Beaulieu Earns Top Healthcare Managment Credential - February 22nd, 2010
Massena Memorial Hospital's Chief Nurse Executive becomes a Fellow of ACHE.
Sue Beaulieu, RN, MSN, FACHE, Massena Memorial Hospital Chief Nurse Executive, recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation's leading professional society for healthcare leaders.
Beaulieu joined the hospital's administrative team in 2001 as the Chief Nurse Executive. The veteran nurse has over 32-years of nursing and managerial experience, with the nearly thirty at Massena Memorial Hospital. She is also the hospital's Corporate Compliance Officer and Disaster Preparedness coordinator.
"Sue is extremely qualified and has served not only as the Nurse Chief Executive, but in a number of other management positions previously, such as the Director of Quality Assurance, Surgical Services and Cardiac Services here at the hospital," said Charles F. Fahd, II, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer. "She is a valued member of the hospital's administrative team. Her earning the ACHE fellowship is just another example of her commitment to providing quality care to the patients and community we serve."
"Because healthcare management ultimately affects the people of our communities, it is critically important to have a standard of excellence promoted by a professional organization," says Thomas C. Dolan, PhD, FACHE, CAE, president and chief executive officer of ACHE. "By becoming an ACHE Fellow and simultaneously earning board certification from ACHE, healthcare leaders can show that they are committed to providing high-quality service to their patients and community."
Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. In fact, only 7,500 healthcare executives hold this distinction. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits and demonstrating professional/community involvement. Fellows are also committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.
Beaulieu of Massena Memorial Hospital is privileged to use the FACHE credential, which signifies board certification in healthcare management and ACHE Fellow status.
Beaulieu received an A.A.S. in Nursing from State University of New York at Canton. She continued her education at State University of New York at Utica/Rome where she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Nursing Administration.

CRNAS NEVER MISS A BEAT - January 29th, 2010
Nurse Anesthetists Celebrate 11th Annual National Nurse Anesthetists Week

With this year's Super Bowl game right around the corner, only rooting sports fans can truly appreciate a team that doesn't drop the ball. However, whether a sports fan or not, during National Nurse Anesthetists Week (Jan., 24-30, 2010), all can win big when celebrating Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) – who Never Miss a Beat.

Massena Memorial Hospital Anesthesia Team has four Certified Register Nurse Anesthetists', Paul Auger, Dane Brenno, Ross Howitt and Ed Gyukeri.

"Massena Memorial Hospital Surgical Services is very fortunate to have four advanced practiced Registered Nurses "CRNAs" providing quality of care to our community," said Sue Beaulieu, RN, Chief Nurse Executive, FACHE.

Established in 2000 by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), National Nurse Anesthetists Week was created to encourage CRNAs to take the opportunity to educate the public about anesthesia safety, questions to ask prior to undergoing surgery, and the benefits of receiving anesthesia care from nurse anesthetists. This year's catchphrase We Never Miss a Beat was created to tout the high-quality care that CRNAs guarantee their patients.

"A nurse anesthetists, CRNA, remains by their patient's side from the moment they go to sleep until the time they awake monitoring every heartbeat and every breath. We can confidently assure patients that we will be there the entire time of their procedure meeting their needs while never missing a beat," said Paul Auger, RN, CRNA. Our CRNA team has over fifty years of combined experience we offer our patients."

Nurse anesthetists are advanced practice nurses who administer approximately 30 million anesthetics in the United States each year. Practicing in every setting where anesthesia is delivered, CRNAs are the primary anesthesia providers in rural hospitals, and have been the main provider of anesthesia care to U.S. service men and women on the front lines since World War I.

"National Nurse Anesthetists Week presents a prime opportunity to remind the public that nurse anesthetists are qualified anesthesia providers who also possess the unique attributes of care and compassion that most patients expect to receive from a nurse, Historically, CRNAs have played a considerable role in advancing trends related to monitoring technology, anesthetic drugs, and patient education." said AANA Executive Director Wilson, CRNA, PhD, MSN.

Digital Technology at Womens Ctr - October 21st, 2009
Massena Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce that digital mammography technology is now available at Women's Imaging Center, which is the latest technology in the fight against breast cancer. This front-line technology uses a powerful computer to create superior, high quality images of the breast, thus increasing the physician's ability to detect cancer and other abnormalities. With the installation of Fuji's Computed Radiography for Mammography (FCRm) system, MMH's Women's Imaging Center is one of the best breast imaging facilities in the North Country.


"Screening mammography is still recognized as the most effective tool available for the early detection of breast cancer," said Terence Schumpert, MD, Chief of Radiology. "And according to a recent landmark study, digital mammography offers significant benefits to certain groups of women. We're proud to be able to provide the North Country area-women with the most advanced screening technology available to identify cancers early when they are most treatable."


Digital mammography, a mammogram that uses new detection technologies and computers, was found in a landmark clinical study of more than 42,000 women to be better than film-screen mammography in detecting breast cancer in three groups: women under 50, pre- and peri-menopausal women, and women with dense breasts. Digital mammograms are 15 percent more accurate among women under age 50 or not yet in menopause, and 11 percent more accurate among women with dense breasts.


From the patient's perspective, the procedure for a digital mammogram is the same as for a conventional film mammogram. Because of the unique design of Fuji's digital mammography solution, MMH's Womens Imaging Center is able to ensure that every woman scheduled for breast screening receives a digital mammogram. Earlier detection means higher success rates of treating cancer.


"The benefits we are experiencing with digital mammography are not only allowing us to do our jobs more effectively and efficiently but, more importantly, they are enabling us to provide the top level of care for our breast imaging patients," said Dr. Schumpert. "Fuji's Computed Radiography for Mammography is the most widely used digital mammography system in the world, and we're pleased to add this to our Medical Imaging Diagnostics capabilities for our patients benefit."


Massena Memorial Hospital offers a full-range of mammography services, including routine and diagnostic screen, digital Stereotactic biopsies, and breast ultrasound and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. Mammography equipment and services are accredited by the American College of Radiology and certified by the Food and Drug Administration. Massena Memorial Hospital provides quality diagnostic mammography services in compliance with regulations and standards required under the federal Mammography Quality Standards Act.


Both of Massena Memorial Hospital Mammography technologists, Jennifer DeSilva and Paula Marshall, are certified Mammographers by the American Registry of Radiologist Technologists (ARRT) in the Medical Imaging Department in Mammography.


Services are routinely available Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM. Depending on volume, same-day and next-day appointments are available. "Massena Memorial Hospital Womens Imaging Center will work with patients to find an appointment time and date that fits their schedule. Special arrangements can be made to insure you get the valuable care you need. Simply call (315) 769-4228 for an appointment and don't hesitate to identify any special needs you may have," explained Robert Elsner, Medical Imaging Administrative Director.


According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 15 and 54, and the second cause of cancer death in women 55 to 74. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in New York State. Each year, about 13,900 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 2,900 women die from the disease in New York State. It is estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime during her life. Fortunately, 96 percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years. A breast exam by a doctor should also be part of a periodic health exam every year for women 40 and above.

MMH INSTALLS SIEMENS 3T MAGNETOM VERIO - May 29th, 2009
Patients coming to Massena Memorial Hospital for routine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans have a new reason to be excited. With a new MAGNETOM Verio MRI scanner from Siemens, physicians at MMH can offer some of the most advanced MR imaging services in a magnet that is designed for maximum patient comfort. The MAGNETOM Verio offers excellent image quality, superb diagnostic capabilities, and exceptional patient comfort with a large, patient-friendly 70-cm opening. With one foot of spacious headroom patients won’t feel like they are nose to nose with the top of the magnet. This means the tight confines in older MRIs are a thing of the past.
Charles F. Fahd, II, Chief Executive Officer, "We are very excited to bring the MAGNETOM Verio to Massena Memorial Hospital. We feel that this system will allow our doctors to have one of the widest ranges of imaging capabilities while being able to cater those services to patients in almost any situation. And it is the only MRI of this magnitude in a 150 mile radius. This is great for the patients of the North Country."
At 3T, the MAGNETOM Verio boasts the strongest magnet field strength used clinically today and gives physicians access to many applications, including neurology and functional neurology evaluation, orthopedic and cartilage assessment, and breast, vascular and cardiac imaging. The system’s large 70-cm opening is wide enough to accommodate a diverse array of patients including individuals who have traditionally been hard to image, such as children, those who are obese (up to 550 lbs), the elderly, and those who are claustrophobic.
"With our new fixed permanent MRI unit, it provides easy full time access to Medical Imaging," said Terence Schumpert, M.D., Radiologist and Chief of Medical Imaging. "With the new 3 Tesla unit, it will provide better image resolution and faster scanning making it a speedy process and easier for the patient."
MAGENTOM Verio, with the power of TimTM (Total imaging matrix) technology, has up to 102 seamlessly integrated matrix coil elements and up to 32 independent radiofrequency channels which allow flexible coil combinations that make patient and coil repositioning virtually unnecessary. This allows increased speed for most MRI exams.
"The Siemens MAGNETOM Verio gives Massena Memorial Hospital one of the most cutting-edge pieces of MRI equipment on the market today and in the North Country," said Dr. Schumpert. "With this system, we have a magnet that operates at the highest clinically used field strengths but that allows us to deliver one of the most comfortable imaging experiences to our patients
. With the many workflow-enhancing features on the system, we also anticipate that it will enable us to increase the number of patients who can take advantage of these valuable imaging services."

MMH NURSING DEVELOPS PICC TEAM - May 29th, 2009
Quality, competence and comfort in the delivery of patient care are the number one priorities for the nursing team at Massena Memorial Hospital. Members of the Massena Memorial Hospital Nursing team recently underwent training in advanced Intravenous Technology. The hospital brought in a specialist, Debra McPherson, MSN, RN, Portland, Maine, to present a program on PICC, Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters.
MMH's PICC Team participants attended a three-day workshop consisting of the didactic section, followed by the practical component for the insertion of the PICC Lines, explained Joyce Smith, MSN, RN, Director of Medical/Surgical/Pediatric Unit. Seven full-time registered nurses from the Medical/Surgical/Pediatric Unit, Emergency Department, ICU/CCU, Endoscopy, Surgical Services and Nursing Supervisors attended the training.
The PICC Team includes seven registered nurses, they are: Joyce Smith, Cindy Rockhill, Tara Williams, Cathy Thomas, Suzanne Trautman, Kathy Mason and Ralene North.
"The Nursing Director for the Medical/Surgical/Pediatric Unit, Joyce Smith, MSN, RN, was instrumental in the development of the PICC team and bringing the training in-house for the benefit of our patients," explained Sue Beaulieu, MSN, RN, Chief Nurse Executive. "Excellent patient care is always expected, going beyond standard procedures and bringing a higher level of healthcare is the commitment of the hospital's nursing team."
Following the training these nurses can perform assessment, insertion and follow-up of advanced venous access devices including Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs.)
"PICC lines are especially useful for those patients requiring multiple intravenous punctures and long term intravenous therapy," Smith added.
An important component of the PICC Team's service is allowing line insertion to take place at the patient"s bedside. Patients are not required to be transported to another department to obtain their PICC line. This has shown to be a convenience to nurses, physicians and especially to patients, as well as their families.
Early assessment and early placement of advance venous access devices are important in providing patients with the best quality of care. Patients are often plagued during hospital stays with needles to start IVs and obtain lab specimens. PICC lines greatly reduce the need for needle sticks for patients, thereby reducing the stress and anxiety associated with being in the hospital.
A PICC line is a peripherally inserted central catheter. It is long, slender, small, flexible tube that is inserted into a peripheral vein, typically in the upper arm. It is similar to other central lines as it terminates into a large vessel near the heart. However, unlike other central lines, its point of entry is from the periphery of the body, the extremities. And typically the upper arm is the area of choice.
A PICC line provides the best of both worlds concerning venous access. Similar to a standard IV, it is inserted in the arm, and usually in the upper arm under the benefits of ultrasound visualization. Also, PICCs differ from peripheral IV access but similar to central lines in that a PICCs termination point is centrally located in the body allowing for treatment that could not be obtained from standard periphery IV access. In addition, PICC insertions are less invasive, have decreased complication risk associated with them, and remain for a much longer duration than other central or periphery access devices.
"This training/program is wonderful for the patients and offers a greater quality of care for those who need long term IV therapy," said Sue Beaulieu, MSN, RN, Chief Nurse Executive. "Again this is substantiation, of why MMH has the best nursing team in the North Country. They are always willing to learn more for the benefit of our patients' treatment."
A PICC line may requested for a variety of treatment options which include some of the following:
• Prolonged IV antibiotic treatment;
• IV access obtainable by less invasive and longer lasting methods;
• Multiple accesses obtainable with one access line;
• PPN Nutrition;
• Chemotherapy;
• IV access related to physiological factors; and
• Home or sub-acute discharge for extended treatment.
PICCs are frequently used to obtain central venous access for patients in acute care, home care and skilled nursing care. Since complication risks are less with PICC lines, it is preferred over other forms of central venous catheters. A PICC is not appropriate for all patients, and must be ordered by a physician.
The PICC may have single or multiple lumens. This depends on how many intravenous therapies are needed. A PICC line can be used for antibiotics, pain medicine, chemotherapy, nutrition, or for the drawing of blood samples.
The instructor, McPherson, has over 23 years experience in the field of vascular access, and has practiced in a variety of clinical settings. This experience includes ten years as the Parenteral Therapy Nurse Coordinator at Maine Medical Center managing the Parenteral Therapy department and developing the PICC Service. She is a resource contact person for hospitals throughout the northeast and mentors others in developing a business plan to support the need for a dedicated PICC Service.