times TBHC
President’s Message:
Gary G. Terrinoni
OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH!
As everyone knows, the whole country takes this month to raise awareness of breast cancer treatment and prevention. Here are three ways TBHC is doing its part:
Come Walk With Us!
This year, TBHC is joining efforts with our Brooklyn Cancer Center to send a bigger-than-ever combined team to this year’s Annual Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, October 27. Staff, family, friends and patients alike are invited to join our team. So spread the word!
We will meet at 7:30 am at Coney Island Boardwalk and Maimonides Park, 1904 Surf Avenue. The threemile walk will start at 8 am and go to about noon. Click here to register!
If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, please click here to sign up.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Alyssa Kehr, 631.652.4781, akehr@nycancer.com
Wear Pink!
As is our tradition, we are inviting staff to wear pink, this year, on Friday, October 18. Join us for a group photo outside, by the flagpole in the center of the front driveway, at 10 am sharp. If you cannot make the group photo, take a picture of yourself and/or your team and send to marketing@tbh.org.
Schedule a Mammogram
Early detection is key and getting a mammogram is one of the best ways to catch issues early. This month we encourage all women 40 years and older to schedule this vital screening. TBHC has experts in breast imaging and state-of-the-art technology, including full-field digital mammography and breast ultrasound, minimally invasive biopsy services (stereotactic biopsy and ultrasound-guided biopsy). Visit tbh.org/breastimaging and make an appointment.
Dr. Natalie Igel, Chair of Radiology
Focus on Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
TBHC provides timely, high-quality evaluations and therapeutic interventions to treat a variety of disabilities. The main goal is to help patients function at their maximum potential. The team works closely with Cardiology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery and Pain Management, among others.
Working with the inpatients’ physicians, rehabilitation specialists evaluate and help patients manage symptoms from a surgery or illness. Additionally, the department offers:
Outpatient Rehabilitation
TBHC’s outpatient rehabilitation services are offered at the hospital on the 2nd floor of the West Pavilion. Outpatient services include:
Physical Therapy (PT), which provides evaluation and treatment of disabilities, injuries, diseases and other conditions using physical, chemical and mechanical means. Some of these modalities include heat, cold, sound, electricity, massage, mobilization and therapeutic exercises. We also specialize in the performance and interpretation of tests and measurements to assess pathophysiological, patho-mechanical and developmental deficits of human systems to determine treatment and assist in diagnosis and prognosis.
Occupational Therapy (OT), which provides customized treatment programs that help individuals achieve independence in their daily lives.
Dr. Tanya DiFrancesco Page, Chief, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, with an inpatient
Acute Rehabilitation Unit
TBHC has a 10-bed unit dedicated to patients who need intense, comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation before they return home, such as those who have experienced a stroke, bilateral joint replacement, amputation, neurological disorder, spinal cord or brain injury, hip fracture, among others.
Here, patients receive, and must be able to tolerate, a minimum of three hours of PT, OT, and speech and/ or swallow therapy daily for a week or more, depending on their functional deficits. Patients can be admitted to this unit from other TBHC units or from other hospitals by way of a doctor’s referral. All care is carefully coordinated with the referring physician. The specialized skills of rehabilitation medicine (physiatrists) and 24-hour rehabilitation nursing care are also required.
The acute rehab unit includes a gym with parallel bars, tilt tables, cable columns and balance training equipment. In addition, we offer an activity room with kitchen, laundry and shower facilities accurately replicating a typical home environment.
Bryce Wong, PT, with an outpatient
Beata Myszkowski, Occupational Therapist, with an acute care inpatient in the gym
at bedside
Hakeem Jeffries Annual Senior Picnic: We were proud to connect with our community and provide health screenings at the Hakeem Jeffries Annual Senior Picnic on August 27. It was a great opportunity to partner with leaders like House Minority Leader and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, NYS Senator Roxanna Persaud, NYS Assembly Member Jamie Williams, and NYC Council Member Mercedes Narcisse to support our local seniors. Shown here: Dady Joseph, PCA; Rep. Hakeem Jeffries; Mary Godineaux, AVP, Nursing, Maternal-Child Health; and Sakibeh Mustafa, Community Liaison.
Grant to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates. TBHC has been awarded a grant from Exact Sciences’ FOCUS Program. TBHC is one of 28 organizations sharing $1.5 million to improve colorectal cancer screening rates and make healthcare more accessible for underserved communities. The funding will support community outreach, education and screening services, aiming to reduce the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer in our area. Shown here: Madhavi Reddy, MD, and her Gastroenterology fellows reviewing an image from a colonoscopy.
Ed Becote Back-to-School Drive. This initiative begun in 2018 by the TBHC Patient Transport Team and was championed by our late colleague Ed Becote, who was one of the drive’s biggest advocates. Upon his passing in 2020, we made it an annual effort in his memory. Over the years we have raised thousands of dollars going directly towards school supplies for kids in nearby shelters. This year we surpassed our target of $6,000 and so opened up our efforts to the community. More than 200 backpacks, filled with supplies were given away to families who came to the event. Shown here, 1) COO John Ferrara; Eneida Becote, wife of the late Ed Becote, and Sr. VP Lenny Singletary. 2) Almitra Taylor, Sr. Director of Support Services; Janice Rodriguez, EVS Administrative Assistant, Jasabnias DeLeon, Manager, Surgery; Mario Serrano Jr., Patient Transport Operations Manager. 3) In memory of Ed Becote.
Hey TBHC, Get Your Seasonal Vaccines!
This is the season to start thinking about seasonal vaccines. Every TBHC staffer must get their flu shot. If you cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons or refuse the shot for any other reason, you will have to remain masked once flu season is officially declared by New York State (usually some time in December). The best time to get vaccinated for your own protection is in the autumn.
The fall season happens to also be an ideal time to get the Covid 2024-2025 vaccine, which can be given simultaneously with the flu shot. While Covid has proven to be a year-round virus, we know that the peak season is from November (Thanksgiving) through January (New Year’s plus a week or two). As such, the best protection is provided by getting vaccinated for Covid in November. However, if you are traveling or might be attending other large events, you may want to take that into consideration.
Dr. Robert DiGregorio, Chief Pharmacotherapy Officer, is happy to have a decision-making conversation with you about the appropriateness and timing of the Covid and/or influenza vaccine. Call him at x8182.
If you are opting to just get the required influenza shot, you can get it at Employee Health Services (see hours on graphic). There will also be “clinics” where you can get your shots in the Cafeteria further into the season. Keep your eye out for those upcoming dates.
If you opt to get the flu shot with Covid or another vaccine (like RSV or Mpox), make an appointment with the Vaccine Center at tbh.org/vaccines.
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