Mission Statement
We, at Catholic Health Services, humbly joint together to bring Christ’s healing mission and the mission of mercy of the Catholic Church expressed in Catholic health care to our communities.
St. Charles Hospital Service Area
St. Charles Hospital, founded in 1907, has served the residents of the Three Village area for more than 115 years. St. Charles is a 243-bed, acute care, full-service, community hospital and regional rehabilitation center with nine outpatient satellite rehabilitation sites across Long Island. Located in Port Jefferson, NY, St. Charles Hospital’s primary service area is Suffolk County. The chart below defines the zip codes and municipalities (towns) comprising St. Charles Hospital’s service area.
Demographics
Suffolk County’s total population as of 2020 is 1,481,362 (47.2% male; 50.8% female). Those ages 15-44 represent 35.4% of females; 36.7% of males; ages 60 plus represent 23.7% of males and 25.6% of females; those 18 years and older represent 78.8% of males and 79.8% females. The region is predominately White at 65.3% with 7.7% Black/African American and 4.4% Asian. Hispanic or Latino represent 22.4% of the population,1 about a four percent increase from the last report.
Geographic description
Suffolk County is 2,373 square miles and is the second largest county in New York. Catholic Health’s (CH) three hospitals in the county service this easternmost county in New Yok State and the county is divided into 10 towns: Babylon, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown, Brookhaven, Southampton, Riverhead, East Hampton, Shelter Island and Southold.2 Suffolk County is an area of growing diversity, cultures, and population characteristics.
1U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census 2https://www.ny.gov/counties/suffolk
Socioeconomic information
In terms of household income, 35.2% of the population earns less than $74, 999 with 15% of that group earning less than $34,999 annually. Of the population, 8% of those under 18 years of age live in poverty, while 6% of those ages 18 to 64 live in poverty and for those ages 18 -34, 6.7% live in poverty.3
The percentage of the population (5 years and over) that speaks a language other than English at home is 30.3%, with Spanish the dominant foreign language spoken 14.7% followed by other Indo/European languages 8.7% and Asian languages 5.1%. In terms of education, for those age 25 and over, 89.4% are high school graduates or higher, 31.9% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The percent of the total population uninsured is 4.2%. Of that percent, non-citizens represent 32% of the uninsured. Hispanic/Latino represent 42.1% of the uninsured followed by Black/African American 10%, White 63.9%, Asian 6.5%. Of the uninsured, 37.6% earn less than $74,999 household income and 9.1% earn under $25,000 household income. Approximately 9.6% of the total noninstitutionalized population is disabled. By race/ethnicity, 10.6% of the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander population is disabled, 13.6% of the American Indian/Alaska Native population is disabled, 10% of the White population is disabled, 9.6% of the Black/African American population is disabled, and 7.2% of the Hispanic/Latino population is disabled. Native American/Pacific Islanders account for less than one percent of the county’s population.4
Income – one social determinant of health – precludes individuals from low-income communities from accessing preventive and/or medical care due to their difficulty to afford co-payments/deductibles (if insured) or care at all if they are uninsured. The inability to afford co-pays and deductibles consistently rises to the top as a barrier to health care on Long Island Health Collaborative’s (LIHC) Community Health Assessment Survey year and after year. The median household income in the past 12 months by race is $107,422 (White), $85,840 (Black), $91,711 (Hispanic/Latino). Mean income in the past 12months, per capita by race is $50,352, $33,170 and $28,414, respectively.4 According to research conducted by the United Way of New York’s ALICE report,5 Long Island residents are earning wages that do not cover life’s basic costs. As of 2020, 31.5% of Long Island households fall below the set income threshold needed to live and work, which equates to 130,599 households in Nassau County and 171,921 households in Suffolk County, struggling to afford these basic needs.
Key Health Partners
Partnering with community-based organizations is the most effective way to determine how the health priorities will be addressed As part of our collective impact strategies to promote health and well-being for residents in our communities, St. Charles Hospital has strong relationships with local and regional community-based organizations, libraries, schools, faith-based organizations, the local health department, local fire departments and municipalities that support and partner with us to reduce chronic disease, mental health and substance misuse, and to promote health equity. Some of St. Charles’ partners include: the LIHC, the Suffolk County Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities and Catholic Faith Network (CFN).
Public Participation
St. Charles Hospital, along with Catholic Health’s (CH) other five hospitals, worked with the Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC) and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDOHS), and dozens of
3U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey, Five-Year Estimate
4U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey, Five-Year Estimate 5https://www.unitedwayli.org/ALICE2020
community-based organizations, libraries, schools and universities, local municipalities, and other community stakeholders to produce the CHNA. SCDOHS representatives offered input and consultation, when appropriate, regarding the data analyses conducted by the LIHC and DataGen. Top, high-level findings include a continued prevalence of chronic disease incidence, particularly heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. Further, surging rates of mental health and substance misuse issues among all demographic categories was found, with disparity seen among youth, and low-income communities of color continuing to experience a higher burden of disease overall. In 2022, members of the LIHC reviewed extensive data sets selected from both primary and secondary data sources to identify and confirm New York State Prevention Agenda priorities for the 2022-2024 Community Health Needs Assessment cycle. Data analysis efforts were coordinated through the LIHC, which served as the centralized data return and analysis hub.
Results of Community-Wide Survey
Primary data was obtained from a community health needs assessment sent to individuals and a similar survey to community-based organization leaders6. Additionally, we looked at results from two qualitative studies to round out our primary data.7 Secondary data was derived from publicly-available data sets curated by DataGen into its proprietary data analytics platform, CHNA Advantage ™, offering 200 plus metrics to determine health issues within Suffolk County.8 As such, priorities selected for the 2022- 2024 cycle remain unchanged from the 2019 – 2021 cycle selection, and the selected health disparities in which partners are focusing their efforts rests on the inequities experienced by those in historically underserved communities and communities of color.
Community Health Priorities for 2023-2025
Primary data and secondary data demonstrate that residents living in Suffolk County are experiencing poor mental health status. The 2021 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Rankings examining Suffolk County in Quality-of-Life Health Outcomes demonstrates an average of 4.0 poor mental health days per 30 days in Suffolk County.9 Mental health issues have soared in the past two years, spurred in part, by the effects of the pandemic. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s COVID-19 Household Pulse Survey (April 23, 2020 – October 26, 2020), a New York State Health Foundation analysis found that more than one-third of adult New Yorkers reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, with racial and ethnic groups of color as well as low-income New Yorkers, reporting the highest rates of poor mental health. However, the 18 – 34- year-old age group reported the highest rates (49%) of poor mental health.10 High school students (grades 9 through 12) fared just as badly. A number of studies found poor mental health
6Community Health Assessment Survey (CHAS) assessing responses from individuals, summary report and survey instrument (Appendix A) CBO Survey Analysis 2022, assessing responses from community-based organization leader, summary report and survey instrument (Appendix B)
7Qualitative Analysis of Key informant Interviews Conducted among Community-Based Organization Leaders (Appendix C) Long Island Libraries: Caretakers of the Region’s Social Support and Health Needs: Qualitative Analysis (Appendix D)
8Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS), New York State Prevention Agenda dashboard, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Extended Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (eBRFSS), New York State Community Health Indicators by Race/Ethnicity Reports, Community Health Indicator Reports, Prevention Quality Indicators, CDC Places, and U.S. Census Bureau. The CHNA Advantage™ data analytics platform includes these and other state and national level indicators. It also encompasses social risk measures offered by Socially Determined, Inc. 9https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/new-york/2021/compare/snapshot?counties=36_059%2B36_103 10https://nyhealthfoundation.org/resource/mental-health-impact-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic-in-new-yorkstate/#:~:text=The%20proportion%20of%20New%20Yorkers,health%20throughout%20the%20survey%20period
along with suicide ideation intensified during the pandemic for high schoolers. An April 2022 analysis of data from the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey revealed that 37.1% of students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, and 31.1% experienced poor mental health during the preceding 30 days.11 The pandemic made a bad situation worse, especially for youth, as mental health issues and suicides were already increasing prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.12 13 14 15 With the shortage of mental health care workers and the lingering psychological effects of the pandemic, mental health services remain a top priority for the region.
The county also saw an uptick in opioid-related overdoses and deaths after having made some gains prior to the pandemic. As of 2019, Suffolk County still exceeds the New York state benchmark of 15.1 in overdose deaths per 100,000 due to opioids. According to data provided by Suffolk County’s Department of Health, the rate of opioid overdoses is currently 19.6. In addition, emergency department visits involving heroin overdoses is extremely high in the county. As of 2019, the Suffolk County rate is 47.2 compared to New York State’s benchmark of 31.1 per 100,000 population.16
Another health disparity identified in primary and secondary research is adult obesity. According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings for Suffolk County,17 27% of the population (18 and older) reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m.18 In 2019, The New England Journal of Medicine studied projected adult obesity in the United States by 2030 based on today’s obese and overweight adult populations.19 By 2030, the obesity epidemic is projected to impact nearly 1 in 2 adults.
According to the New York State Department of Health, obesity is a significant risk factor for many chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, stroke, heart disease and certain types of cancer. The prevalence of chronic diseases is persistent in the county. Nationally, communities of color experience higher rates of chronic disease. Using diabetes as an example, the American Indian/Alaska Native population represents 14.5 percent of adults 18 or older who are diagnosed with diabetes followed by Black, non-Hispanic at 12.1% and Hispanic overall at 11.8% in the United States. Asians and Whites experience the disease at 9.5% and 7.4% respectively.20 Health providers report that many individuals delayed preventive care and routine screenings due to the pandemic, leading to more complicated cases and unfavorable outcomes. Chronic diseases are preventable conditions sensitive to lifestyle (diet/physical activity) habits but hampered by the obstacles presented by social determinant of health factorsincome/employment, race/ethnicity, food access, housing/neighborhood location, and level of education. The county and hospitals identified in this report through collaborative efforts and facility-specific programming acknowledge and address these determ inants regularly. ________________________
11https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/su/su7103a3.htm? s_cid=su7103a3_w
12https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6630a6.htm
13https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mental-health.htm
14Weinberger, A. et al. (August 2017) Trends in depression prevalence in the USA from 2005 – 2015: widening disparities in vulnerable groups. Psychological Medicine, 1-10
15Bitsko, R et al. (2018) Epidemiology and impact of healthcare provider-diagnosed anxiety and depression among US children. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 1-9.
16https://webbi1.health.ny.gov/SASStoredProcess/guest?_program=/EBI/PHIG/apps/opioid_dashboard/op_dashboard&p=ch& cos=47
17https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/new-york/2022/measure/factors/11/map
18https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/prevention/injury_prevention/information_for_action/docs/2021-02_ifa_report.pdf
19https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1909301
20https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/health-equity/diabetes-by-the-numbers.html
St. Charles Hospital Interventions, Strategies and Activities
Priority Number One: Prevent Chronic Disease
Goals and selected interventions concentrate on Focus Area 4: Chronic Disease Preventive Care and Management, with additional programming addressing other focus areas.
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Live Better Awareness Campaign: Promote healthy eating and food security to increase skills and knowledge to supply healthy food and beverage choices. The goal is to decrease the percent of adults over 18 with obesity in low-income communities of color.
Process measures:
St. Charles Hospital provided numerous healthy eating programs in the community. On February 13th, from 122pm, a Go Red for Heart Health event was held in the hospital’s main lobby. It was open to all those who visited the hospital. Our Nutrition employees provided heart healthy food samples & recipes along to 25 people who attended the event.
On February 8th and 9th, we provided two “Heart Healthy Nutrition” programs at the Port Jefferson Middle School to 50 students.
On March 7th, for National Nutrition Month, a hospital Registered Dietician promoted healthy eating habits to 430 elementary school students (K-2 Grade) during three separate lectures at Shoreham Wading River Elementary School. The program was called “Eat the Colors of The Rainbow.”
On March 27th, from 11:30am-1:30 pm our hospital Registered Dietitians set up a table in the hospital lobby with healthy food choic es and presented educational material to 30 people for National Nutrition Month.
On May 31th, from 11am -12pm, a hospital Registered Dietician provided the presentation “Nutrition for Seniors at Adult Day Haven Services in Ronkonkoma for 25 people.
On September 25, from 2pm – 3pm, at the Port Jefferson Library, a hospital registered dietician presented “Eat the Colors of the Rainbow” to 12 elementary school students, including their parents.
The hospital prepared 10,450 meals through the Meals of Hope Food Packaging and Distribution program. These are being delivered to local parishes and shelters.
On October 5, St. Charles staff from multiple disciplines, including food and nutrition, hosted a health fair for residents at Bristal Assisted Living Mt. Sinai, for 50 attendees.
On November 1, St. Charles registered dietician Gwen Degnan, provided educational material at the hospital regarding proper nutrition for Diabetes Awareness Month, 10 attendees.
On November 6th, registered dietician Alyssa Morando, provided a presentation on diabetes, food and nutrition at St. Gerard Majella RC Church, 20 attendees.
2. Bariatric educational seminars, offered to pre- and post-bariatric surgery patients.
Process measures:
St. Charles Hospital provides monthly Bariatric Support Group Meetings facilitated by an RN and features various guest speakers, including registered dieticians, psychologists and various physician specialists. Meetings have been virtual for most of 2023 and only in July became Hybrid (virtual and in-person).
Support Group meeting dates and attendance are as follows: January 18th, 105 registered 57 attended; February 15th, 99 registered and 58 attended; March 15th, 83 registered and 53 attended; April 19th, 93 registered and 49 attended; May 17th, 83 registered 49 attended; and June 21st, 108 registered and 35 attended; Oct 18th, 45 attended; Nov 15th, 47 attended.
3. Free blood pressure screenings are provided at local community organizations.
Process measures:
St. Charles professionals offered blood pressure screenings at the following locations:
Port Jefferson Library blood pressure screenings are offered free of charge on the second Friday of the month from 3 pm -4:30 pm. From January to September, 9 BP screening sessions have been held with a total of 70 participants. The dates of the screenings were: 1/13, 2/10, 3/10, 4/7, 5/12, 6/9, and 7/14, 8/11, 9/8
Go Red for Heart Health Month was held in the hospital lobby on February 3, from 12-2 pm: 25 BP screenings were provided.
A Cinco de Mayo event was held in the hospital lobby in honor of Stroke Awareness Month. Stroke awareness and prevention information was provided along with free blood pressure screenings. Fifteen BP screenings were provided.
At the HIA-LI Tradeshow Event, we provided health and wellness information and provided 12 BP screenings.
National Nutrition Month event was held in the hospital lobby, and we provided 30 BP screenings.
On October 5th, St. Charles staff hosted a health fair at Bristal Assisted Living in Mt. Sinai and provided 25 BP screenings.
On October 29th, St. Charles staff hosted a Healthy Sunday at St. Francis Cabrini in Coram and provided 10 BP screenings.
On November 12th, St. Charles staff hosted a Healthy Sunday at St. Rosalie’s RC Church in Hampton Bays, 29 BP screenings.
4. St. Charles Hospital employees including registered dieticians who provide educational program s, lectures, school districts and community members.
Process measures:
Two Heart Healthy Nutrition Zoom presentations were given to Port Jefferson Middle School. There were 25 students were in each class. Presentations were given on February 8th and 9th
On March 7th, for National Nutrition Month, a hospital Registered Dietician promoted healthy eating habits to 430 elementary school students (K-2 Grade) during three separate assembly presentations at Shoreham Wading River Elementary School in a program called “Eat the Colors of the Rainbow.”
Two virtual “Be a Stroke Superhero” presentations were given to a total of 50 students (Port Jefferson Middle School). Expert presenters, including our hospital Neurologist, Stoke Coordinator, an RN, a Registered Dietician, sleep specialist and a physical therapist, who provided a coordinated presentation to inform and reduce risks of stroke and highlight the signs and symptoms of a stroke.
5. Expand access to evidence-based self-management interventions for individuals with chronic disease (arthritis, asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity) whose condition(s) is not well-controlled with guidelines-based medical management alone. Educating and informing through classes, distributing written information or using educational software.
Process measures:
From March through April 2023, St. Charles Hospital hosted a seven- week, evidence-based falls prevention program called “Stepping On”. There were 15 registrants. The program incorporates a comprehensive multidisciplinary itinerary that reduces the risk of falling. The program at St. Charles Hospital is held twice a year, spring and fall, and is instructed by two certified therapists.
St. Charles Hospital participated in the Annual Port Jefferson Health & Wellness Fair on April 22 at the Meadow Club. An educational table was provided with numerous flyers from Substance Use Disorders services, cancer prevention information and healthy eating choices. The hospital, as a sponsor of the event, provided healthy nutritious meals to all about 200 vendors and community guests. Dr. William Sellers, a colorectal surgeon, was at the event to provide survey screenings and information regarding current Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines. Approximately 10 people were educated on colon cancer.
A free community-based exercise program is held at St. Charles Hospital and facilitated by a hospital physical therapist twice a year. The program is called “People with Arthritis Exercise” and was held from March 5th–May 3rd twice a week from 10am-11am. There were 18 participants in the program.
Go Red for Heart Health Month was held in the hospital lobby on February 3rd, from 12-2pm and 25 BP screenings provided.
St. Charles hosted a Falls Prevention Stepping On program, which started September 7th to last seven weeks. 13 have registered.
6. Healthy Sundays: BP and BMI screenings, flu vaccinations, health education and referrals to follow up care.
Process measures:
St. Charles Hospital hosted three Healthy Sunday events:
• Sunday, October 8, 2023, St. John the Evangelist, Riverhead, 3-6pm, 14 flu vaccinations were administered.
• Sunday, October 29, 2023, St. Francis Cabrini, Coram, 12-3pm, 15 flu vaccinations were administered, 10 BP screenings.
• Sunday, November 12, 2023, St. Rosalie, Hampton Bays, 3:30pm – 5:30pm, 37 flu vaccinations were administered, 29 BP screenings.
7. Offer free colon cancer education and arrange free screenings, if appropriate. A partnering physician practice will provide free endoscopies and colonoscopies for those in need and who do not access to care.
Process measures:
St. Charles Hospital participated in the Annual Port Jefferson Health & Wellness Fair on April 22 at the Meadow Club. An educational table was provided with numerous flyers from Substance Use Disorders services, Cancer Prevention information and healthy eating choices. Dr. William Sellers, a colorectal surgeon, was at the event to provide survey screenings and information regarding current Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines. Ten people were educated on colon cancer.
8. Offer the evidence-based National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) each year.
Process measures:
Two St. Charles Hospital employees have been recently trained in facilitating the evidence-based Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and tentatively will be hosting a DPP starting in the spring of 2024.
9. Employee Running/Walking Club
Process measures:
In collaboration with the Long Island Health Collaborative, St. Charles Hospital and local village government agencies held a Walk Safe with a Doc event on April 19th. After a brief presentation on the health benefits of walking and a safety presentation, 25 participants walked 2 miles through Port Jefferson.
St. Charles Hospital participated in the Marcum Challenge on July 25th. Sixteen employees and their families participated. St. Charles Hospital had representation at the event with a second place Top Dog finisher, a First place in the Men’s Healthcare Challenge division and a Top Ten All Men’s team finish.
Future running events include the Catholic Health Suffolk County marathon, half, 10k and 5k in October, raising money and awareness of veterans in need.
10. Educational presentations on 23 topics offered by subject matter experts through the Speakers Bureau. Topics include Diabetes: Myths & Truths, Nutrition for Heart Health, Striking Out Strokes, Smoking Cessation, Falls Prevention, among others.
Process measures:
St. Charles has provided 23 educational presentations or programs that have taken place from January 1 through June 30, 2023. The following is a list of community programs that were held with the number of attendees.
January 13, Blood Pressure Screening at Port Jefferson Library - 12 BPs
February 3, Go Red for Heart Health - 25 educated
February 7, Heart Health & CPR - 25 educated
Feb 8 and 9th, Heart Healthy Nutrition – 50 students educated
February 17, Sing a Song of Health the Heart Benefits of Music -70 attendees
March 7, Eat The Colors of The Rainbow - 430 students
March - April Stepping On Falls Prevention program - 14 attendees
March 14, Lyme disease Presentation – 15
March 16, Compassionate Communication-De-Escalation – 35
March 24, Catch This Before You Fall – 90
March 27, National Nutrition Month – 30
March 30, Catch This Before You Fall – 40
April 12, Hearing Presentation and Audiology Screening- 40
April 19, Walk Safe With A Doc 25
April 19, Maintain Your Brain Through Music- 15
April 20, The Circuitry of Fear: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – 15
April 21, Esophageal Cancer Awareness – 20
April 22, Port Jefferson Health and Wellness Fair- 200
April 24, Parkinson’s Lecture- 90
April 25, Be a Stroke Super Hero – 50
April 27, Catch This Before You Fall – 15
April 28, Music Therapy’s Impact as a career choice - 10
May 5, Cinco-De-Mayo – 15
May 31, Nutrition for Seniors – 25
June 7, Give Veterans a Smile Day – 15
July 8, Suffolk by The Sea – 100
Aug 1, National Night Out at the Centereach Pool Complex
Aug 2, World Breast Feeding Awareness Month, 15
Aug 29, Veterans Stand Down Event, 200
Aug 31, Sleep Medicine and its Application in Dentistry at SBU, 75 students and 2 doctors
Aug 31 National Drug Overdose Day, 50
Sept 7, Stepping On Falls Prevention, 13
Sept 13, RSVP Tribute, 5BPs, 250 attendees
Sept 16, Port Jefferson Dragon Boat Race, 7 BPs, two of which were high.
Sept 19, Lymes Disease Presentation at the PJ Rotary, 15
Sept 18, Substance Use Disorder Presentation to Middle Country Central School District (Newfield, Selden, Centerach and Dawnwood), 5565 educated, with 14 presentations total, 6th – 8th graders.
Sept 22, Prostate Screening, 6
Sept 25, Eat the Colors of the Rainbow at PJ library, 12
Sept 30, St. Charles Drive Thru Flu Pod, 12
Oct 4, Nov 17, Moving for Arthritis Classes, 29 registered
Oct 5, Bristal Assisted Living Mt. Sinai, St. Charles hosted health fair, 50 attendees
Oct 17, Sport Injury EMS presentation at St. Charles, 20 attendees
Oct 19, CAST Health fair education table in Riverhead, 150 attendees
Oct 22, Suffolk County Marathon education table, 100 attendees
Oct 23, Know the Signs and Symptoms of Stroke, Save a Life, 10 attendees
Oct 23, How to Handle Stress and Anxiety presentation at Day Haven Adult Day Services, 30 attendees
Nov 1, Give Vets a Smile Day, 26 registered
Nov 1, Diabetes Education Table, 10 attendees
Nov 6, Diabetes 101 and Hands Only CPR, 20 attendees
Nov 7, Western Suffolk BOCES School Nurses Conference Day, 100 attendees
Nov 8: Non-Surgical Treatments for Back and Neck Pain at Huntington Library, 50 attendees
Nov 9, Blood Drive at St. Charles, collected 47 pints.
Nov 9, Lyme Disease, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment at CAST Center, Riverhead, 15 attendees
Nov 16, Prostate Cancer Screening, Suffolk County Police Department, Yaphank, 29 screened
Nov 30, Falls Prevention at Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 70 attendees
11. Promote tobacco use cessation.
Process measures:
In collaboration with the Suffolk County Department of Health, St. Charles Hospital held a successful Tobacco Free workshop series on 7/20/23. There were eight people registered.
12. Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
Process measures: We plan to host a Chronic Disease Self-Management workshop to be held at St. Charles Hospital. No dates have been set; it will possibly be held in the spring 2024
13. Walk Safe with a Doc
Process measures:
In collaboration with the Long Island Health Collaborative, St. Charles Hospital and local village government agencies a Walk Safely with a Doc event was held on April 19. After a brief presentation on the health benefits of walking and a safety presentation. Approximately 25 participants walked 2 miles through Port Jefferson.
Additionally, in collaboration with the LIHC, for Walk with a Doc there have been 42 combined walkers and for Talk with a Doc there have been a total of 185 combined attendees.
Plans are being discussed with the LIHC to host another Walk with a Doc or Walk Safely with a Doc.
Priority Number Two: Promote Well—Being and Prevent Mental and Substance Use Disorders
Goals and selected interventions concentrate on Focus Area 2: Mental and Substance Use Disorders Prevention , with additional programming addressing other focus areas.
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Continue to distribute CH's Mental Health Substance Use Disorder Services Guide to CH community partners at all outreach events, including hospital health fairs and Healthy Sunday’s events. The guide is available as a download from the CH website.
Process measures:
St. Charles Hospital and Catholic Health’s corporate team continues to work collaboratively with Suffolk County Superintendents to address community substance use disorder. On April 5th, our Adolescent Detox Program brochure was mailed to 75 superintendents in Suffolk County as a result of the collaboration.
On July 8th, St. Charles Hospital Substance Use Disorders (SUD) provided educational resources from our Detox center for the Suffolk PTA that hosted Suffolk by the Sea, an educational event with 100 teachers, administrators, PTA and community members. Educational information regarding the hospital’s adolescent detox program was also presented at the resource table.
The Sherpa Program, a free service provided by Family & Children’s Association, is comprised of recovery coaches trained to meet with overdose survivors and their families in the Emergency Department. The team directs people to treatment, offers encouragement and follow-up. St. Charles Hospital’s collaboration with the Sherpa program resulted in 221 interventions between January and November 2023.
St. Charles Hospital will continue to share the mental health guides with parishes and at all community outreach events.
As a result of our parish partnership with St. Gerard Majella and hoping to promote well-being, a St. Charles Hospital employee, Sr. Edith, provided a presentation on Building Inner Resilience: 52 people attended this inperson presentation.
St. Charles Hospital partnered with Middle Country School District in September 2023 and had two of our staff members from the Chemical Dependency Program educate parents and students alike about substance use, signs to look out for, and help available for detox and rehab needs. The schools in the partnership included: Centereach HS, Newfield HS, Dawnwood Middle School & Selden Middle School, educating 5,000 students over the course of a week.
2. There is a 40-bed dedicated unit at St. Charles for the safe and medically-supervised detoxification process. These are used for post-detoxification rehabilitation through a 21-day, inpatient program.
Process measures:
St. Charles Hospital’s Inpatient Detox program saw 600 admissions from January 1, 2023-November 2023 and the Inpatient Substance Abuse Disorder Rehab has seen 761 admissions during the same time period.
3. CH and St. Charles Hospital staff will distribute Narcan to qualified patients.
Process measures:
Twenty-nine from January 1 –June 30th 2023. From July 1st- Nov 30th, we dispensed a total of 118 Narcan sprays.
4. To further the continuum of care for patients post-discharge from both the detoxification program and the rehabilitation program. St. Charles offers numerous support groups post-discharge, including: Monthly Al-Anon Family Support Group - Step Meeting, Weekly Al-Anon Family Support Group – Beginners’ Meeting, Weekly Alcoholics Anonymous - Back to Basics, Weekly Alcoholics Anonymous - Living Sober, Weekly Narcotics Anonymous.
Process measures:
From March-September 2023, 32 meetings have been held, Al-Anon and Legacy. An average of 18 people attend per meeting for a total of 576 attendees.
5. Offer an education conference for health care professionals.
Process measures:
Dr. Ajay Berdia presented to medical staff regarding two topics, including a presentation on January 9, 2023, regarding Emergent Large Vessel Occlusion and on February 20, 2023, regarding Acute Stroke Management. At each of these presentations, 10 were in attendance.
6. Promotion of all programs, events, education offered by collaborative members that speak to the prevention of mental and substance use disorders. Posts in LIHC weekly communications newsletter, social media postings, cross promotion of member events, programs on all media platforms. Promotion on CFN and CH social media, website, and community-targeted publications.
Process measures:
In an effort to promote services available at St. Charles Hospital’s chemical dependency withdrawal and rehabilitation, Port Jeff Cinema ran a four-month display ad on all seven of their theater screens, which started in May 2023-August 2023.
In addition, the St. Charles Hospital president taped a radio PSA with WALK Radio which ran all of its five sister stations regarding our chemical dependency withdrawal and rehabilitation services. The PSA was taped in December 2022 and aired in January 2023.
The hospital also relies upon the Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC) to disseminate information about the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity among the general public to assist Nassau residents in better managing their chronic diseases and/or preventing the onset of chronic diseases. The hospital also relies upon the LIHC to disseminate information about mental health prevention and treatment services and programming, as well as relevant information about substance misuse. Dissemination of information is achieved through the bi-weekly Collaborative Communications e-newsletter, which is sent to 588 communitybased organization leaders, and strategic use of social media platforms. These efforts are ongoing.
Priority Number Three: Promote a Healthy and Safe Environment
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Connect older adults and people with disabilities with evidence-based falls prevention programs such as Stepping On or A Matter of Balance.
Process measures:
On March through April 2023, St. Charles Hospital hosted a seven- week, evidence-based falls prevention program called “Stepping On”. There were 15 registrants. The program incorporates a comprehensive multidisciplinary itinerary that reduces the risk of falling. The program at St. Charles Hospital is held twice a year, spring and fall, and instructed by two certified therapists.
St. Charles Hospital hosted a seven-week, evidence-based falls prevention program called “Stepping On”. The program incorporates a comprehensive multi-disciplinary itinerary that reduces the risk of falling. The program at St. Charles Hospital is held twice a year, spring and fall, and instructed by two certified therapists. From September 2023 – October 2023 there were 13 registrants.
In collaboration with Stony Brook Hospital, we have partnered in obtaining a Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging licensure for the next three years, which will enable us to provide a falls prevention program system wide.
Priority Number Four: Promote Healthy Women, Infants and Children
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Nurses to take coursework to be certified as breastfeeding counselors. Training initiatives are under way.
Process measures:
Currently St. Charles Hospital has 19 nurses who currently are Certified Breastfeeding Counselors. Discussions currently being held for untrained RNs in unit to attend next training opportunity on November 14, 2023.
From July 2023–November 2023, 70 participants attended a lactation support group, which meets every Thursday at St. Charles Hospital.
2. Through partnership with Suffolk County offices, children in need of early intervention will be identified and referred to the program at St. Charles Hospital.
Process measures:
There have been 594 early Childhood Intervention referrals received from the Suffolk County Department of Health from January 2023-November 2023.
Priority Number Five: Prevent Communicable Diseases
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Offer vaccines in locations and hours that are convenient to the public including pharmacies, vaccine only clinics, and other sites that are accessible to people of all ages.
Process measures:
St. Charles Hospital had a drive thru flu vaccination event on Saturday, Sept 30 2023, 10 vaccinations were provided.
St. Charles Hospital hosted three Healthy Sunday events:
• Sunday, October 8, 2023, St. John the Evangelist, Riverhead 3-6pm, 14 flu vaccinations were administered.
• Sunday, October 29, 2023, St. Francis Cabrini, Coram 12-3pm, 15 flu vaccinations were administered, 10 BP screenings.
• Sunday, November 12, 2023, St. Rosalie, Hampton Bays 3:30pm – 5:30pm, 37 flu vaccinations were administered, 29 BP screenings.
Living the Mission
The CH mission is the driving force behind all community outreach activities. In addition to the interventions summarized above, St. Charles Hospital, along with the Catholic Health skilled nursing facilities, Catholic Health Home Care, and Good Shepherd Hospice, provide additional outreach programs that emphasize the health care ministry of the Catholic Church and social determinants of health.
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Virtual education series streaming on YouTube, that provides short videos on various topics
• We launched the program with a six-part “Diabetes Education” series describing different topics related to diabetes such as, Meal Planning, Foot Care, Dining out Tips, and more.
• A second nine-part series on Keeping Your Child Safe at Every Age was added.
• Catholic Health also offers an ongoing Health Tips series discussing topics such as Stroke vs. Aneurysm, What You Need to Know about C-Sections, and Prostate Cancer Awareness, among others.
2. Broadcast health-related television shows for the public in collaboration with Catholic Faith Network provide education and prevention lectures to improve knowledge related to specific diseases and conditions, preventive care, and up-to-date treatment options.
• There are 20 shows posted across 10 months with Catholic Health President and CEO, Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, and a Catholic Health cardiologist, Dr. David D’Agate. The “Stronger Together” series with Dr. D’Agate discusses topics such as Cardiac Health, Sleep, Fertility, and Access to Care. The shows with Dr. O’Shaughnessy and Monsignor Jim Vlaun bring the latest in research and information on medical procedures and advancements.
3. Promotion of all programs, events, and education is on the CH website and all CH social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• This includes the promotion of all education, healthy recipes, health tips and support groups. Some of these include education on how to stay hydrated during the summer, facts on various cancers and screening, children’s health and more.
4. Lectures in Catholic schools, local libraries, and other community organizations.
• In collaboration with the LIHC, for Walk with a Doc, there have been 6 events with a total of 42 walkers and for Talk with a Doc there have been 6 events with a total of 185 attendees.
• There was a lecture on preventive cardiac health at the Nassau County Police Department, which 35 people attended.
5. Community Outreach Screening Buses
• The buses travel across Long Island to different community-based organizations to provide free health screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and glucose. From January to November, the mobile buses team screened 6,172 people.
6. Healthy Sundays
• In this volunteer program, we partner with different community organizations to provide BP and BMI screenings, flu vaccinations, health education and referrals to follow up care. From January to November, the Healthy Sundays teams screened 1,462 people.
7. Toy Drive: Corporate teams collected 745 toys for the Gerald Ryan Outreach Center in Wyandanch.
Dissemination of the Plan to the Public
The St. Charles Hospital Community Service Plan will be posted on the hospital’s website at https://www.chsli.org/st-charles-hospital/about/community-health Copies will be available at local free health screenings and can be mailed upon request.
By encouraging friends and neighbors to complete the LIHC Wellness Survey online or at local screenings, the Community Health Needs Assessment will help St. Charles Hospital continue to develop ways to best serve our community.
Conclusion
The Community Service Plan is intended to be a dynamic document. Utilizing the hospital’s strengths and resources, St. Charles Hospital, along with community partners, will work to continue to best address health disparities and needs. The hospital will strive to improve the overall health and well-being of individuals and families by expanding free health promotion and disease prevention/education screenings and programs in communities where they are most needed. St. Charles Hospital is committed to continue to develop ways to best serve the community.