October 17, 2016
Montefiore is expanding its collaboration with Walgreens and Duane Reade to make it easy to get your flu vaccine this year. We’re working with community based organizations and using local health data to increase accessibility, especially in neighborhoods with higher rates of emergency room visits.
“WE ARE EXCITED TO BUILD ON A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH WALGREENS AND DUANE READE, AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT BRONX RESIDENTS HAVE EASY ACCESS TO FLU VACCINATIONS.”
—AMANDA PARSONS, MD, MBA, VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY & POPULATION HEALTH, MONTEFIORE
The goal is to vaccinate 500 more Bronx residents this season, at no cost to the community. We’ve more than doubled the number of Montefiore’s hosted flu clinics, from 10 last year to 22 this year, where Walgreens and Duane Reade pharmacists administer the flu shots.
Last year more than 2,000 of our Bronx neighbors were admitted to Montefiore’s hospitals with the flu. You can protect your family, yourself and your community by getting vaccinated. YOUR SHOT COUNTS!
Find flu facts and flu clinic schedules at montefiore.org/flu.
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination against patients. Effective October 16, 2016, Montefiore is required to comply with several new provisions of Section 1557. As a reminder to our associates, Montefiore complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical appearance or age. One of the new requirements is that we post a notice of non-discrimination. A copy of this notice is available online at www.montefiore.org. Any questions regarding this notice should be directed to Maria Trotta-Williams, Patient Civil Rights Coordinator, at 718-920-4943. For a copy of the notice for Montefiore New Rochelle, Montefiore Mount Vernon or Schaffer Extended Care Center, please visit www.montefiorehealthsystem.org.
Babies who spent weeks or months battling for their lives at the Weiler Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) gathered with their families and medical teams on Sunday, September 25 for Babies On The Run. This half mile run/walk around the Einstein Campus was followed by a party to celebrate their health with food, face-painting and music. Held during Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month, the event gave parents the opportunity to reconnect with providers and other families, and offered hope to parents whose children are currently being cared for in the NICU. A memorial was also held in honor of babies who have passed away.
Parents and providers in the Weiler NICU Family Support Group coordinate several events throughout the year to raise funds and the spirits of families going through challenging times. These funds are used to purchase new technology, allowing parents at home or work to check-in on their babies in the NICU.
Providing tools to help patients manage their asthma is a mission for Sunit Jariwala, MD, Attending Physician and Assistant Professor, Allergy & Immunology, Montefiore and Einstein. Working with a multi-disciplinary team of asthma specialists, software developers and behavioral scientists, Dr. Jariwala developed the ASTHMAEducator app.
Soon to be available on Apple and Android devices, the app was successfully piloted by 30 patients, resulting in a grant from the American Lung Association for $75,000 per year for two years to create a pediatric version.
“By delivering videos, animations and personalized content, the software program has been associated with increased asthma knowledge and high levels of patient satisfaction,” says Dr. Jariwala. The team behind the app hopes it will help patients avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and improve their quality of life.
To celebrate World Food Day on Monday, October 17, Montefiore will observe a Meatless Monday during lunch hours across the health system. We’ll eliminate meat from all hot meal offerings in recognition of the impact of our dietary choices on the environment. It’s also a perfect opportunity to sample some great meatless dishes!
The best advice to limit your diet’s impact on the environment is to eat less meat and choose better meat. According to the EPA, livestock production accounts for nearly 9% of the nation’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. The most climate-friendly meats come from poultry and pigs, and incorporating more meatless meals into your diet can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
Learn more about World Food Day by visiting www.fao.org/world-food-day/2016.
Karen D’Ambrosio, Senior Director, Montefiore Information Technology, was named one of five Women Trailblazers in Technology, Health Tech and Biotech by the Westchester County Association. She will be honored at the 3rd Annual Women in Tech Awards Luncheon on October 20 in Tarrytown. For over 10 years, Ms. D’Ambrosio has led a team of more than 200 IT professionals in designing, deploying and maintaining Montefiore’s critical IT systems to advance patient care, improve outcomes and deliver clinical data and insights to support advanced clinical decision-making.
Aaron Fox, MD, and the Bronx Transitions Clinic, has been awarded the sixth annual Joan H. Tisch Community Health Prize by Hunter College in the “organization” category. The award recognizes individuals and nonprofit organizations in New York for outstanding accomplishment in the field of urban public health.
The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare is a national nonprofit dedicated to nurturing patient-caregiver relationships to strengthen the human connection that lies at the heart of healthcare. The National Compassionate Caregiver of the Year (NCCY) Award is a national recognition program that elevates excellence in compassionate healthcare by honoring outstanding healthcare professionals who display extraordinary devotion and compassion in caring for patients and families. Randi Kaplan, LMSW, Director, Caregiver Support Center, Montefiore, was named a 2016 Finalist, and Daniel Pomerantz, MD, MPH, FACP, Director, Ambulatory Care; Director, Palliative Care; Associate Program Director, Medicine, Montefiore, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine and Family and Social Medicine, Einstein, received an honorable mention. Both were nominated for the award by their patients, families and colleagues for their exemplary dedication to the compassionate healthcare experience.
Eva Metalios, MD, Medical Director, Bronx Humans Rights Clinic, Montefiore Residency Program in Primary Care and Social Internal Medicine, and Associate Professor, Clinical Medicine, Einstein, was honored by HealthRight International at the 2016 Health & Human Rights Awards Dinner on September 22 for her role in founding the Bronx Human Rights Clinic.
Researchers at Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine are conducting a study to learn how differences in the genital tract increase an adolescent’s susceptibility to HIV and STI infection versus adult women.
To take part you must be:
Reimbursement for time and travel provided.
Call Jenny at 718-430-3253 or email microbicide@einstein.yu.edu to learn more.
Discover more about clinical trials at Montefiore at www.montefiore.org/clinicaltrials.
This lecture will inform attendees about Turner Syndrome and the treatment and resources available for patients and families. Refreshments will be served.
Friday, October 21 | 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Grand Hall, Moses Campus
Register at tsfusa.org by October 18. For more information, contact Susan Wesoly, PA-C, at 718-920-4090, or Laura Fasciano at 732-847-3385.
Featuring the State of the Department of Pediatrics Address.
Wednesday, November 2 | 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Tishman Learning Center, Moses Campus
For more information, call 718-405-8093 or visit www.cham.org/staff-alumni-day.
The annual event, hosted as part of the American Diabetes Month education and outreach programs, is a highlight for both children and parents. RSVP is required. Please call 718-920-5612 by October 26. Open to kids with diabetes, their siblings and families.
Tuesday, November 1 | 3:30 – 6:00 PM.
Grand Hall, Moses Campus
KEYS is a prevention training program developed by Elissa Brown, MD, expert in childhood trauma and mental health, that uses evidence-based techniques to encourage parents, educators, and others to protect children from physical and sexual abuse and bullying.
Presenters: Lois Beekman Oliveira, Family Violence Advocate, Licensed child Sexual Abuse Prevention Trainer.
Wednesday, October 19 | 9:45 – 11:45 AM
Cherkasky Auditorium, Moses Campus
For more information, email Lynn Hamberg at lyhamber@montefiore.org.