By: Robert Remler
Early-stage patients meet every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Caregivers gather every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Led by one LIAF's certified social workers, the support groups gives members the opportunity to express their feelings, share strategies and develop friendships.All participants must be interviewed prior to attending the groups, which cost $10 per session. For more information or to arrange an interview, call LIAF toll-free at (866)789-5423.LIAF also operates other support groups for early-stage patients, caregivers, adult children and the bereaved in Commack, Melville, North Lynbrook and Port Washington.
Friends of Mercy St. Patrick's Dinner
The Friends of Mercy Medical Center will sponsor their 37th Annual St. Patrick's Dinner to be held Tuesday, March 11, at the New Hyde Park Inn. The Friends of Mercy is a men's organization, which has been raising funds for Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre since 1936.This year, the Friends are proud to be honoring two distinguished gentlemen, William J. Murphy and Charles E. Murphy. The Murphy brothers, of Murphy Construction of Rockville Centre, are being honored for their dedication to raising funds for their community members in need. The proceeds from this year's event will be allocated to the purchase of a new 16-slice CT scanner for the hospital. This state-of-the-art scanner will allow for multi-slice high-resolution imaging, providing advanced applications for early disease detection. The black-tie affair is one of the Friend's most enjoyable events, and a significant fund-raiser for Mercy. Tickets are $20 per person, with 50/50 tickets available. For reservations or information contact Mercy's Development and Marketing Department at (516) 705-1021.
Diabetes education center recognized
Winthrop-University Hospital's Diabetes Education Center was recently awarded the prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education program, providing individuals living with the disease high-quality diabetes self-management education, an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.The Association's Education Recognition Certificate assures the educational programs meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. Winthrop's Diabetes Education Center was the first center in New York state to win this notable award in 1988. Since then, the Center has been continually recognized by the American Diabetes Association, signifying the top-notch program offered to the community. "This special recognition helps consumers to identify a quality program such as Winthrop's," said Virginia Peragallo-Dittko, RN, director of the Diabetes Education Center. "For the past 24 years, our staff of highly regarded health professionals have been providing our patients with the most up-to-date information about diabetes management." Winthrop's Diabetes Education Center provides outreach and educational programs for those living with and managing diabetes. The Center employs two registered nurses specializing in diabetes as well as registered dietitians. In addition, continuing education programs such as the "Dining Out" series teaches groups how to eat sensibly when dining out at a variety of restaurants. Other programs offered through the Center included insulin pump training sessions, exercise programs, product fairs and educational programs and support groups for children with diabetes.Participants in an ADA recognized program such as Winthrop's are taught self-care skills that promote better management of their diabetes. The program covers additional topics such as: diabetes overview, stress and psychological adjustment, family involvement and social support, nutrition, exercise, medication and blood glucose levels, prevention, detection and treatment of acute and chronic complications, foot, skin and dental care, behavior change strategies, goal setting, risk factor reduction and problem solving, pregnancy and gestational diabetes, and use of health care systems and community resources.For more information on diabetes self-management programs, call Winthrop's Diabetes Education Center at (516) 663-2350.
Health care scholarships offered
Applications are now being taken for the Sister Mercy Grace Memorial Scholarship in Health Care, sponsored by the Council of Leagues of Mercy Medical Center. Sister Mary Grace, a moderator of the Leagues of Mercy for many years, encouraged individuals to pursue service to the sick. The scholarships in her memory, which in the past have ranged from $500 to $2,000, are provided on a one-time basis to worthy students in financial need who are studying careers in the health care field. For more information regarding this scholarship or to obtain an application, call the office of Sister Anne Reekie, CIJ, vice president for Community Health at Mercy at (516) 705-1834. The deadline for submitting applications is April 30.
Poison prevention
Many poisonings happen when adults are distracted for just an instant by the telephone, doorbell, or something else. In fact, it also only takes a few moments for a small child to grab and swallow something that could be poisonous. This is why the Long Island Regional Poison & Drug Information Center at Winthrop-University Hospital reminds adults to make certain that household chemicals and medicines are stored away from children at all times, and that they know what to do if kids swallow something that they are not supposed to.Each year, poisonings from medicines and household chemicals kill about 92 children and prompt more than 2.2 million calls to the US poison control centers. "Poisons often come in many attractive colors and containers," said Michael McGuigan, MD, Medical Director for the Long Island Poison & Drug Information Center at Winthrop. "During National Poison Prevention Week and throughout the year, it is important for parents and caregivers to eliminate hidden household poisons by storing dangerous items out of reach of young children and being prepared in the event of a poisoning."According to the Poison Center, the three most important safety messages to prevent poisonings are:1) Use child-resistant packaging because it saves lives.2) Keep medicines and household chemicals locked up out of reach and out of sight of young children because some children can open child-resistant packaging.3) Keep the poison control center number next to your telephone and call immediately if a poisoning occurs.In the event that a child does ingest a chemical or poison, a caregiver's first call should always be to the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or 516-542-2323. Poison Control's hotline is staffed 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week by registered nurses with additional training in toxicology. The Center is also staffed by a registered pharmacist and managed by Tom Caraccio, PharmD. They offer guidance on handling drug overdoses and poison emergencies, and will contact the local hospital Emergency Department if hospital treatment is necessary. The Poison Control Center is a resource center for the general public, physicians and hospital emergency rooms. In addition to managing poison emergencies, its staff offers drug and herbal product information.For additional information about poison prevention, call Beata Walerych at (516) 663-2592, or visit the Center's website at www.LIRPDIC.org.
