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Massena Memorial Hospital Surgical Services offers the newest Lithotripsy treatment with the Wolf Piezolith 3000 system. This new system offers the patient a less painful procedure, with less noise, less shock intensity but more powerful because it is more efficient and accurate.
"This new lithotripter allows us to treat the patients for kidney stones with two modalities, both ultrasound and fluoroscopy," said Mel Buscemi, MD, Board Certified Urologist. "We can blast the stone quicker with more control which is much better for the patient."
Lithotripsy currently represents the most advanced and least invasive way of eliminating kidney stones, explained Dr. Buscemi. Various types of medical equipment can generate the shockwaves; MMH offers state-of-the-art Lithotripsy equipment from Wolf for ten to fifteen patients every month.
What is Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy?
Lithotripsy is used to successfully treat over a hundred people a year for Kidney Stones at Massena Memorial Hospital. Lithotripsy is a procedure, which utilizes shock waves, focused precisely on the kidney stone, to break it up into sand-like particles that can safely and painlessly pass through your urine. These shock waves pass through your body affecting only the targeted stone. Prior to lithotripsy, kidney stone sufferers either waited for the stone to pass with much discomfort, or underwent surgery. Today, 95 percent of patients can now be successfully treated with lithotripsy.
How is the procedure performed?
A technologist will use both x-ray and ultrasound to pin point the exact location of the kidney stone. Once the stone is located, the physician will move a water-filled, balloon-like apparatus over the targeted area. The procedure uses shockwaves that pass through the water-filled balloon to the targeted area in your body. These high-energy sound waves break up the kidney stone without affecting other areas in your body. These small pieces move through the urinary tract and out of the body more easily than a large stone. The process takes about 30 minutes.
Features of the new Wolf Piezolith Lithotripsy equipment include dual location via X-rays and ultrasound for a more accuracy; alternate upper/lower table positions; high-quality image information with minimum radiation exposure; real-time monitoring of the progress of treatment via ultrasound; and high-resolution image intensifier.
"With this new lithotripter, it has a large inflation field size of the therapy so the physician can treat a patient with more body mass or kidney stones that are deeper with more accuracy," Dr. Buscemi added. "For the patient, there is less skin irritation and bruising. The large therapy head offers less painful treatment for the patient."
With this new equipment, actual treatment statistics with the Wolf Piezolith 3000, shows first treatment success rate of 97.5%.
Charles F. Fahd, II, Massena Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer is pleased to announce Maria A. Cuda, D.O., has recently joined the hospital's Medical Staff as a full-time Family Medicine Physician. In addition, Dr. Cuda has opened a private practice; St. Alphonsus Family Medicine, located in the Casey Medical Building, 15B Hospital Drive.
Dr. Cuda relocates to the North Country with extensive experience and training in Family Medicine. She specializes in the following areas of family health care taking care of the physical, mental, and emotional health of both their patients and their patients' families. She is trained to care for you through all the stages of your life, in all areas of medicine.
Dr. Cuda will see patients from pediatrics to geriatrics. She sees people for all areas of family health care, such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, as well as well childcare visits.
When asked her philosophy for her practice..."Treating patients as how I would treat my own family."
The Board Certified Family Medicine doctor comes to Massena from Maine where she was working as an independent contracted Family Physician in Emergency Rooms, urgent care clinics and outpatient clinics. Prior to Maine, Dr. Cuda had a private practice in Washington for six years.
Her primary focus in her practice is to working with whole family. "I like being able to follow and individual and family throughout their whole life, which is the total patient care aspect. I like being involved with the complete family dynamics."
Dr. Cuda is a Diplomate of American Board of Family Practice and American Board of Osteopathic Family Medicine. She attended medical school at the University of Health Science College, Doctor of Osteopathy, Kansas City, MO.
She did a two-year internship in Family Medicine at Allentown Osteopathic Medical Center, 1994-1995. She completed a four-year residency program at Williamsport Hospital, Family Practice Residency Program, 1995-1998.
Additionally, Dr. Cuda received her undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science at the University of Arizona.
"I love working with my patients. I to listen to each of them; it is more than just treating them for a specific health or medical issue. I promote preventative care," she explained. "I like working with all ages, from pediatrics to geriatrics."
Massena is the right fit for Dr. Cuda, when she was looking for a new community. "I enjoy direct personal contacts in a small town community. It is easy to feel connected," she explained. "When I visited Massena, I knew this would be a right fit. I enjoy knowing my neighbors and helping the families."
Charles F. Fahd, II, Chief Executive Officer is pleased to announce that Fred Brush, Environmental Services, has been selected as the Massena Memorial Hospital Employee of the Quarter for Spring.
Fahd said Brush was nominated from his peers, and members of the MMH Dialysis Unit for this great honor. In his nomination, it states, Brush does an exceptional job at the Dialysis Unit and regularly goes above and beyond his job duties to better the unit for all. It is truly evident that he takes pride in his work.
In another nomination, it states, Fred has the attitude that would make everyone's job more enjoyable if we could all be the same. He is always polite and friendly.
He goes beyond the daily duties of his job with truly heartfelt courtesies that make people feel good, both employees and patients. He is committed to the mission of the hospital and should be recognized for his commitment.
As the Massena Memorial Hospital Employee of the Quarter, Brush receives an engraved picture frame, a Massena Memorial Hospital fleece embroidered blanket, a special designated parking spot in front of the hospital, with a special Employee of the Quarter Key ring. He also receives a special donation from the Massena Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, a Gift Shop Gift Certificate. Congratulations!
Massena Memorial Hospital and the Auxiliary each year recognize a member of the army of volunteers for outstanding service to the Auxiliary and hospital. Massena Memorial Hospital Auxiliary has nearly two-hundred dedicated volunteers who annually donate more than thousands of hours in service to their health care facility and to their community.
Massena Memorial Hospital recognizes each member of the hospital Auxiliary for the dedication and service to the hospital. This year marks the 56th Anniversary of the hospital, but it also important to note the Auxiliary has been an active force at the hospital for over 53 years.
"Our Auxilians, on a daily basis, give countless hours of volunteer service in the areas of patient services, wellness promotion, illness prevention programs, fundraising, advocacy activities, and community outreach projects," said Lois Badger, MMH Auxiliary President. "In fact, in 2007, the Auxilians contributed 4,000 hours of time in various capacities and through the efforts of our 190 members, the Auxiliary donated $20,000 to the hospital for mammography equipment and $10,000 was given on our $100,000 pledge to the MMH Foundation. We also provided two $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors."
Each year the Auxiliary honors an Auxilian of the Year, but this year, the hospital Auxiliary is pleased to honor two members, Jean Delisle and Elton "Bud" Tupper.
Jean Delisle has been a member of the hospital Auxiliary since 1983 and after retirement, she fully immersed herself into serving the hospital through the Auxiliary. She is eager, always working with a smile or a song and truly, joy filled person. Along with co-chairing the Christmas Basket and Lottery Tree projects, she can be seen happily working in the gift shop, knitting and sewing various projects for the needs of our patients. After serving as a Director on the Auxiliary Board, she then served as the President for three years.
All who enter the hospital can see Elton "Bud" Tupper. He is eagerly working at the main lobby Information Desk at least two days a week. Visitors and patients don't have to wait for Bud to ask them if they need assistance, he jumps to greet everyone with a smile and a ready spirit. He is more than accommodating for all who enter the facility, as they often may need directions or even an escort to a department within the hospital. Volunteering to him is a way of life, as Bud also volunteers for Massena Meals on Wheels and his church. The Auxiliary is very pleased he decided to become involved with the hospital volunteering after his retirement at Reynolds.
If you would like further information on becoming an Auxiliary Volunteer at Massena Memorial Hospital, please call MMH Public Relations at 769-4305
Massena Memorial Hospital is proud to provide care to our community. Our doors are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Every year, we serve thousands of individuals and keep our community healthy, strong, and vibrant. This record of service is and always will be our most valuable contribution to the community.
Hospitals strengthen the infrastructures of local communities. Communities rely on their local hospitals and health systems to:
> provide high-quality health care
> bring life into the world
> care for the aged
> ensure safety when an emergency or disaster strikes
> educate people about the impact of lifestyles on their health and well-being; and
> provide comfort at the end of life.
"We realize our success is due to the support of our physicians and the trust the patients place in Massena Memorial Hospital, in allowing us to treat them and their family members," said Charles F. Fahd, II, Chief Executive Officer. "We review the report from HANYS and relate it to the tremendous undertakings that the hospital continues to meet and improve the facility, add new services and equipment along with a healthy financial base for continued improvements."
Less often recognized is the hospital's contribution to the local economy, including the people it employs, the impact of its spending, and the effect of hospital employees' spending and the taxes they pay. Massena Memorial Hospital is critical to the economic viability of our community. Massena Memorial Hospital is a major source of employment and purchaser of goods and services, as well as providing health care that allows people to be productive citizens.
This report, prepared with assistance from the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), highlights the significant role Massena Memorial Hospital plays within our local community. It identifies and measures the direct involvement of Massena Memorial Hospital on the local economy and demonstrates the "ripple" effect of the dollars the health care sector brings into the community and the jobs it helps create. In addition, it illustrates the benefit the hospital provides for a safe, stable, and healthy community.
Massena Memorial Hospital is an Economic Anchor in Our Community.
In addition to enhancing the health and well-being of the communities we serve, Massena Memorial Hospital contributes significantly to the area's economic health. In 2006, we had an estimated total annual economic impact of $75,166,000. The hospital is a major employer that employs over 400 people, with a total payroll of $21,532,000. Hospital payroll expenditures serve as an important economic stimulus, creating and supporting jobs throughout the local and state economies.
Dollars earned by Massena Memorial Hospital employees and spent on groceries, clothing, mortgage payments, rent, etc., generate approximately $41,574,000 in economic activity for the local economy.
Massena Memorial Hospital purchasing power spends about $13,276,000 per year on the goods and services it needs to provide health careāfor example, medical supplies, electricity for its buildings, and food for patients. Funds spent to buy goods and services flow from the hospital to vendors, businesses, and then ripple throughout the economy. In fact, dollars spent by Massena Memorial Hospital generate approximately $25,633,000 for the local economy.
Massena Memorial Hospital Capital Spending in 2006, spent $4,122,000 on buildings and equipment. Capital spending by the hospital generates approximately $7,959,000 for the local economy per year.
The employees of Massena Memorial Hospital and the jobs supported indirectly by the facility paid $1,272,000 in state and local income taxes in 2006. Furthermore, the employees of Massena Memorial Hospital and the jobs supported indirectly by the facility paid $886,000 in local sales tax and $788,000 in state sales tax. Funds spent to buy goods and services flow from the hospital to its vendors and businesses and then "ripple" throughout the economy.
MMH spends in excess of $2.5 million on capital equipment in 2006 and over $26 million on major construction, renovation and capital equipment over the last decade, which flows into our regional economy.
Through programs aimed at preventing disease before it occurs, Massena Memorial Hospital saves individuals and the community millions of dollars in treatment costs and lost earnings. Massena Memorial works in a joint effort to help support the Massena Free Clinic with ancillary services. In 2006, MMH offered nearly $110,000 in free ancillary care to patients of the Massena Free Clinic. Each month the hospital sponsors community education seminars presented by the medical staff and health care professionals at Massena Memorial. Additionally the hospital sponsors support groups and the Mall Walkers program.
Through screening programs, Massena Memorial Hospital is able to detect medical conditions in the population earlier, thus lowering the costs of treatment. Such as the annual cholesterol, glucose and PSA screening the hospital is committed to doing each year.
Massena Memorial Hospital cares for our community in providing vital health care services to our community. In 2006, we had:
>3,527 inpatient visits,
> 118,671 outpatient visits and procedures, and
> 3,666 emergency room visits.
Hospitals are critical to New York's quality of life and to keeping communities healthy and vibrant. Massena Memorial Hospital is a major contributor to both the local and state economies and to keeping families healthy and secure by providing needed health care services.
The data contained in this report provide strong evidence that the economic benefit of our hospital on the local and state economies is significant. To continue to attract jobs to and maintain families in New York State, it is critical that the state have high-quality health care providers and services. We urge our legislators, members of Congress, and community leaders to recognize that our hospital is instrumental to supporting the state and local economy and that step need to be taken to continue to invest in our state's health care system.
When talking with many of the department managers throughout the hospital, they said the reason for the hospital true success is the staff, physicians, and volunteers. Massena Memorial Hospital has over 400 employees; 45 physicians and hundreds of volunteers. When it comes to basic healthcare procedures, most hospitals are alike. "What makes Massena Memorial Hospital different from most, would be the people who do the caring," added Fahd.
Medical Imaging
Sees New Views
March 2006 -- Patient comfort, privacy and state-of-the-art imaging for quality patient care are the motivation for the full re-design of Massena Memorial Hospital 's Medical Imaging Department.
"The hospital's Board of Managers, Physicians and Administration saw a need to re-design and upgrade the Medical Imaging to make it the most state-of-the-art, patient welcoming department in the North Country," said Mark Brouillette, Senior Director Ancillary Services. "With the upgrade, MMH imaging is the best equipped, but has the best Medical Imaging Staff of technologists and Radiologists. We want to make sure our staff has the best tools of their trade to ensure patients have the best images and diagnostic treatment available."
"The hospital's Medical Imaging Department has undergone vast improvements with diagnostic imaging equipment, including a multi-slice CT scanner," says Terence Schumpert , M.D. , Radiologist/Medical Director. "These improvements provide greater speed and productivity while allowing for new exciting possibilities in imaging the human body that will result in better detection of certain diseases."
Massena Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce completion of the 8500 square foot three million dollar project to improve and expand its Medical Imaging services. The project increased the overall size of Medical Imaging by 40%. But increased space was not the sole factor behind the changes.
"Patient comfort and privacy were the motivating factors in the design changes," noted Robert Elsner , Director, Medical Imaging. "As services expanded over the year, we found ourselves having to utilize existing spaces. With this project we were able to focus on designing new rooms and amenities based upon the needs of our patients and physicians."
Nowhere is this more evident, than in the new Women's Imaging Center . The Women's Imaging Center is a facility within a facility and is home to the two-mammography suites and two ultrasound suites. These rooms are spacious, private, and designed to provide maximum comfort. A separate waiting area provides additional privacy.
This attention to detail and design extended throughout the project with each renovated room being expanded as necessary to accommodate, not only the new equipment, but with patient comfort and privacy in mind.
From the spectacular new waiting area to the expanded Computerized Tomography (CT) suite, visitors and patients will notice the changes. We even have beautiful fall foliage ceiling for our patients to enjoy while undergoing their CT scan.
New equipment and technology has been installed that will do great things for our community. At the forefront of this technology is our new Siemens Somatom Sensation, multi-detector Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner. This scanner will bring a host of new vascular imaging previously unavailable locally. The ability of this system to perform detailed "virtual" voyages of the body and reconstructs structures in 3-dimensional services and care to our community. The Imaging Department will be able to offer a range of cardiac and planes and color will be invaluable in the diagnosis and treatment of our patients.
Additionally, MMH has the Philips iU22 ultrasound scanner, which offers detailed analysis of small parts without the shadowing, and streaking associated with older technology. As with our CT scanner, the Philips iU22 can be upgraded and expanded to perform a host of services not previously available to our physicians. MMH has added a new remote fluoroscopic room, the Siemens ICONOS R200. This unit essentially upgrades our "live" x-ray capabilities producing digital images at a significant dose reduction to both patients and staff. Sometimes it is not only what "new" services or technology that is important, but can you provide it more efficiently and safely.
X-ray systems can last a long time. In fact, our new Siemens MULTIX general-purpose x-ray room allows a technologist to lower the table to accommodate the patient. This may not seem like a "fancy" feature, but it makes a difference to the patient's safety and comfort.
Future planning for the What's next for the Medical Imaging Department, a PAC system, Pictorial Archival Computer System, and fixed MRI .
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