Premiere Surgical

Save the Date for CATCH '11

2011-06-21T11:54:00.002-04:00

Thursday, November 10, 2011
3-8 p.m.

WVIA Studios
Pittston, PA

Topic & Agenda announced for CATCH '11

2011-06-20T13:52:00.004-04:00

WHEN & WHERE:
Thursday, November 10, 2011
WVIA Studios, Pittston, PA
http://www.catch11.org

TOPIC:
The Endovascular Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease

2011 AGENDA

3:00 p.m.
Registration and Vendor Exhibits Open

5:00 p.m.
Viewing of Videos with Interactive Panel Discussion

Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease in 2011
Featuring:
Dr. Stephen J. Voyce
Dr. Kevin H. Olsen
Dr. Samir B. Pancholy
Dr. Russell F. Stahl

Trans Catheter Therapies for Large Vessels and the Aortic Valve
Featuring:
Dr. Alessandro Smeraldi
Dr. Stephen J. Voyce
Dr. Russell F. Stahl

Pharmacologic Therapy Used in Conjunction with Endovascular Techniques
Featuring:
Judith L. Kristelle, PharmD
Dr. Madhava Rao
Dr. Stafford Smith

6:00 p.m.
Audience Participation with Q & A

6:20 p.m.
Break

7:00 p.m.
State of Pennsylvania (Live Show): “Endovascular Therapy in NEPA”
Featuring:
Two doctors and two patients that had successful interventions.
Dr. Russell F. Stahl and WVIA host, Bill Kelly, to moderate from the audience.

8 p.m.
Reception

CATCH11 date announced

2011-02-04T12:15:00.002-05:00

The date for CATCH11 is set for Thursday, November 10, 2011 at WVIA Studios in Pittston, PA.

CMC Cardiology Receives National Awards

2011-01-31T11:56:00.001-05:00

Community Medical Center received two awards at the Gold & Silver Recognition Award Ceremony held at the American Heart Association Scientific Session in Chicago, IL. CMC was recognized for performance in the Mission: Lifeline program of the American Heart Association, along with the American College of Cardiology Foundation’s NCDR Action Registry-GWTG 2010 Gold Performance Achievement Award. Community Medical Center is one of only 135 hospitals nationwide to do so. The awards recognize CMC’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients.

Standing Left: Barbara Bossi, RN, Senior VP Patient Care Services; Norma Nocilla, BSHA, LPN, CPHQ, Director, Quality Improvement & Clinical Outcome; Stephen J. Voyce, MD, Cardiologist and GWTG Physicians Champion; Kevin H. Olsen, MD CMC Cardiac Cath Lab Medical Director; Madhava S. Rao, MD, CMC Chief of Cardiology; Robert P. Steigmeyer, CMC President & CEO; Vernon Jennings, LPN, GWTG Coordinator

CMC Ladies' Night Out - February 10th

2011-01-24T10:25:00.004-05:00

For more information and to register call 570-969-7437.

Thursday, February 10, 2011
6 p.m.
Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton, PA

Topic: Women and Heart Disease Signs and Symptoms
(in honor of Heart Month)

Speaker: Russell F. Stahl, MD CMC cardiothoracic surgeon

Light Refreshments

Turning Hearts into Works of Art

2011-01-20T13:44:00.002-05:00

click image to enlarge

Scranton Times-Tribune article

2011-01-20T12:22:00.006-05:00

CMC surgeon advocate for local health care
by Stacy Brown (staff writer)
Scranton Times-Tribune
Published: January 18, 2011

Michael J. Mullen / Staff Photographer
Dr. Russ Stahl, cardiothoracic surgeon at Community Medical Center, sits near a mural created by cardiac patients and the CMC staff, on display in the lobby at the hospital.

***

Dr. Russell Stahl has heard the advice far too often since he has moved to and worked in Northeast Pennsylvania:

When patients have serious medical needs, such as heart surgery, they are often advised by family, friends and others to go outside of the area to have the procedure done.

Dr. Stahl adamantly takes exception to that suggestion. In fact, the advice is misguided, he said.

"The out-of-area referrals have an enormous impact in several ways. When you go out of the area, the patient goes out of his or her comfort zone," Dr. Stahl said.

"The patient and the family have to travel hours and bear the inconvenience of staying in a hotel or at least not being able to sleep in their own bed. More importantly, the care patients receive simply may not be as good as what they could get locally and it likely will cost more."

Top spot

Also, Dr. Stahl pointed to a recent report by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council which noted that, for the third year in a row, Community Medical Center had better-than-expected outcomes for its open-heart surgery program.

The hospital has never had what the council considered "worse-than-expected" outcomes since the inception of the program, Dr. Stahl said.

The report noted that CMC has the lowest mortality for valve surgery and overall mortality for cardiac surgery. It also has the lowest charges, reflecting the best value for cardiac surgery, Dr. Stahl said.

What's more, there are as many as 2,000 local patients who would likely agree with Dr. Stahl that staying local is the way to go. That's because 2,000 is the number of open-heart surgeries Dr. Stahl has performed.

Last year, Dr. Stahl helped lead a team of surgeons at CMC to arguably the hospital's most successful year. No patient was lost to heart surgery during that time.

"That's a huge milestone and it's a testament to the team we have," Dr. Stahl said.

Many of those patients recently came back to the hospital to thank the doctors and staff as a mural, created by the Scranton firm Heart to Art, was unveiled in CMC's main lobby.

The gathering was dubbed a celebration of their road to recovery, Dr. Stahl said.

"The mural shows the beginning of the patients' journey, where they give the doctors their hearts to care for. It shows the strengths and successes of the patients, employees and friends of CMC's cardiac program," he said.

Heart to Art is owned by Donna Doherty and Judith Youshock, who was a patient of Dr. Stahl, he said.

Dr. Stahl, 53, was born in Staten Island and is a product of the New York City school system.

A Cornell University and New York University School of Medicine graduate, Dr. Stahl completed nine years of training in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

He moved to the area to head a new heart program at Community Medical Center in 1997 and was named chief of cardiothoracic surgery at CMC in 2000.

Dr. Stahl and his wife, Roz, who is a registered nurse and noted golfer, have five children and five grandchildren.

Asked about the difference of living and working in the Scranton area as opposed to New York and Massachusetts, where he worked on staff at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center for five years, Dr. Stahl said living is easier and less crowded. He also noted the bond residents of Northeast Pennsylvania have.

Small world

"One of the things I love about this area is that it takes people who live here about 11 seconds to establish a mutual friend, acquaintance, church, school, shop, whatever," Dr. Stahl said. "When you hear two people here talking, right away it's, 'You must know my cousin,' or 'I know that doctor, he's good.'"

So, the next time a patient is considering going to Philadelphia, New York or someplace else, Dr. Stahl said, he or she need look no further than home. The doctor is passionate about the subject and blogs about it on his website, www.premieresurgical.com.

Contact the writer: sbrown@timesshamrock.com

Heartfelt Wishes for a Healthy New Year

2011-01-03T11:07:00.004-05:00

click image to enlarge

ACTION Registry - GWTG Award

2010-12-28T14:39:00.002-05:00

Your Heart, Our Team photos

2010-12-23T16:56:00.007-05:00

Mural Completed and on Display in the Community Medical Center Lobby. This mural was created by our Cardiac Patients, their Families and the staff and families of CMC who are affiliated with Cardiac Services Dedication, passion and love has created a special memory of the experiences of the care and treatment of cardiac disease.

Jack Scarfo, American Heart Association Children’s Chair for 2010

Pictured from left: Charles Cardoni, Ann Cardoni, CMC Cardiac Patient; Kevin H. Olsen, MD, CMC Medical Director of Cardiac Cath Lab and Philomena Occhilpinti, CMC Cardiac Patient

Pictured from left: Behind Canvas: Charlie Cosmark, CMC Materials Management and Family Member left: Front of Canvas Poster: Vern Jennings, LPN, CMC Cardiovascular Data Coordinator; Ellie Cosmark, CMC Open Heart Patient, Dianne Botscheller, CMC Cardiac Patient; Russell F. Stahl, M.D., F.A.C.S CMC Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Norma Nocilla, BS, LPN, CPHQ, Director of Quality and Clinical Outcomes

Pictured from left: Jack Atkinson, CMC 1st Open Heart Patient and Barbara Bossi, RN, Senior VP Patient Care Services

December 2010 eDigest - Your Heart, Our Team

2010-12-14T14:58:00.002-05:00

Celebration of Your Heart - Journey back to good heart health with the CMC Cardiac Team.

Please join us for: Your Heart, Our Team - Community Medical Center

Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 1 p.m.
Professional Building, Auditorium
Scranton, PA

This celebration will bring CMC Cardiac Patients, families, physicians and staff to come together and celebrate their road to recovery.

A local company "Heart to Art" will lead us in creating a one of a kind mural depicting the strengths and successes of the patients, employees and friends of the Cardiac Program at CMC. The mural will be hung in the hospital and will serve as an everlasting symbol of your journey.

Everyone is asked to wear a hint of red, which is a color of heart health awareness. Cali Photography will take a group photo in the shape of a heart to commemorate the celebration.

Refreshments will be served and memories will be made. Plan on joining us and the American Heart Association!

For more information or to register contact: Tina Drahus (570) 969-7437 or tina.drahus@cmchealthsys.org

CMC Cardiac Department Wins Two Awards

2010-12-03T17:02:00.005-05:00

CATCH '10 Videos

2010-11-04T11:40:00.005-04:00

CATCH’10 Cardiac Symposium

2010-11-02T13:00:00.001-04:00

CATCH’10 Cardiac Symposium

The CATCH ’10 Cardiac Symposium was presented by the Community Medical Center, The Commonwealth Medical College and the American Heart Association together as educational partners. This symposium has quickly become a major local gathering for health care and community leaders. This year’s conference was held at WVIA Studios with an educational session focused on the treatment of Obesity & Heart Disease, followed by a 1 hour live broadcast on the State of Pennsylvania. This can be viewed on demand at WVIA’s website under State of Pennsylvania, titled NEPA Dying to Soon Disease. The Speakers who were present at the time of photo. Standing L to R: W. David FitzPatrick, M.D., F.A.C.C., Cardiologist, Mercy Hospital; Stephen J. Voyce, MD, F.A.C.C., CMC and Moses Taylor Hospital Cardiologist; Janet Townsend, M.D., The Commonwealth Medical College and Russell F. Stahl, M.D., F.A.C.S., Chief Cardiothoracic Surgery, Community Medical Center.

October 2010 eDigest - PHC4 Outstanding Results

2010-11-01T16:00:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to CMC's Heart Surgery Team on Outstanding Results!

According to a recent report released by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, CMC had for the third year in a row "better than expected" outcomes. The only NEPA program with "observed to be expected" ratios less than one for all outcomes reported. Also, in NEPA the lowest mortality for valve surgery and overall mortality for cardiac surgery. CMC has the lowest charges, reflecting the best value for cardiac surgery.

CMC has never had "worse than expected" outcomes, according to PHC4, since the inception of its Open Heart Surgery Program.

In addition, CMC is the only cardiac and thoracic surgery program in NEPA that offers all of these procedures:

Carotid artery stenting
Endovascular repair of traumatic aortic injuries
Minimally invasive valve surgery
Laser-assisted removal of broken or infected cardiac devices
Homograft replacement of the aortic root
Hybrid coronary revascularization
Video assisted lobectomy for lung tumors

We invite anyone to visit and see why we provide the best cardiac surgical care in NEPA, and will do so for years to come.

For more information on Community Medical Center, the PHC4 report and our latest patient video visit our website: CMCHEALTHSYS.org

Get a Flu Vaccination Every Autumn

Health Tip: To protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year so contact your doctor.

Preventive Tips: Good health habits, like covering your cough and washing your hands can help.

CMC Cardiac Services

2010-10-05T12:04:00.001-04:00

CATCH '10 organizers

2010-10-03T16:48:00.000-04:00

Event organizers from left: Emily Walsh, Manager of CME, TCMC; Janet Townsend, MD, Founding Chair of Family Medicine and Community Health, TCMC; Russell F. Stahl, MD, FACS, Chief Cardiothoracic Surgery, CMC; and Julanne Hogan, Special Events Director, American Heart Association, Great Rivers Affiliate.

Articles in Scranton Times-Tribune about CATCH '10

2010-10-03T16:38:00.006-04:00

Scranton Times-Tribune
October 1, 2010

Doctors, patients urged to make small changes to combat obesity
by Erin L. Nissley

When it comes to taking off the pounds, even small steps toward a healthier lifestyle can make a big difference.

That was one of the messages at a symposium Thursday that attracted more than 100 health care professionals from across the region to discuss the dangers of obesity and how to inspire patients - and each other - to get healthy.

Held at WVIA's studio in Pittston, the discussion featured presentations by six local doctors and a registered dietitian about the dangers of obesity, which is linked to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and other serious health problems.

In Pennsylvania, 64.4 percent of adults are overweight or obese, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control.

Before presenting information Thursday, Mercy Hospital cardiologist W. David FitzPatrick, M.D., said bringing health care professionals together to learn more about how obesity affects health is extremely important.

"Addressing obesity is the single most important health initiative right now," Dr. FitzPatrick said. "It's a problem of our current, modern society."

People who want to lose weight need only follow two rules: eat less and exercise more.

But experts at Thursday's symposium agreed that putting it into practice is a lot more difficult.

"We all have to lose weight, we all have to eat healthy, but at the end of the day, what does that mean?" said registered dietitian Donna Scott. "You have to take it one step at a time ... because if it doesn't fit your lifestyle, you're not going to do it."

Janet Townsend, M.D., the founding chairwoman of Family Medicine and Community Health at Commonwealth Medical College, told doctors, nurses and other health care workers that they should strive to be role models for patients and advocates in the community.

She also said helping patients set modest goals and even writing out "exercise prescriptions" that include frequency and types of activity can help patients get started and stick with it.

Other presenters at Thursday's symposium included Russell F. Stahl, M.D., the chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Community Medical Center; Stephen J. Voyce, M.D., chief of cardiology at Moses Taylor Hospital; and Jila Kaberi-Otarod, M.D., internal medicine at CMC.

***

Scranton Times-Tribune
September 30, 2010

Symposium brings local health care workers together to discuss obesity, heart disease
by Erin L. Nissley

There is no denying it: Pennsylvanians are getting fatter.

This afternoon, health care professionals will gather in Pittston to talk about ways to help turn the trend around.

"I think we can do better if we work together," said Russell F. Stahl, M.D., the chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Community Medical Center.

"I'm interested in improving the health of the community, and I think this symposium is a step in the right direction."

In 2009, 27.4 percent of Pennsylvanians were obese, meaning they have a body mass index of 30 or more, according to the Center for Disease Control. Carrying extra weight around can lead to all sorts of medical issues, like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and certain types of cancer, according to Dr. Stahl.

Each year, area cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and cardiovascular nurses hold a symposium to discuss the latest information and technology to manage health issues. Today's event also includes an hourlong television broadcast on WVIA at 7 p.m. featuring medical experts from around the region discussing the problems and solutions of obesity and heart disease.

Dr. Stahl is hopeful that today's symposium will spark discussions in the health care world and in homes across the region to provide information and come up with creative solutions.

What health care workers need to impress upon people is that "even modest lifestyle changes can make a big difference," Dr. Stahl said. "There's no one quick fix."

Topics for the broadcast will include cholesterol and obesity, nutrition, sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome and how each relates to heart disease. Presenters include Dr. Stahl; Stephen J. Voyce, M.D., chief of cardiology at Moses Taylor Hospital; W. David FitzPatrick, M.D., a cardiologist at Mercy Hospital; dietician Donna Scott, R.D.; and Janet Townsend, M.D., founding chairwoman of Family Medicine and Community Health at Commonwealth Medical College.

ONLINE: www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html

Healthcare decision making for the elderly - Oct. 7 @ 7 pm, Scranton Cultural Center

2010-10-01T18:54:00.004-04:00

CATCH '10 - TONIGHT at 7 p.m. on WVIA-TV - live broadcast on obesity

2010-09-30T10:21:00.001-04:00

Healthy Lifestyle Changes

2010-09-24T14:52:00.002-04:00

August 2010 eDigest - CATCH '10

2010-08-31T12:24:00.006-04:00

Obesity & Heart Disease
CATCH '10
Thursday, September 30, 2010

Northeastern Pennsylvania's Premiere Cardiovascular Conference

A new and exciting venue has been selected. The educational session will be approximately 2 hours, followed by a 1 hour live broadcast at 7:00 PM.

The topic this year is "Obesity & Heart Disease"

Speakers cover topics including:

Metabolic Syndrome
Cholesterol and Obesity
Nutrition and Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease

Community Medical Center in conjunction with TCMC, as an Educational Partner, presents CATCH '10. CME/CEU Credits will be available. Limited Seating.

For more information www.CATCH10.org or
Kim Delvecchio
(570) 969-7355
Kimberly.DelVecchio@cmchealthsys.org

Join us or tune in to see our patient tell her story about heart disease. The Educational Session will be available for viewing after the Symposium for CME/CEU credits. Go to:
www.CATCH10.org
www.cmchealthsys.org
www.thecommonwealthmedical.com

Vacation

2010-08-21T22:03:00.006-04:00

So I took a vacation from blogging, which included a family vacation from work and a step back to contemplate. Rest and reflection enables refocus and refinement of goals. Looking forward to the last part of 2010, Premiere Surgical has set a few goals:

1. Make this blog more informative and interactive for our patients and the community. This is a way to communicate and educate. We have been committed to education and training within the medical community (as evidenced by the CV Nurse Course); now it is time to advance the educational aspect of our practice in the community.

2. Increase our understanding about how patients wind up in our hospitals or office, particularly with regard to potentially controllable risk factors for atherosclerotic coronary and vascular disease. Prominent among these risk factors is obesity (and the associated hypertension and diabetes). Indeed, Obesity and Heart Disease is the focus of this year’s CATCH’10 symposium. Our goal is to make CATCH’10 as informative and captivating as possible.

3. To get CATCH’10 off the ground we have enrolled one of our patients in a 6 month program to battle obesity and diabetes. We plan to tell Ellie’s story on our website as well as at the CATCH meeting, which will be a televised event. I am preparing myself by studying the incidence and impact of obesity in NEPA and I hope to be an effective moderator, along with Dr. Steven Voyce, for this year’s symposium.

4. Premiere Surgical, along with colleagues at CMC and TCMC, has set a goal to design and construct a Learning Center in Scranton that will allow doctors and nurses, as well as students in a variety of health careers, to participate in inter-professional education and training on a regional basis. We anticipate that this center will be an integral part of the NEPA health community.

We will continue our quality improvement and clinical research in cardiac surgery, striving to elucidate the interaction between anemia, blood transfusion and surgical risk. We plan to feature that area in abstracts, papers and presentations over the next 6 to 12 months.

These and other topics, including a continued focus on teamwork, professionalism and technical training, will be featured in this blog in the coming weeks.

CATCH '10 - September 30 - WVIA Studios, Pittston, PA

2010-08-13T11:37:00.005-04:00

CATCH10.org Agenda

3:30 p.m.
Registration and refreshments open

4:15 p.m.
Speakers expected to arrive at theatre

4:30 p.m.
Moderators: Dr. Russell Stahl and Dr. Stephen Voyce
Overview: What is obesity and what is its impact?
Featured Speaker:
Russell F. Stahl, M.D.

What is the link between obesity and heart disease?
Featured Speaker:
Stephen J. Voyce, M.D.

Metabolic syndrome (video)
Featured Speaker:
Dr. Jila Otarod

Obesity,cholesterol and medical management
Featured Speaker:
Dr. David Fitzpatrick

Nutrition and obesity
Featured Speaker:
Donna Scott, R.D.

Q and A

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Heart
Featured Speaker:
Dr. David Lohin

Healthy lifestyle: What works to combat obesity?
Featured Speaker:
Dr. Janet Townsend

Panel Discussion

6:15 p.m.
Break period

7 p.m.
Live TV program begins

On stage with Bill Kelly:

- Stephen J. Voyce, M.D.
- Donna Scott
- Russell F. Stahl, M.D.
- Dr. Janet Townsend

Questions/Comments from audience:

- Dr. Otarod
- Dr. Lohin
- Dr. Fitzpatrick

8 p.m.
Reception

Failing Arteriovenous Fistulae

2010-08-02T11:27:00.001-04:00

CMC Cardiovascular Program:
Vascular surgeons offer alternate: treatment for failing arteriovenous fistulae

Treatment for dysfunctional arteriovenous fistulae (AVF's) has traditionally been done via trans-fistual balloon angioplasty maturation (BAM). CMC vascular surgeons now use a trans-radial artery approach (RABAM) to treat the problem.

Advantages of trans-radial approach include:

Lower risk of serious complication
Less radiation exposure to the interventional team
Single sheath access for all lesions
Simplified and ergonomic working configuration

Our vascular surgeons at CMC are committed to assist dialysis dependent patients with arteriovenous fistulae issues.

For more information:
www.CMCHEALTHSYS.org

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.