April 2, 2018
Montefiore Hutchinson Campus
THE NEW YORK POST FEATURES MONTEFIORE'S HUTCHINSON AND WESTCHESTER SQUARE CAMPUSES AS MODELS FOR REDUCING HOSPITAL OVERCROWDING.
Montefiore Westchester Square Campus
A recent article in the New York Post features Montefiore’s Westchester Square and Hutchinson Campuses as prime examples of health system innovation to reduce hospital overcrowding. These dedicated facilities boost Montefiore’s ability to provide patients with appropriate treatment in the setting best suited to their needs.
When patients arrive at the Westchester Square Campus, the first standalone emergency department in New York State, our modernized intake process ensures they are seen by clinicians in an average of 20 minutes. Rapid assessment reduces overcrowding and wait times, with necessary tests ordered more quickly, resulting in improved care. Any patient found to need a higher level of care is promptly transferred to one of a number of hospitals within the health system, but that number is relatively low—only about six out of 100 patients per day require hospital admission.
Montefiore’s Hutchinson Campus, our state-of-the-art ambulatory facility, was also touted in the Post article for providing streamlined care tailored to each patient’s condition. Moving emergency care and ambulatory surgeries out of the hospital is how Montefiore is doing more to reduce overcrowding, freeing up resources for hospitalized patients who require ample recovery time and roundthe- clock care. Read the full Post article here: https://nypost.com/2018/03/12/how-terrible-trips-to-the-hospital-are-getting-better/
Montefiore Medicine President and CEO Steven M. Safyer, MD, joined Governor Andrew Cuomo, state legislators, President of GNYHA Kenneth Raske, and 1199 union members at the Code Blue for Healthcare 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East Rally in March. Dr. Safyer delivered an impassioned speech to union members who packed the Times Union Center in Albany. “Every person in this country should have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare,” he declared, and went on to describe Montefiore’s vision for a financially sustainable, high-quality healthcare delivery model. Dr. Safyer called upon government, community-based providers and organizations to work together to develop a national model of healthcare services that provides care for all.
Dr. Safyer with 1199 workers at Times Union Arena.
Montefiore has earned Leader Status in LGBTQ healthcare equality by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for the second year in a row. Montefiore’s commitment to providing equitable healthcare to LGBTQ patients and a safe, inclusive workplace environment for associates resulted in our perfect score in this year’s survey.
The Human Rights Campaign offers free LGBTQ training at https://www.hrc.org/hei/hei-training-on-going-training. Associates can log on using their Montefiore email address, Montefiore code 55709 and security code HRC.
We recently celebrated this important achievement at the Montefiore Associate LGBTQ & Ally Social on March 22, at which the New York City Gay Men’s chorus performed. To learn more about the services we provide, please visit www.montefiore.org/LGBTQcare.
The Montefiore Accountable Care Organization (ACO) recently distributed checks for more than $1 million to participating providers, as it has done for the past five years in a row. Our Pioneer ACO model, in place since 2012, is integral to Medicare’s strategy to reward efforts that base payments on quality and outcomes of care, rather than on the number of office visits and tests performed. The Montefiore ACO has consistently been a top performer, saving Medicare millions of dollars in unnecessary and avoidable services and costs. Providers earn a share of these savings by meeting quality and clinical performance thresholds. "When providers work with Montefiore to improve quality, and tailor care to meet patients’ individualized needs in order to keep them out of the hospital, these contracts are financially rewarding," says William Scesney, Associate Vice President, Network and Business Development, Montefiore Care Management Company.
Daniel Weiser, MD
In a medical first, Montefiore-Einstein researchers have found a marker for bone cancer that has the potential to reduce the need for invasive bone scans and biopsies. In a study of patients with osteosarcoma, Daniel Weiser, MD, Medical Director, Intra-Abdominal Solid Tumor Program, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, demonstrated for the first time that tumor DNA circulating in the blood (ctDNA) can be identified and tracked over time. The researchers applied a highly sensitive DNA sequencing method to identify ctDNA in the blood of seven osteosarcoma patients. The results were published online in Oncotarget. "This new discovery will allow doctors to monitor the progression of tumors and their response to treatment without exposing children to invasive biopsies or imaging," says Dr. Weiser.
Martha S. Grayson, MD, Senior Associate Dean Emerita, Medical Education and Professor Emerita, Medicine, Montefiore and Einstein, was appointed to the New York State Board of Medicine for a renewable five-year term. A nationally recognized educator, Dr. Grayson is known for developing innovative and rigorous medical educational programs and evaluation processes.
Karina Gritsenko, MD, Program Director, Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship, and Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, Family and Social Medicine, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, received the Rising Star Award for her work with the American Society of Interventional Pain. She was presented with the award at the annual meeting in March.
Bruce J. Schwartz, MD, Deputy Chairman & Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore and Einstein, is president-elect of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Schwartz will serve as president-elect starting May 2018, after which he will become the APA president. He says, "Too many Americans with mental illness are untreated because of stigma, discrimination and difficulty accessing care. The APA needs to take the lead advocating for them. We can do that by championing collaborative care, telepsychiatry and other innovative delivery methods. I am excited about this opportunity to lead the APA and work with our members to advocate for better care."
Twenty local high school students recently participated in the seventh annual Brain Bee Championship hosted by Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. The competition tests students' knowledge of the brain, with a goal of inspiring them to learn more and pursue future careers in neurology and neurological research. This year's winner was Malhaar Agrawal, a sophomore at Horace Mann, who won $500 and will go on to compete in the Brain Bee U.S. Championship in Baltimore, MD.
Researchers at the Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine are conducting a study in adult smartphone/tablet users. Smartphone use has become prevalent over the last 10 years amongst many Americans. People who spend extended periods of time looking at their smartphone screen may experience eye discomfort. This research will involve assessment of smartphone use via surveys and observational studies. The volunteer will also have an eye examination performed by the physician. This goal of this study is to assess the impact of increased screen time on eye health.
You may be eligible for screening if you are:
You may not participate in this study if you:
Reimbursement or compensation for participating will not be provided.
Call Jose Rosado at 718-920-5198 or email jrosado@montefiore.org to learn more.
Join us at an Open House to celebrate the opening of our third Caregiver Support Center location at the Wakefield Campus. Meet our staff and learn about our services for patients and their loved ones. Light refreshments will be served.
Monday, April 2 – Wednesday, April 4 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wakefield Campus, 5th Floor, 600 East 233rd Street
Come out and dance the stress away with Zumba instructor Alison Santiago. No dance experience necessary, just a willingness to move your body and have some fun. Registration is required via the Talent Management website.
Tuesdays, April 3, 10, 17, 24 | 5:15 – 6:15 PM
Grand Hall, Moses Campus
Join the Healing Arts Program via Zoom or in person for a meditation session with Fernando Camacho, MD, to help relax your body and focus your mind!
Wednesday, April 11 | Noon –1:00 PM
TLC 3, Moses Campus
Zoom Registration: https://goo.gl/a3D4Xp
The Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District is launching a Montefiore and North Central Bronx Associate Discount Program, starting in April. Celebrate the launch of the program at Tasty Picks.
Associates can show their hospital ID at participating businesses to receive discounts and deals. Check out the deals at the BID website and shop local!
Friday, April 13 | Noon
Tasty Picks, 89 East Gun Hill Road
