Congratulations to the MediSys Health Network’s Safety Excellence in Infection Prevention (SEIP) award winners.

The SEIP award recognizes employees who contribute to the success of infection control initiatives.

The criteria for the award are:

S: Surpasses and goes above and beyond expected job responsibilities related to infection control.

E: Enforces actions that support best practices in infection prevention.

I: I do the right thing, even when no one is looking.

P: Performs awesome acts of safety related to infection prevention.

We thank the following team members for leading by example and doing their part to reduce the risk of infection transmission:

1. Roshanie Mahadeo, RN – Jamaica Hospital

2. Maria Cristina Bacareza, RN – Jamaica Hospital

3. Karen Guertez, AHN 2N1 – Flushing Hospital

The MediSys Health Network cultivates a culture of safety by prioritizing infection control and prevention. All employees play a crucial role in preventing the spread of infections, and their contributions to safety are highly valued.

Elected officials joined Jamaica Hospital Medical Center earlier this month to celebrate the completion of Phase 1 of its Emergency Department (ED) and Critical Care Units expansion project, marking a major milestone in the hospital’s ongoing effort to modernize emergency care and meet South Queens’ growing healthcare needs.

In 2023, Jamaica Hospital announced a large-scale construction project to modernize and expand its Emergency Department. The project is supported by a $150 million grant from New York State’s Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV ED, representing a historic investment in emergency and critical care services for the Queens community.

Originally constructed in 1989, Jamaica Hospital’s Emergency Department was designed to care for approximately 60,000 patients annually. Today, the hospital treats nearly 120,000 emergency patients each year. This dramatic growth has created an urgent need for expanded modern infrastructure capable of meeting the increasing demand for emergency services.

The new Emergency Department is designed to meet that need. Once complete, the expanded ED will nearly double the size of the existing department and accommodate more than 150,000 annual visits. The project includes negative-pressure isolation rooms to support infection prevention and control, as well as significantly expanded trauma capabilities. In addition to the ED expansion and modernization, the new building will include 22 state-of-the-art critical care beds.

As New York City’s busiest Level 1 trauma center, Jamaica Hospital is also expanding its trauma treatment capacity from one trauma bay to four. Each bay will be equipped with advanced technology and designed to support the rapid, complex care critically injured patients need.

The ED modernization and expansion project is being completed in multiple phases. Phase 1 includes approximately 15,000 square feet of newly constructed space, which is now complete. Work continues on the remaining renovations and construction, and the full Emergency Department is expected to encompass approximately 50,000 square feet upon completion.

“Expanding and modernizing our Emergency Department is an important investment in the health and well-being of our community,” said Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. “This project will allow us to accommodate growing patient volumes, enhance the delivery of emergency and critical care, and provide the advanced services our patients need today and into the future.”

Dear Colleagues,

The Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Department of Surgery & Trauma is pleased to announce our Winter Coat Drive 2026. As winter approaches, many individuals and families in our community face financial challenges that make it difficult to afford warm winter clothing. Together, we can help ensure that our neighbors stay warm, safe, and healthy during the colder months.

How You Can Help

1. Donate New or Gently Used Coats of All Sizes

• The coat drive will run from October 15, 2026, through December 24, 2026.
• We greatly appreciate donations of new or gently used coats for children, teens, and adults.
• Donations may be dropped off Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM at:

Residents’ Building
89-06 135th Street
6th Floor, Suite 6T
Jamaica, NY 11418

We will distribute all donated coats locally to individuals, families, and children in need through community programs and outreach initiatives.

2. Help Spread the Word

Please share information about the Winter Coat Drive with your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Your support and outreach can inspire others to participate and make an even greater impact within our community.

For additional information regarding the Winter Coat Drive, please contact:

📞 718-206-7168
📧 [email protected]

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to helping those in need. Your support will make a meaningful difference in the lives of community members throughout the winter season.

Together, we can help keep our community warm, healthy, and strong.

Good Catch awardees receive recognition and a certificate of excellence for their efforts in preventing accidents. These actions may include keeping our facilities safe, correcting a medication order, preventing a patient from falling, or reporting a significant change in a patient’s status.

Please join us in congratulating the following employees on their Good Catch:

1. Kanihj Fatema- Jamaica Hospital
2. Lisel Benjamin, RN- Jamaica Hospital
3. Jodelyne Walker- Jamaica Hospital
4. Wendy Zambrano – Jamaica Hospital
5. Susan Dlugunovych, RN, 2N1 – Flushing Hospital

By identifying problems before they became patient-safety issues, our awardees have helped our hospitals provide excellent patient care. We thank them for being exemplary team members and contributing to our goal of being a high-reliability network.

The CARE Award program recognizes employees who receive positive written remarks from patients or their families for providing high-quality and compassionate care.

The criteria for the award are:

C: Compassion- Through listening, identifying patient vulnerabilities, and conveying empathy.

A: Advocacy- Ensuring quality care is given and the safety of the patients and environment is maintained.

R: Respect-Greeting or speaking to others in a kind and respectful way.

E: Engagement- Making individuals feel valued, important, and recognized.

Please join us in congratulating:

1. Frank Filloramo – Jamaica Hospital

2. Michelle Guzman – Jamaica Hospital

3 . Devin Bodden, RN-  Jamaica Hospital

4. Nadine Brown-  Jamaica  Hospital

5. James Tang, RN – Flushing Hospital

6. Samuel Noonan, MD – Flushing Hospital

7. Antonia Valle Villatoro, MD – Flushing Hospital

8. Chen Fei Huang, RN – Flushing Hospital

We thank our employees for their contributions to making our hospitals high-reliability facilities that focus on patient-centered care.

We are excited to invite all Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center employees, medical staff, volunteers, family members, and friends to participate in our upcoming Walk for Stroke Awareness.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 24^th, 2026
Time: Registration/Sign-In: 8:00 am; Walk: 9:00 -11:00 am.
Location: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

Registration Link: www.zeffy.com./en-US/ticketing/stroke-awareness-walk

Stroke remains a leading cause of serious long-term disability, but many strokes can be prevented. Recognizing the warning signs and acting quickly can save a life. This walk is an opportunity for us to come together as a healthcare system, promote the BE FAST stroke message, and demonstrate our commitment to the communities we serve.

You can support the event by:

• Registering to walk individually or with your department
• Inviting your family, friends, and community members
• Volunteering to assist with event activities
• Sharing the attached flyer through your personal and professional networks
• Wearing your department or team colors and walking together as a group

Departments are encouraged to organize teams and represent their areas during the walk. Whether you provide direct patient care or support our patients behind the scenes, every employee has a role in raising stroke awareness.

Please register by October 19^th, 2026. Employees interested in volunteering or organizing a departmental team may contact Madalyn Frank-Cooper at [email protected]

Let us walk together to honor stroke survivors, support their families, remember those we have lost, and help our community recognize that when stroke happens, every second counts.

Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you there!

Congratulations to the MediSys Health Network’s Safety Excellence in Infection Prevention (SEIP) award winners.

The SEIP award recognizes employees who contribute to the success of infection control initiatives.

The criteria for the award are:

S: Surpasses and goes above and beyond expected job responsibilities related to infection control.

E: Enforces actions that support best practices in infection prevention.

I: I do the right thing, even when no one is looking.

P: Performs awesome acts of safety related to infection prevention.

We thank the following team members for leading by example and doing their part to reduce the risk of infection transmission:

1. Danny Agpalo, PCA – Jamaica Hospital

2. Flushing Hospital Ambulatory Care Representatives: Krizia Bodden, Tamya Croft, Christian Espinal, Taylor Gutierrez, Nazareth John, Jose Ortiz, Katarina Sanchez, Rahana Sewratan, Daniel Vega, John Vega, Pamela Vilaprino Gonzalez

The MediSys Health Network cultivates a culture of safety by prioritizing infection control and prevention. All employees play a crucial role in preventing the spread of infections, and their contributions to safety are highly valued.

Good Catch awardees receive recognition and a certificate of excellence for their efforts in preventing accidents. These actions may include keeping our facilities safe, correcting a medication order, preventing a patient from falling, or reporting a significant change in a patient’s status.

Please join us in congratulating the following employees on their Good Catch:

1. Tarek Abdulhadi, MD – Jamaica Hospital
2. Insoul Chester, RT Assistant- Jamaica Hospital
3. Minimol Chakkadavil, PCA – Jamaica Hospital
4. Jermaine Moncrieffe, BHA – Jamaica Hospital
5. Carol Forigua, RN – Flushing Hospital

By identifying problems before they became patient-safety issues, our awardees have helped our hospitals provide excellent patient care. We thank them for being exemplary team members and contributing to our goal of being a high-reliability network.

The CARE Award program recognizes employees who receive positive written remarks from patients or their families for providing high-quality and compassionate care.

The criteria for the award are:

C: Compassion- Through listening, identifying patient vulnerabilities, and conveying empathy.

A: Advocacy- Ensuring quality care is given and the safety of the patients and environment is maintained.

R: Respect-Greeting or speaking to others in a kind and respectful way.

E: Engagement- Making individuals feel valued, important, and recognized.

Please join us in congratulating:

1. Seena Mathew, RN – Jamaica Hospital

2. Shi-Wen Lee, MD – Jamaica Hospital

3 . Michael Simmons, MD-  Jamaica Hospital

4. Ericka Foster- Flushing  Hospital

5. Manuel Lopez, MD – Flushing Hospital

6. Anna Mai, MD – Flushing Hospital

7. Aphrodite Tzikas – Flushing Hospital

We thank our employees for their contributions to making our hospitals high-reliability facilities that focus on patient-centered care.

Each year, the Injury Prevention & Violence Interruption Program within the Department of Surgery and Trauma at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center organizes a summer Back-to-School supply drive. This initiative supports local children and families as they prepare for the upcoming school year and reflects Jamaica Hospital’s commitment to community wellness beyond clinical care.

Donations are primarily collected through Jamaica Hospital employees across multiple departments, who donate:

• Backpacks
• Notebooks and composition books
• Pens and pencils
• Crayons and colored pencils
• Markers
• Folders and binders
• Glue sticks
• Calculators
• Pencil cases
• Other essential classroom supplies

This year, thanks to generous donors, over 293 backpacks were filled with school supplies and distributed at the Trauma Department’s annual School Supply Giveaway event, which was attended by hundreds of children and families.

Every backpack distributed at the giveaway represents a child receiving the tools needed to learn, grow, and succeed. The continued success of the Back-to-School Drive highlights the compassion and generosity of Jamaica Hospital staff. Through the collective efforts of our hospital leadership, departmental staff, and community partners, we have made a meaningful impact on the lives of local children and families as they prepare for a successful school year.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s drive and giveaway a success!