Contact:

Karen Huxtable

Manager, Public and Media Relations
(607) 547-4581

karen.huxtable@bassett.org

Cooperstown, NY - June 30, 2008 - Bassett Healthcare and Albany Medical College have announced a partnership that will establish a regional clinical campus for third year medical students at Bassett's Cooperstown campus. Six students will begin next month and stay through July 2009. By expanding its medical education program, Bassett is also helping to address the physician shortage, which is particularly acute in rural regions. The American Association of Medical Colleges has called for a 30 percent increase in the number of medical students over the next decade and for the creation of new clinical campuses like the one Bassett is establishing in Cooperstown. It will be the second clinical campus in New York state and one of 45 nationwide.

"This is an exciting time for Bassett and a new chapter in the academic mission established here more than 80 years ago when the hospital was founded," said President and CEO Dr. William F. Streck. "We now have the opportunity to shape a new population of physicians by exposing medical students to the unique aspects of practicing within a real world, effective health delivery system in a rural area." Streck explained that, "Because of its position as the largest and most comprehensive provider for thousands of patients living in a 5,000 square mile region, it's not unusual for Bassett physicians to care for patients over their entire lifetime. What a great opportunity for medical students to experience the care of these individuals in the context of their families and communities."

Contact

Scott Orstad

Manager, Corporate Communications                                                              

(203) 276-5933

sorstad@stamhealth.org

Stamford, CT - June 30, 2008 - On the heels of opening the area's first CyberKnife radiosurgery center, Stamford Hospital is extending its investment in robotic technology and minimally invasive techniques with the acquisition of the da Vinci Surgical System.

The da Vinci Surgical System is a sophisticated robotic platform that puts a surgeon's hands at the controls of state-of-the-art robotic technology, enabling surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions and with unmatched precision.

New York, NY - June 30, 2008 - On two successive Fridays at the end of the semester recently, every third-year student at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM) took part in the newly-instituted Capstone Assessment Program, spending nearly 20 minutes apiece in examination rooms at Foot Clinics of New York with each of two different standardized patients - actors trained to simulate particular disease states and to perform as a patient would during an exam.  Each student took his or her patient's history, performed a physical examination, and reached a diagnosis of the complaint when possible.

The focus of the Capstone Assessment Program is on the process of interviewing and performing a physical exam, rather than on treatment.  NYCPM faculty members Thomas M. DeLauro, DPM, Professor and Chair, Department of Podiatric Medicine, and Kevin T. Jules, DPM, Professor and Chair, Department of Surgical Sciences, each developed one of the two cases, and drew up a checklist of the minimum competent things students were expected to ask their patients about during the course of each of the two exams.  Each standardized patient would then note and report back to the faculty examiners which and how many of these key things the student touched upon during the encounter. 

Contact:

Leanna Mauro
Publications Specialist
(516) 663-2234
lmauro@winthrop.org

Mineola, NY - June 27, 2008 - Valerie T. Terzano, MS, RN, CNA, Vice President, Nursing, and Chief Nursing Officer at Winthrop-University Hospital, has been named Nursing Spectrum magazine's 2008 Nurse of Excellence in Advancing and Leading the Profession for the New York/New Jersey region. This highly esteemed recognition was bestowed to Ms. Terzano at the magazine's Nurse of Excellence Gala on June 5, 2008 in Teaneck, New Jersey.

         Contact:

Scott Orstad

Manager, Corporate Communications

(203) 276-5933

sorstad@stamhealth.org

Contact:

Anthony Ercolano

Special Projects

(212) 801-1702

anthony.ercolano@downtownhospital.org

New York, NY - June 26, 2008

In Brief

·         Downtown Hospital received $5 million from the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. to obtain an MRI and to create a Wellness Center.  Both will enhance the quality of healthcare services the Hospital provides for the people of Lower Manhattan. 

·         The NYS Department of Health certified the Hospital as a Stroke Center.

·         The Acute Care for Elders Unit (ACE) was initiated at Downtown Hospital to limit the functional and mental decline that often accompanies the hospitalization of the frail elderly. 

·         The Hospital opened the Vein Center and the Wound Care Center to apply new technologies in vascular and wound therapy. 

·         Medical Diagnostics acquired a state-of-the-art GE Infinia™ imaging system that will enable high resolution imaging to provide both anatomical and physiological information during a single exam.   

·         The Hospital received the HealthGrades® 2007 and 2008 Surgical Care Excellence and Maternity Care Excellence Awards. 

·         Finally, Downtown Hospital continues to develop clinical programs that will bring the talent of the NewYork-Presbyterian Health Care System to our community.

Contact:

Sara Bodnar

Public Affairs
(718) 780-5367

ssb9004@nyp.org

Brooklyn, NY - June 25, 2008 - New York Methodist Hospital recently began offering a complete range of treatments for atrial fibrillation, including a procedure called ablation. Doctors performing an ablation who are specialists in the cardiology subspecialty known as electrophysiology, use an advanced mapping system to locate the source of the patient's heart arrhythmia, and then eliminate this source with techniques that may involve applying radiofrequency energy.

"Electrophysiologists at New York Methodist Hospital are able to provide the highest quality treatment to patients who are diagnosed with this prevalent heart arrhythmia," said David Benson, M.D., associate director of the electrophysiology lab at New York Methodist Hospital.  

Contact:    

Anthony Ercolano

Special Projects

(212) 801-1702

anthony.ercolano@downtownhospital.org

Kathleen O'Keefe

Director, Public Affairs and Marketing

(212) 312-5600

o'keefe@downtownhospital.org

New York, NY - June 17, 2008 - New York Downtown Hospital is pleased to announce that American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has contributed a new $1.4M, 64-slice CT scanner for the Hospital's Radiology Suite.  In recognition of this gift, Downtown Hospital's Radiology Suite was named in honor of AIG at a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on June 17, 2008, at 12:30 p.m. 

For more than a decade, AIG has shared Downtown Hospital's commitment to provide effective emergency planning and care for the Downtown community.   AIG, world leaders in insurance and financial services, is the leading international insurance organization with operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. AIG companies serve commercial, institutional and individual customers through the most extensive worldwide property-casualty and life insurance networks of any insurer. In addition, AIG companies are leading providers of retirement services, financial services and asset management around the world.

Contact:

Susan Spiegel

Director, Development and Public Affairs

Rogosin Institute

(212) 746-1552

spiegs@mail.rockefeller.edu

New York, NY - June 1, 2008

The Rogosin Institute's Transplantation Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell began the areas first three-way living-donor kidney transplant chains in February 2008 followed by a double donor exchange kidney transplant in May 2008.  

More than 70 centers refer patients to The Rogosin Institute's Transplantation Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.  The transplant outreach program is expanding to other areas and centers.

The Rogosin Institute's Transplantation Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell celebrated it's 3,000^th kidney transplant in 2007.

The Rogosin Kidney Center is one of the largest not-for-profit dialysis centers.  Rogosin's three dialysis centers perform 100,000 dialyses/year and provide care for more than 700 patients.

The Rogosin Kidney Center is proud to be a major contributor to the #2 ranking nationwide of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital  in kidney disease by U.S. News &World Report.

Contact:

Nancy Gold

The Gold Standard

(914) 232-6583

 marketing@thegoldstandard.com

Mary Sernatinger

Marketing/Communications

Phelps Hospital

(914) 366-3109

msernatinger@pmhc.us

Contact:

Nancy Gold

The Gold Standard

(914) 232-6583

marketing@thegoldstandard.com

Mary Sernatinger

Sleepy Hollow, NY - June 16, 2008 - An innovative spinal reconstruction surgery recently approved by the FDA was performed earlier this year at Phelps Memorial Hospital on a Westchester woman during an emergency procedure. The procedure, which involved the implantation of an artificial cervical disc in the woman's neck, is the latest development in spinal reconstruction for the treatment of degenerative disc disease. It is an option for patients wishing to avoid spinal fusion surgery, which can diminish range of motion and may lead to subsequent surgeries.

In this case, the patient, who is in her 40s, had undergone a classical disc removal and spinal fusion surgery in 2004, which alleviated her condition for a few years. However, as sometimes happens with this type of surgery, the discs adjacent to the fused segment broke down. The woman's spinal cord had become so severely compressed by the herniated discs that at the time of surgery she was in severe pain and had lost nerve function in the arm and leg on one side of her body. Following the surgery, she immediately regained motion of her neck and use of her arm and leg, and returned home in just three days.  

Contact:

Linda Wiseman

Director, Marketing

(860) 350-7360

wisemanl@newmilfhosp.org

Derby, CT - June 16, 2008 - Planetree, a nonprofit membership organization known for its pioneering work with hospitals and health centers to develop and implement patient-centered care in healing environments, has named New Milford Hospital as its newest affiliate.  Founded in 1921, the 85-bed Litchfield County community hospital has begun a multi-year process to build on its longstanding reputation for both high quality and exceptionally compassionate patient care by incorporating into its facilities and programs the Planetree focus on healing and nurturing body, mind and spirit, according to Joseph P. Frolkis, MD, PhD, President and CEO, New Milford Hospital.  "We have found a model of care that complements what we already do well, but that will allow us to further elevate the highly personalized care that we offer to all our patients. As we implement Planetree, we want to create an environment that emphasizes not only healing and recovery, but continued wellness through a focus on disease prevention for both the patient and his or her caregivers," Dr. Frolkis said.

Susan Frampton, President of Planetree, said, "We seek organizations that combine quality care and a personalized approach, which are critical elements for successful Planetree organizations, and are therefore delighted to welcome New Milford Hospital to the Planetree family.  As a global catalyst and leader, Planetree promotes the development and implementation of innovative models of health care that focus on personalizing, humanizing and demystifying the healthcare experience for patients and their families. We are looking forward to assisting New Milford Hospital with plans that will strengthen its unique brand of health care that emphasizes comfort, kindness and personal attention, and its desire to better involve both patient and family in the provision of high-quality services."

Contact:

Maureen Curran Kleinman

Marketing and Communications

(201) 291-6310

mcurran@valleyhealth.com

Ridgewood, NJ - June 16, 2008 - Ridgewood resident David F. Bolger (photo at right), business leader and well-known community philanthropist, has pledged an historic charitable contribution to The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ.  The gift of $30 million, to assist Valley with the evolution of its main campus, is thought to be the largest single donation to a hospital in New Jersey.

"I made this gift to Valley because I want my giving to do the most good for the most people in our community.  By making this gift, I hope to make a difference by enhancing the quality of life for all our citizens, regardless of race, religion, gender or social standing," commented Mr. Bolger. 

Contact:

Wendy L. Goldstein

Director, Public Affairs

(516) 663-2234

wgoldstein@winthrop.org

Mineola, NY - June 13, 2008 - Winthrop-University Hospital is pleased to announce the election of three local business and community leaders to its Board of Directors. Salvatore Ferro, President and CEO of Alure Home Improvements, Inc.; Daniel L. Murphy, Chairman and CEO of Madison National Bank; and Shepard T. Poole, Senior Vice President of The Hallen Construction Co., Inc., join a devoted corps of community leaders who play an instrumental role in the ongoing growth and development of the Hospital's high quality, comprehensive healthcare services.

Salvatore Ferro

Salvatore Ferro, President and CEO of Alure Home Improvements, Inc., is one of the most highly respected leaders in the home improvement industry, and Alure Home Improvements is one of the most successful full-service home remodeling companies in the country. Mr. Ferro and Alure Home Improvements' remarkable reputation enabled them to participate in the hit ABC television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," through which they recently completed their seventh home makeover in New York.

Contact:

Eurice Rojas

Marketing

(212) 854-5010

erojas@palisadesmedical.org

North Bergen, NJ - June 12, 2008 - The Board of Governors of Palisades Medical Center announced today that the hospital has entered into a clinical affiliation agreement with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and the New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) to provide medical students with clinical instruction and rotations.

"We are very excited about our new partnership with UMDNJ and the NJMS," said Bruce J. Markowitz, President and CEO of Palisades Medical Center. "We believe that this will be long and rewarding partnership that will effectively support our efforts in continuing to provide world class health care to our communities."

Contact:

Eurice Rojas

Marketing

(212) 854-5010

erojas@palisadesmedical.org

North Bergen, NJ - June 12, 2008 - Good sleep is important for good health. But according to the National Sleep Foundation, 65% of Americans report that they do not get the six-to-eight hours of daily sleep that they need. In light of this startling statistic, Palisades Medical Center is proud of the achievements of its Sleep-Wake Center--the only center in Hudson County to be accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

As the leading voice in the field of sleep medicine, the AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in health care, education and research. Led by Gregory G. Magee, MD, the Sleep-Wake Center at Palisades' team of physicians and technologists work hard to diagnose and treat sleep disorders in adults and children so that they can enjoy better health and return to the activities that are most important to them.

Contact:

Eurice Rojas

Marketing

(212) 854-5010

erojas@palisadesmedical.org

North Bergen, NJ - June 12, 2008 - Palisades Medical Center has expanded its Pediatric Rehabilitation Program to support the special needs of children with disabilities and developmental delays, including children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Torticollis, and Genetic disorders.

The Pediatric Rehabilitation Program at Palisades provides a full range of services for children of all abilities, including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Audiology services. "Our Pediatric Rehabilitation Program fills a critical need in our community because there are very limited services in Hudson County for children with special needs and especially for the autistic child," said Ingrid Pais, PT, Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Palisades Medical Center. "Until now, many parents had to travel to programs several miles away to find developmental care for children with specific needs."

Contact:

Sara Bodnar

Public Affairs

(718) 780-5367

ssb9004@nyp.org

Brooklyn, NY - June 11, 2008 - New York Methodist Hospital recently recruited Ivan Grunberger, M.D., F.A.C.S., to become the Hospital's new chief of urology. Dr. Grunberger treats diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract in men and women, and the reproductive system of men. Dr. Grunberger's current research--which covers erectile dysfunction in men, urinary stress incontinence in women, complicated lower urinary tract infections, and treatments for both prostate and kidney cancer--reflects the breadth of his medical expertise.  

Contact: 

Brooklyn, NY - June 10, 2008 - To provide an exceptional level of care for patients who are coping with hand, wrist and arm injuries, New York

Methodist Hospital recently expanded its hand surgery services and hired two new specialists. "We are very pleased to welcome two new board certified orthopedic surgeons who are fellowship trained in hand and upper extremity surgery," said Anthony Tortolani, M.D., chairman of surgery at NYM. "This recent staff expansion enables the Hospital to provide immediate and specialized care for a vast array of hand-related issues." The hand surgery service at NYM includes (from left in photo) Joshua B. Hyman, M.D., plastic and reconstructive surgeon; Salil Gupta, M.D., co-chief of the division of hand surgery; Pamela Levine, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at NYM; and George P. Smith, M.D., co-chief of the division of hand surgery.

All of the hand and upper extremity surgeons at NYM treat emergency cases, which ensures that patients receive urgent care when they need it. "Fingers can quickly grow stiff if an injury isn't treated right away," said Dr. Levine. "With early intervention, the hand surgeons at NYM can prevent scarring and loss of joint movement."

Contact:

Karen Huxtable

Media and Public Relations

(607) 547-4581

karen.huxtable@bassett.org

Diane L. Wells

Public Relations

(607) 547-6354

diane.wells@bassett.org

Cooperstown, NY - June 9, 2008 - Bassett Healthcare's Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services, Connie Jastremski, R.N. (photo above), was recently recognized for her work as an industry leader in the field of shock trauma nursing, and as having been one of the first faculty for the master's degree program in trauma nursing at the University of Maryland. Jastremski was honored at a ceremony in Baltimore by the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

First as faculty, then as the clinical director of nursing for seven years, Jastremski had a front-row view of trauma injuries and cared for the most critically injured patients brought in as the result of automobile crashes, gunshots, burns, etc. The trauma nurse responds, despite minimal information, with decisiveness in assessing, intervening and stabilizing patients who have experienced severe injury. Neurotrauma nursing relates to care of patients with injuries of the brain or spine.

Cooperstown, NY - June 4, 2008 - Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Bertine C. McKenna, Ph.D. and Chief Financial Officer Nicholas J. Nicoletta announced the following three promotions during a recent Bassett Healthcare management meeting.

Sue Andrews has been promoted to Vice President of Finance. Andrews has worked closely with the Board of Trustees, served as an officer of several affiliate hospital boards and has been instrumental for years as a senior finance leader. She joined Bassett in 1980. She will be responsible for the finance operational functions and will continue to work with Chief Financial Officer Nicholas J. Nicoletta. Andrews and her husband Bruce live in Schuyler Lake.

William Stamp has been promoted to Executive Director of Marketing, Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning. Stamp works closely with the senior leaders of Bassett and the Board of Trustees on strategic planning and market issues. He is also responsible for leading the roles of public and community relations. He joined Bassett Healthcare in 1999, and currently lives in Oneonta with his wife Pauline and three daughters.

Contact:

Scott Orstad

Manager, Corporate Communications

(203) 276-5933

sorstad@stamhealth.org

Stamford, CT - June 3, 2008 - Patients with tumors diagnosed as inoperable or too surgically complex to remove have found new hope in The CyberKnife® Center at Stamford Hospital. The hospital now offers the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System, the world's first and only radiosurgery system designed to treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body with sub-millimeter accuracy.  Stamford Hospital is the only provider of this technology in Fairfield and Westchester Counties, and is the most convenient and accessible to patients in New York City.

By delivering radiation beams from virtually unlimited positions, the CyberKnife system can treat tumors anywhere in the body including the brain, spine, lung, liver, pancreas, and prostate. To date, CyberKnife has been used to treat more than 40,000 patients by over 100 institutions globally, including many of the world's most prestigious cancer centers.