Mercy Flight Brings the Voice that Healed a Nation to Sing at JBR

Community, Event

Mercy Flight of WNY coordinated a series of special performances throughout its service area by nationally known tenor Daniel Rodriguez. These mini-concerts at area healthcare facilities led up to Mercy Flight’s Beacon of Hope fundraiser on September 9.

Rodriguez’s first stop on September 7 was the Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home in Springville, where he sang patriotic and classical tunes that the residents and guests recognized with ease.

Known as the Singing Policeman and the Voice the Healed a Nation, Rodriguez was a NYC police officer and was one of the first responders at 9/11. Since retiring, he has traveled the country as a professional singer.

Photo 1: Daniel Rodriguez entertains residents at the Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home with his rich tenor voice and popular American standard tunes.

Photo 2: Don Trzepacz, Jr., director of air medical operations for Mercy Flight, and Daniel Rodriguez outside the Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home.

 

Freedom From Smoking at BCH

Community, Event

Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is offering the Freedom From Smoking program starting on Tuesday, October 10 and running weekly to Tuesday, November 21.

This program is designed for adult smokers and features step-by-step plans to help smokers gain control over their behavior. Cigarette smoke contains cancer-causing chemicals and can lead to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking is a behavior that negatively affects nearly every organ in the human body. It is also a cause of heart disease and stroke.

This program is taught by an American Lung Association-certified respiratory therapist. Each class runs from 6-7:30 p.m. The cost for the program is $80. Please call (716) 592-9643 for more information and to register.

BCH Womens Association Presents Fashion Show on October 1

Community, Event

The Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Women’s Association is counting down the days until its annual Fashion Show on Sunday, October 1 at 2 p.m. The theme for 2017 is “Apple of Your Eye Fashions.” This year’s event will be held at the Concord Senior Center on Commerce Drive, off Waverly, in Springville.

Volunteers will model outfits and accessories from Christopher & Banks and maurices of Springville. Refreshments, a basket raffle and sale of items from the BCH Gift Shop will be part of this event.

The BCH Women’s Association supports projects and equipment at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital and Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home. Their volunteers work throughout the year to coordinate fundraising events like this fashion show, and management of the BCH Gift Shop. The group’s most recent donation funded a state-of-the-art vein viewer, now in use in the hospital’s emergency department and lab.

Tickets are $8 presale and available at the BCH front desk and the BCH Gift Shop. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $9 each. Call (716) 592-2871 ext. 1485 with any questions or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities..

Family, Friends, Food and Fun at Employee Summer Picnic

Event, People

What a Saturday! Dozens of BCH and JBR employees and hundreds of family members and friends turned out for a fun-filled picnic at Sprague Brook Park on August 19. The activities started before noon and continued until almost dusk. Ping-pong, kan-jam, washers, a vigorous game of volleyball, and an assortment of kids and dogs made the day exactly what we wanted it to be, which was a memorable event that brought #teamchaffee together.

Thank you to all of the employees who helped with set up, food prep, manning the grill and clean up!

We will add pictures from the day on our Facebook page and here on our web site; please share your pictures too with kkane@bch-jbr.org.

United Way Day of Caring Volunteers Spruce Up Sidewalks and Gardens

Community, Event

United Way Day of Caring 2017Volunteers from M&T Bank and ITT Enidine of Orchard Park descended on Bertrand Chaffee Hospital and Jennie B. Richmond Nursing Home as part of the United Way of Buffalo and Western New York’s annual Day of Caring on August 16.

Starting at the hospital entrance, the group made its way down the sidewalk, tearing out weeds and building up garden areas as they went. The mild weather and slight breeze made their work go quickly.

This event brings teams of enthusiastic volunteers together with non-profits to tackle small and not-so-small projects. For BCH and JBR, it meant outdoor painting, trimming, weeding, mulching, edging, and general landscaping.

Thank you to all the participants and to the BCH maintenance team for its support with supplies and direction.

Erie County Health Department Narcan Use Workshop on September 20

Announcement, Community, Event, ,

The Springville Regional Services Coalition and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital are coordinating another workshop with Erie County’s Health Department on opioid overdose recognition and Naloxone use. This free event will take place on Wednesday, September 20 at the Springville Middle School at 6:30 p.m.

This class trains people to recognize signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, properly administer naloxone and take the necessary follow-up steps. The information in this workshop can help to save the life of a family member, friend, neighbor or colleague who is experiencing an overdose caused by an opiate or prescription narcotic.

Participants who successfully complete the training will receive a kit containing two doses of naloxone at no charge. This free training is open to anyone 16 years old or older. Register online at bit.ly/narcan0920 or call (716) 592-2871 ext. 1485.

BCH Adds Blood Pressure Classes for Primary Care, Cardiac Patients

Announcement, Event, ,

Blood Pressure CuffDue to popular demand, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital is extending its blood pressure classes for BCH Primary Care Center and BCH Heart Center patients. Participants receive a free blood pressure cuff and journal.

August 28, 6 p.m.
September 6, 10 a.m.
October 2, 7 p.m.
November 9, 10 a.m.
December 4, 7 p.m.

Sometimes, patients may have “white-coat syndrome,” where nervousness or anxiety about seeing a healthcare provider can lead to an elevated blood pressure reading. A running log, kept at home in a familiar environment, provides very useful data about whether that is the case or not.

“In the Primary Care Center and Heart Center, we are seeing patients bring their three-week blood pressure logs in with them to appointments,” said Lauralee Sprague, NP. “That record gives providers a clearer picture of a patient’s blood pressure, not just at the time of their visit.”

All classes are held at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, patient education classroom (basement). The class is free for all Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Primary Care Center and Heart Center patients, but registration is required. Call (716) 592-9643.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 29

Community, Event

Bertrand Chaffee Hospital in Springville has been designated as a drop-off site for unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. This is one of several sites throughout Western New York. Law enforcement representatives will be on hand along with volunteer pharmacists, no questions asked.

Last October, Americans turned in 366 tons (over 730,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners.  Overall, in its 12 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 7.1 million pounds—more than 3,500 tons—of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

With the growing nationwide concern about abuse of prescription medications, these drop-off events serve as a reminder for individuals and families to look through their cabinets and properly dispose of medications. This program keeps pharmaceuticals out of the water supply and away from children. Call 1-800-882-9539 or visit dea.gov for a full list of drop off sites on April 29.

Permanent drug disposal boxes continue to be available throughout Erie County, including at the Erie County Sheriff’s substation at 65 Franklin Street in the village of Springville.

Five Years for the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Foundation Garden Party

Event,

Event will support purchase of cardiology equipment

The Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Foundation’s fifth annual Garden Party is planned for Thursday, May 25 at the Springville Country Club. The foundation’s board is pleased to announce that the event will celebrate the career of Darlene Schrantz, RN and honor the memory of Dr. William McMahon. Schrantz retired from Bertrand Chaffee Hospital in March after a 44-year career in nursing. Dr. McMahon was a longtime physician in Springville, who passed away in 2016.

As the major fundraising event for the BCH Foundation, the Garden Party is a way to focus community support on a single project. The foundation board will use this year’s event to help fund the purchase of a TEE – transesophageal echocardiogram. This equipment will be used in the BCH Heart Center.

The Garden Party starts at 5 p.m. and concludes by 8 p.m. The Springville Jazz Orchestra and Hintz of Thunder will provide the musical entertainment.

Tickets are $50 each or $80 per couple and are available at the BCH reception desk. For information and sponsorship opportunities, call the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Foundation at (716) 592-2871 ext. 1485 or email Kara Kane at kkane@bch-jbr.org.

Community Training for Opioid Overdose Recognition and Naloxone Use

Community, Event

Bertrand Chaffee Hospital and the Springville Regional Services Coalition are coordinating a workshop on opioid overdose recognition and Naloxone use on Wednesday, April 19 at the Springville Middle School at 6:30 p.m.

Presented by the Erie County Department of Health, this training gives individuals the knowledge and tools to recognize signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, properly administer naloxone and take the necessary follow-up steps.

Who can benefit from this training? The answer is, nearly everyone. The information in this workshop can help to save the life of a family member, friend, neighbor or colleague who is experiencing an overdose caused by an opiate or prescription narcotic.

Participants who successfully complete the training will receive a kit containing two doses of naloxone at no charge. This free training is open to anyone 16 years old or older. Register online by April 18 at http://bit.ly/narcan0419 or call (716) 592-2871 ext. 1485.