heartbeat magazine - spring 2008

A New Era at St. FrancisThe Hospital will be opening the doors to a transformed facility

Plus:• U.S. News Ranks St. Francis Among the Best• Heart Stents 101• New Help for Sinusitis Sufferers

A New Era at St. FrancisThe Hospital will be opening the doors to a transformed facility

Plus:• U.S. News Ranks St. Francis Among the Best• Heart Stents 101• New Help for Sinusitis Sufferers

HeartbeatThe Magazine of St. Francis Hospital The Heart Center® Spring 2008

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Heartbeat Spring 20082

A New Chapter

From the

President

Heartbeat

In this Issue

is published by St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center®. Questions or comments

can be directed to St. Francis Hospital, Office of Development and Public Affairs, 100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn,

New York 11576. Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved. St. Francis Hospital is a member of Catholic Health

Services of Long Island, the healthcare ministry of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

From the President 2

In the NewsU.S. News Ranking 3The Mysterious Human Heart 3St. Francis Late Breaking News 3Doctors Save 19-Month-Old Haitian Orphan 4St. Francis Voted Best Hospital 4Harold Fernandez, M.D., Hailed as Superhero 4

FeaturesMaking Sense of Stents 5Richard A. Shlofmitz, M.D., answers important questions about stents

Cover StoryA New Era at St. Francis 6The Hospital will be opening the doors to a transformed facility

Beyond the Heart 9St. Francis Hospital’s Expanding Strengths in Non-Cardiac Care

Bypassing Heart Surgery 10St. Francis is investigating a minimally invasive device to repair a leaky heart valve

Giving BackMore than a Donor 12Campaigning for Excellence 12Then a Patient, Now a Volunteer 13Planned Giving 13

Vital SignsSinusitis Suffers Breathe Easier 14St. Francis Launches Redesigned Website 14Exploring Robotic Heart Surgery 14Stroke Center Off to Strong Start 15Healing Therapy for Heart Failure 15Staff News 15

page 5

page 6

page 10

Welcome to Heartbeat, themagazine of St. FrancisHospital, The Heart Center.As some of you may note,we are taking our name from a newsletter theHospital published someyears ago. Today, we have

decided to give Heartbeat a new look to signal exciting changes at the Hospital.

We are proud of the fact that in the past year thetradition of excellence at St. Francis Hospital hasbeen recognized in so many quarters. In our ownbackyard, readers of Long Island Business Newsnamed us the best hospital on Long Island; in themetropolitan area, New York Magazine ranked usthe best hospital for cardiac care on Long Island;and U.S. News & World Report ranked St. Francisone of the best hospitals in America for heart andheart surgery, digestive disorders, geriatrics, andear, nose and throat disorders.

In addition, St. Francis earned the prestigiousMagnet designation for excellence in nursing services, an honor achieved by only 5 percent of thenation’s hospitals. And most recently, we were ratedone of the best companies to work for in New YorkState by the Society for Human ResourceManagement. Perhaps most important is how ourpatients and their families rate the care they receiveat our Hospital. St. Francis has consistently earnednear-perfect patient satisfaction ratings on theauthoritative Press Ganey survey. In fact, 99 percentof our patients say they would recommend theHospital to a family member or friend.

All this good news comes at a time when theHospital is about to begin a new chapter in its history. Our patient care building, the DeMatteisPavilion, will open this summer, expanding our clinical space by 40 percent. After 15 years of operating at over 100 percent of capacity, St. Franciswill not only be positioned to meet the increaseddemand for its care and services, but it will have astate-of-the-art facility to house our first-class cardiac and non-cardiac programs.

So look for Heartbeat to bring you news and information about all of the recent developmentsand trends at St. Francis Hospital and the broaderworld of medicine and health.

Best wishes,

Alan D. Guerci, M.D.President and CEO

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Spring 2008 Heartbeat

In the NewsU.S. News & WorldReport Ranks St. Francis as One of the Nation’s BestHospitals

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center has

been recognized by U.S. News & World

Report as one of the best hospitals in the

nation in the magazine’s prestigious annual

ranking of medical institutions. In addition

to being honored for its leadership in car-

diac care, the Hospital was also ranked

among the top hospitals in the nation for

digestive disorders, geriatrics, and ear, nose

and throat disorders.

According to U.S. News, its annual

assessment is intended to “help patients

find the best hospital when the need is

great” understanding that “when confront-

ed with a difficult or complex condition,

selecting a hospital with a solid record

could be nothing less than lifesaving.”

“This honor confirms our position as a

leading heart center and highlights our

expanding strengths in non-cardiac care,”

said Alan D. Guerci, M.D., President and

CEO of St. Francis Hospital.

Of more than 5,400 hospitals that were

surveyed, St. Francis was one of only 173

medical centers to be honored. Its top

national ranking in four specialties was

more than all other hospitals on Long

Island combined.

Joseph Levine, M.D., Appearson PBS Series “TheMysterious Human Heart”Joseph Levine, M.D., Chief of Electrophysiologyat St. Francis Hospital, appeared in the nationalbroadcast of The Mysterious Human Heart, airedon PBS.The arrhythmia expert was featured inepisode two, The Spark of Life, which focused on

the electrical mechanisms that keep a heart beating regularly and efficiently, andwhat happens when this most essential rhythm of life goes awry.

Three of Dr. Levine’s patients, the Oill brothers, were highlighted in the seg-ment. Christopher, Matthew and Kevin (below) have all been diagnosed with adisorder of the heart’s electrical system known as long QT syndrome.The geneticpredisposition causes fast, irregular heartbeats that may lead to fainting or, in somecases, cardiac arrest and possible sudden death.Through careful monitoring by Dr.Levine, using the latest technology at St. Francis Hospital’s Arrhythmia Center, theboys are able to lead active lives.

St. Francis Late Breaking News

3

Back in action: Matthew, Kevin and Christopher Oill with their mother, Lynn.

Is Your Heart Not Nifty at Fifty? A landmark St. Francis study shows that hearts begin shrinking and blood pressure goes up

at the mid-century mark. Visit www.stfrancisheartcenter.com and go to Latest News to learn

more about this study.

A Great Place to WorkSt. Francis Hospital is selected one of the best places to work in New York State.

Go to to Latest News at www.stfrancisheartcenter.com for more on this special recognition.

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In the News

Harold Fernandez, M.D., Hailed as Hispanic Super Hero by Discovery en EspanolThe amazing immigration story of Harold

Fernandez, M.D., a cardiac surgeon at St. Francis

Hospital, has captured nationwide media atten-

tion not only on networks such as CNN and

Univision, but also Discovery en Espanol. The

channel was so impressed by the doctor’s story of

being smuggled from Columbia as a boy to

becoming a Harvard-educated M.D., it chose him

as the model for one of four cartoon super heroes

to provide inspiration for young people during

Hispanic Heritage Month.

St. Francis Voted Best Hospital on Long IslandSt. Francis Hospital was rated BestHospital in the “2007 Best of LongIsland Business” survey in Long IslandBusiness News.

Readers were asked to cast theirvotes in dozens of different cate-gories, and St. Francis ranked No. 1among all hospitals on Long Island.

St. FrancisDoctorsSave 19-Month-OldHaitianOrphanA baby with a potentiallyfatal heart condition whowas left abandoned on the steps of a church in Haiti has been give a new

lease on life thanks to two St. Francis physicians.The little girl, known only as Patriciabecause she has no last name, received the best holiday gift she could get after beingdiscovered by one of our doctors and receiving a state-of-the-art procedure from theother.

“This is what I live for, to help children like Patricia,” said Sean Levchuck, M.D.,Director of Pediatric Cardiology. Using a balloon catheter inserted through thechild’s leg Dr. Levchuck was able to treat Patricia’s faulty heart valve, just days beforeChristmas, giving her new hope for the New Year.

Lionel Barrau, M.D., Chief of Nephrology, initially found the child in a Haitianorphanage during a trip to his homeland.After examining her, he realized that Patriciasuffered from pulmonary valve stenosis, an abnormality that impedes the flow ofblood to the lungs.

With help from the Mercy and Sharing Foundation, a Colorado-based organizationthat operates two orphanages in Haiti for terminally ill children, and the Nicholas J.Vizza Memorial Fund for Pediatrics, Patricia was able to get medical care here.

The story received widespread media coverage with hopes that Patricia would beadopted. For more information, call (970) 925-1492 or log on to www.HaitiChildren.com.

Did You Know?

When it comes to cardiac specialties, St.

Francis has more doctors on New York

Magazine’s “Best Doctors” list than any

other hospital on Long Island.

St. Francis is also the top ranked hospi-

tal for cardiac care on Long Island,

according to the magazine’s “Best

Hospitals” issue. The list was the result

of a survey that polled over 30,000 New

York area physicians.

(From l. to r.) Sean Levchuck, M.D., Elizabeth White, R.N., Baby Patricia, and Lionel Barrau, M.D.

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Spring 2008 Heartbeat5

Q&A

Cardiac stents are one of the most important advances in the treat-ment of heart disease. First introduced in the 1980s, today more than2 million stents are placed in patients annually to open blockages intheir coronary arteries. Recently, there has been discussion in thenews about the effectiveness of stents, particularly the latest modelscalled drug-eluting stents. To shed light on these questions and toexplain how stents work, we turned to Richard A. Shlofmitz, M.D.,Chief of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at St. Francis Hospital.Consistently named one of the New York Magazine’s “Best Doctors,”here’s what the renowned physician told us about stents.

Heartbeat: What is a stent?

Dr. Shlofmitz: A stent is a small, thin metal cylinder that looks like a

spring on a pen. Its purpose is to assist in opening a blocked artery. If

there’s a blockage, sometimes it can be treated with medication, but if

medication is not safe to treat the patient and will increase their

chances of having a heart attack, the artery needs to be opened. A

patient has two options. We can perform a coronary artery bypass oper-

ation or an angioplasty with a stent. This is a procedure where, with the

patient awake, you go in through a small opening in an artery and

thread a small catheter up into the heart and open the blocked artery.

Years ago, we used a balloon to open the artery, but it wasn’t success-

ful. With the advent of stents, we can open blocked arteries with

long-term success.

Heartbeat: What’s the difference between a bare-metal stent and a

drug-coated stent?

Dr. Shlofmitz: Bare-metal stents can cause scar tissue to build up, which

is called restenosis. When you use a bare-metal stent, the restenosis rate

could be as high as 40 percent, meaning that four out of 10 people would

have a blockage return in six months. Researchers found that scar tissue

was forming from a cell called a fibroblast. New stents were developed

that contained medications that prevented the growth of fibroblasts.

When we started using these stents, called drug-eluting or drug-coated

stents, the restenosis rate went from 40 percent to under 5 percent. Now,

we’re primarily using drug-coated stents because the chance of the

blockage returning is very small.

Heartbeat: Then who is still getting bare-metal stents?

Dr. Shlofmitz: There are certain instances where people need bare-metal

stents. Patients who get drug-coated stents need to take Plavix, a blood

thinner, for a longer period of time than those who have bare-metal stents.

So if a patient was going to have surgery and needed to stop the use of a

blood thinner in a short period of time, you might use a bare-metal stent.

However, in most cases, the drug-coated stent is the best treatment for a

blocked artery for somebody who needs to have angioplasty.

Heartbeat: Drug-coated stents have been in the news a lot lately. What’s

behind the debate?

Dr. Shlofmitz: There is little debate among doctors, and a lot of confu-

sion in press accounts. In the past two years, there were several studies

that called into question the safety and effectiveness of drug-coated

stents. These studies received a great deal of media attention. However,

recently the limitations of those studies have become apparent, and

newer more powerful studies have been released that confirm what most

practicing cardiologists know — that drug-coated stents are extremely

safe and effective.

Heartbeat: So patients shouldn’t worry about drug-coated stents at all?

Dr. Shlofmitz: Drug-coated stents have revolutionized the treatment in

coronary artery disease. Not only do they decrease the restenosis rate,

but the need for open-heart surgery has dropped dramatically. Before, I

wouldn’t have inserted a stent in a patient who had a long blockage in a

small vessel because with a bare-metal stent, I would have known that

the patient would have a 60 to 70 percent chance of the blockage return-

ing. For that patient, I would have recommended surgery. But now with

drug-coated stents, the blockage doesn’t come back. Plus, with an angio-

plasty and stent placement, you’re usually home the next day as opposed

to the higher risks and longer recovery time of open-heart surgery.

Heartbeat: What’s the future of stents?

Dr. Shlofmitz: Scientists are in the process of developing a special stent

for patients who have bifurcating lesions, which is a blockage in both

branches of the artery. Those patients usually don’t do well with stents,

and we sometimes have to send them for surgery. And then there are

dissolvable stents. Because patients with drug-coated stents need to

take Plavix, a stent that gradually dissolves over time would allow

patients to stop taking blood thinners. There is one thing you can count

on, if there is an exciting new development in technology or treatment in

the coming years, you'll find it at St. Francis.

Making Sense of Stents

Richard A. Shlofmitz, M.D.

Richard A. Shlofmitz, M.D., answers six important questions about stents

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Sparks flying: The new state-of-the-artDeMatteis Pavilion will have 184 patient beds.

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Drive up to 100 Port Washington Boulevard today, and the signs of change are everywhere. Withsix months to go on a three-year, $190 million expansion project, St. Francis Hospital is taking on a new look. Workers are putting the finishing touches on the interior spaces of the new facilitiesand preparing them for the delivery and installation of the latest medical and surgical technology.Teams of physicians and nurses are making final occupancy plans and are deciding on the deployment of resources. Soon the empty hallways and rooms will be alive with activity, wherepatients will receive life-saving treatments and the future of cardiovascular medicine and a rangeof other specialties will be shaped.

oday, however, one of the first things you are likely to notice is the parking.

The first part of the expansion project, a convenient new multilevel underground parking

garage with direct elevator access inside the Hospital lobby, has been

completed and is in active use. The main entrance to the Hospital is completely revamped, as are the

entrance grounds and plaza. The venerable statue of St. Francis once again presides in a prominent posi-

tion over the fountain.

Perhaps the most architecturally dramatic feature of the building project, the two-story glass-enclosed

atrium lobby of the ambulatory surgery center, is nearly complete. The Nancy and Fred DeMatteis

Pavilion, a new 158,000 square-foot patient care building, is completed on the exterior, while work on

patient rooms, new operating suites, and other interior spaces is moving at an accelerated pace.

Keeping Pace with Demand

The expansion project addresses what has been a central fact of life at St. Francis Hospital for nearly

two decades: keeping pace with the increased demand for the Hospital’s services. “Success brings

its challenges. We have been operating at over 100 percent of capacity for over 15 years, and we have

felt the squeeze,” says Alan D. Guerci, M.D., President and CEO of the Hospital. “This project gives

us the opportunity to ‘right-size’ our facilities - which means more comfort for our patients and the

ability to position ourselves for future growth.”

In addition to the new DeMatteis Pavilion, which is the cornerstone of the project, the Hospital’s

other construction plans feature the expansion of the Emergency Department, cardiac catheteriza-

tion lab facilities, and the non-cardiac surgical center (see Expansion Project Highlights, page 8).

“St. Francis Hospital is a well-known leader in cardiac care, but it also has outstanding non-cardiac

programs, many of them nationally recognized,” says Akram Boutros, M.D., Executive Vice President

and Chief Administrative Officer. “With 14 new operating rooms and other facilities, this ‘best-kept

secret’ will not be so secret anymore.” These superb programs include vascular, urological, gastroen-

terological, ear, nose and throat, and orthopedic surgery. The Hospital is also exploring the expan-

sion of its oncology services.

Leading-Edge Technology

In addition to employing the latest in diagnostic imaging equipment, the new DeMatteis Pavilion will

have leading-edge technology to make the work of the medical and nursing staff easier and patients

A New Era at St. Francis

The largest construction project in the Hospital’s history is over 85% complete and is scheduled to open in July 2008.

T

St. Francis Hospital will be opening the doors to a transformed facility

Cover Story

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Building the Hospital of the Future continued

more comfortable. The following are just a few examples:

• St. Francis will be one of only a few hospitals to employ wireless cardiac monitoring throughout

its new building. If a patient walks to a waiting room or to the cafeteria, he or she will be monitored

wirelessly at all times.

• Each patient room will have a new nurse’s call system in place. Unlike a pull-cord or button that

rings at the nurse’s station, this new voice communications technology allows patients to speak

immediately and directly to the nurse who is assigned to them.

• The new operating rooms will feature a state-of-the-art video integration system employing touch

screen technology on a hanging flat panel display system. Even as surgeons are operating, the high-

tech system allows them to immediately pull up x-rays, scans, lab results, and other relevant diag-

nostic data at the touch of a finger.

• A new building management system – a computerized network that functions as a kind of brain

and nervous system – will use approximately 1,000 monitoring points throughout the new building

to control functions such as heating and cooling. When the sun rises on one side of the building and

the temperature rises, the system compensates auto-

matically. If the patient in Room 257 is too hot, an

adjustment can be made immediately.

• The new building will also be the home of the da

Vinci robotic surgical system. Robotic surgery dramati-

cally reduces both the trauma of surgery and recovery

time. Currently used to treat prostate cancer, surgeons

will also be exploring applications to heart surgery.

With significantly more space and the latest technol-

ogy, St. Francis Hospital will be ushering in a new era in

its history and reaffirming its commitment to meeting

the healthcare needs of the community. And it is all

coming soon. The opening ceremony for the DeMatteis

Pavilion is scheduled for July and the facility should be

in full operation in the fall.

Alan D. Guerci, M.D., President and CEO, with Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Peter C. Quick and Christopher S. Pascucci. The campaign

has raised over $53 million in support of the building project.

Expansion Project Highlights

• An expanded Emergency Department, with atriage center, separate entrances for trauma casesand ambulatory patients, two trauma rooms, 22beds in semi-private examination rooms, an imaging suite with a dedicated 64-slice CT scanner,an isolation treatment area, seven fast-track beds,and an expanded reception area—imaging suitecompleted; remainder to be completed in 2009

• Expanded cardiac catheterization lab facilities(increasing from five to seven laboratories), with adjacent and adequately-sized reception, staging, and recovery rooms, and the latest digital imaging systems—the remaining areas will be completed in 2008

• A new patient care building that will house twomedical/surgical floors and one 40-bed intensivecare center, with a total of approximately 184patient beds in semi-private and private roomsdesigned for superior comfort. This will contributeto an increase in the Hospital’s licensed bed capacity from 279 to 356—to be completed in 2008

• The expansion of the non-cardiac surgical center, which will double in size with a total of 14operating suites featuring state-of-the-art lighting,operating tables, and ceiling-mounted equipmentpanels. These new operating rooms are designedfor maximal use of space during procedures andminimal turnaround time between procedures, andwill accommodate new technology, such as a robotic surgical system for minimally invasive surgery—to be completed in 2008

• A new, underground five-level garage, which will result in a net increase of 315 parkingspaces. Its design will enable patients, visitors,and staff to enter the hospital from the garage via elevators that open onto the main lobby andoutpatient lobby—completed

• An expanded Casey Pavilion entrance andlobby—completed

• A dramatic two-story outpatient atrium lobbyas the setting for registration and patient discharge for ambulatory surgery and imagingservices, which will also serve as a connectorbetween the Casey Pavilion and the new patientcare building—to be completed in 2008

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Spring 2008 Heartbeat 9

Beyond the HeartLast summer, U.S. News & World Report recognized St. Francis Hospital not only for its outstanding cardiac care, but for itsnon-cardiac care as well. The hospital was ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for digestive disorders, geriatrics,and ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders. These three specialty services have proven to be the pillars of St. Francis’s excellentgeneral medical and surgical care, and will continue to be a significant part of the hospital’s future. “St. Francis has a funda-mental process of excellence,” says Jack Soterakis, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Hospital. “Even though 75percent of our cases are cardiac, that expertise is carried over to the care we provide to patients with a non-cardiac primarydiagnosis. No matter what the specialty, our bar is high. We consider the whole patient—and not only the heart.”

Here’s a look at St. Francis Hospital’s geriatrics, digestive and ENT specialties:

St. Francis Hospital’s Expanding Strengths in Non-Cardiac Care

Geriatrics

St. Francis Hospital was recognizedfor geriatrics by U.S. News despite thefact that it does not have a formal department.That’s because 55 percent of the hospital’spatients are elderly and would be defined asbelonging to a geriatric population. Many doctors on staff are specially trained to treatthese patients. “Several of the physicians inthe Department of Medicine are certified geriatricians,” explains Dr. Soterakis. “Most ofour internists have a larger elderly population,and even though they are not certified in geriatric medicine, they are more than capableand qualified to take care of these patients.”

The hospital assures that all of its physicianson staff are credentialed and execute the bestpractices for their patients. Plus, the hospital isadept at treating acute health conditions,which are common problems in the geriatriccommunity. “We excel in geriatrics becauseour doctors understand and provide the qualitymeasures that have been established for thecare of our patients. We continually monitor ourperformance for improvement so that we maymeet and exceed our expectations,” adds Dr.Soterakis

Digestive Disorders

The physicians in the Division ofGastroenterology at St. Francis Hospital havethe skill and expertise to diagnose and treat all formsof gastrointestinal illnesses and employ essentialstate of the art technologies to diagnose and treatthe most difficult of digestive disorders. The depart-ment is headed by Anthony J. Celifarco, M.D.

“I am honored to lead this department at suchan exciting time in our hospital’s history,” says Dr.Celifarco. “Although well known for its cardiac care,it is the support from the many medical subspe-cialties that is vital to the success of our institution,and the department of gastroenterology hasalways been at the forefront of diagnosis and treat-ment.”

In addition to consultative services, the depart-ment provides all forms of endoscopic and non-endoscopic studies on an in-patient or out-patientbasis. Procedures offered include colonoscopy, notonly for routine colon cancer screening, but also tohelp diagnose causes of bleeding, diarrhea or consti-pation. Upper endoscopy is utilized to evaluate caus-es of abdominal pain, bleeding, weight loss and diffi-culties swallowing. The division also performs endo-scopic dilation, stent placement for obstructivelesions, and enteroscopy to help visualize and treatpotential disorders of the small intestine.

One of the latest technologies, CapsuleEndoscopy, can take images of the entire smallbowel to find obscure causes of gastrointestinalbleeding, and help find evidence of undiagnoseddisorders such as Crohn’s disease. Recently, theDivision of Gastroenterology acquired state-of-the-art, high-definition endoscopic equipment.“Acquiring this equipment further demonstratesour department’s commitment to remain at theforefront of gastrointestinal endoscopy,” says Dr.Celifarco.

Ear-Nose-Throat

Led by Philip W. Perlman, M.D., FACS, theENT Division prides itself on being at the forefrontof technological innovation, which includes offeringminimally invasive sinus surgery to its patients.

“I am very proud of the ranking given to our ENTdepartment at St Francis Hospital,” says Dr.Perlman. “The otolaryngologists on staff continueto strive to meet the excellence in medical andsurgical care that is exhibited throughout St.Francis Hospital. Our physicians are leaders in ourcommunity and beyond. We utilize up-to-the-minute, state-of-the-art equipment for a variety ofENT procedures to better care for our patients.”

These procedures include BrainLAB ENT forsinus surgery and balloon sinuplasty. BrainLAB isan image-guided endoscopic procedure, which inmost cases is performed entirely through the nos-trils, leaving no external scars, while balloon sinu-plasty involves a small, flexible balloon catheterplaced through a nostril into the blocked sinuspassageway. The balloon is then inflated to gentlyrestructure and open the sinus passageway,restoring normal sinus drainage and function withminimal tissue damage. Other procedures routine-ly performed include: microscopic middle ear sur-gery, laryngoscopy, surgery for sleep apnea, androutine pediatric tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy.

Looking forward, Dr. Soterakis says that as thehospital expands, so will many of its programs,including ENT. “Our ENT specialty focuses prima-rily on outpatient procedures and that will contin-ue. As we expand our operating rooms, additionaltime will be given to those ENT surgeons who canfully use our facility.”

These and other developments paint a brightfuture for expanding general medical and surgicalspecialties at St. Francis, and ultimately for thepatients who turn to the Hospital for this expertise.

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Bypassing Heart Surgery

Retired MTA subway motorman, Roy Tucker, remembers not being able to walk without being outof breath. Due to a leaky mitral valve, he couldn’t lie down and had to sleep sitting up. But now,thanks to an experimental procedure being performed at St. Francis Hospital by Andrew Berke,M.D., the former train operator is back on track. Through the use of a minimally invasive devicecalled the MitraClip, Tucker was able to avoid open-heart surgery.

St. Francis is investigating a minimally invasive device to repair a leaky heart valve

“I feel 200% better and canfinally get a good night’srest,”said Tuckerabout how theprocedure hasimproved hisquality of life.

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t. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center, is the only hospital on

Long Island treating patients in a clinical study of this new

investigational device. It is designed to treat mitral regurgi-

tation (MR)—the most common type of heart valve insufficiency—by

using a cardiac catheterization technique.

The Hospital is one of 34 medical centers in North America evaluat-

ing the safety and effectiveness of the percutaneous (through the

skin) procedure as part of a prospective, randomized, controlled study

in patients with moderate to severe or severe MR, as compared to

open surgical repair or replacement.

The procedure uses the MitraClip™ device (made by Evalve, Inc.,

Menlo Park, CA) to bring the leaflets (the “swinging doors”) of the

valve together, helping it to close properly. Interventional cardiologists

in the cardiac catheterization laboratory use general anesthesia to per-

form it. In addition to improving blood flow through the heart, the pro-

cedure may also relieve symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of

breath that often affect patients with significant MR.

An estimated 4 million people nationwide suffer from significant

MR. In these patients, blood leaks backward through the mitral valve

with each heartbeat, causing the heart to work harder to circulate oxy-

genated blood to the rest of the body.

The Search for New TreatmentsThere are no medications that specifically treat or cure MR, though

some patients receive drugs to manage the symptoms. Both the

American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology

recommend open-heart surgery to repair or replace the mitral valve for

patients who suffer from moderate to severe or severe MR. However,

only 20 percent of these patients, or approximately 50,000, undergo

surgery each year.

If left untreated, valve insufficiency can lead to atrial fibrillation,

heart muscle dysfunction, symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF),

and an increased risk of sudden death. Improved treatment options,

such as the MitraClip device, can reduce the potential for developing

CHF and may improve the quality of life for patients currently suffering

from CHF.

For more information about mitral regurgitation or to find out if you

may qualify to participate in the EVEREST II study, call toll free

1-877-MY-MR-FIX, 877-696-7349 or visit www.mitralregurgitation.org.

The MitraClip (left) made by Evalve, Inc. is inserted

through the skin by a catheter to bring the leaflets of a

leaky mitral valve together and help it close properly.

Right, below, Roy Tucker with Andrew Berke, M.D.

S

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Meet Diane Graf

More thana DonorDiane Graf’s life is filled with many

things: A large and loving family, choir

rehearsals, a foundation honoring her late

husband, Peter J. Haller, and St. Francis Hospital.

For 23 years, Diane has called St. Francis her

second home.

She was first introduced to the hospital in

1984 after her husband was admitted for heart

problems, and had to undergo a valve replace-

ment surgery. For the next 16 years, Pete, a suc-

cessful international insurance businessman,

was in and out of St. Francis for a number of dif-

ferent treatments. He also joined the DeMatteis

Center’s exercise club, made contributions to the

hospital and built strong relationships with St.

Francis staff members while Diane worked in the

pastoral care department.

In March 2000, Pete lost a battle with lung

cancer, five months after he and Diane retired from their jobs. They had been married for 40 years.

Diane and her family pulled through that difficult time and decided to keep Pete’s memory

alive. He had always been philanthropic, so along with her three daughters, Diane decided to

create the Peter J. Haller Foundation, with the goal of continuing to give in her husband’s name.

“When we would say our prayers at dinnertime, we’d always conclude it with a prayer for the hun-

gry and the homeless,” Diane recalls. “Pete was very concerned about that, so establishing this

foundation allowed us to follow up on the things that were important to him when he was alive.”

One of the places that mattered to him was St. Francis Hospital. “My husband had a love for

the hospital and the people who work there,” Diane says. “We found the nursing staff to be

absolutely wonderful. Pete thought that the nurses must go through an intensive interviewing

process before they’re hired, because the attitude at the hospital was so different from any-

where else.”

Diane, now married to George Graf, and her family continue to give back to the hospital. They

have donated a significant amount of money to St. Francis over the years, including funds that

Pete had given to the hospital when he was alive and a $125,000 gift to the emergency room by

the foundation in 2004.

Diane also gives back to the hospital by volunteering. After she retired from the pastoral

care department in 1999, she stayed on as a volunteer. She currently sells chances and helps out

with the seasonal campaigns. She and George also sing with the Franciscan Sisters at Christmas

and Easter.

When asked to describe St. Francis in three words, Diane chooses “professional, caring, and

warm” without any hesitation. “I can’t say enough about this place and the people. Well, the

place is the people. It really is.”

Giving Back

“I can’t say enough aboutthis place and the people.Well, the place is the people. It really is.”

St. Francis Hospital is in the middle of an ambitious capital campaign to fund the MasterFacilities Plan (MFP), the largestexpansion and renovation project inthe Hospital’s history (see article onpage 6).The MFP will add 40 percent more clinical space to theHospital and ensure that St. Francisremains a leader in healthcare, whileachieving its vision of high qualitypatient care.

Highlights:

• Goal: $70 million by 2011

• Progress: As of February 20, 2008,the total amount of donations stands at$53,276,358

• A galvanized community:St. Francis has received 171 gifts from former, current and honorary boardmembers; friends, grateful patients,foundations, corporations, and majorgift committee members, as well as St. Francis Hospital’s own physicians,staff and volunteers

• Significant support:The Hospitalreceived 79 major gifts of $100,000and above

Campaigningfor Excellence

The Women’s Center of St. Francis Hospital . . .

where setting up a test is quickand convenient and you usuallyreceive same-day results. For more information, call: (516) 629-2400.

90018 3/10/08 2:48 AM


Over 80 years ago,when the North Shore was large-

ly farms, St. Francis Hospital

began as a summer camp for city

children. By the 1950s it had

grown into a hospital for chil-

dren with rheumatic fever and

other heart problems.

Bill Johnson was one of those

children. At age 12, the Brooklyn

native found himself recovering

in a St. Francis Hospital bed after having four angiograms within a two-

week time span. He’d always had heart problems as a child, and had

suffered from a heart murmur and rheumatic fever at age 3.

His parents sent him to St. Francis after a doctor recommended the

hospital. Fortunately, Bill was given the OK by St. Francis physicians to

play sports after his heart murmur had been downgraded to minor. He

went on to have a normal life, playing 13 years of football, including col-

lege and then semi-pro with the Brooklyn Knights.

However, at age 44, Bill, who owned a Pepsi Cola distributing busi-

ness, began to get winded at work. He saw a cardiologist in Brooklyn

who told him that he had a leaky valve and suggested that Bill go to a

local hospital. But Bill had other plans. He went back to St. Francis.

Meet Bill Johnson

Then a Patient, Now a Volunteer

Giving Back

And Bill would continue to come back to St. Francis on an off for the

next several years for arrhythmia problems, a ventricular tachycardia

diagnosis and to eventually have a defibrillator implanted. But it was-

n’t until one of those hospital stays in 1997, and a conversation with

a volunteer who brought him a newspaper, that Bill took special

notice of the care he was receiving at the same hospital that treated

him as a child.

“I received the best care at St. Francis. The nurses and doctors treat-

ed me as if I was the president of the United States!” Bill, a married

father of two, remembers. “I saw how devoted the staff was to their

patients and I liked it.”

Now, 10 years and 10,000 hours later, it’s Bill, who as a St. Francis vol-

unteer, is devoted to the patients. Every Monday, Wednesday and

Thursday you can find him in the emergency department giving a help-

ing hand to the busy nurses, doctors and staff members.

Bill finally retired from Pepsi in 2004 after juggling his time at work

and St. Francis. Now he can fully devote his time to the hospital, and

golf, his other favorite pastime. Also, Bill hasn’t had any heart problems

since having an ablation at the hospital eight years ago. He’s healthy

and thankful for his time at St. Francis.

“I don’t see myself getting tired of St. Francis,” he explains. “Being

friends with the staff and the patients, and knowing that I can help to

make someone’s life easier is what brings me back each day.”

Nancy K.Munson is the new chair of the Sr. Jean M.Pignone Legacy Society at St.Francis Hospital,anorganization that enables benefactors to arrange legacygifts for the Hospital.The Huntington,New York,attor-ney has strong ties to St.Francis,but perhaps her deep-est connection is to the very founding of the Hospital:her cousin is the late Carlos Munson, the steamship

magnate who, in 1926,donated the land that St.Francis Hospital is built upon.We recently caught up with Nancy Munson to discuss her new role and why shegives back to St.Francis every chance she can get.

Heartbeat: How did you become involved with St. Francis?Nancy Munson: My great-aunt and my brother received wonderfulcare at St. Francis, so I wanted to do something more to give newlife to our cousin’s ideas. My dad and I gave quite a bit of money fora while and then after he died I gave more.That’s how I eventuallygot involved in the society.

HB:You could have donated to any other organization. Is itbecause of your family history that you chose to include St.Francis in your will?NM: Yes, that’s one of the reasons, and the fact that the Hospital is sooutstanding across the board. Last year, I broke my arm and came toSt. Francis.They did a terrific job and got me back into shape.

HB:What is so unique about St. Francis? NM: Whether it’s the parking lot attendant or a surgeon, everyone isso friendly. When I give to a charity, I like to know what they aredoing with the money.At St. Francis I can see what my money is beingused for–whether it’s the discovery of new treatments for heart dis-ease, or the hiring of staff who are the best in their field. I have been tomany hospitals, and the best one all around is St. Francis.

For more information about the Sr. Jean M.Pignone Legacy Society,call (516) 705-6655.

Planned Giving Q&A with Nancy Munson

90018 3/10/08 2:48 AM


Vital SignsSinusitis Sufferers Breathe EasierA new, minimally invasive procedure brings relief for sinus pain

Tracy Naviasky has been sufferingfrom sinusitis since she was 7 yearsold. She was on antibiotics everythree weeks, missed school andhad chronic headaches.After dis-cussing treatment options withPhilip Perlman M.D., Chief ofOtolaryngology at St. FrancisHospital,Tracy decided on a new,minimally invasive technologycalled balloon sinuplasty. Now,the college freshman from Roslynis free from headaches caused byher sinus disease.

“My headache went away that verysame day,’’ said Tracy. “I realized this is what it feels like to finally be able tobreathe and not suffer from pain.”

Sinus surgeons have performed many balloon sinuplasties at St. Francis,the first hospital in Nassau County to use this new technology. It relies ona small, flexible balloon catheter, which is placed through a nostril into theblocked sinus passageway.The balloon is then inflated to gently restructureand open the sinus passageway, restoring normal sinus drainage and func-tion with minimal tissue damage.

Dr. Perlman stresses that balloon sinuplasty is not a cure-all for everyonesuffering from sinusitis, but can be used as an alternative or in addition toalready well established endoscopic sinus surgery. The catheter-based tech-nology is designed to navigate through the tortuous sinus anatomy, particu-larly the frontal and sphenoid sinuses, which are the most difficult to reach.

“What took us an hour to gain access to these sinuses can now be donein considerable less time,” said Dr. Perlman. “The recuperation is minimalwith very little discomfort for patients.”

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,about 37 million people in the U.S. suffer from sinusitis each year.Common symptoms may include: facial pain, pressure or congestion; nasalobstruction or blockage; discolored nasal or post-nasal discharge; loss ofsmell; headache and fatigue.

Dr. Perlman says not all sinusitis sufferers are candidates for the newtechnology and whether they qualify should be decided by a sinus surgeonfamiliar with this technique. As for Tracy, who has aspirations of being aveterinarian, she's looking forward to not getting sick and missing classeswhen she begins college. Her mother Jill can’t say enough about the bene-fits of balloon sinuplasty, “I’m thrilled. She’s not upset, miserable or inpain. It’s made her come alive.”

St. Francis Hospital Launches Completely Redesigned WebsiteSt. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center has launched a new and improved

website aimed at providing the most up-to-date information to patients,

their families and the general public about all of the services provided

by the region's leader in heart care.

The new site, which can be found at www.stfrancisheartcenter.com,

not only has a fresh, smart look, but also offers in-depth information

about departments and services, a Find-a-Doctor application, an

interactive Community Calendar and a new online job application tool

for staff and the public.

Exploring RoboticHeart Surgery

First deployed two years ago for

treating prostate cancer, today

St. Francis Hospital surgeons

are also using robotic technolo-

gy to explore cardiac surgical

applications. Smaller cardiac

procedures have already been

performed in preparation for

more advanced procedures.

St. Francis is a leader on Long

Island for robotic prostate surgery. Using the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical

System, surgeons perform complex surgery through small incisions. The

procedure offers significant benefits over open surgery, including less

blood loss, less post-operative pain, faster recoveries and less scarring.

Last spring, cardiac surgeons Newell Robinson, M.D., and Harold

Fernandez, M.D., who both specialize in da Vinci procedures, took a team

of St. Francis physicians to Cincinnati to train them on robotic mitral valve

repair surgery. The team will be working with the surgeons from

Cincinnati, who will join them for their first series of mitral valve proce-

dures. For more information about robotic surgery, call 1-888-HEARTNY.

Philip Perlman, M.D., with Tracy Naviasky.

90018 3/10/08 2:48 AM

Spring 2008 Heartbeat

Staff AppointmentsMarvin Tenenbaum, M.D.,

an infectious diseases specialist, has been appointed

Director of Medicine at St. Francis Hospital. Prior to

accepting this new position, Dr. Tenenbaum was Chief

of Infectious Diseases at the Hospital for 13 years.

Anthony J. Celifarco, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.G., A.G.A.F.,

has been named Chief of Gastroenterology at

St. Francis Hospital. Dr. Celifarco has been

affiliated with Gastrointestinal Associates of Long

Island for almost two decades and is a member

of several St. Francis Hospital committees.

Akram Boutros, M.D.,

St. Francis Hospital’s EVP and Chief Administrative

Officer, has been named President of the American

Heart Association's Long Island chapter. Dr. Boutros

will assist in fundraising, overseeing committees

and reporting on recent medical updates.

Upcoming EventsMay 16, 2008—Akram Boutros, M.D., will be

honored at the American Heart Association Gala for

raising money for a children's heart initiative. Jack

Soterakis, M.D., VP of Medical Affairs at St. Francis,

will Co-Chair the event.

Staff News

Healing Therapy for Heart FailureSince April 2006, St. Francis Hospital has been

offering a new treatment for patients with heart

disease who are living with angina or chest pain.

The new therapy, called Enhanced External

Counter Pulsation (EECP), promises to significantly

improve patients’ quality of life. EECP works by

increasing blood and oxygen supply to the heart

and decreasing the amount of work the heart has

to do to pump blood to the rest of the body. St.

Francis Hospital is the only hospital in Nassau

County to offer the treatment, which is non-inva-

sive and does not require a hospital stay. There is

no recovery period and the procedure allows

patients to return to their regular routine immedi-

ately after receiving treatment. “Patients leave with more stamina, their shortness of breath

decreased, and the ability to tolerate steps and walk farther,” explains Justine Lachmann, M.D.,

Director of the Congestive Heart Failure Program. Treatments are usually given for one hour each

day, five days per week, for a total of 35 hours. For more information call (516) 620-2090.

Did You Know?St. Francis is the only hospital in NassauCounty to hold thecoveted Magnet Awardfor nursing excellence.The Hospital is one of the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide toreceive the recognition,which is considered the gold standard fornursing care.

15

Patricia Hendershot, R.N., of the Congestive Heart FailureProgram at St. Francis with patient Anthony Accurso.

St. Francis Hospital's Stroke Center team, led by Paul Wright, M.D. (middle, first row), celebrates one year of service.

Stroke Center Off to a Strong StartIt has been a year since the designation of St. Francis Hospital’s new Stroke Center and thebusy center has made a highly successful start.The Center opened with the goal of providingearly aggressive treatment for neurological patients who show signs of having a stroke.Rather than having patients in various units throughout the hospital, they are in a centralizedlocation and receive care from highly skilled physicians, nurses, physician’s assistants andspeech and physical therapists.

“Hospitals with designated stroke centers have been able to show increased survival ratesand decreased length of stay for patients,” says Paul Wright, M.D., Director of the Center.“Overall, having a stroke center with nurses and doctors who are well trained in recognizingand treating neurological disorders gives patients a chance to have an improved outcome.”The results so far have been very promising. In fact, one prominent healthcare ratings com-pany has ranked St. Francis in the top tier of hospitals in the nation for treating stroke.

The Stroke Center’s coordinator, Nancy Kostel-Donlon, R.N., is proud to be a part of the stroke team. “It’s very rewarding,” she says. “Our staff is professional and has rapidly followed stroke code protocols with the understanding that ‘Time is Brain.’ The dramatic positive effects of their actions have challenged them to do it even better the next time.”

Robotic Surgery . . .

offers new hope for prostatepatients. Call our physician referralline at (516) 562-6199.

90018 3/10/08 2:48 AM

2008MarkYourCalendarSt. Francis Hospital Events for 2008

May 1The Guild of St. Francis Hospital Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show

Americana Manhasset will be sponsoring this popular annual event.

June 2St. Francis Hospital’s 34th Annual Golf Classic at Meadow Brook Club, The Creek and Nassau Country Club

Men, women and foursomes are welcome. Golf reservations willbe assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

November 22The Challenge Gala at Rexcorp Plaza in Uniondale

Fine dining, dancing and entertainment will be featured at this annual fundraising event for St. Francis Hospital.

For more information or tickets, call (516) 705-6659.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAID BROCKTON, MA

PERMIT NO. IOOO

St. Francis HospitalThe Heart Center ®

100 Port Washington BoulevardRoslyn, New York 11576www.stfrancisheartcenter.com

90018 3/10/08 2:48 AM

heartbeat magazine - spring 2008

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