CHRONICLE May 2017 Inaugural RUMC 5K Run/Walk is a Runaway Success! Although the weather April 1st was cold and damp, the chill in the air did nothing to dampen the spirits of those who participated in the inaugural edition of the RUMC 5K Run Walk, held on the medical center’s campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods of Snug Harbor and West Brighton. After the physical activities concluded, participants warmed their spirts with authentic German food and beer donated by our neighbors on Castleton Avenue, the Nurnberger Bierhalle. Warm memories aside, the day was a success simply by the numbers. Fundraising, which had a goal to raise $25,000 to benefit the Pediatric Unit of the new Emergency Department, far exceeded expectations by raising $37,000 from 374 donations. Participation came from across the borough’s community and especially members of the medical center family with employees from nearly every department, along with members of the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership. Over 350 runners/ walkers participated with 26 teams being organized! While there were male and female winners in different age categories, the overall 1st place winners were Joe Brancale and Jennifer Marano. A full list of finishers are available online at: http://my1.raceresult.com/70905/?lang. Led by Laura Gajda, Executive Director of the medical center’s foundation and Vice President of Development, and Krista Desiderio, Senior Grant and Development Specialist , a dedicated team of employees and volunteers were responsible for pulling off such a large and successful event. A special thank you to all of the runners, walkers, sponsors, NYPD, Richmond University staff and our West Brighton/Snug Harbor neighbors for their support! Thank you to our volunteers: Angie Conte, Joanne Navarro, Jenna Coscia, Brandon Fusco, Caitlin Garcia, Jillian Umahag and Darryl Peterson. A special thank you must also be given to Foundation Board member Marcello Sciarrino and Island Auto Group for generously serving as event sponsor for the run/walk. All participants who donated or fundraised over $500 received a prize and those individuals and teams who raised over $1,000 will receive special recognition in the new ED lobby. 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. Messina: In this age of 24/7 digital media we are all “on On a Monday I was brought to your hospital by stage” at all times. By now I’m sure you all ambulance with severe abdominal pain. The have seen the viral video of a customer of diagnosis was a hernia with partial bowel blockage. I United Airlines being physically removed was operated on the next day and sent home on from a plane for which he had been ticketed Thursday. and assigned a seat. The purpose of this letter is to praise your employees. It was one of those videos that has to make I regret that I didn't get everyone’s name. everyone say “What the heck were they thinking?” There are some lessons from this The 2 EMTs on the ambulance were great. They incident that are applicable to us here at were caring and reassuring. The ER personnel were Richmond University Medical Center. great too. Even the technicians for the CAT scan were good to me. Later I went to the 3rd floor section We should never lose focus on creating an amazing customer 3 - 1. The staff there were incredible. I remember experience. Although, at first, the company reported that the flight was Tammy, Sharon and Kathy. They were caring and overbooked, in fact, it was not. Four airline employees were needed in professional. Louisville, so they needed four seats. Since they came to the gate after the boarding, four passengers had to be removed. We all know what My surgery was done by Dr. Helen Kay. She is happened next. The man refused to leave, the staff called for the airport incredible, caring, loving and all the adjectives one officer’s help, and they dragged him out of the plane by force. could use to praise a surgeon. She saw me the night before and the morning of my surgery. I was scared The staff didn’t keep a place for their colleagues – a mistake on but I felt much better after talking to her. I also company’s side, but it happens. Then, the staff asked four passengers to remember Dr. Dadic, the anesthesiologist. I spoke to leave the flight voluntarily, three of them agreed, one of them him before the surgery. He was very nice to me also. did not. There was no shortage of alternate strategies to alleviate or The recovery room nurses were very kind and caring. de-escalate this situation, rather than focusing on one passenger who said “no.” My overall stay was a very pleasant one. I was very nervous. Everyone, nurses, doctors, food staff was This is an example of everything but delivering great customer very nice to me. experience. There were over 70 passengers there and I’m sure all of them were offended, furious and worried about their families and Everyone deserves praise. Please thank them for me. themselves. If I see an innocent person being treated like that, nothing Reward them! They deserve it! makes me think I would be treated differently. Thank you, In the age of social media, our customers and potential customers are Thomas, West Brighton everywhere. Making such a scene in front of dozens of terrified customers who have the Internet connection is a crucial mistake any company could make. Actions performed in front of a few dozen people soon became a topic of discussion across the globe. United’s staff was apparently not aware of the harm such incident could make to the brand, otherwise, they would have taken action to de-escalate it! In our actions we should always act like there’s a camera on us, in our words we should always expect they could end up on the front page of the New York Times. Remember, the power of one – you make a difference! Medical Education News 41st Edition of Spring Review in Internal Medicine in May During the week of May 22nd, the medical center will host the 41st edition of the annual Spring Review in Internal Medicine with daily sessions held in the Sipp Auditorium. The programming is being hosted under the leadership of Jay M. Nfonoyim, M.D., F.A.C.P., Vice Chairman, Department of Medicine, Acting Chief Medical Officer and Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, Sundee Naing, M.D., F.A.C.P., Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program and Ana Paula Oppenheimer, M.D., MPH, Course Director for Spring Review and Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program. The educational objectives are to familiarize the practicing internist with current concepts and recent advances in the pathogenesis and management of medical disease and to provide a broad based review of topics in Internal Medicine suitable for candidates studying for the Internal Medicine Boards. While the Chronicle is issued once a month, you can find out about the latest happenings at Richmond University Medical Center, in real-time via our Social Media pages. Richmond University maintains an active Are you following presence on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. Links to each of our social media pages are available on the Richmond us on social media? University Medical Center webpage, which is located at: rumcsi.org. The Public Relations and Marketing Team welcomes your photos and news tips from around our community. Please send any newsworthy materials to William J. Smith at [email protected] or Lorraine Scanni at: [email protected]. Thank you! Capital Campaign Annual Jack Sipp Golf & Tennis Outing to be held May 8th As sure a sign of Spring as the arrival of warmer weather and sunshine is the annual Jack Sipp Golf & Tennis Outing to benefit our medical center. This year’s outing will be held on Monday, May 8, 2017 at the Richmond County Country Club. The event, which is chaired by John Peter Sipp, Esq. and Thomas A. Sipp, Esq., will honor two notable members of the Staten Island community: our own Dr. Brian McMahon, Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics, and Raymond M. Burt, the founder and owner of Burt Construct LLC, a leading Staten Island homebuilder. A downloadable copy of the invitation is available on our website at: www.rumcsi.org/golf There are numerous opportunities to attend the event, either as a golf/tennis participant, or attending the awards dinner in the evening. For further details and other options to support the event, please contact Krista Desiderio in the Foundation Office at: [email protected] or (718) 818-2788. Donations of items or gift baskets to be raffled off at the event are especially needed. The event is held in memory of John L.F. (Jack) Sipp, a noted businessman and philanthropist who served as the Chairman of the Board of the medical center when it was known as St. Vincent’s Hospital. Mr. Sipp, a World War II veteran, was the chairman and chief executive officer of the Staten Island Savings Bank from 1974 until his untimely death in 1987, at age 68. Departments Hold Events to Support the VITAL Campaign Departments across the medical center continue to do their part in support of the medical center’s VITAL Capital Campaign to raise funds for the new Emergency Department.