Author: Eli Anderson

Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for December 2020. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff at the hospital, and the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who support patient care.

Shirley Ward, a Registered Nurse in Samaritan’s Interventional Radiology Department, received the DAISY Award and Tony Marra, Director of Laboratory Services, was honored with the BEE Award. Both honorees were nominated by fellow staff members and selected by a committee.

Ward was nominated for her compassion, sincerity and overall dedication to patient safety. Several examples were detailed in her nomination form, including one instance in which she helped calm a patient who had misunderstood their appointment time.

“Shirley was able to approach the patient in such a caring and sincere manner that set a gentle tone for the conversation,” the nomination reads. “She actively and attentively listened to the patient’s concerns and provided reassurance and alternatives. Shirley’s leadership and communication skills are compassionate, sincere, and professional. She always ensures a patient-centered approach is attained and delivered.”

For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Ward was presented a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse, a DAISY Award pin, and a symbolic sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. A larger version of this sculpture is on display in the Healing Gardens at Samaritan in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.

Marra was nominated for the BEE Award by a colleague in the laboratory for his steadfast leadership and dedication to patients and staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic:

“In addition to managing his department through the COVID crisis, Tony has personally picked up and delivered COVID specimens to the lab. On weekends, he drives to the Summit collection site, picks up the specimens and delivers them to the lab to ensure a timely turnaround for patients. He has been and continues to be someone who thinks of the patients and us, his coworkers, before himself. His selflessness is so appreciated by all of us.”

Marra was presented a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with other tokens of gratitude.

Both awards will continue to be presented throughout the year, and nominations can be submitted by patients, families, or colleagues at any time. To make a nomination, or to learn more about the DAISY and BEE Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.

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Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is proud to be recognized by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield with a Blue Distinction® Centers+ (BDC+) for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

Racial and ethnic disparities are persistent and widespread across maternal healthcare, primarily driven by socioeconomic status, geographic location, and implicit provider bias. Compared to similarly developed countries such as Canada, Germany, and Australia, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate (MMR), at approximately 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, with the MMR steadily increasing since 2000. According to the CDC, non-Hispanic Black women are two to three times more likely to die from preventable or treatable pregnancy-related complications compared to white women.

To help address these gaps in care and to help ensure the better health of mothers, The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association enhanced its quality evaluation for the Maternity Care program to address key factors driving the United States’ maternal health crisis, such as preventable or treatable pregnancy-related conditions, high utilization of Caesarean sections, and racial and ethnic disparities in maternal healthcare.

Overall, cost of care episodes for vaginal and cesarean births at BDC+ facilities are 20% less than those at non-Blue Distinction Centers+ facilities. The rates of Episiotomies were 49% less at Blue Distinction Centers (BDC and BDC+) than at non-Blue Distinction Centers (BDC and BDC+). In 2018, BDC/BDC+ facilities across the country cared for more than 40% of Blue Cross and Blue Shield commercially insured women giving birth.

Samaritan Medical Center is proud to be recognized by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for meeting the rigorous Blue Distinction Centers+ quality selection criteria for maternity care set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

“We are so pleased to earn the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield designation as a Blue Distinction® Center+ for Maternity Care,” said Kim Thibert, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services. “Every year, more than 1,400 families visit our Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children, trusting us to provide top-quality care during an important milestone in their lives. We take that charge very seriously. With some of the most experienced and compassionate caregivers in the state and a newly renovated space, we are able to offer the exceptional level of care our civilian and military community deserves. We first earned this designation in 2016 and are very proud to uphold it for a fifth consecutive year.”

In 2020, the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care Program was expanded beyond traditional outcome measures to include assessments of internal quality improvement, data collection and dissemination, and internal protocols that better address clinical quality and equity issues in maternity care. New in the evaluation cycle, facilities must collect race ethnicity data, have a maternal quality improvement program, commence drills and simulations for adverse events, and have dedicated protocols and procedures for the management of hypertension and hemorrhage. In addition, they must meet clinical outcome metrics at a higher standard than required previously. Specifically, the rate for low risk first time cesarean sections (NTSV c-section rate, PC-02) has been aligned with the revised Healthy People 2020 goals. Facilities eligible for the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity care show statistically significant differences in key clinical outcomes compared to their peers.

Quality is key: only those health care facilities that first meet Blue Distinction’s nationally-established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+.

“We congratulate Samaritan Medical Center on earning the Blue Distinction Centers+ designation and are proud to partner with them in our mutual commitment to provide quality health care to our members through the Blue Distinction Specialty Care Program,” says Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Regional President Eve Van de Wal.

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, gene therapy, knee and hip replacement, maternity care, spine surgery, substance use treatment and recovery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver. Research shows that, compared to other providers, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients.

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

All companies and trademarks listed above are the property of their respective owners and used for identification purposes only,  and are in no way associated or affiliated with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Use of these trademarks does not imply endorsement. The Blue Cross^® and Blue Shield^® names and symbols and Blue Distinction^® are registered trademarks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

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 the 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 health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health Index^SM. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We also encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out our blog.

About Blue Distinction Centers
Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for providers 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 healthcare. Each provider’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Providers 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 www.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 noncovered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.

Samaritan Orthopedics adds to Samaritan Medical Practice’s existing slate of specialty surgical services and creates an additional revenue-generating line of business

Watertown, N.Y. – Samaritan Medical Center today announced plans to open a new specialty practice, Samaritan Orthopedics, on January 4th, 2021. It is located in the Washington Summit complex at 22567 Summit Drive, Building II, in Watertown.

The practice will be led by Scott W. Mollison, M.D., who joined Samaritan Medical Center in 2018. He specializes and is fellowship trained in sports medicine and upper extremity procedures including shoulder replacements and trauma. Dr. Mollison is certified by the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC) and has completed the first of two steps required for American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) certification. In his spare time, he proudly serves the community by volunteering at Dry Hill Ski area and providing physician coverage for local sporting events.

Samaritan is actively recruiting for new orthopedic surgeons to join the practice.

Samaritan Orthopedics will join Samaritan’s existing specialty practices – including Samaritan Dermatology, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Gastroenterology, General and Vascular Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Pulmonology, Rheumatology, Urology and Wound Care – to provide North Country residents access to specialty care and highly trained providers close to home.

“Over the past few years, there has been an outward migration of orthopedic patients who seek services in the Syracuse area rather than locally,” said Thomas H. Carman, president and chief executive officer at Samaritan. “We’re pleased to continue offering these services to the North Country under the Samaritan umbrella, keeping orthopedic care accessible and convenient right here in Watertown.”

“Currently, Samaritan handles 917 surgical orthopedics cases per year and we hope to continue to grow so fewer patients have to travel out of the area” he said. “We have a full spectrum of services available to our orthopedic patients, including a pre-surgical joint camp workshop for patients who need knee or hip surgery, a dedicated unit in the hospital for post-surgical care, outpatient physical therapy services and experienced staff to help patients throughout the entire journey. We are excited about this expansion of our specialty services and to continue working with local private practices, like the North Country Orthopaedic Group, to serve the best interests of our patients and provide the most comprehensive care possible.”

Patients can reach the new location by calling 315-779-ORTH (6784). Dr. Mollison is accepting new patients. Find out more about the services Samaritan Orthopedics will provide at www.samaritanhealth.com/orthopedics.

Please note: The following Samaritan Health outpatient locations and services will have limited hours during the holiday season. Patients are encouraged to call ahead before visiting any Samaritan location, even if it is not listed below. Please click here for a full phone directory.

As always, Samaritan Medical Center’s Emergency Department will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the holiday season. Do not delay emergency care — call 911 immediately.

On Sunday, December 13, Samaritan Health received notice two residents at Samaritan Summit Village long-term care facility – one in Assisted Living and one in Skilled Nursing – tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first positive case for both Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living at Summit Village.

The Assisted Living resident was tested as part of screening being done and was asymptomatic. The resident will be quarantined for 14 days and will be closely monitored.

The Skilled Nursing resident was symptomatic and was tested immediately. As a precaution, all residents on the same floor as this resident were rapid tested and all are negative. All Summit Village Skilled Nursing residents will now be tested multiple times over the next two weeks. The COVID-positive resident was hospitalized after being evaluated and cannot return to Summit Village until they test negative for COVID-19, per New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) guidelines. This measure helps ensure the safety of other residents and staff.

Contact tracing is being done to determine any other residents or staff that may be impacted by both of these positive cases. This suspends indoor visitation at Summit Village; we must stay COVID free for 14 days before it can resume.

Samaritan Health places the health and safety of our residents and staff above all else and will continue diligent efforts to prevent the spread of this virus in our facilities, following all NYS DOH directives for testing, contact tracing, safety equipment precautions, staff screening and close monitor and frequent temperature checks of all residents.

Samaritan Medical Center, Carthage Area Hospital, Jefferson County Public Health and the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) are hosting a community-wide COVID-19 mass testing event on Monday, December 7th and Tuesday, December 8th. Collectively, these organizations hope to test as many community members as possible in these two days.

This testing event will help determine the community spread of COVID-19 following the Thanksgiving holiday. Anyone who is concerned about their level of exposure should take this opportunity to protect themselves and their family members. Knowing the volume of new positive cases will help slow the spread as community members are asked to quarantine and take precautions.

This event is FREE and open to all, but is appointment-only to safely and efficiently accommodate as many people as possible. All testing will take place at two community locations:

• Samaritan’s Drive-Up Testing Site: 1575 Washington St. in Watertown, NY. Testing hours will be from 7:00am to 7:00pm on both days.
• Carthage Area Hospital: 1001 West St., Carthage, NY, using the back entrance off of West Street. Testing hours will be Monday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm and Tuesday from 9:00am to 7:00pm.

Results will be provided by NYS DOH’s lab vendor, BioReference, and will be provided within 2 to 3 days after tests are collected. This is not rapid testing.

Appointments must be requested by visiting Samaritan’s website at: www.samaritanhealth.com/covid-test. Patients without access to a computer or the internet should call the Samaritan Resource Line at 315-755-3100 to schedule an appointment. Anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms should not delay testing – symptomatic patients should immediately call the Samaritan Resource Line at 315-755-3100 or the Carthage Area Hospital COVID-19 Hotline at 315-519-5497.

Any community member who receives a positive test result will be contacted by Jefferson County Public Health, who will provide details and begin the process for contact tracing. Local public health officials have additional resources available from NYS to help aid in contact tracing.

Please remember that everyone has a role in helping to slow the spread of this disease. Wash your hands, wear your mask, social distance and avoid large crowds and non-emergent travel.

Watertown, N.Y. – Samaritan Medical Center announced the second COVID-19-related death in Jefferson County. The patient, an elderly Jefferson County resident with underlying health conditions, acquired COVID-19 in the community and was receiving inpatient care at Samaritan.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the patient’s family, said Thomas H. Carman, president and CEO, Samaritan Health. “The pandemic’s current, record-setting surge is intense and is impacting communities of all sizes throughout our region, New York State and the U.S. This is only the second COVID-related death here at Samaritan in the past three months, but it is heartbreaking nonetheless and helps drive home the message that we must remain vigilant in our efforts to minimize the virus’s threat as we head into Thanksgiving, the holiday season and the winter months. As virus cases spike nationwide, it’s important to note younger and healthier people are increasingly becoming infected; this is not something that only impacts older Americans or those with underlying health conditions.”

Samaritan Medical Center remains the primary Jefferson County hospital providing inpatient care to those diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently there are four other inpatients with COVID-19 at the hospital. Samaritan remains well prepared to care for these patients, with proficient staff and critical care physicians, ample personal protective equipment, and dedicated space to separate patients with COVID-19 from the rest of the patient population. Our COVID-19 only unit has been open consistently for several weeks now, after not having any inpatients for many weeks this summer. The local rise in cases leads us to believe we will have inpatients consistently for the near future.

“Once again, we pause to thank our staff for their dedication and continued efforts to ensure safe, quality health care for our patients during this crisis,” said Carman. “The risk they face every single day, and the strain it puts on them and their families warrants our appreciation and gratitude. We remind everyone to recommit to safe behaviors that will allow us to slow the spread and help protect our entire community.”

This second COVID-related death of a local community member is even more reason to practice all the safety guidelines to slow the spread of this virus. To protect yourself and your loved ones – wash your hands, wear your mask properly, social distance and avoid crowds.

Robotic Bronchoscopy Could Enable Earlier and More-Accurate Diagnosis of Lung Nodules

Watertown, NY – A new innovation that holds promise to fight lung cancer is now in use at Samaritan Medical Center. Used to view the inside of the lungs and obtain a tissue sample for biopsy, Auris Health’s Monarch™ Platform aims to enable an earlier and more-accurate diagnosis of small and hard-to-reach nodules in the periphery of the lung.

The technology integrates the latest advancements in robotics, software, data science, and endoscopy (the use of small cameras and tools to enter the body through its natural openings). Samaritan is the first hospital in Central New York and the North Country to invest in this new technology and one of only two sites in the entire state to utilize the platform, which was recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Samaritan made the strategic decision in 2019 to purchase this important equipment and complement its pulmonology and oncology services. Illness and death due to lung cancer is staggeringly high across our tri-county region. The lung and bronchus cancer rate in Jefferson County alone is 91 incidences per 100,000 persons – 50% higher than the New York State average of 60, according to National Cancer Center Institute statistics. Jefferson County’s death rate due to lung cancer is 54 per 100,000 population, compared to the state’s average of 37. Rates in St. Lawrence and Lewis counties also are well above statewide averages. This data is provided by the National Cancer Center Institute.

“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, in part because it has no symptoms in its early stages. Because the Monarch Platform provides improved reach, vision and control for bronchoscopic procedures, it holds potential to help us to make a diagnosis earlier,” said Dr. David P. Rechlin, Pulmonology & Critical Care Physician at Samaritan. “We are excited about the promise of this technology to offer a more hopeful future for our patients with lung cancer.”

Since lung cancer is often found at an advanced stage, more than 90 percent of people diagnosed with the disease do not survive it. There are a variety of diagnostic options currently available for lung cancer, but all have limitations in accuracy, safety, or invasiveness. These limitations can lead to false positives, false negatives, or side effects such as pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and hemorrhage, which may increase health care costs and extend hospital stays.

The Monarch Platform utilizes a familiar controller-like interface that physicians use to navigate the flexible robotic endoscope to the periphery of the lung with improved reach, vision, and control. Combining traditional endoscopic views into the lung with computer-assisted navigation based on 3-D models of the patient’s own lung anatomy, the Monarch Platform provides physicians with continuous bronchoscope vision throughout the entire procedure.

To learn more about Samaritan Pulmonology or to see a video about the Auris Monarch Platform, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/lung-care.

Watertown, NY — The 20th Annual Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Radiothon — held November 11-13, 2020 — set a new fundraising record this year, bringing in $163,400. This is the most ever raised during the event, surpassing last year’s total of $140,647.

DJs Johnny Spezzano from the Border 106.7 and Lance Hale from 94 Rock were live on air for three days asking for the North Country’s financial support for local Children’s Miracle Network kids, and the community came through in a big way!

“I am always in awe of our generous community,” said Bonnie Eppolito, of the Samaritan Foundation. “Funds raised from Radiothon allow us to continue assisting CMN families in our local tri-county area, and for that we are very grateful.”

“We are very excited to be a part of this record-breaking fundraising year,” said Jim Leven, President of Community Broadcasters. “Johnny, Lance and the entire Community Broadcasters team, with its advertisers, are proud to a part of this event each year.”

Sponsors of this year’s Radiothon include Northern Federal Credit Union; BCA Architects & Engineers; Advanced Business Systems, Inc.; Lake Ontario Realty; MVP Health Care, and Carter Young of Allstate Insurance. Special thanks to Watertown Savings Bank, which assisted in counting change collected from the “Change for Kids” initiative.

All funds raised for Children’s Miracle Network stay local. Funds are used to purchase the most advanced life-saving medical equipment needed to care for children at Samaritan Medical Center and also to support capital projects, like the Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children. Additionally, Children’s Miracle Network of NNY offers a direct family assistance program to families in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties who have a child facing a medical crisis.

For more information on Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals contact the Samaritan Medical Center Foundation at 315-785-5785 or email [email protected].