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

[email protected]

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


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.


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


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.


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.”


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.”


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.


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


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


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.


“We need to care for seniors during life-altering transitions.”


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.


“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


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).



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.”


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.”


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


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


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.



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.”


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



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


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

[email protected].

Grants update from Carol Fisher



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


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


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

www.giveRGH.org

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partnersWinter 2012/2013

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.

Documents

Partners Magazine Winter 2012/2013