UTICA, N.Y. – To better protect patients from the flu and other illnesses, visitor restrictions have been put in place for the Mohawk Valley Health System (Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center).

A maximum of two visitors per patient will be permitted at any one time and children 12 and under are prohibited from visiting all inpatient areas, as they are more likely to have and transmit respiratory infections.

The hospitals ask that you not visit if you feel ill with any type of upper respiratory problem. Please stay home and delay your visit to keep yourself and the patients and residents safe.

The best protection against contracting influenza includes:

• Frequent and thorough hand washing.
• Covering all coughs and sneezes. If you don’t have a handkerchief or a tissue, use the crook of your arm, not your hand.
• Staying home from work, school or social events if you have a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and pains or other symptoms such as nausea or vomiting sometimes associated with influenza.
• Avoiding people exhibiting symptoms of a flu-like illness.

If you have flu-like symptoms that are severe and persistent, you should contact your healthcare provider.

The hospitals practice “respiratory etiquette” in their Emergency Departments, Urgent Cares and Primary Care Medical Offices. Each waiting area has masks for patients to wear to cover their cough, and tissues and hand sanitizer for good hand hygiene. Those seeking treatment and have any flu-like symptoms with upper respiratory problems will be asked to wear a mask and may be isolated from other patients.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

UTICA, N.Y. – Officials from the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) announced they have selected an architectural firm and a construction manager for the planning, design and construction of the new hospital project. The architectural firm is NBBJ, and the construction manager is the Turner Construction Company.

NBBJ and Turner will work closely with the outreach team to consider community input during the design and construction phases.

“We are excited to be able to begin this next phase as it means that we are getting that much closer to this project becoming a reality,” said Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS.“Both companies have extensive local and international experience, with projects in New York and around the United States as well as in many cities abroad. The companies are committed to working with our local businesses whenever possible to complete the project.”

The cost projection for the integrated health campus is approximately $480 million for a 750,000-square-foot facility.

“NBBJ was selected from a list of 19 of the best healthcare architects in the country,” said David J. Connolly, senior vice president of the Hammes Company – the project management company hired by MVHS to facilitate the new hospital project. “They bring a wealth of creative solutions that provide a platform of operational efficiency, sustainability and flexibility which will serve MVHS and the community for many years to come.”

NBBJ and Turner have extensive experience working with one another. Together they have completed more than $2.6 billion in projects, many of which have focused on healthcare.

“Turner Construction is one of the top construction management firms in the world. Its experience will be instrumental as we work through a complex construction project in an urban center,” said Connolly. “Its team brings a safety record which places the care of the workers and the public as its highest priority. Hammes Company has had the honor of working with Turner on other very high-profile projects and we’re looking forward to continuing our relationship on this project.”

In the meantime, MVHS continues to work on the final funding plan for the project. Officials from the organization are working with New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) on the Request For Approval for the $300 million which will be submitted to the NYSDOH before the end of January. Officials anticipate that they will be notified by the NYDOH by the end of February as to the disposition of the funding.

MVHS is hosting informational forums for the community on Tuesday, January 10 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Utica. Two forums will be held: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please RSVP to community@mvhealthsystem.org. Representatives from NBBJ, Turner Construction and Hammes Company will be in attendance to hear the interests of the community first hand.

About NBBJ

NBBJ creates innovative places and experiences for organizations worldwide and designs environments, communities, and buildings that enhance people's lives. Founded in 1943, NBBJ is a leader in designing healthcare, corporate office, commercial, civic, science, education, and sports facilities. The firm has won numerous awards and has been recognized as one of the world's "Top Ten Most Innovative Architecture Firms" by Fast Company magazine. Clients include Amazon, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Boeing, Cambridge University, Cleveland Clinic, GlaxoSmithKline, Massachusetts General Hospital, Microsoft, NYU Langone Medical Center, Samsung, Stanford University and Starbucks. NBBJ has locations in New York, Boston, Columbus, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Pune, and Shanghai. NBBJ has extensive experience in the State of New York, having designed more than 250 projects in the State since 2000. For more information, please visit www.nbbj.com.

About Turner

Turner is a New York State-based, international construction services company. Founded in 1902, Turner first made its mark on the industry pioneering the use of steel-reinforced concrete for general building, which enabled the company to deliver safer, stronger and more efficient buildings to clients. The company continues to embrace emerging technologies and offers an increasingly diverse set of services. With an annual construction volume of $11 billion, Turner is the largest builder in the United States, ranking first in the major market segments of the building construction field. Turner is consistently ranked as the leading builder of healthcare projects. Turner has completed more than 1,500 major healthcare projects in the past 10 years, including two new stand-alone hospitals in upstate New York. Turner has four offices in New York: Albany, Buffalo, New York City and Syracuse. For more information, please visit www.turnerconstruction.com. 

Media Contact
Erin Gigliotti
Manager/Media Specialist
Mohawk Valley Health System
315-624-5581
egigliot@mvhealthsystem.org

Community Invited to Develop Guiding Principles for Integrated Health Campus

UTICA, N.Y. – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) invites the community to attend an information session and community dialogue event regarding the development of the new downtown health campus on Tuesday, January 10, 2017. Two sessions will be held in the Grande Ballroom at the Radisson Hotel-Utica Centre: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The goal of this event is to provide a forum for community members to receive a project update and enable them to participate in the development of the project’s guiding principles. Guiding principles describe the community's beliefs and philosophy regarding what a new hospital facility and integrated health care campus in the downtown location should strive to achieve. Participants at the meeting will work together to develop factors for the Project Steering Committee to consider throughout the planning and design phases.

“This new health campus is an exciting opportunity for our region and we want the community to be involved,” said Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS. “The guiding principles identified at this event will highlight key areas that our Project Steering Committee will consider as the development process advances.”

The Radisson was selected because it allows for a large group presentation and breakout groups. Should the event exceed capacity, additional meetings will be scheduled. For those who are unable to attend, the presentation portion of the event will be posted at www.mvhealthsystem.org, and questions or comments may be submitted to community@mvhealthsystem.org.

This event is one of many community input opportunities planned as the project advances. Ongoing outreach formats include individual meetings, group presentations and neighborhood and community-wide forums.

For more information about the downtown health campus, visit www.mvhealthsystem.org. To request a meeting for your group or organization, email community@mvhealthsystem.org or call 315-624-5581.

Media Contact
Erin Gigliotti
Manager/Media Specialist
Mohawk Valley Health System
315-624-5581
egigliot@mvhealthsystem.org

UTICA, N.Y. – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Patient and Family Engagement Council is seeking new members. The Council acts as an advisory resource to the leadership and staff at MVHS as the organization strives to continuously improve patient care. The Council consists of several members of the community who have recently experienced the healthcare system either as patients or family members of patients receiving care, as well as several MVHS staff members.

The Council was established at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) in 2006, and expanded to include staff members of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH), as well as community representatives with experiences at FSLH, after the organizations affiliated in 2014.

Council members advise MVHS on improvements throughout the system including, but not limited to, patient education materials, construction and renovation projects, patient safety initiatives, and parking improvements. The Council has welcomed several new members, and has advised administrative staff members on the expansion of the Faxton Urgent Care facility and improvement of several patient and family waiting areas throughout the system. The Council has also been instrumental in beginning the process of implementing an informational kiosk that helps improve patients’ access to community resources to help them stay healthy and active in their homes.

As MVHS continues to improve the care we provide to our patients and their families, and to work toward building a new acute-care facility, the Council’s community members will continue to be a valuable resource.

Anyone who is interested in the Council may get more information or request an application at www.stemc.org/patients or www.faxtonstlukes.com/pfec or call 315-624-6142.

Media Contact
AJ Wiswell
Communications Specialist/Graphic Designer
315-624-5607
awiswell@mvhealthsystem.org

Front row, left, Robert Upton of Utica, winner of the Mother Bernardina Award, is joined by Louis Tehan, president and CEO of Upstate Cerebral Palsy, winner of the Founder’s Day Community Award at St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Back row, left are Scott Perra, Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) president/CEO, and Robert Scholefield, MVHS executive vice president/COO.

UTICA, N.Y. – St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) celebrated its 150th anniversary Monday, December 12, 2016, by honoring an employee and a recipient of its community award. 

Following a 12 p.m. Founder’s Day service in the SEMC Saint Marianne Cope Chapel, Louis Tehan, president and CEO of Upstate Cerebral Palsy, received the Founder’s Day Community Award and Robert Upton received the Mother Bernardina Award, which is named after SEMC’s founder and is presented to an employee. The winner of the latter award is chosen by SEMC employees for significant contributions to the medical center, exemplifying its mission, vision and philosophy and for always going the extra mile.

Upstate Cerebral Palsy is located in Utica at 932 South Street at the corner of Hammond Avenue. It serves families of Whitesboro, Yorkville, New York Mills, New Hartford, Washington Mills, and many other towns throughout the Greater Utica area. Today, UCP has more than 2,000 employees at over 80 locations and is an organization dedicated to “empowering people through exceptional opportunities." It has received several esteemed awards prior to this that recognize the high quality of care Upstate Cerebral Palsy provides, as well as praise for its sound business practices.

“Upstate Cerebral Palsy plays an important role our community,” said Scott H. Perra, president/CEO of the Mohawk Valley Health System and SEMC. “Its leader and his staff provide support to thousands of people with differing abilities and we are grateful to have them in the Mohawk Valley.”

Robert Upton of Utica has been employed at SEMC for 24 years. He currently works as a radiologic technologist in the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Radiology Department. Upton is a graduate of Champlain Valley School in Plattsburgh, New York, and is a strong supporter of the Abraham House in Utica, where he has been a volunteer for 10 years. He has acted as a Big Brother to several children in the Utica area and is not only known for his selfless compassion but as an artist, a comic book creator and a baker of novelty cakes. 

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

UTICA, N.Y. – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has launched a new engagement program aimed at facilitating community involvement in the development of the new downtown hospital. The first step in this multi-phased process is to engage The Paige Group to directly speak with stakeholders in genuine, meaningful dialogue that captures critical interests and concerns.

“This is a complex project and we understand our community’s strong interest and need to further understand how it will impact our region,” said Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS. “We’re pleased that we have reached the stage of development where we can begin to share more information in a clear and timely fashion.”

The Paige Group specializes in public input on a wide variety of economic development and public infrastructure projects.

“We believe strongly in the value of community input and will ensure that there are multiple opportunities to be involved as we move forward,” said The Paige Group President and CEO Nancy Pattarini. “We will accomplish this through a combination of listening sessions, informational presentations, and increased community awareness through key partners such as our local and regional media.”

Outreach formats will include individual meetings, group presentations, and neighborhood and community-wide forums.

The initiative will also include the establishment of a community advisory committee, which will be comprised of key stakeholders who will remain involved throughout the project development process. 

Media Contact
Erin Gigliotti
Manager/Media Specialist
315-624-5581
egigliot@mvhealthsystem.org

New Cost Estimate Achieved Through Design Modifications and Efficiencies

UTICA, N.Y. – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has achieved its next milestone on the path to building the proposed new hospital in downtown Utica. Through facility and operations analysis, MVHS officials have identified potential cost reductions without impacting patient care.

The new hospital, proposed for downtown Utica, was conceived to be approximately 830,000 square feet and estimated to cost $573 million. The new cost projection is approximately $480 million for a 750,000-square-foot facility, which is in alignment with the project funding plan that includes bank financing, donor support, and a grant from New York State.

“Planning a project of this magnitude occurs in several stages over the course of years,” said Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS. “In late 2014, we developed estimates based upon preliminary design concepts. We continue to perform studies and evaluations to further refine the project as we advance through the phases of the development process. This includes continuing to work with the Hammes Company, who manages projects like this one all over the country. Our revised plan includes a reduction in facility square footage, updated inventory of equipment for reuse at the new facility, and additional evaluation of services that could remain in the hospital versus those that could continue at other sites in the system.”

The reevaluated design includes a number of cost-saving adjustments, including a phased approach to inpatient bed space. The original concept included 430 inpatient beds; the revised plan is for 400 beds. Officials have carved out a 24-bed inpatient “shell” that could be finished and used at a later time, if needed. That reduction alone saves more than 15,000 square feet of new construction and adds to the overall savings.

“Our analysis has shown that the need for inpatient beds will continue to decrease,” noted Perra. “We reviewed trends of our inpatient beds for the past five years, as well as trends both statewide and nationally, to help us determine what we will need by 2022 when the new facility opens. Currently our average daily inpatient census for MVHS is 325 to 375 patients.”

Other potential cost-saving strategies include third-party ownership opportunities, such as the parking garage and separate office space for some hospital services. Third-party ownership of a multi-use parking garage provides an estimated cost savings of $27 million and the reduction of the size and construction cost of the facility provides an estimated $20 million savings. Also, additional efficiencies are continuously being identified as the hospital system’s operations plan is further refined.

“As with any construction project, projections and estimates will evolve as we get further along in the development process,” Perra said. “However, this step-by-step analysis has helped us to achieve a further refined cost estimate for this phase of the project. We continue to seek additional cost-saving measures and alternate sources of funding, including grant opportunities and donor support.”

Planning and design for the hospital will begin once the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) finalizes the disposition of the $300 million in New York State funding. At that time, MVHS will engage the construction manager and architectural and engineering firms to begin the design of the new facility. The design process is estimated to take 16 to 20 months.

“Once we receive the notification from the NYSDOH, we can begin to fully develop the hospital concept,” commented Perra. “At that time, we will have more information to share with our community and will set up opportunities to meet with area residents about a new medical future for them and their families. Their input will be valuable as we begin to work on the design and layout of the new health care campus.”

UTICA, NY – Officials from the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) are setting in motion the design and construction of the new hospital and have issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to architects, engineers and construction managers.

“We have sent the information to 14 architects, 11 engineers and seven construction management firms, all of which have extensive experience in healthcare projects that are the size, scope and complexity of the proposed MVHS project,” stated Robert C. Scholefield, MS, RN, executive vice president and chief operating officer for MVHS. “We anticipate that this next phase will take several months to finalize as we meet with the companies best suited for this complex and exciting project. More than half the firms we have contacted have offices in New York State. Our goal throughout the project is to use, whenever possible, resources from our region. Several of the companies we have spoken with make it a practice to subcontract with local companies.”

As the vetting process is taking place on the design, build and construction management of the new hospital, the appraisal teams are scheduled to begin their work in late September. The appraisal companies have sent letters to the downtown property owners and are working with Mohawk Valley EDGE to begin the valuation process, which is anticipated to take between 60 and 90 days.

“It’s very important to us to continue to move forward with the project,” noted Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS. “We continue to work with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Governor Cuomo’s office on the final disposition of the $300 million designated for the project. Officials in Albany tell us they are getting close to their final recommendation and the requirements that we will need to meet. It has taken longer than we anticipated but this is a unique ‘gift’ that we are receiving and one that does not have precedence. This is a new process for everyone.”

The new hospital will be constructed on approximately 25 acres in the City of Utica and is anticipated to help spur economic development not only in downtown Utica, but in the region, as well. Recently, officials from MVHS visited Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, New York. Orange Regional is a new hospital that opened in August 2011, the result of a three-hospital merger.

“The trip to Orange Regional was very enlightening,” stated Perra. “They were very receptive to our questions and provided great suggestions for us as we begin our planning. One thing they did not anticipate was the increased use of their Emergency Services. They found with a new hospital that more people traveled to come to the new facility. Even as they opened their doors, they were preparing for an expansion of the Emergency Department. That was helpful advice to us as we begin to look at the surrounding area, the patients we currently serve and potential patients.”

“Even with all of this activity, we want to remind our community that there are still multiple steps in the approval process,” cautioned Perra. “We have to finalize the plan with the NYSDOH on securing the $300 million and also finalize the process they wants us to follow to complete and file a Certificate of Need (CON). Any offers made to property owners will be contingent on receiving the CON from New York State. We can’t move forward without that.”

With the delays from NYSDOH in the disposition of the $300 million, MVHS officials have also adjusted the estimated timeline to make purchase offers to property owners; it may be late 2017, with construction to begin in the second quarter of 2018.

Media Contact
Erin Gigliotti
Manager/Media Specialist
Communications & Marketing
Mohawk Valley Health System
315-624-5581
egigliot@mvhealthsystem.org

UTICA, N.Y. – St. Elizabeth Health Support Services (SEHSS), a Franciscan Companies affiliate of St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC), has changed its name to Mohawk Valley Health Support Services, Inc. (MVHSS), effective Friday, July 1, 2016.

“Our medical equipment and respiratory care services support the needs of patients across our communities,” said Ryan Thompson, MVHSS executive director. “This name change reinforces our commitment to providing quality services to all MVHS member organizations, not only SEMC.”

MVHSS, located at 3899 Oneida Street, New Hartford, New York, has served the Mohawk Valley region for nearly 20 years. It offers an array of medical equipment for the home including oxygen, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) equipment, nebulizers, power chairs and scooters, wheelchairs and walkers, bathroom safety devices, hospital beds and orthopedic items.

“Our products and services allow patients to remain in the homes they love,” Thompson said. “We are proud to offer that peace of mind and needed support to people in the Mohawk Valley.”

Mohawk Valley Health Support Services can be reached at 315-737-0310.

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About Franciscan Companies
With services covering 24 counties in Upstate New York and three counties in Pennsylvania, Franciscan Companies is a member of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center system. It provides a variety of health-related products, services and programs to patients and consumers throughout the area, including medical equipment, respiratory therapy, sleep disorder treatments, home care services, wellness programs, Lifeline medical alert, medication dispensers, telemonitoring and more. Companies include: Franciscan Health Support, FHS Licensed Home Care Agency, Embracing Age elder care program, Franciscan Lifeline, a medication dispensing service, Lourdes Health Support in Binghamton, Mohawk Valley Health Support Services in Utica, Oneida Health Support, Auburn Health Support, Mountain Lakes Health Support in Carthage, Lewis County Health Support Services, as well as sleep centers through the region.

(photo courtesy of Edwards Lifesciences) The TAVR procedure can be performed using several different approaches. The transfemoral approach utilizes the femoral artery in the patient’s leg, the transapical approach delivers the catheter through the apex of the heart, and the transaortic approach utilizes the ascending aorta to deliver the replacement valve.

UTICA, N.Y. – Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure for people who have been diagnosed with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and who may be too ill or too high-risk for open heart surgery. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the heart’s aortic valve opening, which does not allow normal blood flow through the heart. It is most often caused by age-related calcification, but can also be caused by a birth defect, rheumatic fever or radiation therapy.

The TAVR procedure allows a new valve to be inserted within the damaged aortic valve, allowing blood to flow through the heart normally. This minimally invasive procedure uses a catheter to replace the aortic valve instead of opening the chest and completely removing the damaged valve. The valve can be placed using several different approaches. The transfemoral approach utilizes the femoral artery in the patient’s leg, the transapical approach delivers the catheter through the apex of the heart, and the transaortic approach utilizes the ascending aorta to deliver the replacement valve. As of April 14, 2016, eight patients at MVHS were treated with the TAVR surgery.

This groundbreaking procedure opens up treatment options to patients who would not previously been candidates for open heart surgery. In many cases the TAVR procedure allows significantly reduced recovery times and a shorter hospital stay than traditional open heart procedures.

The Cardiac Program staff at St. Elizabeth Medical Center has been working for a number of months to bring the procedure to the community. The organization has invested nearly $3 million dollars in the program including a specialized hybrid operating room, specialized equipment and the training of staff. The procedure also involves a team of specialized physicians including cardiac surgeons, cardiologists and anesthesiologists.

In March 2016, the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) performed the first three successful TAVR surgeries in the Mohawk Valley. The team involved Dr. Frederick Joyce, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the MVHS Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group, and several cardiologists, Dr. Rakesh Bhan, Dr. Hugh MacIsaac and Dr. Michael Sassower of Central New York Cardiology, and Dr. Prasanna Kumar of Slocum-Dickson Medical Group. It also required the collaborative efforts of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Cardiac Surgery teams at the St. Elizabeth Campus of MVHS.

MVHS would like to thank Dr. Joyce, Dr. Bhan, Dr. MacIssac, Dr. Sassower, Dr. Kumar, the cardiac anesthesiology team and all of the staff members who made these procedures possible. We look forward to using the TAVR procedure to improve the cardiac health of our community.

For more information about this procedure, please contact Thomas Norton, MSHCA, director of MVHS Cardiac Services at 315-801-3329.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

All day and evening St. Elizabeth College of Nursing classes and clinicals are canceled for Wednesday, March 15 due to severe winter weather.