1. Summer 2012
IN THIS ISSUE:
INSIDE COVER
— A MESSAGE FROM
BOB CHALONER
— Handicapped
Parking at
Hospital to be
COMPLETED Soon
— Dialysis Center
Receives IPRO
Five-Diamond
Award
PAG E O N E
— Bariatric
Surgery
A Cure for Type 2
Diabetes?
PAG E T W O
— THE ED PHYLLIS
DAVIS WELLNESS
INSTITUTE
PAG E F O U R
— Tick-Borne
Diseases
Protect Yourself and
Your Family
I N S I D E B AC K C O V E R
— E XCUSE ME?
Hearing Loss
B AC K C O V E R
— MEETING HOUSE
LANE MEDICAL
PRACTICE
Upcoming Jun 29 Aug 4 Oct 23
Events Friends of Montauk 54th Annual Summer Golf Tournament at
Info: (631) 726-8700 Medical Practice Party—Grand Prix Sebonack Golf Club
Cocktail Party Monaco

2. Southampton Hospital
a message from
Robert Chaloner
It is Southampton Hospital’s goal to provide
the highest standard of healthcare and to
keep our communities informed. This issue
of Health Insights covers a number of topics
that address concerns that you have raised,
and we encourage you to let us know if there
are other areas you would like us to cover in
future issues. Special thanks to Dr. Kevin Fredric Weinbaum, MD, CMO/COO; Cal Gresalfi, Dialysis Center Director; Jeanne Spagnoli, Nurse Manager;
Gaylord Hoffert, MD, Dialysis Center Medical Director; and Robert S. Chaloner, Hospital President and CEO proudly
Braat and Jessica Swiatocha, MSN, FNP-BC
display the IPRO award.
for writing informative articles. Please make
note of the advice in the article on tick-borne
disease, particularly as we head into tick
season on the East End. Have a healthy and
Dialysis Center Receives
safe summer.
IPRO Five-Diamond Award
Southampton Hospital’s Regional Dialysis Center has been recognized for its
exemplary patient safety program at its Hampton Bays Atrium site.
Robert S. Chaloner
President and Chief Executive Officer The Five-Diamond Award, presented by IPRO’s End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
Network of New York, was created to assist dialysis and renal transplantation centers
in establishing and maintaining high standards of care for ESRD patients. The ESRD
Network’s interactive program is designed so that each dialysis facility completes one
Handicapped Parking
module at a time and submits documentation for review. The quality of each module
at Hospital to be determines the number of “diamonds” awarded, with a maximum of five diamonds,
COMPLETED Soon within the participation period. Only 11 facilities out of 243 in New York State have
New lot to provide easy, safe access for currently attained this level of patient safety.
patients using rehabilitation services. The Hospital’s state-of-the-art Center offers a full range of treatments to serve people
and visitors throughout the East End. To meet the demand of a growing patient popu­
The site, formerly a grassy area on the
lation, the Center has extended hours to include evening appointments for those who
Hospital’s southern Herrick Road perimeter,
are working during the day. Gaylord Hoffert, MD, Medical Director of the Dialysis Center,
will provide 17 parking spaces for use by
is Board-certified in Nephrology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Hoffert is available for
handicapped patients and those who are
appointments at the Meeting House Lane Medical Practice in Southampton as well as
using the Hospital’s rehabilitation services.
Hampton Bays. Licensed by the New York Department of Health, the center is staffed
All spaces will be reserved for vehicles with
by an interdisciplinary team of skilled RNs, a Certified Social Worker, and a NYS
handicap identification. Vehicles without
Registered Dietician.
handicap identification may drop patients off
at the new, handicap accessible, automated More information is available at (631) 723-4200.
door leading from the lot to the Hospital’s first
floor and a nearby elevator.

3. Health Insights
Bariatric
Surgery
A Cure for Type 2 Diabetes
For over ten years, board certified bariatric procedures currently being performed at
surgeon, Medhat E. Allam, M.D., and his staff Southampton Hospital. The Nutritionist is
of weight loss professionals at the Hamptons also present to answer questions about food.
Center for Weight Loss Surgery, have been Seminars are held the fourth Wednesday of
providing a surgical solution to weight loss, every month in Hampton Bays at the Ed
enabling hundreds of people on Long Island Phyllis Davis Wellness Institute at 6:30 pm.
to live longer and healthier lives. From those thinking about having weight
The causes of the obesity epidemic in the loss surgery to those who are already on
U.S. are varied and range from portion size, the journey, all are welcome at Dr. Allam’s
the use of high fructose corn syrup, the growth Support Group meetings which are held at
of fast food outlets, and the busy lives led by the Hampton Bays Public Library on the third
people with no time to plan, shop, and prepare Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm.
healthy meals, much less get regular exercise. Revisional surgery is an option for those who
Our children now lead sedentary lives, sitting have regained weight after a traditional gas-
for hours in front of a television or a computer. tric bypass. Called “Band-Over-Bypass,” it is
As a result, our youth and their parents are the placement of a gastric band (Lap-Band)
now significantly overweight. around the top part of the stomach, creating
Overweight and obese adults can suffer a new smaller stomach pouch. Overweight
from a multitude of diseases directly linked people can again start to lose significant
to excess pounds: Hypertension, Type II amounts of weight.
Diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular dis- Southampton Hospital’s program offers a multi-
ease, to name a few. After weight loss surgery, disciplinary approach to weight loss incorporating a
most patients find that their comorbidities unique partnership with the Ed Phyllis Davis Wellness
have been resolved and they can decrease, or Institute to address the needs of the whole patient, and
even eliminate, their prescription medications. to make it as easy as possible to take those first steps
For someone who is contemplating bariatric toward achieving a healthy weight and a healthier life-
surgery, a good first step is to attend an style. Call (631) 287-6202 to make an appointment with
Informational Seminar. The Hamptons Center Dr. Allam, for more information, or attend one of the
for Weight Loss Surgery offers a free monthly free seminars or support group meetings. Dates and
meeting where one can come to hear Dr. Allam times can be found at www.hamptonsweightloss.com.
speak about the minimally invasive surgical
1

4. Southampton Hospital
By Jessica Swiatocha, MSN, FNP-BC
Our unique approach to care might surprise those
who don’t know us. Most people don’t often think
of going to a hospital when they are not sick.
Our mission is to help the East End commu- and smoking cessation, stress management,
nity and we have a vast array of programs personal growth, and nutrition for health and
to help you do just that! With a motto of weight loss. Call us or check out our website
“Get Well, Stay Well, Be Well,” Southampton for other specials.
Hospital’s Ed Phyllis Davis Wellness Institute Our clinical programs focus on self-healing
offers a wide range of serv­ces that include
i and are designed to work in conjunction
massage, acupuncture, fitness classes, per- with traditional medicine. Dr. Alex Aponte, a
sonal training, workshops for children and board certified physician in both family and
adults, and medical consults with Alex Aponte, functional medicine, leads the team as the
MD, ABFD, FAAAM. Whether you’re looking Medical Director. His specialty, anti-aging
to burn calories, to relax and rejuvenate, or medicine (also known as functional medicine),
to maximize your health with Dr. Aponte, the is a patient-centered discipline that focuses
Wellness Institute has something for you. not only on extending the life span, but more
Are you unsure where to start? Call our Well­ importantly, on prolonging the “health span.”
ness Coordinator at (631) 726-8800 to guide To allow for an in-depth review of the individ-
you through all of our available services. If you ual’s history, as well as to develop a treat-
are looking for a more in-depth consultation, ment plan, sessions are one hour in length.
see our Wellness Nurse Practitioner for an Dr. Aponte’s practice focuses on, but is not
evaluation. The array of services we offer can limited to, hormonal imbalance in men and
help those with chronic health conditions to women, physician-supervised weight loss,
feel better, as well as those who want to stay sleep disorders, anxiety, digestive issues,
healthy feel younger, stronger, and more vibrant. and searching for and treating silent illnesses.
From meditation to Zumba, the Wellness Insti­ Dr. Aponte’s motto is “you don’t know if you
tute offers a full spectrum of fitness classes, don’t look,” and he believes in searching for
including pilates, tai chi, yoga, cardio tone, and treating potential problems in order to
boot camp, body sculpt tone, and TRX. keep you feeling younger, more energetic,
Classes are offered six days a week at two and better focused.
locations for a monthly fee of $50.00 (no
annual fee!). Seminars are offered on a regu-
lar basis, including hypnosis for weight loss
2

5. Health Insights
HAMPTON BAYS CLASSES (631) 728-WELL
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
2 Great
Body Sculpt Ultimate
Wellness Locations Express Conditioning
45-Minute Interval Fit Camp Step Fusion
6:15–7:00 am 9:15–10:15 am 6:00–6:45 am
6:00–6:45 am 8:00–9:00 am
38B Montauk Highway (Donna) (Oscar)
(Cristal) (Cristal) (Donna)
Hampton Bays
(King Kullen Shopping Plaza) Fit Camp TRX Cardio Tone Pilates Core Training
7:00–8:00 am 9:00–9:45 am 7:00–8:00 am 4:15–5:15 pm 7:00–8:00 am
(631) 728-WELL (Cristal)
(Donna) (Oscar) (Maureen) (Donna)
240 Meeting House Lane Cardio Kickbox
Yoga Cardio Fusion Body Sculpt TRX
Southampton Interval Training
10:00–11:00 am 8:00–9:00 am 5:15–6:15 pm 8:15–9:00 am
8:00–9:00 am
(3rd Floor of Hospital) (Donna)
(Mary Beth) (Cristal) (Maureen) (Donna)
(631) 726-8800
Body Sculpt Cardio Tone Yoga Zumba Body Sculpt
9:15–10:15 am 4:15–5:15 pm 9:00–10:00 am 6:15–7:15 pm 9:15–10:15 am
(Cristal) (Maureen) (Kim) (Fit Point) (Cristal)
Our integrative programs are here to meet
TRX
your needs. Our massage therapy program Body Sculpt
(Semi-Private)
Tai Chi
4:00–5:00 pm 11:30–12:30 pm
consists of a team of more than 20 licensed 6:00–6:45 pm
(Maureen) (Jim)
(Oscar) SATURDAY
massage therapists who treat individuals
beginning at birth with a full range of services High Intensity Morning Sun
Pilates Zumba Karate for Kids
including pregnancy and infant massage, Interval Flow Yoga
5:15–6:15 pm 7:00–8:00 pm 4:00–5:00 pm
8:15–8:45 am 10:15–11:15 am
reiki, crainosacral therapy, lymph massage, (Mary Beth) (Oscar) (Patrick)
(Laura) (Lori)
reflexology, shiatsu, and sports massage.
Our team of skilled acupuncturists is available TRX Fit Camp Zumba Tone
6:30–7:15 pm 5:15–6:15 pm 9:00–10:00 am
for individual consultation and evaluation. For
(Donna) (Cristal) (Fit Point)
those looking to try it out or to participate in
a group setting, we offer a weekly acupunc-
ture circle. Acupuncture/acupressure works SOUTHAMPTON CLASSES (631) 726-8800
through the body’s nervous system to relieve
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
many physical ailments and emotional prob-
lems. Looking for a combination of these Nia for
Gentle Yoga Chair Yoga Tai Chi Yoga
services and Oriental Medicine? Try our Cancer Survivors
12:00–1:00 pm 11:00–12:00 pm 7:00–8:00 am 9:30–10:30 am
9:30–10:30 am
Therapeutic Bodywork sessions to focus on (Mary) (Deb) (John) (Mary)
(Theresa)
the cause of the problem using a combina-
tion of techniques to relieve or to reduce the Restorative Yoga for
Level 1 Yoga Pilates Restorative Yoga
Yoga for Cancer Survivors
symptoms. Other clinical services include 3:30–4:30 pm 3:15–4:15 pm
Cancer Survivors 9:45–10:45 am
10:45–11:45 am
(Deb) (Mary Beth) (Barbara)
biofeedback, hypnosis (group and individual), 10:45–11:45 am (Deb)
nutritional counseling, stress reduction coun-
seling, and smoking cessation counseling. Intermediate Yoga Yoga for Level 1 Yoga Chair Yoga
3:30–4:30 pm Cancer Survivors 3:30–4:30 pm 11:00–12:00 pm
If you would like more information, or would like (Deb) 4:30–5:30 pm (Deb) (Deb)
to schedule an appointment, please contact us
at (631) 726-8800 or visit our new website:
Tai Chi Pilates
www.hamptonswellnessinstitute.com. We look 6:00–7:00 pm 3:15–4:15 pm
(John) (Mary Beth)
forward to working with you as you improve and
maintain your health!
Intermediate
Yoga Fit Firm
Tai Chi
4:30–5:30 pm
7:30–8:00 pm
(Deb)
(John)
3

6. Southampton Hospital
Tick-Borne Diseases
Protect Yourself and Your Family
With summer on the East End comes another task to add to your busy schedule:
picking ticks off your kids, your pets, and yourself.
Most bugs are just an annoyance, but some,
like ticks, can make you sick. Ticks—in par-
ticular, the deer tick—are best known for their
ability to carry and transmit the bacterium
responsible for Lyme disease. But they can
also spread other bacterial and viral diseases,
including Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky
Mountain Spotted Fever, Tick-Borne Enaphelitus
(TBE), Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness
(STAR1), Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, and
Human Anaplasmosis (HGE).
Remove ticks promptly: If you find a tick,
use narrow-tipped tweezers to grasp it as
close to your skin as possible, and pull upward
Photo magnification of a deer tick.
slowly and steadily. Follow up by washing your
skin and hands with soap and warm water.
Never crush or squeeze an attached tick. headache, general malaise, nausea, vomiting, no vaccine to protect you from most of these
weight loss, and/or confusion. It too can be diseases. If you spend time outdoors, it’s
What are the symptoms of tick-borne
fatal if left untreated. almost impossible to avoid ticks completely.
diseases?
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: A spotty But you can take steps to lower your risk of
Lyme: Bulls-eye rash, steady fever with chills getting bitten or of becoming ill. Here are some
rash usually occurs within 5–10 days after
and joint pain, severe headache, fatigue, measures you can take to avoid infection:
infection and can be fatal in 10% of cases.
swollen joints/lymph nodes, heart palpitations,
If you have been exposed to ticks and you Protect yourself: Avoid wooded, bushy,
sleep disruption, neuropathy, Bell’s Palsy. It can
develop flu-like symptoms or a rash, see your or grassy areas whenever possible. Wear
be fatal if not diagnosed in a timely manner.
health care provider as soon as possible, light-colored clothing with long sleeves and
Babesiosis: Headache, fever, fatigue, weak- long pants. Use an insect repellent that con-
even if the symptoms go away on their own.
ness, appetite loss, muscle pain, sweats, and tains DEET.
A tick-borne infection usually causes no last-
confusion. If untreated, there is a 5% mortal-
ing harm if it’s recognized and treated early. Check yourself: After you’ve been out in tick
ity rate.
What to do: Although most tick bites won’t territory, undress and examine your skin, using
HGE: Rash is UNCOMMON. You could expe- a mirror for hard-to-see places.
transmit a disease, some can, and there is
rience fever/chills/shaking, muscle/joint pain,
4

7. Health Insights
“Excuse me?”
Hearing loss is inevitable and, just like
the other senses (sight, taste, smell,
touch), loses sensitivity with age.
By Kevin Braat, MD
Hearing is a neurologic function with two louder and could not correct for weaknesses change these sounds to a different frequency
distinct and independent components, the in brain function which is why some people where there is still hearing. Other significant
ear and the brain; both are needed to hear do not hear well even with hearing aids. The digital enhancements include directional
effectively. The inner ear part of hearing can other big factor that must be taken into con- microphones, background noise filtering and
deteriorate due to age, infections, circulatory sideration before prescribing a particular blue-tooth technology.
problems, genetics and environmental expo- hearing aid is background noise—if hearing When to get a hearing test:
sures (noise, medications and toxins). The aids are making speech sounds louder, that If you have or think you have hearing loss,
brain part of hearing can deteriorate due to can also be amplifying background noise now is a good time for an audiologic evalua-
lack of stimulation (most commonly when which can actually make a hearing impaired tion. Some associated symptoms that justify
sound is not being sent to the brain because person’s ability to hear even worse! evaluation sooner rather than later are hear­
the ears have lost acuity) or other brain Today’s Hearing Aids: ing loss that seems to be worse in one ear,
changes due to neurologic diseases. Many Technologies have changed and the level tinnitus (ringing/buzzing in ears/head), vertigo/
people have issues with both the functioning of sophistication of certain hearing amplifica- dizziness, ear drainage and ear pain. Audiology
of the ear and the hearing part of the brain. tion devices in 2012 can be like comparing a testing is covered by most insurance plans
Only a physician who specializes in the audi- 1950’s transistor radio with an Apple i-pod; including Medicare when ordered by a
tory (hearing) system can make an accurate there is no comparison. Some of the more physician.
diagnosis for the cause of an individual’s hear­ sophisticated and technologically advanced ENT and Allergy Associates is the most comprehen­
ing loss and prescribe the proper treatment. hearing aids can actually trick the brain into sive ENT, Allergy and Audiology practice in the north-
The effectiveness of amplification (hearing hearing sounds in a frequency range that a east with 38 offices in the New York metro area
aids) cannot be determined until the hearing person is totally deaf in. Some hearing aids including Southampton, East Hampton and Riverhead.
function of the brain is evaluated. This addi- are so sophisticated now that they are actually Call for an appointment (631) 283-1142.
tional testing can be a predictor of the suc- small computers with microprocessors which
cess of hearing aids and is critical to exclude have the ability to change the frequency of
non-ear related causes for hearing difficulties. sounds. If a person is deaf in one frequency
Traditionally, hearing aids only made things range, the hearing aid can be programmed to

8. 2
40 Meeting House Lane
Southampton, NY 11968
M eeting House Lane M edical Practice, PC
I n t e r n a l M e d i c in e • Fa mily P r a c t i c e • N e ph r o l o gy • S u r g e r y • Gyn e c o l o gy • P syc hi at r y • N u t r i t i o n
East Hampton Sag Harbor
Meeting House Lane Meeting House Lane
Medical Practice Medical Practice
200 Pantigo Place, Suite N Burkshire Commons, Bldg. A
East Hampton, NY 11937 3330 Noyac Road
(631) 329-6500 Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Hampton Bays
(631) 725-2112
Southampton
Meeting House Lane
Medical Practice Meeting House Lane
34 East Montauk Highway, Suite 4 Medical Practice
Hampton Bays, NY 11946 325 Meeting House Lane
(631) 728-0505 Bldg. 2, Suite 403
MATTITUCK
Southampton, NY 11968
(631) 283-2100
Meeting House Lane Meeting House Lane
Medical Practice Medical Practice
13105 Main Road 325 Meeting House Lane
Mattituck, NY 11952 Bldg. 2, Suite 301
(631) 726-8400 Southampton, NY 11968
Montauk
(631) 283-4048
Wainscott
Meeting House Lane
Medical Practice Meeting House Lane
Montauk Medical Center Medical Practice
699 Main Street 386 Montauk Highway, Suite 5
Montauk, NY 11954 Wainscott, NY 11975
(631) 537-3765
Water mill
(631) 668-3705
Meeting House Lane
Medical Practice
860 Montauk Highway
Water Mill, NY 11976
(631) 726-6073
NEED A DOCTOR?—(631) 726-8362 SOUTHAMPTONHOSPITAL.ORG
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