Affiliated with Rye Hospital Center is Biofeedback Associates, Inc., of Palm Beach, Florida. This new organization uses biofeedback to help patients with stress incontinence achieve control through non-invasive biofeedback therapy. Timothy G. Coffield, PhD, a former member of the Governing Board of the Rye Hospital Center, has formed this company to help Floridians in the Palm Beach and West Palm Beach County area.

A core service of behavioral medicine, biofeedback is all about taking control. So many times, individuals enter the Behavioral Medicine Service feeling they have lost control of not only their bodies, but their lives. Through biofeedback, patients gain a fuller understanding of the mind body connection and the role that stress plays. Becoming aware of what causes stress and how it affects the body is most important. Wired sensors are painlessly attached to the body and then connected to the computerized biofeedback machine.

The biofeedback machine acts as a kind of sixth sense, allowing an individual to "see" or "hear" activity inside their bodies. With the help of a certified biofeedback therapist, proper relaxation training enables a patient to slowly regain control over their body. It starts off very simple, maybe just learning to reduce muscle tension in a small area of the neck. Eventually small gains lead to huge strides as patients build their confidence and learn that taking control is the key.

Community and Volunteer Activities

Rye Hospital Center has been a leading member of the Rye (City) Youth Council for over thirty years. Carol Dolich, former president of the Youth Council and now, Director of Volunteers and Community Relations at the hospital observes: "Patients nearing the end of their stay, often serve as role models for the newer patients."

Dolich supervises college student volunteers from many colleges.  They receive both course credit and provide younger patients with hope and a "bird's eye view of the rest of the world." -- RYE (NY) RECORD