MDNews - Long Island

opening up in subsequent years, eventually accommodating 40 stu- dents in each of its three classes. NYU Winthrop Hospital announced it has received a donation of $50,000 from Mother Mary Breathe Easy, a West Hempstead-based nonprofit foundation that funds research and is dedicated to rais - ing awareness regarding idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a progressive respiratory disease marked by thickening and stiffening of lung tissue, which causes scarring and changes the lung's ability to function normally. The condition affects 100,000 people in the U.S., with more than 30,000 new cases diagnosed each year. There is no known cure for IPF, the word "idiopathic" meaning "of unknown cause," and it was just such an unknown cause that prompted a Long Island family to search for a cure when its matriarch, Mary, was diagnosed with IPF several years ago. Since that time, the foundation, Mother Mary Breathe Easy, has raised a cumulative $150,000 that has been donated to NYU Winthrop for research into the pulmonary disease. Though the cause of IPF is unknown, possible risk factors include a history of smoking; age (most patients are 60 years or older when diag - nosed); male sex (IPF affects more men than women); working around dust or fumes such as might occur with farmers, hairdressers or metal workers; acid reflux; and disease genetics inherited from parents. New York Cancer & Blood Specialists (NYCBS) hosted its first Wellness Fair at the Port Jefferson Village Center, which scenically overlooks Long Island Sound. Approximately 300 fellow Long Islanders came together to promote health and wellness. People of all ages par - ticipated in the event, hoping to learn new ways to improve their lives through better eating habits, education and exercise. NYCBS show- cased its various wellness departments. To further benefit the community, all proceeds from the event were donated to the New York Cancer Foundation, which provides financial assistance to those dealing with cancer. The Foundation was formed by NYCBS CEO and oncologist Jeffrey Vacirca, MD. "Today we raised close to $10,000 for people in our community who are dealing with the stress of having cancer, including the financial hardships it causes," explains Nancy Viteritti, Executive Director of the New York Cancer Foundation. The event was also sponsored by Mather Hospital, Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology, Pfizer, and ENT and Allergy Associates. Several local vendors sampled their products, including PHountain of Port Jefferson and healthy menu selections from Slurp Ramen and Toast Coffeehouse, which were all a huge hit! Nonprofits including Strength for Life and Mondays at Racine provided information and demonstrations for event participants as well. A great addition to the festivities was WALK FM's "Big Mike" Segiamo, who engaged the crowd and ended the celebration with prizes and giveaways, including Broadway tickets to Disney's Frozen. Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center announced it has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Comprehensive Stroke Centers. The Gold Seal of Approval and the Heart-Check mark represent symbols of quality from their respec - tive organizations. With this certification, Good Samaritan joins an elite group of healthcare organizations focused on highly specialized stroke care. To be eligible, hospitals must demonstrate compliance with stroke- related standards as a Primary Stroke Center and meet additional requirements, including those related to advanced imaging capabili - ties, 24/7 availability of specialized treatments, and providing staff with the unique education and competencies to care for complex stroke patients. The Long Island Community Foundation has awarded Catholic Health Services (CHS) $50,000 to develop a program that will encourage patients to take a more active role in their health care. CHS's H.O.P.E. pro - gram — Health Optimization through Patient Engagement — will deploy health coaches across the system to engage and educate patients on how to improve overall health outcomes, especially for those with chronic diseases, such as diabetes. Medical assistants and LPNs currently working in the CHS commu - nity physician practices will be trained as health coaches to guide and support patients to discover their own motivations for meaningful self- care behaviors. This team-based care approach will facilitate chronic disease management with patients as they achieve their healthcare goals and address any barriers. The H.O.P.E. program is being developed and implemented by the CHS Ambulatory Clinical Quality Population Health Team. n Several generations of Mary's family join in delivering a $50,000 donation toward pulmonary research at NYU Winthrop Hospital. The Stroke Team at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center Catholic Health Services receives $50,000 to develop the H.O.P.E. program. M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S L O N G I S L A N D ■ 2 019 2 9

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