Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

Medic Alert Awareness Month

AUGUST 2014

220 So. Harrison St, East Orange, NJ 07018 / 852-18th Ave, Irvington, NJ 07111 / 973-7661303 / www.bessiemaehc.weebly.com

Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER 2014
Bessie Mae Family Health Center
opening two new locations in

Newark and Orange!

August is National
Breastfeeding Awareness
Month --- page 4

National Immunization
Awareness Month --- page 8

Medic Alert Awareness

Month front cover /page 11

Bessie Mae Family

Health Center opens new
location in Irvington--- page 15
2

Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

2014
220 SouthAugust
Harrison
Street
East Orange, NJ 07018
852-18th Avenue
Irvington, NJ 07111
973-766-1303
www.bessiemaehc.weebly.com

Dear Friends,
There are tens of thousands of people in this world who are not very intelligent and definitely no more
intelligent than you but the interesting thing is that they have mastered circumstances and health challenges
such as the ones you are facing now. Your health challenge may seem far more worst than that of another. But
always remember that we at the Bessie Mae Family Health Center are with you on your journey to better
health. Yes...that challenge may be a short journey or it may be a long journey...whatever the case may be,
know that we are with you every step of the way! Through challenges, do not forget the important things in
life, such as family, spirituality, health, nutrition, well-being and helping others. Sometimes, when we focus on
these important things, we overcome our medical challenges quicker than we anticipate.
Bessie Mae Family Health Center strives on doing whats best for you. We want nothing but the best for our
patients. Our mission is to help our community on their journey to better health. As a 501 (c )3 non-profit
organization in the urban community, we offer easy access to healthcare without a long wait time for an
appointment. We are a one-stop-shop that embraces a medical home feel. Our facilities are clean and give
the community comfort during a sick visit and support during their well visit. Our health centers are actively
involved in the local community. Through several different resources, we partner with First Lady Michelle
Obamas Lets Move Campaign by reaching out to the community with information, education, and healthy
initiatives to help families. We offer no or low cost medical services to our patients because there are those in
our community who dont have money to pay. Our patients needs are of the utmost importance. We are
courteous, professional, and friendly with a multi-cultural/multi-lingual staff that meet the needs of the people.
We welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and continue to deliver the best care to our community.
I want to say that with the growing need, high demand, ever increasing population that is in dire need of health
services, the disenfranchised community with a history of marginal health outcomes makes the need for
increased support more critical. Our community has historically been marginalized, but with proper education
and information we can provide continuity of care and meet their needs. In addition, with more funding and
your support, over 2,300 patients will receive case management for needs identified through medical health
screenings. And this will allow us to address the barriers to medical adherence and increase the opportunities
for overall good health outcomes. In our community, a health disparity which is defined as a particular type of
health difference, is closely linked with social or economic disadvantages that adversely affect groups of people
who have systematically experienced greater mental, behavioral, social or economic obstacles. These obstacles
are health based on their racial and/or ethnic group, religion, socioeconomic status, gender, age, mental health,
or disabilities. But...with your help eliminating these health disparities and barriers, our community can
receive optimal and quality medical services. So...please continue to support us by sending your donation to:
Bessie Mae Family Health Center, PO Box 3108, East Orange, NJ 07019. Thanking you in advance for your
support!
Sincerely,

Esney M. Sharpe, President/CEO

Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

August is National
Breastfeeding Awareness Month
period for the establishment of breastfeeding. Many of the
experiences of mothers and newborns in the hospital and the
practices in place there affect how likely breastfeeding is to
be established. In most cases, however, these experiences
reflect routine practices at the facility level, and new mothers
Definition
rarely request care different from that offered them by health
professionals. Prenatal education on breastfeeding can affect
Maternity care practices related to breastfeeding take place
a mothers decision to even consider it as a feeding option.
during the intra partum hospital stay, such as practices
Medications and procedures administered to the mother
related to immediate prenatal care, care during labor and
during labor affect the infants behavior at the time of birth,
birthing, and postpartum care.
which in turn affects the infants ability to suckle in an
Some maternity care practices of interest are developing a
organized and effective manner at the breast. Infants who are
written policy on breastfeeding, providing all staff (e.g.,
put to the breast within the first few hours after birth
nurses, physicians, radiology staff, pharmacy staff, food
continue breastfeeding longer than those whose first
service and housekeeping staff ) with education and training, breastfeeding is delayed. Mothers who room-in with their
encouraging early breastfeeding initiation, supporting cueinfants will have more opportunities to practice breastfeeding
based feeding, restricting supplements and pacifiers for
because of the infants proximity.
breastfed infants, and providing for post-discharge follow-up.
Breastfeeding is an extremely time-sensitive relationship.
Other maternity care practices differ in their effect on
breastfeeding. Both the use of medications during labor and Experiences with breastfeeding in the first hours and days of
cesarean birth have been shown to have a negative effect on life significantly influence an infants later feeding. Because
breastfeeding; however, providing continuous support during of its inextricable relationship with the birth experience,
breastfeeding must be supported throughout the maternity
labor and maintaining skin-to-skin contact between mother
hospital stay, not postponed until the infant goes home.
and baby after birth have been demonstrated to have a
positive effect on breastfeeding.

Maternity Care Practices

Rationale
The maternity care experience exerts unique influence on
both breastfeeding initiation and later infant feeding
behavior. In the United States, nearly all infants are born in a
hospital, and even though their stay is typically very short,
events during this time have a lasting meaning.
Correspondingly, the hospital stay is known to be a critical

Evidence of Effectiveness

A Cochrane review found that institutional changes in

maternity care practices effectively increased breastfeeding
initiation and duration rates. These changes can be part of a
comprehensive set of changes, such as those implemented in
pursuit of BFHI (Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative)4
designation (established by the World Health Organization
[WHO]/UNICEF) or they can be individual interventions

Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

such as increasing the rooming-in of mothers and babies
or discontinuing polices that are not evidence based (e.g.,
routine prelacteal feeds).
Birth facilities that have achieved BFHI designation
typically experience an increase in breastfeeding rates. In
addition, DiGirolamo et al. found a relationship between
the number of Baby Friendly steps (included in the Ten
Steps to Successful Breastfeeding of BFHI) in place at a
birth facility and a mothers breastfeeding success. The
authors found that mothers experiencing none of the
Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding required for
BFHI designation (see text box) during their stay were
eight times as likely to stop breastfeeding before 6 weeks
as those experiencing five steps. This finding emphasizes
the value of implementing incremental change within the
hospital setting.
Educating hospital staff through a 3-day training program
has been shown to enhance compliance with optimal
maternity care practices and increase rates of
breastfeeding. Use of pacifiers by newborns is associated
with fewer feedings per day and a shorter duration of
breastfeeding overall. Supplemental feeds to breastfed
newborns negatively impact overall infant health as well
as breastfeeding outcomes.
Distributing samples of infant formula to new mothers
during the hospital stay has been demonstrated by a
Cochrane review to negatively affect breastfeeding. There
appears to be a disproportionate negative impact of
distributing formula samples on mothers who are
particularly vulnerable, which includes those who are
primiparous (first-time mothers), less educated,
nonwhite, or ill during the postpartum period.
Continuous support during labor using trained labor
assistants such as doulas has been shown to improve
breastfeeding outcomes. Immediate skin-to-skin contact
between mother and infant has been associated with
longer duration of breastfeeding. Conversely, birthing
practices such as delayed timing of first breastfeeding and
the use of labor analgesics, epidural anesthesia, and
surgical (cesarean) birth have all been demonstrated to
negatively impact breastfeeding.

August 2014
The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
are as follows:
1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is
routinely communicated to all health care
staff.
2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to
implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits
and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a
half-hour of birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to
maintain lactation even if they should be
separated from their infants.
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other
than breast-milk, unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming-inallow mothers and
infants to remain together24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called
dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding
infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding
support groups and refer mothers to them on
discharge from the hospital or clinic.

Description and Characteristics

Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative

The Ten Steps have been implemented in over 19,000

maternity care facilities worldwide as part of the Baby
Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). The term baby
friendly was selected in part because it could be
appropriately translated into languages all over the world.
Designation as a BFHI facility requires the facility to
demonstrate adherence to all Ten Steps to outside
evaluators. Each of the Ten Steps has detailed
requirements. For example, step 6 requires facilities to
purchase all infant formula for patients at fair market
value. Evaluation is completed through an on-site visit
that includes interviews with multiple staff and patients
and chart reviews. Currently, fewer than 50 hospitals and
maternity care facilities in the United States carry BFHI
designation.

Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

Many different types of facilities have achieved BFHI

status in the United States, including very small facilities
serving primarily low-risk, high-income, privately
insured patients as well as very large facilities serving
mostly high-risk, low-income, publicly insured, or
uninsured patients.

Comprehensive hospitals (offering medicine, surgery,

obstetrics, etc.), military facilities, and freestanding birth
centers have all achieved BFHI status. Regardless of the
type of facility, those achieving BFHI designation see
improved health outcomes for infants and mothers as
well as greater patient and staff satisfaction.

Pay for hospital staff to participate in 18-hour

training courses in breastfeeding, especially in
hospitals serving high concentrations of lowincome families.

Examine regulations for maternity facilities and

evaluate their evidence base; update or change if
necessary.

Establish links between maternity facilities and

community breastfeeding support networks

Sponsor a summit of key decision-making staff at

facilities providing maternity care to highlight the
importance of evidence-based practices for
breastfeeding.

Implement a program within a hospital setting

using the philosophy of incremental change
choose one practice that appears particularly
widespread and work toward adjusting it to be
evidence based and supportive of breastfeeding.

Incremental Change
In addition to reforming maternity care practices
throughout the facility, hospitals and other care centers
can implement changes one at a time that incrementally
improve maternity care and breastfeeding outcomes.
Many facilities have instituted incremental change either
to prepare to pursue BFHI status or as an alternative to
the comprehensive approach taken by BFHI. As
evidence exists for each of the Ten Steps individually as
well as for maternity care practices not included in Ten
Steps, incremental change is a valid and often more
marketable option.
Incremental change can take the form of adding new
practices that sup
port breastfeeding, providing comprehensive education
and training to staff about breastfeeding and lactation
management, abolishing practices known to negatively
affect breastfeeding, or any combination of these
strategies. Incremental steps need not be limited to
those in the Ten Steps, yet should be evidence based.

Potential Action Steps

Program Examples
Baby-Friendly USA is responsible for designating BFHI
facilities within the United States and works with
external evaluators to coordinate all BFHI activities.
The Texas Hospital Association and the Texas
Department of Health have jointly developed the Texas
Ten Step Hospital Program to recognize Texas
hospitals that have achieved at least 85% adherence to
the WHO/ UNICEF Ten Steps. Certification is entirely
voluntary and based on the hospitals reports; there are
no external audits or site visits.
The Breastfeeding Coalition of the Inland Empire in
California has developed a model hospital policy
framework that can be downloaded without charge from
the Internet. The coalition has worked extensively with
hospitals in the Riverside (southern California) area to
implement incremental change focused on staff
education, training, and support for early skin-to-skin
contact and early initiation of breastfeeding.
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine has
developed Model Breastfeeding Policy
recommendations for physicians, including those
working within a hospital setting. This policy can be
downloaded without charge from the Internet.

Resources
Baby-Friendly USA: http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org
Breastfeeding Coalition of the Inland Empire Model
Hospital Policy Recommendations:
http://www.breastfeeding.org/articles/ modelpolicy.pdf
Texas Ten Step Hospital Program:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/which/lactate
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Model
Breastfeeding Policy:http://bfmed.org/protocol/
mhpolicy_ABM.pdf

Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

August is National
Immunization Awareness
Month
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Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

August is National Immunization Awareness

Month! Getting vaccinated is an easy way to
stay healthy all year round. During the month
of August, take the time to make sure that you
and your loved ones have received all of the
vaccinations you need. By making sure your
vaccinations are up to date, you can help
prevent harmful diseases from affecting you
and your family.

People of all ages need vaccines

Getting vaccinated is important for people of all ages. Heres
some information about vaccines that people need throughout
their lives:

Parents can protect infants and children from 14 serious

childhood diseases by age 2. Learn more about
immunizations for infants and children.

Preteens and teens need vaccines too! Getting adolescents

vaccinated will also protect their friends and their family members. Find out about the vaccines preteens and
teens need.

Adults: not sure if your immunization schedule is up-to date? Take this online quiz to see which vaccines you
need, and use the Vaccine Finder tool below to find a location near you where you can access vaccines.

Seniors may need one or more vaccines, even if they received vaccines as a child or as a younger adult. Find
more information about vaccines for seniors here .

August: A great time to get vaccinated

Vaccines protect you all year
time to get vaccinated.

round, but August is a great

In August, as summer winds

and your family to make plans to
vaccine usually becomes available
the vaccine early can help prevent
from getting the flu throughout all
more about the flu and flu vaccine

down, its a good time for you

get the flu vaccine. The
in mid- to late-August. Getting
you and your family members
of flu season. You can learn
at Flu.gov.

When taking yourself and your

can also ask your health care
recommended vaccines you might
should make sure that the whole
DTap/Tdap and MMRV
protects against several serious diseases

family for your flu shots, you

provider about other routinely
need. For example, you
family is up-to-date on their
boosters, each of which

DTap or Tdap: tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough)

MMR or MMRV: measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox)

Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

Finally, HPV vaccines help prevent girls and boys from getting cancers later in life that are caused by HPV. If
you have questions about the HPV vaccine, read our FAQ, and ask your healthcare provider for more
information.
There are many routinely recommended vaccines for people of all ages. These are some examples of vaccines
you can discuss with your healthcare provider. Make sure that you and your family are up-to-date on all
recommended vaccines .

Vaccines: Our best defense

Vaccines are the best defense we have against these and other serious diseases, and its important to make sure
that youre up to date on all recommended vaccines. Use National Immunization Awareness Month as your
chance to make sure that all your vaccinations are current. Talk with your healthcare provider about what
vaccines you and your family need, and keep putting your healthiest foot forward!

http://www.vaccines.gov/more_info/features/national_immunization_awareness_month_2013.html

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Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

Medic Alert Awareness

Month
Emergency first responders and medics at Walter Reed Bethesda encourage patients with allergies, special
needs, internal medical devices or certain medications to wear a medical identification tag. The month of August
is designated Medic Alert Awareness Month to educate and bring attention to these life-saving tools.
The medical ID [alert] speaks for you when you cannot speak for yourself, explained District Fire Chief John
Gray of Naval Support Activity Bethesda Fire and Emergency Service. They are your voice.
Worn as a bracelet, necklace or on clothing, a medical identification tag will tell first responders that the
individual wearing the tag has a medical condition that may need immediate attention. Unconsciousness, shock,
delirium, hysteria, and loss of speech may prevent a person from communicating vital information in medical
emergencies.
Its less of a guessing game when youre dealing with medical ID bracelets because it can point to the problem
immediately, said Gray.

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Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

Available for purchase at drug stores, pharmacies, and other retail outlets, medical identification alerts can be
found as a charm on a bracelet, necklace pendant, or a simple silver band with a red emblem that draws the
attention of paramedics, physician, or emergency department personnel of a medical condition, allergies or
certain drugs to help a person get the medical attention and aid that they need. Within the military community,
the issuance of a red dog tag, or identification tag, indicates an allergy to penicillin or a similar medication,
according to Gray.

The latest forms of medical information alerts are digital. Some contain a USB port that responders can plug
into a laptop for instant information. Gray said emergency medical technicians and first responders are taught
very early in their training to look for and identify medical identification alerts.

According to the fire chief, individuals with diabetes, known drug or food allergies, seizure disorders, as well as
pacemakers or other medical devices, should wear medical identification tags. A medic alert emblem also helps
to identify people who take blood thinners, insulin or other medications, that may interact with the procedures
or treatments used in emergency situations.

Greta Patten, 47, a Red Cross volunteer with her dog Schroeder at Walter Reed National Military Medical
Center, has worn her medical alert bracelet for nearly 23 years. The metal bracelet appears unassuming, more
like a watch at first, but she explained it contains vital information for emergency medical personnel.

Mine has my blood type, a toll-free number where they can get [my] paper record, my emergency contact
person, which is my sister [and] the fact that Im allergic to tetanus. I also have obstructive sleep apnea, so if I
cant speak for myself, the anesthesiologist needs to knowthis says no opioids, so they wont put me too far
under where I wont come back.

Has she ever had a situation where her bracelet has spoken for her? So far not, Patten said. Im a kind of
preventative person. This is the kind of thing you wish you had [in an emergency situation]. I recommend them
highly to everybody.

Gray said its important for children and older adults who have been diagnosed with medical conditions to wear
medical identification tags. Food allergies are common with smaller children, especially those allergic to peanuts.

Autism now is a big one that theyre putting on bracelets because sometimes that will indicate that you may have
a communication barrier trying to communicate with someone that may not be able to necessarily express
whats going on with them, explained Gray.

He spoke of the golden hour with trauma patients, the critical period of time that may change the outcome of

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Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

an emergency medical situation. The same for stroke patients, Gray said. Theres a big push right now for
people who have suffered previous strokes to have that listed on a medical ID bracelet because the faster we can
get them to a stroke center, the less damage is done to the brain and to the body, he said. Definitive care
within a certain amount of time saves lives.

Medical alert identification can mean life or death for a cardiac patient according to the fire chief, especially if a
person has a pacemaker or internal defibrillator. Critical information for us to have when responding to people
with chest pains or cardiac arrest and they are not able to verbally convey to us that they have that equipment on
board it changes our treatment options, he said.

Individuals seeking more information about medical identification alerts should contact their primary care
provider, according to Gray.

http://www.dcmilitary.com/article/20130815/NEWS11/130819983/august-medic-alert-awareness-month

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Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

Light Chicken Caesar

Salad
Total Time:
30 min
Prep:
5 min
Cook:
25 min
Yield:
4 servings
Level:
Easy

Ingredients

Directions

4 cups cubed day-old crusty bread

(preferably whole wheat)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
(about 2 ounces)
1 small clove garlic
2 anchovy fillets
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 pound skinless, boneless
chicken breasts
Kosher salt
2 romaine lettuce hearts, chopped
Freshly ground pepper

Make the croutons: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toss

the bread cubes in a large bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
Spread on a baking sheet and bake until crisp, tossing halfway
through, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the dressing: Puree the yogurt, 2
tablespoons parmesan, the garlic, anchovies, lemon juice,
mustard and 2 tablespoons water in a mini food processor or a
blender.
Pound the chicken between 2 pieces of plastic wrap with a
heavy skillet until 1/2 inch thick. Brush a rimmed baking sheet
with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil; add the chicken and
season with salt. Brush evenly with 1 tablespoon of the
dressing and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons parmesan. Broil,
undisturbed, until golden and cooked through, about 5
minutes. Transfer to a cutting board.
Toss the lettuce, croutons and the remaining dressing and 3/4
cup parmesan in a large bowl. Thinly slice the chicken. Divide
the salad among bowls, top with the chicken and season with
pepper.

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Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

Weve added a New

Medical Home in Irvington!

Bessie Mae Family Health Center

852 - 18th Avenue, Irvington, NJ 07111
Call for an appointment: 973-766-1303

Primary care, ob/gyn, chiropractic

services, mental/behavioral health, social
services, ACA enrollment assistance
and more!

(L) Sadiyyah Roberts,

Patient Registration Specialist
Charlene Messer-Mustafa,
Site Administrator

(R) Elaine Helms, CEO

Helms Medical Services

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Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014

Bessie Mae Family Health Center

Will be opening two new sites
in Newark and Orange!
To schedule an appointment and for more
information call:
973-766-1303

Primary Health Care for family

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Preventive Health Medicine

Chiropractic Services

Behavioral / Mental Health Services

HIV Counseling and Testing

Pastoral Care Counseling

Pre-Natal Group Sessions

WIC (Women, Infant, Children) - Referrals

Family Planning

Womens Wellness/Life Coaching

ACA Enrollment Assistance (Open Enrollment begins

11/15/14)

Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Advocacy

Program

Education and Career Development Program

Empowerment Workshops

*FREE Breast and Cervical Screenings

*FREE Colorectal and Prostate Screenings

*FREE STD Testing

*FREE Pregnancy Testing

Career Development/Life Coaching and

Counseling

Physical Fitness/Weight Management Program

Cancer Survivor Group Sessions

Successful Parenting/Co-Parenting Workshops

Social Services

Assistance with: rental, mortgage, food, car,

tuition & child care
* To those who are eligible
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Bessie Mae Womens / Family Health Center

August 2014

Bessie Mae Family Health Center

Would like to thank you for your
Support and Contribution
New Jersey Department of Health & Senior
Services

The Unity Way of Essex and West Hudson

Jois Angels

WOCAWomen of Color Association

Kingdom Church Repairer of the Breach

Community Fellowship

Spread The Purple Agency

Victory Cathedral

Urban Life Counseling Center , Inc.

Arts Unbound

Open Arms Adoption Agency

WIC (Women, Infant & Children)

St. Barnabas Hospital ER Department

Elegance Plan, LLC

New Jersey Citizens Action

Lovin-Hart

Rutgers/RWJ Medical School : HIV C&T

Big Als Professional Multi Cleaning Services

Helms Medical Services

Saint Michaels Medical Center-NJCEED, In

The Pink Program

Lab Corp

Bio-Reference
Washington Shop Pharmacy
Verizon Wireless
Shop Rite Supermarket (Wake Farm)
Purple R.E.I.G.N.
The Wellness Center of America

The Urban League of Essex

Coach Caryl On Call

Accu Reference Laboratory Services

Health Mart, Inc.
Essex County Family Justice Center
National Career Institute
Drake College of Business
Anthems Business Institute

The Mattie Berry Family

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