Services & Specialty Centers

Cultural Initiatives Department

Mission

The mission of the Cultural Initiatives Department is to establish and promote an environment at South Nassau Communities Hospital that is responsive and respectful of the differences on those we serve. To ensure that the provision of health services will not vary in quality because of race, ethnic background, linguistic competence, gender, sexual orientation, disability, geographic location or socioeconomic status.

South Nassau Communities Hospital's Cultural Initiatives Committee oversees the fulfillment of the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care as determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health. South Nassau's Diversity Chief, Dr. Sheila D'Nodal, and the staff of the Cultural Initiatives Department are committed ensuring that the best care is provided to all patients and their families regardless their race, ethnicity, culture, age, gender and economical status.

Bill of Patient Rights            

Our devotion to high ethical standards and to continuous improvement in the quality of the care we provide is unflagging. We regularly review and re-evaluate our systems to see that they keep pace with patient needs.

Interpretation and Translation Services

All limited-English-speaking patients who request this service are provided with an interpreter at no cost to them. South Nassau Communities Hospital offers interpreter services in more than 100 languages, including American Sign Language for the hard of hearing or deaf patients. Interpreters are available either on-site or through the telephone. Respect for cultural practices and beliefs and adherence to a strict code of ethics, which includes the patient's right to privacy and confidentiality, is upheld at all times.

Interpretation Services are available to the patient and their families free of charge. If an interpreter is necessary, please inform a member of your unit's health care team, or contact the Language Coordinator directly at extension 3484.

Hearing-Impaired Information

All hospital phones have adjustable volume control. Telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDD) are available upon request at no cost for the patient or patient's family. Sign interpretation services are available at no cost to the patient. The Language Coordinator or any staff member of the hospital will assist you should you need any of these services.

Closed-caption television is available in all patient rooms.

Cultural Competency

Periodically the hospital offers training, seminars or conferences on cultural competency for the staff members. Instruction in cultural competency is also addressed in each new employee orientation training session.

Working in cooperation with the Nassau County Minority Health Task Force and the Nassau Partnership, South Nassau is committed to providing increased access to health care services for all members of our diverse communities. Our initiatives include:

Pastoral Services

Pastoral Care liaisons are available to schedule patient and family visits; provide you with religious literature; offer prayer and spiritual counsel; supply Sabbath candles; arrange for the Sacraments; and notify your pastor, priest, rabbi or spiritual leader upon your admission.

Catholic Service

Deacon Charles Muscarnera, our Catholic Chaplain, can be reached at (516) 632-3000 or may be paged by the hospital operator. His regular hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday- Friday. A priest chaplain is available for sacraments and emergencies Sunday 8:00 a.m. to Thursday 8:00 a.m. A priest is available from Thursday 8:00 a.m. to Sunday 8:00 a.m. for emergencies only.

The hospital chaplain makes daily visitations to patients to provide spiritual comfort and assess their spiritual needs. He meets with families to provide counseling, assist them in times of stress and comfort them in their grief.

Sacramental items such as rosaries, bibles (English and Spanish), prayer cards and spiritual pamphlets are available as requested.

Catholic Communion services are conducted by the hospital Chaplain each Friday from 12:00 to 12:15 p.m. for staff and visitors in the Meditation Room, located on the main floor in the E Wing. 

Patients have access to cable channel 29 to view daily Mass and other spiritual programs

Jewish Communities Program

Rabbi Jay Yaacov Schwartz, MA, LMSW is the Hospital Rabbi/Consultant. He is a member of the Hospital's Ethics Committee and Palliative Care Committee.

For emergency and pastoral visits, access to all Shabbat hospitality, Jewish holiday, kosher food, and other ritual needs, you may contact Rabbi Schwartz through Volunteer Services at (516) 632-3928. You may also contact the rabbi by cell phone at (516) 225-0086 or at home, (516) 239-1342.

The Hospital-owned property on 2430 Washington Ave has been designated for Shabbat and Holiday sleepover guests. The home is within the Oceanside Community Eruv. NOTE: Eruv runs along utility lines on the opposite side of Washington Ave (walk on Hospital side of the street only), and on One Healthy Way (front entrance of Hospital, on the Hospital side, inside the utility poles. For Eruv information, please call Mr. Ben Lipschitz: (516) 536-0154 or (516) 763-3053. Beds, linen, and a refrigerator are provided. Electric Sabbath Candles available. Access to the hospitality house is arranged through Patient Care Services at (516) 632-3910, or through Volunteer Services at (516) 632-3928. Keys are picked up from Patient Care Services Office (Nursing Office) on the first floor prior to Shabbat and are returned there immediately after Shabbat.

For Bikur Cholim of Oceanside, contact Mrs. Sondra Gottesman at (516) 764-9378. For Shabbat, Challah and Grape Juice baskets are offered, as well as Shabbat visitation. Home-cooked Shabbat meals are available for patients by special request to Mrs. Gottesman.

For Jewish (Halachic) Hospice Services available at SNCH in conjunction with Metropolitan Jewish Hospice Services (MJHS), contact Rabbi Schwartz at the numbers above for more information, or contact MJHS at (718) 921-7900 or at www.mjhs.org.

Kosher Dietary Plan

All hospital patients may order Glatt Kosher meals by contacting the Dietary Department at extension 3903. Family members may request kosher meals for themselves as necessary. (Attention Hatzolah: frozen Kosher entrees are generally available for patients or family members arriving after hours. Please ask for the overnight hospital administrator for assistance.) Siddurim, Tehillim and Chumashim are available in the Volunteer Office during business hours.

Local Jewish Funeral Homes that provide full Chevra Kadisha and Shomrim Services

NOTE: In the event of a critical care situation or patient expiration, please contact Rabbi Schwartz at the numbers above, or call:

Boulevard-Riverside-Hewlett Chapel - 1450 Broadway, Hewlett, New York; Stanley Misikoff, Director: (516) 295-3100.

Gutterman's Inc. Memorial Chapels - 175 North Long Beach Road, Rockville Centre; Steven Kanowitz, Director: (516) 764-9400.

 

Local Synagogue

Young Israel of Oceanside located at 150 Waukena Avenue, at the corner of Oceanside Rd., 1.5 miles south of the hospital on Oceanside Road towards Long Beach. (516) 764-1099. Call for weekday minyan schedule; Shabbat morning services are held at 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.