Partners Magazine Winter 2012/2013
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Transcript of Partners Magazine Winter 2012/2013
Winter 2012/2013
lookinside:
special Gala photo
album!
A magazine of Rochester General Hospital Foundation
A Year of TransformationCampaign Preview: page 9
C o n t e n t sA Message from Jim Digan .............................................. 3
RGHS Dedicates Sands-Constellation Heart Institute ................................................................. 4
Richard Constantino, M.D. Patient Access Center ........... 6
A Planned Giving Message from Tim Maher .................... 8
Special Campaign Section: Transforming Care ................ 9
RGHS Acquires Linden Oaks Medical Campus ............. 15
RGHS Dedicates Erdle Medical Building ....................... 18
A Touching Tribute for Sam Huston .............................. 20
Q&A on Ambulatory Care with Hugh Thomas ............. 21
Remembering Arthur “Fritz” Liebert ............................. 22
Newark-Wayne Community Hospital News .................. 24
NWCH Puts on a Mardi Gras Masquerade .................... 26
NWCH Golf Classic a Sold-Out Success ....................... 27
Update from the Grants Office ...................................... 28
RGHS Newsroom .......................................................... 29
Winter 2012/2013Rochester General Hospital Foundation
Riedman Campus100 Kings Highway South
Rochester, New York 14617tel: (585) 922-4800 • fax: (585) 922-4889
www.giveRGH.org
President, Rochester General Hospital Foundation
James P. Digan
Campaign Director Anthony Benedetti
EditorDerek DeSol
WritingMarty Aarons
Janine DeCookDerek DeSolCarol Fisher
Christian JensenTim Maher
PhotographyJeff BlackmanKeith Bullis
Brenda Cohen
DesignDalmath Associates
PrintingMercury Print Productions, Inc.
Please note that Partners is produced approximately three months in advance of when it is received by readers. Stories and events occurring after
production will be included in the next issue of the magazine. Partners welcomes comments from our readers. If an error has been made, please accept our apologies and notify the foundation office by
calling (585) 922-4800. Thank you!
RGHS President and CEO:Mark C. Clement
Chairperson:Katherine T. Schumacher
Vice Chairperson:Ethan L. Welch, M.D.
Treasurer:Carl Luger
Secretary:Kevin L. Overton, Esq
Medical Liaison:Cynthia Christy, M.D.
Trent BridgesDavid N. Broadbent, M.D.
Donald S. Cameron
Kevin T. CannanKevin J. Casey, M.D.
Cynthia Christy, M.D.Charles T. Eagle, Jr.
Jack A. ErdleLouise W. Epstein
Robert W. George, Sr., M.D.Gregory P. Kausch
Peter A. Kouides, M.D.Jeffery Leenhouts CFP, ChFE, CLU
James T. Maxwell, M.D.William B. Mendick
Angelo MiccicheLeonard Olivieri
Ralph P. Pennino, M.D.Michael E. Pichichero, M.D.
Wanda PolisseniJoseph R. Rulison
Anthony F. Solazzo, M.D.John R. Valvo, M.D.
Rochester General Hospital FoundationBoard of Directors
I hope this special campaign edition of Partners Magazine finds you enjoying a fulfilling and pleasant holiday season with your loved ones. Here at Rochester General Health System (RGHS), we see this time of year as one to express gratitude and focus on the needs of others.
Rochester General and the patients we serve have much for
which to be thankful. In this issue you will find stories on
many of these special moments and milestones. They include
the grand opening of the Rick Constantino, M.D. Patient
Access Center at Rochester General Hospital, the dedication
of the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute, the completion
of the new endoscopy suite at Newark-Wayne Community
Hospital, the dedication of the Jack A. and Norma Erdle
Medical Building, the acquisition of the Linden Oaks Medical
Campus and the launch of our newest affiliate, Rochester
General Ambulatory Care. These are stories about the
generosity of our friends in the community, the hard work of
the RGHS team and, most importantly, the wonderful things
in store for the patients who need us.
This is also a time to focus on how we can help others.
In October we announced the public launch of our
system-wide, comprehensive fundraising campaign, which
we named Transforming Care. We are excited to have our
good friend Wanda Polisseni as
our campaign chair. Later in this
issue, you will hear from her, as
well as our campaign director,
Anthony Benedetti.
The landscape of healthcare is changing and so are the needs
of our community. The purpose of the Transforming Care
campaign is to ask our friends and neighbors to join us as
we work to ensure that RGHS can provide our region with
access to the best possible healthcare—the kind we would
expect for our loved ones.
In this issue you will find a special section highlighting
a few key areas that the Transforming Care campaign will
support. I hope you will consider making a gift to an area
that is important to you.
Thank you for another year of extraordinary generosity. We
are fortunate to call you our friend.
a message from Jim digan President, Rochester General Hospital Foundation
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 3
“Join us as we work to ensure that RGHS can provide our
region with access to the best possible healthcare—the kind we would expect for
our loved ones.”
4 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
RGHS Dedicates Sands-Constellation Heart Institute
Cardiac care that ranks among the best in the United States
has long been a hallmark of Rochester General Health System
(RGHS). This year, RGHS renamed its signature cardiac care
division to recognize a gift from the family of Robert S. Sands
and a corporate gift from international producer and marketer
of wine, beer and spirits,
Constellation Brands Inc., which
Sands oversees as CEO. The
cardiac care division, formerly
known as the Rochester Heart
Institute, is now known as The
Sands-Constellation Heart Institute.
“The Sands-Constellation Heart
Institute illustrates the kind of good
that is possible when hardworking
healthcare providers, generous friends and philanthropic
businesses come together with a common goal,” remarked
RGHS President and CEO Mark Clement.
The $4 million gift was the very first one made to support
Rochester General Health System’s Transforming Care
fundraising campaign. The Sands Family Foundation
contributed $2 million and Constellation Brands contributed
the additional $2 million. This combined gift has been
celebrated as a shining example
of both personal and corporate
philanthropy.
“Rochester is a truly special
community, and for close to 70
years my family and Constellation
Brands have supported this great
place to live, work and to raise a
family through volunteerism and
philanthropy,” said Sands. “We are
especially proud of the nationally recognized work conducted
at RGH and supporting the organization in its quest to
expand important health care services.”
“hardworking healthcare providers, generous
friends and philanthropic businesses come
together...”
Nationally ranked cardiac care division named to honor family and corporation for combined gift of $4 million
The aforementioned gift is the latest in a long
history of philanthropy for both the Sands Family
and the company. In 2009, RGHS dedicated the
Sands Family Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
to recognize the family’s $2 million gift to support
the previous capital campaign, which ended in
the last decade. A member of the health system’s
board of directors since 1999, Sands also served
as board chair from 2002 until 2008. He continues
to serve on the board and several key committees.
“While both extraordinary and humbling, this latest
gift is no surprise to me, as Rob has been one of the
most loyal and consistent supporters of RGH over
the years,” commented Jim Digan, president of the
Rochester General Hospital Foundation.
The Sands-Constellation Heart Institute is the
new overarching name for a division of RGHS that
brings some of the best cardiac care in the United
States to upstate New York. In the latest rankings
by CareChex, an independent healthcare analytics
firm, the heart institute was ranked number one
in New York State and number three in the United
States for major cardiac surgery. The agency also
rated Rochester General Hospital number one in
New York State for cardiac care.
RGHS Dedicates Sands-Constellation Heart Institute
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 5
Left: Constellation Brands CEO Robert Sands enjoys the reception with his mother, Marilyn (Mickey) Sands; RGHS President and CEO Mark Clement and Rob Sands.
Right, top to bottom: Rob Sands, previous RGHS board chair, with Bob Dobies, current RGHS board chair;Ralph Pennino, M.D. and Ginny Clark, Vice President, Constellation Brands; RGHS Chief of Cardiac Services and Cardiothoracic Surgery Ron Kirshner, M.D. and Rob Sands; a banner announcing RGHS #1 ranking for cardiac care.
6 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
Checking in to any hospital can be a stressful experience,
but now the patients of Rochester General Hospital (RGH)
will find the process of pre-admission tests, paperwork and
interviews to be less intimidating and more welcoming. In
early 2012, Rochester General Health System (RGHS)
dedicated the new Rick Constantino, M.D. Patient Access
Center, a key element in the system’s comprehensive effort
to improve the level of care and service available in the
community. Over the course of the past year, the access
center has changed the way RGH greets and prepares
patients for the care they need.
“This is exciting for two reasons,” explained Mark Clement,
president and chief executive officer of Rochester General
Health System, on the day of the dedication ceremony. “First,
we are excited to know that our patients will enjoy a better
experience, one more aligned with our values of excellent
service and convenient access. Second, we have the
opportunity to honor Rick Constantino, an extraordinary
physician who is both admired and respected by his patients.”
The center was made possible by a series of gifts made in
Constantino’s honor by friends, family members, co-workers
and patients. A respected physician and former president of
Patient Access Center Improves Patient Experience, Honors Longtime PhysicianThe Rick Constantino, M.D. Patient Access Center centralizes pre-admission testing and services
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 7
Clockwise from upper left: Rick Constantino, M.D. cuts the cake after the dedication ceremony; Jane Constantino holds her granddaughter during the ceremony; Younger generations of Contantinos look on; RGH Foundation President Jim Digan, Louise Epstein and Rick Constantino, M.D.; RGHS President and CEO Mark Clement presents flowers to Jane Constantino.
RGH, Constantino has been an RGH mainstay for more than
three decades. “Rick’s warm and caring nature will now help
greet our patients for years to come,” elaborated Clement.
The Rick Constantino, M.D. Patient Access Center is now the
gateway for surgical and gastrointestinal/endoscopy patients.
The location of the unit, on the ground floor in the Eugene
Polisseni Pavilion, is also in close proximity to the Portland
Parking Garage and valet parking services.
Patients are enjoying the enhanced service that comes with
this more patient-friendly process. It’s reflective of the
service-oriented approach known as the “RGHS Way.”
“Everyone who works for Rochester General takes pride in
the level of care we provide and the safe environment in
which we do it,” remarked Bob Dobies, chair of the Rochester
General Health System Board of Directors. “However, it’s that
personal touch, the ability to comfort a patient, their spouse,
their parents and children that can make the difference
between being treated and healing.”
“That personal touch ... can make the difference between being treated and healing.”
Throughout the years, planned giving
commitments from our friends in
the community have left a lasting impact on the work of
Rochester General Health System (RGHS). As we move forward
with the Transforming Care campaign, planned giving will
remain a critical way to provide our health system with the
financial resources necessary to address the healthcare needs
of our community with the best possible facilities, technology,
equipment and people.
The Charitable Gift Annuity – A Gift to Charity with Security for your Loved Ones
When considering a planned gift, there are a myriad of options
that can help a donor meet their philanthropic, financial and
estate planning goals and aspirations. One of the more common
arrangements is the charitable gift annuity (CGA), a relatively
uncomplicated life-income plan. A CGA is a simple arrangement
whereby in exchange for a transfer of cash, marketable
securities, or under some circumstances real estate, RGHS
contractually agrees to pay a specified lifetime annuity to up
to two beneficiaries.
How it Works• The donor makes a transfer of cash, securities or other real
property to the RGH Foundation.
• The donor will receive an immediate charitable deduction for a
portion of the value.
• Up to two beneficiaries will receive a fixed income for the rest
of their lives.
• The balance will be gifted to the RGH Foundation upon the
death of the last beneficiary.
8 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
A Planned Giving Message from Tim Maher
Our annuity rates follow the standards suggested
by the American Council on Gift Annuities—a
representative body of a variety of philanthropic
organizations—and are based upon beneficiary age,
regardless of gender. The chart above shows the
current rates that apply to both men and women.
Through planned giving commitments like a CGA,
our generous donors are able to maximize their
ability to meet personal financial objectives and can
actually guarantee income during their lifetimes or
those of their loved ones. This option is very
attractive to those who want to plan for their own
future while leaving an indelible legacy of
philanthropy with Rochester General Health System.
If you would like to know how a charitable gift
annuity can work for you, please contact Tim
Maher, director of planned giving for Rochester
General Health System at (585) 922-5073 or by
email at [email protected].
One Beneficiary
AGE RATE 65 4.7% 70 5.1% 75 5.8% 80 6.8%
Two Beneficiaries
AGES RATE 65 4.2% 70 4.6% 75 5.0% 80 5.7%
“Donors are able to...guarantee income during their lifetimes or those of their loved ones.”
Example Charitable Gift Annuity Rates
At this year’s Founders Society Gala, we announced the public launch of
Transforming Care, the largest fundraising effort in the system’s history. Unlike
other campaigns, Transforming Care is comprehensive—it does not focus on just
one or two projects; rather it addresses a myriad of significant community needs
that extend to virtually every single corner of Rochester General Health System.
In this special insert, you will find a brief introduction to some of the key areas
that will be touched by Transforming Care. While this list is by no means
definitive, I hope it provides you with a glimpse of some of our community’s most
consequential healthcare needs and our plans to address them.
Just some of the areas we plan to address through Transforming Care are:
• Oncology
• Rochester General Ambulatory Care
• Emergency Care and Clinical Modernization at
Newark-Wayne Community Hospital
• Long Term and Senior Care
• Patient Safety
I hope this campaign preview will help to start a conversation about how you
may want to give back to our very special community. Regardless of the area you
choose to support, we hope you are able to give passionately and joyfully—in line
with the philanthropic spirit that is a hallmark of Rochesterians.
Because of generous supporters like you, Rochester General has been a
community mainstay for more than 165 years. Your support of the Transforming
Care campaign will help us continue to put patients first for years to come.
Thank you for your generous support and consideration.
A Message from Campaign Director Anthony Benedetti
s P e C I A L C A M P A I G n s e C t I o n
“Your support will help us
continue to put patients first.”
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 9
ONCOLOGyAbout:The Lipson Cancer Center is recognized as a leading regional provider of
care for patients with cancer and blood disorders. Our team utilizes all areas
and disciplines of cancer and hematology treatment – including medical,
surgical and radiation oncology – to develop the best possible care plan for
each patient. Rochester General Health System is committed to advancing
cancer prevention, education, diagnosis, treatments and research while
providing warm, compassionate service to all patients and their loved ones.
What Our Patients Need:Technology is always evolving. In the field of cancer treatment, new
technology means new and greater hope for our patients. With your help,
we can make critical investments in the technology that will help our team
save more lives. We can also expand our operations to accommodate the
growing number of patients who are turning to Rochester General for a
partner in the fight of their lives.
Through the Transforming Care campaign, we hope to:
• Purchase new high-tech equipment such as a 4D CT
Simulator, which will enhance the effectiveness and safety
of radiation therapy treatments.
• Improve inpatient oncology facilities.
• Improve and expand outpatient (ambulatory) facilities to
accommodate more patients with greater comfort,
convenience and dignity.
• Provide better access for our patients who live in
Wayne County and the surrounding communities.
A Message from Campaign Chair Wanda Polisseni
Dear Friends,
Please join me in supporting the
Transforming Care campaign, a bold
and ambitious undertaking to help
Rochester General Health System
ensure that world-class healthcare
is available in our community for
decades to come. I am proud to be
the chair of this campaign because
it is unlike any other in our
community, and when you make a
gift to Rochester General Health
System, you are making a gift that
could help save or improve your life
or the life of someone you love.
Rochester General has served our
local region since 1847 because of
the generous support of our uniquely
philanthropic community. I hope you
will join me and the rest of our team
as we continue Transforming Care!
“...ensure that world-class healthcare is available in our community fordecades to come.”
10 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
OuTPATIENT SERvICES (Rochester General Ambulatory Care)
About:In 2012, Rochester General Health System announced the
formation of its eighth affiliate—Rochester General Ambulatory
Care. The purpose of this affiliate is to expand the availability
of high quality and affordable medical services on an outpatient
basis, meaning patients will not need to remain in the
hospital overnight.
The quality and availability of outpatient medical care will play
a critical role in the future of healthcare delivery. Not only will
it allow more people in our region to have convenient access to
the services they need, it will also help to control costs in the
rapidly changing landscape of healthcare reform.
What Our Patients Need:RGHS already serves more people on an outpatient basis than
an inpatient basis. In line with local and national trends, we
expect the demand to continue growing. In order to address
the needs of our patients, Rochester General Ambulatory Care
needs your support with several key projects, including:
• Expansion and upgrades to our services located at the
Linden Oaks Medical Campus, off Route 441 in Penfield.
• A new outpatient surgery center, also located in Penfield,
that is currently under construction and scheduled to open
in 2013.
• A new outpatient dialysis center to be located at Webster
Bay Creek. (The other RGHS outpatient dialysis center, at
Seneca Ridge, has been running near full capacity for about
two years.)
• Upgrades and improvements to existing outpatient facilities
located throughout the region that will improve both care
and comfort for patients.
s P e C I A L C A M P A I G n s e C t I o n
This is a cornerstone to our future. We are working hard
to find a lead donor to partner with us and name our new outpatient surgery center.
Artist’s rendering of new ambulatory surgery center, scheduled to open in 2013
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 11
EMERGENCy CARE AND CLINICAL MODERNIzATION at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital
About:Newark-Wayne Community Hospital (NWCH) is a key
affiliate of Rochester General Health System (RGHS),
providing access for the more than 90,000 residents of Wayne
County and those who live in its surrounding communities.
Recent improvements to the hospital include a new digital
mammography suite, adult day healthcare facility and
endoscopy suite. As the only hospital in Wayne County,
NWCH is often the only access point for life-saving care for
people who are not in close proximity to any of the hospitals
in the city of Rochester.
As RGHS continues to find new ways to clinically integrate
with affiliates like NWCH, patients throughout the region will
reap the benefits.
What Our Patients Need:By making a gift to support Newark-Wayne Community
Hospital, you can help the residents of Wayne County have
access to the same level of care one would expect in a larger
city hospital. Currently, the hospital is undergoing a major
modernization project, the cornerstone of which is a new
emergency department scheduled to open in spring of 2013.
The new emergency department is the most anticipated
project in the hospital’s history. The current facility was
designed to accommodate 11,000 patient visits per year. In
recent years, the hospital has seen more than double that
intended capacity.
In addition to the emergency department project, NWCH
needs your generous support to maximize investments in
other key modernization efforts that include:
• The creation of a patient access center to house central
registration, pre-admission testing, lab draw/specimen
collection and a patient reception area.
• The relocation of the non-invasive cardiology facility and
continued integration with Rochester General Health
System’s nationally recognized Sands-Constellation
Heart Institute.
• A dedicated medical imaging suite for procedures
such as MRIs.
• Enhancements to the hospital’s surgical suites.
• Continued clinical integration with investments in
technology like that used in providing telehealth services
and minimally invasive robotic surgery.
We hope to find a champion to make a gift of $500,000 to name this emergency department and help us save lives in Wayne County.
Artist’s rendering of NWCH Emergency Department, which will open in spring of 2013
12 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
LONG TERM AND SENIOR CAREAbout:As senior citizens comprise an increasingly significant
portion of our population, we need to be ready to
accommodate their healthcare needs and help them maintain
a high quality of life. As their needs become more clinically
complex, we need to provide the care necessary during these
life-altering transitions. The services we provide our seniors
and long term care patients include primary care, nutritional
guidance, skilled nursing, physical and occupational
therapy, transitional care (short term rehabilitation), social
work, transportation, hospice care, and care for Alzheimer’s-
type dementia.
Rochester General Health System (RGHS) has three affiliates
dedicated entirely to providing seniors and long term
care patients with the services they need: Hill Haven
Rehabilitation and Transitional Care Center, Independent
Living for Seniors, and the DeMay Living Center.
What Our Patients Need:When you make a gift to support long term and senior care,
you are helping RGHS invest in the resources our patients
need the most, including:
• Expanding the Independent Living for Seniors program
throughout Monroe and Wayne Counties, allowing more
seniors to receive the care they need during the day while
still living in their homes.
• Making much-needed improvements to our long term
care facilities to accommodate extremely complicated
clinical needs.
• Making Hill Haven more comfortable and
accommodating for residents and their loved ones.
s P e C I A L C A M P A I G n s e C t I o n
“We need to care for seniors during life-altering transitions.”
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 13
To learn more about the Transforming Care campaign,
call the Rochester General Foundation office at (585) 922-4800 or visit www.giveRGH.org.
PATIENT SAFETy
About:Patient safety is a rapidly growing priority in the national
landscape of healthcare. The problem is clear: too
many patients are accidently harmed in every American
healthcare facility.
We want to be at the forefront of the national movement
toward making healthcare safer. That is why Rochester
General Health System has teamed up with Johns Hopkins
Medical Center—the national standard-bearer in the field of
patient safety—and created the Patient Safety Institute at
Rochester General Health System.
Rochester General Hospital is considered safe when compared
to other hospitals, but we know we can do better. Our goal is
to find new ways to make healthcare safer—reducing harmful
occurrences such as infections, medication errors, surgical
errors and falls. We also want to spread this knowledge,
working collaboratively with other healthcare providers in
our area and throughout the country.
Our team has already made an impact by preventing
medication errors, infections and falls, significantly reducing
some of the most common and harmful infections that can
be acquired in any hospital. The result is Rochester General
Hospital now having a mortality rate that is less than half of
the national average.
What Our Patients Need:To make healthcare safer, we need to expand the RGHS
Patient Safety Institute team. We need more people to
monitor how patients are being harmed, develop solutions
to prevent future harm, and then train our care providers on
these solutions. It’s an extraordinary investment, but one that
will save lives.
Right now, patients are being accidently harmed, and
sometimes dying, in every single American hospital. When
you make a gift to the RGHS Patient Safety Institute, you are
giving our community safer healthcare, you are preventing
life-altering accidents and, ultimately, you are saving lives.
14 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
“RGHS has the true potential to be a national trendsetter in patient safety. I am committed to finding a philanthropic partner—someone after whom we can name our
incredible patient safety institute—to help us. It’s what our community deserves.”
Bob Dobies, RGHS Board Chair
RGHS Acquires Linden Oaks Medical Campus
A “hospital without beds”—while the term may sound
counterintuitive, it’s a concept that Rochester General Health
System (RGHS) is bringing to life. RGHS Ambulatory Care,
the system’s newest affiliate, will make outpatient care more
accessible without requiring patients to visit the hospital.
Ambulatory medical services are defined as any kind of care,
treatment or consultation that can be delivered in this
outpatient environment.
The cornerstone of this affiliate will reside on the Linden
Oaks Medical Campus— approximately 240,000 square feet
of clinical, surgical and office space acquired by RGHS from
Gianniny Associates, a local real estate developer with
philanthropic ties to the health system. RGHS and Gianniny
Associates completed the transfer in mid-2012, setting the
stage for one of the most significant clinical expansions in the
health system’s 165-year history.
“It has long been our vision to bring a comprehensive
ambulatory medical campus to the Greater Rochester area,
providing the people of our region with a full range of
outpatient services in a convenient setting,” explained Mark
Clement, president and CEO of RGHS. “This acquisition is
a significant milestone in our continued journey to combine
extraordinary care, compassionate service and unparalleled
accessibility to become the most trusted healthcare provider
in our region.”
RGHS Growth and the Importance of Ambulatory Care
The acquisition and expansion announced today is evidence
of the progress RGHS is making in its multi-year effort to
integrate and grow its community-based ambulatory services.
Already, RGHS sees more patients for ambulatory (outpatient)
Strategic expansion follows year of record growth
linden oaks expansion
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 15
services than for inpatient services. As science and technology
continue to present new and better options, and healthcare
payment systems reform and require more efficient care, the
demand for ambulatory care will grow accordingly.
The RGHS Linden Oaks Medical Campus will become a
prominent and tangible local example of the national trend
toward developing comprehensive ambulatory centers that
are, in effect, “hospitals without beds.”
“The addition of our eighth affiliate, RGHS Ambulatory
Care, is yet another significant example of our unwavering
commitment to continuing our role as a regional and
national leader in healthcare innovation and delivery,”
Clement elaborated.
RGHS plans to relocate its current ambulatory surgical center
on Lattimore Rd. in Rochester to the newly acquired facility
at 360 Linden Oaks Drive. This move will allow the health
system to integrate its ambulatory surgery center at Linden
Oaks with a much broader range of clinical services.
In addition to the relocation and clinical integration of the
Lattimore Surgical Center, RGHS has comprehensive plans for
the Linden Oaks Medical Campus. Currently, plans call for
the addition of a full-service urgent care facility,
an expanded oncology center, offices of primary care
physicians and specialists, physical/occupational therapy,
laboratory services and other services that should no longer
require a patient to visit a hospital.
The Facilities
In total, this particular acquisition includes four buildings
from Gianniny Associates. They are:
• Linden Oaks Medical Campus, comprised of three medical
office buildings at 10, 20 and 30 Hagen Drive in Penfield
with a combined 190,000 square feet of clinical space.
• 360 Linden Oaks Drive, located in Linden Oaks Office
Park, just across Rt. 441 from the Linden Oaks Medical
Campus with 49,000 square feet of clinical space.
- This will be the home to the new RGHS Ambulatory
Surgery Center to which 29,000 square feet of space
will be added.
The facilities are easily accessible from Interstate 490,
exit 23 (Penfield).
16 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 17
The Purchase
Rochester General Health System acquired the property for
a total cost of approximately $40 million from Gianniny
Associates. The price, below market value, reflects the
commitment of father-and-sons team Robert, Bruce and
Mark Gianniny to the community and RGHS. The family
has a long history of supporting local charities in healthcare,
athletics and the arts. Additionally, the family has
philanthropically supported RGHS for well over a decade.
“The best interest of our community has always been a
priority for the Gianniny family – it’s evident in the way they
conduct their business and the way they continue to give
back,” said Jim Digan, president of the Rochester General
Hospital Foundation. “Their generosity helped us make this
expansion happen, and patients across our community will
reap the benefits.”
linden oaks expansion
Artist’s rendering of new ambulatory surgery center, scheduled to open in 2013
Rochester General Ambulatory Care needs your help. Through the Transforming Care
campaign, we hope to partner with our community’s philanthropists to provide our
patients with the healthcare they need. With several donor-naming opportunities on the Linden Oaks Campus—including
the surgery center and the campus itself—we are anxious to recognize our generous
local champions.
RGHS Dedicates Jack A. & Norma Erdle Medical BuildingBuilding resides on the Linden Oaks Medical Campus, the site of major clinical expansion for Rochester General
In September, Rochester General Health System (RGHS)
dedicated one of the buildings on the newly acquired Linden
Oaks Medical Campus in recognition of the multi-million
dollar gift of Jack and Norma Erdle. The building, located at
20 Hagen Drive in Penfield, houses several medical offices,
including the RGHS Vein Care Center, the RGHS Center for
Dermatology and a satellite location for the Lipson Cancer
Center, the health system’s oncology network.
Now called the Jack A. & Norma Erdle Medical Building,
the facility is a cornerstone for one of the largest clinical
expansions in the history of RGHS. As the system continues
to grow its network of outpatient care (known as Rochester
General Ambulatory Care), many of these new or expanded
outpatient services will be available in the Erdle Medical
Building, the surrounding buildings on the campus and other
locations throughout the region.
“By creating a comprehensive facility and network that acts
as a hospital without beds, we are becoming a destination
healthcare provider for a full range of critical services,”
explained Mark Clement, president and chief executive officer
of RGHS. “The result will be RGHS making healthcare more
accessible, advanced, safe and cost effective than ever before.”
With their gift, the Erdles have helped RGHS pursue this
expansion even more aggressively.
“I feel honored that Jack and Norma continue to keep our
mission and our patients so close to their hearts,” Clement
reflected. “Because of Jack and Norma and friends like them,
RGHS can continue to do great things for the people of our
community.”
18 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
Three generations of the Erdle family were on hand for the dedication.
“We are becoming a destination healthcare provider for a full range of critical services.”
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 19
Jack and Norma Erdle before the dedication ceremony Norma Erdle unveils a likeness of the plaque that will hang inside the building
It was supposed to be a quick lunch and a stop at the Riedman Campus
to say goodbye.
Retired Rochester General Health System (RGHS) CEO Sam Huston and
his wife Ann were in the final hectic stages of moving. Within 48 hours,
they would be settling into their new home outside of Cleveland.
Sam’s good friend, John Riedman, an RGHS board member, had
convinced Sam that a quick lunch would do him some good. After lunch,
Jim Digan and his team at the RGH Foundation wanted to say goodbye.
Although Sam retired in 2006, he remained involved as a board member.
They even had a cake for him, Riedman told his friend.
After stopping at home to pick up Ann, they pulled into the Riedman
Campus for a piece of cake, a few hugs and some well wishes. Then he
was greeted by a grinning Riedman and Digan.
“Sam, we decided to have cake here in the café’,” Digan coaxed as they
walked. “There were a few more people who wanted to say goodbye.”
As they approached the door, the 200 people who packed cafeteria
cheered. A surprised and clearly moved Huston smiled and looked
up to see the homemade banner over the door. It read, “Good Luck Sam!”
“Let’s get rid of this thing,” suggested Digan as staff pulled it down to
reveal the real surprise, a brass-colored sign with the words, “The Samuel
R. Huston Café.”
The stately retired CEO was visibly touched and the sentiment was
intertwined with celebration. Friends and former coworkers shared
heartwarming stories and fond anecdotes about working with
Huston, working in the occasional good-natured barb at his expense.
Even six years into his retirement and now living in another state,
Huston remains involved with RGHS. This fall, he accepted the position
of honorary chair for the Transforming Care campaign. Now based in
Cleveland, he continues to lend his experience and insight to the team
in Rochester—a team that continues to work hard… with the occasional
break in the Huston Café.
RGHS Surprises Former CEO Sam Huston with Touching Tribute
20 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
This year, Rochester General Health System (RGHS)
announced the launch of its eighth affiliate – Rochester
General Ambulatory Care. The affiliate will serve as a
regionwide network of integrated community-based services,
which will make a greater number of medical procedures and
services available on an outpatient basis.
The mission of Rochester General Ambulatory Care is to
improve the availability of critical services such as physical
therapy, occupational therapy, laboratory services, many
forms of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy
without requiring patients to spend a night in—or even
enter—the hospital.
To lead the growth of this exciting new affiliate, RGHS
President and CEO Mark Clement has appointed Hugh
Thomas as senior vice president of ambulatory care. Thomas
has been the health system’s chief legal counsel since 2001,
leaving a law firm partnership to join RGHS. Well recognized
in both the legal and healthcare communities, Thomas is
ready to lead an already critical affiliate that will only take on
greater importance in the years to come.
Q: To many, the term “ambulatory care” is unfamiliar.
Could you summarize, in a sentence or two, the definition
of ambulatory care and the main objective of this affiliate?
A: Generally speaking, ambulatory care can be defined as
any care that does not require an overnight hospital stay—the
patient can arrive, receive treatment and safely return home that
evening. Another common term for ambulatory is “outpatient.”
Q: Why has RGHS invested so significantly in
ambulatory care?
A: This is the future. The healthcare industry in America
needs to contain costs while improving results and expanding
accessibility. Technology is allowing us to provide better
services on an outpatient basis. The results speak for
themselves —patients want to receive better care in a
convenient location and then return home as quickly as
possible. Because the patient does not
need to stay overnight at the hospital,
the cost of ambulatory care is significantly less than traditional
hospital-based care.
Q: What excites you most about leading the new
ambulatory care affiliate?
A: It’s exciting to know RGHS is embracing the future of
healthcare. The people who live in our region will reap the
benefits as our patients. I am proud to be a part of that; it’s the
kind of positive community change that motivated me to get
into healthcare.
Q: What developments or new services can our
community expect to see in 2013?
A: The most significant changes that will occur next year
are the opening of our ambulatory surgery center and the
expansion of our dialysis programs with the opening of a new
outpatient dialysis center in Webster. In 2013, we will move
our Lattimore Surgical Center operation to 360 Linden Oaks
Drive, right off of Route 441, where we are currently building
a brand new state-of-the-art surgery center that will be
connected to the existing medical office building.
Q: What is your long-term vision for this affiliate and its
role in the greater scope of RGHS?
A: We are on a multi-year journey to become a highly
evolved and integrated ambulatory care network including the
development of an integrated suite of ambulatory services at
Linden Oaks, which will function in the future as a “hospital
without beds.” Patients will have an unprecedented level of
access to high quality care that is cost effective. Rochester
General Ambulatory Services will also continue to integrate
with and support other RGHS services such as primary care,
acute care, sub-acute care, long-term care and specialty
medical services.
on Ambulatory Carewith Hugh Thomas, Senior vice President of Ambulatory Care and Chief Legal Counsel
Q&A
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 21
Arthur “Fritz” Liebert: A Lifetime of Innovation and Compassion
Since 1847, when Rochester General became the
first hospital chartered in the city, it has remained a
regional mainstay. In addition to steadfast service as a
welcoming haven of health and healing, it has remained an
intellectual incubator, nurturing innovation and progress for
the greater field of healthcare.
A true account of Rochester General’s rich history of
compassionate service and innovative spirit would be
incomplete without a lengthy section highlighting the
contributions of former president and CEO Arthur “Fritz”
Liebert. A fixture at Rochester General for more than five
decades, Liebert started as an intern in the 1950s. Later,
as an administrator, he oversaw the Rochester General
Hospital’s transition from its original “Westside” location
to its current “Northside” location on Portland Avenue.
Rochester has long been the home to leaders and innovators
of industry, civic leadership, community service and
medicine. Their accomplishments have rippled throughout
the rest of the nation, and Liebert and the rest of the RGH
team were no exception. In the 1980s, with Liebert at the
helm, Rochester General gained national attention for
controlling rising healthcare costs, as much a topic of heated
debate then as it is today. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton
even cited the program in the 1992 presidential debates as an
example of a community finding a way to make healthcare
more affordable.
“Our national leadership in healthcare innovation owes
much to his vision, guidance and determination,” reflected
Mark Clement, president and CEO of Rochester General
Health System. “He was an inspiring voice for change in
national healthcare.”
It was also Liebert leading the way when Rochester General
Hospital evolved from a single hospital to an integrated
health system. These were the first steps toward creating
Rochester General Health System (RGHS) as we currently
know it.
“Fritz was a lead architect of the long but deliberate
journey that transformed us from a respected community
hospital to the regional health system that we are today,”
Clement explained.
While Liebert’s accomplishments largely lie with drawing the
blueprint for our modern day RGHS, he is also remembered
for his dedication to supporting hospital staff while
managing to always make sure patients came first. A leader
by example, patients and staff alike would notice him
rounding on patients each Christmas Eve.
22 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 23
During the late 1990s, Liebert came out of retirement to
lend a steady hand as the health system weathered some
challenging times. After his second retirement, he remained
involved—serving on the RGH Foundation’s board and later
its advisory board. He also contributed to the Heart Advisory
Panel and was named honorary member of the School-to-
Work Committee.
Liebert and his wife, Jean, also played the role of
philanthropists, generously supporting several key areas of
RGHS, including the School-to-Work program, radiology,
oncology, nursing, the archives and the construction of the
Constantino Patient Access Center. For the past year, the
Rochester General Hospital Foundation had been planning
to recognize Liebert with the Betsy Morse Lifetime
Achievement Award at this year’s gala.
Sadly, Liebert passed away in August at the age of 81.
He is survived by his wife Jean and his three children,
Todd, Cynthia and Wendy. At the gala, Liebert’s life and
contributions were celebrated in front of more than 1,400
employees and friends of RGHS.
Liebert’s wife, children and grandchildren accepted
the award on behalf of a man whose commitment to
compassion and progress left an indelible mark on
healthcare in Rochester and beyond.
“Fritz was a lead architect of the long but deliberate journey that transformed us from a respected
community hospital to the regional health system that we are today.”
24 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
After years of planning, Newark-Wayne Community Hospital’s
new emergency department is scheduled to open in spring of
2013. The most eagerly awaited project in the hospital’s history
will transform the level of access to emergency medical care that
is available in Wayne County and its surrounding communities.
The current emergency department was originally built to
accommodate 11,000 patient visits per year. In recent years, the
hospital has seen more than 23,000 annual emergency patient
visits. One of the cornerstone projects for the Newark-Wayne
portion of the Transforming Care campaign, the new emergency
department will increase capacity while allowing patients to
benefit from an even deeper level of clinical integration with the
rest of Rochester General Health System.
Details on the official opening date and ribbon cutting
ceremony will be announced in early 2013.
Newark-Wayne Emergency Department Scheduled to Open in Spring of 2013
NWCH Earns NyS Stroke Center DesignationThis summer, the New York State Department of Health named
Newark-Wayne Community Hospital (NWCH) a designated
stroke center. To receive this designation, the hospital had
to achieve rigorous standards and demonstrate that it has
implemented required protocols to improve outcomes for
suspected stroke patients. Stroke patients in Wayne County
and the surrounding communities now have significantly closer
access to the care they need.
Stroke (sometimes referred to as a “brain attack”) is caused by
an interruption of blood to the brain, and is the third leading
cause of death or disability in the United States. When treating
stroke, every second makes a difference.
“The time from the onset of stroke symptoms to the treatment
is vitally important; medications or other protocols must be
given as quickly as possible to minimize damage after the onset
of stroke symptoms,” said Cynthia Martinez-Capolino, M.D.,
medical director for the NWCH stroke program and an
attending Emergency Department physician. “As a designated
Stroke Center, we can treat patients in Wayne County faster,
which will result in better outcomes.”
NWCH Provides Better Care and Comfort with New Endoscopy Suite This summer, Newark-Wayne Community Hospital (NWCH)
celebrated a milestone in the hospital’s $13.1 million major
modernization project when it opened a brand new endoscopy
suite, designed to serve the growing number of patients who
are seeking gastroenterology care at the hospital while also
providing a more comfortable and dignified experience.
“I’m proud to say we have a great team of care providers here
in our endoscopy unit,” remarked Mohamed Alsalahi, M.D., a
gastroenterologist who will perform much of his work in the
new suite. “Now, we finally have a facility that will allow us to
reach our full potential and provide the best care and service
possible for our patients.”
“The motivation of our hospital’s major modernization project
is to grow and change in order to meet the healthcare needs
of this community,” explained Mark Klyczek, president of
Newark-Wayne Community Hospital. “With the help of our
community—our team members, supporters, patients and local
leaders—we can make sure Wayne County has extraordinary
healthcare for years to come. It’s appropriate that our
fundraising campaign, which is supporting so much of this
modernization, is called: Transforming Care, because together,
that is what we are doing.”
“The board has been committed to providing world-class care
here in Wayne County,” commented Bob Havrilla, chair of the
Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Board of Directors, while
attending the ribbon cutting celebration. “In collaboration with
the rest of Rochester General Health System, that is exactly
what our team is doing here at Newark-Wayne.”
The endoscopy (gastroenterology) service has experienced
significant growth over the last three years (17.5% increase
in patient volume), despite operating in a facility with limited
space. The new endoscopy suite is twice the size of the previous
space in order to accommodate this growing demand.
nwch news
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 25
26 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
A record crowd came to Casa Larga Vineyards for the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Gala. This year’s Mardi Gras
Masquerade theme entertained some of the hospital’s most dedicated friends and generous champions. In addition
to celebrating another year of extraordinary growth for the hospital, the gala raised critical funds to support the new
emergency department, which is scheduled to open in spring of 2013.
NWCH Puts on a Mardi Gras Masquerade!
The Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Golf Classic was a sold-out affair at Wayne Hills Country Club.
All of the proceeds benefitted the hospital’s emergency department construction project.
Golf Classic a Sold-Out Success
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 27
nwch news
From the rGhs news roomNew Linear Accelerator Improving Radiation OncologyPatients of Rochester General Health System’s (RGHS)
Lipson Cancer Center now have access to more
precise and effective radiation oncology treatments.
In September, the hospital team installed a new state-
of-the-art linear accelerator in the Lipson Cancer
Center on the Rochester General Hospital campus.
In addition to improving the effectiveness of radiation
treatment methods, it also presents new treatment
options, including radiosurgery for small brain lesions
and stereotactic body radiation therapy for lung
and liver lesions.
To learn more about the services available at the
Lipson Cancer Center, call (585) 922-4020. To make
a gift to support cancer care, contact the Rochester
General Foundation at (585) 922-4800, use the
enclosed prepaid envelope or make a gift online at
www.giveRGH.org.
This year grants have continued to
play a significant role in helping
Rochester General Health System
(RGHS) affiliates achieve their
goals and address critical needs in
local healthcare. As the community
rallies around our Transforming
Care campaign, many grant-
making organizations—charitable
foundations and government
agencies—are also seeing the value
in collaborating with RGHS.
All told, RGHS affiliates have
received commitments for more than $3.4 million in
grants in 2012 (through October). Highlights include:
• A grant to provide Rochester General Hospital
resident physicians with more extensive experiences
in ambulatory primary care.
• Funding to support the construction of
Newark-Wayne Community Hospital’s new
emergency department.
• Resources to help refugees in our area heal from
the trauma of their experiences.
As we move ahead with the campaign, our grants
office will continue to play an important role in helping
affiliates—and the health system as a whole—secure
the resources we need to make sure our region has the
best healthcare available. By continuing to identify
grant opportunities that are aligned with the mission
and strategic directives of RGHS, we are nurturing
partnerships that can change our community.
If you or your organization would like to learn
more about supporting RGHS through a grant, please
contact Carol Fisher at (585) 922-4800 or email
Grants update from Carol Fisher
28 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 29
Downtown Rochester’s first diagnostic imaging center is
providing high-quality RGHS radiology services in an
outpatient setting.
In August, Rochester General Health System (RGHS) opened
a new outpatient diagnostic imaging facility on the Alexander
Park Medical Campus. The RGHS Imaging Center at
Alexander Park will offer a broad range of high-quality
radiology services with convenient access for patients who
live or work near downtown Rochester.
Diagnostic services offered at the center will include general
X-ray, DEXA bone-density scanning, mammography
screenings, non-invasive computerized tomography (CT)
exams, and non-invasive ultrasound, including first-trimester
OB/GYN imaging. These services will employ state-of-the-art
equipment using low-dose radiation administered by senior
radiologic technologists for the RGHS Department of
Radiology. Outpatient and inpatient radiology services will
still be available at Rochester General Hospital.
This expansion of community health services represents
another expansion for the newest RGHS affiliate, Rochester
General Ambulatory Care. The affiliate exists to provide
advanced medical care in a convenient outpatient setting,
meaning patients will not have to actually visit the hospital
for these services.
“In many ways, this is the future of healthcare,” said Mark
Clement, president and CEO of RGHS. “Federal healthcare
reform and advances in medical technology have combined
to create an environment of consumer-oriented health services.
Patients and their doctors expect convenient and cost-effective
services delivered with very high quality. The RGHS Imaging
Center at Alexander Park is the latest example of our
commitment to the city of Rochester, and to this new
model of care.”
The Imaging Center at Alexander Park will be open on
weekdays from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and from 8 a.m. until noon
on Saturdays. Flexible early or late appointments are also
available as needed. Physicians may schedule an appointment
by calling 922-2160. The center will accept most medical
insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, and is accessible
via RTS bus and LiftLine services. Additionally, validated free
parking will be available for patients in the Alexander Street
garage, located immediately next door to the imaging center.
RGHS Opens Imaging Center at Alexander Park
30 Rochester General Hospital Foundation
This fall, Gwen K. Sterns M.D., chief of ophthalmology
for Rochester General Health System (RGHS), was honored
with two awards from the American Academy of
Ophthalmology (AAO).
Sterns received the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Honor Award
recognizing her “outstanding and valuable contributions to
the AAO, its scientific and educational programs and to
ophthalmology.” In addition, Dr. Sterns was honored with the
prestigious 2012 Secretariat Award for special contributions
to AAO that extend above and beyond expectations.
Dr. Sterns has been an active
member of AAO. Over the
past decade she served as chair
of the Committee on Aging
and as a member of the Vision
Rehabilitation Committee.
Dr. Sterns has been a member of the Rochester General
Hospital medical staff since 1978. Her husband, Richard
Sterns M.D., is the chief of medicine for RGHS.
Gwen Sterns, M.D. Receives Prestigious Award from American Academy of Ophthalmology
RGHS Celebrates Robotic Surgery Milestone5,000th robotic surgical procedure places RGHS in the
top one percent of health systems nationwide
This summer, Rochester General Health System (RGHS),
completed the 5,000th robotic surgical procedure at
Rochester General Hospital (RGH) – a high-volume milestone
that places RGHS in the top one percent of hospitals
nationwide for robotic surgery.
RGHS installed its first robotic surgical platform in 2004,
thanks to a transformational gift from the Polisseni family. In
2008, to meet increasing demand, the system added a second
unit. This summer, the health system added a third robot to
the program, located at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital.
“We’re very proud to lead the region in this area,” said Mark
Clement, president and CEO of RGHS. “In medicine – and
especially in complex procedures such as robotic surgery –
high volume equals high experience, which in turn creates a
superior level of expertise with tangible benefits to patients.”
Today, RGHS surgical teams use the robotic surgery platform
in subspecialties that include urology, gynecology, colorectal
and general surgery. The two robotic platforms currently
active at RGH are used in more than 1,000 procedures
annually – 2 ½ times the national average.
Benefits of minimally invasive robotic surgery include
reduced blood loss and post-operative pain, shorter hospital
stays and faster recovery periods. To learn more about
the world-class robotic surgery program at RGHS, visit
www.rochestergeneral.org.
RGHS newsroom
www.giveRGH.org PARTNERS Winter 2012/2013 31
For 23 years, Rochester General Hospital (RGH) has served
as the starting point for hundreds of Rochester City School
District students as they begin their careers in healthcare.
As part of the two-year School-to-Work Youth Apprenticeship
Program, students earn academic credit, receive medical
training and work part-time in several departments
throughout RGH.
They balance work and training as they continue to attend
their regular high schools, students receive guidance and
training from both RGH staff members and physicians. The
result is a new group of students ready for college and beyond
emerging every summer. In the program’s history, 95 percent
of graduates have gone on to attend college and 85 percent of
them have moved on to careers in the healthcare field. This
year, for the eighth consecutive year, every graduating senior
has been accepted into college.
In recent years, the program has added an annual field trip
with the goal to explore nationally and world-renowned
healthcare facilities such as the Cleveland Clinic and Johns
Hopkins Medical Center. This year, the students visited
Roswell Park Cancer Institute. In 2013, the program will
bring students to New York Presbyterian Health System and
New York University. The trips present an opportunity for
students to expand on their RGH experience while also seeing
firsthand how far they can go if they continue to work hard
and chase their dreams.
To learn how you can support School-to-Work Youth
Apprenticeship Program, call the RGH Foundation at
(585) 922-4800. You can also make a gift with the enclosed
pre-paid envelope or online at www.giveRGH.org.
RGH and Rochester City School District Celebrate Graduating Seniors as They Move on to College and Careers in Healthcare
Top, left to right: Dick Przysinda and Richard S. Przysinda, Jr., Esq. of the Przysinda Family Foundation; Kimberlyn McDonald and Jeremiah Kirkland, leaders of the School-to-Work program; Nancy and Joe Briggs, longtime supporters of the program; The RGH School-to-Work Program graduating class of 2012.
Riedman Campus100 Kings Highway SouthRochester, New York 14617
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It’s not too late...to make a gift to the rochester General hospital Foundation.use the pre-paid envelope inside or make a gift online at www.giveRGH.org.