The Hospital Association of New York State (HANYS) recognizes member hospitals and health systems across New York that invest in forward-looking initiatives that strive to improve health outcomes and care quality outcomes. The HANYS member spotlight categorizes these initiatives into three categories, Innovation, Community Health, and Commitment to Excellence.
The MediSys Health Network was highlighted recently for Innovation for placing a priority on employee well-being. In the spring of 2022, the network creatively adapted and provided much-needed care for its healthcare team. This initiative was created in response to the extraordinary impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers which could have potentially threatened the quality of care to our patients.
MediSys implemented a multi-faceted approach to provide increased support for its team’s mental and emotional well-being. This program continues to grow as the pandemic persists. The programming includes:
- Staff wellness stations – physical spaces set up to facilitate relaxation and access to verbal and non-verbal therapeutic modalities
- Wellness Rounds – therapists walk through medical units to briefly check in with staff and other support.
- Aromatherapy and handmade affirmation cards
- Wellness groups – therapeutic art groups facilitated by licensed creative arts therapists
- Wellness sign-outs that focus on guided meditations and discussions
- Individual phone calls to offer wellness resources to all frontline team members
- Individual wellness sessions – therapists provide short-term, confidential emotional support to staff experiencing difficult life circumstances
Congratulations to all involved, specifically Karen Codd and Deb Brass for their hard work and dedication to the overall wellness of the MediSys Health Network team.
For more information, contact Karen Codd, MPS, LCAT, ATR-BC, DAT-c, Jamaica Hospital senior wellness coordinator, at kcodd@jhmc.org, or Deb Brass, MS, LCAT, ATR-BC, Flushing Hospital senior wellness coordinator, at dbrass@jhmc.org.