Milford Hospital News

New Lap Kidney Procedure

Urologists Robert Weinstein, MD, & Edward Paraiso, MD, at Milford Hospital recently did two laparoscopic Nephrectomies, a minimally invasive procedure includes removal of a kidney and ureter. All urologists are using the Holmium laser on selected cases to remove stones from the ureter. Small key-hole incisions are made to enable insertionof instruments and a tiny camera, which is attached to a HD monitor with a picture of the operating field. The benefits to the patient are shorter hospital stay, recovery time, and less pain. Because the incisions are so small, blood loss and transfusion rates are lower than in open surgery cases.

Auxiliary Donates $93,000

Milford Hospital thanked the Milford Hospital Auxiliary for its recent annual contribution of $93,000, which when added to the donations of previous years amounts to several million dollars. The gift from the Auxiliary this year will help purchase new cardiac monitors that needed throughout the Hospital.

"Our Auxiliary has been a vital reason why Milford Hospital has been able to serve tens of thousands of people every year. Whether they are making a donation that helps us purchase advanced diagnostic technology, or bringing joy to thousands of children through the Celebration of Trees, the Auxiliary is a vital part of Milford Hospital's mission," said Paul Moss, Milford Hospital president. Moss added, "on behalf of the entire hospital community, I also want to thank Auxiliary co-presidents JoAnne Judd and Patricia Damon for their leadership. Raising funds, even for a non-profit hospital, is not easy in this time of economic turmoil." This past year the Auxiliary raised about $50,000 from the gift shop in the lobby, which is also staffed by volunteer Auxilians. About $34,000 was raised via fundraising programs, such as the Celebration of Trees and the Tree of Light; and the Memorial Fund raised $9000. Last year's donation went to support a Breast biopsy device for MRI and infant resusitation station for the Family Childbirth Center.

Scholarships Awarded

Congratulations to our three 2009 Employee Scholarship Award Recipients. Each year the children, grandchildren, nieces  & nephews of our employees who are graduating high school and planning to attend schools of higher learning are eligible to apply to be considered for an award. Each receive a scholarship award from money raised by Milford Hospital's Employee Giving Campaign.

New Haven resident Meredith Kras is graduating from Hamden's Sacred Heart Academy. She is the niece of Kathy Sopchak, an RN in our ICU. This fall she will attend Penn State, majoring in speech-language pathology. Her goal is to work with children as a speech-language pathologist. She was president of SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions.

Stratford resident Morgan Parker is graduating from Stratford HS. Her mother Marie is an RN on 3-South. Morgan will be attending West Virginia University majoring in athletic training. She wants to be a trainer for a National Football League team. She has been a Milford Hospital Junior Volunteer for three years.

Branford resident Sonia Shah is graduating from Branford HS. She will be attending Quinnipiac University's Physician Assistant program. Her mom Pragna is a Medical Tech in our Chemistry Lab. Sonia is a certified EMT and has attained her 2nd degree black belt.

Emergency Visits: Milford, W. Haven, Orange

More 30,000 people a year from throughout CT come to Milford Hospital's Emergency Center and Walk-in Urgent Care Center. About half are from Milford, one in five visitors are from West Haven, and at the urgent care center one in 10 is from Orange. Others are from Woodbridge, Naugatuck Valley, Stratford, Hamden, West Haven, Guilford, and every town within 50 miles.

Education Director Named

Milford Hospital Education Director Diane Frankel-Gramelis is this year's recipient of the J. Philip Smith Outstanding Teaching Award for an adjunct faculty member at Southern CT State Univ. She teaches Stress Management and Health Promotion. Said some letters from students: “Frankel-Gramelis promotes a classroom setting that is respectful to all, easy to ask questions, and safe to discuss any concerns," and "Diane has made myself and others believe that teachers are here because they love to teach, make a lifelong impact on an individual, and change the way we see ourselves."

WMD "Disaster" Goes Well

All went well in May when Milford and seven other hospitals conducted a large coordinated emergency preparedness drill. The scenario was a weapon of mass destruction, and our role was in part to receive patients who needed decontamination. HS students played victims, parents, school administrators. The event was coordinated by Alan Lynn, Milford Hospital safety director.

Wanted: Student Nurse Intern

This an unpaid mentorship allowing the student nurse an opportunity to expand their current clinical knowledge base, improve organizational skills, develop nursing judgment and increase clinical competency by working 1:1 with a professional RN. You will experience nursing as it truly is, attend educational seminars offered to all nursing staff, and observe the nursing process in different settings. You must currently be enrolled in a school of nursing. Click below for information, and contact the Volunteer office at 876-4062 for details.

Download Internship Information

 

Diagnostic & Treatment Recognized

Milford Hospital’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center for the third consecutive year, was nominated by the Gastrointestinal (GI) physicians for the care of patients having GI procedures. The staff was recognized by Proctor and Gamble and the Society of Gastrointestinal Nurses and Associates as team winners.

Hollywood & Mollywood

Several scenes from the upcoming independent film "A Dance for Grace" were shot at Milford Hospital. Tower Isle Productions shot in the Connecticut Joint Center, the Center for Aesthetic Care, and the Emergency Center. On-film nurse extras include Melanie, Karen, Steve and Marie from the Joint Center; and Christine from the Aesthetic Center. Click to see a trailer for A Dance for Grace.

Volunteer Salute

They are young and older, and all together they have logged 44,000 service hours in the past year. Milford Hospital's 437 adult and junior volunteers assisted in dozens of areas, transporting patients to delivering flowers and mail. Click to see who they are! The hospital celebrated the Magic of Volunteering at a recent awards ceremony. Interested in voluntering? Click here.

16 Selected "Top Doctors"

CT Magazine's April 2009 edition identifies 650 Connecticut doctors in 24 categories who have earned the designation as a "Top Doctor." Sixteen of those are affiliated with Milford Hospital, including Tim Sharpe, MD, OB/GYN; Jeffrey Gruskay, MD, and Howard Sadinsky, MD, Pediatrics; John Irving, MD, and Alan Reznick, MD, Orthopedic Surgeons; Mark Taylor, MD, Mike Bannick, MD, Myron Brand, MD, John Dobbins, MD, Gastroenterology; Nicholas Viner, MD, Howard Zuckerman, MD, Jeffrey Small, MD, Urologists; Howard Boey, MD, and Michael Willett, MD, ENTs; Gary  Bloomgarden, MD, Neurosurgery; David Novicki, DPM, Podiatrist. For a list of all Milford Hospital doctors, click here.