Helen Hayes Hospital

As the sun sets on a beautiful, snowy day, we must thank our Snow Team, a collaborative team of staff from our Grounds and Engineering Departments, who work tirelessly to ensure that our hospital grounds are safe and accessible during winter weather. Thank you so much for all your hard work!

As we head into winter, it’s important to brush up on your winter weather preparedness knowledgeespecially if you have special needs. Follow these tips to keep you and your loved ones safe this winter.

The HHH Spinal Cord Injury & Amputee Support Group will be hosting their weekly phone support group meeting on Wednesday, December 16th at 6pm. This phone support group is open to community members including individuals living with spinal cord injury or amputation, as well as their loved ones. If you would like to join the phone support group, please call 845-786-4258 at 6:00pm and use the password 1234 to enter.

This holiday season, protect your loved ones and celebrate the holidays safely. Follow these important tips: Wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose. Stay at least 6 feet apart from people that you don’t live with. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Consider outdoor space.... Learn more about ways to reduce the risk of COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov//daily-life-coping/holidays/winter.html

Respiratory Therapists have played such a vital role in helping patients recover from COVID-19. Check out this video to see how a respiratory therapist in New Orleans contracted COVID-19 and was able to have a full recovery thanks to her fellow respiratory therapists. #RespiratoryCareWeek

It’s National Health Care Facilities and Engineering Week! We would like to thank all the members of our Facilities Management, Engineering, Clinical Technical Services, Grounds and Garage, and Power Plant teams for the vital role they play in making HHH a safe, healthy, and efficient environment for our patients and staff.

It’s not too late to get your flu vaccine! During National Influenza Vaccination Week, brush up on these tips from the CDC on how to fight flu: 1. Get your yearly flu vaccine to protect against flu viruses. 2. Take every day preventative actions to stop the spread of germs, such as frequent hand washing. 3. Take antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them to make your illness milder as well as shorten the time you are sick. ... #FightFlu

It's International Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) Month! AAC refers to a variety of communication approaches that are used to help individuals who are unable to communicate through traditional modes of communication. AAC systems can range from simple letter boards to sophisticated electronic devices or computers with voice output. We are so grateful to our therapists for giving our patients the power of communication! If you are interested in learning how AAC can help you, call us at 845-786-4587 or visit us online:

It’s Respiratory Care Week and we’re celebrating the valuable work that our Respiratory Therapists do every day! We're also recognizing how respiratory therapists around the world played such a critical role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Our respiratory therapists provide a wide scope of services for our patients with pulmonary and cardiopulmonary conditions, such as Emphysema, COPD or the after effects of lung surgery. They also care for and give patients wit...h spinal cord injury, brain injury, and other diagnoses, providing them with the power to manageand even wean off of their ventilators and tracheostomy tubes. Please join us in celebrating our incredible team of respiratory therapists for playing such a life-altering role in the recovery of our patients. For more information about respiratory therapy at HHH, call our Respiratory Care Department at 845-786-4491. #RespiratoryCareWeek

If you or a loved one uses a wheelchair, it’s important to keep the wheelchair clean as it is possible for hand rims, tires, and other surfaces to carry viruses. Check out this video from the American Association on Health and Disability for tips on how to properly clean your wheelchair to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

Mitch Rosen, a retired police officer, 9/11 first responder, and local artist has generously donated a print of his color pencil drawing Coney Island to the hospital. This print will be displayed in the third floor quiet room for future patients and visitors to enjoy. We are so grateful to receive this thoughtful and beautiful gift from a critically acclaimed artist and hero. If you would like to learn more about the artist and his work, please visit https://www.mitchrosenart.com/about

Today is #WorldOsteoporosisDay! Protect your bones with this important information from Payal Sahni, MPT, DPT, Program Coordinator of Nysopep. Learn how to determine if you are at risk of developing osteoporosis and treatment options to discuss with your healthcare provider.

There are approximately 44 million women and men in the United States with Osteoporosis or low bone mass. On #WorldOsteoporosisDay, we encourage everyone to talk with their healthcare provider about getting tested for Osteoporosis and to learn ways to keep your bones strong and prevent fractures. Learn more about our Osteoporosis services online, including bone density testing, at https://helenhayeshospital.org/osteoporosis-center/. Visit the website of The NYS Osteoporosis Prevention & Education Program (Nysopep) to learn more about risk factors and prevention methods for people of all ages: https://nysopep.org

Wearing a mask, washing your hands, and keeping physical distance from others are proven ways to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19. Here are some tips from the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect you and your loved ones.

Our Physical Therapy staff are trained on a wide variety of state-of-the-art technology that can be incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan to help them meet their recovery needs and goals. The ReWalk Exoskeleton is an innovative therapy that makes walking possible for individuals with a spinal cord injury. Check out this video below to see how the ReWalk Exoskeleton is used in a therapy session: #PhysicalTherapyMonth

This October marks the 75th observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This is a special time to educate others about disability employment issues as well as celebrate all of the contributions that America’s workers with disabilities have made. If you would like to learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month, please visit: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam

The HHH Spinal Cord Injury & Amputee Support Group will be hosting a phone support group meeting on Wednesday, October 14th at 4pm. This phone support group is open to individuals living with spinal cord injury and amputation, as well as their families and friends. If you would like to join the phone support group, please call 845-786-4258 at 6:00pm and use password 1234 to enter.