Jamaica Hospital Combats PTSD Among Veterans

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Medisys Health Network

Dr. Madhu Rajanna delivers an educational and insightful presentation about PTSD in returning veterans

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry hosted a very important event to help health care professionals effectively treat returning combat veterans living with mental health disorders.

The hospital in conjunction with the New York State Psychiatric Association and the Queens District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association hosted the Veterans Mental Health Primary Care Training Initiative on Thursday April 2^nd. The auditorium in the D building was filled to capacity with hospital clinicians eager to learn more about the best practices to treat members of the military suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other mental health conditions.

It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of veterans suffer from combat- related mental illnesses but only 23-40% seek professional help, because mental illness is sadly and often stigmatized. The negative perceptions associated with mental illness can sometimes lead veterans to believe that they are weak or should be ashamed of seeking professional help.

In order to cope with the complications of mental illness, some veterans may self-medicate by using alcohol or narcotics and in extreme cases commit suicide instead of reaching out to a medical professional for help.

Assembly Member David I. Weprin addresses the room and commends the hospital on a job well done

Dr. Madhu Rajanna, Director of Jamaica Hospital’s Mental Health Clinic and Assistant Director of the Psychiatry Residency Training Program was the event’s main speaker. He conducted a dynamic presentation about the effective and compassionate means of communication health care professionals can utilize when gathering medical information from veterans. This collected information can be vital in assessing the mental health of service members. Dr. Rajanna was later followed by Assembly Member David I. Weprin who commended the department on their efforts for raising awareness on mental illnesses and congratulated the event organizers on a job well done.

Several staff members of the hospital such as Dr. Richard Pinsker, are also veterans and believe this training initiative was fundamental. According to Dr. Pinsker, “Attitudes towards PTSD and other mental illnesses are shifting in a positive direction; many are recognizing that the emotional and mental wounds can be as detrimental to our vets as the physical ones.”

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Different Address Same Great Level of Care

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Medisys Health Network

Sutphin move IMG_7932 As of Monday, March 16^th, The Jamaica MediSys Family Care Center has a new home. The center, formerly located on Sutphin Blvd has moved to a new address – 149-18 Jamaica Avenue.

The new location will offer all the same services, including internal medicine, pediatrics, and podiatry, but will also accommodate patients in 11 larger and more modern exam rooms .

The new site is centrally located in the heart of the busy Jamaica shopping district and is easily accessible by public transportation. In addition, there is a municipal parking garage conveniently located just steps away from the center.

Are Obesity and Migraines Connected?

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Medisys Health Network

Obesity is a serious issue that can lead to many other diseases, but according to a recent study, obese people may be at higher risk for another problem – episodic migraines.

Migraine headaches involve intense pulsing or throbbing pain in one area of the head. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines affect more than ten percent of the population. There are two types of migraines, episodic and chronic. Episodic migraines occur less than 14 times per month and are more common than chronic migraines, which occur over 15 times per month.

A recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine examined the differences among individuals based on their Body Mass Index (BMI) – a measure of body fat determined by height and weight. The study found that individuals with a high BMI were 81 percent more likely to have episodic migraines than those whose BMI was within a normal range.

While the connection between obesity and episodic migraines is still under debate, there is one theory that supports the link. The theory centers on inflammatory substances from certain fat tissues that are released into our system. The fat tissue adipose secretes different inflammatory proteins that some believe are associated to the development of migraines. Those who are obese have more adipose tissue; this could, at least in part, explain why they get more headaches.

So would losing weight mean migraines will decrease in frequency? Certainly, weight loss is strongly encouraged for people who are obese, but there is no indication that simply losing weight would result in fewer migraines. Instead, doctors of obese individuals who experience episodic migraines are being encouraged to promote healthy lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise for their patients. Those who eliminate processed foods, high-calorie foods and alcohol — all of which can be migraine triggers– could end up losing weight and experience fewer headaches.

If you are obese and experience migraines, speak to your doctor about lifestyle choices that can possible help. To make an appointment at Jamaica Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center, please call718-206-7100.

E-Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS)

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Medisys Health Network

New York State is one of the first states in the nation to encourage universal electronic prescriptions, this includes controlled substances. The law which enhances patients’ safety is currently scheduled to go into effect on March 27, 2015 but there may be delays as it is currently awaiting the governor’s signature. Once it becomes law, all prescribers will have to send their patient’s prescriptions to be filled at pharmacies, electronically. One of the goals of “E-prescribing” is to prevent theft of prescriptions for illicit use. Another benefit will be that it will eliminate illegible handwritten prescriptions from being filled incorrectly.

E-prescribing will help ensure that prescriptions are being written safely and will help both the prescriber and the pharmacy manage a patient’s medications. E-prescribing will also cut down on the amount of time spent calling between a pharmacy and a prescriber to verify prescriptions. It will make the filling of prescriptions easier for the patient and potentially help with compliance with taking medications. It will also help both the prescriber and the pharmacy to fill the prescription in a cost effective manner. All of these benefits ultimately will help the patient.

All prescribers need to enroll with Epic to capture their fingerprint, and install “Digipass” the numerical code app. Licensed providers (MD, DO, NP, PA, CNM, podiatrist, dentist) need to also register with NYS on the Health Commerce System (HCS) website. If you need further assistance on registering for E-prescribing please contact, 718 206-7878.