Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/442052
observation and inpatient units + Personnel, competencies and training + Process improvement + Organizational structure and commitment + Community outreach "This latest designation, coupled with our chest pain accreditation, underscores Crouse's continued commitment to providing the very best diagnostic and interventional cardiac care to Central New York pa - tients," says Joseph Battaglia, MD, Medical Director for Cardiac Services at Crouse. The Society of Chest Pain Centers is a nonprofit international society dedicated to the belief that heart disease can be elimi - nated as the number one cause of death worldwide. Because time translates to muscle during a heart emergency, the Society bridges EMS, emergency medicine, cardiology, nursing and other professions jointly focused upon improving timely, quality care for cardiac patients. UPSTATE NAMED 2014 CUSTOMER OF THE YEAR BY NEW YORK STATE INDUSTRIES FOR THE DISABLED Upstate Medical University has received a 2014 Customer of the Year award from New York State Industries for the Disabled Inc. (NYSID). The award recognizes Upstate for creating jobs for New Yorkers with disabilities through its partnership with NYSID and NYSID vendors that contract through New York's Preferred Source Program. "We are proud of our partnership with NYSID and NYSID agencies, and particularly proud of the Upstate Medical University personnel who are active supporters of the NYSID programs at the university and hospital," said Paul Seale, Chief Operating Officer of Upstate University Hospital. "We also commend our NYSID Preferred Source workers who provide Upstate and its many constituents with high- quality services. This year alone, Upstate has employed 181 individuals with disabilities through NYSID member agencies." Under the legislatively mandated New York State Preferred Source Program, NYSID acts as a "virtual storefront" for a statewide network of 165 community rehabilitation agencies and private sector business partners to employ skilled people with disabilities in production facili - ties and community-based jobs. Upstate uses services from several Central New York NYSID mem- ber agencies and corporate partners. Among those agencies is the Altamont Program-American Maintenance, whose team of Preferred Source custodians provides janitorial services at the Upstate Cancer Center and Upstate University Hospital's operating room suites, offers decontamination, assembly and sterilization, using sterile storage areas. Upstate also partners with NYSID through other member agencies and corporate partners, such as Arc of Steuben for Environmental Services' apparel; Arc of Onondaga and Human Technologies for janitorial services; ACHIEVE/Bates Troy, Inc., Art of Onondaga/Clarus Linen Systems and Lifetime Assistance, Inc/LAICO for laundry ser - vices; and Action windows for window washing services. ■ M D N E W S . CO M ■ MD NEWS Central New York | 2 7