On September 24th, the MediSys Health Network opened its Post-COVID Care Center at our Hollis Tudors location.

The Post-COVID center was established to provide care to the thousands of patients who are still experiencing lingering symptoms associated with  COVID-19.

These patients are now being referred to as “Long Haulers.”

For long haulers, symptoms of the virus can drag on for multiple months. In interviews aired on news outlets including WPIX11 and  NY1, Dr. Alan Roth, Chairman of Ambulatory Care and Family Medicine, shared common symptoms long haulers may experience.

These symptoms can include fatigue, muscle and body pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and headaches. In addition to these physical symptoms, many long haulers are also reporting a variety of cognitive deficits, such as difficulty concentrating or focusing (commonly referred to as mental fog). Other patients may also experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

At the Post- COVID  Care Center, long haulers, as well as others experiencing post-COVID symptoms can receive specialized care from a multi-disciplinary group of qualified physicians. “We were compelled to help those in our community who are still dealing with the effects of the virus” stated Dr. Roth, who added “Queens was considered the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in March and April. During that time we treated thousands of patients. While the situation in our community has greatly improved recently, we know that there is still work to be done, including continuing to treat patients living with long-term symptoms.”

The MediSys Health Network’s Post-COVID Care Center provides patients with personalized, comprehensive care, coordinated by a primary care physician, who will work with other on-site specialists, including pulmonologists  and psychiatrists, all dedicated to helping our patients better manage their condition.

The network is encouraging everyone who is experiencing the long-term effects of COVID to seek mental health support or utilize the medical services that are being offered to treat symptoms.

For more information about services provided, or to make an appointment at our Post-COVID Care center, please call  718-736-8204.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center embarked on a journey into robotic surgery after acquiring the da Vinci Si Robot in 2014. The hospital’s first robotic surgery case was performed on August 20^th  of that year.

Since then, the volume of robotic cases has grown exponentially. Surgical representatives from Intuitive, the company that manufactures da Vinci robots, have said that Flushing Hospital’s first year of growth was faster than most other hospitals.

Over the years, Flushing Hospital’s robotic program developed a stellar reputation highlighted by excellent patient safety and satisfaction. The hospital’s track record for providing quality surgical care has earned the recognition of several renowned leaders in healthcare. This includes the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) which designated Flushing Hospital as a “Bariatric Center of Excellence” in 2018.

In March 2020, Flushing Hospital further demonstrated its commitment to being a leader in robotic surgery by purchasing the da Vinci Xi system, the 4th and most recent generation of robots. The new model has many advancements over its predecessor. The laser targeting system now allows easier docking, a boom-mounted system with a flexible and mobile platform provides better anatomic access in multi-quadrant surgeries, and the thin arms and instruments offer a greater range of motion. Additionally, the robot’s high-resolution 3D camera, 7-degree endo-wrist movement, and stable console make it easier for surgeons to perform fine dissection in deep and narrow working spaces.

With the acquisition of the da Vinci Xi, Flushing Hospital surgeons are able to operate even more precisely, faster and safer than in the past. By utilizing this advanced, minimally invasive technology, patients are offered several benefits including faster recovery times, less pain and discomfort.

The first case performed using the da Vinci Xi was successfully completed in June 2020, after a months-long suspension of elective surgeries due to the pandemic. Now that all surgeries have fully resumed, Flushing Hospital hopes to continue providing patients with excellent surgical care.

Jamaica Hospital employees who go above and beyond to ensure the safety of our patients are recognized and awarded a certificate of excellence for their Good Catch.

Good Catch nominees receive recognition based on their actions in preventing accidents from occurring. These actions may include 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:

Pryia Wells- PI Administrative Assistant

Ralph Andal- PI Systems Admin

Arlette Cunningham- Assistant Director, Volunteer Services

Seydou Ndiaye- Captain, Security Department

Gerry McSloy- Chief Engineer, Engineering Department

Gloria Flatherty- Transporter

Alecia Dawson Primus- PCA

Trudy-Anne Curate -RN, Psychiatry

Amarita Bhoge -MS, R.Ph.Department of Pharmacy

Mendy Tan-  RN 3 North

Karen Knight- PCA 3 North

By identifying a problem before it became a patient safety issue, our nominees have helped Jamaica Hospital to provide patients with excellent care.

To our Good Catch recipients, thank you for being exemplary members of our team and contributing to our goal of being a High-Reliability Hospital.

Displayed on a wall in Flushing Hospital’s ER and Jamaica Hospital’s main lobby are murals that pay tribute to healthcare workers.

The large, 4’x8’ paintings were sponsored by Maspeth Federal Savings and created by several artists from the non-profit organization Splashes of Hope to thank our hospital frontline workers for their sacrifice in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Painted in vibrant colors, each piece beckons visitors to stop and admire artistic portrayals of frontliners as superheroes.

The murals which took two months to complete also features the words “Thank You” in 13 different languages, a rainbow to symbolize unity, and a cardinal to honor the lives lost to the pandemic.  In the background stands the Queens Unisphere, one of the most iconic and beloved structures in our borough.

The MediSys Health Network is incredibly grateful to have received these beautiful murals. We thank Maspeth Federal Savings and Splashes of Hope for honoring our staff and celebrating their courage.

As our community moves forward, the murals will serve as a reminder of one of the most challenging times in history. However, they will also remind us how Jamaica and Flushing Hospital’s superheroes bravely confronted those challenges to care for many lives affected by the outbreak.

At Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals, the month of June is typically filled with graduation ceremonies celebrating the academic and career milestones of residents and fellows.

In previous years, these celebrations were held in large events spaces with many people in attendance. However, this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, ceremonies could not be conducted in person, and instead were done virtually. Included in the virtual graduation were messages from Mr. Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO, Dr. Sabiha Raoof, Chief Medical Officer and Lourdes Goldenberg, the Director of Graduate Medical Education. Most of the celebrations took place between June 9^th and the week of June 22nd.

At Jamaica Hospital Medical Center we had 70 graduates

• Dental General Practice Residency = 11 graduates
• Dental Pediatric Residency Program = 2 graduates
• Podiatry = 2 graduates
• Consultation Liaison Fellowship Program = 1 graduate
• Psychiatry Residency Program = 5 graduates
• Ophthalmology Residency Program = 2 graduates
• Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program = 6 graduates
• Internal Medicine Residency Program = 25
• Pulmonary Fellowship Program = 2
• Family Medicine Residency Program = 10
• OBGYN Residency Program = 3 Categorical and 1 Prelim Resident

At Flushing Hospital Medical Center we had 50 graduates.

• • General Surgery Residency Program = 4 graduates
  • OBGYN Residency Program = 4 graduates
  • Pediatrics Residency Program = 9 graduates
  • Internal Medicine = 14 categorical and 11 Prelim Residents
  • Dental Residency Program = 8 graduates

In addition to the Residency programs listed above, there’s a Psychology Training Program where they graduate four residents each year.

As we bid farewell to the residents who graduate from all of our programs we also welcome a total of 170 residents and fellows.

We congratulate our graduates on their achievements and we wish them all great success.

Martin Ehrlich, M.D.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to announce that our Integrative Health Program has made tremendous strides in recommencing its operations. In order to reintroduce the importance of this field to our community, the upcoming Integrative Health Grand Rounds will focus on the philosophy of integrative health and its scientific basis.

This presentation will be led by Martin Ehrlich, M.D. who recently joined the hospital staff. Dr. Ehrlich is a general internist who practices within the fields of primary care, palliative medicine, and pain management. In addition to his extensive training in these fields, Dr. Ehrlich also possesses profound expertise in the subject of integrative medicine; and this knowledge will help the hospital advance the implementation of its Integrative Health Program.

Integrative Health is a progressive approach to healthcare in which Western scientific medicine is combined with a comprehensive understanding of the nature of illness, healing, and wellness. Rather than relying solely on conventional medicine to manage chronic health conditions, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, and other complementary treatment options are employed in conjunction with it to address existing chronic conditions, prevent the onset of new illnesses, and promote overall wellness.

The communities Jamaica Hospital serves are incredibly diverse, and each patient treated at our hospital is accompanied by their own unique values, beliefs, and needs. The Integrative Health Program seeks to equip our physicians with ample integrative care strategies to determine what truly matters to our patients, align care plans with each individual’s goals for life and healing; and help our patients derive the most value from the treatment we offer.  Dr. Ehrlich will help providers best apply these strategies in their own practices.

Jamaica Hospital plans include the development of a state-of-the-art Integrative Medicine Center. Dr. Ehrlich’s experience in the field will help the hospital reach this goal, which will ultimately benefit our community.

To learn more about the integrative care approach, please attend Dr. Ehrlich’s hybrid grand rounds presentation, Integrative Health, and Wellness: A New Paradigm on Thursday, July 30 at 8:00 a.m.

The benefits of breastfeeding are numerous. Breast milk contains nutrients that are vital to an infant’s growth and development and protects them against many childhood illnesses.

The MediSys Health Network understands the important role we play in providing breastfeeding education and support to our community. We have many programs and initiatives in place that encourage breastfeeding and skilled staff committed to helping new mothers through the breastfeeding process.

The network’s dedication to promoting breastfeeding was recently highlighted when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the results of their most recent Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey.

The mPINC survey is released every two years and is intended to highlight strengths and identify improvement opportunities in hospitals’ infant feeding practices. Over 2,000 hospitals across the United States participated in the most survey which contains many newborn feeding practice sub-categories including rooming-in, feeding education, and discharge support.

Each hospital that participated in the survey received a numeric grade as well as the average national and regional grades of other hospitals and the average grades of similar-sized hospitals, (hospitals with between 2,000 -4,999 births per year).

The average national score for hospitals was a 79, the average regional score (northeast) was an 84, and the average score for similar-sized hospitals was an 83. We are pleased to announce that both MediSys hospitals exceeded each of these rating categories with Jamaica Hospital receiving a total score of 93 and Flushing Hospital earning a score of 96. These scores demonstrate the network’s commitment to providing the highest-quality pre-natal and mother-baby care to families. Congratulations to all who helped us achieve this level of success

In response to the consistent decline in COVID-19 cases and admissions, New York City has begun to strategically reopen businesses and facilities.

As our City moves forward, The MediSys Health Network has reopened several healthcare services to meet the needs of patients. This includes among others, the Wound Care Center at Flushing Hospital and the Ophthalmology Department at Jamaica Hospital; as well as the Psychiatry Departments, Radiology, Women’s Health, Outpatient Rehabilitation and Ambulatory Care Centers at both hospitals.  The Network will also resume elective surgeries, as the order to halt these types of procedures was recently lifted in all five boroughs by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

In preparation for the reopening of services, MediSys has implemented strict safety measures in accordance with CDC guidelines to protect the health of patients, visitors and employees. Safeguards include offering patients the option of pre-registering remotely to avoid spending unnecessary time in waiting areas, limiting appointment schedules to avoid overcrowding, screening all patients upon arrival for COVID-19  symptoms, frequently sanitizing areas and requiring patients and hospital staff to wear appropriate PPE.

In addition to implementing the preceding initiatives, the MediSys Health Network is aiming to address many of the fears patients may have about seeking non-emergent care. This is being achieved by encouraging employees to inform patients about policies put in place to protect their health, and emphasizing “safety” in messaging shared across each hospital’s websites, newsletters and social media platforms.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way the hospital industry delivers healthcare services, the MediSys Health Network embraces what can potentially be the ‘new normal’ with great confidence.  As the Network progresses, our focus on providing the highest quality patient care will always remain constant. It is this philosophy that has helped our hospitals to successfully overcome challenges and continue to be trusted healthcare institutions in their communities.

In times of crisis, it is common for healthcare workers to feel afraid and anxious. These emotions can become overwhelming and affect mental health. The emotional wellbeing of our employees is very important and it is our goal to provide support during difficult times.

Therefore, the MediSys Health Network’s Department of Mental Health Services has created a Wellness Support group telephone line. This program is staffed by a team of over one dozen wellness- support clinicians.

The Wellness Support group telephone line will allow our experts to monitor and assess the mental health and wellbeing of employees across the network and provide them with useful tips on how to get through this crisis. Employees will also be offered information about individual support services if needed.

The wellness support group line will be in place daily Monday through Friday, from noon to 1:00 p.m. Those interested can call 917-962-0650, and enter conference code 957954. Callers can remain anonymous.

We hope that this service will help our employees to deal with emotions that may develop as a result of the challenges they face each day, and give them strength as they continue to provide high-quality care to our patients.

There are over 5,000 hospitals in the United States, so to be listed as one of the top 250 in the country is quite an accomplishment.

Healthgrades, a leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems, announced its list of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2020 and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center was one of only a select few in New York City to be recognized.

This accomplishment places Jamaica Hospital in the top 5% of hospitals in the nation, demonstrating the hospital’s commitment to delivering superior patient care outcomes year after year.

To determine America’s Best Hospital recipients, Healthgrades analyzed the performance of all participating hospitals nationwide. Clinical quality outcomes for 32 conditions and procedures, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, respiratory failure, sepsis and stroke were evaluated over a three year period. Healthgrades recognized only those hospitals that “consistently exhibit exceptional, comprehensive quality care.”

Healthgrades has concluded that hospitals receiving this award provide significantly better care and, the most important measurement of any hospital, superior outcomes to its patients.

In addition to the recognition as one of America’s Best Hospitals, Healthgrades also awarded Jamaica Hospital with the following:

• America’s 100 Best Hospitals For Coronary Intervention Award – 2020
• America’s 100 Best Hospital for Stroke Care Award – 2020
• Neurosciences Excellence Award – 2020, 2019
• Patient Safety Excellence Award – 2018, 2017

“We are honored to be recognized by Healthgrades as one of America’s Best Hospitals. This achievement signifies Jamaica Hospital’s commitment to delivering the highest quality care to our patients,” stated Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. “Over the years we have initiated many programs and services that focus on providing patient-centered care to our community, knowing that it would ultimately lead to better patient outcomes.  This acknowledgment by Healthgrades reaffirms that we are on the right path to becoming a high-reliability organization.”