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.

Flushing Hospital’s da Vinci robot made a public appearance on October 30^th 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.

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

Last 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.

Flushing 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.

To help individuals manage their high blood pressure, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has recently implemented group visits for hypertension at our MediSys Family Care Center in Jamaica, Queens.

The group model has become increasingly popular and provides many benefits for both patients and providers. Group visits offer participants a unique and supportive setting.  Participants have the opportunity to learn from each other and gain the necessary self-management skills to improve their health.  Group visits have shown to improve adherence to care, increase trust in their providers, lower hospitalization rates, and improved quality of life.

The hospital’s hypertension group visits consist of approximately four to six patients.  The groups meet regularly for an extended visit that is led by a physician. Patients have the opportunity to learn about disease management from their physician and from each other.

Patients discuss a range of topics, including nutrition, exercise, and medications. Members are encouraged to engage in a free-flowing dialogue that is facilitated by the doctor.  The doctor offers support, education, and counseling.

Although it is a group model, each patient receives individualized care.  Each patient has their vital signs monitored, blood work reviewed and medications are altered as needed.

Group medical visits have been incorporated as one of our Patient Centered Medical Home PCMH initiatives.  PCMH is a new model of care that focuses on delivering high-quality, well-coordinated primary care.  It also emphasizes the importance of self-care in the management of chronic disease.  Jamaica Hospital has achieved PCMH designation at several off-site care centers.

Jamaica Hospital is proud to be a pioneer in the evolution of healthcare and invites members of the community to experience the many benefits of group care. For more information on Jamaica Hospital’s hypertension group model, please call 718-206-7088.

When the popular show Health Corner which airs on Queens Public Television wanted a pediatric expert to speak about two very important topics; the Enterovirus and sports related concussions, they sought Jamaica Hospital’s Dr. Maria Lechuga, an attending physician in the Pediatric Emergency department since 1991.

Dr. Lechuga’s Interview with Health Corner’s Rosalyn Nieves

Dr. Lechuga was first interviewed by journalist Luchia Dragos about sports related injuries specifically concussions.  The doctor informed viewers that a concussion is brain trauma secondary to an injury and the symptoms to look out for include disorientation,headaches and dizziness.  Watch here: https://vimeo.com/107947984

Health Corner Update: Sports Related Injuries from Queens Public Television on Vimeo.

The second interview was conducted by reporter Rosalyn Nieves about the Enterovirus. The Enterovirus causes mild to severe respiratory illness in infants, children and teenagers. Symptoms may include coughing, sneezing, fever and difficulty breathing. The virus can be spread from person to person when the infected sneezes, coughs or touches surfaces that are later touched by others. The best preventative measure is to frequently wash your hands.                                               Watch here: https://vimeo.com/108126925

Health Corner Update: Enterovirus from Queens Public Television on Vimeo.

We would like to thank Dr. Lechuga for sharing her expertise with the public and for a job well done.