SNCH hospital receives $500,000 grant

South Nassau Communities Hospital has received a $500,000 from the Bank of America Charitable Program to help fund two of its heart programs: The Center for Cardiovascular Health, and the Heart Outreach Study Tract (HOPE) program.

SNCH President and CEO Joseph Quagliata explained that the center, built in 2007, is equipped to handle emergent and elective heart surgeries, and that the grant money will ensure that the hospital remains a leader in that field by helping to develop and support its programs. The hospital’s HOST program, an educational outreach and screening program, was designed to bolster the hospital’s efforts by bringing its services into under-served communities through health screenings and educational programs. “We’re bringing the services to the people,” said Robin Grass, R.N., director of the department of community education. HOST provides free cardiac screenings and risk assessments at locations on the South Shore throughout the year. The program also helps to refer those in need to programs and services that can provide them with healthcare according to their financial means. Grass said the program serves about 450 people a year, and she says the additional funding will now help the program expand its reach.