NASSAU HEALTH CARE CORPORATION ANNOUNCES THE NUMC/NORTH SHORE LIJ HEALTH SYSTEM FEINSTEIN INSTITUTE LUPUS CENTER INITIATIVE

— INITIATIVE WILL INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS, PROVIDE STATE OF THE ART MEDICAL CARE TO LUPUS PATIENTS AND OFFER PATIENTS WITH LUPUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CLINICAL RESEARCH –

East Meadow, New York…. The Nassau Health Care Corporation (NHCC) announced that Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) will be participating with the North Shore/LIJ Health System Feinstein Institute on a Lupus Center Initiative, dedicated to providing expert care and patient education combined with clinical research projects.

“This initiative is extremely important for managing and coordinating the treatment of the different features of lupus, a serious, frequently debilitating and sometimes fatal disease that affects young women, particularly of African, Hispanic and Asian descent,” said Arthur Gianelli, President/CEO of the Nassau Health Care Corporation.  “Patients will also have the opportunity to participate in clinical studies of new and exciting treatments for lupus.”

Although men can also have lupus, the disease specifically targets young women.  The cause of lupus is not known.  It is an “autoimmune” disease where cells in the immune system attack different parts of the body instead of fighting infection as they are supposed to do.  There are a wide range of symptoms associated with lupus leading to difficulties and delays in diagnosis.  In addition, the disease is often difficult to treat. Because the disease can be so variable, a clinic dedicated to managing and coordinating the treatment of the different features of lupus is extremely important. The Lupus Center Initiative is committed to providing expert care and patient education combined with clinical research projects designed to further our understanding of lupus and develop better forms of treatment for the disease.

Drs. Cynthia Aranow and Meggan Mackay, from the North Shore/LIJ Health System Feinstein Institute, will join Drs. Prachi Anand and Gary Rosenblum, clinicians specializing in Rheumatology at NUMC.  Drs. Aranow and Mackay are also specialists in Rheumatology with additional expertise and interest in lupus and clinical research.  The Feinstein Institute in Manhasset is dedicated to furthering medical research and Drs. Mackay and Aranow work closely with Dr. Betty Diamond who heads the Autoimmune Disease Center at the Feinstein and is widely recognized for her achievements in the field of lupus research.  Members of both the Lupus Alliance and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Foundation will also be attending the clinic to provide patient support and education and will be establishing a Lupus Support Group at NUMC.  Attendance at the Lupus Support Group is free.

Steven Walerstein, MD, Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Medical Director at the Nassau Health Care Corporation said:  “The Lupus Center Initiative will increase community awareness and provide state-of-the-art medical care to lupus patients and offer patients with lupus the opportunity to participate in clinical research.”

Patients are given access to doctors who have expertise and experience in treating lupus.  Patients will also have the opportunity to participate in clinical studies of new and exciting treatments for lupus and other types of studies aimed at increasing understanding of the disease.  The Lupus Clinic at NUMC, which meets Wednesday mornings, will coordinate medical care and support.  The hospital accepts many forms of health insurance; however, a sliding fee scale is also available.   The Center is happy to see any patients diagnosed with lupus or those who have been told they may have lupus.

Please call 1-877-33 LUPUS for additional information and appointments.