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HEALTHY LIVING • MARCH 10 - 16, 2021
Don’t Put Off Until Tomorrow What You Can Do Today Is it safe to go to the doctor for routine visits? BY CHRISTY HINKO
chinko@antonmediagroup.com
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n a mid- and post-pandemic world, there is a lot to consider when making appointments for routine doctors’ visits, like having your eyes checked or having a skin cancer screening. Naturally, people are nervous, cautious or even afraid to stick to their normal routines as has always been in the past. We have questions; is it clean enough, who might have been here, were they infected, were they screened, were they asymptomatic? And all for good reason. But doctors, nurses, administrators, who are all on the front line, every day, all day, assure us, it is as safe as it ever was. The Prevent Cancer Foundation recently released disturbing survey results, showing that more than 52 percent of American adults have missed, postponed or cancelled routine medical appointments and screenings because of COVID-19. “This second wave of the survey confirms our worst fears—the pandemic has made people more afraid to go to screenings and 32 percent are not their doctors. While exposure to the aware of which screenings they virus is an understandable concern, should be getting. people need to know that missing • Minorities (at every age group) appointments increases their risk for are most likely to be missing their other serious health issues, including appointments: African Americans (41 preventable cancers,” Carolyn “Bo” percent) and Hispanics (40 percent) Aldigé, founder and CEO of the Prevent are most likely to have missed, Cancer Foundation, said. postponed or canceled a health The survey released by the Prevent appointment. African American and Cancer Foundation reports: Hispanic women are most likely to • Two out of three Americans are miss a mammogram or PAP/HPV test. not getting recommended cancer • More than 19 percent of parents say
But Is It Safe?
they have missed their children’s scheduled vaccinations. • Nearly one-third of Americans who had a physical scheduled missed their appointment and one-fourth who had a dentist appointment scheduled missed their appointment. • Fear of exposure to COVID-19 is the number one reason why people are missing appointments. • More than six in 10 Americans who missed appointments say they
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plan to contact the doctor’s office to reschedule. Nearly one in 10 say they do not plan to reschedule. • Thirty-five percent say they are likely to take a colorectal cancer screening test at home. • Annual physicals, dentist appointments, mammograms, PAP/HPV tests and skin checks were the top missed appointments. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keep those routine medical appointments.
Who should not skip a routine Dr. Hernandez is an academic appointment? Who should hospitalist. He is core faculty We recently spoke with Nicholas Hernandez, MD, of Northwell Plainview consider postponing their visit? at Plainview Family Medicine Hospital to find out what local area doctors and staff have to say about the safety No one should skip a medical and Transitional Year residency and importance of keeping your routine checkups and screenings. Here’s what appointment. Many screening programs; an assistant professor for he had to say: visits are essential and delaying could the department of family medicine Is it safe to resume your reguof telehealth has allowed for a flexible lead to detrimental consequences, at the Donald and Barbara Zucker lar annual checkups, going for platform for those not comfortable to both short- and long-term. School of Medicine at Northwell routine visits? make a physical visit. Health/Hofstra University; a clinical What are the risks of going to Yes it is. Medical offices are folassistant professor at NYIT College If yes, what are their the doctor’s office for a routine lowing strict CDC guidelines on of Osteopathic Medicine; and facreasons? appointment? proper hygiene and social distancing. ulty at Hofstra Northwell Graduate Patients are afraid of exposure The risk is minimal. The benefits School of Nursing and Physician Are patients delaying routine to COVID-19 for themselves or outweigh the risks. Medical Assistant Studies. visits? Are you seeing a trend loved/cared for ones. Some may have practices that are not following state/ in less than normal visits? had a change of insurance or loss local health department and CDC —Christy Hinko contributed Some patients have been seen to of employment. Many patients are guidelines should be reported and you to this interview. delay, however the convenience waiting to get vaccinated first. should avoid the visit all together.
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Northwell Delivers First Doses Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
he third effective vaccine in the fight against COVID-19 arrived at several Northwell Health hospitals this week. The first use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine took place at South Shore University Hospital (SSUH), where a Long Island woman volunteered to receive the one-shot inoculation after recovering from hip replacement surgery. Susan Maxwell-Trumble, 67, of Babylon, said she was excited to finally get the vaccine as she readied for discharge after her March 1 surgery. “I have a few preexisting conditions and this vaccine will allow me some more freedom in my life,” Maxwell-Trumble said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine on Feb. 27. The J&J vaccine is 86 percent effective against the most severe form of COVID-19 and no patients who received the vaccine in their trials died or required hospitalization. It joins the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines in use throughout the U.S.
Northwell Health’s first Johnson & Johnson vaccine was delivered to a patient at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore. From left: Jay Enden, MD; Donna Moravick, NP; patient Susan Maxwell-Trumble; Stephen Bello; and vaccinator Jeanine Mucci, RN. (Photo courtesy of Northwell Health) The New York State Department of Health authorized its use for discharge patients over the age of 65 followed by those under 65 with comorbidities. “The addition of a third vaccine adds another weapon to the arsenal in fighting COVID-19,” Stephen Bello, PA, regional executive director of Northwell’s Eastern Region said. “In preparation for this over the last 48
hours, we’ve been thinking about the last year in which we’ve battled COVID-19 every day. When this started there was really only one weapon to fight this virus; the hard work, knowledge and dedication of the health care community.” Since Northwell’s first inoculation on Dec. 14—when Northwell vaccinated the first person in the nation
under FDA approval—the health care system has vaccinated more than 100,000 people, including 52,000 team members. As a one-dose inoculation that can be stored at regular refrigerated temperatures and can stay viable for up to three months, the J&J vaccine is easy to transport, store and distribute. It will boost the capacity to vaccinate twice the number of people over the same period of time. “This represents a pivot point for our patients,” Jay Enden, MD, medical director at SSUH said. “Before today, eligible non-vaccinated non-COVID patients who were discharged must recover at home and then begin the arduous process of trying to find a place to get a vaccine, try to get an appointment, wait for the appointment and then begin the three-tofour-week period where they need sequential vaccines. Starting today, we can discharge these patients to their period of recovery and at the same time as they recover, they can acquire immunity and protection.” —Submitted by Northwell Health
DAD I S TRAI LI N G OF F I N TH E MIDDL E OF HIS SEN TEN CES .
KNOW WHE R E AL Z H E I M E R’ S AN D ALL D E M E N T IA HIDE . New problems with words or speaking is a warning sign of Alzheimer’s. Learn more at alz.org/10signs 222930 M
HEALTHY LIVING • MARCH 10 - 16, 2021
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Vaccination Central At The Regency
hanks to an organized production on behalf of the Regency Administrative Team and CVS Pharmacy, residents and staff have received their first and second COVID-19 vaccinations. On Jan. 26, 100-year-old resident, Helen Brezil, received her first vaccine. On Feb. 16 Brezil was fully vaccinated after she had her second dose. She said she felt well and was grateful. It only took four hours for 125 residents and staff to be checked in, get vaccinated, wait 15 minutes for any side effects and carry on with their day. “I am appreciative of how organized the clinic was,” Regency resident Patricia Herrera said, who is a retired nurse. The CVS pharmacists on both vaccination dates were extremely professional with the administration of vaccines to all. The Regency Assisted Living, located in the heart of Glen Cove since 1993, is licensed as an Assisted Living Residence (ALR) with an Enhanced Assisted Living Residence (EALR) license, as well as a Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) license, which allows residents to comfortably “age in place.” —Submitted by The Regency Assisted Living
Patricia Herrera
Helen Brezil (Photos courtesy of The Regency)
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440 Northern Boulevard Great Neck, New York 11021
(516) 773-4646
630 Park Avenue New York, New York 10065
(212) 570-2500
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6A MARCH 10 - 16, 2021 • HEALTHY LIVING
Dr. Leon Schwechter Dr. Javier Morales
Dr. Craig Grobman Dr. Neena Shah
ADVANCED INTERNAL MEDICINE GROUP, P.C. EXPERTS in ADULT and GERIATRIC PRIMARY CARE TREATING CHRONIC and ACUTE CONDITIONS For over 35 years our Physicians have aimed to develop relationships with patients and families that help us provide personalized care. • Expert Diabetes Care • Providing Inpatient Care at St. Francis Hospital “The Heart Center” • Full on Site Lab for Same Day Results
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Some of the staff at NYU Langone Hospital Long Island Courtesy of NYU Langone
NYU Langone Awarded Highest Designation For Stroke Center
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YU Langone Hospital—Long Island has announced that it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for its Comprehensive Stroke Program, which is the highest level of stroke certification in the U.S. The Joint Commission is the nation’s largest healthcare accrediting body. The certification underscores NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island’s ability to treat the most complex stroke cases, responding within minutes—on a 24/7 basis—with a comprehensive team of experts that includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, interventional radiologists, neuroradiologists, emergency medicine physicians, critical care physicians and more. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the ability of a hospital to swiftly respond with the highest levels of expert care has been shown to lead to optimal patient outcomes. “The Joint Commission designation acknowledges our world-class capabilities in diagnosing and treating stroke patients,” Shazia Alam, DO, director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, said. “We’re a stroke hospital, not just a stroke program in a hospital. Not only does our stroke team possess some of the best experts in the region, but our entire hospital staff is trained to recognize and immediately activate our stroke protocols since every second matters with stroke patients.” NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island underwent a rigorous, multiday review by the Joint Commission, during which a team of reviewers evaluated the hospital’s compliance with certification standards pertaining to stroke program-management, quality, and the delivery of the most
expedient and advanced clinical care. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews. They commented, in their final report, on the hospital’s hard work, patience, and perseverance that has been evident during the pandemic and described the stroke program and its team members as “amazing, passionate, proactive, and innovative” and that “NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island has truly raised the bar in stroke care.” “The goal of our program is to meet or exceed all regulatory goals for gold-level care,” says Alam, “and that includes a very short, 25-minute window for the diagnosis and determination of critically needed care, which includes triage in the emergency room, specialized stroke care, and advanced imaging, all within 25 minutes. The hospital wants to be a ‘beacon on Long Island’ for stroke care.” NYU Langone Health has similar comprehensive stroke centers in Manhattan and Brooklyn. “We congratulate NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island for this outstanding achievement,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.” In addition to advanced treatments available for stroke patients at NYU Langone Health locations, the hospitals also offer advanced therapies, a dedicated neurocritical care unit, and extensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. NYU Langone Health also is on the cutting-edge of advances in clinical trials and research initiatives. Visit nyulangone.org to learn more. —Submitted by NYU Langone Health
HEALTHY LIVING • MARCH 10 - 16, 2021
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The Lesser Known: Hepatitis D
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iral hepatitis is common and the best-known viruses causing hepatitis are types A, B and C. Little known, but important, is delta hepatitis or hepatitis D. While delta hepatitis affects about 15-20 million worldwide compared to the hundreds of millions the others affect, it results in the most severe form of viral hepatitis with a significantly increased risk of developing liver failure, cirrhosis and liver cancer. By the numbers, 10 to 20 percent of people with hepatitis C will develop cirrhosis within 20 years of exposure, 20 percent of people with chronic hepatitis B will develop cirrhosis within five years and a staggering 70-80 percent of patients with hepatitis D will develop cirrhosis within five to 10 years. People with hepatitis D have a 60 percent mortality rate within 10 years. So why is hepatitis D relevant to us as this disease is far less common than the other viral hepatitis viruses? Interesting, of the 20 zip codes in the United States with the greatest prevalence of this infection, nine are located in our area with several of these on
THE SPECIALIST David Bernstein, MD
Long Island. None are more than an hour drive from Nassau County. So how does someone acquire hepatitis D? The risks factors for hepatitis D are similar to those of hepatitis B. The most common risk factors are sexual contact, intravenous drug use, tattoos and body piercing. Hepatitis D or delta hepatitis is unique as it only affects people with hepatitis B. Infection with delta hepatitis can occur at the same time as infection with hepatitis B, termed co-infection, or it may affect people previously infected with hepatitis B, termed super-infection. Co-infection usually results in acute
disease characterized by fatigue, abnormal liver tests and jaundice. Most people who simultaneously contract hepatitis B and D will recover within six months of exposure although a small percentage may develop acute liver failure or develop chronic disease. Superinfection with hepatitis D is more worrisome. This occurs when a person already infected with hepatitis B acquires hepatitis D. Superinfection leads to chronic disease in more than 90 percent of cases. In those patients whose hepatitis D resolves after superinfection, the underlying hepatitis B persists. Superinfected patients are the ones most likely to develop cirrhosis, liver cancer and need a liver transplant. In fact, superinfected patients develop liver cancer at a rate that is three times that of hepatitis B alone. There are currently no approved therapies for hepatitis D although injectable interferon therapy is used in some patient. Research is ongoing to develop new and effective therapies. Liver transplantation is the best treatment for end stage liver disease secondary to this virus with the risk
of reinfection of the graft low but still possible. Because of the lack of effective treatments, current strategies are focused upon disease prevention. There is no vaccination specifically formulated to prevent hepatitis D. Luckily, vaccination against hepatitis B will also protect an individual from acquiring hepatitis D. Risk factor avoidance is also effective. So, what is the take home message regarding hepatitis D? First, health care providers and patients should think about and test for this infection in the correct setting. And second, risk factor avoidance is good medicine as is universal hepatitis B vaccination, which will prevent against acquiring this worrisome and potentially deadly disease. David Bernstein, MD, FAASLD, FACG, AGAF, FACP, is the vice chair of medicine for clinical trials and chief of hepatology at the Sandra Atlas Bass Center for Liver Diseases. He is also a professor of medicine and science education at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell.
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