News & Events

St. James Hospital Hosts Community Health Fair

Thursday, September 14, 2023

St. James Hospital hosted a Community Health Fair in their campus parking lot on Saturday, September 9. The event featured St. James Hospital departments, local healthcare organizations, emergency medical and law enforcement staff, and vehicles. Midway through the event, severe lightning forced organizers to end the event early due to safety concerns.

“We looked forward to breaking down barriers to healthcare access by educating our community on St. James Hospital’s services and other local health organizations.” Stated Wendy Disbrow, St. James Hospital President, and CEO. “I sincerely appreciate the efforts of the entire team, and as always, I am grateful to be working with such incredible people.”

Departments from St. James Hospital included Human Resources, Imaging, Infection Prevention, Inpatient Unit, Orthopaedics, Physical Therapy, Primary Care, Patient Registration, Specialty Clinic, and Urgent Care. In addition, local healthcare organizations included Elderwood of Hornell, Arbor Development, Catholic Charities of Steuben and Livingston Counties, Fidelis Care Health Insurance, Ardent Solutions, AIM Independent Living, Human Services Development, New York Connects, Noyes Memorial Hospital, WCKR Radio with DJ Sean Stewart, Cancer Services Program, Visiting Angels, Hornell Partners for Growth, Hornell Family YMCA, Steuben County COMPEER, Oak Orchard Health, Maple City Physical Therapy, Finger Lakes Community Health, Wilmot Cancer Institute, UR Medicine Lung Cancer Screening, and Cancer Support Community Rochester.

Steuben County Sheriff's Department offered tours of their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) and provided IDs for children, a part of their Operation Safe Child Program. Next to their fire truck, the Hornell Fire Department demonstrated fire extinguisher safety, and Fremont EMS provided basic education on CPR. Fair attendees were also offered tours of the North Hornell fire truck and the LifeNet helicopter.

Kid-friendly activities included a free teddy bear clinic, a passport to health scavenger hunt, bounce house and yard games by McKenrick Party Rentals, and child vision screenings offered by the Maple City Lions Club. Thank you to The Canisteo Legion Auxiliary, Canisteo Legion SALs, Hornell Women of the Moose, and Hornell Moose Lodge, who provided a monetary donation of the teddy bears used at the teddy bear clinic.

“Though the severe weather forced us to end the health fair early, we were still able to provide access to various healthcare services to our community in one place,” said Logan Peck, St. James Hospital Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications Manager “and we view that as a huge success. We are looking forward to next year!”

                  

 

St. James Hospital Announces New Chief Nursing Officer, Katherine Warner CNOR, RNFA

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

St. James Hospital has appointed Katherine Warner CNOR, RNFA, as Chief Nursing Officer, effective August 1, 2023. Since February 2022, Mrs. Warner has served as Interim Chief Nursing Officer for St. James Hospital.

As Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Warner will preside over setting best patient care standards, establishing processes and protocols for achieving those standards, and providing leadership to all nurses caring for patients at St. James Hospital. 

“Accepting the role of Chief Nursing Officer at the Hospital I started my nursing career fifteen years ago is very special.” stated Katherine Warner, Chief Nursing Officer. “I am honored to lead an exceptionally skilled group of St. James nurses that provide our community with essential care.”

In 2008 Katherine started her career at St. James Hospital, previously located on Canisteo Street in Hornell. Her first position was Charge Nurse in the Inpatient Unit. In 2009, Katherine transitioned from the Inpatient Unit to the Operating Room, where she served as Staff Nurse.  Katherine also worked full-time as a Staff Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and served as House Supervisor. Katherine returned to the Operating Room in 2015 and obtained her RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assist) in 2020. After six years of service in the Operating Room, Katherine was promoted to Operating Room Manager. In 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mrs. Warner was appointed Director of the Surgical Services Department.

“Kate has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, and clinical expertise.” said Wendy Disbrow, St. James Hospital President and CEO. “Kate is a role model for all nurses and a great asset to our hospital.”

St. James Hospital to Start Construction and Welcome Additional Primary Care Providers

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

St. James Hospital has announced that construction will start at the Medical Office Building in early May for the Primary Care Expansion Project. St. James Hospital Board members have awarded FSI Construction the rights to the project, which includes retrofitting Medical Office Building Suite 101, a 3,500 sq. ft. vacant space. The suite will hold three additional Primary Care Providers and act as an extension of UR Medicine Primary Care in Suite 109 of the Medical Office Building.

 “The residents of this region deserve access to quality healthcare options. The Primary Care Expansion at St. James Medical Office Building goes a long way to fill one of the most glaring needs locally, access to Primary Care Physicians,” stated St. James Hospital Board Chair, Shawn Hogan. “I am so proud and honored to be a part of an organization that continually strives to provide the best possible health care for our region.”

St. James Hospital has recruited two Internal Medicine Providers, Eric Tharmathurai, MD, and Julie van Baardwijk, MD, who will start in July 2023.

“I am excited to be expanding our footprint to improve access to primary care providers,” stated Wendy Disbrow, St. James Hospital President and CEO. “Our successful recruitment of Dr. Tharmathurai and Dr. van Baardwijk has been the catalyst for this expansion.”

Dr. Tharmathurai and Dr. van Baardwijk will see patients starting in July 2023 in UR Medicine Primary Care, Suite 109, until the opening of Suite 101 in early Fall 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blueprint of Suite 101, located next to the St. James Hospital connector building.

 

 

UR Medicine/St. James Hospital Masking Update

Thursday, February 23, 2023

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) has updated guidance for the use of face masks and face coverings for COVID-19 in healthcare settings. Advising all healthcare systems to develop and implement a masking plan for staff and visitors at their facilities based on the CDC and DOH recommendations, which includes COVID-19 and uses transmission levels as a minimum threshold.

Considering the substantial COVID-19 transmission rates in Steuben County and active flu season UR Medicine/St. James Hospital will continue universal masking for patients, visitors, and employees in all clinical areas. Continuing to mask will help protect and prevent the spread to higher-risk patients.

“Over the past three years, universal masking in clinical care areas has proven enormously beneficial at reducing the spread of COVID and other infectious diseases in the hospital, where many patients are medically vulnerable.” said Katie White, St. James Hospital Infection Preventionist “It’s encouraging that COVID is less of a threat than before, but it does remain a threat.”

In accordance with the DOH and UR Medicine/St. James Hospital will continue universal masking in clinical areas.

Employee and Staff Masking Policy:

• Employees/staff must wear a Hospital issued mask in all clinical areas or areas where patients will be encountered.
• Employees/staff who are unvaccinated for the flu must wear a mask in all clinical areas or areas where patients will be encountered.

Patient and Visitor Masking Policy:

• A Hospital-issued mask (will be provided) must be worn at all times throughout the St. James Hospital Facility.
• Individuals who are sick or suspected of having COVID may not visit.

“We hope that once our COVID transmission rates reduce and flu rates decline, we can reevaluate and lift masks in the future.” said Katie White “Until then, we respectfully ask all visitors, staff members, and patients to continue masking in all clinical care areas.”