Oct 18, 2012 | Holistic Health, Integrative Medicine, Pediatric Care, Pediatrics, Surgery
Guest blog post by Andrea L. Hughie, RN, MSN.
Little Samirawit Hailemariam (Sami) was introduced to the INN (Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery) at Mount Sinai Roosevelt in August of 2011. Initially a shy and guarded four year old, Sami left her family in Ethiopia to travel to New York City for advanced treatment of her life threatening venous malformation. If left untreated this dangerous collection of vessels could have caused Sami to bleed to death. In her eight months in the United States the large venous malformation that covered the entire left side of her face and mouth was significantly reduced and stabilized by the advanced technology and techniques of Dr. Alejandro Berenstein and Dr. Milton Waner. (more…)
Oct 18, 2012 | Orthopedics
October is Bone Health Month. Most people equate calcium with bone health, but that’s really only part of the equation. According to
Stewart Greisman, MD, rheumatologist with St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals, you need the right levels of other nutrients, such as
vitamin D, for calcium to be absorbed in the body.
Oct 16, 2012 | Diet and Nutrition, Health Tips, Holistic Health
The time has come to grab a basket and head out to your nearest farmers’ market or grocery store because we have reached the season for fresh fruits and vegetables! Fall is a great time to fill your crisper and kitchen counter with great-tasting fruits and vegetables for your family. Here are a couple of my favorite fall veggies and fruits to spice up the season and some reasons why you should include them on your plate. (more…)
Oct 11, 2012 | LGBT Health
October 11th, 2012 marks the 23rd anniversary of National Coming Out Day, observed annually to celebrate coming out and to raise awareness of the LGBT community and LGBT civil rights movement.
LGBT HEALTH DISPARITIES: In the past two decades LGBT, people have made incredible progress towards securing equal rights in marriage equality and in protections under law against discrimination. but LGBT persons continue to experience worse health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts and research indicates that many LGBT persons are at higher risk for illness and disease, often due to avoiding or delaying screening and treatment for fear of anti-gay discrimination or stigma from health care providers.
PROGRESS: Recent progress is being made in turning LGBT health disparities into LGBT health equity as more policymakers and government agencies come out for LGBT health. At the federal level, the Health and Human Services Administration is addressing LGBT health needs and concerns. The Institute of Medicine released a groundbreaking, comprehensive report last year on LGBT health needs and recommendations and the Joint Commission of guidelines for LGBT health, the LGBT Field Guide, which will be used to enable healthcare institutions to incorporate standards, policies and practices for LGBT competent care.
WHAT WE AT CONTIUUM ARE DOING: Continuum Health Partners has come out for LGBT health through undertaking a groundbreaking initiative to enhance and improve health care delivery to LGBT patients and consumers. The first step in this process was to work with CHP’s Diversity Council LGBT Committees at Beth Israel Medical Center and at St. Lukes/Roosevelt to amend and create Continuum policies to insure that LGBT patients are treated fairly, without discrimination or prejudice and competently throughout the Continuum system; and to create access to education, tools and resources for improving services to LGBT patients for all our employees –administrators, providers, educators and staff. To date based on these efforts, Continuum has the distinction of being one of only two recipients in New York State of the Human Rights Campaign’s Health Equality Index 100% Rating Score, awarded to medical services institutions that can support their commitment to quality care for LGBT patients through implementation of policies and guidelines for LGBT competent care.
Continuum has broken new ground in the establishment of the first LGBT Health Services program within a comprehensive medical center in the country. Housed within Beth Israel Medical Center, LGBT Health Services is offering provider and staff training in LGBT health issues and topics; is engaged in outreach and health education to the LGBT organizations and communities of the greater NY metropolitan area; is participating in education and advocacy for LGBT health equity with local and national health policymakers, researchers and educators; and is working with LGBT patients and consumers who need information, referral and patient navigation services.
For more information on our services and activities please contact:
Barbara E. Warren, PsyD, Director, LGBT Health Services, Beth Israel Medical Center
Office: Phillips Ambulatory Care Center, 10 Union Square East, Suite 2K-03, NYC 10003
Phone: 212-844-6389 Cell: 917-971-0689 Bwarren@chpnet.org
Oct 10, 2012 | Vascular Health
Guest blog post by Gary Gwertzman, MD, FACS, RPVI.
Blood needs to flow everywhere in the body. However, blood flow needs to be controlled, or blood could end up in an undesirable place. . .like the sidewalk! Therefore, blood flow is a “balancing act”—the body tries to keep blood moving on the “inside”, but forms barriers to keep it from flowing to the outside. These barriers are called blood clots.
This balance act is not perfect. Some people cannot make blood clots and can bleed heavily. Other people make internal clots when blood should be flowing freely. These internal clots can cause major problems. For example, a clot can stop the flow of blood into an organ. If that organ happens to be the eye, a clot can lead to blindness. If the clot is in the brain, it can lead to stroke.
Blood clots can form in veins too, and stop blood from returning to the heart. When a vein clot forms, the area behind it becomes swollen and painful. If the vein clot should break off and travel downstream to the lung, it is an emergency called “pulmonary embolus.”
The best way to keep blood flowing is to. . .keep blood flowing. When blood stops moving, it tends to form clot. This can happen if the heartbeat becomes irregular (i.e., atrial fibrillation). Blood can stop flowing and form a clot when someone stops moving around (i.e., during a long airplane ride or a long surgery). Unfortunately, some people make clots despite having no obvious risks.
Treatments for clotting might include commonly prescribed medications (aspirin, Plavix, heparin, Coumadin). Other powerful medications actually dissolve clots directly. All medications need to be monitored by a physician.
If you develop a sharp pain or swelling for no obvious reason, a blood clot could be responsible. You should see a physician as soon as possible for further testing and treatment.
Gary Gwertzman, MD, FACS, RPVI, is the Director of Vascular Surgery at Beth Israel Brooklyn.
Little Samirawit Hailemariam (Sami) was introduced to the INN (Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery) at Mount Sinai Roosevelt in August of 2011. Initially a shy and guarded four year old, Sami left her family in Ethiopia to travel to New York City for advanced treatment of her life threatening venous malformation. If left untreated this dangerous collection of vessels could have caused Sami to bleed to death. In her eight months in the United States the large venous malformation that covered the entire left side of her face and mouth was significantly reduced and stabilized by the advanced technology and techniques of Dr. Alejandro Berenstein and Dr. Milton Waner. (more…)