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Friends of White Plains Hospital’s Annual Luncheon to Feature Best-Selling Author Laura Schroff

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Laura Schroff, best-selling author of An Invisible Thread, will be the featured speaker at The Friends of White Plains Hospital’s annual luncheon, to be held on April 3 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Fenway Golf Club, located at 384 Old Mamaroneck Road in Scarsdale.A former advertising sales executive who worked at several major media companies and publications, including Time Inc. and People, Ms. Schroff’s book, An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny, became a #1 New York Times and international bestseller. The theme of her address at the Friends’ luncheon is “How the Power of Friendship Can Make a Difference.”

Throughout the year, the Friends of White Plains Hospital are instrumental in reinforcing the Hospital’s mission through volunteer work, fundraising and outreach around the Hospital’s life-saving programs and initiatives. Annual events of the Friends of White Plains Hospital include the spring luncheon, G3 – Girls Got Game, and the Hospital’s Fall Gala.

Individual tickets for the event are $150. For more information on ticket pricing and sponsorships, click here, call 914-681-2264 or email plaine@wphospital.org.

About White Plains Hospital  

White Plains Hospital is a proud member of the Montefiore Health System, serving as its tertiary hub of advanced care in the Hudson Valley. The Hospital is a 292-bed not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of providing exceptional acute and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. White Plains Hospital has outpatient medical facilities across Westchester, including multispecialty practices in Armonk, Hawthorne, Larchmont, New Rochelle, Rye Brook, Somers, Yonkers and Yorktown Heights; and Scarsdale Medical Group locations in Harrison and Scarsdale.

The Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and in 2023, White Plains Hospital received another 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – the highest distinction offered by that federal agency for the second consecutive year. In addition, the Hospital received its third Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a distinction held by only two percent of hospitals in the country. White Plains Hospital has consistently received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades®, and in 2023 was awarded an “A” Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group for the 10th consecutive time.

News Courtesy of White Plains Hospital sources.

https://www.wphospital.org/

 

Rotator Cuff Repair: Recovery Can Be the Biggest Challenge

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Hear the phrase “rotator cuff repair” and you may think of professional athletes who have gone through the procedure. But anyone can be at risk for the condition, according to Dr. Gregg Cavaliere, a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine physician at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates, practicing in Hawthorne and Yonkers.

“Anyone whose work involves repetitive overhand activities, like athletes in certain sports, carpenters, and electricians” can be particularly susceptible to a rotator cuff tear, he says. Even Today weatherman Al Roker underwent a rotator cuff repair on his left shoulder in 2014.

The main cause of a rotator cuff tear is injury, but in Roker’s case the trouble was caused by advancing osteoarthritis; as with many body parts, erosion can take its toll over time. In fact, rotator cuff tears are most common in people older than 60.

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and four tendons that hold the shoulder joint in place, allowing you to move your arm and shoulder. The “tear” in question is usually one of the tendons. Symptoms can include recurring pain at that site – sometimes so severe that sleep is difficult; a limited capacity for moving the affected arm; “cracking” sounds when moving the arm; and muscle weakness.

Dr. Greg Cavaliere

Such symptoms do not always set off alarm bells for the person experiencing them, however. “There will always be people who just take some more Advil and just hope the pain goes away,” says Dr. Cavaliere’s WPHPA colleague Dr. Anthony Maddalo, also a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. “Sometimes they live with the pain for years.”

The two surgeons have worked together for about 30 years, assisting each other with major procedures; they estimate they have done “thousands” of rotator cuff repair surgeries during that time, to the point where “we’re like a right hand and left hand working together,” Dr. Maddalo says. “That helps us do the procedures most efficiently and expeditiously.” Typically that means between 60 and 75 minutes for Drs. Maddalo and Cavaliere.

The majority of the procedures are shoulder arthroscopies, minimally invasive operations that involve inserting a small camera, or arthroscope, into the shoulder joint. The resulting images are displayed on a video monitor and are used to guide the miniature surgical instruments being used. Because of this, incisions are relatively small, certainly in comparison to open rotator cuff repairs, which involve incisions that are typically several inches long – more invasive and time-consuming, and usually requiring a longer recovery time.

There are two ways of conducting the surgery: the patient either lies down on their “good” side or is in a seated position. “We like the seated option,” says Dr. Maddalo, “because that allows us more easily to address any other issues we may discover when we go in.”

The surgeons recommend their patients, now with stitches and wearing a sling, avoid physical activity involving the affected shoulder for two weeks, followed by “passive motion” therapy for another two weeks; that involves a therapist or an assistant at home putting the arm through a comfortable range of motion while the patient is lying down.

Dr. Anthony Maddalo

“One of the biggest sticking points is educating patients on what ‘passive motion’ is,” Dr. Maddalo says. “They’ll come into the office for a follow-up and use both arms to push themselves out of a chair – exactly what they should not be doing, but it’s habitual and they don’t think about it. They also need to be careful about starting to drive again. If the surgery was on their right shoulder, they’ll need to use their left hand to put the car in gear.”

At the six-week mark, the sling and passive motion therapy are usually discontinued in favor of active assisted range of motion exercises, such as the patient lifting their arms above their head without help from a therapist in order to stretch the muscles used during a routine motion. Strengthening exercises then begin 10-12 weeks after the procedure; all told, Dr. Cavaliere says, full recovery usually takes four to six months, depending on the severity of the tear.

The key to all of this, the physicians say, is to not ignore the pain. “Everyone is different,” Dr. Maddalo says, “and everyone has a different tolerance level of pain. A sudden injury is one thing, but if they’ve been having chronic pain in their shoulder for a long time, they really do need to see a specialist. There’s no reason to keep experiencing that pain when there are many options available.”

Dr. Gregg Cavaliere and Dr. Anthony Maddalo are orthopedic surgeons at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates in Hawthorne and Yonkers. To make an appointment, call 914-631-7777 (Hawthorne) or 914-375-7777 (Yonkers).

Hot Yoga… Hotter Than Ever at the New ‘Sweat New York’ in Pleasantville!

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Interested in trying hot yoga? Then you should visit Sweat New York, a newly opened hot yoga facility in Pleasantville. Even though Sweat New York has only been open since August, they already have a quickly growing community that encourages people at all levels to join.

When you walk into the studio’s space, a warm and calming aura and lit candles throughout the room create a sense of relaxation. After you take off your footwear and socks, you are given a towel and then head into the main room to start the session. Anyone feeling like they need a break during the session can step out of the room and once ready, they can come back and rejoin the class without judgment. When the class is over, you are left with a huge sense of accomplishment and feel invigorated, say owners Merrill Hollander and Jonathan Harris. We wanted to learn more so Merrill answered the following questions:

What are the health benefits of Hot Yoga?

Hot yoga has countless benefits. So many studies have shown that yoga decreases stress and depressive symptoms. It also promotes heart health – and so much more. A typical class will be guided by our expertly trained instructors; their passion for what they do is apparent. The classes not only provide a relaxing environment but also offer an excellent workout. The increased heat provided during the class is also a great way to lose water weight safely and healthfully.

What are the cost and options for joining?

There are many different levels of commitment at Sweat. For those who have the time and cannot live without hot yoga, Sweat New York offers memberships that cost $295 per month in exchange for unlimited yoga classes. Many different class package options include our sKulpt classed led by Karen Mitchell, a former Rockette and Radio City Choreographer! Karen’s classes offer a unique experience that are different from our set Vinyasa Yoga sequence. Her classes are challenging and inspiring. All of our classes are geared to all levels of fitness and experience.

Merrill Hollander and Jonathan Harris with Wendy

What led to you opening up Sweat in Pleasantville?

Jonathan has been a hot yoga loyalist for 10+ years and when we bought a home in Pleasantville, he felt there was an opportunity to bring his experiences from Arizona to our community. He visited many other studios but always missed the set sequence he had become accustomed to in his hometown of Phoenix – he missed the culture, the results, and the benefits of the heat.

Will you be offering shorter classes for hot yoga beginners?

We have an intro class that allows our clients to get to know our sequence in a less heated environment; however, a set sequence limits the opportunity for shortening the length of the class. There are so many benefits to SET sequencing – clarity, confidence development, moving meditation, measuring your progress, and structure to name a few. We respect and appreciate the 60 minutes our clients dedicate to us and their workouts: We want to always deliver what they need, know, and expect.

What is your favorite part of owning and operating Sweat?

Meeting new clients, seeing the most dedicated customers daily, and receiving feedback. Good or bad, we welcome what our clients want to share with us. We built the studio for the community, and we want to always grow and improve. Also, providing a space for our amazing instructors to do what they love, we always knew that building this studio would mean nothing without the best instructors; they are all so passionate and experienced – we LOVE watching them do their thing.

Are you offering any classes for teenagers?

Yes! We recently hosted a group of 7th graders from Pleasantville Middle School, it was a two-week program and the girls LOVED it. Some of the Pleasantville Football players have attended a few classes as well – it is a perfect balance to the strenuous weight lifting and cardio programs they partake in throughout the season. Our classes are intended to be inclusive of all levels and ages.

For more in-depth information about Sweat, and to book a class, please visit Sweat’s website at sweatnewyork.com.

A Total Refresh with Youtherapy

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If you’re in the market for a little refresh, or just want to feel extra-great about yourself (and frankly, who doesn’t?), check out the recently-opened Youtherapy Medical Spa in Chappaqua, located at 91 Bedford Road. Founded by Dr. William Greenberg, Youtherapy offers a full range of services to help people look and feel their best. I spoke with Dr. Greenberg about the new Chappaqua location, treatment options and how to feel refreshed and confident.

Dr. Greenberg has been helping patients feel their best for more than 20 years. He opened his first practice, Skin Thera P in 2003 on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, with the goal of offering luxury treatments in a comfortable and medically-driven setting. The combination of science and medicine allows Dr. Greenberg to reverse the common signs of aging by lifting, resurfacing the skin, and improving its foundation using modern, FDA-approved technologies. Youtherapy has locations in Manhattan, Scarsdale, and Chappaqua – which opened in April 2023.

“Many women don’t want to age quickly – they want to look natural and maintain their natural beauty. We are doing procedures in a non-artificial way. We specialize in making sure we’re doing the minimum necessary, such as using bio stimulators – the latest and greatest technology. Most places don’t use this yet but we do – treatments such as collagen stimulation for crepey skin.”

It’s the use of proven science and the latest technologies that help set Youtherapy and Dr. Greenberg apart from other practitioners – helping patients discover they don’t need to live with bothersome imperfections brought on by aging. Dr. Greenberg has seen an influx of Northern Westchester clients coming to Youtherapy’s Chappaqua location – even those that were originally coming to Scarsdale. And having two Westchester locations gives clients a greater ease of convenience – there are four days per week of availability between the two offices.

Dr. William Greenberg

“Like Going to the Gym for your Skin”

If you’re new to the medspa experience and don’t know where to begin, Dr. Greenberg offers a variety of options to help make patients feel their best. “If you’re starting to have animation lines, botox is a great place to start. For those in their 20’s and 30’s treatments such as Jet Plasma – which is a painless collagen stimulation, help the skin look smoother. It’s like going to the gym for your skin.” Other popular options include facials, peels, and skin boosters such as SKINVIVE which help those well into their 50’s and give skin a healthy, youthful glow.

“We offer the latest and best ways to improve the way you look, enhancing your beauty in a natural way. All procedures are safely administered by highly-trained technicians – many who have been with me for over 10 years.” Treatments are medically supervised to ensure the patient’s safety and Dr. Greenberg is available to offer complimentary consultations.

Help for Weight Loss

In addition to the many treatments on offer, Youtherapy’s Chappaqua location has also seen a huge popularity with weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic. “There’s a big demand but not a lot of places are currently offering it. We’re making it accessible. Patients get a high level of service and don’t have to wait weeks for appointments.” Youtherapy is always offering quality, natural results using only vetted, latest and greatest treatments.

In addition, Youtherapy offers consultations for CoolSculpting® and EMSCULPT NEO, which help patients lose fat while building muscle at the same time. Youtherapy is one of the few practices in Westchester to offer EMSCULPT NEO.

Whether you’re newly interested in cosmetic treatments, not exactly sure where to start or just looking for a safe, clean, and modern location closer to home, check out Youtherapy in Chappaqua. Dr. Greenberg and his staff will take the time to assess your needs, provide high-quality service and help give you back the confidence you may have been lacking. And we can all do with a little more of that.

White Plains Hospital Launches Structural Heart Program with First Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Replacement Procedures

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Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is the Newest Addition to the Hospital’s Comprehensive Cardiac Services

White Plains Hospital has announced the launch of the Montefiore Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital with the successful completion of its first three minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedures, known as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements (TAVR). The procedures were performed by Dr. Azeem Latib, a leading expert in interventional cardiology and Director of the Montefiore Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital, in one of the Hospital’s state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization laboratories, marking a key milestone in the growth of the Hospital’s advanced cardiac services.

More than five million Americans are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year, including 1.5 million with aortic stenosis – or the narrowing of the aortic valve. This condition often appears in those 65 and older and deteriorates with age. Older patients with aortic stenosis and other congenital heart diseases can often benefit from a TAVR.

The procedure, which typically takes less than an hour, involves specially trained cardiac interventionalists, in collaboration with world-class cardiac surgeons, using advanced imaging techniques to guide a flexible tube called a catheter through a small needle hole in the groin, up through the blood vessels, to the diseased aortic valve. The team then uses the catheter to deploy a new valve, immediately restoring function and blood flow. Patients are cared for by highly trained cardiac intensivists in the Hospital’s Cardiac ICU, and many of our patients go home the next day.

White Plains Hospital is one of just two healthcare facilities in Westchester offering this life-saving procedure to patients in Westchester County. Every patient is fully evaluated by a cardiac surgeon, interventional cardiologist, cardiologist and radiologist to determine the ideal course of treatment, whether that is a TAVR procedure or open-heart surgery. Also, with advanced imaging technology on-site, including high-resolution CT scanning, fusion imaging and cardiac MRI, patients can undergo convenient, same-day pre-operative testing at the Center for Advanced Medicine & Surgery (CAMS) in White Plains prior to the procedure.

The addition of the Montefiore Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital builds on the success of the Montefiore Cardiac Surgery Program at White Plains Hospital, which has exceeded national benchmarks for quality with exceptional patient outcomes in the two years since its launch. The program was recently recognized with a distinguished 3-star rating, the highest available, from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, a designation that places it among the top 10% of programs for heart bypass surgery in the United States and Canada. White Plains Hospital’s cardiac care capabilities are further strengthened by its world-class Interventional Cardiology program and Cardiac Electrophysiology department, which is focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of arrythmias and other emergent cardiac issues. White Plains Hospital’s experts work closely with a network of cardiologists and specialists throughout the Hudson Valley to ensure each patient receives the specialized care they need, close to home.

“This program underscores White Plains Hospital’s commitment to growing its advanced cardiac services for patients across the Hudson Valley,” said Dr. Latib. “These expanded capabilities allow us to provide the most appropriate treatment based on our patients’ needs, whether they require open-heart surgery or a minimally invasive procedure like a TAVR. We are excited to begin performing these procedures and look forward to continuing to advance the Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital.”

To learn more about the Montefiore Structural Heart Program at White Plains Hospital, call (914) 849-4200.

News and Photos Courtesy of White Plains Hospital

 

About White Plains Hospital 

White Plains Hospital is a proud member of the Montefiore Health System, serving as its tertiary hub of advanced care in the Hudson Valley. The Hospital is a 292-bed not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of providing exceptional acute and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. White Plains Hospital has outpatient medical facilities across Westchester, including multispecialty practices in Armonk, Larchmont, New Rochelle, Rye Brook, Somers and Yorktown Heights; and Scarsdale Medical Group locations in Harrison and Scarsdale.

The Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and in 2023, White Plains Hospital received another 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – the highest distinction offered by that federal agency for the second consecutive year. In addition, the Hospital received its third Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a distinction held by only two percent of hospitals in the country. White Plains Hospital has consistently received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades®, and in 2022 became the only Hospital in Westchester to be awarded with an A Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group for the 9th time.

https://www.wphospital.org/</a