Telethon Raises Over $100,000

Stomp Out Cancer Telethon Raises over $100,000for Faxton - St. Lukes Healthcare Regional Cancer CenterThe eight annual Stomp Out Cancer Telethon, co-hosted by Symeon A. Tsoupelis, Jr. of Symeon's Restaurant, was held on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at The Regional Cancer Center Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare and televised live on WKTV NewsChannel-2. Thanks to the generous contributions of our community and our sponsors, the telethon exceeded previous years' donations, raising more than $100,000. "The community support is incredible and not just in dollars," said Mary Kate Schuster, RN, OCN, administrator for The Regional Cancer Center. "This telethon makes it possible for us to deliver the very best treatment and support for our patients and rallies community members, both individuals and groups, around a common cause."This year's telethon featured stories about our TriCounty Quits Program, which aims to help smokers quit through cessation advice and counseling sessions; Palliative Care, which focuses on managing the patient's symptoms and effectively enhancing the quality of life; the linear accelerator which is a device most commonly used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer; and the Comprehensive Breast Care Center, which serves women with a variety of breast-related concerns and needs.Funding from the telethon helps to expand the services to the community and provides patients with state-of-the-art technology. Sponsors for this year's event included Faxton-St. Luke's Volunteer Association, Crystal Springs Golfing For Breast Cancer, Zonta Club of Utica, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 43/National Electrical Contractors Association, Centrex Clinical Labs, Mohawk Hospital Equipment, Inc., CONMED, M&T Bank, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Utica First Insurance.The Cancer Center is the premier Center for the region with specialized technology that many times surpasses that available at major cancer centers and university hospitals. The Regional Cancer Center is accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

Radiothon Raises $42,227

Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon raises $42,227The 6th Annual Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Radiothon, which aired live Thursday, Jan. 26 and Friday, Jan. 27, on WLZW Lite 98.7 raised a total of $42,227 for women's and children's services at Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare. The 26-hour Radiothon was held at the Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Pediatric Unit located on the 2nd Floor of the St. Luke’s Campus. More than fifty volunteers from throughout the community assisted in taking pledges.“It’s amazing how the community responded to the highlighted stories of local children touched by CMN and called in their support for the children’s services at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare,” said Andrea LaGatta Children’s Miracle Network Coordinator. CMN-generated funds are used for equipment acquisition, services, health education for patients, parents and staff, and the services of specialists at the hospital.# # # #The Children’s Miracle Network’s pledge to put all children first in all it does and keep 100% of donations in the community where they were raised remains at the core of it’s philosophy.

Brown Earns Top Healthcare Management Credential

Brown Earns Top Healthcare Management CredentialSteven J. Brown, Vice President of Operations at Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare (FSLHC), recently advanced to Fellow status in the American College of Healthcare Executive (ACHE), an international professional society of 30,000 healthcare executives.To obtain Fellow status, candidates must demonstrate their education, experience and leadership in the healthcare field for several years. They must also complete case studies or a thesis on a healthcare management topic or participate in a year-long mentorship project.Brown has worked for FSLHC for 16 years. He is a graduate of Mohawk Valley Community College with an Associate's Degree in Applied Science; Utica College of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science Degree; New School University, Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy with a Master's Degree in Science in Health Service Management; and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership degree from The University of Phoenix'sSchool of Advanced Studies.Brown is a Board Member for KIDS Oneida and a graduate of Leadership Mohawk Valley.

Balance Center Introduces New Technology

Last May, Theresa Devereux of New York Mills suffered from a loss of hearing after an 18-hour coma caused by Bacterial Streptococcal Pneumococcal Meningitis. At the age of 47, this once active and healthy woman was faced with not only deafness but severe balance problems leaving her unable to walk or care for herself.Devereux called on The Balance Center at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare to help her “return to the person” she was before the coma. “On my first visit to the Center I was in a wheelchair. After only a few weeks of therapy, I was able to walk into the building and up to the Balance Center on my own,” she said.The Balance Center, which is part of the Regional Rehabilitation Center, provides the Mohawk Valley with the only state-of-the art equipment and a highly trained occupational therapist, Kim Bywater, O.T.R./L. who specializes in problems relating to balance and equilibrium. Bywater, who received her certificate in clinical competency in Vestibular Rehabilitation from Emory University in Atlanta, is able to perform a comprehensive evaluation of patients with dizziness or balance complaints. Recently, the Center installed the NeuroCom Smart EquiTest, representing the most advanced balance and mobility assessment and treatment equipment available.When patients like Devereux first visit The Balance Center, they are assessed based on three different senses: equilibrium from the inner ear, visual input, and sensory input from one’s muscles and joints. “The computer measures how well you use the input from all three areas,” Bywater explained.Following the initial assessment, the EquiTest is then used to train the patient how to balance or compensate for a loss they may have in one of the areas. Patients usually visit the center two to three times a week for up to two months for treatment and need a doctor’s referral, Bywater said.For Devereux, the loss of hearing and brain trauma from the meningitis added challenges to being balanced. “Kim had various physical exercises, as well as vision exercises that I practiced at therapy and at home,” she said. “Kim inspired me to work hard, to have faith that I would make progress, and in the end, I found a good friend. A good friend and therapist who credits the EquiTest. This equipment objectively measures the balance, or lack of, and then provides training with instant feedback, which is displayed on a computer screen to guide and prompt patients during rehabilitation.And although Devereux said she still has a long road to recovery, she said The Balance Center staff and technology gave her back a chance at having a normal life again through not only the physical help, but the emotional support.For more information about the Balance Center at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, please call 624-5400 or visit us on the web at http://www.faxtonstlukes.com/.###