13134 Cornerstone 2.07 New - Winthrop University Hospital

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Winter 2006 • 2007 Institute for Cancer Care Winthrop’s Lung Cancer Center: Cutting-Edge, Compassionate & Comprehensive Care No one — even a smoker — is ever prepared to hear that they have lung cancer. 6 Cornerstone The immediate reaction, usually shock, is often followed by a feeling of being besieged — by a massive amount of new information, critical treatment options to understand and seemingly endless visits to specialists. Even under the best of circumstances, navigating the healthcare system can be overwhelming. But it needn’t be that way. Offering a comprehensive program of prevention, diagnosis and advanced multidisciplinary inpatient and outpatient treatment for men and women with lung cancer — and those with a high risk of developing the disease — the staff at Winthrop-University Hospital’s Lung Cancer Center understands lung cancer patients’ unique anxieties and fears, and focuses on alleviating their stress. “I was stunned when I heard the news,” said John Gilbert, a retired police sergeant, who had quit smoking 10 years earlier. In May 2005, he was referred to Winthrop’s Lung Cancer Center and diagnosed with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer, a complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach. The Center consists of a diverse team of specialists, managed by Medical Director Jeffrey Schneider, MD, and Cancer Care Coordinator Julie Mischo, RN. The team includes medical oncologists, thoracic surgeons, interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, radiologists, pathologists, social workers and pulmonary rehabilitation therapists. Each of the relevant specialists contributes to the patients’ care as they meet regularly to determine the best course of treatment. “Our patients are at the core of everything we do,” said Dr. Schneider. (L.-R.) Julie Mischo, RN, Cancer Care Coordinator; Scott Schubach, MD, thoracic surgeon and Chairman of Winthrop’s Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery; and Jeffrey Schneider, MD, Medical Director of Winthrop’s Lung Cancer Center, discuss the best course of treatment for a patient. “They can be confident that we use every available resource to deliver leading-edge care that targets their individualized medical circumstances.” For Mr. Gilbert, the Center’s team developed an individualized and aggressive treatment plan, including a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. After he completed treatment, he followed up with participation in Winthrop’s nationally recognized Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP), which not only helped restore his breathing capacity, but also improved his general well-being. Considered Long Island’s most comprehensive resource for treating breathing disorders, the PRP provides patients with exercise programs specifically tailored to their strengths and weaknesses, health information and group support to help them cope with feelings of anger, depression and anxiety. “While this program is not a cure, it optimizes care and improves quality of life,” said Mara Bernstein, Administrative Director of Outpatient Services for Pulmonary and Critical Care at Winthrop. “No words can express how I was cared for during my treatment, and how I still feel cared for,” said Mr. Gilbert. “From day one, they handled everything. All of my tests and treatments were booked for me. We were always informed about what was happening and what I could expect. That made the whole thing a lot easier.” Cancer Care Coordinator Julie Mischo helps patients and families move through the process as easily as possible. Working closely with the Center’s specialists to organize and orchestrate patient care and program activities, Ms. Mischo supports patients and families through constant interaction with the Center’s medical, nursing and social work staffs. “It is my job to keep the lines of communication open so our patients can deal with the challenges presented by their disease,” she said. At 71, Frances Malloy, also a smoker diagnosed with stage IIIA lung cancer, was particularly challenged when she came to Winthrop’s Lung Cancer Center. She had been treated (continued on page 18)
Winthrop’s Home Health Agency Among Nation’s Elite Recognized as one of the nation’s top 25 percent of Medicare-certified home health agencies, Winthrop’s Home Health Agency (HHA) has been named a 2006 HomeCare Elite provider. This designation placed Winthrop’s HHA among the top 500 home healthcare providers across the U.S. The consistent flow of praise that arrives daily from grateful families and patients is a testament to the Agency’s seamless continuum of compassionate post-hospital care, aimed at allowing patients to maintain independence and quality of life at home while recuperating or managing an illness. With the average length of hospital stays decreasing and the number of residents aged 85 and older rapidly climbing, the need for additional, quality home healthcare services grows almost daily. “Home healthcare” covers a wide range of basic and specialized health and social services delivered at home. “We provide home care for patients who have had cardiac surgery, joint replacements, mastectomies and gynecological procedures, as well as those with chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, pulmonary disease, diabetes and wound care issues,” said Anne Calvo, RN, the Agency’s Administrator/Director of Patient Services. With a staff of 200, the Agency, which logs more than “The care at home that our mother received was extraordinary. Your understanding of her situation displayed your compassionate nature.” – CB 100,000 home visits annually, also offers in-home care for maternity patients, as well as comprehensive services that include nursing, rehabilitation and social work for acute and chronically ill patients — from newborns to adults — with short- and long-term needs. Encompassing nursing, social or therapeutic needs and/or assistance with the essential activities of daily living, the services include: skilled nursing; ostomy and wound care; rehabilitation services, such as physical, occupational and speech therapies; medical social services; intravenous therapy, including total parenteral nutrition, antibiotics, chemotherapy, hydration and pain management; lab work; home health aide assistance with personal care; and medical equipment and supplies. When the need for home care is open-ended, chronically ill, disabled and elderly patients may be eligible for the Agency’s Long Term Home Health Care Program. Referred to as the “nursing home without walls,” long term care offers an alternative to people who would otherwise require placement in a healthrelated facility or skilled nursing home and is reimbursable by Medicaid with the approval of the Nassau County Department of Social Services. Services include: nursing; physical, occupational and speech therapy; medical social Winter 2006 • 2007 Institute for Specialty Care work; respiratory therapy; nutritional planning; housekeepers; personal care aides and specialized services such as home maintenance and emergency response system. “For the chronically ill, this Agency is often a vital link to quality of life…some say life-saving…support services,” explained Ms. Calvo. “This is particularly true for many frail, disabled homebound patients, who would have a very difficult life without the Home Health Agency’s conscientious, personalized patient management, intervention and oversight.” In addition to traditional services, Winthrop’s Agency also has specialty programs designed to help patients follow their post-hospital treatment plans through personalized, physician-prescribed therapies, education and support provided at home. They include an individualized total joint replacement rehabilitation program, designed by Frank DiMaio, MD, Chairman of Winthrop’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and a specialized program for gynecology patients. “I hear only compliments about the services,” reported Alan Garely, MD, Winthrop’s Chief of Gynecology and Director of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. “They are happy to have someone provide treatment, information and help with pain management at home.” Hi-Tech Home Telemonitoring The Agency’s staff can be reached for phone consultations 24/7. Additionally, through Telehealth, the newest home telephone monitoring system, patients can be supervised at home via remote monitoring. They can have their status evaluated several times a day. A monitor installed at home connected to a traditional phone allows the Agency to collect the patient’s vital signs for clinical review and evaluation every day. If the data indicates a need for (continued on page 15) Cornerstone 7
Page 1 and 2: Vol.17, No.1 Winter 2006 • 2007 A
Page 3 and 4: While scientific research is at the
Page 5: Winter 2006 • 2007 New Translatio
Page 9 and 10: Winter 2006 • 2007 New Pre-Diabet
Page 11 and 12: Winter 2006 • 2007 Cornerstone 11
Page 13 and 14: The Franceschini Family Supports Co
Page 15 and 16: Scientific Research (continued from
Page 17 and 18: Winter 2006 • 2007 Cornerstone 17
Page 19 and 20: March 2007 March 12 Look Good, Feel

13134 Cornerstone 2.07 New - Winthrop University Hospital

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?