Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has been named as a recipient of the prestigious National Research Corporation Health (NRC Health) Excellence Award.

The hospital, recognized at the 23rd Annual NRC Health Symposium for Patient –Centered Care on August 6th, was selected as one of several top-performing hospitals across the nation to exhibit an exceptional commitment to each patient’s and family’s care journey as well their overall satisfaction.

Jamaica Hospital received recognition in the category of Most Improved Facility among large hospitals (300+ beds) in the United States. The hospital earned the award based on receiving positive and improved scores in satisfaction from patients and their families; an accomplishment achieved by focusing on providing compassionate and quality care, as well as showing a genuine understanding of the community it cares for.

The hospital’s leadership has implemented several programs to bolster patient satisfaction as part of their goal in becoming a “High-Reliability Hospital.”   “Patient experience is very important to all levels of our staff,” shared Dr. Kathleen Scher, Vice President of Nursing.  “We are striving to become a high-reliability hospital- an institution that our community can count on to receive excellent health care.”

This level of dedication has earned the hospital several recognitions in 2017 including the NRC Health Excellence Award.  “Each year our partners inspire us with their commitment to service,” says Helen Hrdy, Senior Vice President of Client Service at NRC Health. “The individuals at these organizations show a genuine understanding for their patients, which is revealed in their extraordinary, compassionate care. It is always a special pleasure for us to honor and recognize these efforts with the Excellence Award. We congratulate Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for embodying human understanding and demonstrating a commitment to patient-centered care.”

“We are extremely proud of our recent achievements.  However we are most satisfied when we engage with our patients and their families and they express gratitude for the great care we have provided,” this sentiment expressed by Scher and the hospital’s leadership is reflective of the culture of Jamaica Hospital- To serve our patients and the community in a way that is second to none.

Last year over 5,000 babies were delivered at Flushing and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. The safety of each infant is a very high priority for both hospitals. When these babies are under our care, we take many precautions to ensure they are in a safe sleep environment.

However, our dedication to their well-being extends well beyond their stay. MediSys Health Network’s commitment to infants’ safety continues after they leave as we educate parents about the importance of providing a safe sleep environment for babies.

Each year, sleep-related injuries result in the death of approximately 3,500 babies in the United States and are the leading cause of death for infants in New York City. As part of our ongoing effort to reduce this occurrence, the MediSys Health Network recently joined a city-wide safe sleep campaign dubbed “Katz’s Cradles” in honor of Queens Borough President Melinda Katz to donate free portable cribs to families in need.  The initiative was created to provide more households in Queens with a safe place for babies to sleep. The cribs are equipped with Safe Sleep Kits which include educational materials, a sleep sack and fitted sheets.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital actively promote the importance of providing babies with safe sleep environments by offering newborn-care classes and support groups to families.  Last year, Flushing Hospital was recognized as a National Bronze Certified Safe Sleep Hospital by Cribs for Kids. The certification program recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to reducing infant sleep-related deaths.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital are proud to participate in programs that benefit their communities and offer helpful resources and Katz’s Cradles supports a cause that each institution highly values which is patient safety. “Our hospitals serve a very diverse population; we are sensitive to their needs and committed to providing resources that improve their overall wellness and health. Teaching families how to make certain their babies have a safe space to sleep not only empowers them but insures the well-being of parents and children, “stated Bruce J. Flanz; President and CEO of MediSys Health Network.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has been officially awarded Baby-Friendly USA® designation.

Baby- Friendly® designation is a globally known and prestigious recognition awarded to hospitals and birthing facilities that uphold strict breastfeeding and maternal care guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The process of becoming a Baby-Friendly® institution is rigorous and the designation is only awarded to organizations that demonstrate a full commitment to providing the best possible support for breastfeeding mothers and ensuring a high quality of mother/baby care.

As a Baby- Friendly® facility, Jamaica Hospital, which delivered over 2,200 babies in 2016, joins an elite group of healthcare providers in New York State that has earned this recognition.

The hospital now ranks as part of the 21% of healthcare facilities in the nation to boast Baby-Friendly USA® designation. “This achievement is a reflection of our dedication to providing our community with quality care,” states Dr. Steven Inglis, Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

To achieve this monumental accomplishment, Jamaica Hospital collaborated with other health agencies including the New York City Breastfeeding Hospital Collaborative(NYC BHC) to implement initiatives aimed at improving exclusive breastfeeding rates and promoting mother-infant bonding practices.  “By encouraging breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, we are addressing health problems that may develop during infancy but can also affect a person’s health later in life” shares Paula Utilla, Lactation Consultant.

Evidence shows that babies who are fed breast milk exclusively are less likely to develop respiratory diseases such as asthma or gastrointestinal diseases.  Breastfeeding is also beneficial for a mother’s health as women who breastfeed are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, breast or ovarian cancer.

Jamaica Hospital provides the community with several medical, social and educational services all created to offer women support during and after pregnancy; some of these services include breastfeeding education and support programs, childbirth classes, and a highly successful Centering® program.   Last year,  the hospital opened a Mother’s Nursing Room, designed to offer members of the community, hospital visitors and employees who are nursing a clean and comfortable place to feed their babies or express milk.

“We have made great strides and will continue to work diligently to create services and programs that will improve the overall health and wellness of our community, “states Marge Lilienthal, Director of Nursing.

The kids are home for the summer and parents are now challenged with providing them with healthy and nutritious snacks throughout the day. Finding the balance of between snacks that children are drawn to and snacks that are healthy can become difficult.

Sugar, high sodium, colorful packaging, fun shapes and unnatural food coloring are a few factors that make junk food enticing to children. However, parents can win the fight against junk food by making healthy food more appealing to their kid’s senses.

Here are a few tips on swapping kid favorites with healthier choices:

• Hot dogs- Instead of regular beef and pork hot dogs, purchase turkey franks with low sodium and without added nitrates. Decorate the hot dog with colorful vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, red and yellow peppers.
• Salty cheese snacks- Make plain cheese fun by cutting it into quirky shapes or adding bright and sweet fruit. You can make cheese and fruit shish kebabs.
• French fries- Opt for baked sweet potato fries and sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin C, B6, and D. They are a source of Iron, magnesium and potassium.
• Ice cream- Frozen yogurt is just as tasty and contains less sugar and fat. Adding toppings such as fruit and granola is a plus.
• Popsicles- Freeze real fruit juices with bits of fruit into bars.
• Potato chips- Kale chips are rich in vitamin A and easy to make at home. Make them delicious by adding herbs and spices.
• Candy- Healthy alternatives to candy include raisins or strawberries and bananas lightly drizzled with chocolate.
• Milkshakes- Smoothies made with fresh fruit and low-fat yogurt are a healthier option.
• Macaroni and cheese-Use low-fat cheese, add Greek yogurt to make it creamy and spinach to make it nutritious.

The battle against junk food is not lost. Keep food exciting and nutritious for your family by sourcing healthy recipe websites or visiting Jamaica Hospital’s Facebook and Twitter pages for suggestions.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to announce that it officially re-opened its Hospice Care Unit, The Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care, after undergoing a complete renovation.

To commemorate the important milestone, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held earlier this month on the unit. Joining Jamaica Hospital in celebrating the completion of the project were elected officials Borough President Melinda Katz, Senator Joseph Addabbo and Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer-Amato as well as others who support the hospital’s efforts to provide essential services to the community.

The journey for the Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care began last year when a $1.3 million capital campaign was initiated by the Hospital’s leadership in an effort to facilitate the renovation. Thanks to the generosity of several donors, including Board Member Joseph Ferrara, the namesake of the unit, the hospital has successfully completed construction.

News of the grand re- opening of the unit has been well received by many in the community, as the  Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care was designed to offer end-of-life care in a family-oriented environment. Many upgraded amenities have been provided for patients and families that promote serenity, privacy and will allow them to feel more at home during a difficult time.  Additionally, the unit offers comforts such as private and spacious suites for patients, family meeting rooms and a relaxing family lounge that offers loved ones a space to gather, de-compress or reflect.

Jamaica Hospital’s staff is very appreciative of the community’s positive reception of the Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care and the services it will provide. “It is our goal that our patients and their loved ones receive compassion and comfort during a time that can be very difficult,” said Dr. Alan Roth; Chairman of Family Medicine and Chief of Palliative Care Medicine. Dr. Roth continued “We will continue to apply this approach in a new, modern and family environment.”

Watch our Interview on  NY1 News.

In April, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center celebrated National Donate Life Month. The hospital participated in a public education campaign to raise awareness about the importance of registering to become an organ donor.

Community outreach efforts included collaborating with LiveOnNY and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz to promote the initiative and encourage New Yorkers to sign up for the organ donor registry.

To mark the end of the month-long campaign, Jamaica Hospital hosted a special flag raising ceremony to pay tribute to organ donor families and recipients. LiveOnNY President Helen Irving joined hospital leadership and staff as well as Borough President Katz and organ donation advocate Jimmy Nolan, in raising the nationally recognized Donate Life flag in honor of Michael Nolan -Jimmy’s brother.

Michael Nolan who tragically passed away a few years ago was on his way to becoming a professional baseball player when his life was taken. He was a registered organ donor and by giving the gift of life he saved the lives of six people. While the loss of their loved one has been difficult, the Nolan family takes pride in knowing that Michael’s legacy continues.

In addition to hosting the flag raising ceremony, Jamaica Hospital was selected by the Hospital Association of New York (HANYS) as one of two hospitals to participate in a video advocating organ donation.  In the video the hospital’s President and CEO Bruce J. Flanz, Chairman of Family Medicine and Palliative Care Alan Roth and Medical Director of Long Term Care Anthony DiMaria each shared their thoughts on why more New Yorkers should enroll as organ donors.

To see the full video, click here https://hanys.wistia.com/medias/b8prgr1yxt

Congratulations to the MediSys Health Network for achieving one of the highest levels of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s (HIMSS) Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model, also known as EMRAM.

The Network received a certificate of achievement and recognition from the HIMSS Analytics Healthcare Advisory Services Group for successfully completing all the requirements needed to secure a Level 6 status.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center are two of few hospitals in New York State to earn this high-level ranking and join an elite group of health care providers who best use information technology (IT) to provide quality health care services to patients.

HIMSS, globally renowned for transforming health and healthcare by way of information technology, works with 640 corporate members and 450 nonprofit organizations in North America to “improve the quality, cost-effectiveness, access, and value of healthcare.”

The organization created EMRAM to “score hospitals around the world” on their EMR (electronic media record) and data analysis capabilities.  There are stages in which hospitals need to satisfy strict requirements that demonstrate their ability to “harness technology to support optimized patient care.” Only 30% of healthcare institutions nationwide boast level 6 accreditation.

While earning a level 6 EMRAM status is a significant accomplishment for the MediSys Network, there are also several advantages for patients.   A level 6 designation indicates that Jamaica and Flushing Hospital have established stringent processes to provide safeguards to reduce medical errors and inefficiencies such as duplicate or unnecessary testing.

The Information Technology Department of the MediSys Health Network works diligently to keep Jamaica and Flushing Hospital at the forefront of technological innovations that improve staff functionality and patient experience.  We look forward to future projects and celebrating the department’s accomplishments as they continue to strive toward the Network’s overall goal of providing quality health care in all facets.

Each year the Creative Arts Therapy Division at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center hosts a series of events, which includes an art exhibition in observance of Creative Arts Therapy Week.

The purpose of these events is to demonstrate the benefits of utilizing creative arts such as painting, music and dance as a form of therapy for patients receiving treatment for mental illnesses.

Over the last few years, the hospital’s therapists have transformed the main lobby into a beautiful art gallery enjoyed by patients, guests and staff during Creative Arts Therapy Week.   The gallery typically showcases the work of patients participating in the program; however, this year, hospital employees from several departments were invited to a workshop where they created their very own works of art for the exhibition.  Each piece was vibrant and relayed messages of encouragement and positivity.

The contribution of art from hospital staff was not the only new component to this year’s exhibition, as a nod to the theme for 2017, “Seen and Heard,” live musicians including an acoustic guitarist serenaded guests while they browsed and socialized.

The Creative Arts Therapy Division’s, art exhibit was well-received by the community and hospital staff. Not only was the exhibit a success at Jamaica Hospital it also received positive acclaim at the Queens Museum, where the pieces were later placed on display.

Creative arts therapy encourages self- exploration, helps organize emotions and has a profoundly positive effect on mental well-being. Patients often begin therapy feeling unhappy, conflicted or isolated but by creating art they are able to share their feelings, engage with therapists and begin the process of recovery. It is for these reasons and others that this form of therapy has been an integral part of the Department of Psychiatry at Jamaica Hospital for nearly 20 years.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center celebrated National Nutrition Month in March by hosting a series of fun and educational activities for the community as well as staff members.

The theme for this year’s celebration was, “Put Your Best Fork Forward,” an educational campaign promoted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The focus of the campaign was to inform the public about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle by including physical activities and well-balanced meals as part of a routine.

The Nutritional Services Department at Jamaica Hospital kicked off National Nutrition Month in the hospital’s cafeteria by interacting with guests at the Wellness Table and placing educational cards on meal trays. Each week, the department kept staff and visitors informed and engaged with activities such as contests and recipe tastings. Employees were also invited to “get moving” during ZUMBA and self-defense classes and de-stress at meditation sessions held at the hospital’s fitness center. The Nutritional Services Department also coordinated the JHMC Health Fair on March 24th which was highly successful and well received.

Throughout National Nutrition Month, Flushing Hospital’s Nutrition Department provided healthy alternative meals and recipes to cafeteria diners. The department also promoted the launch of the Walking Club; an initiative created to promote workplace wellness and encourage employees to exercise.

The highlight of the month came on National Registered Dietitian Day when New York City Councilman Peter Koo recognized Flushing Hospital dietitians for their community outreach initiatives. A representative from the Councilman’s office presented members of the Nutrition Department with a proclamation, commending them for their dedication to improving the health of the community.

Overall National Nutrition Month was a great success at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center. Community outreach efforts were widely and positively received. The success of these events solidifies our relationship with our communities and reminds them that we are here to improve their overall health and wellness.