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NUMC’S SANJAY DODDAMANI, MD, AND DEBORAH AHERN, NP, INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AT THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE CHRONIC DISEASE FORUM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2011

PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055

NUMC’S SANJAY DODDAMANI, MD, AND DEBORAH AHERN, NP, INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AT THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE CHRONIC DISEASE FORUM

East Meadow, NY… The Nassau University Medical Center’s, Deborah Ahern, NP, Director of Heart Failure and Dr. Sanjay Doddamani, Chair of Cardiology, were invited speakers at the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Chronic Disease Forum, presented in Harlem, New York City on June 17th, 2011. The focus was decreasing readmissions and improving outcomes in heart failure, sharing best practices of the NuHealth’s hospital to home disease management program in heart failure.

Ms. Ahern reported on the astronomical costs approaching 40 billion dollars with over a quarter of patients with CHF being readmitted within 30 days. She showcased NuHealth’s reduced mortality rate for heart failure and acute MI, how NUMC has come to national prominence for achieving 100% on core measures compliance tying with one other hospital in that is also a member of the National Association of Public Hospitals.

Increased cardiac support and resources at NUMC like implantable defibrillators, physicians with advanced cardiac and heart failure training were highlighted by Dr. Doddamani. Similarly, alignment of IT and a crew of nurses to continue to follow and partner with patients transitioning out of the hospital were presented.

Dr. Betty Perez-Rivera, director of the East Harlem Asthma Center of Excellence requested sharing ambulatory strategies to decrease readmissions and commended the NuHealth teams’ work adding, “This is how a community hospital should function, reaching those most at risk in the community,” alluding to reducing cost while raising the quality.

Dr. Steven J. Walerstein, executive vice president and chief medical officer was pleased to announce that the mortality rate for heart failure in 2010 had dropped significantly to an OE ratio of less than 1, (0.95) citing the hospitals partnership with North Shore-LIJ as an important step to raising the quality and improving outcomes.

“Heart disease can affect anyone, but with proper diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, NuHealth’s cardiologists can help prevent coronary plaque build-up and reduce the risk of heart attack. Our board-certified cardiologists help medically manage a wide variety of acute and chronic heart conditions,” added Dr. Doddamani.

The department of cardiology performs over 6,000 annual imaging studies including echos and stress tests, sees over 4,000 annual outpatient visits, performs cardiac catheterizations, has established a reputable electrophysiology pacemaker and defibrillator program and now offers an inpatient and outpatient heart failure program. Dr. Sanjay Doddamani, the department chair is board certified in cardiology and internal medicine in addition to advanced certification in cardiovascular imaging and heart failure transplant. “I am confident in the abilities of Deborah Ahern, NP, our new heart failure director and her well qualified nurses, Mary Eng, RN, who has over 28 years of experience in cardiovascular critical care and Robyn Carano, RN, the center’s quality management nurse who will oversee the American Heart Association’s “Get With The Guidelines -HF” and other quality initiatives that track and focus on improving treatment adherence and reducing mortality.

ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life.  Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community.  By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.

For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.