mvhs insider - september/october 2015

INSIDER September/October 2015

MVHS AnnouncesFirst Choice for

New Hospital

Register Now for Campaign For Quality 2015Page 4

MVHS Medical Group Continues to Grow0

St. Elizabeth College of Nursing: Historic and ProgressivePage 6

Together we makea difference.

Page 3

2 | September/October 2015

Table ofContents 3 | Downtown Utica First Choice for New Hospital

4 | Campaign For Quality 2015 An educational series with national and local speakers.

5 | Fall Prevention and Protection at MVHS

5 | MVHS Working to Standardize Emergency Codes Adopting a uniform set of codes will promote consistent responses to emergencies.

6 | St. Elizabeth College of Nursing – Historic and Progressive

7 | Employee Pharmacy Writes Prescription for Savings on Many Medications

8 | Helping Patients Heal: Education Channels Added to Patient Televisions

9 | Starfish Story

10 | MVHS Medical Group Continues to Grow Specialties include neurosurgery, cardiac and thoracic surgery, and an expanded orthopedic program.

11 | Ryan Reed Visits MVHS – Delivers Powerful Message of Living with Diabetes NASCAR driver, Ryan Reed, visited MVHS in early August.

11 | Difference Maker Award Winners

12 | Staff Announcements

12 | Upcoming Events

On the IntranetPlease visit the MVHS intranet for more information about:

• Applause Program

• Cafeteria Menus

• Calendar of Events

• Campus Maps

• Difference Maker Awards

• Photo Galleries

• Policies and Forms

• Staff Announcements

• Stationery Order Forms

• Wellness Program and More

operation share

Please contact Angela at Catholic Charities at 315-724-2158 ext. 248 or Heather DiBrango in Environmental Services at St. Elizabeth Medical Center at 315-801-8249 between Tues-day, October 13 and Friday, November 13 to request an Operation Share application.

The autumn holidays are almost upon us! Due to increased demand, anyone who wishes to receive boxes of food — free of charge — for Thanksgiving this year as part of Operation Share needs to fill out an application through Catholic Charities.

Operation Share is open to Mohawk Valley Health System employees and com-munity members who are in need this holiday season. Applications must be com-pleted by the person(s) receiving the box of food. If you know of a person or family who might benefit from receiving an Operation Share box, please direct them to Environmental Services at SEMC or Catholic Charities for an application.

Boxes must be picked up on Monday, November 23, 2015.

September/October 2015 | 3

Earlier this year, Governor Andrew Cuo-mo proposed, and the New York State Legislature approved, $300 million in

the 2015 New York State budget to help to “create an integrated healthcare delivery sys-tem in Oneida County.” The funds would help Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) and St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC), under the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS), build a new, free-standing hospital for the region.

The new hospital would replace the inpatient care currently provided at the St. Luke’s Campus of FSLH and at SEMC. Hos-pital officials estimate the project will cost approximately $500 million to $600 million, depending on the location, and take four to six years to complete.

The Board of Directors for MVHS has been working with a number of companies and

agencies to determine the appropriate site for a new facility, keeping at the forefront that its primary goal is to continue to provide exceptional healthcare to the community.

“This has been an extremely important process for the board, and our organization,” stated Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS. “And it’s been a process that has involved incredible feedback from a number of different parties. As we move forward, we want to ensure we choose the best-suited location, work collaboratively with our com-munity partners, and keep the project as affordable as possible.”

Two sites have been identified, the St. Luke’s Campus of FSLH and downtown Utica. The MVHS Board of Directors has voted to build at the downtown site. The general area for the location is across from

the Utica Auditorium between Oriskany and Columbia Streets.

“A new hospital downtown can provide a catalyst for the revitalization of the City of Utica and the entire Mohawk Valley,” noted Perra. “However, this decision is contingent upon receiving additional assistance from our governmental partners. We need their support. As we move forward with the plan-ning and eventually the implementation of the project, MVHS needs to continue to be financially sound and able to provide quality medical care for the entire community.”

In the event the downtown site proves not to be financially viable, MVHS officials say they will move on to the second site option, the St. Luke’s Campus. The MVHS Board feels that location will also serve the com-munity well. v

UticaDowntown

First Choice forNewHospital


A ..re you looking for a new perspec- tive on the ever-changing healthcare industry? Attend the 2015

Campaign For Quality (CFQ). This popular educational event, celebrat-

ing its 14th anniversary, features national and local experts presenting on current trends in healthcare, patient experiences, population health topics and patient safety initiatives. The conference is free to attend and will be held at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, on Friday, October 16, 2015. A special evening presentation and dinner ($15 per person) will be held on Thursday, October 15, at the Radisson Hotel in Utica, New York.

“Any provider, any healthcare worker or anyone concerned about his or her health or the health of a loved one should make time to attend Campaign For Quality,” said Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS. “This educational series brings together speakers of incredible talent and experience … speakers you’d normally have to travel to hear in major cities and at major academic healthcare institutes. Even if you only attend one session, you will come away with knowl-edge that may help change your healthcare experience in a very positive way.”

In 2014, more than 425 physicians, health-care workers, students and community members attended. Twenty hospitals and 13 healthcare organizations located throughout New York State were represented.

2015 Campaign For QualityAlicia Cole will kick off CFQ on Friday at Hamilton College. In August 2006, following routine fibroid removal, she left the operat-ing room with a fever, nausea and pain. Her condition quickly deteriorated and she found herself being treated for multiple hospital-acquired infections. Suddenly, Cole’s esti-mated two-day hospital stay turned into a two-month fight for her life. Cole is a patient safety advocate and her story will inspire everyone in the audience.

The conference will also feature Roni Christopher, M.Ed., OTR/L, PCMH-CCE, the executive director for Healthcare Transfor-mation at HealthSpan Solutions and chief network integration officer for the Mercy-Health Springfield market. She will discuss the concept of population health and the ba-sics of a population health approach to care.

CFQ will end with Mary Koloroutis, MSN, RN, and Michael Trout, co-creators of the

program “See Me as a Person,” which ad-dresses the patient experience by teaching physicians, clinicians and service employees four practices that ensure patients and their families will feel safe and seen in every encounter, every time.

The conference offers 11 presentations in total, including topics on: pediatric emergen-cies, palliative care, immunizations, diabetes, breast cancer, the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program, the patient experience, culture and effective leadership, and more!

SponsorsCFQ is sponsored by MVHS (affiliates include FSLH and SEMC) as well as its medical staffs, Iroquois Healthcare, Rome Memorial Hospital Medical Staff, Bassett Healthcare Network and Novo Nordisk (sponsor of the non-CME portion).

Register Today!For more information and to register online, visit www.campaignforquality.com or call 315-624-6174. CME credits are being offered to physicians and details can be found on the conference website. v

QualityCampaign

By Erin Gigliotti

For 2015

Craig Parsons spoke about ways to communicate and

work in harmony at the 2014 Campaign For Quality event.


Each year in the United States, as many as one million patients fall in hospitals and between 30 and 51 percent of

these falls result in injury.*

Illness, along with an unfamiliar environ-ment, often leads to an increased risk of falling while in the hospital. Patients tend to feel weak or confused following treatments, which also contributes to falls. Falling can lead to additional injury and even death.

After experiencing a fall, patients can develop a fear of falling. From this fear stems activity restriction and eventual reduced mobility. It is important to take preventative measures when it comes to patient falls. It’s a priority for hospitals; as falls increase, there is risk to patients and staff, and the cost of care is higher. MVHS is taking action to prevent patient falls.

“Falls are one of the top adverse events occurring in hospitals,” said Amy Weaver, MS, RN, CCRN, a nurse clinician at MVHS. “The MVHS Fall Program is designed to implement best practices for assessment and identifica-tion of patients at risk to fall, as well as to outline strategies to enhance patient safety.”

The MVHS Fall Protection and Prevention Policy applies to Emergency Department (ED) patients, inpatients and observation pa-tients alike. The goal of the policy is to limit the number of preventable falls that occur in the hospital.

The policy states that registered nurses (RN) will assess patients for their fall-risk level. While the RN oversees the implemen-

tation of necessary safety strategies and interventions, it is im-portant that everyone recognizes his or her role in preventing falls. Effective communica-tion between staff, pa-tients and their families is crucial in a success-ful Fall Protection and Prevention Program. In the case of a fall, it is critical that family members call the nurse and the patient follows the provider’s advice. Employees should look for risk signs and have the proper prevention strategies in place.

Adult patients at high risk are identified with an orange bracelet and a yellow gown. High-risk patients must be super-vised during all ambula-tory activities and may not be left unattended while toileting or dur-ing transport. Patients at high risk may also have a bed/chair alarm in use. Always make sure the alarm is activated prior to leaving the patient’s room.

Pediatric patients at high risk for falls will have an orange bracelet along with an or-

ange Humpty Dumpty sign displayed outside their rooms.

While not all falls are avoidable, by keep-ing an eye out for warning and identification signs, you can help to reduce the number of falls experienced by patients at MVHS.

*Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. v

Fall Prevention and Protection at MVHSBy Taylor Watson, Intern

Adult patients at high risk for falling are identified with an orange bracelet and a yellow gown.

Hospitals use emergency codes to alert staff to various emergencies, from fires to an incoming trauma pa-

tient. Codes were created to convey essential information quickly and succinctly to staff, while preventing anxiety and panic among visitors and patients.

Currently, FSLH and SEMC have separate sets of codes, including some with the same name but different meanings. Adopting a uniform set of codes will eliminate potential confusion among staff members who work at each facility and promote consistent

responses to emergencies throughout the health system.

“Standardizing codes between organi-zations is a complex process,” said Keith Roach, director of Environmental Safety and Emergency Preparedness for FSLH. “We’ve done extensive research on best practices and are working to incorporate these rec-ommendations into our new set of codes and response plans.”

The Mohawk Valley Health System will roll out the unified set of codes over next 18 to 24 months. This will allow for the necessary

education on the new names and processes to occur, ensuring a safe and effective imple-mentation across the system.

“It’s important to carefully evaluate exist-ing processes and provide our staff with the resources and knowledge necessary to ex-ecute responses appropriately,“ said Roach.

Each roll out will be announced through organization-wide communications and education will be provided through myNetLearning.

To view current codes and response plans, visit the Safety page on the MVHS intranet. v

MVHS Working to Standardize Emergency CodesBy Jacquie Klotzbach


St. Elizabeth College of Nursing (SECON) embodies a combination of notable success and modern advancement.

Since 1904, it has served the community by training nurses who are known for their excellence across the Central New York re-gion and beyond. Its mission, combined with Franciscan values, has remained the same for more than a century: to provide a strong foundation of theory and nursing practice within an environment of academic excel-lence that promotes active citizenship and a desire for life-long learning.

“Caring is embedded in everything the students do,” said SECON President Varinya Sheppard, MS, RN. “They also receive the clinical preparation to be practicing nurses as soon as they are hired.”

Although basic values remain the same, many aspects of nursing education have changed along with the healthcare industry’s emphasis on quality measurement and ac-creditation. Not only does SECON confer the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Nursing, it has achieved dual accredita-tions from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Accreditation Com-mission for Education in Nursing.

“In addition, we collaborate with SUNY Polytechnic Institute to give students an affordable alternative to obtain a bachelor’s degree through our dual degree program,” Sheppard said. “The 1+2+1 program provides the first year of general education at SUNY, years two and three at SECON (at the end of which students receive their associate degree in Nursing), and year four at SUNY to complete their bachelor’s requirements.”

Sheppard emphasized that SECON is con-tinually incorporating changes as the nursing profession evolves from its traditional role of hospital care.

“The content of our curriculum is also very relevant to today’s ongoing healthcare trends,” she said. “Students examine case management issues and efficiencies, includ-ing concepts of health promotion, proactive testing and supporting healthy lifestyles.”

The affiliation between SECON’s parent organization, SEMC, and FSLH is beneficial to the students, as well. “Administration is very supportive,” Sheppard said. “People are glad to have a nursing education system that will continue to prepare nurses for the health system – and there are more job opportuni-ties, too.” v

CollegeofNursing

St. Elizabeth

Historic and ProgressiveBy Sandra Fentiman

Board Chair Brings Enthusiasm and SkillMary Lyons Bradley, SECON’s chair of the Board of Directors, takes pride in the organization she helps guide.

“The history of the College is impor-tant,” she said. In 1904, the first year of the College’s existence, seven students were graduated with a three-year diploma. In 2015, 63 students were graduated with the same Franciscan skills and compassion, but now with the talents and capacity to compete in the world of complicated diseases and sophisticated technology.

She points to Sister Walter Marie Donohue, the school’s dean for 22 years, who spearheaded the College’s accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. That accreditation puts SECON in the compa-ny of other schools that have achieved very high, competitive standards. Brad-ley is especially enthusiastic about

Continued on page 7


In 2014, New York State residents had more than 255 million prescriptions filled at a cost of more than $20 billion — an

average of 13 prescriptions per household. On average, prescription drugs account for nearly 10 percent of all healthcare expenses and can create a significant financial burden on individuals and families.

To help reduce drug costs for employ-ees and their families, the FSLH Employee Pharmacy opened in February 2014 at the St. Luke’s Campus.

Currently, employees of MVHS, retir-ees and their dependents with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield health insurance cov-erage provided through MVHS are eligible to use the pharmacy. The FSLH Employee Pharmacy is considered a domestic provider for non-union employees with MVHS insur-ance, meaning that prescriptions filled at the pharmacy have a lower co-pay structure.

As a convenient alternative to traditional drugstores, our Employee Pharmacy pro-vides a wide range of medications includ-ing maintenance medications, one-time prescriptions and over-the-counter prod-ucts. Employees can benefit from additional savings when filling specific generic prescrip-tions, such as Lisinopril (prescribed for high blood pressure) or Metformin (prescribed for type 2 diabetes). These are just two of the nearly 40 preferred generic medications available at a cost of $3 for a one-month sup-ply or $6 for a three-month supply.

“This service is a great benefit to our employees; we offer quick and convenient service and oftentimes considerable savings compared to traditional retail pharmacies,” said Chong Ki Kim, pharmacist manager.

“Take, for example, a prescription that has a $10 co-pay. If our cost to fill the prescription is $5, we only charge the employee $5. We pass along savings to employees whenever possible because we understand that impor-tance of keeping out-of-pocket medication costs to a minimum.”

Payment options include flexible spend-ing account cards, credit or debit cards, and payroll deduction for FSLH employees. Reserved parking for medication pick-up is available, and delivery options may be avail-able upon request.

The Employee Pharmacy can be reached at 315-624-6979 and is staffed by experienced pharmacists and technicians who are knowl-edgeable and eager to assist their customers. The team has received an abundance of posi-tive feedback from satisfied customers.

One customer said of her experience, “Everyone has been extremely friendly; they demonstrated customer service and upheld our motto of ‘Make a Difference!’” This customer visited the pharmacy to have her husband’s prescription refilled, for which she was accustomed to paying $70. Sabine Springer, a Pharmacy technician, told the cus-tomer she believed she could find a coupon to help reduce the cost of the prescription. The following day, the customer returned to the pharmacy to discover, due to Sabine’s assis-tance, the prescription cost came to just $5.

Filling a prescription at the Employee Pharmacy is simple. Prescriptions can be electronically submitted by your physician or faxed to 315-624-6650. Hours of opera-tion are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. v

Employee Pharmacy Writes Prescription for Savings on Many MedicationsBy Taylor Watson, Intern

Over-the-Counter SavingsThe FSLH Employee Pharmacy offers a wide variety of over-the-counter medications at a significant discount, including allergy medications, pain relievers and cold medicine.

Medication FSLH Employee Traditional Pharmacy Retail Pharmacy Cetirizine 10mg (Generic for $3.35 $11.50Zyrtec) - Qty: 30

Loratadine 10mg (Generic for $7.83 $39.97Claritin) - Qty: 100

Omeprazole 20mg (Generic for $7.70 (With prescription, $9.99Prilosec) - Qty: 14 $4.55 for quantity of 90)

Continued from page 6SECON’s patient simulator; she sees it as an excellent teaching tool. She is also excited about another positive effort being undertak-en by SECON; hospital-owned houses on Bal-lantyne Brae have been renovated for student housing, providing safe and convenient living arrangements for out-of-town students.

Several years ago, she initiated a “civility” talk for each year’s incoming freshmen in which she stresses the need for articulate and compassionate communication, especial-ly since many patients come from diverse cul-tures. She emphasizes the need for respect, manners and comportment as being integral to all in the nursing professions.

Bradley has facilitated several courses at the Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement and has served on various not-for-profit boards. She is currently a board member of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and is serving on the Advisory Board of the Masonic Medi-cal Research Laboratory. v

Nursing

Board Chair Brings Enthusiasm and Skill Cont.

St. Luke’s CampusChannel 86 – After Care Education• Pneumonia Recovery and Prevention• What is Diabetes?• Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty• Preventing Diabetic Complications• Chemotherapy: An Introduction to Treatment• Preventing Complications after Surgery• After a Stroke


Over the past 20 years, the methods in which patients are educated about their disease or diagnosis

have come a long way. From handing a patient a brochure in the 1980s to the wealth of knowledge that is available today on the internet from all over the world, patient education plays a vital role in improved out-comes and patient confidence.

Thanks to generous funding from the Faxton St. Luke’s Volunteer Association, education channels have been added to the

patient televisions at the St. Luke’s Campus and the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU) at the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services. Program topics include pa-tient safety, healthy living, specific diagnosis information and mother/baby care.

At the St. Luke’s Campus, channels 86 through 89 follow rotating schedules that are listed on channel 90, the hospital infor-mation station. Patients on the IRU can ask their nurse for a schedule of channels 77 and 78.

“With the right education, patients feel empowered to make decisions related to their care and they are more likely to follow their recommended healthcare plan,” said Colette Wilk, MSN, RN, director of Education for MVHS.

When speaking with patients or residents and their family members, please remind them about this valuable educational re-source. For more information and channel schedules, please visit the intranet or ask your department’s clinician. v

Helping Patients Heal: Education Channels Added to Patient TelevisionsBy Erin Gigliotti

St. Luke’s CampusChannel 87 – Prevention Education• Fall Prevention• Medication Safety• Preventing a Deep Vein

Thrombosis (DVT)• Preventing Pressure Ulcers• Pain Management: Your Choice

IRUChannel 77 – Prevention

Education Channel 78 – Risks Education

St. Luke’s CampusChannel 88 – Risks Education• Smoking Cessation• Short Circuiting Stress• Stroke: Reducing Risks• Advanced Directives: Taking Control• Your Role in Preventing Infections

Education Channels on the Patient Televisions

St. Luke’s CampusChannel 89 – Newborn Education• Newborn Care• No Matter How Small• Establishing Your Breastfeeding

Relationship• Shaken Baby Syndrome• Acknowledgement of Paternity• Infant CPR


Starfish StoryStarfish Stories are about caregivers, pro-tectors, companions and champions. They acknowledge special, and sometimes life-changing, moments that make a difference for our patients, residents, their families and our coworkers. The following stories are about those individuals and teams who inspire us to always do our best.

Critical Care Unit (CCU), FSLHNominated by Traci Coulthart, RN, BSN, Clinical Nurse Specialist

There’s a bear in CCU ... sort of!As you can see in the picture, Bear is actually an energy-filled, tail-wagging black Labrador, but it is the story of how he ended up in the CCU at the St. Luke’s Campus that will warm your heart.

The story begins with a summer activ-ity that many Americans enjoy, camping. If you ask where is the best place to camp in New York, many people will tell you the Adirondacks. With its majestic mountain tops, wildlife-filled river banks and overall sense of calm, the Adirondacks draw many campers and not just from New York. David Bettinger drove from Ohio to experience the very things described. Unfortunately for David though, the calm of the Adirondacks wouldn’t do much to help him when he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and was rushed to MVHS’s Primary Stroke Center at the St. Luke’s Campus.

Fast forward a few days. David was in CCU and had already begun his road to recovery. Physical therapy was a part of his care plan and therapists worked with David to get him up and mobilized, but there was something missing. David con-tinuously tried to communicate but due to the effects of the stroke, it was difficult to figure out what it was he so desperate-ly was trying to share. That was until Sara Herringshaw, MS, PT, realized that David was asking for his dog, Bear.

After notifying David’s physician of the plan and obtaining a medical order, the mission was to get Bear all the way from Ohio to upstate New York where he could

be reunited with his loving owner. This ac-tually would prove to be a not-so-difficult task because David and his wife, Teresa, are neighbors to a kind and caring couple who were happy to bring Bear to David. Many people say that the love for an animal is powerful and this story proves that to be true. Suddenly, where David lost clarity, he found it. His eyes regained a glimmer, his step more strength and his outlook became brighter. Bear brought joy to staff members as well, such as David’s nurse, Janice Walrath, RN, who helped to facilitate the reunion, and Jerry Plows, Service Excellence and Employee

Engagement coordinator, who met with David, Teresa and their friends to hear about Bear’s journey and be a part of this inspiring “Make a Difference” moment.

To the many staff members who played a role in this small act that made all the difference, bravo! We are proud of the work that you do! David and Bear thank you from the bottom of their hearts and MVHS does too!

Stories are selected each month to be shared with the MVHS family and some will be featured in each publication. To recog-nize someone for going above and beyond, visit the Applause website.


In recent months, there has been a lot of activity to support the recruitment of new medical staff for MVHS. With the addition

of a neurosurgeon, a cardiac and thoracic surgical group, a vascular surgery group and a gastroenterology and advanced endos-copy group, our newly combined MVHS Medical Group is able to offer more services to our community than ever before.

Neurosurgeon Nicholas Qandah, DO, is practicing in association with Clifford Soults, MD, at the MVHS Neurosurgical Specialists office in New Hartford. Dr. Qandah is board certified in Neurosurgery.

The Cardiothoracic (CT) Surgery team consists of Laszlo Fuzesi, MD, chief of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, and Anne Cahill, MD, a new attending surgeon in the program. New to the area and MVHS, both Dr. Fuzesi and Dr. Cahill are board certified in Thoracic Surgery and practice general Thoracic Surgery in addition to Cardiac Surgery. They are joined by Frederic Joyce, MD, an attending surgeon who has been affiliated with the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute since it began in 1997

and served as its surgery co-director from 2010 to 2011. In addition, Connor Gill, PA, Katrina Abdalla, PA, and Lindsey Byrnes, PA, all joined MVHS in April and began working with the CT Surgery team this month in the Marian Medical Professional Building, 2211 Genesee Street, Utica.

Another new specialty is the MVHS Gastroenterology and Advanced Endoscopy Group that opened in September at the St. Luke’s Campus with Andrew Pellecchia, MD, as the director of Advanced Endoscopy. Peter Ojuro, DO, will join him in November. Both are gastrointestinal specialists. Dr. Pellecchia has been on the medical staff at FSLH since 2012 while affiliated with Diges-tive Disease Medicine of Central New York and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Dr. Ojuro is board certified in Gastroenterology.

In addition, Mario Carrillo, DO, is joining MVHS and starting the MVHS Vascular Sur-gery Group in mid-October.

Amanda Roublick, MD, who is board certified in Pediatrics, has joined the MVHS

Medical Group East Utica Office and Andrea Finocchiaro, DO, is part of the New Hart-ford Medical Office – Crossroads Plaza. In addition, Colleen Smith, FNP-C, joined the MVHS Medical Group in a float position while Maryellen Zangrilli, FPMHNP, focuses on outpatient psychiatric care.

Family Medicine physician, Shazia Chaudhry, MD, is accepting new patients at the North Utica Medical Office – Trenton Road and in October, Rebecca LaValley, MD, will join the South Utica Medical Office. Dr. LaValley is a recent graduate of the St. Eliza-beth Family Medicine Residency Program.

The MVHS Medical Group has also added three providers to the SEMC Hospitalist Pro-gram: Rashid Girshab, MD, Ranjit Mandhare, MD, and Apurva Shah, MD.

Breast surgeon Laura Borgos, MD, FACS, will bring her expertise to our area and join the MVHS Medical Group in November.

A MVHS Medical Group provider listing with contact information is posted to the MVHS intranet at http://intranet.mvn.local/publications and is updated regularly. v

MVHS Medical Group Continues to GrowBy Sandra Fentiman

Laszlo Fuzesi, MD, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the MVHS Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group

Anne Cahill, MD, Cardiovascular andThoracic Surgeon at the MVHS Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group

Amanda Roublick, MD,Pediatrician at the MVHS East Utica Medical Office


Ryan Reed, driver of the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Asso-ciation Ford Mustang in the NAS-

CAR XFINITY Series (NXS), visited MVHS in August. He met with children and adults who have diabetes and talked about his own journey as a race car driver living with type 1 diabetes. Reed also gave a community presentation and held an autograph session at Utica College.

In February 2011, Reed received the life-changing news that he had type 1 diabetes and was told he would never race again. He refused to give up his dream of racing and has since become an inspiration for millions of people living with the disease by continuing to pursue his goals while managing his diabetes.

“Ryan’s presentation to the members of our community who have diabetes and deal with the complications and struggles associ-ated with the disease on a daily basis was ex-cellent,” said Caroline Jacobus, MS, RN, CDE,

director of the Central New York Diabetes Education Program at MVHS. “Everyone was extremely engaged with what he was saying, especially the children. By showing that he

never gave up on his dream of racing and is able to continue to do what he loves while still managing his diabetes, I truly believe he inspired the entire group.” v

Ryan Reed Visits MVHS – Delivers Powerful Message of Living with DiabetesBy Caitlin McCann

Ryan Reed spent time with his fans at the Utica College community event.

Making a Difference

Lori LeggAdministrative

Secretary/Assistant,Facilities Services

FSLH

Karen Lallier Registered Nurse,

Emergency Department

SEMC

Maryann LewisManager, Printing

Department

SEMC

Link LindigForeman,

Facilities Management

SEMC

Wendy BarnumClinical Coordinator,Sister Rose Vincent

Family Medicine Center

SEMC

Julie Gorczynski, RPA-C

Physician Assistant,Washington Mills

Medical Office

MVHS Medical Group

Difference Maker Award Winners | June 2015

Visit the MVHS intranet to read about how these individuals make a difference and to nominate a coworker, volunteer or physician for recognition.

Difference Maker Award Winners | July 2015


PO Box 479 | Utica, NY 13503-0479

DirectorsRandy Johnson, RT/RRT - Director of Respiratory Care Services, Advanced Wound Care and Sleep Disorders Center

Jami VanEtten, RST, RPSGT - Director of MVHS Sleep Disorders Center Managers and ChiefsLinda Moda, RT, RRT - Assistant Manager of Respiratory Services (FSLH)

Cathy Olah, RRT - Assistant Manager of Respiratory Services (SEMC)

Carly Sperati, RTT, BS - Chief Radiation Therapist

Medical StaffNicholas Qandah, DO - Neurosurgeon

Amanda Roublick, MD - Pediatrician

Leo P. Sullivan, MD - Trauma Service Medical Director

Visit the MVHS intranet for more details.

Staff AnnouncementsJuly-August 2015

Upcoming EventsOctober 1-2 SEMC Trauma Conference at Vernon Downs

October 9 Craft Fair at the St. Elizabeth Campus

October 13 Health Fair at the St. Elizabeth Campus and Culinary Throwdown at the St. Luke’s Campus

October 14 Health Fair at the St. Luke’s Campus and Culinary Throwdown at the St. Elizabeth Campus

October 15-16 14th Annual Campaign For Quality

October 18 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer at the Masonic Care Community

October 21 CMN Miracle Home Makeover Drawing

Flu Shot ClinicsYou must have your badge with you in order to receive a flu shot.

SEMC EmployeesThursday, SEMC - College of Nursing October 1 Multipurpose Room 6:30 a.m. - 3:30 pm

Friday, SEMC - Sister Johanna and October 16 Sister Rose Vincent Conference Rooms 8 a.m. - Noon

Monday, SEMC - Sister Johanna and October 19 Sister Rose Vincent Conference Rooms 1 - 4 p.m.

FSLH EmployeesThursday, St. Luke’s Campus - AC 1 & 2 October 8 7 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Thursday, Faxton Campus October 15 Weaver 1 & 2 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Tuesday CRCCS - Community RoomNovember 3 7 a.m. - Noon

mvhs insider - september/october 2015

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