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Mather Hospitaal. Photo by Jim Lennon

Northwell’s Mather Hospital  in Port Jefferson has announced that it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a healthcare organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. 

The certification, offered in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, focuses on the pre-surgical orthopedic consultation to the intraoperative, hospitalization or ambulatory surgical center admission, rehabilitation activities, and follow-up visit with the orthopedic surgeon. 

Mather Hospital underwent a rigorous review January 29-30, 2025. During the visit, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification standards such as program management, supporting self-management, and delivering and facilitating clinical care. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewer also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend Mather Hospital for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”

“Mather Hospital is proud to receive this prestigious certification from The Joint Commission in recognition of our high standards in total knee and hip replacements,” said President Kevin McGeachy. “The certification demonstrates to our patients that Mather adheres to the best practices of quality, safety, and better patient outcomes and affirms our standing as the highest-ranked orthopedic program in our area according to U.S. News and World Report”. 

“This certification is the result of the collaborative efforts of our orthopedic coordinator, preoperative, operating room, PACU, and floor staffs, as well as our physical therapists, discharge planners, home therapists, board certified orthopedists and anesthesiologists,” said orthopedic surgeon Brian McGinley, MD.

Michael Fracchia, MD, director of Mather’s orthopedic program, noted that with the support of hospital administration, Mather surgeons have  used computer or robotic assisted surgery since 2001 for the total joint program. 

“Mather surgeons were the first in the country to perform robotic-assisted total knee replacements and we  continue to work with the equipment companies to improve the technology,” he said.

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Dr. Arif Ahmad

St. Charles Hospital, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson will hold a free patient education seminar on acid reflux in the St. Raphael Conference Room, 2nd Floor, on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Want to reduce dependency on medications? Concerned about side effects of medications? Regurgitate in spite of medications? Dr. Arif Ahmad, Director, Acid Reflux and Hiatal Hernia Center of Excellence at St. Charles Hospital, will discuss permanent solutions for acid reflux with minimally invasive surgical procedures that will improve your quality of life. Light refreshments will be served. 

To register, call 631-474-6797.

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METRO photo

By Thomas M. Cassidy

Thomas M. Cassidy

As a former senior investigator for the New York State Attorney General’s Office who spent twenty years investigating health fraud, I was truly annoyed when I discovered how hospitals are paid, and not paid, by insurers and individuals.

Keep in mind that hospitals are required by federal law to provide emergency care and stabilize all patients regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. As a result, hospitals provide more than $40 billion a year in unpaid care for patients who can’t afford to pay their hospital bill.  When patients don’t pay for their hospital care, those costs are shifted to health insurers who are charged higher rates by hospitals to make up for the losses from non-paying patients.

However, uncompensated hospital care is not shared equally by private and government health insurers. According to a study by the Rand Corporation, private plans pay hospitals 241% more than Medicare for the same service. This amounts to a sneaky tax on the 216 million Americans covered by private insurance plans.

American taxpayers fund all or part of government health insurers such as Medicare and Medicaid. Yet, the American Hospital Association reports that hospitals received payments of only 82 cents for every dollar that was spent on Medicare patients in 2022. I get it. Medicare negotiates rates for more than 60 million people, and they squeeze every drop of leverage out of hospital administrators.

But wait, why are American workers being forced to pay higher premiums for their private health insurance when they are also funding the government plans? Whoa, wait a minute! That would be like selling a car for $50,000, but if you were a stockholder in the company the same car would cost more than $100,000. It sounds ridiculous, because it is. Especially, when a commonsense solution is within reach.

Simplify hospital reimbursement rates by having Medicare negotiate the same rate for all private and government insurers as a volume purchaser for 330 million Americans. By negotiating fair and reasonable reimbursement rates with just one insurer, hospitals would save money by reducing the number of administrators and consultants that are needed to negotiate with numerous private and government health insurers year after year.

Hospitals throughout the United States are in dire economic straits due to workforce shortages, inflation, cyber-attacks, unfunded government mandates and oppressive bureaucratic regulations. For example, the American Hospital Association reported in September 2024, “Recent data from Strata Decision Technology show that administrative costs now account for more than 40% of total expenses hospitals incur in delivering care to patients.” 

A Medicare, “one-size-fits-all,” hospital reimbursement program would streamline administrative costs, save taxpayer money, reduce health insurance premiums and ensure that America’s hospitals remain best in class. 

Thomas M. Cassidy, an economist, is the author and creator of the independent feature film, Manhattan South, which is in development. (ktpgproductions.com)

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Pictured from left, Dr. Joseph Marino, Northwell SVP Anesthesia Service Line; Dr. David Park, Anesthesia Chair at Mather Hospital; Steven Cortes; Michael Lampasona, Nurse Anesthesia Manager at Mather; and Kevin McGeachy, President, Mather Hospital. Photo courtesy of Northwell

Steven Cortes, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, was honored on Feb. 3 with a lifesaver award from Northwell’s Anesthesia Service Line for his role in saving the life of a house fire victim.

On Oct. 14, 2024 Mr. Cortes finished his 10-hour shift and began driving home to his wife when he came upon an active house fire in his neighborhood. The first person on the scene, he called 911, then assisted in rescuing a 62-year-old disabled man trapped in the blaze. 

The paramedics on the scene tried unsuccessfully to place a breathing tube in the man. Steve rushed in and successfully intubated the man on his first attempt. After securing the patient’s airway, he remained at his side in the ambulance and aided in the resuscitation efforts on the way to the closest hospital. 

“Steve spent the entire evening and night displaying an extraordinary level of compassion and selflessness,” said Michael Lampasona, Nurse Anesthesia Manager at Mather Hospital. “He truly exemplifies the mission, vision, and values of Northwell Anesthesia.”

“Steven’s quick thinking, training and experience helped save a life that night,” said Mather President Kevin McGeachy. “I congratulate him for showing the highest level of dedication and professionalism, the kind of extraordinary patient care for which Mather is known.” 

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St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, 50 Route 25A, Smithtown will have the Catholic Health Community Health and Outreach Mobile Bus in its main parking lot on Friday, Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to offer free health screenings and flu vaccinations for adults 18 years and older.

Each screening will include a brief cardiac history, blood pressure screening, BMI screening, simple blood test for cholesterol and glucose, health education, referrals as needed, resources for those without insurance and a free flu vaccination (senior dose available.) For more information, please call 631-469-0989.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Medicine

Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) has received the highest level of achievement from Healthgrades, as one of America’s 50 Best for 2025. This achievement places Stony Brook Medicine among the top 1% nationwide for overall care excellence. Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, and Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital are collectively assessed by Healthgrades and share the America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award™.

“This distinction reflects our shared commitment across Stony Brook Medicine to bring exceptional care to our patients,” says William A. Wertheim, MD, MBA, Executive Vice President, Stony Brook Medicine. “This is only possible when we collectively maintain the highest standards of quality throughout the organization.”

“I am grateful to all of our healthcare professionals for their dedication to excellence,” says Carol A. Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ, Chief Executive Officer, Stony Brook University Hospital. “Our steady increase in rankings — from the top 250 since 2015, to the top 100 since 2019, and now the top 50 for three years in a row — can give patients the confidence in knowing that Stony Brook delivers consistent, high-quality care.”

To determine the top hospitals for 2025, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for more than 30 conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide. Healthgrades’ annual analysis revealed significant performance gaps between the nation’s highest- and lowest-achieving hospitals, making it increasingly important to seek care at a top-rated facility. From 2021-2023, if all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to America’s 50 Best, 173,516 lives could potentially have been saved.*

“As one of America’s 50 Best, Stony Brook Medicine is elevating the standard for quality care nationwide,” says Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades. “Healthgrades commends Stony Brook Medicine for their leadership and ongoing commitment to providing the best possible care for all patients on Long Island.”

The Best Hospitals Award comes on the heels of receiving numerous specialty awards this past fall, underscoring Stony Brook‘s dedication to exceptional patient care. These include:

  • The only in New York State to be recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care for 10 years in a row (2016-2025)
  • Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack (2022-25)
  • Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure (2014-25)
  • Five-Star Recipient for Cranial Neurosurgery (2020-2025)
  • Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke (2015-2025)
  • Neurosciences Excellence Award™ (2016-2025)
  • Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award™ (2020-2025)
  • Stroke Care Excellence Award™ (2016-2025)
  • Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (2025)
  • Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of GI Bleed (2024-2025)
  • Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Sepsis (2015-2025)
  • Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Respiratory Failure (2021-2025)
  • Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award™ (2025)
  • Five-Star Recipient for Outpatient Prostate Care Excellence (2025)
  • Outpatient Prostate Care Excellence Award™(2025)

As care variation grows, consumers can find and select a top-rated hospital to maximize their outcome. Consumers can visit healthgrades.com for guidance on how to find best-in-class care in 2025, with additional resources on how Healthgrades rates hospitals and why hospital quality matters available here.

*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2021 through 2023 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. Click here to view the complete 2025 America’s Best Hospital Awards Methodology.

About Stony Brook Medicine:

Stony Brook Medicine integrates and elevates all of Stony Brook University’s health-related initiatives: education, research and patient care. It includes five Health Sciences schools — Renaissance School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, School of Health Professions, School of Nursing and School of Social Welfare — as well as Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, StonyBrook Children’s Hospital and more than 200 community-based healthcare settings throughout Suffolk County. To learn more, visitwww.stonybrookmedicine.edu.

About Healthgrades:

Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering meaningful connections between patients, doctors, and hospitals. As the #1 platform for finding a doctor and a leader in healthcare transparency, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their healthcare professional of choice and prepare for their appointments with best-in-class, treatment-focused content.

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Mather Hospital. Photo by Jim Lennon

Exceptional clinical performance places Mather in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide 

Northwell’s Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson recently announced that it is one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2025, according to new research released by Healthgrades, the number one site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital. This achievement reflects Mather Hospital’s unwavering commitment to exceptional patient care and puts the organization in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance for a third consecutive year (2023-2025). Mather Hospital is one of seven hospitals in New York State to receive the award. 

In addition to this recognition for overall clinical care, Mather Hospital is the recipient of numerous accolades related to its exceptional patient outcomes in key service areas, including Coronary Intervention, Pulmonary Care, Gastrointestinal Care and Critical Care. These achievements further underscore the organization’s dedication to clinical excellence, placing Mather Hospital among the upper echelon of hospitals nationwide. 

“Congratulations once again to our entire team for this achievement! Mather consistently ranks among the top hospitals nationwide for patient care, safety and clinical excellence,” said Mather President Kevin McGeachy. “We believe in investing in our staff and creating a culture that elevates care beyond expectations”.

Mather Hospital’s achievements are based exclusively on what matters most: patient outcomes. To determine the top hospitals for 2025, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for over 30 of the most common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide. Healthgrades’ annual analysis revealed significant performance gaps between the nation’s highest- and lowest-achieving hospitals, making it increasingly important to seek care at a top-rated facility. In fact, from 2021-2023, If all hospitals, as a group, had performed similarly to America’s 250 Best, on average, 174,081 lives could potentially have been saved. 

“As one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals, Mather Hospital is elevating the standard for quality care nationwide,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer and head of data science at Healthgrades. “Healthgrades commends Mather Hospital for their ongoing leadership and commitment to providing the best possible care for all patients in its service area.” 

As care variation grows, consumers must find and select a top-rated hospital to maximize their chances of a successful outcome. Consumers can visit healthgrades.com for guidance on how to find best-in-class care in 2025, with additional resources on how Healthgrades rates hospitals and why hospital quality matters available here. 

*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2021 through 2023 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. Click here to view the complete 2025 America’s Best Hospital Awards Methodology. 

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Dr. Aleena Zahra/St. Charles Hospital

By Daniel Dunaief

Bird flu, which is a virus that has so far primarily infected animals, has affected a duck farm in Aquebogue.

Amid concerns about transmission, Crescent Duck Farm, which has operated as a family business since 1908, has had to put down close to 100,000 ducks.

At this point, health officials haven’t reported any cases of humans contracting the virus, although the farm, its workers and doctors have been looking out for signs of illness.

Local doctors suggested that the risk to humans from bird flu is limited to those people who have worked with or handled sick birds.

Dr. Adrian Popp, chair of Infection Control at Huntington Hospital/ Northwell Health. File photo

The virus “transmits easily from bird to bird, but so far transmission to humans has not occurred to my knowledge,” Dr. Adrian Popp, chair of Infection Control at Huntington Hospital/ Northwell Health and associate professor of medicine at Hofstra School of Medicine, explained in an email. “There is a theoretical possibility that this can occur, but so far, I think we are safe,” as New York State is monitoring exposed workers.

Doctors urged residents to see a healthcare worker if they have any contact with birds and they develop symptoms such as a fever, conjunctivitis (an eye infection that can include redness or watery eyes), or breathing issues.

“Monitor yourself for 10 days after exposure,” urged Dr. Aleena Zahra, infectious disease physician at St. Charles Hospital. “If you develop any symptoms, seek medical attention.”

The treatment for bird flu, which can affect people in ways that are similar to influenza, is to take tamiflu, which is more effective in the earlier stages of an infection.

“If you’re in contact with an animal that is sick, then that would be a potential risk factor,” added Zahra.

Zahra advised residents to avoid picking up a dead bird in their yard without gloves and other safety measures.

Dr. Sharon Nachmann, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, added that the jump to humans from other animals is rarely happening.

People who have become infected are typically recovering, although one person in Louisiana died from the virus.

Despite the relatively low risk, viruses have the ability to mutate, which could make them more transmissible and more dangerous.

CDC silence

At the same time, local doctors are concerned that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stopped publishing information on infectious diseases.

“This is an unprecedented attack on timely access to reports about transmission of various infectious diseases in the country and worldwide,” Popp explained. “It will lead to delayed prevention measures, poor health care, and potentially allowing infectious disease outbreaks to get out of control.”

Dr. Sharon Nachmann/Stony Brook Children’s Hospital

The CDC has created travel bans in the past, but has not closed its reporting on outbreaks, Nachmann said.

“It’s incredibly stressful,” said Nachmann.

Doctors added that they were missing the bigger picture that might offer important information about the source of an illness and the best possible treatment.

“We want to do the best for our patients. We want to tell them that this is working or that is not working and you need a different medication,” Nachmann said.

For right now, doctors are gathering information from state and local officials, said Zahra.

The CDC typically shares details about the specific type of infections in an area or region, its responsiveness to various treatments and its differential impact on any specific subgroup, such as children.

“It is sad to see how political, partisan measures are used to suppress sharing of scientific information between healthcare professionals,” Popp added.

Doctors are hoping for more and better information before too long.

“All we have now is a stop,” said Nachmann. “We don’t know what happens after the stop.”

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Registration underway. St. Charles Hospital, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson will offer a 24-class free diabetes prevention program (DPP) in St. Luke’s lecture room, 2nd floor, from March 4 to Dec. 2 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This program provides trained lifestyle coaching, CDC approved curriculum, and group support during the course of the year. Classes will be held weekly from March 4 to June 17, bi-monthly from July 8 to Aug. 26 and then monthly from Sept. 9 to Dec. 2. 

If you have prediabetes, you can take control and reduce your risk of developing diabetes. Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, please email [email protected] or call 631-474–6797.

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Photo courtesy of RMHC NYM

Andrew Reid, 19, who transformed his family’s East Northport home into a holiday lighted winter wonderland with over 500 restored holiday decorations, along with his mother, Christine, presented a check for $16,023.20 in donations raised by visitors to their holiday light display to representatives from Ronald McDonald House Charities NY Metro on Jan. 15.

The size of the donation was kept a surprise by Andrew right up until the moment the check was presented. 

“I was blown away, I had no idea it was going to be that large,” said Matt Campo, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Metro. “I told the family we work so hard to raise every dollar. For someone to come and hand us more than $16,000 is just amazing.” 

What began as a passion for refurbishing discarded holiday decorations grew into an annual tradition for Andrew and his family, with more than 500 decorations covering nearly every inch of Andrew’s home, yard, and even his car. His display was chronicled by media across New York and nationally. Andrew’s “Misfit Island” Christmas display was also voted the winner of Newsday’s “Holiday Lights” contest, with a prize of $1,000, which will be part of the donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities NY Metro. 

“I surprised myself as well. It was a lot of work, a lot of standing in front of the house collecting donations,” said Andrew, who says he begins setting up his display in August every year. “Ronald McDonald House is a very good organization to support and it’s local, so the money will stay here.” 

The money donated will go toward the construction of the new Ronald McDonald House at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. A groundbreaking ceremony was held last year and construction will begin in the spring with plans to open in 2027.

Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Metro provides comfort and support to families of children undergoing medical treatment. Funds raised through Andrew’s light display will directly benefit the new 24/7 care facility at Stony Brook Hospital, ensuring families can stay close to their sick or injured children.

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