The Leapfrog Group gave out high grades to both Saratoga Hospital and Glens Falls Hospital for patient safety: Saratoga Hospital earned an ‘A’ and Glens Falls Hospital earned a ‘B’. These grades place both hospitals in the top 25% of New York State facilities for this category! This shows a rising dedication to patient safety, as Glens Falls Hospital had previously received a ‘C’ score in 2019 and 2020 and a ‘B’ score in 2021, while Saratoga Hospital had received ‘C’ scores from 2019 until this most recent evaluation.

The Leapfrog Group created and administers The Leapfrog Group Safety Grades. This system of grades is a national leader and advocate for hospital transparency, and is both independent and not-for-profit. The goal of the Leapfrog Group is to save lives by reducing errors, injuries, accidents, & infections. They gather the relevant data through the Leapfrog Hospital Survey: this survey is trusted and transparent, and it includes 2,300 hospitals that participate voluntarily and free of charge.  

“Our Leapfrog score reflects our culture of safety and 24/7 commitment to protecting patients from preventable harm and error” Saratoga Hospital President & CEO Jill J. Vankuren said via press release. “The ‘A’ grade is a tribute to our team and a source of assurance to our patients, who can be confident they’re receiving care at one of New York’s safest hospitals.”

The Leapfrog safety system assigns letter grades twice a year to general hospitals based on over 30 measures of patient safety. 30% of U.S. hospitals earned the highest rating of ‘A’ . 28% earned a ‘B’.  Participating in this safety survey gives both Glens Falls Hospital and Saratoga Hospital an opportunity to share best practices for patient safety.  

“Quality improvement across the system occurs through collaboration. As we continue to work together, we are seeing many benefits.” Paul Scimeca, President and CEO of Glens Falls Hospital said. “The Albany Med Health System will continually evolve and improve in the future, and we look forward to working even more closely with Albany Medical Center, Columbia Memorial Health and Saratoga Hospital.”

Vankuren emphasized the shared commitment throughout the shared hospitals systems; the commitment to excellent patient care and continuous quality improvement.

“Patient safety is a top priority for the entire system.” she said. “Our goal, through collaboration and sharing of best practices, is for all our hospitals to achieve the highest grade.” The Albany Medical Health System includes: Albany Medical Center, Albany Medical College, Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Hospital, and The Visiting Nurses.

Patrol Officer Zach Flewelling was honored earlier today by the Glens Falls Police Benevolent Association (PBA) on his retirement from the City of Glens Falls Police Department. Officer Flewelling was formally recognized by the department, and presented with a plaque in recognition of his service to the citizens of Glens Falls. 

Officer Flewelling served 17 years with the City of Glens Falls Police Department as a Patrol Officer, and is a formerly recognized “America’s Most Wanted All-Star.” Officer Flewelling is a United States Army Veteran and retired New York National Guard Drill Sergeant / Staff Sergeant. On behalf of Chief Jarred Smith and Detective Lieutenant Seth French, the entire Glens Falls Police Department and the City of Glens Falls wish Officer Flewelling nothing but the best regarding his future endeavors upon retirement. 

Earlier this week, Police Officers within the City of Glens Falls Police Department raised funds within the department to purchase and donate toys to the Tri-County Marines Toys for Girls and Boys program.  Commander Bob Zink, from the Glens Falls American Legion Post 233 – who also organized the Veterans Day Ceremony at Crandall Park last month – represented the Tri-County Marines Toys for Girls and Boys Program. 

The City of Glens Falls Police Departments hopes that the toys donated bring joy to the several young children that the program supports this Holiday Season.

The November 27th shooting incident that occurred in the Queensbury Route 9 Walmart parking lot is now believed to have started as a road rage incident. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office said that this incident, which occurred in the area of Northway Plaza led to a reported physical confrontation and shooting. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office arrested Adrian Simental, age 33. He has been charged with felony counts of attempted first-degree assault, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He pleaded not guilty to these charges on Wednesday, November 30th, at the Warren County CAP Court; Simental was remanded to Warren County Jail in lieu of the necessary bail. He is expected back in court Monday, December 6, at 9:00 AM.

Aggressive driving can take many forms: whether it be tailgating, weaving, poorly timed lane changes, or speeding. The AAA Foundation for Public Safety says aggressive driving is a factor in 54% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes: episodes of road rage have resulted in 30 deaths and 1,800 injuries in a single year.

Road rage occurs when a driver experiences extreme aggression or anger, leading them to intend to cause physical harm. There are steps one can take when involved in a road rage situation: The first thing to do is remain calm, and focus on driving safely. Do not engage the other driver or return hand gestures, and avoid eye contact. Keep your seatbelt buckled, in case of unexpected braking. If someone is following you due to a road rage situation, try to pull into a police station, or at least a public space; it is recommended that you avoid going home until the altercation is dealt with. If possible, write down a description of the car – including its license plate number – and some details about the driver. When you feel that it is safe, call 911. 

This road rage incident in Queensbury ended in a shooting. Warren County Sheriff Jim Lafarr said, “We strongly encourage everyone to avoid confrontation when faced with aggressive driving encounters, and we ask the public to seek assistance from law enforcement when confronted by a ‘road rage’ incident, rather than attempting to resolve these matters themselves.”

A week ago today on Thanksgiving morning, 915 racers and “wobblers” turned out to participate in the Glens Falls Gobble Wobble. This event benefited the Open Door Mission, which serves those struggling with hunger and homelessness in the region. For this 5K run/walk, CDPHP was the Presenting Sponsor, and Hilltop Construction Co. was the Stride Sponsor.

The race began at 226 Warren Street – The Open Door Mission – and circled through downtown Glens Falls to finish back at the Mission. 

Jen Steinberg, who participated in the race said, “Having attended this event again this year, I can say unequivocally that it is a beautiful, heartwarming event that makes me super proud of our community. Many homeowners were out on their lawns cheering and encouraging us as we walked past and raised money to help our most vulnerable community members through the tough winter ahead.”

The Open Door Mission exists to serve people at their point of need, cultivating personal growth and community sustainability. The Mission serves individuals that are homeless and low income by providing practical solutions to physical, spiritual, and relational brokenness. The Open Door Vision statement is to foster life transformation in a compassionate collaborative community: where the marginalized feel safe asking for help, resources are accessible, and all are treated with dignity. 

The Open Door started with Erie Blanchette’s concern for a shelter in the area – it became apparent that a soup kitchen was in immediate need. The Open Door served it’s first 13 meals from an RV in a parking lot on South Street in Glens Falls on September 5, 1991. Over the years, the Mission has been located at 24 South Street and on 47 Lawrence Street; in 2018, The Open Door Mission moved to its permanent location at 226 Warren Street. 

The Mission serves an average of more than 1,600 meals a month. It also provides sanctuary for people experiencing temporary homelessness. This location is also a Code Blue Shelter, and provides safety and protection during inclement weather. 

The Open Door Mission is a Christian Ministry where people in need are invited into a welcoming environment. The staff develops meaningful relationships and helps people become stable; and all of the services of The Open Door Mission are provided free of charge. For more information, please visit opendoor-ny.org

On Sunday, November 27th, Warren County Sheriff’s and State Police responded to a shooting incident in the parking lot of the Walmart on Route 9 in Queensbury. The police say that an aggressive driving incident occurred in the area of Northway Plaza.

Adrian Simental, 33, faces multiple charges. His vehicle followed the victim’s vehicle into the Walmart parking lot. At this time, a verbal and physical altercation occurred; Simental allegedly fired a handgun that hit the victim in the hip, and then fled the scene. The victim was treated at Glens Falls Hospital and Albany Medical Center.

Simental of California has been charged with attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon. In Court today, he pleaded “not guilty” to all charges. 

Court documents show that Simental and the victim got into a fight. The fight led to Simental pulling out a handgun and allegedly shooting the victim in the hip. The Deputies were able to identify the car used by the suspect and found him at a Moreau home; police then executed a search warrant and arrested Simental. He is being held on $200,000 cash bail or $600,000 bond in the Warren County Jail. The judge granted an order of protection for the victim, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, December 6, 2022 at 9:00 AM.