January 14, 2019
January is the month of rapid increases in flu cases in New York as people head indoors—with their germs—to escape the cold weather. Margaret Aldrich, MD, Director, Pediatric Infection Control, and Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, provides flu prevention advice as flu is declared prevalent in New York State. "The best way to reduce your chance of the flu is getting a flu shot, and it's not too late," says Dr. Aldrich. The flu season lasts into March, but don't wait! It can take up to two weeks for your body to build the antibodies that ward off the flu.
"WE ARE ALL PROTECTING EACH OTHER BY AGREEING TO GET THE FLU SHOT. VACCINE USE HAS BEEN A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO IMPROVED LIFE EXPECTANCY...OVER THE LAST 50 TO 100 YEARS." — Margaret Aldrich, MD
Even if you think you never get sick, a flu shot protects those around you who may be more susceptible. Dr. Aldrich reminds us, "We are all protecting each other by agreeing to get the flu shot." She continues, "Vaccine use has been a major contributor to improved life expectancy for children and adults over the last 50 to 100 years." Experts recommend that everyone over six months of age get the vaccine, especially those with a greater risk of flu-related complications, including young children, people over 65, those with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women.
The McDonald Family, clockwise from upper left, Christian, Nicole, Anais and Jadon
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta kicked off the new year with a report on the progress of the McDonald twins, Anais and Jadon. The groundbreaking 27-hour surgery that separated them at Montefiore was the subject of an earlier CNN documentary. After two years in New York, the family is back home in Indiana, where the boys, now three-year-old toddlers, continue to grow and progress. Parents Nicole and Christian remain optimistic about the boys' future, noting that both continue to overcome every obstacle—even if not always in "quantum leaps." The family remains grateful for the Montefiore team's heroic effort to separate the twins and marvel at their little boys' resilience. Catch up on their progress and watch Jadon begin to read at www.cnn.com/2019/01/01/health/conjoined-twins-jadon-and-anias-update/.
“Montefiore House” volunteer rehab team
Volunteers from Montefiore, led by Vaughn W. Folkert, MD, Professor, Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Montefiore and Einstein, are creating a healthier community by working together one Saturday a month to help rehab a house for a deserving family in Mount Vernon, New York. Associates from different departments are contributing their labor, and are also crowdfunding the project to raise money to finish and equip the house with new baths, a kitchen and more for a deserving family. The house is a project of the Fuller Center of Greater New York, formerly known as Habitat for Humanity, Westchester. The house has been dubbed "Montefiore House" by the Fuller Center as a tribute to the many Montefiore volunteers on this project.
Volunteers are needed for a blitz build during Martin Luther King weekend, January 19–21. For more information and to find out how you can help, email vfolkert@montefiore.org.
Montefiore School of Nursing December 2018 graduates celebrate during their “Pinning Ceremony,” when they received their nursing pin and were welcomed into the nursing profession
With only 3 percent of Americans donating blood, shortages have occurred in cities including New York, with potential consequences for trauma victims and others. The Montefiore Einstein Pathology Department's Division of Blood Banking/ Transfusion Medicine is taking steps to preserve blood supplies. The team, under the direction of Joan Uehlinger, MD, Associate Professor, Pathology, implemented Verax PGD testing, an FDA-approved bacteriologic test for platelets. If no bacteria are found in the platelets, Verax PGD can extend platelet use for up to two days past the former day-five expiration date. "Verax PGD testing is particularly important on weekends and holidays, extending blood supply expiration dates when the platelet supply is more limited," says Dr. Uehlinger. "Available blood supply is being shared across the Moses, Weiler and Wakefield campuses, minimizing waste and saving money." January is National Blood Donor Month. To give blood, visit www.montefiore.org/blood-donation.
Katherine S. Lobach, MD, Professor Emerita, Pediatrics, Einstein, being recorded for the Department of Pediatrics Oral Project
The Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, has launched an oral history project to build a digital archive of the development of training and advances in pediatrics at Montefiore and Einstein. The effort is being led by Frederick J. Kaskel, MD, PhD, Chief Emeritus, Nephrology, and Professor, Pediatrics, Montefiore and Einstein. “Gaining an appreciation of what the Department and first visionaries and leaders of the field of pediatrics was like in the early years, the major issues and challenges they faced, and how they were addressed is critically important to our understanding of the field today,” says Dr. Kaskel. Recorded interviews gathered during Pediatric Staff Alumni and Network Physician Day (PSAND) include many members of Pediatrics along with colleagues, marking milestone accomplishments, areas of expertise, and opinions about how best to proceed with current and future challenges. Dr. Kaskel adds, “We often do not realize the important role senior mentors have on determining our life-course journey in the field.” This project is ongoing and will find other opportunities to digitize experiences.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced an increase in the standard mileage rate. The medical center will increase the approved rate from 54.5 cents to 58.0 cents per mile for those miles where your automobile is used for Montefiore business purposes and such use is approved in advance by your supervisor.
Reimbursement can be claimed on the Employee Business Expense Travel Reimbursement Form, filled out completely and approved and signed by your supervisor.
Sunit P. Jariwala, MD, Associate Professor, Allergy and Immunology, Einstein; and Director, Allergy and Immunology Research and Lead Adult Allergist Immunologist, Asthma Center, Montefiore, has been named Director, Clinical and Research Innovation, Medicine. In this newly created position, Dr. Jariwala will lead the initiative to develop and implement innovative digital technologies to empower patients, providers, researchers and educators across Montefiore and Einstein.
Mahdi Abdullah, MD, Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care, Montefiore Mount Vernon, received a plaque from the Al-Nahrain Medical College, Baghdad, and lectured on wound care and hyperbaric medicine to a host of physicians at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Baghdad Medical College. He also toured and lectured at the Al-Kafeel Hospital and Kufa Medical College.
The 2019 Annual Review is now available to associates through the Talent Management system. The Annual Review must be completed each year by all associates, with completion records tracked and monitored. Associates hired in the current calendar year will receive similar information as part of New Associate Orientation and therefore will not need to complete the Annual Review online this year. In addition, providers are sent the Provider version and therefore do not need to complete the Annual Review in Talent Management.
For most associates, the Annual Review is assigned so it will appear on their “To Do” list as a requirement. Associates will need to select the correct version (Clinical, Non-clinical, Home Health Care Clinical, Home Health Care Non-clinical). If you require assistance with the Annual Review, contact the Learning Network at LearningNetwork@montefiore.org or 718-920-8787.
Eligible participants will receive:
Participants will be compensated.
If so, find out how you can get involved in a behavioral treatment research study today.
Research will be conducted at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
To learn more, call 718-862-1817 or email cnl@einstein.yu.edu.
January 23, 2019 | 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
January 24, 2019 | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Montefiore Hospital, Moses Campus
Tishman Learning Center
111 East 210th Street
Bronx, New York 10467
Register at https://www.eeds.com/live/736473
Physicians: $150 + CME
NP, PA, RN, SW: $100 + CEU/CME
Teacher, Child Life, Chaplain, Trainee, Student: $75
Family Member/Parent: Free
