Thursday, November 29, 2018
The Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation has joined forces with ELIH to provide patients with skin cancer assessment and education. Nurses examine the skin of all patients as they enter the hospital and, historically, assessing the skin for bed sores. Now ELIH nurses will also evaluate the skin of all patients for skin lesions and cancers and educate them on skin cancer and protective behaviors. Patient Electronic Medical Records forms were recently updated to reflect this change. This initiative was facilitated by Victoria Siegel, EdD, RN, CNS, a Mollie's Fund Advisory Board Member, and leader in the nursing community on skin cancer prevention and education, and Theresa Glass, RN, MS, CCRN, Director of Clinical Services and Staff Development at ELIH.
This initiative is momentous because more people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the U.S. than all other cancers combined. It is estimated one in five will develop skin cancer. Melanoma, the most serious skin cancer, claims one person every hour. Mollie's Fund successfully implemented this program in 2017 at NYU Winthrop Hospital.
For 113 years, Eastern Long Island Hospital has provided essential healthcare to the North Fork and Shelter Island. When part of Stony Brook Medicine, they will continue to strive to combine advanced technology with compassionate caring and personal attention for all residents of the North Fork and Shelter Island.
CONTACT: www.molliesfund.org
