News

Brooks Kicks off Horatio & Julia Annual Fund Drive

Tobacco Free is the Way to Be!

Golf Tournament to benefit Brooks a Success!

Brooks Memorial Hospital Annual Report now available in pdf format (1MB)

Surgical Ambassador Program now available at Brooks

Pre-Operative Joint Education available at Brooks

Brooks Launches "OK to Ask" Program about Hand Cleaning

Brooks Diabetes Educator Receives National Certification

Hospital Employees Collect Cell Phones for Soldiers

BMH Impact Report (pdf)

Brooks Recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Brooks Hospital Top Performer in Western New York

Brooks Kicks off Horatio & Julia Brooks Annual Fund Drive

Brooks Memorial Hospital’s annual campaign began in late October and is expected to continue through the end of the year. Donation requests for the Horatio & Julia Brooks Society have gone out in an effort to reach the Dunkirk hospital’s $50,000 fundraising goal. As of early December, the hospital has achieved 23% of this goal and is asking the community for its continued support.

Not-for-profit community hospitals like Brooks rely heavily on contributions from charitable individuals, especially in the current difficult economy. Anticipated State and Federal healthcare funding cuts will have a great impact on hospitals such as Brooks, making community support even more important. 

Since its inception in 2002, the “Horatio & Julia Brooks Society” has raised more than $204,000 for Brooks and has helped to support many critical hospital projects. Contributions to the Horatio & Julia Brooks Society are held by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and are not used for general operating expenses at Brooks. These community donated funds are used to help purchase the capital equipment Brooks Memorial Hospital must have to remain at the forefront of healthcare technology.

Community residents are encouraged to help support Brooks Memorial Hospital and local healthcare by making a donation and becoming a member of the Horatio & Julia Brooks Society. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law, and several membership levels are available. Donations of $100 or more qualify for the “Member” level. “Golden Members” make donations of $250.00 or more, and “Distinguished Members” are at the $500.00 or more level. “1898 Club Members” contribute $1,000.00 or more.

If you would like additional information about the H&J Society, contact the Brooks Memorial Hospital Development Office at (716) 363-7230. To make an online donation, click here and you will be redirected to the Brooks Memorial Hospital Online Payment Center.

Brooks Smoking Cessation Program Receives Recognition

Brooks Memorial Hospital has been diligently working for the past 5 years to help people quit smoking. The hospital’s "Tobacco Free is the Way to Be!" program recently received a nod from the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) in its honor of this longstanding community health initiatives.

The "Tobacco Free is the Way to Be!" program began in 2003, when hospitalized patients diagnosed with cer­tain cardiopulmonary condi­tions were screened for a his­tory of tobacco use and educated on tobacco cessation prior to discharge. This education consists of a brief one-on-one intervention to gauge whether the patient wishes to commit to quitting tobacco, along with helpful literature and a follow-up. If a patient expresses an immediate desire to quit, they are seen by a certified counselor and referred to the New York State Smokers’ Quitline.

In 2006, the program was expanded to provide resources to all patients, hospital employees and community members. A grant provided by the Tobacco Control Coalition allowed the hospital to add free nicotine patches, gum and lozenges to its inventory of anti-tobacco aids.

On January 1, 2007, Brooks became the first hospital in Chautauqua County to have a fully smoke-free campus.

The “Tobacco Free is the Way to Be!” program is largely responsible for Brooks Memorial Hospital’s significant increase in tobacco cessation interventions.  The facility’s rate for tobacco cessation intervention increased from 51 percent in 2003 to 87 percent in 2007. The hospital’s goal is to eventually reach and sustain a 100 percent rate. Members of the community who wish to receive more information on quitting smoking or tobacco can be referred through the hospital.

Click Here to view the write up in the 200-8-2009 HANYS Community Initiatives Publication

Brooks Golf Tournament a Success

 The 15th Annual John A. Behr Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Brooks Memorial Hospital was held at Shorewood Country Club on Friday, July 25th, raising more than $45,000 for the Dunkirk hospital’s Dialysis Unit. This year’s event was a sell-out, with 128 golfers participating in the shotgun start 2-person scramble tournament. Several nice prizes were awarded for Closest to the Pin, Straightest Drive, Longest Drive, and Closest to the Bed Pan. The winners in the Men’s category were Rick Salisbury and Chad Gollnitz, with Mary Bartkowski and Annita Luce taking first place in the Women’s category. Denise Ligammare and Craig Mellenthien had the best score in the Couples division.

Sponsorship from a variety of organizations helped to make this year’s event a record breaking success. The Care Center Medical Supply and Rx was a Lead sponsor for this year’s tournament, and Gold sponsors included the Brooks Memorial Hospital Medical Staff, Absolut Care of Dunkirk, FDR Medical Services, HANYS Benefits Services, Lake Shore Orthopedic Group, Medicor Associates, NRG Dunkirk Power, Pro Oil, and Radiation Oncology Group. Providing support at the Silver sponsor level were Apollo Healthcare, Cannon Design, the Chautauqua County IDA, Chrysler Club Championship, the Dunkirk Observer, ECMC, Excelco Developments, First Freight Transport, FUJI Medical Systems USA, Laboratory Corp. of America, Lake Shore Savings Bank, Lumsden & McCormick, Manning & Napier Advisors, Nash Pharmacy Services, Niagara Frontier Anesthesia Services, Northern Chautauqua Eye Clinic, Outsource Receivables Management, Provider Consulting Solutions, the Robert G. Relph Agency, Scott Danahy Naylon Co., Sodexho USA, Staff Builders, TB&A Hospital Television, the Resource Center, and Verizon Wireless.

Men’s winner Chad Gollnitz with Women’s winners Annita Luce & Mary Bartkowski. Missing from photo was Men’s winner Rick Salisbury and Couples winners Craig Mellenthien and Denise Ligammare.

Brooks Memorial Hospital Report to the Community for 2007 Now Available

Brooks Memorial Hospital recently released its 2007 Annual Report to the Community. This report contains information about the hospital's financial performance during 2007, statistics on a variety of hospital services, and other hospital information. This report is available as a pdf file (1 MB), or you may request a hard copy by contacting the Brooks Memorial Hospital Marketing & Community Relations Department.

> Download Annual Report 2007

Surgical Ambassador Program now available at Brooks

Brooks Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce the establishment of a new program for surgical patients and their families. The hospital’s new Surgical Ambassador program utilizes volunteer “ambassadors” to act as liaisons between hospital personnel and patients. The new Ambassadors address non-medical questions and concerns that patient or family members have while they are in the hospital and visit patients in their rooms while they are hospitalized. By asking direct questions, listening to the family and acting on behalf of the patient, the Ambassadors can improve communication and address potential issues while the patient is still in the hospital.

The position of Surgical Ambassador will be filled by volunteers who have received special training in customer service and communication. Ambassadors will be able to provide patients and visitors with linkages to hospital services such as waiting areas, meal service, and other information that they may need. They will also facilitate communication with nursing leadership so that any complaints can be addressed and resolved as soon as possible.

“We’re very excited about this new volunteer program” commented Surgical Services Nurse Manager Sallie Piazza. “By improving communication between patients, medical personnel and nursing leadership, we hope to enhance the surgical experience here at Brooks and increase patient satisfaction”

For information on becoming a Surgical Ambassador, contact BMH Volunteer Coordination Cindy Wlodarek at 363-7233. For more information on Surgical Services at Brooks Memorial Hospital, contact Sallie Piazza, RN, CNOR at 363-3968.

Brooks to offer Pre-operative Joint Replacement Education

Brooks Memorial Hospital is proud to announce the introduction of pre-operative total joint replacement classes. This program is a collaborative effort designed to provide information that will help the patient become an active participant in the pre-operative, operative and post-operative process of their total joint replacement surgery. This comprehensive program is patient focused and designed for individuals currently scheduled for total knee, hip or shoulder replacement, and those considering this type of surgery.

The educational content for this free program will include every aspect of the surgical and post-surgical process and will provide the patient with empowering information to help speed their recovery.  Presenters at this informational class include Surgical Nursing Staff , Medical-Surgical Nursing Staff, Physical Therapy Staff, Registered Dietitians, as well as Social Work & Discharge Planning Staff. Topics will include preoperative paperwork, consent forms, health care proxy, the surgery itself, autologous blood donation, anesthesia and pain relief options, discharge planning, physical therapy, rehabilitation options and much more.

The Joint Education classes will be held at Brooks Memorial Hospital and are being held twice each month. For patient convenience, both morning and afternoon classes are being offered. Class size is limited and participants are encouraged to register early for their training class For more information about scheduled dates and times and registration, contact Brooks Memorial Hospital Surgical Services Nurse Manager Sallie Piazza, RN, CNOR at (716) 363-3968.

It’s OK to Ask at Brooks Memorial Hospital

Brooks Memorial Hospital is committed to providing the highest quality care to the community and encourages patients to ask questions about the care they are receiving.  The staff at Brooks are continually educated on the importance of proper hand washing to prevent the spread of infection. At Brooks Memorial Hospital, we require that all caregivers wash their hands with soap and water or a waterless alcohol-based hand rub, before treating each patient. In an effort to increase compliance with hand hygiene, the hospital has placed hand sanitizing dispensers in every patient room, hallway, and other departments to make it easy and accessible to everyone. 

The hospital’s Infection Control Department has also implemented a new “It’s OK to Ask” program to encourage patients and visitors to question the hand hygiene of Brooks healthcare workers. Hospital patients have the right to be their own advocate and Brooks Memorial Hospital wants the community to know that “It’s OK to Ask” if your caregiver has cleaned their hands.  It is equally important that all family members and visitors clean their hands before and after coming in contact with every patient.

It only takes a few simple words to help encourage this healthy habit: “Excuse me, did you clean your hands?” or “I saw that you cleaned your hands – thank you!” Hand hygiene is everyone’s responsibility and practicing good hand hygiene is the single most important thing everyone can do to stop the spread of infection. It’s a healthy habit for everyone, whether you are in the hospital, at work or at home. “It’s OK to ask if someone has cleaned their hands.” Pass it on!

For more information about the “It’s Ok to Ask” program at Brooks Memorial Hospital, contact Lisa Karalus, RN, BSN in the Infection Control Department (363-7298) or visit the Center for Disease Control website at http//www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5116.pdf.

Brooks Nurse Earns Certified Diabetes Educator Credential

The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) announced that Linda Walters RN, BSN of Brooks Memorial Hospital achieved Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) status by successfully completing the Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators. Candidates must meet rigorous eligibility requirements to be able to take the Examination. Achieving certification status demonstrates to people with diabetes and employers that the health care professional possesses distinct and specialized knowledge, thereby promoting quality of care for people with diabetes. Currently there are 15,500 diabetes educators in the United States who hold NCBDE certification.

Linda has been a dedicated nurse since 1984. She has been working at Brooks Memorial Hospital since 2000. She has served the hospital as the diabetes educator for several years, and has also provided numerous community education programs.

Linda states that northern Chautauqua County is currently under served for diabetic education. She is excited that she will be able to offer a broader range of education services for patients in the area, and is planning to implement new programs and services in the near future.

For more information about diabetes education, contact Linda at 363-7296.

Brooks Employees Collect Cell Phones for Soldiers

The Brooks Memorial Hospital Recruitment Retention Committee recently organized a cell phone collection event to benefit members of the US military serving overseas. Working with the “Cell Phones for Soldiers” initiative, Brooks Memorial Hospital employees collected and donated 75 used cell phones. For each phone donated, the Cell Phones for Soldiers program donates a one hour phone card to soldiers stationed overseas. 

Brooks Recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Brooks Memorial Hospital was recently recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for their participation in the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). As a way to track infections and epidemiological trends across the nation, the NHSN collects data from a sample of hospitals throughout the nation. Brooks Memorial Hospital has been participating in this program since January 2007, submitting data to the NSHN on a monthly basis. The New York State Department of Health has partnered with the CDC to implement mandatory reporting of certain types of infection in this state.  In 2007 Brooks Memorial Hospital reported zero ICU central line associated bloodstream infections as well as zero post operative colon surgery infections.  The list of types of infections that require reporting will continue to expand.  Lisa Karalus, Infection Control Nurse states that “Patient safety is our highest priority and we strive for zero preventable infections.”

The NHSN serves as a model for the growing field of performance measurement and is a unique partnership between the federal government and hospitals where epidemiologic science helps shape the daily practice of patient care. Participation in this project assists healthcare facilities in developing surveillance and analysis methods that permit timely recognition of patient and healthcare personnel safety problems and prompt intervention with appropriate measures.

Brooks Hospital Top Performer in Western New York

Brooks Memorial Hospital was the overall best performer in the Western New York Region for the 12-month period ending March 30, 2007, providing optimal care to treat pneumonia patients. Brooks Hospital also took top honors in quality measures relating to the prevention of surgical infections in patients undergoing total joint replacement, hysterectomy and elective colon surgery. Brooks Memorial Hospital’s composite scores of 95.2 % and 95.1 % are the highest in the eight counties of the WNY area and are far above the statewide average of 84.7% for pneumonia and 82.6 % for surgical infection, respectively.

Hospital President Richard Ketcham was very proud of this quality data, stating “The community has entrusted us with their healthcare and we recognize that this trust comes with great responsibility. That is why at Brooks Memorial Hospital, we are committed to providing the highest quality care, treating our patients with compassion and respect, protecting their rights and ensuring their safety. Our participation in key quality initiatives includes measuring our performance and communicating our results to the public. We encourage patients to ask questions about their care.”

The Joint Commission and the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) quality measures track how well hospitals follow recommended standards of quality care that research has shown to be effective in treating certain common conditions. 

The goal of treating pneumonia is to ensure that patients with the diagnosis of pneumonia are receiving the most appropriate antibiotic, at the earliest possible stage. Brooks Memorial Hospital’s score of 97% of pneumonia patients receiving an antibiotic within 4 hours of arrival to the hospital exceeds the top 10% of all hospitals in the country. Another goal is prevention; by making sure individuals receive the influenza and pneumonia vaccine when appropriate.

The Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) is a national quality improvement initiative to improve the safety of surgical care. Surgical care can be improved by adherence to evidence-based practice recommendations and by giving more attention to designing systems of care to assure consistent performance each time. 

Teresa Larson, Vice President of Quality Improvement commented that Brooks Memorial Hospital’s success demonstrating high performance among these important quality measures is due to the commitment and teamwork of hospital physicians and staff. “We measure our compliance and provide feedback so everyone knows where we stand.” Stated Ms. Larson,“We strive to provide the right treatment to the right patient, each and every time.”

Web sites that provide information that a consumer may consider important when choosing a hospital include www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov and the New York State Department of Health at www.nyhealth.gov.

>view statistical data (pdf)