Category Archives: Jamaica Hospital

The Department of Professional Development and Organized Learning Receives All-Star Award

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Celebrating Excellence: Professional Development and Organizational Learning (PDOL) Receives All‑Star Award  

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to share that the Department of Professional Development and Organized Learning (PDOL) has received an All‑Star Award for our Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Program!  

The hospital is among the very first group of Training Centers to earn the prestigious American Heart Association All-Star Recognition. 

This distinction is no small achievement. The Training Center has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the American Heart Association’s mission by consistently delivering high-quality CPR education, following ECC Guidelines, and elevating the standard of lifesaving training in our communities.  

By meeting or exceeding all program criteria, including outstanding eCard performance metrics, adherence to training quality measures, and maintaining top-tier program compliance, Professional Development has proven that their team sets the bar for what it means to operate an exemplary American Heart Association Training Center compliance, they’ve proven that their team sets the bar for what it means to operate an exemplary American Heart Association Training Center.  

The All-Star Award represents much more than a certificate. It symbolizes the real-world impact the department makes every day. Through its training, PDOL enhances confidence, improves readiness, and empowers learners with the skills that save lives. This recognition reflects the dedication, collaboration, and commitment of our staff to delivering high-quality services and positive outcomes. Thank you to Lynette Hope, Assistant Director, Patricia Stith, Assistant Vice President, and everyone whose hard work made this achievement possible. 

The American Heart Association is proud to acknowledge the department’s excellence, leadership, and unwavering commitment to building safer, stronger communities.   

Once again, congratulations on achieving this incredible milestone. Your continued dedication shapes the future of lifesaving training.  

Thank you for everything you do. Shine on, All-Stars!  

First Patient Treated at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with New, Minimally Invasive Technology to Help Control High Blood Pressure

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February 2026 – Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is pleased to announce that it is the first hospital in Queens to offer a new renal denervation (RDN) procedure to treat certain patients with high blood pressure. The hospital’s cardiology team recently and successfully completed its first case. 

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2023, the Symplicity Spyral™ renal denervation (RDN) system involves a minimally invasive procedure that targets nerves near the kidneys that can become overactive and cause high blood pressure. The procedure – also known as the Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure – is approved for use as an adjunctive treatment in patients with high blood pressure (or hypertension) when lifestyle changes and antihypertensive medications do not adequately control blood pressure. 

Hypertension is the single largest contributor to death,1 and affects about 50% of U.S. adults. Of the U.S. adults who are aware of their hypertension, about 80% do not have it under control. 

The Symplicity blood pressure procedure is clinically proven to help reduce high blood pressure, which can lower serious health risks. After mild sedation, the doctor inserts a very thin tube into the artery leading to the kidney. The doctor then administers energy to calm the excessive activity of the nerves connected to the kidney. The tube is removed, leaving no implant behind. 

High blood pressure is a significant problem for patients all around the world. For people with hypertension, medication and/or lifestyle changes can help reduce blood pressure, but studies have shown that many people still don’t have control over their condition. The Symplicity blood pressure procedure can provide patients with a blood pressure reduction benefit that is ‘always on’ and doesn’t require a permanent implant – it can also help patients regain their peace of mind. We are pleased to have treated our first patient with this new technology, and we look forward to the future of hypertension care by offering innovative solutions to the people of Jamaica, Queens. 

Jamaica Hospital’s Hypertension Center provides the highest quality, patient-centered hypertension care. The Hypertension Center was created to treat patients who do not respond well to traditional hypertension medication treatments. The American Heart Association has recognized our Hypertension Practice Center as meeting or exceeding standards for hypertension treatment. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing high blood pressure or difficulty controlling blood pressure, talk to your doctor to see if the Symplicity blood pressure procedure is a possible treatment option: visit this link to learn more.  

 

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Employee Softball Game

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On September 13th, 2025, Flushing Hospital Medical Center held its annual employee softball game. The event has been held every year since 2017, but was postponed in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organized by Robert Arbitello, the Assistant Director of Material Management, the tournament consisted of nine teams, five from Flushing Hospital, two from Jamaica Hospital, and two from Health First. With almost 100 players participating, each team consisted of 12 players, a mixture of employees from different departments, as Mr. Arbitello put it, “It’s a great way for people to get to know each other.”

This was more than just a hospital event. It was a family event. “It was a day for friends and family members to have fun”, said Mr. Arbitello. In addition to a great game of softball, barbecue was served, and a face painter was available for the children in attendance.

The event was a huge success, with Mr. Arbitello receiving great feedback from the employees who attended, telling him that they had a lot of fun. “Events like these are great for morale, and we want the employees to know that they are cared for”, he says. He only has three rules for attending: you either play, volunteer, or bring your family.

 

MediSys Health Network Awarded for Its Excellence in Stroke Care

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The MediSys Health Network continues to demonstrate its unwavering dedication to providing high-quality stroke care. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center was recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for its continued commitment to quality improvement across its cardiovascular and stroke service lines by awarding the hospital the 2025 AHA Commitment to Quality Award.

Additionally, Jamaica and Flushing Hospital received the American Heart Association’s 2025 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus with Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Achievement Award. 

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. 

Both Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers’ Departments of Prehospital Care have also received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold achievement award for their commitment to offering rapid and research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attacks and strokes, ultimately saving lives. 

Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers’ Departments of Prehospital Care are honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing optimal care for heart attack patients. The Mission: Lifeline program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work daily, so patients have the best possible chance of survival. 

Congratulations to both hospitals on being recognized for these great achievements.  

Congratulations to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s V.E.T.O. Program on Celebrating its 5th Anniversary

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This year marks five years since Jamaica Hospital Medical Center first launched its Violence Elimination and Trauma Outreach (V.E.T.O.) program. The V.E.T.O. program is a hospital-based, multidisciplinary Hospital Violence Intervention Program designed to disrupt cycles of violence and promote healing.  

Beginning as a pilot in 2020-2021, under the leadership of Dr. Katherine McKenzie and the Director of Health Equity, Naa Djama, the program was started to serve victims of gun violence for over thirty days in collaboration with Care Management. 

Currently, the V.E.T.O. program staff consists of a Trauma Counselor, a Care Coordinator, and a Peer-Ally Trauma Healing Coach, who coordinates the delivery of comprehensive case management services to support the patient’s recovery. This team conducts risk assessments for community retaliation, offers counseling and grief support to patients and families, and connects them to essential community-based resources such as victim assistance applications, housing, education, employment, legal aid, nutrition, and mental health services. In collaboration with the THRIVE Center, the VETO Program hosts monthly peer support groups, led by the Peer Ally Trauma Healing Coach and the VETO Trauma Counselor. This support group aims to connect survivors with others who have overcome the challenge of recovery from a traumatic injury related to community violence and to keep survivors connected to accessible mental health services. 

As the VETO Program predominantly serves a minority population that faces several health disparities and challenges, Jamaica Hospital recognizes the importance of providing victim services that are operated and led by and for the population served. The VETO program utilizes community partnerships with organizations such as King of Kings Foundation and Life Camp Inc., both dispatch credible messengers to provide bedside crisis response and reduce retaliatory violence.  

In April of 2025, Jamaica Hospital’s VETO program and its Mobile Crisis Department agreed to collaborate to provide immediate mental health services to patients who suffered a violent injury. This collaboration results in quicker response times during crises and facilitates expedited connections to ongoing mental health services through Jamaica Hospital’s Psychiatric Department. 

The VETO Program aims to address not only the medical needs of patients but also to tackle other factors related to gun violence in the community through outreach and education. The program actively participates in events that promote awareness, including National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Recently, the VETO Program celebrated this day by encouraging everyone to wear orange and inviting community members to a special event held in the main lobby of Jamaica Hospital.

In the future, the VETO Program hopes to extend its reach to more members of our community. We look forward to the program’s ongoing efforts in tackling the critical issue of gun violence and its effect on health.

The Lown Institute Has Recognized Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers For Excellence in Health Equity

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The Lown Institute has recognized Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers for excellence in health equity, receiving an “A” grade on the 2024-25 Lown Institute Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility.

Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers achieved this honor through strong performance across metrics of community benefit, pay equity, and inclusivity out of more than 3,500 hospitals nationwide.

“Great care is only great if everyone can access it,” said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. “We need hospitals to be strong community partners—and Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals are at the top of our list showing the way.”

The Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility is the only ranking to combine health equity metrics and value of care alongside patient outcomes, for more than 2,700 acute care and 800 critical access hospitals nationwide—offering a holistic view of hospitals as total community partners. In the fifth annual rankings, the 2024-25 Lown Index evaluates hospitals on over 50 measures including novel metrics such as community benefit, racial inclusivity, and avoidance of overuse. Data sources include Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage claims, CMS patient safety data and hospital cost reports, and IRS 990 forms. The full can be found on the Lown Index website.

The Lown Institute is an independent think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring system for health. Learn more at www.LownHospitalsIndex.org.

JHMC Nurses in Singapore

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Recently, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center nurses attended the Sigma Theta Tau International Research Congress Sharing Insights, Advancing Care: Disseminating Nursing Research and Evidence for the Future in Singapore, Indonesia. Representing Jamaica Hospital was Sharon Wexler, PhD, RN, Nurse Scientist, Vik Singh, MS, RN, Director of Nursing, Annessa Madraymootoo-Ramdial, MSN, RN, Rohan Sumrah, MS, RN, Clinical Nurse Leaders, and Shiv Kumari Santram, MS, RN, Nurse Manager.

Sigma Theta Tau International Nurses Honor Society was founded in 1922 by six nursing students. It became the first US organization to fund nursing research. With membership being by invitation only, Sigma has more than 100,000 active members who reside in more than 100 countries. Throughout the world, there are roughly 600 chapters at more than 700 institutions of higher education. Jamaica Medical Center affiliates with Pace University Omega Delta Chapter of Sigma. Sigma has always recognized the value of scholarship and excellence in nursing practice.

The Research Congress was attended by 1,026 attendees representing 47 countries and 185 Honor Society Chapters. 65% of the attendees have a doctoral degree. There were 1,039 educational sessions.

At the Research Congress, the representatives from Jamaica Hospital presented the poster “Clinical Nurse Leader: An Innovative Solution to Facilitating Excellence at the Bedside”. The premise of the poster and presentation was to discuss the role of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. The role was introduced by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in 2003, the first new nursing role in over 35 years. The CNL assumes accountability for patient-care outcomes through the assimilation and application of evidence-based information to design, implement, and evaluate patient-care processes and models of care delivery. The CNL is a provider and manager of care, at the point of care, to individuals and cohorts of patients anywhere healthcare is delivered. The poster was curated by Sharon Wexler, PhD, RN, Nurse Scientist, Kathleen Karsten, PhD, RN, and Susan Iovino, DNP, RN.

In addition to the poster and presentation, this initiative was accepted for publication in the November 2024 issue of Nursing Management, titled, Transforming Care at the Bedside: The Role of the Clinical Nurse Leader.

Congratulations to the nursing team for this amazing achievement.

Schwartz Rounds at JHMC

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On July 26th, 2024, Jamaica Hospital held Schwartz Rounds on campus with 179 attendees. The Schwartz Rounds program offers healthcare providers a regularly scheduled time during their fast-paced work lives to openly and honestly discuss the social and emotional issues they face in caring for patients and families. In contrast to traditional medical rounds, the focus is on the human dimension of medicine. “As a first-time attendee, this experience has improved my insight into how patient care looks outside of the actual clinical care. I also have a better understanding as to how each staff member contributes to the care team”, said one attendee.

During the event, caregivers can share their experiences, thoughts, and feelings on thought-provoking topics drawn from actual patient cases. The premise is that caregivers can better make personal connections with patients and colleagues when they have greater insight into their responses and feelings. “It is great to see how our organization cares for our patients and our staff”, an attendee said. Panelists from diverse disciplines participate in the sessions, including physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, allied health professionals, and support staff. After listening to a panel’s brief presentation on an identified case or topic, caregivers in the audience are invited to share their perspectives and broader related issues. One attendee described the experience as a “Fantastic concept of a round. I felt empathetic with the speakers and it will impact the patient care that I provide. Thank you for organizing this, and I am looking forward to the next one.”

The JHMC Schwartz Rounds® committee members and organizers include Dr. Sharon Narducci, CQO- Senior Leader Champion, Oksana Galibova, Director PCS- Program Coordinator, Dr. Gina Basello, Network Medical Director, GME&DIO- Physician Facilitator, Dr. Susan Iovino, CNO- Nursing Facilitator, Vivekanand Singh, DON- -Planning Committee Member, Robert Pryce, DON- Planning Committee Member, Frances Perez, SW- Planning Committee Member, Karen Codd, Senior Wellness Coordinator- Planning Committee Member, and Person Centered Services Department: Logistics.

Our Schwartz Rounds® Committee Members thank everyone for their participation and invite all employees to attend future rounds, with the next event scheduled at noon in the JHMC Auditorium on 10/25/2024.

For questions, please contact Oksana Galibova, MSN, RN, Network Director Person-Centered Services Email: [email protected]

 

 

MediSys Health Network Research Day

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The MediSys Health Network of Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers recently held its Third Annual Research Conference and Poster Competition. Sponsored by the Department of Research Education and Innovation and the Department of Clinical Research, the event allows the entire MediSys hospital community to present any scholarly activity they had done over the past academic year of 2023-2024.

Director of the Department of Research Education and Innovation, Dr. R. Jonathan Robitsek explained, “The competition is a great showcase of the intellectual curiosity of all that participate”. He also highlighted the importance of the competition noting, “It’s high-quality research some of which has been presented at national and international medical conferences”.

There were 131 posters submitted between Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital. Those posters were broken into three categories, Case Reports, Empirical Research, and Quality Improvements. Each poster was then graded on a rubric of five areas: format, visual, content 1, content 2, and impact.

The first-place winning posters in the Case Reports category were, “A Cycle of Complications: Trastuzumab-induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Causing LV Thrombosis Complicated by Thromboembolic Stroke” by V. Patel, J. Patel, J.L Lee, and T. Okan (JHMC) and “Making the Distinction between Cardiac and Vasovagal Syncope in a Patient with an Intracardiac Mass” by D. Desta, P. Kiarie, and R.P Gupta (FHMC).

Second-place winning posters of the category included, “Subcapsular Liver Bleed Secondary to Mal-Placement of a Lucas Device” by I. Agha, S. Montaquila, M. Guerges, A. Mangla, and R. Lakowski (JHMC) and “When the Lungs Become the Battlefield: Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome in GVHD Post Stem Cell Transplant for AML.” by J. Bawa, A. Inghirami, S. Desai, J. Silverman (FHMC).

And finally, the third place posters were, “Impact of Social Media in Acute Onset of Psychosis in Young Child” by H. Ruparel, G. Zelin, S. Peteru (JHMC) and “Skin Deep: Exploring Erythema Nodosum Induced by Dupilumab Therapy” by J. Bawa, E. Malana, N. Tasnim, S. Farhan, A. Khan (FHMC).

In the Empirical Research category, the posters that won first place were, “Demographic Analysis of Patients Seen by a Palliative Care Service Found to be Unbefriended/Unrepresented” by P. Gordon, I.J Wang, R.J Robitsek, A. Tewari, E. Divino, K. Forbes (JHMC) and “Attitudes and Barriers to Utilization of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in Clinical Practice Among Residents and Medical Students: A Survey Study” by C. Bodden, M. Alla, P. Kiarie, M.A Louis (FHMC).

Second-place winning posters were, “Does Marijuana Legalization Result in Increased Psychiatric Emergency Visits for Cannabis Induced Psychosis?” by G. Zelin, N. Siddiqui, A. Miele, R. Kamal (JHMC) and “Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Emergent Non-Cardiac Surgery: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes” by D. Giannis, R. Zhao, L. Fernandez, N. Nikolov, C. Sneed, P. Kiarie, A. Miele, M.A Louis, N.R Mandava (FHMC).

Lastly, the third-place winning posters of the category were, “Systematic Review of Hematologic Values Among Transgender Patients: Establishing Standardized Reference Ranges to Improve Clinical Care” by L. Yap-Separovich, M. McDonald, L. Alhakim, J. Langaman, T. Millingen, A. Mir, L. Gance, C. Nienaber, A. Roth, G. Basello, E. Brondolo (JHMC) and “The Effect of Circadian Rhythm on the Glucose Challenge Test in Pregnancy” by A. Makol, M. Sun, L. Keating, I. Ngai (FHMC).

In the final category of Quality Improvements, the first-place winning posters were, “Advance Care Conversations in Primary Care Settings: Prevalence and Sociodemographic Factors” by I.J Wang, D. Patel, A. Spinelli, M. McDonald, A. Miele, R.J Robitsek, F. Falcone, K. Forbes, E. Brondolo, A. Roth, S. Mathew-Geevarughese (JHMC) and “Evaluating the Long Term Impact of Standardizing Written Sign Outs” by T. Lildar, W. Thu, S. Falak, M. Syed, S. Desai, A. Miele, K.L Cervellione, T. Toronjadze (FHMC).

Congratulations to those who placed, the honorable mentions, and everyone who participated in this year’s Research Day Conference and Poster Competition.

Jamaica Hospital Women’s Health Center Supports Food Bank for NYC’s “Woman to Woman” Initiative

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The Jamaica Hospital Medical Center team standing with a donation collection box for Food Bank NYC's Woman to Woman initiative.Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is lending its support to Food Bank for New York City’s “Woman to Woman” initiative, which aims to provide menstrual and childcare products to women who live in poverty and struggle to afford these resources. The initiative also raises awareness about how poverty affects women’s ability to obtain these products.

Despite being one of the wealthiest cities in the world, over one million women and girls live in poverty in New York City; additionally, half of all single mothers in NYC earn less than $35,935 per year. Under these circumstances, it can be difficult to obtain a wide variety of needed items, such as diapers, baby formula, and menstrual products. Through the “Woman to Woman” initiative, Food Bank for New York City provides donations of these items to women and families in need.

To support this initiative, the Jamaica Hospital has placed collection locations for menstrual products in the Women’s Health Center and the hospital’s main lobby, where you can drop off wrapped items that you would like to donate. You can also make a financial contribution by following this link. Thank you for any donation you are able to make to help women in need.