A publication for Hartford HealthCare employees October 2015 NetworkNews Breast Cancer Targets Young African-American Women HHC Breast Surgeon Strikes Back In her office at The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC), breast surgeon Dr. Kristen Zarfos has noticed a disturbing trend. Young African-American women seem to be at higher risk for developing aggressive breast tumors in their 20s and 30s, but may be missing the opportunity for early diagnosis because they are too young to have started regular screening mammograms. Troubled by what she has seen, Zarfos has launched a five-year study to look at the effectiveness of breast ultrasound screenings in diagnosing African-American women ages 25 to 39 years old. It’s a potential tool that she says may one day help diagnose women long before a breast tumor becomes large. “When I have really young women in the prime of their lives coming into my practice with advanced stages of breast cancer, I can’t just sit back and not do anything about it,” Zarfos said. She says 35 percent of African-American women who develop breast cancer are diagnosed under the age of 50, compared to 22 percent of Caucasian women. Many of these young African-American women may have an aggressive tumor where estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors do not respond to targeted therapies. The American Cancer Society recommends that women have yearly screening mammograms starting at age 40. Zarfos wants to find out if performing breast ultrasounds in younger African-American women might lead to earlier detection. Continued on page 3 Dr. Kristen Zarfos examines a young patient in her office.
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A publication for Hartford HealthCare employees October 2015
NetworkNews
Breast Cancer Targets Young African-American WomenHHC Breast Surgeon Strikes BackIn her office at The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC), breast surgeon Dr. Kristen Zarfos has noticed a disturbing trend.
Young African-American women seem to be at higher risk for developing aggressive breast tumors in their 20s and 30s, but may be missing the opportunity for early diagnosis because they are too young to have started regular screening mammograms.
Troubled by what she has seen, Zarfos has launched a five-year study to look at the effectiveness of breast ultrasound screenings in diagnosing African-American women ages 25 to 39 years old. It’s a potential tool that she says may one day help diagnose women long before a breast tumor becomes large.
“When I have really young women in the prime of their lives coming into my practice with advanced stages of breast cancer, I can’t just sit back and not do anything about it,” Zarfos said.
She says 35 percent of African-American women who develop breast cancer are diagnosed under the age of 50, compared to 22 percent of Caucasian women. Many of these young African-American women may have an aggressive tumor where estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors do not respond to targeted therapies.
The American Cancer Society recommends that women have yearly screening mammograms starting at age 40. Zarfos wants to find out if performing breast ultrasounds in younger African-American women might lead to earlier detection.
Continued on page 3
Dr. Kristen Zarfos examines a young patient in her office.
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Welcome to the New Hartford HealthCare Health Center: A Team Approach to Better HealthEric Bennett was not looking for revolutionary healthcare when he walked through the front door of the Hartford HealthCare (HHC) Employee Health Center last March. He just needed a new doctor.
At 50, the manager of clinical knowledge systems at Hartford Hospital felt pretty healthy. He had a new Fitbit and already had lost a few pounds just by increasing his activity.
He decided to try the new primary care practice at Hartford Hospital because his family doctor had retired and the new center was just across the street from his office.
The HHC Health Center is an innovative partnership between Hartford HealthCare and Iora Health, a Cambridge, Mass.-based company that promises to “restore humanity to healthcare” by improving the health of its patients and reducing the cost of care.
Bennett noticed the difference the minute he stepped into the waiting room, and it confused him a bit. Instead of a receptionist behind glass, he was greeted by a health coach, sitting at a little round table.
“Sometimes, a window is a barrier,’’ explained Kathleen Clevenger, RN, the clinical team manager.
In the exam room, Bennett was joined by Debbie Russell, who would become his health coach, and Dr. Vasanth Kainkaryam, the medical director and now his primary care physician (PCP). They asked the usual questions and checked the usual vitals. But as Russell typed the information into her laptop, Bennett was surprised to see his medical chart projected on a big screen overhead.
The reason is simple, Clevenger explained. Instead of wondering what the provider is noting in the chart, the patient can be an active participant in making sure that the health record is correct.
“While the patient is telling his or her story and the health coach is taking down details, the patient can say, ‘Wait a minute, that’s not what I meant,’” Clevenger said.
Dr. James Cardon, HHC’s executive vice president and chief clinical integration officer, said he anticipates the partnership will help HHC learn a better approach to primary care.
The problem now is that the way healthcare is paid for limits the ability to provide the care patients need to manage chronic conditions or to stay healthy. That might include behavioral health, nutrition support, fitness advice, financial planning – anything to address life’s difficulties that can interfere with health and wellness, Cardon said.
“Iora takes the approach of having a team that gives you additional resources to manage lives,’’ Cardon said. “So the physician is not trying to be the chef, waiter and bottle washer.’’
Since the center opened in the Medical Office Building
at Hartford Hospital about six months ago, more than 700 patients have joined the practice.
Every day, before the first patient arrives, the healthcare team gathers to review the day’s patients and brainstorm difficult cases. On a recent day, they discussed a patient who was battling substance abuse. Behavioral Health Specialist Karen Friedmann, MSW, LCSW, said she and the patient were talking about detox options.
The team also celebrates what they call “small victories.’’ Recently, an overweight, diabetic patient who had refused bloodwork and had no interest in changing his diet or trying blood-sugar-lowering medicine sent his healthcare team an e-mail with a picture of him, working out at the gym.
After attending a class for patients with high blood pressure, Bennett has changed his diet and managed to get off his blood pressure medicine. When he has questions, he simply sends his health coach an e-mail, and as a team, Bennett, his health coach and his physician come up with a plan.
Cardon said he is not sure that the Iora model will become the blueprint for primary care throughout HHC, but he knows we can learn a lot from the model of care.
“Iora is disruptive innovation,’’ he said. “This is our innovation hub for primary care. How do we take these lessons and embed them into our practices so that providers are better able to give the care to patients they aspire to?”
The Hartford HealthCare Health Center at Hartford Hospital is open to Hartford HealthCare employees and family members covered by a Hartford HealthCare Point of Service medical plan.
L-R Health Coach Debbie Russell and Dr. Vasanth Kainkaryam show patient Eric Bennett his medical chart in an exam room at the HHC Health Center.
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To find answers, Zarfos; Bethany Carr, APRN; and their team are looking for African-American women to join their study. Eligible participants in the study include African-American women with or without a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer between the ages of 25 and 39.
As part of the study, women undergo a breast exam with a breast surgeon or APRN, have a screening breast ultrasound and learn how to do a breast self-exam. Breast ultrasounds are painless and non-invasive. Participants will receive a $25 gift card to CVS. Help with transportation also is available.
Screenings are offered in New Britain, West Hartford and New Haven.
The study is funded with a $33,350 grant from the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative.
“We need to make these women visible, give them a voice. Right now, they are not identified until they are of age for a regular screening mammogram or by finding a lump, and only then are they diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer,” Zarfos said. “We need to provide these women with every opportunity to fight back against this most aggressive type of cancer.’’ To participate in the study or learn more about the screening breast ultrasound study for young minority women ages 25 to 39, call 860.696.4818.
Breast Cancer Targets Young African-American Women Continued from page 1
A Study of Screening Breast Ultrasounds in Young African American WomenYoung African American women, ages 25-39 years old, have a higher percentage of diagnosis of advanced breast cancer and have more aggressive tumors compared to other age and ethnic groups. We are conducting a research study in an effort to screen these women with breast ultrasounds with the goal of finding these cancers when they are small. Women of African American decent, both those with and without a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, between the ages of 25-39 are eligible for this grant funded research study. As part of the study, women will have a breast exam with one of our breast surgeons or APRNs, learn how to do a self-breast exam and have a screening breast ultrasound. We will collect contact information and a family history of cancer. We are hoping to continue this study every year for 5 years.
Participants will receive a $25 store gift card and a transportation credit up to $20.
If you are interested in participating or have questions please call our APRN Bethany at 860.696.4818.
This study is supported in part by generous funding from the CT Breast Health Initiative.
No Waiting, Less Time to FearDiscovering a lump in your breast or learning that a spot on your mammogram or ultrasound might be suspicious can be scary.
“It’s the unknown that is most frightening,” said Kristen Zarfos, MD, a breast surgeon at The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at The Hospital of Central Connecticut. “We have to peel away the layers of that fear and arm women with the facts and give them the answers and the care they need right away,”
That’s why the new cancer center in New Britain offers same-day testing results.
On site at all times are board-certified radiologists, breast surgeons, medical oncologists and advanced-practice nurses (APRNs) all working together in one place to provide same-day mammogram results,
ultrasound technology and other high-tech diagnostic testing.
If a radiologist finds an abnormality, a clinician — an APRN or surgeon — is on site to see that patient right away. A woman can even choose to have a biopsy taken that same day, if needed.
If a physician or APRN conducting a breast exam discovers a lump, the patient will be seen by a radiologist for diagnostic testing that day.
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Donate Life DedicationDonald and Maggie Coolican raise the Donate Life flag 32 years after their six-year-old daughter, Katie, an organ donor, died suddenly from an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM). Following her daughter’s death, Maggie changed national protocol in how hospitals across the country recognize organ donors — a protocol that began at Hartford Hospital. Today, every time an organ is donated, a special flag-raising ceremony takes place at Hartford Hospital to honor those who give the gift of life. Katie’s remembrance also marked the dedication of a “Donate Life” memorial, made possible through a generous donation from the Hartford Hospital Auxiliary.
Seven granite benches were built for families to gather at flag-raising ceremonies. The memorial is located next to the flagpole outside the hospital’s main entrance.
CareConnect Success Requires “EPIC” InvolvementAs the Epic electronic medical records system rolls out across Hartford HealthCare, Dr. Spencer Erman is waiting for the day when people wonder how they lived without it.
Erman, HHC’s associate chief medical information officer, is confident that will happen — especially if everybody does their homework now.
There is always a learning curve when you introduce a new system across a large organization. “We purposely did not rebuild the old system,” Erman says. “And with a new system there are always limitations that can be overcome with just a little patience.”
The rest of the system, Erman says, will benefit from the recent CareConnect launch at 22 HHCMG Primary Care offices, with more than 130 providers taking part.
“By the numbers, we hit it out of the park,” he said. Erman credits providers, who embraced and responded
immediately to the new system. But he admits there were hiccups along the way.
“The launch was certainly not without glitches, and I know this caused frustration for many providers,’’ Erman said. “But through efforts by the providers, administration, and the CareConnect team, many of the issues were overcome, and their performance statistics outperformed expectations.”
For the next launch, scheduled for April at Hartford Hospital’s in- and outpatient departments, HHCMG’s specialists’ offices, and Hartford HealthCare at Home, Erman suggests that these groups adjust their expectations accordingly.
“It’s not going to be perfect on day one. The first couple of weeks there will be some discomfort and frustrations, but those are growing pains.”
Updates about the next phase of the launch and notifications about training will arrive over the next few
months. The first round of training will cover the basics of using the EPIC system. A few months after the launch, expect more training to reinforce and optimize use of the system.
Erman said it’s important that everybody who will use the new system gets involved early.
“We want your input,” Erman said, appealing to anybody who might use the new system. “That’s the best way to get a system that works for everyone. So if you hear that we are asking, please respond, and respond quickly.”
The new system has tremendous potential for Hartford HealthCare and even more importantly, for patients, who are already benefitting from the Electronic Health Information Exchange and beginning to embrace MyChartPlus, the new Electronic HealthCare Portal as well.
In fact, Erman predicts that in six months, people will be wondering how they lived without it.
Dr. Spencer Erman has been named associate chief medical information officer (CMIO) for Hartford HealthCare. Erman has been the chief medical information officer for ambulatory care and was a key physician leader supporting the CareConnect go-live in August. He has three decades of clinical practice experience, most recently with Hartford Medical Group and Hartford HealthCare Medical Group. Earlier in his career, he was a physician champion and super-user for the electronic health record implementation at Permanente Medical Group in the Denver area.
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Around HHC: Celebrating Cancer SurvivorsOn Sept. 19, the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center, part of the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute, held Celebrate Life 2015 for cancer patients and survivors and their friends and families at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. Nearly 350 guests attended the event emceed by Mary Scanlon of Allan, Mike & Mary LITE 100.5 WRCH. Speakers were Elliot Joseph, president and CEO of Hartford HealthCare; Donna Handley, vice president, the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute; Dr. Andrew Salner, director of the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at Hartford Hospital; and Dr. Elizabeth Brady, who shared her insights on the patient experience. Also present was special guest Mrs. Helen Gray, for whom, with her husband, the late Harry Gray, the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center was named.
More than 200 cancer survivors and their families gathered at Hubbard Park in Meriden Sept. 13 to celebrate Survivors’ Day hosted by the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at MidState Medical Center. This year’s theme had a western flair with “Give Cancer the Boot.” This year’s presenting sponsor was The MidState Medical Center Auxiliary. The event included an invocation by hospital chaplain Doreen Bottone and remarks by cancer genetic counselor Sara Carroll. The band A Few of Us also performed. Special thanks to José Rodriguez, whose artwork was chosen for this year’s Survivors’ Day theme and program.
Through its membership in the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance, the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute (HHCCI) is assuming an active, advanced role in cancer research, one clinical trial at a time.
The Cancer Institute has opened five MSK clinical trials and another eight are expected to open in the next couple of months. This is in addition to more than 100 trials already underway at Hartford HealthCare that are exploring many aspects of cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and support.
The MSK Alliance trials offer patients and clinicians access to research not otherwise available in Connecticut. This research could provide new insight into genomic and molecular oncology.
Clinical trials are available through the HHC Cancer institute’s five cancer centers at Hartford Hospital, The Hospital of Central Connecticut, MidState Medical Center, Backus Hospital and Windham Hospital.
Hartford Hospital gynecologic oncologist Dr. Amy K. Brown, who is helping lead one of the trials, says it brings “access to potentially life-extending treatment that currently is not available at Hartford HealthCare and allows the data from our patients to be combined with the MSK patients to determine in the future if this will extend life expectancy or not.”
Some initial trials and physicians involved are:• HIPEC procedure for ovarian, fallopian or primary
peritoneal cancer treatment. HIPEC is for patients suffering metastatic cancer that has spread to the abdominal cavity. The procedure cycles heated chemo-therapy through a heated perfusion circuit into the abdominal cavity for 100 minutes to destroy microscopic cancer cells. The treatment goal is to extend the patient’s life expectancy. Patients from any of the five HHCCI cancer centers will be eligible to be part of the trial. Surgeons who will be performing the HIPEC procedure are Drs. Amy Brown, Bret Schipper, Aaron Shafer, Jonathan Cosin, Heather Einstein and Clare Zhou. This trial started in April.
• MSK 10-208 study for patients with upper tract urothelial cancer. In this study, patients who are candidates for surgery receive four cycles of chemotherapy followed by surgery. The study’s objective focuses on treatment response. Drs. Anoop Meraney, Steven Shichman, Jeffrey Kamradt and Ryan Dorin are enrolling patients. This trial started in Fall 2014.
• ATEMPT study for patients with breast cancer. Trial patients are assigned to be in one of two groups where each group receives two medications, which are different for each group. Patients also will complete quality-of-life surveys and symptom questionnaires with the study’s pri-mary objective to compare toxicities of both. Drs. Patricia DeFusco, Wylie Hosmer, Dennis Slater, and Dinesh Kapur are enrolling patients. This trial started in August 2015.
Another 10 to 20 protocols covering prostate and breast cancers, as well as hematology, lung cancer, renal cell cancer and survivorship, are expected to start in the future. A host of other disease protocols are being reviewed by a joint MSK/HHCCI research committee.
MSK has more than 900 clinical trials and enrolls about 25,000 patients annually in these experimental protocols.
This article was excerpted from Plus, the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute’s newsletter. Read the complete article here.
Clinical Trials Offer Cutting-edge Research to HHC Cancer Patients
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Network News is a monthly publication produced by Hartford HealthCare. Please send story ideas to [email protected]. We will make every effort to consider your story idea, but due to space constraints, editing may be necessary.
communicating with her staff regarding performance goals.
• Susanne is always celebrat-ing accomplishments ... such as completing orientation; completing school of any kind; certifications; and family life events, such as a baby, hospital awards and years of service.
• Once Susanne learns of a staff member’s talent, she will encourage use of that talent within the hospital. One RN is a regular at a Zumba class. Susanne asked this RN to teach a Zumba session during PCA appreciation week.
• Susanne is never afraid to have that courageous conversation, no matter who the individual is or how long the individual has been at Hartford Hospital. She will sup-port her staff members and help them have those conversations.
• Susanne is always visible on the unit and rounding on patients.
GOLD MEDAL MAnAGEr Elaine BarberaManager, Central Sterile SupplyHartford Hospital
Staff says: • She is a hands-on manager; she
isn’t one who just sits in her office and demands work. Most days, you can find her out on the floor working right alongside the team.
• During our yearly reviews, Elaine allows us to set goals that will help us for life not just for our present job. For example, some-one may want to attend college. If it’s possible, she will allow in-dividuals to change their sched-ules to meet these goals.
• She is never too busy to listen to the concerns of her employees.
• Elaine meets with other mangers and staff throughout the orga-nization to make sure we have standardized practices and pro-cedures for packing and steriliza-tion. Sometimes, this means she has to work late or even change her vacation to make sure things are done in a timely manner.
• She discusses career ambitions with us and started the career ladder (Tech I, II, III), giving individuals the opportunity for advancement within the sterile processing field.
GOLD MEDAL MAnAGEr Angie MathieuRegional Manager, ApplicationsBackus Hospital
Staff says: • She is fair – we had an instance
where our team lost quite a few members. She was very fair in as-signing the work. This gave others the opportunity to grow.
• She is trustworthy and committed to the hospital’s success as well as the success of her department.
• She ensures she has family and work-life balance. She advocates that for her employees as well.
• She uses data to make decisions.• She conveys information she has
heard at a higher level.• She is also humanistic and may
organize a surprise wedding shower, meeting or a departmental holiday lunch. This brings the team together in a more relaxed setting.
• Angie is very good at letting people pursue interest areas outside of their defined roles. She is all about people growing in their career roles. If she can send us out for training, she will. She also is willing to bring training courses in-house so that more will benefit from the learning.
Gold Medal
Managers
The Gold Medal Manager Program spotlights managers who exemplify HHC’s values and our H3W Leadership Behaviors, resulting in the highest level of employee engagement and the achievement of exceptional results. Congratulations to our newest winners. Up to three Gold Medal Managers will be selected quarterly. For more information and to nominate your manager, click here.
East Region Human Resources Vice President Karen James, Angie Mathieu and East Region President Dave Whitehead
(L-R) Cheryl Ficara, Hartford Hospital vice president, Patient Care Services; Elaine Barbera; Susanne Yeakel; and Hartford Hospital President Dr. Stuart Markowitz
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Your Voice Counts
Recently, Elliot Joseph shared some bad news from the state capitol. Gov. Dannel Malloy once again slashed state payments to hospitals — money that we use to take care of the state’s neediest residents. This week, we learned that the news is even worse than we first thought. The cuts will cost
Hartford HealthCare $55 million in Medicaid funding. Even before the cuts, Medicaid rates did not even come close to the actual cost of care. In fact, Connecticut’s Medicaid rate is dead last compared with all other states. And now, the governor wants to cut more.
These cuts not only hurt our patients, they also already have directly affected our work force. Since 2013, HHC has eliminated 1,000 positions, 400 of those this past June. Healthcare is the biggest employer in Connecticut; it is a major economic driver that is being sent into a financial tailspin with these cuts.
You can help. Many of you acted immediately when Elliot sent out a request for employees to get in touch with their legislators. I have followed up with many HHC-area lawmakers (some even reached out to me!) and they have heard from you, their constituents. It is making a difference, but our voice needs to be even bigger and louder.
If you haven’t made contact with your legislator yet, I urge you to do so. It’s easy. Visit https://votervoice.net/hhc/campaign. On the site, you’ll find an e-mail template that you may customize or you can simply add your name and send the message as it is. If you have sent an e-mail, thank you! If your legislator has not responded, write again. Legislators are accountable to you, their constituent. When legislators hear from more than four or five constituents on an issue, they pay attention. You’ve helped us get their attention, and now we need them to take action and rescind these cuts.
To learn more about Kim Harrison, read her HHC Profile on our new intranet, HHC Connect.
An occasional column by Kim Harrison, HHC vice president for Public Policy and Government Affairs
New Treatment for Bum Knees and HipsFor more than 20 years, Rose Stocks rated her knee pain as a “10” out of 10, the worst possible pain. She couldn’t kneel, hike, bike or do much of anything else when she came home from her job as a cook — a job that requires extensive standing on cement floors.
“She used to come home and just sit in the recliner,” said her husband Greg. “It’s just amazing what she can do now.”
Thanks to MAKOplasty®, a new robotic surgery for total hip replacement and partial knee resurfacing, Rose, 46, of South Windsor, is now up and almost running. “I had two knee surgeries before, but they didn’t take,” she said. “I found Dr. (Christopher) Lena at Hartford Hospital online and read about MAKOplasty. It’s incredible to be walking around now with no pain. Life is a lot better, a lot easier.”
MAKOplasty partial knee resurfacing is a treatment for adults with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis that hasn’t progressed to all three compartments in the knee. The procedure is performed using the RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System, a surgeon-controlled robotic arm that enables more precise alignment and placement of knee implants. MAKOplasty is less invasive than traditional total knee surgery. Only the diseased portion of the knee
is resurfaced, sparing healthy bone and the surrounding tissue for a more natural-feeling knee.
“The computer senses where the damaged bone needs to be removed and where the implant should be placed,” Dr. Lena said. “MAKOplasty not only improves precision; it also has several other advantages, including less pain post-op, a quicker recovery and a lower failure rate. Rose’s surgery took about 45 minutes and she was walking up and down stairs soon after. Patients usually go home within one or two days … and the major point is that they go home, not to a rehab facility.”
“The technology gives me an extra tool to ensure accuracy,” said Dr. Scott Stanat, who performed Backus Hospital’s first MAKOplasty® procedure in March. Backus was the first hospital in Eastern Connecticut to offer the technology. Hartford Hospital, which began MAKOplasty® procedures in December 2014, was the first hospital in the region to use it. Doctors at MidState Medical Center and The Hospital of Central Connecticut also began offering the technology in July.
“I love the new technology,” Dr. Lena said. “I like making people feel better more quickly, so they can live better lives.”
“I’m ready to go hiking,” Rose said of her progress.“Life is a lot better,” her husband Greg agreed. “But she
still won’t cut the grass.”
Dr. Christopher Lena talks with patient Rose Stocks about her progress since her minimally invasive MAKOplasty® knee surgery at Hartford Hospital.
Year-end FY 2014 numbers *American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Average age of HHC orthopedic patients
57 Percent of female orthopedic patients
756Total number of knee procedures (total and partial knee replacement)
962Total number of hip procedures (total and partial hip replacement)
66.2
More than 1 million knees and hips will be surgically replaced in the United States this year. The number of joint replacements is growing in Connecticut, with younger people getting new hips and knees. Network News asked Dr. Courtland Lewis, MD, Physician-in-Chief, Hartford HealthCare Bone & Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital what the future holds.
HHC network news: Isn’t joint replacement just for older people? Dr. Courtland Lewis: The average age for hip replacement surgery used to be 66 or 67 and that has since fallen to 63/64.
nn: Why the shift?Dr. Lewis: Baby boomers are leading more active lifestyles and show no signs of reducing their activity level. So, when they keep going at this steady, active pace, the joints just give in much quicker. On the other hand, we are also seeing more obese patients with joint-related issues.
nn: What will the new Hartford HealthCare Bone & Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital offer patients?Dr. Lewis: Along with total joint replacements and level-one trauma, we will perform spine, hand, foot and ankle, as well as sports-related, procedures. Outpatient surgery will be performed in a new ambulatory surgery center. Another big component is that we will be working with the Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network to create a sports and fitness center to help people who are developing early onset arthritis.
nn: What other services can patients expect to see?Dr. Lewis: We will create a strong rheumatology presence and work on optimizing care for patients with osteoporosis. We’ll also be working on a metabolic bone-disease program for patients suffering from difficult forms of osteoporosis.
nn: Can we expect more in the future?Dr. Lewis: This is just the tip of the iceberg, we are going to have a lot of patients to care for in the future and we are going to have the right facilities to accommodate them.
The Hartford HealthCare Bone & Joint Institute at Hartford Hospital is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016.
Q&A: Talking Hips and Knees with Courtland Lewis, MD
Average number of days in the hospital after a knee or hip procedure
205 Percent increase in hip procedures expected to be performed in the U.S. over the next 15 years*
700Percent increase in knee procedures expected to be performed in the U.S. over the next 15 years*
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Open Enrollment for 2016 benefits is October 19-October 30Open enrollment is a great time to review your benefits to make sure that you understand what your plan covers and what your share of the cost will be in 2016.
• Visit the HHC&Me Benefits Enrollment website or call 855-596-7448 during open enrollment to:
- Enroll in benefits - Make sure your benefit selections are accurate
and up to date - Change medical plans or drop coverage - Choose a new dental plan or drop coverage - Add dependents - Remove dependents from coverage - Contribute to a pre-tax Dependent Care Flexible
Spending Account (DC FSA) for expenses such as daycare
- Contribute to a pre-tax Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HC FSA) with a Point-of-Service (POS) Plan
- Make changes to pre-tax Health Savings Account(HSA) contributions
- Add, drop or make changes to supplemental benefits (such as life insurance, short-term disability buy-up, pet insurance, homeowners insurance, auto insurance, vision insurance, etc.) For more information, visit the Employee Benefits
pages of the new HHC Connect intranet.
Introducing the new 5 Ways to Connect to Healthier Wellness reward ProgramConnect to Healthier is more than an advertising slogan. It is an expression of HHC’s commitment to helping patients, families, communities and employees be healthier with the support of our coordinated network of care.
We are building a culture of wellness by encouraging our employees to learn about the risk factors that research has proven can have a significant impact on health and well-being:
• Blood pressure• LDL cholesterol• Blood sugar• Body mass index (height and weight)• Nicotine use
With the new “5 Ways to Connect to Healthier” initiative, employees and their covered spouses or domestic partners who are on a Hartford HealthCare insurance plan can earn rewards by learning more about their health.
Start to earn your first Connect to Healthier reward right now. Simply complete this online form and submit it by June 30, 2016.
For details, please read the FAQs and fact sheet on the Health and Wellness pages of the HHC Connect intranet.
Tools and Tips to Help You Connect to HealthierHealthyU
New Tool to Track Rounding and Daily ManagementHartford HealthCare has purchased the Advisory Board’s iRound application to use the data-collection tool for patient experience rounding and for several types of standard work in H3W daily management. Onsite training is scheduled for October. Look for more information soon.
Special EventWalk to Wellness: Relief of Debilitating HeadachesTuesday, Nov. 3, 8:30-9:30 a.m.Hartford HealthCare Rest and Relaxation Lounge at Westfarms (lower level of Westfarms near Nordstrom’s).
Dr. Brian Grosberg, Director of the Hartford HealthCare Headache Program, will be speaking. The Hartford HealthCare Headache Center is a brand new center that will help patients find relief from debilitating headaches that can derail day-to-day activities.
H3W/Lean Spotlight: Small Change, Big Impact Sometimes a small change can have a huge impact, especially when it comes to patient care. In the case of a Lean demonstration unit from the adolescent and child inpatient team at Natchaug Hospital, the act of improving the organization of workplace supplies is paying immediate dividends.
In 2015, more than 200 leaders across Hartford HealthCare were certified in 40 hours of advanced Lean Training. The transformation includes embedding the two primary pillars of Lean — Respect for People and Continuous Improvement — into daily operations. HHC launched 14 demonstration units across the system to start the journey utilizing Lean tools and methodologies in everyday work.
The team at Natchaug used the 5S system in Lean methodology — Sort, Set In Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain — to organize supply storage for items such as games and art supplies used for children and adolescent programs. The team organized areas with tape, marking where specific supplies should go, and created inventory lists to ensure items were properly stocked and that there was no duplication in ordering.
“In terms of patient safety, it’s very important for us
to know if a paint set or scissors are missing. But, it’s also important for us to know what supplies we have on hand to facilitate activities,” says Paul Simeone, assistant director of the adolescent and child inpatient unit at Natchaug and huddle leader. “In the end, the process will allow us to spend more time with our patients.”
natchaug Lean Demonstration Unit:
Jose Arriaga, Maryann D’Aprile, Jessica Dejesus, Michelle Ducat, Ohla Nechyporenko, Mayra Santana-Robles, Kellie Thompson, Jennifer Vaughn
Huddle Leader: Paul Simeone
Director: Amanda Watkins
VP Operations: David Klein
Lean Sensei: Sandi Voogd
HHC is on a journey toward hand-hygiene compliance. Our goal is 90 percent compliance at each hospital. Check out our scores for the month of September:
Hand Hygiene UPDATE
Back
us
Win
dhamMid
Stat
e
HO
CC
HH
HHC
96%
95%
89%
91%
90%
94%
Memory WalksMore than 240 Hartford HealthCare employees supported Walks to End Alzheimer’s, one at Bushnell Park Sept. 20 and a second at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield Sept. 27. Walkers representing Hartford Hospital, Hartford Hospital Senior Primary Care at Duncaster, the Connecticut Center for Healthy Aging, Jerome Home and Arbor Rose, Cedar Mountain Commons, Jefferson House,and Southington Care Center raised thousands of dollars through the events and with multiple fundraisers, including ziti dinners, jeans day and panini lunches.
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Jefferson House Receives Full Circle Award for Positive Results in Alarm ReductionThe Jefferson House staff has been recognized with Hartford Hospital’s Full Circle Award for their successful work in reducing alarms.
Alarms are used to alert staff and prevent injuries from falls when a resident gets out of a bed or chair. At the start of the project, Jefferson House had 70 resident alarms in place, including bed alarms, chair alarms and motion sensors. The goal of the project was to reduce the frequency of alarms without harming residents.
The alarm-reduction team included team leader Kristin DiMinno, Lilia Atienza, Robyn Beaulieu, Davia Brown, Maryanne Campanello, Pauline Clarke, Joseph Joseph, Aileen Legnani, Monnette Lim,
Rejeanne Lukach, Hotherline Pascal, Marie Pean and Robert Pettinicchi.
Through careful planning, alarms were reduced by 62 percent from 70 to 27 in less than 12 months, with no increase in falls. One of the biggest barriers had been staff and family reliance on alarms, which served as a false sense of security. Research shows that alarms are not effective and can, in fact, have a negative impact on quality of life. Residents with alarms tend to move less for fear of setting off alarms, become agitated by the noise, and have more interrupted sleep patterns. By educating staff and families, it became easier to make progress on alarm reduction.
Gathering for the Full Circle Award presentation are, from left, Susan Vinal, executive director, Jefferson House; Lisa Connolly, vice president, Hartford HealthCare Senior Services; Robyn Beaulieu, director of nursing, Jefferson House; Kristin DiMinno, nurse supervisor, team leader; Pauline Clarke, CNA; Lilia Atienza, RN; Hotherline Pascal, CNA; Monnette Lim, RN; Aileen Legnani, RN; and Stuart K. Markowitz, MD, senior vice president of Hartford HealthCare and president of the HHC Hartford Region.
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HHC Flu Vaccination Clinics October-November 2015 Date Entity Location Time
Monday, October 12 Backus Conference Room 1&2 6A-6P HOCC NB Employee Health 6A-10A Midstate Conference Room 1 6:30A-9:30A Natchaug IC office 9A – 5P Rushford Silver Street E146 7:30A-11:30A, 2P-4:30P Tuesday, October 13 Backus Outpatient Care Center 12N-3P Hartford IOL Donnelly 7A-9A, 2:30P-4P IOL Terry 9:30A-11A IOL Commons caf 11:30A-1P Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N, 2P-4P Midstate Conference room 1 4:30P-6:30P HHC Health Center (HH MOB) 3P-5P Wednesday, October 14 Backus Conference Room 3 1P-5P Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N, 2P-4P HOCC NB Lecture Room 1 8A-11A Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A Natchaug IC office 11A – 7P SSO Farmington 17 Talcott Notch 8A-10:30A SSO New Britain 389 John Downey 11A-12N HHC Health Center (HH MOB) 11A-2P
Thursday, October 15 Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N, 2P-4P HOCC NB Employee Health 6A-9A Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A Newington Jefferson House 7A-8:30A, 2P-4P Windham Griswold Room 6A-10A
Friday, October 16 Backus Plainfield ED 2P-3:30P Hartford CB139-140 7:30A-8:30A Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N HOCC Bradley Conference Room A 3P-5P HOCC NB Dining Room B&C 1P-4:30P Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A Rushford Silver Street E146 7:30A-11:30A, 2P-4:30P HHC Health Center (HH MOB) 11A-1P
Sunday, October 18 HOCC Bradley Conference Room A 7A-9A
Monday, October 19 Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N, 2P-4P Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A Windham Griswold Room 3P-7P
October Flu Clinic & Practice ToursCome learn about the Hartford Healthcare Health Center’s unique care model
before selecting benefits during Open Enrollment from October 19-30, 2015.
The Hartford HealthCare Health Center is available to all employees and family
members who are on the HHC Point of Service (POS) insurance plan. (Non-HSA)
• A team of doctors, Health Coaches, and social workers
• A team of doctors, health coaches and social workers
• Longer appointments
• $0 Co-pays• Se habla Español
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Date Entity Location Time
Tuesday, October 20 Backus Stott Avenue 12:30P-3:30P Hartford IOL Donnelly 7A-9A, 2:30P-4P Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N, 2P-4P HOCC NB E Employee Health 1P-6P Natchaug IC office 12N-8P HHC Health Center (HH MOB) 3P-5P
Wednesday, October 21 CLP Newington 2P-4P Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N, 2P-4P Hartford WAHS Park St 8A-10A HOCC NB Employee Health 6A-10A Midstate Back of cafeteria 2:30P-4:30P Windham Johnson Room 7A-11A
Thursday, October 22 Backus Conference Room 3 6A-12N Hartford Gilman 7:30A-8A Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N, 2P-4P Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A Natchaug IC office 9A-5P SSO Newington 9A-1P
Friday, October 23 Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A HHC Health Center (HH MOB) 8A-10A
Saturday, October 24 HOCC Bradley Conference Room A 7P-9P
Monday, October 26 Backus Conference Room 1 12N-4P HOCC NB Employee Health 1P-6P Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A Rushford Paddock Ave Café Conference Room 8A-12N, 1P-4:30P Tuesday, October 27 Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N, 2P-4P Windham Griswold Room 12N-4P HHC Health Center (HH MOB) 3P-5P Wednesday, October 28 Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N, 2P-4P HOCC NB Employee Health 6:30A-9:30A Midstate Back of cafeteria 6:30A-9:30A SSO Farmington 5 Batterson Park Authenticity 9A-12N HHC Health Center (HH MOB) 5P Thursday, October 29 Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N, 2P-4P Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A Rushford Paddock Ave Café Conference Room 8A-12N, 1P-4:30P Friday, October 30 Backus Conference Room 8A-12N Hartford OHS 7A-9A, 11A-12N Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A Monday, November 2 Hartford OHS 7A-4P HOCC NB Employee Health 12N-4P Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A Natchaug IC office 9A-5P
Tuesday, November 3 Hartford OHS 7A-4P HOCC NB Employee Health 9A-11A Midstate Back of cafeteria 9A-11A
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new 401(k)What is it?: HHC’s new system-wide retirement program begins on Jan. 1, 2016.
next milestone: Lots of information will be coming to your home mailbox in the coming months to explain any actions you must take before the end of 2015.
What you need to know: The new plan has the following features:
• Contribute as much or as little as you choose. You may contribute from 1 percent to 75 percent of your pay on a pre-tax or after-tax basis (or a combination of both), up to the current annual IRS maximum of $18,000 or $24,000 if you are age 50 or over. Maximum contribution amounts are set annually by the IRS.
• HHC contributes too. HHC will provide a matching contribution each pay period that you save.
• It’s flexible.You can start, stop or adjust your contribution percentage at any time. You also can view and manage your account online 24/7.
• You have control. You can choose how to invest your money, using a variety of investment options offered by Prudential, and receive guidance through the Prudential GoalMaker tool.
• It’s portable. You can take your vested benefit with you when you leave HHC.
• It’s convenient. Contributions are deducted directly from your paycheck.
Day Kimball Healthcare AffiliationWhat is it?: The proposed partnership announced recently between HHC and Day Kimball HealthCare in Putnam has been put on hold because of severe and unexpected cuts to state Medicaid payments.
next milestone: “Given the magnitude of the state’s cuts, it would be imprudent for us to consider moving forward with such a partnership at this time,” said James Blazar, Hartford HealthCare’s wsenior vice president and chief strategy and transformation officer.
What you need to know: According to state estimates, HHC would stand to lose $55 million if the cuts go through and, as a result, needs to curtail major capital expenditures at this time. DKH expects these cuts to result in a $5.6-million loss in state funding this fiscal year.
the CHECKuPA monthly digest of important projects and initiatives that are transforming Hartford HealthCare so we can shape the future of healthcare in our region.
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ICD-10What is it?: After years of preparation and millions of dollars spent on training and software changes, the world of medical billing changed overnight on October 1, with the adoption of the ICD-10 code set.
Latest milestone: HHC’s doctors, nurses, coders and billers were ready, and the change happened with minimal disruption.
What you need to know: If you need assistance, call the ICD-1 Command Center at 860.972.5310.
