2010 Annual Report
Technology and the human touch:
Guides on the path to recovery
CONTENTS
1
Message from the
President and the
Chairman
2
Message from the
Medical Director
3
Medical-Surgical Rehabilitation
4
Inpatient Rehabilitation
6
Outpatient Rehabilitation
8
Patient Success Stories
16 2010 Highlights
18 Administration
18 Medical Staff
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
Board of Directors
Officers
Christopher M. Dadlez, F.A.C.H.E.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Howard W. Orr
Chairman
Delores Graham
Vice Chairman
P. Anthony Giorgio, Ph.D.
Secretary
Jeannine Mara
Treasurer
18 Clinical Services
19 Therapy Staff
20 Mount Sinai Foundation
Directors
Michael Cummings
Christopher M. Dadlez
Brad Davis
Wendy E. Elberth
P. Anthony Giorgio, Ph.D.
Delores Graham
Rolf Knoll, M.D.
Jeannine Mara
Howard W. Orr
John Suisman
Working together,
rebuilding lives
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND THE CHAIRMAN
The Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, Connecticut’s only
freestanding acute care rehabilitation hospital, has progressed
to premier national stature in its field. Even in these uncertain
times of reimbursement, we continue to not only meet, but
exceed, our budgetary goals and produce positive financial
results. At the same time we have been able to successfully
expand services and solidify our standing as a Saint Francis
Care provider of choice in the region.
While always of paramount importance, this past year the
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital renewed our focus on
measuring and reporting on patient experience issues. Our
patients have indicated that the care received at the Mount
Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital met or exceeded their
expectations, with greater than 90% indicating that they
would recommend the Hospital to others. This approval
rating is a direct reflection of the coordinated, interdisciplinary
care that our team of nurses, therapists, physician assistants
and physicians provide. Our physicians have consistently
been recognized both regionally and nationally as leaders and
“top docs” by their peers, and make a significant contribution
to our patient-focused care model. Our outpatient therapy site
at 95 Woodland Street also received special recognition with
an award for exceeding national benchmarks for therapeutic
outcomes and patient satisfaction.
The Saint Francis MIRACLES event is the largest black-tie
charitable event in Connecticut. The 2010 beneficiary was
The Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell Center for Comprehensive
Multiple Sclerosis Care and Neuroscience Research, which is
housed within the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital.
As a result of the monies raised at MIRACLES 2010 and
the ongoing support of the Mandell family in providing
a matching gift to Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital,
a major expansion of the Mandell MS Center will
be possible in 2011, allowing for additional
services and an expansion of research initiatives. On behalf
of a very grateful community, our thanks once again to the
Mandell Family.
The Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital performance
improvement strategies also continue to be very successful.
Despite an ongoing increase in our patients’ medical
complexities, our length of stay has continued to trend
downward. Overall, the 2010 quality initiative results have
exceeded National Benchmarks in achieving optimum
functional outcomes. And despite our patients all being at
high risk for falls, our fall-reduction initiatives successfully
reduced overall fall rates by 30%. Given these results, The
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital continues to serve as a
critical partner in the post-acute care continuum for those
patients with complex medical rehabilitation needs.
Again, we applaud the efforts of The Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital team for their collaborative spirit,
dedication to quality, and vision for providing “best of class”
services to our patients.
Howard W. Orr
Chairman
Christopher M. Dadlez
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Our patients have indicated that the care
received at the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation
Hospital met or exceeded their expectations,
with greater than 90% indicating that they
would recommend the Hospital to others.
1
A MESSAGE FROM THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR
As we reflect on another successful year of growth and
The premise of the healthcare transformation underway is
extend our gratitude to our staff, Board of Directors, and
that improved communication and integration of services are
benefactors, it is more imperative than ever that we remain
key to better outcomes and cost savings. Thankfully this is a
vigilant to the opportunities that are in play to reshape our
culture that rehabilitation medicine, and in particular acute
healthcare delivery system.
rehabilitation, has embraced for many years.
As healthcare transforms into a system of more
Our therapists and physicians do not practice in silos, nor
accountable care, it is important that providers of
do we practice “multidisciplinary” care (which often denotes
rehabilitation services step back and ask the question:
multiple disciplines functioning in parallel). It is the act of
“What is the true value of rehabilitation medicine?”
different disciplines continuously communicating and
To many in Congress, the lay community, and even some
providing critical feedback which allows the plan of care to
in the medical community, the answer is not always obvious.
be repeatedly updated and modified. This distinguishes our
But to the individual who has multiple sclerosis or other
interdisciplinary model of care; one that minimizes duplication
chronic neurological conditions; someone who has had
and waste, and promotes both spiritual and physical recovery.
unexpected medical complications that lead to an extended
In this year’s annual report we chose to share a
hospitalization; someone trying to recover from a serious
few patients’ journeys so that readers could see this
motor vehicle accident; or someone with a newly diagnosed
interdisciplinary model at work firsthand, across the
stroke, acquired brain injury, or spinal cord injury, the answer
continuum. It involves not only the outstanding inpatient care
is clear: “Our community is truly richer and blessed to have
provided at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, but starts
the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital.”
with the often life-saving care and rehabilitation services
As Connecticut’s only freestanding acute rehabilitation
provided at the referring hospital, and then carries forward
hospital, we serve not only the greater Hartford region, but all
to post-rehabilitation hospital care in the outpatient setting.
citizens of our great state. We are proud of our historic and
This truly is BestCare for a lifetime…when it really matters!
deep affiliation with Saint Francis Care. And we also see our
mission as partnering with all the region’s hospitals to provide
our unique level of specialized
rehabilitative care with the dual goal
of providing outstanding outcomes
at the lowest cost.
Robert Krug, M.D.
Medical Director,
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
It is the act of different disciplines continuously
communicating and providing critical feedback
which allows the plan of care to be repeatedly
updated and modified. This distinguishes our
interdisciplinary model of care; one that
minimizes duplication and waste, and promotes
both spiritual and physical recovery.
2
M e dical-Su rgical Care
The unique partnership between Saint Francis Hospital and
Medical Center and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital means that
rehabilitation often starts while patients are still in acute care.
I
t may be hard for a patient lying on a gurney in the Emergency
• The state-mandated Newborn Hearing Screening
Department to believe that he or she is on the road to
Program, in which audiologists test about 3,500 babies
rehabilitation and recovery. But for so many, the ED is where
each year prior to their discharge home.
that road begins. For others, it may start in an intensive care
unit or one of the many patient units at Saint Francis Hospital
The Acute Care Rehabilitation Team
and Medical Center.
The acute care rehabilitation team represents the disciplines of
“Although the window of time is short for rehabilitation in
physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language
acute care, the acute care therapist has an important impact on
pathology and audiology. “A patient’s team may also include a
the plan of care and long-term outcome for a patient,” says
wide variety of medical and surgical specialties, plus nursing and
Linda Mackay, Manager, Medical/Surgical Rehabilitation. “He or
case management,” explains Linda Mackay.
she must assess the acute and long-term needs of the patient,
The acute hospital also makes its own unique demands
understand the potential for improvement of function, and
upon the therapy team. To start, acute care therapists must be
recommend the best plan of care after discharge.”
familiar with all diagnoses. At times, patients are admitted to the
hospital without a diagnosis and the therapy staff plays a role in
Leading-edge services and programs
formulating a diagnosis and establishing an appropriate plan
Expertise in all of the Hospital’s clinical environments allows
of care. Therapy staff also must stay current with evolving
the acute care therapist to provide rehabilitation interventions
medical/surgical technologies and medications, and their
to patients with a variety of needs and diagnoses. It has also
impact on patient function.
made Rehabilitation Medicine a leader in the development of
innovative programs such as:
• The Early Intervention Traumatic Brain Injury Program,
one of the few in the U.S. that provides aggressive, early
rehabilitation immediately post-trauma.
• The Stroke Center, where patients receive immediate care
to maximize positive outcomes following a stroke.
• The Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute, a
Besides communicating daily with other team members,
therapists work closely with patients’ families. The rehabilitation
team may, in fact, be one of the first groups to talk with family
members about the impact of the patient’s injury or disease, the
plan of care, and what to expect over the coming days, weeks
and months as their loved one recovers. This is where clinical skill
meets compassion, as acute care therapists look at the big
picture of a patient’s care and help the family plan for the future.
nationally-recognized program featuring aggressive therapy
that can start on the day of a patient’s surgery.
3
In patie nt Care
Acute rehabilitation coordinates people, capabilities and resources
to meet the needs of the whole patient.
C
hanges in acute hospital care — in particular, shorter inpatient
stays — have brought a new kind of patient to Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital. Today’s acute rehabilitation patients often
arrive with complex medical needs in addition to compromised
physical function — a scenario the Hospital is uniquely qualified to
address. “We used to see mostly post-op patients with things like
knee or hip surgery, getting just a couple of days of rehab then
going home,” explains Emily
Hahn, Nurse Manager. “Now
rehab patients look more like
they do in a medical/surgical
unit. For example, we might
“low-stim” environment for that care, with light and noise levels
calibrated to reduce agitation and promote healing.
Stroke patients benefit from the teamwork within Saint
Francis Hospital and Medical Center. “We’re involved early on
with stroke cases,” says Steve Kunsman, Rehabilitation Services
have a knee surgery patient
Manager. “Our admission nurses visit the Stroke Center at Saint
with intense cardiac issues.
Francis early in the case and we get input from the therapy staff
Or an MS patient who’s suffered a fall. We’re also seeing younger
there, which allows for an early referral to Mount Sinai
patients with multiple traumas.”
Rehabilitation Hospital.” Once admitted, patients are assessed
This new, broader scope of patient needs necessitates specialty
care that falls into three major categories:
for physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapy, as
well as for depression and any special coping needs.
Brain injuries may be traumatic (resulting from a car accident
Neuromusculoskeletal cases include spinal cord injury,
or gunshot wound, for example) or non-traumatic (as in the case of
orthopedic traumas (such as bone fractures), limb loss and
an aneurysm). At Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, certified brain
medically complex cases. Patients benefit from the Hospital’s
injury specialists are involved throughout the continuum of care —
unique combination of expert therapy and high-tech equipment
from acute rehabilitation to outpatient care — to meet the needs of
ranging from the sophisticated Lokomat® robot-assisted treadmill,
their patients. The Hospital’s Brain Injury Unit provides a secure,
to electrical stimulation, balance and visual training devices.
To prepare patients for their return home,
Mount Sinai offers training in household
activities in their transitional apartment
setting. The “town commons” is a simulated
real world environment where patients
practice getting in and out of a car, pumping
gas, using an ATM, and buying groceries.
4
Whatever their medical needs and physical deficits, all patients
the nurse, the speech therapist can contribute to that process,”
share a common goal: to get back as much of their lost function as
Steve Kunsman explains. “There’s a lot of crossover,” adds Emily
possible. “Our emphasis is on improving function and enhancing
Hahn. “We all end up doing each other’s job at some point. A
quality of life and getting someone as close to independent as
patient might have to go to the bathroom in the middle of therapy,
possible,” says Dr. Thomas Miller, Medical Director, Brain Injury Unit
so the physical therapist has to get him there and help with
and Day Treatment Program. “The team approach is vital to this
toileting. Or the patient has trouble swallowing, and while that’s
process.”
the speech therapist’s area of expertise, the nurse is the one who’s
there at mealtime so that’s an opportunity to work on swallowing.”
The interdisciplinary team:
Coordination, cooperation keep patients
on track with their goals 24/7.
Relationship-based care:
Lighting the way home.
Patient care teams are tailored to each patient’s specific needs. In
Most patients are in acute rehabilitation care for a longer period of
addition to the physician, physician assistant, nurses and therapists,
time than they spend in acute care. This, combined with the
a team may include other care providers such as wound care
personal, goal-directed nature of the care they receive — and the
changes that take place over the course of their stay — foster close
caregiver-patient relationships. And those connections extend to
family. “There’s a lot of emotional support involved in patient
care,” says Emily Hahn, “and a
specialists, nutritionists and clergy. Specialists, including
lot of education. We work
neurologists, orthopedists and internists, also may lend their
closely with families to help
expertise on a consulting basis.
them know how to set the
home up safely before the
Team members come together on a regular basis — formally
and informally — to share insights and information on their
patient is discharged and go over strategies to take care of the
patients. “We have formal team meetings,” says Dr. Miller. “But
everyday needs and tasks we all take for granted.”
we’re also constantly talking and running questions by each other
There’s also the element of fun. Visits from the Hospital’s
on an informal basis. This lets us make changes and adjustments to
“four-legged volunteers,” special events (such as a “Bring Back
a patient’s care in a relatively short timeframe.”
Summer” day in the midst of a snowbound week), and music help
Good communication is one hallmark of the team approach to
patients “feel less like patients,” as Steve says. It’s all designed to
acute rehabilitation care; stepping outside defined roles is another.
move patients closer to “life as usual” as they take the next steps
“It’s not just what I can do as a physical therapist to help improve
in their rehabilitation.
the patient’s ability to walk, but how the occupational therapist,
As the leader of the inpatient care team, the physiatrist works to
maintain the patient’s medical stability, adjusting medications, treating
problems that arise unexpectedly and working to prevent problems —
like blood clots, pressure sores, joint contractures — that can hinder the
patient’s progress in rehabilitation. The physiatrist also meets with the
physician assistant, does rounds to visit all patients under his care, drops
in on therapy sessions and sees patients in the Day Treatment Program.
5
Ou tpatie nt Care
Enhancing function, building relationships
along the continuum of care — and beyond.
A
middle-aged woman slips on an icy sidewalk and injures her
Rehabilitation Services. “They’ve never been in the acute hospital or
shoulder. An elderly man suffers a stroke. A high-school athlete
the rehabilitation hospital. In fact, the outpatient care they receive
pushes his game and sprains an ankle. A young mother lifts a
here may be their first exposure to rehabilitation.” While that care
toddler and feels the protest in her lower back. From help for a
can range from a complete program of outpatient rehab to home
tennis injury to extensive therapy sessions that help an MS patient
education and instructions, the common thread is enhancing
relearn how to walk, outpatient care at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation
function.
Hospital takes many forms and responds to a wide variety of
“Rehabilitation is all about the patient’s function — functional
needs and goals.
loss and functional need,” says Cindy. “With inpatient care the
A broad-scope program with a common thread
he or she can be discharged. With outpatient care, we look at how
Patients arrive at outpatient rehabilitation from far-flung
we can enhance that function, how we can incorporate home,
destinations. They may come from any point in the continuum of
work, recreational and social activities into a person’s clinical
care, transitioning directly from acute care or acute rehabilitation,
program — and into his life.”
focus is on getting the patient to a higher functional level safely, so
from a skilled nursing facility or even from the home or work
environment. They also may come from points outside the
continuum — whether for a one-time need or a chronic condition.
“There’s a large number of people we see in outpatient care
who fall outside of what we might consider to be the normal
continuum of care,” says Cindy Griffith, Manager, Outpatient
6
The therapeutic pool at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation
Hospital features 92-degree water to aid in pain
reduction and movement, as well as convenient
handrails and bench seats which create a
comfortable, therapeutic environment. The pool
and certified aquatic therapists are available to
clients at the Hospital’s satellite locations as well as
the main campus on Blue Hills Avenue in Hartford.
A full complement of services and clinical
expertise in three locations
At the Mandell Jewish Community Center,
335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford
The array of outpatient services and resources at Mount Sinai
• Physical therapy services for orthopedic and sports injuries
Rehabilitation Hospital makes it unique in Connecticut and, in fact,
• Spine rehabilitation
in New England. These services and resources include:
A vote of confidence
At Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital,
490 Blue Hills Avenue, Hartford
• Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy,
recreational therapy
Motivation is the key to successful outcomes in outpatient
rehabilitation. And relationship-based care is the key to motivation.
With outpatient rehab, visits are less frequent and shorter in
duration but can occur over a longer period of time. This allows
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation (Physiatry)
• Neurology, infusion therapy and research at the Mandell
Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroscience Research
• Fitness center and aftercare wellness programs
• Specialized programs such as the Day Treatment Program (for
stroke and brain injury), Aquatic Therapy Program, the
trust to develop and grow, opening the door to patient-therapist
interactions and conversations that provide better insight into needs
and goals. It also knits the patient’s team closer together, with
physician, therapists, family and
friends working in concert to
support, encourage and inspire.
Lymphedema Program, the Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Program
and other specialized clinics
• Support groups, including stroke, spinal cord and amputee
“We are invested in
At the Saint Francis Center for Rehabilitation and
Sports Medicine, 95 Woodland Street, Hartford
• Physical therapy and occupational therapy
• Hand rehabilitation
• Sports medicine services, including isokinetic testing and
rehabilitation
• Spine assessment and therapy
• Cancer rehabilitation through the Healthy Steps program
(a dance-based program to help patients regain range of
motion and restore functional mobility)
caring for our patients and
know we can help make a
difference”, says Cindy Griffith. “We try to encourage and motivate
patients through the direct care we provide, but also through home
exercises, education and referrals to community wellness services.
As a result, we not only have great outcomes, but extremely high
levels of patient satisfaction in outpatient care, consistently
exceeding 97%. It’s working both on what we need to achieve
now, but also health and wellness for their lifetime.”
Outpatient therapy takes full advantage of highlevel technology to maximize what can be offered
to patients every time they visit — whether it’s
working with them on the LiteGait®, Lokomat®,
FES Stim Bike® or other equipment. But
technology doesn’t operate in a vacuum. It relies
on the clinical skills and creativity of the
therapist to succeed.
7
Getting Back on Track
K
yle Donahue’s grey silicone wristband
reads, “Live to Ride — Ride to Live.” And so
he has, since he was three years old. Racing
dirt bikes from Maine to Florida, he was ready
to join the professional motocross circuit
A CARE TEAM RUNS
THE COURSE TO
RECOVERY WITH A
YOUNG SPINAL CORD
INJURY PATIENT.
he left, he had a visit from Robin Wachs, R.N.,
Admissions Nurse/Liaison at Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital. As Kyle’s first point of
contact in his continuum of care, Robin was
when the unthinkable happened in May of
there to gather information from Kyle and
2010. The 21-year-old was practicing on his
his parents, develop a discharge plan and,
most important, encourage him to be
home track when he hit an 85-foot-long
jump, sailed into the air and left his bike. “I went
as high as a telephone pole and as I came down,
my bike tire hit me in the back,” he says. “That’s
what did it.” Accompanied by a group of friends
in the ambulance, Kyle was transported to
Windham Hospital, where he was picked up by a
LifeStar helicopter and flown to Hartford Hospital.
Kyle was in Hartford Hospital just under a
8
Mount Sinai would be to his recovery. Before
Along the continuum from
outpatient care to community
program: “Kyle is definitely a
great candidate for our adaptive
rowing program.”
____
Laura Filipek, PT
forward-thinking and focus on his abilities, not
his disability. The energetic, upbeat Kyle needed
no prompting in that direction. “I could see he
was the kind of person who wasn’t going to
wallow in the negative consequences of what
had happened to him,” Robin says. “His attitude
was ‘OK, now what can I do?’ He was instantly
geared toward his recovery and rehabilitation.
week. They quickly moved him through the
And he had great support from his friends and
system realizing how important rehabilitation at
family. They were 100% Kyle.”
sitting position,” says Laura Filipek, Physical Therapist.
“He could only sit for an hour the first day, and the first time we
used the slideboard to transfer him to a wheelchair, he was
fatigued and anxious.”
“I was so unstable, it was crazy,” says Kyle. “I kept thinking,
‘how am I ever going to be able to do anything again?’” But he
soldiered on through intensive therapy with Laura and Chris White,
PHOTO: PAUL BU
CKLEY
Occupational Therapist. “We worked on strength exercises,” says
Laura. “We used electrical stimulation on his quadriceps to get the
muscles to fire. We practiced wheelchair skills like going up curbs
and being able to right himself if he tipped over. Chris also worked
with him on getting dressed, and building upper extremity strength
to make sitting up and transfers easier.”
As it turned out, that first meeting involved more than just
information-gathering. Kyle’s care started on the spot as Robin
addressed a problem with his medication. “My eyes were rolling
back in my head and I was really out of it,” says Kyle. “Robin asked
my Mom, ‘Is he usually like this?’ That day, my meds were switched
and I came around, which was awesome.”
Once in the hands of his Mount Sinai care team, Kyle’s work
began in earnest. But first, milk and cookies. “Kyle wasn’t eating
well when he first came,” says Letitia “Tish” Williams, R.N., whom
Kyle calls his ‘second mom.’ “So on his first day, I brought him
Oreos and some milk.” She also got him started on a self-care
regimen. “He had to be taught how to do things we take for
granted, like turning and shifting in bed,” Tish explains. “He had to
learn to do skin inspections, which he was diligent about. He was
amazing. He never said, ‘I can’t do this.’ He’d say, ‘let me see what I
can do.’”
That same “can-do” attitude carried over to therapy. Kyle was
motivated and eager to start, but it was slow-going at first. “One of
the first things we did was work on getting him from a lying to
“Team Kyle” used a combination of
cutting-edge rehab technology,
conventional therapies, careful medical
monitoring and TLC to put their highly
motivated patient back on his feet.
9
Then there was that first walk. “You never know what’s going
Another highlight of Kyle’s inpatient stay was a visit from
to happen when you stand someone up the first time,” Laura
professional motocross racer Doug Henry — “my lifetime hero”
points out. “But I knew he was going to do OK standing because
as Kyle refers to him — who sustained a spinal cord injury in a
he has a lot of upper extremity strength.” True to form, Kyle did
motocross accident three years ago. Henry had gotten word that
better than OK. “When we got him between the parallel bars, he
Kyle had been injured and came to see him at Mount Sinai.
decided that he wasn’t going to just stand, he was going to
Kyle recalls, “He told me, ‘you can do everything you want to do.
walk,” says Laura. And he wasn’t just going to walk,
he was going to walk the full length of the bars, a
30-foot distance. Kyle recalls, “I was like, ‘look
You just have to find new ways to do it.’ That was huge!
That was when I set my mind to it.”
After a month-long stay, Kyle was ready for the transition
out, I’m not stopping!’” The room was full of
to home. “The whole time I was in rehab, my therapists kept
people that day, including Kyle’s friends and
coming up with new ways to challenge me,” he says. “I was
family. When he got to the end of the parallel
bars, everyone applauded.
good to go when I got home. I didn’t have problems with
anything.” In September 2010, when he was ready for
Following Kyle’s discharge from his stay in the
inpatient unit, his therapy continued on an
outpatient basis. “Team Kyle” continued to work
with him to develop skills and regain strength,
enabling him to return to some of his activities.
10
helped him progress to the next level of gait training using the
LiteGait®, a partial-weight-bearing gait therapy device. Kyle was no
longer being assisted by robotics, but was working in tandem with
his therapist, Joan, utilizing his own mobility to improve his walking
and independence. The RT300 Functional Electrical Stimulation
(FES) cycle ergometer (also known as a “stim bike”) was also added
to his therapy regimen. The stim bike is a computerized stationary
bicycle that stimulates muscles and nerves to create a patterned
movement of the legs. The resulting gains in
strength allowed him to be fitted with bilateral
KAFOs (knee ankle foot orthoses).
These days, Kyle continues to build strength and
work on walking with his leg braces, displaying the
same drive and determination he has shown from
the start. “Kyle was fit and athletic before his
accident, and he put 110% into his therapy,”
remarks Dr. Robert Krug, Medical Director of Mount
the next and technically most
Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital. “What’s more, he
sophisticated phase of his
didn’t go through the stages that we normally
rehabilitation, he returned as an
associate with a spinal cord injury. He didn’t get
outpatient for intensive gait and
angry or depressed. He’s looking to the future with
strength training with Physical
an attitude of ‘I’m going to confront this head on.’”
Therapist Joan Karpuk. “It’s not
With research and innovation continuing, the
just exercise,” she explains. “To
future holds promise for Kyle and other people with
improve walking, a person must
spinal cord injuries. “There’s a real optimism in the
walk in a normal, symmetrical
gait pattern.”
Kyle’s goal was to walk independently and return to his active
lifestyle. To achieve this, he began using cutting-edge technology
field for helping spinal cord injury patients become
functional ambulators,” says Dr. Krug. “Robotic braces are close to
market. And there’s ongoing research on implanting stimulators in
the brain and muscles that would allow people to control certain
at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital starting with the Lokomat®,
muscles with their thoughts. These are the kinds of technological
a computer-controlled robotic treadmill that uses sensors and visual
breakthroughs we could see in the next five to ten years.”
feedback to facilitate a more normal
gait pattern. “I was totally blown
away by how smooth and natural
the walking motion was on the
Lokomat,” says Kyle. Kyle’s
motivation and demonstrated
functional gains on the Lokomat
11
Expanding the Horizons of MS Care
RESEARCH IS INJECTING
S
alvatore Garofalo is a warm and expressive
man who has been living with multiple
sclerosis for more than 25 years. When he
talks, he moves his hands — an action most
of us take for granted and that, for Sal, has
not always been natural and fluid. In people
with MS, the body’s autoimmune system
EXCITING NEW
OPPORTUNITIES AND
CAPABILITIES INTO THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE
FOR PEOPLE WITH
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.
Neurologist, Amy is the hub of Sal’s care,
seeing him on a regular basis to take care of
his medical needs, answer questions, manage
medications, make recommendations for
therapy and evaluate his progress. “We look
for every possible option to help patients
improve their function,” says Amy. For some,
turns traitor, breaking down the myelin
like Sal, this means participating in clinical
sheath that coats nerves and making normal
trials. In October 2010, he was recruited for a
study on Ampyra being conducted in the Mandell
conduction of signals from the brain impossible. In
Sal’s case, this de-myelinization has impaired both
MS Center by Dr. Albert Lo, Director of
Developed by Acorda Therapeutics and approved
“Functional gains realized in
the virtual reality of Armeo
are transferred to reality in
our Town Commons and
ADL Kitchen, and ultimately,
to the patient’s home.”
____
to predict who can be
by the FDA to help improve walking speed in MS
Emily Vincent, OT
helped by Ampyra (as
his walking and arm function. At the Mandell
Center for Multiple Sclerosis Care and
Neuroscience Research, he is getting help —
in not entirely expected ways — from a new
medication called Ampyra (Dalfampridine).
patients, Ampyra is showing promise for other
motor functions as well.
Ampyra was prescribed for Sal by Amy Neal, PA-C and Clinical
Coordinator. Working in tandem with Dr. Peter Wade, Clinical
Neuroscience Research and Elizabeth Triche, PhD.
“The purpose of the
study is twofold,”
explains Dr. Lo. “First,
to see if it’s possible
only 30% to 35% of
patients taking the
drug see improvement in walking) and
second, to determine whether the
Peter Wade, M.D.,
Director of Clinical
Neurology, a critically
important part of the
treatment team for Sal
and other MS patients.
12
— using the Armeo® Spring Arm Therapy
drug improves functions other than walking.”
Until Ampyra, MS medications focused on
device — to leverage his gains and further
suppressing immune function to counter the
improve his strength and dexterity and the
damaging effects of inflammation and de-
use of his arm. Acquired by Mount Sinai
myelinization. The new medication is the first in
Rehabilitation Hospital in May 2010, the Armeo
an entirely new category of MS drugs designed
assists the whole arm by facilitating active
to improve symptoms and function. How well
movement in a functional position while
the drug works is determined by careful
computer software simulates everyday tasks
evaluation and testing.
ranging from cracking an egg to washing a
Sal’s progress on Ampyra was evaluated
window. Through repetition, the brain is re-
over a period of 12 weeks in three-and-a-half-
trained and new neural pathways created for
hour sessions conducted by Michele Labas,
impaired movement. “It’s a great tool for rehab
Research Associate and Dalfampridine Study
and the patients love it,” says Emily Vincent,
Evaluator. Among the measures she used was
Occupational Therapist. “With Sal, we’ll be
study, he rated his walking ability 10 points higher
“My first interaction with Sal
was to evaluate him using the
Expanded Disability Status
Scale (EDSS), a standardized
exam for MS patients.”
____
and his pegboard skills showed that the drug had
Amy Neal, PA-C
a six-spot test of Sal’s walking quality that had
him stopping, starting, turning and standing
on one foot. She also administered a nine-hole
pegboard test for hand function. Sal showed
improvement in both. After seven weeks in the
also improved his hand function. “The first time, it
working on movements like grasp and release,
rotating the forearm, and shoulder and arm
reaching. And I know he’s ready to go. He was
ready to start the day we evaluated him for
the Armeo!”
For Sal Garofalo and other MS patients,
the combination of new drugs and therapies
holds great promise and hope, made possible
took him more than three minutes to complete the pegboard test
through continuing research. “Our job in research is to examine
and he could only do it once,” says Michele. “He improved to the
whether using medication with rehab results in a consistent benefit,
point where he could complete the test in about a minute, and he
determine if there are any downsides, and communicate our
could do it two times in a row.”
findings to others,” says Dr. Lo. “If we do excellent work here, it
Encouraged by Sal’s results, Amy Neal recommended therapy
reaches beyond Blue Hills Avenue to help all people with MS.”
“Whenever I talk to people with MS, I tell them to
try to get to the Mandell MS Center. Why?
Everybody here talks to everybody else. It makes it
so much easier to get problems resolved.”
____
Sal Garofalo, patient
Sal Garofalo’s team coordinated all aspects of his care,
from day-to-day medical needs, to his participation and
progress in the Ampyra study, to his next steps in therapy
with the Armeo® Spring Arm Therapy device.
13
On the Road Again
W
hen Guetin Poulin came to Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital, he had a mission: To
get back behind the wheel of a car. Driving
40,000 to 50,000 miles a year is part of
Guetin’s job as a management consultant to
GUETIN POULIN’S
CONTINUUM OF CARE
PUT HIM BACK BEHIND
THE WHEEL AFTER A
STROKE.
doing well and progressing, and really wanted
to go home, but he still had some balance
and speech problems. We wanted to
optimize his level of independence so we
recommended him for the Day Treatment
the supermarket industry — a job he loves
Program at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation
but had to leave for a time when he suffered
Hospital, and he was receptive to that.”
a stroke.
The next step, taken by Guetin’s Mount
“I was working, doing nothing particularly
challenging,” he remembers.“I went to the
checkstand in the store and discovered that I couldn’t
speak. After I got home I had trouble walking and
talking. I called my doctor and he told me to go to the
ER.” Guetin’s son took him to Saint Francis Hospital
and Medical Center, where he was admitted and
treated for a stroke that affected the left side of his
body. While the Hospital’s Stroke Program focused on
getting him medically stable, Guetin focused on
“Guetin had very
specific goals, he had a
positive attitude,
and he was faithful
about doing the things
recommended
to him.”
____
Karen Smyth, PT
Sinai rehabilitation team at Saint Francis, was to
tailor the program’s services to his level of function
and his goals.
“We evaluate each patient in terms of his or her
prior level of functioning to determine what’s the
best plan for this person,” says Michelle Haudegand,
Occupational Therapist. “Guetin needed help to
manage standing and walking, and help with
fasteners (such as buttons and zippers), so we knew
he would benefit from physical and occupational
going home. To get him there would require an
therapy. We also knew he would require a lot of
interdisciplinary team effort dedicated to his
supervision at home, and he was lucky enough to
needs and goals.
It all started with Denise Farrah,
Mount Sinai Admissions Nurse at Saint
Francis Hospital and Medical Center,
have his wife and adult children to
provide that.”
Because Guetin’s stroke affected
his speech, he also got a visit from
who puts her experience and judgment
Jessica Morris, Speech/Language
to work to identify the right level of
Pathologist. “We looked at Guetin’s
care for each patient. “I evaluate all
cognitive linguistic skills using a battery
types of patients for rehab, using
of tests that evaluate things like
information from the patient’s medical
attention, memory, orientation,
chart and from the family,” she
problem-solving and hearing.” Based
explains. “In Guetin’s case, he was
on the results, Jessica recommended
further speech/ language therapy for
Guetin to improve his
communication skills.
14
moderate dysarthria (decreased precision of speech),”
explains Arlene Rande, Speech/Language Pathologist,
“so our goal was to improve his speech at a
conversational level to make it possible for him to
return to work and communicate effectively with his
clients. We used strategies such as having him speak
slowly, separate words into syllables and stress each
word within a sentence.” Because Guetin’s tongue
mobility and strength were reduced, this interfered with
his ability to produce speech accurately. To address this,
Arlene worked with him on exercises to increase
tongue strength, mobility and coordination and
improve the precision of his speech.
Thanks to the level of support he would receive from his
For better strength and balance, Guetin had
family and the promise of improved function through outpatient
extensive physical therapy. “With Guetin, we worked on the
rehabilitation, Guetin was able to skip what could have been his
Balance Master® — a sophisticated device used to assess and
next stop in the continuum of care — acute rehabilitation — and
retrain balance — to help him develop ankle strategies, shift his
go home. He continued his journey to recovery in
weight and negotiate uneven surfaces,” says
the Day Treatment Program at Mount Sinai
Karen Smyth, Physical Therapist. He used Biodex
Rehabilitation Hospital. The program is led by a
fitness equipment to walk against resistance, and
physiatrist and applies a team approach to
NuStep®, a seated cross-trainer, to move his arms
rehabilitation for stroke and brain injury patients,
and legs reciprocally.” Karen also took him on
combining physical, occupational, speech and
outings into a variety of community settings to
recreational therapy. For Guetin, it all came
try out his walking and balance skills on uneven
together to help him regain the skills needed to
ground, stairs, escalators and elevators.
Throughout, Guetin rose to the challenge. “It’s
get back to work.
“When I first saw Guetin, his left arm was
like in the Rocky movies,” he says. “You gotta
very weak; he could only grip two pounds,” says
train and train, you have to work at it.” Like
Robin Lindboe, Occupational Therapist in the Day
Rocky, Guetin ultimately triumphed. When he
Treatment Program. “And even though his left hand is not the
started in the Day Treatment Program, he was using a cane. Six
dominant one, he still needed it for everyday functions — such as
weeks later, he was walking with no assistive device — and talking
driving.” To help build Guetin’s strength and coordination, Robin
a blue streak. Today, he’s on the road again, back at work and
worked with him using innovative tools. One was the
singing the praises of Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital. “This is
DynaVision™, a computerized visual-motor scanning board
the best-kept secret in the city,” he says. “I can’t say enough good
designed to improve eye-hand coordination and reaction time.
things about the place.”
Another was Useful Field of View, a computerized pre-driving
assessment tool that evaluates a patient’s central processing speed,
divided attention and selective attention.
Speech was another key focus of Guetin’s work
in the Day Treatment Program. “Guetin had
From acute care to the Day Treatment
Program, Guetin’s team pulled
together to help him regain lost
function and return to his job as a
management consultant.
15
2010 Selected
Bioness® Electrical
Stimulation Device
Therapists began using new
equipment this year which
helps patients relearn to walk
after a stroke or other injury.
The Bioness electrical
stimulation device is worn on
a patient’s leg to help improve
walking abilities. Through
electrical stimulation, it
retrains lower leg muscles,
increasing motion and blood
circulation and enabling the
return to a more normal step.
Nursing Grand Rounds
Staff from the Rehabiltation Hospital were the highlighted speakers
at a Nursing Grand Rounds, where they spoke about a patient’s
recovery from a stroke.
Top from left to right: Letitia Marino, R.N., Emily Hahn, R.N.,
Renee Hardware, R.N., Amy Calvo, R.N., Jennifer Shockley, P.T.,
Maura Murray, C.R.R.N., M.S.N.
Bottom from left to right: Donna Ricketts, R.N., Dianne Bernier,
R.N., Cheryl LaFlamme, Michelle LaFlamme
Community Activities
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital staff participated in a number
of research projects and educational training programs with
students from around the area. These programs provide the
students with opportunities to learn, engage in community
service activities and explore diverse career opportunities.
Wii® System
Therapists in the Brain Injury Program are now using the
Wii system as a therapy tool for their patients. Acquiring this
system has provided an additional rehabilitation option as many
games for the Wii require coordination and other physical skills.
While playing a hula hoop game, a patient is also working on
balance, and a tennis game combines coordination, upper body
use and shifting weight with the lower body. The therapist can
adjust the game to account for a slower time or limited mobility
as the patient begins the program.
16
Solorider Golf Cart
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital was the first hospital in
Connecticut to acquire the Solorider Golf Cart. The physically
adaptive golf cart allows handicapped golfers to continue playing
the game they love while seated in a specialized lift chair.
Highlights
LiteGait®
A new LiteGait® was added
this year, thanks to the
generosity of the Mount Sinai
Foundation. This gait training
device simultaneously
controls weight bearing,
posture, and balance and
creates an ideal environment
for treating patients with a
wide range of impairments
and functional levels.
MS Walk
A large team of walkers from the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
participated in the annual Walk MS, sponsored by the National MS
Society, Connecticut Chapter. Held yearly, the walk helps fund research
to find treatments and a cure for multiple sclerosis. Locally, the money
will help the more than 6,000 people in Connecticut who live with the
debilitating effects of MS.
Adaptive Rowing
Outcomes Excellence Award
Staff of The Center for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine at
95 Woodland Street, an integral part of the outpatient services team,
received the Outcomes Excellence Award, presented by Focus On
Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc. (F.O.T.O.) of Knoxville, Tennessee.
F.O.T.O., the national leader in rehabilitation outcomes measurement,
assesses and reports outcomes and patient satisfaction for outpatient
rehabilitation services. The Center for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine
was recognized for exceeding the national average for functional change
in F.O.T.O.’s database for four consecutive quarters. In addition, the
customer satisfaction rating for the year 2010 was 97.49%.
Front Row seated: Barbara Robinson, P.T.; Deborah Ryan, P.T.;
Timothea Kimball, O.T.; Cindy Griffith P.T.; Tamra Ryan, P.T.
Back Row Standing: Maura Murray, C.R.R.N., M.S.N.;
John Tramontana, P.T.; Deborah McGuire, Lisa Farr, P.T.; Eric Fay, P.T.;
Joseph Grabicki, P.T., Leonardo Mason, Robert Krug, M.D.
A new launch boat was acquired for the Connecticut Adaptive
Rowing Program, thanks to the participants of the Mount Sinai
Golf Tournament, which allows coaches to communicate with
rowers to offer tips in addition to providing a measure of safety in
the event of water rescue. The Adaptive Rowing Program, offered
by the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, is a unique program
which provides individuals with a physical disability or visual
impairment the opportunity to participate in the sport of rowing
on the Connecticut River.
Nightingale Award
Meg VanSteenburgh, R.N.,
a nurse from the Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital was the
recipient of the Nightingale award
in May. The Nightingale Awards
for Excellence in Nursing is
Connecticut’s largest statewide
nursing recognition program.
Pictured left to right —
Meg VanSteenburgh, R.N., and her
nurse manager Emily Hahn, R.N.
17
Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital
Administration
Christopher M. Dadlez, F.A.C.H.E.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Edward S. Johnson, D.D.S.
Senior Vice President
Robert Krug, M.D.
Medical Director
Maura Murray, C.R.R.N., M.S.N.
Director of Nursing
Joan Page, M.A., P.T.
Director of Clinical Programs
Shirley Fisher
Executive Associate
Medical Staff Membership
ACTIVE STAFF
Kathleen Abbott, M.D.
Raymond Chagnon, M.D.
Robert Krug, M.D.
Thomas Miller, M.D.
MEDICAL ASSOCIATE STAFF
Michelle Brisman, Ph.D
Cristina Ciocca, Psy.D.
Corinne Harrington, Ph.D.
Howard Oakes, Psy.D.
William Padula, O.D.
Tracey Sondik, Psy.D.
MEDICAL ASSISTANT STAFF
Tara Breslin, PA-C
Tracy G. Civitillo, PA-C
Adrienne M. Clements, A.P.R.N.
Jennifer Colucci, A.P.R.N.
Concepcion Cortes, A.P.R.N.
Eleanor Fritz, A.P.R.N.
Geriann Gallagher, A.P.R.N.
Sue Keefe, A.P.R.N.
Ann Navage, A.P.R.N.
Amy Neal, PA-C
Francis Pasini, PA-C
Nancy Scheetz, A.P.R.N.
PER DIEM STAFF
Ovanes Borgonos, M.D.
Noam Harel, M.D.
Syed Naqvi, M.D.
Priya Roy, M.D.
Ricardo Ruiz, M.D.
Christian Sarra, M.D.
Eduardo Siccion, M.D.
Gagandeep Singh, M.D.
Satyarani Tallapureddy, M.D.
Jaykumar R. Thumar, M.D.
Nailia Vodovskaia, M.D.
David Wolpaw, M.D.
18
CONSULTANT STAFF BY
SPECIALTY
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
DENTISTRY
OPHTHALMOLOGY
Paul F. Mitchell, D.M.D.
Mark Schmidt, D.D.S.
J. Robert Stanko, D.M.D.
FAMILY MEDICINE
Susan Wiskowski, M.D.
MEDICINE
Ronbald Bloom, M.D. (Cardiology)
John Cardone, M.D. (Cardiology)
William Carney, M.D. (Nephrology)
Robert Chamberlain, M.D.
(Cardiology)
Russell Ciafone, M.D. (Cardiology)
Leonard Cohen, M.D. (Allergy)
Ari Geller, D.O. (Neprology)
Steven Goldenberg, M.D.
(Gastroenterology)
Bruce Gould, M.D.
Carolyn Kosack, M.D. (Cardiology)
Steven Lane, M.D. (Cardiology)
Robert Lyons, M.D. (Infectious
Disease)
Michael Moustakakis, M.D.
(Nephrology)
Visvanathan MuraliDharan, M.D.
(Gastroenterology)
Danilo Pangilinan, M.D.
John Polio, M.D. (Gastroenterology)
Susan Rabinbowe, M.D.
(Hematology/Oncology)
Mervyn Rimai, M.D.
Frederick Rowland, M.D. (Geriatrics)
Eytan Rubinstien, M.D. (Infectious
Disease)
Niranjan Sankaranarayanan, M.D.
(Nephrology)
Paul Shapiro, M.D.
(Gastroenterology)
Cheryl Smith, M.D. (Infectious
Disease)
Richard Stone, M.D.
(Gastroenterology)
Paul Stroebel, M.D. (Cardiology)
Michael Teiger, M.D. (Pulmonary)
NEUROLOGY
Gary Belt, M.D.
Ricardo Garcia-Rivera, M.D.
Phaniraj Iyengar, M.D.
Michael Krinsky, M.D.
Albert C. Lo, M.D.
Zachary Macinski, M.D.
Arjuna P. Mannam, M.D.
Keshav Rao, M.D.
Peter Wade, M.D.
NEUROSURGERY
Stephen Calderon, M.D.
Bruce Chozick, M.D.
Howard Lantner, M.D.
James Egan, M.D.
George Wislo, M.D.
John Ziewacz, M.D.
Stephen Zink, M.D.
Andrew Epstein, M.D.
William Maron, M.D.
REHABILITATION MEDICINE
ORTHOPEDICS
SURGERY
Michael Aron, M.D.
Steven Bond, M.D.
David Burstein, M.D.
Jesse Eisler, M.D.
Andrew Gabow, M.D.
Robert Green, M.D.
John Mara, M.D.
Paul Murray, M.D.
John O’Brien, M.D.
Steven Selden, M.D.
Anthony Spinella, M.D.
Thomas Stevens, M.D.
Aris Yannopoulos, M.D.
Saumitra Banerjee, M.D. (Colon/Rectal)
David Cherry, M.D. (Colon/Rectal)
N. Chandra Narayanan, M.D.
David Walters, M.D. (Colon/Rectal)
Raghubinder Bajwa, M.D.
SECTION OF PODIATRY
Donna Boccelli, D.P.M.
Richard Grayson, D.P.M.
Robert Kalman, D.P.M.
Eric Kosofsky, D.P.M.
Elliot Pollack, D.P.M. (LOA)
Loren Schneider, D.P.M.
Brian Wagner, D.P.M.
Deborah Waterman, D.P.M.
OTOLARYNGOLOGY
Sheldon Nova, M.D.
Ronald Saxon, M.D.
Stephen G. Wolfe, M.D.
PATHOLOGY
George Barrows, M.D.
PEDIATRICS
UROLOGY
Peter Bosco, M.D.
James Boyle, M.D.
Carl Gjertson, M.D.
Hugh Kennedy, M.D.
Marlene Murphy-Setzko, M.D.
Adine Regan, M.D.
G. Thomas Trono, M.D.
Ellen Marmer, M.D.
PSYCHIATRY
Yana Frenkel, M.D.
Luis Gonzalez, M.D.
Alejandro Gonzalez-Restrepo, M.D.
Ladan Hamdheydari, M.D.
Nina Jacobs, M.D.
Tracey Krasnow, M.D.
John Levine, M.D.
Muhammad I. Munawar, M.D.
Yann Poncin, M.D.
Osman Qureshi, M.D.
Surita Rao, M.D.
Bruce Rothschild, M.D.
Larisa Yelunina, M.D.
RADIOLOGY
Robert Feld, M.D.
Michael Firestone, M.D.
Clifford Freling, M.D.
Jonathan Getz, M.D.
Pupinder Jaswal, M.D.
Elinor Kron, M.D.
Amy Martin, M.D.
Sean McKeon, M.D.
Peter Morrison, M.D.
Harold Moskowitz, M.D.
Robert Perez, M.D.
Pongsa Pyn Muangman, M.D.
Anthony Posteraro, III, M.D.
Joseph Sala, M.D.
James Slavin, M.D.
George Stohr, M.D.
Michael Twohig, M.D.
Clinical Services
NURSE MANAGER
Emily Hahn, C.R.R.N., B.S.N.
NURSING STAFF
Gail Abel, R.N.
Ann Marie Alcide, R.N.
Nicovia Anderson, C.N.A.
Kathleen Barone, R.N.
Dianne Bernier, R.N.
Jajet Brown, C.N.A.
Amy Calvo, R.N.
Colette Carroll, R.N.
Phyllis Cox-Garvey, R.N.
Jacqueline Dawkins-Jones, C.N.A.
Maureen Dehaney, L.P.N.
Linda Fader, R.N.
Renee Fevrier, R.N.
Hannah Fevrier, L.P.N.
Darnell Glass, R.N.
Lena Goforth, C.N.A.
Janette Gordon, R.N.
Gail Gruszczynski, L.P.N.
Maxine Harris, R.N.
Ann Hill, R.N.
Claudette Holmes, L.P.N.
Macrina Hopko, R.N.
Saly Huertas, C.N.A.
Denise Jackson, R.N.
Beverly Jones, R.N.
Gosseth Jones, C.N.A.
Juanita Lancaster, L.P.N.
Manuel Lopez, R.N.
Anne MacKenzie, R.N.
Catherine Mann, L.P.N.
Letitia Marino, R.N.
Carmen Martinez, C.N.A.
Laurie Martini, L.P.N.
Simone McDougall, C.N.A.
Denise Naylor, R.N.
Darlene Nukis, L.P.N.
Kathy Olson, R.N.
Nora Osafo, R.N.
Mary Osella, R.N.
Mayra Oyola, C.N.A.
Patricia Pickett, L.P.N.
Donna Ricketts, R.N.
Nancy Robinson, R.N.
Joanne Rose, R.N.
Sylvia Rubie, C.N.A.
Salwa Said, R.N.
Diane Schank, L.P.N.
Barbara Semple-Cort, R.N.
Donna Marie Stanford, C.N.A.
Emily Steele, L.P.N.
Otasha Stephens, C.N.A.
Catherine Treadow, R.N.
Lois Troiano, L.P.N.
Margaret Vansteenburgh, R.N.
MANAGER OF CARE
CONTINUUM
Karen M. Prior-Topalis, R.N., B.S.N.,
M.B.A., C.C.M, A-C.C.C., C.B.I.S.
QUALITY & OUTCOMES
COORDINATOR
Colin B. Lavoie, R.N., B.S.N., C.C.M.
CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICES
Stacy Godin, O.T.
Josephine Oliano, R.N.
Susan Pearson, M.S.W.
REHABILITATION ADMISSION
NURSES
Linda Alvarado, R.N.
Denise Farrah, R.N., B.S.N.
Annie Parker, R.N.
Kathy Sylvia, R.N., B.S.N.
Robin Wachs, R.N.
Therapy Staff
REHABILITATION MANAGERS
Cynthia L. Griffith, M.H.S., P.T.,
C.S.C.S., C.C.R.P., Manager of
Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
Steven M. Kunsman, M.S.P.T., P.T.,
C.B.I.S., Manager of Inpatient
Rehabilitation Services
Linda Mackay, M.A., CCC-SLP, BRS-S,
C.B.I.S.T., Manager of
Medical/Surgical Rehabilitation
Program
THERAPY STAFF
AUDIOLOGISTS
Claudia Janusko
Margaret R. Pohlman
CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
ASSISTANTS
Jennifer Allyn
Kelly Versteeg
Gina Waltos
FITNESS COORDINATORS
Emmye Bermani
Ashley Penfield
LYMPHEDEMA SPECIALISTS
Nola Eddy
Michelle Aafedt
Joanne Mitchell
MANDELL CENTER FOR MULTIPLE
SCLEROSIS AND NEUROSCIENCE
RESEARCH
Jennifer Fawcett
Judy Forrester
Amy Neal, PA-C
Michele Labas
Nancy Rodriguez
Jessica Vegerano
Jacquelyn Wright, R.N.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Janice Bane
Nicole Burdick
Deborah Drown
Melissa Dusza
Heidi Gauthier
Amy Goodwin
Alyssa Greenberg
Michelle Haudegand
Melanie Henry
Christina Hillemeir
Fatima Joao
Timothea Kimball
Robin Lindboe
Melanie Morrison-Riddle
Bethany Pisati
Cynthia Robbins
Michelle Sacdalan
Robin Tripp
Emily Vincent
Christopher White
Kimberly Wilson
Kimberley Wood
Christy Zarlengo
OUTPATIENT COORDINATOR
Pamela Freeman-Brown, R.N., Med.,
C.C.M., C.R.C.
OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Matthew Durst, M.A., P.T.
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
Georgia Angelopoulous
Jeffrey Baker
Lauren Barker
April Barthuly
Sarah Begina
Sally Campbell
Victor Chandler
Ruth Clancy
Todd Clayton
Stephen Davis
Amanda DeAngelo
Michele Dery
Lisa Farr
Eric Fay
Laura Filipek
Candace Forte
Jennifer Fournier
Clint Galamgam
Thomas Gostyla
Joseph Grabicki
Joan Karpuk
Judith Knowlton
Jillian Kossbiel
Amy Lambert
Deborah Ludwig
Eric Marcus
Wendy McCabe
Paul McCloskey
Meghan McEvitt
Catherine Milewski
Mark Mitchell
Nancy Mullen
Gary Naples
Amanda Neto
Michael Perin
Danielle Provost
Barbara Robinson
Peggy Romine
Tracey Ruvolo
Deborah Ryan
Tamra Ryan
Wendy Scutt
Jennifer Shockley
Karen Smyth
Kathryn Streb
John Tramontana
Bryan Tronosky
Patricia Uhl
Sarah Wargo
Kerry Watts
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS
Christine Castler
Denise Dieli
Hollie Marshall
Michelle Russi
REHABILITATION DAY TREATMENT
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Tara B. Rothstein, O.T.R./L, M.S.W.,
C.B.I.S.
REHABILITATION TECHNICIANS
Leonardo Mason
David McNamara
Emilia Neves
Irene Oyola
Jason Teles
Nicole Violette
Joseph Wojtkowiak
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS
Elizabeth Bouchard
Julie Carpenter
Alexandra Carso
Kelly Coyne
Bernadette Fowler
Carley Hauser
Lori Ann Kostich
Julie Leska
Erin Lewis
Julie Logan
Jessica Morris
Gerald Nadeau
Lauren Quagliaroli
Arlene Rande
Nicole Scinto
Ashley Zapata
THERAPEUTIC RECREATION
SPECIALIST
Paige McCullough-Casciano
Clinical/Administrative
Support Staff
Jenny Almenas
Mary Ann Bukowski
Elaine Cloutier
Janet Cormier
Tanya Cruz
Martha Curtis
Jean Marie Dailey
Yahaira Garcia
Nancy Garthwaite
Pauline Howell
Karin Kaczynski
Jeffrey Maltz
Deborah McGuire
Ajlana Music
Nelia Oriola
Joanne Plaza
Suzanne Polak
Patricia Ryan
Ana Santillan
Candace Satin
Linda Smith
Guisella Quezada
Susan Tigno
Herminia Tuell
Theresa Turgeon
Andrea Violette
Carleen Young
Mercedes Bello
Kathleen Curtis
Kevin Chagnon
Mercedes Garcia
Laura Maldonado
19
The Mount Sinai Foundation
continues its long history of support of
programs and services to special populations
in our community. Mount Sinai Rehabilitation
Hospital has been enriched by the
Foundation’s commitment to the Hospital
and the North Campus.
Through the Foundation’s support, patients
with multiple sclerosis and stroke-related
complications have access to expertise and
technology not readily available elsewhere.
The future for the Rehabilitation Hospital is
bright, in part because of the members of the
Mount Sinai Foundation who remain
committed to our important work.
Once again we extend our gratitude to the
leadership of the Foundation for continuing
to care.
The 21st annual MIRACLES gala,
held in September 2010 was a year for the records at Saint
Francis, with the most funds raised and the largest crowd
ever. The beneficiary was The Joyce D. and Andrew J.
Mount Sinai Foundation, Inc.
Board of Directors
Mandell Center for Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care
and Neuroscience Research. The Mandell Multiple Sclerosis
Center, established in 2008 following a generous gift of
Robert B. Bruner
Robert E. Cohn
Samuel P. Cooley
$1 million from its benefactors, Joyce and Andy Mandell,
has become an important regional specialty service in the
Christopher M. Dadlez
short time since its opening. Funds raised from MIRACLES
Robert M. Fechtor
XXI will allow new space to be developed, new technology
Edward S. Johnson, D.D.S.
and personnel to be added, and an expanded scope of
E. Merritt McDonough, Sr.
Roslyne E. Rosenfield
neuroscience research to better serve the growing number of
Henry S. Scherer
patients seen at The Mandell Center, which currently
John R. Suisman
numbers nearly 800. To commemorate the joyous occasion,
David Title, Ed.D.
the Mandell family reestablished their commitment to Saint
Sam Title
Michael Wilder
Francis with an unprecedented donation to The Mandell MS
Center by matching all gifts made to MIRACLES XXI.
Combined with the generosity of Saint Francis’ loyal
supporters, the Mandells’ donation helped to raise nearly
$2 million for The Mandell MS Center.
20
Working Together, Rebuilding Lives —
is an accurate portrayal of the environment of care at Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital and the benefits enjoyed by the patients and
families who receive our specialized medical rehabilitation care.
The Mount Sinai Team is exceptionally skilled. The technology we employ is
leading-edge, and we are constantly upgrading our facilities and expanding
our services. These are the critical elements of the high-quality care that our
communities have come to expect from Mount Sinai.
As we look beyond the horizon toward the challenges that lie ahead for
healthcare, we know that only through generous philanthropic support,
particularly from those who have benefited from care provided here, will
innovative growth and groundbreaking research be possible. Reimbursement,
much of it government-funded, will simply not meet the need to grow,
innovate and discover.
Just a few of the wonderful patient stories and the important involvement
of our staff are featured in the pages of this report. It is our hope that they
will engage your interest and encourage your support.
PHOTOGRAPHY: JOE DRISCOLL
DESIGN: JOHN JOHNSON ART DIRECTION & DESIGN
Please consider a gift to Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital either now
or in your estate planning.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.
For more information contact:
Lynn Rossini
Director, Giving Programs and Stewardship
Saint Francis Foundation
860-714-4900
Mr. Paul Pendergast
President, Saint Francis Foundation
860-714-4900
490 Blue Hills Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut 06112
860-714-3500 • 800-789-7709
www.rehabct.com
Our Mission
We are committed to health and healing
through excellence,
compassionate care
and reverence for the spirituality
of each person.
Our Core Values
RESPECT
We honor the worth and dignity of those
we serve and with whom we work.
INTEGRITY
We are faithful, trustworthy and just.
SERVICE
We reach out to the community,
especially those most in need.
LEADERSHIP
We encourage initiative, creativity,
learning and research.
STEWARDSHIP
We care for and strengthen
resources entrusted to us.