Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women who live in the MediSys Health Network’s service area.  In an effort to reduce the number of fatalities and lessen the negative impact the disease has on our communities, our network proudly supports the American Cancer Society’s, “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” initiative to provide breast health services and information to women.

Each year,  the MediSys Health Network’s, “Dream Believers Team,” consisting of Flushing and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center staff coordinates events to educate the community and raise funds to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease.  In addition to fundraising and educational efforts, team members further demonstrate advocacy by participating in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

Over the years, the team’s dedication to raising funds to fight breast cancer has been recognized by the American Cancer Society but special recognition was given several weeks ago when the MediSys Dream Believers was named a Pacesetter Team and the number one fundraising team in Queens. The team rose over $30,000 for the American Cancer Society during the 2016 calendar year.

Team co-leader, Arlette Cunningham credits this great achievement to the hard work and support of hospital staff.  Cunningham hopes that MediSys Dream Believers will once again raise more than $30,000 this year and receive even more participation. “We are anticipating an increase in our numbers of walkers and supporters,” she shared.

To learn more about the MediSys Dream Believers Team and how you can support their mission, please call 718-206-6003.

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 recipients are:

*Elaina Odermatt, RN Clinical Manager

2016 was a big year for the Perinatal Care Department at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

That’s because last year the hospital topped 3,000 deliveries – a major milestone for the department as it is the first time in over 25 years that Flushing Hospital has surpassed that mark. In fact, a total of 3,126 babies were born last year at Flushing Hospital!

Historically, Flushing Hospital has always been a destination for women in Queens to give birth. At its peak in the mid-1980’s Flushing Hospital delivered over 4,200 babies annually. That number had slowly declined to a low of only 1,500 deliveries approximately a decade ago. However, in recent years the hospital has seen a steady increase, culminating with it reaching this major milestone.

There are many reasons for the baby boom at Flushing Hospital according to Maria DeMarinis Smilios, Director of Nursing for Maternal and Child Services, “We have done many things to improve the services we provide to expectant mothers. We have made ourselves more accessible to the community by expanding our evening hours twice per week. We have also added an on-site WIC program and expanded our family planning services.  In addition, we have brought in many doctors and support staff that speak multiple languages and are reflective of the community we serve.”

Maria added, “Our staff has also worked very hard to meet the needs of each of our patients and address every request and concern they have during their perinatal experience. Their dedication to improving our patient’s satisfaction is evident as more and more women are once again choosing Flushing.”

Flushing Hospital Perinatal Care Department plans to continue the momentum and looks forward to welcoming even more babies into the community in 2017. Plans for the future include expanding the number of private post-partum rooms on the Mother-Baby Unit from two to 11, which will further enhance the patient experience.

It came as no surprise when Jamaica Hospital Medical Center volunteer Marguerite Luizzo, fondly known as “Margo,” was selected as NY1 News’, Queens Person of the Week.  The TV segment highlights individuals who make a difference in their communities by volunteering and helping others.   Luizzo has served as a volunteer at the hospital since 2012; her kindheartedness and positive attitude are some of the qualities that patients and staff have enjoyed over the years.

Margo has had a knack for helping others for as long as she can remember.  “As a child, I was always the first to grab the mercurochrome bottle when my siblings got hurt and put the Band-Aids on,” Luizzo shared with reporters.  She would continue to provide that special care to others for nearly 45 years throughout her professional career as a nurse.

Luizzo retired from Jamaica Hospital in 2012 but she knew her duty to help others could not stop there. “I like being around people and I just feel that we are put here to help one another,” she explained.   Never one to sit around; Margo decided that she would pursue a personal mission to provide community service in and around her Queens neighborhood.

Currently, Margo devotes her time to the hospital by serving as a patient liaison for the Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU).  Her duties include providing a supportive and caring environment for patients and their families. Her dedication and compassion are appreciated by all who have the pleasure of meeting her. Luizzo also serves as a comfort captain; training other volunteers to carry out their work efficiently.

In addition to volunteering in Jamaica Hospital’s ASU, Margo is also a co-leader for the hospital’s MediSys Dream Believers Cancer Walk team and has helped raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research and the American Cancer Society.

Congratulations Margo Luizzo for being featured as NY1 News,’ Queens Person of the Week. It is an honor that is well deserved.  Thank you for dedicating your time to the MediSys Health Network and in helping us to achieve our goal of providing quality care to the communities we serve.

WATCH news clip here:

Last month, Joseph Ferrara, member of the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Board of Trustees, officially kicked off the construction of the new Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care.

Ferrara ceremoniously demolished a wall with the sledgehammer that was previously presented to him at the hospice center’s unveiling event.

Mr. Ferrara started the process of building what will be the premiere hospice unit in the region, an effort that he has championed since day one.

The campaign to build a new hospice unit was one that took a great deal of time, effort and money.  Thankfully, through the support and generous donations made by Mr. Ferrara as well as others, the Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care is now taking shape and is scheduled to open this spring.

The new, ten-bed Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care will replace the existing hospice unit on the fourth floor of the hospital’s ‘C” building and will enable Jamaica Hospital to offer patients facing end-of- life and their families every comfort and convenience during a very difficult time in their lives. The unit will feature oversized private rooms and a family lounge. Once complete, Jamaica Hospital will have a unit to match the high level of compassionate care that the hospice staff has always provided to their patients.

The flu season began in October but many in our community still wonder, “Is it too late for me to get the flu shot?”  Jamaica Hospital Medical Center physician, Dr. Socorro De Jesus addressed this concern in a recent television interview by informing viewers that it is not too late and it is best to get vaccinated sooner rather than later.

Dr. De Jesus reminded everyone that receiving the flu shot can reduce the chances of becoming infected with the influenza virus by 50-60%.  She also discussed with reporters that receiving the flu shot not only protects the individual but it also protects the community, as the more people who are immunized in a vicinity the less likely the flu virus will spread in that environment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that “All persons aged 6 months and older are recommended for annual vaccination, with rare exception.” Vaccinations are very important for people who are at high risk of becoming infected with the flu virus. This includes children ages six months through four years old, older adults, people who are immunosuppressed, pregnant women and health care professionals.

In an effort to protect staff, patients and members of the community, Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Center encourages everyone to receive a flu shot each year.

WATCH here:

On Monday, January 9^th, members of the New York City Fire Department’s (FDNY), Fire Safety Education Program attended the Community Advisory Board (CAB) meeting at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center to share a presentation on winter home safety.

The goal of the Fire Safety Education Program is to reduce the number of fatalities caused by residential fires by teaching lifesaving, fire prevention tips to the community.  FDNY Lieutenant Steve Vano and colleagues discussed several safety tips with CAB members including; making certain batteries in smoke detectors are operational and identifying escape routes in the case of a fire.

The presentation was highly engaging and was well-received by the attending CAB members, who expressed appreciation for the materials received from Lt. Vano.

Jamaica Hospital’s Community Advisory Board thanks the great men and women of the FDNY for all that they do and looks forward to participating and collaborating in future fire safety education events within the community.

Flushing Hospital saw hundreds in attendance at the annual Three Kings event.

The holiday season was filled with joy and generosity at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center. Many organizations and community leaders stopped by both hospitals to spread goodwill.

Flushing Hospital staff collaborated with community leader Martha Flores- Vasquez to host the annual Three Kings event in the Main Auditorium. Over 500 children and their parents were in attendance. They were entertained by dancers and singers and given toys which were collected and donated by Healthfirst and the New York City Police Department’s 109th Precinct. Community leaders including Peter Tu, Councilman Peter Koo and Congresswoman Grace Meng also attended the event and showed their support by participating in the festivities.

Jamaica Hospital’s Pediatrics Unit received a visit from NYC DOC Commissioner Joseph Ponte and officers.

At Jamaica Hospital, community organizations and leaders including the Knights of Columbus, Senator Joe Addabbo, the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council and the New York City Department of Corrections as well as staff from the hospital brought a bounty of toys for the children on the Pediatric Unit and those visiting the Pediatric Emergency Room. Additionally, staff from Southwest Airlines treated our little ones to a story time event where they read holiday books to an eager group.

All of these acts of kindness were greatly appreciated. We thank everyone for their contribution in making the holiday season very special and unforgettable.

Baby boy Peralta; first baby born in NYC, 2017.

The first baby of the New Year is always a special event at Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical center.  This year, Flushing Hospital had the honor of having the first baby born in New York City. Baby boy Nathan Peralta was delivered at 12:08 am on New Year’s Day.  Flushing Hospital staff reported, baby Peralta weighed 7lbs 11.5oz.

Click here to read the NY Post article on baby boy Peralta:

http://nypost.com/2017/01/01/nyc-welcomes-first-baby-of-2017/

Baby Boy Lopez-Romero

Approximately twenty minutes later, Jamaica Hospital welcomed baby boy Edwin Daniel Lopez-Romero to the world. He weighed 8lbs 1.7oz.

Congratulations to the families on their newest additions. We wish them a lifetime of happiness. Special thanks to the staff who assisted with these deliveries.

The Nutritional Services Department at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center participated in several successful community outreach events during this holiday season.

In November, the hospital’s registered dietitians, Lindsay Chetelat and Alessandra Venditto collaborated with the New York City Department of Health to host an event at the Jamaica Farmers Market.  The event promoted the health benefits of eating fresh, seasonal produce.

Chetelat and Venditto shared recipes with participants and demonstrated ways to prepare fruits and vegetables for a healthy meal. Health Bucks were distributed to guests as part of an initiative to increase access to fresh produce within the five boroughs. Health Bucks are paper vouchers created by the Health Department’s District Public Health Offices. The vouchers provide opportunities for residents to buy fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables while supporting regional farmers.

In December, the Nutritional Services Department’s Clinical Nutrition Manager, Nelly Katan, assisted in the coordination of a NY1 News segment about ‘Eating Healthy during the Holidays.’ Dietitian Lindsay Chetelat shared several healthy eating tips with viewers which included sticking to the Plate Method, eating slowly and allowing yourself one treat.  The segment was well-received by many in our community.

To view the news segment, please watch here:

https://youtu.be/DhuPFcwEwfw

Both initiatives were a great success and are examples of some of the community outreach efforts conducted by the Nutritional Services Department in an effort to increase public education by engaging with residents in our neighborhood.  Members of the department work continuously to assist our patients in growing their knowledge about nutrition, wellness and healthy eating.  We look forward to their advancements in the New Year.