Betsy Wright

JAMESTOWN – The head of UPMC Chautauqua – formerly WCA Hospital – will be stepping down from her position at the end of this year.

That’s according to an article in Friday’s Post-Journal, which says UPMC Chautauqua president and CEO Betsy Wright will retire as of Dec. 31.

Wright has spent 35 years in the health care field and has worked at the local hospital for 29 years. She’s served as CEO since 1998.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day will be commemorated from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Jones Memorial Health Center on Glasgow Ave., in Jamestown.

In recognition of the fact that suicide knows no geographic or national boundaries and because Survivor Day events are organized around the world, AFSP’s program is called “International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day.”

• LISTEN TO WRFA’S INTERVIEW WITH VICTORIA PATTI AND ANN ROSENTHAL

Victoria Patti with the Chautauqua County Suicide Prevention Coalition says it’s the one day a year when people affected by suicide loss gather around the world at events in their local communities to find comfort and gain understanding as they share stories of healing and hope.

“We will have some refreshments and will watch the documentary, and then we’ll have some breakout groups,” Patti said. “We’ll have discussions about how our losses have affected us; maybe some positive things that people in our community have done to cope with loss – maybe journaling or deep breathing – and to talk about the path to wellness.”

The event in Jamestown is co-hosted by the Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention, WCA Hospital, Chautauqua Tapestry, and the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene.

For more information, call or email Patti at (716) 753-4519 or PattiV @ co.chautauqua.ny.us

Survivor Day was created by an act of Congress in 1999 and since then has been sponsored and supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Although Peter and Holly grew up in two different communities, he in Jamestown, she in Berea, Ohio, their parents instilled in them the importance of doing good for others. While students at University of Miami (Ohio), they met and began dating. On August 24, 1969, they married and returned to the Chautauqua region in the early 1970s.

“My family was always very involved in the community, I was just sort of born into it,” Peter said. “When I moved back to Jamestown (after college) I wanted to do a lot of the things I had seen my father do.”

Like his father, Paul B. Sullivan, Peter became an integral part of the community and used his financial prowess to serve on a number of committees dedicated to capital campaigns. His first experience was with the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s 1978 campaign. Since then, he has been involved with the Jamestown YMCA’s campaign to renovate the building and WCA Hospital’s emergency room campaign.

In addition to fundraising activities, Peter has served as president of Moon Brook Country Club, member of the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, board of directors of the James Prendergast Library Association and more. Currently, he is president of The Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation and is a member of the Jamestown YMCA.

Peter is also credited with bringing the Ice Pick Competition to the Chautauqua Lake Association, and along with Holly, led the renovations of Putt-A-Round Chautauqua, the mini-golf course at Midway State Park.

Growing up in Berea, a suburb of Cleveland, Holly witnessed first hand the impact a person can have in their community.

“My parents taught us, when we were very young, how important it is to get involved,” Holly said.

Since moving to the Chautauqua region, Holly has been involved with the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, WCA Hospital and AAUW Jamestown. In 1984, she was named Woman of the Year by the Jamestown Interclub Council.

More recently, Holly was a founding member and board member of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Center and is currently serving on the National Comedy Center committee. She is also currently a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates of Chautauqua County.

“We are very proud to receive this award,” Peter said. “To be recognized as a couple is so special to us. We will never forget it.”

The John D. Hamilton Community Service Award recognizes an individual, or a group, who has demonstrated dedication, leadership, and support in furthering community spirit and enriching the quality of life in the Chautauqua region. This is the fourth time the recipients are a husband and wife.  The first award was presented to John D. Hamilton in 1993.

JAMESTOWN – WCA Hospital is partnering with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for a safe sleep study designed to prevent sleep-related infant deaths.

Sleep-related death is the number-one killer of infants 1 to 12 months old in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that almost 2,500 infants die in the US each year while sleeping or napping. That’s nearly seven babies every day.

During the study, hospital maternity care staff will share information on the importance of creating a safe sleep environment for infants with parents of newborns. Maternity care staff will emphasize that infants sleep safest alone, on their backs in a crib, the ABCs of Safe Sleep. Parents will be surveyed later to determine if they’re following safe sleep practices at home.

WCA Hospital President and CEO, Betsy Wright, said the study compliments WCA’s existing efforts to teach parents and caregivers about the importance of infant safe sleep practices.  “WCA Hospital’s mission is to protect our community,” Mrs. Wright said.  “We are pleased to be a collaborative health partner in this study with a common goal to prevent the risk of sleep-related infant deaths.”

Locally, the Southern Tier Child Health and Safety Team (CHST), a child fatality review team, has investigated five infant deaths linked to unsafe sleep environments since the team formed in 2010. The team helped recruit local hospitals to participate in the Safe Sleep Kits Study.

Southern Tier Health Care System CEO Donna Kahm coordinates the Child Health and Safety Team. She said despite ongoing safe sleep campaigns locally and across New York, infants continue to die due to unsafe sleep environments.

“Sadly, most of these deaths are preventable,” she said. “That’s why it’s so important to continue to share safe sleep messages with parents and caregivers so they can take proactive steps to protect their newborns.”

As part of the study, new parents will receive a safe sleep kit including a tote bag, a door hanger with safe sleep information, written information on safe sleep, a book on safe sleep, a safe sleep DVD and a Halo Infant Sleep Sack. The kit will also include a safe sleep mirror cling and refrigerator magnet from the Department of Health. Parents will be asked to sign a consent form so researchers can survey them approximately one month after discharge. Parents will receive a safe sleep kit and information even if they decline to participate in the survey following discharge from the hospital.

Hospitals participating in the study include Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, Niagara County Medical Center, Olean General Hospital and WCA Hospital in Jamestown.

Supported by a grant from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), the Southern Tier Child Health and Safety Team was founded to explore the causes of preventable child deaths and make recommendations to the community to prevent child deaths and improve the health and safety of children in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties.

Child Health and Safety Team Member agencies include the OCFS Buffalo Regional Office, Southern Tier Health Care System, the New York State Police, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, the Allegany County and Cattaraugus County Departments of Social Services, Departments of Health, County Attorney’s Offices, District Attorney’s Offices and Coroner’s Offices, Olean General Hospital, Jones Memorial Hospital, Cuba Memorial Hospital, Olean Police Department, Salamanca Police Department, Wellsville Police Department, Dr. Pamela Salzmann, Allegany/Western Steuben Rural Health Network and the NYS Sudden Infant and Child Death Resource Center.

For more information about the Child Health and Safety Team or child safety, please call (716) 372-0614 or visit www.sthcs.org.

Hedin will share his story of courage, strength, and the journey it takes to survive cancer twice.

The banquet coincides with the 25th Anniversary LINKS Charity LPGA PRO-AM Golf Tournament and Golf Clinic and Scramble on July 25 and 26.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend all golf and banquet activities.

Tickets for the banquet are $50 per person, available at the door or calling Megan Barone, WCA Director of Development, at 664-8423.  Cost includes Surf and Turf dinner, silent auction, and program message by motivational keynote speaker, Paul Hedin.

Paul Hedin

PAUL’S  STORY

Paul and his wife, Anne, have been Jamestown natives for most of their lives. They have two children and two grandchildren. He graduated from Princeton University where he earned an engineering degree and continued his education at Syracuse University, to earn an architectural degree.

For more than 40 years, Paul has worked for Clark Patterson Lee, previously known as Habiterra. He and his wife are very active in the community and privileged to be this year’s United Way campaign co-chairs.

During his message at the banquet, Paul will take the opportunity to say that if he can do it, anyone can.

“Prior to my daughter’s wedding in 2008, I was suffering from night sweats, weight loss, and unbearable headaches, and scheduled a visit to see my family physician,” said Paul who describes his condition during his first cancer diagnosis.

“After a series of blood and diagnostic tests including an MRI, sonogram, and chest x-ray, Dr. Mueller discovered a nodule on my thyroid and I was quickly referred to a local physician specialist for further testing and surgery to remove the right half of my thyroid.  Not the best comedic timing, on April’s Fool Day, I received the call from my physician that it was cancerous.  That was tough.  I was scared. I was really worried that this would get in the way of our daughter’s upcoming wedding, but I was very hopeful that we could find a pathway to keep going and not make my illness part of what would be one of the happiest days of our lives.  Luckily, we were able to delay the treatment process and I was able to walk my little girl down the aisle on June 21st as planned.”

Beating the odds in 2008 by embracing a positive attitude and propelling forward to a lead full life again, Paul was diagnosed with melanoma in 2011.  “When I talk about the scary part of cancer, this is the terrifying part,” said Paul.  “I went down that rabbit hole pretty far.  It was hard to sleep and hard to stay focused.  I continued to work, but quite honestly, I was in a fog. I had to tolerate more surgery and more treatment.  Gratefully, I got through another episode of cancer and the great news is that I feel good and by and large, I am leading a full and productive life today.”

LINKing Together Banquet & Auction items will be available for preview starting at 6:00 p.m.  One of the area’s leading auctioneers, Charles Ludwig, will host the “live” portion of the auction.  HOT TICKET auction items include a week stay in Aruba including airfare; 4 tickets to the 200 club level, Lexus Club passes and parking passes for a Buffalo game; Buffalo Bills Marcell Dareus autographed helmet and cleat; Buffalo Bills Rex Ryan autographed football;

Buffalo Sabres Jack Eichel autographed hockey stick; Buffalo Bills game tickets; Cummins Engine generator; $100 United Refining gift cards; park passes; hotel stays; dinner cruise; and other exciting silent auction prizes!  Donations are still needed and community individuals, businesses, and agencies/organizations interested in donating to local cancer, may drop off donated items to Megan Barone at WCA Hospital or call Megan at (716) 664-8423 for pick up.

“Attend this fabulous event, place your bid, and help support someone you know diagnosed with cancer,” said Elyse Hazelton and Shelly Salva, LINKS Charity co-auction chairs. “There is something for everyone that will not only delight the lucky individuals who win, but also help raise critical funds to support the WCA Cancer Care Program.  For winners of the auction items, it’s a two-fold gift!”

LINKS Charity’s 25th anniversary event is the 2-year of a 4-year, $400,000 pledge toward the Discovery MN630 by GE Healthcare equipment at WCA Hospital.  The cutting-edge nuclear medical technology boasts lower radiation, better image resolution, and shorter exam times, aids in an early diagnosis.  “Our $400,000 pledge is an aggressive goal, but we are confident that the community will support this effort that helps WCA advance cancer care,” says Brad Van Riper, Truck-Lite senior vice president and LINKS Charity executive director.  “Not only is this a significant and worth-while cause, but all of the proceeds stay right here in Chautauqua County to care for local family, friends, and neighbors fighting cancer.”  In total, LINKS Charity has raised $1,290,000 toward its efforts in advancing local cancer care efforts in its 25 year history of giving

Tickets for the banquet are $50 per person, available at the door or calling Megan Barone, WCA Director of Development, at 664-8423.

WCA Hospital honored volunteers gather for a picture during the 2016 WCA Hospital Volunteer Recognition and Awards Luncheon, held on Thursday, June 30 in the hospital auditorium.

JAMESTOWN – WCA Hospital has named its 5-Star Volunteer of the Year.

During a Volunteer Recognition and Awards Luncheon celebration on Thursday, Patricia Urso, along with 103 other volunteers were honored for their years of service at the WCA.  Urso received top honor during the ceremony for her dedicated volunteer service.  Other top honors for hours of service in 2015 included, Robert Gray, 870 hours; Robert Scott, 840 hours; and Flip Yates, 671 hours of service.

“This is a special day because we get to honor you and the commitment you’ve made to our hospital,” said Elizabeth DeRosa, WCA Hospital Volunteer Coordinator.  “You have committed to giving your precious, personal time and energy in the service of others.  Whether it is making sandwiches, filing records, scheduling volunteers, transporting patients by wheelchair or by stretcher, answering telephones, lending a hand, selling gifts, or stuffing envelopes, your good deeds have an enormous impact on the care and service of our patients.  You only know one way of giving—with both hands, with all of your heart, and without a second thought.  WCA is in good hands because of you and today, we get to recognize you and say thank you!”

Mrs. DeRosa remarked that Pat, Volunteer of the Year, was recognized by the numerous hospital staff and volunteers for her extraordinary service and dedication that exemplifies the qualities reflected in the mission of WCA.

WCA reminds anyone who would like to volunteer and help serve the patients of the hospital to complete an application by visiting wcahospital.org/volunteer.php or calling 664-8224.

The Establishment and Project Review Committee for the state Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) reviewed and approved the application for UPMC Chautauqua Services Inc. to become the active parent and cooperator of WCA.

Prior to acting on the agreement, the Jamestown Post-Journal reports that there was a public hearing and representatives from three unions were on hand to speak against the merger, questioning UPMC about its insurance agreements and access to health care. The controller of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania also spoke against the merger, criticizing UPMC for exploiting loopholes and manipulating the health care system to drive out competition.

Despite the concerns, the board moved forward with approving the agreement with one member explaining that no alternative options have been suggested by those who oppose the merger.

“We are very excited and appreciative of the state’s approval to move forward,” said WCA president/CEO Betsy Wright.  “This is a great day for WCA and UPMC and more importantly, the citizens that we are so privileged to serve in southern Chautauqua County.  We are one more step closer to the integration of the two health systems.  We continue to work through the final regulatory process which is contingent upon approvals from the New York State Office of Mental Health and New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.”

According to WCA Hospital, the next regulatory steps include approvals from the New York State Office of Mental Health and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

In December, WCA and UPMC officials announced the signing of an affiliation to integrate agreement. Once finalized, WCA Hospital will be the first New York state hospital to integrate with UPMC.

Once an agreement has been finalized, the new title for the health care facility will be UPMC Chautauqua at WCA.

In May the Establishment and Project Review Committee for the state Public Health and Health Planning Council met to discuss several applications, including one from WCA.

The application was for state approval for UPMC Chautauqua Services Inc. to become the active parent and cooperator of the hospital.

The committee opted to table the request, based on some late public comment that had arrived regarding the agreement.

The committee will meet again today and will likely take up the proposed merger.

In December, WCA and UPMC officials announced the signing of an affiliation to integrate agreement. If approved, WCA Hospital will be the first New York state hospital to integrate with UPMC. The new title for the health care facility will be UPMC Chautauqua at WCA.