Annual Report - Winthrop University Hospital

Winthrop-University Hospital 2011 Annual ReportDay after day, Eric Davidson was continually exhausted, strugglingthrough his busy day as a commercial and luxury real estateappraiser. Then came the trouble speaking, the “heavy tongue,”and finally the hand tremors. He knew he needed medical help.After Winthrop’s sleep medicine specialists diagnosed him with sleep apnea,and neurological tests proved inconclusive, he was referred to Nancy Langdon,RNC, BSN, MPH, patient navigator and clinical coordinator at Winthrop’s Centerfor Advanced Care of Chronic Conditions.“Nurse navigators are not diagnosis or department specific. They try to helppatients who have been frustrated in their attempts to obtain a clear diagnosisand treatment plan,” says Dr. Michael Niederman, Chairman of the Departmentof Medicine and Medical Director of the Center.Langdon reviewed Mr. Davidson’s medical tests and consulted with hisphysicians. She recommended a cardiology workup as a next step, butMr. Davidson was skeptical. After all, he did not have classic symptoms of acardiac condition. But over time, as symptoms persisted and a clear diagnosisremained elusive, Mr. Davidson finally agreed to a cardiology work-up. Thetests revealed a 90% blockage of the left artery and he underwent successfulopen-heart surgery at Winthrop.“Nancy saved my life,” says the Levittown resident who, since his surgery,walks and jogs about eight miles a week. Mr. Davidson continues to work withLangdon and relies on her to help coordinate his medical care. “Nancy givesme good information and helps me get the appointments I need,” he says.“She forces me to keep my health up front.”Among the special pediatric programs here are the CancerCenter for Kids, Nassau County’s largest facility for childrenwith cancer and blood disorders; pediatric emergency andintensive care units; a New York State Regional PerinatalCenter, which features a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit withoutcomes among the world’s best, and the Child Life Program,which aims to reduce the stress of a hospital stay for childrenand their families.Coping with cancerThere are few things more frightening than receiving a cancerdiagnosis. To make the journey from diagnosis through treatmenteasier for patients and their families, Winthrop createdthe unique Cancer Navigators Program. These registered nursesand physician assistants become a patient’s “go-to” personfor the coordination of appointments, for tests and follow-upcare. They offer educational resources; referrals to specialists,support groups and community services; serve as the liaisonbetween the medical team and the patient; and, perhaps mostimportant, reaffirm for cancer patients and their families thesense that they do not have to face the challenges alone.No place like homeRecuperation from or management of an illness is most effectivein a patient’s familiar surroundings. Winthrop’s award-winningcertified home healthcare agency offers nursing, as well asphysical, speech and occupational therapies in conjunctionwith medical social work and home health aide services toNassau County residents.In 2011, our home health agency was named for the fifthconsecutive year to the HomeCare Elite—a compilationof the top-performing home health agencies in the UnitedStates, attesting to the impressive care provided by our homecare professionals.20