CHRONICLE February 2017
Grand Opening Held for Center for Integrative Behavioral Medicine
The latest addition to the Richmond University Medical Center network of care, The Center for Integrative Behavioral Medicine, was celebrated with a grand-opening event on January 12th. The center is located on the first two floors of 1130 South Avenue, in the Bloomfield section of the borough, in a state-of-the-art, 24,000 square foot building with ample parking and easily accessible to public transportation.
The new comprehensive outpatient behavioral center will provide alcohol, substance abuse and behavioral health services for individuals who struggle with problems of addiction, depression, anxiety and other behaviors. The facility will offer group counseling, individual therapy, medication management, couples' therapy, anger management and more.
The medical center’s President & CEO, Dr. Daniel J. Messina, lauded the new center’s groundbreaking services to the Staten Island community, “This is not just the opening of an outpatient center -- this is really a big step forward with integrating behavioral medicine and primary care."
In attendance at the event was a number of the medical center’s board of trustees, along with members of the Foundation Board and representatives of city and state health departments along with several community leaders. Additionally, numerous representatives of the borough’s elected officials were in attendance as well as Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Assemblyman Michael J. Cusick, and City Council Member Joseph Borelli. Assemblyman Cusick praised the opening of the center as much-needed for the Staten Island community, "This is something that all of our constituents, all of the residents on Staten Island will benefit from, whether there is someone who uses this for their own health or if they have somebody in their family that needs to come here.”
Rosemarie Stazzone, RN, COO & CNO, praised the work of the medical center’s employees across many departments who facilitated the opening of the center, including Dr. Pankaj Patel, outgoing chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services.
Dr. Joel A. Idowu, the new medical director of outpatient services for RUMC's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services summed up the importance of the facility, “A lot of our patients are very sick, not only psychologically, but they also have medical illnesses. Having this care under one roof helps them improve their health, improve their lifespan and their prognosis.”
A PUBLICATION FOR EMPLOYEES, PHYSICIANS, TRUSTEES AND VOLUNTEERS OF RICHMOND UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER President’s Update
Patient Satisfaction Message from the President & CEO A Note of Thanks Daniel J. Messina, Ph.D., FACHE, LNHA
Dear Friends, Dear Dr. Lacqua,
As I am sure you are aware, the recent I had an outstanding experience with the wound care change of administrations in Washington has unit. created a great deal of uncertainty for our industry and has again highlighted the need During my treatment the cause of my foot ulcers was for our pursuit of robust fundraising identified and proper treatment applied. As such, my strategies. ulcers healed quickly and with minimal pain and discomfort. Across the country, hospitals face the challenge of finding new strategies to Doctor Habib, Nurse Julie Mason and the office staff address capital needs in an era of shrinking are to be commended for their concern and empathy operating margins. in providing the proper treatment for me.
Particularly for nonprofit community hospitals like our own, the solution is The wound care center is an integral part of RUMC being found in philanthropy. Philanthropy was once simply “nice to have,” and is staffed with highly trained and professional but discussions regarding its role and strategic importance can now be medical personnel. heard regularly at hospitals. More institutions are incorporating explicit I appreciate the opportunity to have been under their expectations of fundraising into their financial planning and now consider care. fundraising a “must” for survival. - Ron With so many U.S. hospitals having been built through Hill-Burton grants after World War II (and many long before that), aging facilities with outdated infrastructure are in great need of updating if they are to keep up with both increased demand (from an aging population) and the accelerated pace of innovation in clinical and information technology. Our borough’s health care infrastructure has also had the additional stress of exponential population growth that is expected to continue into the future. Dear Mr. Messina & Staff, But physical-plant improvement is only part of the challenge. There’s also challenging operating margins, unfavorable reimbursement from It is indeed with sincere thanks that we pen this letter government sources, tighter contracts with health plans, increasing to offer our most profound appreciation to you and workforce shortages, and threats from competitors that siphon off the your dedicated staff especially Dr. Giaimo, Dr. Leslie, most profitable and desirable market share. And then there is the growth Mahesh and Cathy Selfridge in affording such selfless in uncompensated care. and divine service.
This makes the efforts of our foundation all the more important. I Words fail to express how grateful we are to your encourage you strongly to think about your friends, family and neighbors unbelievable care and love that was felt in your who rely on our hospital regularly or in an emergency. There are institution. We owe you all a sincere debt of gratitude opportunities for giving at all resource levels and many include fun events which we can never repay. like the upcoming RUMC 5K Run/Walk on April 1st or the popular Clam Bake to name a few. For more information, please visit our capital We pray that Almighty God continue to bless and campaign website at: www.rumcsi.org/vital. inspire you all on this noble cause you have embarked upon. May you always continue to shine in Remember, the power of one – you make a difference! all dimensions of life and bring happiness unto all whom you come in contact with.
Respectfully,
Hardesh & Hymwatie
News Around Campus
800 Castleton Clinics Recognized for Quality by NCQA
The Adult and Pediatric clinics located at 800 Castleton Avenue, have received 2014 Level III Patient Centered Medical Home recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Level III is the highest designation NCQA bestows and this recognition reflects over 9 months of hard work by providers, clinicians and staff to develop policies and procedures, implement new processes and report and document patient care in the following categories:
1 – Patient Centered Access
2 - Team Based Care
3 – Population Health Management
4 – Care Management and Support
5 – Care Coordination and Care Transitions
6 – Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement
Both applications scored over 95%, having documented compliance with 145 separate factors. Achieving Level III recognition is also a mandatory requirement of the NYS DSRIP.
This recognition was a team effort of physicians, residents, medical assistants, clerks and staff led by Paula Caputo, AVP Ambulatory with clinical guidance provided by Dr. Suzy Bibawy and Dr. Ana Mendez. Key members of the team include Janet Scenna, RN, Joan Young, Administrative Director Patient Access and Carolyn Cipoletti, Manager Patient Access. Brittany Langan and Christopher Olaskiewicz coordinated the documentation, reporting and application submission.
It should be noted that while this achievement is important and very well deserved, it is the patients that are best served by the excellent care that this recognition reflects. Department of Pediatrics Leads Staten Island Asthma Coalition
Under the leadership of Department Chairman, Dr. Brian R. McMahon and Dr. Melissa Grageda, the Department of Pediatrics at Richmond University Medical center has partnered with the Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) and the office of the Staten Island Borough President to form the Staten Island Asthma Coalition with a goal of improving the quality of life for children with asthma. To date, additional members of the coalition include Make The Road New York, Brightpoint Health, American Lung Association and SI Cares.
Late last year, Richmond University Medical Center hosted a very productive strategic planning collaborative with SI PPS, Borough Hall, and other potential members such as Staten Island Cares, the Department of Education, Housing, and more experienced/established asthma coalition personnel from other boroughs of New York City to help direct the efforts of the coalition going forward. The planning meeting culminated in the launch of a website to help inform parents, caregivers and educators: http://www.asthmacoalitionsi.com/
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over 350,000 children in New York State suffer from asthma. Several factors are believed to impact the risk of developing asthma. These include genetic components such as having an immediate relative with asthma, or having another allergic condition such as hay fever, as well as environmental and behavioral factors such as being overweight, being a smoker, being exposed to second-hand smoke, having a mother who smoked while pregnant, being exposed to exhaust fumes or other types of pollution, and exposure to occupational triggers such as chemicals used in farming, hairdressing and manufacturing. Capital Campaign
Dr. Krishne Urs Pledges $500,000 to ED Project
It was another milestone at Richmond University Medical
Center as we celebrated a pledge of $500,000 from Dr. Krishne Urs (3rd fr. l.) to our VITAL Capital Campaign for our new Emergency Department.
Dr. Urs was joined by family, friends, colleagues and members of the medical center's Board of Trustees and
Senior Leadership in making the announcement.
Dr. N.D. Krishne Urs, a Grymes Hill resident, was born in Mysore, India.
He received his Medical Degree with distinction from the University of Mysore India. He arrived in New York City in 1962 and studied to become an Orthopedic Surgeon and did Fellowship training at Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada and Hospital for Special Surgery New York. He became Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery both US and Canada in 1968. Dr. Urs has authored several scientific articles in Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and Journal of Trauma.
Dr. Urs began his private practice at St. Vincent Hospital Staten Island in 1970 and had hospital staff appointments at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bayley Seton Hospital, Richmond Memorial Hospital and Doctor's Hospital of Staten Island. Dr. Urs received the AMA-Physicians Recognition Award every year. From 1986 to 2001, Dr. Urs was Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at St. Vincent Medical Center of Staten Island. At one time he was president and co-owner of Doctors Hospital of Staten Island. With the help of seven other physicians, Dr. Urs was responsible for building the Staten Island Medical Center and Narrows Medical Center in Brooklyn.
Dr. Urs is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Medical Association, Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, Society of Foot & Ankle surgery, American College of Surgeons, Richmond County Medical Society and the New York State Orthopedic Surgeons.
Known as a "giant" in medicine, Dr. Urs has been married to his wife Mary for over 50 years. They are the parents of two sons, Krishna and Robert, and three grandchildren. Be There: Inaugural RUMC 5K Run/Walk to be Held on April 1st! On your mark. Get set. Go! Grab your friends and lace-up your running shoes for the first annual RUMC 5K Run/Walk to be held in the Randall Manor and Snug Harbor neighborhoods around our campus at on April 1st! There will be all levels of competition available; from sprinters to those out for a stroll and a great after-party!
This new tradition is sponsored by the Richmond University Medical Center Foundation and will be dedicated to raising funds for the pediatric unit in the new Emergency Department-- helping children feel more comfortable in a traumatic setting with state-of-the-art technology and cutting edge equipment. The event is open to the public and you can create teams that can fundraise together, or as an individual and have people sponsor you for the cause! For more information on how you can help support this worthy cause by running or walking, or becoming a sponsor, visit: www.rumcsi.org/5K, or contact Krista Desiderio in the Foundation office at [email protected] or (718) 818-2788. Quality & Patient Care
Discharges: An Essential Part of Patient Experience
Discharges were made part of Richmond University Medical Center’s Organizational Goals in 2016. The Quality Management team would like to offer thanks to every department and individual employee who contributed to this work over the past year. It is through these and other collective efforts that we can truly shape this movement and positively impact the experiences of patients, families and caregivers. Richmond University has chosen to continue working to improve our discharge processes based on the proven clinical outcome improvements associated with a positive patient experience throughout the discharge process. For reference below is a trend line of our discharge overall top box score and a list of the HCAHP questions that go into this collective score.
Trend Line of RUMC’s Discharge Information Overall Score – Top Box – Report Ran by Discharge Date
Trustee Profile
Dr. Frank Scafuri joined the medical center’s Board of Trustees last summer when Trustee in Profile: he became President of the hospital’s medical staff.
In 1987, at only fifteen years old, Dr. Scafuri began working at St. Vincent’s Dr. Frank Scafuri Catholic Medical Center (now known as Richmond University Medical Center) in the microbiology lab for Dr. Rudolph Howard. In 1990, he graduated Monsignor Farrell High School and thereafter he continued his education a St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, majoring in pre-med. After graduating St. Peter’s in 1994, Dr. Scafuri attended medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in 1999. In 2000, he completed his internship at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn. In 2001, Dr. Scafuri returned to St. Vincent’s on Staten Island to complete his last two years of residency.
In 2004, he completed his fellowship in Infectious Diseases at New York Medical College at St. Vincent’s Medical Center of New York in Jamaica, New York. When Dr. Scafuri’s fellowship was completed, he returned to St. Vincent’s and opened his private practice on Staten Island. Dr. Scafuri is currently the Chief of Infectious Diseases at the medical center. In addition, Dr. Scafuri is Chairman of the Medical Executive Committee, Infection Control Committee and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. He is also a member of the hospital’s Credentials Committee.
Dr. Scafuri is on the Board of Directors for the Forest Avenue Business Improvement District as well as being an Honorary Police Surgeon for Infectious Diseases for the New York City Police Department. Human Resources News
Welcome to January 2017 New Hires
Anita M. Trupiano, Admin Dir,Clin Svcs Angela D. King, Registered Nurse Meaghan F. McDevitt, RN Intern
Alexandra Butera, Building Svc Wkr Kim N. Reiner, Registered Nurse Melany Niebles, RN Intern
Melissa N. Morgan, Clrcal 2, Lab Dept Sunil Nilavarath, Respiratory Therapist Marisa A. Semioli, RN Intern
Robert D. Kenney, Clinical Res Mgr Danielle V. Fuseyamore, RN 12 Hours Shayna Title, RN Intern
William X. Hickman, Food Svc Wkr Michael B. Pulci, RN 12 Hours Alesia Zhuk, RN Intern
Loren J. Harris, Medical Chairman Sharon Norbet, RN 12 Hours Cheryl A. Nadeua, RN Practitioner
Jelissa J. Johnson, Nursing Assistant Nicole Drago, RN 12 Hours Raymond A. Rivera, Security Officer
Jessica M. Zimmer, Nursing Assistant Ashley B. Bishop, RN Intern Evelyn Luquis-Medina, Social Worker
Jennifer C. LaMarca, RN Intern
Learning Customer Service The Ritz-Carlton Way
Our President & CEO, Dr. Daniel J. Messina ends his letter each month in this newsletter with “The power of one—you make a difference!” Nowhere does that credo more apply than in the customer service that we provide to our patients and visitors to the medical center. To increase management and front-line staff awareness of customer service techniques, Dr. Messina recently arranged for Valori Borland (r.), Corporate Director, Culture Transformation for The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center to host two seminars in the Sipp Auditorium.
As part of her 90-minute presentations on Service Excellence Culture, Ms. Borland spoke to employees on various elements of service, implementing a service value system that engenders pride and personal empowerment. She discussed concrete steps to build, revitalize and maintain a strong culture of service excellence across all levels.
Ms. Borland has nearly 30 years of experience with The Ritz-Carlton and is a subject matter expert on customer analytics, personalized service delivery and service-centric cultures. For over 10 years, her name has been synonymous with the company’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform. She partnered with all divisions of the organization to enhance personalized service delivery, and she served as the organization’s global business leader by providing strategic direction and insight regarding our CRM processes.
As part of her talk on Building a Service Excellence Culture, Ms. Borland highlighted key practices of successful customer service cultures, including: 1) Differentiating the medical center from the competition by consistently offering service excellence, 2) Developing a customer-centric culture within the medical center to drive brand loyalty; and 3) Improving employee engagement through service values and empowerment to reduce turnover. Specific emphasis was placed on developing a culture that creates “gold” standards, inspires employees to success and commitment to the finest in standards and quality. Medical Staff News
Dr. Loren Harris Named New Chair of Department of Surgery
Loren J. Harris, M.D., FACS, FCCP has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Department of Surgery and Chair of Thoracic Surgery at Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Harris joins our medical center from Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn where he served as Chief of Thoracic Surgery, and founded Brooklyn’s largest Comprehensive Lung Cancer Screening Program.
Dr. Harris received his medical degree from the New York University (NYU) School of Medicine in 1987, graduating in the top 10% of his class and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He then completed his training in General and Cardiothoracic Surgery under Frank C. Spencer, M.D. at NYU Medical Center and has been in clinical practice for over 20 years. Dr. Harris is board certified in both General and Thoracic Surgery and is well-versed in minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgical techniques.
Dr. Harris has published and presented throughout his career both nationally and internationally. His main research and clinical interests are in the appropriate staging and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. He has served as the Chairman of the Marketing Committee for the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), was the editor of the ACCP’s bi-monthly publication: Pulmonary Perspectives and is a co-author on two chapters in the most recent edition of the Diagnosis and Management Guidelines for Lung Cancer published by the ACCP in 2013. In addition he has served as treasurer, vice president and president of the Brooklyn Surgical Society. Dr Harris has also received several prestigious awards, including the Soffer Award for Editorial Excellence from the ACCP and the Excellence in Medicine Award from the Staten Island Heart Society and has been listed multiple times in both New York magazine and in Castle Connelly as a top doctor.
Among Dr. Harris’ areas of interest are: minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the lung, esophagus and mediastinal diseases. Medical Center Bids Farewell as Dr. Pankaj Patel Retires
January was a bittersweet month for the Richmond University Medical Center community as we celebrated the opening of the Center for Integrative Behavioral Medicine but also bid farewell to one of its chief architects as Dr. Pankaj Patel retired as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Patel was celebrated at several gatherings of the medical center’s community including parties hosted by the behavioral health and medical staffs and a dessert reception for all staff at the hospital.
Dr. Patel was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya, a coastal city in Africa, but left in the late 1960s to attend college in India and to distance himself from political turmoil in neighboring Uganda. He earned his college degree from the University of Mumbai and went on to the University of Mysore in southern India for medical school. Dr. Patel came to the United States in July, 1980, again to escape political unrest – this time in his native land. In 1981, after spending a year in Florida, he moved north to the former St. Vincent's Hospital in West Brighton. He started as a full-time resident and moved up through the ranks; by 2002, he was named training director, and in 2008, he was appointed chairman of the department. Last year he was appointed Acting Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Patel was praised at all the gatherings for his humane approach to behavioral medicine and work as an advocate in the community for understanding of the causes and treatment of mental illness and addiction.
Dr. Joel Idowu has been appointed as Acting Chair of the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Idowu has been on staff for 11 years and currently serves as Medical Director of Outpatient Services in the Department of Psychiatry and the Program Director of the Psychiatry Residency Training Program. February 2017
RUMC Featured at Borough President’s “Direct Connect Sunday”
As part of his efforts to bring government to the public in his first three years in office, Borough President James Oddo has dispatched with the traditional “State of the Borough” address and held an open house, called “Direct Connect Sunday” for the borough’s community. The event was an opportunity for the public to meet with the Borough President’s staff and representatives from other government agencies.
This year there were two distinct differences, the event was relocated from Borough Hall in St. George to the Mount Loretto CYO Center in Tottenville, and the borough’s not-for-profit organizations were invited to attend. Borough President Oddo (c.) has made health issues a hallmark of his term in office and has routinely included the borough’s health care providers in joint efforts to improve access to care in the borough.
Representing Richmond University Medical Center at “Direct Connect Sunday” were Randi Davis, LCSW, manager of the Evaluation and Referral Unit of the Center for Integrative Behavioral Medicine (l.), and Lorraine Scanni, Community Outreach Specialist (r.). Ms. Davis was on-hand to speak specifically to those in attendance about the medical center’s services regarding chemical dependency which has deeply impacted so many lives and families in the Staten Island community. Also distributed was general information about the medical center’s acute and ambulatory care services.
Richard Salhany Earns Prestigious Fellowship from ACHE
Richard Salhany, MBA, FACHE, Senior Vice President and ACO Executive Director was recently credentialed as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
Earning the distinction of board certification in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) signifies expertise, experience and commitment to professional development. The credentialing system is multifaceted and involves academic preparation, healthcare management experience, ACHE tenure, passing the Board of Governors Examination in Healthcare Management, continuing education, references, and community and civic involvement.
Mr. Salhany is a member of the Executive Team responsible for the medical operations working with the Medical Staff/Clinical Chairman and strategic planning for the organization. He is responsible for the development of new programs and expansion of the Richmond University Physician enterprise with multiple sites in Staten Island and Brooklyn. He is also the Executive responsible for the Level I Adult Trauma and Level II Pediatric Trauma Program certified by the American College of Surgeons, the Cardiac Catheterization / EPS Service Line and Graduate Medical Education.
In addition, he is responsible for a large Ambulatory Program including the Patient Centered Medical Homes, Adult, Pediatric, OG/Gyn, specialty clinics and Wound Care Services. Mr. Salhany developed the Richmond Quality, LLC ACO which includes 21 physicians and over 7,000 Medicare patient lives and serves as the Executive Director. He and his team are also responsible for several projects related to the New York State Medicaid DSRIP initiative.
Mr. Salhany has held several executive positions within the organization including Vice President Operations, Senior Vice President Professional Services and Chief Operating Officer as he managed the transition of the medical center from the St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers Health System into an independent organization.