Cobble Hill Newsletter

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FROM THE The reality is that if we live long enough, there is a chance that all of us will one day
DESK OF
need the services of a skilled nursing facility like Cobble Hill Health Center. That’s
TONY
LEWIS why it is important for all of us who work in health care to establish and maintain

CEO/President exemplary standards of care that we ourselves would want. This means thinking

about the patient as an individual; realizing that there’s no “There’s no
one size fits all brand of care; recognizing that people want one-size-fits-all
to age gracefully and healthfully in their own homes. We are brand of care.”

taking all of that into account as we head towards the future.

Our staff is trained to deliver patient centered care; We have our own home care

agency (Your Choice at Home); Technology that can help advance good care is high on

our list of priorities. As you will read in this newsletter, we’re always looking for and
I’m happy to say, often finding ways to make our patients’ lives healthier and happier.

FROM THE In this newsletter you will read about some new initiatives in patient care and
DESK OF milestones we have reached at Cobble Hill Health Center over the last several
months. It’s always a challenge to provide the best clinical care; to provide our
DONNY long term residents with the comfort and care they need to live out their days
TUCHMAN with the best quality of life and to get our short-term patients back home as
quickly as possible.
COO/Administrator
In order to do that we never stop asking ourselves the hard questions that don’t

always have easy answers: Questions like, What do we as an “Our work is
organization stand for? What are our priorities and goals? reflected in
How can we grow in our roles as health care profession- our patients’
als? Just as importantly, How can we help our fellow team well-being.”
members succeed?

Our work is reflected in our patients’ well-being and in our clinical deficiency
free survey but our heart is reflected in the satisfaction and joy we feel as we
finish our shift.

It is gratifying to see how far we have come, and I look forward to the
opportunities ahead. We are determined to keep going for the gold.

If you have any comments please feel free to contact me directly. My direct
extension is 177 and my email is [email protected].

Telemedicine

tBoritnhgesBaeBdosaidrde 2C4e/rt7ified Physician

by Donny Tuchman, Administrator

Patients can develop symptoms The device’s zoom lens is so

late at night, on weekends and on powerful, the physician can examine

holidays when doctors are harder the patient’s pupils to check if they

to reach. This can often result in are dilated, for example. In addition,

the patient being transferred to the access to electronic medical records

hospital unnecessarily. Recently, we and discussion with the nurse helps

implemented a pilot telemedicine the doctor make a decision about

program that, through advanced the patient’s status. This, of course,

technology, is working to fill this gap does not replace the crucial rela-

in physician care. tionship between a patient and his

When a nurse observes that a or her attending doctor. It simply Patients
patient has even a subtle change of ensures that patients have the have the
opportunity to be treated in place opportunity
condition, she or he calls a telephone when physician bedside care is to be treated
number and immediately speaks to in place when
a physician on call. The physician limited. physician
bedside care
will review the patient’s issue with This program helps us avoid the is limited.

the nurse. A customized telemed- stress and trauma of unnecessary

icine device with a video screen is hospitalization. Families appreciate

wheeled into the patient’s room. the 24/7 physician availability
The physician, with the nurse’s with board certified geriatricians,

assistance, conducts a complete internists and nursing facility

physical, utilizing two-way video experts providing highly skilled,

and digital diagnostic equipment. personalized care after hours.

NYC Dept. of Health Agrees: We’re great!

D EFICIENC Y We’re proud to announce that our recent Department of Health
FREE survey was clinical de ciency free. In plain English: we passed our
extremely stringent inspection by DOH surveyors with ying colors.
Congratulations to our sta on a job well done.

Last month we One resident had

presented Cobble been resisting care

Hill Health Center’s 1199 SEIU by yelling, pushing
“What Brings FUNDS and hitting but
me Comfort” we found that the
Program​at the QCC QUALITY CARE resident was actually
Conference held at CONFERENCE demonstrating
the Hyatt Hotel in discomfort from
Manhattan. Joining her lamp’s bright

me in presenting light. What could

information on by Rob Herel, Director of Social Work be bothering the

our “Dementia resident? (A resident

Comfort Care” refused to speak to

program, were Cobble Hill staff members, Liza a staff member but we identified that she really likes

Long, our dementia unit manager, Certified Nursing to eat potato chips and drink a can of ​Pepsi. Once we

Assistant, Ionie Miller and Mary Ann Robinson provide this to her she relaxes and speak to the staff.)

from our Therapeutic Recreation department. The When residents are admitted to the facility, we

all­day conference focused on care of the resident complete a social history to learn about important

with dementia and how this care is designed to people and events in their lives. We also interview

increase the resident’s comfort and quality of life.
The thrust of our presentation, which was very well the family to gain insight into the resident’s likes and
dislikes. We then record the information we obtained
received, was to show how, through training and on a “What Brings Me Comfort” care
awareness, our staff has become more
Our staff plan for all the staff to utilize on what
resident-centered in their approach has become makes a resident uncomfortable, but
and delivery of care. This helps to more resident more importantly, what makes the
make our residents calmer and more
centered in their resident comfortable.
comfortable. approaches and This program has taught us to think
delivery of care. differently about our dementia
Briefly, the program teaches staff
that all behavior is communication patients, to listen to what our residents

and for the staff to consider what are telling us through their behavior.
We have learned not to judge or label behaviors, but
meaning there could be for a resident’s actions.
Questions to consider when a resident becomes rather to be detectives and search for a solution to a

angry or combative are, What activities are going resident’s discomfort.

on? (One resident was agitated by group activities

and preferred one-on-one interaction.) By knowing We felt gratified to have been asked to speak at the

these resident preferences the staff can avoid conference as it was recognition of Cobble Hill Health

seating a resident in an environment that is too over Center’s accomplishments. But most importantly,

stimulating. we hope our presentation gave other skilled

What are the sounds and noises around the resident? nursing facilities’ staff the tools they need to initiate
comforting interventions for residents in their homes.

MEET OUR STAFF Yvette Halstead

Yvette is the night supervisor. We caught up with this very busy and
dedicated professional and asked her to share with us some of her
thoughts and feelings about working at Cobble Hill Health Center.

How long have you been here? What is the most challenging wounds, about peritoneal dialysis,
I’m here ten years! A decade! part of your job? adult daycare, EMR, Telemedi-
I find it is difficult sometimes to cine, rehab and now, supervising
What is the best part of your get others to adapt to change. others. If one is open -minded to
job? Nursing has evolved, especially learning new things and not afraid
The best part of my job is to be when it comes to technology of challenges and changes, then
able to give of myself freely and which can be a great tool enabling Cobble Hill is the best place to be.
to help someone feel better than us to do our jobs better. However, That is what makes it unique. It’s a
they did before, because of my it’s challenging at times to get place of transformation.
intervention and care. everyone on my team to be more
receptive to change. What do you wish you could do
Why did you choose the night more of or improve?
shift? What is unique or different I wish I could help to improve
I used to work during the day but about Cobble Hill? communication, customer service,
I wasn’t happy with my son’s day The first time I came to and professionalism. It’s good but
care. So I switched to the night Cobble Hill, I met Mrs. Shirley could always use improvement. I
shift and am happy to report it has Witherspoon, who was the wish I could do more to help new
worked out quite well for me, my Asst. Director of nursing. She nurses grow. We are a team at
son and of course, my patients. welcomed me with excitement Cobble Hill and if one of us fails,
and her enthusiasm won me over. we all fail. On the other hand, if
One thing she said to me was, “You one of us succeeds, we all succeed.
will learn something every day”
and to this day, I am still learning.
At Cobble Hill, I learned to care for

NURSES’
CELEBRATION
DAY

Our nurses deserve to be feted every day of the year. It’s their care
and compassion that makes Cobble Hill Health Center such a special
place. Recently, in honor of Nurses’ Week we celebrated with a
beautifully arranged and delicious buffet lunch where administration
and staff spoke about the enormous contribution nurses make to their
patients and to their team members.

An Angel of Mercy Retires

by Elizabeth Lawson, Therapeutic Recreation Staff Member

A Catholic Mass was held at our facility to commemorate Sister M. Innocentia Lipari’s retirement.
Sister Innocentia has been faithfully visiting and distributing Communion in our facility since 1962.
She has been a relied upon presence for more than half a century, bringing comfort and encourage-

ment to our patients.

In attendance at the Mass were Monsignor Thomas
Nugent (Pastor for St. Peter/St. Paul and St. Agnes
Parishes), Sr. Debra Wilson, Sr. Christine Cusati,
(Missionary Servants), Cobble Hill residents, Joan
Tushinsky, and Kathy Shirey and Therapeutic
Recreation Staff.

Sister was born January 2nd, 1922 in Brooklyn
and grew up in Cobble Hill at 36 1st Place. Sister
joined the convent (Missionary Servants of the
Most Blessed Trinity) in 1941 two years after her
older sister Margaret entered. Her first parish was
in South Orange, New Jersey. She left to serve in Alabama where she lived until 1961. When she
returned to Brooklyn, Sister worked in St. Peter’s until it closed in the 70’s and the parish merged
with St. Paul Our Lady of Pilar.

Tony Lewis, Cobble Hill’s CEO and President presented Sister with a plaque commemorating her 53
years of selfless service to our residents. Tony expressed the residents’ and staff’s deep appreciation.
“Sister has been part of our Cobble Hill family for so many years it will be difficult to imagine
who could replace her. We wish her good health and happiness in this next chapter of her life.”

Bloom Again

It’s June so it should come as no
surprise that flowers, like the month
are “bustin’ out all over”. But at Cobble
Hill, flowers bloom year round thanks
to our Bloom Again program. Every
week, Cobble Hill residents, Caroline
Anderson and Donna Whiteford collect
yesterday’s flowers from Trader Joe’s
to make stunning arrangements for our
residents. The 40-60 arrangements are
delivered to our facility every week.
Volunteers from NY Cares, an
organization that works closely with
our recreation department, deliver the
arrangements to the bedside. Some
of the comments from the delighted
residents:
“They remind me of my
grandmother’s garden.”

“Flowers brighten up my day give me
hope.”

“God bless the person who sent these.”

Volunteering with Anneke Berken was born in Holland and lives in Brooklyn
Heart & Soul Heights. After a long and successful career as a NYSE Sr. Vice
President of Operations she retired in 2006. Her first foray

into volunteering was tutoring Bronx Young Adults. This was

followed by tutoring an ESL class in the Arab American Family Support

Center in Cobble Hill. When she looked through NY Cares database to

find an organization to volunteer for, she came across Cobble Hill Health

Center and the rest is history. Anneke has been one of our most reliable

and enthusiastic volunteers ever since. As a long-time Brooklyn Heights

resident, Anneke knows her way around the best neighborhood haunts

and has had a positive impact on our residents’ lives. “Being able to
volunteer does just as much for me, or maybe more, than what it does for

the residents. The smiles and hugs bring me the greatest happiness.”

by Louise Dueno, Director Therapeutic Recreation RECREATIONAL ROUNDUP

Oh, the Places
We Go!
Community trips enhance Christmas will find our residents looking at
the Metro Tech tree. Shopping at the stores
the lives of our long term and on Atlantic Ave. is always fun.

Alzheimer’s patients. They look forward Longer distance trips to a Cyclones game in
to being outdoors, enjoying activities and Coney Island are made with the help of a lift
bus and ambulette. But when it comes to all-
meeting new people. Thanks to our devoted time favorite destination, the casino in South
volunteer, Anneke Berken and her fellow NY Ozone Park, Queens wins hands down. Our
residents have such a good time, we have a
Cares volunteers, every Friday is trip day. hard time getting them to leave!

Approximately ten residents are pushed in

their wheelchairs to Pier 6 on the Brooklyn

Heights Promenade in nice weather.

Music to Our iPod Music and Memory Program continues to
their Ears grow with many new iPods being distributed to our
residents for their listening enjoyment. Each iPod is
loaded with a resident’s favorite music. We continue
to be amazed at how the music elicits such enthusiasm
and joy in residents who were completely unrespon-
sive. Whether it’s classical music, jazz or hip hop (yes,
some of our residents love it!) music is a powerful
elixir when it comes to making our residents more
responsive and happier.

Media attention to this program is ongoing. Recently,
residents and staff were interviewed by AARP magazine
and CNN filmed a story on the Music and Memory
program that was aired on Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s show.

380 Henry Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
CobbleHillLifeCare.org

718-855-6789

If you need help at home,
call us: 718-237-1717

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