Josyann Abisaab and the American University of Beirut

Josyann Abisaab studied at the American University of Beirut, from where she graduated with a BS (Distinction) in 1984. Recent news from the university is that Dr. Fuad N. Ziyadeh (chair of the Department of Internal Medicine) was appointed a member of the International Foundations of Medicine (IFOM) Oversight Committee. For the university this appointment means that it is now part of “an international assessment of medical students.” For Ziyadeh, this is quite an honor since he is the only individual on this committee selected from outside North America and Europe. And for the university it’s great, as, according to AUB Faculty of Medicine’s Dean, Dr. Mohamed H. Sayegh, Raja N. Khuri, it “makes AUB a key player in international medical education.”

Staying Motivated for Morning Workouts

It's never easy to get out of bed in the morning, but it's often even harder if you plan to exercise first thing in the morning. This blog offers some great tips for staying motivated with your morning workout and keeping yourself to your routine.

Reduction of ER Visits at NY Presbyterian Hospital

A report in May 2010 showed that there has been a significant reduction in emergency room visits and hospitalizations – up to 50 percent – at the NY Presbyterian Hospital. Much effort has been undertaken to achieve this result, with a partnership forming between the Ambulatory Care Network at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and the Washington Heights/Inwood community, to form the Washington-Heights Inwood Network (aptly known as WIN) for Asthma program. This spells good news for all those associated with the hospital, especially those working in the ER department like Josyann Abisaab, Assistant Attending Physician.

“The program began in May 2006 to improve outcomes for children with poorly controlled asthma by providing culturally relevant asthma education. To date, Community Health Workers have enrolled 400 families. Families who completed the one-year program reported a greater than 50 percent drop in emergency room visits, a greater than 50 percent drop in hospitalization and a 30 percent drop in school absenteeism. Caregivers also reported that they were significantly more confident in caring and controlling their child's asthma after participating in the program.” For more information on this venture, visit: http://nyp.org/news/hospital/win-asthma-program.html

Josyann Abisaab and New York Hospital

The New York-Presbyterian Hospital where Josyann Abisaab serves as an ER doctor, was named to the America’s Best Hospitals Honor Roll. This is not the first time the hospital has been honored in this way. The hospital last year boasted “strong scores in many specialty rankings.” The hospital houses 2,192 beds and in 2007 undertook 10,4924 surgeries.

Josyann Abisaab and New York ER

Josyann Abisaab, a doctor at the hospital’s ER, can take pride in how well the new York-Presbyterian serves its public. For example, in 2007 her department dealt with a staggering 24,0331visits, suggesting it has the resources to take care of a tremendous amount of work. As well, it serves as a teaching hospital and accredited by the CARF and Joint Commission. So of course no one ever wants to have to go to a hospital, but if a visit has to be made, the New York Presbyterian Hospital certainly has a pretty good reputation.

Protect Your Child's Feet: Josyann Abisaab

Many parents would be surprised to know how often children are brought to the ER as a result of barefoot accidents. Emergency room doctors like Josyann Abisaab end up stitching feet that have been cut by glass, metal or jagged rocks as a result of children running around barefoot.

While it’s fun to run around barefoot, especially in the summer months, it’s very important for parents to keep their children wearing shoes when outside. Have a first-aid kit in the house, as well, so that you can take care of cuts and scrapes when they occur. Make sure to always keep your child’s tetanus shots up to date to prevent even worse consequences.

These simple instructions can cut down on unnecessary stitches and injuries and can keep your child’s feet safe and healthy all year round.

Keeping Burns at Bay with Josyann Abisaab

When children show up to the E.R. for burns, they are usually a result of hot liquids from the home. As doctors such as Josyann Abisaab and many others know only too well, most of these burns could have been prevented. Here are some important tips for keeping hot liquids away from little ones.

1. Never drink anything hot when you have a baby in your lap in nearby.

2. Keep containers of hot liquids away from tables and counter edges, and keep the cords out of reach as well. This will prevent children from pulling hot containers down from a ledge.

3. Make the stove a no-kid zone. Don’t cook with children nearby or let them sit on the counter to watch you.

4. Cook on back burners whenever possible and turn pot handles to the rear, not towards the room.

5. Make sure your water heater is set below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can’t control the heater, install an anti-scald device. This ingenuous device reduces the water flow to a trickle when the temperature reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Always test the bath water before a child steps into it.

Josyann Abisaab on Head Safety Advice

This is a scary and dramatic statistic: 75% of bicycle related fatalities in children could actually be prevented by using bike helmets. When riding a bike or a skateboard, wearing a helmet can prevent everything from a concussion, head trauma and even death.

This should be a hard and fast rule in every home from the time that kids are very little. If children are used to wearing helmets from a very early age, it will become second nature to them and they won’t challenge this requirement.

In addition to wearing a helmet for bike riding, doctors like Josyann Abisaab explain that they need to be worn for roller-skating, in-line skating, skiing, skateboarding, street hockey, horseback riding and more.

Make sure that the strap under the chin is buckled correctly so that the helmet can’t move around on the child’s head or slip over his eyes.