It is estimated that 40% of New Yorkers living with mental illnesses do not seek treatment because of the stigma attached.  Creative arts therapists at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center brought light to this issue by hosting the “Drawing Bridges to Wellness” exhibit in March, in honor of Creative Arts Therapy Week.

The exhibit was held in each hospital’s main lobby and showcased over 70 pieces of art that illustrated the musings of patients and therapists participating in Jamaica and Flushing Hospital’s mental health programs.  The artists utilized a variety of mediums such as clay, oil paints, pastels and model magic to express their thoughts and chronicle their journeys to wellness.

Drawing Bridges to Wellness provided the community with a beautiful gallery to explore and served as a platform to raise awareness of mental health issues and destigmatize mental illness.   Many of the art pieces presented echoed the message that people should not feel ashamed about seeking help for mental health disorders.

The Department of Psychiatry further bolstered their efforts to raise awareness by showcasing the exhibit at the Queens Museum, after completing its run at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital. The artwork was displayed in the museum’s New York City building for thousands of guests to see.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital have provided creative arts therapy to patients for close to 20 years.  This form of therapy encourages self- exploration and has a profoundly positive effect on mental and emotional well-being. Patients often begin therapy feeling unhappy, conflicted or isolated but by creating art they are able to engage with therapists and begin their journeys to wellness. Both hospitals are encouraging communities to take advantage of creative arts and other programs designed to treat mental health disorders.

A recent article published in the New York Times reported that one of the most frequent causes of death among older adults is complications from a fall.  The article revealed that “Every 19 minutes in this country an older person dies from a fall.”

On a local level, data collected by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Emergency Department supported these findings.  It was found that of the hospital’s 770 fall-related trauma cases recorded between January and November 2018; senior citizens accounted for 68% of incidents.

In an effort to address this critical issue, Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Division launched a series of Fall Prevention Workshops in surrounding communities with the highest concentration of falls.

The workshops were held at senior centers and covered a wide range of topics from identifying fall risk factors to home safety strategies.   By utilizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries falls risk self-assessment survey, Jamaica Hospital was able to identify seniors that were at a moderate to high risk of falling and make recommendations.  Program participants were also encouraged to speak with their physicians about better managing their risk of falling.

Jamaica Hospital’s Fall Prevention Workshops were well received by the community.  In total,  over 20 senior centers and 700 older adults participated in the program.  The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) highlighted the program as part of its Community Benefit Spotlight.   The hospital was recognized for facilitating this much-needed initiative and fostering a relationship with the community that will greatly benefit its senior population.

Click here to read more about HANYS’ Community Benefit Spotlight.https://www.hanys.org/community_benefit/?a=vs&s=Jamaica_Hospital_Medical_Center_prevents_falls

The opioid epidemic continues to plague New York City communities.  According to the City’s Department of Health, there were 694 confirmed overdose deaths from January to June 2018, and a fatal drug overdose reported every six hours.

More New Yorkers die as a result of a drug overdose than homicides, suicides and motor vehicle accidents combined.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center which operates one of the City’s busiest emergency departments has experienced firsthand the detriment the epidemic has caused.  Last year, the hospital’s emergency department treated over 200 patients for opioid drug overdoses.

“Over the years, we have seen the numbers continue to increase significantly. This epidemic has profoundly affected many individuals and families. Opioid addiction has impacted all genders, ages, ethnicities and those of all socioeconomic backgrounds,” explained Dr. Geoffrey Doughlin, Chairman of Emergency Medicine.  “No group is untouched.”

“At Jamaica Hospital our goal is to improve the health of our community in all aspects. We are committed to doing all that we can to combat the opioid crisis,” shared Dr. Shi-Wen Lee, Vice Chairman of Emergency Medicine.  In addition to providing life-saving treatments in the emergency department, the hospital is the first in Queens to participate in New York City’s Relay program.

The Relay program, which launched in 2017 under HealingNYC, targets survivors of opioid overdoses who are at high risk for a future, fatal overdose.  According to New York City’s Department of Health, “In the hours after someone survives an opioid overdose, a trained Relay “Wellness Advocate” meets with the survivor in the hospital emergency department to offer overdose risk reduction counseling, overdose rescue training, and an overdose prevention kit containing naloxone. Participating hospitals can contact Relay at any hour of the day or night, on every day of the year, and a Wellness Advocate aims to arrive within the hour. Wellness Advocates stay in contact with overdose survivors for up to 90 days and connect them to appropriate services”

“Jamaica Hospital is proud to work in collaboration with Relay. We have made over 50 patient referrals since the program’s inception at our facility in August 2018,” said Joshua Sclair, Emergency Medicine Administrator.  The hospital’s participation in the initiative offers the community resources that can potentially reduce the number of overdose deaths and provide access to supportive services.

Any person in need of treatment for their addiction can come to the emergency department at Jamaica Hospital and receive help. The hospital has designated detoxification beds and staff that are specially trained to help patients with their treatment.

On November 14^th, Jamaica Hospital’s Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care hosted an art exhibit in observation of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.

The pieces were created with the intention of providing hospice patients and their families with visual escapes to serene gardens, countrysides, beaches, and plains.

Over two dozen pieces of art were painted and donated by amateur artists from the Community Learning Center of the Clarkstown School District. The paintings took three to eight weeks to complete by students varying in ages from 18 to 92. All works of art were painted in either oil or acrylic.

“The students come from varying backgrounds in occupation, culture and family settings but all have this bond of commonality in art.  What is amazing is that they can use their love of art to help patients in need of comfort at a difficult time, at the end of life,” shared Marion Arbuco, Director of the Community Learning Center of the Clarkstown School District

There has always been a correlation between art and health care. Art can evoke positive emotions beneficial in helping patients during their healing process. It can also serve as a respite for those going through a difficult period toward the end of life.

Hospice care is a specialized kind of care provided to those who are facing the advanced stages of life-limiting illnesses.  This specialty focuses on making patients as comfortable as possible while receiving treatment and support from an integrative health care team.  At Jamaica Hospital’s Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care, a high priority is placed on making sure that a person’s last days are spent in comfort and dignity.  Many amenities are provided to patients on the unit that promote serenity and allow them to feel more at home.

“Providing our patients and families with a sense of serenity during a difficult time is very important to our staff.  The art painted by the students from the Community Learning Center of the Clarkstown School District will help us to create a tranquil space. We are thankful to the students for dedicating their time and donating these beautiful paintings.” said Dr. Alan Roth, Chief of Palliative Care Medicine at Jamaica Hospital.

To read more about the art exhibit in the Queens Courier, please click https://qns.com/story/2018/11/15/jamaica-hospital-receives-artwork-renovated-hospice-care-center/

A characteristic that has become synonymous with Jamaica Hospital’s high level of service is our ability to promote a strong sense of community among our staff and patients.

Over the years, several initiatives have been implemented to ensure patient satisfaction and foster positive experiences.  One that continuously receives excellent feedback from our patients is the Happy Birthday Telegram program.

In 2016, Jamaica Hospital’s Central Transport Services division began the program as an effort to help patients admitted to our hospital feel special on their birthdays. “Being in a hospital during your birthday isn’t the most ideal situation, so we try to bring some light to the day,” explained Arleen Reinoso, Director of Central Transport.

“The patient experience is very important to our team; we believe that happiness and genuine acts of kindness help with the healing process, “shared Reinoso.  To cheer up patients on their special day, Central Transport delivers a personalized birthday card, along with a puzzle and a small gift.  The team also surprises patients by gathering together to sing the Happy Birthday song. “It is special to see the patients’ reaction when we sing to them; it’s even more amazing for me to see the staff so engaged and happy to do this for the patients. We even include the clinical staff on the unit in the celebration so the patient feels extra special,” said Reinoso.

Successfully running the program has been a collaborative effort between, Central Transport Services, the Epic Patient Access Team, and all clinical staff who join in during the celebrations.

A satisfied patient is our hospital’s greatest reward.  We thank everyone who participates in the Happy Birthday Telegram program and other initiatives created to improve patient satisfaction.

This week, a group of judges convened in the office of Jamaica Hospital’s Volunteer Department to determine the winner of the 2018 MediSys Thanksgiving Basket Contest.

In the spirit of goodwill and a little competition, many departments across the MediSys Health Network submitted a total of 55 beautifully decorated baskets filled with Thanksgiving food items.

The criteria for Best Basket included originality, thoughtfulness and design.  The judges were shown a variety of baskets and boxes that ranged in sizes and were adorned in festive colors.

Three finalists were selected based on overall appearance and the number of food items collected; they included Jamaica Hospital’s Quality Improvement Department, the Ambulatory Care Nursing Staff, as well as the hospital’s Epic Training Team.  The judges made a unanimous decision, and the Quality Improvement Department received first prize.

Although a winner was selected, the best prize received in this year’s competition was the collective generosity of all the departments that participated.  All Thanksgiving gift basket donated will be given to local families in need.  We are happy that we were able to do our part in bringing members of our community a Happy Thanksgiving.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s CenteringPregnancy® program was recently featured on the Health segment of NY1 News’ “Mornings on 1.”

Implemented at Jamaica Hospital in 2014 in conjunction with the March of Dimes, CenteringPregnancy® provides all the same patient-centered elements of traditional prenatal care but incorporates them into an interactive experience for pregnant women in a group setting.

CenteringPregnancy® is one of the most robust services offered by the hospital to women in the community. It has grown in popularity over the years because of its uniqueness and many benefits, which include a reduction in preterm birth rates, a reduction in maternal mortality rates and increased breastfeeding rates. The Centering approach to prenatal care has helped the hospital to address several health disparities faced by the population it serves, and provide vital resources to families.

NY1 News’ health reporter Erin Billups participated in a CenteringPregnancy® group session to obtain an in-depth view of the program, its advantages and how it helps to reduce health disparities.  She interviewed Dr. Tamara Magloire Director of Ambulatory Care, OBGYN, who explained the intricacies of the program and how Jamaica Hospital is doing its part to provide healthcare solutions on a local and national level.

The news segment can be seen here:

Last month, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the Thomas Santucci Jr., MD Cardiovascular Interventional Suite, named in honor of the late and beloved cardiologist and former Chairman of the Department of Medicine.

Joining the hospital for the occasion were special guests of honor: the family of Dr. Thomas Santucci Jr., Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Senator Joseph Addabbo and members of Jamaica Hospital’s Board of Trustees. Over 100 guests and the media were also in attendance.

Jamaica Hospital President and CEO, Mr. Bruce J. Flanz welcomed everyone as they buzzed with excitement, to the new, state-of-the-art cardiovascular care facility.

The suite covers 6500 square feet of space and includes two interventional labs, a six-bed recovery unit, a preparation area, as well as viewing, treatment and examination rooms. The facility is also equipped with the latest and most advanced technologies in cardiac and stroke care. Both labs feature Siemens Artis Zee Ceiling- Mounted Systems which provide high patient-positioning flexibility, affording doctors easier and full-body access to patients.

Mr. Flanz explained to guests that all features and amenities of the Cardiovascular Interventional Suite were carefully selected by the Cardiology Department with the goal in mind of meeting the growing needs of patients.

“There is a significant prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity in our area, all of which contribute to the growing incidence of all types of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes,” shared Dr. Robert Mendelson, Director of Cardiology and Chairman of the Department of Medicine. It is anticipated that admissions for cardiac disease to Jamaica Hospital will increase by 12% in the next five years and stroke admission by 11% during that period.

In addition to treating patients who live within the hospital’s service area, the Cardiovascular Interventional Suite will provide emergency cardiovascular care to the many travelers who fly through JFK Airport.  Each year, approximately 2,500 people are transported to Jamaica Hospital from JFK and 10% of those emergency cases are the result of a cardiac issue or stroke.

“Given the high volume of cardiovascular and stroke cases received by the hospital, the new Thomas Santucci Jr., MD  Cardiovascular Interventional Suite will certainly be of great benefit to a significant number of people,” said Mr. Flanz.

The opening of the Thomas Santucci Jr.,  MD Cardiovascular Interventional Suite is the realization of a team who visualized a facility in which patients would receive the very best in cardiovascular care, close to home.  One of these visionaries was Dr. Thomas Santucci Jr. who would have been extremely proud of everyone’s efforts to make Jamaica Hospital a leader in cardiovascular care.

A special thank you to all departments involved in making our new, Thomas Santucci Jr., MD Cardiovascular Interventional Suite a reality, your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated.

This summer, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center was the only hospital in our region to receive a highly coveted Sing for Hope piano.

Each year, as part of their mission to transform lives through the power of the arts, the non-profit organization Sing for Hope collaborates with celebrated artists to specially design pianos.  These popular works of art are then distributed to select public spaces throughout New York City for everyone to play.

Jamaica Hospital received its piano “Wings for Hope,” in June.  Painted by AnnCharlotte Tavolacci, the inspiration behind the piano design was the artist’s encounter with a hummingbird during a difficult time in her life.  Knowing that the bird was a symbol of hope, eternal love and survival she felt inspired to make positive changes.   AnnCharlotte hoped that by painting the hummingbird on her piano and sharing her art with our community, others too would feel inspired.

The piano was stationed for two weeks outside the hospital’s main entrance. Its vibrant colors and fantastic design beckoned many employees and visitors to sit and play.

Clinical Nurse Manager, Cheryl Gallotta Dimassi, coordinated the Sing for Hope initiative at Jamaica Hospital.  She explained to reporters from the Queens Chronicle and NY1 news that receiving the piano was important as it served as an extension of the hospital’s efforts to provide our community with outlets that promote healing through art. “I’ve been working to get this for a year,” she said. “Music, in the right tone, the right level, is therapeutic.”

We thank everyone who played the piano and supported our efforts to provide therapeutic music for all to enjoy.  It was certainly a great treat to experience the talents of our fellow coworkers and members of the community.

National Donate Life Month is observed each year in April as part of an effort to raise awareness of the need for organ donations and to encourage everyone to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. The observance is also a celebration of those who have saved lives by becoming donors.

On April 20^th, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and LiveOnNY, hosted a special flag raising ceremony to pay tribute to organ donor families and recipients. The event’s special guest of honor was Giraldo Vega, father of Anthony Ruben Vega.

Anthony became an angel in 2009 at the age of 11, after complications caused by hydrocephalus ended his life. His father shared how remarkable his son was, “Since he was a baby he loved to sing and dance.  He loved to perform and you could always expect a show.”

When Anthony passed away, Mr. Vega learned about other families’ need for organ donations and decided he needed to make a difference.   “If Anthony could save one life — one family from losing their son, daughter or family member — what better way to give a performance of a lifetime? Our decision to donate his organs not only saved one person’s life but three,” he informed reporters attending the event.

While the loss of his son has been difficult, Mr. Vega takes pride in knowing that Anthony’s legacy continues in the lives of others he helped to save.

Anthony’s story deeply resonated with Jamaica Hospital Executive Vice President and  COO, William Lynch, who has been a staunch supporter and advocate for organ donation. Mr. Lynch thanked the Vega family for giving the gift of life.  He went on to speak about lives that were saved earlier that week, thanks to an organ donor at Jamaica Hospital who donated a liver and two kidneys.  It is for this reason-the ability to save lives- that Jamaica Hospital encourages everyone in its community to register as organ donors.  One donor can save up to eight lives.

Recently, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that due to the coordinated efforts of organizations such as LiveOnNY and Jamaica Hospital over 5 million New Yorkers have enrolled in the New York State Donate Life Registry as donors.

Our hospital will continue to work tirelessly to raise awareness for organ donation and help further increase the number of registrants to the New York State Donate Life Registry. To learn more about becoming a donor, visit www. donatelife.ny.gov