MDNews - Mid Hudson

multiple times. The VeinViewer Flex devices, made by Christie Medical Holdings Inc., use infrared cameras to highlight the veins and project their image in real time onto the skin. With the VeinViewer Flex, medical professionals can locate and access a patient's vein on the first attempt at inserting a needle. Orange Regional Medical Center has achieved 5-Star ratings in bariatric surgery and natural childbirth from Healthgrades, the leading online resource for compre - hensive information about physicians and hospitals. These recognitions distinguish Orange Regional for its superior outcomes in surgical techniques to support weight-loss efforts, and in vaginal delivery, as measured by in-hospital complication rates. For more information about Orange Regional Medical Center, visit ormc.org. The Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce recently brought some holiday cheer to Putnam Hospital Center. Chamber members Lisa Kass and Lillian Melchner delivered more than 100 stuffed bears and assorted stuffed animals, continuing their long-standing tradition of spreading kind - ness to patients in the hospital during the holiday season. The Heart Center recently received the American College of Cardiology's Platinum Practice Center of Excellence Award for the first quarter of 2015. To receive the award, the Hudson Valley-based cardiology group was one of 36 practices that dem - onstrated a high level of care for patients with atrial fibrillation. The award is based on the PINNACLE Registry of the National Cardiovascular Data Registry, which con - tains more than 16 million patient records from 2,800 cardiology providers across the country. The cardiology medical society operates the registries to measure and im - prove care. The Heart Center, Hudson Valley Cardiovascular Practice, P.C., is a partner of Health Quest. For more information, visit healthquest.org/heartcenter. Christmas came early for three Putnam organizations helping the needy. The medical staff of Putnam Hospital Center donated $3,000 to two food pantries and a shelter. Recipients received $1,000 each and included the Philipstown Food Pantry, the Patterson Food Pantry and the Brewster Emergency Shelter Partnership, a coali - tion of congregations that provides a place to sleep for those in need during the winter months. Representatives from each of the organizations visited Putnam Hospital Center to receive their checks from medical staff President Michael Nesheiwat, MD. The gifts were much appreciated. Orange Regional Medical Center recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to com - memorate a new Complementary Therapy Room funded by the Corrine Feller Memorial Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research and Awareness. The Complementary Therapy Room provides a place for complementary services including Reiki and aromatherapy to be offered to hospital inpatients. The Corrine Feller Memorial Fund's donation of $21,900 allowed for the expansion of both programs to seven additional hospital inpatient units, including Critical and Intensive Care, Bone and Joint and inpatient rehabilitation. It also provided funding for Orange Regional to serve more patients with Reiki treatments, increase the awareness of the program and train 20 additional certified Reiki therapists. Each Inpatient Unit received its own aromatherapy kits and Reiki supplies includ - ing aromatherapy oils, essential oil desk references and solutions. The annual treat - ment goal is 720 aromatherapy treatments per unit and 144 Reiki treatments per unit. For more information about complemen- tary therapies at Orange Regional Medical Center, visit ormc.org/patients/complemen tary_medicine.aspx. For the third consecutive year, Mountainside Residential Care Center in Margaretville was named a national "Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality." The Medicare- and Medicaid- certified nursing home received the honor from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. To be named a Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality, Mountainside had to meet key criteria, including resident and employee nondiscrimination policies that specifically mention sexual orientation and gender identity, a guarantee of equal visitation for same-sex partners and parents, and LGBT health education for key staff members. ■ Laura Gambino, a HealthAlliance Hospital registered nurse, demonstrates on herself how the VeinViewer Flex vein-contrast enhancement device projects an image of her veins onto her skin. From left, Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce member Lillian Melchner, PHC Foundation Executive Director Anita Minella and Chamber member Lisa Kass stand with a bounty of bears and other stuffed animals the chamber gifted to the hospital for distribution to its patients. PHC Medical Staff President Dr. Michael Nesheiwat delivers donations to, from left, Gail Pease of the Brewster Emergency Shelter Partnership, Marion Swarm-Becker of the Patterson Food Pantry and Andrea Bach of Philipstown Food Pantry. From left, Nursing Director of Oncology Care Services Sharon Geidel; Public Relations and Marketing Administrator Robert Lee; registered nurse Monica DelRosso; Orange Regional Medical Center Board of Directors Chair Terrence L. Olivo; Corrine Feller Memorial Fund for Ovarian Research and Awareness founder Nicole Feller Lee; Corrine Feller Scholarship Fund founder Anita Feller; Corrine Feller Scholarship Fund founder Ron Feller; Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services Joanne Ritter- Teitel; and ORMC President and CEO Scott Batulis 3 0 3 0❱❱❱❱❱ L O C A L N E W S

• Cover