Heartbeat Magazine - Winter 2008

HeartbeatThe Magazine of St. Francis Hospital The Heart Center® Winter 2008-2009

ORs of the FutureHigh-definition technology moves from the living room to the operating room

Plus:• Cardiac Arrhythmia 101• Patient Survey Gives

St. Francis Top Marks• Heart Surgery’s New Frontier

Newell Robinson, M.D. (right),Director of Cardiothoracic andVascular Surgery at St. FrancisHospital and cardiac surgical assistant, George J. Abou-Eid, M.D.

Heartbeat Winter 2008-2009 • St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ®2

Cause for Celebration

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.

page 6

page 8

page 12

The past year was a momen-tous one for St. Francis, with asignificant expansion thatpositions our Hospital tomeet the projected demandfor our services well into the21st century. As we take alook back, there are a

number of milestones that were occasions for celebration as well as gratitude.

• In January, St. Francis Hospital was selected oneof the best places to work in New York state by theSociety for Human Resource Management. St.Francis was the only hospital to make the elite list.

• In April, St. Francis was rated the number one hospital on Long Island for patient satisfaction in anational consumer survey conducted by the U.S.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and posted on their Hospital Compare website.

• In July, we opened the new Nancy & FrederickDeMatteis Pavilion, the highlight of the largestexpansion project in the Hospital's history. Soonafter, the 14 new high-tech operating rooms in thePavilion were up and running, and patients wereexperiencing the comfort of 184 bright, spaciousnew rooms.

• Also in July, for the second consecutive year, St. Francis was ranked one of the best hospitals inAmerica by U.S. News & World Report. We were theonly hospital on Long Island to be ranked in any ofthe magazine’s 12 medical and surgical specialtycategories. The magazine recognized the Hospital in three specialties: heart and heart surgery, digestive disorders, and geriatrics.

I am extremely proud of these impressive accomplishments. Even as we look forward to theyear ahead, meeting the ever-growing needs of ourcommunity and launching the second phase of our expansion and renovation project, it is fitting to thank all of the Hospital’s friends, donors, physicians and staff for the outstanding results of the past year.

And special thanks to our patients and their families for their tolerance and understanding during the construction, and, above all, for entrusting us with their care.

Best wishes,

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

From the President 2

In the NewsU.S. News Ranks St. Francis One of the Best 3Gift of Life’s First Child Reunited with Doctor 3Mark Hoornstra, M.D., Gets Hands-On with CPR 3St. Francis Teams up with WFAN for Radiothon 4Newsday Profiles Three of the “Lucky Ones” 4Extending the Quality of Life 5Landmark Study of Coronary Calcium Scores 5Daily News Prostate Screening at SFH 5

FeaturesArrhythmia 101 6Joseph Levine, M.D., answers questions about sudden car-diac death and other heart rhythm conditions

Cover StorySt. Francis Unveils First Fully Integrated High-Def ORs 8New high-tech rooms are designed to increase patientcomfort and reduce time in the OR

Head of the Class 11St. Francis is rated the best hospital on Long Island for patient satisfaction

In OR #1, the Future is Now 12Innovative, minimally invasive techniques are the new frontier in heart surgery

Giving BackIn the Name of Friendship 14Veteran Volunteer Sets Record 15Campaigning for Excellence 15

Vital SignsVascular Surgery on the Rise 16St. Francis Opens Its First Sabbath Room 16Breakthrough Treatments for Digestive Disorders 17Boomer Orthopedics 18Cardiac Rehab Celebrates 30 Years of Service 18A St. Francis Homecoming 19SFH Receives Heart Disease Research Grants 19Medical Staff News 19

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ® • Winter 2008-2009 Heartbeat

U.S. News & WorldReport Again Names St. Francis asOne of the Nation’sBest HospitalsFor the second consecutive year, St. Francis

Hospital, The Heart Center® has been rec-

ognized 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. Besides being rated

as one of the country’s top hospitals for

heart care and surgery, St. Francis was also

a nationally ranked leader in gastrointesti-

nal disorders and geriatrics. In fact, it was

the only hospital on Long Island to be

ranked in the magazine’s 12 medical and

surgical specialty categories.

“To be ranked for a second year in a row

is a sure sign of the extraordinary strength

of our medical

and nursing

staff,” said

Alan D.

Guerci, M.D.,

President and

CEO of St.

Francis

Hospital. “It

is gratifying

to see

recognition of what I know to be true from

my experience at Johns Hopkins–that St.

Francis is a world-class hospital.”

According to U.S. News, its annual

assessment is meant to aid patients “who

truly need outstanding care” and says that

ranked hospitals “are judged not in routine

procedures, but in difficult cases across an

entire specialty.”

Of the more than 5,400 hospitals sur-

veyed, St. Francis was one of only 170 med-

ical centers to be honored. The ranking in

heart care places the Hospital among the

five top medical centers in New York state.

ER Director Demonstrates New Guidelines on Hands-Only CPRWhen the American Heart Association came out with its new

guidelines for hands-only CPR, Mark Hoornstra, M.D., Director

of Emergency Medicine, became the expert of choice for WABC

and FOX-TV. Dr. Hoornstra sees the benefits of CPR every day

in the Hospital’s busy emergency room, but also had a personal

experience that hit the heart of the Big Apple. He helped save

an actor who collapsed on stage at Lincoln Center after going

into cardiac arrest. Thankfully, Dr. Hoornstra was in the audi-

ence and jumped into action. The actor survived to tell the tale

and was doing television interviews the next day.

3

First Gift of Life Patient Reunited with Her St. Francis Doctor It was truly a heartfelt reunion for Grace Agwaru and Filippo Balboni, M.D. WhenGrace was a 4-year-old in Uganda, doctors told her parents she wouldn’t live to her 16th birthday. But now, at 38, Grace has defied the odds, thanks to lifesavingopen-heart surgery she received 33 years ago at St. Francis Hospital.

“She was a lovely child when I first saw her and even lovelier now, ” said Dr.Balboni after being reunited with his former patient more than three decades afterthe surgery. Dr. Balboni performed a cardiac catheterization to diagnose Grace’scondition after she was flown to the United States by the Rotary Club of Manhassetand became the first child to benefit from their new Gift of Life program.

Grace was born with a hole in her heart, but there were no facilities for open-heart surgery in her country at the time. Now an agricultural economist, Gracecredits Gift of Life and doctors at St. Francis for giving her a new lease on life.

“This experience makes me feel special. I have been given a second chance in life,”said Grace. “I am now 38, about 22 years older than the maximum life I had beengiven by doctors and my health is perfect! I can’t remember the last time I was ill.”

In the News

Straight from the heart: Grateful former Gift of Life patient, Grace Agwaru, thanks Dr. Filippo Balboni for helping to save her life.


In the News

WFAN Radiothon for Francesa Fund Is Big HitThe WFAN Radiothon to benefit the Mike

Francesa Champions of the Heart Fund

had a highly successful debut, generating

hundreds of thousands of dollars for

underinsured patients at St. Francis

Hospital and creating an incalculable

amount of good will for the Hospital’s

mission to fight heart disease.

Nearly a dozen St. Francis physicians

and patients took to the airwaves for the

28-hour Radiothon to help raise money

for the newly created charity. Half of the

more than $550,000 in proceeds will ben-

efit Francesa’s fund to help working men

and women who lack adequate health

insurance get access to lifesaving cardiac

procedures and surgery. The other half

will go to the Boomer Esiason Foundation,

which supports programs related to

cystic fibrosis.

Francesa has publicly acknowledged

his physician, Richard Shlofmitz, M.D.,

Director of Cardiology at St. Francis, for

providing him with first-rate care, and he

wanted to make it possible for others to

receive the same quality of care. So the

popular radio sports host came up with

the idea of creating a charitable fund

that's now named after him.

“I would like to thank everyone who

participated in our Radiothon. It is a credit

to the loyalty and generosity of the WFAN

audience that they responded during

these very tough economic times,” said

Francesa. “I thank you all from the bottom

of my heart.”

Newsday Profiles Three St. Francis Patients as “Some of the Lucky Ones”

Three patients who had lifesaving proce-dures at St. Francis Hospital were profiled in a two-part Newsday series focusing ona bid to cut the high heart disease deathrate on Long Island. The three patientsfeatured for their success stories were(from top to bottom):

Roy Tucker, 77, a retired MTA subwaymotorman, who underwent an experimentalminimally invasive procedure to repair aleaky heart valve using a device known as theMitraClip. Tucker, who was always tiredbefore undergoing the surgery, says he nowfeels 200 percent better.

Tom Melia, 49, a retired New York Cityfirefighter, who participated in a researchstudy at St. Francis and was given a CT scan.Two days later, when he was about to rappelout of a window during a fire training ses-sion, he received a call from the doctortelling him not to jump, but to get to theHospital instead. He underwent an angio-plasty and received two lifesaving stents.

Bobby Mazziotti, 14, who suffered awrestling injury at age 12 and went to see adoctor for an x-ray. The doctor suggested thatBobby get an EKG, which revealed a “shortcircuit” in his heart. He was diagnosed withWolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, an abnor-mality in which the heart has an extra con-duction pathway that can cause rapid heart-beat, dizziness and sometimes heart attackand death. After undergoing an arthroscopicprocedure at St. Francis that closed the extrapathway, Bobby is back to playing sports.

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ® • Winter 2008-2009 Heartbeat 5

Extending the Quality of LifeOne-hundred-and-four-year-old St. Francis heartpatient, Hazel Homer,made the front page ofThe New York Times forreceiving a specialized pacemak-er/defibrillator five years ago at the Hospital. Mrs.Homer’s cardiologist Gary R. Friedman, M.D., did not expect her to livepast 100 after she suffered a heart attack at 95, but thanks to a procedure performed bySteven Greenberg, M.D., she has been able to celebrate her 11th decade. Citingincreased efforts to improve the quality of very long lives, Dr. Greenberg, who wasrecently invited to his patient’s 104th birthday party, told the newspaper, “She’s just a peek into the future.”

St. Francis CEO Is a Lead Researcher in New Landmark Study of CoronaryCalcium TestsPresident and CEO of St. Francis Hospital, Alan D. Guerci, M.D., was among a teamof researchers nationwide who recently discovered that a simple rapid, coronary

calcium test, taken into account with traditional risk fac-tors, is the most accurate predictor of possible cardiacevents among Caucasians, African Americans,Hispanics and people of Chinese descent. The study,titled the “Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis(META),” appeared in The New England Journal ofMedicine.

Researchers also found that the predictive value ofcoronary calcium scores, which are performed usingfast CT scans, did not vary among the racial and eth-nic groups in the study, leading them to believe thatfindings could apply to ethnic groups not included inthe study.

“Our findings confirm what earlier, more limited studies haveshown–that the amount of coronary calcification in one’s heart and blood vessels,when taken along with other risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol levelsand body mass, is a reliable predictor of a person’s risk of heart attack or other car-diac event,” said Dr. Guerci.

St. Francis JoinsForces with theDaily News forProstate ScreeningFelix Badillo, M.D., Chief of Urology,was featured in a New York DailyNews article about prostate cancerscreening, detection, and treat-ment. Dr. Badillo’s patient, MichaelBorska, was also interviewed.Borska, a cycling instructor,received lifesaving prostate cancersurgery from Dr. Badillo, who usedthe state-of-the-art da Vinci RoboticSurgical System.

The editorial coverage took place intandem with St. Francis Hospital’sparticipation in the New York DailyNews Prostate Screening Program.More than 170 men were screenedat three different locations inNassau and Queens in an effort toraise awareness about the impor-tance of early detection.

Felix Badillo, M.D., (left) with patient Michael Borska


Q&A

udden cardiac arrest is a phenomenon that has received consid-erable media attention these days with cases involving promi-nent athletes and others. To learn more about this serious

health problem as well as other heart rhythm issues, we managed tofind time on the very busy schedule of Joseph Levine, M.D., Director ofElectrophysiology at St. Francis Hospital. Dr. Levine is a world-renownedelectrophysiologist, or “electrician of the heart,” who came to St.Francis in 1988 from Johns Hopkins Hospital. He has pioneered majorcardiac arrhythmia treatments, such as radiofrequency ablation, thathave become the standards in the field, and he has also contributed togroundbreaking research. In addition to these achievements, Dr. Levineis consistently named one of New York Magazine’s “Best Doctors” andrecently appeared on the Emmy-Award-winning PBS television special,“The Mysterious Human Heart.” Here’s what Dr. Levine had to say.

Heartbeat: What are the causes of sudden cardiac arrest? How big a

problem is it, and what can people do to protect themselves?

Dr. Levine: There are 300,000 cases of cardiac arrests a year with 90

percent of those cases due to ventricular tachycardia (fast heartbeats

from the lower, pumping chambers of the heart) and 10 percent due to

heart block, which occurs when the electrical signal is slowed or dis-

rupted as it moves through the heart. Most of the time ventricular

tachycardia arises from a damaged heart, either due to a heart attack,

a viral infection or a blocked artery.

Heartbeat: During a recent WFAN radio interview you talked about

school kids being prescreened for heart rhythm problems. How early

should they be screened?

Dr. Levine: I would say the earlier the better, especially for young peo-

ple who play sports.

Heartbeat: What type of tests should parents ask for that will detect

potential heart rhythm problems that their child might have?

Dr. Levine: Patients should ask for an electrocardiogram (EKG), which

will measure the electrical activity of the heartbeat, and an echocardio-

gram, which measures heart function.

Heartbeat: What type of surgeries or procedures do you suggest chil-

dren have to correct these heart conditions?

Dr. Levine: Ablation is the recommended treatment for children who

have supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). This condition is due to an

extra electrical connection between the heart's atrium and ventricle

and this extra connection acts as a short circuit that, at times, can

result in the heartbeat rising between 150 and 300 beats per minute

(normal is 70). If the heart rate increases to over 250 beats, even a

normal heart can go into cardiac arrest. An ablation, which can take

less than 45 minutes, is done using catheters or plastic tubes that are

inserted into intravenous (IV) lines in the leg or neck while the patient

is under local anesthesia. There are no stitches and no scars. The

catheters, which are flexible plastic tubes that have metal tips, are

positioned in the heart under an x-ray. It literally takes a second to

position the catheters once the IVs are in.

We then record the heart and map out the electrical activity using

computers. Once we identify the source of the problem, we move one

of the catheters next to the extra connection, heat the tip and the heart

tissue to about 120 to 130 degrees F and then cauterize (burn) the con-

nection. The burn is only 4 millimeters in size–about the size of the

eraser on a pencil. I helped to develop the technique in the 1980s and

David Hoch, M.D., Vinni Jayam, M.D., and I have cured nearly 10,000

persons with SVT over the past 20 years. The procedure has proven

safer than a stress test or working out with a trainer at a gym.

Heartbeat: What are the most common heart conditions you see

patients coming in with and what are your most effective diagnostic

tools and treatments?

Arrhythmia 101

Joseph Levine, M.D., Director of Electrophysiology

Joseph Levine, M.D., answers questions about sudden cardiac arrest and other heart rhythm conditions

S

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ® • Winter 2008-2009 Heartbeat7

Dr. Levine: Even though most patients come to St. Francis for help with

arrhythmia problems related to coronary disease (the most common

heart condition affecting Americans) there are other causes.

Sometimes arrhythmias can occur as a result of too much stress, not

enough sleep, or too much caffeine or alcohol, especially red wine.

When we see a patient with an irregular heartbeat, our first goal is to

ask whether he or she has a risk of major complications or death from

their arrhythmia. Many people have benign or harmless arrhythmias,

and if that is the case, we reassure the patient and focus on improving

the quality of life. If the patient is at risk for cardiac arrest or stroke,

we are aggressive in the diagnosis and treatment.

Sometimes we can cure the arrhythmia with radiofrequency abla-

tion or avert a heart attack by referring the patient to an interventional

cardiologist. Oftentimes the patient has a damaged heart and the

best preventive treatment is an automatic implantable defibrillator,

which is a device that monitors the heart rate by using batteries to

send electric signals to a heart that's beating too slow, similar to a

pacemaker.

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), which is used in

patients at risk for recurrent ventricular tachycardia (a fast heart

rhythm that originates in one of the ventricles of the heart) or fibrilla-

tion, can also deliver a charge to the heart when it suffers from one of

these conditions. This is similar to what is typically shown on televi-

sion shows when someone is brought into an emergency room,

shocked with “paddles” on the chest and then brought back to life.

The main difference is that the ICD is implanted and will send the

shock automatically. It is 99 percent effective and has been proven to

prevent sudden death and to prolong life.

Heartbeat: What is the most significant current research study at St.

Francis in terms of potential benefits for patients?

Dr. Levine: The Arrhythmia Center team and I have been instrumental

in understanding the applications for the use of the implantable defib-

rillator. We have authored many of the major research papers describ-

ing the defibrillator's use and are among the elite in the country in

understanding the technology and in instituting therapy. Several of the

arrhythmia physicians at St. Francis, including Steven Greenberg, M.D.,

are world-renown implanters of the device. Stuart Schecter, M.D., is

among the most experienced clinicians in the world in understanding

the Doppler studies and optimizing the devices, not only for use in pre-

venting sudden death, but also to treat heart failure.

The team and I have also been instrumental in research involving

new applications of the ICD. Most of the research focuses on the use of

a defibrillator for people who are at high risk for sudden death, but

remain asymptomatic. If a person in this category suffers cardiac arrest

on Long Island, there is greater than a 95 percent chance they will

either die or be brain damaged unless an ICD is implanted as a preven-

tive approach before the cardiac arrest strikes.

Heartbeat: You are also a proponent of automated external defibrilla-

tors (AEDs) being available at public places, although some would

argue that this would be costly.

Dr. Levine: Having AEDs readily available is very worthwhile, even if it

might get costly. How can you put a price tag on a life saved?

Heartbeat: The St. Francis Hospital Arrhythmia Center is an internation-

al leader in the study, diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm distur-

bances. What sets our center apart?

Dr. Levine: We use electrophysiology studies (EP Studies) and ICDs for

patients at risk for sudden cardiac death. We also use leading-edge

techniques such as radiofrequency ablation, and we are by far the

safest center in the United States, with very high cure rates for abla-

tions–about 99 percent for SVT. Plus, we are a team of physicians,

nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, technicians and sec-

retaries.

The Arrhythmia Center is at the top of its game because each person

is excellent at his or her job. Ever since we established the Arrhythmia

& Pacemaker Center at St. Francis Hospital in 1988, we have been pio-

neers in shaping developments in electrophysiology. We were among

the first in the nation to offer implantable defibrillators and to offer

radiofrequency ablation as an alternative to cure certain arrhythmias. It

was our idea to use the defibrillator as a tool to prevent an initial sud-

den cardiac death. These eventually led to more permanent cures and

improved management of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Our physicians

continue to be among the nation’s leaders in developing new technolo-

gies and applications.

Kevin Oill (right) and his younger brothers, Christopher and Matthew (left to right) all have anunderlying genetic disorder that causes irregular heartbeats. The three boys are under Dr.Levine’s care.


New Director of GeneralSurgery, Gary R. Gecelter,M.D., and his surgical teamget hi-def view during gall bladder surgery.


Imagine being able to see an operation in the same high-definition as the flat screen TV in your liv-ing room. That’s what St. Francis surgical teams are now able to do thanks to 14 new ORs in therecently opened Nancy & Frederick DeMatteis Pavilion.

he new “Operating Rooms of the Future” feature touch

screen technology connected to dozens of high-definition

cameras and monitors. The totally integrated system allows

surgeons instant access to laboratory data and diagnostic

images such as MRIs during procedures. It also enables them to

share data with fellow physicians and broadcast surgery “live” across

the globe.

“We want to create the best possible environment for surgery,” says

Alan D. Guerci, M.D., President and CEO. He believes that the high-tech

St. Francis Unveils First Fully Integrated High-Def ORs

T

New high-tech rooms are designed to increase patient comfort and reduce time in the OR

Cover Story

Grand Opening of DeMatteis Pavilion Marks New Chapter in St. Francis History

rooms may help save lives by enabling surgical teams to view procedures

from multiple camera angles within the OR, thereby helping them to

anticipate and respond more quickly to changing conditions.

The totally high-def ORs are the result of a $3 million project aimed at

making it easier for surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures by

providing them with clearer pictures. Though the medical grade technolo-

gy is similar to that used for flat screen home televisions, it can also mag-

nify images from inside the body – allowing surgeons to better see a

patient’s anatomy.

July 10, 2008 was a milestone day for St. Francis Hospital, with celebratory eventsmarking the much-anticipated opening of the Nancy & Frederick DeMatteisPavilion. Leading physicians, local dignitaries and major donors joined the St.Francis Hospital Board of Trustees, administration, and staff for a first look at thelatest advances in care.

The opening ceremonies began with a packed press conference in the morn-ing, featuring State Senator Kemp Hannon as the keynote speaker. Then, doctors,nurses and patients representing “Eight Decades of Patient Care” were reunitedin an emotional ceremony that included a Korean patient, Brett Halvorson, whowas brought to the Hospital (as a child) by former First Lady Nancy Reagan in the1980s through the Gift of Life program.

The press conference culminated with a prayer and blessing by Bishop WilliamMurphy and a live demonstration of the high-definition features of the new ORs,hosted by Jack Soterakis, M.D., V.P. of Medical Affairs. Three of the Hospital’s topphysicians, Newell B. Robinson, M.D., Director of Cardiothoracic and VascularSurgery; Felix L. Badillo, M.D., Chief of Urology; and Philip W. Perlman, M.D.,

Chief of Otolaryngology helped demonstrate how the video integration system can be used for robotic and minimally invasive surgery.Major benefactor Nancy DeMatteis was a central figure in both the press conference and a donor event that evening, which featured keynote

speaker Bob Catell, Former Chairman and CEO of KeySpan and now Chairman of National Grid. Mrs. DeMatteis and the Bishop cut the ribbon tothe main OR, ushering in the next generation in patient care for both cardiac and non-cardiac surgery.


St. Francis Unveils First Fully Integrated High-Def ORs (continued)

Surgeons say the enhanced video technology makes it easier for them to perform

minimally invasive procedures that are less painful and require less recovery time than

traditional surgery. Doctors say it is also particularly useful in performing cardiac and

non-cardiac robotic surgery.

“There is no other facility like this on Long Island,” says Gary R. Gecelter, M.D., the

Hospital’s new Director of Surgery. The internationally recognized expert in minimal-

ly invasive oncologic surgery says it was a very strong contributing factor for him

being able to transition his practice to St. Francis. “This facility enables surgical

teams to be more proactive and ensures that we keep pace with future technology,”

says Dr. Gecelter.

The new ORs are part of a three-year,

$190-million master plan to increase St.

Francis Hospital’s clinical space by 40 per-

cent. It is the largest expansion in the

Hospital’s history and is designed to meet

projected demand for cardiac and non-car-

diac services in the years to come.

Karl Storz Endoscopy designed the

enhanced video system. Though high-def

ORs are considered relatively rare, experts

think they may one day become standard.

The company says St. Francis is currently

the only local hospital to be using its fully

integrated system.

For Comfort and Privacy

In an effort to provide our patients with greater choicesand added flexibility, St. Francis Hospital is now offeringfour suites and single rooms to provide the ultimatecare in comfort and privacy.

Our new suites include the following amenities:• A private lounge for visitors with a sleeper chair

for overnight stays• A refrigerator stocked with beverages such as

water and juice • A flat screen television• An upgraded private bathroom with

well-appointed shower• Bath essentials, including a bathrobe and soaps• Fine linens

Room service with a gourmet menu that is tailored toour patients’ specific dietary requirements is also available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as selectionsfrom the Hospital’s daily menu.

The upgraded rooms will also include these additional amenities:• Daily newspaper delivery • Complimentary television and local phone service• Free parking passes for visitors

In addition, our state-of-the-art pavilion is Wi-Fiequipped, so patients and visitors can use their computers anywhere.

Please note that payment for our suites and privaterooms is due upon admission. Reservation requestsshould be made when booking a procedure.

Please call Patient Access at (516) 562-6202 for availability and pricing information.

Surgical teams can view procedures from multiple camera angles.


Head of the ClassA federal consumer survey shows that St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center® ranks No. 1 on Long Island and substantially above its state and national counterparts for how patients rate the quality of their hospital stays. The findings are the result ofa new initiative by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to post consumer information on its HospitalCompare website. To find out how St. Francis rates compared to other hospitals in our area, see the chart below compiled byNewsday, or log on to: www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.

St. Francis is rated the best hospital on Long Island for patient satisfaction

Heartbeat Winter 2008-2009 • St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ®

InOR #1, the Future Is Now

Last summer, Jeff Einhorn, a Manhattan interior designer, was visiting the Hamptons when heexperienced troubling symptoms: a fast, irregular heartbeat and the feeling he was about to passout. Because he had been diagnosed with a heart valve condition in his 20s, Jeff, now in his 40s,knew it was time to act. He and a friend quickly considered the options and both concluded thesame thing: “Let’s get to St. Francis.”

t turned out to be a fortunate decision. Once his condition was

stabilized at St. Francis, Jeff was referred to Newell Robinson,

M.D., Director of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery and a

nationally recognized expert in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Dr.

Robinson performed robotically-assisted surgery to repair Jeff’s heart

valve. Amazingly, a week after the procedure, Jeff was having dinner with

friends at his favorite restaurant in the city, and four weeks later he was

back at work full-time as well as working out at the gym. I

Innovative, minimally invasive techniques are the new frontier in heart surgery

12


“The nursing care at St. Francis was incredible. They treated me as if Iwas a part of their family.”

Jeff’s case is not unique. He is part of a growing group of patients

reaping the benefits of advanced medical technology and surgical

expertise in minimally invasive surgery. While today robotic heart sur-

gery may be appropriate for only a limited number of patients, the trend

toward less invasive approaches is unmistakable.

According to Dr. Robinson, “conventional open-heart

surgery today is extremely safe and successful. The

real advances in the future will be in the patient’s

quality of life, as they experience the benefits of mini-

mally invasive techniques.”

Fortunately, patients who come to St. Francis can

find the full range of cardiac surgical techniques and

treatments, all performed by one of the most experi-

enced teams of surgeons in the nation. Over the past

20 years, St. Francis heart surgeons have performed

over 40,000 open-heart surgeries with outstanding

success rates. Studies consistently show that

patients fare better when they go to physicians and

hospitals that perform a high volume of procedures.

In a recent analysis by The New York Times, St.

Francis Hospital was ranked number one in the Tri-

State area in cardiac surgery caseload and in the

number of surgeons with the most experience. For as

long as the New York State Department of Health has

reported and analyzed cardiac surgical caseload, St.

Francis has ranked number one. This depth of experi-

ence enables the Hospital to explore new approaches

to care for many patients who otherwise might not

have had treatment options.

The St. Francis team of seven surgeons is expert in

all types of heart surgery, from conventional, open-

heart bypass to off-pump coronary artery bypass

(OPCAB), to the newest, minimally invasive valve pro-

cedures, including surgical techniques designed to treat certain cardiac

arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. Two St. Francis surgeons perform

nearly all of their cases off-pump, i.e., without stopping the heart or placing

the patient on a heart-lung machine. And nearly 100 percent of cases of iso-

lated heart valve repair are performed via a minimally invasive approach.

According to Dr. Robinson, in addition to robotic surgery, his depart-

ment is participating in the development of a comprehensive approach

to the treatment of heart failure, with cardiac surgeon, Harold Fernandez,

M.D., recently being named Director of Heart Failure Surgery. The depart-

ment is also seeing growth in surgery of the aorta, the largest artery in

the human body, which brings oxygenated blood from the heart to the

rest of the body. James Taylor, M.D., a leading specialist in this area and

one of the most experienced cardiac surgeons in the nation, was recently

named Director of Thoracic Aortic Surgery.

“Because of the depth and breadth of our experience, we have a histo-

ry of examining and developing new techniques for the benefit of our

patients—from the first surgical implantation of defibrillator, to the use

of Heartport in minimally invasive heart repair, to the surgical treatment

of atrial fibrillation,” says Dr. Robinson. “The use of the da Vinci robotic

system is just the latest chapter in the quest to bring patients better out-

comes, increased comfort and safety, and faster recovery times.”

For Jeff , the hallmark of the St. Francis experience is not only his

physician’s skill, but the quality and caring approach of the nursing staff.

“The nursing care at St. Francis was incredible,” says Jeff. “I had a num-

ber of nurses during my stay and they were all very good. They treated

me as if I was part of their family.” Dr. Robinson agrees. “We have the

best hospital and nursing staff in the nation,” he says, “and our team

approach will enable us to bring cardiothoracic surgery into the 21st cen-

tury. The results for patients will be truly remarkable.”

For Jeff Einhorn, however, those benefits are not somewhere in the

distant future, they are here today. At St. Francis, he says, “the care is

amazing.”

Newell Robinson, M.D. (left), Director of Cardiothoracic and

Vascular Surgery at St. Francis Hospital, with his patient, Jeff

Einhorn. The da Vinci robotic surgical system (right) is used

at St. Francis for both prostate and cardiac surgery.


Meet the ForchellisIn the Nameof FriendshipIt was because of their strong desire

to give back to the community and their friend-

ship with the late Harry T. Barbaris, M.D.,

Director of Surgery and urologist at St. Francis

Hospital that Jeffrey Forchelli, founder and

managing partner of the law firm of Forchelli,

Curto, Crowe, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo &

Cohn, and his wife Sadie decided to donate

$250,000 to the Hospital. The couple, who

reside in Lattingtown, New York, gave the

money to the Hospital in 2007, in honor of Dr.

Barbaris, shortly after he died of pancreatic

cancer. The beloved physician befriended Jeff

on the golf course at Nassau Country Club and

often played with him until he passed away.

“If you knew Harry Barbaris, you would donate to St. Francis

Hospital, too,” says Jeff. “Harry was a true Samaritan. He was a won-

derful representative of St. Francis.”

Sadie, a retired real estate manager, agrees. “We had the utmost

respect for Dr. Barbaris. He was just a super guy. When he passed on

we really wanted to do something in his memory.”

The couple had never discussed donating to the Hospital before,

but was more than willing to help out St. Francis, and at the same

time, honor their friend's name. St. Francis had been an important

part of their lives for a while. Sadie had volunteered at the Hospital

from 1992 until 1997 after hearing great things about it from friends

and people in her community. “I heard that it was the best hospital on

Long Island so I wanted to volunteer my time there.”

After volunteering, Sadie was also treated at St. Francis because of

an arrhythmia problem. She says the staff was very involved and car-

ing and that the treatment she received was superior. “I would not

want to be in another hospital if I were ill,” she admits.

Jeff was also treated at St. Francis, but for a hernia. He needed to have

surgery and it was Dr. Barbaris who found the right doctor and guided

him through the entire process. “The morning I had surgery Harry was at

the Hospital to tell the doctor to do a good job,” Jeff recalls. “He was

there even though at the time he was recovering himself.”

Jeff and Sadie are doing fine today. Both are very active–Jeff loves

golfing and boating while Sadie enjoys tennis and golf as well. The

couple is also busy with their large, close-knit family that consists of

Giving Back

“I would not want to be in another hospital if I were ill.”

How you can contribute to the Capital Campaign

St. Francis Hospital is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt institution. To make

a gift to the Hospital, please call the Office of Development at (516) 705-6655

or mail your donation to:

St. Francis Hospital Foundation

Office of Development & Public Affairs

100 Port Washington Blvd.

Roslyn, NY 11576

four daughters and seven grandchildren.

Jeff, who also donates to his alma maters, Brooklyn Law School and

Wagner College, recently became a member of St. Francis Hospital's

Development Committee, which provides oversight for all of the

Hospital's fundraising efforts. He and his wife are very happy to be a

part of the hospital that gave them world-class treatment and allowed

them to build a world-class friendship with Dr. Barbaris.

“St. Francis is a place like no other hospital. If I had to compare

the Hospital to a person, it's someone with the big heart, who is

concerned about everyone,” says Jeff. “That attitude permeates

the place from Dr. Alan Guerci right down to the staff, and that is

what makes it a special place. We certainly plan to continue to be

supportive of the Hospital for years to come.”


Ninety-one-year-old Arlene Miller believes it’s better to

give than to receive, and she lives up to the popular saying every day. The

veteran volunteer has set a new record by accruing 29,000 hours, the

most ever for a St. Francis volunteer. The grand total is the equivalent of

more than 3,600 workdays, but for Arlene, it’s a gift well spent.

“Giving my time to others makes me feel young at heart,” says Arlene,

who began volunteering at the Hospital three decades ago, after her hus-

band’s death.

“There are only so many times you can go to lunch with friends,”

says Arlene. “I felt there was something more I should be doing with

my free time.”

A long time member of the Guild of St. Francis Hospital, the Hospital’s

fundraising auxiliary, Arlene drives herself to the main campus to volun-

teer. She has taken care of all of the Guild's accounting books for almost

30years–all of the work done by hand, no less.

The minimum age for a volunteer at St. Francis is 14, but the average is

70 years old. The Hospital is also seeing more and more baby boomers,

who are coming out of the workforce, but who are not yet ready to retire.

Neither is Arlene. She believes her active life as a volunteer helps keep

her sharp and spry, despite her years. She says when she turned 90, she

couldn’t believe it. “I thought my mother made a mistake on my birth cer-

tificate,” says Arlene, with a warm smile.

Meet Arlene Miller

Veteran Volunteer Sets New Record for Most Accrued Hours

St. Francis continues its capital campaign to raise over$70 million by 2011 to fund the Master Facilities Plan(MFP), the largest expansion and renovation project inthe Hospital’s history. Upon its completion, patientsand visitors will find that the setting at St. FrancisHospital reflects the same qualities of compassion andexcellence that distinguish its delivery of care.

As of October 1, 2008, more than $55.4 million was raised tohelp fund the new Nancy & Frederick DeMatteis Pavilion, a158,000-square-foot, high-tech facility designed to meet the pro-jected demand for cardiac and non-cardiac services.

Now the Hospital will focus on raising the remaining $15 mil-lion to support renovations to The Heart Center. The resultingworld-class center for care will feature:

• An Emergency Department, expanded to nearly double its previous size and features a dedicated imaging suite for promptdiagnosis of cardiac and non-cardiac conditions alike

• Semi-private and private patient rooms in The Heart Center,renovated to meet the same standard of quality and level of amenities as the rooms in the new pavilion

• Newly renovated cardiothoracic operating rooms that willaccommodate the latest advances in surgery including the da Vinci robot and other minimally invasive techniques

• A new third-floor recovery unit which supports the ORs, wherepatients are closely monitored following surgery in a private setting adjacent to the ORs

• The addition of a seventh cardiac catheterization lab, to supportone of the nation’s leading programs for cardiac catheterizationand angioplasty techniques such as stenting

• A new cardiac catheterization staging and recovery unit, whichwill provide patients with comfort and privacy before and after aprocedure in a spacious unit with dedicated nursing care

There are now 192 total gifts to the campaign and of those, 90 aremajor gifts of $100,000 and above. St. Francis will continue tolook to the community, grateful patients and foundations for addi-tional campaign gifts. Just recently, the Hospital introduced theEmployee Brick Campaign, allowing staff members to purchase abrick that will eventually create a campus walk of fame consistingof commemorative bricks inscribed with special messages.

Giving BackCampaigningfor Excellence

Pinning her hopes on youth: Veteran volunteer Arlene Miller (lower left) welcomes the next generation of volunteers at St. Francis Hospital. From lower left to right: Kanika Ramchandani and Isha Gupta. From upper left to right: Karam Gupta, Shaan Shivdasani, Harry Weisberg and George Skevas.


Vital SignsVascular Surgery on the Rise at St. Francis

Vascular surgery is an expand-ing surgical specialty in whichdiseases of the arteries andveins are treated by using min-imally invasive catheter-basedprocedures or more direct sur-gical intervention or recon-struction. Last year, RichardMatano, M.D., Chief ofVascular Surgery at St. Francis,performed well over 900 vas-cular procedures. From treat-ing aortic aneurysms to vari-cose veins, Dr. Matano hasseen many different patientswith a wide range of medicalissues. “Vascular surgery is

quite varied in the types of patients that we deal with,” he explains. “Fromthe young, healthy patient who wants a cosmetic result for his or her leg, tothe very sick patient in their 80s with edema, as well as the patient who has alarge aneurysm–we see it all.”

Lately, Dr. Matano and his team have been treating patients who sufferfrom embolisms (blood clots) in their leg arteries, which can lead toischemia, a condition in which the blood flow (and oxygen) is restricted toa part of the body. It’s an urgent problem that requires either an embolec-tomy (a surgical procedure that removes the clot) or medications to dissolvethe clot.

Surgery to treat varicose veins surgery has evolved over the years. “Itused to be treated with very long surgical procedures and painful cuts, butnow more varicose vein procedures are done in the doctor’s office,” says Dr.Matano. The procedure, which is performed with catheters, wires orlasers, produces good cosmetic results. Patients who suffer from legcramps, swelling or ulcers can be treated with these catheter-based proce-dures in the office as well.

Vascular surgeons also work with a large number of dialysis patients.According to Dr. Matano, these patients require access for hemodialysis (themost common method used to treat advanced and permanent kidney fail-ure), whether it’s a fistula, graph or various catheters that are placed forimmediate access so dialysis can be performed.

The Vascular Surgery department at St. Francis has the second largest case-load of abdominal aneurysm repairs in New York State. St. Francis is one ofthe first hospitals in the country to perform endovascular repair of aorticaneurysms, and has an excellent success rate in implanting stents. TheHospital also performs the state’s largest caseload of carotid endarterectomy,a surgical procedure to remove plaque in blocked carotid arteries in the neckthat supply oxygen to the brain.

St. Francis Hospital Opens Its First Sabbath RoomIn order to better meet the needs of families of Orthodox Jewish patients,

St. Francis Hospital has opened a new Sabbath Room. The two-bedroom,

one bath suite is equipped with a fully stocked kitchen and is available on

a first come, first served basis as a hospital courtesy.

Tovah Brill, a pharmacist at Mercy Medical Center whose husband was

once a patient at St. Francis, came up with the idea. With help from Drs.

Chaim and Meyer Abittan, two brothers who are not only St. Francis

physicians, but rabbis as well, an appropriate space was found.

“We hope this will give our patients’ families a peaceful place to sleep

and pray during the Sabbath, that will also give their loved one peace of

mind knowing they are close by,” said Chaim Abittan, M.D.

According to Hospital statistics, Jewish patients are the second largest

segment of the St. Francis patient base, after Roman Catholics. Kosher

meals are always available to patients and their families, as well as

access to spiritual care. The Hospital also is exploring the idea of

installing kosher vending machines.

Anyone interested in requesting the Sabbath Room can call the Office

of Pastoral Care at (516) 562-6720.

Richard Matano, M.D., Chief of Vascular Surgery

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

where setting up a test is quick and convenientand you usually receive same-day results. Formore information, call: (516) 629-2400.

17

Many new avenues ofevaluating potential gas-trointestinal disordersare opening up forpatients and St. FrancisHospital is one of the fewplaces in the regionwhere patients can findthem. Endoscope acces-sibility to the smallbowel has been a chal-

lenge for gastroenterologists for decades, but the advent of cap-sule endoscopy now gives physicians a non-invasive way of imag-ing the small bowel in patients being evaluated for gastrointesti-nal bleeding, bowel tumors, Crohn’s dis-ease and celiac disease.

Capsule endoscopy is performedusing a disposable miniaturevideo camera contained in a “pill”swallowed by the patient. The sin-gle-use capsule passes naturallythrough the digestive tract, transmit-ting high quality color images to arecording belt worn around the waist,without interfering with the patient’s normal activities. It is elim-inated naturally the next day.

A Non-Invasive Photo Op“About five to 10 percent of people have gastrointestinal bleedingthe cause of which is difficult to diagnose,” explains AnthonyCelifarco, M.D., Chief of Gastroenterology at St. Francis Hospital.“Capsule endoscopy has allowed us to isolate specific abnormal-ities that have caused bleeding. However, when we find thoseareas, the conventional endoscope has only allowed us to look atthe upper one to two feet of the small bowel. There is about 25

feet of small intestine that really needs to be examined.” Dr. Celifarco says that even though capsule endoscopy allows

doctors to find lesions, many times they are not able to reachthe lesions with a standard endoscope. That is where balloonassisted enteroscopy, a visual examination of the small bowelusing an endoscope, plays a role. “With this procedure we canlook deeper into the smaller intestine to find lesions that wewere not able to reach before with conventional measures,”says Dr. Celifarco.

“More importantly, balloon assisted enteroscopy offers thera-py instead of patients having to go into the operating room toundergo laparotomies to evaluate the small bowel. Many timesthis fails to show any abnormality. So the balloon enteroscopeallows us to reach further into the small bowel to find, diagnose

and potentially treat those bleedinglesions,” adds Dr. Celifarco.

He also says that physicians arenow identifying more cases ofundiagnosed Crohn's diseaseand celiac disease as a result of

both capsule endoscopy and bal-loon assisted enteroscopy. “These

two procedures have complementedeach other. The capsule endoscopy finds

lesions while balloon assisted endoscopy reaches them, diag-noses and treats them,” he concludes.

St. Francis Hospital is one of the few hospitals in the regionto offer balloon assisted enteroscopy. The gastroenterologydepartment is presently seeing many referrals from local hos-pitals and other gastroenterologists because the procedure isnot readily available.

Advance treatments such as these are one of the reasons thatSt. Francis is the only hospital on Long Island to be nationallyranked for the treatment of digestive disorders by U.S. News &World Report.

BreakthroughTreatments forDigestive Disorders

Easy-to-swallow pill cam gives surgeons an inside look at the G.I. tract.

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center ® • Winter 2008-2009 Heartbeat

Anthony Celifarco, M.D., Chief of Gastroenterology


Vital SignsBoomer Orthopedics

Orthopedic surgeons are noticing more baby

boomers in their offices these days. “Not only

are we seeing more orthopedic cases, we are

seeing a huge increase in both total hip and

knee replacements,” says Richard D’Agostino,

M.D., Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at St. Francis

Hospital.

Dr. D’Agostino says that over the last seven

years there has been a 71 percent increase in

total hip replacements (THR) and an 83 percent increase in total knee

replacements (TKR) among 45 to 64 year-olds in the United States. If this

trend continues, 600,000 THRs and 1.4 million TKRs will be performed by

the year 2015.

This could be because baby boomers are remaining more active as they

get older, but it could also be a result of the nation’s issue with weight.

“About 65 percent of our population is overweight,” explains Dr. D’Agostino.

“And if you have arthritis, being overweight will make matters worse.”

The good thing is that most patients are finding that their THRs and TKRs

are lasting longer and performing well even at 20 years post-operation.

Also, there are currently less invasive options for patients needing replace-

ment procedures, including hip resurfacing, where the surface of the dam-

aged femoral head is removed and a prosthetic “cap” is placed over the

femoral head. This maintains most of the normal anatomy of the hip joint.

Dr. D’Agostino says the procedure is similar to “re-treading a tire” and very

popular among baby boomers. Another less invasive option is the uni-

condylar knee replacement, where surgeons replace only half of the joint.

It is performed if the damage is limited to one side of the joint only, with

the remaining part of the knee joint being relatively spared.

“The good news is that the baby boomer generation is more fit and

healthier than prior generations,” concludes Dr. D’Agostino. “However,

they wish to remain active well into their later years. We can help them

achieve their goals through exercise, good nutrition and the use of new

surgical techniques if necessary.”

Cardiac RehabCelebrates 30 Years of Service

The oldest and largest hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation and fitness pro-gram in the region, located at The DeMatteis Center of St. Francis Hospital, iscelebrating three decades of patient care.

The popular program gets more than 60,000 patient visits every year andoffers customized exercise and educational programs aimed at reducing ournation’s number one killer–heart disease.

Studies have shown that cardiac rehabilitation can help reduce the risk ofrecurrence of heart attacks and prevent further hardening of the arteries.

Director of Cardiac Fitness and Education, Sue Palo, R.N., sees the benefitsevery day. “A cardiac event can be a highly traumatic experience to patientsand their families,” says Palo. “Our goal is to help people step up to betterhealth - physically and psychologically–and that’s where exercise steps in.”

Edward Esposito, 83, has been a patient for the program’s entire existenceand he is still going strong. The former Mayor of Bayville and former FireChief said his doctor recommended that he start exercising three decades ago because his family had a history of heart disease. “It’s changed my life. I couldn’t imagine a week without it,” says Esposito.

The program also has its social benefits. Ed met his wife, Sheila, there andthe couple donated a stationary exercise bike as a token of their appreciation.They are looking forward to the program's next anniversary.

Gearing up for the next 30 years: Dr. Guerci congratulates former Bayville Mayor EdwardEsposito for being Cardiac Rehab’s longest running patient.


Staff News

A St. Francis HomecomingRetired psychiatric social worker, Larry Green (above with Sr.

Pauline Gilmore), received a warm welcome when he came

back to visit the Hospital this past September. Larry was 5

years old when he was admitted to St. Francis in 1949, then a

sanatorium for children with rheumatic fever, and remained a patient until 1953. Now at the

age of 64, Larry is healthy and happy to see the place that was a pivotal part of his childhood.

“I have led a normal life and I don’t know if that would have been possible if I did not come to

St. Francis,” says Larry. “As an adult, I look back and see that this place saved my life.”

St. Francis Receives New Research Grants to Help Fight Heart Disease

The American Heart Association recently awarded its latest New York state research grants,

and researchers at St. Francis received two for their studies of heart disease.

Congratulations to the new awardees:

• Madhavi Kadiyala, M.D., who received a $110,000 National Clinical Research

Grant to study “Plaque Morphology on Coronary CT Angiography.”

• James Goldfarb, Ph.D., who received continued funding for his research on the “Structural

and Functional Time Dependent Characteristics of Myocardial Infarction.”

Medical Staff Appointments

General SurgeryGary R. Gecelter, M.D.

Director of Surgery

CardiologyRichard Shlofmitz, M.D.

Director of Cardiology

Alan Goldman, M.D.

Assistant Director of Cardiology

Meyer H. Abittan, M.D.

Director, Coronary Care Unit

Ari M. Ezratty, M.D.

Director of Clinical Research

Justine S. Lachmann, M.D.

Director of Congestive Heart Failure

(previously appointed)

Patrick J. Monteleone, M.D.

Director of Clinical Education

Joseph H. Levine, M.D.

Director of Electrophysiology


Thomas Pappas, M.D.

Director of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

George Petrossian, M.D.

Director of Interventional Cardiovascular Procedures

Nathaniel Reichek, M.D.

Director of Non-Invasive Cardiology


Cardiothoracic and Vascular SurgeryNewell Robinson, M.D.

Director of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery

James R. Taylor, M.D.

Assistant Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery

& Director of Thoracic Aortic Surgery

Harold A. Fernandez, M.D.

Director of Heart

Failure Surgery

Lawrence H. Durban, M.D.

Director of Thoracic Surgery

Richard Matano, M.D.

Chief of Vascular Surgery


(Previous appointments are included to

represent the new table of organization.)

2009MarkYourCalendarSt. Francis Hospital Events

May 5The Guild of St. Francis Hospital SpringLuncheon and Fashion Show

Americana Manhasset will be sponsoring this popular annual event.

June 1St. Francis Hospital’s 35th Annual Golf Classic at Meadow Brook Club, The Creek and Nassau Country Club

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

For more information or tickets, call (516) 705-6655

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

Documents

Heartbeat Magazine - Winter 2008