St. Charles Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll. This is the sixth consecutive year that St. Charles has earned a Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award and the first year that St. Charles is named to the Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll.

The Gold Plus award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success ensuring that stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

To receive the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month periods and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with five of eight Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality measures.

To qualify for the Target: Stroke Honor Roll, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen

activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. If given intravenously in the first three hours after the start of stroke symptoms, tPA has been shown to significantly reduce the effects of stroke and lessen the chance of permanent disability. St. Charles Hospital earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period.

These quality measures are designed to help hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

For more information about the New York State Designated Stroke Center at St. Charles Hospital, please call (631) 474-6797.

St. Charles Hospital Receives Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll

Award demonstrates St. Charles Hospital’s commitment to quality care for stroke patients

Catholic Health Services

Summer 2016Community Newsletter

• Count on it!

• St. Charles Prevention Class Reduces Fall Risk for Seniors

• Ask The Expert: Parkinson’s Disease

• Bone Fractures in Student Athletes Need Special Consideration

• Aspiring Navy S.E.A.L. from Long Island Refuses to Let Spinal Cord Injury Crush His Dreams

• Women Religious Saluted

Inside This Issue:

For all hospitals, a safe culture is the foundation for quality and for improving both the patient and family experience. It requires everyone to work together as a team. A safe culture can only be ensured if everyone is committed,

dedicated and responsible for their part in caring for our patients. A safe culture requires the unwavering support of our physicians, nurses, lab technicians, radiology technicians, clerical staff, managers, housekeepers, facility staff, and so many more.

That commitment and dedication is evident at St. Charles where we have received recognition for our culture of safety. In January, we completed a very successful Joint Commission survey and received comments from the Joint Commission regarding our effort towards providing our patients with a safe culture.

Recently, St. Charles received the Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with an additional new designation, Target: StrokeSM

Honor Roll from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. St. Charles has received this recognition for six consecutive years. The designation recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in ensuring that stroke patients receive the most immediate and appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. I am very proud of the staff that worked so hard to provide a culture of safety for stroke patients and of the positive outcomes as a result.

A safe culture doesn’t just happen. It’s hard work, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s more than a job; it’s a calling, a mission. And, that calling, that mission, is evident at St. Charles – in the work that’s being done here for our patients and the recognition we receive for this work. When patients choose St. Charles, they choose a culture of safety and they are in the very best hands.

You can count on it!

Stepping On, a falls prevention class taught by St. Charles physical therapists, Thomas Focarile and Jon Rossi, helped 21 Brookhaven Town senior citizens reduce their risk of falling by more than 31 percent. The therapists taught the 7-session program free of charge at the Town of Brookhaven’s Rose Caracappa Senior Center beginning in March 2016. The program explained the many factors which lead to falls, taught mobility techniques to avoid falling and introduced seniors to exercises which rebuild muscle strength reduced over the normal course of aging.

A Message From the Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer

St. Charles Prevention Class Reduces Fall Risk for Local Seniors

St. Charles has offered the program regularly to address a well-documented public health issue affecting Suffolk County residents aged 65 and over--the

prevalence of death from traumatic brain injury sustained after a fall, including falls at home. Suffolk

County has one of the highest rates in New York State. To date, more than 50 participants have graduated from the St. Charles program.

St. Charles will host a course beginning September 13 at the Rose Caracappa Center and a course beginning October 5 at St. Charles Hospital. To enroll in either course,

please call (631) 474-6797.

2 Count on St. Charles Hospital | Spring 2016

What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s and how do I know when it’s time to see a doctor? Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by slowly progressive symptoms such as stiff muscles, known as rigidity, and slow movement. One side of the body is usually more affected than the other. Many individuals notice a resting tremor--a slight but persistent shaking in hands or feet, especially when they are not being used. If a tremor is not the presenting symptom, a change in handwriting (typically smaller) and a shuffling walk may be the first signs of PD.

What kind of doctor should I see? If you are experiencing these symptoms and they are progressing with no other clear explanation, it is important to seek a physician evaluation. The physician of choice would be a neurologist. A specialized group of neurologists who see Parkinson’s disease patients are known as movement disorders specialists.

If I see a movement disorders specialist about my symptoms, what kind of testing should I expect? There are no specific tests that diagnose Parkinson’s disease but there are conditions that mimic PD symptoms. It is vital for a movement disorders specialist to obtain a patient’s medical history and conduct a physical exam. The specialist often orders an imaging study, such as a brain MRI, and blood tests to exclude other conditions that may mimic Parkinson’s disease. A very specialized test called a DaTscan can sometimes be helpful in establishing a diagnosis for Parkinson’s disease but the test is not specific for PD. Sleep testing can help rule out the possibility that an underlying sleep disorder may be contributing to some symptoms, such as associated fatigue. Finally, a patient who may have PD is given a “trial” of medication to see if the medication is effective. A meaningful response to PD

medication can help differentiate between Parkinson’s disease from Parkinsonism, a term for someone who is exhibiting stiffness and slowness but who may not have Parkinson’s disease.

What advances in treatment and research give those with PD reason to be hopeful? We have made significant progress in the past fifty years. There are now several medications, as well as surgical options, to improve and manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Four new treatments were approved in the last two years.

Many public figures, physicians, patients, family members and support groups have increased awareness of Parkinson’s disease and helped raised money for research. Ongoing trials are looking into the causes, prevention, treatments and restoration therapies for PD. Other recent discoveries are increasing our knowledge base significantly; potentially leading to more therapies.

For more information about the Outpatient Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders Center at St. Charles Hospital, please call (631) 474-6797.

David Kreitzman, M.D., is a neurologist and medical director of the Outpatient Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders Center at St. Charles Hospital. He is board certified in neurology and completed his fellowship training in Movement Disorders at Boston University Medical Center.

Ask The Expert: Parkinson’s Disease

Free Diabetes Prevention Class at St. Charles Begins September 14

This free program is led by a trained Lifestyle Coach and meets one hour per

week for 16 weeks, followed by 8 monthly follow-up sessions.

The sessions cover healthy eating, physical activity, and lifestyle changes to help

participants achieve the goals that prevent or delay a diabetes diagnosis.

Call (631) 474-6797 to see if you qualify.

3Count on St. Charles Hospital | Summer 2016

St. Charles at the Port Jefferson Health & Wellness ExpoSt. Charles offered healthy snacks and nutrition information at the Port Jefferson Health and Wellness Expo in April. To get more healthy recipes, visit www.stcharles.org/recipebox

St. Charles Hospital is Now on InstagramSt. Charles Hospital has expanded its social media presence to include Instagram. To connect

with St. Charles on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, visit www.stcharles.org/social

St. Charles Chefs Win Competition for Second TimeA team of St. Charles Hospital chefs won first place in The Healthcare Culinary Challenge hosted by the Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF) New York Chapter on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. This is the team’s second consecutive victory. Recipes from these chefs are posted here: www.stcharles.org/recipebox.

News Briefs

Among the wide number of injuries that student athletes can sustain during competitive play, fractures, or small cracks in bone, should be reviewed by a physician familiar with the musculoskeletal development of children.

“Fractures in student athletes need special consideration to determine whether there is damage to growth centers – areas in childrens’ bones responsible for proper physical development,” advises Matthew Wagner, MD, pediatric orthopedist, St. Charles.

“Most growth centers fuse during the adolescent years and the last growth plate closes when an athlete is in their early 20’s,’ said Wagner. “However, because teenagers develop at different times and at varying rates, it is vital to know if a fracture has affected your teen or preteen’s growth center.”

While parents, coaches and trainers may be quick to suspect fracture following a powerful impact with another player, an awkward landing in the midst of play, or a hit from a ball, athletes are also at risk for stress fractures, which result from overtraining.

“With kids participating in sports at earlier ages and training year-round, their bodies do not always get the needed rest. This puts them at greater risk of overuse injuries, including stress fractures,” said Dr. Wagner. “Pain is a common complaint when a student athlete has any kind of fracture but the treatment will differ depending on whether the injury occurred because of an impact or because they’ve trained too hard for too long. This is because the underlying reason for bone failure is different.”

Wagner explained further, saying, “Athletes with stress fractures and other overuse conditions affecting growth centers, such as Osgood-Schlatter syndrome or Sever’s disease, generally need more rest than those with impact-related fractures. Physical therapy is frequently necessary to prevent re-occurrence of stress fractures and address the related muscle tightness.”

For more information about pediatric orthopedic services at St. Charles, please call (631) 474-6797.

Bone Fractures in Student Athletes Need Special Consideration Says St. Charles Pediatric Orthopedist

4 Count on St. Charles Hospital | Summer 2016

Tristan was 19 years old, in peak physical condition and weeks away from reporting for Navy S.E.A.L. training when he dove off a seven foot pier into knee-deep water.

“It was July 29 and I was in West Hampton with my friends. We had done a bay swim earlier in the day, hung out for a while, and went back to the beach later that night to swim again. It was after midnight and pitch black,” explained Tristan, a self-professed ‘Adrenaline Junkie.’

Aspiring Navy S.E.A.L. from Long Island Refuses to Let Spinal Cord Injury Crush His Dreams

Above: Tristan paused for a photo with his parents shortly after his discharge from St. Charles Hospital, where he spent 4 weeks rehabilitating from a spinal cord injury.

Tristan (center) is pictured here with the friends and family who visited him at nearby St. Charles Hospital to help celebrate his 20th birthday.

Tristan remained relentlessly positive while rehabilitating from a spinal cord injury at St. Charles Hospital. During his impressively short recovery, he regained the use of hands and began walking again.

Unfortunately, as he and friends leapt into the water, Tristan failed to anticipate changes in the tide and his head hit the shallow bottom with enough force to explode a disc in his spine.

“It didn’t hurt at first,” he said. “I heard a really loud crunch. It was like cracking my back, times ten. I was face down in the water, conscious but completely paralyzed. I felt like I was straining all my muscles, but I just couldn’t move.”

Tristan was airlifted to a Long Island trauma center and stabilized in the Intensive Care Unit. He arrived at St. Charles for acute rehabilitation a little more than a week later. Before the accident, Tristan was running more than 10 miles a day and working under the guidance of a retired S.E.A.L. to develop his fitness and survival skills. Now, he could not lift his arms to feed himself, stand up without a walker or remain standing without fainting.

Despite his new physical limitations, Tristan did not allow his accident to crush his dreams the way it had crushed his spine.

Read Tristan’s inspiring rehabilitation story at bit.ly/217KG1Y.

During a recent reunion with his therapist, Tristan shows how much progress he has made over the past year.

Photos: Sess Family

5Count on St. Charles Hospital | Summer 2016

Eliatt Di Lieto, CPA, CVA

As president of Leadership Efficiencies, Inc. in Port Jefferson Station, Eliatt provides Executive Level Consulting Services to businesses including coaching and mentoring,

leadership education, team building and organizational assessment. He is also a group chair for CompelCEOs, a resource, custom peer advisory group. Eliatt previously served at a Long Island based public accounting firm where he was partner-in-charge of the firm’s healthcare, litigation support, and business valuation practices. He is a resident of Port Jefferson Station where he lives with his wife Kathleen and their five children.

Tim Hopkins

Tim is president of the Board of Directors of Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County and president of Independent Strategic Management Consulting.

He previously has served as chief operating officer/chief merchandising officer, floral division of 1-800-Flowers, chief executive officer and director of Sur La Table, and president, Corporate Merchandising, Marketing and Logistics, Worldwide for Borders Group, Inc. Tim is a resident of Old Field where he serves as a Village Trustee and lives with his wife Molly and their two children.

Donations to St. Charles Hospital Foundation

are fully tax-deductible. When you support the St. Charles Hospital Foundation, you support programs and services that ensure that the best medical care available is provided to our patients…in this community and across Long Island. Donations to the St. Charles Hospital Foundation are fully tax-deductible. Checks should be made payable to St. Charles Hospital Foundation. If you would like to designate your gift to a specific department or program, please indicate this in the memo portion of your check. All donations should be mailed to:

St. Charles Hospital Foundation200 Belle Terre Rd.

Port Jefferson, NY 11777

Please visit www.stcharles.org and click DONATE or call (631) 474-6465.

St. Charles Hospital Foundation Welcomes New Trustees

The St. Charles Hospital Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. All three are

experienced leaders within our community and bring a wealth of talent to the Foundation. Please join us in welcoming them!

Donald McCormick, CFP, CRPC

Don is the president and CEO of McCormick Wealth Management Group, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial with offices in Bohemia and Mattituck. Don’s areas of focus include developing

individual estate planning and retirement planning strategies that will help clients prepare for their future. Don is a resident of Shoreham where he lives with his wife Eileen and their two children.

6 Count on St. Charles Hospital | Summer 2016

News From Across the System

Women Religious SalutedThe third annual National Catholic Sisters Week was celebrated March 8–14, recognizing the many contributions of women religious, especially the founding congregations of CHS’s various entities. Reaching back more than a century, CHS hospitals, nursing facilities, home care, hospice and Maryhaven owe a debt of gratitude to the religious sisters who had the vision to establish these services for Long Islanders. The Daughters of Wisdom, Congregation of the Infant Jesus, Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville and Franciscan Missionaries of Mary all continue to inspire everyone at CHS with their dedication to those in need. Their sacrifices, hard work and determination have made it possible for CHS to continue Christ’s healing mission into the 21st century.

Women religious from across Catholic Health Services were honored at a luncheon during National Catholic Sisters Week.

Annual Gala Supports Renovation ProjectSt. Charles Hospital Foundation’s 2016 Gala, Up, Up & Away, took place on Friday, May 13 at Flowerfield Celebrations in St. James. St. Charles presented the Theodore Roosevelt Award posthomonously to William Konczynin, MD, at the Gala. Dr. Konczynin’s wife, Barbara, (second from right) accepted the award along with her children Allyson (right), and son, William and his wife, Megan (left). Also pictured is Jim O’Connor, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, St. Charles Hospital. The event raised funds for the Maternal Child Pavilion Renovation Project.

To learn more about this project, visit: http://bit.ly/1Y80ArT

A Great Adventure is About to Begin!

7Count on St. Charles Hospital | Summer 2016

200 Belle Terre RoadPort Jefferson, NY 11777

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WHAT’S INSIDE:• Count on it!

• St. Charles Prevention Class Reduces Fall Risk for Seniors

• Ask The Expert: Parkinsons Disease

• Bone Fractures in Student Athletes Need Special Consideration

• Aspiring Navy S.E.A.L. from Long Island Refuses to Let Spinal Cord Injury Crush His Dreams

• Women Religious Saluted