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.
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital Service Area
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital is a 296-bed, not-for-profit, community hospital and has served the residents of Smithtown for more than 50 years. St. Catherine of Siena Hospital’s primary service area is Suffolk County. The chart below defines the zip codes and municipalities (towns) comprising St. Catherine of Siena Hospital’s service area.
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 (CH) three hospitals in the county service this easternmost county in New Yok State and the county is divided into 10 towns: Babylon, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown, Brookhaven, Southampton, Riverhead, East Hampton, Shelter Island and Southold.2 Suffolk County is an area of growing diversity, cultures, and population characteristics.
1U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census
2https://www.ny.gov/counties/suffolk
Socioeconomic information
In terms of household income, 35.2% of the population earns 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 poverty.3
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 foreign 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 noninstitutionalized 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% of the Hispanic/Latino population is disabled. Native American/Pacific Islanders account for less than one percent of the county’s population. 4
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 Long Island Health Collaborative’s (LIHC) 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 12months, per capita by race is $50,352, $33,170 and $28,414, respectively.4 According to research conducted by the United Way of New York’s ALICE report,5 Long 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 130,599 households in Nassau County and 171,921 households in Suffolk County, 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, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital has strong relationships with local and regional community-based 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 St. Catherine’s partners include: the LIHC, the Suffolk County Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities and Catholic Faith Network (CFN).
3U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey, Five-Year Estimate
4U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2020 American Community Survey, Five-Year Estimate
5https://www.unitedwayli.org/ALICE2020
Public Participation
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, along with Catholic Health’s other five hospitals, worked with the 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.
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 leaders6. Additionally, we looked at results from two qualitative studies to round out our primary data.7 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.8 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.
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.9 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.
6Community 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)
7Qualitative 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)
8Statewide 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.
9https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/new-york/2021/compare/snapshot?counties=36_059%2B36_103
However, the 18 – 34-year-old age group reported the highest rates (49%) of poor mental health. 10 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.11 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.12 13 14 15 With the shortage of 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.16
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,17 27% of the population (18 and older) reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m.18 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.19 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.20 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
10https://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
11https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/su/su7103a3.htm? s_cid=su7103a3_w
12https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6630a6.htm
13https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/mental-health.htm
14Weinberger, A. et al. (August 2017) Trends in depression prevalence in the USA from 2005 – 2015: widening disparities in vulnerable groups. Psychological Medicine, 1-10
15Bitsko, 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.
16https://webbi1.health.ny.gov/SASStoredProcess/guest?_program=/EBI/PHIG/apps/opioid_dashboard/ op_dashboard&p=ch&cos=47
17https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/new-york/2022/measure/factors/11/map
18https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/prevention/injury_prevention/information_for_action/docs/2021-02_ifa_report.pdf
19https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1909301
20https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/health-equity/diabetes-by-the-numbers.html
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.
St. Catherine of Siena 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 by increasing skills and knowledge to make healthy food and beverage choices. The goal is to decrease the percent of children and adults with obesity in low-income communities.
Process measures:
On January 22, 23, 24, a St. Catherine registered dietician gave “Nutrition for Performance” presentations to Smithtown Middle School students; 250 attended.
On February 7, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a “Go Red for Heart Health” event in the hospital’s main lobby. Heart health nutrition education was provided, along with blood pressure screenings; 25 attended, and 10 blood pressure screenings were provided.
On March 12, for National Nutrition Month, a St. Catherine registered dietician presented, “A Heart Healthy Senior Diet” at the Smithtown Senior Center; 30 attended.
On March 19, a St. Catherine cardiologist presented “Advances in Cardiac Evaluation,” including a discussion about healthy eating on overall health, at the Smithtown Library; 10 attended.
On March 22, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a “Meals of Hope” food packing event with students from St. Catherine’s Healthcare Careers Exploration Internship Program, assembling 3,000 nutritious meals for the underserved; 16 students attended.
On March 25, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in a health fair at St. Rosalie RC Church in Hampton Bays and presented information on nutrition and cancer prevention; 125 attended.
On March 25, St. Catherine’s stroke coordinator provided a presentation on “Stroke Prevention,” including educational information about healthy eating, at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Centerport; five attended.
On March 28, as part of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, a St. Catherine’s gastroenterologist presented “Digestive Health: Colon Cancer Awareness and Prevention” at the Smithtown Library; 10 people attended.
On April 3, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital partnered with RSVP, hosting “A Matter of Balance,” which included a presentation about healthy eating, at Siena Village in Smithtown; 34 attended.
On April 14, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital partnered with Smile Farms to build a cooperative garden on campus. In addition, the hospital partnered with Saint Anthony‘s High School, the Smithtown Youth Bureau and Horizons Counseling and Education Center, to recruit youth volunteers to tend the garden. Produce from the garden will be donated to local parishes; 36 students from Saint Anthony’s help build the flower beds.
On April 16, in recognition of National Nutrition Awareness Month, a St. Catherine’s registered nurse set up an educational table at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge for an event in collaboration with The Office of Maternal Health; 50 attended.
On May 10, St. Catherine of Siena PROS in Riverhead participated in “Mental Health Matters,” which included educational information about healthy eating, at Mattituck Library; 35 people attended.
On May 16, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital set up an educational table at C-Town in Central Islip and provided healthy eating tips on nutrition, as well as information regarding diabetes management; 25 people attended.
On May 20 and 27, for Stroke Awareness Month, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a “Boardwalk to Wellness” event at Sunken Meadow State Park, providing educational information on nutrition, heart healthy diets, stroke prevention, cancer awareness, sleep, and sepsis; 45 attended,30 BPs.
On May 29, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in the HIA-LI Trade Show and provided educational information on nutrition and diabetes; 250 attended.
On June 1, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in Smithtown Festival Day and provided more than 300 healthy nutritious snacks to attendees. In addition, St. Catherine provided information on healthy nutrition and diabetes management; 1,500 attended.
On June 4, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in “Sunken Meadow Seniors” and provided free blood pressure screenings and health and wellness information; 30 attended and 5 blood pressure screenings were provided.
On June 14, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in Kings Park Day. St. Catherine registered dieticians provided healthy nutritious snacks, as well as discussed the impact of nutrition on diabetes management, cardiac management and stroke prevention; 1,200 attended.
On July 8, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital staff set up an educational table at C-Town supermarket in Central Islip and provided healthy eating tips and diabetes management; 30 attended, 25 blood pressure screenings were provided.
On July 9, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a “Walk with a Doc” event that included a presentation by a St. Catherine cardiologist, on the importance of eating healthy foods;12 attended.
July-August, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital staff participated in its on-campus, Smile Farms Garden harvesting events. Partnering up with local community-based organizations, volunteers assisted in harvesting fresh produce, which was donated to local parishes and food pantries; 56 volunteers attended during the summer.
On August 7, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital’s Food and Nutrition team hosted a presentation, “Garden Charcuterie,” discussing healthy eating habits at the Smithtown Library; 16 attended.
September – present, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital continues to participate in Smile Farms’ garden harvesting events, partnering with Saint Anthony High School student volunteers, as well as volunteers from the Winters Center for Autism, harvesting fresh produce, to be donated to local parishes and food pantries.
On September 18, a St. Catherine vascular surgeon provided an educational lecture via Zoom for the Huntington Library and surrounding libraries on vascular health, including information on healthy eating; 35 attended.
On September 20, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in Catholic Health’s Annual System-wide Health Fair, staffing a nutritional education table that provided healthy eating tips; more than 200 attended.
On October 4, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital held its annual Community Health Fair, offering education on healthy eating; 250 attended.
On October 8, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a health fair at the Smithtown Senior Center; 20 flu vaccinations were administered, 22 blood pressure screenings were provided, and 8 balance screenings were performed. Education on healthy eating was also provided; 30 attended.
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participates in the Long Island Cares “Food to Go” program. Every patient seen in the Emergency Department is screened for food insecurity. Those identified as food insecure are given a food-to-go bag, along with contact information for Long Island Cares and SNAP enrollment information. From January – November 2025, 20 food to go bags were provided to patients in need.
On November 12, a St. Catherine of Siena Hospital chef provided an educational lecture and cooking demonstration on “Healthy Holiday Eating with Leftovers” at the Smithtown Library; 22 attended.
On November 19, St. Catherine of Siena participated in the Smithtown School District Wellness Committee meeting where school nutrition programs and mental health were discussed; 9 attended.
2. Free blood pressure screenings are provided at hospital awareness events, local public libraries, community outreach events, street fairs, parishes, with clinical support.
Process measures:
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital regularly provides free blood pressure (BP) screenings in the community, including Go Red for Heart Month on February 7, 2025; 10 BPs.
The Smithtown Senior Center on February 18, April 15, June 17, August 19 and October 21 for a total of 98 blood pressure screenings.
On April 9, at Smithtown Library, a St. Catherine registered nurse provided free blood pressure screenings; two attended.
On May 20 and 27, for Stroke Awareness Month, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a “Boardwalk Your Way to Wellness” event at Sunken Meadow State Park, providing educational information on nutrition, heart healthy diets, stroke prevention, cancer awareness, sleep, sepsis and offered free blood pressure screenings; 30 BPs.
On June 1, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in Smithtown Festival Day; five blood pressure screenings were provided.
On October 4, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital held its annual Community Health Fair and provided 25 blood pressure screenings.
On October 8, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a health fair at the Smithtown Senior Center; 20 flu vaccinations were administered, 22 blood pressure screenings were provided, and 8 balance screenings were performed. Education on healthy eating was also provided; 30 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.
3. The hospital hosts educational forums and provides BMI screenings for all attendees.
Process measures:
On January 22, 23, 24, a St. Catherine registered dietician gave “Nutrition for Performance” presentations to Smithtown Middle School students; 250 attended.
On January 22, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted an educational program for EMS, “Spine Care and Latest News in Cardiovascular Care”; 51 attended.
On February 7, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a “Go Red for Heart Health” event in the hospital’s main lobby. Heart health nutrition education was provided; 25 attended and 10 blood pressure screenings were provided.
On February 7, for “Go Red for Heart Health,” the Catholic Health clinical mobile unit offered free cardiac screenings at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital; five attended.
On March 10, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital held a “Light the Tree Blue” event to promote colon cancer awareness; 15 attended.
On March 12, for National Nutrition Month, a St. Catherine registered dietician presented, “A Heart Healthy Senior Healthy Diet” at the Smithtown Senior Center; 30 attended.
On March 19, a St. Catherine cardiologist presented “Advances in Cardiac Evaluation” at the Smithtown Library; 10 people attended.
On March 22, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a “Meals of Hope” food packing event with students from the hospital’s Healthcare Careers Internship and Exploration program, assembling 3,000 nutritious meals for the underserved; 16 students attended.
On March 25, St. Catherine’s stroke coordinator provided a presentation on “Stroke Prevention” for Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Centerport; five people attended.
On March 28, as part of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, a St. Catherine gastroenterologist presented “Digestive Health: Colon Cancer Awareness and Prevention” at the Smithtown Library; 10 people attended.
On April 14, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital partnered with Smile Farms to build a cooperative garden on campus. In addition, the hospital partnered with Saint Anthony‘s High School, the Smithtown Youth Bureau and Horizons Counseling and Education Center, to recruit youth volunteers to tend to the garden. Produce from the garden to be donated to local parishes; 36 students from Saint Anthony’s helped build the flower beds.
On April 16, in recognition of National Nutrition Awareness Month, a St. Catherine’s registered nurse set up an educational table at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge for an event in partnership with The Office of Maternal Health; 50 people attended.
On May 20 and 27, for Stroke Awareness Month, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a Health and Wellness event “Boardwalk to Wellness” at Sunken Meadow State Park, providing educational information on nutrition, heart healthy diets, stroke prevention, cancer awareness, sleep, and sepsis; 30 attended.
On May 16, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital set up an educational table at C–Town in Central Islip and provided healthy eating tips on, diabetes management, breast health awareness and cancer awareness; 25 attended.
On May 29, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in the HIA-LI Trade Show and provided educational information on nutrition and diabetes; 250 attended.
On June 1, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in Smithtown Festival Day and provided more than 300 healthy nutritious snacks to attendees. In addition, St. Catherine staff provided information on healthy nutrition, diabetes, stroke prevention and falls prevention; 1,500 attended.
On June 14, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in Kings Park Day. Registered dieticians provided healthy nutritious snacks, as well as discussed the impact of nutrition on diabetes management, cardiac management and stroke prevention; 1,200 attended.
On June 4, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in “Sunken Meadow Seniors” and provided free blood pressures and health and wellness information; 30 attended and 5 blood pressure screenings were provided.
On June 14, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in the Kings Park Street Fair, providing health and wellness information, including nutrition information; 1,200 attended.
On July 8, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital staff set up an educational table at C-Town supermarket in Central Islip, providing healthy eating tips and information on diabetes management; 30 attended, 25 blood pressures screenings were provided.
On July 9, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a “Walk with a Doc” event that included a presentation by a St. Catherine cardiologist, on the importance of eating healthy foods; 12 attended.
On August 7, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital’s food and nutrition team hosted a presentation, “Garden Charcuterie,” discussing healthy eating habits at the Smithtown Library; 16 attended.
On September 18, a St. Catherine vascular surgeon provided a virtual presentation for the Huntington Library and surrounding libraries. The lecture included information of proper nutrition for healthy arteries and veins; 35 attended.
On October 5, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in Commack Day, offering educational information on breast health, nutrition and wellness; 4,000 attended.
On October 6, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital held a “Pinktober” event to help raise awareness and educate the public about breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment; 35 attended.
On October 8, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a health fair at the Smithtown Senior Center; 20 flu vaccinations were administered, 22 blood pressure screenings were provided, and 8 balance screenings were performed. Education on healthy eating was also provided; 30 attended.
On October 16, St. Catherine neuropsychologist provided a presentation, “Cognitive Issues with Parkinson’s” at the Mid Island JCC in Plainview; 25 attended.
On October 30, a St. Catherine breast health expert provided a “Breast Health and Wellness” podcast interview with Times Beacon Record in Setauket.
On November 12, a St. Catherine of Siena Hospital chef provided an educational lecture and cooking demonstration on “Healthy Holiday Eating with Leftovers” at the Smithtown Library; 22 attended.
4. Collaboration with local supermarkets (local schools and/or businesses/organizations), to either provide a Registered Dietician (RD) or work with an appointed employee of the selected facility to offer free education onsite. The RD will distribute materials related to healthy nutrition and weight management. In addition, hospital staff to provide BMI and blood pressure screenings to identify individuals at-risk of any chronic diseases.
Process measures:
On January 22, 23, 24, a St. Catherine of Siena registered dietician presented “Nutrition for Performance” presentations to Smithtown Middle School students; 250 attended.
On February 7, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital held a “Go Red for Heart Health” event in the hospital’s main lobby. Heart health nutrition education was provided, along with blood pressure screenings; 25 attended and 10 blood pressure screenings were provided.
On March 12, for National Nutrition Month, a St. Catherine registered dietician presented, “A Senior Heart Healthy Diet” at the Smithtown Senior Center; 30 attended.
On March 19, a St. Catherine cardiologist presented “Advances in Cardiac Evaluation” at the Smithtown Library, 10 attended.
On May 16, St. Catherine of Siena hosted an educational table at C-Town in Central Islip, providing education on nutrition, diabetes management, cancer awareness and breast health; 30 attended and 25 blood pressure screenings were provided.
On May 29, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in the HIA-LI Trade Show and provided educational information on nutrition and diabetes; 250 attended.
On July 8, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital staff set up an educational table at C-Town supermarket in Central Islip, providing healthy eating tips and information on diabetes management; 30 attended, 25 blood pressure screenings were provided.
On July 9, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a “Walk with a Doc” event that included a presentation by a St. Catherine cardiologist on the importance of eating healthy foods; 12 attended.
On August 7, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital’s food and nutrition team hosted a presentation, “Garden Charcuterie,” discussing healthy eating habits at the Smithtown Library; 16 attended.
On September 18, a St. Catherine vascular surgeon provided a virtual presentation for Huntington Library and surrounding libraries. The lecture included information of proper nutrition for healthy arteries and veins; 35 attended.
On October 5, St. Catherine of Siena participated in Commack Day and provided the community with educational information on breast health, nutrition and wellness; 4,000 attended.
On October 6, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital held a “Pinktober” event to raise awareness and educate the public about breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment; 35 attended.
On October 8, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a health fair at the Smithtown Senior Center; 20 flu vaccinations were administered, 22 blood pressure screenings were provided, and 8 balance screenings were performed. Education on healthy eating was also provided; 30 attended.
On November 12, a St. Catherine of Siena Hospital chef provided an educational lecture and cooking demonstration on “Healthy Holiday Eating with Leftovers” at the Smithtown Library; 22 attended.
5. Healthy Sundays: BP and BMI screenings, flu vaccinations, health education and referrals to follow up care.
Process measures:
On December 7, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital held a Healthy Sunday at St. James RC Church in Setauket; five regular dose flu vaccinations and one blood pressure screening provided.
6. Promote a walking opportunity for Long Islanders to access local beach boardwalk at no-cost and provide educational information regarding tick prevention, sepsis, stroke prevention, healthy eating.
Process measures:
On July 9, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital held a “Walk with a Doc” event on campus, in partnership with the Long Island Health Collaborative; 15 attended.
On May 20 and 27, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted “Boardwalk Your Way to Wellness” at Sunken Meadow State Park. St. Catherine’s staff provided 30 blood pressure screenings and educated 45 attendees about tick prevention, sepsis, stroke prevention, diabetes and healthy eating.
On August 5, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in the C-Biz Workplace Challenge, promoting walking/running and a healthy lifestyle; 15 St. Catherine employees attended.
On October 18 and 19, 2025, 12 St. Catherine of Siena Hospital staff participated in the Suffolk County Marathon.
On October 19, 35 St. Catherine of Siena Hospital staff participated in the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk” at Jones Beach State Park.
7. Offer free, monthly support groups for community members living with lupus, diabetes, Parkinson's disease.
Process measures:
The hospital’s Parkinson’s Disease Support Group met monthly from January to December 2025, with a total of 1,516 attendees.
8. Walk Safe/Walk with a Doc
Process measures:
On July 9, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital held a “Walk Safe with a Doc” event on campus, in partnership with the Long Island Health Collaborative; 15 attended.
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. Continue to 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 available as a download from the CH website.
Process measures:
On May 17, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in Smithtown’s Opioid Addiction “Pay it Forward Day;” 150 attended.
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital offers a Sherpa Program, a free service provided by Family & Children’s Association. Sherpa offers 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. From January – September 2025, through St. Catherine of Siena Hospital’s Sherpa program, 10 patients were successfully counseled. Total number for the year will be updated at the end of December.
From January 2025 – December 2025, 429 Naloxone nasal spray prescriptions have been dispensed.
On February 26, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital’s Dr. Shiby Abraham, Program Director for the psychiatry residents along with St. Charles Hospital’s Detox, Chemical Dependency & SUD Rehab team leaders and St. Charles’ Director of Psychology presented at the Diocesan Department of Education at “Mental Wellness Day” event held at St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip; 50 attended.
On June 1, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in Smithtown Day. Our CH Mental Health Resource Guide was available; 1,500 in attendance.
On June 14, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in Smithtown Day and provided attendees access to our CH Mental Health Service Guide; 1,200 in attendance.
On September 4, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital partnered with the Smithtown Opioid Task Force, the Town of Smithtown, Horizon’s Counseling, and the Smithtown Rotary to launch an awareness campaign for National Recovery Month. The hospital hosted a “Light the Tree Purple” ceremony and share information on support groups available; 50 attended.
On October 4, St. Catherine of Siena hosted its annual Community Health Fair and distributed the system’s Mental Health and SUD guides. In addition, St. Catherine’s partnered with Horizons Counseling and Education Center who provided education and information on SUD and mental health, as well as the proper procedure for drug take back; 250 attended.
On October 16, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital’s Siena PROS participated in the CAST Health Fair in Peconic and provided mental health service guides; 120 attended.
On October 31, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital is participating in a Veterans Stand Down event in Riverhead. Siena PROS supported the event. More than 150 attended.
On November 19, St. Catherine of Siena participated in the Smithtown School District Wellness Committee meeting where school nutrition programs and mental health were discussed; 9 attended.
2. Provide education about prescription drug and safe drug disposal at Horizons Counseling and Education Center and local precinct:
Process measures:
On October 4, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital partnered with Horizons Counseling and Education Center and the local police precinct during the hospital’s annual Community Health Fair to promote Prescription Drug Take Back; 250 attended.
3. Provide population with information about the signs and symptoms of mental health and substance abuse issues, promote healthy choices and quitting smoking and vaping.
Process measures:
We distribute our mental health guide at all community events. It is also available on our website. In 2025, St. Catherine’s staff has provided Catholic Health mental health guides at summer street fairs in Kings Park, Smithtown and an East End health fair at St. Rosalie RC Church in Hampton Bays.
On November 20, Horizons Counseling provided information at St. Catherine’s about the “Great American Smoke-Out”; 20 attended.
4. Offer free smoking cessation programs in collaboration with the Suffolk County Department of Health
Process measures:
Each patient is screened for smoking upon hospital admission. Upon discharge, patients are connected with smoking cessation referral sources, including Suffolk County Department of Health, St. Francis Hospital’s DeMatteis Center, and St. Catherine’s Lung Cancer Screening Program. To be referred to the New York State Quit Line # and website.
March 6 – April 24, 2025, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital partnered with the Suffolk County Department of Health to offer an evidence-based smoking cessation program. Eight people graduated from the program.
On November 18, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital was scheduled to host a “Learn to be Tobacco Free”, smoking cessation program, in collaboration with the Suffolk County Department of Health. Due to a low enrollment, the program registrants were placed in another nearby program that was not part of the hospital.
On November 20, Horizons Counseling provided information at St. Catherine’s about the “Great American Smoke-Out”; 20 attended
5. Provide a free postpartum support group to help new mothers address issues they may be facing in a supportive environment led by an experienced clinician.
Process measures:
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital’s maternity unit has been closed. Comprehensive labor & delivery services can be found at other Catholic Health hospitals (St. Charles Hospital and Good Samaritan University Hospital) with robust maternity programs. The DOH accepted St. Catherine’s closure plan in June 2024.
6. Offer an education conference for health care professionals.
Process measures:
As part of St. Catherine’s ongoing relationship with local EMS providers, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted an EMS dinner and education presentation on “Spine Surgery and Cardiovascular Care” on January 22, 2025; 51 attended.
On February 3, Dr. Arnbjorn Toset, a head and neck surgeon, and a cancer liaison from Good Samaritan University Hospital, provided continuing education to St. Catherine of Siena Hospitalists; nine hospitalists attended.
On March 5, Dr. Tarek Zetoune provided a presentation regarding “Palliative Care Continuing Education” for the hospitalist medical group; nine hospitalists attended.
On September 22, St. Charles Hospital’s CMO and VP for Rehabilitation provided an in-service on Inpatient Rehabilitation; nine St. Catherine hospitalists attended.
On October 6 and October 13, the Director of Clinical Documentation Improvements (CDI), provided an educational lecture on CDI; 20 hospitalists attended.
On October 14, Dr. Desai, from Yale School of Medicine, presented a virtual medical lecture entitled, “Advancing Health Equity”; nine hospitalists attended.
On December 16, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital provided an EMS educational update on addressing facial trauma and eye injuries in the field and in surgery; 20 attended.
7. 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:
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital posts information on its website and promotes through social. The hospital also relies upon 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 relies upon 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 enewsletter, which is sent to 560 community-based organization leaders, and strategic use of social media platforms. These efforts are ongoing.
Priority Number Three: Promote a Healthy and Safe Environment
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Connect older adults and people with disabilities with evidence-based falls prevention programs such as Stepping On or A Matter of Balance.
Process measures:
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital offered a “Matter of Balance” workshop April 23 – May 20, 2025. Part of the workshop involves increasing physical activity and incorporating falls prevention strategies and a healthy lifestyle. St. Catherine is collaborating with RSVP and Siena Village to hold the program; 34 participated.
On June 1, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital provided free balance screenings during the Smithtown Festival Day; 20 participated.
On October 4, at St. Catherine’s annual Community Health Fair, free balance screenings were provided; 12 participated.
On October 8, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a health fair at the Smithtown Senior Center and provided free balance screenings; 8 participated.
Priority Number Four: Promote Healthy Women, Infants and Children
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Provide pre- and post-lactation support with International Breastfeeding Lactation Consulting leadership. The hospital will provide free, hospital-based support groups for expectant and new mothers to increase and promote successful breastfeeding. As a designated Baby Friendly facility, the first hospital-based facility in Suffolk County, St. Catherine of Siena is committed to educating community members about the benefits of breastfeeding – the most optimal feeding for newborns.
Process measures:
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital no longer offers lactation support groups due to closure of its maternity unit.
Priority Number Five: Prevent Communicable Diseases
Interventions, Strategies and Activities:
1. Offer free flu vaccinations at events in underserved communities, at Healthy Sundays outreach, hospital health fairs and other community venues.
Process measures:
On October 4, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted its annual community health fair and provided 79 free flu vaccinations.
On October 7, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital participated in the Legislator Trotta Health Fair and provided 27 flu vaccines.
On October 8, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a health fair at the Smithtown Senior Center and provided 20 free flu vaccinations.
On October 13, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital provided 19 flu vaccines for the Smithtown Fire Department.
On October 16, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital provided 13 flu vaccines for the Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corp.
On October 20, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital provided 25 flu vaccines for the Nesconset Fire Department.
On December 7, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital hosted a Healthy Sunday event at St. James RC Church in East Setauket; five regular dose flu vaccinations and one BP.
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 St. Catherine of Siena Hospital Community Service Plan will be posted on the hospital’s website at https://www.chsli.org/st-catherine-siena-hospital/about/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 St. Catherine Hospital 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, St. Catherine’s, 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. St. Catherine of Siena Hospital is committed to continue to develop ways to best serve the community.