Jamaica Hospital’s Department of Cardiology has been recognized as being a leader in the treatment of heart patients.

The hospital recently received the Silver Performance Achievement Award from the Action Registry, which was established by the American College of Cardiology. This award recognizes Jamaica Hospital’s success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients by meeting aggressive performance measures as outlined by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) clinical guidelines and recommendations.

The  Action Registry also acknowledges Jamaica Hospital’s team-based approach to consistently treat heart attack patients while adhering to national standards of care specifically with high-risk heart attack patients.

This achievement was published in U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 Best Hospital’s edition. The article lists every hospital across the nation to receive this honor, and it is with great pride that we boast that Jamaica Hospital was one of only three hospitals in New York City, and the only hospital in Queens to receive an achievement award from the Action Registry.

In addition to this honor, Jamaica Hospital’s Cardiology Department received the 2017 Get with the Guidelines Heart Failure Bronze Award. The award was given to the hospital by the American Heart Association and it demonstrates our commitment to treating heart failure patients with 85% or higher compliance to core standard levels of care as outlined by the American Heart Association for 90 consecutive days.

Both awards are reflective of the hard work and dedication of the hospital staff in caring for some of our most critically ill patients. Congratulations to all on a job well done.

Hurricane Relief Team Update

Our relief teams in Puerto Rico continue to provide much-needed medical assistance to the island’s residents.

Team 1 remains on the USNS Comfort where they are treating hundreds of patients a day. Team 2 is working with Americares on the western side of the island in Aguada. The members of this team were featured on WNBC News as they made house calls to help those in remote areas.

To view this news clip, view below or click the link

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Local-Doctors-Provide-Healthcare-in-Puerto-Rico_New-York-454860993.html

We will continue to keep you updated on both team’s efforts.

The MediSys Health Network, comprised of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center deployed a team of medical personnel to Puerto Rico to help provide much-needed healthcare services to the areas devastated by Hurricane Maria.

Both facilities are the first Queens-based hospitals to send their staff to the island.

The 20-member volunteer team of largely bi-lingual employees, including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and administrators were deployed on the morning of Tuesday, October 24^th.

As reported, much of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure has been decimated and most of the island’s healthcare facilities have been compromised. The MediSys team will deliver urgent medical care in an extremely difficult situation by supplementing staffing for the ongoing Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) missions or providing assistance to Federal Medical Shelters (FMS).

When details of the hurricane destruction emerged, Over 100 individuals offered to provide assistance.  Additionally, the Network’s Board of Trustees, medical staff and employees set a fundraising goal of $100,000 to support relief efforts. To date, half of that goal has been achieved.

The MediSys Health network has a long history of providing disaster relief to those in need. Some past relief efforts of the MediSys Health Network include:

• Hurricane Andrew – Homestead, Florida, 1992
• Northern Country Ice Storms – Watertown, NY, 1998
• World Trade Center Attacks (9/11) – New York, NY, 2001
• Hurricane Katrina –Louisiana & Mississippi, 2005
• Hurricane Sandy – Far Rockaway, New York, 2012

According to Bruce J. Flanz, President & Chief Executive Officer of the MediSys Health Network, “It has always been our mission to provide relief to those in need. We believe our experience in responding to disasters and exporting our talents where they can be utilized is something that we are proud to do and will continue to offer whenever it is needed.”

Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Center have created an Active Shooter training program in response to recent public shooting events that have occurred around the country.  The tragedy that unfolded at Bronx Lebanon Hospital hit closest to home and prompted the hospitals’ Emergency Management and Security Departments to implement the program which had been in the works for several months.

The program teaches employees what to do in the event there is an active shooter on campus. The overall goal is to keep patients, staff and visitors safe.

The three main points that the course teaches in case of an active shooter situation are:

• Run
  • Have an escape route and plan in mind
  • Leave your belongings behind
  • Keep your hands visible when law enforcement approaches
• Hide
  • Hide in an area that is out of the shooter’s view
  • Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors
  • Completely silence your cell phone and/or pager
• Defend
  • As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger
  • To attempt to incapacitate the shooter
  • Act with physical aggression and throw items at an active shooter

The classes are taught by prehospital care instructors and security personnel with law enforcement backgrounds. The first leg of the training was offered between July 25^th and August 11^th, over 1000 employees were trained at Jamaica Hospital and over 500 at Flushing Hospital.

Safety is always a top priority at the MediSys Health Network.  Implementing the Active Shooter training program and other safety initiatives helps us to create and maintain a safe environment for our patients, visitors and staff. We thank everyone for their participation and doing their part in making Jamaica and Flushing Hospital safe.

The  Medicaid Accelerated eXchange, program, also known as the “MAX Project” is a brand new initiative designed to assist Jamaica Hospital Medical Center to identify and better manage the care of those Medicaid and dual eligible patients who have been admitted to our hospital four or more times in the past twelve months.

The main goal of this program is to reduce or avoid unnecessary admissions for these patients by enhancing the level of care provided in an outpatient setting.

Most patients identified by the MAX Project are polydiagnostic-meaning they are being managed for many different health concerns and require a carefully coordinated interdisciplinary approach. These patients are also more likely to be exposed to non-medical factors such as financial or social challenges that can affect their quality of health. The project will provide these individuals with valuable resources and trained specialists who can assist them to overcome clinical and nonclinical obstacles they may encounter.

At the inception of the MAX Project, 455 patients were identified as having been admitted four or more times within a twelve month time period.   However, since the program began this number has been reduced to 192 people.

In order to ensure that these patients’ health care needs are being properly met, a daily conference call between the heads of each clinical department takes place to discuss all options of care. There are two components to each patient’s overall evaluation. One is a root cause analysis which evaluates why this patient requires extra attention, did they receive enough attention in the past, and which providers shall manage their health. The other main component is to develop a care plan that will allow this patient to be cared for comprehensively in an outpatient capacity.

Jamaica Hospital’s leadership anticipates that the MAX Project will successfully lower the number of admissions required in the past. It will also help the hospital to meet DSRIP Initiative goals and operate more cost effectively in the long term.

Every month, employees at Jamaica Hospital who go above and beyond to help coworkers, patients and visitors are nominated for the G.E.M award. G.E.M stands for Going the Extra Mile and recipients are recognized for their hard work, team spirit, kindness and professionalism.

This month’s G.E.M recipient is: Reyna Chong

Congratulations Reyna. Keep up the excellent work in helping us to serve our community.

As part of our commitment to providing compassionate care, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center (JHMC) is proud to introduce Schwartz Rounds®. This forum gives caregivers a supportive environment to discuss the human side of healthcare and the challenging emotional and psychosocial issue they face in caring for patients and families.

The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare was created more than 20 years ago by Ken Schwartz, a healthcare attorney who died of lung cancer at age 40. Writing about his experience, he explained that what made “the unbearable bearable” was the compassion shown by his doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. The Center’s vision is that “all patients receive compassionate care and all health professionals are supported in providing it”.

Schwartz Rounds is part of this vision which is now being realized in more than 500 health care organizations in the US, UK and Canada—helping more than 200,000 health professionals provide compassionate care to millions of patients. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has joined this initiative through a generous grant from the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) which has provided funding for our participation in the program.

At JHMC, Schwartz Rounds are coordinated by Planning Committee members: Gina Basello MD, Susan Iovino, RN, DNP, Sharon Narducci RN, DNP, Janis Sharkey RN, Vivekanand Sing RN, Frances Perez, SW.  Rounds are offered quarterly where participants from multiple clinical and administrative disciplines attend a one-hour, case-based, interactive discussion. Each session begins with a brief introductory presentation of a case by a panel of health care team members who cared for the patient.  This presentation focuses on the psychosocial themes in caring for this patient and family. Audience members and the panel participate in a facilitated group discussion. Those who have had interactions with the patient or have had similar experiences contribute to the discussion.

Those who participate in the Schwartz rounds often have their perceptions transformed.  They come to see how blurred the line between patient and provider is when we notice how profoundly human we are. Not perfect, not complete, but complex and multifaceted even as we strive for perfection.

The first Schwartz Rounds at JHMC took place in March and the second one was held in June. At each session, an audience of over 200 individuals attended from all areas of the hospital. The results were overwhelmingly positive with the majority of participants stating that after the Rounds they had a better sense of belonging to a team, a new appreciation for their colleagues of other disciplines, more compassion for patients and families, as well as, new ideas and strategies for dealing with challenging situations.

As a health care organization, the MediSys Health Network has a significant impact on the environment and has developed a committee known as ecoMediSys to encourage and monitor green initiatives for Flushing and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Since the implementation of the committee, both hospitals have adopted ecologically friendly practices such as recycling and using auto-off light switches in offices.

This year as part of the Network’s green initiative Jamaica Hospital Medical Center observed Earth Day by hosting an educational event in its main lobby.

This event provided an opportunity to promote environmental conservation awareness among employees and the community.  Each participating department showcased unique projects that help the hospital remain environmentally friendly.

For the past five years, on each Earth Day, the ecoMediSys committee has recognized an individual or department demonstrating a strong commitment to preserving the environment.  This year the department of Environmental Services at Jamaica Hospital was recognized for its contributions that help protect our environment, such as using environmentally safe cleaning supplies.  Leading this effort were Kary Shamlian and Oomen Chacko.

Congratulations to Environmental Services on this achievement and thank you to everyone who plays a part in keeping Jamaica and Flushing Hospital green.

On Wednesday, April 26^th, fourth, fifth and sixth graders from local elementary school P.S.99 presented Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with six paintings they created as part of an art project.

The theme of their artwork included mermaids, as well as scenes and landmarks that can be found around New York City.

Each student was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the hospital during an event in their honor. In attendance were the school’s principal, parent coordinator, art teacher and student chaperones. Representing Jamaica Hospital were Bruce Flanz; President and CEO, William Lynch; EVP and COO, Dr. Geoffrey Doughlin; Chairperson Emergency Medicine and other leadership from the Emergency Department.

The children’s creations are currently on display outside the Pediatric Emergency Room and will definitely make this area a much brighter place.

Every month, employees at Jamaica Hospital who go above and beyond to help coworkers, patients and visitors are nominated for the G.E.M award.  G.E.M stands for Going the Extra Mile and recipients are recognized for their hard work, team spirit, kindness and professionalism.

This month’s G.E.M recipients are:

• Jose Garcia – Environmental Services
• Michell Hololob – Creative Arts Therapist – Psychiatry

Congratulations to you both. Keep up the excellent work in helping us to serve our community.