CANANDAIGUA – Following a rigorous on-site review, Thompson Health’s Rehabilitation Services Outpatient Department recently earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal
of Approval® for Orthopedic Rehabilitation Certification.
This makes Thompson’s rehabilitation center the first in New York State to obtain this type of certification, which is held by only a handful of centers across
the country.
“Preparing for this certification only strengthened our team. We knew we had an excellent orthopedic rehabilitation program and very talented clinicians, but having this certification helps you to meticulously evaluate every aspect of what you do. We wanted to raise the bar in our commitment to high quality care for our patients and our community. Achieving this certification and being the first outpatient clinic in New York State to do so is a matter of immense pride for the rehabilitation staff,” said Director of Rehabilitation Services Carole Drake.
During a two-year process culminating with an April site visit, Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards and orthopedic-specific requirements, both at the hospital in Canandaigua and at Thompson’s Farmington Rehabilitation location. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures also were assessed.
According to Thompson Health Executive Vice President/COO Kurt Koczent, Joint Commission certifications are a hallmark of excellence because the commission is considered the premier healthcare quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation.
In 2015, Thompson earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for demonstrating compliance with state-of-the-art standards for both hip replacements and knee
replacements.
This latest certification, Drake noted, covers rehabilitation provided to patients of all ages by physical therapists and occupational therapists, for a wide
range of injuries and conditions. Also, this certification doesn’t end at the clinic walls. It also covers Rehabilitation Services’ athletic trainers when they’re on the sidelines and at practices with local high school athletes.
For more information about Rehabilitation Services at Thompson, visit www.ThompsonHealth.com.
CANANDAIGUA – “A Matter of Balance,” an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels, will be presented by Lifespan at Clark Meadows in Canandaigua Thursday, May 11, through Thursday, June 29.
Classes will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. each Thursday at Clark Meadows, the enriched living community adjacent to Ferris Hills at West Lake on Peg Rayburn Drive. There is no charge but registration is required.
“A Matter of Balance” is for anyone who has fallen in the past or is concerned about falls, those who have restricted activities due to falling concerns and also anyone who is interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength. With an emphasis on practical strategies to manage falls, participants will learn to:
~ View falls as controllable
~ Set goals for increasing activity
~ Make changes to reduce fall risks at home
~ Exercise to increase strength and balance
A free workbook and snacks will be provided. To register, call Lifespan at (585) 244-8400, ext. 242.
CANANDAIGUA – UR Medicine Thompson Health’s Speech Pathology Department will host free screenings for head and neck cancer on Thursday, May 18, from 1 to 6 p.m. in Thompson’s Constellation Center for Health and Healing, 350 Parrish St., Canandaigua. Screenings will be conducted by Dr. John Centonze, Physician Assistant Eric Kerr and Nurse Practitioner Jay Andross, all of Finger Lakes Otolaryngology, along with Dr. Susan L. Fulmer of Lakeside ENT & Allergy. All four are donating their time to provide services at no cost to participants.
Those who exhibit warning signs of oral, head and neck cancer – cancers that develop in the tongue, tonsils, sinuses, larynx (voice box), thyroid, salivary glands, on the skin of the face and neck and in the lymph nodes of the neck – are encouraged to schedule an appointment for a screening. These warning signs can include red or white patches in the mouth, vocal changes or hoarseness lasting more than two weeks, a sore throat that does not subside, pain or swelling in the mouth or neck that does not subside, a lump in the neck, ear pain and difficulty speaking, swallowing and/or breathing.
Those who smoke or use chewing tobacco – behaviors related to 85 percent of oral, head and neck cancer cases – are also encouraged to schedule a screening, as are those who consume alcohol in excess. In addition, young adults displaying any of the aforementioned symptoms are urged to schedule a screening, as research has linked increased incidences of tongue and tonsil cancer in this traditionally low-risk population to the rise of human papillomavirus (HPV), a cancer-causing virus that can be transmitted through oral sex.
Registration is required; please call the Speech Pathology Department at (585) 396-6267 for additional information or to schedule an appointment.
The Constellation Center for Health and Healing is located on the north side of the main Thompson Health campus and is accessible via The Thompson Way off of West Street. Once inside the Constellation Center, please follow signs for the ground floor conference rooms.
CANANDAIGUA - Ferris Hills at West Lake is hosting a community bridge party on Friday, May 12.
A buffet luncheon will be served starting at 11:30 a.m., followed by a bridge game from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Players may choose to play in either a duplicate bridge game or in a social bridge game. Winners will receive gift cards.
The cost is $15, and includes lunch. Seating is limited, so prior registration is required, with checks made payable to Ferris Hills. To register, call Ferris Hills at 585-393-0410. For more information, call event organizer Mary Miller at 585-394-7899.
Ferris Hills at West Lake is an independent living community that is part of UR Medicine’s Thompson Health. It is best accessed from the 3300 block of West Lake Road
(County Road 16) via Peg Rayburn Drive.
CANANDAIGUA – Students entering grades 9 through 12 are invited to take part in Career Exploration Day, hosted by UR Medicine’s Thompson Health on Tuesday, July 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Through shadowing, one-on-one and hands-on activities overseen by a variety of health professionals, students can choose to explore three of the following: Laboratory, Emergency Department, Rehabilitation Services (Physical and Occupational Therapy), Respiratory Therapy, Speech Therapy, Diagnostic Imaging (X-Ray), Nursing, Cardiology, Obstetrics, Pharmacy and the Sleep Disorders Center.
The registration fee is $15 – which includes lunch – and the registration deadline is July 10. Career Exploration Day is limited to 25 students, on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, contact Thompson Health Associate Services at (585) 396-6688.
CANANDAIGUA – The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, recently released its 10th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), reflecting a decade of progress in LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare.
A record 590 healthcare facilities actively participated in the 2017 HEI survey, committing to LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. In addition, the HRC Foundation proactively researched the key policies at more than 900 additional non-participating hospitals. Of facilities surveyed for the HEI, 303 earned HRC’s “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality ” designation and 144 – including UR Medicine’s Thompson Health – were deemed a “Top Performer in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.”
This year marks the first time the HEI has awarded numerical scores for their implementation of LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices in four
areas:
LGBTQ patient-centered care
LGBTQ patient services and support
Fully-inclusive employee benefits and policies
LGBTQ patient and community engagement
Three quarters of the healthcare facilities actively participating in the survey scored 80 points or above. Thompson scored 85 points, with “Top Performer” status going to those in the 80- to 95-point range.
“A commitment to serving our LGBTQ community has been a focus of Thompson Health for many years and will continue to be,” said Vice President of Associate Services and Wellness Jennifer DeVault. “We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to make our associates, patients and visitors feel welcome, and we are grateful to the HRC for its guidance.”
For a full list of hospitals scored by the HRC, visit http://www.hrc.org/hei.
CANANDAIGUA – UR Medicine’s Thompson Health is launching the 4Leaf Lifestyle Support Group for those interested in pursuing a whole foods/plant-based lifestyle.
The purpose of the group is to:
- Surround yourself with people who understand and support your goals since this directly increases your chances of long-term success
- Help each other through sharing of knowledge and experiences
- Offer resources, information and literature
The group’s first meeting will be Tuesday, April 11, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the ground-floor conference rooms of the Constellation for Health and Healing at Thompson
Hospital, 350 Parrish St. in Canandaigua.
No RSVP is required for meetings of this group, facilitated by Thompson’s Linda Rowsick, RD, CD-N. Please call (585) 396-6285 with any questions.
CANANDAIGUA – UR Medicine’s Thompson Health is urging local residents to join Americans across the country in making future healthcare decisions known to family, friends and healthcare providers by taking part in National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD).
For 2017, NHDD is a weeklong event, from April 16 to 22. It is an initiative of The Conversation Project and its goal is to encourage people to share their wishes as well as complete advance directives such as a living will. The initiative involves the widespread availability and dissemination of simple, free, and uniform tools to guide the process.
Thompson Health’s Ethics Committee will be sharing materials related to NHDD on Thursday, April 13, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at a table outside the hospital cafeteria, and members of the public are welcome to stop by. The hospital is located at 350 Parrish St. in Canandaigua.
For more information about NHDD as well as advance directive resources, visit www.nhdd.org.
CANANDAIGUA – UR Medicine’s Thompson Health today lifted flu-related visitor restrictions that had been in place at both F.F. Thompson Hospital and the M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center since late January.
It is now permissible for children 14 and under to visit, and there is no longer a limit on the number of visitors a patient or resident may have at any given time.