E m e rgency Center Heats Up With Summer's Arr i v a l - Glens Falls ...

You r Ho s p i t a lSummer 2001www.glensfallshospital.orgA L o o k at H ow G l en s Fal ls Ho sp i ta l is Res ponding to Yo u a n d Yo u r C o mm u n i t yP rompt TreatmentFor Minor Illnessesand InjuriesIn years past, people visitingGlens Falls Hospital’s EmergencyCare Center with relatively minorinjuries sometimes had to waitwhile the staff treated moreserious cases.In the summer of 1998, thatchanged, with the opening ofExpressCare — a unit dedicatedto providing prompt, walk-in carefor minor illnesses and injuries,such as ear aches, sprainedankles and minor cuts, burnsand abrasions.The six-room unit is staffed by ateam of emergency professionals,including a physician’s assistant,licensed practical nurses andtechnicians. On-site x-rays addeven greater convenience. Sinceits opening, ExpressCare hasserved an average of 10,000patients per year.ExpressCare is located just insidethe main entrance to the EmergencyCare Center, off Park Street.E m e rgency Center Heats UpWith Summer’s Arr i v a lIt’s 6:15 p.m. — more than an hour after Dr. Paul Vinsel’s 10-hourshift in Glens Falls Hospital’s Emergency Care Center was supposedto have ended.just the patients he remembers.Now his shift is over, but the busytimes have just begun. Summer is here.The David S. and Janet R. Sheridan EmergencyCare Center at Glens Falls Hospital will see anaverage of 175 patients on a weekend day thissummer. For ECC doctors like Paul Vinsel, thatSee Staff, Page 2Since 7 a.m this morning, he’s treatedtwo people suffering from asthma,a stroke patient and a woman withgallstones. He’s seen a man with chestpain, a pregnant woman with severeabdominal pain, and he discovered tumorson the brain of a man experiencingneurological problems. And those areI N S I D Em e e t o u r n u r s i n ga w a r d w i n n e r s3For more information,please call 926-3000.d i a l y s i s c e n t e r o p e n st o r a v e r e v i e w s4A Day in the Life of an ECC D r.: D r. Paul Vi n s e l ’s day is a non-stop mixof consultations, visits with patients like Diann Phillips and meetings with otherphysicians, such as Dr. Dean Reali (above left).o u r r e c i p e f o rw e i g h t - l o s s s u c c e s sr a d i o l o g y s c h o o l m a r k sh a l f - c e n t u r y o f l e a r n i n g67

As an emergency medicine specialist for the past 15 years,D r. Paul Vinsel has grown accustomed to playing a pivotal ro l ein the life and death dramas that play out every day in a Hospitale m e rgency care center. But when the drama revolves around achild, he says, his heart beats a little faster, and the drive to tru l ymake a diff e rence is intensified.“ T h e re is both great satisfactionand a tre m e n d o u schallenge in helping a childin an emergency situation,”D r. Vinsel says. “You haveto approach a pediatricpatient diff e rently because,often, they can’t tell youwhat hurts, and they’regenerally scared to deathto be here . ”Since joining the staffof Glens Falls Hospital’sE m e rgency Care Centernine years ago, Dr. Vi n s e lhas earned a reputation among his co-workers for hise m e r g e n c y c a r e c e n t e rDoctor Thrives on Helping Childrenin Emergency SituationsDr. Vinsel finds great satisfactionin helping children.outstanding rapport withc h i l d ren and their parents.Ask him if being a fatherof two influences his pro f e s-sional life and he smilesk n o w i n g l y. “You see a childt h a t ’s hurt and it’s not hard to picture your child being there . ”D r. Vinsel came to Glens Falls in 1992 after six years as ane m e rgency room doctor for the U.S. Arm y.“I was looking for a large community hospital with a stro n gcommitment to emergency medicine and a strong network ofspecialists to back the department up,” he says.“Glens Falls has those things. We hire enough physiciansto treat the patients quickly and, most import a n t l y, we have ther i g h tphysicians. Every one is board certified in emergency medic i n e . ”+n CallwithD r. P a u lVi n s e lD r. Vinsel says he, his wife, Lisa Daigle, and their childre n ,1 2 - y e a r-old Aaron and 5-year-old Amelia, enjoy the hometowna t m o s p h e re and neighborliness of the Glens Falls area — a traithe experiences every day with his patients in the ECC.“When I’m finished treating people, the majority of themthank me. That makes me feel good about what I do.”S t a ff Faced With BroadA rray of Medical Emerg e n c i e sContinued from page 1means he sees 20-30 patients in a 12 hour shift. At this time ofy e a r, sports- and re c re a t i o n - related injuries rise to the fore inthe ECC. Ye a r- round, chest pain is the number-one ailment.On any given day, however, the staff must be pre p a red to dealwith a greater array of illnesses and injuries than any otherd e p a rtment in the Hospital — from asthma to sexual abuse,intoxication to massive trauma.“T h e re are no typical shifts,” says Laura Stebbins, Dire c t o rof Emergency Services. “Every shift is diff e rent. Every houris diff e re n t .”Hospital officials put a premium on staffing and experience.During peak hours, three physicians, a physician’s assistant,six re g i s t e red nurses, two licensed practical nurses and thre etechnicians are on duty. Each of the physicians is board -c e rtified in emergency medicine. The nurses all have advancedc a rdiac and pediatric life support training, and several arespecially certified in emergency care. A number of the techniciansand nurses are also volunteer emergency medicalt e c h n i c i a n s .“ Visiting the ECC is a very stressful situation for a patientand their family,” says Dr. Dominick Carillo, Medical Dire c t o rof the Center. “Our goal is not only to provide the fineste m e rgency medical treatment, but to help everyoneunderstand and cope with the situation as best as possible.“ C a re is the key word here . ”“ E v e ry summer day is hectic around here,” Dr. Vinsel says. “There are times whenall the rooms are full. From the time you walk in the door, you are constantly on the go.”

Patients Receive Quality Care, Despite Nursing Short a g eMuch is being made these daysof the nursing shortage facinghospitals across the country. There isgood reason for concern because it is,Penin fact, a seriousproblem. A tGlens FallsHospital, wewould gladlyhire 15% morenurses todayif they werea v a i l a b l e .Simply put, the need for nurses is farbeyond the available numbers ofqualified nursing professionals. This istrue nationally as well as in our region.But nursing care at Glens FallsHospital is about much more thannumbers.First, and most important to you,our friends and patients, Glens FallsHospital is providing the high qualitymedical care and the service youdeserve despite this shortage.T h a t ’s because nurseslike Kathy Marcantonio,RN, CCRN, and HeatherM c G a r r, LPN, go aboveand beyond for youevery day.Kathy and Heatherare not just nurses. T h e yare professional healthcare providers who savelives, offer counsel andsupport, provide adviceand assistance regardingyour personal medicalneeds, and who often become lifelongfriends. They have made a career inmedicine and hospital care — specificallyGlens Falls Hospital care — by choice.And we are proud of them and all oftheir colleagues for their unswervingcommitment to putting you, the patient,first. That is why they were recentlyhonored by the Hospital for being atthe top of their profession.n u r s i n g a w a r d s o f e x c e l l e n c eKat hy re c e ived our annual Awa rdo f Reg i s t e red Nursing Exc e l l e n c eand Heather was honored withour Awa rd of P ractical Nurs i n gE xc e l l e n c e.Kathy Marcantonio,RN, CCRNKathy has been at Glens FallsHospital for 27 years. And thoughH e a t h e r’s tenure goes back just twoyears, she is just as much a part ofour family. Their stories reflect boththe commitment of ourentire staff, and the joyand personal fulfillmentthat comes from thenursing profession.Cardiologist anddepartment directorJames Morrissey, M.D.,and fellow cardiac carenurse Rose Harrison, RN,nominated Kathy.The Cardiac Care Unit(CCU) requires state-ofthe-artprofessional expertise, coupledwith superb interpersonal skills to counseland support concernedpatients and families.Kathy has a perfect blendof both. And while muchof what she does comesn a t u r a l l y, it is also in hernature to stay at the verytop of her field throughcontinuing education,training, and self-study.Says Kathy, “Nursesdon’t look for recognition,but it is nice whensomeone does recognizeyou — and having the nomination comefrom Rose and Dr. Morrissey makes iteven more special.”Heather says she was “in total shock”when notified that she was this year’sw i n n e r. “I am very honored to berecognized. I am so proud to be a nurseand working in this profession. Thenurses with whom I work are top-rate.”In nursing since 1987, Heather works inHeather McGarr, LPNBehavioral Health Services, monitoringthe outpatient medication program,educating patients on medicationprotocols, and facilitating variousdiscussion groups. The concepts ofcompassion and professionalismdescribe her perfectly. She is alsoworking toward her RN degree atAdirondack Community College,inspired by her aunt and fellow nursePatti Fiore. Glens FallsHospital encouragesnurses to continue theirformal educationthrough our own scholarshipand educationalloan programs.Kathy and Heatherperfectly illustrate mysecond point. At GlensFalls Hospital todaynurses have anopportunity to join ateam that is second to none. There isroom for qualified and motivated nursesto achieve their personal and professionalgoals in a very special and nurturingenvironment. Of course, thoseopportunities exist at many hospitalsthroughout the region and across thec o u n t r y. But we believe it is our peoplethat make Glens Falls Hospital so s p e c i a l— people like Kathy and Heather. T h e i rexample shows us all that a career innursing can be a very rewarding choice— and that practicing that career atGlens Falls Hospital only enhances theirprofessional options.Yes, there is a nursing shortage. ButGlens Falls Hospital is still responding toyou with the finest in nursing care. A n dGlens Falls Hospital is a great place tobuild a professional nursing career.Best of Health,David G. Kruczlnicki

e n a l d i a l y s i s c e n t e rNewDialysisCenterWins RaveR e v i e w sThanks to the generosity of people from across our region,Glens Falls Hospital’s new Renal Dialysis Center is now open onthe Hospital’s Broad Street Campus. More than 90 local peoplereceive dialysis treatment at the Center each week. The Centercan accommodate 18 dialysis patients at a time, compared to 12at the previous location, and is winning rave reviews from patientsfor its spaciousness, comfort and the latest in dialysis technology.Jim Ayres lets out a whistle when asked to compare the newRenal Center with the Hospital’s previous facility. “It’s like thedifference between fast food and fine dining,” the 81-year-oldGranville resident says. In fact, Jim says just about the onlything that hasn’t changed is the quality of the nurses.“They’re great wherever they are.”Judy Pullen, LPN, and Doris Schweickert, an RNwith a certification in kidney care, are among thestaff members who help patients cope with athrice-weekly regimen of dialysis treatments.T h i rt y - f o u r- y e a r-old Holly Millis of Corinth has been receivingdialysis treatments for four hours a day, three days a week, for the pastnine years. “This is what keeps me alive,” she says, gesturing to thenetwork of intravenous tubes connecting her to the dialysis machinealongside her. At the same time, the camaraderie of the patients, staffand Dr. Joseph Mihindu (with Holly at right) helps keep her spirits up.“If you need someone to talk to, you have the nurses, other patients anda social worker. There ’s always someone there .”

m o b i l e d e n t a l p r o g r a m25th Anniversaryof the Mobile Dental ProgramIt looked like your everyday $20 bill. Green, faded,worn. But to Dr. Michael Valla, it was priceless.D r. Valla is the dentist on Glens Falls Hospital’sDental Van, which provides free dental care to uninsuredchildren, and those covered by Medicaid and ChildHealth Plus, from across a five-county region. The $20bill was tucked firmly in his hand by the father of one ofhis longtime patients — a father that Dr. Valla knew couldlittle afford to part with his hard-earned cash.“He insisted that I take it,” Dr. Valla recalls, duringa recent break from seeing children at the Wa s h i n g t o nCounty Head Start complex in Hudson Falls. “He wasgenuinely appreciative of what we had done for hiskids over the years.“ We put the money in the fund that supports the Va n .His $20 helped us help others.”D r. Michael Valla and assistant Debbie Caruso care for morethan 1,100 children each year.Glens Falls Hospital’s Mobile DentalP rogram is now in its 25th year ofs e rvice to area children. Thep rogram was initiated bylongtime local dentist Dr.R o b e rt C. Westcott afterhe began hearing storiesf rom school nurses about“It’s just a lotof fun. They say,if you like whatyou do for a living,you never work aday in your life.I like this.”D r. Michael Va l l ac h i l d ren who needed dentalcare. “We didn’t re a l i z ehow many children werefalling through the cracks,”D r. Westcott says.To d a y, the 30-foot Van —actually a custom-fitted tru c ktrailer — houses a completedental office, from which Dr.Michael Valla and his staff pro v i d es c reenings, cleanings, sealants, fillingsand extractions to more than 1,200c h i l d ren per year at 25 diff e rent elementaryschools and Head Start locations. The program is the longestcontinuously running mobile dental program in rural NewYork, perf o rming more than 73,000 pro c e d u res and tre a t i n gsome 18,000 children over its 25-year history. Through grantsand philanthropic support, the Van recently added two dentalhygienists and a portable sealant system, allowing the staffto perf o rm cleanings and apply sealants at one school whileD r. Valla is providing fillings and extractions at another.The majority of the children served by the Van haveno health insurance. In other cases, they are eligible forMedicaid or other public health services, yet are unableto find a dentist who can aff o rd to provide care at thosep rograms’ low reimbursement rates. In an average year,the Hospital receives no compensation at all for morethan 75% of the Dental Van visits.D r. Valla says he left a comfortable private practice in1988 to join the Van — prompted to a large degree by thef rustration he felt at not being able to provide free care tou n i n s u red children and still maintain a profitable dentalpractice. To d a y, he says, the smiles on the childre n ’s facesleave him looking back with no re g re t s .

s c h o o l o f r a d i o l o g i c t e c h n o l o g yRadiology School Celebrates Its 50th Ye a rGlens Falls Hospital is well knownacross the region for suchprograms as its Cancer Center, CardiacCatheterization Lab and RegionalDiabetes Center — all of which wereconstructed over the last decade.But one of its most enduring andsuccessful programs may also be oneof its least known — the Glens FallsHospital School of RadiologicTechnology, which is now celebratingits 50th year of training radiologytechnologists.More than 230 technologists havegraduated from the two-year programsince its founding in 1951. Forty-two ofthose graduates are cur rently workingin the Hospital’s Medical ImagingDepartment, performing such importantprocedures as radiation therapy forcancer patients, mammograms for breastcancer screening and CAT scans fordiagnosis of a wide variety of medicalconditions.More than 80% of the faculty membersare graduates of the school, includingProgram Director Deborah Bazinet.“The School providesan excellent means forthe Hospital to train and,most importantly, retainskilled technologists,”Deborah says.“The radiographer isa vital link in the healthcare chain,” she adds.“We not only need toprovide an excellentpicture for the radiologistto interpret, but it’s ourjob to ensure the safetyand comfort of thepatient. I think theSchool does a great jobpreparing people forthis career.”A maximum of 10 new students areaccepted into the program each year.School begins in August and runsyear-round in six 16-week semesters.Classes meet weekdays from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. at the Hospital, and include acombination of classroom work andclinical experience. The School has alsoHands-on Experience for Fu tu re Radiogra p h e r s .Student Joseph Murawski (left) responds to a questionasked by Radiology School Program Director Deborah A.Bazinet B.S., R.T. Enrolled students regularly part i c i p a t ein lab exercises to gain greater understanding of pro p e rpositioning for patients undergoing medical imaging.Also shown are students Lesley Corlew, Patrick MacQueenand Melinda Richard s .established an articulation agreementwith Adirondack Community Collegewhereby students can earn anAssociate’s Degree in the field.Anyone with interest in the programis encouraged to call the School at926-7025 for more information.S c h o o l ’s First Graduate Still Serving PatientsM a ry Perry received herdiploma in 1953 fro mD r. Edgar Bird s a l l .Looking on proudly wereD r. James Glenn (left) andD r. Richard Batt.The last thing Mary (Perry) Mitchell expected her first day of school as thefirst student in the Glens Falls Hospital School of Radiologic Technology in1951 was an instructor who encouraged her to “cut corners.”But that’s exactly what the 18-year-old Glens Falls native found that Januaryday when Dr. James Glenn handed her a pair of scissors and a stack of x-rayfilms and told her to go to work.“All day I cut the corners off x-ray films,” recalls Mary, with a laugh.But while this inauspicious start made her “leery” about herdecision to forego her freshman studies at Plattsburgh StateTeacher’s College to enter the emerging radiology field, Mary soonfound she’d made the right choice. After becoming the School’s firstgraduate in 1953, Mary went on to work in the Capital District beforereturning to the Glens Falls region for a 20-year career at Glens FallsHospital and 16 years at a private physician’s practice. Today, 48years after earning her diploma, she continues to work part-time as atechnologist at North Country Imaging in Glens Falls.“I have really enjoyed the profession,” Mary says.

After undergoing cardiac angioplasty to clear a100% blockage in one art e ry and 70% blockage ina n o t h e r, Sherril “Buzz” Hunter knew he had to loseweight, eat better and get in shape. He never dre a m e dhe’d find the help he needed at Glens Falls Hospital.Then again, Buzz had never heard of The NutritionC e n t e r, a service of Glens Falls Hospital.Upon the recommendation of his doctor, the 58-year- o l dGlens Falls resident began regular consultations withre g i s t e red dietitian Lisa Hodgson. After just eight months,Buzz says his weight has dropped from 243 pounds to 202,and his cholesterol from 227 to 127. In his closet, you’llfind pants with a 38-inch waist, not the 42-inchers he’dlong been accustomed to.“I wasn’t chubby, I was fat,” Buzz says.“Now I look better and I feel great. I’drecommend it to anyone.”Buzz says the key to his success hasbeen Lisa’s guidance in healthy eating— swearing off some foods altogether,but mainly using moderation andcommon sense (“no more midnightsnacks”) to create a meal plan thatslims the waist line without boring thetaste buds.“ B e f o re I talked to Lisa, I had triedanother diet. If it tasted like food,I couldn’t eat it. If it tasted likec a rd b o a rd, I could have all I wanted.L i s a ’s advice was much better. Plus,s h e ’s a great cheerleader. She off e re da lot of praise once I got start e d . ”The Nutrition Center, located at 2B ro a dS t re e tP l a z a ,o ff e rs i n d i v i d u a l i z e dand group nutrition counseling, alongwith educational programs and workshopsfor adults and children withgeneral nutrition and wellnessc o n c e rns. The Center’s re g i s t e re ddietitians work closely with people andtheir doctors to identify weight-re l a t e dn u t r i t i o n c e n t e rDietitians Cheer On Good Eating HabitsIndividualized Counseling is Nutrition Center’s Recipe for Successhealth risks, establish behavioral goals and develop a mealplan/fitness/ behavioral program to meet those goals.For more information on the Nutrition Center’ss e rvices, please call 926-2615.“Buzz” Hunter says the key tohis weight-management successhas been Lisa Hodgson’s guidancein healthy eating. “Plus, she’s agreat cheerleader.”Lisa Hodgson, a registered dietitian at The Nutrition Center, was a source ofinformation and inspiration for Glens Falls resident Sherril “Buzz” Hunteras he shed more than 40 pounds.