2019-2021 Community Health Needs Assessment Community Service Plan 2020 Update
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Community Health
Needs Assessment
Community Service Plan
2019-2021
2020 Update
2019-2021 Community Service Plan
2020 Update
In 2020, Kaleida Health worked diligently to achieve its goals for community health improvement
activities as identified in its 2019-2021 Community Health Needs Assessment-Community Service Plan.
The interventions were targeted for Erie County and Niagara County, the primary service area of Kaleida
Health hospitals including Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute, John R. Oishei
Children’s Hospital and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, located in Erie County and DeGraff Medical
Park (previously named DeGraff Memorial Hospital) located in Niagara County. This 2020 Update
outlines Kaleida Health’s progress in meeting its intervention goals.
In 2019, Kaleida Health participated in collaborative work groups led by the Erie County Department of
Health and the Niagara County Department of Health and identified health issues of concern in each
respective county. Each county work group conducted community needs assessments based on health
data, community surveys and focus groups and identified the NYS Prevention Agenda Priority Areas to
be addressed in each county from 2019 through 2021. The needs of the underserved were further
identified as a priority. Kaleida Health adopted these priorities for its 2019-2021 Community Service Plan
as follows:
Erie County and Kaleida Health
Health Issues of Concern NYS Prevention Agenda Priority Area
High rates of cardiovascular disease and high Prevent Chronic Diseases
incidence of risk factors including high blood
pressure, diabetes, obesity and smoking
Increasing rise of opioid addiction and fatal Promote Well-Being and Prevent Mental and
overdoses Substance Use Disorders
Poor outcomes in maternal and infant health, Promote Healthy Women, Infants and Children
particularly among underserved populations
Niagara County and Kaleida Health
Health Issues of Concern NYS Prevention Agenda Priority Area
High rates of cardiovascular disease and high Prevent Chronic Diseases
incidence of risk factors including high blood
pressure, diabetes, obesity and smoking
Increasing rise of opioid addiction and fatal Promote Well-Being and Prevent Mental and
overdoses Substance Use Disorders
Additionally, a Kaleida Health CHNA-CSP Steering Committee and work groups comprised of
multidisciplinary staff and physicians met from May through October 2019 to discuss the selected
county Priority Areas, community need and to determine the interventions that would best meet those
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 1
needs. The Kaleida Health work groups selected focus areas and interventions including disparities for
its 2019-2021 Community Service Plan, as aligned with the county-focused Priority Areas.
Throughout 2020, Kaleida Health made progress implementing the interventions outlined in its
Community Service Plan and as aligned with the NYS Prevention Agenda, while also addressing the
needs of the underserved. However, the COVID-19 pandemic presented some implementation
challenges. During 2020, Kaleida Health hospitals experienced an influx of patients affected by the
coronavirus in both inpatient and outpatient care. It was critical for employees to have appropriate PPE
and be provided the most up-to-date information related to the care and treatment of the disease. All
employee and corporate efforts to educate, screen and test employees, patients and the community
was a top priority and continues to be so in 2021. Outpatient care and elective surgeries at Kaleida
Health hospitals were cut back due to NYS mandates, and Kaleida Health outpatient clinics enlisted
Telehealth programs to help meet patient care needs. Throughout the pandemic, Kaleida Health
continued to implement the community interventions that were not hampered by the pandemic; and
continues to work to re-assess the impact of COVID-19 on other interventions and in the advancement
of its NYS Prevention Agenda Priority Areas. Intervention progress in 2020 and any resulting impacts due
to COVID-19 are outlined below.
Prevent Chronic Disease
Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes Nutrition Education and Mobile Food Market at Buffalo General Medical
Center (BGMC) – Erie County
Nutrition Education Sessions
In 2019, planning began on Nutrition Education Sessions as presented by a Kaleida Health registered
dietician to underserved individuals at high risk for diabetes and pre-diabetes at local churches,
community centers and employers. The goal of the program is to increase skills and knowledge for
healthy eating among attendees leading to decreased high rates of chronic disease among high-risk
populations. In 2019, nutrition education sessions were provided at the US Army Corps. of Engineers,
William Emslie YMCA and Richmond Summer Senior Center. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and in
consideration of the safety of participants, these nutrition education sessions for community groups as
led by a Kaleida Health dietician were put on hold for 2020 and continue to be on hold through 2021.
Mobile Food Market
Planned in 2019, and implemented in July 2020 through October 2020, Buffalo General Medical Center
hosted Alex Wright’s African Heritage Mobile Food Co-op to sell healthy fruits and vegetables every first
and third Thursday, 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at an outdoor location next to its Gates Vascular Institute. The
mobile food market serves the hospital campus, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and the adjacent
low income Fruit Belt neighborhood. Nutritional brochures are provided at the market and periodically,
a Kaleida Health dietician is available for on-site consult. To better serve low-income individuals, every
third Thursday during COVID was designated as “pay as you can.” The market was supposed to kick-off
in May 2020 but was delayed until July 2020 due to COVID-19. The Mobile Food Co-op will resume in
spring/summer 2021.
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 2
Worksite Nutrition and Physical Activity Programs – Erie County
Nutrition Tune Up Days for Employees
Nutrition Tune Up Days are designated days at Kaleida Health facilities for employees to sign up to
receive a 20 minute one-on-one nutrition education session with a registered dietician. The program is
designed to increase employee skills and knowledge for healthy eating to improve health and wellness
among Kaleida Health employees with the goal to decrease high rates of chronic disease.
Nutrition Tune-Up Days were held in 2019, one at Buffalo General Medical Center (BGMC) and one at
John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital. One was also held in January 2020 at Kaleida Health’s administrative
offices at Larkin. Additional days were scheduled for 2020 but were cancelled due to COVID-19
restrictions. The Nutrition Tune Up Days are being evaluated for possible scheduling in late 2021. In the
absence of the Nutrition Tune Up Days due to COVID-19, approximately 10 employees per month visit a
Kaleida Health dietician at various times at BGMC for nutrition/wellness concerns and receive nutrition
education and print materials.
BNMC Wellness Activities for Campus Employees
In 2019, Buffalo General Medical Center and John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in collaboration with the
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) promoted employee/community participation in campus
wellness events including Walks on Wednesday, Group Bike Ride, Zumba, Yoga and Market in the Park,
among others. In 2020, BNMC Wellness Activities for Campus Employees, including Kaleida Health, were
put on hold in 2020 and through 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Farm to Hospital Program on Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus for Employees, Patients and Visitors
Planning for the Kaleida Health Farm to Hospital program began in 2017 in partnership with the Buffalo
Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC). The program provides an opportunity to work together with other
hospitals and organizations of the BNMC to leverage available resources for the benefit of all campus
members including employees, patients and visitors. The goal is to continue to provide the Farm to
Hospital program and explore new ways to promote health and wellness in the community through
innovation and partnerships to address chronic disease risk factors and to improve population health
among Western New York residents.
In 2020, a partnership between Kaleida Health and its food vendor, Metz Culinary Management, and the
BNMC was initiated to help bring more locally grown and sourced produce, meats and other menu items
to the cafeterias at Buffalo General Medical Center, John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, and HighPointe
on Michigan, all located on the BNMC. The BNMC Farm to Hospital team has been providing Kaleida
Health employees, patients and visitors with information about healthy nutrition and featuring local
produce and meats, as well as introducing the amazing farmers behind the products. The Metz chefs
and general managers also visited local farms to learn new agricultural methods and sustainable
practices. In 2018, the BNMC was one of 44 organizations nationwide and one of just four organizations
in New York State to receive a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Local Food
Promotion Program to help create a culture of healthy food practices and increase local food
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 3
procurement. “BNMC Fresh: Farm to Hospital Implementation” works to prioritize local agriculture
within hospitals and enables farms to access new markets such as healthcare institutions.
Through the Metz Farm to Hospital partnership, Kaleida Health provides emails via Campus E-News to
employees of participating facilities, promoting facts on the benefits of local fruit and vegetables, as
they are fresher and safe than many store-bought options. A specific fruit or vegetable and a local farm
is a feature of each promotion.
Cardiovascular Screening and Risk Factor Education Program in OB/GYN Centers – Erie County
Since 2014, Kaleida Health successfully implemented a cardiovascular screening and risk factor
education program targeting primarily at risk, underserved females in the OB/GYN Centers of Oishei
Children’s Hospital leading to improved rates of cardiovascular disease in the community. Participating
clinics include Kensington OB/GYN and Niagara Street OB/GYN. The program is offered to all patients
presenting for their annual OB/GYN assessment.
The program’s strength is that it targets a low income, underserved and high-risk female population and
provides needed cardiovascular screening and education on the preventive risk factors for heart disease.
The program also facilitates primary care referrals for patients who may only see their OB/GYN provider
once a year and do not have a primary care provider. The OB/GYN Centers have high rates of patients
insured through Medicaid and most reside in the city of Buffalo, a city with a 30.9% poverty rate and
ranked the fourth poorest city in the nation by the 2018 American Community Survey (US Census). The
Niagara Street OB/GYN Center is located on the west side of Buffalo with a high Hispanic and refugee
population and the Kensington OB/GYN Center is located on the east side of Buffalo with a high
black/African American population. Another significant strength of the program is the role of the
OB/GYN providers and their commitment to provide the cardiovascular screening, education and
referrals.
In 2019, the OB/GYN providers and clinic staff in collaboration with primary care reviewed the existing
program and made some changes to better meet the needs of providers and patients. The patient self-
assessment was revised and EMR was modified to offer only an “at risk” option since the providers felt
that all of their patients with few exceptions were at risk. Patients also receive cardiovascular and risk
factor education and advisement with primary care provider referrals as needed. 2020 was a transition
year for the new EMR option and also presented a challenge due to COVID-19 restrictions.
2020 participation data indicates the following for the program at Kensington OB/GYN and Niagara
Street OB/GYN:
1/3/20 – 12/29/20: 566 total participating patients
*1/3/20 – 3/24/20: 19 “high risk” patients with 19 receiving CVD counseling/education
*1/3/20 – 3/24/20: 63 “no risk” patients with 56 receiving CVD counseling/education
**1/3/20 – 12/29/20: 484 “at risk” patients with 479 receiving CVD counseling/education
*Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no patients participated in the program from 3/25/20 – 6/9/20. Patients
were not being seen in-person in the OB/GYN Centers during this time period. Many appointments were
re-scheduled for later in the year or conducted by providers through Telehealth.
**EMR change to stratify patients as “at risk only” began on 6/10/20.
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 4
Health Literacy Task Force with Erie County Department of Health – Erie County
The Health Literacy Task Force is in the development phase as a collaborative initiative of the Erie
County Department of Health to include representatives from Kaleida Health, Catholic Health System
and other organizations. The task force will work to improve health education materials for those with
limited language and literacy skills in Erie County to revise materials to be more patient/user friendly.
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the Erie County Department of Health and participating hospitals, this
initiative had been put on hold in 2020 and most likely throughout 2021. The program will be
re-evaluated for future implementation.
Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Education Programs – Erie County and Niagara County
Healthy U
Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the need for community safety from the virus, in-person Healthy U risk
factor education and screening events were not held in 2020. As the initial pandemic surge subsided in
summer 2020, Kaleida Health turned to virtual options.
During 2020, 4,525 individuals participated in the following virtual Healthy U programs via Facebook:
8/20/20 – Inflammatory Bowel Disease – 885 viewings
9/16/20 – Childhood Obesity – 2,169 viewings
10/15/20 - Flu Season and COVID-19 – 1,985 viewings
11/20/20 - Managing Type 2 Diabetes – 1,386 viewings
Other virtual health and education programs emerged including:
Medical Minute
One-minute videos on health related topics that air every Monday on WIVB-TV, Channel 4 and on
Kaleida Health social media channels. The 52 videos were held weekly from January 6, 2020 – December
25, 2020 reaching 15,746 individuals. A wide variety of topics were featured and include among others:
Lung Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Breast Cancer, Lead Exposure, Stroke, flu shots,
Cardiac-a fib, Opioids, Summer Safety and COVID 19 related topics including Safe to Come to the ED and
Pediatric Telehealth.
Medically Speaking
Kaleida Health’s Medically Speaking interview series features guest speaker video interviews on a wide
range of health and healthcare topics; and are aired on Facebook and featured on the Kaleida Health
website at www.kaleidahealth.org/medically-speaking. In 2020, the Medically Speaking interview series
included 53 videos with a total reach of 294,011, averaging 5,547 individuals per video. Also in 2020,
Kaleida Health’s Medically Speaking video series launched a special series on the fight against
coronavirus, featuring interviews with Kaleida Health experts discussing the latest information about the
COVID-19 pandemic.
While virtual, this chronic disease education program went well over its goal by reaching over 314,282
individuals through Healthy U, Medical Minute and Medically Speaking virtual presentations. Increasing
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 5
chronic disease and risk factor education programs for the public will lead to improved rates of
cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases in Erie County.
Health Education for Children through DeGraff Medical Park (previously named DeGraff Memorial
Hospital) – Niagara County
Through Teddy Bear Clinics in Schools, DeGraff clinical staff provide health education to children ages 3-
8 years in local schools. Children visit four health education stations during the one-hour program. Take
home educational materials are provided to the participating students. Stations include:
• Hand Hygiene – proper handwashing techniques and information about germs
• Triage – bandaging of a bear will be demonstrated and information about care in an ED or other
clinical setting
• Nutrition – healthy food choices, fruits and vegetables. Evidence-based sources: Hirsch, Perdue,
Ambroz and Boucher (2014), Garcia, Reardon, McDonald, & Varga-Garcia (2016)
• Exercise – health activities and importance of exercise as it related to chronic disease; i.e. heart
disease, diabetes. Evidence-based sources: Zulke, L.J. & Engel, M.E. (2013), Global Heart, 8(3):
235-239
In 2019, program planning took place and one Teddy Bear Clinic was held October 30, 2019 for 60
student participants at St. John’s Lutheran School. The goal was to implement one Teddy Bear Clinic in
2020 and 2021. Due to COVID-19 with schools primarily operating through hybrid or remote learning,
the Teddy Bear Clinics were put on hold for 2020 and continuing into 2021.
Nutrition Education/Cooking Classes at DeGraff Community Center – Niagara County
The Nutrition and Healthy Cooking Education Program was planned in 2019 and developed in
partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension to increase awareness and knowledge of the
importance of healthy nutrition and its impact on chronic disease.
Through this program, a nutritionist from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara County will present
nutrition education and healthy cooking demonstrations to community members through Eat Smart NY.
The program is a statewide, USDA funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education program (SNAP-
ED). It helps families with limited incomes to eat more fruits and vegetables, drink fewer sweetened
beverages and practice healthy lifestyles. The programs will be held at the DeGraff Community Center
and will be promoted throughout the community.
The goal was to provide one program in 2020 and one in 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the
program was not held in 2020 and will only be provided in 2021 if restrictions on group gatherings ease.
Little Free Pantry at DeGraff Medical Park (previously named DeGraff Memorial Hospital) – Niagara
County
In 2019, a partnership with DeGraff Medical Park (previously DeGraff Memorial Hospital) and the Little
Free Panty of North Tonawanda in Niagara County was developed to provide community access to a
free source of food at a self-contained pantry to promote food security among underserved populations.
In December 2019, the Little Free Pantry was set up outside on location at DeGraff and became
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 6
operational. The Little Free Pantry was utilized by the local community in 2020 and continues to be
operational in 2021.
The Little Free Pantry is a 4’ x 4’ standing display crate that serves as a food pantry for those who are
food insecure. Hospital staff monitor the pantry, keep the pantry filled and maintained and members of
the community are welcome to access the food in the pantry 24/7 as needed to meet their needs.
Community members may also help to stock the pantry and take-home nutrition education materials
are made available. The Little Free Pantry is an international initiative that utilizes a familiar, compelling
concept to pique local interest in and action against local food insecurity
(http://www.littlefreepantry.org/).
Promote Well-Being and Prevent Mental and Substance Use Disorders – Erie
County and Niagara County
New York MATTERS
The Kaleida Health emergency departments of Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute
(BGMC/GVI) and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (MFSH) in Erie County and DeGraff Medical Park
(previously DeGraff Memorial Hospital) in Niagara County participate in New York MATTERS, a Hospital-
Initiated Buprenorphine and Treatment Referral Program. New York MATTERS is a program developed
by Joshua Lynch, MD and others in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UB Jacobs School of
Medicine and Biomedical Science. Dr. Lynch is a UBMD physician affiliated with Kaleida Health. The
program’s purpose is to increase access to the Buprenorphine-based opiate use disorder treatment and
to immediately refer patients to community-based treatment. An online, real-time referral program
directly in the emergency department connects patients with a network of 20 Western New York
treatment agencies with 120 weekly treatment appointments available to Western New York patients.
From January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019, 9 referrals to New York MATTERS were made for
patients in Kaleida Health emergency departments located in Erie County including BGMC/GVI (six
referrals) and MFSH (three referrals).
From January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, 21 referrals were made to New York MATTERS at
Kaleida Health emergency departments as follows:
10 – DeGraff Medical Park
8 – Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute
2 – Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital
1 – John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital
As a best practice and effective opioid treatment and referral program, New York MATTERS recently
expanded across New York State to include the Capital Region, Dutchess County and the Oneida Region.
New York City Health & Hospitals is now in various stages of adopting similar practices. New York
MATTERS also continues to partner with local EMS agencies on a “Leave Behind Naloxone at the location
of any suspected overdoses (homes, businesses, etc.)
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 7Patient Availability, Access and Linkages to Overdose Reversal Medications
Kaleida Health emergency departments at Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute and
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Erie County and DeGraff Medical Park (previously DeGraff
Memorial Hospital) in Niagara County provide patient access to overdose reversal medication include
Naloxone through the Kaleida Health Pharmacy. Kaleida Health emergency department staff are trained
in dispensing of Naloxone.
In January 2019 through August 2019, 9 Naloxone Kits were provided to patients/families in Kaleida
Health emergency departments through the Kaleida Health Pharmacy.
In January 2020 through December 2020, 10 Naloxone Kits were provided to patients/families in Kaleida
Health emergency departments through the Kaleida Health Pharmacy. This included two at Buffalo
General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute, two at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and six at
DeGraff Medical Park.
Additionally, in 2020, Kaleida Health disseminated flyers to its community partners as provided by The
Erie County Department of Health and the Erie County Opiate Epidemic Task Force entitled, “Narcan
Saves Lives.” The flyer was also distributed through Kaleida Health’s weekly update email and was
posted on Kaleida Health social media.
Medication and Syringe Drop Boxes and Drug Take Back Days at Kaleida Health Hospitals – Erie County
and Niagara County
The Medication and Syringe Drop Boxes provide for permanent, safe disposal sites for prescription drugs
and syringes and participation in organized take-back days to decrease the availability of these drugs in
the community.
In partnership with the Erie County Department of Health, Medication and Syringe Drop Boxes are
provided at the emergency departments of Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute,
John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Erie County and DeGraff
Memorial Hospital in Niagara County. Erie County and Niagara County Sheriff’s Offices pick up and
transport contents of drop boxes on a regular basis to Covanta Energy for incineration. The drop boxes
continued to be on sites in the hospital emergency departments throughout 2019, 2020 and will
continue throughout 2021.
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and DeGraff Medical Park participated in National Prescription Drug
Take Back Day on October 24, 2020. Through this national initiative, the community is encouraged to
keep their homes safe by disposing of expired and unused prescriptions and over-the-counter
medications. Disposing of medications in a proper way prevents people from pouring drugs down sinks
or into toilets, contaminating the water system. It also removes the drugs from homes for illicit use.
Kaleida Health offers Prescription Drug Take Back Days at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and
DeGraff Medical Park each fall and spring. In 2020, the spring events were not held due to COVID-19
restrictions. The program resumed in the fall; and to keep everyone safe, collection sites followed local
COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. Kaleida Health is waiting to hear from the DEA to determine the
scheduling of an event for spring 2021.
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 8Promote Healthy Women, Infants and Children
Centering Pregnancy at Kensington OB-GYN Center – Erie County
In 2019, The Kensington OB/GYN Center of John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital worked to expand its
Centering Pregnancy Program through a grant and partnership with the New York State Department of
Health’s First 1000 Day’s on Medicaid Centering Pregnancy Expansion Project.
Centering Pregnancy is group prenatal care bringing 8-10 women who are at the same time out of exam
rooms and into a comfortable group setting. Centering group prenatal care follows the recommended
schedule of 10 prenatal visits, but each visit is 90 minutes to two hours long – giving women 10 times
more time with their provider than women in traditional care. The same medical provider and a trained
facilitator lead a group of 8-10 patients at each visit. The facilitator, along with the medical provider,
provide support and education in what is pertinent to that week’s gestational age. The program aligns
with the guidelines of the Centering Healthcare Institute to increase patient compliance with prenatal
care, increase patient satisfaction, decrease pre-term birth rates and increase breastfeeding rates.
In 2019, Centering Pregnancy was provided to three groups of Medicaid patients at the Kensington
OB/GYN Center. In 2020, the program was put on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions. Program staff will
review the program and its NYS grant guidelines for future continuation in light of COVID-19. The 2019-
2021 goal was to provide the program to 11 groups of 8-10 Medicaid patients at the Kensington OB/GYN
Center over the 3-year period.
Safe Sleep Initiative – Erie County
John R. Oishei Children's Hospital (OCH) and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (MFSH) kicked off their
Safe Sleep Initiative on October 1, 2019 to educate parents on the practices of safe sleep and also
distributed the HALO® Sleep Sack to infants to reduce the incidence of SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant
Death). Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths or SUID is accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed and
sleep-related deaths of an unknown cause.
Through the Safe Sleep Initiative, OCH and MFSH provided safe sleep education and the HALO® Sleep
Sack® for all newborns; and at OCH for admitted pediatric patients up to one year of age. The HALO®
Sleep Sacks® were provided by corporate partners: Pegula Sports + Entertainment, The Buffalo Bills and
The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation.
Safe sleep education materials including the NYS Department of Health brochure, “Follow the ABCs of
Safe Sleep,” were included in all new mom packets. An educational video was shown to all new moms
via TVR in patient rooms at OCH and MFSH via pCare TV. Hospital nurses continued to model safe sleep
practices. Public awareness and education was developed in coordination with Pegula Sports +
Entertainment, The Buffalo Bills and The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation. The HALO® Sleep
Sack® is a wearable blanket that is intended to eliminate the likelihood that a baby can get entangled
with clothing and loose bedding during sleep. It is sleeveless and can be worn over pajamas or a
bodysuit to take the place of loose blankets. Bedding can accidentally cover a baby’s face and interfere
with breathing. The SUID education and the distribution of HALO® Sleep Sacks® will provide a safe sleep
environment for infants and help to alleviate the risk of SUID.
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 9In 2020, all newborn caregivers were provided Safe Sleep education as follows:
• MFSH – 2,733 total live Births
• OCH - 3,224 Total Live births:
In 2020, the following infants and children were also provided the Halo® Sleep Sack®:
• MFSH – 1,170 newborn swaddles distributed
• OCH – 1,180 newborn swaddles distributed
• OCH - 800 “small” sleep sacks distributed for patients up to age 1 (non-newborn)
Unfortunately, a swaddle/sleep sack was not provided to every baby due to COVID-19 supply chain
issues.
Yomingo® Parent Education – Erie County
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (MFSH) offers childbirth education to pregnant women and parents
with information on prenatal, perinatal, infant and child care through the use of the YoMingo® app
(www.myyomingo.com) to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
MFSH offers anytime, anywhere parent education (at no charge) to new moms/parents through the
online YoMingo® program. It is available on any device with an internet connection and also as a mobile
app called YoMingo®. YoMingo® provides access to evidence-based information on prenatal care, labor
and birth, postpartum, breastfeeding and newborn care including detailed videos, kick counter,
contraction timer, person journal, feeding log, immunization log and other tools.
MFSH provides YoMingo® informational brochures to physician offices to promote the availability of the
program.
In 2020, MFSH recorded 377 active users on YoMingo® while the goal was just 150 participants. A
possible reason for the increase in expected users may be due to an overall increase in the use of virtual
learning options due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was promoted through the distribution of
1,250 Yomingo® promotional cards to physicians/providers throughout the community.
Breastfeeding Promotion and Education – Erie County
Throughout 2020, John R. Oishei Children's Hospital (OCH) and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital
(MFSH) continued their breastfeeding promotion and education activities to increase initiation and
exclusive breastfeeding rates at each hospital. Given that an estimated 65% of patients at OCH are
Medicaid beneficiaries, many of the women targeted for this program are low income and medically
underserved. Clinical leaders, clinical education staff and clinicians are all working together to
implement initiatives and achieve goals.
At OCH, the average breastfeeding rates from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 are as
follows:
• OCH Initiation: 72%
• OCH Exclusive: 41%
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 10• OCH Total Live Births: 3,224
OCH experienced an increase in 2020 rates over 2019 rates, given that from January 1, 2019 through
August 31, 2019, the initiation breastfeeding rate at OCH was 71.1% and exclusive breastfeeding rate
was 39.1%.
It is important to note that Medicaid insures approximately 65% of OCH patients, and the hospital’s
exclusive breastfeeding goal of 38% aligns with the NYS 2024 Prevention Agenda goal of 38.2% among
infants insured by Medicaid.
At MFSH, the average breastfeeding rates from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 are as
follows:
• MFSH Initiation: 82.4%
• MFSH Exclusive: 49.5%
• MFSH Total Live Births: 2,733
From January 1, 2019 through August 31, 2019, the initiation breastfeeding rate at MFSH was 82.4% and
the exclusive rates was 54.1%.
Both OCH and MFSH have been implementing evidence-based policy and education initiatives and will
continue to do so to increase breastfeeding rates in alignment with the Healthy People 2020 Goals and
NYS Prevention Agenda, as follows:
• OCH and MFSH continue to provide the Breastfeeding Bill of Rights for inpatients, foster skin-to-
skin contact, offer rooming in, limit access to formula and have trained lactation support and to
provide formula only upon request and not provide free formula. Evidenced-based patient
education materials in English and Spanish will continue to be provided for labor and delivery
patients at OCH and MFSH and for OB patients at OCH’s two OB/GYN Centers. OCH will provide
staff training modeled after the 10 Steps Curriculum-4th Edition/Healthy Children Network; and
online provider education. MFSH will provide breastfeeding education in its maternity
orientation for newly hired staff.
• In January 2020, OCH achieved the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly Designation
after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA. This distinguished honor
demonstrates that OCH adheres to the highest evidence-based standards of care for
breastfeeding mothers and their babies as set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO)
and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant
feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.
• OCH will offer an online provider education module on breastfeeding practice and promote it to
OB and pediatric providers.
• OCH will continue to operate its hospital-based Baby Café that was established in 2019, and in
2020, the hospital started an offshoot of the Baby Café called the Latch Crew that is targeted to
support NICU moms.
• OCH also set up a lactation suite that is open to visitors at Sahlen Field, home of Buffalo Bison’s
baseball team. http://www.babycafeusa.org/. Full use of the lactation suite was hampered in
2020 as the ballpark was not open to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions.
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 11• OCH identifies and refers at-risk moms for home case management and breastfeeding support
through Buffalo Prenatal and Perinatal Network and Maternal Infant Community Health
Collaborative
• OCH and MFSH will continue to increase collaboration and the sharing of resources.
• MFSH reinforces breastfeeding education on the hospital’s Mother Baby Unit with the p-Care
maternity videos that have many breastfeeding specific offerings.
• MFSH breastfeeding outreach and promotion continued with virtual Zoom events in August and
October 2020 featuring “Is Breastfeeding for Me?” with Mona Bonanno, MD, the Medical
Director of Pediatrics at MFSH and the lead for breastfeeding outreach events. MFSH networks
with the United Way, area IBCLCs (Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and the
Erie County Department of Health.
• OCH and MFSH continued breastfeeding classes through virtual means during the COVID-19
surge.
• Evidence-based sources: The 2011 US Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding,
Baby Friendly USA© and New York State Department of Health
The goal of this Breastfeeding Education and Promotion Program is to increase the rate of newborns
who are breastfed and at Oishei Children's Hospital and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital to improve
the health and wellness of mothers and children throughout Western New York, including the
underserved.
Dissemination to the Public
This 2020 Update and the full Kaleida Health 2019-2021 Community Health Needs Assessment-
Community Service Plan, is available to the public in the Community Health section of the Kaleida Health
website at http://www.kaleidahealth.org/community/publications.asp. A paper version of this report is
available at Kaleida Health hospitals upon request.
2020 Update to 2019-2021 Community Service Plan 12You can also read
