Did you know that about 15% of residents in Queens are smokers?  This information is troubling because the medical implications of smoking will cause the premature deaths of one third of this smoking population. Our goal at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is to pioneer successful smoking cessation initiatives such as our Freedom from Smoking program and to significantly decrease these numbers.

The Hospital Medical Home Department has been working in conjunction with smoke-free partners such as the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society to ensure that our community members receive the best and most comprehensive resources to help smokers quit. With the collaboration of our partners we held one of the most successful smoking cessation events in Queens- the Great American Smokeout. The Great American Smokeout is a national event promoted by the American Cancer Society. Smokers are encouraged to stop smoking for 24 hours on November 20th, in hopes that this decision will last a lifetime.

On November 20^th the main hospital lobby seemed like the place to be as over 80 people visited the display tables of the Asthma Coalition of Queens, American Cancer Society, Smoke Free Partners of Queens, American Lung Association, Health First and our own Freedom from Smoking.

The event was a hit. Guests received tips, giveaways and resources to help them or loved ones quit. The greatest achievement for the Hospital Medical Home Department was seeing the positive impact of their outreach and knowing that continued efforts will save the lives and improve the health of members of our community.

The average smoker tries to quit at least six times before finding success; however, with group-based programs such as Freedom from Smoking the chances of successfully quitting will increase from about 5% to 40%. Participants enrolled in the program at Jamaica Hospital will learn how to overcome tobacco addiction and enjoy the benefits of better health in a supportive and interactive environment. They are six times more likely to be smoke-free one year later than those who quit on their own.  Classes are forming now and trained professional can be reached at 718-206-8494 for assistance.

On Wednesday, September 10, 2014, Flushing Hospital Medical Center held its annual dinner dance, Celebration 2014.

Each year, the event grows with overwhelming support from the hospital’s Administrators and employees. This year, a special guest appearance was made by the da Vinci Surgical Robot, who delighted guests with a chance to test drive its simulator.

Attendance forthis year’s event topped the 500 mark. The General Chairmen of the committee, Robert Crupi, M.D. and Alexander Kintzoglou, M.D. spoke with pride regarding this year’s honorees in their categories.

Employee Awards were given to Mary Carr, Manager, Business Office, Paulette James, Transcription Coordinator, Medical Records and Ralph Nappo, Officer, Security. The employees were touted for their years of dedicated service to Flushing Hospital.

Additionally Maria DeMarinis Smilios, Director, Nursing – Maternal and Child Services was given an award for Excellence in Leadership and Dr. Ahamed Moideen, Director, Medical Education and SICU Trustee was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Perhaps Honoree, Paulette James, summed up the evening best when she stated, “This award means so much to me. Flushing Hospital has become my home away from home and its employees are my extended family.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24 in the United States. It is estimated that 4,600 lives are lost each year. These numbers are cause for great concern but with awareness and prevention can be decreased.

With the reported average in occurrences and recent high-profile suicides, the question of what is suicide and can it be prevented have become popular topics in conversation. It is of the utmost importance that trained mental health professionals address concerns through public education and advocating for the awareness of suicide and suicide prevention.

In support of Suicide Prevention week a team of doctors, residents and administrators under the leadership of Jamaica Hospital’s Dr. Seeth Vivek, Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, raised awareness by displaying posters, making and distributing yellow ribbons; which represent the dedication to preventing youth suicide through education and public awareness campaigns. Proceeds from the group’s efforts will benefit future community outreach campaigns.

The psychiatric staff at Jamaica Hospital is available 24/7 for consultations, depression screenings, assessments and immediate care. The staff consists of a team of caring professionals which include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, creative arts therapists and nurses

Our talented staff at Jamaica Hospital has been recognized by The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration for their outstanding work and contributions toward giving the gift of sight.
The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration is the world’s first eye bank that processes, collects, and distributes donor eye tissue for corneal transplants, medical research and education.

Each year 1,300 people have their sight restored due to the organization’s efforts.
Jamaica Hospital staff played an integral role in the Eye- Bank’s sight-restoring mission by ensuring that potential eye donations will be referred with accuracy, information collected will be completed and assisted in the facilitation of the recovery process.

A special thanks to: Bill Lynch, Executive Vice President/ Chief Operating Officer; Jacqueline Holley, Director of Nursing; Flor Canezal, Clinical Nurse Manager; Karen Davis, RN/ Assistant Director of Nursing; Bernabe Rico, RN. Robert “Smitty” Smith, Security; Roslyn Lachana (supervisor), Toni Tello, Kim Shelley (manager), and Annaleah Carson; Giselle Roach, RN; Bernard Pattugalan, RN; Cristina Bacareza, RN; Jose Carlos Acefe, MD; Asit Metha, MD; Radic Murdachayev, PA; Francois Tellus, MD; Reynaldo Punsal, MD; Lijo Mathai, student.)

Jamaica Hospital is now offering a promising free treatment option for those living with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a rare, but serious lung disease that worsens over time.

Individuals with IPF develop scarring in the lungs, which leads to shortness of breath and an irreversible loss of lung function. The rate of deterioration is variable with many patients worsening over months to a few years. Currently, there is no FDA approved therapy for this disease, but recently published trials suggest that new treatments may be on the horizon.

Pirfenidone is an anti-fibrotic medication that is taken orally and has been shown to slow the loss of lung function and may improve mortality in IPF. Pirfenidone has already been approved for treatment of this disease in Japan, Canada, and most European countries.

Although Pirfenidone is not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are indications that it will be in the near future. Recently, the FDA announced that Pirfenidone has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation. This designation is reserved for drugs that are intended to treat serious or life threatening disease where preliminary evidence indicates that the drug demonstrates substantial improvement over existing treatments.

Jamaica Hospital is one of only a handful of hospitals in the region, and the only one in Queens, offering this free treatment as part of an early expanded access program.  Patients are monitored for safety in this program. It is open to most patients with mild to moderate IPF.  This program is being coordinated by the Division of Pulmonary Medicine and the Department of Clinical Research at Jamaica Hospital.

The hospital’s IPF treatment program was recently highlighted by the Queens Chronicle. http://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/jamaica-hospital-testing-lung-drug/article_2fe133c0-caef-59c9-8da3-acf621ca01e8.html

For more information about the Pirfenidone expanded access program at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-5844 or 718-206-5800.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center now offers a free, innovative approach to treat patients at risk of developing diabetes. The Hospital’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was developed by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and is aimed at managing the health of individuals with prediabetes, or borderline diabetes.

There are over 79 million people with prediabetes in the United States, a condition where a person has glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough yet to indicate diabetes. When individuals with prediabetes do not manage their condition, they are at a high risk of developing type two diabetes, a condition that is largely preventable.

By adopting this nationally recognized prevention program, Jamaica Hospital plans to reduce the diabetic population in South East Queens. The goal of the DPP is to help individuals reduce their risk of diabetes by moderately reducing weight and increasing physical activity.

Participants meet in a group setting on a weekly basis for 16 weeks. The weekly meetings are facilitated by “Lifestyle Coaches”, theses coaches are specially trained and certified Jamaica Hospital Patient Navigators with strong interpersonal and group facilitation skills. The Lifestyle Coaches review and provide feedback to each participant on a weekly basis.  Each member of the group is expected to maintain weekly diet and exercise logs and get weighed at each session. The sessions are completely customizable to the individual needs of the group and are run in English and Spanish.

After the 16 week program is completed, participants continue to be monitored by a monthly maintenance program to provide on-going support and motivation to continue a healthy lifestyle.

The results of the Diabetes Prevention Program have been overwhelmingly positive. Half of the over 3,000 participants in the original NIH program met the weight loss goal of 7%. Participants who met the weight loss goal  reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 58%; adults over the age of 60 reduced their risk by 71%.  One of the reasons that the program is so successful is the group dynamic. Through engaging and sharing experiences with others with the same condition, participants in the DPP learn to support each other and provide the necessary encouragement for success.

The program is open to all who meet the basic medical criteria including Medisys employees. For more information about eligibility or to sign up for the Diabetes Prevention Program, please call 718-206-7088.

Earlier this month, the Radiology Department at Flushing Hospital held an open house to introduce its two newest pieces of advanced imaging technology – the Magnetom Verio 3T MRI and the Somatom Flash CT Scanner, both manufactured by Siemens. 

The 3T MRI system offers exceptional image quality, but perhaps its greatest feature is its open–bore design, which alleviates any fears about feeling confined. The openness of the MRI not only helps reduce anxiety for claustrophobic patients, but it also accommodates other patients who do not fit comfortably into a conventional MRI. The new system also has a larger field of view, which cuts lengthy scan times in half.

The second piece of equipment, the Flash CT Scanner, uses dual source technology, providing accurate, high definition scans in an instant. In fact, the technology is so precise that it does not require the patient to remain still or even hold their breath, eliminating the need for sedation. The other major feature of the new CT system is that it sets the benchmark for dose efficiency. Due to its dual source technology and the speed of the scan, CT patients are now exposed to the lowest dosage of radiation that is achievable.

The purpose of the open house was to invite members of the hospital’s medical staff as well as community physicians to learn about the many applications and features of these new, state-of-the-art pieces of equipment. In total, close to 2,000 physicians were mailed information in an effort to have them refer their patients to Flushing Hospital for their imaging needs.

In addition to inviting physicians to witness the advanced technology, members of the media were also invited. Both the Queens Tribune and Queens Chronicle attended the open house and wrote articles about the new equipment in recent editions.

Click here to read the articles.
http://www.qchron.com/editions/north/no-more-fears-with-mris-or-ct-scans/article_5d6bdeb7-7dee-5c71-a50f-039601fd38be.html

http://queenstribune.com/flushing-hospital-gets-new-equipment/

On May 29, Jamaica Hospital’s plastic surgery team, from Plastic Surgery of New York, held an informational session for employees. The seminar educated attendees on various types of cosmetic surgery options including breast augmentation, surgical and nonsurgical rejuvenation, such as botox, tummy tuck, and so much more.

The goal of the seminar was to inform everyone about the wonderful plastic surgery services available to them and the community. From teenagers wanting to model their favorite celebrity to new moms trying to get their post-baby back to men wanting very conservative work done, plastic surgery has become very popular and remains a growing trend.

Consultations and surgical procedures are conducted at Jamaica Hospital. If you are interested in learning more about these procedures and their associated cost, please call 718-206-7110 to schedule an appointment.

On Monday, May 19^th, Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals held their 16^th Annual MediSys Golf Classic at the Old Westbury Country Club. The event was attended by 118 golfers and nine tennis players.

After a day of golfing and tennis, participants attended a cocktail/dinner reception, where remarks were made by Mr. Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO of the MediSys Health Network and the event’s honorary chairman, Dr. Cono Grasso, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology. Prizes were awarded to the highest scoring players/foursomes and a wide variety of raffles prizes were given away.

The highly anticipated raffle drawings included about $13,000 worth of prizes donated by various benefactors, as well as several departments at Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals. Some of these prizes included a waterproof digital camera, AMEX gift cards, an Apple TV gift package, Mets tickets, an iPad mini, a Geek/Techie basket of gadgets, which included a BestBuy and iTunes gift card and iPhone accessories, and much more. The grand prize was two Jet Blue tickets, a TUMI luggage gift card, and a Visa gift card.

Over $170,000 was raised, which will be used to benefit Jamaica Hospital’s Gastroenterology Department and Flushing Hospital’s Cardiac Care Unit.

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day was May 8^th, and to celebrate, Jamaica Hospital’s Advanced Center for Psychotherapy hosted its annual children’s art exhibit. This year’s theme was, “If you could change something in your life, what would it look like?”

With original pieces created by children and adolescents, the art exhibit was created as a way to initiate conversations between adults and children about how they can make positive changes in their lives.

“This year the focus is on positive mental health as it is essential to a child’s early development,” said June Wasserman, PhD  and coordinator of Child and Adolescent Services at the Advanced Center for Psychotherapy.

The art work will be displayed in the lobby of the Advanced Center for Psychotherapy for the month of May, National Mental Health.