South Nassau Communities Hospital Healthy Outlook Spring 2015

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A Health & Wellness Newsletter from South Nassau Communities Hospital

SPRING 2015

South Nassau delivers

Excellence in Quality carePAGE 6

NEW HOPE for liver cancer Patients PAGE 3

PREGNANcy ANd cHIldBIRTH’S Roller coasterPAGE 5

BANISH uNSIGHTly Varicose and Spider VeinsPAGE 9

®

They worked on me immediately and I felt relief that someone was paying attention to me … and that they cared. Patient Larry Lachman at his Woodmere coffee shop. Thanks to South Nassau, the 52-year-old restauranteur got a second chance at life after a near-fatal heart attack.

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healthy outlook | 2 | SPRING 2015

I’ve often said that South Nassau is the ‘best kept secret’ on Long Island. Since our founding in 1928, our hospital has established itself as a leading provider of quality health care on Nassau’s South Shore. But as South Nassau continues to add more awards and commendations to its long list of accolades, the hospital’s reputation for providing comprehensive medical care continues to raise the bar nationally—far beyond our county’s borders.

In fact, South Nassau has been setting standards. In recent months, national organizations have been recognizing our excellence for patient safety and quality care. We are proud to report that South Nassau is the only hospital on Long Island to receive all four of the following prestigious awards: recognition by U.S. News & World Report for excelling in eight adult specialties, ranking nineteenth among all hospitals in the New York metropolitan area, and fifth among Long Island hospitals; top performer status from the Joint Commission, a leading accreditor of hospitals, on key quality measures; Magnet® recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence; and an “A” rating from the Leapfrog Group in hospital patient safety.

At South Nassau, a healthy life begins before birth. Our Perinatal Quality Collaborative and obstetrical improvement projects help to provide new moms with a safe birthing experience and their babies with the best start in life. You can read more about this on page 4.

On page 3 of this issue of Healthy Outlook, you will learn about a therapy that expands the limited treatment options for patients with liver cancer. Not only does this minimally invasive option improve a patient’s quality of life, but it also may extend it.

South Nassau’s programs and achievements are only possible because of the dedicated efforts of our staff of professionals supported by administrators and board members, along with the philanthropic support of our community. On pages 10 to 11 you can read about the generous benefactors who, by donating their time and financial assets, have made an investment in the health of our community.

Whenever and wherever you may need us, South Nassau is ready to provide the care you and your family need.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Murphy President and CEO

Richard J. Murphy

looking Ahead To a Bright Future

Healthy Outlook is published by the External Affairs Department

for the communities of South Nassau Hospital.

Chairman of the Board Joseph J. Fennessy

President & CEO Richard J. Murphy

Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Development

Joe Calderone

Vice President of External Affairs Mark Head

Managing Editor Donna Kutt Nahas

Editorial Assistant Sharon Lebowitz

Design Lum & Associates

Department of External Affairs

2277 Grand Avenue, Second Floor Baldwin, NY 11510

Phone: (516) 377-5370 FAX: (516) 377-5385

www.southnassau.org

Please e-mail your comments or suggestions to

[email protected]

The information provided in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and should not be used as

a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Except where noted, models are used in photos and their appearance here is not

reflective of a specific disease profile.

READ healthy outlook ONLINE

Log onto www.southnassau.org and click on Healthful News and Resources.

2012 Excellence in Design2013 Distinction in Writing

One Healthy Way, Oceanside, NY 11572 -1551

2014 Gold Aster Award

®


Healthy Outlook is published by the External Affairs Department

for the communities of South Nassau Hospital.

One Healthy Way, Oceanside, NY 11572 -1551

New Treatment Option For liver cancerMinimally Invasive Y-90 Radioembolization Treats Liver Tumors

An outpatient procedure now available at South Nassau expands the number of treatment options for patients with liver cancer.

A minimally invasive procedure called Yttrium-90 Radioembolization involves injection of cancer-killing radiation directly into the blood supply to shrink liver tumors. Under X-ray imaging, a catheter is inserted through the skin into a blood vessel. Once in place, tiny beads coated with a Yttrium-90 radioisotope are injected through the catheter. The beads—smaller in diameter than a human hair—become embedded in the tumor’s blood vessels. The beads release a high dose of radiation to the tumor, destroying the cancer while preferentially sparing healthy surrounding tissue.

“Y-90 Radioembolization can extend lives for months and possibly years

and improve quality of life by easing symptoms,” said interventional radiologist Rachel Piechowiak, D.O., who performs Y-90 Radioembolization.

The procedure, which is performed on an outpatient basis, treats tumors that have originated in the liver or have spread to the liver from another part of the body. Y-90 Radioembolization may be an option for patients who are not candidates for surgery or liver transplantation. In a fraction of the cases, she explains, the procedure may be curative and allow for surgical removal of tumors or liver transplantation.

The most common side effect is fatigue along with a

HEALTH MATTERS

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a chronic disorder of the digestive tract that causes pain, cramping, bloating and diarrhea or constipation that affects one in 10 people. Symptoms may change from day to day, and from patient to patient. IBS is sometimes confused with

inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can cause damage to the bowel, ulcers and inflammation.

It isn’t clear what causes irritable bowel syndrome. A variety of factors may play a role from abnormalities with the gastrointestinal nervous system and difficulty digesting certain foods to hormonal changes and stress or anxiety.

Some people with IBS have a gluten allergy or are lactose intolerant. Speak with your health care provider about beginning a trial lactose-free or gluten-

free diet. It may help reduce symptoms.

FOOdS ANd BEVERAGES THAT cAN WORSEN IBS:

Alcohol Caffeinated coffee and tea

Chocolate Broccoli Beans Cabbage Dairy products Fatty, fried and spicy foods

PREVENTING Irritable Bowel Syndrome FlARE-uPS

temporary decrease in appetite, slight fever and nausea.

“This technique is very promising because it allows us to treat the tumor with a much higher dose of localized radiation than with standard external radiation, which may be limited in its effectiveness,” she said.

The Y-90 procedure uses

radiation to shrink liver

tumors.

i FOR MORE INFORMATION, call 1-877-South-Nassau (1-877-768-8462).


State Recognizes South Nassau for Providing

Safe, Quality care for Mother, childSouth Nassau Communities Hospital’s Center for New Beginnings has been named a recipient of the New York State Department of Health’s Perinatal Quality Collaborative Obstetrical Improvement 2013 Quality Improvement Award.

The quality improvement initiative

aims to provide the best and

safest care for women and infants

in New York State by preventing

and minimizing harm through the

use of evidence-based practice.

Research shows that babies born

full-term (from 39 up to 41 weeks)

have better outcomes than those

born preterm (before 37 weeks) or

early term (from 37 up to 39 weeks).

Some early deliveries (before 39

weeks gestation) are unavoidable

for medical reasons. However, some

scheduled early deliveries—by

induction or cesarean—may not

be medically necessary and could

be postponed until the baby is

full term. The project’s mission

is to reduce scheduled cesarean

deliveries between 36 and 39 weeks

that are not medically necessary

through the use of evidence-based

practice, explained Alan Garely, M.D.,

chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

South Nassau reported zero early

elective deliveries in 2013.

“This award is emblematic of

our belief that at South Nassau

Communities Hospital, nursing

is about great practice and great

care,” said Sue Penque, Ph.D., R.N.,

chief nursing officer and senior

vice president of Patient Care

Services at South Nassau. “Our

singular commitment to this belief

ensures that our patients receive

quality, compassionate care they

deserve, whether they are mothers

and newborns in the Center for

New Beginnings or grandfathers

receiving a dialysis treatment at

our Outpatient Dialysis Center.”

South Nassau’s Center for New

Beginnings has a “five-star” rating

for patient safety and quality

care by an independent national

hospital and health care ratings

organization. The rating is based on

an in-depth evaluation of the quality

of maternity and gynecological

care over a three-year period, in 19

states, which includes New York.

Last year, the center’s team of

compassionate, experienced

maternity nurses, obstetricians

and high-risk pregnancy specialists

delivered 1,958 babies. In addition

to advanced maternal-fetal

medical technologies, the center

features 26 private family/newborn

rooms with first-class hotel-

like accommodations, spacious

labor and delivery rooms and a

six-bed Neonatal Intensive Care

Unit. Staffed by board-certified

neonatologists and specially trained

nurses, the unit is equipped with

dedicated medical technologies

for premature newborns and

newborns with special needs.

i FOR MORE INFORMATION about South Nassau’s center for New Beginnings, call 1-877-South-Nassau (1-877-768-8462).

The New York State Department of Health commended South Nassau’s Perinatal Services team, above, for their efforts to improve maternal and newborn outcomes.

You may be one of the nearly 15 percent of women who experience the “baby blues.” A lack of sleep, a crying newborn and a sudden shift in priorities can cause mothers to feel moody, irritable and impatient within the first couple of weeks of the birth. Typically, the “baby blues” resolve without treatment. But one in five will develop the more serious perinatal mood and anxiety disorder characterized by feelings of panic, frustration, confusion and anxiety, which can begin during pregnancy and last for up to one year after the birth. In very rare cases, symptoms may include thoughts of harming your baby or yourself. The cause is unknown but rapid hormonal changes and life stressors are believed to play a role.

“Perinatal mood and anxiety disorder is the No. 1 medical complication related to child bearing, yet too often women are not screened in the immediate post-partum period and this goes undetected,” said Jeanine Cappello, coordinator of South Nassau’s Prenatal Assistance Program at the Family Medicine Center, where every post-partum patient is screened

Pregnancy and Childbirth’s

Emotional Roller Coaster

South Nassau Named to Top 100 Hospitals in the Nation with Great Women’s Health Programs for Second Consecutive Year

Becker’s Hospital Review, a trade publication that provides business

and legal information for the health care industry, has named South

Nassau to its 2014 edition of its annual list of “100 Hospitals with

Great Women’s Health Programs.” South Nassau was selected for

outstanding health services geared toward women, including its well-

appointed maternity unit, fully equipped labor, delivery and recovery

rooms, specialized care for high-risk pregnancies, comprehensive

education programs and a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Know the Signs and Symptoms of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder

Frequent Crying

Excessive Worry (about the woman’s health or baby)

Not willing to hold the baby or unusual discomfort handling the baby

Appetite and/or sleep disturbances

Feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope

Loss of interest in things once previously enjoyed

Fear of harming yourself or your baby

circle of caring Support Group

Maternal depression has been linked to long-term adverse complications

for the mother and her child. Screening can protect the entire

family. South Nassau offers a free program that provides emotional

support, education and coping tools to empower women and their families experiencing the disorder.

Programs like South Nassau’s and others are available through Nassau County’s Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder task force,

which was formed in 2011 to create a safety net for women experiencing

symptoms of the disorder.

For more information about the Circle of Caring support group or

to register, call 516-377-5400.


for the disorder prior to childbirth and after delivery at South Nassau. “The sooner the mother is treated, the better the outcome.” Often it is difficult for the woman to acknowledge she is experiencing depression and seek help. “Women who are going through this should not feel ashamed or anxious about talking to a health care provider,” she said. “They should be reassured that they are not alone, not to blame and will

feel better and be well, with help.”

You recently gave birth to a child and instead of feeling exhilarated, you’re anxious, fearful and sad.


“Mr. Lachman had a massive heart attack and he was very sick,” said Asif M. Rehman, M.D., F.A.C.C., who treated him at South Nassau’s Center for Cardiovascular Health. “His ejection fraction was just 25 percent.” He explained that ejection fraction measures how much blood is being pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart, the main pumping chamber, with each contraction and that less than 35 percent increases a person’s risk of sudden cardiac death.

“The stent helped to restore precious blood flow to the heart muscle,” he said. “We use the expression, ‘Time is muscle,’ because for heart attack victims, every second counts to avoid permanent injury to the heart.”

Larry Lachman, 52, was relaxing on his sofa when he

began to experience chest pressure. The restauranteur

chalked up his discomfort to stress and working long

hours. But when the chest pain worsened, he asked his

wife to drive him to a local Emergency Room.

Soon after he arrived, he was told to wait in that hospital’s lobby because his EKG was deemed normal and he wasn’t having a heart attack. But by that time, he says, he was having difficulty breathing and his chest pain was intolerable. “I was begging them to do something and my wife was crying,” he recalled. In desperation, he phoned a friend who suggested he go to South Nassau’s Emergency Department.

Once at South Nassau, the medical team measured his vital signs, administered nitroglycerin to ease his chest pain and wheeled him to South Nassau’s Center for Cardiovascular Health. There, doctors performed a cardiac catheterization, which revealed a blocked coronary artery, and inserted two stents, tiny mesh tubes, to prop it open.

delivering Five-Star care

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After months of cardiac rehabilitation at South Nassau’s Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Mr. Lachman is on the road to recovery and is now spreading the word to his restaurant customers about South Nassau’s quality care.

“South Nassau should be the standard against which all hospitals are measured,” he said. “They worked on me immediately and I felt relief that someone was paying attention to me…and that they cared.”

Patients like Mr. Lachman and organizations that monitor the quality of health care at hospitals throughout the country give high marks to South Nassau, from patient safety to medical-surgical inpatient care to specialized cardiac services to home care and beyond.

South Nassau was singled out for an honor recently when it became the only Long Island hospital to receive all four of the following prestigious awards: recognition by U.S. News & World Report for excelling in eight adult specialties; top performer status from the Joint Commission on key quality measures; Magnet® recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence; and an “A” rating from the Leapfrog Group in hospital patient safety.

South Nassau was among the top five Long Island hospitals in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” metro area rankings. The hospital was rated as “high performing” in eight specialties: diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, and orthopedics and pulmonology.

The hospital has always known it’s a top performer, but since The Joint Commission recognized South Nassau for a second straight year with “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures” status, the 455-bed acute care facility is standing taller. The nation’s leading accreditor of health care organizations lauded the hospital for its exemplary use of evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for conditions including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care. South Nassau is one of only five hospitals on Long Island to earn the distinction.

Recently, the Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety and quality group, gave South Nassau an “A” rating in patient safety. Hospitals were graded from A to F on how well they prevented errors, injuries and infections.

“The ranking is a direct result of our commitment to our mission to provide the communities with quality compassionate health care whenever and wherever they need it,” said Richard J. Murphy, president and CEO. “Our patients can count on us to have a staff of experienced, compassionate and dedicated doctors and nurses who adhere to the highest standards in patient care and safety.”

South Nassau’s skilled physicians—many of whom are Castle Connolly “Top Doctors”—and nurses who were awarded with the coveted American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition last year for exceeding national benchmarks for patient and family satisfaction, provide a healing environment so patients can stay on a path to wellness.

continued on page 8

®

The Joint CommissionTop Performer onKey QualityMeasures®

2013

• Heart Attack• Heart Failure• Pneumonia• Surgical Care

South Nassau should be the standard against which all hospitals are measured. – Patient Larry Lachman

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... Time is muscle, because for heart attack victims, every second counts to avoid permanent injury to the heart.

– Asif M. Rehman, M.D., F.A.C.C., interventional cardiologist at the Center for Cardiovascular

Health, who saved patient Larry Lachman’s life


continued from page 7

South Nassau has earned a multitude of other honors and recognition for outstanding quality including the following:

Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement award

Joint Commission Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers

Home Care Elite™, listing South Nassau’s Home Care as one of the top home health care providers in the United States for the ninth consecutive year

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Home Health Quality Improvement Gold Medal award

American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Heart Failure Bronze Quality Achievement Award

One of the first hospitals on Long Island and one among only 840 hospitals nationwide to complete the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s Electronic Health Record Incentive Program for meaningful use of their electronic health records (EHR). EHRs are electronic medical records that follow the patient from the specialist to the hospital or nursing home or even across the county.

i FOR MORE INFORMATION about South Nassau’s award-winning programs and services, go to www.southnassau.org/awards.

That healing environment and sense of support helped Judah Libin recently through what he characterized as the worst stomach pain he had ever experienced. Already weakened by an unrelenting stomach virus and nausea, the frightened 43-year-old Woodmere father of three called 9-1-1.

“I can’t stress how alone I felt in that ambulance,” said Mr. Libin, who had been planning to join his wife and children vacationing in Florida. “My mother and brother were away, even my neighbors were gone.”

Once at South Nassau’s Emergency Department, where doctors

administered pain medication and began a series of tests to determine the cause of his discomfort, he felt anything but alone.

“In this impersonal world of Facebook and Instagram, someone cared … I didn’t feel anyone forgot about me for a second, said the IT security specialist. “The nurse recharged my phone so I could stay in touch with my wife, and they helped me get dressed and call for a cab.”

“South Nassau was spot-on,” he continued. “Everyone was so warm and caring, from the man mopping the floors to the doctors, nurses and nurse’s aides.”

In this impersonal world of Facebook and Instagram, someone cared…

– Patient Judah Libin

delivering Five-Star care

An emergency room can feel cold and impersonal but Judah Libin, of Woodmere, can’t stop talking about South Nassau’s warm and caring staff.P

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Hate your Varicose Veins?A noninvasive procedure offers alternative to vein stripping

i TO ScHEdulE A cONSulTATION with dr. Singh, call 1-877-South-Nassau (1-877-768-8462).

If you have a question about vein ablation, ask dr. Singh at http://www.facebook.com/SouthNassau

Think varicose veins and you’ll probably envision gnarled, blue and bulging leg veins. For some, varicose veins are not only unsightly but they also can be painful, causing throbbing, aching, fatigue and swelling in the leg. Veins that are varicose have become stretched and swollen and can weaken or damage valves in a vein, allowing blood to leak. Varicose veins are caused by genetics, pregnancy, obesity, injuries and prolonged sitting or standing.

It used to be that vein stripping, a surgical procedure that ties off and removes the diseased vein, was the only treatment available. Now, a South Nassau physician is performing a noninvasive, outpatient procedure called radiofrequency ablation that uses heat from electric energy to seal the varicose vein. Once the tissue along the vein is destroyed, the vein collapses and is reabsorbed by the body. Vein ablation takes less than an hour and patients can walk immediately after the procedure.

“Radiofrequency ablation is as effective as surgery in treating varicose veins and is generally complication-free,” said Harmandeep Singh, M.D., a vascular surgeon at South Nassau who performs the procedure. “Most people are able to return to normal daily activities with little or no pain.”

If you are experiencing leg pain, cramping, leg or ankle swelling or a “heavy feeling” in the legs, or wish to improve the appearance of varicose or spider veins, small, dilated blood vessels near the surface

of the skin, you may be a candidate for the procedure.

about the doctor

Vascular surgeon Harmandeep Singh, M.D., is board-certified in both general and vascular surgery. He specializes

in cardiovascular and venous diseases, including thoracic aneurysm and aortic dissection, abdominal aortic iliac/

iliac aneurysm, aorto-iliac occlusive disease and revascularization.

After earning a medical degree from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Faridkot, Punjab, in India, he

completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in general surgery at Brookdale University Hospital

Medical Center, where he also served as chief resident. He was fellowship-trained in vascular and endovascular surgery at

University Hospital at Buffalo.

slow the development of varicose veins, follow

these suggestions:

Avoid crossing your legs when sitting

Avoid wearing tight panty-leg girdles, which restrict blood flow to the legs

Elevate the legs while sitting Exercise Avoid prolonged sitting or standing

Wear compression stockings

To Help

Assem. Weisenberg and Wife, Dr. Robert Kramer Honored at 2014 Carnation Ball

Retiring Assem. Harvey Weisenberg, of Long Beach, and his wife, Ellen, along with Robert J. Kramer, M.D., former chair of the Department of Medicine and assistant medical director, were honored at South Nassau Communities Hospital’s 2014 annual Carnation Ball on November 1 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. The Carnation Ball raised more than $713,000 in support of South Nassau’s $57 million Emergency Department expansion project.


Health Scare Leads to ER Visit for Loved One

One morning, last September, my wife, Terri, called me at work to

tell me she wasn’t feeling well and that I should come home. She had developed an itchy rash and swelling of her hands, face and ears. What really frightened me was when she said her throat felt like it was closing and that she thought she was having a reaction to something she had eaten the night before. I rushed home, took one look at her and dialed 9-1-1.

Paramedics transported her to South Nassau’s Emergency Department, where doctors and nurses treated her for anaphylactic shock. While working on her, the entire medical team were not only reassuring, but they also treated her with kindness and gentleness since she was extremely frightened during the whole experience. Most telling was that later on, upon finding out that I was a member of the hospital board, her nurse told Terri she didn’t know she was a V.I.P. Terri and I both agree she

Steven GoldChair, Development

Committee and Member, Board of

Directors

i TO MAkE A TAX-dEducTIBlE GIFT, please go to www.southnassau.org and click on Gift Giving or mail your donation to South Nassau communities Hospital, P.O. Box 843, Baldwin, Ny 11510. FOR MORE INFORMATION, call 516-377-5360.

Thank you and best wishes for your good health!

From left, Marina Kramer, wife of Mary Pearson honoree Robert Kramer, M.D., former chair of the Department of Medicine and assistant medical director; and Carnation Ball co-honorees Assem. Harvey Weisenberg, of Long Beach, and his wife, Ellen. Richard Murphy, president and CEO, and his wife, Mary Murphy, look on.

could not have been treated any better or any faster. In the emergency room at South Nassau, everyone is a V.I.P.

As for the allergic reaction, it was determined to be from a blood pressure medication my wife had been taking for years. Her body suddenly developed an allergy to it, which I believe is a lesson to heed. Terri had never been allergic to anything before this incident, and we now know allergic reactions can happen at any age and to things we previously thought to be benign to us. Having discontinued the use of that particular drug, she has had no further reactions.

You never know when you will need emergency care. South Nassau was here for us and will be there for you and your family, providing the gold-standard of care that is available 24/7, 365 days a year. I would ask that you think of South Nassau not only in a crisis but as your partner in achieving your optimum health. The hospital excels in providing high quality care and offers outstanding clinical leadership, state-of-the-art technologies and top-notch programs and services. Please consider making a commitment to support South Nassau—your local hospital—by making a tax deductible donation today. Every gift matters, big or small; you can make a difference.

Partners in Health


South Nassau Receives $30,000 Grant for 23-Bed Unit RenovationLast October, the Long Island Real Estate Group donated $30,000 to support the hospital’s renovation of a state-of-the-art 23-bed medical-surgical unit.

The 13,570-square-foot unit on F-1 features private rooms, enhanced wireless connectivity, electronic medical record technology and a leading-edge medication management system.

From left, Brad Cronin, Long Island Real Estate Group co-president and partner of Cronin & Cronin, PLLC; Mary Porter, grant writer at South Nassau; William Ulrich, vice president of administration at South Nassau; Samuel Yedid, Long Island Real Estate Group co-president and partner of Lazer Aptheker Rosella & Yedid, P.C.

Maple Pointe Senior Care Raises More than $13,000 for South NassauMaple Pointe Senior Care, of Rockville Centre, held a pair of fundraisers last October and donated $13,000 to breast cancer services at South Nassau’s Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center. The wing tasting contest, “Eat a Wing, Save a Breast,“ was held at Maple Pointe on Oct. 8. Nearly a dozen restaurants from Rockville Centre participated in the “Wing-Off.” On Oct. 24, Maple Pointe sponsored “Bowling for Breasts,” a bowling contest, at Rockville Centre Lanes.

Since 2012, Maple Pointe has raised more than $40,000 to benefit breast cancer services at the Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center.

Tammy Marshall, executive director of Maple Pointe Senior Care, presents a check for $13,000 to Tim Matejka, executive director of Development at South Nassau. The donation supports breast cancer services at South Nassau’s Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center.

Support the Emergency Department Expansion Campaign

For more than 85 years, South Nassau has provided communities on the South Shore of Nassau County with the gold standard of care for emergency medical services.

Under an expansion plan, the New York State Department of Health designated Stroke Center and Level II Trauma Center will nearly double in size to accommodate a projected 70,000 patient visits a year and include dedicated areas for behavioral health and pediatric emergencies, along with a larger and enhanced patient and family waiting room.

There are numerous ways your philanthropy can impact the health of future generations, and there’s no better way to honor the memory of a loved one or to show your concern for the health of your neighbors. Gifts of any size can be made to the Emergency Department Expansion Campaign. Naming opportunities are available for leadership gifts as well.

i FOR MORE INFORMATION, call Tim Matejka, executive director of development, at (516) 377-5360 to discuss opportunities.

Thank you!

Partners in Health


community spiritJust as South Nassau reaches out to its communities throughout the year, dozens of businesses, organizations

and community groups share their talents and help spread cheer to South Nassau patients. Here’s a sampling of

South Nassau’s “community spirit.” For additional spirit news, go to www.southnassau.org/communityspirit

South Nassau Marks World Breastfeeding WeekSept. 24 – South Nassau observed World Breastfeeding Week to promote the importance of sustaining and increasing the support of breastfeeding practices throughout the world. This year’s theme was “Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal—For Life.” The event was highlighted by a raffle of a breast pump that was won by Kristin Glynn, of Rockville Centre, who gave birth to her son William at the hospital.

Standing, from left, Patricia O’Brien, R.N., CPR instructor ; Lynn Bert, R.N., nurse manager of Pediatrics; Madeline Cozzi-Gottlieb, R.N., nursing professional development specialist; Paula Larocchia, R.N., lactation consultant; Betsy Froehling, R.N., of Labor & Delivery ; Mary Jean Amitrano, R.N., of the Nursery; and Cecilia Carey, R.N., assistant nurse manager of Mother-Child. Foreground, from left, Misako Miller, R.N., Parent-Child Education/Lactation Center coordinator; Ms. Glynn, with William and daughter Emma; and April Dones, R.N., of Maternity.

“knit-Wits” Stitch for a cause Oct. 16 – During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Knit-Wits, a knitting group composed of residents from the Atria Tanglewood Assisted Living in Lynbrook, donated more than 50 scarves to patients undergoing cancer treatment at South Nassau Communities Hospital.

Far right, Colleen Rohlehr, supervisor of Oncology Services; and second from right Inderjeet Sandhu, service line administrator for Oncology, pose with the center’s engage life director Julie Derkatch, back row, far left, and members of the Atria Tanglewood’s Knit Wits and their handmade creations.

South Nassau Recognizes lynbrook Restorative Therapy & NursingOct. 11 – Carlton Williams, vice president of business development for Lynbrook Restorative Therapy & Nursing, was presented with a certificate of appreciation for the organization’s support as the naming sponsor of the hospital’s annual 5k Run/Walk.

Gail Carlin, director of Community Relations at South Nassau, presents a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Williams.


community spiritSouth Nassau Offers Thanks and Gratitude to Spiritual care Team Oct. 20 – At the department’s annual Spiritual Care Services dinner, South Nassau thanked members of the hospital’s Spiritual Care team for supporting spiritual care as an essential and integral component of health care services at the hospital. The department also honored Rabbi Moshe Gottesman and his wife, Sondra, for their 37 years of dedicated service.

From left, Rabbi Moshe Gottesman, and his wife, Sondra; Anne Fernandez, director of Volunteer Services; Sue Penque, Ph.D., R.N., chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services; Joseph J. Fennessy, chair of the board of directors at South Nassau; and Allen Siegel, director of Spiritual Care Services.

South Nassau Shares Emergency department Expansion Plans with Valley Stream chamberOct. 22 – Executive director of Development Tim Matejka provided members of the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce with an overview of the hospital’s plan for the expansion of the Emergency Department.

Gail Carlin, director of Community Relations at South Nassau, and Tim Matejka, executive director of Development, fourth and fifth from left, present a blueprint of the hospital’s expansion plan to Valley Stream Chamber president Debbi Gyulay and chamber members Angela Ogurick, Lucy Viggiano, Lee Feinman and Barbara DeGrace.

Community Service Plan Available

New York hospitals are required by both

state and federal governments to conduct

a community health needs assessment

every three years and, as a result of that

assessment, develop a Community Service

Plan to respond to the community’s health

needs with a strategy to address them.

To review the hospital’s plan, you may

either access it at www.southnassau.org,

listed under the tab, “Healthful News

and Resources,” as Community Service

Plan, or you may pick up a printed copy

from the hospital’s External Affairs office

in Baldwin at 2277 Grand Avenue.

South Nassau Teams up with Sen. dean Skelos, of Rockville centre, at Golden Gathering Oct. 24 – South Nassau and Molloy College along with federal, state and local government agencies, provided flu vaccinations for seniors at Sen. Dean Skelos’ annual Golden Gathering at Rockville Centre’s John A. Anderson Recreation Center.

From left, Geraldine Moore, R.N., Molloy College nursing program instructor; nursing students Jaclyn Chotwicky and Katie Campbell; Sen. Dean Skelos; Gina Kearney Ph.D., R.N., director of Community Education at South Nassau; Freddy Wong, patient accounts representative at South Nassau; and nursing students Monika Muller and Alexandra Hurley.


HOlIdAy community SPIRITDozens of community groups, businesses and organizations helped spread cheer to South Nassau patients during

the holiday season. Here is a sampling of the groups that visited:

Richard M. Brodsky Foundation donates clothes to Pediatrics Members and volunteers from the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of HIV/AIDS and cancer, distributed toddler clothing donated by Babies R’ Us to South Nassau’s pediatric patients.

From left, Gail Carlin, director of Community Relations at South Nassau; Richard M. Brodsky, president of the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation; and Anne Fernandez, director of Volunteer Services at the hospital.

compassionate clowns Spread cheer to South Nassau Patients

From left, Compassionate Clowns Carrie Brown, Carley Colbert and Rebecca Bernard along with South Nassau volunteer Evelyn Bernard bring tidings of good cheer to patient Shirley Bresler.

Spreading Joy to Pediatrics

Toni Matrecano and Lauren Quaranta, owners of The Dance Space in East Rockaway, collected donations of toys from their clients for South Nassau’s Pediatric Unit.

Toy drive Brightens Season for Pediatric Patients

Keba Cairo, author of the children’s book “Don’t Snooze on Clues,” center, and Winfield Sargeant, far right, hosted a toy drive in Freeport for South Nassau’s pediatric patients. Along with Ms. Cairo and Mr. Sargeant are, from left, some of the members of Compassionate Clowns: Carrie Brown, Rebecca Bernard and Carley Colbert.


South Nassau recognized the staff of its Outpatient Dialysis Department for their professionalism, knowledge and patient-centered care. At a gathering of the department’s staff and patients last October, Lori Edelman, R.N., director of nursing for the Emergency Department, standing fifth from right, presented a certificate of appreciation to the staff. Seated, from left, patients Mildred Pagliaro, of East Rockaway, and Lawrence Siegel, of Oceanside. Ms. Pagliaro’s daughter, Donna Pagliaro, of East Rockaway, is seated far right.

Three Cheers for Outpatient Dialysis Staff!

Boutique for Women with cancer OpensSouth Nassau has teamed up with Hewlett House, a breast cancer advocacy group, to offer complimentary wigs, scarves, head coverings and post-mastectomy bras for women undergoing cancer treatment at South Nassau.

Private, appointment-only fittings are available on Fridays at South Nassau’s Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center, One South Central Ave., Valley Stream. To schedule an appointment for a fitting, call Geri Barish, executive director of Hewlett House, at 516-374-3190.

Providing a Safe HavenSouth Nassau Communities Hospital received the “Torch of Life” award

from the AMT Children of Hope Foundation for its participation in the

Safe Haven hospital network and for offering “compassionate and

urgent care” to birth mothers in crisis. The Safe Haven law protects

parents from prosecution if they drop off unwanted newborns in a safe

place. Since the law was passed in New York State in 2000, South Nassau

is one of five hospitals in the country to have received the award.

The New York State AMT Children of Hope Newborn Safe Haven

program was founded in 1998 by Timothy Jaccard, president and

founder of the National Safe Haven Alliance. The nonprofit runs a crisis

pregnancy hotline, offers counseling services, publicizes safe haven

laws and provides burials for abandoned newborns.

From left, Lisa Busso, R.N., nurse manager of the Emergency Department; Joanne Newcombe, vice president of Patient Care Services; Timothy Jaccard, president and founder of the National Safe Haven Alliance; Lori Edelman, R.N., director of nursing for the Emergency Department; Maryelizabeth Simmons, nurse manager of Perinatal Services; and Gayle Somerstein, R.N., director of nursing.

Get Online Access to your Medical

Information with…

Follow My Health

Patient Portal South Nassau’s Patient Portal

provides the hospital’s existing

patients (includes outpatients, as

well) online access to their electronic

medical records. You can use any

computer, smartphone or tablet to

securely view, track and update your

health history; review your lab work,

immunizations and allergies; check

your personal records; and download,

fax or email health information.

i FOR MORE INFORMATION about Follow My Health Patient Portal, email [email protected] or call 516-632-4357.

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DONATE The Gift of LifeJust one pint of blood can help save three lives.

Mark your calendar and plan to donate at

South Nassau’s third blood drive of 2015.

WHEN: Thursday, July 9, from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

WHERE: South Nassau’s Albert Conference Center

FOR MORE INFORMATION or to register, call South Nassau’s Department of Human Resources at 516-632-4080.

savethe dates

SATuRdAy, MAy 2:ANNuAl SIBSPlAcE AucTION The Seawane Club, Hewlett Harbor Honoree: entrepreneur Joe IorioFor more information, call Lynne Nordone at (516) 377-5360.

SATuRdAy, JuNE 13:lI2dAy WAlk South Nassau Communities Hospital is a proud beneficiary of this 13.1 mile walk. Support Team South Nassau by walking, fundraising or volunteering.For more information, call Nelvie Howard (516) 377-5360.

MONdAy, JuNE 15: ANNuAl GOlF TOuRNAMENT The Seawane Club, Hewlett Harbor and Inwood Country Club, Inwood Honoree: John D. Cameron Jr. Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP For more information, call Tim Matejka at (516) 377-5360.

SuNdAy, SEPT. 27: 2015 5k RuN/WAlk South Nassau Communities Hospital Parking Lot, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.For more information, call 516-377-5370.

communitysupport groups

In this issue, Healthy Outlook spotlights two of its Community Education support groups. For the complete list, go to www.southnassau.org and then select the Health Events and Support Group schedule option under the Healthful News and Resources tab. You can also call the Department of Community Education at 516-377-5333.

Smoking cessation WorkshopA free 90-minute workshop designed to educate, motivate and support you in your efforts to stop smoking. Meets at 2277 Grand Ave., in Baldwin.

To register or for more information, call the Department of Community Education at 516-377-5333.

Prepare for Surgery, Heal FasterThis one-hour workshop uses a book and relaxation CD by Peggy Huddleston, a Cambridge, Mass., psychotherapist and author, to help patients reduce anxiety before surgery and heal faster by using mind-body techniques. The cost is $49.

For more information or to schedule a workshop, call the Department of Community Education at 516-377-5333.

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Documents

South Nassau Communities Hospital Healthy Outlook Spring 2015