Serving Our Seniors: A Matter of Health

by Vicki Martin

Creating Successful Partnerships with Local Social Service Agencies

Once a month, more than 100 people attend a breakfast meeting at Congregation Beth Shalom in Coconut Creek, Florida. There, one of the physicians on staff of North Broward Medical Center presents an hour-long interactive health lecture on a topic such as Back Problems or Forgetfulness & Alzheimer’s Disease.

This is just one of many outreach events our medical center coordinates with area synagogues. With these breakfast meetings, not only do members of Congregation Beth Shalom get their health questions answered and learn information that may help them medically, but many of our doctors see their patients at the breakfast, away from the office and in a relaxed setting. And, by sponsoring the programs, our medical center gains by furthering our mission: to meet our citizen’s health needs through innovative partnerships in the community.

North Broward Medical Center in Pompano Beach, Florida, is part of a not-for-profit community health system, the North Broward Hospital District, in Broward County, Florida. The District encompasses more than 35 facilities and offers a full spectrum of healthcare services. We are one of four hospitals in this public health system, taking care of all patients, regardless of ability to pay.

We enjoy health-related partnerships with various organizations in our area, and especially enjoy our relationship with local synagogues. This union, which began more than a year ago, was the “brainchild” of Harold Wishna, Director of the USCJ Southeast Region, who also serves as a North Broward Hospital District Commissioner and as a co-chair of our medical center’s Neurological Institute’s Advisory Council.

Mr. Wishna and our Advisory Council discussed ways of reaching out to the community to share our expertise in memory disorders, sleep disorders, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. He suggested that the hospital hold a Wellness & Safety Day at Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach as a means of providing additional community outreach.

Mr. Wishna maintained that it is essential to go where people gather -- such as workplaces, synagogues, community organizations and shopping malls -- to teach about healthier lifestyles. As he noted: “People today lead very busy lives. While most want to learn about taking care of their health, they lack the time to do so.”

Over a period of two months, I worked with Rabbi Samuel April of Temple Beth Israel, members of our hospital staff, and Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne to put together this first synagogue outreach program. We began at 9:30 a.m. on a Wednesday with our Wellness & Safety Day and provided complimentary coffee and bagels for more than 250 attendees. Rabbi April started the proceedings with a talk about Religion and Wellness. Presentations by hospital professionals dealt with neurological and orthopedic advances, joint replacements, and safety tips for the elderly. Representatives of our staff answered questions about memory disorders, Parkinson’s Disease and stroke and then provided blood pressure and mini-stroke screenings.

From our Neurological Institute we handed out risk assessments from the Dizziness and Balance Center, American Parkinson’s Disease Association, Memory Disorder Center, Stroke Center and Sleep Disorders Center. Questions from our Memory Disorder Center risk assessment include such items as “Do you lose your keys often? Do you forget where you park your car? Do you easily get confused? Do you easily become agitated? ” Concerned seniors could then sign up for a free memory screening at our medical center.

Following our successful venture at Temple Beth Israel, other congregations asked to participate in our community involvement program. We then began offering a once-a-month breakfast meeting at Congregation Beth Shalom in Coconut Creek. Rabbi Leon T. Rosenblum, spiritual leader of the congregation, together with a member of our medical center’s Community Relations Council, help plan the monthly breakfast and other programs, such as a grief support group for widows and widowers.

Scheduled a full year in advance, each breakfast meeting features a timely health topic presented by a physician on staff at North Broward Medical Center. Subjects have included diabetes, cardiology, balance problems, the difference between Alzheimer’s and forgetfulness, foot problems and cancer. Between 100 and 200 people attend these meetings. Maurice Rybstein, another member of the Community Relations Council and president of the men’s club at Congregation Beth Shalom, reports that following these presentations -- which generate a lot of questions from the audience -- he has received much positive feedback from very many people.

One well-received presentation was made to Hazak members in Plantation. Our theme was “Staying Healthy in the 21st Century,” and we included refreshments, door prizes and goodie bags, along with panel presentations on stress reduction and memory enhancement. We also provided an interactive fitness program and nutritional guidelines.

We have presented the “Staying Healthy in the 21st Century” program for the Jewish community at Century Village in Deerfield Beach and plans are underway to offer it at Temple Beth Am in Margate. We’ve found that 150 to 300 people attend each session, and our audience consists of active seniors – those who question and want to learn. Planning these events takes one to two months. For each event, I meet with organizers, visit the site, and coordinate arrangements with the hospital staff/volunteers participating in the event.

Working with area synagogues and Jewish organizations reflects only one aspect of our medical center’s active support of the local Jewish community. For holidays, we broadcast services over our closed circuit TVS in the hospital. We also provide kosher meals to our patients upon request and offer our resources through sourcebooks such as the Membership Directory of Congregation Beth Tikvah Sisterhood in Boca Raton.

James R. Chromik, Regional VP/Hospital Administrator for North Broward Medical Center, explains the objective of the hospital’s outreach efforts: “These events and programs serve to reaffirm North Broward Medical Center’s commitment to exceptional health care, safety and the spiritual well being of our community.” We are hopeful that medical centers throughout North America will follow this model and develop a close working relationship with religious organizations in their area.