On Wednesday, March 2^nd a group of over 20 employees representing MediSys Health Network attended the 2016 Hospital Association of New York State (HANYS) Advocacy Day in Albany.

This annual event gives MediSys’ leadership and staff the opportunity to meet with our New York State legislators to discuss healthcare issues.

Some of the key issues that were discussed at this year’s meeting were:

• The urgent need for additional capital funding
• Funding for potential increases in minimum wage
• Assistance in covering  unpaid bills resulting from the failure of Health Republic health plan
• Support for safety net providers

The President of HANYS; Dennis Whelan, commended our efforts in effectively raising awareness of these issues among State legislators. Mr. Whelan also thanked Mr. Bruce J. Flanz; President and CEO of MediSys, for the network’s continued strong show of support and for a wonderful turnout this year.

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.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s dedication to serving residents in its community extends beyond medical care.  The hospital’s leadership and staff are exceedingly passionate about participating in important cultural events that are reflective of the diverse borough of Queens.

This month the hospital joined members of the Asian community to ring in Lunar New Year 2016, which is the Year of the Monkey. It is said that if you are born of this year, you are witty, intelligent and have a magnetic personality. Each year is represented by one of the twelve animals of the lunar calendar. The animals include a rat, rooster, dog, pig, ox, monkey, tiger, dragon, snake, horse, goat and rabbit.

Joann Ariola; Director of Intergovernmental Relations for MediSys Health Network, represented the hospital at a Lunar New Year event organized by Peter Tu, Executive Director; Flushing Chinese Business Association and CenterLight Health to bring well wishes for a Happy Lunar New Year to the seniors at the CenterLight Senior Center on 38^th Avenue in downtown Flushing. The seniors were entertained by a team of dancers performing the traditional Dragon Dance.

Additionally, Flushing Hospital’s Pre-Hospital Care Department participated in the Flushing Community annual Lunar New Year Parade before an estimated 100,000 onlookers.

In the spirit of the Lunar New Year,  Flushing  Hospital would like to wish everyone 恭贺新禧, Gōng hè xīn xǐ – good luck in the year ahead!

To better serve our patient and guest needs, Jamaica Hospital is transitioning from a paper pass system to visitor badges provided by PassagePoint for all hospital guests. The reception desk staff has begun distribution of several visitor badges to visitors. There are still paper visitor passes being distributed, so you will see visitors with either a badge or a paper pass.

This new pass system includes a photo ID and name on all visitor badges. Anyone coming to visit with a patient in the Main Hospital Inpatient units is required to present a photo ID and have their photo taken to be issued a visitor’s badge. Anyone age 16 and over must present identification.

1. Routine visitors will be issued a RED badge with the word VISITOR printed on it.
2. Visitors of restricted patients will be issued a PURPLE badge
3. There will be a YELLOW badge issued to vendors and contractors

Visitor passes will not include patient information. All passes will show the photo and name of the visitor, the date and time it was issued, and the area they are visiting. While on the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, campus visitors will be required to wear the pass at all times. At the time of departure,  they are required to return the passes to reception for check out.

Please be patient while we work to improve our service. The badge system is being phased in so you will be seeing both paper passes and badges as staff becomes acclimated to the system.

We greatly appreciate your time and patience.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

Every month, employees from Jamaica Hospital Medical Center who go above and beyond to help coworkers, patients and visitors are nominated for the G.E.M award.  G.E.M stands for Going the Extra Mile and recipients are recognized for acts of courtesy, team spirit, kindness and professionalism. This month’s G.E.M recipient is Donovan King, Physician Assistant from the hospital’s Emergency Department.

We congratulate Mr. King on a job well done and  for his dedication.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center are two of the busiest hospitals in Queens. Each year hundreds of thousands of people depend on the services of the hospitals for their healthcare needs.  As highly-utilized institutions, the daily operations as well as patient and staff safety, are high priorities.

To ensure the safety of everyone who visits or works at each of the hospitals, Safety Huddles were initiated in the spring of 2015 at Flushing Hospital and summer that same year at Jamaica Hospital. Every morning at 10:00 am leadership from across both hospitals convene at their respective campuses to identify and address issues that could potentially have an impact on the day to day workings of each facility. At each meeting, there is a roll call during which each department reports on issues, either from the previous 24hours or that are anticipated to occur.

The Safety Huddles have proven to be very beneficial and a great success, as it keeps employees informed of safety issues and procedures. This heightened awareness will also help to decrease the number of safety-related incidents that occur at Flushing and Jamaica Hospital.

Each hospital’s focus on safety reinforces their commitment to continuing to become a high-reliability organization.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

For more than two decades, Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. has been a recognizable resource for identifying the area’s Top Doctors.

They base their selection process on peer nominations. Being chosen for this prestigious honor involves contacting directly more than 50,000 physicians and hospital and healthcare executives. The Castle Connolly physician-led research team carefully reviews the credentials of every physician being considered for inclusion in Castle Connolly Guides®, magazine articles and website. After this careful review of credentials, nominated physicians may be chosen to be listed as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor.

This year we are pleased to announce that six doctors from Jamaica Hospital and five Flushing Hospital doctors have been selected as Top Doctors in New York Metro Area for the year 2016.

Doctors affiliated with the MediSys Health Network are: Cono Grasso MD, Jang Chadha MD, Allen Fishman MD, Steven Inglis MD, Glenn Kalash DO, Glenn Muraca DO, Joel Silverman MD, Nader Paksima DO, Alan Roth DO, Alan Zeitlin MD and Craig Thurm MD.

The Medisys Health Network prides itself on providing the highest quality of care to all of our patients. We congratulate all of our doctors chosen for the 2016 Castle Connolly Top Doctor’s Guide.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

Officer Pollard surrounded by her proud colleagues

Security Officer June Pollard recently received an award presented by the New York City Chapter of the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS) which is a worldwide security management society.

In January 2015 Officer Pollard was involved in an incident in the ED waiting room. She confronted a man  who was brandishing a knife and trying to attack another man who had been protecting himself with a chair. Officer Pollard put herself in harm’s way by trying to defuse the violent situation in the waiting room while protecting the other patients who were in there and helping to get them out of harm’s way.

Join us in recognizing and applauding Office Pollard for her bravery and dedication to ensuring the safety of our guests, patients and staff.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

Smoking-related illnesses are prevalent in the neighborhoods served by Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center.  As a response to this issue, both hospitals have partnered with organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association to develop initiatives that encourage residents of these communities to live a smoke-free life.

The Great American Smokeout created by the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association’s Turquoise Take Over were two of the largest anti-smoking events promoted at both hospitals last year.

In November, Jamaica Hospital’s Patient Navigation Department collaborated with the American Lung Association’s Lung Force to host Turquoise Takeover and raise awareness on lung cancer.  Both teams rallied passerby’s to participate in activities which educated them on the importance of smoking cessation.

Around the same time Flushing Hospital and the American Cancer Society promoted the Great American Smoke Out by displaying an information table in the main lobby.  Visitors and employees were given information on the best ways to quit and the reasons why quitting is beneficial to their health.  The hospital was able to engage with many smokers who were willing to sign up for its Freedom from Smoking Program.

The Freedom From Smoking Program includes eight sessions and features a step-by-step plan for quitting smoking and encourages participants to work on the process and problems of quitting, both individually and as part of a group.

For an online version of the American Lung Association’s successful program, visit http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/join-freedom-from-smoking/    and get started today. For information on the Freedom From Smoking Program at Jamaica or Flushing Hospital, please call 718-206-8494.

For more hospital events, highlights, health and  fitness tips, visit us on 

Facebook.com/JamaicaHospital  or Facebook.com/Flushing Hospital 

and follow us on Twitter @JamaicaHospital or @FHMC_NYC

This past holiday season at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital was certainly one to remember.  Both hospitals received an outpouring of generosity and good will from employees, as well as community organizations and leaders.

At Jamaica Hospital, Senator Joe Addabbo took time from his demanding schedule to play Santa and distribute several large sacks filled with toys to children on the pediatric unit.  The toys were donated by P.S. 60 in Woodhaven, who organized a very successful toy drive.  Additionally, the children at the hospital were treated to an abundance of gifts from organizations such as the New York City Department of Corrections, hospital staff,   the Hempstead Bay Power Squadron and others.

Flushing community leader Martha Flores- Vasquez organized the Three Kings event at Flushing Hospital of which over 500 children and their parents were entertained by dancers, singers and given toys donated by Healthfirst and the 109th Precinct Community Council.

To top off the bounty of generosity received by hospital guests, the songs of the holiday season echoed throughout Jamaica and Flushing Hospital campuses courtesy of the Fa La La’s,  the Jamaica Hospital Carolers and the Waldvogels. The groups traveled from building to building and sang holiday hits such as “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” to get everyone into the spirit of the season.

All of these acts of kindness are greatly appreciated. We thank everyone for their contribution in making last holiday season very special and unforgettable.