UMMC

Press release:

Rochester Regional Health is pleased to announce Tara L. Gellasch, MD, has been named Chief Medical Officer for United Memorial Medical Center, effective Oct. 1.

Dr. Gellasch will oversee the medical staff office, graduate medical education, and pastoral care at UMMC. She will focus on the continued support and growth of the medical team and the facilitation of expertise sharing across Rochester Regional Health.

In addition to her role as Chief Medical Officer, she will serve as medical director of the Women’s Care Centers.

"We are looking forward to Dr. Gellasch joining our successful team and bringing her medical expertise and innovative perspective to United Memorial Medical Center,” said Dan Ireland, president. “Dr. Gellasch’s leadership will allow UMMC to further advance our clinical excellence and her passion for caring for each patient reinforces our commitment to the community and families we serve.”

Previously, Dr. Gellasch served as associate chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology and lead physician for The Women’s Center at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital. Prior to that she served as medical director for The Women’s Health Practice at the University of Rochester, where she managed clinical and administrative staff and coordinated continuity clinic for obstetrics and gynecology residents. From 2009 to 2012, Dr. Gellasch held faculty and committee positions for the Rochester General Medical Group (now known as the Rochester Regional Medical Group).

Dr. Gellasch earned her medical degree from McGill University in Quebec, Canada, in 2001 and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Emery University in Atlanta in 2005. She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Gellasch succeeds Michael Merrill, MD, who resigned earlier this year.

Press release:

The Intensive Care Unit at United Memorial Medical Center and the Intensive Nursing Care Unit at Unity Hospital both received Silver-level Beacon Awards for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

These two awards bring Rochester Regional’s total earned to seven, which is the most for any health system in New York State. The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes hospital units that use measurable practices to improve patient and family outcomes and experience.

“It’s an outstanding accomplishment to have seven Beacon Awards bestowed on our health system family. These awards further exhibit our commitment to nursing excellence,” said Debbie Stamps, EdD, vice president, Quality, Safety & Innovation at Rochester Regional Health.

“Our nurses, in every location, deserve recognition for the amazing work they do each day, hour, and minute on behalf of our patients and their families.”

Previous Rochester Regional Health Beacon Awards for Excellence:

•  Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at Rochester General Hospital: Silver-level

• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital: Silver-level

• Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) at Rochester General Hospital: Silver-level

• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Unity Hospital: Silver-Level

• Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at Rochester General Hospital: Gold-level

Rochester Regional can reapply for these prestigious designations at the expiration of each three-year term.

In conjunction with June Dairy Month, the Genesee County Dairy Princess honored the first baby born in Genesee County. 

Isaac, a baby boy, was born to Hannah Gimlin and Matthew Guiste at 6:13 p.m. on Thursday, June 1, at United Memorial Medical Center. Isaac weighed 7lbs. 8oz., measured 19 ¾ inches long and was delivered by Patricia Beverly, CNM.

The Genesee County Dairy Princess, Rebecca Slattery, presented the family with a gift basket of items including dairy products coupons, infant toys and a number of other items.

June is National Dairy Month, which honors traditions and celebrates the contributions of the dairy industry by promoting nutrient-rich dairy foods.

Four-year-old Layla Holbrook, with her mother Amanda, talks with a nurse about the care of her stuffed companion during the Teddy Bear Clinic at UMMC's Cary Hall facility today.

Preschool, kindergarteners and first-graders were able to attend the event with their favorite stuffed toy and learn about medical care through several interactive stations. After registration, the children went through the clinic set up to resemble hospital departments such as the emergency room, radiology and dietary. If necessary the “patient” received a bandage, cast or stitches. 

Many of the doctors and nurses were high school seniors from throughout the county enrolled in the Health Career Academy, a college-credit program that gives the seniors a chance to learn about every aspect of the healthcare career field.

Also participating were staff from UMMC, members of the United Memorial League, United Memorial Guild and Mercy EMS.

Logan McAndrews was watching a doctor give stitches to a friend's stuffed dinosaur.

Amy Miller talks about a hospital bed and a stay at a hospital.

Press release:

In alignment with declining influenza activity throughout our area, United Memorial Medical Center and its affiliates joined Rochester Regional Health’s other hospitals in lifting visitor restrictions.

People with fever or respiratory illness symptoms should delay their hospital visits until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours.

United Memorial Medical Center’s usual visitation policy is all visitors shall be 14 years of age or greater, except Maternity where the siblings of the newborn shall be permitted to visit with a responsible guardian.

After a ceremony honoring the wound care team at UMMC, a patient who had sat quietly at the back of the room spoke up and said, “I want to thank everyone here because if it wasn’t for you, I would have lost my leg. I’m just grateful.”

That was the message of the award, according to Stacey Bancker, a representative of Healogics, the nation’s largest wound care management company, which presented the award.

Of nearly 400 patients treated by the team, 94 percent had their wounds healed, Bancker said. There was a 92 percent patient satisfaction rate and the median number of days to heal was 21.

"We can talk about the numbers, but this really is a patient care ward," Bancker said.

That was a point stressed by Dan Ireland, the hospital's CEO when he spoke to congratulate the team members.

"This isn’t about the metrics," Ireland said. "It isn’t about the numbers. It’s about the real people and the patients. Our mission statement at Rochester Regional Health, United Memorial, starts with preserving health and enhancing the life of patients. There isn’t a better example of where we can do that than in the heal rate we see here and in the care the patients receive."

Bancker said there were 800 wound centers in the nation eligible for the award and only 334 were recognized for outstanding patient care results.

Dr. Mohamed M Ibrahim, a general surgeon before joining the wound care team nearly two and a half years ago, said he was really proud to be part of the team. As a surgeon he had been on the other end of the wound care process, he said, and then he didn't realize how much more there was to know about wound care. 

“I have to say, I’ve learned a lot from our nurses," he said. "Our nurses are very knowledgeable, so I would like to thank everybody on our great team.”

Program Director Lisa Albanese also emphasized the team aspect of the effort and how the numbers are merely a reflection of the team's focus on taking care of patients.

"Even though the numbers are driven by KPIs (key performance indicators), the bottom line is every day we make a difference in the lives or our patients," said. "You guys are dedicated to making that difference and every day we have stories that we share with our administration."

Ireland said he hears those stories.

"I get countless emails, phone calls and letters from patients telling me real stories, stories about how they've been to five or 10 other centers or doctors and they've not been healed," Ireland said. "Then they come here and they are healed."

The patients also always note the compassion of the team, Ireland said. 

"They talk about the personal care they get, that the team cares about them as a person, not just as a person with a wound on their skin," Ireland said.

Photo: Dr. Mohamed M Ibrahim, Michelle Rector, Emily Casacelik Alicia Prusinowski, Holly Siverling, Alissa Gorman, John Wickett, Joseph Canzoneri, and Lisa Albanese.

Press release:

The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Center at United Memorial Medical Center has been recognized with a national award for clinical excellence.

Leaders, physicians and clinicians gathered will gather Wednesday (Feb. 22) to celebrate the Center of Distinction award, which was given to the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Center by Healogics, the nation’s leading and largest wound care management company.

The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Center achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including patient satisfaction higher than 92 percent, and a wound healing rate of at least 91 percent in less than 31 median days. Out of 630 Centers eligible for the Center of Distinction award, 334 achieved this honor in 2017.

The Wound Care Center is a member of the Healogics network of nearly 800 Centers, with access to benchmarking data and proven experience treating approximately 2.5 million chronic wounds. UMMC’s Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Center offers highly specialized wound care to patients suffering from diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other chronic wounds which have not healed in a reasonable amount of time.

Some of the leading-edge treatments offered at the Wound Care Center include negative pressure wound therapy, debridement, application of cellular-based tissue or skin substitutes to the wound, offloading or total contact casts and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Lisa Albanese, program director, announced the achievement.

“This is the first time the Center has earned this award in our five year history," Albanese said. "It was truly a team accomplishment that demonstrates the Center’s commitment to excellence for our patients, the community and to our hospital partners. We have an exceptional team, from the front office, nurses and technicians, to our physicians.”

Press release:

To help reduce further transmission of influenza and/or other infectious diseases, Rochester Regional Health is instituting the following restrictions for hospital visitors at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.

• Visitors will be limited to no more than two people per patient at a time;
• All visitors must be at least 14 years old;
• Please do not visit a patient if you feel you are ill, including sore throat, fever, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, or other flu-like symptoms -- even if you have been vaccinated against the flu

Current status as of Feb.15:

• Rochester General Hospital (Rochester) – Visitor restrictions in place
• Unity Hospital (Greece) –  Visitor restrictions in place
• United Memorial Medical Center (Batavia) – Visitor restrictions in place
• Newark-Wayne Community Hospital (Newark) – No visitor restrictions
• Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic (Clifton Springs) – No visitor restrictions

Elwood Miller and Jill Keleher are the proud parents of Olivia, who earned the honor of being the first baby born at United Memorial on January 1, 2017. 

Submitted photo and press release:

Proud parents Jill Keleher and Elwood Miller welcomed Olivia, United Memorial’s first baby of the New Year, at 5:11 a.m. Sunday, January 1, 2017. She weighed 8 pounds and 6 ounces. Big brothers Jason and Gavin anxiously await her arrival at home. The family was presented with a gift basket that included bath items, baby monitor, car seat accessory, toiletries, rocker and $100 Visa Gift Card.

Olivia’s birth comes on the heels of United Memorial Medical Center’s recognition by the Cribs for Kids® National Infant Safe Sleep Initiative as a Silver Certified Safe Sleep Leader. This program recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to reducing infant sleep-related deaths by promoting best safe sleep practices and educating on infant sleep safety.

“We need the knowledge of safe sleep to be shared, the designation of this award highlights United Memorial’s continued commitment to ensuring that parents are receiving the vital information they need about safe sleep practices for their newborns,” said Emily Callari, RN.

Each year in the United States, more than 3,500 babies die in their sleep suddenly and unexpectedly from accidental suffocation, strangulation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). According to Cribs for Kids, in 90 percent of these deaths, the infant is found in an unsafe sleep environment. Cribs for Kids partners with healthcare providers, parents and others across the country to promote sleeping practices that keep infants safe. 

To learn more about childbirth and maternity at United Memorial Medical Center, visit RochesterRegional.org.