On February 17, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the formation of his administration’s COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force. This task force was created to advise the administration on long-term, comprehensive policies around health equity and health access.

This roughly 40-person commission, unprecedented for its diversity, is comprised of a group of leaders from 11 different industries from across the city. One of those chosen to join this esteemed panel of leaders is MediSys (Jamaica and Flushing Hospital) President and CEO, Bruce J. Flanz.

Mr. Flanz, along with the other members of the COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force will meet monthly and focus their attention on continuing the city’s path to a speedy, effective, and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as building a healthier and stronger city for all New Yorkers.

According to Mayor Adams, “We cannot build a just and prosperous recovery for all New Yorkers without bringing together and listening to experts and community leaders from across the city. The COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force brings not only the best minds together to build a speedy recovery, but a lasting one. I’m grateful to the members for bringing their time and ideas to the city as we work towards this shared goal.”

First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo added, “I’m thrilled to have leaders from every corner of New York City as part of our COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Taskforce. Thank you to everyone who has joined this effort, I’m looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work developing long term policies to guide our city through a just and equitable recovery.”

Mr. Flanz stated, “I am extremely proud to serve on this task force and I commend Mayor Adams for addressing these important issues. Representing two Queens-based hospitals located at the epicenter of the COVID pandemic, I witnessed first-hand the devastating effects the pandemic had on our communities that already face many socio-economic challenges. I look forward to working with this diverse group of talented individuals to address these disparities and create a more equitable health system for all.”

The MediSys Health Network has once again earned multiple, top-ranking Healthgrades awards for 2022, classifying the network as a nationally recognized, high-performing healthcare organization.

Healthgrades is a leading online resource committed to delivering the most scientifically accurate and comprehensive information about doctors and hospitals. To assess overall hospital performance, the company reviews outcomes across more than 31 of the most common  medical procedures and conditions.  Recipients of Healthgrades awards have consistently delivered better than expected outcomes for their patients.

For the third consecutive year, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has been named  by Healthgrades as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals™ in 2022, placing it in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the country and recognizing the organiztion as an overall leader in clinical excellence. Other notable awards received by Jamaica Hospital include the following:

• Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention™ for 3 Years in a Row (2020-2022)
• Healthgrades Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™ for 2 Years in a Row (2021-2022)
• Healthgrades Stroke Care Excellence Award™ for 6 Years in a Row (2017-2022)
• Healthgrades Neurosciences Excellence Award™ for 4 Years in a Row (2019-2022)

Flushing Hospital Medical Center also excelled in several categories and received the following top honors:

• Healthgrades 2022 Stroke Care Excellence Award™
• Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Pneumonia in 2022
• Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack in 2022

Overall, the MediSys Health Network ‘s performance was exceptional.  The network’s focus on patient satisfaction and its commitment to providing quality healthcare were essential in helping the organization rank among the nation’s top hospitals.

“It is a great achievement to be awarded as one of Healthgrades’ America’s 250 Best Hospitals,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades. “Now more than ever, patients are learning the importance of taking control of their health and using resources like Healthgrades to find the perfect hospital and caregiver match. We commend Medisys Health Network for providing superior service and committing themselves to keeping their communities safe.”

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections, (or CAUTIs) are the most common type of nosocomial (or healthcare-associated) infections. They account for over 1 million cases annually, or approximately 40% of all infections in hospitals and nursing homes.

To improve the quality of care delivered to our patients, a team at Flushing Hospital Medical Center took steps to address this important issue and the results have been nothing short of outstanding. As of Wednesday, February 2^nd, the hospital announced that it has been an entire year without a single CAUTI case, which is a milestone that is being celebrated across the institution.

This achievement is the result of the hard work and diligence of many including Flushing Hospital’s nursing department, physician champions, and infection preventionists. To safeguard against CAUTIs, the hospital incorporated a series of Best Practices, including holding “Time Outs” and utilizing checklists to ensure the appropriate insertion and maintenance of urinary catheters.

To celebrate, Flushing Hospital nursing leadership rounded on each unit to personally thank the team for their efforts and deliver trays of cookies. The hospital also shared this accomplishment with the community on its social media platforms so everyone could know that we are delivering the highest quality care to our patients.

Congratulations to all involved.

On Thursday, January 13th, New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi visited Jamaica Hospital Medical Center to learn about the MediSys Health Network’s efforts in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several topics were highlighted in a meeting with network leadership including:

• How Jamaica and Flushing Hospital (both located at the epicenter of pandemic) treated a massive influx of COVID-19 patients in March and April 2020.
• How both hospitals have successfully met the needs of their communities over the past 22 months.
• How the network is managing the current Omicron surge and the challenges it has presented.
• How both hospitals are utilizing resources, consolidating services and load-balancing patients.
• How the network continues to simultaneously combat the pandemic and care for communities with other trauma and emergent health needs.

During the meeting, leadership also shared details of other covid-related initiatives created by the network including the implementation of the emergency management task force, mass vaccination efforts, community engagement programs, as well as employee wellness and support programs.

The Commissioner listened intently to the presentations, asked questions, and offered to support the network in meeting any challenges.  

Overall, the meeting was a great success.  Dr. Chokshi commended the MediSys Health Network on its hard work in caring for Queens communities.  He stated, “As a proud Queens resident, I am grateful to have learned about the incredible work happening in my backyard. I appreciated the chance to learn about your lifesaving work—both during the Omicron surge and throughout the pandemic—and discuss how we can better serve our Queens communities. Thank you for all of your work.”

We thank NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi for visiting the MediSys Health Network and are humbled by his kind remarks. We truly appreciate his leadership and the support of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene during this time.

The first baby of the New Year is always a special event at each of our two hospitals. The first MediSys babies posed beautifully for our photographer. Special thanks to the staff who assisted with these deliveries.

Congratulations to the families, we wish them a lifetime of happiness.

These are our first babies of the New Year:

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Baby Girl:  Ocean

Weight: 7 lbs 1.9 oz

Length: 18 inches

Time: 5:17 PM. on 1/1/2022

Mother: Rakiva J. Obryant

Flushing Hospital Medical Center

Baby Girl: Saiteros Paguay

Weight: 6 lbs 1 oz

length 18 ½  inches

Time: 7:09 AM on 1/1/2022

Mother: Jessica Saiteros Paguay

According to statistics reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in March 2021, over 3 million babies were born in the United States in 2019. Among this group, only 3,136 were triplets.

Very few of these births occurred spontaneously (without the assistance of fertility treatments). This is because the chance of triplets being conceived naturally occurs in 1 in every 10,000 pregnancies.

Spontaneous triplets are uncommon, and with birth rates declining across the country, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center was not anticipating that it would be setting a record for the facility by delivering two sets of triplets, both naturally conceived, two days apart.   “The chance of this happening is rare.  So, when we learned that two of our moms were expected to deliver triplets very close to each other, we were excited. We also knew there would be a lot of hard work and careful planning ahead,” said Dr. Janice Krystal Ascencio, Women’s Health ACC Medical Director.

Having triplets or any form of multiple pregnancy is considered high risk. There are often health problems that can develop and lead to preterm labor and birth. Therefore, it was important for the babies’ healthcare team at Jamaica Hospital to begin specialized care early in the mothers’ pregnancies.

“We encountered a few complications during both pregnancies, shared Dr. Ugochi Akoma, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist and Director of Perinatal Diagnostic Centers & Obstetric Ultrasound at Jamaica Hospital. “Both moms at some point in the early third trimester had to be monitored closely for concerning cardiac symptoms.  Moms who are pregnant with multifetal pregnancies have a higher risk of developing a cardiac condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy which fortunately was not diagnosed.”

There were also concerns about the babies’ health. Doctors diagnosed one of the triplets with fetal growth restriction, a condition that causes babies not to grow and develop according to gestational age standards. In the other set of triplets, two of the babies shared one placenta. There are several problems that could occur when this happens, the most significant is a conditon called twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).

Caring for the moms and babies was a well-coordinated effort between multiple departments.  There were frequent meetings and mock drills conducted that involved OB/GYN, NICU, Nursing, Pediatric, Cardiology, Respiratory, BioMed, Anesthesia, Medicine, Social Work and Blood Bank professionals. “We worked together as one team and our collective goal was to ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery for both families,” said Dr. Akoma.

At the center of this healthcare team were the moms. Making sure that their voices were heard, and that they felt empowered throughout their journeys was made a high priority.  Jamaica Hospital provided a supportive environment in which strong bonds were formed between the patients and their healthcare providers.  The moms also developed a relationship with each other, becoming close friends.

Months of preparation and planning resulted in two successful deliveries.  On November 9, 2021, the Cruz family welcomed their baby girls into the world.  The Hoyos family celebrated the birth of their little girls two days later. Both sets of triplets were born during the 32nd week of the pregnancy. After delivery, the babies were transferred to the hospital’s Level 3 NICU where they received around-the-clock care.

Six little miracles made their debut at Jamaica Hospital in time for the holiday season, giving all involved in this journey a reason to be thankful. “Our team is humbled to have had the privilege of caring for and delivering these babies. There was lots of hard work but there was just as much joy,” stated Dr. Akoma.

On Saturday, October 23^rd Jamaica Hospital Medical Center hosted its first Community Wellness and Fall Fest at the Hollis Avenue Playground.

Several hundred people from the community attended and participated in the activities offered including health screenings, a youth basketball clinic, pumpkin painting, arts and crafts, Yoga and Zumba. Healthy snacks and other giveaways were also provided.

In addition to the activities that took place at the playground, Jamaica Hospital offered free Covid vaccines and flu shots to everyone eligible at our Hollis Tudors MediSys Health Center.

Several hospital departments participated in the event, they included: Family Medicine, Nursing, Dental, Psychiatry, Trauma, Public Affairs, Motor Transport, and Ambulatory Care. Also participating at this event were the New York City Fire Department, New York City Police Department, New York City Department of Transportation, Healthfirst, the New York Art Therapy Association, Reach Out and Read, and the Queens Borough Public Library.

Thank you to all who participated and volunteered their time to make this event a huge success.

On October 18, 2021, the MediSys Health Network hosted its 22^nd Annual MediSys Golf Classic to benefit Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

The event was the first to be held in over two years due to COVID restrictions.

The MediSys Golf Classic took place at the Old Westbury Country Club, where guests were greeted by friendly faces and welcomed to enjoy luxurious amenities.

There was a vibrant energy shared among attendees as all were excited to gather and have a wonderful time. One hundred and twenty-six golfers took to the green while others received massages or participated in health and wellness activities such as yoga.

After hours of a little friendly competition and relaxation, guests convened to dining areas where they were treated to an array of delicious cuisines.

MediSys Health Network President and CEO Bruce J. Flanz took this opportunity to welcome everyone back and thank employees for their hard work during the pandemic.  Mr. Flanz also thanked supporters of Jamaica and Flushing Hospital for their dedication.

Following Mr. Flanz was Dr. Cono Grasso, the event’s honorary chairman, who shared a few jokes before announcing the winners of various golf competitions. Raffle prize winners were also announced.  This year’s grand prize included a $1,000 American Airlines gift card along with a $1,000 Visa gift card for the winner to enjoy on an adventure of their choosing.  Other prizes consisted of a shopping spree, a hotel getaway package, a restaurant package, electronics and more.

Overall, the 2021 MediSys Golf Classic was a great success. This year, there were more guests than in previous years; however, the best part of the evening was being able to gather once again for a good cause.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center had the pleasure of welcoming back Dr. Wayne Jonas to its campus for Grand Rounds and a series of meetings to discuss advancements made by the hospital’s Integrative Health program.

Dr. Jonas is a board-certified practicing family physician, an expert in integrative health, and a widely published scientific investigator. He has held several leadership positions in numerous organizations, including serving as Director of the Medical Research Fellowship at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; Director of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health; Director of the World Health Organization Center for Traditional Medicine; and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Samueli Institute.

In addition to these accomplishments, he is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Corps of the United States Army.

Dr. Jonas currently serves as the Executive Director of the Samueli Foundation’s Integrative Health Programs, an effort supported by Henry and Susan Samueli to empower patients and doctors by providing solutions that enhance health, prevent disease, and relieve chronic pain. Their continued support has helped to establish and sustain many integrative health initiatives at Jamaica Hospital.

During his visit, Dr. Jonas hosted a series of engaging presentations for providers, staff, and a host of virtual participants. In his first presentation, entitled Healing in the Time of COVID, Dr. Jonas discussed where health comes from and how medical care can access it; how the COVID pandemic has impacted health and health care; new models of whole-person care emerging for transforming medicine after COVID; and new tools that providers can use now to enhance healing and transform their practice.

Dr. Jonas’ succeeding presentation entitled Placebo Research in Practice, explored three core mechanisms of the placebo response and how they manifest in practice; seven clinical practices behaviors that utilize placebo mechanisms; implications for person-centered vs. evidence-based decision making; and tools for incorporating enhanced placebo healing in routine practice.

Throughout the course of his visit, Dr. Jonas imparted a great wealth of knowledge that will help Jamaica Hospital provide quality integrative healthcare to the communities we serve. We thank Dr. Jonas and the Samueli Foundation for their continued support of our Integrative Health program and look forward to working together in future endeavors.