Mission Statement
We, at Catholic Health, humbly join together to bring Christ’s healing mission and the mission of mercy of the Catholic Church expressed in Catholic health care to our communities.
Good Samaritan University Hospital Service Area
Founded in 1959, Good Samaritan University Hospital is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), not-forprofit, acute care community hospital. Good Samaritan University Hospital is located in West Islip, on the south shore of Long Island, New York. Good Samaritan’s primary service area includes: Amityville, Babylon, North Babylon, West Babylon, Bay Shore, Brentwood, Copiague, Deer Park, Lindenhurst, West Islip, Central Islip, East Islip, and Wyandanch. The secondary catchment area comprises East Massapequa, Farmingdale, Islip, Islip Terrace, Holbrook, Bohemia, Patchogue, Sayville, Oakdale and Ronkonkoma. The service area population is comprised of several communities where individuals speak a language other than English, such as the select, underserved communities of Bay Shore, Brentwood and Central Islip.
Demographics
Suffolk County’s total population as of 2020 is 1,481,362 (47.2% male; 50.8% female). Those ages 15-44 represent 35.4% of females; 36.7% of males; ages 60 plus represent 23.7% of males and 25.6% of females; those 18 years and older represent 78.8% of males and 79.8% females. The region is predominately White at 65.3% with 7.7% Black/African American and 4.4% Asian. Hispanic or Latino represent 22.4% of the population 1, about a four percent increase from the last report.
Geographic description
Suffolk County is 2,373 square miles and is the second largest county in New York. Catholic Health’s three hospitals in Suffolk County service this easternmost county in New Yok State. The county is divided into 10 towns: Babylon, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown, Brookhaven, Southampton, Riverhead, East Hampton, Shelter Island and Southold2. Suffolk County is an area of growing diversity, cultures, and population characteristics.
Socioeconomic information
In terms of household income, 35.2% of the population earn less than $74,999 with 15% of that group earning less than $34,999 annually. Of the population, 8% of those under 18 years of age live in poverty, while 6% of those ages 18 to 64 live in poverty and for those ages 18 -34, 6.7% live in poverty3 .
The percentage of the population (5 years and over) that speaks a language other than English at home is 30.3%, with Spanish the dominant other language spoken 14.7% followed by other Indo/European languages 8.7% and Asian languages 5.1%. In terms of education, for those age 25 and over, 89.4% are high school graduates or higher, 31.9% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The percent of the total population uninsured is 4.2%. Of that percent, non-citizens represent 32% of the uninsured. Hispanic/Latino represent 42.1% of the uninsured followed by Black/African American 10%, White 63.9%, Asian 6.5%. Of the uninsured, 37.6% earn less than $74,999 household income and 9.1% earn under $25,000 household income. Approximately 9.6% of the total
1U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census
2https://www.ny.gov/counties/suffolk
3U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey, Five-Year Estimates
non-institutionalized population is disabled. By race/ethnicity, 10.6% of the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander population is disabled, 13.6% of the American Indian/Alaska Native population is disabled, 10% of the White population is disabled, 9.6% of the Black/African American population is disabled, and 7.2% Hispanic/Latino population is disabled. Interestingly, Native American/Pacific Islanders account for less than one percent of the county’s population4
Income – one social determinant of health – precludes individuals from low-income communities from accessing preventive and/or medical care due to their difficulty to afford co-payments/deductibles (if insured) or care at all if they are uninsured. The inability to afford co-pays and deductibles consistently rises to the top as a barrier to health care on LIHC’s Community Health Assessment Survey year and after year. The median household income in the past 12 months by race is $107,422 (White), $85,840 (Black), $91,711 (Hispanic/Latino). Mean income in the past 12 months, per capita by race is $50,352, $33,170 and $28,414, respectively5. According to research conducted by the United Way of New York’s ALICE report,6Long Island residents are earning wages that do not cover life’s basic costs. As of 2020, 31.5% of Long Island households fall below the set income threshold needed to live and work, which equates to 171,921 households in Suffolk County and 130,599 households in Nassau County that are struggling to afford these basic needs.
Key Health Partners
Partnering with community-based organizations is the most effective way to determine how the health priorities will be addressed. As part of our collective impact strategies to promote health and well-being for residents in our communities, Good Samaritan University Hospital has strong relationships with local and regional communitybased organizations, libraries, schools, faith-based organizations, the local health department, local fire departments and municipalities that support and partner with us to reduce chronic disease, mental health and substance misuse, and to promote health equity. Some of Good Samaritan’s partners include: the Long Island Health Collaborative, the Suffolk County Department of Health, the Town of Islip, Catholic Charities and Catholic Faith Network.
Public Participation
Good Samaritan University Hospital, along with Catholic Health’s other five hospitals, worked with the Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC) and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDOHS), and dozens of community-based organizations, libraries, schools and universities, local municipalities, and other community stakeholders to produce the CHNA. SCDOHS representatives offered input and consultation, when appropriate, regarding the data analyses conducted by the LIHC and DataGen. Top, high-level findings include a continued prevalence of chronic disease incidence, particularly heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer. Further, surging rates of mental health and substance misuse issues among all demographic categories was found, with disparity seen among youth, and low-income communities of color continuing to experience a higher burden of disease overall. In 2022, members of the LIHC reviewed extensive data sets selected from both primary and secondary data sources to identify and confirm New York State Prevention Agenda priorities for the 2022-2024 Community Health Needs Assessment cycle. Data analysis efforts were coordinated through the LIHC, which served as the centralized data return and analysis hub.
4U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey, Five-year Estimates
5U.S. Census Bureau, 2016 – 2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
6https://www.unitedwayli.org/ALICE2020
Results of Community-Wide Survey
Primary data was obtained from a community health needs assessment sent to individuals and a similar survey to community-based organization leaders7. Additionally, we looked at results from two qualitative studies to round out our primary data.8 Secondary data was derived from publicly-available data sets curated by DataGen into its proprietary data analytics platform, CHNA Advantage ™, offering 200 plus metrics to determine health issues within Suffolk County.9 As such, priorities selected for the 2022- 2024 cycle remain unchanged from the 2019 – 2021 cycle selection, and the selected health disparities in which partners are focusing their efforts rests on the inequities experienced by those in historically underserved communities and communities of color. Additional Prevention Agenda priorities/disparities being addressed by Good Samaritan University Hospital are outlined in the 2022-2024 work plan (See Appendix E).
Community Health Priorities for 2023-2025
Primary data and secondary data demonstrate that residents living in Suffolk County are experiencing poor mental health status. The 2021 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Rankings examining Suffolk County in Quality-of-Life Health Outcomes demonstrates an average of 4.0 poor mental health days per 30 days in Suffolk County.10 Mental health issues have soared in the past two years, spurred in part, by the effects of the pandemic. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s COVID-19 Household Pulse Survey (April 23, 2020 – October 26, 2020), a New York State Health Foundation analysis found that more than one-third of adult New Yorkers reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, with racial and ethnic groups of color as well as low-income New Yorkers, reporting the highest rates of poor mental health. However, the 18 – 34-year-old age group reported the highest rates (49%) of poor mental health. 11 High school students (grades 9 through 12) fared just as badly. A number of studies found poor mental health along with suicide ideation intensified during the pandemic for high schoolers. An April 2022 analysis of data from the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey revealed that 37.1% of students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, and 31.1% experienced poor mental health during the preceding 30 days.12 The pandemic made a bad situation worse, especially for youth, as mental health issues and suicides were already increasing prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.13 14 15 16 With the shortage of
7Community Health Assessment Survey (CHAS) assessing responses from individuals, summary report and survey instrument (Appendix A) CBO Survey Analysis 2022, assessing responses from community-based organization leader, summary report and survey instrument (Appendix B)
8Qualitative Analysis of Key Informant Interviews Conducted Among Community-Based Organization Leaders (Appendix C) Long Island Libraries: Caretakers of the Region’s Social Support and Health Needs: Qualitative Analysis (Appendix D)
9Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS), New York State Prevention Agenda dashboard, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Extended Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (eBRFSS), New York State Community Health Indicators by Race/Ethnicity Reports, Community Health Indicator Reports, Prevention Quality Indicators, CDC Places, and U.S. Census Bureau. The CHNA Advantage™ data analytics platform includes these and other state and national level indicators. It also encompasses social risk measures offered by Socially Determined, Inc.
10https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/new-york/2021/compare/snapshot?counties=36_059%2B36_103
11https://nyhealthfoundation.org/resource/mental-health-impact-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic-in-new-york-state/#:~:text=The %20proportion%20of%20New%20Yorkers,health%20throughout%20the%20survey%20period
12https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/su/su7103a3.htm? s_cid=su7103a3_w
13https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6630a6.htm
14https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mental-health.htm
15Weinberger, A. et al. (August 2017) Trends in depression prevalence in the USA from 2005 – 2015: widening disparities in vulnerable groups. Psychological Medicine, 1-10
16Bitsko, R et al. (2018) Epidemiology and impact of healthcare provider-diagnosed anxiety and depression among US children. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 1-9.
Mental health care workers and the lingering psychological effects of the pandemic, mental health services remain a top priority for the region.
The county also saw an uptick in opioid-related overdoses and deaths after having made some gains prior to the pandemic. As of 2019, Suffolk County still exceeds the New York state benchmark of 15.1 in overdose deaths per 100,000 due to opioids. According to data provided by Suffolk County’s Department of Health, the rate of opioid overdoses is currently 19.6. In addition, emergency department visits involving heroin overdoses is extremely high in the county. As of 2019, the Suffolk County rate is 47.2 compared to New York State’s benchmark of 31.1 per 100,000 population.17
Another health disparity identified in primary and secondary research is adult obesity. According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings for Suffolk County, 18 27% of the population (18 and older) reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m.19 In 2019, The New England Journal of Medicine studied projected adult obesity in the United States by 2030 based on today’s obese and overweight adult populations.20 By 2030, the obesity epidemic is projected to impact nearly 1 in 2 adults.
According to the New York State Department of Health, obesity is a significant risk factor for many chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, stroke, heart disease and certain types of cancer. The prevalence of chronic diseases is persistent in the county. Nationally, communities of color experience higher rates of chronic disease. Using diabetes as an example, the American Indian/Alaska Native population represents 14.5 percent of adults 18 or older who are diagnosed with diabetes followed by Black, non-Hispanic at 12.1% and Hispanic overall at 11.8% in the United States. Asians and Whites experience the disease at 9.5% and 7.4% respectively.21 Health providers report that many individuals delayed preventive care and routine screenings due to the pandemic, leading to more complicated cases and unfavorable outcomes. Chronic diseases are preventable conditions sensitive to lifestyle (diet/physical activity) habits but hampered by the obstacles presented by social determinant of health factorsincome/employment, race/ethnicity, food access, housing/neighborhood location, and level of education. The county and hospitals identified in this report through collaborative efforts and facility-specific programming acknowledge and address these determinants regularly.
17https://webbi1.health.ny.gov/SASStoredProcess/guest?_program=/EBI/PHIG/apps/opioid_dashboard/ op_dashboard&p=ch&cos=47
18https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/new-york/2022/measure/factors/11/map
19https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/prevention/injury_prevention/information_for_action/docs/2021-02_ifa_report.pdf
20https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1909301
21https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/health-equity/diabetes-by-the-numbers.html
Good Samaritan University Hospital Interventions, Strategies
and Activities
Priority Number One: Prevent Chronic Disease
Goals and selected interventions concentrate on Focus Area 4: Chronic Disease Preventive Care and Management, with additional programming addressing other focus areas.
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Live Better Awareness Campaign: Promote healthy eating and food security to increase skills and knowledge to supply healthy food and beverage choices. The goal is to decrease the percent of adults over 18 with obesity in low-income communities of color.
Process measures:
Good Samaritan University Hospital’s Emergency Department screens patients at intake as part of Catholic Health's Food Insecurity Initiative. This program will continue to be evaluated and refined quarterly to ensure efficiency and best practices for staff, as well as to provide the highest quality care for patients. When patients arrive, they are asked two questions about hunger on the flowsheet between secondary triage and discharge. The hospital needs to assign someone in the Emergency Department to handle these questions and refer patients to community organizations. Numbers to be added in November update.
2. Bariatric educational seminars are virtual with Good Samaritan University Hospital (GSUH) physicians and staff. The seminars are offered to pre- and post-bariatric surgery patients.
Process measures:
For 2025, there are no seminars being held. This is due to an agreement with NY Bariatric Group that all seminars will be done through them. The bariatric support groups are being continued
3. Bariatric surgery support group provides information and support for patient’s pre and post-surgery.
Process measures:
For 2025, the bariatric support group continues to meet virtually 4 times each month, with an average attendance of 10 to 20 participants per session.
4. Free blood pressure screenings are provided at local public libraries, community lectures, Good Samaritan/ Long Island Ducks community health awareness games, and mall health fair events, and at the hospital with clinical support of GSUH.
Process measures:
On 2/15/25, during our Heart Health Fair at South Shore Mall, we provided 41 blood pressure screenings to community members.
On 4/30/25, during UCP Wellness Day, we conducted 16 blood pressure screenings.
On 5/8/25, we conducted 11 blood pressure screenings during Dr. Bekelis’ lecture on stroke education.
On 6/22/25, we performed 22 blood pressure screenings at the Islip Street Fair.
On 7/3/25, we provided 7 blood pressure screenings at the Catholic Health Long Island Ducks game.
On 9/6/25, 28 blood pressure screenings taken at the Islip Sea Fest Event.
On 9/20/25, Catholic Health hosted its annual health fair in Melville; more than 200 people attended, 54 screened and 27 flu shots were administered.
On 9/21/25, 34 blood pressure screenings were provided at the Kiwanis Car Show in Islip.
CH participated in Oyster Bay’s annual OysterFest on 10/18/24 and 10/19/24, providing a total of 269 blood pressure screenings and education over 2 days.
On 10/25/25, 25 blood pressure screenings at the Town of Islip Apple Fest.
5. Healthy Sundays: BP and BMI screenings, flu vaccinations, health education and referrals to follow up care.
Process measures:
The Healthy Sunday Coordinator position is currently vacant. Good Samaritan has a scheduled Healthy Sunday on 12/14/25 at St. Anne’s Church in Brentwood.
6. The senior center nutrition series is a partnership with the Town of Islip and the Town of Babylon. The agenda includes a healthy eating lecture and cooking demonstrations, as well as education and information featuring representatives from multiple community organizations. A similar event was also done at Our Lady of Lourdes church in West Islip.
Process measures:
On 11/17/2025, we partnered with the Sisters of St. Joseph to present a similar nutrition-focused lecture, with 25 in attendance. The program included education on healthy eating, along with interactive components such as cooking demonstrations.
7. The Theresa Patnode Santmann Heart and Soul Symposium provides lectures on breast health, hepatobiliary and upper GI, joint health, fall prevention. The keynote presentation was a cooking demo with a presentation on diabetes.
Process measures:
The annual Theresa Patnode Santmann Health and Soul Symposium took place on 8/13/25. Two hundred and six people attended. This full-day event will feature wellness-focused workshops designed to equip participants with practical tools and knowledge to support a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
8. “Be Sweet to Your Heart” Health Fair was offered at the South Shore Mall in an underserved area of Bay Shore, which also includes its surrounding areas of Brentwood and Central Islip. This is a free program for the community. Attendees spoke with cardiologists, registered dietitians, cardiology technologists and nurses regarding cardiac health and disease prevention. Free screenings and Stop the Bleed demonstrations were also offered. Stop the Bleed is a program that teaches three different techniques to control life-threatening bleeding.
Process measures:
A Heart Health Fair was held at South Shore Mall on 2/15/25, where members of the Cardiology Department were on site to provide valuable heart health information and resources to the community.
9. Free prostate cancer screenings, PSA blood tests and digital rectal exams.
Process measures:
On September 21, 2025, at the Kiwanis Car Show in Islip, 27 PSA blood tests were provided.
10. In conjunction with the Suffolk County Department of Health, we planned to host a Learn to Be Tobacco Free 6week smoking cessation program.
Process measures:
Due to low attendance our July 2025 program with Suffolk County Health Department was canceled. The program is being planned for Spring 2026.
11. Our goal is to prioritize the health and well-being of veterans. To support this, we have organized a series of health education and screening events at American Legion Posts along the south shore of Suffolk County. These events provide screenings for prostate health, BMI, cholesterol, blood pressure, and food insecurity. We also support Suffolk County by participating in Veteran Stand Down events throughout the year.
Process measures:
On 5/30/25, Good Samaritan shared valuable educational information with the 300 attendees at the Spring Veteran Stand Down Event in Hauppauge. Seventeen people were screened on the Catholic Health Mobile Clinical Unit.
12. Cancer experts from Good Samaritan University Hospital partnered with Mondays at Racine Cancer Care Foundation and had a virtual symposium that discussed cancer related topics geared toward overall health.
Process measures:
In 2025, Good Samaritan will not be partnering with Mondays at the Racine and instead will host a virtual symposium alone.
13. Women’s health forums provide information on breast surgery, gynecologic screenings, surgical oncology, and cardiovascular health.
Process measures:
On 6/21/25, the Annual Cancer Survivor’s Day took place at Islip Grange, welcoming over 175 survivors. Good Samaritan was there to distribute educational literature.
On 10/5/2025, we hosted our annual Pink Flags event; 75 attendees.
On 10/28/2025, 60 people attended a community lecture on Breast Health and Nutrition for Cancer Prevention.
Priority Number Two: Promote Well—Being and Prevent Mental and Substance Use Disorders
Goals and selected interventions concentrate on Focus Area 2: Mental and Substance Use Disorders Prevention, with additional programming addressing other focus areas.
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Distribute Catholic Health’s (CH) Mental Health Substance Use Disorder Services Guide to CH community partners at all outreach events, including hospital health fairs and Healthy Sunday’s events. The guide is also available as a download from the CH website.
Process measures:
Our Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services Guide is offered at all lectures and community events. They are also being sent to St. Martin de Tours in Amityville due to a need in the area.
2. Life Goes On Cancer Support Group provided weekly for all diagnosis of cancer and breast cancer support group for women.
Process measures:
Life Goes On: An average of 12 people attend this monthly afternoon meeting. The Breast Support Group has an average of 10-15 women who attend each month.
3. The Sherpa Program is a free service provided by Family & Children’s Association. Sherpa comprises recovery coaches trained to meet with overdose survivors and their families in the Emergency Department. The team directs people to treatment, offers encouragement and follow-up.
Process measures:
From January to October 2025, Good Samaritan had 33 referrals to Sherpa. The total number for the year will be updated at the end of December.
4. Participants promote awareness of mental wellness and the risk of substance abuse disorders and support community programs to help decrease the number of drug overdoses in the community.
Process measures:
Good Samaritan University Hospital staff continues to participate in the Town of Islip Opioid Task Force. There are regularly scheduled monthly meetings called by the partners in which hospital staff participate in.
5. Promotion of all programs, events, education offered by collaborative members that speak to the prevention of mental and substance use disorders. Posts in Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC) weekly communications newsletter, social media postings, cross promotion of member events, programs on all media platforms. Promotion on Catholic Faith Network (CFN) and CH social media, website, and community-targeted publications.
Process measures:
The hospital works with the Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC) to disseminate information about the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity among the general public to assist Nassau residents in better managing their chronic diseases and/or preventing the onset of chronic diseases. The Hospital also collaborates with the LIHC to disseminate information about mental health prevention and treatment services and programming, as well as relevant information about substance misuse. Dissemination of information is achieved through the bi-weekly Collaborative Communications e-newsletter, which is sent to 560 communitybased organization leaders, and strategic use of social media platforms. These efforts are ongoing.
6. GSUH partners with the Town of Islip for Islip Goes Purple, a month-long awareness campaign related to substance abuse.
Process measures:
The hospital participates in a month-long campaign with the Town of Islip, offering information. September is National Recovery Month. In memory of the lives lost, those in recovery and the Islip families affected by the Opioid/Heroin crisis, Town Hall, along with merchants and businesses throughout our Town, were illuminated in purple.
7. The GSUH pharmacy hosts medication safety tips lecture for senior citizens.
Process measures:
This lecture has been moved to Spring 2026 due to a VFW scheduling conflict.
Priority Number Three: Promote Healthy Women, Infants and Children
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Participation in the annual Global Big Latch On and World Breastfeeding Week events to promote and support breastfeeding.
Process measures:
On 8/2/25, Good Samaritan staff attended the World Breastfeeding Week Event at Tanner Park and offered education and support services; 300 people attended.
2. Good Samaritan University Hospital hosts a breastfeeding café to promote the health benefits of breastfeeding and provide peer support to nursing mothers.
Process measures:
Approximately 8-12 women attend the breastfeeding café each week.
3. The hospital offers a Teddy bear clinic, which is an injury prevention program for children. Kids learn about two of the most effective ways to reduce car and bicycle related injuries and deaths: seatbelts and helmets.
Process measures:
On 4/8/25, we held 2 Teddy Bear Clinic sessions at John Quincy Adams Elementary; 350 students participated.
On 6/10/25, we hosted a Teddy Bear Clinic for Girl Scouts at the West Islip Fire Department; 60 attendees.
On 10/8/25, we provided a Teddy Bear Clinic for the Girl Scouts at the Selden Middle School; 12 attendees.
On 10/17/25, we provided a Teddy Bear Clinic at the West Babylon Fire Department; 75 attended.
4. A Good Samaritan University Hospital virtual lecture was filmed on women and heart disease.
Process measures: The video was posted in 2023. To date in 2025, the virtual lecture was viewed by more than 2,000 people.
5. A video, offering tips and advice for new mothers was distributed.
Process measures: The video was posted in 2023. To date in 2025, it has more than 200 views.
6. Good Samaritan University Hospital collaborates with Suffolk County on its Maternal Infant Child Health program and has three employees focused on delivering education in underserved areas.
Process measures:
The hospital provides focused education in underserved areas and will continue as dictated by community needs.
Priority Number Four: Promote a Healthy and Safe Environment
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Good Samaritan has started a teen impact driving program that educates and empowers middle and high school aged children to make good decisions as drivers and passengers.
Process measures:
Since January, there have been a total of 13 classes with 245 students attending.
2. We offer a Moving for Balance program that incorporates slow, flowing movements, breathing exercises, and focused attention.
Process measures:
The program includes 6 workshops annually, each consisting of 8 sessions, with an average attendance of 25 to 30 participants per class.
3. Stop the Bleed is an American College of Surgeons’ Bleeding Control Basics training session. During this nationally-recognized program, attendees learn three different techniques to control life-threatening bleeding.
Process measures:
On 2/10/25 and 2/11/25, we held a two-day Stop the Bleed training program at Reed Middle School, training a total of 180 students.
On 2/12/25, we delivered a Stop the Bleed presentation for the We Care Careers program at St. John the Baptist School, reaching 45 students.
On 3/6/25, we conducted a Stop the Bleed program at the Health and Wellness Fair held at Brentwood West Middle School from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM; 300 students participated.
On 4/21/25, we conducted a Stop the Bleed training with Mary Harwood at Farmingdale College, reaching 48 students.
On 8/5/25, we provided a Stop the Bleed training at the National Night Out event in Brentwood; 40 people attended.
On 11/13/25, we held a Stop the Bleed training with the West Babylon High School Health Club; 22 attended.
Priority Number Five: Prevent Communicable Diseases
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Good Samaritan University Hospital offers free flu vaccinations at events in underserved communities, at Healthy Sundays outreach, hospital health fairs and other community venues.
Process measures:
On 9/15/25, we attended the Town of Islip Senior Center Health Fair and provided 77 flu vaccinations.
On 10/7/25, we attended the Town of Islip Employee Health Fair and provided 67 flu vaccinations.
On 10/9/25, we provided 13 flu shots to St. John the Baptist High School staff in West Islip.
Living the Mission
The CH mission is the driving force behind all community outreach activities. In addition to the interventions summarized above, St. Francis Hospital, along with the overall system and CH skilled nursing facilities, Catholic Health Home Care and Good Shepherd Hospice, provide additional outreach programs that promote the health care ministry of the Catholic Church and address social determinants of health.
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Virtual education series streaming on YouTube, providing short videos on various topics
Currently there is a Keeping Your Child Safe at Every Age, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Alzheimer’s and dementia series. These have garnered more than 30,000 total views.
Catholic Health also offers an ongoing Health Tips series discussing topics such as Stroke vs. Aneurysm, What You Need to Know about C-Sections, and Prostate Cancer Awareness, among others. From January-December 2025, there have been 3 videos posted, with more than 90 views on YouTube.
The “On-Call with Dr. Jason Golbin” show is designed for physicians and advanced practice providers. In each monthly episode, Catholic Health’s Chief Medical Officer Jason Golbin, DO, speaks with our physician leaders about the system’s emerging technologies and newest clinical resources while offering a glimpse into their personal stories and the compassionate care delivered. From January to December, these videos have had more than 411,000 views across multiple platforms.
2. Broadcast health-related television shows for the public, in collaboration with Catholic Faith Network, provide education and prevention lectures to improve knowledge related to specific diseases and conditions, preventive care, and up-to-date treatment options.
From January-December 2025, seven new shows with Catholic Health Cardiologist David D’Agate, DO, aired on CFN and were posted to Catholic Health’s YouTube channel. The “Stronger Together” series with Dr. D’Agate discusses topics such as cardiac health, sleep, fertility, and access to care. This show airs on CFN every four to five weeks and is promoted via Catholic Health’s internal and external communications, including a substantial social media campaign. Across multiple platforms, these videos have more than 913,000 views. Additionally, a Catholic Health segment on CFN Live, “Trending Health Topics,” produced 2 segments from January-December 2025. These videos have more than 170 views on YouTube.
There are also quarterly shows on CFN with Catholic Health President and CEO Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO. The shows with Dr. O’Shaughnessy and Monsignor Jim Vlaun bring the latest in research and information on medical procedures and advancements. There have been 3 videos posted in 2025, totaling more than 280 views.
Additionally, Catholic Health airs a “Catholic Health Update” weekly, highlighting events or activities taking place across the system. From January-December 2025, these videos received more than 2.1 million views across all platforms.
3. Promotion of all programs, events, and education is on the CH website and all CH social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
This includes the promotion of all education, healthy recipes, health tips and support groups. Some of these include education on how to stay hydrated during the summer, facts on various cancers and screening, children’s health and more.
4. Lectures in Catholic schools, local libraries, and other community organizations.
The Catholic Health Speakers Bureau provides speakers to community organizations. From JanuaryDecember 2025, there have been 84 speaking engagements. Topics have included Heart Health, Fitness for Seniors, Breast Health, Medication Management, Seasonal Depression, and Sleep Health.
Catholic Health has partnered with AARP to host a virtual lecture series. These lectures are being held monthly from June through December.
6/18/25 – Men’s Health; 40 attended.
7/16/25 – Keep Your Sight as You Age; more than 100 attended.
8/20/25 – Concepts of Grief and How to Cope; 45 attended.
9/17/25 – Food for Thought; more than 400 attended.
12/17/25 – Safely Stay Active During the Winter: 33 attended.
5. Community Outreach Screening Buses
The Catholic Health buses travel across Long Island to different community-based organizations, providing free health screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index and glucose. From January through December 12, the mobile buses screened 7,493 people.
6. Healthy Sundays
In this volunteer program, we partner with different community organizations to provide BP and BMI screenings, flu vaccinations, health education and referrals to follow up care. In this volunteer program, we partner with different community organizations to provide BP and BMI screenings, flu vaccinations, health education and referrals to follow up care. Twelve events were held through December; 471 people attended.
7. Additional Community Outreach
On 4/1/25, CH employees packed food for Meals of Hope. Forty-seven employees participated and 46 boxes of food were prepared, equaling almost 10,000 meals.
On 4/12/25, CH attended Tomorrow’s Hope 10th Annual Run in Garden City and provided cardiac screenings to 6 people.
On 5/23/25, 5/24/25, and 5/25/25, CH attended the Jones Beach Air Show and provided blood pressure screenings to a total of 195 people.
On 9/20/25, Catholic Health held its annual system-wide health fair; more than 200 people attended, 54 people received blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and body mass index screenings and 27 flu shots were administered.
On 9/27/25, CH attended St. Vincent de Paul’s annual Friends of the Poor Walk, providing health information. More than 850 people attended.
CH participated in Oyster Bay’s annual OysterFest on 10/18/24 and 10/19/24, providing a total of 269 blood pressure screenings and education over 2 days.
Dissemination of the Plan to the Public
The Good Samaritan University Hospital Community Service Plan will be posted on the hospital’s website at https://www.chsli.org/good-samaritan-university-hospital/community-health. Copies will be available at local free health screenings and can be mailed upon request.
By encouraging friends and neighbors to complete the LIHC Wellness Survey online or at local screenings, the Community Health Needs Assessment will help Good Samaritan continue to develop ways to best serve our community.
Conclusion
The Community Service Plan is intended to be a dynamic document. Utilizing the hospital’s strengths and resources, Good Samaritan along with community partners, will work to continue to best address health disparities and needs. The hospital will strive to improve the overall health and well-being of individuals and families by expanding free health promotion and disease prevention/education screenings and programs in communities where they are most needed. Good Samaritan University Hospital is committed to continue to develop ways to best serve the community.
