Last month, MediSys Health Network celebrated the grand opening of the New York Surgical Specialists center by hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony.  The new multi-specialty practice located on Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows, sits in the heart of one of the most highly-trafficked streets in Queens. The beautifully decorated 3700 Sq. Ft facility evidently designed with the comforts of the patient in mind, boasts a modern aesthetic and several state-of-the-art amenities.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was hosted by the practice’s head surgeons, Michael Stracher MD, Sanjeev Rajpal MD, Juan Sandoval MD and Frederick Gulmi MD. MediSys Health Network’s President and CEO Bruce J Flanz welcomed guests and gave opening remarks. He was later joined by Mournir Doss; Executive Vice President and CFO who spoke about the vision the network’s leadership had for New York Surgical Specialists and the hard work that brought it to fruition. He expressed his appreciation to project managers Rosemary Brandt and Tracey Agostini for facilitating and overseeing many aspects of the process.

Guests were granted office tours during which they learned about the sophisticated technologies, such as the Artemis Robot which will be utilized by the surgeons. The facility’s waiting area was furnished with comfortable seating, colorful pieces of art and a centrally located reception area. The eight examination rooms were impeccable and expansive.

New York Surgical Specialists is open for business and offers patients a wide range of surgical services that include general, bariatric, urological, gynecological and orthopedic surgery. The surgical group is one of few in Queens to provide patients with surgeons who specialize in laparoscopic and robotic surgery in addition to traditional surgery. Most surgical procedures will be performed at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.  New York Surgical Specialists’ friendly and professional staff is available to facilitate and expedite patient referrals and can be reached by calling, 718-408-NYSS (6977).

Last month, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center celebrated breaking ground for what will be the newly renovated Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care.  The event was held in the Trump Pavilion Garden Room North and was filled to capacity by staff, elected officials, media and supporters of the hospital.

The ground breaking ceremony commenced with remarks from Jamaica Hospital President and CEO Bruce J. Flanz who excitedly welcomed everyone and shared a brief history of the renovation project from inception to reaching the milestone that was achieved on that day.  Mr. Flanz’s excitement proved infectious as others including elected officials Senator Joseph Addabbo and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz later followed his speech expressing the same sentiment while applauding the hospital for its commitment to providing quality care to the community over the years.

The highlight of the event took place when the Borough President, along with Mr. Flanz and board member Neil Foster Phillips introduced hospital trustee Mr. Joseph Ferrara, the namesake for the unit. Mr. Ferrara went on to explain how important this day was for him and for the advancement of the hospital’s community initiatives. “It’s a necessary thing,” he said. “The community deserves this.”

Ferrara praised the high level of care and dedication offered by the Hospice Care Unit’s multidisciplinary staff led by Dr. Alan Roth; Chairman of Family Medicine and Chief of Palliative Care Medicine and Angelo Canedo PHD; Vice President of MediSys Health Network: by sharing his personal experience of the support received when his wife passed away. “I met many wonderful and caring people”, he said.

Guest speaker and former Jamaica Hospital employee Edward Schraeger also shared his story “I was fortunate enough to have a place like Jamaica to bring my relatives. Without Jamaica, I honestly don’t know what we would’ve done,” Schraeger said. “It warms my heart to see this program will continue to flourish.”

Hospital leadership later presented Mr. Ferrara with a sledge hammer with a gold- covered head and a plaque as a commemoration of his generosity. He found it a great honor for his family to be a part of the momentous occasion.

The Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care is slated to begin construction this fall. The unit’s redesign will offer patients and families many upgraded amenities that promote serenity, privacy and will allow them to feel more at home. Some of the new upgrades will include private and spacious suites for patients, family meeting rooms and a relaxing family lounge that offers loved ones a space to gather decompress or reflect.

“The needs of our patients and community are at the top of our list of priorities; our commitment to patient satisfaction is reflected in every amenity and feature we will offer at the Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care,” concluded hospital CEO and President Bruce J. Flanz.  “We want to ensure that compassion and comfort are received at all times,”stated Mr. Flanz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJkZr59kYI

The possibility of a Zika virus outbreak in the United States has been a looming issue for health organizations, elected officials and the general public.  This growing concern has sparked a quest for information and communities are looking to their local hospitals as one of the resources to provide education about the virus.

Jamaica Hospital has collaborated with key influencers in the community to raise awareness and share measures of prevention against Zika.  Some of those collaborations included working with elected officials, local media and participating in nationally recognized social media forums to get the message out.  The hospital’s Director of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Farshad Bagheri has helped greatly in providing the information needed to facilitate these initiatives.

This summer, in a Queens Chronicle article, titled “Doctors Worried as Zika Hits Queens,” Bagheri explained to reporters that actions against Zika must be carried out with urgency as the threat of an outbreak is more imminent than many realize.  He further explained the protocol that area hospitals were advised to follow if they received a patient displaying symptoms.

The full article can be read here: http://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/doctors-worried-as-zika-hits-queens/article_09fa954c-81fb-595e-9da5-3d067cc24a1a.html

Additionally, as part of a social media, community outreach campaign, Jamaica Hospital collaborated with Councilman Eric Ulrich to educate the public about the virus.   Dr. Bagheri provided vital statistics, safety tips and a public service warning to pregnant women travelling to countries with high levels of transmission.

Jamaica Hospital is proud to serve as a trusted resource for the wellness and betterment of our community. Hospital leadership and staff are consistently exploring new ways to communicate with and educate those we serve.

Dr. Rick Conetta and TV Host Dr. Alexander van Tulleken

During the summer of 1999, Queens became the epicenter of the first West Nile Virus outbreak in the United States.

The chain of events began when patients were taken to Flushing Hospital with unusual symptoms that alarmed staff and prompted them to conduct a medical investigation that is still described by many as a superb case of medical sleuthing.

The findings from the investigation submitted by the hospital’s team of doctors which included the late Dr. Deborah Asnis, Dr. Rick Conetta and others helped the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies to solve one of the most renowned medical mysteries of that time.

Although the events that led to this discovery occurred several years ago, many are still intrigued and continue to share the story to this day.

In fact, this summer, a production company associated with MSNBC TV visited Flushing Hospital to film a documentary about solving medical mysteries.  The host, Dr. Alexander van Tulleken, best known for his work during the Ebola outbreak, interviewed Dr. Rick Conetta, Flushing Hospital’s Director of Critical Care about the significant role the hospital played in discovering the West Nile virus.

Dr. Conetta later invited the TV host to take a supervised tour of the units and facilities in the hospital that served as the locations in which the mystery illness was first observed, researched, treated and reported.  This included the Three West Nursing Station, the Medical Library and the hospital’s laboratory.

The two wrapped up the interview with the notion that if not for the diligence of the staff at Flushing Hospital, it was quite possible that the symptoms of the West Nile virus would not have been identified as quickly and the disease could have spread more widely. Their quick actions saved many lives.

The show is still in its productions stages but is scheduled to air next year and is tentatively titled, “The Chain.” The Department of Public Affairs will provide updates about possible air dates.

Over the years Flushing Hospital has built a reputation in the community for being sensitive to the needs of patients and going above and beyond to provide quality medical care.  The dedication of the hospital’s staff resonates in achievements such as serving as the epicenter for the discovery of the West Nile virus to making certain that each day; all patients who enter our doors receive quality health care.

On August 12, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center held a special ceremony to mark the major achievement of receiving a deficiency-free score following an intensive trauma verification and review process conducted by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

According to the ACS, each assessment is based on “commitment, readiness, resources, policies, patient care, performance improvement, and other relevant features of the program as outlined in Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient.”

The American College of Surgeon’s verification affirmed the hospital’s ability to provide first-rate care to trauma patients of all levels. “ACS standards require a hospital to have the best of the best in critical care,” explained Trauma Medical Director; Dr. Geoffrey Doughlin.

While validation from accredited organizations such as the American College of Surgeons is very important to the hospital’s leadership and staff, the experiences of patients are as equally valued.  Each year the trauma team treats over 1,700 patients and on countless occasions has saved the lives of many.

One of the many patients treated includes New York City Police Officer Kenneth Healey, who attended the verification ceremony and was happy to attest to Jamaica Hospital trauma team’s high level of performance and commitment to positive patient outcomes.

Healey shared his testimony with several news outlets as to how the trauma team saved his life. “I feel lucky to be standing in front of you today,” the Officer told reporters. “I had all my needs met and it’s all thanks to the doctors and nurses that were by my side.”  In 2014, Officer Healey was viciously attacked and struck in the head while on duty; he was rushed to Jamaica Hospital where he received life-saving care. During the ceremony, Healey reunited with the team that treated him, this included surgeon, Dr. Harrison Mu.

Jamaica Hospital has been providing trauma care since 1985 and over the years has developed a reputation for experience and expertise in the field.  The hospital is a destination of choice for doctors to train and is actively engaged in trauma research to enhance patient outcomes.

The trauma division’s initiatives also include community outreach, implementing educational programs and embracing plans such as Vision Zero, to help in the prevention of trauma-related injuries and death.

Jamaica Hospital is proud to continue to serve the community and as demonstrated by the recent ACS verification, continue to save lives every day, even under the most extreme circumstances.

Overall, the Trauma Verification ceremony was a tremendous success and has been covered by several news outlets, here are a few:

NY1

https://youtu.be/Ew8uHBC_26o

New York Daily News 

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/survived-hatchet-slash-returns-jamaica-hospital-article-1.2749218

Queens Chronicle 

http://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/jamaica-hospital-mc-to-upgrade-hospice/article_dacf9299-89b9-5554-a92e-ebbcb5414076.html

Dr. Raoof visiting patients during MAD Rounds with administrator James Villavicencio.

Dr. Sabiha Raoof; Chairwoman of Radiology for Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center was featured in last month’s edition of  the American College of Radiation’s  publication, the ACR  Bulletin.

Dr. Raoof was interviewed for an extended article titled “A Combined Approach”, which highlighted radiologists who are ‘working with their colleagues to improve the patient experience through initiatives big and small.’

The article delved into the importance of optimizing the patient experience, by simply finding out what patients want.  Methods used to obtain this type of information typically include extracting opinions and data from electronic surveys.

Dr. Raoof was recognized for her unique approach to finding out what patients want by meeting with them directly.  She initiated the MAD (Making a Difference) Rounds project at Jamaica Hospital, which was created along with the help of hospital leaders to ensure that patients receive the best quality care during their stay.   The project, later adopted at Flushing Hospital, involves the participation of nearly 100 clinicians and administrators who make rounds each day, asking patients how they are feeling and if they need anything. “The MAD team’s goal is to solve any issues a patient has immediately,”Dr. Raoof explained.  She went on to say “We want patients to feel empowered to ask questions and tell us how we can make their health care experience better.”

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center are taking steps to becoming “High-Reliability Hospitals.” The MAD program is one of several initiatives that have been created to increase patient satisfaction.  Hospital leaders and staff are continuously exploring ways to make time spent at both campuses a positive experience for all.

Last month, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Trauma Division and NYPD officials collaborated on a well-received community outreach event – warning the public about the dangers of distracted driving.

The event was centered on Distracted Driving Awareness Month, an observance created by the National Safety Council to draw attention to the large number of accidents and fatalities that occur as a result of not paying attention to the road while driving.

Each year the hospital’s trauma division receives over 1,500 patients and a substantial number of their injuries or fatalities are caused by distracted driving.  In fact, national statistics report that on average, one in four vehicle crashes involves the use of a cell phone while driving.

However, the act of driving while distracted does not only involve cell phone use, as told by Dr. Geoffrey Doughlin; Jamaica Hospital’s Chairperson of Emergency Services during media interviews. “There are three types of distracted driving: visual- taking your eyes off the road, manual-taking your hands off the wheel and cognitive- taking your mind off driving.” Doughlin further explained to reporters, “Distracted driving activities also include eating, applying makeup or talking to passengers.”

WATCH NY1 Media Interview here:

https://youtu.be/FhBzOrFXWEs

Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Division actively conducts research on motor vehicle and pedestrian safety. The research is utilized in industry publications, as a resource for the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and in other hospital community outreach efforts.  The division was awarded funding by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee in 2015 and 2016 for their Safer Street Queens project.

The objectives of New York City’s Vision Zero initiative coincide with those of our Trauma Division, which is essentially making streets safer for all who use them. Vision Zero, Street Team Officers are often seen in neighborhoods engaging residents while handing out safe driving and pedestrian safety reading materials. Officers did the same the day of the event by standing in front of the hospital and handing out Vision Zero materials to all who walked by.

The efforts of programs such as Vision Zero and Safer Streets Queens have yielded positive results. NYPD Chief of Transportation, Thomas Chan shared that the areas in South East Queens have seen a 45% decrease in fatalities and education as well as enforcement has played a large part in that achievement. Chief Chan informed Queens Ledger reporters, “We’re seeing a difference.”  “Two years in a row we’ve had decreases since the inception of Vision Zero. There’s always room for improvement and we’re going to continue to work on these particular issues.”

Overall, the event was successful; we would like to thank the staff of Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Division and the NYPD for their commitment to educating our community on road rules and safety.

From L-R Arlette Cunningham; Volunteer Manager JHMC, Mohan Dyal and WABC TV news anchor Ken Rosato

Earlier this spring, Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center volunteers Dylan Gettings and Mohan Dyal were honored at the United Hospital Fund’s 23rd annual Hospital Auxillian and Volunteer Achievement Awards ceremony.

Eighty-seven volunteers from 61 hospitals throughout New York were honored for providing exceptional service to the hospitals where they volunteer.  Gettings from Flushing Hospital and Dyal from Jamaica Hospital were selected from thousands of nominees who dedicated millions of hours of their time to volunteering.

The volunteers came from all walks of life, a wide range of professions and have served in various hospital settings.  Mohan Dyal, a retired farmer from Guyana, was recognized for starting a foster grandparent program at Jamaica Hospital.  He volunteers thirty hours every week, engaging children in a variety of activities while they wait to see their doctor. Dylan Gettings volunteers in the General Stores Department at Flushing Hospital where he helps the staff take care of the hospital’s massive inventory, as well as delivering supplies to various departments.  The members of the store room have fallen under Dylan’s spell and treat him as “family”.

The MediSys Health Network honorees were acknowledged in front of a crowd of 700 attendees at the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria.

At the event, Jim Tallon the President of the United Hospital Fund stated, “If there is one event a year that reaffirms the goodness of people, it’s easy to make a case that it’s this one.”  We are proud to say that two of those good people are volunteers from Jamaica and Flushing Hospital.

Congratulations Dylan Gettings and Mohan Dyal on this great achievement and we are grateful for your dedication to our hospitals.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has taken another stride in providing state-of-the-art technology and services for deaf and hard of hearing patients.  Earlier this month, the hospital’s Language Assistance department proudly announced the successful installation of a public Videophone booth.

The device is the latest addition to multiple language assistance tools offered by the hospital to ensure that guests who are deaf or hard of hearing have access to multiple lines of communication. These individuals will be able to use the Videophone to make and receive telephone calls via American Sign Language interpretation.  There is no cost to the caller or the person receiving the call.

The Videophone booth is located in the main lobby of the hospital, next to the information desk. Employees are encouraged to direct deaf or hard of hearing guests to this area should they need to make a phone call through an interpreter.

It is important for employees to note that individuals who are not deaf or hard of hearing will not be able to use the device; because in order to start a call, the caller must click that he/she is deaf and communicates by using American Sign Language.

Members of Jamaica Hospital’s Language Assistance Program worked collaboratively with the IT, Patient Access and Engineering departments to complete this project.  Together, they are exploring the implementation of Videophones in inpatient units.  The team will also be installing the device at Flushing Hospital Medical Center in the near future.

For any questions or technical issues involving the Videophone, please contact the Language Assistance Program 718- 206- 8742 or 718- 206- 8671.

The Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Psychiatry Department’s annual child and adolescent symposium has become one of the most highly anticipated events in the Queens medical community. This year marked the seventh anniversary of the popular program and over 100 people filled the auditorium of the Old Trump Pavilion to discuss the topic of “Childhood Obesity: Its implication and relevance to our practice.”

The topic of Childhood Obesity was judiciously selected by doctors Vinod Dhar; Associate Chairman of Psychiatry and Madhu Rajanna; Director of Psychiatry Residency Training because obesity has become a health crisis in our nation.  The physicians had the goal of not only raising awareness of the disease’s physical implications but also shedding light on the negative effects it can have on children’s mental health.

The event commenced with opening remarks from Chairman of Psychiatry Dr. Seeth Vivek and a warm welcome from Jamaica Hospital CEO and President, Mr. Bruce Flanz. An impressive roster of speakers later followed which included Sarita Dhuper M.D. Director of Pediatric Cardiology at Brookdale Hospital and Founder of the Live Light, Live Right Obesity program, as well as Bertrand Winsberg M.D.  Child Psychiatrist for the Division of Metabolic Disorders Essex County Hospital and our own Madhu Rajanna M.D.

The speakers discussed several subjects such as:  the emerging concepts in childhood obesity, the psychological consequences of childhood obesity and anti psychotics and weight gain in children. Presentations were followed  by a dynamic question and answer session facilitated by Dr. Kamalendra Sen, Jamaica Hospital Child Psychiatrist.

Overall, the event was a great success; it left many enthralled and looking forward to next year’s symposium.

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