Staff from the Department of Psychiatry

On May 20^th Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry observed Child Mental Health Awareness Day.  In recognition of the nationwide event, members of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry division provided free screenings for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and depression to the community.

Over one hundred people attended the event in anticipation of receiving assistance or information for their loved ones. Screening children is very important if they exhibit symptoms of mental health disorders and the sooner they receive treatment, the better.  They will be more likely to manage their diagnosed disorder in the future.

The event follows a series successful community outreach efforts conducted by the department of psychiatry this year. Several initiatives were implemented to educate communities.

Some of the other initiatives included:

• Partnering with the New York State Psychiatric Association and the Queens District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association to host the Veterans Mental Health Primary Care Training Initiative.
• Raising awareness on the benefits of using creative arts therapy to treat mental illnesses by transforming the main hospital lobby into an impressive art gallery exhibition. The exhibit featured the anonymous art work of patients who were participants in creative arts therapy.

The rate of people diagnosed or suffering from mental illness in the United States has steadily increased in recent years.  It is estimated that one in five U.S. residents have a diagnosable mental health disorder.  Often these people do not seek treatment as they are embarrassed by the stigmas attached to mental illness. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is continuing its outreach efforts to educate the community about the impact that mental health issues can have if left untreated and that treatment is available.

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On May 18, Medisys Health network held the 17^th Annual MediSys Classic at the Old Westbury Country Club.  Each year this highly anticipated event is coordinated to raise funds to benefit both Flushing and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Guests were invited to participate in a day of fun and relaxation at the beautiful and elegant facility.  They were offered a selection of activities to choose from which included golf, tennis, yoga and calming massages.

Although the day of the event was a bit chilly, it did not stop golfers from showing up, playing well and heating up the golf course.

Those who were not golfers but wanted to enjoy a day of fitness played an energetic game of tennis or got limber during yoga and Pilates classes.  Others who were looking for a day of rest and relaxation retreated to the spa.

Dinner and cocktails were served later on in the evening.  Guests were treated to a feast of treats and delectable cuisines.  Dinner was not only a social affair but also charitable as generous patrons bought fists full of raffle tickets and rushed to the silent auction table for  their chance to win  golf packages to exclusive clubs on Long Island.

Awards and recognitions were presented after dinner to key players and contributors to the event, including Honorary Chairman, Dr. Cono Grasso.  Raffle prize winners were also announced; they received highly coveted items such as iPads, cameras and plane tickets.

The 17^th Annual MediSys Classic was a great success thanks to the staff of Jamaica and Flushing Hospital, our generous participants and the staff of Old Westbury Country Club. We are looking forward to next year.

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Decreasing tobacco use and promoting the benefits of breast feeding have always been very important issues that require additional community outreach and education. Therefore Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center selected to address these two issues as their prevention agenda priorities and as part of their 2013-2017 Community Service Plan (CSP).

This decision was based on the demographic needs outlined by the New York State Department of Health. Both initiatives are in line with NYS’s Prevention Agenda 2013 – 2017 and NYC’s Take Care New York 2016 and the needs of the communities served by both hospitals.

Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital continues to make smoking cessation and exclusive breastfeeding the two focal points in their efforts to improve public health in service areas. The Hospitals have made significant progress with both initiatives. Currently breastfeeding services are offered to all patients in the community. Both hospitals have expanded their efforts to become designated as a “Baby-Friendly” hospital; which is a global initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The hospitals have enlisted several community based organizations as partners in promoting Tobacco-Free Living and in extending their reach to as many people as possible. We have had a significant impact on reducing smoking rates among employees who smoke and counseling patients who smoke on the benefits of quitting. In addition we are taking part in the NYC Tobacco-Free Hospitals campaign.

As required by New York State, all hospitals must develop and make public our continued progress on our CSP initiatives each year. To learn more, please visit the “Community” section of the Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital websites.

Through our continued hard work on both of these initiatives, it is the goal of both Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital to educate our community and increase the overall health of those we serve.

March 19^th was Certified Nurses Day.  This special day is recognized worldwide and honors nurses who become board certified in their specialties.  Currently, there are approximately 150 certified nurses at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. The hospital demonstrated its appreciation for each nurse’s commitment to excellence by hosting a Certified Nurses Day celebration in the auditorium of the Old Trump Pavilion.

The auditorium was filled with nurses who chatted excitedly about their journeys in achieving their certifications.  The process to becoming a certified nurse requires  additional and rigorous career training, but proves to be very rewarding as both patients and nurses benefit from the hard work.

Executive Vice President and COO William Lynch kicked off the celebration by delivering a humorous but very heartfelt speech. He stated, “Without our nurses, nothing is possible,” he continued, “We are extremely grateful for the level of care and dedication that our nurses demonstrate.” Mr. Lynch was followed by Kathleen Scher; Vice President of Nursing, who also expressed appreciation and shared her agenda to implement new programs to support the nursing staff.

The evening ended on a fun note, as the nurses enjoyed a spread of delicious food and congratulated each other on receiving their respective certifications. A raffle was held during the celebration in which each person had the chance to win tickets to attend a national conference of their choice, tickets to attend the 1199 Nurse of Distinction Awards or a gift basket with beauty products and a spa gift card.

On March 16^th guests were greeted by an explosion of color and creativity when they arrived at the lobby of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.  Members from the department of psychiatry transformed the lobby into an impressive art gallery to raise awareness for Creative Arts Therapy week. The name of the art exhibit was Mandalas, Explorations and other Self-Reflections. The general public and members of the press were invited to view the masterpieces, mingle and participate in interactive projects at the reception.

While the art was indeed beautiful, what made each piece special was the fact that they were anonymously submitted by patients participating in creative arts therapy at the hospital.  According to licensed creative arts therapists Michelle Hololob and Heather Grey; these patients were happy to submit their work because they wanted others to know that creative arts therapy has been a positive experience for them.

Dr. Seeth Vivek; Chairman of Psychiatry and Tony Maffia; Vice President of Psychiatry, as well as Grey and Hololob all conducted interviews with the media and educated everyone about the benefits of creative arts therapy in treating mental illnesses.

Creative arts therapy encourages self- exploration, helps organize emotions and has a profoundly positive effect on mental well-being. Patients often begin therapy feeling unhappy, conflicted or isolated but by creating art they are able to share their feelings, engage with therapists and begin the process of recovery. It is for these reasons and others that this form of therapy has been an integral part of the Department of Psychiatry at Jamaica Hospital for nearly 20 years.

The event was a success and a visual sensation.  However, the most important achievement for the psychiatry department was being able to use art as a platform to educate the public that mental illness should not be stigmatized and is nothing to be ashamed of. “There is still a stigma attached to mental illness,” said Heather Grey-as quoted in the Times Ledger. “We are using art as a platform to disseminate that stigma.”

Click here to read the full Times Ledger article:

http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2015/12/mentalart_tl_2015_03_20_q.html

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The prestigious team of surgeons at Flushing Hospital Medical Center is moving full speed ahead in performing surgeries with the assistance of the da Vinci surgical robot.  This specially trained group of physicians has successfully completed an impressive 100 plus procedures in just a few months.

The da Vinci was acquired late last year with the objective of providing advanced surgical services to the community.   Surgeries performed by utilizing the machine offer patients several benefits such as shorter hospital stays, minimal scarring, less bleeding and pain.

Members of the surgical team are pleased with the early success of the robotic surgery program. They are looking forward to treating more patients through robotic technology.

Flushing Hospital is planning future outreach campaigns to inform the community that several technologically advanced medical services are being provided by their neighborhood hospital and they do not have to venture far to seek treatment.

On Tuesday, February 3, Jamaica Hospital sparkled as all former recipients of the hospital’s Going the Extra Mile program , (or G.E.M for short) gathered for a breakfast in their honor.

Approximately 50 former G.E.M honorees were in attendance for the festivities. Also in attendance were G.E.M committee co-chairs, Anthony Maffia and Sheila Garvey, as well as President & CEO Bruce J. Flanz. Each thanked the honorees for their efforts and stated how important having employees who go above and beyond are to our institution.  “The G.E.M employees are models for others. We hope more employees follow the examples they have set,” stated Mr. Maffia.

One of the past G.E.M recipients, Security Officer Robert Smith offered his perspective on the event. “As a recipient of the award, I was honored to be at the breakfast with my fellow colleagues. While we all received our awards for different circumstances, we all share the same belief that we were just doing our jobs.” Officer Smith added, “I am very proud to be part of the Jamaica Hospital family, where everyone is considered important.”

The G.E.M Program was created in July of 2013 to acknowledge and thank employees for simple acts of courtesy, team spirit, kindness and professionalism. Nominations are made by supervisory staff members who observe employees taking actions that positively impact the experience of our patients, visitors, and co-workers.  Each month at the Jamaica Hospital Department Head meeting, G.E.M recipients are awarded a certificate, pin and a gift certificate.

Since its inception, over 80 G.E.M employees have been identified. Jamaica Hospital thanks them all for their dedication.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center is further expanding its list of clinical services to include bariatric surgery. The new program will be headed by Dr. Sanjeev Rajpal, a pioneer and expert in weight loss surgery, as well as Dr. Paul Thodiyil, who has many years of experience.

The availability of this service is timely- as the demand for bariatric surgery has increased due to the rise in obesity rates. It is estimated that more than one third (35%) of adults in the United States are obese.  Overcoming obesity by way of exercise and diet alone can be difficult for some people. Bariatric surgery is often the only option for individuals who have tried several weight loss treatments or methods to lose weight, but were unsuccessful.

Flushing Hospital will offer patients a unique approach and experience in weight loss surgery.  Clients’ success will not only be measured by pounds shed but include a complete lifestyle change that embodies mental and physical wellness.

The bariatric surgery program will offer patients a range of minimally invasive surgical procedures that will include:

• Gastric bypass surgery
• Lap band surgery
• Sleeve gastrectomy
• Bariatric revisions

Doctors will work with each patient to decide which procedure is best suited for their lifestyle or health condition.

In order to foster this multi-level model of treatment, support services will be available to patients in addition to the surgical procedures.

Support services will include:

• Close physician monitoring- Flushing Hospital’s team of bariatric experts, will closely monitor each patient throughout their weight loss journey.
• Pre and post-surgery psychological evaluations- Assessments will aid patients in understanding their eating behaviors.
• Personalized diet and nutrition counseling- Registered dietitians will be available to assess clients’ eating habits and create a nutrition plan to support a new and healthy lifestyle.
• Ongoing education and support groups- Support groups and education seminars will be facilitated by trained professionals. These meetings are helpful in aiding patients to transition into a new way of life.

Flushing Hospital’s Chairman of Surgery, Dr. Neil Mandava is looking forward to the launch of the bariatric services. Dr. Mandava stated, “The goal for the new bariatric surgery program is to solidify Flushing Hospital as the go-to and premiere facility for weight loss surgery in the area.”  “Residents will no longer have to venture outside of the communities served by the hospital to obtain assistance in achieving their weight loss objectives,” added Dr. Mandava.

For more Information about bariatric services at Flushing Hospital please call the department of Surgery at 718-670-3135.

In 2013 Jamaica Hospital Medical Center conducted research with the goal of identifying key health issues within communities served.  After a careful and thorough analysis, it was discovered that breastfeeding rates in service communities were at a concerning low. The numbers indicated that several neighborhoods, particularly those in Southwest Queens, ranked among the lowest in New York City. This prompted the hospital to include breastfeeding in its Community Service Plan and focus on increasing the number of mothers who breastfed exclusively after giving birth.

Jamaica Hospital has since executed several community education and outreach initiatives such as Centering Pregnancy and support groups to inform families of the importance of breastfeeding. The hospital has partnered with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) “Latch on NYC” initiative and the Queens Breastfeeding Alliance to expand its reach. In the initial stages of inception only 2% of infants born at the hospital were exclusively fed breast milk but this number has now grown to over 24%. Through this advancement, other objectives that are consequential to breastfeeding such as childhood obesity and the development of some cancers in women will be addressed.

Lactation consultant Paula Utilla, administrator Mitchell Cornett as well as other members of the Ob/Gyn department coordinated a successful seminar featuring world- renowned author and lactation consultant Catherine Watson-Genna. The seminar educated staff and patients about breastfeeding problems related to tongue tie.

Tongue tie is a congenital condition which occurs in an estimated 5% of newborns and restricts the tongue’s range of motion.  This restriction is caused by an abnormally thick and short lingual frenulum.  Ms. Watson-Genna presented her research project- using ultrasound to examine tongue movements of babies with tongue-tie before and after frenotomy (procedure which releases the frenulum). Other speakers included Jamaica Hospital’s own Frances Perez-Hernandez, doctors Silvestro Iommazo, Ajey Jain and Steven R. Inglis.

Jamaica Hospital heavily promoted breastfeeding by producing literature, program posters, webpage ads and social media marketing, but the ribbon that tied this all together was a well-received news segment on NY1. The segment featured baby Germosen, who received a frenotomy from Dr. Iommazo and is now happily breastfeeding.

To end the year in a bang, the hospital was recognized by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Breast Feeding Collaborative for achieving the highest score improvements in the baby-friendly core measures over a six month period.

The year 2014 in review has been successful for the hospital’s breastfeeding initiative. The numbers are continuing to increase and more families are aware of its importance. Jamaica hospital’s objectives for 2015 include, continuing to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate, enrolling 500 women in the Centering Pregnancy program and enrolling more mothers into the off-campus breastfeeding peer support group.