By: Robert Remler
Mercy is offering free patient education seminars on topics of concern to women. Sponsored by Mercy, these seminars will be presented by Aileen Nathan, RN. With Mercy Medical Center for 29 years, Nathan has worked in the areas of Critical Care and, for the past 15 years, she has worked as a staff nurse in Labor and Delivery. She is presently the Childbirth Coordinator and is a Certified Childbirth Educator, offering classes in Lamaze, breastfeeding and tot saver CPR. Nathan, a graduate of New York College's nursing program, holds a degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a certified clinical aromatherapist, blending her knowledge of alternative and complementary medicine in her care of mothers in labor. Pre-registration is required for the seminars. For more information or to register, call (516)62-MERCY.
North Shore opens $1M Endoscopy Unit
North Shore University Hospital at Glen Cove has opened a new $1 million Endoscopy Unit to meet the demands of colon cancer and gastrointestinal screenings and other procedures.The new facility features a pre-operative intake room, two procedure rooms, three recovery rooms, a decontamination room, a sterilization room for instruments and a guest lounge. Serving both inpatients and outpatients, the unit has the most technologically advanced equipment available for a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures. Those include: upper endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy, gastroscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography - a procedure that uses X-rays to visualize the bile and pancreatic ducts, and placement and removal of endoscopic stents. The purpose of these tests is to identify possible irregularities or diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, bowel and rectal areas. These procedures may explain symptoms such as persistent nausea or vomiting, bloody stools, or chest pains in the absence of heart disease. They may also detect the presence of ulcers, polyps, tumors, gallstones or bleeding sites.All procedures will be performed by board-certified gastroenterologists under the direction of I. Holm-Anderson, MD, chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at NSUH at Glen Cove. "The state-of-the-art unit was designed to meet the individualized needs of adolescents, adults and seniors who need a endoscopic procedure," said Dr. Holm-Anderson. "The layout of the facility is perfect. We have made the center as patient- and family-friendly as possible. Our goal is to provide the highest quality of medical care in the safest environment, and at the same time, alleviate any fears or stresses a patient may have about a test or procedure." Staff of the Endoscopy Unit will also be available to provide treatment for patients with Chrohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, or for elderly patients that require permanent feeding tubes who are unable to get proper nutrition due to debilitating medical conditions. More than 148,000 cases of colorectal cancer are expected to be diagnosed this year, and more than 56,000 people will die from disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Colorectal cancer is the second cause of cancer death in the United States after lung cancer.To accommodate the expected increase in demand for services, the Endoscopy Unit will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., five days a week. In general, patients will be able to schedule appointments within one week. As an added service, the hospital will provide valet parking to patients.For more information, call the Endoscopy Unit at (516)674-7599. For more a physician referral, call the hospital's Medical Staff Office at (516)674-7380.
Type 2 Diabetes: Myths & Realities
Type 2 Diabetes commonly occurs as we age and is the most important prevalent form of the condition, affecting 90 percent of those with the disease. However, having Type 2 Diabetes does not mean that one cannot live a healthy life. To learn the facts, seniors and their families are invited to attend Winthrop-University Hospital's free Health Update lecture, "Type 2 Diabetes: Myths & Realities" on Wednesday, May 14. The program will begin with registration and blood pressure check at 1:15 p.m., followed by the lecture at 1:45 at Mineola Community Center, 155 Washington Ave. in Mineola. Seating is limited and reservations are required. To reserve a space, call (516)663-3916.Lucille Hughes, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator from Winthrop's Diabetes Education Center, will discuss some common misconceptions about Diabetes Type 2, as well as positive steps you can take to manage the challenges of the disease. A question and answer period will follow the lecture. Health Update for Seniors and Their Families is a free community health education program coordinated by Geriatric Health Services and Referral, Information and Support-services for the Elderly at Winthrop, part of the Institute for Family Care.
