Cooperstown, NY — January 27, 2012 — Bassett Healthcare Network (BHN) has been named one of the most integrated health networks in the nation, ranking 48th out of 100 health systems around the country. Bassett is one of only five health systems in New York State that made it into the ranking of top-performing IHNs. Published in Modern Healthcare magazine, the SDI Top 100 IHNs for 2012 recognizes health systems that optimize health care delivery.

 “This ranking is a benchmark that places Bassett among the country’s best health systems,” notes Bassett Healthcare Network President and CEO Dr. William F. Streck. “It is hard proof that the work we’ve engaged in to coordinate patient care, improve access and integrate best practices across the Bassett network is paying off to the benefit of our patients. It is important to note that this is all possible because of the high quality physician group and the talented and committed staff of the Bassett network. ” 

Nyack, NY — January 24, 2012 — For the second year in a row, Nyack Hospital received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.  The award recognizes Nyack Hospital’s commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.

To receive the award, Nyack Hospital achieved of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.  

These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.

Ridgewood, NJ — January 23, 2012 — The Valley Hospital announced today that it has formed the Valley Health System Regional Accountable Care Organization and has partnered with Atlantic Health System to submit an application for the Atlantic Health System ACO, LLC, to participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The Atlantic ACO, of which Valley’s ACO is a regional division, was formed to improve patient care quality, reduce costs, and streamline health care delivery. ACOs are considered by many to be essential to the realization of national health care reform and an integral part of an overall vision of better and more affordable care for Medicare beneficiaries and heightened efficiency among physicians, hospitals, and insurers.

 Touted as one of the "10 ACOs to Know" by Becker's Hospital Review, the Atlantic ACO application includes participation from more than 1,200 physicians, including more than 150 primary care physicians, 50 nurse practitioners and 10 ancillary care providers in four regions: Sussex, Morris, Union, Somerset, and Bergen counties.  Member hospitals, which include Atlantic Health System's Morristown, Overlook, and Newton Medical Centers, in addition to Valley, will work together to improve the quality of health care and reduce the individual and clinical health care costs for the Medicare population served in these regions. Once the application is accepted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Atlantic ACO will begin operating on April 1. 

The Evolution of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Care in the 21^st Century

Sponsored by the Department of Nursing, School of Continuing Education for Nurses in collaboration with the Wound Ostomy and Continence Program

When:

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

8:30 am to 5 pm

Location:

Hilton Pearl River

500 Veterans Memorial Dr.

Pearl River, NY

845.735.9000

To Register or For More Information:

www.nyp.org/nursing/news/cme

The registration fee includes continental breakfast, snack, lunch, and all educational materials.

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Elizabeth A. Ayello PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CWON, MAPWCA, FAAN

Planning Committee

Beatric Forlizzi, BSN, RN, BC, CWOCN, Nurse Clinician, NYP

Bernadette Melido, BSN, RN, CWOCN, WOC Consultant, NYP

Denise Robinson, MPH, RN, CHWOCN, WOC Program Manager, NYP

Linda Saal, MA, RN-BC, Program Director, Continuing Education, NYP

Juliet Smith, MSN, RN, CWOCN, WOC Consultant, NYP

Rosemary Sullivan, MA, RN, Director, Special Programs, NYP

Ridgewood, NJ — January 20, 2012 — The Valley Hospital has been recognized for service excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Program. This distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by the hospital to provide “An Outstanding Inpatient Experience” and “An Outstanding Emergency Department Experience.” This is the ninth consecutive year the hospital has been recognized for its inpatient services, and the second consecutive year it has been recognized for its emergency department services.

“In achieving certification of both the emergency department and the inpatient unit, The Valley Hospital demonstrates its ability to provide outstanding service from the moment patients arrive at the hospital to the time they are discharged,” said John Clark, director of the healthcare practice at J.D. Power and Associates.

The service excellence distinction was determined by surveying recently discharged patients about their perceptions of their hospital visit and comparing the results to the national benchmarks established in the annual J.D. Power and Associates National Hospital Service Performance Study.

Ridgewood, NJ — January 16, 2012 — The Valley Hospital is pleased to announce that Maria Mediago, Vice President of Facilities Management, was selected as one of “Three Wise Women” honored at the annual Epiphany Celebration by the Greater New York Region of National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW).  The 2012 Wise Women honorees were selected for their success in their respective professional fields.

The Greater New York Region’s Epiphany Celebration was held on January 6 at the Columbus Citizens Foundation in New York City.

Kathleen Guglielmo, President of NOIAW, Greater New York Region, noted in her congratulatory letter to Maria, “Your long-term achievements as an executive in facilities management with responsibility for the planning and execution of numerous multi-million dollar healthcare projects make you a source of pride and inspiration to the Italian and Italian American communities.”

Nyack, NY — January 11, 2012 — Are you looking to get a jump start on your New Year’s resolution to lose weight?  Nyack Hospital announces that it will host several series of its popular Lose to Win weight loss program for adults throughout the community:

Monday, January 23, 10:30 am
Sloatsburg Library
Fee:  $10 for the entire 8-week series
Please call the Sloatsburg Library at 753-2001 to register.

Tuesday, January 24, 6:30 pm
Sloatsburg Library
Fee:  $10 for the entire 8-week series
Please call the Sloatsburg Library at 753-2001 to register.

Friday, February 3, 6:30 pm
Nyack YMCA
Fee:  $10 for the entire 8-week series
Please call Nyack Hospital's Community Health Education Department at 845.348.2004 to register.

The Lose to Win Weight Loss Program is an 8-week series that incorporates the latest guidelines on losing weight safely and successfully.  The program curriculum includes information on nutrition, exercise and behavior change.  Each session allows for discussion of participant's motives, obstacles and successes at weight loss.   All classes facilitated by a person specially trained to lead the Lose to Win program.

Flushing, NY — December 23, 2011 — George F. Heinrich, M.D., chairman, Board of Trustees, New York Hospital Queens, was presented with the first Herbert Pardes, M.D. Leadership Award by the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System. The award is in honor of his dedication, vision and promotion of excellence in quality and patient safety.

Dr. Heinrich has been a member of the Board of Trustees for New York Hospital Queens since 1986. In 1994, Dr. Heinrich was elected Chairman of the Board. An ardent supporter of quality health care and medical education, he was the recipient of the hospital’s highest honor, the Pacesetter Award, in 2000.

Dr. Heinrich serves as Chairman of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System Performance Improvement Committee, is a trustee of the system’s board, Quality Assessment and Information Technology committees at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and is a member of the New York Weill Cornell Council. He is also Chairman of the Board of the Silvercrest Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation. Dr. Heinrich and his wife, Debra, support several other organizations.

A graduate of Cornell University, Dr. Heinrich received his medical degree from UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.  He is the Associate Dean for Admissions and an Adjunct  Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health at New Jersey Medical School, and is Vice Chairman and CEO of the Foundation of UMDNJ. In addition, he is President of the Eye Institute of New Jersey.

Flushing, NY — January 1, 2012 — New York Hospital Queens welcomed the first baby of 2012 at 12:18 a.m., a baby girl, Nina Love McConnell-Honore, weighing 7 lbs, 10 oz., born to proud parents Rose Honore and Duane McConnell, and big brother, 12-year-old Aamin, of St. Albans, N.Y. 

"I feel great. I feel special and so does she," says mother, Rose Honore, about her and the baby. "She is sweet, quiet and lovely. That's why her middle name is Love."

A $1,000 savings bond and a congratulatory basket of flowers were among the first gifts for the family and baby from the hospital.

Brooklyn, NY – January 1, 2012 – Richard and Myra Moran received the best gift they could ask for at the start of the New Year: the birth of their first child.

The couple welcomed their New Year’s baby, named Richard Michael, on Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 7:42 a.m. The baby boy was one of New York Methodist Hospital’s first babies of 2012.

Baby Richard weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces, and was 18.75 inches in length. He and his parents reside in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

“We never expected to have a New Year’s baby,” said mother, Myra Moran. “This was such a wonderful surprise and a great way to begin 2012.” This is the first child for Mr. and Mrs. Moran.

New York Methodist has long been known as “The Baby Hospital” because of its large number of deliveries. In 2011, there were over 5,000 births.

West Haverstraw, NY – December 29, 2011 – This winter, Belleayre Mountain in Highmount, New York and Helen Hayes Hospital will be hosting a series of Adaptive Skiing Workshops. The events, which are open to individuals with disabilities, are being held in conjunction with Helen Hayes Hospital’s Adapted Sports and Recreation Program and are free of charge.

Adaptive Skiing Workshops are scheduled on Sundays on the following dates:
February 12 & 26
Two sessions on each day: from 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

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Helen Hayes Hospital is hosting a series of Basic Adapted Yoga programs designed specifically for people of varying abilities. Classes will meet on Wednesdays for six week sessions. All classes meet from 12:00 Noon to 12:50 p.m. in the Auditorium at the physical rehabilitation hospital in West Haverstraw.

Yoga improves circulation, range of motion, flexibility and endurance. It also helps to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Yoga sessions will meet as follows:

February 29 – April 4, 2012
April 18 – May 23, 2012
June 6 – July 11, 2012 (5 week session)
July 25- August 29, 2012              
September 12 – October 17, 2012
October 31 – December 5, 2012

Teaneck, NJ — December 27, 2011 — Holy Name Medical Center Hospice and Palliative Services offers a bereavement program to provide compassionate support and education to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one.   Since many individuals experiencing loss find comfort in sharing their feelings with one another, a bereavement group “Sharing the Journey” was developed to provide support and guidance during the grieving process. The group is non-sectarian and will be facilitated by trained bereavement counselors.

“Sharing the Journey” will run for eight weeks and is open to those who have experienced loss in the past year.   In order to meet the needs of our participants, the group meetings are being offered either on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. beginning January 16th OR on Tuesday afternoons from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. beginning January 17th.

Please call Lenore Guido at 201-833-3188, ext. 7580 or Claudia Coenen at ext. 7483 to register or for further information.   There is no charge for the program.

There is a continuous need for blood donors in the Hudson Valley region. All eligible donors are urgently encouraged to come out and donate blood. Blood donors receive a mini-medical exam on-site including information about their temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin level.

Employees, volunteers, visitors, and community members are invited to donate blood. Donors should be healthy, between the ages of 17 and 76, weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated whole blood in the last 56 days, or an ALYX donation in the last 112 days. People age 76 and over may also participate by presenting a doctor’s note Donors must eat and drink well before donating and present photo or signature I.D.

Donating blood is literally giving the gift of life. There is simply no substitute for donated blood. Without volunteer donors, our community would not have an adequate community blood supply.Appointments are not necessary and walk-ins are welcome. For further information, please  call 845-786-4967. 

Flushing, NY — December 22, 2011 — The Corona Lions Club awarded $2,500 to our Women’s Auxiliary, to support the New York Hospital Queens Patient Simulation Center. The funds will be used to purchase a new simulation mannequin. Residents, nurses, paramedics, nursing students and allied medical staff use mannequins for hands-on training in a simulated and realistic patient environment.

The Lions Club is an international organization; the Corona chapter donates money to charities and businesses that serve the people of Queens.

Brooklyn, NY – December 21, 2011 – New York Methodist Hospital is now using an improved technology, known as the Sonolith i-move, for the dissolution of kidney stones. Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat patients with kidney stones.  Physicians in NYM’s Division of Urology, headed by Ivan Grunberger, M.D., make up the first team in the United States to use the new lithotripsy device, which offers improved results.

Kidney stones are solid masses of tiny crystals that can form in the kidneys and cause bleeding, kidney damage, or ongoing urinary tract infections. It is estimated that more than one million patients with ESWL are treated annually in the United States.

“The new generation of lithotripter is capable of generating shockwaves with the same intensity from one firing to the next, something that older models could not do,” said Dr. Grunberger. “This makes the pulverization of the kidney stones more accurate, and also means that a higher number of patients will be stone-free after the first treatment.”