The prestigious team of surgeons at Flushing Hospital Medical Center is moving full speed ahead in performing surgeries with the assistance of the da Vinci surgical robot.  This specially trained group of physicians has successfully completed an impressive 100 plus procedures in just a few months.

The da Vinci was acquired late last year with the objective of providing advanced surgical services to the community.   Surgeries performed by utilizing the machine offer patients several benefits such as shorter hospital stays, minimal scarring, less bleeding and pain.

Members of the surgical team are pleased with the early success of the robotic surgery program. They are looking forward to treating more patients through robotic technology.

Flushing Hospital is planning future outreach campaigns to inform the community that several technologically advanced medical services are being provided by their neighborhood hospital and they do not have to venture far to seek treatment.

On Tuesday, February 3, Jamaica Hospital sparkled as all former recipients of the hospital’s Going the Extra Mile program , (or G.E.M for short) gathered for a breakfast in their honor.

Approximately 50 former G.E.M honorees were in attendance for the festivities. Also in attendance were G.E.M committee co-chairs, Anthony Maffia and Sheila Garvey, as well as President & CEO Bruce J. Flanz. Each thanked the honorees for their efforts and stated how important having employees who go above and beyond are to our institution.  “The G.E.M employees are models for others. We hope more employees follow the examples they have set,” stated Mr. Maffia.

One of the past G.E.M recipients, Security Officer Robert Smith offered his perspective on the event. “As a recipient of the award, I was honored to be at the breakfast with my fellow colleagues. While we all received our awards for different circumstances, we all share the same belief that we were just doing our jobs.” Officer Smith added, “I am very proud to be part of the Jamaica Hospital family, where everyone is considered important.”

The G.E.M Program was created in July of 2013 to acknowledge and thank employees for simple acts of courtesy, team spirit, kindness and professionalism. Nominations are made by supervisory staff members who observe employees taking actions that positively impact the experience of our patients, visitors, and co-workers.  Each month at the Jamaica Hospital Department Head meeting, G.E.M recipients are awarded a certificate, pin and a gift certificate.

Since its inception, over 80 G.E.M employees have been identified. Jamaica Hospital thanks them all for their dedication.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center is further expanding its list of clinical services to include bariatric surgery. The new program will be headed by Dr. Sanjeev Rajpal, a pioneer and expert in weight loss surgery, as well as Dr. Paul Thodiyil, who has many years of experience.

The availability of this service is timely- as the demand for bariatric surgery has increased due to the rise in obesity rates. It is estimated that more than one third (35%) of adults in the United States are obese.  Overcoming obesity by way of exercise and diet alone can be difficult for some people. Bariatric surgery is often the only option for individuals who have tried several weight loss treatments or methods to lose weight, but were unsuccessful.

Flushing Hospital will offer patients a unique approach and experience in weight loss surgery.  Clients’ success will not only be measured by pounds shed but include a complete lifestyle change that embodies mental and physical wellness.

The bariatric surgery program will offer patients a range of minimally invasive surgical procedures that will include:

• Gastric bypass surgery
• Lap band surgery
• Sleeve gastrectomy
• Bariatric revisions

Doctors will work with each patient to decide which procedure is best suited for their lifestyle or health condition.

In order to foster this multi-level model of treatment, support services will be available to patients in addition to the surgical procedures.

Support services will include:

• Close physician monitoring- Flushing Hospital’s team of bariatric experts, will closely monitor each patient throughout their weight loss journey.
• Pre and post-surgery psychological evaluations- Assessments will aid patients in understanding their eating behaviors.
• Personalized diet and nutrition counseling- Registered dietitians will be available to assess clients’ eating habits and create a nutrition plan to support a new and healthy lifestyle.
• Ongoing education and support groups- Support groups and education seminars will be facilitated by trained professionals. These meetings are helpful in aiding patients to transition into a new way of life.

Flushing Hospital’s Chairman of Surgery, Dr. Neil Mandava is looking forward to the launch of the bariatric services. Dr. Mandava stated, “The goal for the new bariatric surgery program is to solidify Flushing Hospital as the go-to and premiere facility for weight loss surgery in the area.”  “Residents will no longer have to venture outside of the communities served by the hospital to obtain assistance in achieving their weight loss objectives,” added Dr. Mandava.

For more Information about bariatric services at Flushing Hospital please call the department of Surgery at 718-670-3135.

In 2013 Jamaica Hospital Medical Center conducted research with the goal of identifying key health issues within communities served.  After a careful and thorough analysis, it was discovered that breastfeeding rates in service communities were at a concerning low. The numbers indicated that several neighborhoods, particularly those in Southwest Queens, ranked among the lowest in New York City. This prompted the hospital to include breastfeeding in its Community Service Plan and focus on increasing the number of mothers who breastfed exclusively after giving birth.

Jamaica Hospital has since executed several community education and outreach initiatives such as Centering Pregnancy and support groups to inform families of the importance of breastfeeding. The hospital has partnered with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) “Latch on NYC” initiative and the Queens Breastfeeding Alliance to expand its reach. In the initial stages of inception only 2% of infants born at the hospital were exclusively fed breast milk but this number has now grown to over 24%. Through this advancement, other objectives that are consequential to breastfeeding such as childhood obesity and the development of some cancers in women will be addressed.

Lactation consultant Paula Utilla, administrator Mitchell Cornett as well as other members of the Ob/Gyn department coordinated a successful seminar featuring world- renowned author and lactation consultant Catherine Watson-Genna. The seminar educated staff and patients about breastfeeding problems related to tongue tie.

Tongue tie is a congenital condition which occurs in an estimated 5% of newborns and restricts the tongue’s range of motion.  This restriction is caused by an abnormally thick and short lingual frenulum.  Ms. Watson-Genna presented her research project- using ultrasound to examine tongue movements of babies with tongue-tie before and after frenotomy (procedure which releases the frenulum). Other speakers included Jamaica Hospital’s own Frances Perez-Hernandez, doctors Silvestro Iommazo, Ajey Jain and Steven R. Inglis.

Jamaica Hospital heavily promoted breastfeeding by producing literature, program posters, webpage ads and social media marketing, but the ribbon that tied this all together was a well-received news segment on NY1. The segment featured baby Germosen, who received a frenotomy from Dr. Iommazo and is now happily breastfeeding.

To end the year in a bang, the hospital was recognized by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Breast Feeding Collaborative for achieving the highest score improvements in the baby-friendly core measures over a six month period.

The year 2014 in review has been successful for the hospital’s breastfeeding initiative. The numbers are continuing to increase and more families are aware of its importance. Jamaica hospital’s objectives for 2015 include, continuing to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate, enrolling 500 women in the Centering Pregnancy program and enrolling more mothers into the off-campus breastfeeding peer support group.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has been rated as one of New York City’s top performing hospitals by The Joint Commission-which is the nation’s oldest and leading authority in patient care standards. The hospital has also been recognized to be the only hospital in Queens to appear on the list of Top Performers on Key Quality Measures program. Jamaica Hospital earned recognition for its quality of care in treating patients with heart attacks, pneumonia, surgical care and heart failure.

According to The Joint Commission each of the top performers must, “1) achieve cumulative performance of 95 percent or above across all reported accountability measures; 2) achieve performance of 95 percent or above on each and every reported accountability measure where there are at least 30 denominator cases; and 3) have at least one core measure set that has a composite rate of 95 percent or above, and(within that measure set) all applicable individual accountability measures have a performance rate of 95 percent or above. “

The designation is an honor for staff and physicians who worked tirelessly to achieve this goal. “We are committed in following the best and most recognized standard of care,” said Dr. Romuald Slota, director of Jamaica Hospital’s Clinical Resource Management. Dr. Slota continued, “We follow each patient to make sure that they receive the best care from the time they are admitted to the time they are released.”

Jamaica Hospital has also implemented several community and support programs, such as the Transitional Care Unit to bridge the continuity in care beyond a patient’s release. “Maintaining excellent patient relationships has always been a priority for this facility,” and “We want the community to know that we will continue to work hard and make strides in providing the best quality of care,” said Dr. Slota.

First Baby Jamaica Hospital 2015

The first baby of the New Year is always a special event for each of our two hospitals. This year neither Jamaica nor Flushing Hospital Medical Center had the honor of having the first baby born in New York City; however, our first babies are still extra special to us. The first MediSys babies posed beautifully for our photographer. Special thanks to the staff that assisted with these deliveries.

Congratulations to the moms! We wish them and their families a lifetime of happiness.

These are our first babies of the New Year:

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Baby Boy:  Lucas Chance

Weight: 6 lbs. 4 oz

Length: 18”

Time: 12:20 A.M. on 1/1/15

Mother: Sabrina Chance

First Baby Flushing Hospital 2015

Flushing Hospital Medical Center

Baby Girl: Anisa Khan

Weight: 7 lbs 8 oz.

Length: 20”

Time: 1:53 AM on 1/1/2015

Mother: Bibi Hussain

1. Remember to fully charge your cell phone or bring a charger, before going out.
2. Carry emergency contact information in your wallet and Inform loved ones of your destination.
3. Prepare an emergency safety kit in your vehicle.
4. If you plan on drinking, designate a driver or arrange for taxi service.
5. Monitor your intake of alcohol.
6. Be aware of your surroundings and the actions of people around you. Avoid those who seem out of control.
7. If you plan on going to a nightclub or a large party, bring friends with you and stick together.
8. Keep your pets safely away from party guests, flames and areas that are loud or highly trafficked.
9. Have a fire extinguisher in an easily accessible area.
10. Remember to practice safe sex.

Eating disorders are mental illnesses characterized by extremes in eating behaviors. They are serious emotional and physical addictions triggered by fears of becoming overweight. The most common disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Both often coexist with other mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Individuals affected by eating disorders tend to have exaggerated and negative perceptions of their bodies. These perceptions and fears of becoming overweight usually escalate as the body changes during pregnancy, which can cause mothers to increase destructive practices and potentially harm developing infants.

Anorexia nervosa involves obsessive starvation or exercise to control weight gain. Starvation can deprive the mother and the developing baby of essential nutrients. Women who are actively anorexic during pregnancy run the risk of premature labor, cardiac irregularities, a baby born with low birth weight and respiratory difficulties.

Behaviors associated with bulimia nervosa include bouts of extreme over eating followed by self-induced vomiting or the ingestion of laxatives to control weight.  The complications that may develop from this illness during pregnancy include gestational diabetes, birth defects, maternal high blood pressure and premature birth. Both diseases can ultimately result in miscarriage or still birth.

Individuals who are afflicted by these illnesses tend to be secretive about their extreme behaviors; however, when pregnant it is important to disclose the history of their eating disorder to an obstetrician. While pregnant, it is advised that the mother attends frequent prenatal appointments to track the development of the baby. The expertise of a nutritionist is needed to develop a plan for healthy weight gain. It is also highly recommended that they seek specialized care from a mental health professional to monitor and treat potential psychological effects.

To schedule an appointment with an Ob/Gyn at Jamaica Hospital, call 718-291-3276 or to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional call 718-206-7099.

Chest congestion is common during the winter season and can be caused by several ailments that affect the respiratory system such as the common cold, bronchitis, asthma or complications from heart disease.  It can be a rather uncomfortable experience with symptoms including tightness in the chest, coughing, shortness of breath or a runny nose. There are several home remedies that can be used to bring relief and treat chest congestion.

• Lemon and honey- Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice, a tablespoon of honey and a glass of hot water and drink this as a tea. This will help in reducing coughs and loosening the thickness of the mucus. Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C and are essential in getting rid of mucus-forming bacteria.
• Salt water gargle- Gargling with warm salt water helps remove mucus from the respiratory tract.
• Inhaling steam- Pour hot water into a bowl, then bend over the bowl with a towel over vyour head. Inhaling the steam and vapors from the bowl will help in loosening phlegm. Adding drops of eucalyptus oil can also be beneficial.
• Increase fluids- Increasing your intake of fluids prevent mucus from thickening.
• Drink black coffee-Have a cup or two of black coffee. Caffeine can offer relief for shortness of breath by expanding airways and the heat aids in clearing mucus.
• Eat spicy foods- Foods infused with cayenne pepper or chili pepper can clear blocked sinus and bronchial tubes.
• Ginger- Eat a small piece of raw ginger or add it to hot water and drink it as a tea to relieve chest congestion.

Chest congestion should not be taken lightly, because your body is not receiving the proper amounts of oxygen. Try these tips to aid in your relief, but if the problem persists; it is recommended that you see a physician. To make an appointment at the Jamaica Hospital Ambulatory Care Center call 718 206 7001.