Sheila Feliton Huck

Community Relations

(914) 597-2466

shuck@burke.org

White Plains, NY - December 29, 2008 - Mary Beth Walsh, M.D., executive medical director and chief executive officer of  The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, is the 2009 chair of the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Governing Council. According to the AHA, she will lead the council that "advises member service strategies and public policy issues concerning hospitals that provide rehabilitation, long-term acute, sub-acute, skilled or home health services."

Burke Rehabilitation Hospital

The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital was founded in 1915.  It is the only hospital in Westchester County dedicated to physical rehabilitation.  Its divisions include the inpatient hospital, outpatient rehabilitation, and Winifred Masterson Burke Medical Research Institute.

American Hospital Association

The American Hospital Association is the national organization that represents and serves hospitals, health care networks, their patients and communities.  Founded in  1898, it provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. It is composed of 37,000 individual members and 5,000 hospitals or health care providers.

White Plains, NY - The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital Smart Fitness Center will offer one-hour Yoga classes for 12 weeks starting Tuesday, January 20, 2009. Participants will perform stretching, strengthening, breathing and relaxation exercises to reduce stress, improve circulation and revitalize the nervous system.

Advanced Yoga classes will meet Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

Intermediate Yoga classes will meet Thursdays at 3:45 p.m.

Beginner Yoga classes will meet Thursdays at 5 p.m.

Class fees are $105 for Smart Fitness Center members and $126 for non-members. All classes will be held at The Burke Smart Fitness Center, Billings Building #4, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY. Mats, other equipment and parking are provided free of charge.

Contact instructor Elsa McAvoy, CYT, at 914-437-8855 for information. 

The group, for brain injury survivors and caregivers, meets the third Thursday

of every month in room G-41 of the Wood Pavilion, Building #7.

For information, contact Janet Goodman, LMSW, at (914) 597-2237.

The Amputee Support Group brings together those who have a situation in common and provides the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences.

For information call Laura Toohig, PT, at (914) 597-2389.

Sheila Feliton Huck

Community Relations

(914) 597-2466

shuck@burke.org

Toni Calabrese Boelsen

Community Relations

(914) 597-2348

tboelsen@burke.org

Burke Rehabilitation Hospital is offering Swedish massage therapy at the Smart Fitness Center on Burke's campus, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains. Morning, afternoon and evening appointments are available Monday through Friday and are open to the public.      

Swedish massage is the best known type of massage, and uses firm but gentle pressure to improve circulation, ease muscle aches and tension, improve flexibility and promote relaxation.

To make an appointment, please call Burke's Smart Fitness Center at 914-597-2806. Rates are $50 for a half hour, $95 for one hour, and $125 for one and half hours.

The adaptive yoga workshop is open to disabled adults 18 and older who are interested in learning adaptive yoga in a supported setting, and are independent with personal care and transfers, or able to bring an aide.  Transfer to a mat is not necessary.

Physically challenged adults must complete a health history questionnaire before the workshop to determine if adaptive yoga is right for them.

For a copy of the survey and information, please call Heather Keeler, Burke's Smart Fitness Center director, at 914-597-2578, or download the questionnaire at www.burke.org/events. The registration fee is $60.

The free event is designed for high school and college-aged students who are interested in pursuing a career in nursing. Students will have the opportunity to meet admissions counselors from various local nursing schools, learn about financial aid and scholarship opportunities. They will also hear first-hand from nursing students and nurses who are passionate about what they do.

Complimentary lunch and parking will be provided. Registration is required by January 16th. Please call Program Coordinators Annie Norris, MS at (914) 422-8292 or Monica Purdy, RN, BSN, MA at (914) 681-2378 to reserve your spot.

White Plains Hospital Center

White Plains Hospital Center is a 292-bed voluntary, not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of offering high quality, acute health care and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas.  Centers of Excellence include the Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center, The William & Sylvia Silberstein Neonatal & Maternity Center, The Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel Stroke Center and The Westchester Orthopedic Institute.  The Hospital has the busiest Emergency Department in Westchester County, treating more than 45,000 patients a year.  White Plains Hospital Center is a seven-time winner of the Consumer Choice Award, an honor given to the nation's top hospitals by the National Research Corporation. WPHC is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and the Stellaris Health Network, Inc.  For additional information, visit www.wphospital.org.

Jodi-Ann Bailey

Public Affairs Associate

(718) 780-5367

jodiannsbailey@gmail.com

Brooklyn, NY - December 31, 2008 - In the United States, coronary artery disease (CAD) is the number one killer, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of men and women each year. The disease develops when a combination of calcium, plaque and fatty materials build up in the arteries, restricting the flow of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the heart. Two years ago, New York Methodist became the first hospital in Brooklyn to use cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help diagnose CAD and other heart conditions. The noninvasive medical procedure provides very accurate images of the heart, which are important to the initial diagnosis and subsequent management of coronary artery disease. Photo above: John Heitner, M.D., director of advanced cardiac imaging at New York Methodist.  

For stress MRI testing, the patient is given adenosine, a drug that causes the body to mimic the effects of exercise on the heart, while undergoing the MRI procedure, which produces high-speed images that depict the blood flowing into the heart muscle. One of the advantages of stress MRI is that it is able to capture the heart's movement in "real-time," as the heart contracts and relaxes.  "This test provides a great new way to look at the heart," said John Heitner, director of non-invasive imaging at NYM.

In addition, stress MRI does not require the use of radiation and enables doctors to see smaller, less noticeable, heart attacks. "The procedure lasts for about 35 minutes, which is the same as an echocardiogram," Dr. Heitner said. NYM is the only hospital in Brooklyn performing the test. Stress MRI is not suited for patients with pacemakers, ear implants, defibrillators or metal clips. Among patients who had a negative stress MRI test, 97 percent were free of heart disease during the first year following testing.

For more information about cardiac care at New York Methodist Hospital or to schedule an appointment call the Hospital's Institute for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery at 1 866-84-HEART. 

New York Methodist Hospital

New York Methodist Hospital, a voluntary, acute-care teaching facility located in Brooklyn's Park Slope, houses 651 inpatient beds (including bassinets) and provides services to over 34,000 inpatients each year.  An additional 350,000 outpatient visits and services are logged annually.  The Hospital offers Institutes in the following areas: Advanced and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Asthma and Lung Disease; Cancer Care; Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery; Digestive and Liver Disorders; Diabetes and Other Endocrine Disorders; Vascular Medicine and Surgery; Family Care; Neurosciences; Orthopedic Medicine and Surgery and Women's Health. The Hospital, founded in 1881, has undergone extensive renovation and modernization over the years.  New York Methodist is affiliated with the Weill College of Medicine at Cornell University and it is a member of NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.

Amy Massimo

Director, Public Affairs

(845) 348-2773

massimoa@nyackhospital.org

Nyack, NY - December, 15, 2008 - Nyack Hospital has been awarded an accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent on-site inspection. Paul Walker, MD, Director of Pathology at Nyack Hospital was advised of this national recognition and congratulated for the "excellence of the services being provided." Nyack Hospital is one of the more than 6,000 CAP-accredited laboratories nationwide.

The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government's own inspection program.

During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory's records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine the entire staff's qualifications, the laboratory's equipment, facilities, safety program and record, as well as the overall management of the laboratory.  This stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for the laboratory's patients.

The College of American Pathologists is a medical society serving nearly 16,000 physician members and the laboratory community throughout the world.  It is the world's largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance.  The CAP is an advocate for high-quality and cost-effective medical care.

Nyack Hospital

Nyack Hospital is a 375-bed community acute care medical and surgical hospital located in Rockland County, NY.  Founded in 1895, it is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System. For additional information, please visit our web site at www.nyackhospital.org.

Amy Massimo

Director, Public Affairs

(845) 348-2773

massimoa@nyackhospital.org

Nyack, NY - December 10, 2008 - Nyack Hospital announces that it is the recipient of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System (NYPHS) Quality Award.  Nyack Hospital received the Commitment to Quality Innovation Award for its Code H (Help) Hotline at the 2008 NYPHS quality symposium.  In addition, two other of the Hospital's entries (ER Patient Satisfaction and Fall Prevention) submitted for the NewYork-Presbyterian Quality Symposium were chosen to be finalists at the annual meeting.

Nyack Hospital

Nyack Hospital is a 375-bed community acute care medical and surgical hospital located in Rockland County, NY.  Founded in 1895, it is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System. For additional information, please visit our web site at www.nyackhospital.org.

Public Affairs Associate

(718) 780-5367

jsb9010@nyp.org

Brooklyn, NY - December 10, 2008 - New York Methodist Hospital's 16th Annual Registered Nurses' Dinner was an unforgettable event filled with laughter, pride and camaraderie among friends--old and new. The dinner, which was held on November 13, was attended by more than 240 registered nurses and numerous staff members. All were on hand to support the Hospital's exceptional nursing staff.

Photo above: The Hospital's R.N.s came out in record numbers to the 16th Annual Registered Nurses' Dinner. From left (Back Row), Sarika Nigam, R.N., Nena Vaval St. Jean, R.N., Mary Bergman, R.N., Ann Marie Fusaro, R.N., Rose Bazile, R.N., and Rebecca Flood, R.N., senior vice president for nursing. (Seated), Patricia Duffy-Sarragu, R.N., and Catherine Hagerty, R.N., director of nursing administration. 

Mr. Collura also went on to say that he had always expressed his desire to receive care at New York Methodist, if need be, to his friends and family members. "If I have to be hospitalized, make sure it's New York Methodist Hospital I told them," he emphatically stated to an audience scattered with nurses who had been essential to his recovery. Jennifer Charles, R.N., was recognized by Rebecca Flood, R.N., senior vice president for nursing, for her management of the care Mr. Collura received.

In addition, several nurses were honored with the 25 Years Service Award for their commitment to patient care. These nurses include, Allyson Selby, R.N., Ann Hontiveros-Rendon, R.N., Ann Rutt, R.N., Elizabeth Manimtim, R.N., Gail Harsnalli-Fletcher, Kam Yuk Lo, R.N., Majorie Richards, R.N., Rita Morano, R.N., Susan Proce, R.N.,Theresa Davis, R.N., and Wayne Christie, R.N.

The event, which was the most successful RN dinner to date, also featured a very special thank you to Stanley Sherbell, M.D., executive vice president for medical affairs, for his continued support of the Department of Nursing. Dr. Sherbell thanked the nurses for the hard work and value they bring to the Hospital. "New York Methodist Hospital has the best nurses in the world," he said.

New York Methodist Hospital

New York Methodist Hospital, a voluntary, acute-care teaching facility located in Brooklyn's Park Slope, houses 651 inpatient beds (including bassinets) and provides services to over 34,000 inpatients each year.  An additional 350,000 outpatient visits and services are logged annually.  The Hospital offers Institutes in the following areas: Advanced and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Asthma and Lung Disease; Cancer Care; Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery; Digestive and Liver Disorders; Diabetes and Other Endocrine Disorders; Vascular Medicine and Surgery; Family Care; Neurosciences; Orthopedic Medicine and Surgery and Women's Health. The Hospital, founded in 1881, has undergone extensive renovation and modernization over the years.  New York Methodist is affiliated with the Weill College of Medicine at Cornell University and it is a member of NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.

Melissa Weisstuch

Vice President, Marketing

(914) 681-2380

mweisstuch@wphospital.org

White Plains, NY - December 9, 2008 - Cancer patients in Westchester County now have access to the most advanced radiation therapy.  White Plains Hospital Center recently began offering a faster, more precise form of radiotherapy using technology from Varian Medical Systems.  The new RapidArc treatment, which is two to eight times faster than conventional radiotherapy, is available at the Hospital's Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center.  The Hospital is the first in the Westchester/Fairfield region, and is among a small number of healthcare providers in the New York metro area, to offer this new technology. 

White Plains Hospital Center's RapidArc technology delivers image-guided IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) very quickly, in a single rotation of the treatment machine around the patient. "RapidArc will be much easier on the patient," says Dr. Stevens.  "It's hard for people to hold still for long periods of time.  By delivering doses more quickly, we can simultaneously improve the quality of care and make our patients more comfortable."

The Technology

RapidArc treatments at White Plains Hospital Center will be delivered using a Trilogy® medical linear accelerator from Varian Medical Systems, outfitted with an On-Board Imager® kV imaging system for generating and using images to guide patient placement and treatment delivery.  The linear accelerator rotates around the patient to deliver the radiation treatments from nearly any angle. 

During a RapidArc treatment, the radiation is shaped and reshaped as it is continuously delivered from virtually every angle in a 360-degree revolution around the patient.

The beam shaping will be accomplished using an important accessory called a multi-leaf collimator (MLC), a device with 120 computer-controlled mechanical "leaves" or "fingers" that can move to create apertures of different shapes and sizes.  During a RapidArc treatment, specialized software algorithms will vary three parameters simultaneously: the speed of rotation around the patient, the shape of the MLC aperture, and the dose delivery rate.

 "By reducing the time it takes to deliver IMRT and other precise, sophisticated forms of radiation therapy, RapidArc has the potential to improve the quality of care and cure rates for many types of cancer. It also helps reduce side effects from radiation therapy and improve accessibility to an exciting new type of radiation oncology treatment.  That is a huge win for everybody," says Dr. Stevens. 

White Plains Hospital Center

White Plains Hospital Center (WPHC) is a 292-bed voluntary, not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of offering high quality, acute health care and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas.  Centers of Excellence include the Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center, The William & Sylvia Silberstein Neonatal & Maternity Center, The Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel Stroke Center and The Westchester Orthopedic Institute.  The Hospital has the busiest Emergency Department in Westchester County, treating more than 45,000 patients a year.  White Plains Hospital Center is a seven-time winner of the Consumer Choice Award, an honor given to the nation's top hospitals by the National Research Corporation. WPHC is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and the Stellaris Health Network, Inc.  For additional information, visit www.wphospital.org.

Now in its fourth year, Hoops for Hope raises funds for breast cancer services, involving adults and students alike throughout the community.  All participants are asked to collect sponsors who will donate to this cause for successful foul shots or a single one-time donation.  Come out and enjoy this fun event with friends, family or co-workers!  Pledge forms are available at the Clarkstown South Athletic Office during school hours or by emailing Jim Breen at jbreen@ccsd.edu  Mr. Breen may also be reached at 845.634.0207. 

Nyack Hospital

Nyack Hospital is a 375-bed community acute care medical and surgical hospital located in Rockland County, NY.  Founded in 1895, it is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System. For additional information, please visit our web site at www.nyackhospital.org.

Scott Orstad

Manager, Corporate Communications

(203) 276-5933

sorstad@stamhealth.org

Stamford, CT- December 4, 2008 - Stamford Hospital's President and CEO Brian G. Grissler was inducted into the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of the Year® Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Palm Springs, Calif. on Nov. 15.  He received the Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 Award for the Health Sciences Category in the New York Metro area. In 2007, Grissler received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of the Year honor in the Social Enterprise category for the New York Metro area.  He was nominated again this year for consideration in the Health Sciences category, making it all the way to the national competition.

In the competition's 22 years, over 7,000 individuals have been recognized for their vision, innovation, courage and leadership in building and growing successful businesses.  The award honors entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Approximately 1,800 nominations were received for this year's competition.  From that list, a panel of judges selected about 240 regional and national winners.  All honorees were inducted into the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of the Year Hall of Fame, which is on permanent display at Ernst & Young's U.S. headquarters office at 5 Times Square, New York on the 23rd floor. 

Grissler leads one of Connecticut's largest healthcare organizations, generating over $400 million in net revenue.  Under his leadership, Stamford Hospital has received numerous national awards and recognitions, including the Ernst A. Codman award for the intensive care unit's excellent clinical outcomes and the prestigious Magnet recognition, which is achieved by less than five percent of hospital nursing staffs nationwide.

Prior to joining Stamford Health System in 2001, Grissler was the president and chief executive officer of Suburban Hospital Healthcare System, a 392-bed, $150 million health system in Bethesda, Md., and the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Morristown Memorial Hospital of New Jersey, a teaching affiliate of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. 

Grissler received his bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Rutgers University and his M.B.A. in Health Services Administration from Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. He completed his Administrative Residency at Overlook Hospital in Summit, N.J.

Stamford Hospital is a not-for-profit provider of comprehensive healthcare services in lower Fairfield County. 

Stamford Hospital

The mission of Stamford Hospital is to provide, together with its physicians, a broad range of high quality health and wellness services focused on the needs of our communities.  Stamford Hospital is a Magnet Hospital and a member of the Planetree Alliance, a group of hospitals nationwide focused on patient-centered care. Stamford Hospital is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and is a major teaching affiliate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. 

Jodi Bailey

Public Affairs Associate

(718) 780-5367

jodiannsbailey@gmail.com

"I am privileged to spend some time talking with you about issues affecting the State, primarily healthcare," said  Mr. DiNapoli, a first time visitor to the Hospital and friend to the Silver family, at right in photo with Mark J. Mundy, President and CEO of New York Methodist Hospital.

The focus of this year's lecture was the nation's economic downturn and the effect it will have on not only New York State but, in particular, on the healthcare sector. Because of the crumbling economy, healthcare spending, which occupies the largest percentage of the State budget, has become a major concern in Albany and throughout New York.

"We're going through a tough time," said Mr. DiNapoli. "It's likely going to get worse before it gets better. As revenue declines and expenditures increase, healthcare dollars are very precious and in short supply."

However, Comptroller DiNapoli's lecture wasn't all doom and gloom. He assured the audience that the State will survive the current economic crisis just as it survived the 9/11 attacks. He went on to say that this crisis offers an opportunity for the State to re-examine its policies with regard to healthcare spending. "We do try to encourage good policy decisions as well as good budgeting decisions," said Mr. DiNapoli.

New York Methodist Hospital

New York Methodist Hospital, a voluntary, acute-care teaching facility located in Brooklyn's Park Slope, houses 651 inpatient beds (including bassinets) and provides services to over 34,000 inpatients each year.  An additional 350,000 outpatient visits and services are logged annually.  The Hospital offers Institutes in the following areas: Advanced and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Asthma and Lung Disease; Cancer Care; Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery; Digestive and Liver Disorders; Diabetes and Other Endocrine Disorders; Vascular Medicine and Surgery; Family Care; Neurosciences; Orthopedic Medicine and Surgery and Women's Health. The Hospital, founded in 1881, has undergone extensive renovation and modernization over the years.  New York Methodist is affiliated with the Weill College of Medicine at Cornell University and it is a member of NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.