Jamaica Hospital Medical Center neurosurgeons were the first ever in Queens to perform a life-saving cerebrovascular operation. The surgical team led by Dr. Mohsen Nouri and Dr. Amrit Chiluwal successfully completed what is known as a cerebral artery bypass, an extremely delicate and complex procedure used to treat patients experiencing a narrowing or blockage of an artery that supplies blood to the brain.

The goal of the operation is to restore adequate blood supply by using a small artery from another part of the body (usually the scalp, neck or a vein in the leg) and connecting it to a vessel inside the brain to reroute blood flow around the blocked or damaged cerebral artery. This procedure is very similar to a cardiac bypass surgery where blocked heart arteries are bypassed.

Patients who typically undergo a cerebral artery bypass are those who have suffered from a stroke, a brain aneurysm or brain tumor. To determine if a patient is a candidate for this procedure, neurosurgeons at Jamaica Hospital rely on advanced nuclear medicine testing such as CT perfusion to show which areas of the brain are adequately supplied with blood and brain SPECT to evaluate blood flow, as well as other diagnostic imaging techniques. These tests are conducted in the hospital’s radiology department and cardiovascular interventional suite which are equipped with innovative radiological imaging technologies.  Once it is determined that a patient is a candidate, the cerebral artery bypass procedure is performed in one of the hospital’s operating rooms.

In addition to possessing the latest diagnostic and surgical technologies, Jamaica Hospital is also one of only a few hospitals in the region (and the only hospital in Queens) to have endovascular and cerebrovascular trained neurosurgeons capable of performing this advanced surgical intervention. “A cerebral artery bypass is one of the most technically challenging procedures a neurosurgeon can perform. This type of surgery requires great precision. It is only used to treat a very select group of patients, ideally those who are at a high risk for having a recurrent stroke or other complications that may result from the blockage of a cranial artery,” explained Dr. Mohsen Nouri.

“Thanks to the exceptional neurosurgical team that Jamaica Hospital has assembled, our department can offer patients in our community a highly valuable service.  Very few hospitals in our borough can provide this level of care to stroke patients, and others who may qualify for a cerebral artery bypass,” stated Dr. Amrit Chiluwal.  “Our team consists of physicians who are highly trained and experienced. We have also successfully treated patients diagnosed with arteriovenous malformations, traumatic brain injuries and other similar conditions.”

Jamaica Hospital is a designated Primary Stroke Care Center as well as a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center and has received numerous awards in recognition of its achievements in stroke and neurosurgical care. Jamaica hospital is the recipient of the 2021 Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Stroke Care award, Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence award and the Neurosciences Excellence award.

Congratulations to Jamaica Hospital’s C.A.R.E (Compassion Advocacy Respect and Engagement) award recipients.

The C.A.R.E award program was created by the hospital’s Person-Centered Care Department to recognize employees who received positive remarks (written and verbal) from patients or their loved ones after being provided with excellent and compassionate care.

Criteria for the award require that recipients exemplify G.R.A.C.E:

G- Gracious: Having a courteous and kind demeanor.

R- Respect: Treating others the way they want to be treated.

A- Assisting: Anticipating needs and concerns (example wayfinding).

C- Communication: Talking to patients and family members according to their health literacy.

E- Empathy: Using the patient’s perspective, making the patient feel understood, ensuring that their feelings are validated.

We congratulate the following employees, and thank them for their contributions to making Jamaica Hospital a high-reliability hospital that focuses on patient-centered care:

In 1975, Jamaica Hospital opened the Trump Pavilion Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation. That name has remained on the facility for the last 46 years; however, recently, the hospital’s Board of Trustees voted to remove the Trump name and use the name on the nursing home’s original operating certificate, The Jamaica Hospital Nursing Home.

Along with the name change is the development of a new logo, which highlights the distinct entrance to the nursing home and the iconic Jamaica Hospital blue glass. In addition, the center has migrated to a new web address, www.jamaicahospitalnursinghome.org

The MediSys Health Network is in the process of removing all references to the old name or likeness.  If you use the nursing home name or logo for any official network business and require assistance during this transition period, please contact Tom Younghans, Vice President of the Jamaica Hospital Nursing Home, at 718-206-5100.

It is hard to believe that almost exactly one year ago the MediSys Health Network admitted our first of thousands of COVID-19 patients.  Since then, our team at Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals have accomplished so much to treat a community at the epicenter of a global pandemic.

MediSys President and CEO, Bruce Flanz,  was recently asked by NY1 News Anchor Dean Meminger to publicly reflect on the events over the past 12 months, the obstacles that we had to overcome, and what we learned from the experience.

During the interview, Mr. Flanz discussed the dramatic rise in patient volume and our keys to meeting the many challenges we faced, which he attributed to the hard work and dedication of our employees.

To see the full interview, watch below:

The Healthcare Association of New York (HANYS) board of trustees recently announced its 2021 officers and executive committee members and MediSys President and CEO, Bruce Flanz was named chairman. In his new role, Mr. Flanz will work with HANYS leadership to ensure every New Yorker has access to affordable, high-quality care.

Mr. Flanz joined the HANYS board in 2014 and has been a member of its executive committee since 2017, holding many board officer roles including treasurer and secretary. In addition, he was also selected to chair the HANYS Chief Operating Officer forum as well as their Emergency Preparedness Task Force. In 2006, HANYS presented Mr. Flanz with its Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to improving healthcare.

In their press release announcing his appointment, HANYS stated, “During his 46-year career, Bruce Flanz has demonstrated leadership, commitment to community, and dedication to providing healthcare to all who need it. He has been instrumental in establishing MediSys as a leader in its market — and beyond.  HANYS went on to state, “Flanz is perhaps best known for his contributions in the area of emergency preparedness. He was instrumental in relief efforts during Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the ice storm of 1998 in Northern New York, the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in Manhattan, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in Puerto Rico for Hurricane Maria in 2017.”

Upon learning of his selection, Mr. Flanz stated, “It is an honor to have been chosen to chair the board of trustees for the Healthcare Association of New York.  They share the same values as we do at the MediSys Health Network and I will do my best to support their efforts to advance the health of individuals and communities by providing leadership, representation and service to healthcare providers.”

Jamaica Hospital employees who go above and beyond to ensure the safety of our patients are recognized and awarded a certificate of excellence for their Good Catch.

Good Catch nominees receive recognition based on their actions in preventing accidents from occurring. These actions may include keeping our facilities safe, correcting a medication order, preventing a patient from falling or reporting a significant change in a patient’s status.

Please join us in congratulating the following  employees on their  Good Catch:

Lisette Solomon- RN, Labor & Delivery

Ji Ho Jung- Radiologic Technologist

By identifying a problem before it became a patient safety issue, our nominees have helped Jamaica Hospital to provide patients with excellent care.

To our Good Catch recipients, thank you for being exemplary members of our team and contributing to our goal of being a High-Reliability Hospital.

Jamaica Hospital employees who go above and beyond to ensure the safety of our patients are recognized and awarded a certificate of excellence for their Good Catch.

Good Catch nominees receive recognition based on their actions in preventing accidents from occurring. These actions may include keeping our facilities safe, correcting a medication order, preventing a patient from falling or reporting a significant change in a patient’s status.

Please join us in congratulating the following  employees on their  Good Catch:

Edny Florissant- Director of Engineering & Plant Operations

Charles Phoenix- Plumber

Timothy Kelly -Plant Supervisor

Joanne Durrant-  PCA

William Mitchell- R.T.(R)(CT)(ARRT)

By identifying a problem before it became a patient safety issue, our nominees have helped Jamaica Hospital to provide patients with excellent care.

To our Good Catch recipients, thank you for being exemplary members of our team and contributing to our goal of being a High-Reliability Hospital.

Jamaica Hospital employees who go above and beyond to ensure the safety of our patients are recognized and awarded a certificate of excellence for their Good Catch.

Good Catch nominees receive recognition based on their actions in preventing accidents from occurring. These actions may include correcting a medication order, preventing a patient from falling or reporting a significant change in a patient’s status.

Please join us in congratulating the following  employees on their  Good Catch:

Irina Khayumova RN  – 2 North-Mother Baby

Shiv Kumarie Santram- 4 South Clinical Nurse Manager

Fernando Salud- Environmental Services

Nicoleth Bullen- Ambulatory Surgery

Atia Batla, RN- 4 South Telemetry

Esmeralda Vidad RN -CNM for Operations

Giovana Gavilano-  Manager, Person-Centered Services

Zoraida Ruiz- Ophthalmology Department

By identifying a problem before it became a patient safety issue, our nominees have helped Jamaica Hospital to provide patients with excellent care.

To our Good Catch recipients, thank you for being exemplary members of our team and contributing to our goal of being a High-Reliability Hospital.

Congratulations to Flushing Hospital’s C.A.R.E (Compassion Advocacy Respect and Engagement) award recipient Barbara Hill-Boyd.

The C.A.R.E award program was created by the hospital’s Person-Centered Care Department to recognize employees who received positive remarks (written and verbal) from patients or their loved ones after being provided with excellent and compassionate care.

Criteria for the award require that recipients exemplify G.R.A.C.E:

G- Gracious: Having a courteous and kind demeanor.

R- Respect: Treating others the way they want to be treated.

A- Assisting: Anticipating needs and concerns (example wayfinding).

C- Communication: Talking to patients and family members according to their health literacy.

E- Empathy: Using the patient’s perspective, making the patient feel understood, ensuring that their feelings are validated.

Barbara was also nominated based on her 31 years of dedication, compassion, and advocacy for patients and their loved ones.

We thank Barbara for her contributions to making Flushing Hospital a high-reliability hospital that focuses on patient-centered care:

Congratulations to Jamaica Hospital’s C.A.R.E (Compassion Advocacy Respect and Engagement) award recipients.

The C.A.R.E award program was created by the hospital’s Person-Centered Care Department to recognize employees who received positive remarks (written and verbal) from patients or their loved ones after being provided with excellent and compassionate care.

Criteria for the award require that recipients exemplify G.R.A.C.E:

G- Gracious: Having a courteous and kind demeanor.

R- Respect: Treating others the way they want to be treated.

A- Assisting: Anticipating needs and concerns (example wayfinding).

C- Communication: Talking to patients and family members according to their health literacy.

E- Empathy: Using the patient’s perspective, making the patient feel understood, ensuring that their feelings are validated.

We congratulate the following employees, and thank them for their contributions to making Jamaica Hospital a high-reliability hospital that focuses on patient-centered care:

Dr. Firas Alawawdeh

Dr. Edward Epstein

Dr. Michael Goldman

Dr. Samir Sarkar

Dr. Aditya Mangla

Dr. William Frumkin

Ms. Mechelle Webb

Ms. Jorel Zulaikh

Ms. Caryn Sieunarine

Ms. Theresa Molinaro

Mr. Bernabe Rico

Ms. Gloria Gutierrez-Ortiz

Mr. Gavin Adams

Mr. Kener Ismael

Ms. Francess Macauley

Mr. Deochan Singh

Mr. Frank Block