Lifestyle medicine program expands to New York City Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst as part of citywide expansion

Lifestyle medicine program expands to New York City Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst as part of citywide expansion

January 11, 2024

New York, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals announced today that its nationally recognized lifestyle medicine program has expanded to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in Queens, making the program available for the first time in Queens. This follows the recent launch of the program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi in the Bronx and NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull and Kings County in Brooklyn, with six new sites making the program available throughout the city. This is my boyfriend’s fourth one. The pilot program began at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue in 2019 with support from then-borough president Eric Adams and has already seen hundreds of patients. The team at the Lifestyle Medicine Program provides evidence-based lifestyle recommendations that include eating a healthy plant-based diet, increasing physical activity, improving sleep habits, reducing stress, avoiding drug use, and strengthening social connections. We support patients in making these changes. Adults with prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or health concerns related to excess weight are eligible to enroll. The program can accept 48 new patients each month, and the care team at each facility includes physicians, nurses, certified nurse midwives (Woodhull only), dietitians, health coaches, community health workers, psychologists, Contains programs. Coordinator, exercise trainer. The six new sites include NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, Woodhull, Kings County, and Elmhurst, which are already open, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, Gotham Health, and Vanderbilt, which will launch in the coming months. It will be. Current patients at NYC Health + Hospitals can receive a referral to the program from their healthcare provider. Those who are not already patients at NYC Health + Hospitals can find out if they are eligible to enroll in the program by contacting 347-507-3695.

“All New Yorkers should have the knowledge and resources they need to make healthy behavior changes, which for some may include transitioning to a whole-food or plant-based diet.” said. Kate McKenzie, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy. “MOFP commends NYC Health + Hospitals for further expanding its lifestyle medicine program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, the first hospital in Queens to offer this program. Enable management to embrace lifestyle changes. Expanding this model of care to all five boroughs will increase life expectancy and help all New Yorkers live longer than they deserve, no matter where they receive care. It’s really important to be able to live a healthy life.”

“We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of the Lifestyle Medicine program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst,” he said. Michelle Macken, MD, FACP, DipABLM, Executive Director of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine, NYC Health + Hospitals. “Healthy lifestyle behaviors are the foundation for the prevention and treatment of common chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The Lifestyle Medicine Program’s talented multidisciplinary team helps patients develop healthier habits. We provide the guidance you need to develop your knowledge and skills while also helping you address food insecurity and other key barriers to lifestyle change. NYC Health + has provided this valuable resource to our patients and communities. Hats off to Hospitals/Elmhurst.”

“We are very excited to launch a lifestyle medicine program here in Elmhurst,” he said. Dr. Helen Arteaga Landaverde, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. “Patients suffering from diet-related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure will be more empowered to take control of their health and make good choices in the future. This program is another step toward closing the health equity gap and ensuring people in our communities get the care they need and deserve.”

“While it is true that treating diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol with drugs has saved many lives over the years, it comes at a significant financial and convenience cost to patients,” he said. said. Dr. Rand David, Director of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Outpatient Services. “Our lifestyle medicine program has given us a way to eliminate these symptoms by correcting the root causes of immobility, overweight, and obesity. I am so grateful for this opportunity!”

“I’ve tried several programs over the years to improve my health, but none have worked,” he said. Aurora Ronquillo, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Lifestyle Medicine Program Patient. “I have obesity, back pain, and an autoimmune disease, but thanks to the Lifestyle Medicine program, the possibilities of movement and exercise that work for me have already opened up. It taught me about great alternatives, and it’s delicious! But the biggest impact so far has been being able to accept myself in the mirror. As I begin this journey, I’m very hopeful.”

“I take two diabetes medications, but my A1C level is still too high,” he said. Yvonne Rachmat, Lifestyle Medicine Program Patient at NYC Health + Hospitals in Elmhurst. “So far, the Lifestyle Medicine program has encouraged me to go for long walks and use resistance bands to increase my strength. About the amount of food I eat at each meal. I also learned to eat less rice and now use avocado in my salads instead of dressing. I have really enjoyed this program so far and would recommend it to my friends.”

Lifestyle Medicine’s 9-month program provides all patients with the following resources:

• 6～9 one-on-one counseling session. Patients receive two to three visits each with a doctor, nurse or certified nurse midwife, nutritionist, and health coach to develop and implement a personalized care plan.

• 14 group classes per week. Topics include how to read nutrition labels, grocery shopping, meal planning and preparation, and how to manage sleep and stress.

• 8 exercise classes per weekPatients work with an exercise trainer and take home resistance bands for strength training.

• Get seasonal fresh food delivered free of charge 6 times a month. Patients work with a nutritionist to learn how to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their diets, regardless of their culinary tradition or skill level. Each produce box comes with delicious and healthy recipes developed by our team’s nutritionists. (Release in early 2024)

• health bucks. Patients will now have access to Health Bucks, which are $2 coupons that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at New York City Farmers’ Market. Five of the seven program sites have on-campus farmers markets.

• cooking skills videos. Patients can learn cooking skills through short videos developed by the Lifestyle Medicine team in partnership with online cooking school Rouxbe. This video presents healthy dishes from a variety of traditional cuisines, including Caribbean, South and Central America, and South Asia, translated into Spanish, Mandarin, Bengali, and Haitian Creole. (Release in early 2024)

• A plant-based cookbook. A cookbook on plant-based eating for type 2 diabetes is also available.

• Support access to benefits. Community health workers will help eligible patients access SNAP benefits and nutritional resources.

Each location will partner with local community-based organizations to explore ways to support community members with nutrition and other aspects of lifestyle change. NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst’s Lifestyle Medicine Program will collaborate with the New York Museum of Science in Queens.

“We are excited about this exciting collaboration between the New York Institute of Science and Technology (NYSCI) and Lifestyle Medicine.” Delia Meza Director of Family Learning and Community Partnerships at the New York Museum of Science. “This is a wonderful fusion that embodies the essence of progress and overall well-being. NYSCI’s dedication to fostering scientific curiosity and innovation and lifestyle medicine’s focus on preventive care and optimizing health.” The initiative marks the beginning of an exciting collaboration that aims to improve the lives of community members and empower them to make informed and active choices for their well-being. We promise you that the prospect of this collaboration fills us with boundless optimism. Our joint efforts will undoubtedly pave the way for a healthier and more informed community. It will happen.”

Once all facilities are open, the program will be able to accommodate approximately 4,000 patients per year. With support from New York City, NYC Health + Hospitals will commit $3 million this year and approximately $5 million annually going forward to fund staffing and program services for lifestyle medicine programs.

Particular attention is paid to ensuring that the curriculum is appropriate for patients with diverse backgrounds and experiences. For example, the Spanish curriculum reflects a cultural adaptation rather than a mere translation of the English version. Additionally, individual visits by healthcare providers, nutritionists, and health coaches allow for customized behavior change recommendations based on each patient’s social, economic, cultural, and family background.

Formal evaluation of the Bellevue pilot program shows the success of the implementation process, very high demand for services (more than 850 patients requested enrollment in the first few months), clinical and statistical improvements in weight, glycemic control, and weight. Positive health outcomes were revealed, including significant improvements. Diastolic blood pressure.

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Media contact: 212-788-3339; PressOffice@nychhc.org

About NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is part of the NYC Health + Hospitals health system and is Queens’ leading tertiary care provider. The 545-bed hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center, Emergency Cardiac Care Station, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Receiving Center, Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Center of Excellence, and 911 Receiving Hospital. It is a major medical institution with several specialties, including surgery, cardiology, women’s health, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, renal services, and mental health services. Last year, the hospital had nearly 700,000 outpatient visits and more than 130,000 emergency department visits.This hospital is nationally ranked US News and World Reports We treat major areas such as heart failure, heart attack, stroke, hip fractures, kidney failure, orthopedics, pneumonia, and COPD. Stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ElmhurstHosp.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the nation’s largest municipal health system, serving more than 1 million New Yorkers annually at more than 70 patient care facilities in the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers strengthens care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agencies and MetroPlus Health Plans. All of this is supported by 11 key hospitals. Our diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on helping New Yorkers, without exception, live the healthiest lives possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and connect with us on Facebook. twitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.