CEO Update December 2007
The information below is an employee update of activities at Stony Brook University Medical Center prepared by Stony Brook University Hospital CEO, Steven L. Strongwater, M.D. Dr. Strongwater distributes a monthly update which is sent to all hospital faculty and staff to communicate initiatives and activities undertaken at the Medical Center to reach goals in the areas of patient satisfaction, patient safety and community connections.
December 1, 2007
The month of December - this time of year - reminds me why Stony Brook University Hospital is a special part of this community. It reminds me of the things that make us human. It reminds me of what is important. Many of these things are intangible...how we touch each others lives, the love we have for our families, friends and many others. It is a time to reflect on what we do for each other and for our community. We are indeed quite fortunate.
At SBUH, we embrace our role in the community by caring for the sickest patients, by training the next generation of health care providers, by planning and being ready for disaster as First Responders, by working toward disease prevention, by vaccinating our staff to prevent disease, by provided educational opportunities for the community, by discovering new ways to treat patients, and in so many other ways...
Stony Brook Pride
HealthGrades Recognizes SBUH with its highest level of distinction for Cardiac and Pulmonary Services. HealthGrades is a healthcare ratings organization, providing ratings and profiles of hospitals, nursing homes and physicians to consumers, corporations, health plans and hospitals. Millions of consumers and hundreds of the nation's largest employers, health plans and hospitals rely on HealthGrades' independent ratings, consulting and products to make healthcare decisions based on the quality of care.
Surgical Robotics First at SBUH. On November 26, Stony Brook University Hospital reached another milestone in Robotic Surgery. Dr. Todd Griffin successfully performed our first gynecologic procedure with the DaVinci Robot, a laparoscopic robotic assisted hysterectomy. The patient did very well. Congratulations to the entire GYN team involved in bringing this new technology to Stony Brook's GYN surgical service.
Family Medicine Celebrates Opening of The Long Island Center for Pediatric Obesity Prevention Best Practices. Under the guidance of Dr. Jeffrey Trilling and Josephine Connolly-Schoonen, PhD, RD, the Nutrition section in Family Medicine has established the LI Center for Pediatric Obesity Prevention Best Practices. This program is funded by a grant from the NYS Department of Health, with a focus on childhood obesity prevention. The new Center coordinates with healthcare providers in Nassau and Suffolk Counties to prevent, treat, and screen for obesity in women of child-bearing years, pregnant women and infants. This builds on the existing Heart Links Communities program which serves 23 school districts in Suffolk and Nassau County.
Radiation Oncology Awarded Three-Year Accreditation. The American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) awarded the Department of Radiation Oncology a three year accreditation, citing the program as "... well organized and ...not only meets but in many aspects exceeds ACRO standards for practice accreditation.
Important Conference at SBUMC. On Saturday, January 12, SBUMC will host the 2008 Lung Cancer symposium entitled "Lung Cancer Update: Screening, Staging and Management" at the Wang Center. The course organizer is Dr. Baram with faculty lectures by Dr. Bilfinger, Dr. Gabig, Dr. Keresztes and Dr. Moore. The symposium offers CME credits and the opportunity to interact with faculty and invited lecturer, Dr. James Jett, an internationally renowned expert in lung cancer and cancer screening from the Mayo Clinic. Call 444-2981 for details.
Dr. Lee Xippolitos, CNAA, BC, NP, CS, CARN to Receive "Outstanding Alumni" Award. Congratulations to Lee Xippolitos, who will be recognized by her alma mater, Farmingdale State College, as the Outstanding Alumni of the Year in Nursing. The celebration will be held on Thursday, December 6 at Carlyle on the Green.
Barbara Mills, ANP, PNP selected as Nurse Practitioner of the Year. The Nurse Practitioner Association of Long Island (NPALI) announced Barbara Mills as their choice for nurse practitioner of the year. Barbara is dually certified as an adult and pediatric NP specializing in cardiothoracic surgery. She serves as the director of SBUH's Rapid Response Team. She also volunteers extensively in community blood pressure screenings and counseling about heart healthy practices and is a clinical preceptor for undergraduate and graduate nursing students as well as medical students. Barbara is a Stony Brook alum, having received her graduate degree here.
Three Outstanding Junior Volunteers Recognized. Stony Brook University Hospital selected three outstanding high school seniors to receive the annual Service Excellence Award for Junior Volunteers. Ravina Chawla, Vincent Leombruno and Ashlie Tam, all 17, are using their volunteer experience at the Hospital to move closer to career and life goals. Go to http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.com/ for more information about these dedicated, compassionate young volunteers.
Patient Safety
SBUMC Patient Safety Council Meeting Held Nov. 13, 2007. The Patient Safety & Quality Advisory Council, a group of nationally recognized experts on patient safety and quality, met with SBUH representatives on November 13th. We shared several improvement initiatives implemented at SBUH (discussed as concepts at a previous Council meeting in March 2007), including Patient Advisory Groups, Pharmacy involvement in rounding and patient safety efforts, progress relating to Rapid Response Teams, and developments in Modified Early Warning System (MEWS) and Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS). The November meeting focused on Resident safety, supervision and striving to become a High Reliability Organization. Suggestions and ideas were shared so that we may implement best practices. Joining the meeting was Wendy Everett, President of the New England Healthcare Institute; Dr. Al Bothe, Chief Quality Officer at Geisinger; Gail Powell-Cope, Ph.D., ARNP, Associate Chief of Nursing Service for Research at the Tampa VA; Dr.Arthur Aufses, (former) long time Chairman of Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center and a member of the SBUMC Quality Assessment Review Board; and Dr. David Burnett, Sr. Vice President of University Health System Consortium, among many others. We extended an invitation to and were pleased that quality leadership from SUNY Upstate Medical Center and SUNY Downstate Medical Center joined the SBUMC Patient Safety Council. Thanks to all who participated!
Early Sepsis detection. Due to the efforts of the Sepsis Steering Committee and the Emergency Department (ED) Sepsis Team, the average length of stay for patients identified with sepsis in the ED decreased from 13.81 days (baseline in 2006) to 10.80 (data available in September 2007), which is a three day decrease! Congratulations to all those who strive to implement best practices.
Several SBUMC abstracts were published in the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System's "System Quality Review" in November. Abstracts included: "Achieving Increased Survival at Stony Brook University Medical Center," "Surviving Sepsis: Increasing Detection and Standardizing Care," "Examining Variance as a Means of Optimizing D2B Times," and "Implementing a Focused Approach to Improving Patient Satisfaction in the Medical Units of a University Hospital."
Patient Satisfaction
Patient Amenity Kit Distribution Broadens. The Patient Amenity Kit Program began on Oct 1.Our goal is to facilitate distribution of brand name amenity kits to patients on every appropriate unit before the end of 2007. Some of the kits are being customized for patient needs, i.e. there are special products in pediatric kits, mother-baby kits and psychiatric kits.
Baby Blankets Upgraded. Larger, thicker receiving blankets for newborns have been obtained. We hope mothers and babies appreciate this warm new accessory.
Food Services Enhancement. Food Service has implemented a program recognizing patients who are hospitalized on their birthday. The Patient Birthday Cake Program was implemented on Nov 12. At the luncheon meal, patients receive an individual sized happy birthday cake.
Physical Therapy Implements Expanded Patient Mobility Program. In conjunction with Debra Grimm and the nursing staff on 16S, Physical Therapy has developed an activities program to help patients regain their mobility. The purpose is to enhance patient outcomes and patient satisfaction through additional mobility activities administered by the nursing staff in conjunction with the physical therapy care plan.
Patient Activity Schedules (PAS) Customized for Pediatrics with a Focus on Pain Management. Just introduced, the Pediatrics PAS now includes a section that addresses pain and pain management. The purpose is to engage patients and their families in their plan of care. The PAS helps to guide nurses with respect to patient preferences for pain management.
Cutest Baby Program. The Pediatric staff has developed a card which says "Shhhhh.... Don't tell anyone but you are the cutest baby in the nursery." On back of the card is the baby's name, date of birth, weight and height, name of the admitting nurse and an imprint of the baby's foot. Every baby in the newborn nursery will get a card.
Architectural Services has created a map of levels four and five of the hospital to help patients and their families find their way around. Print versions of the maps are available at the Concierge Desk on Level 5 of the Hospital.
Patient Family Advisory Groups. The clinical leaders of the Pediatrics and Oncology services are implementing changes in response to suggestions made by Patient Family Advisory Groups. Two examples: 1)The process for scheduling lab tests in outpatient oncology is now coordinated with physician schedules so that patients can have their lab work done immediately prior to their physician visits without having to worry about being late for their appointment; and, 2) In pediatrics, the staff is developing ways to make patients and families more aware of the availability of monthly parking passes.
Hospital Call Center. The nurses in the Hospital Call Center make follow up calls to recently discharged oncology patients to help them understand their discharge instructions, answer questions about medications, and to make sure that they know how to contact the hospital if they have any questions.
Community Connections
Stony Brook Soars. Take Pride Celebrations Held. From October 24 - 31, a series of celebrations were held to recognize the many accomplishments achieved over the past year. Hospital and School of Medicine staff and faculty enjoyed ice cream and toppings. A select number of awards and recognition include: New York magazine naming of 24 Stony Brook physicians to its "Best Doctors" June issue; US News and World Report ranking Urology among the top 50 departments in the nation; Joint Commission Gold Seal of approval; Institute for Health Care Improvement identifying SBUH as a mentor hospital; Health and Human Services Organ Donation Medal of Honor; Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Quality Award; Consumer Choice Award for LI region by the National Research Corporation.
Cardiac Community Advisory Board had its first meeting this month. The objective of the Advisory Board is to provide input to improve the patient experience and identify the needs that are not being met in the community. The Advisory Board will review dashboards and patient satisfaction surveys and discuss opportunities for improvement. We are grateful to those new advisory board members for taking the time to get involved.
The Cardiac Physician Advisory Board held their first meeting in November. The Board will provide oversight of clinical activities and help develop strategies for the Heart Center at Stony Brook University Hospital. The Physician Advisory Board will also review patient satisfaction surveys and outcome quality metrics improvement. We are grateful to those new physician advisory board members for taking the time to get involved.
A Public Education Forum on MRSA was offered by Infectious Disease experts at Stony Brook University Medical Center on November 19 at the Charles B. Wang Center. Susan Donelan, MD, Sharon Nachman, MD and Jorge Benach, PhD, explained to an engaged and informed audience what MRSA is, how to prevent MRSA infection, and answered questions that helped dispel myths and misunderstandings about MRSA.
Physician Outreach Program. Debbie Lang, Director of Physician Outreach, has been meeting with community physicians and their office staff to promote the Medical Center's efforts to increase communications and streamline processes. These efforts include encouraging the use of the HealthConnect phone number to reach our physicians, and contacting the Transfer Center to arrange for emergency room referrals. Debbie is available to meet with community physicians and can be reached at (631) 638-4070. New to the Physician Outreach Office is Administrative Assistant, Brianne Vought. Brianne divides her time between Physician Outreach and the Hospitalist Program.
Save the Date - Town Hall Meeting for Community Physicians will be held at the Watermill in Smithtown on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. Community Physicians are welcome to attend to share their ideas and concerns. For more information, please call (631) 638-4070 or e-mail Debra.Lang@stonybrook.edu.
Last Touch
A note I received which speaks a lot about who we are at Stony Brook.
"Approximately two months ago one of our co-workers..., who may I add only worked with us for a short while, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Without hesitation, one of the Distribution Services employees came up with the idea to raise money to help (her) small children should the worst take place. This employee planned and held a raffle...donated a lot of her own personal time... created gift baskets and drawings were held on level 5.... (She) did not stop there; she organized a benefits dance.... Approximately 160 people attended and just over $9,000 was raised.
...It is good to know that even though we are all dealing with our own personal situations in life we can pull together to make somebody's life better. I wanted to take a moment to let you know that there are wonderful caring people here at Stony Brook and I am proud to be part of your team. Thank you everybody, for your love, support, time and understanding....."
"I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another". Thomas Jefferson.
We are all so fortunate. As we enter the holiday season, it is a good time to take stock of what we have and perhaps what we could share with each other.
Happy Holidays,
Steven L. Strongwater, M.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Patients First-Teamwork--Work Class Processes--Growth--Use Resources Wisely
