partners magazine spring 2013

PARTNERSA m a g a z i n e o f R o c h e s t e r G e n e r a l H o s p i t a l F o u n d a t i o n

Spring 2013

Transforming Ambulatory Care

Special Campaign Section: Expanding Ambulatory Care

Dr. Alexander Gives Back to Newark-Wayne ED

The Return of the IRA Charitable Rollover

Rochester General Responds to the Flu Surge

Two Hospitals Save a Life in Wayne County

Dr. Gangemi Passes the Torch

INSIDE

PARTNERS Ambulatory care is delivered on an outpatient basis,

allowing patients to return home the same day they

are treated. Our newest affiliate, Rochester General

Ambulatory Care, is highlighted on page eight with a

preview of two upcoming additions: a dialysis center on

Empire Boulevard and an ambulatory surgery center off

the Route 441 corridor (artist renderings on cover).

This project has several naming opportunities to create a philanthropic legacy.

Artist’s rendering of new Ambulatory Surgery Center at 360 Linden Oaks

Drive, opening in fall of 2013.

AMBULATORY LOBBY:

The lobby for the new Ambulatory Surgery Center will

welcome patients and guests with comfort and dignity.

Opening this FALL: Rochester General Ambulatory Surgery Center

OPERATING ROOM:

State-of-the-art operating rooms will allow RGHS to offer greater

surgical care on an outpatient basis.

Opening this FALL: Rochester General Ambulatory Surgery Center

Renderings courtesy of HBT Architects.

C o N t E N t S

A Message from Jim Digan .............................................. 4

The Historic Flu Surge .................................................... 5

Dr. Alexander Gives Back ................................................ 6

Special Campaign Section: Expanding OutpatientCare Throughout our Region .......................................... 8

A Healthy Team for a Health Community ..................... 11

Hospitals Team Up to Save Life ..................................... 12

The Return of the IRA Charitable Rollover .................... 14

A Transforming Care Campaign Update ....................... 15

RGHS Medical Chief Passes the Torch ........................... 16

Update from the Grants Office ...................................... 18

RGHS Newsroom .......................................................... 19

Upcoming Events .......................................................... 22

Spring 2013

Rochester General Hospital Foundation Riedman Campus

100 Kings Highway SouthRochester, New York 14617

tel: (585) 922-4800 • fax: (585) 922-4889www.giveRGH.org

president, rochester general Hospital Foundation

James P. Digan

Campaign Director Anthony Benedetti

EditorDerek DeSol

[email protected]

Writing Marty Aarons Janine DeCook Derek DeSol Carol Fisher Christian Jensen Tim Maher Erich Van Dussen Dan Winklebleck

photographyJeff BlackmanKeith Bullis

Brenda CohenLynne Tseng

DesignDalmath Associates

printingMercury Print Productions, Inc.

Please note that Partners is produced approximately three months in advance of when it is received by readers. Stories and events occurring after

production will be included in the next issue of the magazine. Partners welcomes comments from our readers. If an error has been made, please accept our apologies and notify the foundation office by

calling (585) 922-4800. Thank you!

RGHS President and CEO:Mark C. Clement

Chairperson:Katherine T. Schumacher

Vice Chairperson:Ethan L. Welch, M.D.

Treasurer:Carl Luger

Secretary:Kevin L. Overton, Esq

Medical Liaison:Cynthia Christy, M.D.

Trent BridgesDavid N. Broadbent, M.D.

Donald S. Cameron

Kevin T. CannanKevin J. Casey, M.D.

Cynthia Christy, M.D.Charles T. Eagle, Jr.

Jack A. ErdleLouise W. Epstein

Robert W. George, Sr., M.D.Gregory P. Kausch

Peter A. Kouides, M.D.Jeffery Leenhouts CFP, ChFE, CLU

James T. Maxwell, M.D.William B. Mendick

Angelo MiccicheLeonard Olivieri

Ralph P. Pennino, M.D.Michael E. Pichichero, M.D.

Wanda PolisseniJoseph R. Rulison

Anthony F. Solazzo, M.D.John R. Valvo, M.D.

rochester general Hospital FoundationBoard of Directors

Already, in these first few months of 2013, we have seen

encouraging and heartwarming success stories like Newark-

Wayne Community Hospital receiving the largest gift in its

history from the Dr. Daniel Alexander Family Foundation.

We can also proudly reflect on the efforts of our team of

care providers, who boldly answered the call and worked to

maintain extraordinary service during this winter’s historic

surge of flu patients. Both of these stories are featured in this

issue of Partners.

Although we already have many reasons to celebrate and

give thanks this year, we must also keep our focus on the

challenges ahead. Healthcare is changing more rapidly than

ever. The evolution of medical technology is accelerating,

and legislation like the Affordable Care Act is now beginning

to take action, altering the very way in which we do

business. Throughout all of these changes, community

needs remain great and people will continue to need our

help. That is why we are proactively planning for the future

of healthcare delivery.

In this issue, we are featuring our newest affiliate, Rochester

General Ambulatory Care. It’s one of the key elements to

Rochester General Health System’s plan to make healthcare

safer, more effective, more convenient and more accessible

than ever before, even during these times of unprecedented

change. In our December issue, we discussed Rochester

General Ambulatory Care and introduced the affiliate’s

leader, Hugh Thomas. In this issue, we will share some of

the significant changes that will take place later this year as

Rochester General Ambulatory Care becomes an increasingly

critical local resource.

Whether your philanthropic passions favor our work in

ambulatory care, oncology, surgery or any other area, we

are thankful for your generous support. Because of you,

our health system is able to do extraordinary things for the

people who need us most—our patients. Thank you for

keeping them so close to your hearts.

A Message from Jim Digan President, Rochester General Hospital Foundation

“We are proactively planning for the future of healthcare delivery.”

4 Rochester General Hospital Foundation

Rochester General Care Thrives During

The Historic Flu Surge

Patient Wait time:less than 30 minutes

Patient Admissions:10,681 in December

www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS SPRING 2013 5

The winter of 2012-2013 presented a historic flu surge

across the United States, felt by every hospital in the Greater

Rochester region. True to the institution’s long history of

going to extraordinary lengths to serve in times of crisis,

Rochester General Health System (RGHS) and its team of

healthcare providers rallied to ensure everyone received

effective, safe and compassionate care.

The flu affected patients across the region, and Monroe

County encountered its greatest number of influenza-like

illnesses in more than 10 years. In the face of potential

chaos, the team at Rochester General Hospital (RGH)

collaborated to maintain order and provide the same

care—without limitations—that would be available in

less extreme conditions.

Throughout December, the height of the surge, the ED

achieved its regular goals of keeping patient wait times to less

than 30 minutes while accommodating 10,681 admissions—

far more than a typical month. Dr. Keith Grams, RGHS chief

of emergency services, praised the team for finding solutions

that allowed the hospital to maintain its high quality of care

while seeing such an unusually high volume of patients.

“Everyone recognized the need to provide care to an

increased number of patients,” Dr. Grams recalled.

“People took it upon themselves to be action-oriented

with no excuses – just the need to make it happen.”

Key team members frequently met to identify and overcome

the daily challenges of the flu surge. A critical measure was

the conversion of spaces into “non-traditional” treatment

areas. More than 40 new spaces were made available, which

allowed RGH to continue to provide high-quality treatment

for the larger volume of patients.

RGH also took its response to

flu season a step farther when

representatives from clinical,

nursing, epidemiology, infection

prevention, people resources

and communications teams

collaborated in just one day to

develop and communicate a

comprehensive plan to minimize

flu transmission. Their plan involved updated visitation

policies and masking procedures for non-vaccinated

team members.

By the time the flu surge began to subside in January, patient

wait times in the ED had decreased to approximately 25

minutes. To provide perspective, Dr. Grams noted the

national average wait time for hospitals similar to RGH in

size is between 31 and 38 minutes.

The approach and attitude of the RGHS team members

allowed patients to continue to rely upon the busiest

emergency department in Upstate New York during this

time of extraordinary need. Because of the team’s hard work,

more patients throughout the region were able to weather

this historically severe flu season.

Dr. Daniel Alexander has always made community service

a priority, and now he is giving back to Wayne County in

historic fashion. For years, Newark-Wayne Community

Hospital (NWCH) has needed a new emergency department.

The current facility, which opened in 1971, has been serving

nearly double the 11,000 annual patient visits it was

originally designed to accommodate. Dr. Alexander, an

orthopaedic surgeon who founded and owns the Finger

Lakes Bone and Joint Center, has agreed to make the lead

gift in support of the nearly-completed new ED on the

hospital’s campus.

The gift, which is being made through the Dr. Daniel

Alexander Family Foundation, is the largest gift in the

history of Newark-Wayne Community Hospital.

The new ED will be dedicated as the Daniel Alexander, M.D.

Emergency Department during a special ceremony on April

19. As the only hospital in Wayne County, this new facility

addresses one of the most significant needs in the community.

Once the ED is open, the more than 21,000 people who visit

the hospital for emergency care each year will have access to

a state-of-the-art facility that will provide critical emergency

services faster and more comprehensively than ever before.

“This area has done so much for me and for my family,”

explained Dr. Alexander, a native of Buffalo who lives in

Canandaigua with his wife, Gail, and four children.

“I am proud to know this gift will help Newark-Wayne

Community Hospital be there for people during their time

of greatest need.”

From Firefighter to Surgeon—Always a Community ServantDr. Alexander’s journey is one lined by hard work, family

values and a commitment to serve others. Those values,

Giving Back

“This area has done so much for me and for my family.”

Physician makes lead gift, the largest in Newark-Wayne Community Hospital’s history, to name new emergency department, which will be dedicated on April 19


The Daniel Alexander, M.D. Emergency Department

The Daniel Alexander, M.D. Emergency

Department is the centerpiece of the

hospital’s major modernization project and

fundraising campaign. It will open in late

April of 2013, helping the hospital’s team of

care providers reduce waiting times, increase

patient capacity, create a fast-track service

for non-emergency patients, utilize new

technology, and enhance comfort and dignity

for patients and families. As Newark-Wayne

Community Hospital is part of Rochester

General Health System, this modernization

project will also give patients in Wayne

County better access to the specialized

physicians at Rochester General

Hospital through the expanded use of

telehealth technology.

which he learned early in life growing up on the east side of Buffalo,

guided him through his childhood and along his unconventional path

to becoming one of the most respected surgeons in our region and a

community-changing philanthropist.

While attending medical school at SUNY Buffalo, Dr. Alexander

worked full time as a Lieutenant for the Buffalo Fire Department. It

was there he learned that his most rewarding professional experiences

would always revolve around serving others—particularly those in

great need. After receiving his orthopaedic training at Henry Ford

hospital in Detroit, Mich., he returned to the area in 2004. Two years

later, he opened the Finger Lakes Bone and Joint Center. As his

practice grew—he performed 1,400 procedures last year, making

him one of the busiest orthopaedic surgeons in the United States—

he maintained a focus on family and philanthropy, giving back to the

Boys and Girls Clubs in Geneva and funding the building of a new

community center in the poor, inner-city

Buffalo neighborhood where he grew up.

The mission of the Dr. Daniel Alexander

Family Foundation is to support projects

intended to benefit less fortunate inner-city

youth, or to provide medical services for

the underserved.

Dr. Alexander (center) performed over 1,400 procedures last year.


Laboratory services

Diagnostic imaging

Surgical procedures

occupational therapy

Dialysis

Physical therapy

Rochester General Ambulatory Care: Expanding Outpatient Care Throughout our Region

Many services are becoming increasingly available without requiring patients to spend a night in, or in many cases, to

even enter the hospital. These services are often referred to as outpatient or ambulatory services. In 2012, Rochester General Health System (RGHS) announced the launch of its eighth affiliate – Rochester General Ambulatory Care – a still-expanding regional network of integrated outpatient services.

The affiliate has grown to provide key healthcare services in locations throughout the Greater Rochester area. Two of the most prominent expansion projects, which are due to open by the fall, are detailed in this special section. The first is a new dialysis center at Bay Creek on Empire Boulevard and the second is a new ambulatory surgery center at the crossroads of Pittsford, Penfield, Brighton and Rochester.

COVER STORY


Rochester general Ambulatory Care is growing the following outpatient services:

Expanded to Alexander Park

in 2012

Dialysis will expand to Penfield/Webster area

in summer 2013

Ambulatory Surgery Center to open in fall 2013

Why is Ambulatory Care Critical to our Community’s Future?

From cancer care to family medicine, Rochester General

Health System has long been at the forefront of bringing

ambulatory healthcare services to your neighborhood.

Rochester General Ambulatory Care was created to help our

system grow particular ambulatory services in anticipation of

patient needs and the future of healthcare delivery.

Ambulatory care is critical to our region’s future because it:

• Provides new options for patients.

• Reduces the overall cost of healthcare.

• Creates a more convenient, comfortable and dignified

patient experience.

• Maintains the same high standards of care and can

support better outcomes.

Healthcare reform, new technology and the overall need to

keep healthcare affordable while maintaining high standards

are all factors contributing toward the increasing demand of

these services.

Already, RGHS serves more patients on an outpatient basis

than inpatient, and we expect this to continue.

To learn more about Rochester General Ambulatory Care

and its services and locations across the region, visit

www.rochestergeneral.org.

New technology in ambulatory care has helped reduce the need for traditional hospitalization yet maintains high standards.

COMINGSUMMER2013Expanding Access to Dialysis

Ambulatory Care Brings Dialysis to the East Side

In 2006, RGHS opened an outpatient dialysis center at the

Seneca Ridge Medical Complex in Irondequoit. Within three

years, the center was operating at full capacity, with patients

starting treatments—which last several hours—as early as

5:30 a.m. and as late as 8 p.m.

With so many RGHS patients from throughout the region

coming to Seneca Ridge for dialysis treatment, the system

decided to create a second dialysis center.

The facility will enable greater flexibility for scheduling

treatment times. This second location will also allow

patients to choose a facility while considering convenience

and local travel.

With this new facility, RGHS care providers will have additional

time and capacity to take further measures to provide increasingly

safe, effective and more comfortable treatment sessions.

rgHS Dialysis Center at Bay Creek

Located at 2010 Empire Boulevard, this new 10,000-square-

foot dialysis center is scheduled to open in summer 2013

and will boast 20 new treatment stations with the care,

comfort and dignity RGHS patients have come to expect.


Cover story continued on next page


COVER STORYcontinued

What’s next: The Future of Local Ambulatory Surgery

Currently four of Rochester General’s ambulatory surgery operating rooms are located at

the Lattimore Ambulatory Surgery Center. In fall 2013, Rochester General Health System

(RGHS) will begin performing ambulatory surgeries at the brand new Rochester General

Ambulatory Surgery Center, a 29,000-square-foot expansion to the building located at

360 Linden Oaks Drive.

Modern technology is making a greater number of surgical procedures available on an

outpatient basis and, more than ever, patients are choosing to receive their care in this

safe, effective and convenient setting. Additionally, in the changing landscape of national

healthcare reform, patients and healthcare providers alike are preparing for outpatient

surgery to play a prominent role in keeping healthcare affordable while upholding

higher-than-ever standards for quality.

The new RGHS Ambulatory Surgery Center will accommodate the increasing demand for

outpatient surgery by providing services in areas that include:

• Obstetrics and gynecology.

• Orthopaedics.

• Otolaryngology.

• Podiatry.

• Plastic surgery– hand and reconstructive.

• General surgery.

Thoughtfully designed to provide a convenient, safe and cost-effective alternative to

outpatient surgery in a hospital setting, the new surgery center will feature:

• Six state-of-the-art operating rooms, each of which will be 60 percent larger than the

existing rooms at the Lattimore Center (400 square feet compared to 250 square feet).

• Two minor procedure rooms.

• The most advanced sterilizing equipment, purchased from an industry leader based

in Rochester.

• Parking in close proximity to the entrance and at no cost for all patients, guests and

RGHS team members.

COMINGFALL2013

As the third-largest employer in the Greater Rochester area,

Rochester General Health System (RGHS) relies on a team

of more than 7,500 members to carry out its mission and

provide extraordinary healthcare.

“The foundation of our success lies in our team members,”

stated Mark Clement, president and CEO of RGHS.

Clement has long coveted the opportunity to provide a

wellness center for the RGHS team. “To be the healthcare

provider of choice in this region,” he continued, “we also

need to strive to be the region’s employer of choice.”

When the new RGHS Team Member Wellness Center opens

in summer 2013, team members will have free access to a

host of resources designed to support a healthier lifestyle.

While the fitness facility will provide a comfortable location

for individual cardio and strength training along with group

exercise options that include aerobics, spinning, yoga, zumba

and functional training, the center will extend beyond the

confines of a traditional gym.

“When Mark (Clement) made the commitment to provide a

health and wellness initiative for RGHS, we began to study

other employee wellness and fitness centers around the

country to see what worked and what didn’t,” explained Don

DeFrees, vice president of operations for RGHS. “We didn’t

want to invest in something that would eventually lose the

novelty of being new. Our goal is to create a lasting network

of successful resources, including individual coaching and

education that will support healthy lifestyles for years to come.”

The Team Member Wellness Center promises to provide a

strong network of resources that will include the kind of

educational and motivational support necessary for any

RGHS team member to improve their health. Wellness

assessments, training and coaching sessions, nutritional

educational programs and one-on-one counseling are all

fundamental elements of the center.

The center will reside on the RGHS Riedman Campus,

located on the corner of Kings Highway South and Ridge

Road East in Irondequoit, a short drive for the greatest

concentration of RGHS team members. However, as a

regional employer, RGHS is also taking measures to support

team members who work and live farther away from the center.

While the exact measures will vary according to specific

locations, resources such as online coaching and assessments

through telehealth technology will play a prominent role.

“It is critical that every team member feels welcome to use

these resources and has appropriate access,” proclaimed Jim

Digan, president of the Rochester General Foundation and

the executive sponsor of this project.

When asked about the impact of the center, Digan

elaborated, “Most people spend a significant portion of

their daily lives working. By building upon our supportive

and healthy workplace culture, our team will be positioned

to provide even better care and service for the patients of

our health system.”


A Healthy team for a Healthy Community

The Team Member Wellness Center

Artist’s rendering of Wellness Center

“We went from planning a weekend getaway to thinking

about a funeral,” reflected Mike Vanderlyke, now one year

removed from a cold February Friday that presented the

scare of a lifetime.

Mike’s wife Karen, a nurse at Palmyra-Macedon Primary

School for 20 years, began to feel an unfamiliar pain she

described as a “weird belly ache.” When the pain failed

to subside by that afternoon Karen drove herself to the

Newark-Wayne Community Hospital (NWCH)

Emergency Department.

Lying on a gurney in the emergency department, now with

Mike by her side, Karen sat up—and promptly passed out.

As Mike called for help, Karen’s pulse became weak.

Something was profoundly wrong. Perhaps even more

frightening was that her condition was becoming

increasingly difficult to diagnose.

The team at NWCH quickly took scans of her midsection

and sent the images to their affiliated specialists at

Rochester General Hospital (RGH). They identified an

abdominal aneurysm—a widening of a portion of a major

artery in her abdomen. The diagnosis was a startling

Hospitals Team Up to Save Life


surprise—Karen’s medical history showed no risk factors

or family history. Karen was told that the chances of this

particular artery failing in someone like her were about the

same as being struck by lightning.

For a chance to survive, Karen had about one hour to reach

the two surgical teams waiting for her at RGH. Poor weather

made a Mercy Flight impossible, but with an ambulance

already on standby, she was on her way to Rochester. Her

doctor in the emergency department, Dr. James Syrett, rode

in the ambulance at Karen’s side.

Mike followed Karen to Rochester in a car driven by their

daughter, Amy. “I was half planning a funeral,” he admitted

when recalling the harrowing ride.

At Rochester General, Karen’s family waited anxiously while

she underwent emergency vascular surgery under the care

of a team led by Dr. Jeffrey Rhodes, Dr. Kevin Geary, and

Dr. Patrick Riggs, chief of vascular surgery. Finally, Dr. Riggs

was able to deliver the good news: Karen would make

a full recovery.

“It was truly a team effort,” remarked Karen. “Everyone in-

volved, the technology, all of the pieces came together.”

The teamwork between Newark-Wayne Community Hospital

and Rochester General Hospital, two affiliates of Rochester

General Health System, not only saved Karen’s life, but also

allowed her to return to her job and life as she knew it. For

the next two months, a stream of flowers and cards arrived

from friends, coworkers and elementary school students.

Karen, fully recovered, was back to work full time after her

school’s April break.

As part of Rochester General Health System, Newark-Wayne

Community Hospital, the only hospital in Wayne County,

brings technology and specialized medical professionals to a

community where it would otherwise be unavailable.

Over the past several years, the hospital has undergone an

inspiring transformation. The compassionate and gifted

medical team now has the benefit of new facilities, modern

technology and access to Rochester General Health System’s

team of nationally recognized specialists.

“It still makes me cringe to think about what could have

happened,” shared a contemplative Karen. “If all the players

who helped me weren’t involved, I wouldn’t be here.”


“If all the players who helped me

weren’t involved, I wouldn’t be here.”

Karen Vanderlyke and one of the many get-well

cards she received from her students.


One of my

most important

responsibilities as

director of planned

giving is to make

sure our generous friends and donors remain informed on

the latest and most beneficial charitable and estate planning

options. These opportunities ensure the financial security of

you and your loved ones while providing support that will

help our patients in the future.

Throughout the holiday season many of us heard about the

American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, often referred to as

the “fiscal cliff deal.” One of the agreements in that deal,

which passed on January 1, 2013, is having a significant

effect on people who are making qualified charitable

distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA).

The ability for people age 70.5 or older to make tax-free

distributions to charity from an IRA will now be extended

until December 31, 2013. Each individual taxpayer who

qualifies can make tax-free distributions totaling up to

$100,000. For married couples, the limit is $200,000.

An IRA charitable rollover is described as a “qualified

charitable distribution,” or money that individuals may direct

from their traditional IRA to eligible charitable organizations,

such as the Rochester General Hospital Foundation. One

of the major benefits to the IRA charitable rollover is that it

allows the donor to exclude the amount distributed directly

to charity from the donor’s gross income. Distributions must

be made directly from the IRA trustee and be payable to the

donor’s selected charity or charities.

For some, this may present a unique opportunity to leave an

enduring philanthropic legacy with our health system that

can start now and extend long beyond your lifetime.

If you are interested in learning more about this unique

opportunity or any other charitable estate planning options,

please contact Tim Maher, director of planned giving, at

(585) 922-5073, [email protected].

A Planned Giving Message from tim Maher

Return of the IRACharitable Rollover

“This may present a unique opportunity to

leave an enduring philanthropic

legacy...”

The telltale signs of spring are all around us –

longer days, warmer weather and the sense of

a new beginning. Much as spring is time of

celebration and looking forward, the same is

true for Rochester General at this point in the Transforming

Care campaign. Because of friends like you, we have already

raised nearly 60% of our $55 million initial campaign goal.

While this gives great cause to celebrate, we must remain

focused on the work that lies ahead. The needs of our

community remain great, and the core purpose of the

Transforming Care campaign is to address those needs with

the philanthropic support of the people we serve.

Over the coming months of the campaign, we are planning

to highlight three key areas of our work which, with

your help, can have a profound impact on the level of

healthcare available throughout our region. These three

areas of focus are surgical care, oncology and ambulatory

(outpatient) services.

In this issue of Partners magazine, we place special focus on

our health system’s newest affiliate, Rochester General

Ambulatory Care. As we look to the future of healthcare and

the implications of the

Affordable Care Act, this

network of outpatient care

will help Rochester General

provide safe, convenient and

cost-effective care throughout

our region.

In order for Rochester

General to continue to be

the resource that our

community needs for years

to come, we need your help.

Friends like you have the

power to make a difference

in our community. Every

gift helps our team do great

things for the people who

need us most—our patients

and their loved ones.

Thank you for standing by our side during this critical

undertaking.

If you’d like to learn more about the Transforming Care

Campaign, please contact Anthony Benedetti at (585) 922-4860

or [email protected].

An Update from Campaign Director Anthony Benedetti


“We are highlighting three key areas of our work – surgical care,

oncology and ambulatory (outpatient) services.”


At the end of 2012, Dr. Richard Gangemi, chief

medical officer for Rochester General Health

System (RGHS), retired after 43 years in healthcare

as a physician and executive. In January, Dr. Robert Mayo

officially took over the top medical position for the health

system. The transition, assisted by a longtime collaborative

relationship between Gangemi and Mayo, has been a smooth

and successful one.

“Dr. Mayo possesses that rare combination of sharp intellect,

skill, heart and humility that not only makes him an

exceptional physician, but also a highly-respected and

admired colleague, leader, educator and role model,” shared

RGHS President and CEO Mark Clement. “This selection

showcases the ability of our system to nurture and grow

world-class healthcare leaders that can emerge as top

candidates among national contenders. The medical

direction of our health system couldn’t be in better hands.”

Dr. Mayo, who joined RGHS

in 2002, has held a variety of

leadership positions, including

president of the medical and

dental staff of Rochester General

Hospital (RGH). In 2004, more

than 800 RGH nurses selected

him as the health system’s

Physician of the Year, citing his

unmatched ability to balance

genuine compassion with

clinical expertise. Since 2009, he has served as vice president

of the RGHS Patient Safety Institute. He has also held

numerous faculty positions at the University of Rochester

School of Medicine and Dentistry.

43 Years of Compassion and Leadership

Although he retired from the full time position of chief

medical officer, the RGHS community will still see plenty

of Dr. Gangemi, who will continue to support several key

areas of the health system,

including the RGH

Foundation for the duration

of the Transforming Care

campaign. During his 43

years in healthcare,

Gangemi has carved a

legacy of compassion,

service and always acting

in the best interest of

his patients.

In the mid 1990s, he and

Dr. Ralph Pennino, who

is now the chief of surgery for RGHS, founded the Greater

Rochester Independent Practice Association (GRIPA).

Ahead of its time then, GRIPA is now a model organization

making significant contributions in this current era of

healthcare reform.

Another piece of Dr. Gangemi’s legacy was born just a few

years ago with the creation of the RGHS Patient Safety

Institute. Gangemi helped to lay the groundwork for the

health system’s collaborative relationship with Johns Hopkins

Medical Center, considered one the safest healthcare providers

in the world. The institute, which has been spearheaded

by Dr. Mayo and Patient Safety Institute Vice President

Kristin Opett, has nurtured a culture of safety and constant

improvement throughout RGHS. While the impact of the

institute can be displayed through measureable benchmarks,

its true effects are felt every time a patient can enjoy another

healthy birthday with loved ones because of the safe and

reliable care they received at Rochester General.

RGHS Chief Medical Officer Passes the Torch

“The medical direction of our health system couldn’t

be in better hands.”


Friends, family and colleagues gather to celebrate the retirement of Dr. Richard Gangemi.

The past year was an extraordinary one for

grants to Rochester General Health System.

Charitable foundations and government

agencies alike pledged grant support for a

broad range of critical projects totaling more

than $3.9 million!

We are lucky enough to have a number of loyal

supporters who continue to assist with grants

year after year. For example, both The M&T

Charitable Foundation and the Daisy Marquis

Jones Foundation have provided ongoing support

of the School-to-Work Youth Apprenticeship

Program. The KeyBank Foundation has

continued to replenish the nursing scholarship

fund that allows many of our nurses to continue

their education. Support from the Starlight

Foundation NY*NJ*CT was instrumental in

getting our child life specialist program up and

running, and then expanding it over time. The

Davenport-Hatch Foundation has also provided

crucial support of numerous efforts at RGHS,

most recently Newark-Wayne Community

Hospital’s new emergency department.

This past year we also received significant

first-time grant support from foundations,

such as The Jacob & Valeria Langeloth

Foundation (to address refugee mental health)

and the Max & Marian Farash Charitable Trust

(for the School-to-Work Program’s learning lab

and the program’s annual health education field

trip). We also received extraordinary support

from state and federal government agencies.

In fact, from the New York State Department

of Health alone, we received grants totaling

over $2.7 million.

Large or small, each of these grants plays an

essential role in our ability to provide the very

best healthcare to the region we serve. As we

move into 2013 and beyond, we will continue

to nurture existing grant partnerships, while

continuing to identify new grant opportunities

that will allow us to do even more for

our community!

If you or your organization would like to learn

more about supporting Rochester General

Health System through a grant, please contact

Carol Fisher at (585) 922-5726 or email

[email protected].

gRAnts UpdAte from Carol Fisher


“...each of these grants plays an

essential role in our ability

to provide the very best healthcare...”

School-to-Work Program students work in their

learning lab, which was funded by a grant from the

Max & Marian Farash Charitable Trust.


Patients in Rochester continue to have access to some of the

best cardiac care in the United States. For the third year in a

row, Rochester General Hospital’s (RGH) Sands-Constellation

Heart Institute has been recognized for excellence in major

cardiac surgery from CareChex, a quality rating service of

the Delta Group. The list of top-five national cardiac surgery

programs places RGH in the company of Cleveland Clinic

and Duke University. In the same rankings, RGH is first in

New York State.

CareChex also ranked RGH second among hospitals in

New York in the Overall Medical Care and Overall Hospital

Care categories.

“This latest recognition is a terrific validation of the talent

and hard work of our Rochester General team members

and their tireless dedication to our growing community of

patients,” said Mark Clement, president and CEO of

Rochester General Health System (RGHS). “Objective

measurements like those used by CareChex help patients,

employers and insurers gain a clearer picture of the quality

and value of health care services in their communities. That

transparency is vital in this new era of health care reform.”

The CareChex awards are based on an institution’s

cumulative performance across the most recent three years

of federal fiscal year data on quality criteria including

mortality and complication rates, patient satisfaction reports,

patient safety indicators and inpatient quality indicators. For

the complete 2013 CareChex report and a full analysis of

hospital performance data, visit www.carechex.com.

Rochester General Hospital Ranks Fourth Nationally for Major Cardiac Surgery Sands-Constellation Heart Institute also takes top spot in New York State

FROM THE RGHS

news room

This winter, Rochester General Health System (RGHS)

and United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) in

Batavia announced that they are finalizing details of an

expanded affiliation, which will broaden and strengthen

healthcare services provided to patients in Genesee County.

Additionally, the affiliation will help UMMC address the

changes and challenges of healthcare reform. The two

healthcare institutions are familiar partners, having

collaborated in the areas of pathology, urology, general

surgery and gastroenterology since 2008.

“As a regional healthcare delivery system, a core element of

our mission is to collaborate with smaller area healthcare

providers to help them better serve their local communities,”

explained Mark Clement,

president and CEO of

Rochester General Health

System. “We currently

participate in a number of

collaborative relationships

with hospitals, including

Cayuga Medical Center in

Ithaca and Newark-Wayne

Community Hospital

(NWCH), an owned affiliate

of our system.

In making its decision

to affiliate with RGHS,

the UMMC board cited

the system’s national

recognition and longstanding focus on high quality

patient care and safety, its expertise in clinical integration,

its comprehensive medical specialties that will enhance

existing services available in the Batavia community and its

successful record of collaboration with smaller acute care

hospitals like NWCH. The UMMC board remains committed

to keeping appropriate healthcare local while providing the

best care possible.

“Changes in state and federal reimbursements along with

regulations associated with national healthcare reform have

shown that a partnership with a larger, regional healthcare

center will be imperative to the success of continuing to

provide quality care right at

home,” said Mark Schoell,

president and CEO of United

Memorial Medical Center.

“Rochester General is a high

quality organization with

a depth of resources, well

established physician

organization and similar

cultural ideals.”

RGHS is the only area health

system to be nationally rated

by SDI – a premier health

care analytics firm – as a

Top 100 Integrated Health

Network (2007-2012).

Integrated care networks are consistently recognized for

delivering higher levels of quality, service, patient safety and

efficiency. These are important factors, made even more so,

as government regulation and insurers shift reimbursement

to value-based health care.

RGHS Strengthens Ties with Batavia’s United Memorial Medical Center


“As a regional healthcare delivery system, a core

element of our mission is to collaborate with smaller area healthcare providers to help them better serve their local communities.”

— Mark Clement

RGH Recognized for Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology This winter, Rochester General Hospital earned a prestigious

designation as an AAGL Center of Excellence in Minimally

Invasive Gynecology (COEMIG) by the AAGL and Surgical

Review Corporation (SRC).

“This new Center of Excellence status further confirms

our industry leadership in providing gynecologic care of

the highest safety, quality and value,” said Mark Clement,

president and CEO of Rochester General Health

System (RGHS).

The AAGL, the leading association promoting minimally

invasive gynecologic techniques among surgeons worldwide,

developed the COEMIG program in collaboration with SRC

as a quality improvement initiative. As a COEMIG designee,

Rochester General Hospital (RGH) has been recognized for

demonstrating an unparalleled

commitment and ability to consistently

deliver safe and effective care.

Rochester General Health System is widely recognized as

a national leader in minimally invasive robotic surgery. In

2012, RGHS physicians completed their 5,000th robotic

surgical procedure, placing the system in the top five percent

of providers nationwide by volume.

In addition to minimally invasive gynecology, RGH has been

recognized for excellence in specialties including cardiac,

bariatric, breast and orthopaedic surgery.

To learn more about robotic surgery at RGH, visit

www.rochestergeneral.org.


RGHS newsroom

22nd Annual

Golf ClassicTournament

Monday, July 15th, 2013Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club

Proceeds to benefit Transforming Care at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital

PO Box 5711200 Driving Park AvenueNewark, NY 14513

PO Box 571 • Driving Park Avenue • Newark, NY 14513 • (315) 332-2323

Imagine no voice to communicate your love and appreciation, your joy or sorrow — your voice lost forever.

This is the story of DeMay Living Center Resident, Theresa Carlton. For almost 10 years, she lived without the ability to talk after a medical procedure left her speechless … until one day, a respiratory therapist thought he heard a whisper in her vocal cords. He brought in the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital speech pathology team who helped her regain her voice.

“I was living trapped in a box.There were so many things I wanted to say, but couldn’t.I felt like I was in a room without doors.”

Theresa isn’t alone. Thousands of people in our area suffer from illnesses that leave them unable to speak or swallow.

You can help make sure that patients, like Theresa, have access to quality health care in our community by donating to the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Foundation.

Our rural hospital and nursing home take care of patients, regardless of the cost to treat them. When the hospital does receive insurance reimbursements, it’s often not enough to pay for leading-edge technology and other equipment that must be replaced and updated regularly to improve access to the best patient care. Your generous support will help grow a healthy community.

Sincerely,

Tonya TaylorExecutive Director, Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Foundation

Our Hospital Our Future

NEWARK-WAYNECOMMUNITYHOSPITAL FOUNDATION


Upcoming Events FoR RoCHEStER GENERAL HEALtH SYStEM

Wild West showdown with CancerMay 24, 2013 – 5:30 p.m.Burgundy Basin Inn

To benefit the Lipson Cancer Center

MAY

newark-Wayne Community hospital golf Classic July 15, 2013 – NoonSodus Bay Heights Golf Club

To benefit the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Modernization Project

JULY

newark-Wayne Community hospital galaOctober 12, 2013 – 5:30 p.m.Rochester Riverside Convention Center

To benefit the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Modernization Project

oCtoBER

Founders society galaNovember 16, 2013 – 5:30 p.m.Rochester Riverside Convention Center

To benefit surgical care at Rochester General Health System

NoVEMBER

We hope you will join us at some of this year’s fun and exciting events to support

Rochester General Health System. To learn more about these events, or to keep

informed on others as they are scheduled, visit www.giveRGH.org.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Matt Piede, director of annual events, at (585) 922-5948 or [email protected].

The GalaProceeds to benefit surgical services at RGHS

giveRGH.org

For more information, contact Matt Piede at (585) 922-5948 or [email protected].

There’s only one place to be this fall.November 16

PARTNERS SPRING 2013

Riedman Campus100 Kings Highway SouthRochester, New York 14617

www.giveRGH.org

Follow us!

www.facebook.com/RochesterGeneralFoundation

@RGH_Foundation

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 1367Rochester, NY

A m a g a z i n e o f R o c h e s t e r G e n e r a l H o s p i t a l F o u n d a t i o n

FRIDAY MAY 24TH 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

BURGUNDY BASIN INN

VISIT GIVERGH.ORG for detailsor call (585) 922-4800

partners magazine spring 2013

Documents

new ambulatory surgery

ambulatory lobby

dialysis center

t i o nspring

h o s p i t

rghs newsroom

rghs president

f o u n d