Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
2012 Annual Report
It’s what’s inside
that makes us
UNI
QUE
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
Board of Directors
Officers
Christopher M. Dadlez, F.A.C.H.E.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Howard W. Orr
Chairman
Delores Graham
Vice Chairman
P. Anthony Giorgio, Ph.D.
Secretary
Jeannine Mara
Treasurer
Kathleen M. Roche
Assistant Secretary
Directors
Michael Cummings
Christopher M. Dadlez
Brad Davis
Wendy E. Elberth
P. Anthony Giorgio, Ph.D.
Donald Straceski
Assistant Treasurer
Mount Sinai Foundation, Inc.
Board of Directors
Robert B. Bruner
Robert E. Cohn
Samuel P. Cooley
Christopher Dadlez
Robert M. Fechtor
Edward S. Johnson, D.D.S.
E. Merritt McDonough, Sr.
Roslyne E. Rosenfeld
Henry S. Scherer
John R. Suisman
Samuel H. Title
Michael Wilder
Delores Graham
Edward S. Johnson, D.D.S.
Rolf Knoll, M.D.
Andrew Mandell
Jeannine Mara
Howard W. Orr
John Suisman
C O N T E N T S
2
Message from the President and
the Chairman
16 Sharing Encouraged
3
Message from the Medical Director
18 Medical Staff
4
2012 Selected Highlights
18 Clinical Services
6
What Makes Us Unique
20 2012 International
MS Symposium
10 Healing Power
18 Administration
14 A Strong Finish
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital offers a comprehensive range of services
and specialties designed to prevent and minimize disability and help people
rebuild their lives after an injury or illness.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND THE CHAIRMAN
A
s we move another year closer to the Accountable Care
Organization model of care, Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
has worked diligently to prepare for the changes ahead. The
Rehabilitation Hospital is in a unique position, allied so closely
with Saint Francis Care, a healthcare system committed to
developing a comprehensive continuum of care that will
concurrently improve quality while reducing costs. It will be
the Rehabilitation Hospital’s challenge to provide the critical
programs and services necessary to provide post-acute care as
part of this continuum that is efficient, coordinated and
responsive to individual patient and family needs.
Much work has been accomplished this year to develop and
maintain a full spectrum of services that represent the interests
of all patient populations with, or at risk for, temporary or
permanent disabilities or functional impairments. The Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation Service Line has expanded the way
we view the Rehabilitation Hospital, as we now incorporate the
acute care rehabilitation services on the Saint Francis campus
into our continuum of care. Rehabilitation physicians, acute
care physical, occupational, and speech therapists, as well as
audiologists with expertise in many of the Hospital’s clinical
environments are all able to intervene when patients arrive for care.
The inpatient program at Mount Sinai has distinguished itself
from other post-acute care services by offering an interdisciplinary
model of care capable of managing patient populations with high
intensity medical and rehabilitative needs. For the second year in
a row, Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital received a performance
award as a “2012 Top Performer” from the Uniform Data Systems
for Medical Rehabilitation. This status positions Mount Sinai
among the top ten percent of all inpatient rehabilitation facilities
in the United States. Our outpatient therapy program also
received special recognition with an award for exceeding the
predicted national target for outcomes and patient satisfaction
over a one-year period.
The Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell Center for Comprehensive
Multiple Sclerosis Care and Neuroscience Research has also continued
to expand programs and facilities, and by year-end they had
exceeded 1,200 patients served at the Center. The model of care
provided at the Mandell MS Center has provided the region with
comprehensive, quality care for individuals with MS and their
families. It was with great pleasure that the Mandell MS Center
hosted its first international MS Symposium this year.
2
Rehabilitation medicine is at the forefront of interdisciplinary
care delivery with a focus on outcomes. Through the efforts of all
of the staff of the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital we are well
positioned to provide coordinated rehabilitation services in the
continuum that is critical to the provision of care for our
community.
Christopher M. Dadlez
President and Chief Executive Officer
Howard W. Orr
Chairman
A MESSAGE FROM THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR
A
s we look back on another successful year for Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital and the entire Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation (PM&R) Service Line, it is a good time to consider
the strategy behind our success. Is it, in part, our growing number
of specialized services/programs as Connecticut’s only freestanding
acute rehabilitation hospital; our growing commitment to
health/wellness/prevention with rapidly expanding fitness
programs, community outreach, and integrative medicine options;
or Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital’s commitment to
excellence that was recognized this year with the designation as
a “Top 10% Acute Rehabilitation Hospital” by the Institute of
Medicine? All of the above, while significant, only partly explain
our success.
This past year, for example, Mount Sinai was the only
rehabilitation facility in Connecticut, and one of only a handful
nationwide, selected by Henry Winkler (aka “The Fonz”) to
personally promote the value of PM&R in managing spasticity to
enhance functional recovery from stroke and multiple sclerosis.
Another highlight this year was the expansion of urology services
with onsite urodynamic studies allowing for better management
of our many patients with neurogenic bladder issues. We also saw
an unprecedented number of our Mount Sinai nursing and skilled
therapy staff achieve specialty rehabilitation certification. A
memorable year culminated with Saint Francis Care’s first-ever
International Symposium: “The MS BRAIN” sponsored by our
own Mandell Multiple Sclerosis Center.
It is not surprising, given these and many other
achievements, that Mount Sinai’s prominence as one of the
region’s premiere providers of a rehabilitation service continuum
continues to grow. Add in a skilled and passionate staff, a
dedicated and engaged board of directors, and a visionary strategy
team that is positioning us for success as a critical component of
Robert Krug, M.D. and Maura Murray, C.R.R.N., M.S.N.
an integrated healthcare delivery system in a rapidly changing
healthcare landscape, and you have the final ingredients for our
recipe for success.
It is with great pride and gratitude that I invite you to
immerse yourself in our 2012 annual report and be inspired by a
few of our patients’ journeys. Reviving hope, renewing the spirit,
opening doors and restoring function…it is our passion, it is our
mission, it is what makes us UNIQUE!
Robert Krug, M.D.
Medical Director, Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service Line strives to facilitate and enhance individual recovery, function, and
optimal performance with an emphasis on those populations with impairments that either place them at risk or result in temporary
and/or permanent disability. It serves as a regional and national leader in the delivery of coordinated rehabilitation services,
providing:
•
•
•
•
Value-driven rehabilitative care across the continuum
Education and training for rehabilitation professionals, patients, and the community
Research and clinical innovation to advance the field of Rehabilitation Medicine
Advocacy in partnership with local, regional and national organizations to ensure the needs of those with disabilities are
recognized, understood, and addressed by policy makers.
Robert Krug, M.D., Physician Leader – PM&R Service Line and Maura Murray, C.R.R.N., M.S.N., Executive Director – PM&R Service Line
3
2 0 1 2 Ye a r i n R e v i e w
February 2012
Several nurses received their certification as a Certified
Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN). According to the
Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, the certification in
rehabilitation demonstrates that these nurses are committed to
excellence in caring for people with physical disabilities and/or
chronic illnesses.
March 2012
The outpatient rehabilitation staff at 95 Woodland Street
was awarded the Outcome Excellence Award from Focus
on Therapeutic Outcomes for exceeding the predicted
national targets for outcomes and patient satisfaction
over a one-year period.
L-R, front: Emily Hahn, C.R.R.N., B.S.N.; Joanne Rose, C.R.R.N.
L-R, back: Maura Murray, C.R.R.N.; Denise Naylor, C.R.R.N.;
Joy Oliano, C.R.R.N.; Gail Abel, C.R.R.N.; Joan Sonski, C.R.R.N.;
Meg VanSteenburgh, C.R.R.N., W.O.C.N.; Darnell Glass, C.R.R.N.;
Barbara Semple-Cort, C.R.R.N.. Absent for photo: Amy Calvo,
C.R.R.N.; Anne MacKenzie, C.R.R.N.; Kathy Olson, C.R.R.N.
March 2012
The Mandell MS Center launched a new Urodynamics Program
for MS patients. Marlene Murphy-Setzko, M.D., a urologist,
joined the staff of the Mandell Center to optimize clinical
management, reduce complications, and better enable these
patients to manage their neurogenic bladder dysfunction.
March 2012
Staff of the inpatient rehabilitation team at Mount Sinai received an Outstanding Performance award as a
“2012 Top Performer” from the Uniform Data Systems for Medical Rehabilitation. The status positions
Mount Sinai among the top ten percent of all inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States.
4
May 2012
Denise Farrah, R.N., a nurse from the
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, was the
recipient of a Nightingale award in May.
The Nightingale Awards for Excellence in
Nursing is Connecticut’s largest statewide
nursing recognition program.
May 2012
The 16th annual Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Golf Classic, held at
Blue Fox Run in Avon, was a tremendous success. Representatives
of the Wounded
Caregiver classes are led by (L-R) Matthew Farr, M.S., P.T.;
Michelle Russi, P.T.A., C.B.I.S.; Karen Prior-Topalis, R.N.,
M.B.A., C.C.M. and Tara Rothstein, O.T.R/L., M.S.W.
Warrior Project again
participated in the
June 2012
event. With this year’s
The Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, in collaboration with
proceeds, the Hospital
the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, began providing
was able to purchase a
the “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” Program. This nationally-
Ford Flex, a multi-use
recognized program offers caregivers a range of self-care tools
vehicle which will be
designed to help them communicate more effectively in the
used to support patient
healthcare environment with both family members and patients.
activities in the
community.
June 2012
It was another successful
May 2012
year for the participants of
Staff from the Mandell MS Center attended the annual
the Connecticut Adaptive
Cooperative Meeting of CMSC (The Consortium of Multiple
Rowing Program. This
Sclerosis Centers) & ACTRIMS (Americas Committee for Treatment
program, offered by Mount
and Research in Multiple Sclerosis). Kayla Olson, Matt Farr and
Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital,
Albert Lo, M.D., Ph.D., each presented posters in San Diego for
is a unique program which
the CMSC meeting. Mandell MS Center researchers also
provides individuals with a
presented 5 posters at Saint Francis’ Second Annual Research Day.
physical disability or visual impairment the opportunity to
Dr. Lo was also a presenter at the event.
participate in the sport of rowing on the Connecticut River.
May 2012
June 2012
Actor Henry Winkler, who is best known for his role as “the
Participants in the Hospital’s Golfers in Motion program attended
Fonz,” made a special appearance at the Mount Sinai
the Travelers Championship and spent the morning playing golf
Rehabilitation Hospital. Mr. Winkler spoke to staff and patients
with PGA instructors on the First Tee training links at the TPC.
to raise awareness about stroke and its effects.
They then enjoyed lunch and an afternoon of watching the
tournament on the 18th green.
June 2012
Maria Tsarouhas, D.O.,
a specialist in Physical
Medicine and
Rehabilitation, joined
the medical staff of
the Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital.
5
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, a Saint Francis
Rehabilitation Medicine at Saint Francis
Care Provider, is dedicated to providing state-of-the-
To maximize outcomes for both patients and families, active
art medical rehabilitation. Accredited by The Joint
rehabilitation begins during the acute medical/surgical phase of
recovery at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. The
Commission, the Hospital offers a comprehensive
rehabilitation services of physical therapy, occupational therapy,
range of programs designed to prevent and minimize
speech/language pathology and audiology begin at admission to
disability and help people rebuild their lives after
catastrophic illness and injury.
Saint Francis and continue throughout the acute admission. The
assessment, evaluation, and patient and family education provided
in this acute phase lays the groundwork for the recovery process.
W H AT M A K E S
“The brain injury program staff is
seasoned, experienced in brain injury rehab
and extremely caring. It still amazes me
that brains heal as well as they do, and to
sit in an auditorium with our former
patients who now are home with their
families and living rewarding lives is
nothing short of miraculous.”
Team
approach
Specialized staff
Quick
response
time
“We offer extensive, specialized
programming for a variety of diagnoses
which really enhances the patient
experience by allowing the patient to work
with a team who are very experienced
within that clinical specialty.”
“At Mount Sinai we provide an
unparalleled level of individualized
attention accompanied by compassion
and dedication.”
Physiatrists
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
consistently meets or exceeds national
benchmark standards for patient
outcomes.
Functional Independence Measure
Score at Discharge
In 2012 we continued that trend.
88
MSRH
NATIONAL BENCHMARK
6
Personable
managers
and leaders
86
Inpatient Rehabilitation
The inpatient rehabilitation programs at Mount Sinai offer the most
of themselves to talking, thinking and eating. At Mount Sinai,
comprehensive and intensive rehabilitation services in post-acute
patients and their treatment teams operate within a fully-equipped,
care, providing services to a wide spectrum of patients. From
nurturing environment that includes an inpatient gym, the latest
persons who have sustained a hip fracture to those who survive a
technologies and state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment to a
stroke or traumatic brain injury, the inpatient rehabilitation team
Town Commons, an area of simulated environments including a
assists people in relearning abilities such as walking and taking care
supermarket checkout counter, ATM, and a full-size automobile.
US UNIQUE...
Our staff share
their feelings
Patient education
Commitment to patients
after discharge
“It doesn’t matter what your
disability is, what your background is, or
where you’re from — you will always find
a smile, a caring word, a much-needed hug
and a team of professionals that support
you every step of the way.”
“There is no better feeling than
watching a smile spread across the face of a
patient who accomplishes a task they didn’t think
was possible. What better job could you have?
You get to be nurturing like a parent, instructive
like a coach, encouraging like a cheerleader,
supportive like a friend. You get to be part of the
Saint Francis/Mount Sinai family.”
Functional Independence Measure
in Orthopedics
16
MSRH
NATIONAL BENCHMARK
14
Activities catered to
patients’ interests
Functional Independence Measure
ALL Neurological
11
MSRH
NATIONAL BENCHMARK
8
7
Day Treatment Program
Outpatient Services
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital’s Day Treatment Program
Patients arrive at outpatient rehabilitation from any point in the
provides services for people with brain injury and stroke who
continuum of care, transitioning directly from acute care or acute
are able to live at home, but whose daily lives can be improved
rehabilitation, from a skilled nursing facility or even from the home
through organized, intensive outpatient therapy. The focus of
or work environment. A full complement of services and clinical
the Day Treatment Program is to successfully reintegrate
expertise is available, enhanced by high-level technology and a
individuals into home, community, and vocational
therapeutic pool for aquatic therapy. In addition to the outpatient
environments. This is achieved through individual therapies
services in the Hospital-based program, there are two satellite
as well as specialized groups.
locations at 95 Woodland Street across from Saint Francis Hospital
W H AT M A K E S
The Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
is unique in that it offers so many services in one
convenient location. Whether you are diagnosed
with arthritis or multiple sclerosis, you will find
skilled and compassionate clinicians who can
provide state-of-the-art care.
Compassionate
and caring
Patient-centered goals
“We recognize each patient
and their family as individuals who are all
part of different communities and we focus on
helping them to return to their lives. To help with
this reintegration there is an array of different
programs such as support groups, adaptive sports
programs, graduate programs, volunteer
opportunities, and many more.”
Discharge surveys show that the large
majority of patients who were treated
at Mount Sinai were pleased with the
care they received.
8
Community-based
programs
Adaptive
sport/recreation
programs
Patient Satisfaction
12-month average
MSRH
97%
and Medical Center and at the Mandell Jewish Community
research — providing a coordinated approach to help with the
Center in West Hartford.
rehabilitation of disease and restoration of function. At the MS
Center, patients can see a neurologist, a urologist and a
Mandell MS Center
rehabilitation physician, receive customized infusion treatment,
The Mandell Center for Multiple Sclerosis Care and Neuroscience
and participate in a wide range of physical, occupational, speech
Research offers multiple sclerosis (MS) care at its best, with an
and language therapy. A therapeutic “cool” pool and
emphasis on early and ongoing treatment. The MS Center brings
neurorehabilitation gym is also available.
together a full range of services and programs for MS care and
US UNIQUE...
Our staff share
their feelings
“There is a palpable energy
among the staff. We work together,
and everyone is an enthusiastic
and dedicated professional,
regardless of job title.”
Diverse culture
“The Mandell MS Center
has been given the opportunity to
have a dedicated department and team of
researchers working full-time in our area
of research. Coupled with convenient
access to our patient population,
our department has the perfect
recipe for success.”
Would Recommend the Facility
12-month average
Advanced technology
“Not only is this Center
dedicated to the acute and chronic
care of the MS population, but every staff
member, including clinical, want and are
very willing to support the research staff in
hopes of finding new and improved
treatments and interventions for
the MS population.”
Staff
committed
to learning
Treated with Courtesy and Respect
12-month average
MSRH
MSRH
98%
99%
9
HEALING POWER
Family support, therapy
and humor bring Kurt Schletter
back from a brain injury.
Sam Gamgee: What we need is a few good taters.
Gollum:
What’s taters, precious?
Sam:
Po-tay-toes! Boil ‘em, mash ‘em,
stick ‘em in a stew.
FROM “THE TWO TOWERS”
Lightning strikes twice
started beating again, his brain had been starved of oxygen for a
K
total of 45 minutes. The result was an anoxic brain injury.
urt Schletter and his family are Lord of the Rings fans.
And like many followers of the Tolkien sagas, they’ve committed
scraps of book and movie dialog to memory. It’s something fun
to share, and a hint of their closeness. Like many families, they’ve
An earthquake, and an awakening
Kurt was taken to Windham Hospital in Willimantic, where his
body temperature was dropped to protect his brain and other
had their ups and downs. But nothing has tested them like
dealing with two brain injuries in less than two years.
Lightning struck the first time when Max, the youngest,
suffered a traumatic brain injury at age 17 in an automobile
accident. It struck again on August 2, 2012. Kurt’s wife, Jennifer,
and daughter Britta were away in New Hampshire, and he and
his sons were spending an evening at home together. Kurt went
into the kitchen at one point and shortly after, the boys heard a
crash in the pantry as their father fell, the victim of an
apparent heart attack. Gunther, the older son,
immediately dialed 911. Max grabbed pen and
paper, and started taking notes.
“We were proud of Max,” Britta recalls.
“His notes gave the doctors a timeline and
helped them know how much oxygen
deprivation our Dad had.” By the time
EMTs arrived, Kurt had gone into
cardiac arrest. Gunther was on the
phone with his mother and sister as
CPR was administered for more than
a half hour. When Kurt’s heart
10
Jennifer and Kurt Schletter worked
closely throughout Kurt’s rehabilitation
with Thomas Miller, M.D.
Nursing and therapy staffed worked with Kurt to help
relearn daily activities, and to monitor his progress.
“The Schletters were the most informed and
enthusiastic family I think we’ve had in a long
time. Their knowledge and support let us
jump into rehab vigorously.”
eye contact itself was a milestone. “It was progress when he
looked at us instead of through us,” Jennifer remembers.
“We knew somebody was in there.”
Kurt’s Saint Francis team knew there was “somebody in
there” too, and believed he could move on to acute
rehabilitation. They, along with Laurie Loiacono, M.D., a surgical
Michele Brisman, Ph.D., Clinical Neuropsychologist
critical care physician, advocated for Kurt’s transfer to Mount
Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital. “They’re really great people,”
says Britta. “Dr. Loiacono is our angel; she gave us hope.”
organs. He was then moved to Saint Francis Hospital and Medical
After nearly three weeks at Saint Francis, Kurt moved on to
Center. Over the next month, he would emerge from the rubble
the next part of his journey with the well-wishes of his team.
of his injury. “Brain injury is like an earthquake,” explains Thomas
“Just when patients start to progress, they leave us,” says Carly
Miller, M.D. “You have the epicenter where the most damage is
Hauser, M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P. “But it’s great because we get to see
done. Then there are other areas that may also be damaged, but
them go to rehab and fly.”
can be repaired. In Kurt’s case, these areas woke up.”
It was a gradual awakening, as his Saint Francis team attests.
Relearning the basics
The first turning point was the insertion of a tracheostomy tube
While Kurt had made progress at Saint Francis, his greatest
with a speaking valve. With better respiratory management, Kurt
challenges lay ahead. “When Kurt came to us, he was not able
was able to stay alert longer. “His initial responses were limited;
to follow commands,” notes Jill Kossbiel, P.T. “He had no sitting
he wasn’t really with us,” says Gary Naples, P.T. “After the trach,
or standing balance, and his arms and legs were moving
there were bits and pieces of success.”
involuntarily.” With no control of his extremities, Kurt was restless
“We started some low-level therapy with him and he
progressed from not opening his eyes at all to tracking people in
and agitated much of the time, which put his safety at risk.
“Our first priority was to protect and help calm him,” says
the room, especially his family,” recalls Fatima Joao, M.S., O.T.R.L.
Dr. Brisman. “We also created a low-stim environment for him,
The Schletters were a constant presence, with family members
with low noise, low lighting and no roommate.” These measures,
taking shifts to be with Kurt. As he cycled through confusion and
along with 24-hour nursing care, would lay the foundation for
fear, they offered comfort and support. “He knew his family was
Kurt’s rehabilitation. “He needed total care,” says Kathy Barone,
there,” says Gary. “We’d put him on the tilt table and stand him
R.N. “And all those things we take for granted had to be
up, and he would look at his daughter for reassurance.” Indeed,
retrained. For instance, when he first got here, he still had a
11
Nicole Scinto, a speech/language pathologist, worked with Kurt to improve his verbal expression and comprehension.
feeding tube. Once that was removed, he had to relearn how to
use a spoon and fork. Even then, there was always someone with
For Kurt, walking came before words. And when the words
came, they came in a jumble. “When he first got here, he wasn’t
him when he ate.”
able to communicate,” says Dr. Miller.
In daily therapy sessions, Kurt
worked with Jill, Kelly Versteeg, O.T.,
and Nicole Scinto, M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P.
Together with Kurt’s steadfast family,
the team inched him toward recovery.
“In the beginning, progress was slow
“Even when he did start speaking, there
“Kurt’s recovery was remarkable.
Once he came to, there was no
stopping this guy.”
Susan Pearson, M.S.W., Case Manager
but steady,” Nicole recalls. “He started
was a lot of nonsensical jargon and
word substitution. But as time went on
and Nicole worked with Kurt, he
became a lot more understandable.”
He also became a lot more Kurt.
“He had just started speaking and it
tracking more frequently and he would
wasn’t always clear,” Britta remembers.
respond to his family in the room. Then he started responding to
“I was with him, eating some potatoes, when he looked at me
commands. I remember our first breakthrough. I was holding a
and said ‘po-tay-toes’ just as Sam Gamgee says in Lord of the
ball and saying, ‘Kurt, take the ball.’ He waited half a minute,
Rings.” With speech came understanding and, eventually,
then reached out and took the ball.”
conversation. “By the end of Kurt’s stay, he was able to have
Britta remembers another important milestone. “By the end
pretty good conversations,” recalls Nicole. “He could also watch
of the first week he was walking, and that was awesome.” Jill
a complicated show on CNN and remember and interpret what
describes the pivotal moment. “As a therapist you start to get a
he saw.”
feel for when something’s going to happen,” she explains. “Kelly
12
and I were working with Kurt in the sunroom. We stood him up
Re-entry
and supported him on either side. And I said, ‘let’s just take a few
At the end of September, Kurt left Mount Sinai Rehabilitation
steps.’ We ended up walking with him all the way back to his room.”
Hospital for the Traurig Transitional Living Program at Gaylord
“Kurt’s therapists worked hard
to model activities; to move his
arms and legs, and to retrain
his brain — in other words, to
help him find where a skill or
movement was stored in his
brain when he first learned it.”
Michele Brisman, Ph.D.
Hospital. At the Louis D. Traurig House in
Wallingford, Kurt would get help to make
the transition from hospital to home. In the
program, participants cook, do laundry,
attend to personal care and manage
medications as physical therapy continues.
After two weeks, Kurt went home. Today, he
continues his journey in the Day Treatment
Program at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation
Hospital. With the help of his therapists, he is
fine-tuning the skills of daily life.
“If you ask Kurt himself what he needs
to work on, he’ll say speaking and sloppy
handwriting,” says Robin Lindboe, O.T., with
a laugh. “I’ve been doing some basic math
and checkbook balancing with him; his math
skills are pretty good. He’s doing things at
home, too, like making breakfast.”
Speech therapy continues as well. “While we’ve been
working on all of the language areas — verbal expression,
Kelly Versteeg, an occupational therapist, works with Kurt in the
Town Commons, a simulated environment that gives therapists and
patients the opportunity to approach the challenges that will be
faced in the community.
comprehension, reading and writing — our emphasis is on
verbal expression,” says Arlene Rande, M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P.
Kurt’s receptive skills are good; he can follow four-step directions
with 100% accuracy. We just have to work on expressive skills
such as word retrieval.”
At home, Kurt is reclaiming his life with his family’s help,
One of Kurt’s ongoing challenges is APHASIA, the loss, or
partial loss of language skills. In addition to speech therapy,
Kurt also attends an aphasia support group. The goal of the
support and occasional nudging. “We make him go to the bank
support group is to share ideas and solutions, provide
and the movies, and do things for himself,” says Jennifer. “He
members with a sense of community and help them learn
also schedules his own doctor appointments.” Meanwhile, son
coping strategies.
Max, now two years out from his own brain injury, is making
strides. He still has stiffness on one side of his body but can walk
and drive, and is currently taking classes at a community college.
Both Schletters are a testimony to the healing power of time. As
Kurt says, “Time is going to be your best friend.”
13
A STRONG FINISH
Resolve and teamwork help a stroke
patient reach beyond his goal.
B
ob Eaton wasn’t always a long-distance runner. “I was more
into sprinting and jumping,” says the 52-year-old graphic artist.
“I was actually very bad at long distances. Anything over 100
yards was tough.” But that was before his stroke.
November 30, 2011 was the starting line of Bob’s course
from sprinter to half-marathoner. “That day, I was walking down
the hall in my house and my left side just gave out,” he
remembers. “I managed to slide down the wall to the floor. I was
lying there until my daughter and wife came home.” He was
taken by ambulance to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, then
transferred via LifeStar helicopter to Hartford Hospital. Six days
after a stroke that affected the left side of his body, he arrived at
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, where his inpatient team
would begin the work of returning him to
independence.
It started with the basics — as basic,
in fact, as the morning routine we all
take for granted. “The first time I saw
Bob, he was in bed,” recalls Chris White,
O.T. “I could see that he had significant
washing and dressing, and he progressed
“Motivation was a huge factor in
Bob’s recovery. He wanted to
maximize his stay with us and
get his independence back.”
visual deficits. He wasn’t attending to his
left side and there was no movement in
his left arm at all. He needed help to get
ready in the morning, so that’s what we
worked on.” Chris gave Bob techniques for
Laura Filipek, Physical Therapist
quickly. Then it was on to mealtime.
“One of the big things was eating,”
Bob says. His left-side deficit/spacial
awareness, made it hard for him to get
food into his mouth and keep it there.
“Bob wasn’t aware of the left side of his
face,” says Margaret Carpenter, M.S.,
C.C.C.-S.L.P. “He had trouble knowing
where the food was, and trouble swallowing.” One of the tools
Margaret used to help Bob was a mirror. Looking at his
reflection while he ate provided visual feedback that
increased Bob’s awareness of his left side. “I liked using the
mirror,” he says. “It helped retrain my brain. That’s what
you have to do with a stroke; you have to retrain
Robin Lindboe, an occupational therapist, works with
Bob using the Armeo® Arm Therapy tool to
improve his grasp and release.
14
< Karen Smyth, a physical therapist, monitors Bob’s progress as
he participates in body-weight-assisted gait training utilizing the
Lite Gait® therapy device.
delivers electrical stimulation to the forearm and hand. She also
used the Armeo® Arm Therapy tool, which “unweights” the arm
while computer software simulates movements such as grasp and
release, and shoulder and arm reaching.
Speech therapy also continued in the
everything. You won’t get better until you
work on it.” And Bob worked hard —
with a very specific goal in mind.
“On the first day I met with Bob, I
asked what his goals were,” says Laura
Filipek, Physical Therapist. “He said he
wanted to run. People don’t usually say
that,” she recalls with a smile. With Laura
“While he was in the Day
Treatment Program, Bob put his
creativity to work to design a
display case for Brain Injury
Awareness Month.”
Tara Rothstein, Day Treatment Program
and Chris working in tandem, Bob did
Coordinator
exercises such as squats and lunges to
Day Treatment Program — with a nod to
another of Bob’s favorite pastimes. “He
would bring in his trombone mouthpiece
and we’d use it to work on his tongue and
lip movement,” recalls Arlene Rande,
M.S., CCC-S.L.P. “We used motor speech
strategies, too, such as slowing down,
separating out the words in a sentence
and breaking words down into syllables.”
All the while, Bob was moving
increase his strength and balance. Toward
the end of his inpatient stay, he walked with his therapists to the
toward his primary goal — one step at a
CVS pharmacy across the street from the Hospital. His recovery
time. “We did a lot of walking through the Hospital, and
picked up speed to the point where he was discharged early, on
negotiating stairs and ramps,” says Karen Smyth, P.T. “We also
December 23, just in time for the holidays.
worked on increasing his speed and time on the LiteGait®.” The
About a week later, Bob entered the Day Treatment Program.
LiteGait device supported Bob in a harness while he walked and
His new team picked up where his inpatient team left off, with an
jogged on a treadmill. At home, he ran on the track at his
emphasis on strategies he could take home and use in everyday
daughter’s school. “I worked up to three miles on the track, then
life. “We worked on functional activities, things that use both
I started running on the road,” Bob recalls. He had reached the
sides of the body,” says Robin Lindboe, O.T. To strengthen Bob’s
goal he set for himself in therapy. But he wasn’t about to stop.
®
left side, Robin used the Bioness H200 neuroprosthetic and
rehabilitation system (part of his inpatient therapy as well), which
On October 13, 2012, Bob Eaton ran the half-marathon
event in the ING Hartford Marathon. Less than one year after his
stroke, the self-described “very bad long-distance
runner” ran 13.1 miles. Motivation, endurance,
family support and the work of his therapy teams at
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital brought him to
the finish line.
The DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM at
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital serves
people with brain injury and stroke who are
able to live at home but could benefit from
organized, intensive outpatient therapy.
Arlene Rande, a speech/language pathologist, works with Bob using
his trombone mouthpiece to improve his tongue and lip movements.
15
SHARING
ENCOURAGED
Collaborative, coordinated care puts
an MS patient’s life back on track.
W
hen Lisa Fine’s life turned around, she wanted to tell
everyone. “I’m a Facebook-a-holic and a lot of my friends are
Before Lisa’s botox injections, there was medication — at
worst, ineffective; at best, problematic. “Lisa had tried all the
MS friends,” she says. “I shared my whole
prescription medications for overactive bladder
experience with them. I’ve had multiple sclerosis
out there,” explains Marlene Murphy-Setzko,
for 22 years and if I can help someone, I’ll do it.”
Lisa’s experience involved coordinated
injections of botulinum toxin (botox) — a
collaborative effort between her doctors at the
Mandell Center for Multiple Sclerosis Care and
Neuroscience Research. The targets: overactive
“No one with a
neurologic disease
should ever be told
‘you just have to live
with incontinence’”.
bladder and spasms in her calf muscles that
made walking difficult and exhausting. “In MS,
Marlene Murphy-Setzko, M.D.
nerve signals are over-stimulating the muscle, so
it goes into spasms and becomes stiff,” explains Peter Wade,
M.D., Medical Director of Urology Services. “And
they had all failed to stop her spasms.” Muscle
relaxants for her legs took the wind out of her
sails and still did not deliver a normal gait.
“These medications can have a sedating effect,”
says Robert Krug, M.D., Medical Director of
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital. “One of the
problems is they affect all of the muscles. Using
botox is a more targeted approach.”
Lisa’s journey with botox began with a recommendation
M.D., Clinical Neurologist and Lisa’s physician for more than
from Dr. Wade. Through him, she was able to access the
ten years. “Botox disconnects the muscle from the nerve.”
resources of the Mandell MS Center, including the services of
Dr. Murphy-Setzko and Dr. Krug. “The decision to do something
about my bladder came first,” says Lisa. “Incontinence was one
of my worst problems. It was horrible.” It was also an inevitable
consequence of her condition. “After ten years, about 90
percent of MS patients will have some voiding dysfunction,”
explains Dr. Murphy-Setzko. “Lisa had problems with urgency
and frequency, and she was getting up multiple times at night.
This is a sign that the bladder is not elastic, not compliant, not
“quiet” when it’s supposed to be.”
Based on the results of urodynamic testing and Lisa’s past
history, Dr. Murphy-Setzko determined that she would be an
excellent candidate for botox. Its paralyzing effect on muscle
tissue would provide the solution that oral medications had not.
“Marlene told me there would be no more leaking and I didn’t
believe it,” recalls Lisa. “But I decided to go ahead.”
She would ultimately go ahead with botox injections in her
legs as well. “Lisa’s walking had a lot of sway from side to side,
and she couldn’t tolerate walking very far. She just got too tired,”
explains Wendy McCabe, P.T., who worked with Lisa briefly in
2012. “I couldn’t wait to get off my feet,” Lisa remembers.
Lisa and Marlene Murphy-Setzko, M.D., a urologist, used
urodynamic testing, along with Lisa’s medical history, to
determine the best course of treatment.
16
“I would go home, get in bed and cry.” When Dr. Krug met with
Lisa for his own assessment, the toll of her struggle showed.
< Peter Wade, M.D., a neurologist, has worked with Lisa to help
control her symptoms for more than ten years.
about 30 different locations in a grid pattern.” Once Lisa recovers,
her boyfriend drives her to Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital,
where Dr. Krug injects botox into her legs in his office.
The results have been dramatic. “Before the botox injections,
“Lisa’s activity tolerance was down,” he says. “She wasn’t
I wore Depends for eight years,” says Lisa. “After the shots, there
working and she had gained weight. After we met, I shared my
were a couple of days when I was home and I decided not to
findings with Dr. Wade and Dr. Murphy-Setzko so they would
wear them. I was fine!” Dr. Wade adds, “The botox injections
know what my goals and Lisa’s goals were.” The doctors would
have given Lisa back control of her bladder. She can control when
also work together to coordinate her treatment.
she’s going to void and not have it spontaneously happen. It
“A patient can only be exposed to the toxin every 90 days,”
made a big difference in her life.” So did the injections in her legs.
explains Dr. Krug. “Any more frequently and antibodies can be
With the pain gone, Lisa was able to walk better and farther.
developed that render the toxin ineffective.” This meant Lisa
“My boyfriend and I built up to walking a mile a day,” she says.
“That was just huge for me.” In time,
would need to have injections in her
she went back to the gym — and
bladder and her legs on the same day.
The bladder injections require general
anesthesia, so they would be done at
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical
Center. Dr. Murphy-Setzko explains the
procedure. “Once Lisa is under
anesthesia, I go into her bladder with a
scope that has a tiny needle at one
end. I inject botox where the muscle
fibers are enlarged and thickened —
“The Mandell MS Center is unique in
its ability to provide coordinated care.
It’s the only MS center in the region
and one of the few in the country that
provides both neurologic and
physiatry services in one place.”
Robert Krug, M.D., Medical Director,
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
back to work.
Because the effects of the
injections last from four to nine
months, there is more botox in
Lisa’s future. There is also hope and
optimism. “The whole experience
has opened possibilities for me,” she
explains. “I’m slowly losing weight and
getting healthier. It’s encouraged me
to do other things. I now work for the
New England Assistive Technology
Center (NEAT) at Oakhill, which provides services and
durable medical equipment for people with disabilities.
It makes me feel like I can give back.”
Wendy McCabe, a physical therapist, and Robert Krug, M.D.,
evaluate Lisa’s improvement in gait and activity tolerance as a
result of the botox injections.
ABOUT BOTOX
Botulinum toxin (botox), a protein and neurotoxin
produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, is
used for medical and cosmetic procedures. It was used
in humans for the first time in 1980 to treat strabismus,
or “crossed eyes,” and in the 1990s became a popular
cosmetic treatment for frown lines. Other applications
for botox include incontinence, migraine headaches,
excessive sweating, muscle spasms, diabetic neuropathy
and temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ).
17
Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation
Hospital Service Line
Administration
Christopher M. Dadlez, F.A.C.H.E.
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Robert Krug, M.D.
Medical Director
Maura A. Murray, C.R.R.N., M.S.N.
Executive Director
Mary Ann Bukowski
Office Manager
Medical Staff
Membership
ACTIVE STAFF
Kathleen Abbott, M.D.
Raymond Chagnon, M.D.
Robert Krug, M.D.
Thomas Miller, M.D.
MEDICAL ASSOCIATE STAFF
Michelle Brisman, Ph.D
Cristina Ciocca, Psy.D.
Corinne Harrington, Ph.D.
Howard Oakes, Psy.D.
William Padula, O.D.
Tracey Sondik, Psy.D.
MEDICAL ASSISTANT STAFF
Tara Breslin, P.A.-C.
Tracy G. Civitillo, P.A.-C.
Adrienne M. Clements, A.P.R.N.
Concepcion Cortes, A.P.R.N.
Eleanor Fritz, A.P.R.N.
Geriann Gallagher, A.P.R.N.
Sue Keefe, A.P.R.N.
Ann Navage, A.P.R.N.
Amy Neal, P.A.-C.
Francis Pasini, P.A.-C.
Patricia Samuels, A.P.R.N.
Nancy Scheetz, A.P.R.N.
Frida Winnick, A.P.R.N.
Heather Wightman, P.A.-C
PER DIEM STAFF
Anat Bergner, M.D.
Ovanes Borgonos, M.D.
Syed Naqvi, M.D.
Priya Roy, M.D.
Ricardo Ruiz, M.D.
Mahammed Parvez Saiyed, M.D.
Christian Sarra, M.D.
Eduardo Siccion, M.D.
Gagandeep Singh, M.D.
Sameera Tallapureddy, M.D. (LOA)
Satyarani Tallapureddy, M.D.
Jaykumar R. Thumar, M.D.
Nailia Vodovskaia, M.D.
David Wolpaw, M.D.
CONSULTANT STAFF BY
SPECIALTY
DENTISTRY
Paul F. Mitchell, D.M.D.
Mark Schmidt, D.D.S.
J. Robert Stanko, D.M.D.
18
FAMILY MEDICINE
Susan Wiskowski, M.D.
PEDIATRICS
Ellen Marmer, M.D.
MEDICINE
Ronald Bloom, M.D. (Cardiology)
John Cardone, M.D. (Cardiology)
William Carney, M.D. (Nephrology)
Robert Chamberlain, M.D.
(Cardiology)
Russell Ciafone, M.D. (Cardiology)
Murali Dharan, M.D.
(Gastroenterology)
Ari Geller, D.O. (Nephrology)
Steven Goldenberg, M.D.
(Gastroenterology)
Bruce Gould, M.D.
Carolyn Kosack, M.D. (Cardiology)
Steven Lane, M.D. (Cardiology)
Robert Lyons, M.D. (Infectious
Disease)
Michael Moustakakis, M.D.
(Nephrology)
Danilo Pangilinan, M.D.
John Polio, M.D. (Gastroenterology)
Mervyn Rimai, M.D.
Eytan Rubinstien, M.D. (Infectious
Disease)
Niranjan Sankaranarayanan, M.D.
(Nephrology)
Paul Shapiro, M.D.
(Gastroenterology)
Cheryl Smith, M.D. (Infectious
Disease)
Richard Stone, M.D.
(Gastroenterology)
Paul Stroebel, M.D. (Cardiology)
Michael Teiger, M.D. (Pulmonary)
PSYCHIATRY
Yana Frenkel, M.D.
Luis Gonzalez, M.D.
Alejandro Gonzalez-Restrepo, M.D.
Ladan Hamdheydari, M.D.
Nina Jacobs, M.D.
Ernest R. Jermin, II, M.D.
Tracey Krasnow, M.D.
Mehran Motamed, M.D.
Annette B. Muller-Schwarze, M.D.
Muhammad I. Munawar, M.D.
Yann Poncin, M.D.
Osman Qureshi, M.D.
Surita Rao, M.D.
Bruce Rothschild, M.D.
Larisa Yelunina, M.D.
NEUROLOGY
Gary Belt, M.D.
Michael Krinsky, M.D.
Albert C. Lo, M.D., Ph.D.
Zachary Macinski, M.D.
Arjuna P. Mannam, M.D.
Keshav Rao, M.D.
Peter Wade, M.D.
NEUROSURGERY
Stephen Calderon, M.D.
Bruce Chozick, M.D.
Howard Lantner, M.D.
OPHTHALMOLOGY
William Maron, M.D.
ORTHOPEDICS
Michael Aron, M.D.
Steven Bond, M.D.
Jesse Eisler, M.D.
Andrew Gabow, M.D.
Robert Green, M.D.
John Mara, M.D.
Paul Murray, M.D.
John O’Brien, M.D.
Steven Selden, M.D.
Anthony Spinella, M.D.
Thomas Stevens, M.D.
Aris Yannopoulos, M.D.
O.T. OLARYNGOLOGY
Sheldon Nova, M.D.
Ronald Saxon, M.D.
Stephen G. Wolfe, M.D.
PATHOLOGY
George Barrows, M.D.
RADIOLOGY
Michael C. Biondi, M.D.
Robert Feld, M.D.
Michael Firestone, M.D.
Clifford Freling, M.D.
Jonathan Getz, M.D.
Pupinder Jaswal, M.D.
Elinor Kron, M.D.
Amy Martin, M.D.
Sean McKeon, M.D.
Peter Morrison, M.D.
Harold Moskowitz, M.D.
Pongsa Pyn Muangman, M.D.
Robert Perez, M.D.
Anthony Posteraro, III, M.D.
Joseph Sala, M.D.
James Slavin, M.D.
George Stohr, M.D.
Michael Twohig, M.D.
George Wislo, M.D.
John Ziewacz, M.D.
Stephen Zink, M.D.
SURGERY
David Cherry, M.D. (Colon/Rectal)
N. Chandra Narayanan, M.D.
SECTION OF PODIATRY
Richard Grayson, D.P.M.
Robert Kalman, D.P.M.
Eric Kosofsky, D.P.M.
Loren Schneider, D.P.M.
Brian Wagner, D.P.M.
Deborah Waterman, D.P.M.
UROLOGY
Peter Bosco, M.D.
James Boyle, M.D.
Carl Gjertson, M.D.
Hugh Kennedy, M.D.
Marlene Murphy-Setzko, M.D.
Adine Regan, M.D.
G. Thomas Trono, M.D.
Clinical Services
NURSE MANAGER
Emily Hahn, C.R.R.N., B.S.N.
NURSING STAFF
Gail Abel, C.R.R.N.
Ann Marie Alcide, R.N.
Nicovia Anderson, C.N.A.
Kathleen Barone, R.N.
Dianne Bernier, R.N.
Jajet Brown, C.N.A.
Debra Brown-Stephenson, C.N.A.
Amy Calvo, C.R.R.N.
Colette Carroll, R.N.
Phyllis Cox-Garvey, R.N.
Jacqueline Dawkins-Jones, C.N.A.
Maureen Dehaney, L.P.N.
Deborah Dellabianca, R.N.
Kristen Emmons, R.N.
Linda Fader, R.N.
Kiva Francis, R.N.
Darnell Glass, C.R.R.N.
Lena Goforth, C.N.A.
Janette Gordon, R.N.
Renee Hardware, R.N.
Maxine Harris, R.N.
Claudette Holmes, L.P.N.
Saly Huertas, C.N.A.
Denise Jackson, R.N.
Karmen Jepsen, R.N.
Helen Johnson, R.N.
Beverly Jones, R.N.
Gosseth Jones, C.N.A.
Nancy Krulicki-Robinson, R.N.
Juanita Lancaster, L.P.N.
Linda LaPlante, R.N.
Michelle LaVallee, R.N.
Suzanna Leon, C.N.A.
Manuel Lopez, R.N.
Anne MacKenzie, C.R.R.N.
Letitia Marino, R.N.
Carmen Martinez, C.N.A.
Laurie Martini, L.P.N.
Zipporah Mbugua, R.N.
Simone McDougall, C.N.A.
Jessica Morris, R.N.
Denise Naylor, C.R.R.N.
Kathy Olson, R.N.
Nora Osafo, R.N.
Mary Osella, R.N.
Mayra Oyola, C.N.A.
Donna Ricketts, R.N.
Joanne Rose, C.R.R.N.
Danielle Rost, R.N.
Sylvia Rubie, C.N.A.
Salwa Said, R.N.
Diane Schank, L.P.N.
Barbara Semple-Cort, R.N.
Stephanie Smith, R.N.
Donna Marie Stanford, C.N.A.
Emily Steele, L.P.N.
Otasha Stephens, C.N.A.
Margaret Vansteenburgh, C.R.R.N.
Renee Wiater, R.N.
NURSING ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT STAFF
Elaine Cloutier
Martha Curtis
Nancy Garthwaite
Pauline Howell
Jose Morales, Jr.
Ana Santillan
PHYSICANS OFFICE PRACTICE
MANAGER
Catherine Treadow, R.N.
PHYSICIANS OFFICE PRACTICE
SUPPORT STAFF
Ajlana Music
Marlene Pagan
Guisella Quezada
Patricia Ryan
QUALITY & OUTCOMES
MANAGER AND STAFF
Karen M. Prior-Topalis, R.N., B.S.N.,
M.B.A., C.C.M., A.-C.C.C.,
C.B.I.S., Manager
TEAM LEADERS
Georgia Angelopoulous, P.T.
Michelle Haudegand, O.T.
Julie Logan, C.C.C.-S.L.P.
Gary Naples, P.T.
TEAM LEADERS
Linda Alvarado, R.N., Admissions
Colin B. Lavoie, R.N., B.S.N.,
C.C.M., Quality & Outcomes
ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT STAFF
Joanne Plaza
Yolanda Pruneau
ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT STAFF
Laurette Beliveau, Quality &
Outcomes
Andrea Violette, Admissions
AUDIOLOGISTS
Claudia Janusko
Angela Page, Ph.D.
CASE MANAGEMENT
Stacy Godin, O.T.
Josephine Oliano, C.R.R.N.
Susan Pearson, MSW
COORDINATOR
Gina Waltos, C.O.T.A./L., Quality &
Outcomes
REHABILITATION ADMISSION
LIAISONS
Denise Farrah, R.N.
Annie Parker, R.N.
Kathy Sylvia, R.N.
Robin Wachs, R.N.
MANDELL CENTER FOR
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
MANAGER AND STAFF
Matthew Farr, P.T., Manager,
Mandell MS Center
R. Joan Page, M.A., P.T.
RESEARCH MANAGER AND STAFF
Jennifer Ruiz, Research Manager
Michele Labas, B.S.
Claire Koenig, Ph.D.
Kayla Olson, M.A.
Carolyn St. Andre, B.S.
Krista Spada, B.S.
CLINICAL STAFF
Amy Neal, P.A.-C., M.S.C.S.
Trisha Fairley, R.N.
Nancy Lopez, Rehabilitation
Technician
Mary Osella, R.N.
Heather Wightman, P.A.-C.
Rachel Wisniewski, Medical
Assistant
Jacquelyn Wright, R.N., M.S.C.N.
ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT STAFF
Judith Forrester, Medical Secretary
Shellaine Rose, Medical Secretary
Rehabilitation Services
ACUTE SAINT FRANCIS
HOSPITAL MEDICAL/
SURGICAL MANAGER AND
STAFF
Linda Mackay, M.A., C.C.C.-S.L.P.,
B.R.S.-S., C.B.I.S.T., Manager of
Medical/Surgical Rehabilitation
Program
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Deborah Drown
Amy Goodwin
Melanie Henry
Christina Hillemeir
Fatima Joao
Colleen McDermott
Bethany Pisati
Jessica Soucy
Kimberly Wilson
Kimberley Wood
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
Timothy Addie
Jeffrey Baker
Lauren Barker
Sarah Begina
Corey Burke
Victor Chandler
Amanda DeAngelo
Amy Lambert
Eric Marcus
Catherine Milewski
Mark Mitchell
Amanda Neto
Richard Pires
Danielle Provost
Michael Rigdon
Peggy Romine
Radhika Sangireddy
Kathryn Streb
Caitlin Tracey
Stephanie Voss
PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS
Thomas Carriere
Christine Castler
Denise Dieli
Phillip Leblanc
Hollie Marshall
REHABILITATION TECHNICIANS
Kevin Chagnon
Sarah Fortin
Laura Maldonado
Emilia Neves
Nadine Peynado
Katherine Stoker
Jason Teles
Ana Thibodeau
Joseph Wojtkowiak
SPEECH-LANGUAGE
PATHOLOGISTS
Elizabeth Bouchard
Bernadette Fowler
Carley Hauser
Jessica Morris
Gerald Nadeau
Rachel Slater
INPATIENT
REHABILITATION HOSPITAL
MANAGER AND STAFF
Steven M. Kunsman, P.T.
Manager of Inpatient
Rehabilitation Services
TEAM LEADERS
Jennifer Shockley, P.T.
Christy Zarlengo, O.T.
CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY ASSISTANTS
Jennifer Allyn
Magdalena Turner
Kelly Versteeg
Katherine Zimmerli
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Michelle Ahmed
Janice Bane
Melissa Dusza
Heidi Gauthier
Alyssa Greenberg
Lora Mason
Megan McCarrick
Nicole Morales
Andrea Pringle
Cynthia Robbins
Christopher White
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
April Barthuly
Todd Clayton
Laura Filipek
Jennifer Fournier
Jillian Kossbiel
Katherine Leduc
Deborah Ludwig
Wendy Romney
Kathryn Saylor
Candice Schaff
Beth Slupek
Bryan Tronosky
PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT
Michelle Russi
REHABILITATION TECHNICIANS
Kathleen Curtis
David McNamara
SPEECH-LANGUAGE
PATHOLOGISTS
Margaret Carpenter
Alexandra Carso
Kelly Coyne
Mia Dispoto
Julie Leska
Erin Lewis
Molly Ruder
Nicole Scinto
Ashley Zapata
THERAPEUTIC RECREATION
SPECIALIST
Paige McCullough-Casciano
OUPATIENT
REHABILITATION HOSPITAL
MANAGER AND STAFF
Cynthia L. Griffith, M.H.S., P.T.,
C.S.C.S., C.C.R.P. , Manager of
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Services
TEAM LEADERS
Lisa Farr, P.T.
Eric Fay, P.T.
Joan Karpuk, P.T.
Nelia Oriola, Insurance
Authorization
ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT STAFF
Janet Cormier
Regina Gray
Catherine Green
Gail Gruszczynski
Kimberly Hill
Stacey Hines
Jeffrey Maltz
Marsha Mckenzie
Deborah McGuire
Linda Smith
Eunice Rodriguez
Theresa Turgeon
Lesley Wilson
Carleen Young
COORDINATORS
Philip Ahlschlager, Fitness and
Wellness Coordinator
Pamela Brown, R.N., Outpatient
Coordinator and Insurance
Specialist
Matthew Durst, P.T., Outreach
Coordinator
Catherine King, P.T.,
Tara B. Rothstein, O.T.R./L.,
Day Treatment Program
Coordinator
LYMPHEDEMA SPECIALISTS
Michelle Aafedt
Gail Hendsey
Alissa Rahl
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Timothea Kimball
Robin Lindboe
Melanie Morrison-Riddle
Jeffrey Sheridan
Elizabeth Taber
Robin Tripp
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
Katieanne Christian
Ruth Clancy
Michele Dery
Clint Galamgam
Thomas Gostyla
Lauren King
Joanne Lombardo
Wendy McCabe
Meghan McEvitt
Michael Perin
Barbara Robinson
Deborah Ryan
Tamra Ryan
Karen Smyth
Sabria Taft
Patricia Uhl
Sarah Wargo
REHABILITATION TECHNICIANS
Mercedes Garcia
Leonardo Mason
Nicole Violette
SPEECH-LANGUAGE
PATHOLOGISTS
Lori Kostich
Arlene Rande
19
2012 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM:
THE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS BRAIN
A Special Meeting of Global Stakeholders
A
world-class group of clinicians, educators, philanthropists
Topics included: recent advances in rehabilitation research;
and researchers from around the world gathered in Hartford at
multiple sclerosis epidemiology — the latest on cohort studies
the Connecticut Convention Center October 4-6, 2012 for an
currently taking place in North America; genetics, repair and
international multiple sclerosis symposium. The leading-edge
regenerative science of MS; MS healthcare economics; and diet,
event was sponsored by the Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell
symptom management and personal financial management.
Center for Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care &
Speakers from across the United States as well as Belgium,
Neuroscience Research at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital,
Canada, Italy and Switzerland participated.
in collaboration with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
A planning group, directed by Joyce and Andy Mandell and
The initial focus of the two-day symposium was oriented
toward MS professionals, while the second day included topics
Albert Lo, M.D., Ph.D., spent many months working to develop
of special interest to individuals with MS and their family
a program designed to share the latest research and treatment
members. This blending of the professional and patient
options for multiple sclerosis. The goal of the symposium was
communities, and the dialogue created during the final day,
to identify critical new opportunities for interdisciplinary
was a highlight of the event.
collaborations to effectively facilitate research, integrate
The success of the symposium was due, in large part, to
multidisciplinary patient care, promote education, and public
the guidance and generosity of Joyce and Andy Mandell. Thanks
health advocacy.
to their foresight and vision, this gathering of experts from
across the region and around the world
gave patients and their families, as well as
physicians and other MS specialists, the
opportunity to learn about the strides being
made to cure this debilitating disease.
Clockwise from upper left: Dr. Lo gives
opening remarks; Joyce and Andy Mandell;
one of the panel discussions.
20
Building a unique
network of support…
…is the goal of the Saint Francis Foundation,
the fundraising arm of the Saint Francis Care
family. Through our special events, annual
appeals, grant requests, newsletters and planned
giving society we raise awareness of what is
happening on the Mount Sinai Campus so our
friends and potential friends can see how their
support is maintaining and growing a vital
campus.
This annual report and the patient testimonials
are another way to share with you how we are
striving and succeeding in meeting the needs of
our community. And with the ever-changing
scope of healthcare, your continued support will
be necessary to tackle whatever comes our way.
Whether a company, a foundation, a grateful patient
or a donor, we are extremely honored to have you as
a partner in our mission to offer every patient the
BestCare for a LifetimeSM.
Becky has left a gift to the
Recreational Therapy program in
her will because of the care she
received. Her recovery has allowed
If you have any questions on how you might support
the efforts of everyone on the Mount Sinai campus,
please contact:
Lynn Rossini
Vice President
Saint Francis Foundation
860-714-9005
lrossini@stfranciscare.org
her and Lily, her pet therapy dog,
to assist other patients.
Mount Sinai
Rehabilitation Hospital
490 Blue Hills Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut 06112
860-714-3500
800-789-7709
www.rehabct.com
Our Mission
Our Core Values
We are committed to health and healing
RESPECT
through excellence, compassionate care
We honor the worth and dignity of those
we serve and with whom we work.
and reverence for the spirituality of each person.
INTEGRITY
We are faithful, trustworthy and just.
SERVICE
We reach out to the community,
especially those most in need.
LEADERSHIP
We encourage initiative, creativity,
learning and research.
STEWARDSHIP
We care for and strengthen resources
entrusted to us.
Bob Eaton, whose story appears on page 14, completed the ING Hartford
Half Marathon last October, less than a year after having a stroke.