Congratulations to Flushing Hospital’s Good Catch Recipients

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Flushing Hospital Medical Center is proud to recognize employees for their contributions to patient safety.

Employees who go above and beyond to identify critical events and ensure the safety of our patients are 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.

Join us in  congratulating  the following Good Catch recipients for their achievements:

  • Nadine Persaud (Respiratory Therapy)
  • John Ryo (Physical Therapy)
  • Marifelle Macasaet (2N/ Nursing)
  • Smitha Sabu (PACU/ Nursing)
  • Hyunjung Chavez (MICU/ Nursing)
  • Adriana Fuentes (Ambulatory Care/ Nursing)
  • Tatiana Giraldo (Ambulatory Care/ Nursing)
  • Rachel Bain (Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator/ Pharmacy)
  • Kevin Kamara ( Assistant Director/ Security)

By identifying problems before they became a patient safety issue, our nominees have helped Flushing 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.

For more information about the Good Catch program at Flushing Hospital, please contact Dr.Rehana Jamali at 718-670-5415.

 

Jamaica Hospital and Resorts World Casino Executives Celebrate “Drop Everything and Read Day”

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An average day for Michelle Stoddart, Director of  PR and Community Relations; May Uri, Vice President of Human Resources; Joe DeVito, Director of Player Development at Resorts World Casino New York City involves long hours filled with planning and executing business objectives. Due to their hectic schedules, time is extremely valuable and scarce.

However, on April 12th, in celebration of National Drop Everything and Read Day (D.E A.R. Day) the executives dropped everything on their busy schedules to join Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s leadership in dedicating their time to read books to children staying in the hospital’s Pediatric Unit.  Also joining the group were reporters from NY1 News, the Queens Chronicle and Queens Courier newspapers.

National Drop Everything and Read Day is an observance devoted to events and activities that encourage the love of reading among children.  Adults and children participating in D.E.A.R. Day are asked to take at least 30 minutes out of their routines to dive into a good book.

“We know firsthand how important story time and other fun activities are to children admitted to our hospital.  Our Pediatric team aims to create an environment that makes children feel at home. A Child Life Specialist is on staff to ensure a positive experience by facilitating recreational and educational activities.” stated Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO of Jamaica Hospital.

“Drop Everything and Read Day shines a spotlight on the importance of reading and we were excited to put down our work for a day, pick up some great books and share the experience with these inspirational children,” said Scott Molina, President of Resorts World.

In addition to reading stories on D.E.A.R Day, executives from Resorts World toured Jamaica Hospital’s Pediatric Unit and Emergency Department to view newly installed wall mounted, activity centers donated by the casino.   The pediatric activity centers are designed to help develop children’s motor and sensory systems.

“We are grateful for the donation of the pediatric activity centers.  Our team will utilize these tools to engage children in play and help ease their anxieties,” said Jamaica Hospital Child Life Specialist Tracey Kunj-Ramen.

To read more about our D.E.A.R. Day event at Jamaica Hospital, please click the following links:

https://qns.com/story/2019/04/15/jamaica-hospital-and-resorts-world-casino-executives-help-kids-drop-everything-and-read/

https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/resorts-world-comes-up-aces-for-sick-kids/article_98f93701-883a-5139-a861-1aead0881e02.html

Flushing Hospital Receives Prestigious Shining Star Award from the Department of Health

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The New York City Department of Health’s Community Cares Project (CCP) presented Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center with the Shining Star Award. The hospital was recognized for implementing measures to improve screening rates among uninsured patients and reduce disparities.

According to the City’s Department of Health, “Insurance status continues to play a role in determining whether New York City residents 50 years and older receive a colonoscopy screening.” Flushing Hospital was asked to present its best practices for resolving this issue at a CCP Partner Recognition Ceremony. Some of the hospital’s best practices included:

  • Overcoming barriers such as language by providing  interpretation services
  • Educating patients about procedure prep instructions
  • Scheduling appointments and following up with patients prior to the procedure
  • Reviewing results with patients and their Gastroenterologists

Flushing Hospital representatives were applauded for their presentation and thanked for their collaboration with the CCP on this special project.

Pricilla Echevarria de Sepulveda, MPA, Project Manager, Patient-Centered Medical Home, at Flushing Hospital stated, “Our team was happy to work with the Department of Health’s Community Cares Project and we were proud to accept the Shining Star Award on behalf of Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

 

Congratulations to Jamaica Hospital’s Good Catch Recipients

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Join us in congratulating Shiz Kumarie Santram, RN; Ingrid Ramirez, Dietary Aide;  David Denobrega, Security Officer; Shelina Aktar, Laboratory Technologist; Gerard Lang and Radica Rampersaud, Respiratory Therapists and Regal Khan, Manager of Environmental Services 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 problems before they became patient safety issues, 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 [email protected],  or call her at ext. 8409 and leave a message.

MediSys Celebrates Social Work Month

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In March, Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center celebrated Social Work Month by hosting a series of events that included bake sales, yoga sessions and educational demonstrations.

Social Work Month was created by the National Association of Social Workers to educate the public about the invaluable contributions of the profession.

Social workers play a vital role in delivering quality health care to patients at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital.  They monitor our patients’ stay from admission to discharge.  Upon admission, social workers help patients to avoid prolonged hospital stays by working with physicians to expedite tests or treatments. They provide counseling services for patients and families to help them adjust to changes and challenges they may face during hospitalization.  Before patients are discharged, social workers assess their needs to determine a plan for support services or follow up care.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital recognizes social workers for their dedication to our patients. We applaud their hard work and thank them for their countless contributions to our community.

MediSys Celebrates National Doctors’ Day

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In 1991, President George H.W. Bush signed a proclamation that recognized physicians for the work that they do. This day, now known as National Doctors’ Day, is celebrated on March 30th and was created to thank physicians for their tireless contributions to our well-being as a society.

This year, the MediSys Health Network celebrated this national observance by hosting a special breakfast to honor our doctors. On Wednesday, March 27th, doctors at Jamaica Hospital were treated to a feast and the following day, Flushing Hospital doctors received a morning meal in their honor. Both events were hosted by Bruce Flanz; President and CEO, Dr. Sabiha Raoof; Chief Medical Officer, and many other hospital administrators who all showed their appreciation to our physicians. In addition to being treated to a delicious breakfast, every doctor at both hospitals received a gift for their hard work and dedication.

The MediSys Health Network is grateful to the hundreds of physicians who work in many different areas and contribute to the wellness of the men, women, and children in our communities.

Veterans Honored at Flag Raising Ceremony at MediSys Clocktower

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On Friday, March 22nd, a special flag raising ceremony was held at MediSys Clocktower in honor of the men and women who served bravely in the Vietnam War.

Senator Joseph Addabbo, who generously donated the flag, conducted the ceremony outside the Clocktower Building. The event was attended by Assemblyman Mike Miller, Councilmember Robert Holden, Deputy Inspector Courtney B. Nilan of the 102 Precinct, Police Officers from the 102 Precinct, Frank Gulliscio, District Manager of Community Board 6, as well as many local veterans who were grateful to be honored.

At the top of the Clocktower Building, which has been designated as a historical landmark, is a flagpole that sits at one of the highest points in the area. Since the medical center moved into the building over 20 years ago, Jamaica Hospital has been proud to have the American flag fly high above it.

The responsibility to raise the flag each time has been that of the center’s manager, Patrick Rudden. As he has done for many years, Mr. Rudden once again climbed to the top of the MediSys Clocktower Building to raise the flag to a delighted crowd’s applause.

Thanks to everyone who made this flag raising event such a special occasion.

The MediSys Health Network Welcomed Dr. Cara James to Recent Grand Rounds

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On March 21, The MediSys Health Network had the honor of welcoming a very special guest conduct a grand rounds presentation for staff at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital.

Dr. Cara James, Director of Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Office of Minority Health as well as the co-chair of the CMS Rural Health Council shared a very valuable presentation entitled “Achieving Health Equity through Increased Understanding, Sustainable Solutions, and Collective Action.” The purpose of the presentation was to educate the audience that healthcare disparities can occur due to many different factors including race, ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or disability.

Understanding and addressing these disparities is very important for the MediSys Health Network, as Jamaica and Flushing Hospital serve a very diverse patient population. According to Dr. Sabiha Raoof, Chief Medical Officer of the MediSys Health Network, “Dr. James’ presentation helped our staff understand what healthcare disparities are, what their causes are, and what kind of education and training we can provide for our staff to begin our health equity and disparity reduction journey.”

There were over 100 attendees for the grand rounds presentation at Jamaica Hospital and an additional crowd who viewed it from Flushing Hospital via a live webcast. The audience was genuinely interested in the topic and asked many questions. Dr. James was even gracious enough to stay after her presentation to participate in a “brain storming” session with hospital leadership.

Everyone involved greatly appreciated Dr. James’ presentation and we look forward to her coming back in the future.

The MediSys Health Network Celebrates National Nutrition Month.

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March was National Nutrition Month and Registered Dieticians across the MedISys Health Network participated in various educational activities for patients, employees and members of the community.

Patients and residents at Jamaica Hospital and Trump Pavilion received nutrition tips on their food trays every Tuesday and word searches to keep the mind healthy on Fridays. On March 13th the Nutrition Services Department celebrated Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day by hosting a health fair in the main lobby.

During the day, dietitians were on hand to distribute delicious snacks while providing nutrition education to hospital employees and visitors. Throughout the month there were cafeteria lunch specials and cooking demonstrations to promote healthy eating habits. Jamaica Hospital celebrated the conclusion of National Nutrition Month with an annual fitness event led by a certified personal trainer. The staff had the opportunity to get active and receive tips on their spring fitness routine while sampling healthy snacks.

At Flushing Hospital, outpatient dietitian, Laura Wang presented the importance of reading nutrition labels at two senior centers. She also hosted a healthy snack workshop at a local elementary school.

The inpatient dietitians all held nutrition-related events on their individual floors such as a “Dress Up Your Salad” presentation and a “MyPlate” presentation for the pediatric floor.  On National Registered Dietitian Day members of the Flushing Hospital team enjoyed a lunch and presentation on a multidisciplinary approach to treating patients with diabetes. Lastly, every week throughout the month employees were treated to Nutrition Tip Tuesdays.

The MediSys Health Network appreciates the very important service provided our Registered Dieticians and our entire Food Service Departments. Their efforts not only during the month of March but throughout the year, help improve the health of our employees, patients and community.

MediSys Celebrates Creative Arts Therapy Week

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It is estimated that 40% of New Yorkers living with mental illnesses do not seek treatment because of the stigma attached.  Creative arts therapists at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center brought light to this issue by hosting the “Drawing Bridges to Wellness” exhibit in March, in honor of Creative Arts Therapy Week.

The exhibit was held in each hospital’s main lobby and showcased over 70 pieces of art that illustrated the musings of patients and therapists participating in Jamaica and Flushing Hospital’s mental health programs.  The artists utilized a variety of mediums such as clay, oil paints, pastels and model magic to express their thoughts and chronicle their journeys to wellness.

Drawing Bridges to Wellness provided the community with a beautiful gallery to explore and served as a platform to raise awareness of mental health issues and destigmatize mental illness.   Many of the art pieces presented echoed the message that people should not feel ashamed about seeking help for mental health disorders.

The Department of Psychiatry further bolstered their efforts to raise awareness by showcasing the exhibit at the Queens Museum, after completing its run at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital. The artwork was displayed in the museum’s New York City building for thousands of guests to see.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital have provided creative arts therapy to patients for close to 20 years.  This form of therapy encourages self- exploration and has a profoundly positive effect on mental and emotional well-being. Patients often begin therapy feeling unhappy, conflicted or isolated but by creating art they are able to engage with therapists and begin their journeys to wellness. Both hospitals are encouraging communities to take advantage of creative arts and other programs designed to treat mental health disorders.