Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Center have created an Active Shooter training program in response to recent public shooting events that have occurred around the country.  The tragedy that unfolded at Bronx Lebanon Hospital hit closest to home and prompted the hospitals’ Emergency Management and Security Departments to implement the program which had been in the works for several months.

The program teaches employees what to do in the event there is an active shooter on campus. The overall goal is to keep patients, staff and visitors safe.

The three main points that the course teaches in case of an active shooter situation are:

• Run
  • Have an escape route and plan in mind
  • Leave your belongings behind
  • Keep your hands visible when law enforcement approaches
• Hide
  • Hide in an area that is out of the shooter’s view
  • Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors
  • Completely silence your cell phone and/or pager
• Defend
  • As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger
  • To attempt to incapacitate the shooter
  • Act with physical aggression and throw items at an active shooter

The classes are taught by prehospital care instructors and security personnel with law enforcement backgrounds. The first leg of the training was offered between July 25^th and August 11^th, over 1000 employees were trained at Jamaica Hospital and over 500 at Flushing Hospital.

Safety is always a top priority at the MediSys Health Network.  Implementing the Active Shooter training program and other safety initiatives helps us to create and maintain a safe environment for our patients, visitors and staff. We thank everyone for their participation and doing their part in making Jamaica and Flushing Hospital safe.

Last year over 5,000 babies were delivered at Flushing and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. The safety of each infant is a very high priority for both hospitals. When these babies are under our care, we take many precautions to ensure they are in a safe sleep environment.

However, our dedication to their well-being extends well beyond their stay. MediSys Health Network’s commitment to infants’ safety continues after they leave as we educate parents about the importance of providing a safe sleep environment for babies.

Each year, sleep-related injuries result in the death of approximately 3,500 babies in the United States and are the leading cause of death for infants in New York City. As part of our ongoing effort to reduce this occurrence, the MediSys Health Network recently joined a city-wide safe sleep campaign dubbed “Katz’s Cradles” in honor of Queens Borough President Melinda Katz to donate free portable cribs to families in need.  The initiative was created to provide more households in Queens with a safe place for babies to sleep. The cribs are equipped with Safe Sleep Kits which include educational materials, a sleep sack and fitted sheets.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital actively promote the importance of providing babies with safe sleep environments by offering newborn-care classes and support groups to families.  Last year, Flushing Hospital was recognized as a National Bronze Certified Safe Sleep Hospital by Cribs for Kids. The certification program recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to reducing infant sleep-related deaths.

Jamaica and Flushing Hospital are proud to participate in programs that benefit their communities and offer helpful resources and Katz’s Cradles supports a cause that each institution highly values which is patient safety. “Our hospitals serve a very diverse population; we are sensitive to their needs and committed to providing resources that improve their overall wellness and health. Teaching families how to make certain their babies have a safe space to sleep not only empowers them but insures the well-being of parents and children, “stated Bruce J. Flanz; President and CEO of MediSys Health Network.

The  Medicaid Accelerated eXchange, program, also known as the “MAX Project” is a brand new initiative designed to assist Jamaica Hospital Medical Center to identify and better manage the care of those Medicaid and dual eligible patients who have been admitted to our hospital four or more times in the past twelve months.

The main goal of this program is to reduce or avoid unnecessary admissions for these patients by enhancing the level of care provided in an outpatient setting.

Most patients identified by the MAX Project are polydiagnostic-meaning they are being managed for many different health concerns and require a carefully coordinated interdisciplinary approach. These patients are also more likely to be exposed to non-medical factors such as financial or social challenges that can affect their quality of health. The project will provide these individuals with valuable resources and trained specialists who can assist them to overcome clinical and nonclinical obstacles they may encounter.

At the inception of the MAX Project, 455 patients were identified as having been admitted four or more times within a twelve month time period.   However, since the program began this number has been reduced to 192 people.

In order to ensure that these patients’ health care needs are being properly met, a daily conference call between the heads of each clinical department takes place to discuss all options of care. There are two components to each patient’s overall evaluation. One is a root cause analysis which evaluates why this patient requires extra attention, did they receive enough attention in the past, and which providers shall manage their health. The other main component is to develop a care plan that will allow this patient to be cared for comprehensively in an outpatient capacity.

Jamaica Hospital’s leadership anticipates that the MAX Project will successfully lower the number of admissions required in the past. It will also help the hospital to meet DSRIP Initiative goals and operate more cost effectively in the long term.

Every month, employees at Jamaica Hospital 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 their hard work, team spirit, kindness and professionalism.

This month’s G.E.M recipient is: Reyna Chong

Congratulations Reyna. Keep up the excellent work in helping us to serve our community.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has been officially awarded Baby-Friendly USA® designation.

Baby- Friendly® designation is a globally known and prestigious recognition awarded to hospitals and birthing facilities that uphold strict breastfeeding and maternal care guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The process of becoming a Baby-Friendly® institution is rigorous and the designation is only awarded to organizations that demonstrate a full commitment to providing the best possible support for breastfeeding mothers and ensuring a high quality of mother/baby care.

As a Baby- Friendly® facility, Jamaica Hospital, which delivered over 2,200 babies in 2016, joins an elite group of healthcare providers in New York State that has earned this recognition.

The hospital now ranks as part of the 21% of healthcare facilities in the nation to boast Baby-Friendly USA® designation. “This achievement is a reflection of our dedication to providing our community with quality care,” states Dr. Steven Inglis, Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

To achieve this monumental accomplishment, Jamaica Hospital collaborated with other health agencies including the New York City Breastfeeding Hospital Collaborative(NYC BHC) to implement initiatives aimed at improving exclusive breastfeeding rates and promoting mother-infant bonding practices.  “By encouraging breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, we are addressing health problems that may develop during infancy but can also affect a person’s health later in life” shares Paula Utilla, Lactation Consultant.

Evidence shows that babies who are fed breast milk exclusively are less likely to develop respiratory diseases such as asthma or gastrointestinal diseases.  Breastfeeding is also beneficial for a mother’s health as women who breastfeed are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, breast or ovarian cancer.

Jamaica Hospital provides the community with several medical, social and educational services all created to offer women support during and after pregnancy; some of these services include breastfeeding education and support programs, childbirth classes, and a highly successful Centering® program.   Last year,  the hospital opened a Mother’s Nursing Room, designed to offer members of the community, hospital visitors and employees who are nursing a clean and comfortable place to feed their babies or express milk.

“We have made great strides and will continue to work diligently to create services and programs that will improve the overall health and wellness of our community, “states Marge Lilienthal, Director of Nursing.

The kids are home for the summer and parents are now challenged with providing them with healthy and nutritious snacks throughout the day. Finding the balance of between snacks that children are drawn to and snacks that are healthy can become difficult.

Sugar, high sodium, colorful packaging, fun shapes and unnatural food coloring are a few factors that make junk food enticing to children. However, parents can win the fight against junk food by making healthy food more appealing to their kid’s senses.

Here are a few tips on swapping kid favorites with healthier choices:

• Hot dogs- Instead of regular beef and pork hot dogs, purchase turkey franks with low sodium and without added nitrates. Decorate the hot dog with colorful vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, red and yellow peppers.
• Salty cheese snacks- Make plain cheese fun by cutting it into quirky shapes or adding bright and sweet fruit. You can make cheese and fruit shish kebabs.
• French fries- Opt for baked sweet potato fries and sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin C, B6, and D. They are a source of Iron, magnesium and potassium.
• Ice cream- Frozen yogurt is just as tasty and contains less sugar and fat. Adding toppings such as fruit and granola is a plus.
• Popsicles- Freeze real fruit juices with bits of fruit into bars.
• Potato chips- Kale chips are rich in vitamin A and easy to make at home. Make them delicious by adding herbs and spices.
• Candy- Healthy alternatives to candy include raisins or strawberries and bananas lightly drizzled with chocolate.
• Milkshakes- Smoothies made with fresh fruit and low-fat yogurt are a healthier option.
• Macaroni and cheese-Use low-fat cheese, add Greek yogurt to make it creamy and spinach to make it nutritious.

The battle against junk food is not lost. Keep food exciting and nutritious for your family by sourcing healthy recipe websites or visiting Jamaica Hospital’s Facebook and Twitter pages for suggestions.

Identifying critical events and enhancing the level of patient safety provided has always been a priority at Flushing Hospital Medical Center (FHMC).

The Good Catch program was created to further advance these efforts and provide employees with an opportunity to share their interventions and accomplishments.The program highlights our dedication to patient safety and helps to reduce the percentage of adverse patient outcomes.

Each month, at the FHMC Department Head Meeting, employees that have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring the safety of our patients are recognized and awarded for their efforts.

Last month’s recipients of the Good Catch Award were Anita Rojas, from the Department of Pathology and Phlebotomy, Francis Simeon and Xiao Ping You, from the Department of Nursing, Michael De Grosa and Danny Chun (not pictured) from the Pharmacy and Dr. James Giglio, Chairman of the Emergency Department.

“Patient Safety is a priority at Flushing Hospital Medical Center and our staff plays an integral role in upholding safe systems for the delivery of quality patient care,” stated Dr. Rehana Jamali, Director of the Pharmacy, Medication Safety Officer and Director of the Good Catch Program.

Employees who wish to report a Good Catch are encouraged to complete a Good Catch Reporting Form. All submissions will be sent tothe Patient Safety Officer and shared with the Good Catch Committee for consideration.

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

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to announce that it officially re-opened its Hospice Care Unit, The Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care, after undergoing a complete renovation.

To commemorate the important milestone, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held earlier this month on the unit. Joining Jamaica Hospital in celebrating the completion of the project were elected officials Borough President Melinda Katz, Senator Joseph Addabbo and Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer-Amato as well as others who support the hospital’s efforts to provide essential services to the community.

The journey for the Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care began last year when a $1.3 million capital campaign was initiated by the Hospital’s leadership in an effort to facilitate the renovation. Thanks to the generosity of several donors, including Board Member Joseph Ferrara, the namesake of the unit, the hospital has successfully completed construction.

News of the grand re- opening of the unit has been well received by many in the community, as the  Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care was designed to offer end-of-life care in a family-oriented environment. Many upgraded amenities have been provided for patients and families that promote serenity, privacy and will allow them to feel more at home during a difficult time.  Additionally, the unit offers comforts such as private and spacious suites for patients, family meeting rooms and a relaxing family lounge that offers loved ones a space to gather, de-compress or reflect.

Jamaica Hospital’s staff is very appreciative of the community’s positive reception of the Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care and the services it will provide. “It is our goal that our patients and their loved ones receive compassion and comfort during a time that can be very difficult,” said Dr. Alan Roth; Chairman of Family Medicine and Chief of Palliative Care Medicine. Dr. Roth continued “We will continue to apply this approach in a new, modern and family environment.”

Watch our Interview on  NY1 News.

As part of our commitment to providing compassionate care, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center (JHMC) is proud to introduce Schwartz Rounds®. This forum gives caregivers a supportive environment to discuss the human side of healthcare and the challenging emotional and psychosocial issue they face in caring for patients and families.

The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare was created more than 20 years ago by Ken Schwartz, a healthcare attorney who died of lung cancer at age 40. Writing about his experience, he explained that what made “the unbearable bearable” was the compassion shown by his doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. The Center’s vision is that “all patients receive compassionate care and all health professionals are supported in providing it”.

Schwartz Rounds is part of this vision which is now being realized in more than 500 health care organizations in the US, UK and Canada—helping more than 200,000 health professionals provide compassionate care to millions of patients. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has joined this initiative through a generous grant from the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) which has provided funding for our participation in the program.

At JHMC, Schwartz Rounds are coordinated by Planning Committee members: Gina Basello MD, Susan Iovino, RN, DNP, Sharon Narducci RN, DNP, Janis Sharkey RN, Vivekanand Sing RN, Frances Perez, SW.  Rounds are offered quarterly where participants from multiple clinical and administrative disciplines attend a one-hour, case-based, interactive discussion. Each session begins with a brief introductory presentation of a case by a panel of health care team members who cared for the patient.  This presentation focuses on the psychosocial themes in caring for this patient and family. Audience members and the panel participate in a facilitated group discussion. Those who have had interactions with the patient or have had similar experiences contribute to the discussion.

Those who participate in the Schwartz rounds often have their perceptions transformed.  They come to see how blurred the line between patient and provider is when we notice how profoundly human we are. Not perfect, not complete, but complex and multifaceted even as we strive for perfection.

The first Schwartz Rounds at JHMC took place in March and the second one was held in June. At each session, an audience of over 200 individuals attended from all areas of the hospital. The results were overwhelmingly positive with the majority of participants stating that after the Rounds they had a better sense of belonging to a team, a new appreciation for their colleagues of other disciplines, more compassion for patients and families, as well as, new ideas and strategies for dealing with challenging situations.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), under the direction of Dr. Daniel Chen, Chairman of the Department of Mental Health, is collaborating with New York City’s ThriveNYC Program on a project to raise awareness about “Satellite Babies” and offer services to parents in Asian communities serviced by the hospital.

Satellite babies, a term coined by researchers, is used to refer to children of Chinese immigrant parents;  who have adopted the practice of sending their infants back to their country of origin to be raised by members of their extended family (i.e. grandparents and other relatives). These children then return to the United States when they are school-aged so that they can receive an education.

Some of the reasons for this practice are presumed to be:

• Preferring the parenting styles of relatives in China
• Benefits of being raised by family and not a childcare environment
• Lack of legal status

After reunification with their biological parents, educators and health professionals are finding that the children are experiencing speech and learning delays, often the result of language barriers.

The children exhibit feelings of being abandoned, missing their original caretakers, jealousy, resentment and sibling rivalry.  These deep feelings often cause the child to become frustrated, irritable and rebellious.

Parents of satellite babies can often become stressed, physically exhausted and overwhelmed. They can also feel hurt by their child’s rejection and the low level of attachment they have with their child due to the distance and missed bonding opportunity.

To help parents during this difficult time, Flushing Hospital provides seminars that offer educational and coping tools which include:

• Organizing outdoor and parent-child activities to build communication within the core family and create closer relationships
• Attending further workshops on the topic
• Keeping a journal (parent and child)
• Learning to understand each other’s emotions of anger or resentment
• Learning to express your emotions in a positive way
• Learn about feelings by telling a story or through writing or drawing

Not all mental health professionals are as well-equipped in educating and counseling on the topic of Satellite Babies as those at Flushing Hospital. The collaboration with ThriveNYC has given the hospital’s mental health professionals a unique opportunity to help those families in the community who are affected.