St. John's Hospital launches ICARE and offers health services residents need

Residents of on the Rockaway Peninsula and surrounding communities were able to be screened for serious health conditions and receive information about staying healthy at a cancer awareness event hosted by Population Health’s Mobile Health Unit, St. John’s Medical Group and St. John’s ICARE Foundation that was sponsored by National Grid on Sept. 16.

The St. John’s ICARE Foundation, established in May, aims to develops a philanthropic culture by securing, managing, and distributing gifts in support of Episcopal Health Services and St. John’s Episcopal Health Services.

The ICARE Foundation (Innovation, Compassion, Respect, and Empathy) raises awareness and finances for equipment, capital projects, special events and community activities. To launch the new philanthropic arm of St. John’s, a cocktail reception was held at the Rockaway Hotel on Sept. 29.

The foundation has already been at work partnering with the Rockaway YMCA on the sixth annual Community and Back to School Wellness Grab and Go on Aug. 19. More than 600 children received health educations, health screening and school supplies.

According to the 2018 New York City health community profile for the Rockaways and Broad Channel, the three leading causes of cancer-related premature deaths in the area are lung cancer, breast cancer (in women) and colorectal cancer.

The event focused on providing cancer screening tests and cancer prevention information to the community in order to help close the gap of this fatal social determinant of health.

The Administrator for Cancer and Imaging Services at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Michael P. Luyckx stated in a news release, “Outreach events such as this enforce St. John’s mission to provide health care and health education to the people we serve. We want to meet people where they are to provide the preventative care and information they need to build healthier families and healthier communities.”

Staff from the St. John’s Medical Group, Margaret O. Carpenter Women’s Health Center, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Imaging and Radiology, and Registered Dieticians provided the information and services. National Grid provided information on smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solution projects around the Rockaways.

National Grid an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery firm with networks in New York and Massachusetts serves more than 20 million people.

Through its fossil-free vision, the utility officials said it is committed to paving the way for a more affordable, dependable renewable energy future. To accomplish the objective of lowering greenhouse gas emissions, National Grid is changing its electricity and natural gas networks with more contemporary equipment, officials said.

“We are so grateful and proud to have National Grid as a sponsor for this event, as well as for other events throughout the year,” ICARE Executive Director, Nancy Leghart said. “They truly understand the meaning of community.”

The St. John’s Population Mobile Health Unit is traveling across the Peninsula, the Five Towns and into other communities to offer flu and Covid-19 injections, blood pressure checks, and other services.

Go to EHS.org/mobile-health-unit to learn where the Mobile Health Unit will be in the coming weeks. For more information on the ICARE Foundation, go to Ehs.org/Giving or call (718)-869-8062.