By Dan Murphy
Yonkers Rising recently sat down with Dr. Debra Gerson, Medical Director of Ambulatory Health for Saint Joseph’s Family Medical Center. Dr. Gerson discusses her career in medicine and the importance of her work in the Saint Joseph’s family of medical care at the Family Medical Center, located at 81 South Broadway in Yonkers.
“The mission of the FHC are the same as the mission of our hospital; to have respect and compassion for ourselves and others, to provide excellent service, to respect the dignity of life, and to maintain our commitment the community,” said Dr. Gerson.
Gerson began her career in health care as a nurse in the 1980’s and did some training at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Yonkers during some of her nursing school rotations decades ago. “My nursing background and later decision to train as a family physician has given me the opportunity to bring those innate values to my work every day. I feel so lucky that I am able to go to work every day and do what I love. The FHCs physical placement, in the community, gives us the opportunity be a part of the community and to share those values with those who live here and work here every day.”
Dr. Gerson is a family physician at Saint Joseph’s Family Medical Center. “Family physicians are specialists dedicated to treating the whole person. We care for patients of all genders and ages. Because of our training, we are able to provide comprehensive medical care to all members of the family.
“We are advocates for our patients and feel strongly that our responsibility is also to help our patients navigate the complex health care system that exists in our country. We are dedicated to the health of the whole person, and as family physicians we are also dedicated to the health of our community as a whole.”
Saint Joseph’s Family Medical Center fits into what Gerson called “a close collaborative relationship with the hospital.
“The FHC is one of the hospitals primary care sites. Because of our close proximity to the hospital, it gives us the ability to have a close collaborative relationship with the other specialists we send our patients to if a consult is needed. This translates into improves outcome for our patients.
“We follow our patients if they are hospitalized for any reason or seen in the ER. Because we are also a residency training program, and this is our residents’ site to see our patients, we are involved in every aspect of the patient’s medical care. It our patients are admitted, it will be one of us who will be part of the team caring for them, and when they are discharged, they will return here to providers who know them.
“We are a part of the Patient Centered Medical Home Recognition Program through the NCQA. The patient-centered medical home is a model of care that puts patients at the forefront of care. Earning this recognition proves that we have made a commitment to continuous quality improvement and a patient-centered approach to care,” said Dr. Gerson, who also works in Saint Joseph’s residency training program, teaching young Doctors who are the future of health care.
“Along with being the medical director of our ambulatory care sites, I am also part of the core faulty in our residency training program working alongside other core and community faulty members to train family practice residents in the wonderful field that to this day brings me so much joy. Because we are a training program for residents, not only do our patients benefit from the energy our trainees bring to their work, they can be assured that the care they are receiving is up to date and their provider is using evidence-based guidelines to deliver the best care possible. Keeping up to date in the medical field can be a challenge, but because the FHC is a part of a teaching institution we are constantly updating ourselves and our residents with the latest changes in medicine. This translates into better care and better outcomes for our patients.”
Dr. Gerson explained that the Family Medical Centers address many of the chronic diseases that all of us have, or a family member has. “6 out of 10 adults in the US have a chronic disease, and 4 out of 10 have 2 or more. Hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease, cancer to name a few, We see these in our practice every day. We are extensively trained in our ability to care for these diseases, but what we also concentrate on in the FHC is prevention of chronic disease and lifestyle changes to improve long term outcomes.
“We counsel our patients about nutrition, physical activity and tobacco use. Our nurses educate our patients about these issues as well and help to make sure our patients are up to date on vaccinations. This protects not only the patient but the community. Our social worker can assist them with the social emotional issues affecting their health. Our team works together to help combat these risks, and we reach out to our patients when we know they are behind on their recommended screenings or if they have not been in for a visit for a diagnosed chronic illness based on the recommended guidelines as a few examples.”
Dr. Gerson said health care has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. “There have been so many changes over the last decades, and things continue to change,” she said.
“The discovery of medications for HIV and for Hepatitis C, new medications for diabetes, are just a few. While there continue to be new discoveries in medicine, data shows us that American life expectancy has dropped. Heart disease and cancer continue to drive this, but the opioid epidemic has also added to this and drug deaths are a part of this rise. While there is great news and more on the horizon, there is still a way to go to reduce these disparities, and we are here to help with this.”
Pediatric services are also part of the Saint Joseph’s Family Medical Center’s care. “As family physicians, we are trained to care for patients of all ages, but we also have pediatricians in our center,” said Dr. Gerson. “This gives our patients added choice. This also means that as a family ages and changes, they can remain in the same center for their health care needs, with providers who know them and have cared for their family through the years – knowing them and their history in a way you often won’t find in other practices.”
Dr. Gerson said she is fortunate to have found a true home in her career. “I feel I have found my home in the setting,” she said. “Service to others has always been an innate part of who I am. The values of Saint Joseph’s are the values I hold, which is why this place is such a great fit for me.
I can’t say enough about the great team I work with at the FHC, who also use this philosophy as we work on our quality improvement projects. We all share the same mission, and our shared goals and vision and ability to work together on these processes, one foot in front of the other, continues to energize us all every day. The support and collaboration we have with the administration of Saint Joseph’s Hospital has further made it apparent, I am in the right place.
Visit saintJosephs.org for more information.
