The MediSys Health Network Disaster Medical Response Team (DMRT) received a hero’s welcome after returning from a mission in Asheville, North Carolina.

The disaster response team of seven healthcare workers: Lisa Fraumeni-Pickel, RN DNP; Shiv Santram, RN; Igor Bazilevich, RN; Karen Benabou, MD; Jatinder Chopra, PA; Kody Fuller Hurst, RN and Jannina Rivera, RN, BSN, deployed on October 11th to provide much-needed support to Hurricane Helene survivors at the request of the International Medical Corps (IMC).

Hurricane Helene, a powerful Category 4 storm, caused significant destruction in North Carolina, displacing many residents and limiting their access to essential healthcare services and resources. In a coordinated effort with the IMC, the MediSys Health Network team worked tirelessly at shelters and mobile medical units to provide relief. They offered wound care, administered medications,  delivered respiratory care, and other medical services as needed to patients of all ages. Fraumeni-Pickel and Chopra described working “12-hour shifts 7 days a week” while administering aid in Asheville in a recent interview with the Queens Courier newspaper.

During the two-week deployment, members of MediSys’ DMRT not only provided clinical services to hurricane survivors but also formed meaningful connections with many of the residents they cared for. Chopra recalled sharing moments of compassion with patients as they expressed their anxieties and grieved their losses. These experiences were emotional and brought tears to her eyes, she said.

The MediSys DMRT made a significant impact on the lives of patients hundreds of miles away in Asheville, North Carolina, by demonstrating the network’s commitment to providing high-quality healthcare and treating every patient with dignity. Patients expressed their sadness at the team’s departure on October 25th and extended their gratitude for the team traveling from New York to care for their community.

On Monday, October 28th, a homecoming event was held at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center to celebrate the return of the DMRT. The group received enthusiastic cheers from attendees following a heartfelt speech by Bruce J. Flanz, the President and CEO of MediSys Health Network. He expressed his gratitude to each team member for their sacrifices and presented them with awards in recognition of their service.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards also joined Mr. Flanz in honoring the team. He presented citations to the DMRT to acknowledge their hard work and expressed his appreciation for their efforts. “I want to thank all of you who traveled down to North Carolina. You are all heroes in our eyes, and I say thank you on behalf of the borough because we never know when it will be our time in need,” Richards said. “I want to thank all of you… for sacrificing your time away from your families to make sure that somebody you don’t know will have a better path forward as they come through the recovery phase of this storm.”

The DMRT was once again recognized at the MediSys Health Network’s annual gala in November. Members of the team were asked to stand and receive applause from 1,300 event attendees.

The MediSys Health Network has a long history of deploying its Disaster Medical Response Team to assist with catastrophic events, including:

• 1992 – Hurricane Andrew, Homestead FL
• 2001 – World Trade Center, NY, NY
• 2005 – Hurricanes Katrina & Rita, Mississippi & Louisiana
• 2012 – Superstorm Sandy, Rockaway & Howard Beach, NY
• 2020 – Earthquakes, Puerto Rico
• 2022 – Hurricane Ian, Southwest Florida

The network is dedicated to responding to disasters and assisting communities impacted by these challenges.

We are pleased to share that a Jamaica Hospital Medical Center surgical team has completed the first percutaneous AV fistula procedure in Queens.

The team led by vascular surgeon Dr. Mina Guerges utilized advanced imaging and minimally invasive techniques to achieve a successful outcome.

Percutaneous AV fistulas are performed on patients diagnosed with kidney disease or kidney failure, and require hemodialysis; a type of treatment that utilizes a dialyzer (a machine that cleans the blood).

Patients undergoing hemodialysis need safe and consistent vascular access points to complete their treatments. Traditionally,  access points are created surgically.  However,  a percutaneous AV fistula creates access using non-surgical techniques that offer several advantages  to patients including:

• Small incisions
• No scarring (patients are left with a small puncture site instead of a permanent scar common with surgery)
• Reduced lifestyle interruptions
• Shorter recovery times

Lastly, one of the most important benefits of a percutaneous AV fistula is the lowered risk of complications which can include infections and aneurysm formation.

Creating a percutaneous AV fistula requires the expertise of skillful physicians. During the procedure, vascular surgeons and radiologists utilize imaging to insert a needle and guide a tiny catheter device that helps pull the walls of a vein and artery together to create a fistula, then a special tool is used to finalize the connection and create the access point desired.

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to creating a fistula for dialysis patients, physicians at Jamaica Hospital are proud to offer the latest technology and alternative options to common surgical procedures.

Jamaica Hospital was recently recognized for its superior outcomes in surgical care. In 2023, the hospital ranked number two in New York for surgical care according to a new analysis released by Healthgrades. The recognition serves as a testament to the hospital’s commitment to delivering advanced and high-quality healthcare to patients.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has been named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for 2024, by Healthgrades.

The achievement places Jamaica Hospital in the top 2% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance and serves as a testament to the organization’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional patient care.

This year, only seven hospitals in New York were recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals. Jamaica Hospital is proud to join the elite ranks of top providers and be counted as one of only two hospitals in Queens to receive the prestigious award. The hospital is also celebrating its advancement in the national rankings, having climbed up 150 spots on the list from its previous position as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals, an accolade it consecutively earned from 2020 through 2024.

Hospitals ranked as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals, by Healthgrades, a leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals, are nationally recognized for their high performance and quality achievements. To determine the top hospitals for 2024, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for more than 30 conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide. Unlike other hospital studies, Healthgrades ratings are based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes.

“Healthgrades commends Jamaica Hospital for their leadership and continued dedication to high quality care,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades. “As one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals, Jamaica Hospital is elevating the standard for quality care nationwide and ensuring superior outcomes for the patients in their community.”

Jamaica Hospital’s pursuit of excellence and dedication to providing high-quality, equitable care has also yielded the following 2024 Healthgrades awards:

• America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention Award
• Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award
• Gastrointestinal Surgery Excellence Award

These awards have distinguished Jamaica Hospital as one of the leading healthcare organizations in the country, an achievement made possible through the tireless efforts of hospital employees to deliver the best care, and the vision of leadership to provide the community with world-class services close to home.

The MediSys Health Network hosted its second annual fundraising gala on November 11, 2023. Over 1,200 guests attended the soiree held at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown, Manhattan.  The crowd gathered to support the network’s cancer program and honor special guest Robert DeSalvio, President of Genting Americas East, and Resorts World New York.

MediSys Health Network President and CEO, Bruce J. Flanz commenced the evening’s program by welcoming attendees to the elegant affair and thanking them for their support. He segued into a tribute highlighting the countless contributions of two beloved individuals: Joseph Ferrara, former Chairman of the Jamaica Hospital and MediSys boards, and Michael Russo, former Chairman of the Flushing Hospital board.  Both served in their positions for over a quarter of a century before passing away this year.

Mr. Flanz’s touching tribute was later followed by remarks from the Gala Committee Chair and member of the Jamaica Hospital board, Joe Liana; who spoke passionately about the important work of the cancer program and the impact it will have in treating the 10,000 people in Queens diagnosed with the disease each year.

The creation of the cancer program in partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, has provided much-needed care to hundreds of patients since it first opened earlier this year. Some of these patients shared their powerful stories of triumph in a video presented to the crowd. The moving presentation concluded with the cancer survivors thanking MediSys’ healthcare team for saving their lives.

https://youtu.be/EgtFg_vdeks

As the video faded in the background, Mr. Flanz thanked the cancer care team and partners from Memorial Sloan Kettering for all they have done to make the program a success.

While much of the network’s success is due to its employees’ contributions, the benevolence of others also plays an important role. One such benefactor is Resorts World Casino New York City, which has generously given to MediSys over the years. Network leadership expressed their gratitude to the casino and its President, Robert DeSalvio, who joined the stage shortly after to accept a plaque that will be placed in the cancer program’s waiting room in his honor. He also commended MediSys’ healthcare heroes for their bravery during the pandemic and their unwavering commitment to caring for the people of Queens.

The second annual MediSys Gala concluded with closing remarks from Mr. Flanz, who encouraged everyone to, “enjoy the rest of the evening” and have a good time with their friends and colleagues. Overall, the event was a tremendous success. Over $2.3 million was raised to help the network continue its important life-saving work.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center, hospitals under the MediSys Health Network, have received prestigious gold and silver achievement awards from the American Heart Association (AHA).

Jamaica Hospital earned the AHA’s Mission: Lifeline® NSTEMI Gold achievement award which is presented to hospitals that have demonstrated a commitment to providing high-quality healthcare to people experiencing a specific type of heart attack known as non-ST elevation myocardial infarction or NSTEMI.

The American Heart Association also presented Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital with the Mission: Lifeline EMS® Silver achievement award.  

Mission: Lifeline EMS® recognition is the American Heart Association’s program that recognizes prehospital emergency agencies for their quality of care for heart attack and stroke patients. The recognition program focuses on transforming care quality by connecting all heart attack and stroke care components into a seamlessly integrated care system.

The MediSys Health Network is proud to be nationally recognized by the American Heart Association. Earning the Mission: Lifeline® NSTEMI Gold achievement award and the Mission: Lifeline EMS® Silver achievement award highlights the network’s dedication to ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients by adhering to the most up-to-date research-based guidelines for optimal care as outlined by the AHA.

The MediSys Health Network has consistently performed well over the years and continues to rank highly among the nation’s top medical organizations for the delivery of heart attack care. Jamaica Hospital recently earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Primary Heart Attack Center certification and recognition as a 2023 U.S. News & World Report High Performing Hospital for heart attack care. In 2022, Flushing Hospital was recognized as a five-star recipient for heart attack care by Healthgrades. Both hospitals have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence.

U.S. News & World Report, a global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Jamaica Hospital Medical Center as a 2022-2023 High Performing Hospital in recognition of its excellence in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart failure, and stroke. This is the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings.

In arriving at these ratings, U.S. News evaluated over 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. Fewer than half received High Performing ratings.

Qualifying hospitals were selected based on their level of performance in treating various medical conditions and according to U.S. News, providing “care that was significantly better than the national average, as measured by factors such as patient outcomes.” Other metrics used by U.S. News to evaluate hospitals included patient experience and success in transitioning patients to life at home after discharge.

“When patients are considering their options for care, the Best Hospitals ratings are designed to help them identify hospitals that excel in the kind of care they may need,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “A hospital that’s earned a High Performing rating in a service may be a good option for patients in need of that service and their medical professionals to consider.”

Jamaica Hospital is proud to be recognized as a U.S. News & World Report High Performing Hospital. The hospital has earned this prestigious recognition and others due to its core value of providing high-quality, patient-centered healthcare.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center is the proud recipient of the New York State Obstetric Hemorrhage Project 2021 Quality Improvement Award.

The award recognizes Flushing Hospital’s participation and dedicated work in the New York State Obstetric Hemorrhage Project which was created by the New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative (NYSPQC) to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality associated with obstetric hemorrhage.

Maternal morbidity is defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as, “any short- or long-term health problems that result from being pregnant and giving birth.”  While maternal mortality, “refers to the death of a woman from complications of pregnancy or childbirth that occur during the pregnancy or within 6 weeks after the pregnancy ends.”

Both issues have been causes for concern nationally as data shows that maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the U.S. have been inclining steadily.

In November of 2017, the NYSPQC initiated the NYS Obstetric Hemorrhage Project in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Healthcare Association of New York State, and the Greater New York Hospital Association with the support of the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality to address this problem.

Flushing Hospital joined the project as part of its ongoing efforts to provide patients and their families with the best, safest, and most equitable care.

As a participant, Flushing Hospital has met or exceeded the project’s goal of assessing at least 85% of patients for risk of obstetric hemorrhage upon admission and during the postpartum period. The hospital also implemented measures to improve readiness to respond to obstetric hemorrhage.

“This project involved a multidisciplinary approach with monthly webinars and in-person meetings in Albany. Together, we worked on updating our policies, acquired a hemorrhage cart, and updated our hemorrhage kit.  We also performed simulation drills and devised a hemorrhage assessment for patients antepartum, upon admission to Labor and Delivery, and postpartum. Our team has been educated and trained on all changes to ensure the delivery of quality care,” explained Maria Smilios, Director of Nursing Maternal and Child Services at Flushing Hospital.

Flushing Hospital was commended for its dedication and “exemplary work” by the New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative. The hospital will continue to focus on improving maternal morbidity and maternal rates in its community to ensure a healthier future for all.

This year, Patient Safety Awareness Week was observed from March 13^th to the 19^th.   The annual observation was created to raise awareness of the importance of safety in healthcare.

The Patient Safety Awareness Week theme chosen for 2022 was, “Together We Are Better, Stronger, Safer.”  The MediSys Health Network’s Performance Improvement Department held a series of events that focused on bringing care teams together to learn more about patient safety in a fun environment.

Activities for the week included games of Trivial Pursuit as well as an essay contest in which participants were encouraged to share what safety meant to them.  Over 500 Flushing and Jamaica Hospital employees played trivia games, and a total of 16 submissions were entered into the essay competition. Winners of the essay contest are as follows:

• Jamaica Hospital: 1^st place – 4 South, 2^nd place– NICU, 3^rd place– Psych MH2 & MH3
• Flushing Hospital: 1^st place– 3 West, 2^nd place-ICU, 3^rd place– 4 North 1 & 2

The winning essays will be posted on the MyMediSys intranet page under the Quality Department- Performance Improvement folder.

Overall, Patient Safety Awareness Week at MediSys Health was a great success. We thank the Performance Improvement Department for coordinating a series of engaging and educational events.

The MediSys Health Network has once again earned multiple, top-ranking Healthgrades awards for 2022, classifying the network as a nationally recognized, high-performing healthcare organization.

Healthgrades is a leading online resource committed to delivering the most scientifically accurate and comprehensive information about doctors and hospitals. To assess overall hospital performance, the company reviews outcomes across more than 31 of the most common  medical procedures and conditions.  Recipients of Healthgrades awards have consistently delivered better than expected outcomes for their patients.

For the third consecutive year, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has been named  by Healthgrades as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals™ in 2022, placing it in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the country and recognizing the organiztion as an overall leader in clinical excellence. Other notable awards received by Jamaica Hospital include the following:

• Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention™ for 3 Years in a Row (2020-2022)
• Healthgrades Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™ for 2 Years in a Row (2021-2022)
• Healthgrades Stroke Care Excellence Award™ for 6 Years in a Row (2017-2022)
• Healthgrades Neurosciences Excellence Award™ for 4 Years in a Row (2019-2022)

Flushing Hospital Medical Center also excelled in several categories and received the following top honors:

• Healthgrades 2022 Stroke Care Excellence Award™
• Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Pneumonia in 2022
• Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack in 2022

Overall, the MediSys Health Network ‘s performance was exceptional.  The network’s focus on patient satisfaction and its commitment to providing quality healthcare were essential in helping the organization rank among the nation’s top hospitals.

“It is a great achievement to be awarded as one of Healthgrades’ America’s 250 Best Hospitals,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades. “Now more than ever, patients are learning the importance of taking control of their health and using resources like Healthgrades to find the perfect hospital and caregiver match. We commend Medisys Health Network for providing superior service and committing themselves to keeping their communities safe.”

According to statistics reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in March 2021, over 3 million babies were born in the United States in 2019. Among this group, only 3,136 were triplets.

Very few of these births occurred spontaneously (without the assistance of fertility treatments). This is because the chance of triplets being conceived naturally occurs in 1 in every 10,000 pregnancies.

Spontaneous triplets are uncommon, and with birth rates declining across the country, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center was not anticipating that it would be setting a record for the facility by delivering two sets of triplets, both naturally conceived, two days apart.   “The chance of this happening is rare.  So, when we learned that two of our moms were expected to deliver triplets very close to each other, we were excited. We also knew there would be a lot of hard work and careful planning ahead,” said Dr. Janice Krystal Ascencio, Women’s Health ACC Medical Director.

Having triplets or any form of multiple pregnancy is considered high risk. There are often health problems that can develop and lead to preterm labor and birth. Therefore, it was important for the babies’ healthcare team at Jamaica Hospital to begin specialized care early in the mothers’ pregnancies.

“We encountered a few complications during both pregnancies, shared Dr. Ugochi Akoma, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist and Director of Perinatal Diagnostic Centers & Obstetric Ultrasound at Jamaica Hospital. “Both moms at some point in the early third trimester had to be monitored closely for concerning cardiac symptoms.  Moms who are pregnant with multifetal pregnancies have a higher risk of developing a cardiac condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy which fortunately was not diagnosed.”

There were also concerns about the babies’ health. Doctors diagnosed one of the triplets with fetal growth restriction, a condition that causes babies not to grow and develop according to gestational age standards. In the other set of triplets, two of the babies shared one placenta. There are several problems that could occur when this happens, the most significant is a conditon called twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).

Caring for the moms and babies was a well-coordinated effort between multiple departments.  There were frequent meetings and mock drills conducted that involved OB/GYN, NICU, Nursing, Pediatric, Cardiology, Respiratory, BioMed, Anesthesia, Medicine, Social Work and Blood Bank professionals. “We worked together as one team and our collective goal was to ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery for both families,” said Dr. Akoma.

At the center of this healthcare team were the moms. Making sure that their voices were heard, and that they felt empowered throughout their journeys was made a high priority.  Jamaica Hospital provided a supportive environment in which strong bonds were formed between the patients and their healthcare providers.  The moms also developed a relationship with each other, becoming close friends.

Months of preparation and planning resulted in two successful deliveries.  On November 9, 2021, the Cruz family welcomed their baby girls into the world.  The Hoyos family celebrated the birth of their little girls two days later. Both sets of triplets were born during the 32nd week of the pregnancy. After delivery, the babies were transferred to the hospital’s Level 3 NICU where they received around-the-clock care.

Six little miracles made their debut at Jamaica Hospital in time for the holiday season, giving all involved in this journey a reason to be thankful. “Our team is humbled to have had the privilege of caring for and delivering these babies. There was lots of hard work but there was just as much joy,” stated Dr. Akoma.