Category Archives: Medisys Health Network

MediSys Health Network Employees Organize Relief Efforts to Help Those in India

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Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Center were located at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic last March and April. During that time, our hospitals were fortunate enough to receive support from multiple individuals and organizations.

Thankfully, positivity rates are declining in our area, but in other parts of the world people are still contracting the virus at alarming rates. One such country is India where hundreds of thousands of people are becoming infected and thousands are dying daily. Many are in desperate need of assistance.

Through two separate initiatives, employees within the MediSys Health Network answered the call to help by coordinating the delivery of much needed equipment to help those most in need.

One such effort was coordinated by Dr. Abhujeet Kaur, who works in Jamaica Hospital’s Emergency Department. Dr. Kaur also volunteers for Khalsa Aid, a global humanitarian organization that generously provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and meals to our employees while they bravely treating an extremely high volume of COVID patients last year. With the global focus now on India, Dr. Kaur, with the assistance of Ray Fredericks Jr. and his staff were able to coordinate the purchase and shipment of 500 oxygen concentrators, along with the transformers needed to operate them. These vital pieces of equipment were stored in the Network’s warehouse and delivered to JFK International Airport by our employees before safely reaching India earlier this month.

In a separate relief effort, Dr. Dakshayani Guttal, a pediatrician for the MediSys Health Network and a volunteer with the non-profit organization Kannada Koota (KKNY) collaborated with respiratory care leadership at both hospitals to secure five manual ventilators. The life-saving devices arrived in India on May 25th.  Like Khalsa Aid, KKNY also supported the MediSyS Health Network by raising $5,000 to assist our efforts and donated meals to our employees.

We thank all those individuals who give so selflessly of themselves to help those most in need.

Highlighting the Achievements of the Division of Cardiology

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Dr. Aditya Mangla

The MediSys Health Network is focused on providing the highest quality, cost-effective care to our patients. We continually assess the needs of our community and offer new services.  Over the last few years, we have added a group of talented, sub-specialty trained physicians who have made significant advancements in their respective departments.

We would like to introduce some of our new team members and the services they have added to our network. Today we are highlighting the achievements of our Division of Cardiology.

Under the leadership of Dr. Aditya Mangla and Dr. Zoran Lasic, the Network’s cardiology service has maintained a robust, high-quality coronary intervention program throughout the COVID pandemic and is now back to pre-pandemic volume. They have created a comprehensive cardiogenic shock program to diagnose and treat patients who suffered a catastrophic heart attack. This treatment is achieved by quickly reestablishing blood flow to the heart, and, if necessary, inserting support devices to patients who experienced severe shock.

Additionally, the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) has been working with the national registry for pulmonary embolisms and over the past two years has further developed their ability to perform pulmonary embolism catheter-based therapy. This is important because pulmonary embolisms have been recognized as significant causes for patient mortality and our ability to quickly and effectively provide this service will save countless lives.

Lastly, the cardiology division is collaborating with the Division of Vascular Surgery to begin an endovascular deep venous thrombosis program as an extension of their existing pulmonary embolism program.

The Cardiology Division has also received many accolades for its high-quality care, including being ranked as one of the “Top 100 Hospitals in the U.S. for Coronary Intervention” by Healthgrades. They also received the Gold Plus award for Heart Failure management and the Bronze award for NSTEMI management from the American Heart Association.

Congratulations to The MediSys Health Network’s Cardiology Division for these many achievements.

 

 

 

MediSys Partners With Queensboro FC, N.Y.C.’s Newest Soccer Club

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The MediSys Health Network has recently been named as the official and exclusive Founding Medical Partner for Queensboro FC (QBFC), New York City’s newest soccer team, which is premiering in the United Soccer League this season. According to the partnership, our orthopedic surgical team, led by Dr. Sanjit Konda, will serve as the medical services provider for the team.

To announce themselves, Queensboro FC held a virtual event to reveal the new team jersey.  Unlike most soccer teams who reserve the front of their jerseys for sponsorship opportunities, Queensboro FC instead donated the front of their jerseys to honor the healthcare heroes of Queens.

The logo features the hybrid of the Queensboro bridge and an EKG across the top with the words “healthcare heroes” encased in a protective shield.  Written around the perimeter of the shield are the Flushing and Jamaica Hospital names, along with the names of the other Queens hospitals that were at the epicenter of the pandemic. Members of the MediSys Health Network took part in the development of the logo.

The official launch of the jersey took place on March 23rd and was accompanied by a “hype video” featuring many Jamaica and Flushing healthcare heroes unveiling the jersey.  To see the full video, click here:

Queensboro FC has also generously agreed to donate 100% of the net proceeds from jersey sales that will benefit the healthcare community which has been essential to the care and well-being of NYC residents throughout the pandemic and beyond. To purchase a jersey, please visit the QBFC Shop

“It is incredibly inspiring to see QBFC, a brand-new player in NYC’s pro sports scene, already working closely with the local community,” says Dr. Sanjit Konda, Chairman of Orthopedic Surgery at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital, “Sports can have a wide variety of healing powers and we are excited to bring this partnership to life with programs that will benefit Queens residents, now and for generations to come.”

 

 

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Receive 2020 Women’s Care Awards

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Healthgrades, a leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems, recently announced their 2020 list of Women’s Care Awards recipients and this year Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center were among the hospitals honored for the superior care offered to women during labor and delivery and gynecological procedures.

Healthgrades reviews data from thousands of hospitals across the country to determine which hospitals receive awards. The awards are separated into three distinct categories:

  • The Labor and Delivery Excellence Award recognizes hospitals for superior care of women during and after childbirth.
  • The Gynecologic Surgery Excellence Award recognizes hospitals for superior outcomes in surgeries that treat diseases and conditions of the female reproductive system and correct certain conditions of the urinary tract and rectum.
  • The Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award recognizes hospitals for superior outcomes during and after childbirth and in surgeries that treat diseases and conditions of the female reproductive system.

This year, Jamaica Hospital received the Gynecologic Surgery Excellence Award and Flushing Hospital received the Labor and Delivery Excellence Award and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award.

Only 162 hospitals from across the country received an award, and Flushing Hospital was one of only 74 hospitals to receive two or more awards. Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital were the only two Queens-based hospitals to receive this honor from Healthgrades.

Congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this distinction.

 

 

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Launch Their Patient And Family Advisory Councils

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Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center each held their inaugural Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) meetings on October 14th and 15th respectively. The PFAC meetings are a product of our collaboration with the Planetree initiative and mark a significant step in the MediSys Health Network’s path to becoming a person-centered organization.

PFAC was established to provide our hospitals with a fresh perspective, from the eyes of our patients, and use that knowledge to potentially transform how we deliver care. At these meetings, patients and their family members are asked to share their experiences while at our hospitals and provide feedback about what we are doing well as well as how we can continue to make improvements.

These dedicated individuals, known as PFAC advisors, will meet monthly with an interdisciplinary group of hospital team members. These advisors were specially selected based on the meaningful interactions they had with our team while either they or their loved ones were rendered care at our hospitals. The advisors’ insights serve as valuable information, as we look to continue to improve our patients’ experiences.

We would like to acknowledge these valuable members not only for volunteering their time but also for their passion for improving caring interactions within the walls of our institutions, which many of us call our second home.  The first two advisors to join Jamaica Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council are Caridad Diaz and Lydia Guzman.  Runa Khan and Andrew Sheppard have both graciously agreed to serve as Flushing Hospital’s PFAC advisors.

The advisors meet on the second Monday of every month at Jamaica Hospital and third Tuesday at Flushing Hospital. Each of them has made a two-year commitment to the Patient and Family Advisory Council.

For more information about the PFAC program at Jamaica Hospital, please contact Emilia Escamilla-Rebaza at 718-206-8983 or email her at EEscamil@jhmc.org.

For more information about the PFAC program at Flushing Hospital, please contact Daryl Arcinas at 718-670-8930 or e-mail him at DArcinas.flushing@jhmc.org.

MediSys Celebrates Research Day at Flushing and Jamaica Hospital

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The MediSys Health Network recently showcased the academic achievements of its clinical staff during Research Day, an annual event that is celebrated at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Research Day at Flushing HospitalOn Friday, May 24th, over 30 research posters and additional published works were displayed in print and electronic forms in Jamaica Hospital’s auditoriums. The following week, on Thursday, May 30th, Flushing Hospital showcased nearly three dozen posters on the walls of the auditorium. All of the posters on display were presented at professional conferences within the last year.

Research Day at Jamaica HospitalMany passed through and admired the posters at both events, which included submissions from various departments including family and internal medicine, ob/gyn, orthopedics, pathology, pediatrics, psychiatry, pulmonology, surgery, and trauma.

Research day was organized by the Research Department.  The event demonstrated the network’s dedication to education and research.

Congratulations to all involved.

Dr. Luigi Tullo Receives Award from the United Hospital Fund

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On Monday, May 6th, Dr. Luigi Tullo received a United Hospital Fund “Tribute to Excellence in Health Care” award.  This award is presented to healthcare professionals recognized as Quality Improvement Champions across the New York Metropolitan area.

According to the United Hospital Fund, nominations were awarded to individuals who exemplified “extraordinary personal leadership to improve quality care, patient safety, and patient experience of care”.

Through Dr. Tullo’s leadership, the Outpatient Antibiotics Stewardship Initiative (OASI) at Jamaica Hospital has developed measures to improve how antibiotics are prescribed by doctors and how patients are using them. As part of this initiative, the hospital has implemented tools to assist physicians in their electronic medical records and has used teaching aids from the CDC’s “Get Smart” public education campaign to inform patients.

The Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship Initiative has significantly improved provider prescribing practices and patient understanding of antibiotics misuse. Through this initiative, the OASI program achieved a total decrease in antibiotic prescriptions by 35.4% and a decrease in inappropriate prescriptions being given by 67.4%. Jamaica Hospital is closer to achieving its goal of reducing future antibiotic resistance in our community

It is with great pride that we recognize Dr. Luigi Tullo for his outstanding personal leadership to improve the quality of care provided to our community.

The Jamaica Hospital Volunteer Awards Ceremony and Dinner

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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.

The MediSys Health Network Announces Collaboration With Planetree International

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Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center are proud to be two of only 12 hospitals chosen to participate in a 24-month collaborative program that will help the MediSys Health Network reach its goal of delivering the highest level of patient-centered care.

The program, which is being funded by the NYS Health Foundation, will allow both hospitals the opportunity to work with Planetree, an international, non-profit organization that facilitates patient-centered care in a healing environment.

According to the program, over the next two years, Planetree will partner with Jamaica and Flushing Hospital by offering a full spectrum of services to help them develop a path to providing person-centered care. Planetree will be assisting the MediSys hospitals by providing assessments to better understand our organization’s culture from all perspectives and offering coaching and training to help us develop, implement and maintain a range of person-centered care strategies. At the end of the 24-month collaborative, both hospitals hope to achieve Planetree Bronze Designation.

It has been proven that hospitals that are dedicated to patient-centered care have experienced many benefits, including:

  • Higher Quality of Care
  • Improved Patient Outcomes
  • Lower Readmission Rates
  • Shorter Lengths of Stay
  • Higher Patient Experience Scores
  • Increased Employee Satisfaction & Retention
  • Improved Reputation

Planetree’s mission to “inspire caregivers to make patients true partners in their care, meeting their human needs and improving outcomes” is in perfect alignment with the goals of the MediSys Health Network as it has been our main focus over the last several years to improve the patient experience.  “We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with Planetree. We hope that this collaboration will inspire a network-wide culture change to patient-centered care excellence” states Emilia Escamilla-Rebaza, RN, Director of Person-Centered Services.

Please stay tuned for more information about the Planetree collaborative.

MediSys Celebrates National Doctors’ Day

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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.