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The Cancer Center at Good Samaritan Hospital:Blessed to Serve
■ A BUSINESS & PRACTICE MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE | ABOUT PHYSICIANS | FROM PHYSICIANS | FOR PHYSICIANS ■
The Cancer Center at Good Samaritan Hospital:Blessed to Serve
Long IsLand
A HOST OF AWARDS, MANY EARNED CONSISTENTLY EVERY REVIEW CYCLE, REFLECTS THE SOLID TRADITION OF CLINICAL, TECHNOLOGICAL AND HUMAN EXCELLENCE THAT CHARACTERIZES THE CANCER CENTER AT GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL.
Blessed to Serve
Kenneth Gold, MD, Co-director of Oncology Services for Catholic Health Services of Long Island, Chair of
the Cancer Committee and Chief of Oncology and Hematology at Good Samaritan Hospital, examines a
patient in his office, located in nearby Bay Shore.
By Jennifer Webster
JOHNNY KAO, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Good Samaritan Hospital, was quietly jubilant. He had just come from a meeting with an accreditor from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
(NAPBC), where he learned that the hospital would be accredited by the NAPBC yet again.
“Awards and accreditations are valuable tools to help patients, physicians and insurers judge cancer programs,” Dr. Kao says. “What sets us apart is that we were among the first to be accredited, and we have a high level of consistency, which we maintain by leveraging our considerable resources to make sure the necessary elements are in place time after time. Continuity is important to us. We are typically quiet about the excellent care we deliver, but awards and accreditations allow us to get the word out there.”
Continuity, modesty and excellence are the watchwords of Good Samaritan — which physicians affectionately refer to as
“Good Sam” — and its Cancer Center. Yet, for a community hospital with a robust teaching program, it has a stellar record of treatment-related recognition. In addition to NAPBC accreditation, this year Good Samaritan earned the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeon’s (ACoS) Commission on Cancer for the fourth straight time — 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014 — a history stretching back to the award’s inception 12 years ago.
“We are one of only six institutions in the nation to be recognized every review cycle since the award was instituted,” says Kenneth Gold, MD, Co-director of Oncology Services for Catholic Health Services of Long Island, Chair of the Cancer Committee and Chief of Oncology and Hematology at Good Samaritan Hospital. “Our program takes the national review process quite seriously, as it allows our community to view this program in true perspective. Our patients are pleased to know that we participate in a program through the ACoS that provides real-time feedback about how
The Cancer Center at Good Samaritan Hospital:
well we are hitting the benchmarks of best oncology practice. By participating in such programs, we can see where we hit or exceed the mark and where we need to focus additional attention. As the director of the cancer program, I’ve seen firsthand how following national clinical guidelines, emphasizing collaborative multidisciplinary care and rigorously documenting our clinical care has allowed us to build and maintain a great program, whose long-term-cure and disease-free-survival rates are unsurpassed.”
Ancillary staff members, too, strive for excellence and have been recognized with prestigious national awards. Many hold Oncology Certified Nurse status, having participated in a rigorous testing program. Collectively, the nursing staff has earned a Magnet award from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for the quality of care they deliver.
Care Across Multiple DisciplinesWhen asked about their program, physicians from
Good Samaritan Hospital’s Cancer Center are quick to praise colleagues before mentioning their own achievements — a sign of the cross-discipline respect and collaboration that unites the program. Practitioners from medical, radiation and surgical oncology, diagnostic imaging, pathology, genetics, nursing, and pastoral care work together to treat cancer and give patients the best possible care in their home community, where family and friends are most available to help provide physical and emotional support.
Multimodal Diagnostic ToolsScreening and prompt diagnosis enable patients to be treated
early in their cancer process. Good Samaritan’s community- and hospital-based clinicians use highly accurate technology such as digital tomosynthesis and combined PET/CT scanning to provide precise information by allowing clinicians to avail themselves of diverse sources of data. Digital tomosynthesis builds multiple images into a 3-D rendering of the breast, while PET/CT combines the fluid information provided by PET scan with CT X-rays to discern the location of unusual metabolic activity within the body.
Pathology: A Pillar of CareUsing these tools, clinicians can discover the most accurate
location for biopsy and further study of suspicious areas. Accurate biopsy is the first step toward effective treatment or cure of a cancer, and in that area, Good Samaritan’s pathologists, headed by William Engellenner, MD, excel.
JOHN WALL FRANCFORT, MD, FACS
A native New Yorker, Dr. Francfort has devoted his life to
medicine for four decades. After earning his medical degree from
the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. Francfort
studied at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He was
appointed to numerous fellowships, including a vascular fellowship
at Northwestern University and other fellowships at the University
of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the American Cancer Society
and Northwestern.
Dr. Francfort is a prolific author and has published articles about
vascular surgery, endocrinology and immunology, and surgical
techniques. He holds board certifications in surgery, advanced
trauma life support and vascular surgery.
Long involved in scholarly pursuits, Dr. Francfort has held many
teaching positions over the course of his career. Since 1988, he has
been a surgeon at Good Samaritan Hospital, where he serves on
the Breast Leadership Committee and the Surgical Performance
Improvement Committee. Since 2003, he has chaired the
Department of Surgery at Good Samaritan. Dr. Francfort is also in
private practice at Great South Bay Surgical Associates.
As Chair of the Department of Surgery at Good Samaritan,
John Wall Francfort, MD, FACS, provides care to large numbers
of cancer patients.
“At Good Samaritan Hospital, we have a patient-centric program. Our physicians feel blessed to serve here. We combine the expertise of an
academic medical center with the neighborliness of a community hospital.”— Johnny Kao, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Good Samaritan Hospital
“How do we achieve consistent excellence? A big piece of this really flows from our Pathology Department,” Dr. Gold says. “Patients may not interact with pathologists often, but the importance of an accurate cancer diagnosis in the modern era can’t be overstated. Individual treatment decisions rely on accurate histologic and, increasingly, molecular information provided to clinicians by pathologists. Our talented group of cancer pathologists forms a major pillar of our success.”
Genetic AdviceClinical genetic specialists, too, play
a role in developing screening programs for high-risk patients, as well as providing information that may inform treatment decisions. According to Dr. Gold, they are a key part of Good Samaritan’s cancer care team and have a seat at the multidisciplinary breast cancer and gastrointestinal cancer conferences, where cases are presented prospectively and complex treatment decisions hammered out among colleagues.
“This aspect of our program truly separates us from most community hospital cancer programs,” he says. “It makes a world of difference to have genetic counselors consult with patients and educate families and physicians. We hold outreach meetings with community physicians, and in the past year, our Director of Clinical Genetics has spoken to primary care providers and informed them about which families should be referred for deeper testing and which diagnoses should prompt inquiry into gene mutations.”
Outpatient chemotherapy is conveniently offered in a community-based setting in Bay Shore.
Radiation OncologyTeamwork among multiple disciplines
continues after a diagnosis has been made, as surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists consult to create and administer the most effective treatments possible. In the radiation oncology department, advanced technology includes the Varian TrueBeam system, a versatile platform that permits highly accurate radiation delivery for lung, head and neck cancers. Breast and prostate cancers may also be treated using this tool, which compensates for even the most minute patient movements to irradiate the tumor while sparing healthy tissue.
“We have advanced equipment, which we use in an optimal manner, but more important are the people who administer
the treatments,” Dr. Kao says. “We typically receive ‘outstanding’ ratings on patient surveys. In radiation oncology, more than 20 people care for patients. The nurses and radiation therapists whom patients see over the course of treatment make all the difference.”
Experienced SurgeonsWhen it comes to surgical oncology,
the program includes highly experienced cancer surgeons and, unusual for a community hospital setting, a board-certified gynecologic oncology surgeon, Benjamin Schwartz, MD. Thoracic, breast, lung, brain, gastrointestinal and urologic surgery are all within the department’s competencies.
Anthony Capizzi, MD, FACS, a general surgeon whose practice has a special emphasis on breast surgery, performs a high
volume of cancer surgeries.
ANTHONY CAPIZZI, MD, FACSDr. Capizzi has devoted many years to the practice of surgery in New
York. After graduating from New York Medical College, he served a surgi-
cal internship and residency at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. He
is certified by the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Capizzi has a longstanding commitment to Good Samaritan Hospital.
He became an attending surgeon in 1988 and has since held positions as
associate director of the Department of Surgery and vice president of the
Medical Board. He is a member of the Cancer, Breast, Trauma, Surgical
Case Review, Operating Room and Surgical P1 Committees. Since 2014,
Dr. Capizzi has served as President of the Medical Board. He is in private
practice in partnership with Keith Durante, MD.
“Our breadth of skill is impressive,” Dr. Kao says. “Our surgeons deliver excellent outcomes using technologies such as the da Vinci robot. Robotic and laparoscopic-assisted surgeries are performed in a minimally invasive fashion through very small incisions, providing the surgeon high levels of access to the surgical site while reducing patients’ pain, blood loss and recovery time. Our community surgeons choose Good Samaritan for their patients because of the excellence of the oncology program.”
Advanced Medical OncologyMedical oncology, informed by the rapidly growing field of
genetics, requires continued study for physicians to remain up-to-date. The cancer team at Good Samaritan prioritizes continuing medical education, not only by conducting yearly courses in cancer treatment updates to the area’s physicians, but by continually updating their own education in a rapidly evolving field.
“The entire schema for modern cancer treatment is changing at lightning speed,” Dr. Gold says. “In the past several years, researchers in melanoma, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer have developed molecular targeted therapies whose effectiveness is based on the presence of specific molecular targets.”
Soon, Dr. Gold suggests, the molecular roadmap of a tumor’s growth pathways, rather than its site of origin, may primarily determine the choice of therapy.
“It is a stunning change in strategy,” he says.
Johnny Kao, MD, Chair of Radiation Oncology (right) and his colleague, Neha
Sharma, MD, treat patients using the region’s most advanced radiation therapy
system, the Varian TrueBeam.
Bonnie Edsall, RN, Nurse Manager, Breast Health Center & Radiation Oncology, is known for holding her patients’ hands and staying by their side as she helps navigate them through diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.
KENNETH GOLD, MDAs a medical oncologist and hematologist, Dr. Gold has spent
the past 32 years serving the Suffolk County community. He earned
his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. His
internship and medical residency were served at George Washington
University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he was also chief
resident and a fellow in the Division of Hematology and Oncology.
He then went on to a fellowship in hematology and oncology at
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.
He is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and
hematology. Dr. Gold is in group practice with his longtime partners
Paul Hyman, MD; Mary Puccio, MD; and John Loscalzo, MD, in Bay
Shore. He is Chair of the Cancer Committee and Chief of Oncology
and Hematology at Good Samaritan Hospital and Co-director of
Cancer Services for Catholic Health Services of Long Island.
JOHNNY KAO, MDDr. Kao earned a medical degree from Mount
Sinai School of Medicine, after which he served
a residency in the Department of Radiation and
Cellular Oncology at the University of Chicago. He
devoted the early part of his career to academic
studies and research as assistant professor and
director of clinical research at Mount Sinai School
of Medicine.
A prolific scientist, Dr. Kao has published almost
50 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has
presented at numerous conferences. He has written
many book chapters and has been instrumental in
obtaining grant funding for institutions where he
has served.
Dr. Kao was in private practice in Florida before
coming to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he
chairs the Department of Radiation Oncology.
COLLABORATION FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITIn a paper recently published in Frontiers of Oncology,
researchers at Good Samaritan demonstrated improved
outcomes for advanced lung cancer patients treated with a new
technique using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
to selectively spare the esophagus and opposite lung. This
technique developed at Good Samaritan benefits from advanced
radiation technologies, including 4-dimensional CT simulation
and treatment on the Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator.
Patients treated with the newer IMRT technique had reduced
rates of esophageal pain, weight loss and lung toxicity, which
translated into improved survival. Patients with advanced lung
cancer often require chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy.
Johnny Kao, MD, Chair of Radiation Oncology; Kenneth
Gold, MD, Co-director of Oncology Services for Catholic
Health Services, Chair of the Cancer Committee and Chief
of Hematology and Oncology at Good Samaritan; and Terry
Palatt, MD, Chief of Thoracic Surgery, collaborated on this
important study.
Other services available to enhance the patient experience at Good Samaritan include an excellent palliative care team, which provides a patient-centered emphasis on symptom management; and a hospice care team that allows patients and families to find comfort and peace when they have forgone curative treatment. Services are decentralized, allowing patients to access care near their homes. Support groups are available across these locations.
Emphasis on community cancer screening and an emphasis on cancer prevention is another hallmark of the Good Samaritan program.
“This year’s physician education program focused on identifying precancerous lesions in the breast and using chemo-prevention agents to reduce those patients’ risk of cancer,” Dr. Gold illustrates.
Community lectures focus on the role of a healthy diet and lifestyle strategies, such as exercise, sunscreen use and smoking cessation, in reducing cancer risk. An increasing emphasis on providing specif ic guidelines for survivorship after therapies are complete has led to the creation of focused survivor care plans that are given both to patients and their family doctors, to map the path going forward.
“We are determined to ensure seamless interaction between Good Samaritan and the primary care providers who are on the first line of cancer diagnosis in our community,” Dr. Gold says. “Our award-winning program should be thought of as the hub of cancer treatment for Suffolk County’s south shore.”
To learn more, please visit cancercenter at goodsam.org. ■
With a focus on surgical oncology throughout his career, Bradley Cohen, MD, FACS, performs a high volume of breast surgeries at Good Samaritan Hospital. His role as Co-chair of the hospital’s Breast Leadership Committee reflects his commitment to his patients.
Collaboration Across the Community
In addit ion to unimpeachable medical care, the human touch at Good Samaritan Hospital makes it an excellent choice for referring physicians to send patients who have cancer.
“There is a special feeling about this place — you notice it even walking through the hallways,” Dr. Kao says. “We are a faith-based institution, and our chaplains are integral members of our care teams.”
BRADLEY COHEN, MD, FACS
Dr. Cohen has practiced surgical oncol-
ogy since the early days of his medical
career. After obtaining his medical degree
from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, he
served an internship and residency in
surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York,
where he was chief resident in surgery.
He then held a fellowship in surgical
oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center.
Board-certified in surgery and a Fellow
of the American College of Surgeons,
Dr. Cohen joined the Department of
Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in
1989 and was Good Samaritan’s liaison
to the American Cancer Society between
1998 and 2000. Dedicated to community
service, he participates in numerous
committees and is Chair of the Breast
Leadership Committee. Dr. Cohen’s private
practice is Island Surgical and Vascular
Group PC.
Reprinted from MD NEWS Long Island