By: Robert Remler
The program will include blood pressure screenings, a cholesterol screening, carotid artery assessment and dietary recommendations. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States with someone suffering a stroke every 53 seconds. About 600,000 Americans suffer strokes every year, and it is the leading cause of serious long-term disability. Mercy's goal, along with the American Stroke Association, is to raise public awareness and promote education in the community. Stroke is a medical emergency. Know the warning signs and don't delay. Please register by Friday, May 16 at 516-705-2722.
Volunteers honored at South Nassau
Area volunteers were recently honored for their service to South Nassau Communities Hospital. Dorothy Molle from Freeport, a messenger, received the 1,000 hour gold bar; Rachel Seiber from Oceanside, in rehabilitation, received a 150 hour blue bar; Joseph Luks from Long Beach, a messenger, received a 4,000 hour gold bar; and Michael Tsymbalyk from Franklin Square, who volunteers in the emergency room, received a 150 hour blue bar. Volunteers are needed throughout the hospital as clerical aides, messengers and in patient-care areas. The hospital welcomes volunteers in the following areas: information desk, endoscopy, ambulatory surgery unit, mailroom, gift shop and coffee shop. Clerical support is also needed at the Wound Care Center on Merrick Road in Oceanside and at the New York Center for Surgical Weight Control in Hewlett. For more information, call the hospital's volunteer office at 516-632-3928.
Coping and Caring
Coping and Caring is a mutual aid support group for persons whose loved ones have cancer. This ongoing support group will meet on Wednesday's at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Anne's Center Conference Room at Mercy Medical Center.Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, please call Chris Mulhern at 516-705-2430 in the Care Management Department at Mercy Medical Center. Remember we can best be there for one another by taking care of ourselves.
Preventing skin cancer
Jordan Zuckerman, M.D., of the Division of Dermatology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, will host a lecture, "Preventing Skin Cancer." The lecture will be held on Wednesday, May 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the hospital's Teaching Center 201 B and C, located at 270-05 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park. Refreshments will be offered at 7 p.m. The lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to register, call the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System's Department of Professional and Public Education at 516-465-2500.
New innovations in hip replacements
Winthrop University Hospital's Department of Orthopedic Surgery is one of the first specialized practices in the region to acquire new technology to make small incision, minimally invasive total hip replacement surgery possible.Performed by Frank R. DiMaio, M.D., chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Winthrop, this new technology enables doctors to do total hip replacement through a single incision ranging from three to four inches in length. Most total hip replacements require surgeons to make incisions of 10 or more inches long. The minimally invasive procedure has been shown in studies, and in cases at Winthrop, to expedite recovery time as well as mobility and leg strength following surgery compared to patients with traditional surgical incisions of 10-12 inches. In addition, most patients exhibit increased confidence in their cosmetic appearance and recovery following the small-incision procedure.DiMaio said that Winthrop has been performing small incision total hip replacement surgery for several years and have been very successful. "Our patients have experienced less pain, shorter hospital stays and accelerated recovery," DiMaio said.Minimally invasive surgery has become increasingly popular in many surgical arenas over the past several years. The instruments used in the total hip replacement procedure were designed to remove much of the complexity involved with performing these small incision hip replacements by allowing the surgeon easy mobility and by protecting the soft tissue surrounding the hip joint."Any new surgical technique comes with its own risks," said DiMaio, who underwent extensive training in the use of the technology. "But the new small incision total hip replacement surgery's benefits are certainly great for the patient."For more information on the procedure, contact Winthrop's Department of Orthopedics at 516-663-4798.
Luau!!
Mercy Medical Center will celebrate its Third Annual Mercy Luau on Thursday, June 19. The event, which will be chaired by James Avondet, Jr., sponsored by Friends of Mercy and assisted by the Council of Leagues, will be held at Bridgeview Yacht Club in Island Park. The evening will feature a casual surf and turf dinner, accompanied by a live band "Stages" for dancing and entertainment. Dinner tickets are $100 per person. "Reverse Raffle" tickets for $100 each are available and 17 ticket holders will win various cash awards. The winner of the last ticket drawn will be awarded $10,000. The drawings will be held throughout the evening, and winners need not be present to win. Reserve your tickets now by contacting the Development Department at Mercy at 516-705-1021.
