HEADLINES

SPOTLIGHT ON MEMBERS

There are many exciting things happening at Northern Dutchess Hospital! In early June, our new website www.health-quest.org will go live and include new features such as the ADAM health information library, the HealthDay news feature, an events calendar, physician directory and more!

Around the time of the launch, a new, direct mail magazine will also be mailed out to over 20K households in the Northern Dutchess Hospital market. The magazine, Pulse, will feature information from both the hospital and the Health Quest system, as well as the seasonal healthcare information you need.

In terms of services, the Hospital just keeps getting better and better. We have added Digital Mammography at the Dyson Center for Imaging. This service enhances the breast care services we already have at the Hospital, including breast MRI, stereotactic breast biopsies, ultrasound, reconstructive surgical services, complementary therapies, nutrition, education/support and the Wellness Center. An additional Operating room featuring laparoscopic and minimally-invasive equipment will also start to be constructed over the summer to help accommodate our surgical volume increase.

Surgical Services and Birth Center staff have also been trained recently in a program called Life Wings. It is a national corporation with a team of physicians, nurses, pilots, former astronauts, and physician executives who have adapted the teamwork and safety training for the aviation industry into a practice standard for healthcare. To date, 75 hospitals in the U.S. have adopted these techniques. Life Wings Partners conducted a series of training exercises on teamwork, communication and other safety techniques and tools at NDH-further enhancing the care you receive.

There is certainly much more to come thanks to the support of our Chamber and community members. Be sure to visit our new website for updates on services and events and thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

www.health-quest.org

A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT

At long last! Breakfast at the Rhinecliff! We were all so excited to have had our first breakfast at the Rhinecliff Hotel on Wednesday, June 25. We can’t thank James Chapman and his team enough for pulling out all the stops to make this happen! It is clear that James and his crew took their time to meticulously recreate a by-gone era and payed attention to so many wonderful details to keep the charm and historic integrity in that wonderful building. Thank you, too, to everyone who attended. I was sorry I could not stay for the entire breakfast. However, my 5th grader was having her “moving up ceremony” at Chancelor Livingston Elementary School, so, “mommy duty” called!

The summer will be busy for the Chamber. We will be continuing conversations with the Village to clarify the policies, laws and procedures surrounding sidewalk sales and sidewalk displays. At the next Village Board meeting on July 8th a recommendation will be made as to how to proceed with sidewalk sales in the future. The Chamber will continue to play a role in these in terms of coordination and applications for permits. We will keep all of you posted as to the final outcome, and the Public Hearing that is anticipated.

We will also be fully engaged in supporting the Holiday Parade – Sinterklaus is coming to town! And we will continue to be involved with that event, planned for December 6, 2008. Further, the Chamber Board of Directors will hold a half-day retreat to set the priority projects and carve out the next year’s operating and strategic plans. We will also host several special events over the coming summer months, including a Family BBQ on Wednesday, July 23, 2008.

The Chamber can be a very valuable tool for your business. Together, we can make a visible difference in our community. I applaud each of our board members who give so much of their time to ensuring that the Rhinebeck Area Chamber continues to focus on its mission of supporting and promoting local businesses. And I appreciate each and every one of our members who continue to make the greater Rhinebeck region the very special place that it is.
Sincerely,

Deborah S. Breen,

President, Rhinebeck Area Chamber of Commerce