St. John's Episcopal Hospital, South Shore is holding a blood drive on Valentine's Day, Monday, Feb. 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the hospital's boardroom. The hospital is located at 327 Beach 19th St., FarRockaway, Queens.The New York Blood Center reports that its supply of blood has shrunk to alarmingly low levels due to the recent winter snowstorm that forced the cancellation of numerous blood drives. Hospitals are particularly dependent on the supply of blood."For our hospital...an adequate blood supply is essential for providing life-saving transfusions for patients in the Emergency Department and for medical and surgical care," said Dr. Raymond Pastore, chief medical officer of St. John's Episcopal Hospital. "We urge everyone to take the time to donate."Donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. For more information about the drive, contact St. John's Episcopal Hospital at (718) 869-7000.
Winthrop doctor honored
Dr. Jeffrey Berger, director of the Clinical Ethics Program of Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, was honored at the 2004 Wholeness of Life Awards celebration, during which he received a citation from The HealthCare Chaplaincy of New York City. The award pays tribute to patient care professionals "who embody the spirit of [the HealthCare Chaplaincy's] mission: to care for the whole person -spirit, mind and body." Nominated for the award by colleagues and the Pastoral Care and Education Program Committee at Winthrop, Dr. Berger is considered a visionary leader in medical ethics as well as a compassionate physician whose gentle demeanor affects not only the physical but also the emotional needs of his patients. During his 12 years at Winthrop, Dr. Berger has dedicated himself to the pursuit of ethics in medicine, leading the way as a founder and chairman of the hospital's Bioethics Committee, which is among Long Island's oldest and most active Bioethics Committee. He's also a specialist in geriatric medicine. Thirty-one of Dr. Berger's co-workers also were recognized as award nominees for their exceptional service as holistic caregivers. The latest New York State Department of Health report for the 2000-2002, three-year cycle has placed Winthrop-University Hospital's cardiac care services among the best in the state.
Winthrop's cardiac program honored
For the second consecutive time, Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola ranked first in the state with the lowest risk-adjusted mortality rate for all angioplasty procedures - percutaneous interventions (PCI) - including the most critical emergent cases. Winthrop's cardiac catheterization team, which can be mobilized in minutes, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, is known from this report and past evaluations for excellence in evaluating the extent of heart damage and offering relief through pioneering, non-surgical methods to keep arteries free of obstructive plaque. Additionally, according to the report, Dr. Scott S. Schubach, chairman of Winthrop's Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, had the best personal risk-adjusted mortality rate (0.82) on Long Island for coronary artery bypass surgery - significantly lower than the statewide rate of 2.26. Winthrop recently opened a 26,000-square-foot Heart Surgery Center, which is designed to meet the growing need for heart treatments. "Winthrop's excellent position in the state's rankings reflects the extraordinary skill and exceptional care provided by our cardiac care professionals," said Daniel P. Walsh, Winthrop's president and CEO. For more information about Winthrop's cardiac care services, call the Institute for Heart Care at (800) 443-2788 or visit www.winthrop.org.
