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

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

November 16, 2023

NYC Health + Hospitals announced today that its nationally recognized lifestyle medicine program has expanded to NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull in Brooklyn. This is his second of six new sites making the program available throughout the city, following a recently launched program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi in the Bronx. 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 Lifestyle Medicine Program’s team provides evidence-based lifestyle strategies 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 and Woodhull, which have already launched, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Lincoln, Elmhurst, and Gotham Health, 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.

“While we work across agencies to ensure that all New Yorkers have equitable access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate foods to help them live longer, healthier lives, We must relentlessly target the key drivers of disease and inequality upstream as well. Kate McKenzie, Executive Director of Food Policy, Mayor’s Office. “We applaud NYC Health + Hospitals’ continued partnership to collectively increase life expectancy in underserved communities across the five boroughs. New Yorkers who are disproportionately affected by disease will finally have the opportunity and tools to transition to whole foods, plant-based diets, and other healthy behavior changes they deserve. ”

“We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of our lifestyle medicine program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull,” 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 skills and help 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/Woodhull.”

“We are pleased to announce the launch of our Lifestyle Medicine program,” he said. Gregory Calliste, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull CEO. “This initiative highlights the central role of healthy lifestyle habits in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, and represents a major advance in our commitment to quality health care. ’s programs are characterized by a dedicated team dedicated to empowering communities to take control of their health and well-being, and our Lifestyle Medicine program is a testament to that commitment.”

“Healthier lifestyle choices lead to lives with significant improvements in many chronic diseases. Our goal is to support people to make sustainable changes that ultimately lead to health and well-being. That’s true.” Dr. Gul Bahatyar, Medical Director, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Lifestyle Medicine Program. “Imagine someone who no longer needs to inject insulin or take blood pressure medication for diabetes. This would be a success story that should be shared by many.”

“We know that many chronic diseases can be managed, improved, and even reversed through lifestyle changes.” Dr. Jonathan Gitos, Director of Outpatient Services, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “However, the process can feel daunting, and patients are often expected to make these changes without sufficient education, guidance, or support. That’s why we offer the Lifestyle Medicine Program here at Woodhull. We are thrilled to be able to provide our patients with the time and resources to effectively work with them as they make changes in their lives to achieve their health goals.”

“Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that uses lifestyle interventions to treat chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and obesity.” Tania DeGrotz, Massachusetts, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Ambulatory Care Associate Executive Director. “Providing patients with the tools and resources they need to combat chronic disease is a huge step forward in improving the quality of life for many patients. This program combines a whole foods diet, physical activity, and sleep management. , with a focus on stress management. We look forward to offering this additional clinical service to help our patients achieve their health and wellness goals.”

“The doctors and staff here are very friendly and very courteous,” he said. Davi V. Baez, Patient in the Lifestyle Medicine Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “It’s a team that cares about you, and they’re loyal. They’re excited about your progress. And that’s what motivates everyone to keep going. Next week is Thanksgiving, so you’re wondering what we’re going to do this year.” I’m thinking of making mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. I want to eat a rainbow of red and yellow vegetables. This program has been a long time coming for me. I will give it to you.”

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

• 6-9 one-on-one counseling sessions. 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 athletic 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 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 those from the 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/Woodhull’s Lifestyle Medicine Program will collaborate with Brooklyn’s RiseBoro.

“Riseboro is excited to partner with Woodhull Hospital and participate in the Lifestyle Medicine Program,” he said. Jasmine Bethancourt, RiseBoro Community Food and Nutrition Program Supervisor. “This will give our clients an alternative way to manage their chronic conditions. We also see this as a way to support the existing wellness initiatives we offer internally. , is how RiseBoro expands the programs available to community members in Bushwick.”

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 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
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.