Patient Centered Team
Our Patient-Centered Team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurse specialists and staff work together to ensure that your surgical experience is the best it can be.
Anesthesiologists
Walter Lapicki, DO, Chairman
Edward Wang, MD, Co-Chariman
Elizabeth Bussard, MD
Wilfred Cabahug, MD
Saleha Faruqi, MD
Chia-Lung Lai, MD
Patricio Sonza, MD
Lori Viera, MD
Certified RN Anesthetists
Susan Grainda, RN, CRNA
Cheryl Fiedler, RN, CRNA
CRNA – Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
RNFA – Registered Nurse First Assistants
Nursing Staff
Hunterdon Healthcare System recognizes the vital leadership role of nurses in toady’s dynamic health care delivery system.
Nurses comprise the largest number of health care professionals in the United States with 2.5 million registered nurses.
This is the experienced team which provides your exceptional care.
The nursing staff at HMC is second to none when it comes to patient care.
The Operating Room at Hunterdon Medical Center consists of six Operating Suites where approximately 25 patients per day have their surgery. It is staffed by 29 nursing caregivers and 16 ancillary support personnel. The OR nurses are very proficient from a technical standpoint, totaling approximately 565 years of nursing experience. Most are certified in their specialty and many are cross-trained so that they have expertise in both operating room and PACU care. They are “high touch” caregivers, there to hold a hand, administer medication, and listen. Some guide their pre-operative patients through relaxation imagery in order to ease emotional anxiety while waiting surgery.
According to Pat Psenisky, RN, CNOR, Assistant Director of Surgical Services, about a quarter of the OR staff are actively seeking their degrees or in some way, are furthering their education. Donna Cole who was awarded the coveted HMC Leadership Excellence Award 2001, is currently completing work towards her PH.D.
Who are the people behind those masks?
Hunterdon Medical Center’s surgical patients depend on the skills and knowledge of the registered nurses who work in the operating room. In any language, the prospect of surgery generates many questions. What happens behind the closed doors of the OR? Who are the people behind those masks? What will they be doing during my surgery?
The people behind those masks care and want to do their very best to ensure that the surgical experience is safe and effective. Even though the masks and gowns they wear may seem a bit odd, they are worn to ensure a sterile environment and protection from infection. The people behind those masks are part of a surgical team that usually consists of a surgeon, his or her surgical assistant, an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist, a scrub nurse, and a circulating nurse. Unlicensed assistive personnel, such as a surgical technologists, may also assist in your surgical care. They are accountable to and work under the supervision of perioperative registered nurses. These unlicensed assistive personnel perform duties according to their level of education, training, and competency. Perioperative registered nurses possess the skill and judgement that help make patient care in the OR safe and efficient. They
- strive to acquire and maintain current knowledge in nursing practice;
- commit themselves to delivering the high quality of care you expect and deserve;
- hold themselves to a high degree of professional performance;
- evaluate their nursing performance
- act on behalf of their patients’ in an ethical manner; and
- work with their patients, patients’ caregivers, and other health care providers to plan and deliver care in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
As surgical care advances, so does the scope of nurses; responsibilities. OR nurses are now referred to as perioperative registered nurses to more accurately reflect their duties immediately before, during, and after surgery. Perioperative registered nurses may assume any of the following responsibilities.
Scrub nurse – The scrub nurse works directly with the surgeon within the sterile field passing instruments, sponges, and other items needed during the surgical procedure. The sterile field is the area closely surrounding the OR table, and the Mayo stand, or instrument tray. Surgical team members who work within the sterile field have scrubbed their hands and arms with special disinfecting soap and wear surgical gowns, caps, eyewear, gloves, and show covers.
Circulating nurse – The circulating nurse’s duties are performed outside the sterile field. The circulating nurse is responsible for managing the nursing care within the OR. The circulating nurse observes the surgical team from a broad perspective and assists the team to create and maintain a safe, comfortable environment for your surgery. The circulating nurse makes sure each member of the surgical team performs in a united effort. They are also Patient Educators.
RN first assistant – The RN first assistant has gone through extensive additional education and training to deliver direct surgical care. The RN first assistant directly assists the surgeon by controlling bleeding and by providing wound exposure and suturing during the actual procedure. The RN first assistant also is involved with your care before and after your surgery.
OR director – The OR director manages the business aspect of the facility’s ORs. The OR director oversees and is responsible for budgets, staffing, and other areas that keep the OR running.