The percentage of residents registered as organ donors in New York is at an all-time low.  In fact, our great state ranks 50^th out of 50 states with regard to the percentage of residents registered as organ donors. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, LiveOnNY and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz are determined to change that and move New York up in the rankings.

LiveOnNY and Jamaica Hospital collaborated to promote National Donate Life Month and the Long Live New York campaign.  Both organizations petitioned residents in neighboring communities to the hospital to be the catalyst for change by enrolling in the New York State Donor Registry.

On April 20th, as a part of their community outreach campaign Jamaica Hospital and LiveOnNY hosted a flag-raising ceremony with special guest Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.  The event commemorated National Donate Life Month and recognized the selflessness of organ donors.  Margaret Valsechi, a volunteer for LiveOnNY shared the remarkable story about her son Stephen Valsechi who passed away a few years ago. Stephen was registered as an organ donor and after his death gave the gift of life to four organ donor recipients.

Margaret was followed by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz who applauded Stephen’s family for their advocacy and passion for informing others about the importance of organ donation.   The Borough President reminded the crowd of medical professionals, hospital staff and community members that it is crucial that they register, as they will be saving the lives of many.

Borough President Katz presented Jamaica Hospital with a proclamation in recognition of the hospital’s commitment to raising awareness. She also declared April 20^th as Organ Donor Day in Queens.  Those in attendance were jubilant about the announcement.

There are over 10,000 New Yorkers on waiting lists for a life-saving organ.  Every 15 hours someone in this state dies while waiting for an organ transplant.  There are many benefits to becoming an organ donor but the most important is, you can save the lives of up to eight people with your generosity. For more information about becoming an organ donor or to register to the New York State Donor  Registry, please visit www.LiveOnNY.org.

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 simple acts of courtesy, team spirit, kindness and professionalism.

This month’s G.E.M recipients are:

Dr. Michelle Espinoza – Palliative Care

We congratulate the honorees on a job well done and thank you for your dedication!

The practice of acupuncture originated in China and can be traced as far back as 2,500 years ago. According to traditional Chinese medicine, disease and illness occur when the energy (Chi) which flows throughout the body along pathways (meridians) is blocked or interrupted.  Inserting very thin needles into the skin at strategic points on the body will unblock that energy, allowing it to flow freely and restore balance.

Acupuncture is often used as a complementary treatment with traditional western medicine. It is commonly known to help relieve pain and nausea; however, the World Health Organization (WHO) has found that acupuncture is effective in providing therapeutic treatment for an estimated 28 health conditions.

Some of the conditions that can benefit from acupuncture treatments are:

• Depression
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Peptic ulcers
• Acute and chronic gastritis
• Adverse reactions to chemotherapy
• Stroke
• Renal colic

As with any form of medical treatment there are risks associated with acupuncture.  This treatment can be dangerous for patients who are taking blood thinners or have bleeding disorders. If needles are unsterilized you may run the risk of contracting an infection.  It is possible, although very rare for needles to break and cause damage to internal organs or  needles to be inserted too deeply into the upper back or chest causing lungs to collapse. It is advised that you seek treatment from a licensed acupuncturist as this will ensure that required guidelines are being followed.

Generally speaking acupuncture is safe and can be combined as a method of treatment with traditional medicine. Speak with your physician to further discuss the safety of acupuncture and how it can potentially benefit your health.

The Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU) at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has always provided patients with excellent care but in an effort to improve overall patient experience we have recently redesigned the unit and have included new amenities to increase comfort.

Visual enhancements such as rainbow walls and light diffusers decorated with hot air balloons flying through the clouds and other serene images have been added to the ASU. The visual effects were selected with the goal of easing patient anxiety while waiting. Additionally, the unit features relaxation therapy music to promote a calm setting.

What was once the primary waiting area is now reserved as a quiet zone for pre-operation patients to fill out paperwork as they wait for procedures.  This area was designed to ensure patient privacy and eliminate noise pollution within the unit. The lobby has been transformed into a designated area where family and loved ones can sit while waiting for patients.

Once admitted into the pre-operation area, patients will now have adjustable recliners in place of stretchers for comfort. Heated blankets are also available.

A separate pediatric area was created with amenities such as a television featuring child-friendly movies and coloring books. All children are offered a tricycle to ride into the operating room instead of walking. Prior to discharge they are also offered a take-home toy from the treasure chest.

Endoscopy patients coming to ASU for endoscopic procedures will now be transported in stretcher chairs. These chairs offer more comfort before, during and after procedures. They offer patients the option of remaining seated on the way to the operating room then transitioning into a stretcher during the procedure.

To ensure the ASU is meeting the language needs of our Spanish-speaking patients, Spanish-speaking volunteers are available to ensure comprehension of treatment options.

While there have been many improved physical and structural upgrades, the core of the new ASU lies in complete patient satisfaction. “We want you to feel like Jamaica ASU is a part of your family, ‘Jamaica Cares’ said nurse manager, Cheryl Gallotta. All nurses are trained with full holistic, relaxation and massage techniques to provide our guests with a positive experience.

The redesign of the Ambulatory Surgery Unit is one of several projects Jamaica Hospital has initiated to improve patient experience. We thank the staff of the ASU who have contributed to the development of the unit and are grateful for their hard work and dedication to providing our patients with quality care.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

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 simple acts of courtesy, team spirit, kindness and professionalism

This month’s G.E.M recipients are members of the Engineering Department who worked tirelessly during the blizzard of 2016 and Avion Blaize – Mammography Tech.

We congratulate the honorees on a job well done and thank you for your dedication!

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

On Wednesday, March 2^nd a group of over 20 employees representing MediSys Health Network attended the 2016 Hospital Association of New York State (HANYS) Advocacy Day in Albany.

This annual event gives MediSys’ leadership and staff the opportunity to meet with our New York State legislators to discuss healthcare issues.

Some of the key issues that were discussed at this year’s meeting were:

• The urgent need for additional capital funding
• Funding for potential increases in minimum wage
• Assistance in covering  unpaid bills resulting from the failure of Health Republic health plan
• Support for safety net providers

The President of HANYS; Dennis Whelan, commended our efforts in effectively raising awareness of these issues among State legislators. Mr. Whelan also thanked Mr. Bruce J. Flanz; President and CEO of MediSys, for the network’s continued strong show of support and for a wonderful turnout this year.

To better serve our patient and guest needs, Jamaica Hospital is transitioning from a paper pass system to visitor badges provided by PassagePoint for all hospital guests. The reception desk staff has begun distribution of several visitor badges to visitors. There are still paper visitor passes being distributed, so you will see visitors with either a badge or a paper pass.

This new pass system includes a photo ID and name on all visitor badges. Anyone coming to visit with a patient in the Main Hospital Inpatient units is required to present a photo ID and have their photo taken to be issued a visitor’s badge. Anyone age 16 and over must present identification.

1. Routine visitors will be issued a RED badge with the word VISITOR printed on it.
2. Visitors of restricted patients will be issued a PURPLE badge
3. There will be a YELLOW badge issued to vendors and contractors

Visitor passes will not include patient information. All passes will show the photo and name of the visitor, the date and time it was issued, and the area they are visiting. While on the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, campus visitors will be required to wear the pass at all times. At the time of departure,  they are required to return the passes to reception for check out.

Please be patient while we work to improve our service. The badge system is being phased in so you will be seeing both paper passes and badges as staff becomes acclimated to the system.

We greatly appreciate your time and patience.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

Every month, employees from Jamaica Hospital Medical Center 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 acts of courtesy, team spirit, kindness and professionalism. This month’s G.E.M recipient is Donovan King, Physician Assistant from the hospital’s Emergency Department.

We congratulate Mr. King on a job well done and  for his dedication.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center are two of the busiest hospitals in Queens. Each year hundreds of thousands of people depend on the services of the hospitals for their healthcare needs.  As highly-utilized institutions, the daily operations as well as patient and staff safety, are high priorities.

To ensure the safety of everyone who visits or works at each of the hospitals, Safety Huddles were initiated in the spring of 2015 at Flushing Hospital and summer that same year at Jamaica Hospital. Every morning at 10:00 am leadership from across both hospitals convene at their respective campuses to identify and address issues that could potentially have an impact on the day to day workings of each facility. At each meeting, there is a roll call during which each department reports on issues, either from the previous 24hours or that are anticipated to occur.

The Safety Huddles have proven to be very beneficial and a great success, as it keeps employees informed of safety issues and procedures. This heightened awareness will also help to decrease the number of safety-related incidents that occur at Flushing and Jamaica Hospital.

Each hospital’s focus on safety reinforces their commitment to continuing to become a high-reliability organization.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

For more than two decades, Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. has been a recognizable resource for identifying the area’s Top Doctors.

They base their selection process on peer nominations. Being chosen for this prestigious honor involves contacting directly more than 50,000 physicians and hospital and healthcare executives. The Castle Connolly physician-led research team carefully reviews the credentials of every physician being considered for inclusion in Castle Connolly Guides®, magazine articles and website. After this careful review of credentials, nominated physicians may be chosen to be listed as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor.

This year we are pleased to announce that six doctors from Jamaica Hospital and five Flushing Hospital doctors have been selected as Top Doctors in New York Metro Area for the year 2016.

Doctors affiliated with the MediSys Health Network are: Cono Grasso MD, Jang Chadha MD, Allen Fishman MD, Steven Inglis MD, Glenn Kalash DO, Glenn Muraca DO, Joel Silverman MD, Nader Paksima DO, Alan Roth DO, Alan Zeitlin MD and Craig Thurm MD.

The Medisys Health Network prides itself on providing the highest quality of care to all of our patients. We congratulate all of our doctors chosen for the 2016 Castle Connolly Top Doctor’s Guide.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC