Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1304029
The Mount Sinai South Nassau Truth in Medicine Poll, sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, is a quarterly survey of Long Island and New York City residents that aims to gather data about attitudes on key public health topics and help spur education to improve public health. The poll was conducted May 11–14 via both landlines and cellphones with 600 residents in New York City and on Long Island. Poll findings are subject to a sampling error of plus or minus 3.9%. The Truth in Medicine Poll was conducted as part of the hospital's mission of improving education around critical public health issues. At the end of May 2020, the perioperative team from the Nursing Department at the NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx held a Debrief Session of all team members serving through the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss what they had learned. This turned out to be a wonderful, if not bittersweet session, full of emotion and tears, memories and commitment and bonding. The final picture says it all — a room full of colleagues who experienced an exceptional event that no one will ever forget. Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx was at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. The perioperative team from the Nursing Department at the NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) now offers to physicians, residents and medical students an opportunity to talk with a peer about life stressors. MSSNY's Physician Wellness and Resiliency Committee is launching a Peer 2 Peer (P2P) program to assist colleagues who need help dealing with work and family stressors. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the emotional issues related to this event, may also be troubling for our colleagues. • MSSNY is seeking volunteer peer supporters. What is a peer supporter? An individual who has shared experiences, listens without judgement, can validate feelings and provide support, empathy and perspective and someone who also provides supports to systems and practices and encourages the use of positive coping skills. They also help connect the individual with needed treatment. All peers must be a member of the MSSNY. • Who can be a volunteer peer supporter? Physician, resident or medical student • How are peers trained? MSSNY will provide free training to the volunteer peer through an initial training program. This program will be offered virtually and consists of peer support and what makes a good peer, psychological first aid, and how the program will operate. There will also be other online course work that a peer can access through MSSNY's continuing medical education website. • How can you become a volunteer peer? Volunteer peers can be nominated by county medical society presidents, county medical society executives, or another physician, resident or medical student. To nominate an individual please send an email to Pat Clancy, Sr. Vice President Public Health and Education, at pclancy@mssny.org. The MSSNY helpline is for New York state physicians that have been experiencing COVID-19-related stress. The helpline is answered 24/7 by an answering service who will connect you to a volunteer physician who can assist you. Available now, the Helpline number is 518-292-0140. n M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S L O W E R H U D S O N / B R O N x ■ 2 0 2 0 2 1