Flushing Hospital Receives Healthgrades 2019 Women’s Care Excellence Awards

Healthgrades, a leading online resource for information about physicians and hospitals, recently revealed its list of recipients for their 2019 Women’s Care Excellence Awards – and Flushing Hospital Medical Center is among the privileged and few recipients.

These awards recognize hospitals across the nation that demonstrate exceptional outcomes and excel in women’s healthcare services. The awards were broken down into three separate categories, including:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award – This award highlights hospitals for exceptional clinical outcomes while caring for women in childbirth, as well as during and after gynecologic surgeries and procedures.
  • Labor and Delivery Excellence Award – This distinction recognizes the top 10 % of all hospitals evaluated for the exceptional care provided to mothers during and after labor and delivery.
  • Gynecologic Surgery Excellence Award – This award recognizes the top 10% of hospitals evaluated that provided outstanding performance in gynecologic surgery, including hysterectomy and surgery related to the female reproductive system.

Flushing Hospital received all three awards and was the only hospital in Queens to receive the Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence awards.

According to Maria Smilios, Director of Nursing, “Flushing Hospital has done many things that have contributed to earning these awards, including creating standards to prevent inducing labor before 39 weeks gestation to reduce the chances of complications at birth.” Maria added that “providing our patients with continuity of care throughout their pregnancy and stressing the importance of maintaining proper prenatal care have also been major factors in our success.”  Other reasons to cite the hospital receiving these accolades include having dedicated gynecologists and gyn specialists on staff, as well as the addition of the daVinci robotic surgical system,  which has improved gynecological surgical outcomes for Flushing Hospital patients.

Approximately 3,000 babies are delivered at Flushing Hospital every year. The gynecology division performed over 1,500 procedures in 2018 and the hospital’s Women’s Health Center had nearly 14,000 outpatient visits last year.

“We are honored to receive these awards” stated Dr. Hajoon Chun, Chairman of Ob/Gyn at Flushing Hospital Medical Center. “It signifies the hospital’s dedication to providing the highest quality care to women in our community and is another example of why Flushing Hospital is the hospital of choice for so many seeking obstetrical and gynecological care.”

Congratulations to all of the physicians, nurses, and support staff responsible in earning this recognition.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center Receives New 3T MRI Scanner

The Radiology Department at Flushing Hospital offers a wide variety of advanced, state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging services to its patients. One of the ways they are able to do this is by offering the latest and most advanced imaging technology.

Through the acquisition of the Siemens MAGNETOM Skyra 3T MRI scanner, Flushing Hospital now provides one of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced machines in healthcare.

Like Flushing’s previous MRI machine, the new model features an open-bore design, with an extra wide patient tube to accommodate larger patients. The larger size also increases comfort levels and decrease feelings of claustrophobia for all patients. The open-bore feature results in fewer patients requiring sedation and provides overall higher patient satisfaction.

Another benefit of the new MAGNETOM Skyra is its advanced imaging capabilities. Equipped with a 3T magnet, it provides the most accurate, high-resolution images and delivers them in less time. The Zero Helium boil-off feature and the Green Cooling package also make the new MRI machine more environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

This new technology compliments Flushing Hospital’s team of Board Certified and fellowship-trained radiologists and highly-trained, experienced technologists. The department is fully accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR), which signifies a higher quality examination and care.

 

 

The Jamaica Hospital Volunteer Awards Ceremony and Dinner

In April, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center celebrated National Volunteer Week by hosting its annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony and Dinner.

The theme for this year’s celebration was “Volunteers – Every Moment Making a Difference,” chosen to highlight the many hours of service dedicated by the hospital’s volunteers.

Volunteers have provided 43,600 hours of service over the last year to departments throughout Jamaica Hospital. Their high level of commitment is greatly appreciated by patients and staff alike. This sentiment was expressed by the hospital’s Executive Vice President and COO William Lynch in a powerful message of thanks. He was later joined by Arlette Cunningham, Assistant Director of the Volunteer Department, to present awards.

Over ten volunteers were selected to receive awards of distinction, including Frances Hicks, who received Jamaica Hospital’s first ever Honoring Our Patients’ Expectations (HOPE) award- specially created to recognize volunteers who exhibit a profound commitment to the hospital. Frances was lauded for devoting nine years as an Ambulatory Surgery Patient Navigator Volunteer and helping to provide a supportive environment to chemotherapy patients.

Jamaica Hospital’s 6-South nursing unit also received special recognition and was presented with this year’s Team award for providing support to the Breastfeeding Volunteer Counselor Program. This program recruits, educates and trains volunteers aspiring to become lactation consultants.

Overall, Jamaica Hospital’s Volunteer Awards Ceremony and Dinner was a success. Many deserving individuals and teams were highlighted for their devotion to the hospital and the community.

Jamaica Hospital thanks all volunteers for their continued dedication and service to our patients and community.

MediSys Celebrates National Doctors’ Day

In 1991, President George H.W. Bush signed a proclamation that recognized physicians for the work that they do. This day, now known as National Doctors’ Day, is celebrated on March 30th and was created to thank physicians for their tireless contributions to our well-being as a society.

This year, the MediSys Health Network celebrated this national observance by hosting a special breakfast to honor our doctors. On Wednesday, March 27th, doctors at Jamaica Hospital were treated to a feast and the following day, Flushing Hospital doctors received a morning meal in their honor. Both events were hosted by Bruce Flanz; President and CEO, Dr. Sabiha Raoof; Chief Medical Officer, and many other hospital administrators who all showed their appreciation to our physicians. In addition to being treated to a delicious breakfast, every doctor at both hospitals received a gift for their hard work and dedication.

The MediSys Health Network is grateful to the hundreds of physicians who work in many different areas and contribute to the wellness of the men, women, and children in our communities.

Celebrating National Nurses Week

In 1982 President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation making May 6th National Recognition Day for Nurses, and this was later expanded to a whole week by American Nurses Association in 1990.

The purpose of this week-long celebration is to educate the public on the important role nurses play in healthcare and in our lives. Every year a different theme is selected by the American Nurses Association that highlights a different aspect of what nursing does. The theme for the 2018 National Nurses Week is “Nurses: Inspire. Innovate, and Influence”.

This year, the Nursing Departments at Flushing Hospital and Jamaica Hospital held various activities in recognition of National Nurses Week. These activities included an international food festival, luncheons for the nursing staff, a poster presentation, educational workshops, and wellness and relaxation activities.

We appreciate our nurses and thank them for their dedication to providing the highest level of care to our patients each and every day.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center Receives Mental Health Grant

Psychiatrist Flushing New York Flushing Hospital Medical Center has been selected as one of the eight awardees in New York State to share a $7.96 million grant through the Partnership Innovation for Older Adults Program. Each awardee will receive $1 million over a five-year time period.

The program supported by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo requires recipients to “establish community programs that identify adults age 55 or older whose independence or survival in the community is in jeopardy because of a mental health, substance use, or aging-related concern.”

Flushing Hospital through their partnership with Arms Acres and the New York City Department for the Aging plans to increase access to behavioral health and aging services by employing collaborative strategies which will utilize outreach and telemedicine technology to identify and engage older adults who may be at risk.  A part of this initiative includes the use of a mobile van staffed by mental health professionals to provide mobile outreach and off-site services. Dr. Chen, Vice Chairman and Dr. Ira Frankel, Administrator of the Department of Psychiatry and Addiction services are very pleased to be participating in this endeavor that enhances the value of all the hospital’s services.

“This grant award is just one more confirmation from New York State that Flushing Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Services is on the right path in advocating successful aging as a strategy of promoting good mental and physical health,” said Dr. Frankel.

 

FHMC Brings Healthy Choices to the Community

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On Friday, October 7th, Flushing Hospital Medical Center and Sodexo Registered Dietitians Laura Wang and Michelle Hill hosted the successful Farmers Market Tour (also known as the Grow NYC GreenMarket Tour) at the very busy Corona Queens location. The event was part of Flushing Hospital’s initiative to give the communities it serves more access to fresh, local fruits and vegetables.

The hospital has collaborated with the New York City Department of Health (NYCDOH) and Grow NYC to provide Health Bucks to patients who visit the Women’s Health Clinic.  According to the NYCDOH, “Health Bucks are paper vouchers, each worth $2.00.  They are distributed by the NYC Health Department’s District Public Health Offices and can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating markets.”

Typically a customer needs to spend $5 of EBT funds to receive $2 Health Bucks, to be used at any participating GreenMarket, however, this program allows participants to receive Health Bucks without using their own funds. Additionally, the participants received two times the dollar amount in Health Bucks for attending the GreenMarket Tour.

Several weeks before the Farmers Market tour took place in Corona, Flushing Hospital’s dietitians coordinated a community outreach event in the waiting room of the Women’s Health Clinic.  They distributed Health Bucks, taught visitors how to infuse fresh herbs with their drinking water and shared healthy recipes as well as information about the GreenMarket Tour.

Michelle Hill, Chief Clinical Dietitian, stated, “It was a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables and how to obtain them locally.” She continued, “This program is important because it is a way to help people afford and prepare for a healthy lifestyle while supporting regional farmers”

Flushing Hospital Welcomes Two New Orthopedic Surgeons

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Dr. Teo Mendez

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Division of Orthopedics is fortunate to welcome two new orthopedic surgeons from Manhattan-based New York Orthopedics (www.nyorthodoc.com).

Fellowship-trained surgeons, Drs. George Ackerman and Teo Mendez, began treating patients in October and are available for appointments on site at Flushing Hospital, Monday through Thursday. Both physicians specialize in the treatment and surgical procedures of the knee, foot and ankle, shoulder, hip, and elbow, as well as sports-related injuries. They have worked extensively as team physicians for both professional and college sports teams.

Dr-George-Ackerman

Dr. George Ackerman

New York Orthopedics is an orthopedic practice of top fellowship-trained physicians founded by Dr. Stephen J. Nicholas. It was built on a tradition of excellence in sports medicine set forth by James A. Nicholas, MD., who played a role in how sports injuries are treated today, and is perhaps best known for his career-saving knee operations on New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath.

Based on that tradition, Dr. Nicholas founded an institute in the 1970s dedicated to the study of sports medicine and trauma at Lenox Hill Hospital, the first hospital-based facility in the country that was devoted to this field, known today as the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma (NISMAT) (www.NISMAT.ORG).

Flushing Hospital’s da Vinci Robot Welcomed by Flashing Lights and Tech Fanfare

Ny 1 footageFlushing Hospital’s da Vinci robot made a public appearance on October 30th in the Flushing Hospital Medical Center lobby. The reception of the robot was overwhelmingly positive. There was a surge of excitement and curiosity as members of the community, physicians, reporters and elected officials became instantly intrigued at the sight of the da Vinci.

The main lobby of the hospital became abuzz with questions of “What does it do?” “How does it work?” The event provided a platform for doctors Roberto Cantu Jr., Neil Mandava, Alejandro Alcaide, Sanjeev Rajpal and Georges Sylvestre to answer these questions and educate guests on the types of surgeries that can be performed robotically and the benefits.  Prostate, gynecological and urological surgeries are some of the procedures the da Vinci surgical platform is capable of performing. The benefits include increased dexterity during surgery and shorter hospital stays for patients.

Flushing Councilman Peter Koo demonstrated the dexterity of the robot by operating it firsthand. From left: Councilman Peter Koo, Flushing Hospital’s Dr. Alexander Kintzoglou, Dr. Robert Crupi and COO Robert Levine.

Flushing Councilman Peter Koo demonstrated the dexterity of the robot by operating it firsthand. From left: Councilman Peter Koo, Flushing Hospital’s Dr. Alexander Kintzoglou, Dr. Robert Crupi and COO Robert Levine.

Guests were invited to operate the robot to complete a series of challenges using both a robot simulator as well as the actual da Vinci system.  Flushing Councilman Peter Koo was marveled by the mobility of the da Vinci and stated “It’s like operating a video game.” The collective opinion of the event was as best stated by Senator Toby Stavisky” It’s exciting that Flushing Hospital is literally on the cutting edge.”

 

Watch NY1 reporters operate the da Vinci here:

Flushing Hospital is fully invested in providing a superior standard of patient care and the acquisition of the da Vinci robot “is very important for our community, which wants to know their local hospital has the state-of-the-art technology,” Flushing  Hospital COO Robert Levine.

We would like to thank everyone who participated in making this event successful. To view some of the great reviews and coverage from the event; please click the following links.

http://queenstribune.com/flushing-hospital-unveils-new-surgical-robot/

http://www.qchron.com/editions/north/da-vinci-robotics-offers-new-choices/article_ab52be5a-939d-5a3b-9eda-4ceda4b00669.html

 

 

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Recognized by Angels On the Bay

angels on the bay FlushingLast month, both Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center were recognized by Angels on the Bay for tirelessly providing much-needed care to children residing in the communities we serve.

Angels on the Bay is a non-for-profit organization that was founded in 1994 by Frank Russo with the goal of raising funds to benefit children and pediatric services in the area. On Tuesday, October 15, the organization held their annual benefit ball at Russo’s on the Bay where they presented checks to many worthy pediatric causes. Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital were both recipients of Angels’ generosity.

angels on the bay JamaicaFlushing Hospital received over $28,000 this year . The hospital has received over $160,000 over the last five years. This year’s contribution will be used to purchase special cribs used to treat infants in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Over $17,000 was given to Jamaica Hospital this year to purchase equipment for the hospital’s Pediatric Emergency Department. Since 1995, Jamaica Hospital has received approximately $430,000 in contributions from Angels on the Bay.

Hospital Chief Operating Officers William Lynch and Robert Levine were present to accept the checks and offer their appreciation on behalf of Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital.