2019 President’s Award Finalists: Innovation

Each year, Northwell’s President’s Awards recognize team members who not only surpass our expectations and standards of excellence, but also those who drive innovative business outcomes.

The Innovation award recognizes team members who were finalists in the Innovation Challenge. Northwell’s Innovation Challenge empowers team members to come up with the next big health care innovation in areas such as revenue through new or existing channels, improve patient experience, improve quality of care, positively impact health outcomes and so much more.  As an organization, we understand that our people are the ones who bring our patient care to the next level, and this program gives them an opportunity to share their big ideas. Meet this year’s finalists.

AccuLABeler

AccuLABeler represents a proprietary middle-ware solution that interfaces with existing robotics machinery and a lab information system (LIS) to more efficiently relabel tubes referred to the lab for analysis from non-system sources.  At Northwell, the current workflow requires 12 FTEs who perform accessioning and relabeling of these tubes. The total available market encompasses reference laboratories in the United States and abroad.

Bedside Voice Assistant

The Bedside Voice Assistant (BVA) involves the continued development of an existing prototype of a bed-side Alexa based voice assistant created by members of the Northwell Innovation Center.  This innovation represents a developed software product which is cloud based, HIPAA compliant and will be agnostic to EMR system for integration and scalability.

EDCAP aza-Peptide Building Blocks for Preferred Drug Characteristics

Many pharmaceutical drugs are peptides, small fragments of proteins.  When carefully chosen, peptides offer the advantage of selectivity toward a target coupled with minimal adverse side effects. However, peptides suffer from a very short half-life, and their effect can be very short lived because they are destroyed in seconds in the blood.  The EDCAP technology offers a general solution to this stability issue through changing the labile peptide bond to an alternate bond that is resistant to peptidases (stable for hours in the blood).

LabFly: Mobile Phlebotomy App

The proposed innovation reflects the development of a mobile blood drawing solution for patients and caregivers. As developed, LabFly would serve as the patient facing application, and integrate with LabFly Phleb, a phlebotomist facing application.  The applications have been reviewed by the Northwell OCIO, OCIO security review, penetration tests and a QM validation. Future development of the application could support on demand appointments for flu shots and strep testing, and/or integration with care delivery within emergency rooms.

Real-Time Actionable Data (RAD)

The RAD invention represents a data analysis and reporting tool which provides real time, actionable data related to ED utilization and the allocation of clinical resources.  RAD addresses an unmet need in many if not all emergency rooms by supporting data driven, patient specific, decision making.  This product builds upon the work conducted over the past several years within the Northwell Emergency Medicine service line.

An Appointment With: Edward Fraser, VP, Community Relations

Since joining the health system in 2006, Edward’s career has evolved from his role at Southside Hospital within the Human Resources department to Nursing Education, and then to the department of Community Relations. He has grown from director of community relations at Southside Hospital to, vice president of Community Relations for the entire organization.

In addition to his role as VP, Edward is Co-Chair of Northwell’s EXPRESSIONS Business Employee Resource Group (BERG). Beyond Northwell, he’s also an active member of many community organizations and is currently enrolled in the Energeia Partnership Program at Molloy College. Throughout every step of his career, Edward has been known for his deep and abiding commitment to his family and to the many communities he serves.

We sat down with Edward to talk about the work of Community Relations and Northwell’s EXPRESSIONS BERG.

Tell us about the work of Northwell’s Community Relations team.

The Community Relations team handles community outreach, corporate sponsorships and promotes employee engagement initiatives for the health system. I’ve worked to build a dedicated team that connects with the communities surrounding our hospitals to bring education and build partnerships with local businesses, faith-based organizations, school districts and charitable organizations.  We also manage two immediate care centers on Fire Island, acting as their premier health care provider.

Another big initiative we oversee along with finance is Community Benefit.  Community benefits are programs or activities that provide treatment and/or promote health and healing as a response to identified community needs. They increase access to health care and improve community health.  Community Benefit tracking is required for all not-for-profit hospitals seeking to maintain their tax-exempt status, as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Tell us more about the impact your team is making on the communities we serve.

With team members being active members of many community organizations including many Chambers of Commerce, Splashes of Hope, as well as Islip Food for Hope. Inc., we’re able to keep an eye on how trends are impacting our community.

How has the EXPRESSIONS Business Employee Resource Group (BERG) evolved?

Northwell’s EXPRESSIONS BERG is an LGBTQ Employee Diversity group. EXPRESSIONS has grown to be comprised of more than 400 Northwell team members who identify as members, or are allies of the LGBTQIA+ community. EXPRESSIONS was created to ensure our employees have a voice and the opportunity to be heard. It’s initiatives like this that led to Northwell being named among the 50 employers recognized for fostering an inclusive workplace for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and ranking second nationally and No. 1 in New York State as a top health systems for diversity on DiversityInc’s top Hospitals & Health Systems for Diversity list.

Additionally, we oversee is the annual system-wide survey with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) which is the national benchmarking tool evaluating healthcare practices and policies as related to the equity and inclusion of our LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees.  Northwell just scored 100% on all 25 surveys that were submitted for this year.

What activities does Northwell Health have planned to celebrate Pride Month?

The EXPRESSIONS BERG is participating in many exciting festivals and marches throughout the month of June to celebrate Pride month.  As part of Northwell’s commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community, the health system has partnered with NYC Pride to serve as a principal sponsor of events tied to WorldPride 2019 and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.  Northwell’s platinum sponsorship with the nonprofit Heritage of Pride, Inc., the organization that produces New York City’s official LGBTQIA+ Pride events, the March, PrideFest and Family Movie Night.  We’ll also have a presence at Westchester Loft Pride, Rockland County Pride, Queens Pride, Long Island Pride and Cherry Grove Pride. If you are in the area, join us!

College students gain first-hand, non-clinical healthcare experience through summer internships

A summer internship provides students with the experiential learning, skills, and connections they need to build a future in their desired industry. Northwell Health’s programmatic internships are the perfect stepping stone to starting a non-clinical career in healthcare.

Students interested in non-clinical careers in healthcare had the opportunity to apply for a diverse selection of unique internships this summer – and potentially lay the groundwork for becoming a full-time employee.

Learn about some of our non-clinical internship programs below:

Hospitality in Healthcare Internships

Our hospitality interns will focus on a holistic approach to enhancing the patient and customer experience. Working within the Office of Patient & Customer Experience (OPCE), interns will explore how a great patient experience can drive meaningful results to patient care.

At the end of the comprehensive internship, students will have worked on projects including coordinating surveys for improvement opportunities, working with volunteer programs, and training and on-boarding team members on patient experience.

Development Internships

If you have a passion for making a difference through philanthropy efforts, then an internship with the Northwell Health Foundation is for you. During this extensive program, interns will get to experience working in a healthcare development office and gain professional skills.

Development interns will get to work on various projects such as frontline fundraising, operations, communications and stewardship, special events and direct marketing and annual giving campaigns.

Corporate Internships

Students looking to become immersed in the business-side of healthcare might be interested in the Corporate Summer Internship Program which spans across many non-clinical departments. As an intern, students will be provided with exceptional educational opportunities, including a specialized Learning & Engagement series that’ll cover topics from organizational awareness to resume writing and interview skills. To complete their development, they’ll work in groups on capstone projects throughout the summer before presenting them at the end of the program.

As a corporate intern, students may be assigned to a variety of departments including but not limited to:

Information Services Internships

College students can help bring Information Technology and Services to life with an internship at Northwell. During their internship, students discover how Health IT capabilities are critical to our ability to deliver exceptional care. Through hands-on learning, interns gain skills in strategic planning, management, deployment, coordination and integration.

IT interns can gain exposure to technology areas like:

For those looking to get into healthcare operations, the Healthcare Management Program provides ambitious college juniors with the opportunity to work on operations, finance and patient experience projects. Learn more about the HMP internship here.

Interested in a Northwell internship? Sign up to our Student Talent Community today!

Meet Truly Ambitious Neurology Practice Nurse Practitioner Nichole Lopez

This post is part of a blog series highlighting Northwell Health’s advanced clinical providers (ACP). Each Northwell Health employee was nominated by their manager as an individual who exemplifies a central Northwell Health value. This month, we’re proud to introduce you to the Truly Ambitious Nichole Lopez, a nurse practitioner (NP) in one of Northwell Health’s neurology practices, who recently earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). Read below to learn more about Nichole and what it’s like to be an ACP at Northwell.

Nichole Lopez started her healthcare career working as a hospital volunteer at age 16. By 18, she’d become an LPN. From there, she continued to invest in herself and her education, earning her Family Nurse Practitioner degree. It was then that Nichole first joined Northwell as a neurology pain and headache NP.

What Nichole likes best about being a nurse practitioner at Northwell is having the autonomy to provide patient-centered care that treats a patient holistically. Her desire to provide the best quality and access to care is what inspired her to earn her DNP degree.

A degree Nichole says wouldn’t have been possible without the growth and career development opportunities at Northwell. “Not only did Northwell provide financial support through their tuition assistance program, my colleagues supported me as well,” says Nichole. Throughout her DNP program, physicians, administrators and nurse practitioners alike provided encouragement and helped her reach project goals.

“With healthcare continuously changing it is extremely important for nurses who possess critical knowledge, to continue their education in order to ensure the best outcomes for patients,” advises Nichole. “It makes me feel terrific when I can inspire others to continue their education with the support provided by Northwell.” And that includes her own family!

Nichole’s oldest daughter is currently following in her footsteps and is entering her second year of her nursing education. “At my graduation ceremony, my daughter made a statement,” shares Nichole. “She said ‘Mom, watching all of your hard work and determination both academically and clinically is what inspires me to work hard and strive for greatness.’”

We know Nichole is proud of her daughter … and we are equally proud of Nichole, a Truly Ambitious ACP! If you’re Made for working with a team of exceptional advanced clinical providers, explore our opportunities at Northwell Health.

2019 President’s Award Finalists: Teamwork

Each year, Northwell’s President’s Awards recognize team members who not only surpass our expectations and standards of excellence, but also those who drive innovative business outcomes.

The Teamwork award recognizes a team who is flexible, hardworking and made for unwavering support. They successfully collaborate to improve quality, financial performance and/or patient-centric care by leveraging and embracing diversity while creating a feeling of belonging. Meet this year’s finalists.

Deliver the Vote
Lenox Hill Hospital

A pair of nurses with a strong commitment to upholding the right to vote, and an amazing determination not to take no for an answer enabled dozens of hospitalized patients to participate in the American electoral system.

Their efforts began two years ago when a patient inquired about voting but at that point, they were unable to help. Ahead of the 2018 election, Lisa Schavrien and Erin Smith decided to be pro-active, exploring ways to help their patients be heard at the ballot box. Their inquiries led them to a series of rejections by boards of elections, non-responses from political offices and a trip to a courtroom in Queens.

With the help from other volunteers, they canvassed their hospital for patients who wanted to vote. In one room, a patient facing brain surgery managed to cast her vote before surgery; in another, a patient’s partner was unable to get a ballot for the patient because they weren’t married, but Lisa obtained a ballot for him.

Voting may not seem like an issue clinical team members need to tackle, and they could find no other hospital making the same effort, but thanks to this team that went above and beyond, 75 Northwell patients were able to cast their ballots.

ECMO-TO-GO
Long Island Jewish Medical Center, North Shore University Hospital, Southside Hospital

Made up of a team of well-honed specialists, ECMO-TO-GO takes its life-saving skills wherever they are needed, elevating the level of care available to seriously ill patients. The team develops its successes with the cardiopulmonary bypass technique through continuity of communication and care delivered by all team members, commitment to continuous improvement and the depth of care provided by experts from across Northwell. The innovative approach of the team traveling to the patient rather than the other way around means a highly qualified, seasoned team is available to the sickest of patients. With a mortality rate of about 50 percent in these kinds of patients, the concept of such a team grew out of the establishment of an acute lung injury program at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the launch of a heart transplant program. Northwell physicians recognized the need to provide stable, quality care as quickly as possible, leading to the ECMOTO- GO program.

The strength of the group comes from their ability to harness their differences in expertise to meet the dire needs of a complicated patient population. They do so with seamless coordination, deep compassion, and deliberate communication ultimately forging something stronger than any individual person.

Food as Health Implementation Team
Long Island Jewish Valley Stream

Team members have put reliable access to food at the center of a pioneering effort to improve the health of their patients. After people in multiple departments recognized that some patients had trouble finding affordable, nutritious food when they returned home, a team came together to brainstorm some solutions. Their conclusions: provide discharged patients with the resources to find affordable foods and to prepare meals that would help restore them to health.

The Food as Health (FAH) Program screens patients from the outpatient wound care center, and one inpatient unit for food insecurity. Patients in need with nutrition-related conditions (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, unintentional weight loss) are referred to the appropriate FAH service arm for support. Patients who are mobile and able to cook for themselves are referred to the FAH hospital-based onsite resource center. The patient is provided two days’ worth of nutritious emergency food, nutrition education and counseling, and referrals to community resources.

The collaborative effort of the multidisciplinary workgroup to identify clinical partners, establish workflows, reports and outcomes is a significant reason for the successful implementation of the FAH program. The team continues to work together to identify the outcome measures and establish reporting to demonstrate improvement in patient outcomes and hospital data such as decreased readmissions.

Inpatient Charge Capture (IPCC)
Corporate, Revenue Cycle Operations, Medical Group

When a small group of data-savvy professionals began examining the question of whether Northwell was billing and collecting for every professional service provided in hospitals, it quickly became clear that they needed more expertise.

The question of revenue capture is a long-standing one and quantifying it and executing a process across the health system was huge challenge. The team grew to involve several Information Services disciplines and data experts and as it grew, so did the project. Instead of finding a basic report on where to find the revenue opportunities, the team produced much more. They came up with a real-time, web-based tool that allows service lines and/ or individuals to know what the missing billing opportunities are daily/weekly/monthly. It allows the user to filter by service line, hospital, provider and unit. The tool is easy to navigate and provides a weekly “subscription” service for providers.

The deep dive in the collaborative effort also identified a $10 million revenue opportunity for Northwell, the result of experts collaborating and using their own areas of expertise to produce a positive outcome.

Northwell Transfusion Medicine
Northwell Health Labs

A team of professionals collaborated to take on the challenge of ensuring Northwell hospitals maintained fresh and adequate supply of platelets to cope with both routine and emergency use. Maintaining a blood product supply is essential to optimal patient care, but daily usage can be difficult to forecast. Platelets, expensive to produce, test and store, have a short shelf life and frequently expire before they can be used.

This team’s bold solution to meeting the need and reducing costly waste was to develop a delivery system that moves blood products throughout the health system, with many ultimately winding up at the hospitals that routinely need them the most. Breaking away from the existing system, the team began with data, figuring out a system to outline a new distribution process. That birthed a “Round Robin” transportation system to reduce supplemental and emergency deliveries. The concept of rotating platelets from the community hospitals to the final destination of one of two tertiary hospitals is based on usage. Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital combined utilize as many as 50 units a day for Cardiac, Trauma, Surgical, Oncology and Transplant services. Through extensive monitoring and trending of patient platelet needs, a dramatic savings of more than $200,000 was realized in 2018 in expiration waste.

School-Based Vocational Services
South Oaks Hospital

A committed group of professionals provides students challenged by intellectual and developmental disabilities with services that are tailored to individuals from 27 school districts across Long Island. Students receive coachin g, job readiness training and social skills development in both a classroom and professional setting with more than 100 participating companies with the goal of promoting independence and developing skills to prepare these young adults to enter the workforce after graduation.

The collaboration of these team members led to 64% of the graduating students finding employment post-graduation. On a daily basis, this team manages to touch the lives of more than 200 youths and parents, on Long Island. Nearly all of the team members work remotely and are required to travel throughout their day to meet the needs of the various sites they are working to serve.

The team has been able to create new approaches to learning in school settings by implementing in-school businesses where students can improve work readiness skills. Through personal dedication and putting creativity to work, they are making big differences in the lives of these students.

The Fin
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

Experts with a diverse set of skills devised and conducted the first pilot clinical trial of the Fin, a novel 3D-printed swim prosthesis designed for use in a recreational pool setting. The dedicated group was seeking ways to improve recreational opportunities for people with lower-limb amputations, who, according to studies, are less likely to participate in physical activity than the general population.

Often working on their own time, they established protocols to ensure a thorough test that respected each individual’s dignity and needs while examining all aspects of the prosthesis. The most common design for a swim prosthesis has a fixed angle foot (“ankle foot”) that is at 90 degrees with the floor, which, while it is easy to use in the water, is not useful when walking over ground or transitioning into and out of the water. The 3-D printing also significantly lowers the typical cost of the prosthesis.

All participants in the test found the prosthesis easy to put on and take off. The majority (71%) of participants reported being extremely satisfied with the prosthesis.

Every member of the multidisciplinary team brought to the project their passion for wanting to improve the quality of life, participation and inclusion for individuals with lower limb amputations.

7 ways to heat up your career this summer

Summer is here and with the changes of the season comes sunshine, beaches, vacation and…career development? Though it may be tempting to slip into vacation mode full-time, summer offers a lot of opportunities to enhance your career without giving up your fun in the sun.

Develop new skills

Offering to cover projects for your coworkers while they’re on vacation allows you to develop new skills and gain first-hand experience that you may not typically get in your role. Work with your manager and teammate to prepare for their absence. You will show your team spirit and ambition along the way!

Summer reading

Summer reading shouldn’t end after high school graduation. Whether you’re hitting the beach or sitting poolside, don’t miss the perfect opportunity to refine your skills. Relaxing with a good professional development book can help you learn how to boost your leadership skills, improve how you communicate, and provide self-reflection.

Make use of the extra sunshine

The sun is rising earlier, and you could too! Develop a morning routine that helps you take advantage of the summer season. Start your morning off right with meditation, exercise, create a to-do list, eat a healthy breakfast, or simply enjoy a cup of coffee outside.

Revamp your online presence

Grab some shade and take some time to update your LinkedIn profile with your latest work information and skills, plus connect with coworkers and friends to grow your network.

Hold meetings outdoors

Head outdoors for lunch or hold your team meetings at the park. Have lunch with your mentor on a regular basis to grow and develop your skills while checking in for feedback and advice. And instead of the usual indoor staff meetings, take a field trip to the park for some team building activities. With everyone eager to get some sun, planning some outside activities is the perfect way to regroup this summer.

Volunteer

Invest in yourself while making an impact on others. This summer find an opportunity to give back to the community by volunteering or if you are a Northwell employee, get active in one of our Business Employee Resource Groups (BERGs). Meet new people and help your community.

Enjoy your vacation

While it’s important to develop professionally, it’s also important to take time off! Enjoy your summer vacation and schedule some time away from work and the internet. And even better, studies have shown that summer vacations help boost your productivity once you’ve returned and you’re able to reinvigorate your career with a fresh mindset.

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Apply to Northwell Health today!

Building blocks of success in Healthcare Management Program Internship

This summer in the Healthcare Management Program (HMP), 34 summer associates will work with Northwell Health professionals across and service lines such as Emergency Medicine, Health Solutions, Imaging and Cancer. These ambitious college juniors will work closely with their mentors over the next 10 weeks and contribute to operations, finance and patient experience projects while developing the foundation for a long-term career in healthcare.

The students are from schools across the country including Cornell University, University of Alabama, Colgate University, Binghamton University, University of North Carolina, and Hofstra University among others. They develop an understanding of healthcare administration through hands-on projects such as capital planning, throughput initiatives, utilization & costs effectiveness analysis, redesigning of hospital units, new facility process mapping, annual report creation and much more. Each associate has their own unique experience based on where they work while participating in a cohesive program.

Over the past few years, the program has grown and this summer is no exception. The success of the program has led to the number of summer associate positions increasing from 23 to 34, and by listening to the feedback from previous associates and their mentors, the program has also expanded from 8 to 10 weeks..

And the unique program goes beyond just these 10 weeks. At the end of the summer, interns are encouraged to apply for the HMP’s sister program, the Management Associate Program (MAP). This highly competitive two-year program gives new graduates the opportunity to enter healthcare administration after graduation. This year, approximately 80 percent of our MAP positions were filled by associates from the 2018 HMP class.

Hear from some of our 2019 HMP associates on what they’re most excited about this summer:

2019 President’s Award Finalist: Leader of the Year

Each year, Northwell’s President’s Awards recognize team members who not only surpass our expectations and standards of excellence, but also those who drive innovative business outcomes.

The Leader of the Year award recognizes an individual who is made for Northwell Health because Northwell was not made for just anyone. It’s their spark and instinct to care that changes lives. This leader always acts with intent, with heart and with passion. They communicate openly while providing empathy and support, gains and shares expertise with others, acts honestly, professionally, and consistently achieves high-level results. Meet this year’s finalists.

Mary Brennan, RN
Associate Director, Nursing Education, North Shore University Hospital

Mary Brennan’s dedication to improving the lives of patients inspires colleagues and many well beyond Northwell. She is a worldwide thought leader on wound and ostomy care, improving on the prevention and treatment of skin wounds, and teaching others how to help patients and their families avoid suffering.

Her work combating pressure wounds has led to the naming of a medical condition in her honor . Working with Nurse Manager Kathy Trombley, the pair identified the differences between pressure injuries and terminal tissue injury. This research has yielded a tool that assists nurses in identifying patients who are in the last hours of life, which allows team members to empathetically communicate with family members.

A Wound Care Symposium first proposed by Mary has turned into an interdisciplinary two-day conference at Hofstra University that attracts both physicians and nurses. Her leadership includes publishing papers on wound care, as well as building and overseeing a North Shore University Hospital team of more than 100 skin care champions. Her creative strategies have contributed to the success of this program, keeping others engaged and involved in identifying best practices to reduce incidents of pressure injuries. Thanks to her efforts, hundreds of team members at Northwell and thousands of others around the world know how to prevent and treat thiscomplex clinical problem.

Ryan J. Guda, RN
Nurse Manager, Dialysis Services, Ambulatory

Building on his array of experiences in different fields, Ryan Guda has rebuilt a workplace that adapts to change and established a culture of respect with dramatic effects on the quality of care.

Shortly after joining Northwell in 2015, Ryan met with each team member to hear their opinions about their work environment. By listening and acknowledging his team’s feelings, he was able to re-direct negative behavior in a nonjudgmental manner and win their trust. Even his adept computer skills helped during a transition to electronic record-keeping.

Ryan quickly became an agent of change that has improved the work environment and directly affected the quality of services delivered to patients living with end-stage renal failure. He was successful in turning the team members’ fear of change into hope.

Marcia Hall, RN
Director, Patient Services, Northwell Health At Home

Marcia Hall is known for her enthusiastic, even disposition and willingness to step up to assist team members. She has a talent for connecting with patients and staff alike. As a leader in a busy business unit, Marcia sees her role as the person who supports, teaches and always tries to lighten the load of those in the office and out in the field. By making herself available to patients and team members alike, she is able to allay concerns and offer encouragement to those who need it.

Marcia was an early adopter of “Leader Rounds,” an innovative approach more difficult to accomplish with patients in the community, and advises supervisors to take time each day to assess what they are seeing in patient care, to spot trends or potential problems.

As a leader determined to spread positivity, Marcia looks to motivate people to be their best, whatever the challenge. She stands by team members who might feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of caring for patients in the field. Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations is a key part of the Health At Home program and requires attention to detail. Above all, she demonstrates a strong ability to connect with patients and their families, a calming force to those facing a difficult situation.

Robert Kerner Jr., JD, EdD, RN, EMT-P, CHSE
Assistant Vice President, Patient Safety Institute, Assistant Professor, Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies

Dr. Robert Kerner engages his team through reflective questions, allowing team members to self-direct on projects and listening to them in a style that makes everyone feel that they’re a valuable part of the team. He demonstrates concern for his colleagues, both personally and professionally, strengthening their connection to their profession and their colleagues. Dr. Kerner is committed to educational and clinical innovation and regularly puts forth new methods to meet the needs of our customers.

His ability to bring innovation in education from PSI to the units has been instrumental in allowing team members from Northwell to benefit from these efforts. Dr. Kerner has and continues to nurture relationships with both new and seasoned customers, as well as serve outside communities. Leaders from across Northwell reach out to Dr. Kerner to assist with projects that will enhance communication, situational awareness and competency skill sets in a variety of venues.

Paula McAvoy
Senior Administrative Director, Hospice and Palliative Care, University Hospice, Staten Island University Hospital

Compassion and a set of values that includes connectedness, awareness, respect and empathy guide the work of Paula McAvoy. She is 100 percent committed to caring for those facing the end of their lives. She ensures that her team members feel valued and engaged as they apply those beliefs to their patients and each other. Paula believes in an open-door policy to make sure open lines of communication are maintained.

Despite her heavy workload, she sets an example for colleagues with her commitment to professional development. She leads a session “Building High Performance Teams” as part of Northwell’s Leadership Essentials program.

In nearly 30 years at Staten Island University Hospital, she has excelled in any number of roles, where she began as an on-call hospice nurse, and has become a recognized expert in the field of end-of-life care.

Nina Ng, RN
Assistant Director, Nursing, Syosset Hospital

A deeply held concern for the suffering of refugees, victims of war and poverty has stirred Nina Ng to travel the world to deliver compassionate care to those in need. Nursing was the career she chose and for the first few years, she focused on learning all she could to develop her career. Then a trip to Haiti to care for orphans after a hurricane refocused her priorities and has nurtured a desire to take a leadership role in health care by helping the underserved, underprivileged, abused and forgotten people of war-torn and destroyed countries. After several trips abroad, including into a war zone, Nina has a desire to continue to expand her influence locally, regionally and globally, and continues to find new ways she can positively affect the lives of others.

Nina’s desire to lead isn’t limited to the world stage. She insists on accountability and recently published an article in the Journal for Emergency Nursing about workplace bullying.
Nina also has taken the initiative to reduce pressure wounds in patients with enhanced collaboration between the Emergency and Inpatient departments.

Northwell and Syosset Hospital benefit from Nina’s leadership and compassion, and her actions represent a total commitment to our values.

The growth of innovative orthopedic surgery at Northwell Health

Today’s population is seeking the benefits of early intervention orthopedic surgery like joint replacements and bone preservations resulting in an increased number of orthopedic surgeries. Northwell Health’s hospitals are growing their services to meet this demand. Growth that includes case variety, cutting-edge procedures and innovative technology.

The advantages for nurses, surgical technologists, advanced care providers and other care team members go beyond just increased experience. Orthopedic surgery is one of the only surgical specialties where you see instant results. Being able to see a visual victory immediately after the procedure and seeing patients get back to living life to the fullest is incredibly rewarding.

Join of our teams below to experience innovative orthopedic surgical care.

LIJ Valley Stream Hospital:

At LIJ Valley Stream , orthopedic teams practice both routine and general orthopedic treatments and cutting edge procedures. Orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and surgical technologists work together collaboratively to provide excellent care for their patients.  Their state-of-the-art care and treatments mean more minimally invasive procedures that are giving patients the advantage of a quicker recovery and decreased hospital stays.

Some of the innovative procedures happening in the OR are:

• Specific total joint replacements
• Reverse total shoulder replacements
• Total ankle replacements
• Autologous cartilage implants

And orthopedic surgery is only growing at LIJ Valley Stream! With our partnership with the Orlin and Cohen Orthopedic Group, Northwell is significantly increasing our presence on the south shore of Nassau County and Queens.

Surgeons from Orlin & Cohen and Northwell’s Orthopedic service line work together inside our brand-new Orthopedic Hospital at LIJ Valley Stream. This 9,761-foot facility includes 18 private patient rooms, advanced ORs, and a physical therapy unit, along with advanced technology. They have received the highest rating from The Joint Commission’s Healthcare Quality Certification in knee and hip replacement surgery.

Lenox Hill Hospital:

Lenox Hill Hospital is a full service hospital performing many orthopedic procedures using robotic surgery with the Mako robot. With up to ten operating rooms dedicated to orthopedics a day, there is a large variety of cases for team members to gain experience in the operating room. Lenox Hill Hospital is currently applying for the Joint Commission renewal of their Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, a 2 year certification that reflects the excellent care given to arthroplasty patients from hospital entry to discharge.

Some of the surgeries being performed at Lenox Hill include:

• Knee total replacement
• Cervical discectomy anterior with fusion
• Laminectomy discectomy
• Shoulder arthroscopy
• Hip hemiarthoplasty
• Osteoarticular transplant surgery

Northwell’s new partnership with the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute also means more opportunities for the team at Lenox Hill and Phelps Hospitals. Rothman orthopedic surgeons collaborate with Northwell physicians to deliver high-quality, orthopedic services. This close collaboration between physicians and care team members helps further Lenox Hill’s strong team atmosphere.They pride themselves on teamwork and always looking for ways to make the patient experience even better.

Long Island Jewish Medical Center:

Orthopedic surgery is a growing service at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC). LIJMC has been recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Joint Commission for the past two years and is in the process of renewing their application in 2019. Every month, dedicated LIJ Center for Joint Preservation and Restoration meetings take place to discuss and evaluate metrics in an effort to continuously improve the patient experience.

Improving the patient experience also means using state-of-the-art procedures and technology. Technology like Blue Belt Technology, which is used during total joint replacements to cut out exact measurements of the total joint to be used.
Some of these state-of-the-art procedures include:

• Radical resections of mass
• Proximal femur replacements
• Total hip replacement direct anterior approach
• Total knee replacements
• Uni knee replacements
• Knee stage II revision arthroplasty

Registered nurses and surgical technologists at LIJMC enjoy a collaborative experience within the Ortho team and get to broaden their operating room experience with a variety of orthopedic cases.

Are you Made for delivering orthopedic perioperative care? Apply today!

Eight reasons to join the oncology care team at Northwell Health Cancer Institute

Our team members at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute are committed to providing advanced oncology care that improves the lives of our patients. Whether you’re a nurse, pharmacist, researcher, advanced clinical provider, or laboratory technologist, Northwell offers fulfilling career opportunities at one of the largest and most innovative cancer programs in the New York Metropolitan area. Discover eight reasons to work at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute.

1. One of the largest cancer programs in the NY area

The Northwell Health Cancer Institute has a variety of locations across the New York metro area so you can provide comprehensive cancer care from screening to survivorship right in your community. From the Imbert Cancer Center in Bay Shore to the Monter Cancer Center in New Hyde Park, we’re providing highly complex care in one connected system.

2. Develop meaningful relationships with patients

Helping care for a patient in their most vulnerable times makes a lasting impact on both the patient and the provider. “Sometimes just listening or holding their hand makes a difference,” says Iris Fleming, nurse manager at Monter Cancer Center. “You’re on the journey with them, guiding them through a difficult time in their lives and making it that much easier with small gestures.” Knowing how important these relationships become, the Cancer Institute also hosts an annual Survivors Day.

3. Oncology Nursing Society’s 2019 Employer Recognition Award

We invest in our team members. Monter Cancer Center was awarded Oncology Nursing Society’s 2019 Employer Recognition Award for its outstanding initiatives in promoting professional development and educational opportunities for its nurses, including starting an oncology nursing fellowship program.

4. Work with leading oncology specialists

Work alongside our 200 oncology physicians who are national and international cancer leaders in 25 specialties and drive the latest advances in cancer care and cancer research. Richard Barakat, MD, physician-in-chief and director of cancer, leads all cancer services and research at Northwell Health, including the Cancer Institute.

5. Affiliation with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Our partnership with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a world leader in cancer research, means the Cancer Institute is able to provide patients with the most cutting-edge therapies for cancer. This unique collaboration promotes research that helps advance the process of turning discoveries in the lab into clinical practice.

6. Opportunity to help develop new treatments through clinical trials

With over 30 years of experience in cancer clinical trials, the Cancer Institute has enrolled over 10,000 cancer clinical trial participants. Be a part of the development of new treatments that help save lives.

“I have the opportunity to work with new treatment modalities and new drug combinations that have not been tried yet,” says Julia Trojanowski, oncology research nurse at the Center for Novel Cancer Therapeutics. “It is very exciting and rewarding knowing that I am part of creating history.”

7. Treat truly complex and rare conditions

With over 16,000 cancer patients seen annually, the Northwell Health Cancer Institute has experts able to treat virtually every type of Cancer disease diagnosed. And with this variety of cases comes highly complex care that many specialty cancer centers cannot offer.

8. Access to innovative and ground-breaking technology

Work with the latest groundbreaking technology to provide patients the best care possible. Technology that includes the Gamma Knife Icon. The Cancer Institute is the first and only center on Long Island to offer this radiosurgery technology that allows radiation oncologists and neurosurgeons to target tumors and other conditions in the brain with ultra-high precision and frameless technology.

“The Cancer Institute delivers innovative care to patients by assuring that the latest medications and equipment are available for diagnosis and treatment,” says Dr. Smitha Chacko, pharmacist at Imbert Cancer Center. “Northwell also continually arranges for clinicians, nursing staff, and pharmacy staff to be educated on the newest research and data.”

2019 President’s Award Finalists: Nurse of the Year

Each year, Northwell’s President’s Awards recognize team members who not only surpass our expectations and standards of excellence, but also those who drive innovative business outcomes.

The Nurse of the Year award recognizes a nurse who is made for going the extra mile for his or her patients, families and colleagues. Exemplifying our Northwell values and behaviors, this individual delivers high-quality clinical care and a compassionate patient experience. Meet this year’s finalists.

Angela Daly, RN
Physician Partners, Cardiology at Southampton

Inspired by the extra efforts she saw nurses and others doing to take care of her mother, Angela Daly knew nursing was what she was meant to do. During the course of her career, she’s demonstrated efficiency and compassion, finding the small ways in which nurses can have a major impact on patients’ lives. Angela has solved problems, finding ways to improve how nurses were deployed throughout the Cardiac service line and how information was conveyed.

Taking a creative approach, Angela developed a telephone triage and patient education guide for her Flex Pool to demonstrate the best workflow in addressing patient calls, elevating patient concerns to providers and educating patients in a way that they can understand. Her guide is used throughout Northwell’s Cardiac service line. Angela also sends letters to every doctor that her patients see to ensure interdisciplinary communication is intact and that the patient’s treatment course with an investigational drug product is considered in the spectrum of their care. When she saw some information wasn’t making its way to all inpatient team members, she worked to develop chart notes that would be delivered to those who need them. And after realizing that more nurses were needed in the Cardiac service line, Angela worked to create a “Float Pool,” and recruited more than 90 nurses, trained them to cover the practices and developed guidelines so that the nurses would have the tools they needed to care more efficiently for our patients.

Alexa Damone, RN
Medical Surgical Unit, Glen Cove Hospital

Alexa Damone’s passion for her work is evident to her patients and colleagues by constantly learning new skills to improve medical care.

Alexa has the ability to relate to patients and their families through her caring manner and attentive demeanor. Her deep commitment is evident to her patients and her colleagues and was recognized by the hospital when she was honored in the hospital’s first “Breakfast with the Stars.” She is empathic, compassionate, an excellent communicator, possesses solid clinical and problem-solving skills and serves as an advocate for her patients.

Her commitment to helping peers is inspirational. Upon returning from a sepsis conference, Alexa shared her newly developed knowledge with her peers to improve the identification and prompt treatment of sepsis. She was a part of a project on infection control that led to better hand hygiene and infection control practices on the unit. Alexa is involved in another project aimed at improving the patient experience. With diabetes becoming increasingly prevalent, especially among the elderly, she attended a two-day workshop recognizing the importance of diabetes knowledge, management and education, enabling her to become a unit champion and valuable resource for her peers and patients.

Maryann Portoro, RN
Emergency Department, Phelps Hospital

Maryann Portoro sets a calm tone for patients and team members who, in the sometimes chaotic emergency care environment, need reassurance and compassion. She has devoted 45 years of her nursing career to caring for patients requiring emergency interventions. Maryann’s nursing role is characterized by her philosophy “Don’t worry, I’ve got it.” She is noted for her quick assessment and innovative interventions to support excellence in patient care. She demonstrates her leadership skills by taking charge while not losing her compassionate approach in the Emergency Department, sometimes rocking babies, other times holding the hand of an upset or frightened patient.
Maryann’s care doesn’t stop with patients; she provides timeouts to ease a team member experiencing grief after a loss.

Her sensitivity to people’s needs is in real time with positive, thoughtful recognition. She uses her abilities to think quickly and creatively in any situation, de-escalating a crisis by knowing just what to do to calm and control a situation. Her dedication extends to finding and implementing ways to improve new nursing care delivery models.

Dominick Pugliese, RN
Northwell Health At Home

Dominick Pugliese represents the future of Northwell Health nursing care. As a young RN he has already impressed his supervisors with his ability to learn quickly and with his commitment to caring for those in need. Joining Northwell Health At Home just a little over a year ago, he made the switch from a hospital Respiratory Care Unit to Home Health because he wanted to work with patients as their primary nurse in their homes. He had been inspired by his involvement with Project Hope on Staten Island. He was among the part-time team member who went door-to-door to provide crisis counseling to families who were suffering from the fear, anxiety, anger and helplessness after the destruction wrought by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. He rode on a medical bus, which was run by nurses.

At Northwell Health At Home, he mixes an interest and skill in using technology, such as the telehealth program, with devotion to hands-on care that depends on personal attention to a patient’s needs. Dominick’s potential led to his appointment to a task force that created Northwell Health At Home’s Heart Failure program, which was recently certified by the Joint Commission.

Jeffrey Rosa, RN
Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Long Island Jewish Medical Center

Passion for his patients and awareness of the complexities of navigating the emotions and needs of those in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit drive the care provided by Jeffrey Rosa. He witnessed the excellent care provided to his grandmother, and, later, as a paramedic, responded to the horrors of the Sept. 11 attack at the World Trade Center, which solidified his determination to become a nurse.

At Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC), Jeffrey is known as “the go-to player,” someone who has made it his business to know everything he needs to know about every patient in a unit where extra compassion, understanding and respect for what patients and families are going through are crucial. He is completely dedicated to inspiring and teaching new nurses to share his passion and expertise. He coaches, mentors and serves as a role model for his peers. Jeffrey lectures the hemodynamics portion of the nursing fellowship curriculum and shares his passion for work he does daily.

Jeffrey participates in countless committees, including the Magnet task force, and as co-chair of the Surgical ICU’s Collaborative Care Council, he facilitates the agenda and pushes LIJMC nursing units to share innovative solutions and champion new ideas and processes.

Delivering critical care from the front lines to the Cardiothoracic ICU

For Jared Singer, a career in the military fueled his passion to help people in critical situations.

Jared, now a Cardiothoracic ICU registered nurse at Lenox Hill Hospital, served active duty in the United States Air Force for five years following high school. During his time in the military, he was exposed to various forms of emergency medicine training. His dream: to ultimately become a flight nurse and perform emergency medical evacuations out of helicopters.

With this goal in mind, Jared earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing after his service. But to become a flight nurse, Jared knew he’d need critical care experience from a hospital.  After applying to numerous ICU units across the five boroughs with no response, Jared’s professor recommended Northwell’s Critical Care Nursing Fellowship.

Following his professor’s advice, Jared attended a military veteran career event so he could meet with recruiters. “No hospital would take a chance to invest in me besides Northwell Health,” says Jared. “The military veteran career event let me promote what I could bring as an individual to recruiters, directors, and I even personally met Northwell’s President and CEO Michael Dowling. I felt a part of the team as soon as I walked into that event.”

Meeting with Northwell team members gave Jared the opportunity to showcase the skills that his unique experience as a veteran brought to nursing. “Not even a week after that event, I was sitting down with the manager of the Cardiothoracic ICU in Lenox Hill Hospital–my dream job.”

Finding a new mission in the Critical Care Fellowship

From there, Jared’s career as an RN in the Critical Care Fellowship at Lenox Hill Hospital began. In Phase one of the program, he learned the systems, pharmacology and equipment specific to the ICU. With help from his educators, the simulation lab, and hands-on experience, Jared was given the foundation nurses need to be comfortable, as well as the critical thinking and theory necessary to thrive in such a high-speed environment.

Jared’s skills are continuing to grow as he works as a nurse on the floor during Phase two of the fellowship program. As part of his fellowship, he cares for critical patients and works hand-in-hand with nurses, PCAs, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, surgeons and others – and there is something to learn from everyone. “I was able to stand in during a seven-hour surgery and was blown away with the technology, professionalism, and skills every individual had in performing such intricate procedures. My eyes were wide open in absolute awe of what we’re able to accomplish as a team for each patient we interact with.”

And for Jared, the Critical Care Fellowship is only the beginning of his career at Northwell and the new adventures he seeks.

“I have climbed Mt Fuji; I’ve been interviewed on live TV Christmas morning; and I’ve even jumped out of a plane 14,000 feet above the Hawaiian shores, but nothing compares to the rush and feeling of the satisfaction I get when I make medical interventions that can be the difference in the outcomes of my patients.”

Northwell Health Recipe: Spring Duck Salad

Barbecue season is here and our Northwell Health chefs have prepared the perfect dish to wow guests at your next event! Learn how to prepare a Spring Duck Salad that’s as healthy as it is delicious.

Spring Duck Salad:

Preparation Time:15 mins
Cooking Time: 30 mins
Total Yield: 6 salads
Equipment: Blender or robo coupe, saute pan, tongs, spoon, bowl, cutting board knife

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Pat duck breast dry and using a sharp knife, score the skin with a cross- hatch pattern.
   The first step is to score the fat to help it render more efficiently. Make very shallow cuts in a tight crisscross pattern across the surface of the duck. With a sharp knife, this requires virtually no pressure: just slide the blade along, while barely breaking through the skin. If you prefer to render out more of the fat, simply make deeper cuts. Do not be tempted to remove it prior to cooking. That layer of fat protects the meat, allowing you to cook it gently and evenly; because duck is best served medium-rare.
3. Start the glaze: toast the chile pieces in a skillet, pressing them down firmly with a spatula for a few seconds until they release a toasty aroma, then flip them, and press down the other side. Place the chiles into a small bowl, cover with hot water and let rehydrate for 30 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/3 cup of the soaking water.
4. In a blender or robo coupe: combine the ancho chiles, the reserved soaking liquid, garlic, oregano, pepper, cumin, honey, pinot noir and 1 teaspoon salt. Blend to a smooth puree, scraping down and stirring frequently. Press through a medium-mesh strainer into a small bowl. Set aside 1/2 cup of the glaze for the dressing.
5. Place 2 of the duck breasts seasoned with salt skin side down in a pan on medium-low* heat. Sear for 6 minutes until richly brown and the skin is crispy, flip and sear the underside for 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet and repeat this procedure with the remaining breasts.
6. Take the remaining ancho glaze and brush the top of each of the duck breasts. Place the baking sheet into the center of the preheated oven at 325 degrees and roast for 20 to 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 125 degrees. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing.
7. Sautee the corn with a bit of the leftover rendered duck fat.
8. To make the dressing: blend together the dressing ingredients: ancho glaze reserved,  extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, honey, and salt
9. Once the duck breasts have been sliced, plate up individual servings by arranging the rocket greens on the plate. Fan out the duck breast slices and sprinkle the radish slices, mango, and avocado over the top of the salad. Place the julienned scallions on each of the salads and sautéed corn on top- drizzle on the dressing.

Are you a master chef? Show off your culinary experience at Northwell Health. Explore culinary job opportunities.

*When duck breast is seared at a higher temperature, the flesh quickly cooks before enough fat has rendered out, leaving you with a thick, flabby layer of fat over tough meat. When you use gentle heat, the fat has time to render off, while heat slowly transfers to the flesh through the buffer of the thick skin layer. This gives you tender flesh with a minimal gradient, as well as delicious, crisp skin.