Contact:

Maureen Curran Kleinman

Marketing and Communications

(201) 291-6310

mcurran@valleyhealth.com

Ridgewood, NJ – April 26, 2012 – The Valley Hospital is pleased to announce that it has been named a finalist in four categories in the 2012 Healthcare Heroes Awards, presented by business publication NJBIZ.

Valley’s finalists are:

• The Valley Hospital in the category of Hospital of the Year
• The Valley Hospital’s “Green Team” and its environmental efforts in the category of Corporate Achievement
• Neurosurgeon Anthony L. D’Ambrosio, M.D., in the category of Physician of the Year
• Volunteer and Oakland resident Joan Ferrando in the category of Volunteer of the Year

Contact:

Camela Morrissey
718-670-1065

cam9065@nyp.org

Flushing, NY – April 26, 2012 – N ew York Hospital Queens announces the promotion of two long time executives and a restructuring of the Office of The President. The announcement was made today by President and Chief Executive Officer, Stephen S. Mills, FACHE, and the Board of Trustees.

Effective immediately, a new position of Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer has been added to the Office of the President. Stephen Rimar, M.D., MBA (above right) has been promoted to assume this new position from his previous position of Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Rimar will continue to lead the hospital’s clinical enterprise and quality improvement programs.

John Sciortino, FACHE, (above left) continues in the Office of the President and has been promoted from Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He will continue to oversee the operations and administrative structure of the organization.

“These two talented and strong individuals will continue to work together with me and the rest of our senior team and clinical leaders to make sure that the greater community of Queens has access to excellent healthcare – right here in Queens,” said Mills. “The addition of our Chief Medical Officer to the Office of the President sends an important message to the medical community – that NYHQ is firmly focused on supporting physicians and the practice of excellent medicine.”

New York Hospital Queens is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College.

First Large Meta-Analysis to Examine Differences Between Three Types of Curative Prostate Surgeries

Contact:

Richard Pietzak
(212) 821-0560
riz2008@med.cornell.edu  

New York, NY – April 25, 2012 – Outcomes from use of a robot to assist surgeons in removal of a cancerous prostate are at least as good, if not better, than the other two techniques used for a radical prostatectomy -- open or laparoscopic surgery -- according to a large meta analysis led by researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.  

The study, published February 24 online in European Urology, should help resolve some of the controversy regarding use of the robotic option, known as robot assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP), says the study's lead author, Dr. Ashutosh Tewari, director of the Lefrak Center for Robotic Surgery and director of the Prostate Cancer Institute at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

There is a lot of debate about the best way to remove a cancerous prostate gland," says Dr. Tewari, who is also the Ronald P. Lynch Professor of Urologic Oncology and professor of urology and public health at Weill Cornell Medical College. "Since the robotic technology is expensive, the patient benefits often get intertwined with the societal costs. It is clear, however, that robotic surgery is the most popular surgical modality today. This study represents the largest ever systematic review of patient outcomes comparing robotic-assisted, laparoscopic and open radical prostatectomy.

Contact:

Allison Fleming
(718) 670-2374
alf9034@nyp.org

Debra Pagano-Cohen
(718) 670-1586
dec9067@nyp.org

Flushing, NY – April 25, 2012 – Today, over 130 Queens residents packed a free symposium given by medical experts from the Bone and Joint Hospital of Queens at New York Hospital Queens (NYHQ). Problems that affect the hand, back, shoulder, hip and balance were discussed.

During the symposium, a representative from HealthGrades, an independent source of physician information and hospital quality ratings, presented the medical team of the Bone and Joint Hospital of Queens at NYHQ with an Orthopaedic Award of Excellence. HealthGrades rated NYHQ among the top 5% of hospitals in the nation for joint replacement for two years in a row. New York Hospital Queens has also received a Five Star Rating by Healthgrades for:

·         Overall Orthopedic Services for 2 Years in a Row (2011-2012)

·         Joint Replacement for 6 Years in a Row (2007-2012)

·         Spine Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2011-2012)

·         Total Knee Replacement for 6 Years in a Row (2007-2012)

·         Total Hip Replacement for 3 Years in a Row (2010-2012)

·         Back and Neck Surgery (Spinal Fusion) for 2 Years in a Row (2011-2012)

Caption:  On behalf of the Bone and Joint Hospital of Queens at New York Hospital Queens, Jeffrey Rosen, M.D., chairman, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, (center, with award) accepted the Orthopaedic Award of Excellence from Brody Westcot, strategic client manager, HealthGrades, (left of center)

The Bone and Joint Hospital of Queens at NYHQ offers a higher level of orthopaedic care — right here in Queens. For more information about the medical team and available services, visit: http://www.nyhq.org/Orthopaedics_and_Rehabilitation.

New York Hospital Queens is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and affiliated with Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Contact:

Jacqueline Kates
Community Relations Coordinator
( 201) 530-7902
kates@holyname.org

Teaneck, NJ – April 25, 2012 – On Friday, April 20, 2012, GreenFaith, an interfaith environmental coalition, partnered with Holy Name Medical Center to offer a Solar Screening Event at the medical center for Holy Name employees.  Through the GreenFaith - AP Solar 2012 Residential Solar Program, qualified New Jersey Homeowners can receive a no-cost solar installation, and purchase the electricity generated by the installation at a discount to utility prices.  GreenFaith is offering these screening events at faith-based sites statewide.

Jane F. Ellis, Holy Name Medical Center Vice President of Marketing, Public Relations and Community Health, organized the event in collaboration with GreenFaith as part of Holy Name’s observance of Earth Day.  “It’s been a real pleasure to work with Jane and with Holy Name,” said Rev. Fletcher Harper, GreenFaith’s Executive Director.  “The hospital clearly understands the importance of the environment in regard to human health.”

Caption: Joining Holy Name Vice President Jane F. Ellis are Matthew Morra, Joseph Mitchell, Salvatore Trifiro and Bud Wenzler of AP Solar, and Jamaal Reavis, GreenFaith Solar Project Director.

“We were able to screen over 60 homes for potential solar arrays – including those of doctors, nurses, administrators, and other staff,” noted Jamaal Reavis, Director of GreenFaith’s Solar Program.  Each solar array generates thousands of dollars of savings over its lifetime, while preventing the release of greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter air pollution.

For more information about GreenFaith, or to register on-line to have your home evaluated for a solar installation, visit www.greenfaith.org.  

Holy Name Medical Center 

Holy Name Medical Center is a fully accredited, not-for-profit healthcare facility based in Teaneck, New Jersey with off-site locations throughout Bergen County.  Founded and sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in 1925, the comprehensive 361-bed medical center offers leading-edge medical practice and technology administered in an environment rooted in a tradition of compassion and respect for every patient. Holy Name provides high quality health care across a continuum that encompasses education, prevention, early intervention,

Contact:

Maureen Curran Kleinman

Marketing and Communications

(201) 291-6310

mcurran@valleyhealth.com

Ridgewood, NJ – April 20, 2012 - The Saddle River Branch of The Valley Hospital Auxiliary recently hosted a fundraiser at the Salvatore Ferragamo store at The Shops at Riverside that featured Emmy Award-winning actress Susan Lucci as the event’s special guest.

A portion of sales made during the fundraiser were donated to the Auxiliary’s pledge to raise $1.5 million for the expansion of The Valley Hospital Breast Surgery Program and to support Valley Home Care’s Butterflies Program for children with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses.

Pictured at the event (from left to right) are:  Nancy Davidson, President, The Valley Hospital Auxiliary; Audrey Meyers, President and CEO, The Valley Hospital; Nancy Bush, Co-Chair of the Saddle River Branch of The Valley Hospital Auxiliary; Susan Lucci; and Tara Maw, Co-Chair of the Saddle River Branch of The Valley Hospital Auxiliary.

For more information: register.columbiacme.org/conference.cgi

Contact:

Will Deitz
Public Affairs Associate
(718)780-5367

Brooklyn, New York – April 18, 2012 – New York Methodist Hospital (NYM) now offers a comprehensive Lung Cancer Screening Program for the screening and diagnosis of lung cancer. The program features a multidisciplinary care team of pulmonologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, and radiologists who collaborate to diagnose lung cancer. This approach streamlines the diagnostic process, and helps maximize the chance of a good outcome.

“The best weapon in the fight against lung cancer is an early diagnosis,” said Suhail Raoof, M.D., chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at NYM. “If you are considered at risk for lung cancer, the team at NYM will guide you through the screening process, and in the event of an abnormal test, the team members will direct you to the medically necessary state-of-the-art services.”

Dear Colleagues:

All hospitals need to make continuous improvements for patients. Those at the frontlines of patient care, including physicians, are best suited to contribute to process improvement. We all recognize that eliciting changes that make the hospital run more efficiently can help physicians enhance patient care and help save a physician’s time.

The Medical Staff and Medical Board at New York Hospital Queens agree that despite mounting physician pressures (less time for patients, increased patient needs, waning reimbursement), our physicians’ integration in the improvement process is critical to patient care and efficiency. Here are examples of several successful changes resulting from integration and collaboration:

Formalized communication program in the Emergency Room. William Wolff, M.D., chairman, the NYHQ Medical Board; Jack Mann, M.D., president, the NYHQ Medical Staff Society and members of the medical staff worked with the Emergency Department to improve communication. The team of physicians identified that there needed to be an improved process for contacting the physicians of patients who were being treated in the Emergency Room. In collaboration with the Emergency Department, Admitting Team and Hospitalist Service, our physicians facilitated a formal way to track patients and liaise with community-based physicians about patient status. The ED Communication desk is accessible 24 hours, seven days a week at (718) 670-1100.

Restructured Hospitalist Service. The Medical Staff Society, along with the Medical Board and the Department of Medicine, called for an upgrade of the Hospitalist Service. Through the new Hospitalist Service, a community-based physician can refer a patient to the hospitalist program by either writing a prescription that states their patient is to be admitted to the Hospitalist Service or by calling (888) 219-9141 at any time, day, night, weekend or holiday. The referring physician will receive a discharge summary that includes the patient’s course of treatment, test results, a discharge medication list, and recommendations given to the patient for a post discharge visit with the referring physician.

Redesign of the Patient Flow Process. Reduction of a patient’s length of stay is most often dependent upon the attending physicians, residents and physician’s assistants starting to plan for a patient’s discharge as soon as a patient is admitted. David Rose, M.D., chairman, Medicine, plans to increase medical staffing levels at the bedside, which should lead to physician interaction earlier in a patient’s admission. Dr. Rose has planning sessions scheduled with the Medical Staff Society and Medical Board to discuss this process and listen to suggestions. Following those meetings and based on recommendations, the plan is to roll out the new process later this year.

We invite our physicians’ suggestions for improvement. To discuss any of these initiatives, please contact Dr. Wolff at (718) 670-2522; Dr. Mann at (718) 670-1419; Dr. Rose at (718) 670-1070, or Stephen Rimar, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, at (718) 670-1549.

Sincerely,

Stephen S. Mills, F.A.C.H.E.

Contact:

Maureen Curran Kleinman

Marketing and Communications

(201) 291-6310

mcurran@valleyhealth.com

Experts in Their Fields -Nursing certification validates knowledge, brings value to patients and families

With 452 nurses who have achieved certification in their specialties (almost 31 percent of all 1,467 nurses), The Valley Hospital has surpassed its goal of 400 certified nurses by the end of 2011.

“We are very proud of our nursing staff,” notes Sharon Kroll, RN, MPA, Valley’s Performance Outcomes Manager. “The number of certified nurses in the majority of our 24 patient care units meets or exceeds the National Database for Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) national mean and Magnet hospital mean. There have been many studies that show having certified nurses results in better patient outcomes, including reduced infections, pneumonia, and fall rates.”

On March 19, these 452 nurses celebrated National Certified Nurses Day, a time to recognize the experience, knowledge, and skills of these professionals.

Caption:  Valley’s certified nurses recently celebrated National Certified Nurses Day, a time to recognize the experience, knowledge, and skills of these professionals.

Contact:

Maureen Curran Kleinman

Marketing and Communications

(201) 291-6310

mcurran@valleyhealth.com

Morristown, NJ – April 10, 2012 – The Atlantic Health System Accountable Care Organization today announced it has been selected to participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program) Accountable Care Organization (ACO), a multifaceted new program sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Atlantic ACO cares for nearly 50,000 beneficiaries.

Through the Shared Savings Program, Atlantic ACO will work with CMS to provide Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with high quality service and care, while reducing the growth in Medicare expenditures through enhanced care coordination.

“We are excited to work with Medicare to improve the quality of health care in our region,” said David J. Shulkin, MD, president, Morristown Medical Center, vice president, Atlantic Health System, and administrator, Atlantic ACO. “Over the last year, we have worked to develop the framework and relationships necessary for these patients to receive better coordination of their care and a higher level of quality health care services. Atlantic Health System’s hospitals are at the forefront of quality clinical care. Now, as health care reform re-shapes the landscape, we are also taking a leadership role by planning for the future.” Atlantic Health System includes Morristown, Newton, and Overlook Medical Centers and Goryeb Children’s Hospital.

Touted as one of the “10 ACOs to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review, the Atlantic ACO includes a partnership with Valley Health System in Ridgewood, NJ, and participation from more than 1,300 physicians, including more than 200 primary care physicians, 50 nurse practitioners and 10 ancillary care providers in five counties: Bergen, Morris, Sussex, Somerset, and Union counties. Through its participating physicians, hospitals, and staff, Atlantic ACO is committed to improving the quality of health care and reducing the individual and clinical health care costs for the Medicare population served in these regions.

Contact:

Phyllis Fisher

212-606-1197

FisherP@hss.edu

Tracy Hickenbottom

212-606-1197

HickenbottomT@hss.edu

New York, NY – April 5, 2012 – Hospital for Special Surgery has received, for the first time, the 2012 ”Gallup Great Workplace Award” and is the only hospital in the Northeast to achieve this recognition.

According to Gallup, this award recognizes the best-performing organizations for their special ability to create an engaged workplace culture.  Applicants’ results were compared across a research database composed of millions of work teams in more than 100 countries. A panel of experts evaluated the award-winning organizations based on what Gallup says was the most rigorous workplace research ever conducted.

HSS is one of just 27 organizations worldwide to be honored this year. The hospital is among the winners because its results demonstrate one of the most productive and engaged workforces in the world.

“Everyone at HSS is a vital contributor to our success,” explained HSS President and CEO Louis A. Shapiro. “This recognition is particularly gratifying because it acknowledges the importance of everyone’s role in making HSS such an extraordinary hospital. We simply could not achieve the outstanding levels of quality and service that have made us a world class institution without the high level of commitment exhibited every day by members of the HSS family.”

“The winners of this award have established a new global standard for engaging people,” said Tom Rath, who leads Gallup’s Workplace and Leadership Consulting practice.  “When compared to the millions of workgroups we have studied around the world, the awardees have worked tirelessly to create an environment that values people. They go far beyond trivial perks to ensure that each employee has an emotional connection to the company’s mission and growth.”

Award winners will be honored at the Gallup Summit Spring 2012, which will take place May 15-17, 2012, in Omaha, Nebraska.

For a full list of 2012 Gallup Great Workplace Award recipients, please visit: http://www.gallup.com/consulting/146753/Gallup-Great-Workplace-Award-Press-Release.aspx

Hospital for Special Surgery

Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS is nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics, No. 2 in rheumatology, No. 19 in neurology, and No. 16 in geriatrics by U.S.News & World Report (2011-12), and is the first hospital in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center three consecutive times. HSS has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. From 2007 to 2011, HSS has been a recipient of the HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award. HSS is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College and as such all Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are faculty of Weill Cornell. The hospital's research division is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Hospital for Special Surgery is located in New York City and online at www.hss.edu.

Contact:

Doug Feingold
(212) 305-5587
dof9022@nyp.org

New York, NY – April 5, 2012 – To help recognize Autism Awareness Month, Dr. Catherine Lord, Director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell & Columbia and a leading authority on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), offers families guidance and tips following a child’s diagnosis within the ASD.

Have Hope. Things get better. There are changes every day in what we can do to help people with ASD.

Your Child is an Individual. Remember your child is first of all his or her own unique person, then a child, then a child with strengths and difficulties, and only then a child with ASD.

Have a Strong Support System. Find people whom you can trust to support you, and then to support you as a parent of a child with autism.

Find Credible Sources. Find sources of information that you can trust. You will hear many contradictory pieces of information.  Figure out where you can check about new ideas.

Enjoy Each Other. Be sure to every day do things that you enjoy and that your child enjoys. While opportunities for learning are important, shared enjoyment is even more important in a family.