Author Archives: Patrick Hercules

The Department of Professional Development and Organized Learning Receives All-Star Award

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Celebrating Excellence: Professional Development and Organizational Learning (PDOL) Receives All‑Star Award  

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to share that the Department of Professional Development and Organized Learning (PDOL) has received an All‑Star Award for our Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Program!  

The hospital is among the very first group of Training Centers to earn the prestigious American Heart Association All-Star Recognition. 

This distinction is no small achievement. The Training Center has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the American Heart Association’s mission by consistently delivering high-quality CPR education, following ECC Guidelines, and elevating the standard of lifesaving training in our communities.  

By meeting or exceeding all program criteria, including outstanding eCard performance metrics, adherence to training quality measures, and maintaining top-tier program compliance, Professional Development has proven that their team sets the bar for what it means to operate an exemplary American Heart Association Training Center compliance, they’ve proven that their team sets the bar for what it means to operate an exemplary American Heart Association Training Center.  

The All-Star Award represents much more than a certificate. It symbolizes the real-world impact the department makes every day. Through its training, PDOL enhances confidence, improves readiness, and empowers learners with the skills that save lives. This recognition reflects the dedication, collaboration, and commitment of our staff to delivering high-quality services and positive outcomes. Thank you to Lynette Hope, Assistant Director, Patricia Stith, Assistant Vice President, and everyone whose hard work made this achievement possible. 

The American Heart Association is proud to acknowledge the department’s excellence, leadership, and unwavering commitment to building safer, stronger communities.   

Once again, congratulations on achieving this incredible milestone. Your continued dedication shapes the future of lifesaving training.  

Thank you for everything you do. Shine on, All-Stars!  

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Employee Softball Game

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On September 13th, 2025, Flushing Hospital Medical Center held its annual employee softball game. The event has been held every year since 2017, but was postponed in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organized by Robert Arbitello, the Assistant Director of Material Management, the tournament consisted of nine teams, five from Flushing Hospital, two from Jamaica Hospital, and two from Health First. With almost 100 players participating, each team consisted of 12 players, a mixture of employees from different departments, as Mr. Arbitello put it, “It’s a great way for people to get to know each other.”

This was more than just a hospital event. It was a family event. “It was a day for friends and family members to have fun”, said Mr. Arbitello. In addition to a great game of softball, barbecue was served, and a face painter was available for the children in attendance.

The event was a huge success, with Mr. Arbitello receiving great feedback from the employees who attended, telling him that they had a lot of fun. “Events like these are great for morale, and we want the employees to know that they are cared for”, he says. He only has three rules for attending: you either play, volunteer, or bring your family.

 

MediSys Health Network Awarded for Its Excellence in Stroke Care

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The MediSys Health Network continues to demonstrate its unwavering dedication to providing high-quality stroke care. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center was recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for its continued commitment to quality improvement across its cardiovascular and stroke service lines by awarding the hospital the 2025 AHA Commitment to Quality Award.

Additionally, Jamaica and Flushing Hospital received the American Heart Association’s 2025 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus with Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Achievement Award. 

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. 

Both Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers’ Departments of Prehospital Care have also received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold achievement award for their commitment to offering rapid and research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attacks and strokes, ultimately saving lives. 

Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers’ Departments of Prehospital Care are honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing optimal care for heart attack patients. The Mission: Lifeline program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work daily, so patients have the best possible chance of survival. 

Congratulations to both hospitals on being recognized for these great achievements.  

MediSys Health Network Research Day

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The MediSys Health Network of Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers held its Fourth Annual Research Conference and Poster Competition.  

The posters submitted are broken into three categories: Case Reports, Empirical Research, and Quality Improvements. They are then graded on a rubric of five areas: format, visual, content 1, content 2, and impact.  

The first-place winning posters in Case Reports were “Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management of Pulmonary Hypertension” by T. Okan, M. Al-Dmour, M. Hussein, S. Mohammed, V. Patel, A. Doshi, S. Jain, and K. Doshi (JHMC) and “HIV and Miliary Tuberculosis Co-Infection: A Case Series” by A. Inghirami, M.A. Burrola-Suarez, and J. Shakil (FHMC). 

Second-place winning posters of the category included “A Case of Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism Treated with Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in a Patient Who Presented with Syncope and Chest Pain” by R. Maharjan, S. Rao, Z. Lasic (JHMC), and “Spontaneous Splenic Rupture in a 74-Year Old on Apixaban” by C. Montesano, D. Egbo, N. Marfo, M.A. Louis, and  N. Mandava.  

And finally, the third-place posters were “The Use of Intravenous Thrombolytics for Acute Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Thrombocytopenia Complicated by Hemorrhagic Conversion Due to Undiagnosed Malignancy” by A. Sivapalan, C. Ninan, and A. Waddell (JHMC) and “Breast Cancer and Tumor Lysis Syndrome: A Rare Critical Issue” by V. Khachatryan, M.A. Burrola-Suarez, M.T. Rahman, N. Tasnim, K. Cappas, and A. Khan (FHMC). 

In the Empirical Research Category, the posters that were awarded first place were “Assessing Patient-Providers’ Conversations about Stress and Health” by F. Khan, A. Mir, L. Gance, S. Chemouni Bach, M. Basant, A. Chorzepa, L. Keating, C. Nienaber, A. Roth, D. Chen, and E. Brondolo (JHMC) and “Circadian Variations of Glucose Challenge Test Results in Pregnancy: Examining Non-Linear Trends” by A. Makol, L. Keating, R.J. Robitsek, T. Tang, Lien B, L. Woo, and I. Ngai (FHMC).  

Second-place winning posters were “Comparing Acidity and Dental-Hypersensitivity Between Arginine Mouthrinse and SDF” by M.R. Mears, L. Keating, and J. Weiss (JHMC) and “Exploring Potential Under Diagnosis of Hypophosphatasia” by R. Faridizad, K. Cappas Cordero, S. Khalid, H. Sadia, M. Mafi, A. Russo, L. Keating, and K. Robinson (FHMC). 

Lastly, the third-place winning posters of the category were “Point of Care Fentanyl Testing VS. Standard Testing in a Chemical Dependency Unit” by M.S. Radeos, J. Cintron-Hernandez, B. Balchan, G. John, B. Joseph, A.M. Radeos, J. Wong, and D. Chen (JHMC) and “Adipose Rebound in Patients with Congenital Hypothyroidism in an Urban Multiethnic Community Hospital” by N.L. Sands, A. Glowacki, A. Gogenini, M. Roland, and L.Q. Lew (FHMC). 

In the final category Quality Improvements, the first-place winning posters were, “Improving Pain Documentation in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: Efforts to Support a Developing Standard of Care” by H. Liu, H. Jaber, A. Jaramillo, F. Khan, Z. Sagarwala, C. Pang, R. Resendez Rodriguez, E. Siaw, S. Varughese, H. Woo, A. Eromosele, L. Keating, P. Cruz, C. Nienaber, A. Roth, and E. Brondolo (JHMC) and “QI Project: Assessing Internal Medicine Interns’ Confidence in Various Tasks Over the Course of Intern Year” by S. Dubey, M. Roland, and K. Beekman (FHMC). 

Congratulations to all of those who placed, the honorable mentions of each category, and everyone who participated in this year’s Research Day Conference and Poster Competition.

 

Congratulations to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s V.E.T.O. Program on Celebrating its 5th Anniversary

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This year marks five years since Jamaica Hospital Medical Center first launched its Violence Elimination and Trauma Outreach (V.E.T.O.) program. The V.E.T.O. program is a hospital-based, multidisciplinary Hospital Violence Intervention Program designed to disrupt cycles of violence and promote healing.  

Beginning as a pilot in 2020-2021, under the leadership of Dr. Katherine McKenzie and the Director of Health Equity, Naa Djama, the program was started to serve victims of gun violence for over thirty days in collaboration with Care Management. 

Currently, the V.E.T.O. program staff consists of a Trauma Counselor, a Care Coordinator, and a Peer-Ally Trauma Healing Coach, who coordinates the delivery of comprehensive case management services to support the patient’s recovery. This team conducts risk assessments for community retaliation, offers counseling and grief support to patients and families, and connects them to essential community-based resources such as victim assistance applications, housing, education, employment, legal aid, nutrition, and mental health services. In collaboration with the THRIVE Center, the VETO Program hosts monthly peer support groups, led by the Peer Ally Trauma Healing Coach and the VETO Trauma Counselor. This support group aims to connect survivors with others who have overcome the challenge of recovery from a traumatic injury related to community violence and to keep survivors connected to accessible mental health services. 

As the VETO Program predominantly serves a minority population that faces several health disparities and challenges, Jamaica Hospital recognizes the importance of providing victim services that are operated and led by and for the population served. The VETO program utilizes community partnerships with organizations such as King of Kings Foundation and Life Camp Inc., both dispatch credible messengers to provide bedside crisis response and reduce retaliatory violence.  

In April of 2025, Jamaica Hospital’s VETO program and its Mobile Crisis Department agreed to collaborate to provide immediate mental health services to patients who suffered a violent injury. This collaboration results in quicker response times during crises and facilitates expedited connections to ongoing mental health services through Jamaica Hospital’s Psychiatric Department. 

The VETO Program aims to address not only the medical needs of patients but also to tackle other factors related to gun violence in the community through outreach and education. The program actively participates in events that promote awareness, including National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Recently, the VETO Program celebrated this day by encouraging everyone to wear orange and inviting community members to a special event held in the main lobby of Jamaica Hospital.

In the future, the VETO Program hopes to extend its reach to more members of our community. We look forward to the program’s ongoing efforts in tackling the critical issue of gun violence and its effect on health.

Congratulations to Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s OBGYN Sexual Reproductive Ambulatory Center on their Designation as a New York State Breastfeeding, Chestfeeding, and Lactation Friendly Practice by the New York State Department of Health

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Congratulations to Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s OBGYN Sexual Reproductive Ambulatory Center for being designated as a New York State Breastfeeding, Chestfeeding, and Lactation Friendly Practice by the New York State Department of Health.

The designation is for the next five years and indicates that the hospital is certified as baby-friendly for its outpatient services. The distinguished Baby-Friendly designation means that Flushing Hospital is committed to upholding the strict breastfeeding/chestfeeding and maternal care guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), while adhering to the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” and educate families to make informed decisions about infant feeding. The promotion and support of breastfeeding begin during preconception and continue through the prenatal and postpartum phases, encompassing the ongoing care of the pregnant person, the infant, and the family. Led by Lactation Coordinator Ario Pierre-Sutton of the Medisys Allure (Advancing Lactation Learning and Understanding in a Respectful Environment) Program, lactation consultants and interns can spend time with patients and teach nurses the best ways to help breastfeeding patients. The designation also allowed the hospital to upgrade lactation rooms and provide Mamava Lactation Pods to the pediatric center, where mothers can breastfeed safely.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of New York’s parents and infants for the next five years and beyond.

Congratulations to Flushing Hospital Medical Center for being Recognized as Pediatric Ready!

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Congratulations to Flushing Hospital Medical Center for being recognized as Pediatric Ready! by the New York Always Ready for Children Pediatric Recognition Program.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center participated in the program which aims to ensure that every ill and injured child receives appropriate emergency medical care within New York State emergency departments. The hospital was recognized for its efforts and dedication to help set the standard for the best possible pediatric care in New York.

This recognition is a testament to Flushing Hospital’s commitment to pediatric readiness in medical and traumatic emergencies. Participating in the New York Always Ready for Children Pediatric Recognition Program indicates participation in the National Pediatric Readiness Project, having a physician and nurse Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator, and a willingness to share resources and collaborate with other hospitals in New York State to improve pediatric care.

This program is an effort supported by the EMS for Children Innovation and Improvement Center, the Federal Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Emergency Nurses Association, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the American College of Surgeons.

The Always Ready for Children (ARC) Pediatric Recognition Program is a state and region-wide recognition system for emergency departments committed to improving their pediatric care. The program was created, managed, and maintained by the region’s EMS for Children State Partnership Programs (EMSC), with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration and the EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center.

The Lown Institute Has Recognized Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers For Excellence in Health Equity

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The Lown Institute has recognized Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers for excellence in health equity, receiving an “A” grade on the 2024-25 Lown Institute Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility.

Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers achieved this honor through strong performance across metrics of community benefit, pay equity, and inclusivity out of more than 3,500 hospitals nationwide.

“Great care is only great if everyone can access it,” said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. “We need hospitals to be strong community partners—and Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals are at the top of our list showing the way.”

The Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility is the only ranking to combine health equity metrics and value of care alongside patient outcomes, for more than 2,700 acute care and 800 critical access hospitals nationwide—offering a holistic view of hospitals as total community partners. In the fifth annual rankings, the 2024-25 Lown Index evaluates hospitals on over 50 measures including novel metrics such as community benefit, racial inclusivity, and avoidance of overuse. Data sources include Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage claims, CMS patient safety data and hospital cost reports, and IRS 990 forms. The full can be found on the Lown Index website.

The Lown Institute is an independent think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring system for health. Learn more at www.LownHospitalsIndex.org.

JHMC Nurses in Singapore

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Recently, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center nurses attended the Sigma Theta Tau International Research Congress Sharing Insights, Advancing Care: Disseminating Nursing Research and Evidence for the Future in Singapore, Indonesia. Representing Jamaica Hospital was Sharon Wexler, PhD, RN, Nurse Scientist, Vik Singh, MS, RN, Director of Nursing, Annessa Madraymootoo-Ramdial, MSN, RN, Rohan Sumrah, MS, RN, Clinical Nurse Leaders, and Shiv Kumari Santram, MS, RN, Nurse Manager.

Sigma Theta Tau International Nurses Honor Society was founded in 1922 by six nursing students. It became the first US organization to fund nursing research. With membership being by invitation only, Sigma has more than 100,000 active members who reside in more than 100 countries. Throughout the world, there are roughly 600 chapters at more than 700 institutions of higher education. Jamaica Medical Center affiliates with Pace University Omega Delta Chapter of Sigma. Sigma has always recognized the value of scholarship and excellence in nursing practice.

The Research Congress was attended by 1,026 attendees representing 47 countries and 185 Honor Society Chapters. 65% of the attendees have a doctoral degree. There were 1,039 educational sessions.

At the Research Congress, the representatives from Jamaica Hospital presented the poster “Clinical Nurse Leader: An Innovative Solution to Facilitating Excellence at the Bedside”. The premise of the poster and presentation was to discuss the role of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. The role was introduced by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in 2003, the first new nursing role in over 35 years. The CNL assumes accountability for patient-care outcomes through the assimilation and application of evidence-based information to design, implement, and evaluate patient-care processes and models of care delivery. The CNL is a provider and manager of care, at the point of care, to individuals and cohorts of patients anywhere healthcare is delivered. The poster was curated by Sharon Wexler, PhD, RN, Nurse Scientist, Kathleen Karsten, PhD, RN, and Susan Iovino, DNP, RN.

In addition to the poster and presentation, this initiative was accepted for publication in the November 2024 issue of Nursing Management, titled, Transforming Care at the Bedside: The Role of the Clinical Nurse Leader.

Congratulations to the nursing team for this amazing achievement.

Congratulations to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for Earning the ACR Lung Cancer Screening Designation

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Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has been designated a Lung Cancer Screening Center by the American College of Radiology.

The ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center designation is a voluntary program recognizing facilities committed to providing safe, effective diagnostic care for individuals at the highest risk for lung cancer.

To receive this elite distinction, facilities must be accredited by the ACR in computed tomography in the chest module and undergo a rigorous assessment of their lung cancer screening protocol and infrastructure. Procedures in place for follow-up patient care, such as counseling and smoking cessation programs, are also required.

Lung cancer is the nation’s leading cancer killer – taking the lives of more people each year than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined. That’s why the Jamaica Hospital Lung Cancer Screening Program is committed to improving the morbidity and mortality associated with lung cancer. Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography scans, and appropriate follow-up care, significantly reduces lung cancer deaths. Jamaica Hospital’s Lung Cancer Screening Program offers screening with an LDCT chest scan for high-risk individuals who are aged 50-80 years old, are current smokers or those who have quit within the past 15 years, have a tobacco smoking history of at least 20 pack years, and are asymptomatic with no signs or symptoms suggestive of lung cancer.

Congratulations to the Jamaica Hospital Lung Cancer Screening Program on receiving this outstanding recognition from the ACR, the gold standard in imaging.

For more information about the Lung Cancer Screening Center designation, visit: acr.org/Quality-Safety/Lung-Cancer-Screening-Center.