The EERC at Work!

The North Shore-LIJ Helps Website is inspiring employees to come together to carpool, give away clothing, provide information on where to find a hot meal, and much, much more.  Almost 250 employees and their family members have been placed in temporary housing due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, and more than 1,000 hours of colleagues' personal vacation time has already been donated to help victims.  The response to the Emergency Employee Resource Center has been overwhelming, and its efforts are not going unrecognized.

Watch this video from CBS 2 News of the EERC in action.  Mary LaPorta, a Franklin Hospital employee, lost everything after the hurricane.  North Shore-LIJ's EERC is not only helping Mary get back on her feet with temporary housing, but also her sister and her son with special needs.  This is just one of several hundred inspiring cases in which North Shore-LIJ is helping employees recover.

Don't Forget Your Health!

With all that's been going on in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, it is certainly not uncommon to overlook your personal health.  North Shore-LIJ encourages all employees to acknowledge any health problems they may be experiencing and to take action if necessary, despite the other new-found concerns on our minds in the wake of the hurricane.

If you need help finding information about medical care, prescription refills, vision coverage and more, visit the Medical Care & Prescription Information section of the North Shore-LIJ Emergency Employee Resource Center.

Here you'll find information on Employee Health Services offices, making doctor appointments, urgent care, pharmacies, as well as discounts and free replacements on eyeglasses.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, you should go to your nearest hospital or call 911.  All North Shore-LIJ emergency rooms are open.

Find carpools, meals, and more on our forums

NEW! EERC Online Community Forums

Hurricane Sandy has caused hardship for so many, whether it be loss of belongings, power outages, trouble getting gas - the list goes on. But North Shore-LIJ is here to help its employees through these tough times, in a variety of ways through the Emergency Employee Resource Center (EERC).

Visit the EERC website (www.northshorelijhelps.com) and check out the employee-led interactive Community Forums to connect with your co-workers on a range of topics, including getting matched up with a carpool, available rooms and apartments, clothing and housewares drives, help dealing with government agencies, and more. 

Whether you want to offer assistance, receive help, or simply connect with your colleagues about logistics related to resource scarcity and property damage, we encourage you to participate in the conversations - happening now! 

Download the instructions to register for a community forum. Once registered you will be able to join the conversation and access valuable information.
The health system continues to arrange resources and assistance programs to help employees in need. Thanks to all who have generously offered to help our co-workers in need of assistance. Please continue to check the EERC website and Community Forums periodically as new topics and information are shared.

When to Call for Help

North Shore-LIJ is committed to helping its employees in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. At this time, the Emergency Employee Resource Center (EERC) is solely focused on aiding employees who have suffered catastrophic loss, including losing a home or transportation. If you are in dire need please call for help: 516-734-7000, press option 1. 

If your needs are less severe, please visit our EERC website at www.NorthShoreLIJHelps.com to find additional resources.  And we invite all employees to use the website to connect with each other to arrange carpools and share information in various community forums.

Need a Hot Shower? Here Are Some Options

While the health system continues to put together programs to assist employees in dire need from the storm's aftermath, there are resources available for employees who just need a hot shower (we know it's not much but it may help bring a team member back to "normal!") Head over to our Vivo Health Fitness Center in Lake Success - at 3 Delaware Drive. The Center has power, heat and hot water and is open for North Shore-LIJ employees who would like to take a shower from 9AM-4PM and anytime after 7PM.  Bring your ID Badge if possible.

In addition, all New York Sports Club locations are opening their doors to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy, so they can shower and charge electronics.  To find a location near you, visit http://www.mysportsclubs.com/default.htm

We also received word that the Bay Shore YMCA has opened the use of their showers to the community - located at 200 West Main Street in Bay Shore.

Tips to Coping with the Aftermath

Shared by Russell Joffe, MD, Chairman of Department of Psychiatry at Staten Island University Hospital 

Our communities, both its people and its environment, have been dealt a heavy blow suffering the consequences of Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy’s almost unimaginable force and scope. There is much we need to do, as a community, to cope, to heal, and eventually to rebuild. In order to meet these challenges, we, as healthcare providers, must take care, first, of our own health, so that we may continue to be able to help others.

We have all experienced, and will continue to be confronted with, events that profoundly sadden, disturb and distress us. It is normal, in the face of these assaults on our sensibilities, that we may manifest signs and symptoms of stress. Normal responses to crises such as this include:

Insomnia and intense, disturbing dreams; loss of appetite; extreme variations of mood (irritability, tearfulness, anxious laughter); feeling numb or appearing detached and “unemotional;” problems concentrating; intrusive thoughts and images related to the storm and its aftermath, including “reliving” or “re-experiencing” the events; anxiety,  being startled easily; restlessness and excessive caution and watchfulness; and avoiding people or places that “trigger” thoughts or feelings about disturbing events, especially losses

It is important for us to understand, and to similarly educate our colleagues and families, that behaviors such as the ones noted above are not in themselves signs of mental illness, and most importantly not a sign of “weakness.” This is how our nervous systems respond to shocking events.

However, when symptoms such as these impair our ability to do our work, or cause us deep distress, it is very important that we seek professional help, to prevent matters from getting worse. In general, though, there are useful steps we all can take to keep ourselves healthy:

1)  If you need to talk, find someone who can be an “active listener,” who will let you tell your story without offering advice, and who will not be judgmental – someone who will just listen, thoughtfully. Telling our stories is part of how our minds naturally begin the process of healing. And be an active listener for others, if you are able.

2) Avoid alcohol and other substance use – it will make matters worse, despite how much you convince yourself it will help. If you are having trouble sleeping, there are safer alternatives, including behavioral approaches, and, if necessary, medications that are not addictive or harmful.

3) Sleep, Nutrition and Exercise – most healthcare providers enjoy being thought of as dependable and tough in crises, but that can lead us to neglect our own health. It is vitally important, essential to our ability to think and make critical decisions, that we are rested and in good health. Use common sense, avoid the temptation to eat unhealthily to power yourself through fatigue and stress, carve out time in your day to get physical activity, because it is as important as drinking water to our well-being during periods of stress. And remember that the most important factor in establishing a good sleep regimen is to get up at the same time each day, and avoid caffeine and other substances in the evening.

4) Recognize that it can take months to feel “normal” after living through a disaster such as this. Be patient with yourself and others, and educate and encourage others to do the same.

5) There are effective treatments, most not involving medications, to help those who feel that the symptoms they are experiencing are painful and/or interfering with their ability to fulfill their responsibilities to their patients, coworkers, or families.

North Shore-LIJ has diverse behavioral health and psychiatric resources available at NO cost. These can be accessed through our corporate Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at: 1-877-EAP-4YOU (1-877-327-4968). Don't hesitate to make the call - it's confidential.

EAP at Work!

For all North Shore-LIJ employees directly or indirectly affected by Hurricane Sandy, please know that the North Shore-LIJ Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to help!  Through the EAP, emotional support and confidential counseling with a licensed counselor are available to all health system employees at all locations within North Shore-LIJ at no cost.

The EAP offers many services and resources designed to help employees cope with a wide range of life issues, including grief, financial worries, job performance, substance abuse and more.

All you need to do is call 877-EAP-4YOU (877-327-4968) or email EAP@nshs.edu.

You can also visit EAP’s website on HealthPort by clicking on “Employee Assistance Program” in the Focus on Employees box on the homepage.

Storm Damage in North Woodmere

Rita Obregon, a North Shore University Hospital employee captured some of the damage from Hurricane Sandy in North Woodmere (Branch Blvd.)


Stay safe and please do not take storm clean-up into your own hands; let the experts handle the removal of the trees and downed power lines. Also, assume all power lines are live!

Hurricane Sandy UPDATE: November 1

As of November 1, all North Shore-LIJ hospitals are fully operational and continue to accept patients from some of our neighboring hospitals. However, we know that returning to "business as usual" is difficult for so many of our colleagues who have been devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

If you are in need of counseling, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Employee Assistance Program at 1-877-EAP4YOU (1-877-327-4968).

As of today, all of the health system's administrative services offices have resumed operation. While the majority of our physician practices (PAANS) have reopened, others are in the process of assessing their current power, phone, Internet and staffing capabilities to determine when they can resume operating.  If they haven't already, PAANS supervisors will be in touch with staff members to let them know whether their offices are open.  For the latest on PAANS, go to: www.nslijdocs.com/documents/mdgroup_status.pdf 

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All North Shore-LIJ employees can receive the latest updates from our Emergency Preparedness Blog.  

We will be making important announcements throughout the duration of recovery from Hurricane Sandy and you can be sure not to miss them!

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