CHRONICLE
December 2014 www.RUMCSI.org
Mobile Outreach Unit Serving the Community Since the Mobile Outreach Unit’s inception, it has grown to operating seven days a week, visiting over 3,000 patients each year. “The service offers a team of trained counselors that visit both adults and children with behavioral health issues right in their home,” explains Pankaj Patel, M.D., Chairman, Department of Psychiatry. “The Mobile Team also acts as a liaison between the community and various outpatient resources on Staten Island. A close working relationship with these resources helps us to better serve the residents.” The teams provide a range of services including assessment, crisis intervention, supportive counseling, information and referrals, linkage with appropriate community based behavioral health services for ongoing treatment and follow up. The teams serve any person on Staten Island experiencing, or is at risk of, a psychological crisis, and who requires behavioral health intervention and followup support. Richmond University Medical Center has extensive outpatient services taking care of 2,000 individual patients and the Mobile Outreach team visits any of the outpatients who their doctor or therapist is concerned about and who need that extra care in their home. For more information or to ask for help, contact the team at 718-818-6900. They are available seven days a week: Monday through Friday, 8 am– 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10 am– 6 pm.
Hospital Foundation Adds Two New Members to the Board The Richmond University Medical Center Foundation added two new board members at their most recent meeting: Dr. Pankaj Patel and Ms. Dianne Powers. Board Certified in Psychiatry, Dr. Pankaj Patel is the Chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Patel is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of the State of New York and the Richmond County Medical Society. He is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry of New York Medical College. Dr. Patel has been actively involved with boards of the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Meals on Wheels, and Carmel Richmond Nursing Home. Dianne Powers, a former Wall Street executive is a longtime friend of Richmond University. With strong community involvement, she has served many local organizations as a board member, including the Staten Island Museum, the Lynn Robbins Steinman Foundation, the Staten Island Zoo, the YMCA, Wagner College, and as a founding member of both the St. George Theatre and Casa Belvedere boards. Ms. Powers is also actively involved with Staten Island Academy.
$35,000 Grant Approved for Palliative Care Training Richmond University Medical Center’s Oncology Division, led by Dr. Thomas Forlenza has been awarded a $35,000 grant to support an important and growing component for palliative care. Palliative care specializes in the relief of pain, symptoms, and stress of serious illness. The palliative care program helps patients and families manage their physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical challenges. Through the program, the hospital trains medical residents and offer them perspective through a patient’s eyes. Executive Director of the Hugoton Foundation, Joan Stout recently awarded the grant to create a video training project to
educate residents on palliative care. Current residents will interview and follow patients as part of the documentary to provide educational videos with real-life scenarios for current and future residents. This important component of their education will focus on understanding a patient’s role and a doctor’s role through a serious illness in hospital-based palliative care. It will walk the residents through pain/ symptom management, advanced care planning, and emotional support. The sessions will be used in the teaching of residents and social workers. The educational series will be hosted and available online for residents and will be integrated into their curriculum.
A PUBLICATION FOR EMPLOYEES, PHYSICIANS, TRUSTEES, AND VOLUNTEERS OF RICHMOND UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
President’s Update
Message from the President & CEO Daniel J. Messina, Ph.D., FACHE, LNHA Dear Friends, Richmond University Medical Center’s success is deeply rooted in the talents, knowledge, and commitment of our team of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and support staff. As we prepare for 2015, I proudly acknowledge the hard work and dedication of this great team. I extend my appreciation to Councilwoman Debi Rose and the City Council for their allocation of grant funding to grow our Echocardiography program. This new, state-of-the-art equipment will provide enhanced cardiac imaging. Grant funding has also been awarded to the Oncology Division by the Hugoton Foundation. The $35,000 grant will support the development of a Palliative Care Educational Video Series to use as a training resource for residents and other healthcare professionals at the hospital. The community has generously reached out to share holiday donations with our pediatric patients during December. I look forward to sharing pictures in the January issue, and thank the Staten Island Rotary, Ronald McDonald House, the Knights of Columbus, Community Board One, the New York Panthers Softball Team, All Island Kiwanis, and the Richard Gardner Foundation for their outreach and support of the hospital and our pediatric patients. Along with COO/CNO Rosemarie Stazzone and Patricia Caldari, VP of Human Resources, I hosted an Employee Roundtable Discussion at Joe & Pat’s Restaurant. We met with staff from various departments in an attempt to optimize our continued growth and development. The next Roundtable will be scheduled shortly and the date is forthcoming. Remember the power of one, you make a difference!
New Vascular Accreditation Richmond University Medical Center’s Vascular Laboratory has been granted a three-year term of accreditation in Vascular Testing from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for the Vascular Laboratory for Extracranial Cerebrovascular Testing and Peripheral Venous Testing. The IAC grants accreditation only to those facilities that are found to be providing quality care, in compliance with national standards through a comprehensive application process including detailed case study review. IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indication that the facility has been carefully critiqued on all aspects of its operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of Vascular Testing. Established in 1977, the Vascular Laboratory located at the hospital is the oldest full service, non-invasive vascular diagnostic facility on Staten Island. For almost 40 years, the hospital has introduced the most advanced technology for the diagnosis of vascular disease.
Guess the Pumpkin Size Contest
Wishing you and your family a very happy and healthy holiday season! Congratulations to Rachel Harrell RN, from Pre Op. on guessing the weight of the pumpkin within an ounce!
Daniel J. Messina, Ph.D., FACHE, LNHA
Official Pumpkin Weight: 150lbs 1oz Winning Guess: 150lbs 0oz Thank you to the 375+ employees who entered.
Rachel won a $25 gift card—look for the next contest soon!
December 2014 New Echocardiography Machines Made Possible By Councilwoman Rose and the NYC Council
Volunteer of the Month Heather Wolf Heather is a Senior Business Administration Major with a concentration in Marketing at Wagner College. This fall, she's been interning in the Development and Marketing Department. Heather is working on several marketing projects,
The introduction of the new state of the art Echocardiography machines will allow the hospital to obtain extremely clear and enhanced images of the heart and vessels. The technology will also allow cardiologists to make finer measurements of cardiac function and enhance diagnosis. The images will also be made viewable on the hospital’s new PACS system further enhancing patient care. RUMC’s technologists underwent extensive training by specialists from GE to fully utilize the capabilities of this equipment and have greatly improved our cardiac imaging within RUMC.
community outreach, event planning, and has incorporated her passion for photography into her internship. "Working with the Development team at RUMC has been such a rewarding experience that I am extremely grateful for. Development really is the department that does a little bit of everything. They have taught me valuable skills and given me the opportunity to apply what I've learned in school to a wonderful organization that truly makes a difference in it's community."
The purchase of this equipment was made possible through a grant from the New York City Council led by Councilwoman Debi Rose.
Foundation Board Highlight: Joseph Torres Joseph Torres is a member of the Richmond University Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors. Mr. Torres is a Vice President with Merrill Lynch and Certified Financial Planner™ advising families, businesses and not-for-profit institutions, domiciled in the US and Europe with financial management strategies to meet their objectives. Joseph holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from New York University, attended the Lubin School of Business Certified Financial Planner™ program, and earned the Series 7, 24, 63, 65 and Insurance Planning licenses. Mr. Torres is involved with many community organizations. He is currently on the board of trustees for Notre Dame Academy, sits on the Cabinet of the SI Economic Development Corporation, and he is an executive board member for The Giving Hope Network. Mr. Torres is native to West Brighton and currently resides in Westerleigh with his wife, Jackie and daughter, Lillian.
Lung Cancer Screenings Available to Those High Risk Free lung cancer screenings are available to those considered high risk. Lung cancer can be detected early through a low dose CT scan., which is completed in about 15 minutes. If a tumor is found while it is small there is a better chance that it can be removed. CT scans aid in finding lung cancer in their earliest stage when up to 90% can be cured. "We as health care providers have to take the lead in educating the public to the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting," states Dr. Keith Diaz, board certified in Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine at RUMC. If you are currently a smoker or former over the age of 50 or if you would like more information, call Pulmonary Nurse Navigator, Nancy Rooney at x2391.
Quality & Patient Care
Patient Satisfaction: A Letter of Thanks Dear Dr. Messina, I am writing on behalf of my mother who turned 95 in October. She was hospitalized twice throughout the late summer and fall. On both occasions she was admitted through the ED. I wanted to let you know the excellent care she received from everyone from the time she was admitted until she was discharged. They treated her as if she was their own mother or grandmother and made my mother’s stay pleasurable. Unfortunately, I was not able to get the names of everyone. However, I did manage to get some names from her second admission. Special thanks to Joanne Rizzuti who always went above and beyond to make my mother comfortable and took the extra time to explain any questions I or my mother had. I also want to thank Lana, Burkey, Roberta, Lucky, and Dr. Adebayo and everyone's name I didn't get . They all showed such care and compassion and made my mother feel very special. Last but not least, her attending physician, Dr. Chia-Maou Chen, who is one of the most caring and dedicated physicians I know and for having Dr. Gottlieb see my mother. You should be very proud of your entire 4th floor staff, they are aces as my mother would say. Sincerely,
Sandra
Patients put themselves into the hands of strangers trusting that they will help them. There are few situations outside of healthcare where people do that. We all have the ability to act as an advocate for our patients, which means helping them through the scary and confusing process of modern medicine. Helping them to get to the right people. Explaining what will be completed in other departments and passing on the patients fears to other healthcare providers. These are all ways to create a positive influence on a person’s care.
A Great Social Media Review Kelly V. RUMC is a hospital filled with caring, dedicated, hardworking people, who are doing their best to see that Staten Island receives the best care possible. If you want to be cared for in the community, by your friends and neighbors, come here.
Human Resources News Welcome December New Hires
Human Resources News 2015 Richmond University Medical Center Health Plan Open Enrollment will be taking place for Management, Non Union, Local 30, House Staff and Physicians beginning November 20, 2014 through December 12, 2014. There will be meetings on December 1st and December 3rd in the Sipp and Villa Conference rooms respectively from 9:00am-3:00pm. Now is the time to make changes to your benefit elections, if you wish. It is also the time to enroll in the annual Flexible Spending Accounts for Health Care or Child Care Expenses. This must be done annually during open enrollment, it does not automatically renew. Additionally updated Benefit Plan enrollment materials will be distributed during these meetings and it is important for you to stop by , listen to the presentation, pick up and keep the materials for your records for the upcoming year. Please make every effort to attend.
Paul Sabella, Admin Coordinator Denise Figueroa, Admin Secretary Macie Luszckiewicz, Carpenter Alket Hoxha, Lead Electrician Homer Hillbrant, Nursing Assistant Elisabeta Palaj, Nursing Assistant Jahmia Richards, Nursing Assistant Anthony Giannone, Paramedic Joel Aranzado, Registered Nurse Alma Claudio, Registered Nurse Kelly LaPointe, Registered Nurse Catherine Montello, Registered Nurse
Employee Recognition Nominations
Susan Proce, Registered Nurse Nadeera Fernando, Registrar
Employee nomination forms are now located on the intranet under the Human Resources tab. Nominators can also submit nomination statements to Ilene Morgan, IMorgan@rumcsi.org, each statement should provide specific examples delineating the individuals accomplishments. Additional supplemental documents from patients, family members, or staff should be shared when available. Please limit nomination statements to no more than one typed page, excluding the supporting documents.
Francesca Granato, Resident Coordinator Janice Bossert, Registered Nurse Danielle Fiammetta, Registered Nurse Maribel Frias, Registered Nurse Natalya Gnatenko, Registered Nurse Kerry McCormack, Registered Nurse
Recognizing Service Excellence Employee Recognition Ceremony November 3, 2014
Congratulations to: Jacqueline Voss Carmen Cajigos Patricia Crespo Robert Martinez
Dennis Pietrocola Jeffrey Janiger Jo Ann McAvoyDelahunt
Karen May Laurie Smith Margaret Reilly Dawn Fersko
Department News
Holiday Decoration Guidelines It’s great to share the holiday spirit with our patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers. But it’s important to remember some important safety guidelines from the Fire Department:
Do not use natural or live trees, tree branches, wreaths, or pine cones because they present a fire hazard.
Use only artificial trees, wreaths and decorations that are flame resistant and/or labeled by an approved testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (retain packaging with flame retardant info—the Fire Dept. may ask to see it!).
Do not use artificial trees or wreaths that contain “pitch” (pine, spruce, hemlock, Spanish moss, balsam evergreen, or fir).
Lit candles are strictly prohibited, as are electric incense or potpourri “burners”.
Electric lights and decorations are strictly prohibited in the Operating Rooms, Critical Care units, in any oxygen-rich environment, or near any flammable materials. Battery operated lights are permitted.
Only electric lights and decorations that are labeled by an approved testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) are permitted. Extension cords may not be used and all electric lights and decorations must be unplugged when not attended by staff members.
Pharmacy News & Updates As the newly approved PCI area is launched, the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee has approved the addition of Bivalirudin (Angiomax) to the Formulary, which is an anticoagulant used in conjunction with aspirin for patients with unstable angina undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Angiomax will be restricted for PCI use only. Please note the brand name albuterol inhalers, ProAir HFA, has been removed from the formulary. The Pharmacy Clinical team, which includes Dr. Yelena Venglovskaya, Dr. Harry Kopolovich, and Pharmacy Intern Kelsey Dunn, have been working on creating a sub-formulary list of specific antidotes. There was a complete presentation of the antidotes at the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee Meeting held on November 20th. The department is currently working toward finalizing and preparing Antibiotics Desensitization Protocol. A special thank you to Dr. Frank Scafuri and Dr. Lucia Palladino for the tremendous support and expert opinion they have provided. For more information about pharmacy news or if you would like to see something featured in this section please contact: Lenny Shats, lshats@rumcsi.org.
Decorations must not obstruct stairwells, corridors, lights and/or obscure any lines of sight to exit signs.
Do not decorate fire and smoke doors. Decorations on other doors must cover less than 10% of the door
Decorations must not present a tripping hazard or be within the reach of children. Please note that the removal date for all holiday decorations is January 9, 2014
Notice from Finance Dept. Original Invoice Required. Accounts Payable will process the payment from an original invoice only in order to prevent duplicate payments. A statement should not be submitted for payment. It is the responsibility of each department to provide an original invoice. If for any reason a copy must be submitted, the top of the invoice should be marked “COPY- Original Lost”. Please make sure that the original invoice has not already been submitted for payment before sending a copy of an invoice to Accounts Payable for processing. All authorized signature approvals, correct General Ledger coding and brief description of the reason for expenditure should be on the check request, if not it will be returned to the department. If you have questions regarding the Accounts Payable issues, please contact Linda Boyle, Accounts Payable Supervisor at x2533.
Unused Vacation Carryover In order to evaluate the 2014 year-end accrued vacation liability, it is necessary to provide the Finance Department with a listing of accrued vacation time (hours available) for each employee as of December 27, 2014. A list of employees for your department(s) will be provided to your timekeeper(s) with payroll distribution on Thursday, December 4 th. If any employees have been omitted from your list please add them to the bottom of the list. We request that the timekeepers write in the number of hours that are accrued for each employee as of pay period ending date 12/27/2014. In addition, please write in the Maximum Allowable Vacation Hours Carryover at 12/31/14. For example: Mr. Smith has Accrued vacation hours at pay period ending 12/27/14 of 210 hours, the 210 hours should go in the column labeled Accrual Hours at 12/27/14. He is entitled to carryover maximum vacation hours of 225. The 225 hours should go in the column labeled Maximum Allowable Vacation Hours Carryover. Please review, approve and return the completed listing to Deborah Sanchez in the Finance Department no later than Monday, January 12, 2015. Any questions should be directed to Mou Lee, x4540 or Deborah Sanchez, x4883.
Community Involvement
Team RUMC Completes the NYC Marathon Four members of the RUMC family Hospital Trustee, Sara Warren Gardner completed the 2014 TCS New York Mara- decided 2014 will be her last marathon. While this was number twenty, many of thon on Sunday, November 2nd. her marathons have been personally dediPresident & CEO, Dan Messina has cated to the memory of her father in law completed the New York City Marathon who passed away on September 11, 2001. seven times. This race marked his eighth. Sara shares that this year was a time for A member of the National MS Society reflection on past marathons and a mo- Ellen Mannino, RN in Endo, Dan Messina, CEO and Board of Trustees, Dan ran with the New ment to look ahead. President, Sara Warren Gardner, Hospital Trustee, and York City Multiple Sclerosis Society Race Jen Gregorio, RN in Recovery, at Clove Lake Park. to Stop MS Team. Dan’s late mother, Rose, They were joined by first time marathon had MS for her entire adult life. He recalls, runner and Registered Nurse in Recovery, “My mom is the one in the family who was Jen DeGregorio, who was “testing her limreally the fierce competitor, she was my its to see what she can accomplish” and hero.” His commitment to run in her mem- Ellen Mannino, Registered Nurse in Endoory and for the MS Society is highlighted scopy. Ellen ran as part of the FDNY’s local by his desire to lessen the terrible impact fire department team and in honor of the that MS has on the people who battle it, patients at Richmond University Medical their family, and their friends. Center.
800 Castleton Outreach in Local Churches
122 Precinct Lung and Stroke Education
Stapleton Senior Center Ebola Informational Session
March of Dimes—Prematurity Awareness Proclamation Day
Borough Hall Blood Drive
Fire Department Safety Training with WIC Team
Shine the Light—Lung Cancer Awareness Event
Living Kidney Donor Presentation
St. Philips Thanksgiving Health Screenings
December Happenings
December Outreach Calendar Wednesday December 3rd Carmel Richmond Fair Thursday, December 4th In Service with the JCC: Alzheimer/Dementia Tuesday, December 9th Ronald McDonald Pediatric Oncology Holiday Party Community Volunteer Appreciation Holiday Luncheon Community Board 1 Meeting: Lung Cancer Awareness Presentation Thursday, December 11th SI Rotary Pediatric Oncology Holiday Party Thursday, December 18th Rotary Pediatric Oncology Holiday Party Monday, December 22nd NY Panthers Softball Pediatric Holiday Party Tuesday, December 23rd Pediatric Holiday Party with Community Board 1 Wednesday, December 24th Richard Gardner Foundation Pediatric Holiday Party
Greenbelt Fall Flat RUMC is a proud sponsor of the Staten Island Greenbelt Trail Run Series. We hope to see you at their next run, Greenbelt Trails Festival Saturday, December 6, 2014 – Run 10, 25 or 50K! RUMC employees participating in the 5k with family and friends.
Employee Wellness Calendar