A new and growing trend in hospitals is sponsoring a “patient experience” book club where hospital staff gets together to discuss medical-themed books.

The Flushing Hospital Medical Library has been hosting such a book club for over a year now.  The Library Book Club members are a diverse group of individuals representing various backgrounds.  They meet bi-monthly to discuss a book selected by Robin Dornbaum the hospital’s librarian.

The book can be fiction or nonfiction but it is always about a main character living through a health challenge.  Library Book Club members have discussed books such as the Mountains Beyond Mountains and The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer.

“Our book club has taken very important lessons from our discussions. We have learned that we are all citizens of the world and must help, even in small ways, to fight public health epidemics around the world,” stated Robin Dornbaum.

The Library Book Club at Flushing Hospital has been growing in popularity, as it provides a place for staff and members of the community to share personal and professional experiences related to the subject of the book. “Our discussions are thought-provoking, and help members to empathize with characters in the books as well as those we may know experiencing similar challenges with their health,” shared member Anne Marie Denicola of Flushing Hospital’s Gift Shop.

If you are interested in joining the Flushing Hospital Library Book club or are interested in learning about or reading past book selections, please contact Mrs. Robin Dornbaum at [email protected] or call 718 670 5653.

On May 1st Jamaica Hospital became a designated Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center, advancement in stroke care brought on by the evolving stroke system of care in New York City. This designation was from the Department of Health, in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) Mission: Lifeline Project Stroke initiative. This designation signifies that Jamaica Hospital has met the rigorous standards for performing mechanical endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), a specialized surgical procedure used to remove a blood clot from the brain during an ischemic stroke.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States but remains to be the number one cause of disability. More than 87 percent of cases are ischemic strokes caused by a clot that cuts off blood flow to a part of the brain. These types of strokes are largely treatable if a patient gets to a hospital that can provide the right treatment in time.

Having this designation demonstrates that Jamaica Hospital is qualified to perform an EVT for all patients who experience a large vessel occlusion (LVO), which is an ischemic stroke that results from a blockage in one of the major arteries of the brain. Prior to having this certification, patients in the 911 system would have to bypass Jamaica and be brought to a thrombectomy-capable hospital, which could delay care and affect outcomes.
Now these procedures can be performed in Jamaica Hospital’s interventional lab. Jamaica Hospital is one of only three hospitals in Queens to have this designation, meaning the hospital will be responsible to provide stroke care to patients throughout the borough and possibly beyond.
Receiving this designation was a major accomplishment that required a great deal of hard work by many. Jamaica Hospital needed to meet strict guidelines, to receive this designation, including committing to neuro-interventional coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to securing around-the-clock coverage, the hospital had to train a number of our medical, emergency department, anesthesia, and nursing staff on new treatment protocols. Abigail Hasan, Stroke Coordinator added, “The acquisition of the biplane unit in our new interventional suite was key in earning this designation. This technology allows our staff to see cleaner and more accurate images of the neurological anatomy, which results in better outcomes.”
Since earning this designation, the hospital team has already responded to many cases with positive results. Abigail recalls a particular case where a patient arrived partially paralyzed due to a stroke and thanks to the efforts of our team regained functionality and was able to eventually walk out of the hospital on their own. “It was truly a great save. The ability to reverse the disability and regain the quality of life inspires our efforts to get stroke patients where they need to be as quickly as possible.”
According to Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO of Jamaica Hospital, “We are very proud to have earned the Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center designation. This is yet one more example of Jamaica Hospital’s commitment to providing high quality, person-centered care to our patients.”

Join us in congratulating Nicole Paz and Julio Velasquez, from the Radiology Department on their Good Catch!

Every month, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center recognizes employees for their contributions to patient safety.

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 the potential harm of patients. These actions may include correcting a medication order, preventing a patient fall or reporting a significant change in patient status.

By identifying a problem before it could have become a patient safety issue, our nominees have helped Jamaica Hospital to improve our quality in patient 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.

To report a Good Catch, email Letha Walters, PI Director at [email protected],  or call her at ext. 8409 and leave a message.

Join us in congratulating Marina Ramlogan, Clin Doc team member and Billy Diep, Pharmacist on their Good Catch!

Every month, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center recognizes employees for their contributions to patient safety.

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 the potential harm of patients. These actions may include correcting a medication order, preventing a patient fall or reporting a significant change in patient status.

By identifying problems before they became patient safety issues, our nominees have helped Jamaica Hospital to improve our quality in patient 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.

To report a Good Catch, email Letha Walters, PI Director at [email protected],  or call her at ext. 8409 and leave a message.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center is proud to recognize employees for their contributions to patient safety.

Employees who go above and beyond to identify critical events and ensure the safety of our patients are awarded a Certificate of Excellence for their “Good Catch”.

Good Catch nominees receive recognition based on their actions in preventing the potential harm of patients. These actions may include correcting a medication order, preventing a patient fall or reporting a significant change in patient status.

Join us in  congratulating  the following Good Catch recipients for their achievements:

• Nadine Persaud (Respiratory Therapy)
• John Ryo (Physical Therapy)
• Marifelle Macasaet (2N/ Nursing)
• Smitha Sabu (PACU/ Nursing)
• Hyunjung Chavez (MICU/ Nursing)
• Adriana Fuentes (Ambulatory Care/ Nursing)
• Tatiana Giraldo (Ambulatory Care/ Nursing)
• Rachel Bain (Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator/ Pharmacy)
• Kevin Kamara ( Assistant Director/ Security)

By identifying problems before they became a patient safety issue, our nominees have helped Flushing Hospital to improve our quality in patient 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.

For more information about the Good Catch program at Flushing Hospital, please contact Dr.Rehana Jamali at 718-670-5415.

Join us in congratulating Shiz Kumarie Santram, RN; Ingrid Ramirez, Dietary Aide;  David Denobrega, Security Officer; Shelina Aktar, Laboratory Technologist; Gerard Lang and Radica Rampersaud, Respiratory Therapists and Regal Khan, Manager of Environmental Services on their Good Catch!

Every month, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center recognizes employees for their contributions to patient safety.

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 the potential harm of patients. These actions may include correcting a medication order, preventing a patient fall or reporting a significant change in patient status.

By identifying problems before they became patient safety issues, our nominees have helped Jamaica Hospital to improve our quality in patient 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.

To report a Good Catch, email Letha Walters, PI Director at [email protected],  or call her at ext. 8409 and leave a message.

In March, Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center celebrated Social Work Month by hosting a series of events that included bake sales, yoga sessions and educational demonstrations.

Social Work Month was created by the National Association of Social Workers to educate the public about the invaluable contributions of the profession.

Social workers play a vital role in delivering quality health care to patients at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital.  They monitor our patients’ stay from admission to discharge.  Upon admission, social workers help patients to avoid prolonged hospital stays by working with physicians to expedite tests or treatments. They provide counseling services for patients and families to help them adjust to changes and challenges they may face during hospitalization.  Before patients are discharged, social workers assess their needs to determine a plan for support services or follow up care.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital recognizes social workers for their dedication to our patients. We applaud their hard work and thank them for their countless contributions to our community.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Roseline Jerome, Attending Anesthesiologist; Angel Riu, Pharmacist and  Dr. Alan Roth, Chairman Family Medicine on their Good Catch!

Every month, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center recognizes employees for their contributions to patient safety.

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 the potential harm of patients. These actions may include correcting a medication order, preventing a patient fall or reporting a significant change in patient status.

By identifying problems before they became patient safety issues, our nominees have helped Jamaica Hospital to improve our quality in patient 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.

To report a Good Catch, email Letha Walters, PI Director at [email protected],  or call her at ext. 8409 and leave a message.

On Tuesday, March 5^th, two dozen members of the MediSys Health Network leadership traveled to Albany to participate in The Healthcare Association of New York State’s (HANYS) Advocacy Day to urge state lawmakers to reject this year’s proposed budget cuts to health care.

Members of the MediSys group were joined by over 1,000 other healthcare workers from across the state for a rally at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center and marched through Albany’s streets to have their voices heard in opposition to the potential cuts that could include:

• Cuts directed toward hospitals totaling $657 million for the upcoming state fiscal year and $1.3 billion dollars over the next two years.
• Cuts to nursing homes that would total over $400 million during the 2019-2020 fiscal year and more than $800 million in the next two years.

In addition, Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO of MediSys as well as a handful of hospital delegates met with local elected officials to discuss the devastating effects the proposed cuts would have on Jamaica and Flushing Hospital.

The MediSys Health Network and HANYS are encouraging employees to join the fight.  Please contact your local state legislators to tell them why they have to oppose these cuts.

On a daily basis New Yorkers, especially low-income residents, face challenging financial and social issues. These factors can negatively impact their lives in many ways, most notably their physical and mental health. Lack of access to adequate housing, food, or safe and secure employment can impede their ability to seek and receive appropriate healthcare services for themselves and their families.  Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is working to remove these barriers by offering free legal services to its patients.

Every week an attorney from LegalHealth, a division of the New York Legal Assistance Group, comes to Jamaica Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center to provide legal counsel to hospital patients on issues relating to government benefits, housing, workplace conditions, and immigration and credit problems. LegalHealth also assists patients and families develop advanced planning directives, wills and legal matters affecting families.

It is well established that unmet social needs have a direct correlation with poor health.  Social factors, such as food insecurity have been closely linked to a higher risk of chronic conditions. Studies show that those who lose their jobs are 83% more likely to develop stress-related health conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

Jamaica Hospital made the commitment to fund the LegalHealth clinic knowing that addressing these issues will ultimately improve the health of its patients and potentially reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital admissions.  According to Dr. Alan Roth, Chairman of Family Medicine at Jamaica Hospital, “By understanding these social determinants that our patients encounter on a daily basis and providing a resource to have them addressed, Jamaica Hospital and LegalHealth can remove many of the obstacles that prevent our community from improving and maintaining healthier lives.”

LegalHealth is also providing ongoing training to Jamaica Hospital’s providers to equip them with the necessary tools to help them identify any social, financial or other problems patients are experiencing which can be addressed with legal support.

The Legal Health clinic opened at Jamaica Hospital in January 2019 and is on site weekly.

Patients who utilize LegalHealth services are assured of complete confidentiality and services are completely free to Jamaica Hospital patients.