Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center Receives The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award

Award Demonstrates Good Samaritan’s Commitment To Quality Care For Stroke Patients

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center has received the Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. The award recognizes Good Samaritan’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted guidelines.

This marks the 4th year that Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center has been recognized with a quality achievement award.

Get With The Guidelines–Stroke helps Good Samaritan’s staff develop and implement acute and secondary prevention guideline processes to improve patient care and outcomes. The program provides hospitals with a web-based patient management tool, best practice discharge protocols and standing orders, along with a robust registry and real-time benchmarking capabilities to track performance.

The quick and efficient use of guideline procedures can improve the quality of care for stroke patients and may reduce disability and save lives.

“Recent studies show that patients treated in hospitals participating in the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program receive a higher quality of care and may experience better outcomes,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass. “Good Samaritan’s team is to be commended for their commitment to improving the care of their patients.”

Following Get With The Guidelines-Stroke treatment guidelines, patients are started on aggressive risk-reduction therapies including the use of medications such as tPA, antithrombotics and anticoagulation therapy, along with cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation counseling. These are all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients. Hospitals must adhere to these measures at a set level for a designated period of time to be eligible for the achievement awards.

“Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center is dedicated to making our care for stroke patients among the best in the country. The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Stroke program helps us to accomplish this goal,” said Gabbie Fried, RN BSN, Director of Cardiovascular Services at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. “This recognition was achieved through excellent team work and demonstrates that we are on the right track. I am very proud of our team.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center RN Named Hudson Valley Magazine Top Nurse

Sherry Berbit, RN, BSN, MS, CADC Is Recognized As Top Nurse At Hudson Valley Magazine’s

2013 Excellence in Nursing Awards

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center chemical dependency RN, Sherry Berbit was recognized as “Top Nurse” at the 2013 Hudson Valley Magazine Excellence in Nursing Awards. Held on Wednesday, May 8th at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie, NY, this sixth annual event pays tribute to the area’s top nurses. 

“Please join me in congratulating Sherry for this prestigious award and recognition.  Her concern for her patients, her compassion, her skills and her holistic approach to excellent patient care are hallmarks of our best nurses at Bon Secours Charity and we are very proud of Sherry’s dedication and service,’’ said Philip Patterson, CEO of Bon Secours Charity Health System.

Ms. Berbit was selected from hundreds of nominations made from peer groups as far north as Albany, into Westchester and as far west as Sullivan County.  Twenty Top Nurse nominees are chosen by a committee of medical professionals and editors of the magazine. The twenty nominees and Top Nurse Award are announced at a dinner paying tribute to nurses during National Nurses Week.

In her 25 years of nursing practices, Sherry has always exemplified Bon Secours Charity Health System’s mission to provide Good Help to Those in Need®.  With the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the mid 80’s, Berbit recognized that most people who tested positive for HIV/AIDS had no idea where to turn for help. She led in the local management of the epidemic, often presenting to the Rockland County legislature to ensure funding and services to an underserved population. She also presented at local, state and national conventions through the Talking To Kids About AIDS program. Many of Berbit’s patients first diagnosed in the 80s and 90s are still alive and well, and keep in touch with Sherry, grateful for the lifeline they were given by her.

While working in the chemical dependency and  acute psychiatry departments at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Sherry advocates for the hospitals most challenging patients to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity. She believes that her patients come first even if it means helping them on her own time. She has the compassion and kindness to truly understand her patient’s vulnerabilities and believes that her job is the best job in the world.

Committed to educating her fellow nurses and colleagues about the management of behavioral health patients, Sherry was instrumental in developing the hospital’s Behavioral Rapid Response Team, an innovative service that assists nurses on all units to effectively manage the challenges of psychiatric or addicted patients. She is often the first on the scene in frightening situations where she employs effective techniques to help diffuse tense situations while always maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment.

In addition to Sherry Berbit, Bon Secours Charity Health System is also celebrating the nomination of Dawn Chester, a Med-Surg Nurse at St. Anthony Community Hospital, as one of the top 20 nurses in the Hudson Valley.

Trouble Sleeping?

Featured Chefs of the Corks and Forks Event 2012

Chef Doug Chi Nguyen is a featured chef of this year’s “Corks and Forks” event.

Born in Vietnam, Doug Chi Nguyen came to America as a young boy and was adopted by an Italian-American family who shared their love of cooking with him. This mater sushi chef opened his first restaurant, Wasabi in Nyack; a second in the heart of South Norwalk, CT; and a third, Wasabi Grill in New City. In his own words he describes his style as a cross between Nobu and Little Italy. His critically acclaimed dishes display his love and passion for food and he celebrates his heritage in every morsel of food he creates.

Dider Dumas will be a featured chef at this year’s “Corks and Forks” event. Didier Dumas received his culinary education and training in Marseille France before immigrating to the US. His kitchen is located in the Village of Nyack in beautiful Rockland County New York, where he prepares a large selection of authentic French prepares and cakes.

Corks and Forks will be held on November 4th, 2012 at the lovely Paramount Country Club in New City, NY. For more information on Corks and Forks including ticket info and sponsorship opportunities, visit our website at http://www.bschsf.org/goodsam 

Click here for older posts on “Corks and Forks”.

Jawonio ‘Day Hab.’ Provides Service to Others in Garden of Hope.

On a brilliantly sun-filled day, reminiscent of that same day 11 years ago, we pause to remember those lost, but we also take time remember the importance of service to others. Today, in the ‘Garden of Hope’ at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, consumers from Jawonio ‘Day Hab.’ Services of New City, gathered and performed their part in providing service to others by planting crops, which will be harvested for use in our local food pantry. Our horticultural therapy session focused on learning about peas, how they grow, when they grow, how they look, feel and taste. Skillful hands planted the seeds in the raised beds and we will now practice patience, as we wait for the fruits of our labor.

Gerry S., Robert P., and Louis E. get “in touch” with the soil in the Garden of Hope.

During this week of “Hunger Awareness,” we are grateful for the wonderful and talented group from Jawonio ‘Day Hab,’ their dedicated staff members, Deborah and Jackie, and special educator/volunteer, Bette Willins, for helping us as together, we strive to provide service to others today and every day.

Notes from the Garden Ministry…

Special guest, Rachel Franz, assists garden volunteer, Samantha Castricone of Tuxedo, with sowing spinach seeds.

Community members and hospital staff spent time in the Garden of Hope last Thursday and had their garden questions fielded by Rachel Franz, our special guest. Rachel is the co-owner of Big Apple Edibles, Inc. and the program coordinator for Children’s and Public Education of the New York Botanical Gardens in Bronx, NY. Later that afternoon, Rachel worked with us in our horticultural therapy program serving the patients in our chemical dependency unit. Planting parsley and “deadheading” faded blooms were only a couple of the tasks completed by our patients. Our session concluded as we all basked in the refreshing sensation of our “people mist line.” Plants aren’t the only ones who need water!

In the warm summer sun, our volunteers tended to our crops and sowed seeds to provide us with a fall harvest. Planting beds were turned and thirsty plants watered. A bushel of thanks goes out to Rachel Franz, for her visit to our garden! We are all a little bit more “garden savvy” thanks to you! And continued thanks to the community volunteers that support the day-to-day maintenance of our Garden of Hope! Your helping hands and generous spirit are priceless!

Garden volunteer, Carol Senatore of Stony Point, tends to the tomatoes and basil.

Garden volunteer, Hunter Harrow of Suffern, uses a delicate touch to sow spinach seeds.

“Hope” Officially Grows at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center!

Many thanks to all who joined us at the Ribbon Cutting and Blessing of the Soil yesterday and to all who have had a helping hand in the development of the Garden of Hope. Despite the heat, on that first full day of summer, words of inspiration and thankfulness were shared. Seeds bush and runner beans were planted with love and with the hope that they provide a bountiful harvest.

All of the produce grown in the Garden of Hope, at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, will be donated community food pantries.

To be a part of our mission to serve others through the work in our garden, please contact Anne Mere at anne_meore@bshsi.com.

Defensive Driving Course Being Offered at Good Samaritan Hospital

The American Safety Institute will hold a Defensive Driving Course in the Auditorium on Saturday, April 28^th from 9:30am to 3:30pm.

Cost: $40.00 ($5.00 discount for employees of Bon Secours Charity Health System with ID)

To reserve a spot in this offering by Licata Insurance, please call at 845-368-2700. If there is no response, kindly leave your name and contact information and a representative will address your message.

The next session will be given over the course of two evenings:

June 11                 6-9pm                    Auditorium

June 12                 6-9pm                    Auditorium

If you are looking for a  course in Orange County, you can contact the Institute directly at their website www.digitaldefensivedriving.com

Click on the sixth button over (register) to view their workshop schedule

Note: This event is not endorsed by Bon Secours Charity Health System

Pharmacy “Clean-Room Project Requires AirCrane Helicopter to Deliver Equipment

As part of the renovations being completed on our Pharmacy, the “Clean-Room” project required the use of a helicopter to place equipment on the roof of our facility. The immediate floors below were vacated in the interest of safety and renovation on the pharmacy unit will be completed in the near future.

Please check out the neat pictures below and see just how a job as big as this gets completed!

Thanks to Matt McGuire for the pictures!

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center At Palisades Mall

Don’t forget, today, Friday 2/3/12, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center will be kicking off “American Heart Month” at the Palisades Center Mall from 12:00PM-6:00PM accepting donations to the American Heart Association. Receive this year’s Red Dress Pin in exchange for your generous donation. Our booth can be found in the court immediately outside of H&M on Level 1.

Along with accepting donations, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center will be providing informational pamphlets on heart conditions including heart attack, stroke, hypertension and congestive heart failure.  All of which are specialties to the wondeful accredited physicians found at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center’s Active Cardiovascular Institute.

We hope to see you today!