To learn more about how we are keeping patients safe in our office for existing or new parents, please see the videos below!
How We are Keeping Everyone Safe During Well Visits
For Expecting Parents or Parents of Newborns, please watch!
exciting news - welcome Dr. Rachael Bilello to our team!
Dr bilello is a top-notch clinician with a wealth of experience, an excellent communicator and has the level of compassion that is the standard here at Happy and Healthy Pediatrics. Dr. Bilello is very active in the pediatrics community, and often shares terrific perspectives through her blog. learn more here!
We are now a NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance) certified Patient Centered Medical Home! Click the icon below to learn more.
Recognized by the Long Island Press as one of the best Family Planning Professionals on Long Island! CLICK HERE to Learn More
Thanks to our WONDERFUL patients, we won again!! 9 Years in a row!
The Island Now is a publisher of local papers spanning from Great Neck to Roslyn. They host a best of the North Shore Contest every year. Thanks to all of our wonderful patients who voted for us, Happy and Healthy Pediatrics won FIRST PLACE as Best Pediatrician!! Thank you all for continuing to believe in us!
Elissa Rubin, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, RLC
Deborah Saunders, MD, FAAP, FSAHM
Sheeba Johnson, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, RLC
Alyssa Nastro, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, RLC
“When you have children, you realize how easy it is to not see them fully, and perhaps miss all those early years. If you are not careful, you can be too absorbed in work, and they will be only too happy to tell you about it later. Being a parent is one of the most mindfulness practices of all. Mindfulness is about loving life. When you cultivate this love, it gives you clarity and compassion for life, and your actions happen in accordance with that.”
announcement
9/16/`9 - 2019/2020 Flu Season is Here - Schedule Your Flu Vaccination
Flu season is here and our office is eager to help protect you and your family from the flu. Getting a flu vaccination is the single best way to protect against getting the flu—a serious illness that can lead to hospitalization or even death. The flu vaccine is recommended FOR ALL CHILDREN over the age of 6 months. Entire families can be vaccinated (including breastfeeding and pregnant mothers, etc). People 65 years of age and older should get the vaccine from their own physician; that age group requires a higher dose vaccine that we do not stock.
All of the Flu vaccines that we will be administering this year are quadrivalent (prevent against 4 strains of the flu) and are preservative free. We will not be using the live attenuated influenza vaccine (the nasal spray Flumist vaccine) because of concerns about its effectiveness. Therefore, we are ONLY offering Flu SHOTS this year, no mists.
All Flu vaccine manufacturers experienced delays in shipping the Flu vaccine this year. There will be enough produced and available to meet all needs; however, it is being shipped in stages. As a result, we are not able to offer Saturday availability for Flu shots at this time. Once we received better clarity on timing of the remaining product, WE WILL make Saturday availability.
Whenever possible we will bill the insurance. If we do not participate with the insurance, then the fee will be $35. If the parent has a form of Medicaid or an HMO that requires a PCP to be listed, then the parent will have to go to their own physician for the vaccine.
Beginning TODAY, 9/10/19, we will be offering Flu vaccines during already scheduled appointments; you can also call to schedule appointments just for the Flu vaccine for you and your family. PLEASE ONLY CALL DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS (Mon-Thurs 8:30am-7pm, Fri. 8:30am-4pm and Sat 9am-12pm) to schedule your appointment. We are scheduling appointments for flu shots as per the schedule below:
The weekly schedule for "flu only vaccine" appointments are as follows:
Monday 10am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 11am - 6pm
Wednesday: 10am - 7pm
Thursday: 11:00am - 6pm
Friday: 9:00am-3pm
To schedule, just call us at (516) 216-5910
For more information regarding the Flu Vaccine: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.pdf
1/9/19 - Pediatric CPR Class Wednesday February 6th - 6:30-9:00 PM:
Would you know what to do if your infant/child was choking, stopped breathing or became suddenly injured or ill?
This course is a must for any individual responsible for the care of an infant or child (Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, Nannys etc). Learn basic First Aid, lifesaving skills, childproofing your home, and CPR, Taught by Linda Zuccaro B.S. Ed, LCCE Certified Red Cross Instructor.
11/19/18 - Important - Renovations Beginning Today:
Last week marked the 10th anniversary of Happy and Healthy Pediatrics. What started as a solo practice with Dr. Rubin alone has grown into the wonderful 6 doctor practice that we are today. With all of the expansion over the years, we have decided to renovate our office to better accommodate our patients, staff and provide a much needed face lift. When completed, this should significantly enhance the overall patient experience!
WE ARE ASKING FORGIVENESS IN ADVANCE!!
We are staging the construction in a way that should isolate the work, however, there will be major construction going on. We may be a bit messier than usual.
We are going to be short 1-2 exam rooms. Please forgive any wait times that are a bit longer than usual
We have temporarily relocated the reception area and waiting rooms to the wellness center (other side of the building). It is a bit tight, but we are still fully functional.
When entering, please use the wellness center doors (not the usual entrance). You will be checked in and directed to the appropriate waiting area (sick or well). If you have any questions or concerns during the renovation, please do not hesitate to let us know. Our goal is to make this a seamless as possible.
9/5/18 - Flu Season is Here - Schedule Your Flu Vaccination (SATURDAY Times Available)
Flu season is here and our office is eager to help protect you and your family from the flu. Getting a flu vaccination is the single best way to protect against getting the flu—a serious illness that can lead to hospitalization or even death. The flu vaccine is recommended FOR ALL CHILDREN over the age of 6 months. Entire families can be vaccinated (including breastfeeding and pregnant mothers, etc). People 65 years of age and older should get the vaccine from their own physician; that age group requires a higher dose vaccine that we do not stock.
All of the Flu vaccines that we will be administering this year are quadrivalent (prevent against 4 strains of the flu) and are preservative free. We will not be using the, live attenuated influenza vaccine (the nasal spray Flumist vaccine) because of concerns about its effectiveness. Therefore, we are ONLY offering Flu SHOTS this year, no mists.
IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THIS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR ALL OF OUR FAMILIES, WE ARE CREATING A FLU SHOT EVENT ON SATURDAY 9/15/18. WE WILL HAVE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE ALL DAY (9:00 am - 4:00 pm) AND WALK INS 1:00 4:00pm, THAT DAY ONLY! PLEASE CALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (516) 216-5910 TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TO GET A SLOT THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU AND MINIMIZE YOUR WAIT TIME!
Whenever possible we will bill the insurance. If we do not participate with the insurance, then the fee will be $35. If the parent has a form of Medicaid or an HMO that requires a PCP to be listed, then the parent will have to go to their own physician for the vaccine.
Beginning TODAY, 9/5/18, we will be offering Flu vaccines during already scheduled appointments; you can also call to schedule appointments just for the Flu vaccine for you and your family. PLEASE ONLY CALL DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS (Mon-Thurs 8:30am-7pm, Fri. 8:30am-4pm and Sat 9am-12pm) to schedule your appointment. We are scheduling appointments for flu shots as per the schedule below:
The weekly schedule for flu vaccine appointments are as follows:
Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 7pm
Wednesday: 10am - 6pm
Thursday: 9:30am - 5pm
Friday: 9:30am-3pm
As mentioned above, in addition to our normal hours of Flu Vaccine appointments, we will be holding a Flu Vaccine event on Saturday 9/15/18 See details below:
Flu Vaccines - 9am-4pm. Appointments can be scheduled all day!
1pm-4pm ONLY- Flu vaccine WALK IN
To schedule, just call us at (516) 216-5910
For more information regarding the Flu Vaccine: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.pdf
8/1/18 - Dr. Rubin on the News
Dr. Rubin was featured on CBS News Monday night. She was interviewed and discusses a common topic, breastfeeding and alcohol. To see a clip of the broadcast and read more please click below.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drinking-alcohol-breastfeeding-may-affect-babys-cognition-study/
7/16/18 - We are so excited to welcome Dr. Alyssa Nastro to our team!
As many of you know, early this year, when Dr. Somekh left clinical pediatrics, we were searching for a new pediatrician. Our goal was to continue to be able to provide the highest level of care, compassion and guidance while offering improved access to our physicians. Many of you have met and had terrific visits with our newest physician Dr. Naguit. In addition, we are thrilled to announce that Dr. Alyssa Nastro has just joined our team.
When we met Dr. Alyssa Nastro earlier this year, we knew we had to have her on the team. She was not able to start with us until now, however we were willing to wait! We were thoroughly impressed with her clinical acumen and experience, her high level of empathy and compassion, and a true passion for pediatric medicine. Her diverse experience, true desire to support families and fantastic ability to communicate with both parents and children will make her a true asset to all of our families. She is a perfect fit for the practice, and we are confident that you will feel the same.
Along with these new physicians comes significant benefits. Some of the most common feedback that we receive is additional time needed for working parents. As a result of bringing them both on, we are going to be able to expand our early morning hours, now opening and having availability Monday though Friday starting at 8:30 AM, rather than 9:00. We will also have additional evening appointment availability (between 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM).
7/3/18 - Important Please Read – Action Required!
As medicine continues to evolve and new resources emerge, we at Happy and Healthy Pediatrics look to stay at the forefront. Our first step: The Patient Portal is now able to send out AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommended Bright Futures Anticipatory Guidance based on your child’s age after every well visit. Make sure to visit your Portal after your well exams to review!
We have also brought on a new technology platform called CHADIS. CHADIS is a unique screening tool/patient engagement system designed to streamline and optimize healthcare by providing the doctors with evidence-based data. This, in turn, improves the diagnosis and management of physical, developmental and behavioral concerns.
Simply put, CHADIS delivers questionnaires to parents PRIOR TO YOUR VISIT and collects the answers from those questionnaires, making them available your doctors to review beforehand.
Early diagnosis and treatment of physical, developmental and behavioral issues in children are important to having the best outcomes for families. Getting the right diagnosis and management plan mostly depends on getting accurate information from patients and parents.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO - In order for this to work, we are requiring all patients do two things (many of you are doing them already!)
Sign up, log on and use our Patient Portal (directions enclosed). Our patient portal can be accessed through computer, tablet or smartphone. It is a terrific resource that allows you improved access to your physician, the ability to access vaccine and growth records and will now be the delivery platform for CHADIS. If you need help, just ask one of our receptionists – they will be happy to assist.
Confirm all appointments via TEXT message. For all appointments, we send text message reminders. In each text, there is a request to respond to confirm. Please click REPLY to confirm. This will trigger the system to send you the appropriate survey through the portal. If you do not confirm via text, you will not receive the questionnaire.
Once you begin (or continue) doing those two things, in the next few weeks, you will begin to receive detailed patient questionnaires through the portal. They will only take a few moments, are easy to complete and will give the doctor valuable information prior to your visit. We will provide more information on completing the surveys as we get closer to releasing.
6/28/18 - Adjusted Friday Hours (Summer Only):
Beginning this week, we will begin closing at 3:00 pm (instead of 4:00 pm) on Fridays through the rest of the summer. If you need an appointment on a Friday, please be sure to call as early as possible so we can do our best to accommodate. No other office hours will be impacted. As usual, our physicians will be on call at all times when the office is closed
5/22/18 - We are hosting a meet the practice/doctors information session on Saturday, June 23rd at 12:15 PM. For anyone who is an expecting parent, this is a terrific opportunity to learn about our practice and get all of your questions answered. Please call the office @ (516) 216-5910 for more information or to reserve a spot - space is limited.
4/16/18 - We are hosting a meet the practice/doctors information session on Saturday, May 12th at 12:15 PM. For anyone who is an expecting parent, this is a terrific opportunity to learn about our practice and get all of your questions answered. Please call the office @ (516) 216-5910 for more information or to reserve a spot - space is limited.
3/30/18 - Pediatric CPR Class is on Tuesday 4/24/18 (6:30-9:00PM):
Would you know what to do if your infant/child was choking, stopped breathing or became suddenly injured or ill?
This course is a must for any individual responsible for the care of an infant or child (Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, Nannys etc). Learn basic First Aid, lifesaving skills, childproofing your home, and CPR, Taught by Linda Zuccaro B.S. Ed, LCCE Certified Red Cross Instructor.
3/20/18 - 2 New Dates Added. Our workshops from Board Certified Behavior Analyst Breanne Medici have helped so many parents manage with behavioral challenges and well as day to day parenting. Click Here to learn more about each.
4/18/18 - POSITIVE PARENTING: THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FILLED TO CAPACITY EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE OFFERED IT.
How to parent positively (even during meltdowns)
The benefits of using research-based strategies to create a calmer home
Proactive Parenting vs Reactive Parenting
The difference between changing behavior and managing behavior and why that is important
Specific Strategies you can implement at home immediately
3/27/18 - CONVERSATION AND COOKIES WITH OUR BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST SLEEP
Toilet training
Mealtimes
Aggression
Sibling interaction
Homework
1/22/18 - New Night - Our Next Pediatric CPR Class is on Wednesday 2/7/18 (6:30-9:00PM):
Would you know what to do if your infant/child was choking, stopped breathing or became suddenly injured or ill? This course is a must for any individual responsible for the care of an infant or child (Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, Nannys etc). Learn basic First Aid, lifesaving skills, childproofing your home, and CPR, Taught by Linda Zuccaro B.S. Ed, LCCE Certified Red Cross Instructor.
This class is considerable less expensive than those at local hospitals. To register or for more information, please visit: http://www.happyandhealthypediatrics.com/classes-and-services-3/
or call the office (516) 216-5910
1/15/18 We are extremely excited to now offer THREE NEW WORKSHOPS from Board Certified Behavior Analyst Breanne Medici. Click Here to learn more about each.
1/24/18 - Positive Parenting: This workshop has been filled to capacity every time that we have offered it.
How to parent positively (even during meltdowns)
The benefits of using research-based strategies to create a calmer home
Proactive Parenting vs Reactive Parenting
The difference between changing behavior and managing behavior and why that is important
Specific Strategies you can implement at home immediately
1/31/18 - THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP -- A BEHAVIORAL APPROACH TO IMPROVING BEDTIME
How to eliminate the bed time battle
Routines that work
Different strategies for different ages
How to make bed time meaningful and enjoyable for everyone in your family
2/6/18 - CONVERSATION AND COOKIES WITH OUR BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST Sleep
Toilet training
Mealtimes
Aggression
Sibling interaction
Homework
1127/17 - NY Cares Coat Drive
Happy and Healthy Pediatrics is proud to partner with NY Cares to support the NY Cares Annual Coat Drive. From now through December 15th we will be accepting donations of new and gently used coats (you will see the drop box in out waiting area). If you have any coats that you think could benefit those in need, please donate. We are accepting donations for children AND adults. We will personally deliver all donations to NY Cares who will then distribute to families in need.
Next Pediatric CPR Class is on Tuesday 11/28/17(6:30-9:00PM):
Would you know what to do if your infant/child was choking, stopped breathing or became suddenly injured or ill? This course is a must for any individual responsible for the care of an infant or child (Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, Nannys etc). Learn basic First Aid, lifesaving skills, childproofing your home, and CPR, Taught by Linda Zuccaro B.S. Ed, LCCE Certified Red Cross Instructor.
10/21/17 Only a Few Spots Left for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Parenting Workshop
Based on overwhelming feedback we are going to offer another Parenting Workshop facilitated by Breanne Medici. The last workshop reached capacity, so we encourage everyone to register ASAP to guarantee a spot.
Is it a fight to get your child to bed at night? Does it seem impossible to eat dinner at the table as a family? Do you dread trips to the store with your little one in tow? These are just a few areas where parents struggle and that are addressed with science based and clinically proven techniques.
Come and learn:
How to parent positively (even during meltdowns)
The benefits of using research-based strategies to create a calmer home
Proactive Parenting vs Reactive Parenting
The difference between changing behavior and managing behavior and why that is important
Strategies you can implement at home immediately
10/2/17 - Pediatric CPR Class 10/18/17
We Are Thrilled to Announce Our Next Pediatric CPR Class on Wednesday 10/18/17 (6:30-9:00 PM) to register, click below or visit the CPR workshop tab:
http://www.happyandhealthypediatrics.com/classes-and-services-3/
9/12/17 - Well this was a nice surprise!!
The readers of MommyPoppins.com have nominated Happy and Healthy Pediatrics as a contender in our first ever Mommy Poppins Long Island Bestie Awards.
The Bestie Awards is a reader voting contest in which participants are entered to win prizes in exchange for letting us know who their favorite family friendly businesses and services are (that's you!). After eight weeks of voting, we will pull the names of our winning readers and we will also award the winning business in each category with a place in our Mommy Poppins Long Island Bestie Guide to be published shortly after the contest concludes.
Each time a reader votes, they are entered to win one of 4 terrific prizes like a trip to Great Wolf Lodge or tickets to see Elf The Musical at Madison Square Garden. And of course, each vote for your business moves you closer to calling yourself a Mommy Poppins Bestie and winning a place in our Bestie Guide to be published shortly after the contest ends on October 22nd.
To submit a vote for us, just visit:
https://mommypoppins.com/LIBesties
Scroll down and cast your vote!
9/5/17 - Flu Season is Here - Schedule Your Flu Vaccination
Flu season is here and our office is eager to help protect you and your family from the flu. Getting a flu vaccination is the single best way to protect against getting the flu—a serious illness that can lead to hospitalization or even death. The flu vaccine is recommended FOR ALL CHILDREN over the age of 6 months. Entire families can be vaccinated (including breastfeeding and pregnant mothers, etc). People 65 years of age and older should get the vaccine from their own physician; that age group requires a higher dose vaccine that we do not stock.
All of the Flu vaccines that we will be administering this year are quadrivalent (prevent against 4 strains of the flu) and are preservative free. As per the CDC, Live attenuated influenza vaccine (the nasal spray Flumist vaccine) is NOT recommended for use during the 2017-2018 season because of concerns about its effectiveness. Therefore, we are ONLY offering Flu SHOTS this year, no mists.
Whenever possible we will bill the insurance. If we do not participate with the insurance, then the fee will be $35. If the parent has a form of Medicaid or an HMO that requires a PCP to be listed, then the parent will have to go to their own physician for the vaccine.
Beginning Friday, 9/8/17, we will be offering Flu vaccines during already scheduled appointments; you can also call to schedule appointments just for the Flu vaccine for you and your family. PLEASE ONLY CALL DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS (Mon-Thurs 9am-7pm, Fri. 9am-4pm and Sat 9am-12pm) to schedule your appointment. We are scheduling appointments for flu shots as per the schedule below:
The weekly schedule for flu vaccine appointments with our nurses is as follows:
Monday 6pm - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday: 9am - 7pm
Thursday: 9am - 5pm
Friday: 9am-4pm
In addition to our normal hours of Flu Vaccine appointments, we will be holding a Flu Vaccine event on Saturday 9/30/17 See details below:
Flu Vaccines - 9am-4pm
9am-12pm - Flu vaccine by APPOINTMENT ONLY
1pm-4pm - Flu vaccine WALK IN
For more information regarding the Flu Vaccine: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.pdf
8/14/17 - Meet the Practice:
We are hosting a meet the doctors/practice information session Saturday September 9th at 12:15. If you would like to reserve a spot, please call the office (516) 216-5910
7/10/17 - Meet the Practice:
Out meet the Practice/Doctors 12:15PM information session on July 29th is now full. We have opened a second session begining at 1:15PM. If you would like to reserve a spot, please call the office (516) 216-5910
7/3/17 - Dry Drowning:
We wanted to clarify about dry drowning since it is causing a lot of unnecessary stress for parents. “Dry drowning” is not even an accepted medical term. Your child is not going to go swimming, swallow some water, have no issues in the water whatsoever, and then suddenly die without warning that night or 4 days later. We know the stories you have been reading, because we see them on our Facebook feed too. And we know the thought of losing your child makes you feel viscerally sick to your stomach, because we feel that way too. That’s why we wanted to clarify the point!
Kids drown when they aspirate water in their lungs, not from swallowing water. Swallowed water goes through the esophagus, into the stomach, and then down the digestive tract. Aspiration is when the water goes into the trachea and down into the lungs. In this case, the patient will have an episode of distress after they come out (or are pulled out) of the water. As a parent, you will see it and know they are not ok. They will cough and gasp and have trouble breathing. If your child has an episode like this and then later continues coughing, vomiting, wheezing, chest or belly pain, or seems abnormally tired, then go to the emergency room immediately. In this type of drowning, and this is very rare-only 1-2 % of all U.S. drowning incidents, the victim will exhibit continuing symptoms for minutes or hours after the episode of distress in the water. If your child goes swimming and does not have an aspiration event and afterwards they are totally fine, then they are perfectly fine. No need to worry.
In the Texas case, CNN reported that the night after being knocked down over by a wave, the child vomited and had diarrhea for several days which the parents thought was a stomach bug. That child also had coughing and sputtering after being pulled out of the water.
The easiest thing we can do to prevent this is supervision in the water. Then kids are less likely to have an initial incident in the water, and if they do have one, parents are aware and can watch them closely. If kids exhibit symptoms, parents should take them to an emergency room immediately or call 911.
6/23/17 - Please Read Regarding Ticks and Lyme Disease:
With all of the media coming out right now about tick borne illness, we wanted to send you an email to clarify a few things and to teach you some good prevention techniques.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacterium called a spirochete. The disease is spread to humans by the bites of deer ticks infected with this bacteria. Deer ticks are tiny black-brown creatures. They live in forests or grassy, wooded, marshy areas near rivers, lakes, or oceans. Many people who have been infected with Lyme disease were bitten by deer ticks while hiking or camping, during other outdoor activities, or even while spending time in their own backyards, from the late spring to early fall.
Where is Lyme disease most common?
Deer ticks that are infected with Lyme disease live in areas that have very low and high seasonal temperatures and high humidity. In the United States, almost all cases of Lyme disease occur in the following regions:
Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
North central states (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin)
West Coast(California)
How will I know if my child has Lyme disease?
The first and most obvious symptom of Lyme disease is a localized rash that begins as a pink or red circle that expands over time and may become several inches or larger (looks like a bulls-eye). It may appear from 3 to 30 days after the bite occurred. Some people may have a single circle, while others may have many. Most people who develop the rash won't feel anything, but for others the rash may hurt, itch, burn, or feel warm to the touch. The rash most commonly appears on the head, neck, groin, thighs, trunk, and armpits.
A rash may occur without any other symptoms, or may occur with
Headache
Chills
Fatigue
Swollen glands, usually in the neck or groin
Aches and pains in the muscles or joints
If your child develops the rash with or without any of these symptoms, call us. The majority of kids never get a rash at all.
How is Lyme disease treated?
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics (usually penicillin, a cephalosporin, or a tetracycline) prescribed by your pediatrician. The antibiotics are usually taken by mouth, but also can be given intravenously (directly into the bloodstream through a vein) in more severe cases. Both early and late stages of the disease can be treated with antibiotics. WE DO NOT PROVIDE ANTIBIOTICS FOR PREVENTION OF LYME DISEASE AFTER A TICK BITE.
How can I prevent Lyme disease?
If you live or work in a region where Lyme disease is a problem, or if you visit such an area, the following are ways to protect your family from the ticks that carry the disease:
Avoid places where ticks live. Whenever possible, avoid shaded, moist areas likely to be infested with ticks.
Cover arms and legs. Have your child wear a long-sleeved shirt and tuck his pants into his socks.
Wear a hat to help keep ticks away from the scalp. Keep long hair pulled back.
Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks.
Wear enclosed shoes or boots. Avoid wearing sandals in an area where ticks may live.
Use insect repellant. We recommend Natrapel.
Stay on cleared trails whenever possible. Avoid wandering from a trail or brushing against overhanging branches or shrubs.
After coming indoors, check for ticks. This will only take a couple minutes. Ticks often hide behind the ears or along the hairline. It usually takes more than 48 hours for a person to become infected with the bacteria, so removing any ticks soon after they have attached themselves is very effective for reducing the chances of becoming infected.
Keep in mind, ticks can be found right in your own backyard, depending on where you live. Keeping your yard clear of leaves, brush, and tall grass may reduce the number of ticks. Ask a licensed professional pest control expert about other steps you can take to reduce ticks in your yard.
Ticks and how to remove them
Ticks do not fly, jump, or drop from trees. They hide in long grass and small trees, bushes, or shrubs waiting for an animal or person to brush by. Then they attach themselves to the animal or person's skin. When a tick is found on a person or pet, try to remove as much of it as possible using the following steps:
Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with fine-tipped tweezers. Be careful not to squeeze the tick's body.
Slowly pull the tick away from the skin.
After the tick is out, clean the bitten area with soap and water and apply first aid ointment (Bacitracin).
Save us the bugs!
Please put the tick in a container and bring to us. We can send it to the lab to determine if the tick is even a deer tick. If it is a different type of tick, then we don’t have to worry since only deer ticks carry Lyme disease. If it is a deer tick, the lab will determine if the tick is carrying Lyme or not. If not, no further intervention needed.
What if you don’t have the bug:
Then blood work should be drawn on the child 2 weeks after the exposure. Sooner can cause false negative results. NO ANTIBIOTICS ARE RECOMMENDED IN CHILDREN FOR THE PREVENTION OF LYME DISEASE AFTER A TICK BITE. In addition, the tick must be attached and feeding from the child for 48-72 hours to even allow Lyme to be transmitted.
6/23/17 - New Pediatric CPR Class Wednesday 7/19/17:
Would you know what to do if your infant/child was choking, stopped breathing or became suddenly injured or ill? This course is a must for any individual responsible for the care of an infant or child (Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, Nannys etc). Learn basic First Aid, lifesaving skills, childproofing your home, and CPR, Taught by Linda Zuccaro B.S. Ed, LCCE Certified Red Cross Instructor.
To register or for more information, please visit: http://www.happyandhealthypediatrics.com/classes-and-services-3/
4/30/17 - Children's Shoe Drive: New and "Gently Used" Shoes are Welcome
Happy and Healthy Pediatrics is proud to participate in the Step Up for Kids Program supporting children in Uganda. Boys and girls in Kampala, Uganda are exposed to parasites every day because they have no shoes! A pair of shoes can be life changing for these children and their families. We can easily help! Children's sneakers, sandals, or Crocs will be collected and sent to a school in Kampala.
Please bring any shoes to be donated to the office in a recycled, tied plastic grocery bag (Please use one bag per pair of shoes). We will be collecting from now until June 18th.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!
5/23/17 - Meet the Practice!
We are hosting a meet the practice/doctors information session on Saturday, June 17th at 12:30. For anyone who is an expecting parent, this is a terrific opportunity to learn about our practice and get all of your questions answered. Please call the office (516) 216-5910 for more information or to reserve a spot.
5/14/17 - Children's Mindfulness Program, Developed by Dr. Rubin
6:30 Time slot is FULL, 5:30 Still spots. Final Days to Register
Would you like your kids to cultivate the inner resources leading to focus, emotional regulation, greater peace, and happiness?
Due to the overwhelmingly positive response, we will be offering another children's mindfulness workshop! This program was developed by Dr. Elissa Rubin (owner of Happy and Healthy Pediatrics) and Cory Muscara (founder of the Long Island Center for Mindfulness) to offer kids the life-long resources they need to thrive, rather than simply survive.
This program is grounded in the evidence based practice of mindfulness, and combines Dr. Rubin's extensive experience as a Pediatrician and Cory's extensive training as a Mindfulness teacher.
The upcoming programs will be on Thursday evenings at Happy and Healthy Pediatrics in Mineola. It will be led by Dr. Elissa Rubin and Brian Cohen, both trained to teach the program.
4/26/17 - Children's Mindfulness Program, Co-Taught by Dr. Rubin
Based on the tremendous response, we are going to be offering our children's mindfulness workshop again! This program, developed by Dr. Elissa Rubin and Cory Muscara (Owner/Founder of the Long Island Center for Mindfulness) is designed for children from 6-11 years of age. It will be facilitated by Dr.
Rubin and Brian Cohen.
Dates: This is a six week course: May 25th, June 1st, 8th 15th, 22nd and 29th
Day and Time: Two time slots: Thursday evenings, 5:30PM-6:30PM AND 6:30-7:30PM
*The program will be approx 45 minutes with 15 minutes for parent Q&A/Engagement*
The extent of pressures put on our children today is far greater than ever before. From increased scholastic expectations from an extremely young age to increased social responsibilities, our children are faced with a daunting challenge. Combine that with the ever increasing distractions that technology provides (gaming, social media, etc.) and we as parents struggle to develop skills to help our children not just excel, but to be functioning, at ease and simply happy.
A large part of the vision for Happy and Healthy Pediatrics goes beyond traditional medical care. We focus on the well being of the entire family. Dr. Rubin has collaborated with Cory Muscara (Founder/Owner of Long Island Center for Mindfulness) to develop our Mindfulness for Children Program. This collaboration combines proven techniques from established Mindfulness curriculums as well as experience and perspective from pediatric medicine. All designed for appropriate age groups to be fun and engaging!
Workshop Learning Objectives
Develop skills to understand stresses and develop coping strategies
Develop skills to manage reduce and manage anxiety, habits that transcend into adulthood
Improve understanding of sensations and feelings and how to respond rather than react
Improved focus and attention
Learn to work with difficult, self-defeating, and ruminating thoughts
Learn to communicate and listen with greater mindfulness to family, friends and in school. Deepen interpersonal relationships.
Learn how to practice a variety of different mindfulness meditations, and develop and sustain a simple meditation practice moving forward
The Role of the Parents/Guardian
It is incredibly important for you, as a parent or guardian, to be a part of this experience with your child. Therefore, we ask at least one guardian to be present during the class. Although the learning period will only involve interaction with the kids, it is important for you to see what tools/ideas the children are learning to support and encourage them between sessions.
We are limiting attendance to 15 children per session. We encourage you to register ASAP http://www.happyandhealthypediatrics.com/speakers-series/, to guarantee a spot - they are limited!
1/25/17 - Due to the terrific response, we have decided to add Pediatric CPR Classes to our regular rotation in the Wellness Center:
Would you know what to do if your infant/child was choking, stopped breathing or became suddenly injured or ill? This course is a must for any individual responsible for the care of an infant or child (Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, Nannys etc). Learn basic First Aid, lifesaving skills, childproofing your home, and CPR, Taught by Linda Zuccaro B.S. Ed, LCCE Certified Red Cross Instructor.
Dates and times available:
FEBRUARY 4TH 2017 9:30AM-12:00PM
FEBRUARY 15TH 2017 6:30PM-9:00PM
MARCH 4TH 2017 9:30AM-12:00PM
MARCH 22ND 2017 6:30PM-9:00PM
APRIL 1ST 2017 9:30AM-12:00PM
APRIL 12TH 2017 6:30PM-9:00PM
We are offering this class at a significantly discounted rate when compared to local hospitals. Our last classes filled to capacity, so be sure to register to guarantee your spot.
Investment: $50/Person, $45/More than One:
To register or for more information, please visit: http://www.happyandhealthypediatrics.com/classes-and-services-3/
or call the office (516) 216-5910
http://www.happyandhealthypediatrics.com
12/28/16 Free Introduction to Mindfulness Date Change now Monday 1/23/17, 6:45-7:45PM
As a follow up to our announcement of our upcoming Mindfulness Workshops, we have had a date change for our FREE 1 HOUR INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS (from Thursday 1/26to Monday 1/23 at 6:45-7:45PM). The free introduction is designed to give a full context into what Mindfulness is, the impact of cultivating these skills and will touch upon techniques to be further explored in the full workshop.
There is no obligation when attending. To learn more and register, simply visit our website http://www.happyandhealthypediatrics.com/speakers-series/ and click the register button for the course that fits. The Free Intro will ask for credit card information - you do not need to enter it, just leave that portion blank. We are limiting the attendance so please register and reserve your spot ASAP!
12/6/16 Dr. Rubin's Mindfulness Workshop Experience - 2 NEW COURSES - Adult and Children!
In October and November we launched our first Mindfulness course and it was a tremendous success. Not only were we at capacity, everyone who took the course was overwhelmed by their experience Including Dr. Rubin. Here's what she had to say:
"I have wanted to take a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course for several years, but it was just never the right time for me. And then I met Cory Muscara, and I was blessed that he agreed to hold his course in our wellness center. For those of you who know me well, I don’t beat around the bush, and I don’t exaggerate. But this course honestly changed my life. I could feel myself shifting every week that I was taking the course into more of the type of person I want to be. In fact, during one of our classes, Cory invited us to take a deeper look into ourselves to see who we really were below all of the roles we fulfill on a daily basis. I learned that I am not really sure who I am at that level. But each day I grow a little more trying to explore that idea.
What I have learned is that I don’t have to worry about the past or the future. Just live each moment as my life unfolds, without judgementIt has been so liberating for me to “let go” of all of those thoughts, to no longer give them power over me. It has absolutely made me happier and less anxious. I feel grateful, and grounded, and better able to calm myself. And therefore, I have been able to role model these new skills to my daughters who have really responded to them with excitement.
It’s impossible to relate to anyone in a few paragraphs how much Cory’s teachings have altered me. All of my close friends who took the course with me, felt the same. I hope you will take advantage of future courses we hold here in our wellness center. I am so proud to offer this course to our community, and I feel so grateful to have such an amazing teacher as Cory leading us."
Due to the success and demand generated from the first course, we are offering TWO 6 week courses starting Thursday, February 9th:
6 Week Adult Mindfulness Course (Feb 9, 16, 26, March 2, 9, 16) from 6:45-8:45
This is the same course that was met with such enthusiasm in Oct/Nov. The program consists of eight weekly two-and-a-half-hour classes and a six-hour class on week seven. Highly participatory, supportive, and structured, this program will provide you with:
Explore what mindfulness meditation is and why it might be worth cultivating
Review the relevant research supporting mindfulness
Learn how to shift from living on “automatic pilot” to living with greater awareness, presence, and intentionality
Learn to work with difficult, self-defeating, and ruminating thoughts
Learn how to re frame the current situation to embrace current experience rather than simply navigate them
Learn to communicate and listen with greater mindfulness to your children, family and friends.
Learn to stop your work life from bleeding into your personal life, and vice versa.
Identify the root cause of stress and how mindfulness helps us manage it
Learn how to practice a variety of different mindfulness meditations, and develop and sustain a meditation practice moving forward
Children's Mindfulness - 6 Weeks (Feb 9, 16, 26, March 2, 9, 16) from 5:30-6:30
This course has been designed and will be facilitated by both Dr. Rubin and Cory Muscara (Owner LI Center for Mindfulness). It is geared towards children age 6-11 and parents are encouraged to attend. The focus will be to:
Develop skills to understand stresses and develop coping strategies
Develop skills to manage reduce and manage anxiety, habits that transcend into adulthood
Improve understanding of sensations and feelings and how to respond rather than react
Improved focus and attention
Learn to work with difficult, self-defeating, and ruminating thoughts
10/20/16 - Additional Saturday Flu Shot Hours Nov. 12th and Nov. 19th
We heard your feedback! As a result of significant demand and our desire to help protect patients and their families against the Flu this year, we have expanded our Flu Shot hours to accommodate busy schedules. We recently opened up two Saturdays in October for Flu shots and the response was overwhelming. As a result, we have now opened our schedule even further as outlined below:
Saturday Nov.12th 9:00am-12:00pm - Flu Shot Appointment Only
Saturday Nov.19th 9:00am-12:00pm - Flu Shot Appointment Only
If the prior Saturday hours were any indication, these spots are going to fill up extremely fast. If you have not received your vaccine yet, please call the office at (516) 216-5910 ASAP to schedule your appointment for the entire family.
Don't forget to vote!!
Pediatric Sleep Workshop (Infants through Toddlers)
Saturday, October 22, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (EDT) In our Wellness Center
Presented by Rebecca Kammerer from Sleep Cadets
Children don't have an off switch. Often, when they're tired, they just reverberate faster, like an over-wound toy, until they crash.
Children need adequate sleep to rise to the developmental challenges that fill their lives, from controlling their temper on the playground to staying on top of their own bodily functions. Even the stress of saying goodbye to Mom and Dad when the babysitter comes can be handled more resourcefully by a rested child than a tired one. Your child doesn't know it, but he needs his sleep.
The good news is that falling asleep is a matter of habit, and all kids can learn it.
Come and learn:
Great Bedtime Routine
What to do for Night Wakings
How to set the Room for a Cozy Night's Sleep
Walk away with your very own, Bedtime Routine!
Remember to bring a pad and pen, as you will be taking notes.
A WEEK prior to attending you will be sent an email with a link, where you will have access for 60 days to a FREE trial of our Members Only page. This is a special area on our site where you'll have access to tons of resource materiel that will help you to address many of the problems that come up, involving sleep and parenting issues. This is a value of $25 a month.
Included on our Members Only page your will find links that will help to shape your child’s sleep.
Such as:
Example of a daily schedule (broken into groups by age)
Temperament Worksheet (learn how to respond to your childs type of temperament)
Self-Regulation (why this is so important for them throughout their life)
Attachment (what a secure attachment looks like)
And Many Many More!
Investment: General: $50/person & 90/couple
Walk-Ins: $70/person
Date: Saturday, October, 22nd
Times and Age Groups:
12:15PM- 1:15PM: Infants (0-6mos)
1:30PM - 2:30PM: Babies (6-12mos)
2:45PM- 3:45PM: Toddlers (12-36 mos)
There is lot and street parking.
All tickets are non-refundable, but can be transferred to a future, "Sleep" workshop within six months, if one should be scheduled.
For more information or to register:
9/21/16 High Functioning Families will be offering their workshops in the Wellness Center this fall!
Effective Parenting through Meltdowns and Tantrums: Meltdowns and tantrums can be challenging for both parents and children. This workshop, featured in NEWSDAY, will give you strategies to help you and your child work through behavioral challenges calmly and effectively.
Come and learn:
The difference between a meltdown and a tantrum and the specific strategies to support each one
Understanding the importance of knowing your child's triggers as well as your own
Strategies to let children know what we want or expectThe importance of knowing what we are focusing on and how that can impact your families life
**Date and Time: October 18th 2 times available 10:30am and 7:00pm**
Parent Anger Management, Become the Calmer Parent You Want to Be:
Tired of always yelling and having non-stop power struggles with your kids? Do you feel frustrated and overwhelmed with the day to day behaviors in your household? This workshop helps to strengthen the bonds between you and your children and gives you the insight to supporting challenges effectively, and calmly.
Come and learn:
The importance of connecting with your emotions
How to recognize, respond to, and validate what you and your children are feeling
Learn to set limits and find solutions with your child
Walk out with a 5-step method that builds emotional intelligence and creates positive, long lasting effects for children.This workshop will have many hands on activities and lessons. Come prepared with a notebook and ready
**Date and Time November 9th 2 times available 10:30am and 7:00pm**
Flu Season is Here - Schedule Your Flu Vaccination
Flu season is here and our office is eager to help protect you and your family from the flu. Getting a flu vaccination is the single best way to protect against getting the flu—a serious illness that can lead to hospitalization or even death. The flu vaccine is recommended FOR ALL CHILDREN over the age of 6 months. Entire families can be vaccinated (including breastfeeding and pregnant mothers, etc). People 65 years of age and older should get the vaccine from their own physician; that age group requires a higher dose vaccine that we do not stock.
All of the Flu vaccines that we will be administering this year are quadrivalent (prevent against 4 strains of the flu) and are preservative free. As per the CDC, Live attenuated influenza vaccine (the nasal spray Flumist vaccine) is NOT recommended for use during the 2016-2017 season because of concerns about its effectiveness. Therefore, we are ONLY offering Flu SHOTS this year, no mists.
Whenever possible we will bill the insurance. If we do not participate with the insurance, then the fee will be $35. If the parent has a form of Medicaid or an HMO that requires a PCP to be listed, then the parent will have to go to their own physician for the vaccine.
Beginning Monday, 9/12/16, we will be offering Flu vaccines during already scheduled appointments; you can also call to schedule appointments just for the Flu vaccine for you and your family. PLEASE ONLY CALL DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS (Mon-Thurs 9am-7pm, Fri. 9am-4pm and Sat 9am-12pm) to schedule your appointment. We are scheduling appointments for flu shots as per the schedule below:
The weekly schedule for flu vaccine appointments with our nurses is as follows:
Tuesday 4pm-7pm
Wednesday: 9am-7pm
Thursday: 3pm-6pm
Friday: 9am-4pm
In addition to our normal hours of Flu Vaccine appointments, we will be holding a Happy and Healthy Wellness and Flu Vaccine event on Saturday 10/8/16. See details below:
Day of Wellness and Flu Vaccines - 9am-4pm
9am-12pm - Flu vaccine by APPOINTMENT ONLY
1pm-4pm - Flu vaccine WALK IN
In addition to the Flu vaccine, this will be a day of wellness. We will be offering a pediatric CPR course in the morning (please call the office for more information and to register) and the CPR instructor will be available throughout the day for questions. We will also have information booths available regarding our other wellness center offerings along with activities for children.
For more information regarding the Flu Vaccine: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.pdf
8/22/2016 - Dr. Rubin Discusses Safe Sleeping and Back to School Sleep Schedules on CBS News:
In case you missed it, last week Dr. Rubin was featured twice on CBS News. The first story was discussing a report on reducing SIDS with a safe sleeping environment. The second was on preparing and establishing back to school sleep schedules and habits. Local editions of both broadcasts are below.
Reducing SIDS:
http://www.cbs58.com/story/32765477/new-study-finds-many-parents-arent-following-doctors-advice
Establishing Back to School Schedules:
http://www.wcax.com/story/32798858/back-to-school-sleep
8/15/2016 - A Letter from Dr. Rubin on Our First Mindfulness Workshop:
We live in an anxious world. Anxiety is really the epidemic that we treat. And we see it in all forms. From new parents too anxious to enjoy their newborns, to 8 year olds having panic attacks, to us as physicians unable to sleep at night because we are worried about our patients. I suffer from anxiety, and I know my parents role modeled those behaviors. Every day I struggle-not only to be happy, but also to make sure I break the cycle! I am determined to give my daughters a better life. So they don't have to struggle. So that they have better coping strategies. I see the world getting harder, not easier. I want them to be resilient. I want them to be happy.
Myself, and my business manager Brian, attended an introductory course on mindfulness offered by Cory Muscara a few months ago. Mindfulness is an idea I have been thinking about and trying to practice for several years, but it is a practice. We loved Cory's perspective, communication style, and overall presentation. If felt like a gift. We knew right away we needed to incorporate him into our wellness center. Both Brian and I recognize how that one session has changed our overall outlook and has helped us directly in certain parenting moments.
I hope you will consider embarking on this new chapter of Happy and Healthy wellness center with us. Myself and my husband, most of our staff, personal family and friends will be attending. We don't have kids because we have to. We have them because we want to. And as a parent I want to enjoy every moment with my daughters. To know what well being feels like, and to role model that for them. We all deserve to be happy. And this is part of what Happy and Healthy Wellness center wants to help facilitate and foster.
If you would like to learn more, please visit our Website and navigate to the Speaker Series page of our Wellness Center section - http://www.happyandhealthypediatrics.com/speakers-series/, or simply call the office and ask for Brian.