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Northwell

Northern Westchester Hospital Reaccredited as Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by Surgical Review Corporation

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Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) has been reaccredited as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an independent, internationally recognized patient safety organization. The Robotics Program at NWH has held the designation since 2017. This year, several surgeons from various specialties were also designated as Surgeons of Excellence. 

P Surgeons in Northern Westchester Hospital’s Robotics Program (L-R): Warren D. Bromberg, MD, FACS, urology, director of the Institute of Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery; Michael Shaw, MD, obstetrics and gynecology; Maud Lemercier, MD, general surgery; Amanda Messina, MD, general surgery; Darren I. Rohan, MD, thoracic surgery; Doreen Sicotte, FNP, Supervisor, Advanced Clinical Providers; Bruce Molinelli, MD, general surgery; Sue Zhou, MD, urogynecology; Navid Mootabar, MD, obstetrics and gynecology.                Photo By: John Vecchiolla

To qualify for accreditation, the NWH robotics program and its physicians underwent a rigorous, top-to-bottom review by SRC, which evaluated all aspects of care, from pre-op evaluation, surgery, post-anesthesia, discharge, post-operative care and patient outcomes. The review looked at surgical floors, intensive care units, and emergency rooms, as well as robotics education for staff and patients. According to SRC, its requirements for accreditation have been shown to improve outcomes and reduce the time patients spend in the hospital.

            “Research indicates that there are better outcomes for patients when physicians perform more surgeries, and these designations reflect Northern Westchester Hospital’s excellence as a high-volume center,” says Dr. Bromberg.  “Our COERS designation would not exist without our multidisciplinary team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and surgical technicians.  The leadership within our robotics program creates a systemic culture of excellence that is committed to improving the safety and quality of patient care.” He added, “NWH’s robotic surgery capabilities enable our surgeons to perform less invasive surgery with a greater level of precision. Our patients benefit from: lower risk of infection, decreased blood loss, earlier discharge from hospital, faster recovery times, less postoperative pain and minimal scarring.”

            “We’re proud to recognize Northern Westchester Hospital for its commitment to advancing and providing quality care for all patients,” said Gary M. Pratt, CEO of SRC. “This accreditation signals that this hospital is among the best in this specialty and is dedicated to delivering the highest level of care possible.”

Northwell Health was the first health system to receive the Network of Excellence in Robotic Surgery designation from Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). Northwell’s designation came on the heels of SRC recognizing four of its hospitals for their robotic surgery expertise: Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park, Huntington Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt. Kisco, and South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore. Currently, Northwell Health’s accredited hospitals include: Lenox Hill Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Long Island Jewish Valley Stream, Marzano Center at Huntington Hospital/Northwell, North Shore University Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital and South Shore University Hospital.

For more information on the NWH Robotics Program, visit https://nwh.northwell.edu/robotic-surgery. To learn more about SRC and the accreditation process, visit www.surgicalreview.org.

News courtesy of Northern Westchester Hospital and Northwell Health.

Full Line-Up of April 2021 Virtual Programming at Northern Westchester Hospital: Save the Dates!

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Reducing risk of heart disease, chair yoga, smoking cessation, classes for new and future moms, and Wellness Wednesday among virtual events this April offered by Northern Westchester Hospital and the Center for Healthy Living

An expert panel on reducing the risk of heart disease is April’s featured program at Northern Westchester Hospital’s (NWH) Center for Healthy Living. April’s virtual classes for new and future moms include breastfeeding, newborn care, a Mom Squad interactive get together, delivering your baby during a pandemic, and an infant/child safety class.  Other free, virtual classes to help people feel better, get healthier, and have more fun include chair yoga, smoking cessation, a Spring Break Cooking Club, and Wellness Wednesday.

Located next to the Whole Foods Market at Chappaqua Crossing, the Center for Healthy Living supports health and wellness through education, health resources, diverse programing and referrals. For a full list of upcoming Free events and registration, visit Eventbrite.com. All programs are currently offered virtually.

FEATURED EVENT:

Let’s Have a Heart-to-Heart – Reducing your Risk for Heart Disease

Monday, April 19, 5-6 pm live on Zoom

Cost: Free

Join experts from the Seema Boesky Heart Center at NWH for a down-to-earth conversation about reducing your risk for heart disease at any age and the latest advancements in cardiac care including treatment available at NWH’s Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Labs. The panel will be moderated by Melissa Hernandez, DScPAS, PA-C, advanced clinical provider, NWH Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Labs. She is joined by Carl Reimers, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Director, Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Northern Westchester Hospital, and Northwell Cardiology Service Line Director for Westchester County; and Subbarao Choudry, MD, Director, Northern Westchester Hospital Electrophysiology Lab.

Register at: Let’s Have a Heart-to-Heart

Virtual Breastfeeding Class
Monday, April 5, 6:00 – 8:00pm, live over Microsoft Teams
Cost: $30/couple

This comprehensive class is taught exclusively by our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) for women who are considering or have decided to breastfeed. The class will cover advantages of breastfeeding; building and maintaining your milk supply; strategies for success; breastfeeding techniques; diet considerations; nipple care; and tips for partner feeding. Plenty of time is allotted for Q&As, and couples are encouraged to come together. For more information, please call the Mother-Baby Navigator Office at (914) 666-1840

Register at: Virtual Breastfeeding

Chair Yoga:

Mondays, April 5, 12, and 19, 11 am to Noon, live over Zoom

Cost: Free

One of the gentlest forms of yoga, chair yoga adapts yoga positions and poses using a chair for support during standing and balancing poses, allowing for greater stability. Emphasis will be on breathing, balance, and taking things at your own pace.  Chair yoga is suitable for all ages, fitness levels and physical condition; beginners welcome. Toni Russo, MS, RN AHN-BC, RYT-220, a leader in NWH’s Integrative Medicine Team will lead the workshop.

Register at:  chair yoga

Smoking Cessation:

Wednesday, April 7, Tuesday, April 13, and Wednesday, April 21, 6 to 7 pm, live over Microsoft Teams

Cost: Free

Smoking cigarettes is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. A NWH respiratory therapist will facilitate this online video support group. For information, contact NWHSmokingCessation@northwell.edu or call (914) 666-1868.

Register at: Smoking Cessation

Virtual Newborn Care Class
Thursday, April 8, 6:00 – 8:00pm, live over Microsoft Teams

Cost: $30/couple
Topics include newborn care, feeding patterns, common parental concerns, and the role of pediatricians during your baby’s stay at the hospital. Upon availability, a pediatrician will join at the end of class for a Q&A session.  Please note, this support group is for mothers who have already delivered their baby. For more information, please call the Mother-Baby Navigator Office at (914) 666-1840 or email NWHMotherBabyNavigator@northwell.edu

Mom Squad
Monday, April 12, Noon to 2 pm, live over Microsoft Teams

Cost: Free
Please note, this support group–facilitated by a registered nurse–is for mothers who have already delivered their baby. Join with your baby for an interactive social get together to meet other moms and share information about caring for your newborn and yourself.  For more information, please call the Mother-Baby Navigator Office at (914) 666-1840 or email NWHMotherBabyNavigator@northwell.edu.

 

Delivering Your Baby at NWH During a Pandemic:

Tuesday, April 13, 2-3 pm, live over Microsoft Teams

Cost: Free

During this monthly session exclusively for patients who are registered to deliver at NWH, we will provide you with facts about COVID-19 and your labor and delivery experience. These monthly updates include a Q&A with our Mother-Baby Leadership.

Register at:  Delivering Your Baby at NWH

 

Virtual Infant/Child Safety Class:

Monday, April 19, 6-8 pm, live over Microsoft Teams

Cost: $50/couple

This class is recommended for anyone living with or caring for an infant. Learn how to respond to a choking baby and other safety concerns, including car seats, poison control and home safety. Advance registration required.

Register at: Infant/Child Safety Class

 

Wellness Wednesdays – A Phone Conference Series

Last Wednesday of every month, by phone. Wednesday, April 28, 11:00-11:30am.

Cost: Free

Topic of the Month: COVID-19 vaccine information with Debra A. Spicehandler, MD, co-chief of Medicine – Infectious Diseases at NWH. Grab a snack & a cup of tea, and join us for a monthly phone conference series all about health. Dial in every month to hear the latest information from clinicians & health experts.

Register at: https://nwhwellnesswednesdays.eventbrite.com

or dial 1-929-436-2866 to join the program: when prompted enter the Webinar ID: 942 77713429 followed by the # sign. You will hear music until the program starts at 11 am.

 

About Northern Westchester Hospital

Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), a member of Northwell Health, provides quality, patient-centered care that is close to home through a unique combination of medical expertise, leading-edge technology, and a commitment to humanity. Over 650 highly-skilled physicians, state-of-the-art technology and professional staff of caregivers are all in place to ensure that you and your family receive treatment in a caring, respectful and nurturing environment. NWH has established extensive internal quality measurements that surpass the standards defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) National Hospital Quality Measures. Our high-quality standards help to ensure that the treatment you receive at NWH is among the best in the nation. For more information, please visit www.nwh.northwell.edu and connect with us on Facebook.

 

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, 830 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 76,000 employees – 18,900 nurses and 4,800 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We’re training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Worrisome Stats Point to Need to Discuss Cancer Screenings with Your Doctor

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MOUNT KISCO, NY– In conjunction with National Cancer Prevention Month this February and with declines in cancer screenings during the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Lev Davidson, director of Northwell Health’s Cancer Institute at Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), urges patients to discuss cancer screening with their physicians.       

Dr. Lev Davidson, director of Northwell Health’s Cancer Institute at Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH)

“Patients are putting off screenings until it’s potentially too late for effective treatment because the disease has advanced so far,” says Dr. Davidson. “This is an unnecessary tragedy.  While no two people have the same cancer risk, those at high risk due to heredity or other factors, should not delay screening.”

The downward trend in cancer screenings is worrisome. In 2020, the American Cancer Society’s statistics report noted a 29% decline in the cancer death rate between 1991 and 2017. Findings released in May by the Epic Health Research Network showed that preventive screenings for cervical, colon and breast cancer from a data set of 2.7 million patients declined between 86 and 94% in March 2020 compared with average volumes in the prior three years. As of summer of 2020, the National Cancer Institute predicted that declines in screenings for colon and breast cancer could result in 10,000 lives lost.

“Many people have postponed cancer screenings due to fears of contracting Coronavirus during a visit to a hospital or physician office,” says Dr. Davidson. “Certain cancers require in-person diagnostic tests, while others, such as colon cancer, may have an at home test kit option for people who are at low risk. There are now alternatives to screening that are better than not screening at all, and telehealth is an excellent option for having that discussion with your physician.

“The availability of virtual resources permits patients to talk to their physician to assess whether they need a cancer screening, or can safely postpone a screening and reassess later,” he adds, “Much of this depends on whether the screening is routine or whether there are symptoms and the nature of the symptoms. It is very important to have these discussions with your physician to assess the situation.”

Dr. Davidson advises that, “When you come to Northern Westchester Hospital for a screening, we have measures in place to assess your health before you arrive and to monitor you when you are here, as well as strict protocols that make patient visits safe.” 

NWH’s safety measures include thermal cameras for temperature checks, pre-screenings, social distancing, mask mandates, limited visitation, strict cleaning protocols, and spreading out patient appointments to limit waiting room traffic.

           For more information on the Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Northern Westchester Hospital, visit https://nwh.northwell.edu/cancer-institute

This News is Courtesy of Northern Westchester Hospital

 

State of the Art Cardiac Cath Lab Anticipated Opening at Northern Westchester Hospital: September 2

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The Newly Opening Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Northern Westchester Hospital

Northern Westchester Hospital will open its highly anticipated comprehensive Cardiac Catheterization Lab on September 2nd, providing state-of-the-art interventional cardiology services to residents of Westchester, Putnam and Fairfield Counties, who would otherwise have to travel long distances during cardiac events when every second counts.

The Cath Lab will work as an extension of and in conjunction with Lenox Hill Hospital’s cardiac services, providing care for emergency level patients 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

“A cardiac catheterization lab is a specialized area in a hospital where cardiac specialists diagnose and treat coronary artery disease, such as various types of heart attack, using tiny flexible tubes called catheters to access the heart and coronary (heart) blood vessels,” explained Interventional Cardiologist Carl Dietrich Reimers, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, director of the new NWH Cardiac Cath Lab.

Garvey Rene, M.D., FACC, FSCAI of Caremount Medical, is associate director of the Cath Lab.

According to Dr. Reimers, Northern Westchester Hospital’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab will treat patients with coronary artery disease–a narrowing or blockage of arteries carrying oxygenated blood to the heart.

Until now, Northern Westchester Hospital patients who needed cardiac catheterization were taken to Valhalla, New York, or Stamford or Danbury, Connecticut. The new Cath Lab will eliminate the time between an emergency and treatment.

“It is critical to have a catheterization lab in close proximity since the most effective treatment is performed within 90 minutes of the onset of symptoms,” says Dr. Reimers, who is also vice chairman of cardiology at Lenox Hill Hospital and assistant professor of Cardiology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

“When there is a blockage in the artery, the heart begins to suffocate from the lack of oxygen. However, if treated promptly, the damage can be reversed.

“When someone experiences chest pain and calls 911, the goal is to diagnose the patient, bring them to the catheterization lab and perform the procedure all within 90 minutes,” he added.

This new location eliminates delays in care that may come along with being transported to a location outside of Northern Westchester.

“The new Cath Lab will be vital to elevating the level of care that patients can receive right in the community,” said Dr. Reimers. “All of the physicians covering the Cath Lab also rotate at Lenox Hill to ensure seamless care for patients who require more complex procedures.”

Northern Westchester Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital are both a part of New York State’s largest healthcare system, Northwell Health. A benefit of being a part of this network is the collaboration that exists between hospitals and facilities across the system.

All of the nurses preparing to work in Northern Westchester Hospital’s Cath Lab are trained in critical care medicine and have experience working in intensive care units. To build the team’s experience, the nursing team trained at two of Northwell’s facilities on Long Island. Additionally, Dr. Reimers said, four techs all trained at Lenox Hill Hospital to get hands-on experience prior to the lab opening.

Healthgrades ranked the cardiac program at Lenox Hill Hospital among the top 5% for six consecutive years. Additionally, Lenox Hill Hospital was one of the first hospitals in New York City to open a cardiac catheterization lab. In 1938, the first angiocardiography in the United States was performed at Lenox Hill Hospital, and in 1967, Lenox Hill Hospital opened the first cardiac care unit in the New York metropolitan area.

The collaboration between Northern Westchester Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital will allow doctors, nurses and staff to discuss difficult scenarios.

“We will be available 24/7, 365 days a year to handle all cardiac emergencies,” said

Dr. Reimers. “We believe Northern Westchester Hospital’s Cardiac Cath Lab will save lives.”

For more information, please visit:nwhc.net/blog/CardiacCathLab

Teens Show How to Have Fun While Social Distancing

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Mount Kisco, NY–Hoping to make a difference during COVID-19 quarantine and concerned their peers were getting antsy to get out and socialize, Northern Westchester Hospital’s (NWH)  President’s Junior Leadership Council (PJLC) produced a video encouraging teens to social distance and have fun at the same time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0-9yp54HZU .

The video stars students at high schools throughout Northern Westchester– enjoying at home activities that include dancing, painting, playing basketball and cooking.

“We’re hoping to motivate teenagers to find interesting and enjoyable activities they can do in quarantine,” says 15-year-old Byram Hills High School sophomore Sydney Levy. “Ultimately, staying home is the answer to ending the spread of this pandemic, and it is important to physically distance whenever it is necessary to leave home.”

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If you want to be cool, follow one simple rule: Stay home, the video begins.  It concludes by saying, We know everyone is feeling FOMO from COVID-19 and ends with students, each in their home, holding a word to collectively spell out The Shorter It Will Be Is Up To You And Me.

“Physical distancing contributes to the safety of the community and the health and wellbeing of the doctors, nurses and staff at Northern Westchester Hospital,” says 17-year old Sacred Heart junior Madison Mezzatesta, “We hope our video inspires others in the community to find things that they love doing at home to make the most of this difficult experience.”

PJLC is currently working on more COVID 19 videos, in an effort to create a series of inspirational messages for teens.

The NWH PJLC is a leadership organization that helps high school students in northern Westchester connect to their community; promotes the health, safety and wellbeing of adolescents and young adults; and engages them on issues that matter to them and affects their lives. Its members include 50 high school students from communities served by the hospital: Chappaqua, Armonk, Yorktown, Byram Hills, North Salem, Bedford, Katonah-Lewisboro, Somers and Pleasantville.

NWH relies on the PJLC to help hospital administrators understand issues facing teens and adolescents, and the students provide input on health-related educational programming that the hospital offers at local schools. Each year, students from the PJLC identify a major health concern within their peer group and develop creative, relatable ways in which educators can inform students, parents, and the community.

News courtesy of Northern Westchester Hospital