Author: Eli Anderson

Watertown, N.Y. – Samaritan Medical Center announced the first 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 admitted to Samaritan’s COVID-19 unit for treatment. 

“We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the patient’s family,” said Thomas H. Carman, president and CEO, Samaritan Health. “We are deeply saddened by this outcome, and disappointed our community could not be spared the terrible realities of this virus. This tragic development is a sobering reminder of the importance of abiding by public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including wearing face masks in public, keeping six feet of distance, and limiting large gatherings. We must come together to protect our most vulnerable community residents, particularly our senior residents and those with underlying conditions.”

Samaritan Medical Center remains the main local hospital providing care to patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and has been for the past four months. At this point there is one other inpatient 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.

“We want to thank our staff once again for their dedication and their efforts to continue to ensure safe, quality health care for our patients over these last several months,” said Carman. “We ask the community to remain diligent as we work together to respond to this ongoing pandemic.”

Samaritan Medical Center took its computer system offline on Saturday, July 25, as a precautionary measure after identifying a potential security incident. Samaritan is conducting a full investigation to determine the exact nature and scope of the incident, and working to restore the system with the assistance of computer forensic professionals. We’re able to continue providing care for patients, though out of an abundance of caution have rescheduled a limited number of non-urgent patient procedures and appointments due to the outage.

Samaritan takes seriously the privacy and security of its patients’ and employees’ information. At this point in the investigation, there is no indication that any patient or employee information was involved. Samaritan’s telephone and fax lines are all working and patient communication is still active. We greatly appreciate our employees’ efforts and the community’s patience as we work to return to normal system operation. We can’t thank our dedicated staff enough for their commitment to the highest quality patient care as we continue our down-time procedures.

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is proud to announce the first recipients of its newly established DAISY and BEE Awards. 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.

Diane Jesmore, a Registered Nurse in Samaritan’s Infusion Unit, received the first DAISY Award and Raymond Hirst, Access Management Counselor, was given the first BEE Award. Both honorees were nominated by fellow staff members and selected by a committee.

Jesmore was nominated for her flexibility and devotion after she extended a 12-hour shift on a holiday weekend to help a patient in need. Her manager, Kimberly Smith, described the event in her nomination form for Jesmore:

“After working eight hours of her 12-hour scheduled shift on Friday evening of Memorial Day weekend, Diane was notified that there was a young patient who was extremely ill and was in need of infusion treatment. She graciously went to the Intensive Care Unit to administer this medication, which is a five- to six-hour infusion. She never once questioned working over her scheduled shift, but rather told me that this patient was in need of our services and that she would be happy to help.”

“Diane always puts the patients’ needs first,” writes Smith. “She is an expert in her field and shares her knowledge and skills with others. She is devoted to our patients and dedicated to her career. We are extremely fortunate to have Diane on our team.”

For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Jesmore 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 has also been installed in the Healing Gardens at Samaritan in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners to come. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.

Hirst was nominated for the BEE Award by the entire nursing leadership team at Samaritan Medical Center for his helpful and compassionate work in the hospital’s main registration area. Having joined the Samaritan staff just a few months ago, he has quickly become a welcome face for patients checking in for outpatient visits.

“Raymond makes sure that each patient and employee is treated with the utmost respect, kindness, and compassion,” reads his nomination form. “He is a role model for others and is a pleasure to work with.”

Hirst 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.

Samaritan would like to thank Panera Bread® for donating cinnamon rolls for recurring DAISY Award celebrations and Staples® of Watertown for help with promotional items for both awards.

About The DAISY Foundation
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 3,900 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care Nurses, Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects and for nurses participating in medical missions. More information is available at http://www.DAISYfoundation.org.

Watertown, NY — Samaritan Summit Village is pleased to announce it has been approved to allow limited visitation for all residents. Guidance for limited nursing home visitation was provided by the New York State Department of Health on July 10, 2020. Samaritan Summit Village submitted its plan following the strict guidelines on Wednesday, July 15, and received notification of approval on July 19, 2020. The new limited visitation began Monday, July 20, 2020.

The state issued guidance to ensure the safety of long-term care residents, who are vulnerable during the current pandemic. The new limited visitation will adhere to the following guidelines:

• Visitation is only allowed outside, weather permitting, with very limited exceptions.
• Visits are by appointment only for a maximum of two people per resident.
• Visits will be scheduled every 30 minutes, for a duration of 20 minutes, to allow us to disinfect between visits.
• Visitation times are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Visitors will be limited to one visit per day so we can accommodate as many as possible.
• All visitors must wear masks and practice social distancing during the visit.
• There is no physical contact allowed.
• If any staff member or resident tests positive for COVID-19, limited visitation will be suspended until the facility is COVID-free for 28 days.
• All visitors will be screened, including a temperature check and a series of questions regarding health status and recent travel history. If a visitor does not meet requirements or has any questionable travel, they will not be allowed to visit.

Resident families have been notified of these guidelines. Summit Village Skilled Nursing visits can be made by contacting Sandi Baril at [email protected] or 315-782-7010. Summit Village Assisted Living visits can be made by contacting Dani McLean at [email protected] or 315-779-5113.

Summit Village staff is committed to keeping our residents safe and connected during the pandemic. We are still encouraging window visits, phone calls, video chats and more. All Summit Village staff are being tested weekly for the Coronavirus, a state mandate that has been extended until August 8th. With the new limited visitation, if a staff member or resident tests positive for the virus, all residents must then be tested.

WATERTOWN, NY – Samaritan Medical Center has been designated a New York State-sponsored COVID-19 collection site, one of six in the North Country region.

The partnership allows Samaritan access to a third-party laboratory service, BioReference, which will process many COVID-19 test specimens at no cost to patients or Samaritan. The state will provide additional testing supplies, test kits, and personal protective equipment to Samaritan, as needed. A shipment has already been received. Samaritan will provide all staff needed to collect the specimens through our existing drive-up testing location on outer Washington Street in Watertown. We will schedule appointments through our website, provide trained staff to perform the tests, and the laboratory support to process the specimens.

This free testing will be prioritized on a first come, first serve basis and any community member with an interest to be tested can be scheduled as long as supplies are available. Samaritan is set to receive 300 kits per week. Requests for testing must be done online at www.samaritanhealth.com/covid-test, after which a staff member will call to schedule an appointment. Test results are available within three to five days, as this is not rapid testing. Community members who provide a cell phone number will be notified of their results via text message, and those who provide a landline will receive a call.

“Samaritan is pleased to be working with the state to provide a collection site for our region,” said M. Andrew Short, vice president and COO of Samaritan. “North Country hospitals and health systems across a seven-county region worked together to create this model to enhance access to COVID-19 testing throughout northern New York. With the next closest collection site located in Rome, New York, this access is critical to contain the pandemic in our region and keep costs low for those that require testing for their employment.”

The other state-sponsored test sites are Adirondack Health (Franklin and Essex Counties), Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (Clinton County), Canton-Potsdam Hospital (St. Lawrence County), Hudson Headwaters Health Network (Essex and Hamilton Counties), and Lewis County General Hospital (Lewis County).

Samaritan will begin accepting state collection appointment requests on Monday, July 13, and appointments will be scheduled for as soon as Wednesday, July 15.

Samaritan’s expanded testing efforts will continue for the foreseeable future. For the most up-to-date information regarding Samaritan’s testing availability, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/covid-19.

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Dermatology is pleased to announce that it now offers Mohs micrographic surgery for the treatment of skin cancer. It is the only location in Jefferson County to provide this service.

A Mohs surgery is typically performed while the patient is awake and uses local anesthesia to numb the tumor and surrounding skin. During the procedure, all visible parts of the tumor are removed, sent to an on-site laboratory, and sliced into thin sections for careful analysis. Using a microscope, the Mohs surgeon looks for cancer cells on the edges of the removed skin sections. If cancer cells are found near any edges, additional skin is removed and analyzed until no cancerous cells remain.

This process allows the Mohs surgeon to remove as little healthy tissue as possible, helping the patient heal faster while resting assured that all cancer cells have been removed. Depending on the skin cancer and its location, Mohs surgery offers the highest tumor clearance rate and the smallest incisions for patients. Many studies put the success rate for Mohs surgery as high as 99 percent.

“We are very excited to bring Mohs micrographic surgery to Jefferson County for the first time,” said Dr. Nathanial R. Miletta, Dermatologist and Chief of Mohs Surgery at Samaritan. “Rather than driving an hour or more for this service, patients can receive it right here in Watertown from our compassionate, highly-trained professionals.”

Samaritan Dermatology is located on the first floor of Samaritan’s Medical Office Building, 826 Washington St. It comprises three board-certified dermatologists – Dr. Casey M. Chern, Dr. Nathanial R. Miletta, and Dr. Zachary P. Nahmias – as well as dermatology physician assistants Erin Bryant and Amy Werchinski. Mohs surgeries will be performed by Dr. Miletta and Dr. Nahmias.

For more information about Samaritan Dermatology or Mohs surgery, or to schedule an appointment, call 315-755-3670 or visit www.samaritanhealth.com/dermatology.

Watertown, NY – After a careful evaluation of its outpatient care physical spaces, Samaritan Medical Center has decided to temporarily suspend its Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program, effective immediately. The service has not been operational since mid-March when COVID-19 restrictions were put into place.

The program’s current location on the fourth floor of the hospital does not allow patients and staff to safely practice social distancing in order to minimize risk of infection to this vulnerable population. Samaritan will evaluate the potential to relocate the program to a different site in the future, but for now is focused on maintaining a safe environment for all during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the program suspended, all current and future cardiopulmonary rehabilitation patients will be referred to similar programs at other facilities.

“We recognize this change will cause some inconvenience for patients and families, and we apologize for that,” said M. Andrew Short, vice president and chief operating officer. “Temporarily suspending the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program is the safest course of action during this pandemic, and we are working with our patients to find alternative solutions to continue their treatment and maintain their health.”

The program, which has been offered at Samaritan for nearly two decades, combines cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation to help people who have, or are at risk for, heart and/or lung problems such as heart attack, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, cystic fibrosis, or others.

In 2019, Samaritan served 162 cardiopulmonary rehabilitation patients. All current patients have been notified, and all related staff have been relocated to other areas. No layoffs have occurred.

Patients or community members who have questions about this change may contact Kimberly L. Thibert, vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer, at 315-785-5131 or send a message through Samaritan’s website at www.samaritanhealth.com/contact.

Watertown, NY – As part of its ongoing commitment to support Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals and medical professionals on the front lines, Panda Express® has donated 18,000 single-use surgical masks and 1,920 KN95 particulate respirators to Samaritan Medical Center.

These masks are essential to ensuring the health and well-being of the hospital staff and their young patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Personal protective equipment like this is vital to the care of our patients, especially now as we are requiring all caregivers, patients and visitors to wear masks while in our facility,” stated Beth Fipps, Vice President of the Samaritan Foundation and Community Services. “Ensuring our supply is ample has been a major hurdle throughout this pandemic, so we are very thankful to corporate partners like Panda Express for helping where they can.”

“On behalf of all the caregivers who work on the frontlines, we are grateful for these much-needed masks from our long-time partner Panda Express,” said Teri Nestel, interim President and CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Panda’s generosity has never been more needed or more appreciated during these challenging times. It’s comforting to know that these doctors and nurses have the needed resources necessary to care for those who depend on children’s hospitals now and into the future.”

“Supporting the healthcare community has always been a priority for Panda Express, and we are blessed to have a partner with shared values of giving and inspiring better lives,” said Dr. Peggy Cherng, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. “It is our privilege to be able to protect and provide comfort to the selfless hospital staff and patients at CMN Hospitals. We thank our guests and associates for their generosity and support that make these donations possible. We stand together to be stronger together.”

For the rest of the year, participating Panda Express locations are offering a 10 percent appreciation discount on in-store purchases for healthcare workers and first responders with their employment badge. Through its philanthropic arm, Panda Cares, Panda Express has created a COVID-19 Community Care Fund, in which all guest donations are put towards sourcing and providing PPE to local hospitals in this time of need as well as supporting research to find a treatment for COVID-19. In the midst of this public health crisis, Panda remains steadfast to its evergreen mission of protecting, inspiring and bettering the communities they serve.

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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 Panda Express®
On a mission to inspire better lives, Panda Express, home of American Chinese comfort food, is the largest Asian dining concept in the U.S. Family-owned and operated since 1983 by co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express is best known for creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its best seller the Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp, which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Each dish at Panda Express, including the Wok Smart® selections, is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients and inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles. The restaurant brand has more than 2,200 locations throughout the U.S. and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to more than ten international countries. Powered by this global family of associates, Panda Cares, the organization’s philanthropic arm, has raised more than $196 million and countless volunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over 12 million youths as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. In 2020, Panda established the Panda Cares Scholars Program to provide the necessary funding, academic support and leadership development to help high school and college students learn, lead and thrive towards a bright future. For more information, visit pandaexpress.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $7 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, and learn about your member hospital, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Dermatology is pleased to welcome two new Physician Assistants, Amy Lynn Werchinski, MPAS, RPA-C, and Erin Bryant, RPA-C, to the comprehensive physician-led practice. They join Dr. Nathanial Miletta, Dr. Zachary Nahmias, and Dr. Casey Chern, located at 826 Washington St.

Amy Lynn Werchinski, MPAS, RPA-C, brings more than 18 years of dermatology experience to Samaritan. Most recently, she practiced dermatology at Lewis County General Hospital (LCGH) in Lowville, NY, since 2014. She was part of the team that helped set up and serve dermatological needs in the underserved area. Prior to LCGH, Amy practiced at several dermatology practices in Central New York and in New Jersey.

Amy completed her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies with a concentration in Dermatology from the University of Nebraska in Omaha, NE, in 2005. She completed her Bachelor of Science in the Physician Assistant Program from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, in 2002.

She is Physician Assistant Board Certified and licensed in the State of New York and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA).

Erin Bryant, RPA-C, brings more than 12 years of dermatology experience to Samaritan. Most recently, she practiced dermatology at Lewis County General Hospital (LCGH) in Lowville, NY, since 2016. Prior to that, she practiced at Hurley Dermatology in West Chester, PA, since 2008.

Erin completed her Bachelor of Science in the Physician Assistant Program at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, in 2002. She is licensed in the State of New York and is a member of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA).

“I am excited to join Samaritan and their expanding dermatology clinic,” states Ms. Werchinski. “The opportunity to work with outstanding Mohs surgeons locally will be such an asset to our patients. I am looking forward to continuing to serve the North Country and provide comprehensive dermatology care locally!”

“We are pleased to expand Samaritan Dermatology to be the largest physician-led dermatology practice in the North Country, ready to serve all dermatological needs of the area,” states Randy Fipps, Assistant Vice President of Operations and Behavioral Health. “Amy and Erin are well respected in the community and we are pleased they wanted to join the Samaritan team. With five on-site providers, the ability to accept most insurance plans, including Medicaid, and advanced technology like Mohs surgery for skin cancer, Samaritan Dermatology provides unprecedented access to our entire community.”

Samaritan Dermatology is launching Mohs Surgery in early July. It is the first Jefferson County provider to offer this advanced technology to diagnose skin cancer in the most effective and accurate way possible.

Ms. Bryant and Ms. Werchinski began practicing on May 26, 2020. Patients may schedule to see them, or any Samaritan provider, by calling 315-755-3670.

To learn more about Samaritan Dermatology please visit www.samaritanhealth.com/dermatology.