Samaritan Unveils Expanded Emergency Department Behavioral Health Unit
Walmart and Sam’s Club Campaign Exceeds $100,000 for Children’s Miracle Network of Northern New York
Watertown, NY — Samaritan Medical Center is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the recent Walmart and Sam’s campaign (June 10- July 7) in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN). Thanks to the generosity of our community and the unwavering support of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, this campaign raised an incredible $107,857 to support local children in need.
CMN of Northern New York allocates donated funds to support pediatric equipment and projects at Samaritan. In addition, they provide financial assistance to families with a child facing a medical crisis, assisting with out-of-pocket medical expenses such as travel, copays and equipment not covered by insurance.
“This campaign is a testament to the generous spirit of our community, and these funds will help countless children who are facing health challenges,” said Angie VanWormer, director of Children’s Miracle Network at Samaritan Medical Center. “Every penny raised stays local to ensure the best healthcare is available and accessible to North Country children. Thank you to the community for supporting the successful campaign.”
Your donations make a tangible difference in the lives of local patients and their families. Samaritan extends its heartfelt gratitude to Walmart and Sam’s Club for their partnership and commitment to our community. Their support has enabled Samaritan to continue providing vital care to children in the region.
For more information about Children’s Miracle Network, contact Samaritan Medical Center at 315-785-4053 or cmninfo@shsny.com
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Update: Lab & Imaging Center on Coffeen Street in Watertown has Reopened
As of August 27, 2024, Samaritan’s Imaging and Lab Center on Coffeen Street reopened. Thank you for your understanding during the temporary closure for maintenance.
Please advised Samaritan’s Lab & Imaging Center on Coffeen Street in Watertown will be closed starting Wednesday, August 14 for a few days as maintenance is performed. This means no labs or walk-in X-ray services will be available at this location. We are unsure of the exact date the location will re-open, but please check our website and social media channels for immediate updates.
We encourage patients to visit the Health & Wellness Plaza location at 1575 Washington St. or the main hospital at 830 Washington St. at the Registration entrance, both in Watertown for all lab and X-ray needs.
Susan Peters Nurse Practitioner Scholarships Announced
Watertown, New York — Samaritan Medical Center Foundation of Northern New York is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the Susan Peters Scholarship. The 2024 scholarships awardees were Joseph Donoghue and Cindy Keenan. Joseph is a Registered Nurse in the Samaritan’s Emergency Department and is obtaining his Family Nurse Practitioner degree. Cindy is also a Registered Nurse in Samaritan’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and is obtaining her Neonatal Nurse Practitioner degree.
The Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship was established in 2018 to assist with the education costs for Registered Nurses who are continuing their education, specifically to pursue Nurse Practitioner degrees. Two scholarships of $2,000 are awarded each year.
Mrs. Peters graduated from the former House of the Good Samaritan School of Nursing and retired from Samaritan Medical Center as a Certified Oncology Nurse; prior to that, she had served as a staff RN and for more than 20 years as a Nurse Manager of Medical/Surgical, Orthopedic and Alternate Level of Care Units. Susan Passed away in 2020.
Nurse Practitioners are able to provide many of the same services as physicians, including developing treatment plans for their patients, ordering tests, performing minor procedures, and prescribing medication.
For more information, please contact the Samaritan Medical Center Foundation at 315-785-4584, visit samaritanhealth.com/scholarships, or email info@shsny.com.
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Samaritan Announces Volunteer Service Award Winners
Watertown, N.Y. – At Samaritan, there are volunteers who serve at the hospital, long term care facilities, special events, off-site offices and on various boards of our respective entities. Initiated in 2023, the HIVE (Helpful Indeed – Volunteering Excellence) Award is a way to honor those volunteers who have contributed an extraordinary level of dedication and shown exceptional service to Samaritan while consistently demonstrating the organization’s HEART values, which are Honest, Empathetic, Accountable, Respect, and Trustworthy.
Why HIVE? The beehive is symbolic of teamwork, unity, growth, and development. At Samaritan, we are all caregivers, including those who have committed to showing extraordinary compassionate care as a volunteer. We need each other to care for our community.
The HIVE Award complements the existing DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®, the BEE Award (Being Excellent Every Day) honoring other outstanding staff members who support patient care, at the hospital and all outpatient clinics, and the OWL (Outstanding Workers in Long Term Care) for the team of caregivers at the Samaritan Keep Home and Samaritan Summit Village. Altogether, we recognize the amazing caregivers of the Samaritan Health System and the culture we embrace.
The recipients for the second quarter of 2024, and proudly representing people supported by The Arc Jefferson – St. Lawrence’s Community Pre-Vocational Program, are Emily Sweet, Molly Costa, Teresa Salter, Diana Gervera, Shawn Norton, Sheri Baker, and Kasey Gardner. This team of volunteer caregivers have worked hard to support our dietary services team.
Kristan Donoghue, the manager of Volunteer Services, said, “This team of volunteers has worked hard each shift to support the needs of our cafeteria and elsewhere. They enter the facility with smiling faces and truly demonstrate HEART values in all they do. Congratulations, team!”
Those interested in recognizing a Samaritan volunteer may submit an online nomination at samaritanhealth.com/hive there are also paper nomination forms available at the Medical Center and Samaritan Summit Village gift shops.
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June 2024 DAISY®, BEE, and OWL Award Recipients
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY, BEE, and OWL Award recipients for June 2024. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff, the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members for being excellent every day, both at the hospital and outpatient clinics, and the OWL Award recognizes outstanding workers in long term care.
Cindy Keenan, Registered Nurse (RN), of the Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children’s NICU received the DAISY Award. Bobbi Bailey, LCSW-R, of Samaritan Outpatient Behavioral Health, received the BEE Award. Samaritan Summit Village Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Jennifer Bellis, and Samaritan Keep Home sixth and eighth floors unit clerk Dorry McIntosh won the OWL Award for their respective facilities.
High-risk OB patient and Samaritan nurse educator Kristen Hunter nominated Keenan for the DAISY Award citing her patient experience and saying:
“…During our stay Cindy cared for us as a family unit for five out of ten days. She helped get us through a very difficult time, while caring for our little miracle. Even though I work on the maternal child unit, it does not make it any easier seeing your baby hooked up to an IV, on CPAP and a cardiac monitor and not being able to hold her for the first-time following delivery. Cindy ensured to talk my husband and myself through her plan of care that first night and every shift following.”
For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Keenan was presented with 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 Medical Center in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners to come. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.
Bailey was nominated for the BEE Award by a patient with the following statement for nomination:
“The first time I met Bobbi she made me feel welcomed. She is kind, and very, very, professional. She listens and never judges me. I have had some major setbacks in life and Bobbi has helped me to see the brighter side for sure.”
Bailey was presented with a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with other tokens of gratitude.
Bellis was nominated for the OWL Award by Summit Village skilled nursing administrator Madaline Toliver who recalled a specific incident in which Bellis recognized an issue with a resident on the Assisted Living side of the facility and took immediate action to assist the resident.
McIntosh was nominated for the OWL Award by multiple co-workers and the director of nursing at Samaritan Keep Home saying:
“Dorry McIntosh is a true caregiver and upholds Samaritan’s HEART values in so many ways. Just to reference a few of the HEART values: Honesty. Even when honesty is not the easiest to hear. Empathy. I have personally witnessed Dorry make relationships with the residents and their families. I have seen her hold the hand of a resident whose time is coming to an end, hug and cry with families after loss or at discharge from the facility back home. I have witnessed her collaborate birthday parties, baby showers and so much more for her co-workers. Trustworthy. It is a true character trait that does not go unnoticed.”
Bellis and McIntosh were presented with certificates and tokens of appreciation during recognition ceremonies at their respective facilities.
These 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 Samaritan DAISY, BEE, and OWL Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.
Pictured here, from left to right, are June 2024 caregiver awardees Cindy Keenan, RN, Bobbi Bailey, LCSW-R, Jennifer Bellis, CNA, and Dorry McIntosh, unit clerk.
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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 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.
Samaritan Medical Center is nationally recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality stroke care
The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Silver Plus award for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Silver Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
“Samaritan Medical Center is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Leslie DiStefano, director of communications and public relations. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in the North Country can experience longer, healthier lives.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Samaritan Medical Center for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
Samaritan Medical Center also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
Samaritan Medical Center also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.
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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 Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 14 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
Samaritan Announces Delays Related to Computer Outage Issues – July 19, 2024
Samaritan Medical Center, the Walker Center for Cancer Care, and some community-based services are addressing computer systems issues. They will need to limit and reschedule some patient appointments. We anticipate most services will be back up and running by noon today, Friday, July 19, 2024.
Most scheduled appointments at the hospital’s Main Registration area, including most radiology/imaging, lab, ECHO, EKG services, etc., are canceled today until noon. Samaritan employees will contact scheduled patients with more information.
Medical oncology appointments at the Walker Center for Cancer Care will also be canceled up until noon. Radiation oncology appointments are not impacted.
Walk-in lab and X-ray services at all Samaritan community locations, including the Family Health Centers, are canceled Friday, July 19, 2024, until noon.
Scheduled radiology/imaging appointments at the Health and Wellness Plaza will also be canceled until noon today.
The scheduled patients of surgical, infusion, interventional radiology, and physical, speech, and occupational therapy are not impacted.
All clinics and specialty services are open and patient appointments are not impacted.
We are working to contact patients and fix the technical issue as quickly as possible. This has a direct correlation to the vendor, CrowdStrike, and the national computer systems that have been impacted.
We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to resolve this issue. Your cooperation is invaluable during this challenging time.
Samaritan Graduate Medical Education 2024 Resident Graduation
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Graduate Medical Education proudly announces the graduation of its Internal Medicine residents and Family Medicine residents. A graduation ceremony was held on Friday, June 21, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Watertown. The graduates were celebrated by family, friends, esteemed physician faculty, and respected Samaritan leaders.
Graduates of the Family Medicine residency program, directed by Dr. Benjamin Rudd, are Dr. Rosie Yang, Chief Resident, and Dr. James Hull. Graduates of the Internal Medicine residency program, directed by Dr. Asim Kichloo, are Dr. Jennifer Wachala, Chief Resident, and Dr. Patricia Frith.
The four graduates have accepted positions in medical institutions across the country where they will continue to practice and advance their training and expertise.
- Patricia Frith, DO – Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont.
- James Hull, DO – returning to his home state to practice as a Family Medicine physician in Chocowinity, North Carolina
- Jennifer Wachala, DO – Infectious Disease Fellowship with a concentration in Transplant Infectious Diseases and Immunocompromised Hosts at NYU Langone Hospital, Long Island, New York.
- Rosie Yang, DO – going to Washington, D.C. to practice as a Family Medicine physician.
“The faculty and all who support the graduate medical education programs appreciate the opportunity to pass along some of what we have learned through our practice experience,” said Dr. David Rechlin, director of Graduate Medical Education. “These young aspiring physicians bring invaluable energy to our work both in the hospital and outpatient practices where they learn. We congratulate them on attaining this milestone in their careers.”
Samaritan is the only academic teaching facility in Northern New York that attracts medical students and physicians pursuing advanced residency training from across the country. Our medical students and residentphysicians benefit from a comprehensive educational experience, including daily lectures one-on-one clinical exposure in varies specialties, and engagement in clinical research.
Our residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). For more information on Graduate Medical Education at Samaritan, visit https://samaritanhealth.com/careers/careers-education/graduate-medical-education/.
May 2024 DAISY®, BEE, and OWL Award Recipients
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY, BEE, and OWL Award recipients for May 2024. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff, the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who support patient care, both at the hospital and outpatient clinics, and the OWL Award recognizes outstanding work from Samaritan’s long-term caregivers.
Erin Bush, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), of the Adams Family Health Center received the DAISY Award. Renee Beach, administrative secretary, received the BEE Award. Samaritan Summit Village skilled nursing fourth floor unit clerk Brenda Magee received the OWL Award.
Adams Clinic Manager Donna Edwards, nominated Bush citing a particular patient experience and saying:
“Erin gives everything to her peers and patients. She makes herself available to everyone. She is a resource of knowledge and an experience problem solver. She is so deserving of this nomination. She exemplifies our organizations HEART values and is a HUGE asset to our team.”
For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Bush was presented with 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 Medical Center in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners to come. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.
Beach was nominated by Shannon Phillips, RN, nurse manager, with the following statement for nomination:
“Renee regularly goes above and beyond to support the Nursing Department. She is helpful and professional. She takes her role seriously and truly supports our organization in a professional and caring manner. Of mention are her tireless efforts in making Nurse’s Week successful every year. These celebrations don’t just happen on their own and Renee is responsible for all the planning, ordering, reserving and arranging to ensure our Nurses feel recognized and supported.”
Beach was presented with a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with other tokens of gratitude.
Magee was nominated by Summit Village Director of Nursing Jeannette Emery who said:
“Brenda comes in early to assist with precepting new Certified Nursing Assistants. She communicates with staff and management to provide the best care for her residents and is respectful to families and everyone she encounters. Brenda is a great asset to the Samaritan family, and we are very happy she chose us.”
These 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 Samaritan DAISY, BEE, and OWL Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.
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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 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.