To Your Health » Jane Lerner

Helen Hayes Hospital also bans kids to stop flu

Jane Lerner — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:35:21 +0000

Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw has also changed its visitor policy to stem the spread of the H1N1 flu. The rehabilitation hospital is banning children under the age of 12.

The new policy is temporary and is meant to protect patients and staff from both the H1N1 and seasonal strains of influenza.

New mammogram guidelines

Jane Lerner — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:01:02 +0000

New recommendations for mammograms are sure to cause both concern and confusion.

A federal panel is changing long-standing advice and now recommending that women wait until they are 50 to get a mammogram and then every two years—a big change from years of telling women to get a mammogram at age 40 and then every year.

If you want to read the new study in the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine so you can decide for yourself, click here.

Hospital bans kids to stop flu spread

Jane Lerner — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:23:25 +0000

In an effort to prevent the spread of both seasonal and H1N1 flu, Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey is banning visitors under 18 from the hospital unless they have an appointment or need medical treatment.
In other steps designed to reduce the spread of the flu, the hospital is also asking patients not to bring children with them to appointments. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit visitation is limited to parents, guardians, and grandparents. All visitors must be free of flu-like symptoms, such as fever with cough or sore throat.

The restriction goes into effect Thursday. Call the hospital’s Department of Consumer Affairs with any questions regarding the flu-related visitation policy at 201-996-2010.

Free memory screening offered

Jane Lerner — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:59:27 +0000

The Promenade at Blue Hill, an assisted living and memory care facility, is offering a free memory screening as part of national Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month.
The screening is being held from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, at The Promenade, 582 Veterans Memorial Drive, Pearl River.
The event features a face-to-face screening, which takes five to ten minutes, and consists of a brief series of questions and tasks. It is administered by a healthcare professional, such as a physician, nurse, psychologist or social worker.
The results do not represent a diagnosis, and those with below-normal scores or those who have normal scores but are still concerned, should follow up with a healthcare professional.
Registration is required. Call 845-735-6846.

Nyack Hospital 10K run 5K walk

Jane Lerner — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:04:02 +0000

The 19th Annual Nyack Hospital 10K Run and 5K Walk will take place Nov. 21.
Funds raised at the event will benefit the Joint Replacement Center at Nyack Hospital.
The race will start at Nyack Hospital, loop around the village and end at the hospital. The event features computerized race results, spotters on the walk course, water stations, refreshments and same day race results posted on the internet. Awards will be presented to the top 3 finishers in each age categories.
The registration fee is $25 in advance; $30 on the day of the race. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Nyack Hospital urologist Leonard J. Rudin is once again serving as chairman emeritus. Also organizing the event are orthopedic surgeon Richard D. Semble and podiatrist Charles J. Wolff.
To register, or for further information about this event, please contact
Mary Lichtman, director, special events, at 845-348-2771.

CVS pays fine to settle expired products lawsuit

Jane Lerner — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:42:00 +0000

New York state Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo has reached an $875,000 settlement with the national retail pharmacy chain CVS to end its sale of expired products, including over-the-counter drugs, baby formula, milk, and eggs, at stores across New York State.

The settlement concludes the lawsuit previously filed by the attorney general in New York Supreme Court against CVS Pharmacy, Inc. for its pervasive sales of expired products and its breach of a prior settlement with the Attorney General in which it agreed to take measures to end such sales. Read the announcement here.

Web seminar for family caregivers

Jane Lerner — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:52:29 +0000

People who care for the homebound and elderly often need care themselves. A home healthcare agency, Home Instead Senior Care, is offering a free web conference for family caregivers at 7 p.m. Nov. 19.

The web conference, “The Best Care for Your Parents: Senior Care Solutions and Potential Pitfalls,” will be co-hosted by Suzanne Mintz, president and CEO of the non-profit National Family Caregivers Association, and Paul Hogan, CEO of Home Instead Senior Care.

The Web conference is designed to help family caregivers plan for their loved ones’ care. For more information click here.

Poll: Few who want H1N1 vaccine can get it

Jane Lerner — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:10:14 +0000

A new poll from shows that most people who tried to get the swine flu vaccine for themselves or their children were unable to receive it.
The poll by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that only 30 percent of adults who tried to get it for themselves were able to obtain the vaccine.
It also showed that only 34 percent of parents were able to get the H1N1 vaccine for their children.
The poll found that 82 percent of the people asked believe there is a shortage of H1N1 vaccine in the United States, and approximately 4 in 10 think that is a major problem for the country. More than half of adults, 60 percent, believe there is a shortage of H1N1 vaccine in their community.
Forty percent believe there will still not be enough H1N1 flu vaccine by the end of November for everyone in their community who wants it.

Former home of Helen Hayes to host hospital fundraiser

Jane Lerner — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:35:12 +0000

Pretty Penny, the Nyack riverfront mansion where Helen Hayes lived for many years, will be the site of a fundraiser next month to benefit the hospital named in honor of the famous Broadway actress.

The Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation will host a “Holiday Pretty Penny Social” on Sunday, December 6, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Pretty Penny. Money raised at the event will benefit the state-run rehabilitation hospital in West Haverstraw.

Rockland Chef Peter X. Kelly will prepare cocktails and dessert. Tours of the home will be given and an art and antique sale will be conducted by Arader Galleries of New York City. The head of the gallery, W. Graham Arader III, is the current owner of Pretty Penny.

There will also be a silent auction and raffles.

Tickets are $110 or two for $200 and are available through the Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation at 845-786-4365.

Helen Hayes MacArthur and her husband, writer Charles MacArthur, purchased the Hudson River estate in 1932 for $25,000. When a friend remarked that it cost a “pretty penny,” the couple agreed, resulting in a name that has stayed with the home ever since.

In 1944, Helen Hayes was appointed to the hospital’s board, which she served on until she died in 1993. The hospital was renamed in her honor in 1980. The Tony, Grammy and Oscar winning actress once said, “I’ve seen my name in lights on theater marquees and in letters 20 feet tall on Broadway billboards, but nothing has ever given me greater sense of pride and satisfaction than my 49 year association with this unique hospital.”

Former state health commish reprimanded, fined

Jane Lerner — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:03:35 +0000

Former New York state Commissioner of Health Dr. Antonia Novello has been reprimanded and censured by a board of the Department of Health that she once led.

Novello will have a to pay a $10,000 fine and complete continuing education in the area of professional ethics, according to a finding issued by the Office of Professional Medical Conduct. the decision goes into effect Monday, according to state records.

Novello, who led the state Department of Health from 1999 to 2006, was charged in a 20-count indictment with using state workers to run errands, take her on shopping sprees, and act as house servants.

As part of a plea deal , Novello pleaded guilty in July to one count of offering a false instrument for filing, a felony.

Under the plea deal she must pay the state $22,500 in restitution and undertake 250 hours of community service at an Albany health clinic.

The decision by the Office of Professional Medical Conduct lets her keep her medical license.