Dr. Wnuk: “A tradition of quality healthcare that will extend far into the future…”

Community, People,

William Wnuk, MD sent the following letter to local newspapers in regards to Bertrand Chaffee Hospital’s award through the New York State Department of Health.

 

To the Editor:

Bertrand Chaffee Hospital’s recent award of $11.3 million from New York State’s Department of Health represents a significant investment of taxpayer dollars in our community. For the medical staff of our facility, it represents something else. That is, that our progress and plans have been recognized as meaningful and worthy of funding.

Health outcomes for individual patients and community at large are a priority for us as medical practitioners. This award will reinforce the work that we are doing to develop primary care, specialist practices and imaging services at our campus.

The direction of healthcare has been leading towards an emphasis on preventive care. Bertrand Chaffee Hospital stepped out on that path in 2010 with the introduction of primary care services. With providers caring for hundreds of patients each week, we are committed to continuing our significant role in the region’s health initiatives.

We’ve introduced a new phrase at the hospital and nursing home: #teamchaffee. It represents that we are all here, working together, to make sure the health of our patients is maintained and improved. As rural facilities like ours continue to face challenges, our efforts are being encouraged – not just by New York State, but by our patients and our community.

Thank you for being a part of a tradition of quality healthcare that will extend far into the future.

William Wnuk, MD
President, BCH Medical Staff
Medical Director and Physician, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Primary Care Center

My Hospital, My Home, My Heart

Community, People

The Buffalo News published an article by Darlene Schrantz, RN, BSN, former director of patient care services. She shared what she submitted with BCH and we are glad to share it with you.

Darlene Schrantz, RN, BSNMy hospital sits on a well-traveled country road in rural Erie County. It draws in patients from Arcade to Gowanda and everywhere in between. They visit to get healthy, to stay healthy, and to heal what ails them.

I call Bertrand Chaffee Hospital “my hospital” with good reason. I started my first-and-only nursing job there 45 years ago and spent my entire career caring for patients as a nurse and leading the nursing staff as a manager.

Before I retired in March, I clocked in tens of thousands of hours at the “Gem on the Hill” that became my home away from home. My husband was a teacher during the day, and I worked many evening and overnight shifts as we raised our children, Matt and Susan. Matt has a special connection to BCH, as he was the first patient transported by Mercy Flight to Springville when he was an infant. On that occasion, I was able to be their first flight nurse as well!

I saw so many changes as a nurse on the front lines of healthcare. We watched as technology made equipment smaller, faster and more accurate. Computers changed the way we interacted with patient charts and with each other. Inpatient stays became shorter. Advances were made in medications and treatments. And being in the maternity unit, I eventually saw women who had been born at BCH having children of their own.

I can also say what didn’t change. A nurse’s best tools are the ones he or she is born with. Eyes can monitor a patient’s condition. Ears can hear what patients and family members are saying. And a simple touch can let a patient know that they are in good hands. That’s the advice I brought with me when I started nursing, and that’s what I tell anyone looking to work in the healthcare field.

Words weren’t enough to express how delighted I was to learn that my hospital received an $11.3 million award from New York State to invest in imaging equipment and space for primary care. To me, that was confirmation after a lifetime of work that my hospital has the tools and the team to keep my community healthy.

The funding that New York State is providing for my hospital’s future is incredible. But it would not have happened without careful planning. Under the leadership of CEO Nils Gunnersen, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital looked ahead to the future of healthcare and saw some challenging times ahead.
With input from doctors, nurses and patients, my hospital made a series of investments that established primary care and cardiology services. Those decisions transformed our small hospital into the central venue for healthcare that it is today.

I take a long walk down Main Street and through the village of Springville nearly every morning. Each time, I am virtually guaranteed to see someone I know who has been cared for at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital. That’s the strength of my hospital. That’s the purpose of my hospital. And that’s the future of my hospital.

I like to tell people that if I were born a thousand times, I’d always want to be a nurse. I’m still a nurse, and I’ll always be a nurse. I am enjoying life now with a focus on being a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a friend. When my neighbors need healthcare, I know my hospital is there for them. And I know that my husband and I can depend on it for our medical needs as we enjoy a long and well-deserved retirement.

Department Spotlight: Physical Therapy

People,

The Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Physical Therapy Department is here to walk with patients on their road to recovery from injury, illness, surgery or chronic conditions.

Mary Lou Wright, PT, manages the PT Department and has seen patients at BCH for 42 years. Her team works with patients to relieve pain, restore movement, increase strength, improve balance and reduce fall risk. Outpatient therapy can be a few sessions or can last for several months.

“Our main goal with our patients is to get them back to their normal routine,” said Wright. “For some that means getting back to athletics or strenuous physical activity and for others that means being comfortable in their everyday activities, hobbies or work tasks.” She continued, “It’s all about quality of life, and that is different for each person.”

“Balance, strength and movement are the core of physical therapy,” said Emily King, a Doctor of Physical Therapy. “We are able to guide patients through exercises and give them practical tips to use as they resume their activities…The education process is vital, as patients then understand the importance of following through with recommendations once formal PT is ended.”

The department also provides services to in-patients on the medical-surgical floor. “For inpatients, we are able to evaluate their function and help the providers determine the appropriate discharge plan,” said Wright. “This could include discharge to home, short-term rehab, a skilled nursing facility, or possibly home PT services or outpatient therapy.”

When a provider prescribes physical therapy, patients have the freedom to choose where to go for treatment. “We encourage you to consider the local resource of Bertrand Chaffee Hospital’s PT department,” said King. “We are open 10 hours a day Monday through Friday for your convenience.”

To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call (716) 592-2871 ext. 1262.

Emily King, DPT, Sherry Stevens, Ronalyn Kassel, Mary Lou Wright, PT

Mercy Flight Brings the Voice that Healed a Nation to Sing at JBR

Community, Event

Mercy Flight of WNY coordinated a series of special performances throughout its service area by nationally known tenor Daniel Rodriguez. These mini-concerts at area healthcare facilities led up to Mercy Flight’s Beacon of Hope fundraiser on September 9.

Rodriguez’s first stop on September 7 was the Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home in Springville, where he sang patriotic and classical tunes that the residents and guests recognized with ease.

Known as the Singing Policeman and the Voice the Healed a Nation, Rodriguez was a NYC police officer and was one of the first responders at 9/11. Since retiring, he has traveled the country as a professional singer.

Photo 1: Daniel Rodriguez entertains residents at the Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home with his rich tenor voice and popular American standard tunes.

Photo 2: Don Trzepacz, Jr., director of air medical operations for Mercy Flight, and Daniel Rodriguez outside the Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home.

 

Freedom From Smoking at BCH

Community, Event

Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is offering the Freedom From Smoking program starting on Tuesday, October 10 and running weekly to Tuesday, November 21.

This program is designed for adult smokers and features step-by-step plans to help smokers gain control over their behavior. Cigarette smoke contains cancer-causing chemicals and can lead to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking is a behavior that negatively affects nearly every organ in the human body. It is also a cause of heart disease and stroke.

This program is taught by an American Lung Association-certified respiratory therapist. Each class runs from 6-7:30 p.m. The cost for the program is $80. Please call (716) 592-9643 for more information and to register.

BCH Womens Association Presents Fashion Show on October 1

Community, Event

The Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Women’s Association is counting down the days until its annual Fashion Show on Sunday, October 1 at 2 p.m. The theme for 2017 is “Apple of Your Eye Fashions.” This year’s event will be held at the Concord Senior Center on Commerce Drive, off Waverly, in Springville.

Volunteers will model outfits and accessories from Christopher & Banks and maurices of Springville. Refreshments, a basket raffle and sale of items from the BCH Gift Shop will be part of this event.

The BCH Women’s Association supports projects and equipment at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital and Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home. Their volunteers work throughout the year to coordinate fundraising events like this fashion show, and management of the BCH Gift Shop. The group’s most recent donation funded a state-of-the-art vein viewer, now in use in the hospital’s emergency department and lab.

Tickets are $8 presale and available at the BCH front desk and the BCH Gift Shop. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $9 each. Call (716) 592-2871 ext. 1485 with any questions or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities..

Family, Friends, Food and Fun at Employee Summer Picnic

Event, People

What a Saturday! Dozens of BCH and JBR employees and hundreds of family members and friends turned out for a fun-filled picnic at Sprague Brook Park on August 19. The activities started before noon and continued until almost dusk. Ping-pong, kan-jam, washers, a vigorous game of volleyball, and an assortment of kids and dogs made the day exactly what we wanted it to be, which was a memorable event that brought #teamchaffee together.

Thank you to all of the employees who helped with set up, food prep, manning the grill and clean up!

We will add pictures from the day on our Facebook page and here on our web site; please share your pictures too with kkane@bch-jbr.org.

United Way Day of Caring Volunteers Spruce Up Sidewalks and Gardens

Community, Event

United Way Day of Caring 2017Volunteers from M&T Bank and ITT Enidine of Orchard Park descended on Bertrand Chaffee Hospital and Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home as part of the United Way of Buffalo and Western New York’s annual Day of Caring on August 16.

Starting at the hospital entrance, the group made its way down the sidewalk, tearing out weeds and building up garden areas as they went. The mild weather and slight breeze made their work go quickly.

This event brings teams of enthusiastic volunteers together with non-profits to tackle small and not-so-small projects. For BCH and JBR, it meant outdoor painting, trimming, weeding, mulching, edging, and general landscaping.

Thank you to all the participants and to the BCH maintenance team for its support with supplies and direction.

Erie County Health Department Narcan Use Workshop on September 20

Announcement, Community, Event, ,

The Springville Regional Services Coalition and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital are coordinating another workshop with Erie County’s Health Department on opioid overdose recognition and Naloxone use. This free event will take place on Wednesday, September 20 at the Springville Middle School at 6:30 p.m.

This class trains people to recognize signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, properly administer naloxone and take the necessary follow-up steps. The information in this workshop can help to save the life of a family member, friend, neighbor or colleague who is experiencing an overdose caused by an opiate or prescription narcotic.

Participants who successfully complete the training will receive a kit containing two doses of naloxone at no charge. This free training is open to anyone 16 years old or older. Register online at bit.ly/narcan0920 or call (716) 592-2871 ext. 1485.

Hotlines for Help: 2-1-1 WNY and Crisis Services

Announcement, Community

At its July meeting, the Springville Regional Services Coalition continued its discussion regarding local access to social and human services agencies for residents in the Springville area.

One idea from that monthly meeting, and one that we share here in this release, is that there are two existing resources that need to be more widely known by Western New York residents and agencies that work with individuals and families.

2-1-1 WNY is a free and confidential link to health and human services. Dialing three easy numbers – 2-1-1 – on your phone connects to a trained information and referral specialist every day, all day. Callers can be directed to information about basic needs, food assistance, free tax preparation, holiday assistance, housing, job training, legal counseling, mental health services, substance abuse services, volunteer opportunities and other services in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.

Another phone number that people should program into their phones is (716) 831-7007. This is another hotline, run by Erie County and Crisis Services, providing callers with resources and referrals to substance abuse, addiction and mental health services. This hotline opened for calls in August 2016 and has referred hundreds of people since to recovery, treatment and counseling programs.

The Springville Regional Service Coalition unites human resource providers, public service organizations and individuals to improve the quality of life for the greater Springville community by facilitating cooperation, collaboration, communication and creation of initiatives. The group meets on the third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. in the village of Springville offices at 65 Franklin Street. No meeting is scheduled for August and the next will be on September 21. Contact atodd@goodwillwny.org to be included in our communications.