Eastern Long Island Hospital Board Votes to Advance an Affiliation with Stony Brook University Hospital

The Board of Directors of Eastern Long Island Hospital voted unanimously earlier this month to approve moving forward with an affiliation with Stony Brook University Hospital.

"Eastern Long Island Hospital's decision to pursue an affiliation with Stony Brook is an important first step toward advancing our collaboration to ensure that residents of the North Fork of Suffolk County and beyond have continued access to high-quality coordinated care close to home," said Kenneth Kaushansky, MD, Senior Vice President, Health Sciences, and Dean, Stony Brook University School of Medicine.

"We are grateful to SUNY's visionary leadership in its support of our continued work to establish agreements with community hospitals in Suffolk County for the care of Long Island residents," said L. Reuven Pasternak, MD, CEO, Stony Brook University Hospital, and Vice President for Health Systems, Stony Brook Medicine.

Eastern Long Island and Stony Brook have been formally affiliated since 2006, providing healthcare services to the North Fork of Suffolk County including Shelter Island. Stony Brook Medicine clinicians have staffed and assisted in the development of Eastern Long Island Hospital's inpatient behavioral health programs, cared for patients who needed specialty care not available at Eastern Long Island Hospital, and provided support and patient transport services during times of emergency.

The next step is for Stony Brook Medicine and Eastern Long Island Hospital to develop an integration and affiliation agreement. The agreement also requires the approval of the State University of New York Board of Trustees, as well as various New York State agencies.

Learn more about the agreement. 

Raising the Beam (and the Bar) for Pediatric Care in Suffolk County

In honor of the last piece of structural steel being erected on the newly constructed home for Stony Brook Children's Hospital, leadership from Stony Brook Medicine and Stony Brook Children's, elected officials from the area, donors, and patients and family members from Stony Brook Children's gathered together for a topping out ceremony on July 24. Kenneth Kaushansky, MD, Senior Vice President, Health Sciences, and Dean, School of Medicine, and L. Reuven Pasternak, MD, CEO, Stony Brook University Hospital, presided over this construction milestone of the 10-story Hospital Pavilion that will house Suffolk County's only children's hospital.

At the Children's Hospital Topping Off Ceremony, from left, L. Reuven Pasternak, MD, CEO, Stony Brook University Hospital; Danielle Knapp-SanGiovanni and Jesse SanGiovanni; Bret Sears, CEO, Island Federal Credit Union; Margaret McGovern, MD, PhD, Physician-In-Chief, Stony Brook Children's Hospital; Kenneth Kaushansky, MD, Senior Vice President, Health Sciences, and Dean, School of Medicine; New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle; Philip Hirst and Michele Knapp (front row); Foundation board members John J. Roe III, and David Knapp (back row); New York State Senator John J. Flanagan; and Bradley Hirst.

During the ceremony, Dr. Kaushansky also announced the launch of a new 12-month challenge grant by the Knapp Swezey Foundation in support of Stony Brook Children's. This $2.5 million matching challenge pledge is designed to raise a total of $5 million needed to complete the $25 million Children's Hospital Building fund philanthropic goal. The Knapp Swezey Foundation has pledged a dollar-for-dollar match on all private donations and public funding received between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016.

Opening in 2017, the new facility will expand Stony Brook Children's reach and commitment to ensuring that the families of Suffolk County have access to quality, high-level pediatric services close to home for healthcare needs large and small. Read more about the innovations and amenities. 

The children's hospital building has received an additional $53 million in state support thanks to New York State Senators Kenneth P. LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) and John J. Flanagan (R-Northport), as well as nearly $20 million in contributions from hundreds of community members and businesses. As part of its $7 million, 10-year partnership with Stony Brook University, Island Federal Credit Union has supported Stony Brook Children's with a $750,000 gift to the building fund earlier in the year.

Support the Knapp Swezey Children's Challenge

Every dollar donated for the new children's hospital building will be matched by the Knapp Swezey Foundation -- dollar for dollar -- up to $2.5 million. That means a total of $5 million dollars will be raised to support Stony Brook Children's Hospital. Help meet the match. 

Quality and Safety

HIPAA Refresher

It has already been 13 years since the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was first implemented to minimize incidental disclosures of health information and demonstrate that Stony Brook Medicine takes patient privacy and confidentiality seriously. Here is a reminder of privacy practices:

• Log off your computer when you leave your work area.
• Use your safeguards:
• In semi-private settings, pull privacy curtains, stand on the side of the bed, stretcher or exam table farthest from the other patient.
• In private settings, close the door.
• Never discuss patient information in a public setting, and always use your "inside voice" when speaking to patients and/or their family.
• When displaying patient names for business purposes (white boards, hallway monitors, tracking boards, inpatient rooms), use no more than the first initial of the patient's first name followed by their last name.
• For thank you notes and "job well done" notes, censor out patient identifiers unless you have the patient's signed authorization to post their note publicly.
• Never save photos and patient information to your phone or any other unencrypted device (laptop, desktop, etc.).
• Use the iPhoto app, which uploads directly into the electronic medical record (EMR), to capture photographs needed for patient care/treatment. (For instructions, refer to Stony Brook's iEMR Resource website.)
• Download photos needed for educational purposes to a secure share drive from the EMR.

Proper Hygiene Minimizes Opportunities for Cross Contamination

During Patient Safety First rounds, as well as during Executive Roundings, Stony Brook leaders observe firsthand the infection control practices of healthcare workers. These observations are then reported to the Executive Quality Council the following Monday and specific breaches are brought to the attention of department managers for staff re-education or counseling as appropriate.

Here are a few important practices all healthcare workers need to follow to minimize opportunities for cross contamination:

• Change gloves and perform hand hygiene in between steps while examining a patient, especially if multiple instruments are used.
• Dirty/used equipment is to be cleaned after following these three steps: remove gloves, perform hand hygiene and don new gloves.
• Unit nursing staff is responsible for the daily cleaning of medical equipment that is currently in use on a patient. Unit-based equipment that is required to be relocated from one patient to another or used on multiple patients must be cleaned after use on a patient prior to exiting the room.
• While wearing gloves, each individual piece of equipment is to be cleaned daily and between patients with a new germicidal (purple) wipe to ensure adequate amount of disinfecting liquid is applied, and for a full two minutes. Only after the equipment is cleaned in this manner can equipment be returned to its carrying case (if applicable).
• Any equipment visibly contaminated with blood, body fluids and other solutions used in/for patient care is to be cleaned (while wearing gloves) with hospital-approved disinfectant after removing heavy soil.

Blue Is the New Green: New Scrub Color for OR and Procedure Areas

As a matter of patient safety and brand identification, staff in the OR and procedure areas are wearing new blue scrubs to replace the green scrubs previously worn. These procedure areas include:

• Labor & Delivery Suite
• Cardiac Cath Lab
• Electrophysiology Lab
• Operating Rooms
• Interventional Radiology
• Cerebrovascular Center Suites
• Central Sterile

In these areas, blue warm-up jackets are also available, as other warm-up jackets cannot be worn. Scrubs must be covered by a lab coat or disposable cover gown when outside the defined areas. All masks, booties and hats must be removed once outside the defined areas. Scrubs and warm-up jackets are hospital-laundered daily.

New Verification Checklist Form Required Before Ordering an MRI

A new verification checklist form with screening questions for patients must now be used, completed and signed by the ordering physician or other licensed independent practitioner (LIP) before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be ordered. This is being implemented for the patients' safety because patients with pacemakers or other implanted metallic devices cannot enter the MRI area due to the risk of significant harm to the patient that can result from the strength of the MRI's magnet. The magnetic field of the MRI's magnet is "on" all the time, even if the MRI is not in use.

If the screening questions are not answered, the MRI order will be cancelled as a "hard stop" in the computer system. And if there are contraindications for an MRI, the physician or LIP should add the issue to the "problem list" for future visits by the same patient and call the radiologist as needed to discuss alternative imaging modalities.

Service

The Parade of Survivors at Stony Brook's 11th annual National Cancer Survivors Day.

Cancer Survivors Celebrate Life at Stony Brook

More than 800 people, including some 300 cancer survivors of all ages, came together to celebrate survivorship and life with their families, friends and Stony Brook University Cancer Center physicians, nurses and staff. The occasion? Stony Brook's 11th annual National Cancer Survivors Day, which was held on June 19. Although collectively, the disease remains the second most common cause of death in the U.S., cancer care at Stony Brook University Cancer Center is advancing rapidly.

"We are determined to remain on the cutting-edge of treatment to cure many forms of cancer as we look to the future," said Samuel Ryu, MD, Deputy Director, Clinical Affairs, and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology. "Our center is assembling ever-increasing teams of physicians and scientists to tackle the difficult issues of conquering cancer."

"The upbeat energy here at Stony Brook and the vision of the Cancer Center leadership is really quite amazing," said keynote speaker Doug Ulman. A national cancer survivor advocate, a three-time cancer survivor, President and CEO of Pelotonia, and former Livestrong President and CEO, Ulman overcame chondrosarcoma during his sophomore year in college and malignant melanoma twice since.  

View pictures of the celebration and activities, and view a video of the day's events. 

Couple Enjoys 60th Wedding Anniversary, Thanks to Cardiac Care Nursing Team

Marilyn Catapano (right) and her husband, Tony, celebrate 60 years of marriage at a dinner specially prepared for them.

Several members of Stony Brook Medicine's cardiac care nursing team recently learned that one of their patients, Marilyn Catapano, would be celebrating her 60th wedding anniversary while she was in the hospital. She and her husband, Tony Catapano, who live in Florida, were visiting family on Long Island when she suffered a heart attack. Nursing staff decorated a conference room with flowers, a tablecloth and decorations, and reached out to the Food Service team, which designed a special menu for the couple's celebration. That evening, Mr. and Mrs. Catapano were escorted to their "private dining room" to enjoy their meal. The next day, Mrs. Catapano was discharged.

Pediatrics Staff Celebrates a Very Special Birthday

Birthday boy Joey Diorio celebrating at Stony Brook University Hospital. Photo by Leslie Schugman for Bella Baby Photography.

Sometimes the work we do touches lives in special and unexpected ways. Take Jennifer Damato of Social Work, for instance.

Knowing that one of her patients, Joey Diorio, in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology unit might not live to see his second birthday, Damato became a woman on a mission. Because Joey was under the age limit to be assisted by the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Damato contacted another group, Jamie's Dream Team, to host an early second birthday party for him.

Michael Attard, MA, CCLS, Certified Child Life Specialist, and Lauren Sharaby, MS, CCLS, Certified Child Life Specialist, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, helped Damato make sure that the cake, donors, entertainers and guests were present and ready to give Joey and his family an evening to remember.

Many of the staff volunteered to assist with the event and ensure that Joey had an amazing experience given his poor prognosis. Joey needed one-to-one nursing to attend his party, and when safe staffing did not allow for this, Kathleen Kelleher, RN, volunteered to accompany Joey.

This isn't the first time a collaborative Stony Brook Children's Hospital team has come together to create an unforgettable experience for a sick child, and we know it will not be the last.

Ice Skating Event at the Rinx for Pediatric Oncology Patients

A mutual interest in ice hockey got the ball rolling -- or the puck sliding -- for a fun event that brought together children being treated for cancer with members of the Stony Brook University ice hockey team.

Patrick Dineen, a long-time supporter of adult and pediatric programs at Stony Brook University Cancer Center, happened to mention to Robert Parker, MD, Director, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, that he played ice hockey in college. It turned out Dr. Parker also was a fan and had been an ice hockey coach and played competitively. Through the Dr. Patrick J. Dineen Memorial Foundation, an organization Dineen started in memory of his late physician father, Dineen funded the outing on ice for Stony Brook Cancer Center's pediatric hematology/oncology patients and their families. He even contacted the Stony Brook University Seawolves ice hockey team to ask them to serve as skate buddies. And the Rinx in Hauppauge generously donated the time on the ice, while also allowing their employees to help out.  

Patients from the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit enjoy some ice time with members of the Stony Brook University Seawolves ice hockey team at a special ice skating event, sponsored by the Dr. Patrick J. Dineen Memorial Foundation.

Auxiliary Sponsors Sun Safety Day at West Meadow Beach

Back row from left, Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary's head of Community Relations Elena Middleton, President Uta Dee and head of Special Projects Linda Shamash, and front row, Sabrina and Sam Middleton.

The first day of summer was greeted by Boy Scouts from Troop 377 in East Setauket, Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Valerie Cartright and members of the Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary. All were armed with goody bags chock full of information on skin cancer awareness and sunscreen from the Department of Dermatology. An overcast sky didn't deter this group for their annual event to educate beachgoers at West Meadow Beach on June 20.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma incidence rates have been increasing for the past 30 years. The National Cancer Institute says that melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults ages 25 to 29.

People

Physician Leaders Strategize on Future Radiosurgery Treatments at ISRS Biennial Congress

Samuel Ryu, MD

In his role as President of the International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society (ISRS), Samuel Ryu, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, and Deputy Director, Clinical Affairs, Stony Brook University Cancer Center, welcomed participants to the 12th ISRS congress held in Yokohama, Japan, in early June. This biennial congress is one of world's top meetings regarding cerebral stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy. And Dr. Ryu is an internationally recognized expert in the field.

This year's overall theme was "Meet the Experts and Share the Experiences." One of the major objectives of the conference was to provide special opportunities where stereotactic radiosurgery physicians, physicists and many physicians from related fields, could socialize and talk about future treatment strategies, while also discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each field.

Three Generations of Maiers with Ties to Stony Brook

The Maier family at Stony Brook University's Commencement in May. From left, Bruce, Samantha, Sandy and James.

Back in the 1960s, '70s and '80s, when Stony Brook University was in its infancy, Albert Maier, a carpenter from Lindenhurst who passed away in 2006, helped construct many of the buildings we see today, including the Life Sciences Building and Stony Brook University Hospital.

What Albert didn't foresee at the time, was that future generations of Maiers would one day walk the halls of many of the buildings he helped build on both sides of campus -- as accomplished students, dedicated employees and grateful patients.

The first Stony Brook alumnus of the Maier family was Albert's son, Bruce Maier, who earned his Bachelor of Science in computer science in 1976. Two decades later, in 1996, Albert's daughter-in-law, Sandy Maier (Bruce's wife), earned her RN/BSN from Stony Brook University School of Nursing's Accelerated Program. And in 2007, she returned to East Campus as an RN at Stony Brook University Heart Institute, where she is now the Heart Institute Clinical Care and Bed Coordinator.

In 2009, Bruce and Sandy's oldest son, James, earned his BS in biochemistry from Stony Brook's Honors College -- the same year James' wife, Grace, graduated from Stony Brook Honors College with a BS in biology.

Fast forward to 2015, the year of the Maier academic degree trifecta. In May, James completed his PhD in biochemistry and structural biology at Stony Brook. His sister Samantha, who was in the Scholars Program at Stony Brook, earned her BS in biology and psychology, along with acceptance into the Stony Brook University School of Nursing this fall. And Sandy earned an MS in health care policy and management, followed by her induction, a month later, into the National Allied Health Honor Society, Alpha Eta. One begins to wonder if earning a degree from Stony Brook is a prerequisite for dating or marrying into the Maier family, as it turns out that Samantha's boyfriend, Matt, also graduated from Stony Brook!

Bruce and Sandy Maier's younger son, Gregory, of whom they are equally proud, was also accepted to Stony Brook, but at the time, Stony Brook did not have his intended major, security systems. Gregory graduated from SUNY Farmingdale in 2011. Dubbed an honorary Seawolf by his parents and siblings, we would not be surprised to hear down the road that Gregory is either dating or married to a Stony Brook graduate.

As proud as Bruce Maier is of his wife's, children's and his own accomplishments at Stony Brook, and of the role his father, Albert, played in building the university, Bruce is also tremendously grateful for the expert care he received at Stony Brook University Hospital over the years. In 2011, Bruce received a bone-marrow transplant to treat aggressive large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The procedure was performed by nationally recognized hematologic cancer expert, Michael Schuster, MD, at Stony Brook University Cancer Center. The treatment worked, and Bruce has been cancer free ever since. Then in 2014, when Bruce needed a mitral valve repair, renowned Stony Brook cardiothoracic surgeon, James Taylor Jr., MD, who is also Co-Director of the Heart Institute and Chief, Division of the Cardiothoracic Surgery, performed the surgery, and Bruce has been enjoying life again to the fullest.

Talk about a success story all around! We have no doubt that the Maier family's strong ties to Stony Brook will continue for generations to come.

Welcome to the New Hospital Auxiliary Board of Officers

The Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary Executive Board from left, Patricia Macarchuk, Karen Villanueva-Walsh, Uta Dee, Barbara Delfyett and Linda Shamash. Not pictured: Elena Middleton.

The Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary elected its officers for 2015-16, with Uta Dee elected as President. The Auxiliary's Executive Board members were installed at the Auxiliary's Annual Meeting. Carol Gomes, MS, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer, Stony Brook University Hospital, and a member of the Auxiliary's Corporate Board of Directors, administered the oath of office to the following Executive Board members:

Uta Dee, President

Barbara Delfyett, First Vice President

Elena Middleton, Second Vice President

Patricia Macarchuk, Treasurer

Karen Villanueva-Walsh, Recording Secretary

Linda Shamash, Corresponding Secretary

The Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary is a volunteer organization made up of a diverse group of men and women committed to raising money for hospital projects for which other sources of money are not readily available. Since its formation in 1981, the Auxiliary has raised close to $7 million for hospital projects, services and equipment.

Hospital Volunteers Recognized for Exceptional Service at  

Mayra Cabrera of Mastic Beach was honored with the Junior Volunteer of the Year award. Cabrera began her volunteer service in 2013 and has donated more than 900 hours to patients receiving treatment on 18 North.

Jessica Monti, Volunteer Supervisor for 18 North, describes Cabrera as professional and extremely responsible. Cabrera provides comfort measures to patients and support to the nursing staff. Monti noted that Cabrera is a dedicated volunteer who takes her role seriously, reporting for service every weekend without fail.

From left, Kara Delaney, Information Desk; James Green, Senior Volunteer of the Year; Rose Annunziata, Information Desk; and Kathy Kress, Volunteer Services

Stony Brook resident James Green was recognized as the Senior Volunteer of the Year. Green began his volunteer service in 2008 and has donated more than 1,500 hours. He is assigned to the Information Desk located in the main lobby of the hospital. A retired New York City Police Officer with a long history of serving the public, Green has the ability to recognize the needs of patients and their families and goes out of his way to meet them.

Several recommendation letters were written supporting Green's nomination. He is described as reliable, responsible, hardworking and compassionate. Staff members, patients and visitors can always count on Green for an interesting story to bring a smile to someone experiencing a difficult situation.

Growth

Stony Brook/Southampton Advertising Campaign Launches

During the week of July 20, an advertising campaign began to announce the affiliation of Stony Brook University Hospital and Southampton Hospital. Print ads can be seen in the Southampton Press, Dan's Papers and Newsday; radio spots can be heard on WBEA, WBAZ, WEHM, WBON and WLNG; and online banner ads can been viewed on NYTimes.com, Hamptons.com, Patch.com and 27East.com.

The campaign focuses on the deeper partnership Stony Brook and Southampton have engaged in to transform healthcare delivery on the East End, which will give residents of Eastern Long Island easier access to specialists and clinical trials while continuing to deliver highly personalized care.

The Countdown Begins: Stony Brook Delivers

Stony Brook Medicine has launched a countdown toward the upcoming 100,000th birth of a baby at Stony Brook University Hospital. The first delivery at Stony Brook was in May 1980, and today nearly 4,000 babies are born each year at Stony Brook University Hospital.

According to Todd Griffin, MD, Chair, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, there are between 10 to 20 deliveries each day at Stony Brook University Hospital; the 100,000th delivery is expected in August. As of July 29, this milestone is just shy of 250 births. A celebration is planned when the 100,000th milestone is reached.

Keep track of the countdown on the Stony Brook Medicine Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Help Us Celebrate the 100,000th Birth at
Stony Brook University Hospital 

We Want to Take Your Picture

Every Stony Brook faculty or staff member and student who had a child at Stony Brook or was born at Stony Brook is invited to join the countdown celebration for a group photo on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at noon (for those born at Stony Brook) and 12:20 pm (for those who had a baby at Stony Brook). The photo will take place at the patio on Level 5 of the Health Sciences Tower (near the elevator). RSVP to Marianne Bastian, Office of Communications, with your name and the photo shoot you will attend. 

Share Your Baby Photo and Selfie

If you are a Stony Brook faculty/staff member or student who was born at Stony Brook, send us "then" and "now" photos. Share your favorite baby photo and a selfie, and email them to Lorrie McAdams, Office of Communications, by Monday, Aug. 3. Please be sure to include your name and department in the email subject line.

Sustainability

Financial Results Report

Through May 2015, discharges at Stony Brook University Hospital were 34,214, which was 756 discharges above budget. Average length of stay was .08 of a day higher than the prior year at 5.48 days.

Case mix index was 5.4 percent higher than the prior year at 1.81. Significant increases in case mix index occurred in the surgical DRGs for tracheostomies and transplants, cardiology and infectious diseases, and the medical DRGs for neonates and infectious diseases.

Total Emergency Department visits increased by 7,074 from the prior year to 94,859 year to date. Inpatient surgeries increased by 520 to 8,535, and outpatient surgeries decreased by 312 to 12,339. Endoscopy volume was 1,062 above plan at 13,099.

Profit/loss (P/L) was $9.6 million versus budget of $4.6 million. Revenue was $51 million above plan due to the recognition of $6.5 million of DSRIP (Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment) program revenue as well as disproportionate share hospital (DSH) revenue of $29 million, and inpatient and outpatient volume being above plan.

New Website for School of Medicine

Built on the same technology platform as the Stony Brook Medicine website, the new Stony Brook University School of Medicine website has the following features:  

• Redesigned home page with a clean look
• Mobile-friendly interface (IOS and Android users)
• "Latest Publications" section featured on the home page
• "How can I help you today?" section available for shortcuts to high-traffic areas
• Icons located on the bottom of the pages, allowing users to access certain areas faster
• Some physician profiles are now linked to their bio page created in the "Find a Doctor" section on the Stony Brook Medicine website