Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Downtown
Seated, left to right: Adekemi Gray, Chris Berner, Latoya Sundack, Jasmine Potts. Standing, left to right: Dominique Brown, Chris Pernell, MD,Manny Leon, Sandra Vasquez, Regina Jackson, Olena Ifante, Jo-Ann Jones Charles, Ivrose Dorcely, Yvonne Hutchinson, Yulia Kogan, Jeremy Boal, MD, Sonali Das.
While we are in the midst of our transformation, it’s important that we take care of ourselves. Last week, I met with a group of employees who are doing just that.
They were participants in the 1199 Mount Sinai Beth Israel Diabetes Prevention Program at Union Square. The program was a partnership between the Union and MSBI to help employees prevent diabetes through lifestyle changes and was facilitated by the 1199 SEIU/League Labor Management Project.
It started in 2015 and had a total of 97 participants over the two years. Participants in the Union Square class met regularly as a group with their coach, Jo-Ann Jones Charles, to support each other in their wellness efforts. They had nearly 35 sessions over twelve months and completed their class in June.
I was truly inspired by these individuals. They have a very special bond with each other and with their coach. Nearly all of them lost weight through lifestyle changes and significantly decreased their chances of developing diabetes. It was the team accountability, confidence-building, environmental supports, and self-care that made the life-changing difference for them. The program had such a positive impact on these individuals that they continue to check-in with, and support each other, each week. I’m so impressed with their persistence.
Self-care is vital not only for our own well being, but also for our patients. We are doing a lot to promote wellness in the workplace. Roughly 1200 employees have joined the new gym since November and we have up to 100 visitors each day. It’s wonderful that groups have come together to encourage each other to improve their health. For example, many of our physical therapists and some others meet in the gym on Tuesdays and Fridays during lunch for a pull-up challenge. They hold each other accountable for pushing their limits and are getting stronger each week.
Some members of the pull-up challenge: Jisoo Kim, PT, DPT; Jeff Durand, PTA; Anthony Gallagher, interpreter; Katie Murphy, PT, DPT; Frank Erkes, PT, DPT.
I urge you to find your own supportive group or to join one of our wellness classes hosted at MSBI most weekdays. Also, this Monday, July 17th, we will be hosting a Summer Wellness Table where you can get information about all of our programs. I hope you will stop by on the second floor of Union Square or the Linsky lobby to find out more. And, I hope you will keep the ideas coming about how we can help you do your best work. We are here to support you.
Have a great weekend.
Jeremy
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Downtown
Left to Right: Amil Gonzalez, Security Officer; Conrad Wint, PCA; Esther Tuffour, PCA; Larry Brown, RN.
I’ve spent some time featuring our behavioral health programs in these messages because it is an increasingly important concern in healthcare. Our program is robust with so many teams working together to care for the changing needs of the community. I want to be sure to thank them all. With the transformation, MSBI will become even more of a behavioral health center of excellence for the system and for the city.
I must acknowledge the work of our Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, or CPEP. They are an integral part of our behavioral health services. This team admits patients with a mental health emergency, observes and treats them, and often refers them to our other behavioral health programs. I am so thankful for their incredible resilience. They often address very challenging clinical situations. See some members of this exceptional team below.
Back row, Left to Right: Jean Dixon, USA; Gary Carlisle, RN (Nurse Manager); Erika Gerz, MD (Unit Chief); Salomea Kikozashvili, MSW (Social Worker, Adult Team); Michael Romanelli, RN; Julie Reynolds-Rivera, RN. Front row, Left to Right: Nwayieze Ndukwe, MD; Marie Flore Bazile, PCA; Kristina Ohring, MSW (Social Worker, Geriatric Team).
The geriatric psychiatric program on 6 Karpas cares for older patients and some younger patients. Gary Carlisle, RN, the nurse manager, mentioned their efforts in the last year to make the unit safer for staff and patients. This includes the new comfort room for deescalating difficult situations and self-care groups. He also mentioned that sometimes the wonderful bond between geriatric and younger patients is an important part of care and healing. I am so proud of the team below for creating such a thriving environment for patients. The work they do is unbelievable.
I hope you all had a great Fourth and have a wonderful weekend.
Jeremy
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Downtown
Dr. Yasmin Hurd (left), Director of the Center for Addictive Disorders within the Mount Sinai Behavioral Health System, and Dr. Edwin Salsitz of Mount Sinai Beth Israel. (JAMES KEIVOM/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
Not everyone is aware that Mount Sinai Downtown has the largest non-profit Opioid Treatment Program in the United States with a network of 11 clinics throughout downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. The OTP team is a crucial part of the plan to transform downtown and offer a comprehensive network of behavioral health care excellence. Although the program has been in operation for over 40 years, the need has increased in the past several years.
Melissa M. Freeman, MD
Edwin Salsitz, MD, is an attending physician at MSBI, Division of Chemical Dependency, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine. He recently worked with Yasmin Herd, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Pharmacological Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine to publish, “Opioid Addiction FAQ: Experts’ guide to the hard facts,” in the New York Daily News, which can be found here.
In May, I was grateful to attend the OTP Service Awards to learn about the OTP staff’s incredible service to the community. One person who stood out was Melissa M. Freeman, MD, the physician at the Gouverneur Clinic, who was honored for her care of addiction patients for more than 56 years. Thank you for your dedication, Dr. Freeman. See pictures of her and some members of our OTP teams below.
Some staff who work in our OTP network: First row, left to right: Jimel Brown, Jaime Torres, Karen Astorino, Domingo Fernandez, Flora Johnson, Dunia Gibson; Second row, left to right: Valerie Pressley, Caryn Dayola, Edith Marcano, Lakesha Brace, Marcell Ledoux, Rosemary Prisco, Zaida Liranzo, Stephanie Woodley, Ardetta Green, Loretta Campbell, Danell Williams; Back row, left to right: Anisha Torruella, Anthony Lee, Michael Lucine, Elma Hyppolite, Rakhshan Chida, MD, Mirta Reyes, and Emmanuel Vilsaint.
From left to right: Brian Koll, MD; Jordan Ehni, MPH; Marie Moss, RN; Wes McKinley, PA; Marie Vill, Office Manager; Kathryn Stanak, RN; Carolina Vilaluz, RN.
Dr. Brian Koll
So many people have been at BI for a long time. Brian Koll, MD, Executive Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control, has been in our infection control department for more than 30 years. We say goodbye to him this week as he retires. Under his leadership, we’ve had some of the lowest infections rates in the system and in our history. This team is an integral part of keeping our patients safe. See a picture of the infection prevention team below. We wish Dr. Koll all good things in his future and promise to maintain his standard of excellence.
Have a great weekend!
Jeremy
PS—Check out pictures from our celebration of Pride for Pride on Wednesday!
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Downtown
Mount Sinai Beth Israel has received the Mission: Lifeline® Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks.
To receive the award, over 75% of cardiac patients admitted to the hospital must receive care within the guidelines set forth by the AHA. These guidelines have served as a unifying goal for several departments and have unquestionably saved many lives. We are so proud of the amazing cardiac care our hospital provides for the community. It would not be possible without communication and teamwork between many departments including the ED, the Cath Lab, the CCU, nurses, technicians, telemetry/stepdown units, security, and others. What makes our hospital unlike others is the way different departments work together to create seamless care. See some of the team below.
Back row, left to right: Ramesh Gowda, MD, Director, Endovascular Services, Associate Director of Interventional Cardiology; John Fox, MD, Chief of Cardiology; Kathleen Kearney, Cardiology Nurse Practitioner. Front row, left to right: Shari Weisburd, Assistant Director of the Emergency Department; Catherine Coughlin, Nursing Director of the Emergency Department; Yumiko Kanei, MD, Program Director, Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine; Lena Chang, Director of Invasive Cardiac Services / Nurse Practitioner; Monique Bell, Quality Improvement Coordinator; Jean Santiago, Cardiac Cath Lab Coordinator.
Nursing also requires incredible teamwork. So far, 60% of nurses have completed the Press Ganey Engagement survey—THANK YOU! I would be so grateful to hear from every single one of you. Please check your e-mail to find a link to the survey. This is a completely confidential way to use your voice and help us understand your needs. The survey is only open until midnight tonight!
Check out our “engaged” nurses below!
Have a great weekend.
–Jeremy
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Downtown
It’s clear that our team changes lives each day, but it’s not always apparent how deeply we can influence a patient, especially when he or she is vulnerable.
I’d like to highlight the work being done in our amazing Victim Services Program that is a part of the Social Work Department. The Victim Services Program is dedicated to serving victims of crime, including survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, physical assault, adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and incest. Social workers provide continuous support for patients during their path to recovery, including post-crime intervention, accompaniment in the ED, advocacy, referrals, and ongoing therapy. See a picture of the team below.
From left, front row: Merritt Stewart, LCSW, Victim Services Therapist; Heidi Ross, LCSW, Victim Services and Emergency Department Social Work Supervisor; from left, top row, Patrick Walsh, LMSW, College Campus Sexual Assault Coordinator; Chauntel Gerdes, LMSW, Outreach and Prevention Programs; Maya Genovesi, LMSW, Emergency Department and Victim Services Social Worker; Fran Silverman, ACSW, LCSW-R, Director, Department of Social Work And Home Care Services.
The work of this team and others not pictured is an important link between great immediate care and long-term recovery. Recently, a patient shared his or her experience working with Merritt Stewart, pictured above:
“I have been through a lot and I have survived a lot. Today, I just got my green card approval and that is the first step of my new life. I would have never survived my nightmare without you! You were my friend when I had no friends or family. You made me believe in myself and I did survive… My fight isn’t over, but I am stronger today thanks to you and the person you helped me become.”
Thank you all for the amazing support you provide our community.
Have a great weekend.
— Jeremy
PS—A great time was had by all at last Wednesday’s Ice Cream Social. Our infection rates have been the lowest in years, thanks to your amazing persistence.
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Downtown
This week I’d like to highlight the incredible and sometimes overlooked work of the staff on 4 and 8 Bernstein. These occupational therapists, patient care associates, nurses, physician assistants, doctors, unit clerks, and counselors provide inpatient psychiatric care to some of our most vulnerable and challenging patients. I am humbled by their dedication to their patients and their commitment to each other. The staff has worked through several difficult months, but they have continued to provide great, safe care. In a few weeks, 4B will open a brand new comfort room that includes comfortable chairs, games, crafts, and headphones.
The team on 4B cares for patients who need 24/7 psychiatric care. Pictured below are members of that team, along with their nurse manager Liz Metz, who has served Beth Israel for 42 years – Amazing!
Here’s a picture of some of the staff from 8B, who take care of patients with psychiatric and substance abuse challenges. They recently began giving patients welcome bags when they are admitted that include notepads, care guides, a stress ball, games, and other calming items.
8B team with a welcome bag from left to right: Shanna Braithwaite, PCA; Adelaide Frempong, PCA; Junghee Kim, RN; Marcela Roman, RN; Jessica Tyrrell, MS, OTR/L; Liz Metz, RNBC; Yolanda Rodriguez, USA.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Jeremy
P.S.
Last week we highlighted the work of our Chemical Dependency team and more pictures of them can be found on our blog.
