Message from Fred S. Sganga, Interim CEO

This month we welcomed consultants from Joint Commission Resources who worked with us to conduct a mock survey in preparation for our upcoming Joint Commission survey. Achieving three-year accreditation from The Joint Commission impacts us on numerous fronts. Namely, it validates the care we provide to our patients and their families, and it enables us to receive reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid.

Together we should embrace the motto, “Every day is survey day,” as we should always be ready for an unannounced visit from The Joint Commission and other regulatory agencies. In the end these visits help to improve quality and confirm the excellent care we deliver to those who choose Stony Brook Medicine.

There are a few basic areas of focus that are critical to ensuring that we provide a safe environment for our patients. They include hand washing compliance; medication management (i.e., reconciling any medications a patient is taking at home with any new medicines given during the hospital visit); patient identification (i.e., using at least two patient identifiers when providing care, treatment and services); ensuring that orders are dated, timed and legible; and effective communications at all levels but particularly at times of patient hand-offs.

Results from the mock survey will afford us with a road map for future success and will assist us in preparations for the actual survey. I am confident that we will raise the bar in bringing the highest level of quality care to our patients.

As we work to meet the ever-growing healthcare needs of the Long Island community, I am excited about the introduction of our new branding: Stony Brook Medicine. This branding better acknowledges us as a full-service hospital that offers tertiary care services with a teaching mission. It also helps to differentiate our services from surrounding community hospitals that have adopted the “medical center” name.

I encourage each of you to embrace our values of I CARE (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence) and make it part of every interaction — every day — so that Long Island families make Stony Brook Medicine their first choice when seeking the best in care. Thank you for all you do on behalf of our patients and their families.

Fred S. Sganga, FACHE



Interim Chief Executive Officer

Stony Brook University Hospital