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St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare receive Grant Funds for Affiliation Expenses

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St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) have each received grant funding of $50,000 from The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc. to assist with the legal and consultant services for their joint affiliation project.

“Both organizations are grateful for The Community Foundation’s support of our affiliation plans,” said Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of FSLH.  “Our strategic plans focus on meeting the needs of our community now and into the future.  The grant is a tremendous benefit to both organizations and helps us to defray some of the significant costs that come with this type of collaboration.”

The Honorable Norman I. Siegel, Chair of SEMC’s Board of Trustees, agreed.  “In these challenging economic times for healthcare, we have an obligation to area residents to ensure the long-term fiscal health of both St. Elizabeth and Faxton St. Luke’s while continuing to meet our collective mission,” he said.  “We appreciate this generous assistance with our plan.”


Prohibition Party to Aid St. Elizabeth Medical Center Upgrades

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St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation and F.X. Matt Brewery will hold the 6th Annual Prohibition Party, sponsored by Theresa Flemma, CFP®, Vice President of M. Griffith Investment Services Inc. The event will be held on Friday, April 25 from 6 - 9 p.m. at the historic F.X. Matt Brewing Co.

Sponsorship opportunities for the Prohibition Party are available at the following levels:

Saranac Sponsor: $5,000

Includes ten V.I.P. tickets with use of the Tavern one hour prior to event, special gift for each guest, logo on all posters and event publicity – including TV and radio, event banner to hang in a place of business, company banner displayed at event, logo on Foundation website, logo prominently on signage at event, displayed throughout the brewery and ten cases of custom-labeled Saranac product.

1888 Tavern Sponsor: $2,500

Includes recognition in event publicity (TV, radio and Medical Center publications), six tickets with gift for each guest, company banner displayed at the event, logo on Foundation website, logo on poster displayed and logo on signage at event, displayed throughout the brewery.

Brew Kettle Sponsor: $1,000

Includes recognition in Medical Center publications, four tickets with gift for each guest, listing on Foundation website, listing on signage at event and displayed throughout the brewery.

Schultz and Dooley Sponsor: $500

Includes two tickets with gift for each guest, listing on Foundation website and on signage at the event, displayed throughout the brewery.

Proceeds from the Prohibition Party will be used to support the upgrade of patient and employee security, as well as update patient care rooms for St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please call (315) 734-4287, or e-mail bfilletti@stemc.org. Tickets may also be purchased online or by visiting the St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation Office at 2209 Genesee Street, Utica, or the F.X. Matt Brewing Co. Gift Shop/ Tour Center at 830 Varick Street, Utica.

“On behalf of the Medical Center, I would like to thank the Matt family for its partnership with the Foundation to host this one-of-a-kind event that the community looks forward to each year,” said Richard Ketcham, President/CEO of St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Stay Safe While Heating Your Home During Cold Winter Months

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In order to stay warm during the frigid winter months, many people turn to alternative methods for heating their homes. According to the National Fire Protection Association, various forms of heating equipment have been involved in 53,000 reported home structure fires within the United States.Two factors that can lead to these fires are flammable material near heating equipment and leaving portable heaters unattended.

Please select the house graphic below to view ways to keep your family safe while heating your home during the winter. Also, visit the NYS Department of Health's F.I.R.E. Toolkit for more home fire prevention resources.

School Closings

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St. Elizabeth College of Nursing and St. Elizabeth School of Radiography classes and clinical for weekday and weekend evening programs are cancelled for Wednesday, February 5.

Mohawk Valley Health System Affiliation Q&A

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) and St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) affiliated as the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) effective Thursday, March 6, 2014. MVHS is governed by a single board of directors and will operate under a single management team. Below are questions and answers that may be helpful to the community.

Q: Will both hospitals stay open?

A: Yes. FSLH and SEMC are busy hospitals with a number of services unique to each individual hospital. For example, SEMC is the designated trauma center and FSLH is home to The Regional Cancer and Dialysis Centers. The services and their locations will stay the same. The hospitals also have very busy Emergency Departments which will continue to stay open. No decisions about clinical changes will be made without the collaboration of the FSLH and SEMC medical staffs and that will take a considerable amount of time and analysis. We don’t anticipate any clinical service changes this year.

Q: Will my provider continue to be at my hospital of choice?

A: Yes. While a number of members of the medical staffs work at both hospitals, many providers are only at one hospital. The providers choose where they would like to practice medicine.

Q: Will the hospitals still accept the same insurance?

A: Yes. Both hospitals accept all major insurances and have designated charity care programs to help provide for individuals without insurance.

Q: Will the hospital names stay the same?

A: Yes. We have made no decision to change the names of the hospitals; both will be affiliated under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Q: Will there be job loss?

A: We don’t anticipate significant job loss at either hospital because of the affiliation. In some instances, there may be duplicate management positions at each hospital that will be consolidated into one position. In those instances, we always try to transition the employee to another department, if the job skills are appropriate. Job loss is always our last course of action. Even today, our hospitals have job openings in a number of areas and each year the organizations experience employee turnover with 500 to 600 people leaving for other opportunities. This natural turnover allows for the movement of employees to other positions within the organizations.

Q: Will services change?

A: The affiliation will help to enhance services for the Mohawk Valley through collaboration and it supports improved clinical quality throughout the system. Working together is a smarter way to use our limited resources and it also enhances our purchasing opportunities. As a larger system we have more to offer when recruiting physicians. New physicians can also mean new services to our area, services we have not been able to provide in the past.

Q: Can I still gift to the hospital of my choice?

A: Yes. We understand the loyalty that patients and families have for their hospital of choice. Your gifts will support the hospital or service that you designate.

Q: Will St. Elizabeth Medical Center stay a Catholic hospital?

A: Yes. That was one of the most important agreements in the affiliation process. The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities and the Syracuse Diocese were instrumental in developing the final plan.

Throughout this process, the commitment of our boards of directors and leadership team has been to keep our community and healthcare family as informed as possible. We will continue to communicate any changes going forward.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center Form Mohawk Valley Health System

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Perra, Scott & Siegel, Norman
Left: Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS, with Honorable Norman Siegel, Chairman of the Board for the new MVHS

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) and St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) officially announced their affiliation as the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). In December 2013, the Public Health and Health Planning Council of New York State approved their affiliation proposal and the hospitals reached an agreement with the New York State Attorney General’s office. As of midnight on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) waiting period expired with no action by the FTC – allowing the transaction to proceed as planned once final state approval is received. The hospitals have received notification from the New York State Department of Health to move forward with the affiliation.

“This is an important and historic moment for our community,” noted the Honorable Norman Siegel, former chairman of the Board for SEMC and chairman of the Board for the new MVHS. “I am pleased that our two hospitals will be working together as one organization. It’s a tremendous testament to the vision of our Boards of Directors, hospital leadership and our medical staffs. Throughout this process, we have received such positive support from the community and recognition that we can do so much more for the families of the Mohawk Valley by working together.”

Mohawk Valley Health System is the parent organization. It will be governed by a new Board of Directors comprised of 18 members with equal members from the FSLH Board and the SEMC Board. Scott H. Perra, FACHE, is president/CEO of MVHS and will oversee the management team for the system.

“This has been nearly a three-year process that has, at times, been very complex,” stated Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS. “I want to thank our boards, employees, medical staffs, volunteers and the community for their patience, understanding and incredible support. I also want to thank the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities and the Syracuse Diocese for their support, as they have been instrumental in our success. And I also want to thank our government officials – local, state and federal. They understood our vision and were a tremendous resource to us as we went through this process.”

Consolidation and joint partnerships are not new for the organizations. Faxton Hospital and St. Luke’s-Memorial consolidated their services in 2000. Both SEMC and FSLH jointly sponsor the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute and have a collaborative agreement for the Central New York Diabetes Education Program and Palliative Care Consultation Services.

“I applaud the leadership of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center for their proactive approach to providing the best healthcare for their region,” commented Gary Fitzgerald, president of Iroquois Healthcare. “It is a challenging time for healthcare throughout the country with less reimbursement and more demands placed on hospitals. These types of collaborations, driven from within the community instead of by outside forces, are the ones that succeed. This affiliation will be significant for the communities of the Mohawk Valley.”

The two organizations employ more than 4,200 (FTE) employees and have a combined operating budget of $537 million.

The MVHS Board of Directors will consist of: Hon. Norman Siegel, chairman; Domenic Aiello, MD; Barbara Brodock; Catherine Cominsky; Joan Compson; Gregory Evans; Maria Gesualdo, DO; Todd Hutton, PhD; Andrew Kowalczyk III, Esq.; Gregory McLean; Scott H. Perra, president/CEO; John Sperling, MD, medical staff president (FSLH); Stephen Sweet; Richard Tantillo; Symeon Tsoupelis; Mark Warfel, DO, medical staff president (SEMC); Bonnie Woods; Eric Yoss, MD; and Richard Zweifel.

The MVHS administrative team will be comprised of the following individuals and positions:

Scott H. Perra, FACHE - President/CEO; Louis Aiello - Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer; Albert D’Accurzio, MD - Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer - SEMC and Chief Quality Officer; Patricia Roach, MS, RN, NEA-BC - Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer; Anthony Scibelli, MS, MBA - Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Post Acute and Support Services; Robert C. Scholefield, RN, MS - Senior Vice President, Operations; Michael F. Trevisani, MD, MBA - Vice President, Chief Medical Officer - FSLH & Physician Group; Debra Altdoerffer - Vice President, Communications and Development; Thomas Soja, Esq. - Vice President, Legal Counsel and Compliance; and Roger McReynolds - Vice President, Performance Excellence.

Two other positions are currently vacant: Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Director of Mission Services.

Do you have questions about the new Mohawk Valley Health System? View a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers here.

St. Elizabeth College of Nursing Awards 2014 Spring Scholarships

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The St. Elizabeth College of Nursing Scholarship Committee has announced the following recipients of the 2014 spring scholarships:

Class of 1957 Scholarship
Tracy Vincent, Weekend Freshman        
                       
Woman’s Christian Association Scholarship
Lori Anderson, Weekday Senior, and Alexandra Walczak, Weekday Senior
                       
Anna Krukonis Memorial Scholarship
Alisha Soucy, Weekday Freshman                        

Nancy Roman Memorial Scholarship
Amber Dietrich, Weekday Freshman

Marion Weynachter Memorial Scholarship

Casey Cole, Weekday Senior                              Brittany Corey, Weekend Freshman

Theresa Duffy, Weekday Senior                          Rebecca Clark, Weekday Freshman

Amy Bueno, Weekday Freshman                        Carli Rogan, Weekday Freshman

Melinda Boufford, Weekday Freshman              Shelby Schultz, Weekday Freshman

Vyner Memorial Scholarship

Sara Bourgeois, Weekday Senior                        Anna Garrison, Weekday Freshman                                                             

Svetlana Huhko, Weekday Freshman                Cassandra Roberts, Weekday Senior

Diana Clark, Weekend Senior        

The St. Elizabeth College of Nursing faculty and staff congratulate all the scholarship winners.

St. E's Foundation Presents the 6th Annual Prohibition Party at F.X. Matt Brewery

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St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation and F.X. Matt Brewery will hold the 6th Annual Prohibition Party, sponsored by Theresa Flemma, CFP®, vice president of M. Griffith Investment Services, Inc. The event will be held on Friday, April 25 from 6 - 9 p.m. at the historic F.X. Matt Brewing Co.

Tickets cost $45 per person if purchased by April 11 and $50 per person if purchased after April 11. Admission includes Saranac beverages, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, a 1930s costume contest and a silent auction. Local musicians Strung Sideways, Crushing June, Renaissance and Soundbarrier with Rocky Graziano and Mike Peek will perform throughout the Brewery. Only adults 21 and over may participate. Fifty percent of the ticket price is a tax-deductible contribution to the Foundation. Proceeds from this year’s event will support the upgrade of patient and employee security, as well as update patient care rooms at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

A limited number of tickets are available and the Foundation anticipates selling out early for the event. Purchase Prohibition Party tickets online or for more information, call (315) 734-4287, or e-mail bfilletti@stemc.org.


Mohawk Valley Health System Board Announces Officers

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Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has announced the officers for its Board of Directors. They consist of: the Hon. Norman Siegel, chairman; Gregory McLean, vice chairman; Gregory Evans, secretary; and Joan Compson, treasurer. Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) and St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) officially announced their affiliation as the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) on Thursday, March 6, 2014.

Other members of the MVHS Board of Directors include: Domenic Aiello, MD; Barbara Brodock; Catherine Cominsky; Maria Gesualdo, DO; Todd Hutton, PhD; Andrew Kowalczyk III, Esq.; Scott H. Perra, president/CEO; John Sperling, MD, medical staff president (FSLH); Stephen Sweet; Richard Tantillo; Symeon Tsoupelis; Mark Warfel, DO, medical staff president (SEMC); Bonnie Woods; Eric Yoss, MD; and Richard Zweifel.

“I am extremely pleased that we have assembled a group of such dedicated individuals to lead the Utica hospitals,” said the Honorable Norman Siegel, former chairman of the Board for SEMC and chairman of the Board for the new MVHS. “I have confidence that each member of this team will use his or her talents to contribute to our success.”

Mohawk Valley Health System is the parent organization. Its Board of Directors is comprised of 18 members, with equal members from the FSLH Board and the SEMC Board. Scott H. Perra, FACHE, is president/CEO of MVHS and oversees the system’s management team.

“This is an important time of change in our community as the healthcare industry continues to evolve,” stated Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS. “I appreciate the Board’s energy and commitment as we plan for the years ahead.”

The two organizations employ more than 4,200 (FTE) employees and have a combined operating budget of $537 million.

Hon. Norman Siegel

Hon. Norman Siegel

  

St. Elizabeth Physician Brings Healthcare to Syrian Refugees

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Dr. Naseem Paruk

Dr. Naseem Paruk, a third-year resident in the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency Program, considers himself to be a citizen of the world. “People are the same, no matter where you go,” he said in an interview in early March. “They have different food, different cultures and different ways of doing things, but everyone is the same at heart.” This attitude, born of a lifetime traveling the globe, was reinforced by his recent trip to Jordan as part of a medical mission team in aid of Syrian refugees.

Dr. Paruk traveled with a team of doctors from an array of specialties on a medical-humanitarian mission sponsored by Salaam Cultural Museum (SCM), a non-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington. The doctors from the US worked with a group of physicians from Jordan and Syria to bring healthcare services to displaced people—mostly women and children—living in refugee camps throughout Jordan. Over the course of a week, the team treated approximately 1,700 people in state-sponsored camps in urban areas and in settlements established independently on empty stretches of farmland.

Dr. Paruk and his colleagues saw patients with many different ailments, from viral upper respiratory infections, fungal infections, urinary tract infections and pinworms to chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and depression. People suffering from severe wounds and other trauma were cared for by a separate team of surgeons. Providing medical care to the residents in the refugee camps reminded Dr. Paruk how important his work can be. The medical mission team was able to address general healthcare concerns, but many patients had more complex conditions that hadn’t been treated since they left their home country. “They came with very specific [health management issues] that their own doctors dealt with before and we tried to bridge that gap, but it wasn’t the same,” Dr. Paruk said. “They really missed the continuity of care that they had with their primary care doctors.”

In addition to health problems, many people were lacking basic necessities. Most people had fled their homes with only a few belongings and the clothes on their backs. In the November and December snow, many people were without warm clothing, coats or proper footwear. “It was cold outside. They didn’t have socks, some of them were just wearing sandals,” Dr. Paruk said. At times, the problems faced by the Syrian refugees felt overwhelming. “I don’t have a magic wand; I can’t just solve everybody’s problems at once. That’s something I have to live with,” Dr. Paruk said. “My role there was very limited. It’s something, but it’s a drop in a big, big ocean…it’s just something to show them that not everyone has forgotten them.”

Even in such a difficult place, enduring unimaginable circumstances, the people in the refugee camps were determined to carry on with their lives. The children’s eyes were full of hope and the adults worked in whatever ways they could to provide for their families, never losing their pride and dignity. In the urban refugee camps, children went to schools sponsored by the Jordanian Women’s Union and women had the opportunity to learn skills that they could use to earn money for their families. During their visit, some members of the team snapped Polaroids of the children in the camps, giving them the first glimpse that they had seen of their own faces in weeks or even months. “It was something that brought instant smiles to their faces,” Dr. Paruk grinned as he remembered.

Dr. Paruk wanted to participate in SCM’s medical mission because he has seen, first-hand, the value that doctors can provide to low-resource populations. “The faculty and staff here at St. E’s have done an incredible job of preparing us, mentoring us, giving us guidance on how to treat people,” he said, “everything I learned here, I took it there.” As part of his training at SEMC, he has worked with people from many different cultural backgrounds at the Sister Rose Vincent Family Medicine Center. He would like to continue traveling to under served areas, providing care there, and sharing his experiences with others as he proceeds with his career. “If we want humanity to progress,” he said, “we all need to put in a little effort.”

Dr. Naseem Paruk
Photos by Rihab Allaf

Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

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Join theMohawk Valley Heart Institutefor their next Community Education Seminar where Thomas C. Mathew, MD, FACC, FSCAI, will discuss new developments in cardiac care relative to stroke prevention for patients with Atrial Fibrillation. This is a FREE Community Question and Answer seminar with one of the area's leading Interventional Cardiologist.

When: Wednesday, April 9 • 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Location: Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Community Room at the St. Luke’s campus, 1650 Champlin Ave., Utica. (Directions)

Refreshments will be served.
For more information or to register, call 315-734-3329 or 1-866-505-MVHI.

Mental Health Awareness Fair

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The Mohawk Valley Health System will host a Mental Health Awareness Fair at St. Elizabeth Medical Center’s Sister Johanna and Sister Rose Vincent Conference Rooms on April 9, 2014 from 2 to 7 p.m.

Depression, anxiety and other mental health issues have historically been common problems in Central New York. At the Mental Health Awareness Fair, employees and members of the public will have opportunities to speak with mental health professionals and receive information and literature regarding support for people experiencing mental health and substance issues in the Mohawk Valley.

Please join MVHS and SEMC for light refreshments and information about the various mental health and substance abuse support services available to our community.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Pledges Grant For Cardiac Care Equipment

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Excellus BlueCross BlueShield today pledged a $120,000 grant to the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute to purchase and distribute lifesaving cardiac care equipment for municipal and volunteer ambulance companies. The equipment will help speed the diagnosis and treatment of individuals experiencing heart attack symptoms. 

The funding from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield will place 37, 12-lead electrocardiogram modems and software in ambulances across Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties. The 12-lead ECG modems will allow first responders to transmit vital diagnostic information directly from individuals who have an acute myocardial infarction or heart attack symptoms to hospital emergency departments. The advance data sent via a 12-lead ECG can speed triage and treatment once the patient arrives at the hospital, lowering a patient’s risk of death and serious damage to the heart muscle. 

“Providing access to high-quality health care for people who need it is core to our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” said Eve Van de Wal, regional president of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “We’re pleased to partner with the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute to expand the availability of lifesaving diagnostic technology to our neighbors in the community.”

According to the American Heart Association, each year about 250,000 Americans suffer the most serious type of heart attack — myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation — caused by obstructed blood flow to the heart due to a blocked artery. Having portable ECG modems in ambulances lets first responders wirelessly transmit results ahead to the hospital, giving the hospital time to mobilize a cardiac care team well before the patient arrives.

“With 16 years of experience, Mohawk Valley Heart Institute (MVHI) is an early example of collaboration between Utica hospitals, St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare,” said Albert D’Accurzio, MD, senior vice president/chief medical officer and chief quality officer for Mohawk Valley Health System. “Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s grant will allow our Emergency Departments to work with local Emergency Medical Services to get patients the quickest and most effective treatment possible. This equipment will help us advance patient care and save lives.”

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield funds will underwrite the purchase of Physio-Control Life Pak modems and base software.  The emergency department and cardiac catheterizationn labs at St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare will be equipped to receive 12-lead ECG transmissions through the Physio-Control system.  The grant will also allow up to 37 ambulances in Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties to use the mobile technology. 

“The Midstate Emergency Medical Services Council strives to provide its community with excellent patient care and safe, efficient transport of the sick and injured,” said Vinny Faraone, EMS clinical coordinator, Midstate 

Emergency Medical Services Council.  “I thank Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute and neighboring hospitals for supporting this initiative. When every second counts, having portable electrocardiogram equipment more widely available in local ambulances will save time, which will translate to saved lives.”

Funding for the 12-lead ECG modems comes from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Community and Member Health Improvement program. This program provides grants to initiatives that involve numerous community partners, span multiple years, and include specific objectives and measurable outcomes in improving health. Preference is given to efforts that focus on the areas of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, medication compliance and/or patient safety.

Pictured from left to right: Dr. Frank Dubeck, Excellus BCBS, Tom Norton, Director Cardiac Services, St. Elizabeth Medical Center/MVHI, Eve Van de Wal, Regional President, Excellus BCBS, Vinny Faraone, EMS Clinical Coordinator, Midstate EMS Council, Scott Perra, President & CEO, Mohawk Valley Health System

Mohawk Valley Health System Names Senior Leadership Team

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For more than two years the Boards of Directors of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) and St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) have been working to affiliate the two hospitals into one system, the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). The affiliation was finalized on Thursday, March 6, 2014. The new system is governed by a single Board of Directors and managed by a centralized senior leadership team.

The new senior leadership team of MVHS is comprised of leaders from both organizations:

President, CEO - Scott H. Perra, FACHE
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer - Louis Aiello
Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer – SEMC - Albert D’Accurzio, MDSenior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer - Patricia Roach, MS, RN, NEA-BC
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Post Acute & Support Services - Anthony Scibelli, MS, MBA
Senior Vice President, Operations - Robert C. Scholefield, RN, MS
Vice President, Chief Medical Officer – FSLH - Michael F. Trevisani, MD, MBAVice President, Communications and Development - Debra Altdoerffer
Vice President, Legal Counsel and Compliance - Thomas Soja, Esq.
Vice President, Performance Excellence - Roger McReynolds

Two other positions are currently vacant: Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Director of Mission Services.

 

SEMC FOUNDATION RECEIVES CHALLENGE GRANT FOR MAMMOGRAPHY SOFTWARE

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The St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) Foundation has received a challenge grant in the amount of $15,000 from an anonymous donor “in memory of a remarkable man”, to assist SEMC in purchasing software technology for its digital mammography equipment at the Sister Rose Vincent Family Medicine Center and the St. Elizabeth Medical Arts location in New Hartford.

“Our organization conducts approximately 4,800 mammography screenings annually,” noted Andrea LaGatta, director of Development for SEMC. “This software will help us to eliminate the need for unnecessary, and sometimes invasive, follow-up screenings. Thanks to our very generous donors, this challenge grant puts us more than half way to our goal of $56,000, which is the total cost of the upgrade.”

Donors who helped achieve the challenge grant include: First Source Federal Credit Union, the Hon. and Mrs. Barry Donalty, Skenandoah Golf Tournament, Maurice L. Oehlsen, MD and Linda Schicker, MD.

The new software is a clinical tool that assists clinicians in measuring breast density by drawing attention to suspicious areas in mammograms that require further review. Breast density is known to be a significant predictor of breast cancer risk, with studies reporting up to a six-fold increase in the risk of developing cancer in women with very dense breasts. The software addresses patient safety and is an integral part of the digital mammography experience, assisting physicians in the detection of cancer in its earliest, and most easily treatable, stage.


St. Elizabeth Medical Center Honors Volunteers

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Pictured left to right are: St. Elizabeth Volunteer Director Grace DeFazio Bouse, Helen Kennerknecht, Patricia Fletcher and President/CEO Scott H. Perra.

St. Elizabeth Medical Center has named Patricia Fletcher of Washington Mills Volunteer of the Year. Helen Kennerknecht of New Hartford received the St. Elizabeth Guild’s Eleanor Nelson Award, named for an active, former Guild member who passed away many years ago.

The two top volunteers were announced at the Medical Center’s annual Volunteer Breakfast on Friday, April 11, where special recognition pins were awarded to 47 people who have each logged from 100 to 46,000 hours of volunteer service. Barb Tocco, Day Habilitation Director, Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter on Arnold Ave., was the guest speaker. The event’s theme was "Volunteers Make a World of Difference.”

“The Medical Center volunteers provide us with a great example of what people do to help their neighbors and this organization,” said Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO. “Those who give of their time and talents perform many tasks that we may not otherwise be able to provide. With the many challenges in healthcare today, St. Elizabeth’s volunteers are invaluable.”

Patricia Fletcher has been a volunteer for 19 years and has performed over 3,700 hours of service to the Medical Center. She currently volunteers in the Quality Management Department, where she maintains credentialing files and initiates files for new staff members and physicians.

She is also a member of SEMC’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, the Professional Advisory Committee for St. Elizabeth Home Care and has served on the SEMC Foundation’s Lights of Love remembrance service and candle-lighting planning committees.

“In addition to her time at St. Elizabeth, Mrs. Fletcher also volunteers with Hospice and Abraham House,” said Grace Bouse, director of volunteers. “She was previously an employee of the Medical Center for over 35 years, and served as Director of Nursing.” She has four grown children, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Helen Kennerknecht has volunteered at SEMC for more than 23 years, accumulating over 7,346 hours of service. “She has been active in the Guild Bargain Shop, the Fashion Show, the Pillow Ladies group, Volunteer Office, Country Store and Christmas bazaar,” noted Mrs. Bouse. “She also made seven doll houses and dressed many dolls for various Guild fund-raising events.”

Miss Kennerknecht was a licensed practical nurse at the former Utica State Hospital for 35 years, is a member of St. John the Evangelist Church and a recipient of the Mother Lavender Award. She is a violinist who played with the Utica Symphony Orchestra, the Yesterday Senior Ensemble and is a member of the Utica Chamber Orchestra.

100 Hour Pin
Axel, Peggy
Bedell, Brandon
Carlson, Amy
Ciccolella, Thomas
Ferrara, Laurie
Hubbard, Debra
Khan, Alina
Mahar, Marie
Miller, Melanie
Russell, Carol
Williams, Katelyn
Wolfanger, Daniel
Zbytniewski, Rita
Zumpano, Barbara
300
Arc of Oneida-Lewis Chapter,
Kirkland Day Habilitation

Kakuturi, Vishnu
Kirkpatrick, Ann
Madore, Anna
Meyer, Eve Marie
Peeling, Jessica
Randazzo, Catherine
Scates, Angel
Wilczek, Donna
500
Byrd, Mary
Foresti, Mary Joan
George, Lani
Goddard, James
Hammond, Diane
Pettinato, Anthony
Saint-Amour, Jean
Slocum, Karen
Smith, Sharon
Vermeulen, Sandra
1500
Harrington, Helen
Norbin, Lila
3000
Carroll, Joan
Kurtyka, Linda
Wroblewski, Doris
4000
Hauck, Barbara
Nunziata, Carole
Rice, Shirley
4500
Schug, Norma
5000
Napoli, Mary
6000
Gaffney, Emily
Gigliotti, Genevieve
46,000
Arc of Oneida-Lewis Chapter,
Arnold Ave Day Habilitation
  

St. Elizabeth College of Nursing Holds Safety Drill

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St. Elizabeth College of Nursing, in conjunction with the Utica Police Department (UPD), conducted an “Active Shooter Drill” for its College staff and students on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at the College campus.  The drill is part of the College’s Campus Safety and Security program and is designed to provide students, faculty and staff with a scenario that mimics an actual situation involving an active shooter on campus. 

College President Marian Kovatchitch has taken a proactive stance in keeping the College community on alert.  “Today we practiced for a situation that we all hope will never occur,” she said. “We are grateful for the excellent assistance we received from key personnel at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, as well as the UPD.”

WRVO To Hold Forum On Mental Health At St. Elizabeth Medical Center

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WRVO Public Media will hold a community health forum at St. Elizabeth Medical Center on Tuesday, April 22 at 3 p.m. in the Sister Johanna and Sister Rose Vincent Conference Rooms. This panel discussion is free and open to the public. It will last approximately one hour and will be followed by audience questions.

The forum’s subject is "The Changing Nature of Mental Health Care Delivery in New York State" and will focus on the mental health system in upstate New York. The forum’s three panelists are Shawn Johnston, licensed master social worker, St. Elizabeth Medical Center; Linda Nelson, Central New York field office director, New York State Office of Mental Health; and Matthew Shapiro, development and event coordinator for the National Alliance On Mental Illness New York State.

The panel will be moderated by Catherine Loper, WRVO director of news and public affairs.

On the state level, reorganization and cutback proposals seem to impact psychiatric health centers and the communities they are located in year after year. On the federal level, the Affordable Care Act is changing all aspects of healthcare – including mental health. This panel of regional experts will explore the needs and future of mental healthcare in the region – and how government funding and changing social, demographic and economic are changing both.

This is one of a series of health forums WRVO is holding on public health issues throughout its listening region. The forum will be broadcast on WRVO at a later date. Support for the forum comes from the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York.

Lincoln Test Drive Event to Benefit St. E's Foundation

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St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) and Steet Ponte Lincoln will present a “Drive 4 UR Community” event on Monday, May 5 from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Held at SEMC’s Parking Lot B in front of the hospital, 2209 Genesee St., Utica, the event involves people test driving a Lincoln MKS, MKX, MKZ or Navigator to help raise funds for software upgrades to digital mammography equipment.  

For every driver (up to 300) who test drives a car, Steet Ponte Lincoln will donate $20 to the SEMC Foundation and for each driver (up to 100) who takes a second test drive in a Lincoln MKX, the company will donate another $20. The Foundation could raise up to $8,000 with this event.

This is a fundraising event, not a sales event and is open to the public.  All participants will be entered into a drawing for various prizes.
For more information, please call 734-4440 or e-mail alagatta@stemc.org.

St. Elizabeth College of Nursing Graduates 51 New Nurses

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UTICA -- The St. Elizabeth College of Nursing graduated 51 new nurses on Saturday, May 17, 2014.  Of the 51 graduates, 41 attended Weekday classes and 10 attended the Weekend Program.The 108th graduation was held at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Utica, following a procession across Genesee Street from the College.   

The Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing was presented to Weekday and Weekend graduates by Mrs. Marian Kovatchitch, President of the College, and Mrs. Elaine F. Brown, Dean of Academic Affairs. Weekday classes are held Monday through Friday and the Evening/Weekend Program, which meets weekends and on Wednesday evenings, allows employed individuals the ability to attend the College on a part-time basis.

The St. Elizabeth College of Nursing pin was presented by Mrs. Beverly Plante, MS, RN, CNE, and Ms. Stephanie Bouck, MS, RN, class advisors.

Mr. Scott Perra, FACHE, President/CEO of Mohawk Valley Health System, welcomed the graduates, faculty, staff and participants.  The commencement address was given by Barbara Zittel, PhD, RN, International Nursing Consultant, and Retired Executive Secretary to the State Board for Nursing, New York State Education Department.

The College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., and registered by the New York State Education Department.

Graduates by hometown are:

Booneville
Sara Bourgeois
Mark Porter
Kaitlyn Traxel

Clay
Kathleen Cichy

Cleveland
Diana Clark

Clinton
Heather Duncan
Tayler Madden

Fort Plain
Allana Richards

Frankfort
Lindsey Dolin

Herkimer
Theresa Duffy

Ilion
Kayleigh Coupe

Lacona
Samantha Keesey

Lee Center
Shawn Swancott

Little Falls
Lori Anderson
Christine Fox
Susan Parker
Michelle Phillips

Marcy
Michael Babula
Kelsie Burns

Munnsville
Rebecca Frost
Holly Sellers

New Hartford
Daniel Freedman
Julie Graeff

Oneida
Jennifer Winchell

Oriskany
Rachel Briggs

Poland
Melissa Morrow

Remsen
Deanna Gleasman
Stacey Harris
Cassandra Roberts

Rome
Casey Cole
Kaitlyn DuPont
Taylor Holst
Michael Hosley
Christina Johnston
Jennifer Mazzaferro
Chanelle Pelton

Stratford
Rachel Olsby

Utica
Taylor Fitzgerald
Jaime Fonner
Delaney Hughes
David King
Alexandra Kolupa
Rachel Marlowe
Asmira Pehlic
Durga Regmi
Connie Ryan

Watertown
Lacey Shambo

West Winfield
Lacie Livingston

Whitesboro
Jennifer Le Guelaff
Kimberly Sadlon

Yorkville
Alexandra Walczak

 

Booneville 
Sara Bourgeois
Mark Porter
Kaitlyn Traxel
Clay
Kathleen Cichy
Cleveland
Diana Clark
Clinton
Heather Duncan
Tayler Madden
Fort Plain
Allana Richards
Frankfort
Lindsey Dolin
Herkimer
Theresa Duffy
Ilion
Kayleigh Coupe
Lacona
Samantha Keesey
Lee Center
Shawn Swancott
Little Falls
Lori Anderson
Christine Fox
Susan Parker
Michelle Phillips
Marcy
Michael Babula
Kelsie Burns
Munnsville
Rebecca Frost
Holly Sellers
New Hartford
Daniel Freedman
Julie Graeff
Oneida
Jennifer Winchell-More –
Oriskany 
Rachel Briggs
 
Poland
Melissa Morrow
Remsen
Deanna Gleasman
Stacey Harris
Cassandra Roberts
Rome
Casey Cole
Kaitlyn DuPont
Taylor Holst
Michael Hosley
Christina Johnston
Jennifer Mazzaferro
Chanelle Pelton
Stratford
Rachel Olsby
Utica
Taylor Fitzgerald
Jaime Fonner
Delaney Hughes
David King
Alexandra Kolupa
Rachel Marlowe
Asmira Pehlic
Durga Regmi
Connie Ryan
Watertown
Lacey Shambo
West Winfield
Lacie Livingston
Whitesboro
Jennifer Le Guelaff
Kimberly Sadlon
Yorkville
Alexandra Walczak
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