Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1484642
HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 21, 2022 29 HEALTHCARE HEROES AWARDS 2022 A physiatrist for 30 years, Dr. Jerrold Kaplan specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions that have resulted in a patient's loss of function. He leads Gaylord's outpatient COVID recovery program and advo- cates for injured workers as director of Gaylord's outpatient workers' compensation programs. His singular goal: "to help people enjoy life again." What have been your significant contributions to your organization in the past year? I served on the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation collaborative to develop national guidelines for long-COVID patients. Gaylord's interdisciplinary COVID rehabilitation and recovery program is among 40 nationally recognized centers. I presented at national and local conferences on topics from long-COVID to complex illnesses and injuries, and led the development of Gaylord's expanded programs offering injured workers individualized, progressive rehabilitation regimens. Being a part of the team that established Connecticut's first physiatry residency program was an honor. This year, we selected the inaugural 2022 class of four from more than 400 applications and received more than 500 applications for our 2023 class. Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome. Knowing that COVID restrictions would interrupt vital medical and therapy visits for Gaylord's outpatients, I worked with an internal team to swiftly develop and launch successful telemedicine and tele-therapy programs in just five days, allowing outpatient programs to seamlessly — and safely — continue for our most fragile and debilitated patients. D r. Robert Gallagher, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at St. Francis Hospital and Trinity Health of New England's cardiovascular service line leader, oversees the network of Trinity Health of New England hospitals, specialists and outpatient clinics that address the full spectrum of cardiovascular conditions. What have been your significant contributions to your organization in the past year? I am humbled and proud to be part of a team that has rendered care to thousands of COVID-19 patients during a very difficult time for all providers. Many of these patients were acutely ill requiring a high level of care for long periods of time. One patient in particular comes to mind as one of our greater success stories. In the fall of 2021, Florida resident Robby Walker, husband and father of six, was gravely ill from his battle with COVID-19. His wife, Susan, was on a mission to find a way for him to have a chance to survive and get him into a facility that could provide him with the potentially life-saving treatment called ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ECMO treatment works by removing blood from the body, eliminating carbon dioxide and adding oxygen to the blood, and then pumping the blood back into the body so the real heart and lungs can have a chance to recover. The Walker family called every hospital in their home state of Florida, expanding their search to bordering states, with no avail. Eventually Susan made a public plea on CNN. I saw the clip on social media and thought we could help. I reached out to my colleague Angela Sakal, chief perfusionist at St. Francis Hospital, who dug in and tracked Robby down. We reviewed his case and felt it was worth the fight and were able to assist the family to get Robby to St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. Under the care of our incredible team of physicians, nurses, perfusionists, care management and others, Robby spent 22 days on ECMO treatment before he was discharged from St. Francis to Gaylord Specialty Healthcare for intensive rehabilitation care. Ultimately on Oct. 13, nearly three months after he was intubated in Florida, Robby boarded an RV with his wife and brothers by his side and made the trip home to Florida where he was reunited with his children, friends and family. TrinityHealthOfNE.org 1000 Asylum Avenue, 5th Floor • Hartford, CT 06105 • 860-714-1900 Trinity Health Of New England is proud to recognize this year's Healthcare Heroes and their commitment to our community. We are especially proud to congratulate our Healthcare Heroes Robert Gallagher, M.D., Cardiovascular Service Line Leader, Sheila Deluca, Senior Clinical Advisor, and the Mandell MS Center team, led by Mary Bailey, M.D., Regional Medical Director for Rehabilitation and Multiple Sclerosis and Jennifer Ruiz, PT, DPT, Director of Regional Mandell MS Centers and Neuroscience Research. Thank you for your contributions and dedication to our Mission! Winner Category: Physician EMPLOYER: Trinity Health of New England Title: Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at St. Francis Hospital and Trinity Health of New England's Cardiovascular Service Line Leader Winner Category: Physician EMPLOYER: Gaylord Specialty Healthcare • Title: Medical Director, Outpatient and Workers' Compensation Services; Medical Director, COVID Rehabilitation and Recovery Program; Medical Director, Concussion Program Dr. Jerrold L. Kaplan Dr. Robert Gallagher