During the month of May, mental health organizations across the country promoted Mental Health Awareness Month by reaching millions of people through the media, local events and screenings.

As in past years, Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center hosted informational tables in their respective lobbies to show support and educate the community about the importance of maintaining good mental health.

Literature regarding mental health programs and screening questionnaires for anxiety, depression and addiction services were distributed to over 100 employees and visitors on both campuses.

It is estimated that one in four adults in the United States has a diagnosable mental illness. Mental illness is a disabling health condition that has greatly impacted the communities served by Jamaica and Flushing Hospital.

In an effort to meet the growing need for mental health services in our communities, the Department of Psychiatry at both hospitals offer several mental health programs to treat patients and provide support to their families and loved ones. This includes outpatient and inpatient psychiatry services, as well as sober support groups.

On May 1st Jamaica Hospital became a designated Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center, advancement in stroke care brought on by the evolving stroke system of care in New York City. This designation was from the Department of Health, in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) Mission: Lifeline Project Stroke initiative. This designation signifies that Jamaica Hospital has met the rigorous standards for performing mechanical endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), a specialized surgical procedure used to remove a blood clot from the brain during an ischemic stroke.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States but remains to be the number one cause of disability. More than 87 percent of cases are ischemic strokes caused by a clot that cuts off blood flow to a part of the brain. These types of strokes are largely treatable if a patient gets to a hospital that can provide the right treatment in time.

Having this designation demonstrates that Jamaica Hospital is qualified to perform an EVT for all patients who experience a large vessel occlusion (LVO), which is an ischemic stroke that results from a blockage in one of the major arteries of the brain. Prior to having this certification, patients in the 911 system would have to bypass Jamaica and be brought to a thrombectomy-capable hospital, which could delay care and affect outcomes.
Now these procedures can be performed in Jamaica Hospital’s interventional lab. Jamaica Hospital is one of only three hospitals in Queens to have this designation, meaning the hospital will be responsible to provide stroke care to patients throughout the borough and possibly beyond.
Receiving this designation was a major accomplishment that required a great deal of hard work by many. Jamaica Hospital needed to meet strict guidelines, to receive this designation, including committing to neuro-interventional coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to securing around-the-clock coverage, the hospital had to train a number of our medical, emergency department, anesthesia, and nursing staff on new treatment protocols. Abigail Hasan, Stroke Coordinator added, “The acquisition of the biplane unit in our new interventional suite was key in earning this designation. This technology allows our staff to see cleaner and more accurate images of the neurological anatomy, which results in better outcomes.”
Since earning this designation, the hospital team has already responded to many cases with positive results. Abigail recalls a particular case where a patient arrived partially paralyzed due to a stroke and thanks to the efforts of our team regained functionality and was able to eventually walk out of the hospital on their own. “It was truly a great save. The ability to reverse the disability and regain the quality of life inspires our efforts to get stroke patients where they need to be as quickly as possible.”
According to Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO of Jamaica Hospital, “We are very proud to have earned the Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center designation. This is yet one more example of Jamaica Hospital’s commitment to providing high quality, person-centered care to our patients.”

We are very pleased to announce that the MediSys Health Network is planning to add some artwork to our facilities and we are counting on the many talented employees who work within our network to supply it.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center are each holding an inaugural employee art project open to all staff, their families, and volunteers. Artwork can be submitted in any of the following formats:

• Paintings
• Works on paper
• Photography

The guidelines and specifications of this art project are as follows:

• Artwork depicting any religious, political, violent, sexual or obscene content is not permitted
• Submissions must be a minimum of 8” X10” and a maximum of 24” X36”
• It is preferred that artwork is framed, (assistance will be provided if necessary)
• A maximum of three entries per person

All artwork must be submitted to the Public Affairs Department at the respective hospitals by August 5th. Please make sure that each submission is identified with a title of the artwork as well as the artist’s name, department, extension, and category.

Each submission will be judged by an independent committee of art experts. Artwork selected for display will be based on overall quality and each artist will be notified of this decision.

For more information, please call the Department of Public Affairs at 718-206-8949.

Join us in congratulating Nicole Paz and Julio Velasquez, from the Radiology Department on their Good Catch!

Every month, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center recognizes employees for their contributions to patient safety.

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 the potential harm of patients. These actions may include correcting a medication order, preventing a patient fall or reporting a significant change in patient status.

By identifying a problem before it could have become a patient safety issue, our nominees have helped Jamaica Hospital to improve our quality in patient 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.

To report a Good Catch, email Letha Walters, PI Director at lwalter1@jhmc.org,  or call her at ext. 8409 and leave a message.

Beautiful sunny skies, warm weather and the smell of freshly cut grass greeted guests as they arrived at the 2019 MediSys Golf Classic.  All signs pointing to the perfect day that lay ahead.

Friends and supporters of Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center gathered on the morning of May 21st at the Old Westbury Country Club to enjoy a full day of activities.  Participants played hours of golf or tennis, while others took advantage of the luxurious amenities provided by the club’s full-service spa.

After hours of play and relaxation, guests transformed into dinner attire and convened in the main dining area for the cocktail hour and dinner.  Diners were served an array of delectable dishes and desserts.

During dinner, Bruce Flanz, President and CEO of the MediSys Health Network warmly welcomed everyone and thanked them for supporting the network.  He also introduced the event’s honorary chairman; Dr. Cono Grasso, who announced the highlights and wins of the golfers and tennis players.

The winners’ streak for the evening did not end there; raffle prizes were later presented to lucky guests. This year’s prizes included a trip to the Berkshires, sports tickets, Amazon Alexa electronics and the grand prize of $2,000 in gift cards to be used for a travel adventure.

Overall the 2019, MediSys Golf Classic was a great success. One hundred and thirty-seven golfers played the course and a record number of dinner guests were in attendance.  We thank everyone for their support.