Daemen College Physical Therapy Wound Clinic

Daemen College plans to establish a physical therapy wound clinic in Cheektowaga to treat those who suffer from chronic wounds, the college announced this week.

The clinic is set to be located at the Center for Skin Integrity on Union Road in Cheektowaga. It was not immediately known when the college plans to open the facility.

The John R. Oishei Foundation awarded $530,000 to Daemen to support the clinic, plus establish a wound care academy to train Western New York practitioners in chronic would healing care, the college said. The academy will ultimately provide clinical education for up to 120 physical therapy students in the region per year and also seek to create a state registered certificate in wound care for licensed health care professionals.

Chronic wounds are wounds that do not heal. They include infections, pressure and diabetic ulcers, burns, radiation, frostbite, refractory cysts and venous and arterial ulcers.

Researchers at Daemen College, along with the University at Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute, have studied chronic wounds for years. The three entities, led by Daemen, are investigating ways to predict healing outcomes for chronic wounds that prevent full recovery.

Officials expect the new clinic to provide research opportunities for faculty, students and practitioners related to treatment of chronic wounds at several levels. In recent years, the Daemen College Center for Wound Healing Research has secured more than $3.8 million in funding from industry, private foundations and the federal government to support research.

RIA Reaching Others With Energy Drink Research

Expert Advice from RIA Researchers

ATHLETES: Energy drinks before or during games or practices? Probably not
a good idea. Though often confused, energy drinks are not sports drinks. Where Gatorade or Powerade are designed to provide hydration and replace electrolytes, caffeine actually contributes to dehydration. Adults and especially children may experience headaches, heart palpitations, hypertension, or blackouts
if they combine energy drinks with heavy exercise.

CAFFEINATED COCKTAILS: Combining alcohol (a depressant) with caffeine
(a stimulant) may make drinkers look, sound, and feel less drunk than they actually are. Underestimating one’s own intoxication puts you at greater risk for drunk driving, alcohol poisoning, and even sexual victimization. Mixing caffeine and alcohol may also lead to heavier drinking than alcohol alone for three reasons:

(1) caffeine postpones the sleepiness associated with intoxication, so you can drink longer; (2) energy drink flavors mask the taste of alcohol, so drinks taste better; and (3) caffeine has a “priming” effect on alcohol—that is, it strengthens cravings for another drink.

CAFFEINE: Many consumers of energy drinks and other caffeinated beverages forget that caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant drug, and like other drugs, it is highly addictive. Just like alcohol, if you’re going to drink energy drinks, do it responsibly! Unlike soft drinks, there are no official limits on how much caffeine an energy drink may contain. Read the label, and if it doesn’t specify the exact caffeine content (many don’t), go on-line and find out. Knowledge is power.

MYSTERY INGREDIENTS: Energy drinks typically contain a brand-specific proprietary blend of plant and herbal extracts. Most of these ingredients (such as gingko biloba or ginseng) are probably harmless. Others may not be.Energy drinks are highly caffeinated beverages designed to provide a short- term energy boost.These drinks typically contain as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and three times as much as a standard soft drink, with some brands containing much higher doses. Energy drinks also contain sweeteners, amino acids such as taurine or l-carnitine, massive doses of B vitamins, and plant or herbal extracts such as gingko biloba, ginseng, or milk thistle. The potential interactions among these ingredients are not well understood.

With sales expected to approach $20 billion a year by 2013 in the U.S. alone, energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar have become staples of the adolescent and young adult market. Although provocatively named brands such as Full Throttle, Daredevil, Havoc, Rage, Bawls, Who’s Your Daddy, Whoop Ass, and Extreme Ripped Force are designed to appeal to a target demographic of 18-25 year olds, they are nearly as common among high school students.

Excessive energy drink use is associated with several potential health risks. Overuse can lead to symptoms ranging from mild (headaches, jitteriness, anxiety) to severe (insomnia, heart palpitations, seizures). Poison control centers and emergency rooms have documented a rapidly growing number of cases of caffeine intoxication involving energy drink use, particularly when coupled with alcohol or other substance use. After several highly publicized cases in 2010, the FDA no longer permits ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages such as Four Loko, Joose, or Maxx to contain caffeine. However, caffeinated mixed drinks such as Red Bull, vodka or Jagerbombs remain extremely popular.

Timely Research

Highlights of RIA research findings in this area included:

Risk-taking and energy drink use in college students. Undergraduate students who used energy drinks frequently were three times as likely to smoke cigarettes, abuse prescription drugs, or be in a serious physical fight as infrequent users or nonusers. Frequent energy drink consumers also reported drinking alcohol, having alcohol-related problems, and using marijuana about twice as often as less frequent consumers. Other risk behaviors associated with frequent energy drink use included unsafe sex, not using a seatbelt, participating in extreme sports, and doing something dangerous on a dare.
Demographic differences. Men were significantly more likely to consume energy drinks than women (46% vs. 31%). Whites were also significantly more likely to consume them than African Americans (40% vs. 25%).

Energy drinks and alcohol. Two thirds of college student energy drink users also used energy drinks as mixers with alcoholic beverages.

Substance use and energy drink use in musicians. In a RIA study of amateur and professional musicians between the ages of 18 and 45, energy drink users were more likely than nonusers to report misuse of legal substances, including binge drinking (76% vs. 59%), alcohol-related problems (78% vs. 69%), and misuse of prescription drugs (31% vs. 13%). Energy drink users were also significantly younger on average (25.7 years vs. 30.4 years) and scored higher on personality measures of sensation-seeking, an attraction to novel and varied experiences.

For example, the bitter orange found in some brands is closely related to ephedra, a compound banned by the FDA in 2004 due to a number of consumer deaths. Because energy drinks are classified as dietary supplements, their content is not subject to direct regulation or oversight by the FDA. It’s up to the user to investigate the label. Buyer beware-- Know what you’re drinking!

PARENT ALERT: Because they are smaller and their brains are less developed, children are even more sensitive to the health effects of caffeine use than adults are. Kids are at greater risk for caffeine intoxication and their consumption habits should be subject to adult supervision. There is also evidence to suggest that heavy energy drink users are at higher risk for other problem behaviors, such as smoking, drug use, binge drinking, unsafe sex, or fighting. Energy drink use is less of a “gateway drug” than a potential red-flag warning sign for other health-compromising activities.

Excessive energy drink use is associated with several potential health risks. Overuse can lead to symptoms ranging from mild (headaches, jitteriness, anxiety) to severe (insomnia, heart palpitations, seizures). Poison control centers and emergency rooms have documented a rapidly growing number of cases of caffeine intoxication involving energy drink use, particularly when coupled with alcohol or other substance use. After several highly publicized cases in 2010, the FDA no longer permits ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages such as Four Loko, Joose, or Maxx to contain caffeine. However, caffeinated mixed drinks such as Red Bull & vodka or Jagerbombs remain extremely popular.

RIA Reaching Others with Research on Drinking and Drugs in the Workplace/Workforce

A seminal study at UB’s Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) reported that during the course of the year “15% of the U.S. workforce has used or been under the influence of alcohol at work.” This prevalence study of workforce-workplace substance use included data obtained from interviews with 2,800 employed adults, ages 18-65, who resided in the contiguous U.S. and District of Columbia between 2002-03.

Substance use in the workplace occurs:

• Just before coming to work 
• On lunch hours and other breaks 
• Due to intoxication at work or hangover from the night before 

Since that study, additional important research results about substance use on the job have been released by RIA. 

Timely Research

Highlights of research findings in this area included:

• 8.9 million workers drank alcohol at least once during the workday. Most workers who drink during the workday do so during lunch breaks, though some drink while working or during other breaks. 
• 2.3 million workers have consumed alcohol at least once before going into work. 
• Approximately 63% of the workforce reported that they could easily bring alcohol into work, use alcohol while working, use alcohol during lunch and other breaks, or obtain alcohol at work. Similarly, 59% of the workforce reported that they could easily engage in the same behaviors regarding illicit drugs.  
• Men’s alcohol use and impairment at work was more prevalent than women’s. Younger employees worked under the influence of alcohol or with a hangover more than older workers, and unmarried workers more than married workers. 

Occupations showing the highest rates of workplace alcohol use and impairment were: management, sales, arts/entertainment/sports/ media, food preparation and serving, building and grounds maintenance.

Illicit drug use in the workforce involved an estimated 14% or 17.7 million workers; illicit drug use in the workplace involved an estimated 3% or 3.9 million employed adults.

A permissive workplace substance use climate impacts perceptions of workplace safety, work strain, and employee morale among employees who do not use substances at work.

What it Means to Main St.

Since 1994, multi-year awards funding this area of research have added to the local economy by the creation of jobs, paychecks spent in housing, retail, school and entertainment, as well as in the growth of suburban and rural communities in the region. RIA’s 160 staff members reside in and contribute to 18 different local municipalities as taxpayers, consumers, parents, students, volunteers and much, much more. Three prominent NIH-funded studies in this research area include:

1994 - 2000 $560,000

Work, Alcohol and School Performance Among Adolescents

2000 - 2004 $1.4 million

Workplace Substance Use: A National Prevalence Study

2007 - 2012 $2.2 million

Work Stress And Alcohol Use:
A National Study of Unresolved & Unexplored Issues

13% reported exposure to a co-worker who used or was impaired by an illicit drug during the workday; 23% of the workforce reported exposure to a co-worker who used or was impaired by alcohol during the workday. Exposure to a permissive workplace substance use climate differed by gender, age, occupation and work shift.
Illicit drug use is not distributed equally across employers. Among young

men in high-risk occupations, 56% report overall illicit drug use and 28%
report workplace illicit drug use. Likewise, among young women in high-
risk occupations, 43% report overall illicit drug use and 11% report workplace illicit drug use.

Oishei Foundation Awards $60,000 to Crisis Services’ “AfterHours” Program

(BUFFALO)  February 16, 2012 — The John R. Oishei Foundation has awarded Crisis Services a grant of $60,000 to help to support the clinical AfterHours Program in 2012.

A New York State mandate in 2011 required that all mental health clinics have a licensed mental health professional available on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  In response, Crisis Services created the AfterHours program and, with the seed support of the Oishei Foundation, 11 agencies (including 39 clinics in four counties) contracted with Crisis Services to provide coverage during a nine month demonstration project.  The results of the demonstration project were excellent, resulting in more than 8,000 calls and diverting many clients from unnecessary emergency room visits.

The new grant by the Oishei Foundation recognizes the success the program has realized and will help defray the costs of continuing this project in 2012.

The Oishei Foundation appreciates the importance of organizations that provide invaluable “safety-net” services for our community and recognizes the critical role Crisis Services plays.

The John R. Oishei Foundation strives to be a catalyst for change to enhance economic vitality and the quality of life for the Buffalo Niagara region. The Foundation was established in 1940 by John R. Oishei, founder of Trico Products Corporation.

gray got you blue?

by Dr. Kathleen Moore

Do you find yourself feeling more tired, sluggish, and irritable as the days grow shorter? Are you sleeping more, eating more, craving sweets and other carbohydrates, perhaps gaining weight? Is it harder to get out of bed each morning? 

If you find that these symptoms occur regularly each winter, starting sometime between September and November, and then completely disappear once spring arrives, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. SAD can vary in intensity: for some it is relatively mild, known as “winter blues;” for others it can be seriously disabling. It occurs much more frequently in women than in men, typically begins between age 18 and 30, and is more common in regions farther from the equator. SAD is a very real disorder, and can even be life-threatening if someone becomes suicidal.

Experts believe that SAD is caused by increased production of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin, produced by a small gland in the brain called the pineal gland, is related to sleep and circadian rhythms, but may also cause symptoms of depression. It is produced at increased levels in the dark; therefore, when days become shorter and darker, production of melatonin increases.

Bright light signals the brain to block secretion of melatonin. Bright light therapy as a treatment for SAD was first pioneered by psychiatrist Dr. Norman Rosenthal in 1984. Treatment involves sitting in front of a very bright, preferably full-spectrum, light source from 30 minutes to several hours each day, generally in the early morning hours. Often people will eat breakfast or read the morning paper while using the light. The key to its effectiveness seems to be regularity of use, but long-term compliance with treatment is often difficult to maintain. 

The SSRI antidepressants such as Paxil, Zoloft, and others, have also been effective in treating SAD – and some people find taking a pill much easier and less time-consuming than sitting in front of a light box every day. Counseling and psychotherapy can also help individuals with SAD to manage and cope with their symptoms.

Other tips for battling the winter blues include: 

• Exercise on a regular basis either out doors or indoors near a window or bright light source.
• Install brighter bulbs in your work and living spaces.
• Maintain a regular daily pattern of going to sleep and awakening.
• Put your bedroom lights on a timer to switch on half an hour before awakening,
or invest in a “dawn simulator,” which gradually increases the intensity of light.
• Sit next to windows in classrooms and restaurants.
• Arrange social activities outdoors. Out door light, even when the sky is overcast,
provides as much or more light than a light box.
• If possible, arrange a winter vacation to a warm and sunny climate.

As Dr. Rosenthal points out, winter doesn’t have to be a bleak and dismal season. Exercising, eating a balanced diet, and trying to maximize your exposure to what natural light there is during the winter months can help most people. For others, don’t be afraid to consult a professional. Light therapy, combined with counseling and antidepressant treatment where indicated, can make a world of difference in staying sunny throughout the Rochester winter.

NOTE: Tanning beds are NOT an effective treatment for SAD, because their light sources are high in ultraviolet rays, which can damage your eyes as well as your skin.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kathleen Moore has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, and currently works as an administrator at the University of Rochester. Contact her at kmoore@rochesterhealthyliving.com.

Warsaw VA Health Care Transitions to Batavia

VA Western New York Healthcare System announced Warsaw VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic
located at Wyoming County Community Hospital, 400 North Main Street will shift Veterans’ care to Batavia VA medical center, 222 Richmond Avenue beginning March 3, 2012. The realignment will allow for improved access; five days per week primary care from the current two days per week at Warsaw and availability of many specialty services in one location. In addition, there will be no loss of jobs and Veterans will be seen by the same primary care providers they currently see at the Warsaw site.

“We are confident this transition will provide improved access to appointments and all specialty care for Veterans in the Warsaw and surrounding area,” stated Miguel Rainstein, M.D, Chief of Staff, VA Western New York Healthcare System.

A market study has shown a large majority of the 798 Veterans who use the Warsaw VA Clinic already
elected to receive care from one of five VA sites in the past year in addition to the Warsaw VA clinic with the most often utilized site being Batavia. Appointments at the Batavia site can be made by calling 585-297-1050. To assist with the transition, letters are being sent to all patients that use the Warsaw VA clinic and a free Veterans Transportation System between Warsaw and Batavia VA is in place and will operate five days per week with four pick up points within Warsaw including the current location of the Warsaw clinic. To reserve a spot, call 716-862-6800 as soon as medical appointment is made.

Nasty "Superbug" is Being Studied by UB Researchers

It's virulent, potentially drug-resistant, strikes otherwise healthy, young patients, and Buffalo has already seen one case

UB's Russo has been awarded an NIH award aimed at discovering new therapeutic or vaccine targets to better treat or prevent this under-recognized infection.

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Contact

Ellen Goldbaum

goldbaum@buffalo.edu

716-645-4605
twitter @egoldbaum

Release Date: February 17, 2012

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- University at Buffalo researchers are expressing concern about a new, under-recognized, much more potent variant of a common bacterium that has surfaced in the U.S.

"Historically, in Western countries, classical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae have caused infections mostly in sick, hospitalized patients whose host defense systems are compromised," says Thomas Russo, MD, professor in the Department of Medicine at the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and head of its Infectious Disease Division.

"But in the last 10 to 15 years, a new variant of it has begun causing community-acquired infection in young, healthy individuals," he says. "This variant causes serious, life-threatening, invasive infections and is able to spread to other organs from the initial site of infection."

Perhaps most important, says Russo, these hypervirulent strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae have the potential to become highly resistant to antibiotics, similar to Escherichia coli and classical Klebsiella pneumoniae.

"These hypervirulent strains are the next 'superbugs' –in-waiting," he says. "If they become resistant to antibiotics, they will become difficult, if not impossible to treat."

With recent funding from the National Institutes of Health under a program to fund high-risk, high-reward research, Russo and his UB colleagues are studying the microbiology of the new variant of Klebsiella pneumoniae in an effort to identify the genes that make it hypervirulent so they can figure out how to stop it in its tracks.

"Infections due to highly resistant bacteria are becoming increasingly problematic," says Russo. "We are continually threatened by a 'post-antibiotic' era. The combination of a bacterium that is both highly virulent and resistant to antimicrobials is double-trouble."

The researchers' concern stems from the fact that classicalKlebsiella pneumoniae is one of the bacterial species that can easily acquire mobile genetic units, called plasmids, that contain multiple genes that confer high levels of antimicrobial resistance.

"That's in part why we're concerned," says Russo. "We know that this bacterium has the potential to acquire these plasmids and it almost certainly will."

He notes that most bacteria that have proven to be resistant to most or all of the drugs currently available do not usually infect healthy members of the community.

"What is alarming about the hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae is that they do possess the potential to infect healthy people," says Russo. "If this hypervirulent bacterium also becomes highly resistant to antimicrobials, we will have a significant problem to manage. We hope that our research and that of others can prevent this possibility."

While the new hypervirulent variant was first seen exclusively in in the Pacific Rim, it has now been found in several cities in North America, including Buffalo, and in Europe, Canada, Israel and South Africa as well. The UB researchers characterize it as "under-recognized" both by physicians and microbiology laboratories.

The disease most commonly presents as a liver abscess, which is not typical for otherwise healthy patients.

"This new variant presents with unique and scary features: first is its tendency to infect young, healthy people in the community and the second is its unique propensity for metastatic spread to other parts of the body," says Russo. "It spreads to sites beyond the initial source of the infection, such as the lungs, the central nervous system and the eye, potentially causing loss of vision. If infection spreads to the brain, there can be brain damage as well. Between 10 and 30 percent of cases are fatal."

In Buffalo, this hypervirulent variant of Klebsiella pneumoniae was identified in an otherwise healthy, young person several years ago. The patient, who was in his 20s, was hospitalized for several months before making a full recovery. Similar cases are causing concern throughout the international infectious disease community.

At the moment, most cases of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae resolve if treated aggressively with antibiotics and drainage of abscesses; however, some infections, despite optimal treatment, result in a persistent morbidity or death, Russo says.

He notes that the potential for the bug to acquire drug resistance is adding a sense of urgency to the research.

Russo says that microbiology labs should be aware that an important characteristic of these hypervirulent strains (also known as hypermucoviscous strains) is that when bacterial colonies grown on a solid surface in the laboratory are stretched by a common microbiology tool, called an inoculation loop, they form a viscous "string" greater than 5 millimeters in length.

Russo's team at UB is now beginning to develop a clearer picture of this formidable bacterial opponent.

In November, he and his colleagues published a PLoS ONE paper that showed that hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniaeacquires iron more efficiently than the usual strains of K. pneumoniae.

"With the NIH grant, we hope to further elucidate the precise details of the bacterial factors that are responsible for hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae acquiring iron so much more efficiently," he says. "The goal of this line of research is that these iron-acquisition factors possessed by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae will then lend themselves as therapeutic or vaccine targets so that we can better treat or prevent infection."

In addition to Russo, other UB researchers working on hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae are Alyssa S. Shon, an Infectious Diseases Fellow in the Department of Medicine; Janet Beanan, Ulrike MacDonald, Daniel Metzger and Ruth Olson, all research technicians in the Department of Medicine, and Alex Pomakov, a UB undergraduate majoring in biomedical sciences. Mark P. Visitacion, MD, a former Infectious Diseases Fellow in the UB Department of Medicine, was also part of the team.

ACSM, AFAA Grant CEU Approval to BWI’s Health Education Certificate Programs

BUFFALO, N.Y., February 18, 2012 – Fitness industry professionals have three new courses to consider when fulfilling their professional development responsibilities. BWI National Health Promotion Training Institute’s health education certification courses have been approved for continuing education units (CEUs) by two additional national fitness industry associations.

BWI has been named a continuing education provider by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). ACSM is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world, promoting and integrating scientific research, education and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health and quality of life. AFAA is the world's largest fitness educator, delivering comprehensive cognitive and practical education for fitness professionals.

BWI’s three courses, which may be delivered through a web-based learning platform or via onsite education in the traditional classroom setting, include:

· BWI Health Promotion Coordinator Certification: four-hour course provides a foundation for successfully implementing and managing an employee wellness program; ideal for human resource professionals and wellness managers/team members

· BWI Personal Health Certification: 12 interactive, 30-minute modules address lifestyle and behavior changes necessary to leading a healthier life; ideal for human resource professionals and wellness managers/team members for professional growth, as well as for integrating with employee incentive-based wellness programs

· BWI "Be Fit Kids" Instructor Certification: four-hour course trains facilitators to lead, implement and instruct students from kindergarten through sixth grade in an outcome-based, results-oriented behavior modification program that empowers children and families to take responsibility for their health; ideal for educators and recreation staff members

“We are excited that ACSM and AFAA – two highly regarded national exercise and fitness associations – see the value in our certificate programs,” said Shawna Dosser, BWI president and CEO. “Our online courses, which are conveniently accessible to professionals anywhere at any time, are delivered through an online learning management system and include pre- and post-tests to measure knowledge improvement.”

The Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) has also approved BWI for CEUs, and through BWI’s affiliate Learning Partners, CEUS are available from the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), Board of Certification (BOC), NYS-PT Board and the National Board for the Certification of OTs. Pending approval are CEUs from the National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA) and National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

The BWI National Health Promotion Training Institute is a subsidiary of BWI Health Promotions, which provides comprehensive wellness management services and health education training programs for corporations, schools and communities. The BWI National Health Promotion Training Institute was developed to offer web-based certificate programs for individuals and/or professionals looking to enhance their personal knowledge in the field of health promotion. As a New York state regional health promotion leader, BWI’s presence is expanding into the national business market with program delivery throughout the United States.

To learn more about BWI’s courses, contact Dosser at traininginstitute@bwihp.com or by calling 1-800-606-7422 or 716-992-2732. Visit www.bwihp.com for course details and to register online at the BWI e-store.

Rochester Immediate Care Receives Joint Commission Accreditation

February 20, 2012 - Rochester Immediate Care facilities in Greece and Webster join the highly select ranks of urgent care centers nationwide to display the Joint Commission Gold Seal of ApprovalTM

When patients, insurers, policy makers, regulators and medical professionals seek a comprehensive measure of a healthcare provider’s quality of care and safety for patients, there is one “gold standard” they rely on: accreditation from The Joint Commission.

The two freestanding Rochester Immediate Care facilities in Greece (2745 West Ridge Road) and in Webster (1065 Ridge Road) join the highly select ranks of urgent care centers nationwide to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission and eligible to display its Gold Seal of ApprovalTM. The Rochester Immediate Care facilities are led by Janet Williams, MD, FACEP in Greece and Pam Sullivan, MD, FACP in Webster.

Formerly known as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, The Joint Commission is regarded as the nation’s preeminent independent body for auditing and measuring quality in healthcare; its designation of accreditation is highly valued by hospitals, laboratories and clinics nationwide, including Rochester-area hospitals such as Strong Memorial, Highland, Rochester General and Unity.

Unlike certification, which simply defines the characteristics of an urgent care center based on a completed application form, Joint Commission accreditation recognizes quality of care and safety based on Joint Commission officers’ personal examination of a facility’s records, policies and procedures and unannounced site visits for detailed inspections.

Of the more than 8,700 urgent care centers in the United States, only a select few are currently accredited by The Joint Commission. The Urgent Care Association of America worked collaboratively with The Joint Commission in 2008 to establish this accreditation, which both entities recognize.

In addition, insurers and policymakers recognize Joint Commission accreditation when making decisions on licensing, certification and contracting. For example, many states waive routine on-site surveys of a facility if it maintains its Joint Commission accreditation. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recognizes Joint Commission accreditation as a factor for participation in CMS reimbursement programs.

Accreditation is totally voluntary and facilities pay a fee to cover the expenses of the surveys and on-site visits from The Joint Commission.

“Organizations that strive for accreditation in ambulatory care from The Joint Commission are demonstrating the highest commitment to quality and safety to their patients, staff and their community,” says Michael Kulczycki, executive director, Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “I commend Rochester Immediate Care for successfully achieving this pinnacle and for its dedication to continually improving patient care.”

Rochester Immediate Care is managed by The Exigence Group of Amherst, New York, which also manages urgent care facilities in Buffalo and in Austin, Texas. The entire system of urgent care facilities received Joint Commission accreditation.

“With this Joint Commission Gold Seal of ApprovalTM, we join an elite group of urgent care providers whose ability to deliver the highest level of patient care is formally recognized,” said Gregory F. Daniel, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, The Exigence Group. “We urge everyone—patients, insurers, regulators, policy makers and physicians—to consider this accreditation, and our commitment to the high quality of care it acknowledges, when making personal, patient-centered and policy decisions.”

Achieving Accreditation

Inspectors from the Joint Commission conducted both announced and unannounced visits to Rochester Immediate Care’s two facilities as well as to the Exigence corporate headquarters in Buffalo. The visits were made in November and December of 2011. Among the checklist of items they scrutinized and evaluated are:

· Environment of Care: Physical plant requirements, patient and employee safety, and cleanliness

· Emergency Management: Including mitigation efforts, assessment of preparedness, review of response to emergency and recovery after event

· Human Resources, Credentialing, Privileging: Consistency in the hiring and termination process, assuring that all providers are competent to perform their duties, review of corporate based training and orientation efforts, Quality Assurance plans, continuing education and ongoing training

· Infection Prevention and Control: Activities, education, training, and planning for risks of infections

· Leadership: Ensuring the organization holds to its published Mission, Vision and Values

· Medication Management: Pharmacy services planning, administration, monitoring and evaluation

· National Patient Safety Goals: Incorporation of NPSG into the regular practice

· Provision of Care: AIDET, assessment of patient, delivery of care, coordination of care and future treatment needs

· Record of Care: Private health information management, discharge summaries, imaging reports, etc.

· Waived Testing: Lab Controls, policies and procedures, training and education

Maintaining Accreditation

Accreditation from The Joint Commission is not permanent. To maintain accreditation, an ambulatory care organization must undergo an on-site survey by a Joint Commission survey team every three years. The objective of the survey is not only to evaluate the organization, but to provide education and guidance that will help staff continue to improve the organization’s performance. Surveys are conducted by professionals with at least five years of leadership experience in an ambulatory care organization, and a strong educational background. Ambulatory care surveyors have advanced medical or clinical degrees and receive continuing education to keep them up-to-date on advances in quality-related performance evaluation.

The survey process focuses on evaluating actual care processes by tracing patients through the care, treatment and services they received. In addition to these patient “tracers,” surveyors conduct systems tracers to analyze key operational systems that directly impact the quality and safety of patient care. Surveyors use pre-survey information, from the Priority Focus Process, to conduct a more organization-specific and consistent survey.

About The Exigence Group

Headquartered in Amherst, New York, Exigence is a national healthcare management organization owned and managed by physicians. With clients throughout the United States, Exigence develops and manages Emergency Medicine, Hospitalist, Urgent Care, Occupational Medicine and Patient-Centered Medical Home programs. The Exigence Group manages over 600,000 patient visits annually, including 118,000 urgent care visits in 2011. In addition, Exigence provides consulting services in areas such as emergency department design, information technology infrastructure, electronic medical record systems, on-call panels and more. Learn more about The Exigence Group at www.theexigencegroup.com.

About The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve healthcare for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 1,700 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and healthcare staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

For Further Information: Bob Loeb, 585.586.8840 or 585.261.8840 (cell) Claire Jones, 716.817.2928, 716.480.2529 (cell)

Mercy Hospital rolls out new cardiac procedure

Mercy Hospital has announced the addition of a new cardiac procedure, becoming the first area medical center to offer Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass.

Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass surgery, or TECAB, is the latest breakthrough in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, hospitals officials said in a news release.

The Catholic Health Heart Center at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo has announced that it is one of only a handful of centers nationwide offering this revolutionary procedure, which is performed “robotically” through tiny, fingertip-sized portholes, versus a large, 6-10 inch incision with traditional open-heart surgery. John Bell-Thomson, MD, chair of Mercy’s Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, is the only local surgeon and one of the few surgeons in the country performing the TECAB procedure.

Mercy Hospital, located in South Buffalo, is part of the Catholic Health System .