Mercy Medical Center Plans Caritas Gala to Support Opioid Services

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1 FEBRUARY 16, 2018 Trinity Health has recognized Mercy Medical Center as one of the enterprise s top three hospitals for significant quality improvement around Hospital Acquired Conditions (HAC). The distinction comes as a result of Mercy s Infection Control Department efforts in the area of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI), one of several HACs including patient satisfaction scores/patient experience and readmissions. Mercy s efforts focused on preventing cases of C. diff infection (Clostridium Difficile) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). We found that we needed to get back to basics with the staff in these two areas, said Magdalene Eboso, MBA, BSN, RN, Infection Control Coordinator, Mercy Medical Center. We did a significant amount of education about these infections, particularly around prevention and the importance of handwashing. We also adopted several new procedures that help prevent the spread of infection. C. diff is a highly contagious infection and it can be deadly depending on the patient s condition. Patients who are being treated with an antibiotic are more susceptible to the infection. When a patient s C. diff diagnosis is confirmed, they are placed in C. diff isolation until their diarrhea subsides for a specified time period and they are cleared by a representative of the Infection Control department. Once that patient is moved to another room or leaves the hospital, the C. diff isolation room is thoroughly cleaned using the established procedure. At Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital, patients are required to meet a mandatory minimum of rehab services every day. Weldon patients with C. diff are scheduled for rehab at the end of each day, and afterward, the rehab equipment is thoroughly cleaned in a similar manner. Mercy Emergency Department also adopted a new algorithm for patients. This screening tool allows staff to identify patients at risk for C. diff. These procedural changes have been effective, cutting our C. diff numbers in half from 2016 to 2017, said Eboso. At the same time, a similar effort has had a positive impact in reducing our central line-associated bloodstream infections. In addition to education around ways to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections, Infection Control staff members met with nurses in departments with the highest numbers of CLABSIs to get their input on what may be the cause. By working on this issue together, we were able to come up with solutions that have resulted in a two/thirds reduction in CLABSIs between 2016 and 2017, Eboso said.

2 Mercy Medical Center Plans Caritas Gala to Support Opioid Services Plans are underway for Mercy Medical Center s second annual Caritas Gala on Saturday, April 21, at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield. The Gala, with its Motown-inspired theme Reach Out, will raise funds to support Mercy Medical Center s Pathway to Care: Addressing the Opioid Crisis through Intervention, Education, and Treatment. Dr. Mohamed and Mrs. Kimberly Hamdani, along with Atty. Paul and Mrs. Anna Mancinone, are honorary chairpersons for the Caritas Gala. Longtime supporters of Mercy Medical Center, Dr. Hamdani has served as Chairman of Surgery, Chairman of Credentials and President of the Medical Staff at Mercy, and Atty. Mancinone serves on the Board for Trinity Health Of New England. The Sisters of Providence are a great source of inspiration, responding to the needs of our community for more than 140 years, said Dr. Hamdani. Today, we are challenged by the opioid epidemic and its impact on individuals of all ages, races and economic levels. Mercy Behavioral Health Care looks beyond the stigma of addiction and provides treatment that supports people in their efforts to recover. The Caritas Gala will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, live entertainment from the band Motor City Magic, and a silent auction. Dinner will be served at 8 p.m., followed by a live auction and dancing until midnight with music from the band Radiance. Preregistration is required by March 23. For more information or to purchase tickets to the Caritas Gala, visit

3 Mercy Health ACO Participates in Community Forum The Mercy Health Accountable Care Organization (ACO) was among a group of local ACOs that participated in a community forum in Springfield earlier this month. The program, entitled Accountable Care Organization 101: A Community Conversation, was hosted by Baystate Health and featured presentations from representatives of four ACOs including Lisa Casasanta, Executive Director, Mercy Health ACO for Saint Francis HealthCare Partners. About 100 attendees turned out for the event that was designed to provide a better understanding of what an ACO is, increase awareness of the four ACOs that are being launched in western Massachusetts, and promote a shared understanding of the impact ACOs will have on hospitals, insurers, other clinical and social providers as well as patients and the local communities. In her presentation, Casasanta provided an overview of the Mercy Health ACO that is set to begin accepting applicants on March 1. She was also encouraged by the response to the community forum. We fielded questions on a variety of topics including details of the financial aspect of the model and what, if any, changes members of the community can expect, said Casasanta. It was wonderful to see this level of community interest and engagement in the ACO model of care. A Message from Human Resources NEW COLLEAGUE BENEFIT PROVIDES PROOF OF EMPLOYMENT OR INCOME Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates, a member of Trinity Health, now uses The Work Number to provide automated employment and income verifications for our colleagues. It s a fast and secure way to provide proof of your employment or income a necessary step in many of today s life events involving credit, financing or securing of benefits or services. HOW DOES IT WORK? Trinity Health securely transmits employment and income data to The Work Number on a regular cycle, so the information remains current. When you apply for credit or other services where proof of employment or income is required, you provide consent to the credit grantor to verify that information when signing the application. The verifier who has been carefully screened and credentialed before gaining access to the system uses Trinity Health employer code: and your Social Security Number to look up your record on The Work Number database. The verifier must provide a valid reason or permissible purpose for requesting the information, as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). With the above conditions met, the verifier can validate your employment or income in seconds, accelerating the decision process and helping you obtain the credit you deserve. In most cases, the company requesting verification of your employment or income will automatically check The Work Number. You can also ask them to call The Work Number directly at or visit FREE EMPLOYMENT DATA REPORT As a colleague of Trinity Health, you can access one (1) free Employment Data Report (EDR) each year through The EDR provides complete historical employment and income information, as well as a listing of verifier requests for the past 24 months. For more information and assistance, visit the SharePoint site to download detailed instructions for accessing your account. ( The Work Number Client Service Center is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. at You can also visit PEOPLE OF MERCY: Meet Alex Payes, RN Who says you can t go home again? Certainly not Alex Payes, RN, from the Emergency Department (ED) at Mercy Medical Center. In 2006, Payes was a junior/senior at West Springfield High School who was looking for his first job. A neighbor, who worked in the storeroom at Mercy, suggested he apply for a weekend position that had recently opened there. Payes took his advice, applied and was offered the job. By his senior year, Payes decided that he would make his career in nursing. He applied to the nursing program at UMass-Amherst and graduated in After graduation, Payes worked at a local nursing home and another hospital for several years. He returned to Mercy Medical Center last year and is quite happy to be back. Payes says he enjoys the supportive clinical environment at Mercy and the spirit of teamwork in the Emergency Department. The doctors at Mercy are a tremendous resource. No matter how busy we are in the ED, they always take time to explain what they are doing, not only to the patient but also to the staff. This helps us all learn, he said. Payes also appreciates the processes that support efficiency and patient flow. Although we all work hard to make sure patients are seen as quickly as possible, the quality of care is never compromised, he added. Payes says the best part of his job is being able to help patients when they come into the ED with an illness or an injury. He recounts a story about a woman who sought treatment for an ankle fracture and, despite the pain, insisted on recuperating at home. When she was ready for discharge, Payes helped her into a wheelchair and brought her out to her car. She was so grateful for the care she received. And as a provider, it makes you feel good to be able to help someone who needs your care. There s really no better feeling, said Payes.

4 Take a Walk Darlene Biggs, RN, Manager of Faith Community Nursing Even though spring is several weeks away, the community members who participate in the Healthy Hill Initiative Fitness Group are getting ready. The group has been participating in weekly chair aerobics classes and will add walking to their activities as soon as the weather warms and walking conditions improve. Darlene Biggs, RN, Manager of Faith Community Nursing, has been working with the group to perform biometric measurements that assess their health and fitness. At the group s request, she checks blood pressures and heart rates every two weeks. The other biometric measurements weight, waist circumference, and Body Mass Index or BMI (body fat based on height and weight) are checked less frequently. We are giving each person a tracking log to monitor their own personal measurements. The participants will use these measurements to identify their health risks, improve their health behaviors, and evaluate the effect of their exercise programs, said Biggs. In addition to doing the screening, Biggs will teach them how to check their own heart rates so they can exercise safely. She will also show them how to correctly measure their waist circumference and how to determine their BMI. In addition, she will instruct them about blood pressure, the effect of exercise on blood pressure and heart rate, and walking safety. Mercy Medical Center helps fund the Healthy Hill Initiative through the Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI) grant. It is led by community organization Way Finders, which has been working in the Old Hill neighborhood of Springfield for two years to build trust between neighbors and increase physical activity. AROUND THE REGION UPCOMING PROGRAMS CONSIDERING KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY? If a total knee replacement is in your future, or if you re just beginning to explore available treatment options, join Dr. Leonard Wagner as he discusses the causes of your pain, knee anatomy, and the process of joint replacement. Dr. Wagner s presentation will be held in Mercy s Deliso Conference Center on Thursday, March 1, from 6 to 7:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public but registration is required. To register, visit classes-events or call BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT The Spiritual Care Department at Saint Mary s Hospital in Waterbury, CT is offering an eightsession program to help participants identify the normal signs and symptoms of grief, provide information and understanding of the grieving process and share helpful coping strategies. Participants will gain insight and grow in understanding and strength by the sharing of stories and experiences. The sessions are confidential and take place in a safe and comfortable environment. The free program will be facilitated by Chaplain Judy Bellemare. Space is limited. The program begins on March 8 and will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. For more information or to register, call Chaplain Judy (203) COPING WITH GRIEF A free program entitled Good Grief: Coping with Loss and Grieving will be presented by Chaplain Geralyn Cappabianca at the Saint Mary s Hospital Auditorium at 56 Franklin Street in Waterbury, CT, on Wednesday, March 14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. A member of the Saint Mary s Spiritual Care Department and author of Memoirs of a Hospital Chaplain: I Stand Near the Door, Chaplain Geri will discuss the symptoms and processes of grief, especially during the holidays, offer suggestions for recovery and answer questions. The program is offered to those who have experienced a loss of any kind, including the death of a loved one, a divorce, even the diagnosis of a terminal illness. To register for Good Grief, visit or call St. Patrick s Day Road Race It will soon be time for the 43rd annual St. Patrick s Day Road Race in Holyoke. This year, Mercy will provide free T-shirts to employees who are participating in this race on Saturday, March 17. Details for the event may be found at Shirts will be available in a variety of sizes on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to receive a shirt, please contact Margaret Williams at or at Margaret.Williams@sphs.com.

5 Welcome New Providers Mercy Medical Center and New England Neurosurgical Associates Welcome Frederik (Frits) Pennings, M.D., Ph.D., FACS Neurosurgery Board-certified in Neurosurgery and specializing in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Dr. Pennings completed a fellowship in Complex Spine Surgery at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. He received his Ph.D., in Neurophysiology from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Dr. Pennings is an internationally recognized expert in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, and in his previous role as the Director of Minimally Invasive Spine Program at Umass Medical Center in Worcester, he developed and introduced several minimally invasive techniques to reduce length of stay and infection rate in patients requiring spinal surgery. He serves on the educational board of the Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and on the editorial board of several peer reviewed journals. Additionally, he serves as Faculty in many courses on minimally invasive spine surgical techniques. For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Pennings, please call New England Neurosurgical Associates directly at Learn more about Dr. Pennings, or any of our other accomplished physicians, at MercyCares.com. New England Neurosurgical Associates 175 Carew Street, Suite 300 Springfield, MA MercyCares.com/neurosurgery Mercy Medical Center and RiverBend Medical Group Welcome Jonathan P. Shepherd, M.D., M.Sc. Urogynecology RiverBend Medical Group is pleased to announce that Jonathan Shepherd, MD, MSc has joined the Agawam practice and welcomes new patients to the RiverBend Medical Group office located at 230 Main Street in Agawam. Board-certified in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Shepherd completed his fellowship in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA and a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, in Greenville, SC. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC. Dr. Shepherd is currently the Associate Program Director for the Saint Francis Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program and the Director of Resident Research. He is also an Associate Professor at the Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Shepherd, or any of our other accomplished physicians, at RiverBendMedical.com. RiverBend Medical Group 230 Main Street Agawam, MA RiverBendMedical.com Please send submissions to Mary Orr, Media Specialist, Marketing Department, phone: , Journal online at sphsma.che.org or MercyCares.com.