TBHC Times - April 2024

times TBHC

President’s Message: WHEN IT COMES TO COLONOSCOPY, 45 IS THE NEW 50

Gary G. Terrinoni

Every March, TBHC does its part to mark Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. We dress in blue (see Rounds, page 3), and double down on getting the word out about the lifesaving benefits of colonoscopy screenings. But this year, I really took note of the relatively new screening guidelines that recommends general colonoscopies should start at the age of 45, not 50.

Our Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, led by Madhavi Reddy, MD, Chief (shown below with her fellows reviewing colonoscopy results), does great work. They offer a comprehensive array of diagnostic

and treatment procedures for various gastrointestinal and liver conditions, but since we just finished up March, I’d like to focus on colonoscopy screening because maybe you’re as surprised as I am about the new guidelines. Colonoscopy can not only detect precancerous growths, they can remove them immediately during the procedure. And it’s easier than ever with the advent of low-volume prep solutions and pills, all available at TBHC.

Patients should discuss their medical history with their primary care provider, but the new colon cancer screening guidelines recommend:

• Individuals aged 45 to 75 should undergo screening for colon cancer, irrespective of symptoms.

• Patients older than 75 should consult with their doctor regarding continued screening.

• Individuals with a personal or family risk for colon cancer may need to begin screening earlier.

• Colonoscopy is typically done every 10 years unless results indicate more frequent screening.

THE EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER OF THE BROOKLYN HOSPITAL CENTER APRIL 2024

Pharmacy Offerings: More Options Than Ever Before!

TBHC offers full pharmacy service to our patients and employees, including both 340B pricing with prescription and over the-counter medications. We have two locations and a new collaboration with Clearway Health to provide specialty pharmaceuticals. Here’s a closer look:

Downtown Pharmacy

The Brooklyn Cancer Center

86 Fleet Place (courtyard entrance on Myrtle Ave. and Prince)

718.250.RX98 (7998)

Hours: Monday to Friday: 8 am to 4 pm

Delivery: Next-day home delivery service between 9 am to 1 pm or 1 pm to 5 pm Services

• Access to pharmacy specialists with expertise in anti-cancer medications

• Fill and refill all your prescriptions

• Access non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications

• Quick and easy transfer from your current pharmacy

• Free home delivery in New York City (all five boroughs), Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut

• Medication therapy management

• Comprehensive review of all medications

• Smoking cessation service

• Anticoagulation service

• Nutritional supplements

• New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) screening

• Notary Public

Outpatient Pharmacy at The Brooklyn Hospital Center

121 DeKalb Avenue (1st floor mezzanine, above main lobby)

718.250.RX00 (7900)

Hours: Monday through Friday: 9 am to 7:30 pm Saturday and Sunday: 10 am to 3 pm Services

• Fill and refill all your prescriptions

• Free home delivery in New York City (all five boroughs), Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut

• Quick, easy transfer from your current pharmacy

• Private, one-on-one counseling

• Convenient bedside delivery and medication counseling (Meds to Beds)

• Free medication flavoring

• Over-the-counter products

TBHC Employee Benefits

• Employee discounts available on over-the-counter products

• 90-day medication prescriptions

Specialty Pharmacy Medication

A new collaboration between Boston-based Clearway Health and TBHC was formalized to help improve access to specialty pharmacy medication for underserved patients with complex medical conditions. Patients on specialty medication therapies often require additional education, clinical management and ongoing support to remain adherent to their complex medication regimens and manage side effects. Specialty medications can be costly, increasing the challenges for patients to begin and continue these critical therapies. Together, Clearway Health and TBHC will provide specialty pharmacy services through in-clinic support from specialty pharmacists and patient liaisons to ensure patients receive coordinated, personalized care. Additionally, Clearway Health will help to unlock access to medications that are often inaccessible to local or regional hospitals, including access to limited distribution drugs and payer or pharmacy benefit manager lockouts.

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Focus On: Interventional Radiology

Our Vascular and Interventional Radiology team uses X-rays and other diagnostic images to guide catheters and tiny instruments through blood vessels or skin to the site of illness. These nonsurgical treatments often result in less pain, less time in recovery and less scarring (if any). Most interventional radiology procedures require only light intravenous sedation and patients usually go home the same day.

Sumeet Bahl, MD, and Brett Welke, MD (shown below), TBHC’s interventional radiologists, treat the following:

Women’s health

• Uterine fibroid embolization

• Gonadal vein embolization for pelvic congestion

• Hysterosalpingography for infertility

Men’s health

• Prostate artery embolization for enlarged prostate

• Gonadal vein embolization for varicocele

Interventional oncology (cancer diagnosis and treatment)

• Port placement for chemotherapy

• Biopsy

• Tunneled pleural and peritoneal catheters for malignant ascites

Visceral and renal angiography

• Splenic artery embolization for enlarged spleen

• Renal artery angioplasty for hypertension

Venous disease

• IVC filter placement and retrieval

• Venous stent placement

• Catheter-directed venous and pulmonary thrombectomy

Dialysis intervention

• AV fistulograme

Pain management

• Joint injection (hip, shoulder, knee, epidural and other)

Venous catheter placement

• Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) for infusions

• Tunneled hemodialysis catheter

Urinary intervention

• Nephrostomy tube placement

Call 718.250.6056 to make an appointment or visit tbh.org/BrooklynRadiology for more information on Interventional Radiology and other imaging services.

Rounds

1) Every February, TBHC staff wear red to spread awareness about cardiovascular disease and our excellent cardiology services through The Brooklyn Heart Center, and this February 1 was no different.

2) The colorful dressing continued with Wear Blue Day on March 1, to highlight the importance of colorectal cancer screening.

3) Monthly, Human Resources takes the time to orient new employees—and sometimes takes a photo! Please welcome these new faces!

4) On March 28, Volunteer Department hosted 22 high school students from George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School. Eight departments at TBHC participated to expose the students to various areas of the hospital and to different careers paths.