Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare

Free Pancakes on February 23 at IHOP to Benefit CMN

2010-02-15T16:14:00.000-05:00

National Pancake Day Celebration to Benefit Children’s Miracle Network at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare

IHOP, one of America’s favorite restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner will serve free pancakes in celebration of National Pancake Day on Tuesday, February 23, 2010.

2010 will mark IHOP’s fifth year celebrating the national event. More than 1,400 IHOP restaurants throughout the United States will once again invite guests to enjoy a free short stack of IHOP’s signature buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on National Pancake Day. The IHOP location at 535 French Road in New Hartford will be participating in this special day and in return, IHOP guests are asked to donate what they would have paid for the free pancakes, or more, to the Children’s Miracle Network at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare.

“National Pancake day has become a tradition in our community and gives IHOP customers the opportunity to have great food while helping out a great cause,” said Michele Adams, Children’s Miracle Network Coordinator at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation. “I hope everyone will join us at IHOP on February 23rd for this delicious fundraiser.”

In 2009, IHOP gave away three million pancakes and raised nearly $1.5 million in support of Children’s Miracle Network. Since starting its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP has given away more than 6.1 million free pancakes to benefit children’s charities –- that stacks up more than 53.5 miles high!

For more information about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, or to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare call (315) 624-5600, visitwww.faxtonstlukes.com/childrens-miracle-network or www.ihoppancakeday.com, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=307413542934.

About Children's Miracle Network

Children’s Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Countless individuals, organizations and media partners unite with the Children’s Miracle Network at Faxton St. Luke’s Healtchare to help sick and injured kids in our community. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care and education that saves and improves the lives of local children each year. To learn more go to www.faxtonstlukes.com/childrens-miracle-network.

About IHOP

For 51 years, the IHOP family restaurant chain has served its world famous pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items that are loved by people of all ages. IHOP offers its guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. The first IHOP opened in Toluca Lake, Calif. in 1958, and as of September 30, 2009, there were 1,433 IHOPs in 50 states, Canada and Mexico. IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale, Calif.-based International House of Pancakes, LLC and its affiliates. International House of Pancakes, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN).

CNY Diabetes Education Program Acquires iPro Continuous Glucose Monitor

2010-02-04T13:00:00.000-05:00

The iPro Continuous Glucose Monitor (iPro CGM) for healthcare providers is now available at Central New York Diabetes Education Program (CNY Diabetes) at Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare (FSLH).

The iPro CGM offers a key clinical insight that will measure, store and report glucose levels in the interstitial fluid. The iPro system is comfortable to wear and easy to use. CGM shows the whole picture of glucose levels, not just snapshots. It provides insight into glucose trends between finger stick testing, leading to improve knowledge and control of diabetes.

Individuals wear the CGM iPro Recorder, a tiny glucose sensor under the skin for three days, where the reader automatically measures and stores glucose values during daily activities such as work, sleep, eating and exercise. Providers can then review the data and results to better tailor diabetes treatment programs for each patient. This may be particularly helpful for patients who experience inconsistent glucose levels. The iPro CGM can be used for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to improve overall glucose control.

"We are grateful to be able to offer diagnostic tools such as the iPro CGM to our area to help improve patient outcomes,” said Caroline Jacobus, director of CNY Diabetes.

For more information or to refer patients, contact CNY Diabetes at (315) 624-5620, or Caroline Jacobus, MS, RN, CDE at cjacobus@mvnhealth.com.

# # # #

-For Immediate Release-February 3, 2010

Contact:

Debra Altdoerffer
VP, Communications and Marketing
(315) 624-5716
daltdoer@mvnhealth.com

Erin Bushinger
Communications Specialist
(315) 624-5581
ebushing@mvnhealth.com

Bowlers Hit Lanes to Benefit Childen's Miracle Network

2010-02-02T18:49:00.002-05:00

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Some local bowlers hit the lanes Sunday for the annual Miracles Bowl-a-thon to benefit the Children's Miracle Network.

Each bowler gathered pledges in the community based on the number of pins they hit. Many of the bowlers who participate are children themselves and they know they are doing this to help other children!

View full article and video at http://www.wktv.com/news/local/83207702.html

FSLH Bariatric Surgery Program Earns Renewal as Center of Excellence

2010-01-22T13:39:00.001-05:00

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s (FSLH) Bariatric Surgery Program has earned a renewal as a Center of Excellence by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an independent, non-profit organization that advances the safety, efficacy and efficiency of bariatric and metabolic surgery.

Founded in 2002 by the medical director, Dr. William Graber, the Bariatric Surgery Program, located at the St. Luke’s Campus of FSLH, performed more than 900 surgeries in 2009, an average of 75 procedures a month. It is designated a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Dr. Graber, Dr. Matthew Fitzer, and Dr. Dmitri Baranov are surgeons who perform both gastric bypass and Lap-Band surgeries.

What is Bariatric Surgery?

Weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is a serious surgical procedure that decreases the size of the stomach, reduces food intake and can enable patients to lose a significant amount of weight. It is a permanent procedure that requires a lifetime commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Weight-loss surgery not only helps individuals lose weight, but can help improve overall health, well-being and self-esteem.

FSLH’s Bariatric Surgery Program offers:

Nurses, social workers, therapists, pharmacists, case managers, and other clinical experts who specialize in the care of weight-loss surgery patients
Registered dietitians who provide pre-operative and post-operative diet education and counseling
Education and support in which family and friends can participate
Individual educational sessions
Physical and occupational therapists who provide education regarding exercise tolerance, improving mobility, work and leisure activities and assistive devices as needed
A comprehensive patient guide for patients to follow from pre-operative consultation through the post-operative period
A support group where you can share your experiences with other weight-loss surgery patients.

Types of Weight-Loss Surgery

Drs. Graber, Fitzer and Baranov perform both gastric bypass surgery and Lap-Band surgery, two of the most widely practiced types of weight-loss surgery.

During gastric bypass surgery, the weight-loss surgeon staples the smaller, upper part of the stomach, separating it from the rest of the stomach. The net result is that the amount of food you can eat is reduced. The small intestine is rerouted and connected to the smaller stomach pouch.

In Lap-Band surgery, the surgeon places a silicone rubber band around the top of the stomach; this creates a very small stomach pouch. When patients eat, they feel full very quickly. Food slowly flows from the smaller pouch into the lower part of the stomach and then into the rest of the digestive tract.

For more information regarding FSLH’s Bariatric Surgery Program visit us online at www.bariatricexcellence.com.

###

Aida Mariani
Media Relations / Communications Specialist
Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare
1676 Sunset Avenue
Utica, NY 13502-5475
p 315.624-5433
f 315.624.5610
amariani@mvnhealth.com

FSLH Welcomes Eva Grayzel Who Tells Her Story of Strength and Triumph Over Oral Cancer Thursday, March 11, 2010

2010-01-22T13:35:00.002-05:00

At age 33, Eva Grayzel was bounced among healthcare professionals for more than two years while the ulcer on her lateral tongue became more prominent and painful. Even though she never smoked or used alcohol, she endured a partial tongue reconstruction, a modified radical neck dissection, and a maximum dose of radiation therapy following her diagnosis of late stage oral cancer.

On Thursday, March 11, 2010 Grayzel will speak during The Regional Cancer Center at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s dinner and lecture series. A buffet dinner will be served at 6pm and Grayzel will begin at 7pm, following a book signing at the Radisson Hotel, 200 Genesee Street, Utica.

A professional interactive performance artist by vocation, Grayzel will share riveting details about her late stage diagnosis and how she found the strength to persevere through the devastating effects of surgery and radiation.

The cost for this program is $15 per person. It includes dinner and a copy of Grayzel’s book “YOU ARE NOT ALONE; Families Touched By Cancer.”

In 2005, Grayzel developed her own oral cancer awareness campaign called “The Sextet Six-Step Screening: Six Steps to a Thorough Oral Cancer Screening” for which she was recognized by the American Academy of Oral Medicine and given honorary membership.

Through her self-discovery and profound insight, Grayzel evokes a passion for life and for early detection of oral cancer in a charismatic and compelling way. From the profound insight she gained, she intimately shares ways to find strength from adversity. Those who have heard Grayzel speak agree that she is captivating.

“Eva will touch your lives and souls. She will tell you first hand, from the patient perspective, what it is like to hear the words from a dentist, ‘You are in an advanced stage of oral cancer’,” said Dr. Michael Seigel, professor and chairman of Diagnostic Sciences, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine.

Seating is limited; please register early by calling (315)624-4673 or email dwilliam@mvnhealth.com.

To view sample pages of Grayzel’s book “YOU ARE NOT ALONE; Families Touched By Cancer,” visit www.Talk4Hope.com.

###

Aida Mariani
Media Relations / Communications Specialist
Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare
1676 Sunset Avenue
Utica, NY 13502-5475
p 315.624-5433
f 315.624.5610
amariani@mvnhealth.com

3 New Interpreters Added to Language Assistance Program Staff

2008-12-08T13:42:00.000-05:00

"Hitna Pomoc"This Bosnian phrase meaning “Emergency Department” might not mean anything to you, but to a Bosnian-speaking patient in need of urgent care, those words on a sign are important.Between 10,000-14,000 patients that are LEP (Limited English Proficiency) visit Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare (FSLH) per year. With more than 30 different languages including sign language, the demand for interpreters and their services has dramatically increased. FSLH has added three interpreters to their staff and in just three months, their services have already "significantly helped to stabilize the department," said Ezio Poccia, Language Assistance Coordinator.Samie Kovac, Sidika Tocakovic and Sergey Verenich began working at FSLH in May and have balanced their time between the Faxton and St. Luke’s campuses as well as the eight surrounding ACP offices. Their schedules vary day to day because of the many different office locations and the need for translation services. Most of their time is spent at the North Utica and Washington Mills Medical Offices, the St. Luke’s Campus, the Emergency Department and Urgent Care."There are days we run out of interpreters, but we always try to get someone to Urgent Care and the Emergency Department within 20 minutes when possible," said Poccia. “If it isn’t possible, we urge the use of the telephone translation service until an interpreter can get there.” Verenich, originally from Pinsk, Belarus, has been interpreting since 2002. He is certified in medical, legal, and psychological interpretations and supports Russian and Ukranian needs. Verenich and his family left their country because of religious persecution. "It wasn't so much a challenge as it was a fifteen year struggle to get to the U.S.,” said Verenich. “I ended up in Siberia when I did my mandatory military service. Once we made it to America, we had to learn the language because we did not speak a word of English. I went to college and studied hard to learn.” Verenich received an associate’s degree in Business Management as well as a degree in Electrical Studies in Belarus. He has also completed numerous medical, legal and mental health courses for interpreting. He became interested in interpreting when he had rental property and his tenants would ask him to interpret for them. "I found that it was becoming a full-time occupation," he said. "When I learned there were classes I could take to become a certified interpreter, I took them."Kovac is from Gorazde, Bosnia, and has been a certified medical interpreter since 2003. She came to America because of the war in Bosnia. “When the war first broke out in Bosnia, I fled to Serbia,” said Kovac. “It was the most difficult time of my life so when I had the chance to move to America, I knew I had to do it. The inability to speak English, the major life changes I suffered and the war made moving a difficult part of my life. In the end, though, it made me a better person and allowed me to become a successful medical interpreter.” Since moving to America, Kovac has completed courses in mental health and medical interpreting. She enjoys helping Bosnians who live in the Utica area who are unable to speak English and feels lucky to work for such a great organization that allows her to be close to family and friends. Tocakovic is from Mostar, Bosnia, and has worked as a care attendant for FSLH’s First Floor East and now assists with interpretation and translation needs. She came to Utica with her husband after hearing nice things about the area from family who had moved to Utica several years earlier. “Six months after we moved to Utica, my husband became very ill and needed an operation,” said Tocakovic. “Fortunately, the employees at FSLH were the most beautiful, kindest, nicest people I had ever met. They made us feel comfortable and we could not have asked for more. I remember thinking that I wanted to work in a place like FSLH and soon after my husband recovered, I applied for a job and I am now a medical interpreter.”Tocakovic enjoys working as an interpreter because she knows what it is like to be in a hospital and not understand what is going on. When she had the opportunity to become an interpreter at FSLH, she knew it was what she wanted to do because she can help make a difference in people’s lives. Interpreters are evaluated by how well the patient is taken care of and if their needs are met. Maternity-specifically during delivery and discharge-is one of the departments that relies more heavily on the services of the interpreters. "We have to be sensitive not only to their language but to their culture, gender, and religion," said Poccia. So what is their motivation to maintain such busy schedules? Helping people. "Most patients that I interpret for are very thankful for the services that we provide and it makes me feel good to help them,” said Verenich. “In addition, I am learning a lot about the medical profession.” "We've received so much positive feedback,” said Poccia. “Patients’ faces light up when we walk into the room and are able to speak their language.” FSLH currently has several handouts available in Russian, Bosnian, Spanish and Vietnamese. They include print materials about NYS patient rights, patient discharge instructions, FSLH helpful information, fall alert, hand washing, smoking cessation, speaking-up when information is not clear, preventing infection, what you should know about your medication, advanced directives, uniform assignment sheets and health care proxy.Verenich, Kovac, and Tocakovic are also assisting with several translation projects such as using pictures for menu selections.For more information about the Language Assistance Program and their services, contact Ezio Poccia, Language Assistance Coordinator at 624-5242.

Lockheed Martin Employees Celebrate Make a Difference Day

2008-11-12T13:40:00.000-05:00

In celebration of Make a Difference Day, which took place on Saturday, October 25, and is the nation's largest single day of volunteerism, Lockheed Martin employees donated hand-made blankets and stuffed animals to Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare’s (FSLH) Pediatric Department.

More than 110 blankets and 130 stuffed animals were donated by Lockheed Martin. The company employees participate in numerous community projects throughout the year and have been donating blankets and toys to FSLH for four years in honor of Make a Difference Day.

“All of the blankets were hand-made and a lot of time was put into each one,” said Arlene Stanulevich, a database coordinator at Lockheed Martin who has been with the company for 28 years. “Our employees put their heart and soul into this project because they know it is going to put a smile on a child’s face. It makes us feel really good to make a sick child’s day a little bit brighter.”

Melissa Racioppa, FSLH’s Child Life Specialist, is very grateful for the generosity Lockheed Martin’s employees have shown towards FSLH.

"Being in the hospital can be a very uncomfortable and scary experience for a child,” said Racioppa. “Lockheed Martin’s donation allows us to provide comfort to our patients by giving the children their very own blanket and stuffed animal to cuddle with.”

Make a Difference Day is a national day of helping others. In 2007, more than three million people across the country performed thousands of charitable acts. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make a Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October.

For more information, contact the FSLH Communications and Marketing Department at (315) 624-5600.

Winner Announced for The Miracle Home Makeover 2008

2008-11-12T13:39:00.000-05:00

For Barbara Kennard of Clinton, winning the 12th annual Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Miracle Home Makeover project was personal. The fund raiser for Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare has built miracles for the children of our community – including Kennard’s daughter. In twelve years, more than $2 million dollars has been raised by the project to benefit women and children’s services at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and this year – for the ninth consecutive year – the tickets sold out weeks in advance. On October 22, Kennard was notified that her ticket had been drawn and she won the $100,000 Miracle Home Makeover. “I bought the ticket because a couple of years ago my daughter was on a Spanish Club trip and developed food poisoning,” Kennard explained. During her daughter’s stay at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, CMN paid for the television services for all of the children on the pediatric unit. “This made our stay that much better and was one less thing we had to worry about… I wanted to give back,” she said.As for learning of her prize, Kennard said, “I was totally shocked and in disbelief when I won. I saw the boy reach his hand into the 4,000 names and you just never think it will ever be you. My co-workers (at the Oneida County Courthouse) and family were shocked and excited. Everyone has been wonderful and keeps congratulating me.” WKTV-NewsChannel 2, WIBX, Lite 98.7FM joined the Faxton-St Luke’s Healthcare Foundation, Lewis Custom Homes, and the Home Builders Association of the Mohawk Valley to sponsor the $100,000 home makeover. “We are so thankful for the amazing generosity of our community. More than 85 vendors, contractors and businesses are giving each year to ensure the Miracle Home Makeover project is a great success. It truly is a community project. Everyone involved, from the ticket holders to the sponsors should be proud of the difference they have made in the lives of so many children who have received care at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare,” said Eileen Pronobis, Executive Director, Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare Foundation

CoGeneration Faclity to Be Built

2008-11-02T13:19:00.000-05:00

(Utica, New York) Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, Utica College, and Burrstone Energy Center, LLC, were awarded $1 million in funding by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to help construct a $13 million, 3.5-megawatt Combined Heat and Power (CHP) co-generation facility located at the St. Luke’s Campus of Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. The CHP co-generation facility will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide more reliable services for hospital patients and college students, and significantly reduce the demand each institution places on the local utility grid. This co-generation plant will allow the hospital and college to serve as shelters during times of power outages, whether resulting from natural or man-made events. Groundbreaking for the plant occurred today on its future site near the Energy Center at the St. Luke’s Campus. The CHP co-generation facility will be owned and operated by Burrstone Energy Center, LLC.NYSERDA’s distributed generation and combined heat and power program has helped support approximately 100 projects. NYSERDA’s investment of $53 million in funding has been leveraged with $262 million in co-funding, bringing the total investment to $315 million. This program supports projects that are expected to result in direct energy, environmental, and economic benefits such as peak electric demand reduction, improved fuel-use efficiency, emissions reduction, lower energy costs, and job creation.“Combined heat and power systems are proving to be an important component in meeting New York’s energy demands. Co-generation systems maximize the efficient use of our limited fossil fuel resources, increase the reliability of electricity, and reduce peak load demand,” said Paul D. Tonko, President and CEO of NYSERDA. “This technology will aid in reaching Governor Spitzer’s goal to reduce energy use 15 percent by 2015 and is an effective, environmentally sound solution to high energy bills. Both Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and Utica College will realize these benefits.”- more -Page 2 – 11.06.07Co-generation Plant“We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and Utica College to develop and operate a 3.5 megawatt co-generation facility at the St. Luke’s Campus,” said John MoynihanMatte Bette of Burrstone Energy Center, LLC, in Latham, NY. “We will be providing a reliable and environmentally friendly source of electricity and heat that will meet the majority of the facilities’ energy needs. We will install several gas-fired Cummins engine generators that operate at nearly 90% efficiency which is 300% more efficient than electricity generated from central power plants.”“For the past several years we have evaluated the concept of on-site co-generation,” noted Steven J. Brown, Vice President, Clinical Operations of Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. “With the de-regulation of the electrical industry and the opportunity to apply for a state grant, pursuing the development of a new plant was very favorable. Burrstone Energy Center has worked with our staff and the staff of Utica College to design a system that will meet the combined energy requirements of our two institutions at an efficiency level that is much higher than either of us could achieve on our own, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the environment.”Utica College President Todd S. Hutton commented, "The benefits of this partnership with Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and Burrstone Energy Center are enormous. The concept behind distributed power generation projects like this one fits within our tradition of partnering with local businesses and institutions. This joint venture will also help us ensure that our resources are being used in the most efficient manner."The CHP co-generation facility consists of multiple natural gas reciprocating engines fueled by natural gas. Electrical power will be distributed and sold to the St. Luke’s Campus main building, St. Luke’s Home, and Utica College. Thermal energy will be distributed and sold to St. Luke’s Hospital in the form of 100-psi steam and hot water. For Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, the new plant would produce minimum annual savings of $350,000 through low-cost electricity and waste heat recovery energy. The current annual utility budget for the system is $3.7 million. In addition the plant is designed to allow for the sale of excess electricity to the power grid making it available for other consumers. The ability to sell additional electricity could provide additional savings in the future. Construction is anticipated to begin in December 2007 and it will take up to 10 months for the project to be completed.# # #CO-GENERATION

Faxton Rehab Awarded C.A.R.F. Re-Accreditation Through 2011

2008-10-29T13:38:00.000-04:00

The Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) announced that Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (26-bed acute rehabilitation inpatient unit) located at The Regional Rehabilitation Center has been re-accredited for a period of three years. This re-accreditation will extend through June 2011.

An organization receiving a three-year term of accreditation has voluntarily put itself through a rigorous peer review process and demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site survey that it is committed to conforming to CARF’s accreditation conditions and standards. Furthermore, an organization that earns CARF accreditation is commended on its quest for quality programs and services.

"This achievement is an indication of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s (FSLH) dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of the persons served” said Meenakshi (Mini) Malhotra, Program Director, Rehabilitation Services. "FSLH’s Regional Rehabilitation Center is a “One Stop” for the community’s rehabilitation needs throughout the continuum of care to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes," added Malhotra.

The Regional Rehabilitation Center provides quality occupational, physical, speech, therapeutic recreation, and aqua therapies at the Faxton Campus, where inpatient rehabilitation is housed, as well as at the St. Luke’s Campus (acute care), and St. Luke’s Home (sub-acute and long-term care).

The Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is an international, not-for-profit organization that accredits human services providers. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation, the accrediting body is now known as CARF and touches close to 6 million individuals served in a wide range of human service organizations.

For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org

1.6 Million State Grant

2008-10-23T13:35:00.000-04:00

$1.6 Million State Grant Supports Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) and St. Elizabeth Medical Center Consolidation of OB Care Center Services

(Utica, NY) - Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) has received $1.6 million to fund the centralization of St. Elizabeth Medical Center’s Obstetrical Care Service with its own OB Care Center. The new central community-based OB/GYN Care Center will be located at FSLH’s St. Luke’s Campus.

Governor David A. Paterson announced recently that $280 million in grants will fund healthcare restructuring projects throughout New York State. The funding is designed to expand the availability of primary care in local communities, cut duplicative services in hospitals, “right size” nursing homes and fund consolidation projects by healthcare providers. These grants are funded through the Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers (HEAL NY), passed in 2006.

"The centralization of the OB Care Center at FSLH is one more way St. Elizabeth Medical Center and FSLH can pool valuable resources for the benefit of the patients and the community,” said Scott H. Perra, FACHE, executive vice president and COO of FSLH. “The two organizations have successfully established collaborative relationships with The Regional Cancer Center, Mohawk Valley Heart Institute, Community Diabetes Program and the Palliative Care Program. Our ability to access available funds through New York State was a key driver in the development and execution of the plan.”

The hospitals have been doing cooperative community planning for more than a decade. Their collaborative working relationship allows both organizations to address issues that impact patients throughout the area, including obstetrical services.

According to Robert Scholefield, Vice President of St. Elizabeth Medical Group, there are numerous benefits for both organizations to centralize OB Care Services.

“FSLH OB Care Center does not currently offer gynecology services to its patients and St. Elizabeth Medical Center does not offer inpatient OB services, so this collaboration will remedy both of these situations and allow patients a convenient access to both services ,” said Scholefield. “In the long term, this project will also offer a recruitment incentive to our Family Practice Residency Program. For the OB Service of the program, we need a larger volume of local patients and an increased number of local deliveries to support the Residency Program. Centralizing the OB Care Centers will enhance our current program by offering the space needed for the Residency Program, providing the number of deliveries required and creating an opportunity for a more intense, detailed OB rotation at one site.”

The $1.6 million project at the St. Luke’s Campus involves renovations to the existing 1,810 square foot OB Care Center as well as a 3,860 square foot addition. The expansion and renovations includes new exam rooms, procedure rooms, a larger waiting room, new medical equipment and support functions that include physician office space, reception, financial counseling and medical records.

The hospital is required to submit a Certificate of Need (CON) application to the New York State Department of Health for the expansion and that is anticipated to occur within the next 30 days. In conjunction with the CON approval process, the construction documents will be reviewed and completed with a possible start date of April 2009 and an opening in late 2009.

The OB Care Center project is designed to continue to improve the level of patient care - optimizing physician and family practice resident staff, alleviating space and staffing shortages, increasing available services to all patients within the community, as well as decreased healthcare costs.

The primary patient populations for both OB Care Centers are insured by Medicaid. In 2007, FSLH’s OB Care Center had 6,800 visits and St. Elizabeth’s OB Care Center had 5,124 visits and 1,356 visits for gynecology services. FSLH’s Birthplace had 2,200 deliveries in 2007, with approximately 750 of those being births from OB Care Center patients from both locations. The Birthplace at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare is the only hospital in the Utica area that performs deliveries and has a Level II Special Care Nursery staffed by neonatologists.

The mission of the OB/GYN Care Center at FSLH is to promote community-based care through the centralization of services providing optimal, holistic prenatal and gynecology care to the underserved and underinsured population of the community. This project will eliminate the duplication of local healthcare services at two facilities and remove barriers to accessing women’s services. There is a growing need to have prenatal, postnatal care and delivery services in one location, and this project will fulfill these needs.

“Patients will greatly benefit from receiving all of their care at one location,” said Kathleen Dean, RN, at FSLH’s OB Care Center. “Having the opportunity to provide prenatal and postnatal care as well as delivering the baby will allow us to form long-term relationships with our patients. We are looking forward to providing all aspects of care, which will not only benefit patients, but our staff as well.”

Cardiac Rehab Celebrates 30 Years of Excellence

2008-10-23T13:33:00.000-04:00

On October 23, 1978 St. Luke’s-Memorial Hospital opened its doors to exercising the first Cardiac Rehabilitation patient. It was the first cardiac rehabilitation program in Upstate New York and one of only 70 programs in the nation.

Today, 30 years later, the highly trained staff at Cardiac Rehab located at the Faxton Campus of Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare is helping hundreds of patients each year return to active and healthy lives. The program is now part of the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute (MVHI), a program of Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

“We are so proud of the progress we have made in the past three decades,” said Alice (Williams) Browar, RN, who has been with the program since its inception. “From new findings in cardiac care to more advanced equipment, we have continually improved our program to benefit our patients.”

In 1978, Cardiac Rehab was offered to patients who were diagnosed with a recent heart attack, coronary artery by-pass surgery, and stable angina pectoris. It was an educational program with a telemetry- monitored exercise program designed to strengthen the cardiovascular system, as well as support for patients to identify and manage their own personal coronary risk factors and develop a sense of well-being about life after having sustained a life-threatening cardiac event. Although this is common today, it was quite innovated at that time.

In 1979, St. Luke’s Cardiac Rehab joined other programs to form the New York State Association for Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation. In 1985, the program became a member of the newly formed American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and met the vigorous standards for program certification of this national organization in 1992. In 1997, it became the cardiac rehabilitation program for the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute.

Today, the program, medically directed by Mark Blaker, MD, is operated by cardiac nurses and exercise physiologists. In addition to heart attack, angina, and CABG (write out what this means)patients, insurance companies cover the outpatient services for patients with recent valve surgery, coronary angioplasty, left ventricular assist devices, and heart/lung transplants.

"The program is highly individualized for each patient. It can be one to 36 sessions long, depending on a patient’s clinical status, readiness to accept a healthier lifestyle and the referring physician’s medical judgment,” Browar said. “Family members are encouraged to seek out information from the cardiac rehabilitation staff to help them care for their loved one and promote their own healing from this experience.”

The MVHI’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is located at the Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Avenue, Utica, NY 13502. For further information about the program call 634-5335.

FSLHC President/CEO Honored with Scroll Award

2008-10-23T13:32:00.000-04:00

Faxton-St. Luke’s President and CEO Keith Fenstemacher was recently honored at the Central New York Academy of Medicine’s Dr. Willard H. Willis 59th Annual Heart Teaching Day program at the Hart’s Hill Inn. Fenstemacher, who was nominated by Dr. Kevin Mathews, received the Scroll Award.

“Keith has made an outstanding contribution to Central NY Healthcare during his many years of service,” said Mathews. “His vision and commitment to our community is remarkable.”

The Scroll Award honors those individuals in the community who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of scientific progress or humanitarian attainment.

District 7150 Rotary Gives Gift of Reading to OB Care Center

2008-10-22T13:30:00.000-04:00

This year the annual Rotary conference of District 7150 was a ‘hare-raising’ and educational experience. More than 100 volunteers organized 300 gift boxes of reading materials for the OB Care Center at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. The gifts were developed to support new mothers with baby books and help them begin a life long love of reading to their children. The Rotarians donated nearly 1,000 books, along with baby tee shirts that said “Read to Me” and created ‘boo-boo’ bunnies out of washcloths and ribbons. The bunny is used to hold an ice cube and place on a ‘boo boo’ for cooling comfort. “The Literacy Committee of District 7150 was the real driver behind this project,” said Larry Calabrese, District Governor. “Their team, along with volunteers, provided the set up and assembly materials for each gift box. It is estimated that one in five adults are illiterate and two-thirds of them are women. We know that reading to children at an early age is important for their life long success. And the earlier you begin the greater the learning for your child.” The OB Care Center staff commented about how much the patients love the gifts and how each parent looks forward to reading to their little one. A very special thanks to the members of District Rotary 7150 from all of us at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare.

Barone and Bushinger Now at FSLH

2008-07-25T13:26:00.000-04:00

Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Staff AnnouncementsFaxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) is pleased to make the following staff announcements.Stephanie Barone of Rome, New York, has been named Webmaster. Barone holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from SUNY Oswego. Prior to joining Faxton-St. Luke’s, she served as Manager of Creative Arts/Web Media for the Four Directions Entertainment and Government Communications divisions of the Oneida Indian Nation of New York.Erin Bushinger of Sauquoit, New York, has been named Communications Specialist. She was previously an event manager at The Selva Group, a medical education company located in Saratoga Springs, New York. Prior to that she was employed at Upstate Cerebral Palsy as an event specialist. Bushinger holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications of Syracuse University.

Breast Imaging Center of Excellence

2008-07-25T13:24:00.000-04:00

Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Breast Imaging is Center of Excellence DesignationThe Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Imaging Center at the Faxton Campus is a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence as designated by the FDA and the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA). The imaging service partners with the radiologists from Radiology Associates for all breast-imaging services. The hospital also has national accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound guided biopsy procedures. More than 16,500 mammo exams are performed annually and 12 certified mammographers support the program.The Mammography Quality Standards Act requires mammographic facilities across the nation to meet uniform quality standards. Mammographic facilities must be accredited by the FDA, meet their high standards, undergo annual inspection, and prominently display the certificate issued by the agency.“The FDA and MQSA hold radiologists, technologists, and facilities to very high standards. This designation confirms our quality and technique, and reflects our excellent staff,” noted Nancy Shaheen, MD, one of the radiologists whose support was vital to the breast imaging designation. The center, along with the hospital, strives to be the healthcare destination for our region with established centers of excellence and a primary care network that provides a brand-image of high clinical quality, patient and physician loyalty, and community trust.

Integrative Medicine Opens at The Regional Cancer Center

2008-05-28T15:24:00.001-04:00

Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are pleased to announce the addition of the Integrative Medicine Program at The Regional Cancer Center.
Integrative Medicine allows patients to learn about therapies that can complement their current medical treatments. This may include diet, herbals, supplements, acupuncture, stress reduction and relaxation techniques.
For patient Sarah Breen, Integrative Medicine was the right choice. Breen’s husband, Vincent, saw information about the program on television. Sarah contacted The Regional Cancer Center and was eager for a consultation. She suffered from severe, persistent back pain that made standing, walking, or even lying down painful, and it was worsening. “I was willing to try anything,” she said.
Sarah’s initial appointment with the program’s physician, Dr. Kevin Mathews, surprised her. “The first visit I thought was just for questions and answers,” she said. “I didn’t expect any treatment, but there I was, on the table.” Dr. Mathews administered acupuncture, and also recommended herbals and aquatic therapy. After a few weeks, they began to notice a difference. “We would see that she was a little more mobile,” he said. “She noticed improvement, and her husband really noticed a lot of improvement.”
This type of success is exactly what the program hopes for, said Mary Kate Schuster, RN, OCN, and cancer program director. “And the exciting thing is that it’s not just for cancer patients,” she added. “It’s for any patient who’s interested in enhancing their health and wellness, facing any illness, or facing cancer.”
Integrative medicine is the use of evidence-based complementary therapies and what some people would call “alternative” therapies as part of mainstream treatment, Dr. Mathews said. Those undergoing cancer treatment and cancer survivors are frequent users of complementary therapies; which may help with nutrition, pain, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, and chemotherapy-related nausea. Things such as guided imagery, acupuncture, massage, herbals, osteopathic and chiropractic manual therapies as well as hypnosis are recommended based on a patient’s condition. Some of these services are offered on-site, and others are provided by a network of complementary providers.
Sarah said that the treatments helped her. This pleases Dr. Mathews. “What we are looking at with integrative medicine is not only the cure, but the healing process, and recognizing the body’s innate capacity to heal itself,” he said. “Healing can take place at any point in any illness on all levels – body, mind, and spirit.”
For more information about The Integrative Medicine Program at The Regional Cancer Center, please call (315) 624-5390. Office Hours by appointment on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Faxton Campus of Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, 1676 Sunset Avenue, Utica, New York.

The 12th Annual Miracle Home Makeover Kicks Off to Benefit Children’s Miracle Network

2008-05-28T13:22:00.000-04:00

On April 25, 2008, Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation, in partnership with WKTV NewsChannel 2, Lite 98.7FM and Lewis Custom Homes kicked off the 12th Annual $100,000 Miracle Home Makeover to benefit Children’s Miracle Network. One lucky person will win a $100,000 Miracle Home Makeover or $100,000 in cash. For more than a decade, the Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Home project has built miracles for the children of our community. In eleven years, nearly $1.7 million dollars has been raised by the project to benefit women and children’s services at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare.WKTV-NewsChannel 2 and Lite 98.7FM will join the Faxton-St Luke’s Healthcare Foundation, Lewis Custom Homes, and the Home Builders Association of Mohawk Valley over the next several months to explore the endless possibilities of the $100,000 home makeover. Tune in weekly to see incredible new ideas in decorating, remodeling or expanding your home. A maximum of 4,000 tickets are available and may be purchased at $100 each by calling Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare’s Foundation Office at (315) 624-5600. The drawing for the Miracle Home Makeover will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 6:00pm at Jay-K Lumber Corp., Seneca Turnpike, New Hartford. “The $100,000 Miracle Home Makeover is a great way for the winner to create their dream home, while giving back to the community at the same time,” said Eileen Pronobis, executive director of Faxton-St Luke’s Healthcare Foundation. “More than 75 vendors and contractors donate their time, talents and products to this project and we are grateful to them all.” “Lewis Custom Homes is thrilled to be part of this project that continues to provide equipment, programs and services that help area children,” said Luke Lewis, general contractor for the project and Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation Board Member. “So many of our participating vendors’ and contractors’ families have used the services at Faxton-St. Luke’s, and we are all proud to give back.”Projects such as the $100,000 Miracle Home Makeover allow Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare to make a difference in the lives of so many children by enhancing technology, providing pediatric equipment and services, and by supporting programs like the EMS Project Kids Care Program and Project Kids Talk that help provide compassionate, professional care to our community.For more information call the Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare Foundation Office at (315) 624-5600

Wireless at FSLH

2008-05-28T13:20:00.000-04:00

After months of planning and installation, wireless Internet is now accessible throughout the Faxton Campus and is in the works at the St. Luke’s Campus. The wireless network not only allows for better care and maintenance of patients and their records, but also provides free Internet service to patients and visitors. It is currently used in the Emergency Department for bedside registration as well as nursing documentation, which is part of the Clinical Information System (Eclipsys). In the future, Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) staff will also use the wireless technology to collect patient vitals - facilitating a faster, more efficient workplace.Requests from patients and their family members for wireless Internet is one of the many reasons FSLH decided it was time wireless technology was installed. FSLH is currently the only hospital in the area to offer wireless Internet to patients and families. “It is really nice for patients as well as their visitors to be able to use the Internet without leaving the patient’s room,” said Don Parlagreco, Team Lead/Network Analyst for NDS. “It is difficult for family members and friends to take time off from work to care for a loved one who is in the hospital, so this is just one more step that FSLH has taken to make their lives easier and visits more comfortable.” Patients in the Dialysis Unit find the wireless Internet a valuable amenity to have. With most patients coming in for Dialysis a few times a week for four to five hours at a time, the wireless Internet helps pass the time. Fred Testa has been coming to the Faxton Campus for Dialysis for one year and takes advantage of the Internet while he is in for treatment.“Anything that makes your time go faster while you are in for Dialysis is a bonus,” Testa said. “My nephew plays hockey and his games are broadcasted on the Internet, so it is great that I can come to Faxton and not have to miss watching his games. I never come to Dialysis without my computer.” The wireless network set up and installation at Faxton took two months, and now that it is complete, the wireless network should be up and running at St. Luke’s by the end of June. At the Faxton Campus, the wireless is installed everywhere but in the private physician offices. At St. Luke’s, it will be accessible everywhere except the Professional Office Building.The wireless network is an advancement FSLH has made to keep up with the latest technology to offer the best care possible to patients. “It is an expensive system to install and maintain, but we believe the benefits will definitely outweigh the cost,” Parlagreco said. For more information about the wireless network, call FSLH Communications and Marketing Department at (315) 624-5600.

New Security System on Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare’s Maternity and Pediatrics Units

2008-05-27T17:56:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday, May 28, 2008, a security system will be activated at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) that will offer additional security and protection to the organization’s smallest patients. In a 2005 study by the National Center on Missing & Exploited Children and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, there were 116 infants abducted from healthcare facilities in the last two decades. Eighty-five percent of the abductions were within the areas including mother’s room, nursery and pediatrics. Having one child abducted is too many.

The new security system for Maternity, Labor & Delivery, Nursery and Pediatrics, which was funded by the Children’s Miracle Network of the Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation, includes locked doorways that can only be accessed by swiping Staff ID badges at the entrance or by calling the unit using the telephone available at each unit entrance.

The number of family members to Labor & Delivery will also be limited. Only two can be present in the delivery room and they will be identified by purple wrist bands.

Unique to the new system is the change in access for the two elevators located directly across from the Medical Records Office. The elevators will continue to have public access for the Ground, First and Second floors, but no public access to the Third Floor where Maternity and Labor & Delivery are located.

The Admitting staff (available 24-hours-a-day) can access the unit directly via the two elevators across from Medical Records by using a special swipe card. They can also call the unit and let them know when the mother is coming up on the main bank of elevators. If the mother arrives through the Emergency Department, the ED staff will make a call to the floor to let staff know the mother is coming.

There were more than 2,100 births at The Birthplace of Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare in 2007. It is the only hospital in the area with a Level II Special Care Nursery and Neonatologists on call 24-hours-a-day.

For more information, contact Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare at 315-624-5600 or visit faxtonstlukes.com

Emergency Angioplasty Now at FSLH

2007-06-21T13:18:00.000-04:00

Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Now Performing Emergency Cardiac AngioplastiesAs a 17-year board member at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH), Dick Notebaert of New Hartford always knew of the technology and skilled professionals that were found behind the hospital doors, but he didn’t know he’d have to test them following a heart attack. After admission through the Emergency Department at the St. Luke’s Campus, a cardiac angioplasty was performed on Notebaert to save his life.Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, as part of the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute (MVHI), a cooperative venture with St. Elizabeth Medical Center, is now providing primary (emergency) cardiac angioplasty, which is a catheter-based procedure performed by an interventional cardiologist in order to open up a blocked coronary artery and restore blood flow to the heart muscle. In most cases, following balloon angioplasty, a stent will also be placed to keep the artery open. Angioplasty is performed on an elective basis to treat coronary artery disease, but is also performed on an emergency basis to treat a heart attack, such as in Notebaert’s case.“FSLH has a dedicated team of highly trained professional nurses and outstanding cardiologists,” he said. “The key to a successful outcome is quick response and Faxton-St. Luke’s has consistently outperformed the “gold standard” of 90 minutes. In my case, the time to completion was 66 minutes.”This standard of care that Notebaert speaks of is the nationwide time for “door to balloon” time. At FSLH, patients are experiencing faster times with wonderful results, often moving out of Critical Care and onto a medical surgical floor just 24-hours later.The MVHI physicians involved with the primary angioplasties are Dr. Hugh MacIsaac, Dr. Thomas Mathew, Dr. Ramzi Nassif, Dr. Michael Kelberman, Dr. Prabhat Varma, and Dr. Ashok Patel. Once 36 successful emergent procedures are completed, Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare hopes to be given privileges from the New York State Department of Health to schedule angioplasties on an elective basis.“The community will always benefit when there are health care choices,” said Notebaert of the addition of this service at FSLH. “Some residents might simply find Faxton-St. Luke’s more convenient, while some doctors might find it a better fit for their practice patterns.”Scott Perra, Executive Vice President/COO of Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, agrees.“We have the largest emergency department in a four to five county area,” Perra explained. “Many patients come through our doors that require an angioplasty in order to save their life. By offering this procedure here, we reduce the need for any transport.”To date, FSLH has conducted seven emergency angioplasties. Cheryl Perry, MA, RN, Nursing Administrator and MVHI Co-Coordinator, is confident that within a year they will have met their goal of 36. “It’s wonderful news for the community,” she said. “The physicians and nurses that work with these patients are some of the very best. They are professional, highly skilled – and most importantly, the standard of care for every patient is consistently high.”Notebaert resides in New Hartford with his wife Patti, a first grade teacher at Hughes School in New Hartford. He has two daughters, Jessica and Shannon, who are both in college. Notebaert is a retired President and CEO of Homestead Savings Bank.Photo attached: Pictured are Notebaert and his wife, Patti, at Bald Head Island, North Carolina just two weeks following his angioplasty.###

Online Bill Pay Now Available

2007-06-21T13:13:00.000-04:00

Online Bill Pay Now Available at http://www.faxtonstlukes.com/Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) is now offering the opportunity to pay FSLH bills online at http://www.faxtonstlukes.com/.To take advantage of this free service, users simply need a credit card, a checking or savings account information and the account number located on the bill received.“It’s nice to have this feature because it focuses on patient convenience,” said Lisa Lasalle, billing manager at FSLH. “Patients can pay their bills anytime online without having to worry about calling during business hours.”To access this service, just follow these easy steps:1. Visit http://www.faxtonstlukes.com/.2. Click on “Financial Services” at the top of the page, or “Online Bill Pay” on the left side of the page.3. Once the Financial Services page opens, click on the words “Pay Your Bill Now.”4. The Bank of America One Time Bill Pay page will then open. Follow the instructions on each page to proceed.For more information or questions about paying bills online, call (315) 624-5170 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.# # #

Telethon Raises Over $100,000

2006-04-02T13:12:00.000-04:00

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

2006-03-23T13:11:00.000-05:00

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

2006-03-23T13:10:00.001-05:00

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

2006-01-20T13:06:00.000-05:00

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/.###

WAL-MART Surpasses $300 Million Raised for CMN

2005-12-30T13:05:00.000-05:00

Locally Wal-Mart associates and customers have raised more than$572,753 for Faxton-St. Luke’s HealthcareFaxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and Children’s Miracle Network announced today that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has reached an incredible milestone in the organization’s history – donating and raising more than $300 million for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in 18 years. Donations made to Children’s Miracle Network directly benefit 170 children’s hospitals in North America including Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. Participation by Wal-Mart in Utica this year has grown to five Wal-Mart stores and a Distribution Center, providing a very large support base for Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare.“Wal-Mart’s associate-based fund raising is unprecedented,” said Mick Shannon, co-founder of Children’s Miracle Network. “In addition to contributions made through the Wal-Mart & SAM’S CLUB Foundation, associates nationwide band together every year to carry out grassroots fund raising efforts at their locations to help local children’s hospitals – and they engage customers and community to take part. It’s a unique approach that works extremely well.” Through bake sales, softball and golf tournaments, selling Children’s Miracle Network balloons and other activities Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB efforts have helped fund programs, services and equipment that provides direct patient care to local women and children.Sharra Decker, mother of then four-month-old Elissa White, knows first-hand the importance of having a CMN hospital in our community. Elissa was diagnosed with viral meningitis las September and was admitted to the Pediatric Unit at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. “Elissa was in the hospital for three days,” Sharra said. “It was a very stressful time for our family. I had to be strong and close to home for my other two daughters. The staff was strong for me. The nurses and child life specialist were a great support team.” Today Elissa is a healthy and happy eleven-month-old who always has a smile on her face.“Wal-Mart associates have a strong commitment to give back and help others,” said Betsy Reithemeyer, vice president of Wal-Mart Corporate Affairs. “One hundred percent of the dollars raised for Children’s Miracle Network stays within the communities where funds are donated, which is in step with our philosophy of giving back locally. It is our customers and associates who help make miracles possible each year for the children at these hospitals.” "We are so fortunate to have the support of Wal-Mart,” said Andrea LaGatta, Children’s Miracle Network Coordinator. “The nurses, physicians, staff and the children at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare thank Wal-Mart associates and customers in our area for supporting the hospital and Children’s Miracle Network and for making miracles a reality in our community.” Sharra Decker is thankful for the care they received during her daughter’s illness and is anxious to give back to an organization that has been so generous to her. About Faxton-St. Luke’s HealthcareSince 1992, the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare has worked diligently to help children and their families who come to Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. In 2004, more than $500,000 was raised from individuals, corporations, businesses, and civic groups to treat children suffering from illnesses and recovering from accidents at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. Without CMN funding, these children and their families would often times have to travel to Syracuse or Albany for treatment. CMN dollars raised in the Mohawk Valley provide services, state-of-the-art equipment, and the comfort of being close to home, family and friends. To learn more go to http://www.faxtonstlukes.com/.About Children’s Miracle NetworkChildren's Miracle Network—the alliance of premier hospitals for children—is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. To learn more go to http://www.cmn.org/.

Regional Cancer Program Receives Three-Year Approval

2005-12-30T13:00:00.000-05:00

Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Regional Cancer Program Receives Three-Year Approval by American College of Surgeons(Utica, NY) The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons has granted its three-year approval with seven commendations to the Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Regional Cancer Center Program. “We are thrilled by the three-year approval with seven commendations for our Cancer Program,” commented Mary Kate Schuster, Cancer Program Director. “Our ability to provide exceptional cancer treatment with a dedicated and talented staff is what helped contribute to the overall success of the survey.” The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that more than 1.3 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2005. There are currently more than 1,400 CoC-Approved Cancer Programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, which represent 25 percent of all U.S. hospitals. This 25 percent diagnose and/or treat 80 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to reducing the morbidity and mortality of cancer through education, standard-setting, and monitoring the quality of cancer care. Its membership includes Fellows of the America College of Surgeons and 40 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.The CoC’s sets standards for quality, multidisciplinary cancer patient care; surveying facilities to evaluate compliance with the 36 CoC standards; collecting standardized and quality data from approved facilities; and using the data to develop effective educational interventions to improve cancer care outcomes at the national, state and local level. “The Approval Program of the Commission on Cancer sets the quality-of-care standards for cancer programs. The organization reviews the programs to make sure they conform to those standards. The standards are high and we are very pleased our Cancer Center Program at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare received approval with the commendations. It’s a compliment to our staff and their commitment to quality patient care,” stated Keith A. Fenstemacher, President/CEO.Approval by the CoC is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. Facilities with CoC-Approved Cancer Programs must undergo an on-site review every three years.Receiving care at a Commission on Cancer Approved Cancer Program ensures that a patient will have access to:

Comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment
A multispecialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
Access to cancer-related information, education, and support
A cancer registry that collects data on type and state of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up
Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care And, most importantly
Quality care close to home

patient data, including the data from patients at The Regional Cancer Center, are reported by each CoC-Approved Cancer Programs to the CoC’s National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint program with the American Cancer Society. The NCDB currently contains patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment and outcomes information for more than 16 million cancer patients diagnosed and treated at hospital cancer programs in the U.S. between 1985 and 2003. The data accounts for approximately two-thirds of newly diagnosed cancer cases in the U.S. each year.