Mercy can help you cope with the after affects of the tragic events, by offering the following:
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Caring and confidential individual and family counseling
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Support groups to help you share your feelings and regain control of your life
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Specialized bereavement groups
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Informational/Educational groups for civic, community and corporate organizationsIf you or someone you know is experiencing feelings of anxiety, sadness, despair and/or guilt in response to a recent trauma or loss, speaking with a trained professional is often helpful in easing the burden.Anyone who has been affected by the Sept. 11 attacks is eligible for cost-free help. Project Liberty is sponsored by the Nassau County Department of Mental Health, the New York State Office of Mental Health and funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Call (516) 705-3400 or after business hours at (516) 705-2248.
New treatment for vertebral fractures
South Nassau's Spine Center is offering a new treatment for vertebral compression fractures, the most common osteoporosis-related fracture. The treatment, known as kyphoplasty, is the only available treatment to reduce the fracture and prevent long term effects.Approximately 700,000 vertebral fractures occur in the United States each year. A vertebral compression fracture occurs when the thick bone at the front of the spine collapses, causing the spine to pitch forward. "Because these patients tend to be older, with poor bone quality, it was often not possible to correct a VCF through standard open surgery by fixating the spine with screws and plates," explained neurosurgeon William J. Sonstein. Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that is done through the skin, without the need for open surgery or general anesthesia. It involves the placement of a balloon-like devise into compressed area. The balloon is inflated and removed, creating a void that can be filled with a bone substitute to stabilize the spine. "It is a short procedure that involves only a needle stick," said Sonstein. "It requires less than one hour of treatment for each fracture, and patients can return home and begin moving around normally the next day."
New director of hand surgery
Nassau University Medical Center announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Stracher as director of hand surgery with the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. "We are pleased to welcome Dr. Stracher to our Level I Trauma Center and teaching hospital, which will benefit immensely from his expertise in the management of hand and upper extremity pathology, fractures, dislocations and their complications," said Richard B. Turan, president and CEO of NUMC. A native of Nassau County, Stracher studied electrical and mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees and graduated from SUNY Downstate Medical School with academic distinction in research. He continued at SUNY Downstate as a resident in orthopedic surgery. Upon completion of his residency, he was an Emmanuel Kaplan Hand and Upper Extremity Fellow at the New York University School of Medicine and the Hospital for Joint Diseases.Stracher maintains an academic role having authored and co-authored numerous papers and being an active researcher. He also has extensive experience teaching medical students, residents and fellows.
New test to indicate breast cancer risk
Using a procedure known as ductal lavage, South Nassau Communities Hospital can evaluate the breast from the inside out in women at high risk for breast cancer.The new technique allows doctors to remove fluids via a catheter from the ducts of the breast through the nipple. Once the fluid has been extracted, it is analyzed for abnormal cells - not necessarily a sign of cancer but an indicator of an increased risk of developing the disease."This test provides objective data about changes within the duct of the breast known to be associated with increased risk of breast cancer," said Freya R. Schnabel, chief of breast surgery at South Nassau. "The testing of cells allows for a more precise assessment of a woman's risk of developing breast cancer in the future."Ductal lavage is neither a substitute for an annual mammogram nor is it a diagnostic or screening procedure. It is performed on women who have a family history of breast cancer and who are considering Tamoxifen therapy or other drugs to reduce the risk of developing the disease.
Volunteers needed
The friendship of a caring adult can make a difference in the life of a person striving for good mental health. If you are a good listening and are willing to give a little time, you have the qualities it takes to be a COMPEER volunteer. The COMPEER program matches people from the community with someone struggling with mental illness. Call COMPEER at the Mental Health Association (516) 489-2322, Ext. 121.
