20070312

New York Nurse News: Health Seminar in Poughkeepsie

Albert Caccarile is having a health seminar in Poughkeepsie, NY on March 24, 2007. The seminar will focus on the latest scientific advancements in the field of complementary alternative medicine. For those of you who are interested the seminar is from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and admission is free. For more information contact Louise Gerard at (845)518-2364 or visit their website by clicking on the picture above.

20070308

New York Healthcare Fight

It looks like New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno has weighed in on the healthcare debate. So what side did he weigh in on? According to the Albany Times Union, "he opposes Governor Eliot Spitzer's proposed freeze on the cost-of-living increase for Medicaid payments and extension of the hospital tax." Stay tuned for more on this debate.

20070305

2007 Honoree of Jewish-American Hall of Fame: Lillian Wald

I was recently sent an e-mail about Lillian Wald being named the 2007 Jewish-American Hall of Fame honoree. Ms. Wald was a Jewish-American Rochester, New York native who is regarded as the founder of "Visiting Nursing" in the U.S. and Canada. She attended New York Hospital's School of Nursing. According to an article on Nurse.com, Ms. Wald has been referred to as the "Jewish Florence Nightingale." Read more about Ms. Wald and view the limited edition medals featuring Ms. Wald by clicking on the picture to the left.

20070301

Police Officer Saved By His Badge

This story is not necessarily medical related, but I thought it should get a mention. A police officer in Queens was attacked last night by a drunk wielding a knife. The drunk stabbed at the officers heart and made contact. Fortunately, over the officer's heart was his police badge which shattered the knife upon contact. The drunk was then subdued and the officer escaped with only a minor cut on his hand. That according to an article in the New York Daily News.

20070228

Nurse's Aide Nabbed for Elderly Abuse

An article in the Staten Island Advance shows what can happen when a caregiver just doesn't care. According to the article, a nurse's aide at Golden Gate Rehabilitation and Health Care Center twice dropped a 67 year old patient with Parkinson's Disease and Dementia. The aide was moving the elderly patient into another room without assistance (contrary to facility rules). The aide is charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the second degree, and willful violation of the public health law.

The aide was caught on camera which led to the arrest.

20070227

New York Nurse: A Sea of Tranquility?

Well maybe not a Sea of Tranquility, but at the Albany Medical Center there is at least a Room of Tranquility. According to the Albany Times Union, the Center has spent $15,000 on a feng shui breakroom complete with full body massage chairs, blue painted walls sprayed with aromatic oils, an illuminated salt lamp representing fire, plants and 350 pounds of rock symbolizing earth. A stark contrast to what you see in shows like "E.R."

Maybe this will become a trend. We could sure use a little Tranquility at our hospital.

20070226

"Docs Day for Kids"

Check out this article I found in The Buffalo News about doctors seving up suds to help babies born prematurely or with other health problems. According to the article, doctors and other medical professionals from the Catholic Health System became bartenders for a day at the Buffalo Brew Pub in Amherst, New York. The money earned through tips went to help fund the neonatal intensive care unit at Sisters Hospital.

Apparently the doctors have been doing this every year for the past 13 years. The article attributes the beginning of this tradition to a Dr. Andrew M. Gage. According to the article Dr. Gage was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2005. This year's organizers anticipated earning more than $22,000.

Would this be considered "drinking responsibly?"

20070222

Health Care: Yoga for the Elderly

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York is all about caring for Senior Citizens. According to an article in the New York Daily News, the VNS runs an Adult Day Care Center for Seniors. The Center offers, among other things, yoga classes, free door-to-door transportation, computer classes, art and music therapy. There is a yoga class for Seniors with Alzheimer's as well as for the wheelchair-bound.