Decreasing tobacco use and promoting the benefits of breast feeding have always been very important issues that require additional community outreach and education. Therefore Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center selected to address these two issues as their prevention agenda priorities and as part of their 2013-2017 Community Service Plan (CSP).
This decision was based on the demographic needs outlined by the New York State Department of Health. Both initiatives are in line with NYS’s Prevention Agenda 2013 – 2017 and NYC’s Take Care New York 2016 and the needs of the communities served by both hospitals.
Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital continues to make smoking cessation and exclusive breastfeeding the two focal points in their efforts to improve public health in service areas. The Hospitals have made significant progress with both initiatives. Currently breastfeeding services are offered to all patients in the community. Both hospitals have expanded their efforts to become designated as a “Baby-Friendly” hospital; which is a global initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The hospitals have enlisted several community based organizations as partners in promoting Tobacco-Free Living and in extending their reach to as many people as possible. We have had a significant impact on reducing smoking rates among employees who smoke and counseling patients who smoke on the benefits of quitting. In addition we are taking part in the NYC Tobacco-Free Hospitals campaign.
As required by New York State, all hospitals must develop and make public our continued progress on our CSP initiatives each year. To learn more, please visit the “Community” section of the Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital websites.
Through our continued hard work on both of these initiatives, it is the goal of both Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital to educate our community and increase the overall health of those we serve.