Category: News

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center announces the achievement of a significant milestone for two of its general surgeons who perform robotic surgery with the da Vinci Xi system. Dr. Eduardo Barayuga and Dr. Daniel Bryden each completed their 500th robotic surgery recently. The occasions were marked with a celebration with the surgical team.

“It’s humbling that this has happened,” Dr. Barayuga said. “The one thing that I’m proud of our program is we are doing it even in emergency cases, we are able to do it 24/7. We are able to use it even in emergency cases, which is a big benefit.”

Since the da Vinci robot was introduced at Samaritan Medical Center in 2012, more than 3,700 cases have been completed using it. In addition to general surgery options such as cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), hernia repair, colon, and anti-reflux surgeries, gynecological surgery, and urologic surgery are also completed using the robot.

Robotic-assisted surgery is a minimally invasive approach that takes surgery beyond the limits of the human hand and eye. It enhances the surgeon’s skill by providing a magnified, three-dimensional view of the surgery site while translating the surgeon’s hand movements into corresponding micro-movements of the instruments inside the patient’s body. The benefits of robotic-assisted surgery include less pain, less scarring, less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and recovery time, reduced risk of complications, and a faster return to normal daily activities.

To learn more about robotic surgery and our surgeons, visit samaritanhealth.com/robotic.

Dr. Daniel Bryden (L) and Dr. Eduardo Barayuga (R) are pictured here receiving milestone awards from Operating Room staff.

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Watertown, NY – On June 16, 2023, Samaritan Keep Home became a mask-optional facility for all staff, residents, and visitors under certain criteria. Samaritan Keep Home can now safely offer a mask-optional environment in the facility because they have no current COVID-positive cases at this time. However, if there is a community or facility uptick in COVID-19, Influenza, or other respiratory illnesses, we could return to wearing facemasks.
Because of the high-risk involved with our residents, there are some exceptions to this change. Masks will be required if the following occur:

• Local/county COVID-19 hospital admission levels are medium or high.
• Staff who have respiratory symptoms or exposure will be required to mask until they are cleared by our employee health caregivers.
• If there is a respiratory outbreak in a particular unit, all residents, staff, and visitors will be required to wear a mask in that area.
• Staff who do not have the Influenza vaccine will be required to wear a mask during flu season.
• Staff who are caring for residents with respiratory symptoms will be required to wear the appropriate mask during care of those residents.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend all staff members and visitors maintain vaccines and boosters and follow proper infection control practices.

It is important to note that COVID symptoms may include but are not limited to fever/chills, shortness of breath, sore throat, cough/congestion/runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Visitors who are not feeling well or have been in contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to stay home and refrain from facility visitation. Hand hygiene is significant and will help stop the spread of germs. Please continue to wash hands and sanitize in our facility. Masks are available upon request and at the main entry point. Check-in and –out is required for all visitors through our visitor management system. Help us keep our high-risk long term care population healthy and safe.

On June 5, 2023, Samaritan Summit Village, our other long-term care campus, became a mask-optional facility for all staff, residents, and visitors under certain criteria.

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for March and April 2023. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff, and the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who support patient care, both at the hospital and all outpatient clinics.

Michael Belles, registered nurse in the Emergency Department at Samaritan Medical Center received the DAISY Award for March. Melissa Buker, secretary at Samaritan’s Urology specialty clinic, received the BEE Award for March. Kassandra Keene, registered nurse on 4 Pavillion at Samaritan Medical Center received the DAISY Award for April. Isela Silva, clinical discharge planner in the Inpatient Mental Health Unit at Samaritan Medical Center received the BEE award for April.

Kim Smith, BSN, RN, Director of Nursing Critical Care, Samaritan Medical Center, nominated Belles after witnessing various acts of kindness and compassion with patients and their family members like walking with them rather than simply pointing the way and listening to their needs while responding with compassion. She said: “His genuine approach was empathetic and sincere.” 

A grateful patient nominated Keene saying:

“Kassandra stopped in many times to ensure that I was comfortable and if there was anything that she could do to assist me.  She was very attentive and in my mind went above and beyond to ensure I was taken care of.”

For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Belles and Keene were presented with certificates commending them as extraordinary nurses, DAISY Award pins, and  symbolic sculptures 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.

Makensie Coniski, operations manager, Samaritan Urology, nominated Buker for the BEE award saying:

“She worked with other members of our healthcare team to find a solution for a patient who nearly had their surgery rescheduled due to provider illness. She showed resourcefulness, caring, and compassion and I appreciate her for it.”

The family of a patient of Samaritan’s Inpatient Mental Health Unit nominated Silva for the BEE award saying:

“She openly communicated with each member of our family uniquely as we each had a different role to play in our family member’s care. Isela even stayed late after her shift for a chat after my visitation to see how I thought my family member was progressing.”  

Buker and Silva were presented with certificates, BEE Award pins, and gift bags 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 Samaritan DAISY and BEE 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.

Watertown, NY – On June 5, 2023, Samaritan Summit Village became a mask-optional facility for all staff, residents, and visitors under certain criteria. Summit Village now safely offers a mask-optional environment in many areas, however if there is a local uptick in COVID-19, Influenza, or other respiratory illnesses, we could return to wearing facemasks. 

Because of the high-risk involved with our residents, there are some exceptions to this change. Masks will be required if the following occur:

• Local/county COVID-19 hospital admission levels are medium or high. 
• Staff who have respiratory symptoms or exposure will be required to mask until they are cleared by our employee health caregivers.
• If there is a respiratory outbreak in a particular unit, all residents, staff, and visitors will be required to wear a mask in that area.
• Staff who do not have the Influenza vaccine will be required to wear a mask during flu season.
• Staff who are caring for residents with respiratory symptoms will be required to wear the appropriate mask during care of those residents.    

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend all staff members and visitors maintain vaccines and boosters and follow proper infection control practices.

It is important to note that COVID symptoms may include but are not limited to fever/chills, shortness of breath, sore throat, cough/congestion/runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Visitors who are not feeling well or have been in contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to stay home and refrain from facility visitation. Hand hygiene is significant and will help stop the spread of germs. Please continue to wash hands and sanitize in our facility. Masks are available upon request and at the main entry point. Check-in and –out is required for all visitors through our visitor management system. Help us keep our high-risk long term care population healthy and safe.

At this time, Samaritan Keep Home is mask-required due to current COVID cases in various units. We will make an announcement when they are mask-optional.

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Watertown, New York — Applications are now being accepted for the sixth annual Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship. A retired nurse from Samaritan Medical Center established a scholarship through the Samaritan Medical Center Foundation for Registered Nurses (RNs) looking to advance their careers as Nurse Practitioners (NPs). Sadly, Peters passed away in 2020, yet this scholarship remains part of her legacy and commitment to healthcare in the community.

The Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship was established in 2018 to assist with the education costs for an RN who is continuing their education, specifically to pursue a Nurse Practitioner degree. Two scholarships of $2,000 will be awarded each year.

Peters graduated from the former House of the Good Samaritan School of Nursing and retired from Samaritan Medical Center (SMC) 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.

Beth Fipps, Vice President of Samaritan Foundation and Community Services explained, “We are so grateful to Susan for leaving a legacy to a profession she was so committed to. Susan so generously established this scholarship to promote the Nurse Practitioner profession because she felt there is an increasing need and role for such due to the nationwide shortage of physicians.”

Nurse Practitioners provide many of the same services as physicians, including developing treatment plans for their patients, ordering tests, performing minor procedures, and prescribing medication.

The 2022 scholarships awardees were Desiree Fuller, Family Nurse Practitioner at Samaritan Women’s Wellness and Breast Care and Dan Ladouceur, RN in the Inpatient Mental Health Unit, pending completion of his Nurse Practitioner program.

The application period for the Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship opened on June 1, 2023, and concludes July 15, 2023 with scholarship award announcement by August 1, 2023.

To be eligible for this scholarship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a Registered Nurse (RN) with a minimum of two full years’ working experience. RNs currently working for Samaritan Medical Center preferred, but not mandatory.
• Medical/Surgical experience preferred but not necessary.
• Must be a resident of either Jefferson or Lewis County, New York.
• Eligible to apply after successful completion of first semester in a Nurse Practitioner program with at least a B average.

As part of the application, Registered Nurses must describe why they are pursuing their Nurse Practitioner degree and where, as well as whether they have a financial need. Applicants should submit two letters of recommendation and the two most recent transcripts along with the application to support the RNs pursuit of a Nurse Practitioner degree.

For more information or to obtain a scholarship application, please visit www.samaritanhealth.com/scholarshipapplication or contact the SMC Foundation at 315-785-4584 or visit www.samaritanhealth.com/scholarships. The application can be completed online, emailed to [email protected] or mailed to 830 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601.

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Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center has received an Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Health and Wellness Award in the amount of $9,942.81 for its Cancer Pathology Quality Improvement program to fund a new Compound Microscope and a C-Mount Camera Port. This purchase will directly impact the quality of care for cancer patients by improving prognosis time and alleviating the need for follow-up biopsies. With this equipment upgrade, Samaritan will be able to directly improve the quality of care for 120 cancer patients annually.

“We are proud to partner with Samaritan Medical Center to fund this essential equipment designed to improve quality of care for cancer patients,” shares Excellus BCBS Regional President Eve Van de Wal. “This work aligns with our mission as a Health Plan to improve the health and wellbeing of those in our community.”

According to Dr. Shikhar Vyas, Laboratory Director, Samaritan Medical Center participates in a monthly multidisciplinary cancer conference with subspecialty participants from Samaritan, Walker Center for Cancer Care, and other regional hospitals.  As a team, patients with a cancer diagnosis are presented, radiologic and pathologic findings are discussed, and an optimum treatment plan of action for the best patient outcome is determined.  “With this new microscope and camera equipment, pathology will be able to share vital patient information beyond reports by showing slides in real-time to all participants in these conferences for educational, diagnostic and prognostic purposes. We hope to improve the quality of care for the Walker Center for Cancer Care patients and overall outcomes,” he said.

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center Foundation of Northern New York will host the 26th annual Thousand Islands Golf Classic event on Thursday, June 8, and Friday, June 9, 2023. The presenting sponsor is the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 910 & Northern New York National Electrical Contractors Association.

The online auction for this year’s event is now live and features artwork, airline ticket vouchers, vacation home rentals, paddleboards, gift cards, private boat cruises, rafting passes, and more! The dinner reception with a special live auction, including New York Giants football tickets, go-cart, and more will take place on Thursday, June 8, at the Edgewood Resort in Alexandria Bay, NY. Tickets are available now. The online auction will close on Thursday, June 8.

A portion of the proceeds raised from this year’s event will be dedicated to enhancing vital mental health services at Samaritan Medical Center. The increased demand for mental health services in our community can be seen as Samaritan’s Emergency Department behavioral health unit patient volume has doubled this past year, and our inpatient mental health unit continues to be full.

Additional details, the online auction, and updates may be found online by visiting samaritanhealth.com/golf and for questions please email [email protected].

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center unveiled its newly expanded Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) specialty clinic with an Open House and Ribbon Cutting event on Friday, May 5, 2023.  The clinic, previously located on the second floor of the Samaritan Medical Office Building at 826 Washington Street moved to its new, larger space on the third floor and began seeing patients at the new location on Monday, May 8, 2023.  The new clinic increased in space from 3,800 to 7,300 square feet, from 9 to 11 exam rooms, and from 1 to 3 treatment rooms.

“This is truly an exciting day for us,” said Tom Carman, president and chief executive officer.  The new facility will allow the providers to accommodate more patients and to perform in-office treatments and procedures in a timely manner. 

Dr. David Gordon, an otolaryngologist, said the ENT clinic sees nearly 10,000 patients a year. “That’s a big investment in our community,” he said. “Samaritan has recognized that and recognized that this is part of our future and that we’re growing, and we’ll continue to grow and with this beautiful new facility we can do just that.”

Dr. Tony Chuang, otolaryngologist and chief of the ENT service at Samaritan, expressed his happiness with the new facility, which will allow them to continue to deliver the best care possible for patients locally.  “I’m very excited to see that we will be able to provide more services to our community and be able to also attract other candidates to join our party here,” he said.

Samaritan’s Ear, Nose &Throat (ENT) specialists diagnose, manage and treat diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck, including the sinuses, larynx (voice box), oral cavity and upper pharynx (mouth and throat).   

Watertown, NY – On May 5, 2023, the majority of Samaritan facilities will now be mask-optional for all staff, patients, and visitors under certain criteria. This decision comes after closely watching Community Transmission levels which remain at moderate, COVID hospitalization and infection rates declining, flu rates dropping, as well as more indicators.  Samaritan now safely offers a mask-optional environment in many areas, however if any of these metrics have an uptick, we could return to wearing facemasks. 

The three major exceptions to this change that will remain mask-required for all staff, patients/residents and visitors are:

• The Emergency Department, because of the high-risk involved with the patients needing care and maintaining crucial source control. 
• The Walker Center for Cancer Care, because of the weakened immune systems of the patients served.
• The Samaritan Keep Home and Summit Village, because they are regulated under different guidelines.  

Patients, visitors and/or healthcare personnel are to follow masking practices per unit/department when specifically indicated.

Any patient in any area who has signs or symptoms of respiratory illness or COVID-19 will be asked to wear a facemask as per Samaritan’s source control policy.

The public does not need to be masked in most Samaritan areas. Visitors who are not feeling well or have been in contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to stay home and cannot visit patients or accompany patients to appointments.