Author: Eli Anderson

WATERTOWN, NY — In the past when faced with a diagnosis of “skin cancer,” those words would often mark the beginning of a long journey with multiple visits to complete surgical treatment. That journey will soon be much easier with Mohs Surgery coming to Samaritan Medical Center.

Mohs Surgery is a precise surgical technique that offers the highest skin cancer cure rate available. During Mohs Surgery, thin layers of cancer-containing skin are progressively removed and examined until only cancer-free tissue remains, allowing you to go home with the knowledge the skin cancer is definitively cleared. For the first time in the North Country, Samaritan Medical Center is proud to offer this specialized technique to our patients.

Samaritan Auxiliary’s “One Night, One Diamond” is being held on Saturday, March 28th from 6:00-11:00 p.m. at The Commons on Fort Drum. Tickets are $150 per couple, which includes dinner, dancing and an opportunity to win a real diamond, as well as a Lake Placid getaway package. Live music will be provided by the popular band “Atlas.”

For more information, please contact event chairperson Irene Carman at [email protected] or visit the event website for tickets and information at www.samaritanhealth.com/onod. RSVPs, with the names of attendees and date of birth for entrance onto Fort Drum, must be received by March 17, 2020.

“The benefit of having Mohs Surgery available at Samaritan Medical Center is that Dr. Nathanial Miletta and Dr. Zachary Nahmias will provide this specialized care for you close to home, without having to travel outside the region,” explains Irene Carman, Samaritan Auxiliary’s “One Night, One Diamond” Event Chair. “This equipment is a testament to Samaritan’s commitment to investing in a new service line with up-to-date technology to assist in the care of its patients. For the Samaritan Auxiliary volunteers, it is a privilege to be able to provide the hospital this Mohs Surgery equipment with the gracious and generous support of so many from the community and beyond.”

The Commons on Fort Drum will once again be the setting for “One Night, One Diamond,” an elegant evening of dining, dancing, and a chance to win an exquisite half-carat diamond donated by Cook’s Jewelers. Additionally, someone will win a getaway package donated by Lake Placid’s Mirror Lake Inn.

Presenting Sponsors for “One Night, One Diamond” are Apogee Physicians, Pepsi of Watertown and Purcell Construction. Media Sponsors are the Watertown Daily Times and 7News/Fox 28/MeTV North Country. Other top sponsors include FX Caprara Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Alexandria Bay, Hancock Estabrook, KeyBank, Krafft Cleaning Service, The Martin Group, North Country Orthopaedic Group, Northern Radiology Associates, Renzi Foodservice, Running Boards Marketing, and Slack Chemical Company. The event receives additional support from numerous other sponsors at the Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire levels.

About Samaritan Auxiliary
The Samaritan Auxiliary was established in 1896 to serve as ambassadors and volunteers to support and enhance healthcare programs at the House of the Good Samaritan. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Samaritan Auxiliary and its 232 members, composed entirely of volunteers, play a vital role today in improving the quality of care in the Samaritan system through volunteer activities and financial support. The total volunteer hours for 2019 was 20,667 between Samaritan Medical Center, Samaritan Keep Home and Samaritan Summit Village. Since 2016 when the event began raising funds for equipment, Samaritan Auxiliary’s One Night, One Diamond proceeds have purchased over $600,000 in equipment for Samaritan Medical Center.

Among last year’s Auxiliary highlights is the 2019 One Night, One Diamond, with all proceeds to purchase a tissue tracker for tissue implants at Samaritan Medical Center and an Oncologic Navigation System to help manage the continuum of care for oncology patients at the Cancer Center. The Auxiliary manages the gift shops at Samaritan Medical Center, Samaritan Keep Home and Samaritan Summit Village, as well as the Starbucks Coffee Shop at the Medical Center. These ventures, along with annual uniform sales and membership dues, allow it to provide funding for support of programs, services and the pledge commitment. The Auxiliary provided its most recent annual pledge commitment to the Capital Campaign of $500,000 for the Walker Center for Cancer Care, continued to support our youngest patients in the Emergency Department and Surgical Care Center with stuffed animals, coloring books and crayons, provided two $1500 scholarships to Samaritan employees to further their education, funded and provided tours at Samaritan Medical Center to 400 second graders of Jefferson County, trained 76 new volunteers for SMC, SKH, and SSV, including college students and teen volunteers, provided a flower for each SSV and SKH residents’ birthday and 17 copies of the Watertown Daily Times for patients at SMC daily. Additionally, the Auxiliary continued the WHALE (We Have A Little Emergency) child safety seat ID program ([email protected]) and That’s Using Your Head, a helmet ID safety program ([email protected]), in conjunction with our Kinney Drugs Foundation partner and 7News/Fox28/MeTV North Country media partner.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has selected Samaritan Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.

Knee and hip replacement procedures are among the fastest growing medical treatments in the U.S., according to studies published in the June 2014 Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In 2010, the estimated cost of hip replacements averaged $17,500 and the estimated cost of knee replacements averaged $16,000, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions. Designated hospitals must also maintain national accreditation. In addition to meeting these quality thresholds, hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ are on average 20 percent more cost-efficient in an episode of care compared to other hospitals. Quality is key: only those facilities that first meet nationally established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.

Samaritan Medical Center is proud to be recognized by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for meeting the robust selection criteria for knee and hip replacements set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. It has held this designation since 2012.

“Samaritan is pleased to again be recognized for this designation of quality and positive patient outcomes,” states Dr. Mario Victoria, Samaritan’s Chief Medical Officer. “We performed 319 knee and hip replacement surgeries in 2019 under the direction of well-trained surgeons, an inpatient unit dedicated to orthopaedics, and a suite of rehabilitation services. We also provide preliminary information at our popular Joint Camp series to help patients learn more about procedures and expectations. The program we offer is comprehensive and certainly this Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement speaks to the quality of service we provide.”

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver.

“To receive the Blue Distinction designation, an organization must meet a specific set of rigorous standards that represent a commitment to quality and helping members better manage their care,” said Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Regional President Eve Van de Wal. “We’re glad to recognize Samaritan Medical Center for their excellence in delivering safe and effective knee and hip replacement surgery to their patients.”

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

About Samaritan Medical Center
Samaritan Medical Center (Watertown, New York) is a 290-bed not-for-profit community medical center, offering a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services. From primary and emergency care to highly specialized medical and surgical services, such as cancer treatment, neonatal intensive care, behavioral health and addiction services, and imaging services, Samaritan Medical Center and its team of healthcare professionals proudly serves the medical needs of our civilian and military community. Quality, compassion, and safety are the basic principles by which exceptional care is delivered at Samaritan.

About Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 1.5 million upstate New York members. The company’s mission is to help people live healthier and more secure lives through access to high-quality, affordable health care. Its products and services include cost-saving prescription drug discounts, wellness tracking tools and access to telemedicine. With more than 3,500 employees, the company is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce to foster innovation and better serve its members. It also encourages employees to engage in their communities by providing paid volunteer time off as one of many benefits. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 105 million members – one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out The BCBS Blog, for up-to-date information about BCBSA.

About Blue Distinction Centers
Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for facilities located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable health care. Each facility’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Facilities in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.

Watertown, NY — Renovations to Samaritan Medical Center’s Emergency Department (ED) will begin on Jan. 29, 2020. The upgrades to the ED’s waiting room intake and triage check-in areas will improve patient privacy and enhance the waiting space for the more than 48,000 patients seeking treatment at the ED each year.

The new, renovated space will include private intake areas complete with a door for patient privacy, updated fixtures, a new security station, and improved waiting area space for patients and their families. In addition, we are upgrading the heating and cooling system in this space while adding negative pressure in the area to help with infection prevention.

Throughout the anticipated four-month construction period, we will continue to provide care 24/7 for all emergency conditions. Beginning Jan. 29, all ED walk-in patients and families should enter through the main entrance of the hospital. Initial intake and triage will be performed in a new, temporary space in our main lobby. Following check-in, patients will be escorted to the ED for treatment. This re-routing of patient traffic will enable us to complete the renovations efficiently and better serve our patients as they enter the department to receive care.

“Samaritan is dedicated to providing quality care while being mindful of a patient’s privacy and comfort,” states Kim Thibert, Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Samaritan. “This renovation stems from patient feedback and has been designed with the patient in mind. It will enable our staff to check patients in quickly and privately in an updated space, giving patients and family members peace of mind in an emergency situation.”

Construction will not impact emergency responders or ambulances. The needle or sharps repository for community use will also be moved to the main lobby location during the construction. For all maternity-related needs, we ask patients to please remember to use the dedicated Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children at Samaritan entrance, located off of Sherman Street.

Additional information for patients:

Emergency Departments are best for emergency situations. If you have a life-threatening condition, go straight to your nearest ED. Such conditions include:

• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing or extreme chest pain
• Stroke
• Head injuries
• Severe bleeding
• Loss of vision
• Drug overdose
• Seizures
• Severe cuts or burns
• Sudden dizziness or numbness
• Severe allergic reactions

Deciding between urgent care or the ED depends on the severity of the health problem. If the condition is life-threatening, go to an ED by calling 911 or be brought in to be seen.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of Northern New York is pleased to announce Kai Diggs, 6, of Watertown, as its 2020 Champion!

Each year, 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across the country identify a champion in their community to serve as the face for children treated at their hospital. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of Northern New York at Samaritan Medical Center has chosen an annual local champion since last year. The local champion for 2019 was Ryley Weaver, of Carthage.

“Kai has shown incredible bravery and perseverance, all with a smile on his face; he will make the North Country proud,” said Kristin LaClair, Director of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Samaritan. “I’m confident Kai’s story and role as an ambassador will make a real difference for the kids who rely on children’s services at our hospital.”

Kai was diagnosed with hydrocephalus – a buildup of fluid in the brain – at age 4. This buildup in his brain’s ventricles was caused by a tumor in his pineal gland, which caused him to undergo emergency brain surgery in 2018. Today, Kai needs regular brain imaging and has countless appointments in Syracuse and Rochester to monitor his condition. Although his happy, energetic personality would not suggest it, Kai suffers from debilitating headaches and other neurological symptoms daily.

“It’s hard, every day is hard, but he makes it easy to get through,” said Kianna Diggs, Kai’s mother. “He makes it so you just stay positive. He’s awesome.”

Although he has been through a lot for a 6-year-old, Kai is thankful for the things he has. One of his favorite phrases is “You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit.” He is passionate about music and aspires to be a rap artist – he loves to think of words that rhyme. Kai also loves math, frequently challenging himself with math problems and checking his work on his calculator.

“To know Kai is to absolutely adore him, Ms. Diggs said. “The world is a better place with him in it and now everyone gets to experience Kai’s spirit.”

Kai’s family is assisted through the Direct Family Assistance Program from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Samaritan. This program, which is unique to Samaritan Medical Center, helps families with reimbursement of travel expenses and medical bills during hospitalizations and appointments with specialty doctors.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals offer treatment to millions of sick children nationwide, serving 1 in 10 children in North America each year.

For more information, contact Kristin LaClair, Director of Children’s Miracle Network at Samaritan Medical Center, at 315-785-4053 or [email protected].

Samaritan Medical Center is doing its part to ensure safe sleep for all infants. When an infant is born at Samaritan, staff at our Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children will educate and demonstrate to families the importance of safe sleep, what safe sleep looks like, and provide each baby with a safe sleep sack to encourage parents to continue safe sleep practices taught while in the hospital.

These sleep sacks are donated by Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) at Samaritan. This initiative is part of a larger goal to be a certified safe sleep hospital accredited by Cribs for Kids.

“Our children mean the world to us,” said Laurie L. Fegley, Director of Samaritan’s Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children. “There are many things parents – especially new parents – worry about, but we can give them peace of mind by teaching them the safest way to put their baby to sleep. We have a unique opportunity to teach families what safe sleep looks like and to impress upon them the importance of safe sleep in preventing infant deaths. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a new slogan: ‘On their back, every nap, every night.’ The message is simple and can have great impact if we all work towards the same goal of safe sleep, every time.”

The lives of many babies are cut short by unsafe sleeping environments. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), more than 3,500 infants in the U.S. die every year while sleeping. Often this is due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or from accidental suffocation or strangulation.

These deaths are preventable by following a few key recommendations from the AAP. The primary message for parents and others who care for infants is to “Remember the ABCs of Safe Sleep.” There are three critical measures to follow when it’s time for an infant to sleep:

• “A” is for Alone: Always let the baby sleep alone, never in a bed with another person where the baby could be smothered.
• “B” is for on the baby’s Back: An infant should be placed to sleep on his or her back, not on his or her side or stomach.
• “C” is for Crib: Always put your child to sleep in a crib with only a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet.

“For 30 years, Children’s Miracle Network has been committed to making a difference for children at Samaritan Medical Center and throughout the North Country,” said Kristin LaClair, Director of Children’s Miracle Network at Samaritan. “In 2017, the CMN Allocations Committee approved the purchase of safe sleep sacks to be used in our hospital to promote a safe sleep environment for our newborns and NICU babies. We continue to fund this program annually. Children’s Miracle Network is proud to continue our support for Samaritan’s Safe Sleep initiative by providing every newborn with a take-home sleep sack.”

In addition to the ABCs, families can help reduce the risk of sleep-related death by following these tips:

• Place your baby on a firm sleep surface. Use a safety-approved crib mattress covered with a fitted sheet. Never place a baby to sleep on a pillow, quilt, sheepskin or other soft surface.
• Keep loose objects, soft toys and bedding out of the baby’s sleep area.
• Do not use pillows and blankets in a baby’s sleeping area. Keep all items away from the baby’s face.
• Keep your baby’s crib, bassinet or portable crib in the same room where you sleep for the first 6 months to one year.
• Keep your baby from overheating during the night. A baby should be dressed lightly for sleep. Set the room temperature in a range that is comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
• Do not use crib bumpers. These have been officially banned in the state of New York. They do not reduce injuries and can cause suffocation.
• Never place your baby to sleep on a sofa, arm chair or couch.
• It’s OK to swaddle your baby, but make sure they are always on their backs. When your baby looks like he or she is starting to roll over, you should stop swaddling.
• Try giving your baby a pacifier at bedtime or nap time; it helps reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Don’t smoke during pregnancy, and don’t expose your baby to secondhand smoke after birth.
• Only bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort. Place baby back in crib when you’re ready to sleep.
• Breastfeed for at least the first six months of life. Babies who breastfeed have a lower risk of SIDS.

Be sure to discuss these safety tips with all caregivers, including babysitters, childcare providers and grandparents.

When buying sleep aid products:

• There are a lot of products that claim to help reduce the risk of SIDS; use caution when purchasing these products. According to the AAP, wedges, positioners, special mattresses and specialized sleep surfaces have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Parents should not rely on home heart or breathing monitor to reduce SIDS. Talk with your pediatrician before using these.
• Use caution when purchasing bedside or in-bed sleepers. The AAP can’t recommend to use or not use these products since there have been no studies to look at their effect on SIDS or if they increase the risk of injury and death from suffocation.

Commitment to safe sleep for all infants in our community helps save lives. It starts with education for families and community organizations, like Samaritan Medical Center, coming together to help our most precious patients stay safe, by sleeping safe.

WATERTOWN, NY – Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has selected Samaritan Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.

Spinal surgeries are one of the most frequent types of elective surgeries in the U.S. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, there were more than 465,000 spinal fusion operations in the U.S. in 2011, a procedure commonly done in the lumbar region of the lower back to treat back pain.

Hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery demonstrate expertise in cervical and lumbar fusion, cervical laminectomy and lumbar laminectomy/discectomy procedures, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions compared to other hospitals. Designated hospitals must also maintain national accreditation to be designated.

Samaritan Medical Center is proud to be recognized by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for meeting the rigorous selection criteria for spine surgery set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

“Samaritan’s commitment to local orthopaedic care for our patients is evident and this special distinction in spine surgery says volumes about the quality and outcomes we strive for,” states Dr. Mario Victoria, Samaritan Medical Center Chief Medical Officer. “From specialized inpatient care, to highly trained physicians and nursing staff, this designation is a true reflection of the level of care you can expect at Samaritan.”

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver.

“To receive the Blue Distinction designation, an organization must meet a specific set of rigorous standards that represent a commitment to quality and helping members better manage their care,” said Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Regional President Eve Van de Wal. “We’re proud to recognize Samaritan Medical Center for their excellence in delivering safe and effective spine surgery treatment to their patients.”

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

About Samaritan Medical Center
Samaritan Medical Center (Watertown, New York) is a 290-bed not-for-profit community medical center, offering a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services. From primary and emergency care to highly specialized medical and surgical services, such as cancer treatment, neonatal intensive care, behavioral health and addiction services, and imaging services, Samaritan Medical Center and its team of healthcare professionals proudly serves the medical needs of our civilian and military community. Quality, compassion, and safety are the basic principles by which exceptional care is delivered at Samaritan.

About Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 1.5 million upstate New York members. The company’s mission is to help people live healthier and more secure lives through access to high-quality, affordable health care. Its products and services include cost-saving prescription drug discounts, wellness tracking tools and access to telemedicine. With more than 3,500 employees, the company is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce to foster innovation and better serve its members. It also encourages employees to engage in their communities by providing paid volunteer time off as one of many benefits. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 105 million members – one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out The BCBS Blog, for up-to-date information about BCBSA.

About Blue Distinction Centers
Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for facilities located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable health care. Each facility’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Facilities in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.