Category: News

Local Region Will Join Forces to Administer Vaccines at Jefferson Community College

Joint press release on behalf of: Carthage Area Hospital, Jefferson Community College, Jefferson County Public Health Service, North Country Family Health Center, River Hospital, Samaritan Medical Center, and the Volunteer Transportation Center

With approval from the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH), Carthage Area Hospital, Jefferson Community College (JCC), Jefferson County Public Health Service (JCPHS), North Country Family Health Center, River Hospital, Samaritan Medical Center and the Volunteer Transportation Center will work collaboratively to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to groups 1a and 1b, once vaccine arrives in Jefferson County. The preparation and planning is complete and could be up and running as early as next week if supply is available.

The partners submitted a plan to the state to combine allotments of the vaccine and run a mass vaccination POD at Jefferson Community College. The plan was approved and touted as a potential model other areas may be able to use. JCC was chosen as a premier location because its large gymnasium allows for social distancing and provides space to vaccinate and observe hundreds of people. Volunteer Transportation Center will provide needed transportation services for those community members who cannot easily access the vaccination POD.

“I want to thank the people of Jefferson County for their patience as we take on the most significant undertaking in public health’s modern history,” said Director of Jefferson County Public Health, Ginger B. Hall. “We have a plan to vaccinate every eligible resident, but it will take time. Your turn will come. Please continue to wear your mask, keep six feet between you and others and wash your hands frequently.”

“Jefferson Community College is inextricably linked to the community we serve, and we are grateful and excited to have our campus approved as a vaccination site,” said JCC President Dr. Ty A. Stone. “This important collaboration with our local agencies demonstrates our commitment to working together to beat this pandemic.”

The plan outlines that, once vaccines become available, the clinics will run Thursdays and Saturdays and will be targeted to specific groups. Thursdays will be for those over 65 years of age and Saturdays will be for essential frontline workers, both in group 1b for vaccine distribution. Healthcare personnel and first responders in medical roles that make up priority group 1a will continue to be vaccinated in local healthcare facilities. Please click here to see the state’s website for an outline of eligible groups.

The COVID-19 vaccination POD will be able to flex up or down in capacity depending on the weekly allocation from the state to each partner. The POD will also be able to accommodate and plan for timely second doses, since this is critical to vaccination efficacy.

Healthcare personnel from all partnering agencies will work together to help operationalize the POD, ensuring that a large pool of staff is available including registered nurses, pharmacists, nursing students from JCC and others.

Once vaccine availability is secured, appointments will made online and a phone number will be provided to assist those who are not able to make an appointment online. This information will be released once the vaccine is secured for Jefferson County.

Walk-ins will not be accepted; appointments must be made. Community members will need to provide proof of their eligibility status. As per NYS, this may include an employee ID card, a letter from an employer or affiliated organization, or a pay stub, depending on the specific priority status. If you are eligible due to age, you should bring a form of ID (like a Driver’s License or passport) that includes your date of birth.

Community members who are unsure of their vaccination eligibility status should visit this state-run website: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ or call the NYS COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

As vaccine becomes available, the partner agencies will update their websites and inform the media so the public is kept up to date. Please check these resources before contacting any partner agency.

WATERTOWN, NY – Children’s Miracle Network of NNY is proud to announce Natalie Gondek as the 2021 Local CMN Champion at Samaritan Medical Center. Natalie is the daughter of Marci and Matthew Gondek, of Clayton, NY.  

“The Children’s Miracle Network Champion is an important ambassador,” said Bonnie Eppolito, Director of Major Gifts. “The champion helps raise awareness out in the community about the Children’s Miracle Network program and shares how every donation helps local kids get the best care when they need it.”

A few days before her 2nd birthday, Natalie was diagnosed with high-risk B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Spending an entire month in the hospital, Natalie could not walk, lost 20 percent of her body weight, and had lost all of her hair by the time she was discharged to go home.  Now 3 years old, she has been experiencing intense head and neck pain and was additionally diagnosed with a condition called Psuedotumor Cerebri, which increases production of cerebrospinal fluid and causes pressure around Natalie’s brain. She continues to take oral chemotherapy at home and travels monthly to the cancer clinic for lumbar punctures and chemotherapy infusions.   

Children’s Miracle Network of NNY helps kids like Natalie through the Direct Family Assistance Program, which provides reimbursement for travel expenses incurred for appointments with specialists and hospitalizations. It also assists with needed specialized medical devices and equipment. To learn more about Children’s Miracle Network of NNY, please visit samaritanhealth.com/cmn.

Donations to the program are accepted at any time and can be made online at samaritanhealth.com/give or by mail to: Children’s Miracle Network of NNY, 830 Washington Street, Watertown NY 13601.

###

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 $5 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, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.

Samaritan Summit Village and Samaritan Keep Home are pleased to announce their Medical Director, Dr. Collins F. Kellogg Jr., has been credentialed as a Certified Medical Director in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. This certification comes from the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (ABPLM).

According to the ABPLM, Dr. Kellogg is one of more than 4,000 physicians nationwide who have received this designation since the program’s inception in 1991. Dr. Kellogg is a private-practice internal medicine physician at Watertown Internists.

A study published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (JAMDA) found that having a Certified Medical Director contributes positively to a nursing home’s quality of care. Specifically, data showed that facilities with a Certified Medical Director saw a 15% improvement in quality scores.

“Dr. Kellogg’s commitment to our residents’ care and their quality of life is outstanding,” said Barbara E. Morrow, Samaritan’s Vice President of Long-Term Care. “We are very fortunate to have a dedicated, local and long-standing physician caring for our residents. Dr. Kellogg truly goes above and beyond to stay current with research, trends and what he can do better for our residents. His relationship with our team of caregivers is excellent as well. During this pandemic, it has been paramount to have Dr. Kellogg as our Medical Director for his expertise, team approach and proactive care for our residents.”

“The time and hard work that went into earning this designation better enables me guide and oversee the care provided at Samaritan Summit Village and Samaritan Keep Home, and also to lead our efforts toward continuous quality improvement,” Dr. Kellogg said. “I’m honored to be part of the team at both long-term care facilities and I am so very thankful for the dedication of all the employees caring for our residents during this pandemic.”

The Certified Medical Director (CMD) credential was established to enhance the profession of medical direction throughout post-acute and long-term care settings (e.g., nursing facilities, hospice, assisted living, home care, post-acute care) and to reinforce the leadership role of the medical director in providing quality care. Federal regulations and changes in the health care environment have established the role of the medical director as central to the delivery of quality care. The increased presence of managed care in post-acute and long-term care settings has emphasized credentialing, and CMD certification has taken on additional importance. The CMD designation provides an indicator of professional competence to post-acute and long-term care providers, government and other quality assurance agencies, consumers, and the public.

The ABPLM CMD certification program recognizes the dual clinical and management roles of the medical director and requires indicators of competence in both areas. The dual nature of the skills needed makes the position of medical director unique in medicine. The certification process is based on an experiential model that incorporates mechanisms such as fellowship programs, board certification in a medical specialty, comprehensive courses in medical direction, continuing medical education programs and administrative experience to fulfill certification requirements.

For further information about the CMD credential, visit https://www.abplm.org/certification-programs.

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.

• 

• 

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.