FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20^th 2007  

Press Release:

State-of-the-art Endoscopies Only at Peninsula Hospital

  Peninsula Hospital Center, an affiliate of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, is the only health facility in the entire area to boast the latest, state-of-the-art colonoscopic technology, the Olympus Evis Exera II 180 Series system, which includes high definition (HDTV) capability, narrow band imaging (NBI) and zoom magnification.

  This new groundbreaking equipment that Peninsula Hospital Center recently acquired is utilized for endoscopies and colonoscopies alike. It was first introduced at the World Congress of Gastroenterology in the Fall of 2005 and is the cutting edge equipment that all health care consumers should be demanding of their providers. According to Dr. Jay  Mehlman, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, Peninsula Hospital Center is far ahead of its competition, including many major hospitals in Manhattan, in being able to offer its patients this innovative technology. “With the new equipment, higher detection rates of abnormalities can be achieved.  It also gives us a wider view while scoping thereby allowing us a faster and more efficient procedure than what had been available to date,” said Dr. Mehlman. “The NBI feature allows us the ability to distinguish smaller lesions in the intestinal tract earlier, way in advance of them turning into cancer.” The endoscopy department has also acquired a flat-screen monitor which offers a clear, crisp image.

  The endoscopic unit of Peninsula Hospital Center also utilizes state-of-the-art equipment which allow for certain procedures to be performed during a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, such as Argon plasma coagulation (APC). This is a medical endoscopic process used to control bleeding from certain lesions in the gastrointestinal tract and also allows for endoscopic removal of tumors in a minimally invasive manner. “The hospital administration has given us the green light to ensure that our unit is equipped with only the latest, most modern and advanced equipment and technology available in the industry,” said Dr. Mehlman.

  According to Dr. Mehlman, the benefits of having an endoscopic procedure at Peninsula Hospital Center is that the endoscopic suite is a self-contained unit, yet physically located in the hospital, taking advantage of all of its resources.  This includes operating under all of the quality assurance mandates of the hospital with unlimited resources with regard to equipment and personnel, including a full time anesthesia department. However, the unit is also able to function as an ambulatory center so that a patient’s procedures can be done expeditiously. Mehlman also points out that the equipment utilized in his unit, with the exception of the scopes, is single use only. “Our safety standards for quality and infection control exceed even the current industry standards and requirements.”

  The Peninsula Hospital Endoscopic Unit is headed up by Dr. Mehlman, along with Dr. Roy A. DeBeer, Dr. M.  Ramgopal and Dr. I. Aja-Onu. The nurses serving on the endoscopy unit, Eileen Ball, RN; Jean Butler, RN and Kathy Zimmer, RN, Assistant Head Nurse, are highly experienced nursing professionals with specialty training in endoscopic procedures.

  Everyone age 50 and over should schedule their first screening colonoscopy, which is an essential tool in detecting even the smallest of lesions that have the potential to develop into cancer.               

Peninsula Hospital Center’s Endoscopy Team pictured right to left: Anesthesiologist Paul Bellinger, MD; Jean Butler, RN; Kathy Zimmer, RN, Assistant Head Nurse; Jay K. Mehlman, MD, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology; Roy A. DeBeer, MD; and Eileen Ball, RN.

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For Immediate Release June 10th 2007

PRESS RELEASE

 Badamo Family Says Thank You To PHC

Hospital Staffers Praised For Heroic Efforts

  Peninsula Hospital Center physicians, nurses and staff of the Emergency Department were among many honored for their April 13, 2007 heroic rescue of Ian Terriberry, a two year old from Broad Channel who was found drowning in his backyard pool.  Neighbors, Peter and Wendy Keane, immediately administered CPR which was continued by the EMT’s from the Broad Channel Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Department on their way to the hospital.   By the time Ian reached Peninsula Hospital Center, he was extremely critical with no vital signs.  Dr. Olawepo, Associate Director, Pediatrics, led the Emergency Department team by continuing pediatric advanced life support measures which led to the return of Ian’s vital signs and the subsequent transfer to Schneider Children’s Hospital.  “Ian received continual CPR – no one ever gave up hope and his recovery is nothing short of a miracle,” explains Dr. Olawepo.  “Most of these accidents do not have such positive outcomes.”  The Badamo Family hosted a brunch at the Bayview Restaurant in Broad Channel to thank all of those responsible for saving Ian’s life.    Pictured (r-l) with Dr. Kevin Roy, Critical Care Team/Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Schneider Children’s Hospital and Peninsula Hospital Center staff: Dr. Freida Lozanoff, Emergency Department; Vicky Backus, RN, Nursing Director, Emergency Department; Tom Haanraddts, RN, Emergency Department; Irene Pinckney, RN, Emergency Department; Mike Valentino, Director, Security and Dr. Olajide Olawepo, Associate Director, Pediatrics.

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For Immediate Release March 14, 2007

PRESS RELEASE

 PHC Achieves Quality Respiratory Care Recognition

  Peninsula Hospital Center recently received its annual renewal as a national Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) hospital for 2007. This national certification program is aimed at helping patients and families make informed decisions about the quality of the respiratory care services available in the hospitals in their communities.   

  To qualify for the QCRC recognition award, Peninsula Hospital Center provided documentation showing that it met the following conditions: All respiratory therapists employed by the hospital to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold the CRT or RRT credential; Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours; other personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision must be designated in writing; a doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.

  Only 500, or approximately 10% of all of the hospitals in the United States have applied for and received this prestigious award. Ed Ozechowsky, Director of Cardio-Pulmonary Services oversees the respiratory therapy department of the hospital center was very pleased when he recently announced that Peninsula Hospital Center holds the distinction of receiving this award for the past five consecutive years.

 Shown here with one of the newly acquired state-of-the-art Critical Care Ventilators. 9L-R): Luciana Caputo, RT, Celestine Melville, RT, Edward Ozechowski, RT (Director, Respiratory Therapy) Sin Ying Ying, RT and Francois Colas, RT

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PRESS RELEASE

 PHC Leads the Way In New Surgical Technique

Dr. Gabriel’s New Procedure Draws Out-Of-Towners to PHC

                Nick H. Gabriel, D.O. F.A.C.O.S, Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Peninsula Hospital Center, performs Gastric Pacemaker insertions at the Hospital Center. Dr. Gabriel joined the staff of the Hospital Center in March of 2005 and in April of 2006, Dr. Gabriel performed a peninsula medical-history making surgery when he first utilized the new state-of-the-art laparoscopic surgical technology acquired by PHC.  He has published articles on electric stimulation for gastroparesis and has performed numerous identical surgeries at other facilities.

                These breakthrough operations performed by Dr. Gabriel at the Hospital Center mark the first of such surgeries in this area of the city and the surrounding areas. Out-of-town patients who underwent this groundbreaking surgery have traveled from as far away as Virginia and Florida for the opportunity of receiving first hand Dr. Gabriel’s special brand of proficiency.   Utilizing PHC’s FAA approved helipad, one of Dr. Gabriel’s patients was air lifted from Pennsylvania to undergo surgery.  In these cases, the patients were suffering from gastroparesis, a disabling and sometimes fatal, disease that often does not respond to medical treatment. Gastroparesis is a disorder in which food moves through the stomach more slowly than normal. Many patients diagnosed with this disease have difficulty eating and experience severe, chronic vomiting and nausea. In serious cases, some patients may need to have a feeding tube inserted to ensure sufficient nutrition. Causes of the disease include diabetes mellitus, anorexia and bulimia, lupus, and brain disorders. However, researchers who have studied this disease for sometime have found that nearly sixty percent of cases diagnosed as gastroparesis have no known origin.  Dr. Peter Galvin, Chief Medical Officer of the Hospital Center said, “Unfortunately diabetes is a growing problem, not just in our community, but world-wide.  Some Diabetic patients develop gastroparesis, which is essentially a paralysis of the stomach. This causes the patient severe eating and intestinal problems. Howard L. Sussman, M.D., Director, Department of Surgery at the Hospital Center added that, “This innovative procedure is very often the last hope for patients suffering from the frustrating realities of living with gastroparesis.”

                When patients are first diagnosed with gastroparesis they are encouraged to eat a diet consisting of frequent small meals low in fiber and fat. Although there are medications that are currently available in the United States to combat gastroparesis, many patients do not respond to them or become intolerant of their debilitating side effects. Until recently, when standard dietary and medicinal therapies have failed, a feeding tube or removing part of the stomach have been found to be the only remaining options for patients suffering from gastroparesis. However, the development of a gastric electrical simulation device, called Enterra Therapy, has opened a whole new world of opportunity for patients suffering from this devastating disease who have not responded to standard dietary or medicinal treatment. Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) uses the Enterra device, a gastric pacemaker, to provide mild electrical stimulation to the lower stomach nerves. Once inserted into the patient mild electrical pulses encourage the stomach to contract and help to relieve the nausea and vomiting associated with gastroparesis. GES is only utilized when medication is not effective in controlling symptoms that can include malnutrition and severe dehydration.

                Using the surgical expertise mastered by Dr. Gabriel, minimally invasive surgical techniques are used to insert the gastric pacemaker and place it just below the rib case inside of the abdomen. Two intramuscular lead wires with electrodes are implanted into the stomach muscle wall in order to deliver the mild electrical pulses that will be needed to combat the incapacitating symptoms of gastroparesis. According to Dr. Galvin, “We at PHC are pleased to be offering this new procedure to the public. Dr. Gabriel and his minimally invasive surgical team are on the cutting edge of medical care and patients will be coming from far and wide to avail themselves of this new procedure. Once again, PHC is proud to lead new developments in medical care in the Rockaways.

                Dr. Gabriel also serves as the Director of the Surgical Residency Program. He is Board Certified in General Surgery, with expertise in minimally invasive surgery. He has been in practice in the New York area for the past five years. He is widely published and trains surgeons in innovative minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Gabriel performs advanced laparoscopic procedures at Peninsula Hospital Center and is available for consultation. His private practice is located in the Department of Surgery on the fourth floor of the Hospital Center.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27th 2007  

Press Release:

PENINSULA HOSPITAL CENTER’S ANGELS ON THE BAY PEDIATRIC UNIT RECEIVES GIFT FROM ARTISTIC “ANGELS”

The Angels on the Bay Pediatric Unit at Peninsula Hospital Center is very proud to showcase the new and beautiful wall mural depicting an underwater scene which compliments the water theme throughout the Unit.  Maritza Muré, an artist herself and the wife of PHC Board of Directors member, Joseph Muré, Jr., was the driving force behind the concept of painting an aquatic-themed wall mural in the Pediatric Unit.  She then recruited other community talent to assist her in this large-scale endeavor.  Dale Murray, R.N., the Assistant Head Nurse of the Pediatric Unit says, “The children are amazed by the design and size of the new mural.”  The mural is directly across from the fresh water fish tank which is also loved by the children.  “We often see children looking at both attractions – with equal awe.  Frankly, all the adults are amazed by the mural, too!”  Robert V. Levine, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital Center was very appreciative of the project as well.  “It is always so gratifying when members of the community become directly involved in making a difference for patients at the Hospital Center.  Maritza and her fellow artists did an incredible job.” 

Shown in photo:  left to right -  Sherry Calamia, Maritza Muré and Maria Said.  Not shown in photo but others who assisted are:  Amanda Castellano, Julia Guglielmo and Lauren Pallini.

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Peninsula Hospital Center’s 100th Anniversary Ball Committee Meets

Peninsula Hospital Center’s 100th Anniversary Ball Committee continues its plans for the very special occasion of the Hospital’s Centennial Anniversary, which is scheduled for Sunday, November 4th, 2007 at Russo’s on the Bay. “We’re going to make this a very special occasion,” said Marvin Eisenstadt, co-chair of the event. “It is quite a milestone to have reached – 100 years of providing quality health care to the community.” Patte Bogen Roberts, Marvin’s co-chair, echoed that sentiment. “The Hospital Center is very proud of its long-standing commitment to the community and the community should support the hospital’s heritage.” Committee members pictured front row (l-r): Nancy Vardakis, Narendra Hadpawat, MD, Barbara Eisenstadt, co-chair Marvin Eisenstadt, Joel A. Miele, Sr. PE, Patte Bogen Roberts, co-chairperson. Top row (l-r): Lucy Salpeter, Sheila Schwartz, Lou Caucig, Josephine Miele, Phyllis Levine and David S. Ribet.

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PHC Offers FREE Angio Screening

Peninsula Hospital Center, as part of its “Century Projects”, has acquired the very latest in AngioScreen technology and is now offering FREE AngioScreenings. 

AngioScreen is a non-invasive 10 minute ultrasound procedure that tracts the flow of blood through the carotid arteries identifying places where plaque buildup has narrowed the walls of the arteries causing the flow to be restricted.  Early determination for the propensity for plaque buildup can prevent strokes and heart attacks by addressing the buildup areas prior to then becoming fully blocked.

A copy of the screening results are immediately provided to the patient and sent to the patients’ physicians.  Together the patient and his or her physician can determine whether any medical intervention may be necessary.  If a screening patient does not have a private physician, they are referred to a physician in our Family Health Center who will go over the screening results with them.

 To schedule a free AngioScreen, you may call 718-734-3119.

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