On Tuesday, December 1, 2015 Flushing Hospital Medical Center was visited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHCO). The Joint Commission accredits and certifies over 20,000 health institutions across the United States.

Joint Commission accreditation is recognized nationally as a symbol of quality and a reflection of an organization’s commitment to meet and excel in performance standards.

It was clear to Joint Commission surveyors that Flushing Hospital’s leadership has made patient safety their number one priority, as well as finding merit in the different programs to improve patient care and employee relations such as the Team Stepps training initiative, Good Catch program, as well as the Just Culture program.

Surveyors found relatively few areas that needed improvement and staff at all levels was complimented for their active engagement and participation during the process.

Overall, hospital initiatives received positive acclaim from the survey team, especially the seven-day-per-week Safety Huddle initiative, which was suggested for inclusion in the Joint Commission’s Best Practice Library.

Dr. Michael Epstein, leader of the survey team congratulated Flushing Hospital leadership and staff for moving the hospital toward becoming a High Reliability Organization.

Last month was National Diabetes Awareness Month and in observance of this important occasion Flushing and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center participated in several events to raise awareness. On November 19^th Jamaica Hospital created displays in the main lobby that educated guests and employees about   the general facts of the disease, as well as the importance of wound care, skin care and nutrition for diabetics.   The displays were fun and interactive. They included games such as “Diabetes Jeopardy” and other trivia- based activities.  Participants were entered to win grand prizes and others won giveaways on the spot.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center sponsored a Diabetes Champion Program.  It was a full, two day, program in which staff received in-depth education and training in diabetes pathophysiology, blood glucose monitoring, oral anti-diabetic medications, Insulin, medical nutrition, as well as the importance of exercise and patient education methods. A goal of the program was for the Diabetes Champions to continue to develop their skills and work towards becoming Certified Diabetes Educators. The role of a Diabetes Educator is to improve diabetes management among our patients by addressing their questions or concerns regarding the disease.

According to the American Diabetes Association, “nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. Another 86 million Americans have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.” Jamaica and Flushing Hospital are proud to be a part of the movement that raises awareness and educates the public about this growing and life threatening disease.  Both hospitals take their roles very seriously and are planning future initiatives to continue to educate the communities they serve about diabetes.

For more hospital 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 both received very generous donations from the Queens-based pediatric charity organization, Angels on the Bay, whose mission is “to be the keepers of hope and the guardians of dreams to all children in need of a little miracle.” The money raised for Jamaica and Flushing is to assist both hospitals in our continued efforts to provide high-quality medical care to children in the community.

Flushing Hospital received the first of two annual donations from Angels on the Bay, totaling $40,000. Those contributions will be earmarked for the purchase of special equipment used to provide emergency and critical care for infants and toddlers. The $40,000 that Flushing Hospital will receive over the next two years brings the total donations made by Angels on the Bay to over $200,000.

Angels on the Bay also donated $75,000 to Jamaica Hospital over a three year period. The funds received will allow Jamaica Hospital to purchase echocardiography equipment for its pediatric department. Since 1995, Jamaica Hospital has received approximately $450,000 in contributions from Angels on the Bay.

Hospital Chief Operating Officers William Lynch and Robert Levine were present to accept the checks and offer their appreciation on behalf of Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital.

Angels on the Bay is a non-for-profit organization that was founded in 1994 by Frank Russo with the goal of raising funds to benefit children and pediatric services in the area. In addition to Jamaica and Flushing Hospital, Angels on the Bay has supported numerous pediatric causes, raising millions of dollars for children in the area over the past two decades.

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

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

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

Halloween is around the corner and choosing the right costume is always a great treat before the actual day. As adults, we look forward to seeing our kids adorably dressed up in fun and exciting costumes. With a few tips on choosing the right costumes, you can ensure an evening of fun and no fright.

When purchasing costumes, masks, beards and wigs, look for flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester, or look for the label “Flame Resistant.” These fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. To minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts. Costumes should also fit well so they do not drag on the ground and prevent trips and falls.

Some additional tips from safekids.org include:

• Purchase or make costumes that are light, bright and clearly visible to motorists. For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights.
• Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen. Bags or sacks also should be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle and sporting goods stores.
• Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. High heels are not a good idea.
• Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes and obstructing vision.
• If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely, provides adequate ventilation, and has eye holes large enough to allow full vision. Skip the mask and opt for face paint instead.
• Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made of soft, flexible

Happy and safe Halloween!

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has partnered with the American Diabetes Association to bring a nutrition pilot program called “What Can I Eat?” to our community. This four week nutrition program is an interactive, group discussion class which reviews healthy food choices for diabetics.

Participants will be empowered to make healthy decisions at home, while grocery shopping, eating out, family occasions and all while staying on a budget. The class is open to adults with Type 2 Diabetes; however, loved ones are encouraged to join as well.

After a successful run in July and continued interest, the class is being offered again.

A participant from the last session reported “It was very informative, and I learned a lot. The class put me on a path to better health.”

Facilitators, Elena Toumaras, RD, CDN and Lindsay Chetelat, RD, CDN, will be offering the classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Family Medicine Center Conference Room (133-03 Jamaica Avenue) starting September 14th from 5:00-6:30 pm.

Anyone who is interested may attend an informational session to be held at the Family Medicine Center on Friday September 11th from 12:00-3:00 pm. You will learn more about the program and will also be able to register.

Space is limited so reserve your space ASAP! You can contact Elena at 718-206-7056 or [email protected]

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 Tuesday June 23^rd NYPD Commissioner William Bratton met with Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s President and CEO, Bruce J. Flanz to express his personal gratitude as well as the appreciation of the entire police department for the excellent level of care that the hospital provides to members of the NYPD in times of distress and injury.

Mr. Bratton presented Mr. Flanz with a beautiful plaque, which will be displayed prominently at the hospital, as well as a personal letter recognizing the tremendous skill of the doctors, nurses and support staff of our facility. The Commissioner commended the hospital’s dedication to trauma care and noted how it is highly regarded by everyone within the ranks of the NYPD.

Accompanying Mr Flanz at this meeting held in the Commissioner’s office at 1 Police Plaza were John Arline, Dr. Angelo Canedo, Dr. Geoffrey Doughlin, Dr. Kenneth Fretwell, Charles Neacy, and Dr. Andrew Rubin.

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Dr. Giglio, Flushing Hospital’s New Chairman of Emergency Medicine

Flushing Hospital Medical Center is happy to announce the addition of James F. Giglio, MD as the new Chairman of Emergency Medicine.  Dr. Giglio joined Flushing Hospital on April 27, after serving 17 years as the Chief of Emergency Medicine for New York Presybertian Hospital’s Columbia and Allen campuses.

Dr. Giglio brings many years of Emergency Room experience and is very excited to be in his new role of serving one of the most culturally rich and ethnically diverse communities in the entire nation.  Flushing Hospital treats over 40,000 patients in its Emergency Department every year. Many of those patients have roots from around the world and they bring their languages and customs with them when they come to Flushing Hospital’s ER. Dr. Giglio believes that is the job of the ER doctors to understand and respect everyone’s beliefs and traditions and to treat each patient as an individual.

Dr. Giglio’s philosophy comes from years of experience working in the emergency room. In that time, he has seen a dramatic change in how care is delivered. “In the past, ER doctors had a singular role – to save lives, and the long ER waits and impersonalized care that was associated with this way of providing treatment was accepted,” states Dr. Giglio, who added, “That way of thinking needs to be flipped upside down.  I believe that just as important as providing life-saving care is doing it in a compassionate and respectful manner, where every person who visits our ER feels like they are our only patient.”

What made Flushing Hospital the right fit for Dr. Giglio is both share a desire to improve the health of the community. Many of the people who come to Flushing Hospital don’t have a primary care physician and need assistance finding the best resources to maintain and improve their health.   Flushing Hospital has added many services and initiatives to educate the community and provide them with the tools to live a healthier lifestyle.  “Improving the wellness of our community is one of our highest priorities for Flushing Hospital and those efforts should start in the ER” states Dr. Giglio

While compassion and individualized care are priorities for everyone in Flushing Hospital’s ER, running an efficient department that provides well-coordinated care with the hospital’s entire network of services is equally important. To ensure that every aspect of patient care is addressed, Dr. Giglio plans to take a very “hands-on” approach to running the Emergency Department.  Dr. Giglio states, “I can’t wait to get to know the community, take care of the emergency care needs, and offer them help to better manage their health so together we can build a healthier Flushing.”

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is excited to announce the launch of a new program called Seniors Coaching Seniors. Seniors Coaching Seniors is a UHF grant funded program that helps connect volunteers and recently discharged patients aged 65 years and over.  These volunteer coaches provide telephone support and guide their peers through their doctor’s recommendations.  All coaches are trained by the Department of Care Transitions Clinical Team, including a registered nurse and licensed social worker.

We encourage all staff to spread the word to eligible patients. Let them know a Volunteer Coach will be reaching out to them after discharge to assist them. We’re also looking for volunteers age 65 and over to participate in the program.

For more information please contact:

Lisa Sigismondi, LCSW

718-206-8501 [email protected]

or

Winnie Wong, RN

718-206-8591 [email protected]

For more hospital highlights, health and fitness tips follow Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital on Twitter and Facebook.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines^®–Target: Stroke Honor Roll-Elite Quality Achievement Award at the association’s International Stroke Conference 2015. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success ensuring that stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized and research-based guidelines.

The hospital is one of 559 hospitals to be recognized. To receive the Target: Stroke Honor Roll-Elite award, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. Flushing Hospital has also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.

These quality measures are designed to help hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

“We are pleased to recognize Flushing Hospital Medical Center for their commitment to stroke care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, M.D., M.P.H., national chairman of the Get With The Guidelines steering committee and Executive Director of Interventional Cardiovascular Programs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “Studies have shown that hospitals that consistently follow Get With The Guidelines quality improvement measures can reduce length of stay and 30-day readmission rates and reduce disparities in care.”

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MediSys Hollis, one of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s family health care facilities was recently awarded Level Three National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) – Patient Centered Medical Home 2011 status.

All nine of the MediSys’ Family Health Centers at Jamaica Hospital and the Ambulatory Care Center at Flushing Hospital have now achieved this status.

NCQA’s Patient Centered Medical Home 2011 (PCMH) is an innovative program for improving patient-centered primary care delivery. The objectives of the program include:

• Establishing long-term partnerships between clinicians and patients, instead of a series of hurried and sporadic visits.
• Clinician led teams who coordinate prevention and chronic condition care for patients.
• The promotion of shared decisions by medical teams, which will enable patients to make informed choices and get better results.

This model of quality assurance was created with a key focus on providing stellar primary healthcare and patient satisfaction.  MediSys Health Network’s ability to secure this designation for its outpatient care centers at Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital is a reflection of the networks dedication to ensuring that patients receive the highest level of care at all times.