metabolic bone disease such as osteoporosis, as well as more unusual conditions. He also cares for patients with fractures and those in need of joint reconstruction.

Dr. Hansen attended the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and went on to do his residency in orthopedics at Stony Brook University. After graduation, Dr. Hansen completed two fellowships, one in orthopedic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering and the second in metabolic bone disease here at HSS.

Benedict U. Nwachukwu, MD Benedict U. Nwachukwu, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and specialist in hip, knee and shoulder surgery at HSS. He also serves as the Co-Director of Clinical Research for the Sports Medicine Institute. He specifically focuses on areas and procedures including hip arthroscopy, hip labral repair and reconstruction, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and repair, articular cartilage repair and transplantation, meniscus repair and transplantation, arthroscopic shoulder stabilization/labrum repair and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Dr. Nwachukwu attended college at Columbia University and obtained his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He also obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School while a medical student. Dr. Nwachukwu completed his orthopedic surgery residency at HSS and his sports medicine fellowship training at Rush University.

Dr. Nwachukwu’s clinical and research interests are focused on returning athletes to sport, as well as joint preservation.

He has extensive experience caring for athletes and has previously been a team physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox and DePaul Athletics.

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Back in the Game

Wellness Corner

SS’s online patient forum – Back in the Game

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– now has more than 2,400 patient stories!

The postings share how HSS helped patients

Do The Latest Diet Trends Work?

get “back in the game.” Every month we will include

With so much information in the media about dieting, knowing what to eat can be confusing.

one of the stories that highlights the extraordinary

Making healthy choices is challenging enough without trendy fad diets getting in the way. If you are

care members of the HSS family provide.

overwhelmed by the amount of diets out there, you are not alone. Here is a rundown of current popular

Read how HSS helped Nayelis de Luna of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic get back in the game.

diets and some practical recommendations from an HSS dietitian. Your best bet to making healthy food choices is ignoring diet trend noise, eating in moderation and consulting a medical professional like one of our HSS dietitians for advice.

New York is a beautiful city. It is a dream to get to America, see the Statue of Liberty,

Diet

What it is

Benefits/Reality

Keto Diet

High fat,

Reality:

moderate protein,

• The keto diet should be followed under very strict

and see the people.

very low carb diet

The way of living

medical supervision to treat specific diseases.

Studies are limited in the general population and

is so organized as

do not show true benefits for weight loss

well as the places,

• Very restrictive: If you are on a 2,000-calorie

the streets and the respect to

diet, only 100 calories a day can be from

others mainly to

carbohydrates (or about 25 grams)

the disabled.

• What does 25 grams of carbohydrates

From the first day that we arrived at Hospital for

look like?

Special Surgery they treated us like queens – the

1 cup of cooked oatmeal, 1 apple, 1 cup of

doctors and the medical teams are the best in the

sweetened Greek yogurt, ½ cup of quinoa,

world. Edwin Su, MD, there are no words to thank

2 slices of whole wheat toast

him for his kindness, beautiful smile and those

• Remember, you can only choose ONE of these

wonderful hands that God gave him, which made

options for the WHOLE day

it possible for Nayelis to walk. The nurses gave very good treatment, and the therapists were incredible in the way of working with so much love.

Paleo Diet

The hospital food and facilities were the best we’ve

Eating like

Benefits:

cavemen because

• Encourages fruit, vegetable and fish intake;

it’s “more natural”

seen in our lives.

and only consuming For almost 6 months we were in New York, and we

foods obtained

went through great challenges. We had hard times –

from hunting

health issues, a lot of pain, a lot of anxiety to see how

and gathering

Nayelis would turn out – but we always received the

eliminates processed foods Reality: • No grains/legumes: This omits affordable options (lentils, beans) with good nutrients • Not good for athletes

support of the teams that took us there. And to every

• Too much emphasis on meat products

medical situation there was always a quick response

• Overall demonizes certain foods and may cause

from the entire medical team.

social isolation

The Ronald McDonald House was our house because they made us feel like a home. It was full of great people where we could share and

Intermittent

Time restricted

Benefits:

meet many people with different health cases that

Fasting

feeding aka fasting

• May lead to less caloric intake

made us understand the privilege of living in that

for 16 hours, eating

5-star hotel.

for 8 hours

• May have digestive benefits • Can increase appetite and lead to enjoying eating

We are grateful to have had the opportunity to have

the food when you do actually eat it

been in the best place (HSS) and with the best, Ana, Julia, Laura, and the whole team. Thank you

Reality:

for being part of this dream come true.

• Studies have been short and are not on humans • Social impact: Hard to go out with friends • Skipping breakfast: Might miss out on healthy foods you would only eat during this time (oatmeal, yogurt, milks, nuts, seeds) • Can cause intense hunger and make you overeat later in the day/the next day

If you have any questions about nutrition or other HSS Wellness Programs, please contact us at: EmployeeWellness@HSS.edu

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6th Annual Art & Design Show Showcases Talented HSS Family Members n August 30, the Employee Activities

sketches and photography to jewelry, lacework and

“This year’s Art & Design Show did not disappoint.

Committee (EAC) sponsored the

decorative masks.

It is truly gratifying for me to showcase the ‘hidden

6th Annual Art & Design Show where

“Each year, I am more amazed with how talented

talents’ of our accomplished and hardworking HSS

HSS family members were invited to showcase

the HSS family members are,” said Pam Katkin,

family members at this annual event.”

their talents for colleagues and visitors to

PA-C, MBA, Administrative Manager, Physician

Thank you to everyone who participated in the show

enjoy. This included everything from paintings,

Assistant Department, who ran the event for the EAC.

and shared their art with the HSS family!

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The talented HSS family members who shared their work with us include: Srujana Aliminati Erik Attia Grace Bell John Castrogiovanni

Coline Haxaire John Indalecia Sona Joshi William Kennett

Pia Marinkovic Carol Page Khyati Patel Tara Schmidt

Patrice Shea Guangrong Sun Robin Warner

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Milestones Feliza N. Lampitoc-Laluces, RN, CNOR;

Nursing • We are happy to recognize the following nurses for receiving specialty board certification: Marie Antonette Almojuela, RN, CNOR; Bianca Balsamo, FNP-BC; Kelly Binder, RN, CCRN; Faye Daa, RN-BC; Sarah Deleno, RN, CNOR; Alyssa DiGiovanni, RN-BC; Adero Gaudin, RN, ONC; Gloria Gulmatico, RN, ONC; Jayne Hoffmann, NEA-BC; Keesha Holmes, NE-BC; Ruby Kam, RN, CNOR; Kerri Kinsella, RN-BC;

• We are happy to recognize the following HSS

Manuela G. Lomedico, RN, CPN; Betty Loo, RN,

family members for receiving specialty board

ONC; Devonie Manzano, RN, PCCN; Jacqueline

certification in Pharmacy and Central Sterile

Mcavoy, RN, ONC; Lauren Mogelnicki, RN,

Processing: Jawad Saleh, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP,

CNOR; Ronald Monteron, NE-BC; Carolina

and Shawn Espitia, CRCST

Munoz, ONC; Angela Neves, RN, ONC; Stephanie Niu, RN, CCRN; Sun Jung Park, RN, CNOR; Martha Plack, RN, CNOR; Kayla Pochintesta, RN, CCRN; Jennifer Rizzi, RN-BC; Danielle Samuels, RN, ONC, and Danielle Wolf, RN, ONC

Picture This

Welcome Alfredo A. Araujo, Julia A. Baran, Jessica Bassil, Naimish Baxi, Richard D. Bell, Rachel Blechman, Amanda Borges, Nicolette T. Bruno, Carol Ann Budhai, Geoffrey Cloud, Eric Collado-Mejia, Britany Crespo, Daniel Crowe, George Cyril, Maria de los Reyes, Diana Gertel, Campbell Y. Goldsmith, Sophie E. Goloff, Stephanie A. Good, Harry J. Hartnett, Malory E. Hayden, Carlos N. Hernandez Torres, Elena C. Iannece, Jeff Jean-Pierre, Jordan Kaplan, Emilia Klapak, Nechama Korenblit, Emile-Victor Kuyl, Minh Le, Juliana Lebowitz, Melanie Leon, Giannina Li, Anita Malhotra, Megan McLaughlin, Carine J. Moezinia, Omar S. Mohamed, Mark Mohammed, Samuel Mond, Pauline Morrison, Benedict Nwachukwu, Sarah Page, Reynald Paguio, Jennifer E. Piersol, Nicholas A. Perrone, Brittany Popkin, Juan L. Rivera-Correa, Nicolas Sapountzis, Samantha A. Sawade, William Schairer, Denise Scherer, Avery E. Schnell, Elizabeth Schulman, Nicholas R. Sgrignoli, Leila Spangler, Kayla Stewart, Ek Tan, Lisa A. Tarleton, Christopher R. Torres, Gregory Vancek, Curtis Vick, Janelle Wood

The HSS Employee Activities Committee (EAC) organized the annual school supply drive again this year from early August through early September. Supplies donated on the Main Campus and at 777 Third Avenue were distributed to HSS pediatric patients. Our regional locations in Long Island, Paramus, Stamford and Westchester also participated, and supplies donated in each of those locations were distributed to local schools in their respective areas.

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:

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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

Compliance Helpline Reminder 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 x774-2398.

Editorial Staff

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

Editor-in-Chief:

Marisa DeFilipps

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Executive Offices at x606-1236.

Managing Editor:

Stephanie Iannello

Editorial Committee:

Lisa Goldstein, Bruce Slawitsky, John Englehart