By Joy Pape Last month I wrote about sleep and how many of us have misconceptions about sleep. One misconception is we think our brain rests during sleep, when in reality, we now know it is a time our brain is actively going through needed cycles of sleep stages. I also wrote of the misconception
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Can You Spot A Killer?
By Peter Saitta DO How many times have you been suntanning with a large aluminum foil sun reflector with baby oil getting a killer tan? Most of us have and “killer” is a word I chose wisely. Statistically speaking, more than half of us will get a skin cancer because we have all been exposed
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Repetition of Unhealthy Patterns
By Christina Winholt Humans seek comfort in the familiar. Freud called this repetition ‘compulsion,’ which he famously defined as “the desire to return to an earlier state of things.” This takes form in simple tasks. Perhaps you watch your favorite movie over and over, or choose the same entrée at your top restaurant. More harmful
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Update on Beth Israel Lawsuit
By Arthur Z. Schwartz In November 2017, a lawsuit entitled Progressive Action of Lower Manhattan, George Capsis, and Arthur Schwartz v. Howard Zucker, as Commissioner of the NYS Department of Health, and Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital was filed in New York State Supreme Court. The goal: to not only stop the shutdown of Beth
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Joy’s Health Tips: How Did You Sleep Last Night?
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC As I get older, I am more aware of a certain saying almost every morning, “Waking up is hard to do.” I’ve always been a morning person, but the time I wake up is earlier, and cheerfully jumping out of bed is harder. There are several misunderstandings about sleep.
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Update on Caregiver Support Program
The Elderly Support Group is a self-help group which provides support, resources, and an opportunity to connect with other caregivers of the elderly. We are now pleased to provide additional contact information for caregivers who wish to join the Elderly Support Group. The group meets at Lenox Health Greenwich Village (Northwell), located at 30 7th
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Dr. Davis, We Need Frankness Not PR
By George Capsis I had an “Oh, wow!” moment when I read in the February 5th Villager article that Mount Sinai is “…‘leaning toward’ building an extra four floors atop its [newly proposed] mini-hospital…” This building would wrap around the shabby gray New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai at 14th Street and
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Are You Afraid of Falling?
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC If you are afraid of falling, know that you are not alone. In some ways, that fear can be helpful, but in other ways, it may not. During this time of year, I read, along with the daily weather forecast, the warnings of ice on the ground, even ‘black
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The Importance of an Impartial Health Care Needs Assessment
By Penny Mintz Newsday, the Long Island daily, ran a story on January 16th (entitled “Southside Hospital upgrades emergency room, creates more parking”) about a Northwell hospital in Bayshore that is expanding its emergency room five-fold and has been opening a new hospital unit every seven weeks for the last 18 months. Instead of enlarging
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The Village Apothecary, a Treasured Neighborhood Institution
By Anastasia Kaliabakos In 1983, Mr. Michael Konnon, a pharmacist, businessman, activist, and community leader, decided that his neighborhood desperately needed a dedicated, independent community pharmacy. He founded the Village Apothecary at 346 Bleecker Street (at West 10th Street). At that time, the West Village had become the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic, affecting New
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Grateful to WestView and Northwell
Dear George Capsis, Warmest wishes to you for a bright and successful 2018! With the New Year, the Village will have a Caregiver Support Program at Northwell Health. This is thanks to you! I wrote to you before the holidays about needing a community meeting place for our Caregivers to the Elderly Support Group. You
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Seniors: Be Careful on Those “Valued” Cobblestone Streets
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC Brian and I were recently planning a trip to Greece, a country full of ancient history, and I was so excited! While studying for the trip, I became a bit concerned about what I saw. I observed people walking and exploring that amazing country, always on cobblestone streets it
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Seniors, Take Care of YOU This Holiday Season
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC The holiday season is here and, with a little planning, you can enjoy it without compromising your health. I have put together a few tips to keep in mind during the season. Make a Plan. As with anything, be it your health or wealth, pre-planning is the key. Start
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Efforts to Save the Last Health Centers of Lower Manhattan
By Penny Mintz Is Beth Israel Hospital going the way of St. Vincent’s (closed), Cabrini (closed), St. Vincent’s Midtown (closed), and Gouverneur (an out-patient center and nursing home)? Perhaps, but not if the Progressive Action for Lower Manhattan (PALM) has any say in the matter. PALM, a local chapter of the statewide New York Progressive
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Viewing the War on Drugs at Age 14
By C.A.S.E. There is an ongoing war. It’s not in some foreign nation, not one that we read about in the papers, and not one that deals with heinous weapons. It’s in our schools, classrooms, hallways, and backyards. It’s in the bedrooms of teenagers and in the park. It’s everywhere, yet most don’t see it
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A Little More of St. Vincent’s Returns: Northwell opens new ambulatory surgery center.
By George Capsis I first heard the Limerick accent of Michael J. Dowling four years ago as he stood on the stage of P.S. 41 where my wife and I had sent our three kids, and where I had been the President of the PTA. Dowling was trying to reassure a packed auditorium that the
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Don’t Let the Constitutional Convention Distract You
Dear Editors: I am very much against the Constitutional Convention, which Arthur Z. Schwartz discusses in the October 2017 issue of WestView (“Why Vote ‘Yes’ for a Constitutional Convention?”), for four reasons. There are changes we need to make but the way to do that is to defeat the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC). We have
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Schwartz’s Response to Berger
I disagree with Keen Berger. I see little chance of the Constitutional Convention taking away people’s rights. It will be dominated by Democrats even if the vote for delegates splits, as per the existing Senate breakdown. A majority of the districts are Democratic, plus 15 are elected statewide. Plus, whatever they do requires a majority
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A New Twist on Eating for Your Health
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC There’s a saying that goes: You can’t be too rich or too thin. Well, this article won’t tell you how to make more money, nor will it teach you how to become thin. However, it can help you make some healthier choices, just by switching something around in the
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Rally Demands—No Beth Israel Shutdown
By Arthur Z. Schwartz The fight to keep Beth Israel open took a major step forward on September 24th. Over 100 neighbors gathered outside the hospital to demand that it cease shutting down, that services be restored, and that nothing more be done without a thorough government review of the potential consequences of a shut
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Get A Diagnosis! A Continuing Look at Low Back Pain
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC My last article in the September 2017 issue of Westview (“Get A Diagnosis!”) got responses! Writers always love to hear from their readers so thank you! On the other hand, I’m sorry to learn that so many people live with low back pain. About 80% of adults have had
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The Financial Cost of Aging and How Diet Can Help
By Jane Sandwood The cost of healthcare in America is staggering—$3.4 trillion are spent each year. (http://cnb.cx/2vgKaZN) The average working-age person in 2010 spent $6,125 on healthcare. In comparison, the average senior (65 or older) spent $18,424—triple the amount. This cost keeps growing as you age, doubling between the ages of 70 and 90. (http://bit.ly/2j8n2CH)
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Step-Down Recovery Program Comes to Greenwich House
By Joe Salas Greenwich House is adding a new program to its tool kit in its quest to help individuals overcome opioid addiction. Greenwich House’s Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program provides individuals dependent on opioids, including heroin, with high-quality, personalized care to help overcome their addictions. Beginning this fall, the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program will provide
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Medicine: A Historical and Global Palette
Twenty years ago, holistic medicine was referred to as ‘alternative medicine.’ For the most part, it consisted of acupuncture, homeopathy, and nutrition. Today, it encompasses many more modalities and is referred to as ‘integrative medicine.’ I have taken an ad in Westview News to invite you to the Doctors Who Rock Awards, the coming together
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Lawsuit Filed – Stop Beth Israel Closure!
By Arthur Z. Schwartz On August 30, 2017, as promised, a lawsuit was filed to block the further closure of Beth Israel Hospital, and to restore the services already cut. The lawsuit, titled George Capsis et al v. Howard Zucker as Commissioner of the N.Y. State Department of Health, addresses the ruse pursuant to which
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Saving Beth Israel
To All: I am delighted by the vigor of your collective efforts to save Beth Israel. It is what we should have done when they were closing St. Vincent’s Hospital. The pages of WestView are open to you. — George Capsis Dear George: I am insulted by your statement, “…what we should have done when
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Why Do the Elderly Move?
By Alec Pruchnicki, MD I’ve worked at the Lott Assisted Living Facility (ALF) for over 14 years and have been involved in the care of probably over 500 elderly individuals. They all faced increasing difficulty staying in the community but did not need to be in a nursing home. At the urging of family members,
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Get a Diagnosis!
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC Okay. I almost did not write this month. Why? Because I had back pain…AGAIN! Have you ever had back pain? If so, you are not alone. The number of people who experience back pain is growing. Over one-third of American adults have some sort of back pain which affects
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Bureaucrats Should Not Practice Medicine
By George Capsis I have macular degeneration in my right eye and became aware that my eyesight was getting worse. I started to condition myself to accept it as one of the penalties of old age but my eye doctor said, “No, you have a bit of debris from the insertion of an artificial lens
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Stop the Closure of Beth Israel by August 11th OR WE WILL SUE
By Arthur Z. Schwartz The following is a copy of a letter sent to Howard Zucker, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, threatening suit over the closure of Beth Israel Hospital. (Note: The content of the letter has been slightly edited.) _________ Howard Zucker Commissioner New York State Department of Health Corning
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Senior Summer Safety Tips
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC Take summer seriously. The season can be hot and hazardous to your health. Here are some tips for you to stay safe during the summer months. Avoid getting overheated. As you age, your internal cooling system doesn’t work as well as it used to. You may not even feel
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The Closure of Beth Israel Will Be Stopped
By Arthur Z. Schwartz June 11th marked a really sad day for those of us who live downtown. On that date, Beth Israel Hospital closed its Center for Labor and Birth. Life is funny. The Catheterization Lab doctors at Beth Israel saved my life in January, when I got wheeled in with a heart attack.
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Mount Sinai Continuing to Axe Medical Services
On June 11, 2017 at 7:00 a.m., the Mount Sinai/Beth Israel Medical Center closed its Center for Labor and Birth (L&B), and they did not have New York State’s permission to do so. To avoid having ambulances bring women in labor to the hospital, the hospital’s administrative staff must call the Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
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The Healthcare Conundrum
By Nan Victoria Munger Consuming 17% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), “medical costs are the tapeworm of American economic competitiveness,” says billionaire Warren Buffett. The U.S. spends more on health care than any other country. However, a 2014 report by The Commonwealth Fund compared the health care performance of the U.S. to that
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How to Cure the Opioid Epidemic
By Katie Lee Since the 2000s, following the mass over-prescription of opioid painkillers, opioid abuse has become rampant throughout the country and especially severe in New York City. The New York City’s Mayor’s Office reports that in 2016, about 1,300 individuals died from drug overdoses, more than any year on record. Of these deaths, approximately
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Do You Have Dry, Scratchy, or Runny Eyes?
By Joy Pape, FNP-C CDE CILC Dry eye is a common chronic disease, or condition, seen most often in older adults. The medical term for dry eye is keratoconjunctivitis sicca. It occurs when there are not enough “quality” tears to lubricate and nourish your eyes. Tears are important for the health of the front of
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St. Luke Asks: Who Do We Let In?
By George Capsis I received a carefully-worded invitation from Wellspring Consulting, a firm that “provides strategic planning for nonprofit organizations,” to attend a meeting to help explore how St. Luke Church in the Fields could “expand its service offerings to meet the needs of the West Village community.” Following that meeting, I received a letter
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Mobile Stroke Care Innovation
Dear Editors: Thank you for your continuing focus on health care issues in our community! A short time after attending the May 4th meeting announced by Arthur Z. Schwartz in WestView News, to discuss the crisis in our area’s health care, I went to Weill Cornell Medical Center on York Avenue to hear a talk,
