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. Joseph Hospital Service Area
St. Joseph Hospital is a 203-bed community hospital serving Nassau County and nearby communities. St. Joseph’s is located in Bethpage, NY. The hospital’s primary service area is Nassau County, but St. Joseph also serves patients from eastern Queens and western Suffolk. The chart below defines the zip codes and municipalities comprising St. Joseph’s service area.
Demographics
Nassau County’s total population as of 2020 is 1,395,774 (47.3% male; 49.8% female). Those ages 15-44 represent 35.1% of females; 37.5% of males; ages 60 plus represent 22.6% of males and 26.6% of females; 18 plus represent 77.3% of male and 79.5% of females. The region is predominately White at 58.5% with 10.9% Black/African American (a decrease from 11.5% last report) and 11.7% Asian (up from 9.1%). Hispanic or Latino represent 18.3% of the population1, a two percent increase from the last report.
Geographic description
Nassau County is situated east of New York City and spans 453 miles. It is one of two counties that comprise Long Island, the eastern-most part of New York State. Nassau County is comprised of two cities: Long Beach and Glen Cove and three townships: Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay. Long Island is bounded on the north by Long Island Sound and on the east and south by the Atlantic Ocean. The west of the county is joined to Queens County and Kings County (or Brooklyn). These are two of the five boroughs of New York City. In addition to Nassau County, Catholic Health (CH) serves patients in eastern Queens and parts of western Suffolk County.
1U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census
Socioeconomic information
In terms of income, 31% of the population earn less than $74, 999 (up from 26.5% in the last report) with 13.5% of that group earning less than $34,999 annually. Of the population, 6.2% of those under 18 years of age live in poverty, while 5.1% of those ages 18 to 64 live in poverty and for those ages 18 to 34 years of age, 6.4% live in poverty.2 The percentage of the population (5 years and over) that speaks a language other than English at home is 28.8%, with Spanish the dominant other language spoken (12.8%) followed by other Indo/European languages (9.9%) and Asian languages (4.9%). In terms of education, for those age 25 and over, 91.6% are high school graduates or higher, 46.7% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The percent of the total population uninsured is 4.1%. Of that percent, non-citizens represent 36.3%, Hispanic Latino (43%) and Black/African American (13.6%), Asian (12.8%) and White (43.2%). Of the uninsured, 40.4% earn less than $74,999 household income and 10.1% earn under $25,000 household income. Approximately 8.5% of the total non- institutionalized population is disabled. By race/ethnicity, 11.4% of the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander population is disabled, 10.8% of the American Indian/Alaska Native population is disabled, 9.7% of the White population is disabled, 5.4% of the Hispanic Latino population is disabled and 7.1% of the Black/African American population is disabled. Native American/Pacific Islanders account for less than one percent of the county’s population.3
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 the LIHC’s Community Health Assessment Survey year after year. The median household income in the past 12 months by race is $124,300 (White), $105,331 (Black), $95,890 (Hispanic/Latino). Mean income for the past 12 months per capita by race is $60,972, $38,622 and $31,976, respectively.4 This is why income is such a driving factor for health disparity and why the region has selected to focus on interventions and strategies that level the playing field for communities that are pockets of poverty in a rather affluent region.
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. Joseph 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. Joseph’s partners include: the Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC), Nassau County Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities and Catholic Faith Network (CFN)
Public Participation
St. Joseph Hospital, along with CH’s other five hospitals, worked with the Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC) and the Nassau County Department of Health (NCDOH), and dozens of community-based organizations, libraries, schools and universities, local m unicipalities, and other community stakeholders to produce this CHNA. NCDOH 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,
2U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey, Five-Year Estimate
3U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey, Five-year Estimates
4U.S. Census Bureau, 2016 – 2020 American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates
particularly heart disease and 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 leaders5. Additionally, we looked at results from two qualitative studies to round out our primary data.6 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.7 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 and secondary data demonstrate that residents living in Nassau and 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.8 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 COVID19 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.9 High school students (grades 9 through 12) fared just as badly. A number of studies found poor mental health 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
5Community 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)
6Qualitative 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)
7Statewide 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. 8https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/new-york/2021/compare/snapshot?counties=36_059%2B36_103 9https://nyhealthfoundation.org/resource/mental-health-impact-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic-in-new-yorkstate/#:~:text=The%20proportion%20of%20New%20Yorkers,health%20throughout%20the%20survey%20period
mental health during the preceding 30 days.10 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.11 12 13 14
With the shortage of mental health care workers and the lingering psychologic al 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. New York State Department of Health statistics report that for 2020 in Nassau County there were 223 deaths from any opioid, 77 heroin overdose deaths, and 214 deaths involving opioid pain relievers (including illicitly produced opioids such as fentanyl).15 For 2019, the numbers were 173, 47, and 163, respectively via categories listed above.16
Another health disparity identified in primary and secondary research is adult obesity. Nassau County continues to experience high rates of obesity and overweight adults. Twenty three percent of the population (age 20 and older) reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m.17 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.18 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 determinants regularly.
10https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/su/su7103a3.htm? s_cid=su7103a3_w
11https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6630a6.htm
12https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mental-health.htm
13Weinberger, A. et al. (August 2017) Trends in depression prevalence in the USA from 2005 – 2015: widening disparities in vulnerable groups. Psychological Medicine, 1-10
14Bitsko, 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.
15https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/data/pdf/nys_apr22.pdf
16https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/data/pdf/nys_jan21.pdf
17https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/prevention/injury_prevention/information_for_action/docs/2021- 02_ifa_report.pdf
18https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/health-equity/diabetes-by-the-numbers.html
St. Joseph 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:
On 1/27/23, using our mobile outreach bus, we screened 52 people and 98 blood pressures were taken. On 6/2/23, we kicked off our Let’s Walk campaign, which will run through September, with an average of 10-12 people walking each week. Weekly education is offered, covering topics such as how to manage your blood pressure, proper footwear, diabetes education and stretching techniques.
2. Offer health education for local EMS providers covering timely health care updates on cardiac disease, stroke and other relevant topics.
Process measures:
New stroke protocols were shared on 2/6/23 with 27 attendees. On 4/4/23, identifying altered mental status was attended by 42 people, and on 5/24/23 the topic was submersion with 28 in person and 15 zoom attendees. On 9/23/23 a Sepsis discussion was held via Zoom. Twenty-three people attended. 11/16/23 The Agitated Patient via Zoom – there were 32 attendees.
3. Offer free education and workshops on chronic disease, health and wellness.
Process measures:
On 1/20/23, at the Apollo Senior Center, we did 65 blood pressures. On 1/23/23, at the Jewish Community Center (JCC), we discussed anxiety and mental health with 67 attending. On 1/30/23, at Vein Screening with Dr. Valentin 15 people were screened, while on 2/9/23 the sleeping disorder and brain health presentation for the JCC via Zoom had 285 hits. On 2/28/23, hyperbaric and wound care was discussed with 82 Massapequa seniors at Brady Park Senior Center in Massapequa. On 4/13/23, First Aid protocols for seniors was presented at the Sunshine Club at St. Rose of Lima in Massapequa, 72 attended. We presented to them again on 6/8/23, covering medicine cabinet safety and 84 were in attendance. On 6/9/23, at the Senior Prom at the Oaks in Massapequa, 100 blood pressures were taken, and hyperbaric wound care and diabetes education was given. On 8/24/23, a pickleball community health event was held and 50 community members participated. On 9/18/23, a Lunch and Learn providing education on overdose awareness and Narcan training was held. There were 25 attendees. 10/12/23 St. Rose Sunshine Club – Dr. John Jackalone discussed foot care and wound care - 85 people attended.
4. Host a health fair providing education to the community and an opportunity to meet with clinical staff.
Process measures:
Eighty-five people attended the Stroke Awareness Health Fair at the hospital on 5/19/23. Education was provided on diabetes, dietary needs for heart health, appropriate blood pressure and stretching and moving
exercises and tips. On 10/1/23, St. Bernard’s hosted Catholic Health’s Wellness Fair and administered 50 flu shots.
5. Walk Safe with a Doc and Talk with a Doc.
Process measures:
On 6/2/23, we started the Let’s Walk program where physicians are encouraged to walk and discuss topics with staff and community. We average 10-12 walkers per week.
In collaboration with the LIHC, for Walk with a Doc, there have been 42 walkers and for Talk with a Doc there has been a total of 185 attendees. 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. Employ a Patient and Family Advisory Committee on behalf of patients and families.
Process measures:
We employ a full-time patient advocate on behalf of patients and their families. From January to November, there were 455 patient and family interactions.
10/28/23 Sharps collection with Town of Oyster Bay at the main lobby of the Hospital.
2. Offer an education conference for health care professionals.
Process measures:
Thirty-five people joined an Overdose Awareness Day education and resource presentation on 4/17/23. Victory Partners conducted an education session for professional staff on mental health and substance abuse with 21 in attendance. On 9/18/23, an overdose awareness Lunch and Learn providing education and Narcan training. There were 25 attendees.
3. Promotion of all programs, events, education offered by Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC) members who 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 Catholic Faith Network (CFN) and CH social media, website, and community-targeted publications.
Process measures:
The hospital works with 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 collaborates with 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. Conduct a first aid lecture and hands-on demonstration to establish basic first aid techniques with children. Program also enables scouts to achieve a first aid badge.
Process measures:
SJH held two First Aid programs for the Catholic Sports Camp on 6/29/23 and 7/18/23 with 400 children in attendance. On 6/16/23, we offered elementary school first aid and car safety with 160 children present. On 8/1/23, National Night Out, we held a Teddy bear clinic and first aid education for 250 children at Bethpage High School. On 7/7/23, a pool safety and first aid presentation was held in Woodbury with 250 children. On 9/30/23, at the South Farmingdale Fire Department Family Day, St. Joseph did 18 blood pressures, 25 flu shots and held stop the bleed and a teddy bear clinic.
Priority Number Five: Prevent Communicable Diseases
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Offer free flu vaccinations at events in underserved communities, at Healthy Sunday’s events, hospital health fairs and other community venues.
Process measures:
7/22/23 St. Killian Flu Pod, 20 shots
7/28/23 The Oaks in Massapequa Flu pod 54 shots
9/22/23 Seaford Library Flu pod 52 shots
9/30/23 South Farmingdale Fire House 25 flu shots
10/1/23 St. Bernard’s Wellness Fair 50 flu shots
10/13/23 El-Baqi Mosque 38 flu shots
11/4/23 St. Killian Healthy Sunday, 31 flu shots
Living the Mission
The CH mission is the driving force behind all community outreach activities. In addition to the interventions summarized above, St. Joseph Hospital, along with the overall system and including skilled nursing facilities, Catholic Health Home Care and Good Shepherd Hospice, provide additional outreach programs that promote the health care ministry of the Catholic Church and address 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. Joseph Hospital Community Service Plan will be posted on the hospital’s website at https://www.chsli.org/st-joseph-hospital/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. Joseph 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. Joseph’s, 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. Joseph Hospital is committed to continue to develop ways to best serve the community.