MediSys Network News

MediSys Celebrates the Great American Smokeout & Destination Tobacco Free – Brookdale

The Great American Smokeout was observed on November 19th and MediSys’ facilities did their part in promoting smoking cessation to staff and community. 

Flushing’s Janet Reiss, CCSW and Ana Muller, CCSW were in the hospital’s lobby distributing nicotine patches and literature to whoever stopped at the table and demonstrated an interest in quitting.  Those interested were also invited to participate in Flushing Hospital's Smoking Cessation Program. 

Brookdale celebrated the end of their Destination Tobacco Free campaign with a table in their lobby as well where they distributed literature, nicotine patches and gum. Brookdale formed a committee that began a Destination Tobacco Free campaign on November 2nd to help staff kick the habit in anticipation of the City Council’s Local Law 50 going into effect on November 10th “banning smoking on grounds of hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centers, and residential health care facilities within 15 feet of any entrance or exit and within 15 feet of the entrance to or exit from any health facility grounds.”

Smoking is a difficult habit to break but the Committee provided help for those who needed it.  During lunch hours, support groups were available for the three week period provided by Behavioral Health, Nutrition, Pastoral Care, Treatment for Life.  Acupuncture and the use of magnets were also offered.   Another important tool was a group of staff that volunteered as “buddies” to help those who were having a tough time quitting making themselves available even after working hours. 

Good luck to all those who are trying to kick the habit!

An Unexpected Delivery at Peninsula Hospital

 Peninsula Hospital doesn’t have an Obstetrics Department but on November 11, a woman went into labor right in front of the facility. Luckily, Raul Padilla, an ophthalmology technician, happened to be at the right place at the right time when he heard cries for help. While hospital security called for the Emergency Department staff to respond, Raul ran outside to find a woman delivering a baby.

Tanya Glasper, a mother of ten and a passenger on the same bus as the pregnant woman, noticed the pregnant woman on the bus and assisted her from off of the bus to Peninsula Hospital’s Emergency Department. They soon realized the delivery was progressing too fast to do so.  Only minutes after Raul went to the woman’s assistance, the Emergency Room staff arrived, but the baby, an 8 lb. 6oz. female, had already arrived.

Both Raul Padilla and Tanya Glasper agreed that it was a once in a lifetime experience and both were extremely happy that they were able to help.  

Jamaica Hospital Celebrates National Healthcare Quality Week

  In an effort to keep hospital employees informed about the quality care activities designed and implemented by the various departments throughout the hospital, Jamaica Hospital’s Department of Performance Improvement hosted “Quality Day” on October 22.

Employees were able to view poster board displays, participate in a spin-the-wheel game, and compete in contests, including a slogan contest and a quality idea contest. In addition, Lisa Carpenter, from the Organ Donor Network, was there to discuss the importance of organ donation.

The winning slogan, “There is no ‘I’ in team,” was created by Luis Ruiz, from the Engineering Department. Jamal Habibulla’s, ED Financial Screening Coordinator, “strengthen teamwork with knowledge of the entire organization’s working system. The importance of each department within the system– by way of seminars and newsletters,” won 1st place for best quality idea.

The poster boards on display included the Blood Bank, Root Cause Analysis, Simulation Lab, Infection Prevention Collaborative, National Patient Safety Goals, Information Technology, Medisys Emergency Notification System, Case Management, Organ Donor Council, Out patient Chemo Unit, HCAHPS, Pay for Performance, Palliative Care Program, Engineering, Rapid Response System, Stroke Unit, Transitional Care Unit, Caring Links Program, Home Health Agency, Catheterization Lab, and SBAR.

New Nursing Unit Opens at Jamaica Hospital

 The recent opening of a partially completed and newly transformed nursing unit at Jamaica Hospital has provided the facility with some slight relief.

Earlier this year, Mary Immaculate and St. John’s Hospitals closed, causing a 20% increase in daily emergency room visits at Jamaica Hospital. The surge in ER volume usually results in an increase in admissions as well - and because the hospital was already operating at or near capacity, administration announced that it would add 39 medical-surgical beds to the facility.  Of the 39 beds, 16 were recently completed. 

The new beds are located on the South wing of the hospital’s sixth floor. This space formerly held three auditoriums and several clinical departments and medical offices. These offices have since been relocated to the hospital’s former nursing and rehabilitation center.

Construction on the remaining 23 medical-surgical beds in the unit began last month and is expected to be completed in the near future.

In addition to transforming previous office space into a patient care unit, Jamaica Hospital also expanded its Emergency Room and Chest Pain Center earlier this year and completed the construction of its brand new Nursing and Rehabilitation Center this summer.

Peninsula Hospital Hosts its Anniversary Ball

  On October 31, Peninsula Hospital held its 102nd Anniversary Ball at El Caribe Country Club, in Brooklyn, NY. The South Seas themed event boasted fine dining, live music, and several cultural elements from Polynesia, Tahiti, and Hawaii, including leis, grass skirts, and a Polynesian dance performance.

Over 300 guests attended the Ball, whose proceeds will be used to help fund Peninsula Hospital Center's new Cancer Center. Specifically, the purchase of a new CT Simulator and Linear Accelerator that will bring ground-breaking technology to the Rockaways and its surrounding region.

Bob Levine, President and Chief Executive Officer of Peninsula Hospital Center, discussed how vital the Cancer Center has been to the Rockaway community and thanked everyone for supporting the facility’s growth. Levine later joined Joel A. Miele Sr., P.E., Chairman of the Board, in presenting awards to the evening's honorees— Dr. Olajide Olawepo, Director of Peninsula Hospital’s Pediatric Department, Eunmi Kim, Director of Critical Care Nursing, and Mrs. Lucy Salpeter, Trustee, Patron, and long-time supporter of Peninsula Hospital Center.

"Tonight's honorees demonstrate long-time service and dedication to Peninsula Hospital Center. Our commitment to the community is strengthened by our employees' and supporters' dedication to the hospital,” said Levine. “Our three honorees tonight exemplify this dedication and support and we are very grateful to them all.  Their contributions have made a difference to both Peninsula Hospital and to our community."

The success of the event was achieved with the help of these honorees, the support of the Anniversary Ball committee and all of the hospital employees and friends who attended the event.

 

Public Health Solutions Awards Grant to Treatment for Life Center

Brookdale’s Treatment for Life Center (TLC), the only AIDS designated center in Brooklyn that houses a 120 bed long-term care facility, has recently been awarded a three year, $900,000 per year grant by Public Health Solutions.  TLC is primary care and support services with a multidisciplinary, multilingual team approach

The target population of the grant is the large amount of people in the area living with HIV/AIDS who have known barriers to adhering to treatment plans and have a history of non-compliance and the newly diagnosed patients not currently in a regimented treatment plan for who the TLC staff diligently applies health promotion and other support services to gain their confidence and teach them to take an active role in their care.

The Public Health Solutions grant awarded to Brookdale will allow TLC to further provide medical care, treatment compliance and acquire the use of patient navigators. The specially trained navigators are staff members who offer comfort and support as they guide the patient through the system.  They provide practical help, such as obtaining information about the patient's illness, treatment, nutrition, and how to connect with a support group as well as providing them assistance with transportation and insurance issues.  By engaging in a one-on-one interaction, the navigators track patients with known obstacles and serve as a liaison between them and their healthcare team, ensuring that the patient follow his/her treatment program and make use of all the services available to them.

Founded over 50 years ago as Medical and Health Research Association (MHRA) to administer projects for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Public Health Solutions is a non-profit organization whose purpose it to develop and implement solutions to public health issues and provide assistance to organizations that are addressing public health challenges.

 “We are extremely grateful to Public Health Solutions for giving us the necessary funds to further expand our patient network,” said Dr. Cheryl Croney, Medical Director of the “Treatment for Life Center.” “We have an extraordinary team that will now be able to reach deeper into our community to help those in need and ensure that they adhere to their treatment program.”

For additional information on the services provided by TLC, please call (718) 240-5963. Clinic appointments can be made by calling (718) 240-5028.  For HIV Counseling and Testing services, call (718) 240-6255.

Breast Cancer: A Survivor’s Personal Tale

  Sepia Owens-Villas, Administrator for Jamaica Hospital’s Family Medicine Division, is known for her vivacious spirit. Even after being diagnosed with breast cancer last year, she managed to remain upbeat and optimistic. Using her own survival story—she’s been cancer-free for a year—as a way to inspire others, she recently gave an inspiring and reflective interview for WABC-TV’s (Channel 7) annual breast cancer segment.

“It was very important for me to participate in this piece,” said Sepia. “My diagnosis really sends a message. Breast cancer is generally associated with an older, White population, yet I’m a young, African American female, who lives a moderately active lifestyle, sees my doctor regularly, and even conducts self breast examinations. I don’t fit the mold but I had breast cancer. People have to understand that there are no demographical exceptions.”

Sepia was diagnosed in January 2008 and although the news was devastating, she knew what to expect. For four years prior to her diagnosis, she had been very well connected to the American Cancer Society—walking in their Making Strides Campaign, raising awareness about the condition, and helping low-income woman with breast cancer receive the services they needed.
 
What she didn’t expect was the tremendous amount of support she received. From family and friends, to coworkers and colleagues, someone was always there for her during her bout with breast cancer. 

“I’m just happy to be alive and extremely glad I wasn’t defeated,” said Sepia. “I now have the opportunity to reach others so that they understand the importance of early detection and screening.” 
 
Determined to use her story to encourage others, Sepia was the keynote speaker at the 2009 Strides Against Breast Cancer Kick-Off Breakfast. She also joined with thousands in the American Cancer Society’s annual breast cancer walk. Just like last year, she walked with the MediSys Dream Believers. The group, which consisted of nearly 50 employees and supporters of Jamaica, Flushing, and Peninsula Hospitals, raised over $35,000 for the American Cancer Society.

She added: “Taking part in this year’s walk was different from all previous years. It was a relief and I felt like a conqueror,” explained Sepia. “It was something I had to do in celebration of completing this stage in my journey.”

To view Sepia’s interview with Channel 7, please view http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=7048356.

 

TV4 Sweden Prepares Documentary on Bariatric Care in the US

TV4 Sweden, the largest commercial TV station in Sweden, featured the Advanced Bariatric Care Center and Brookdale Hospital to demonstrate the sensibility in the United States in the practice of healthcare for the morbidly obese patient.    

The obesity problem has become more prevalent in Sweden than it ever, leading to more patients requiring bariatric surgery and other means of controlling their weight - but the Sweden's healthcare industry is not equipped to deal with this problem. For expert guidance, Ritva Ronnberg, Medical Reporter for TV4 Sweden, contacted Brookdale Hospital to learn more about the success Brookdale Hospital and it's patients have had with bariatric procedures and report it back to her viewers in Sweden.  

Upon arrival at Brookdale, Ms. Ronnberg interviewed Dr. Sanjeev Rajpal, Medical Director of the Center, Dr. Richard Fogler, Chairman of Surgical Services and CMO, Ms. Gina Tasco, Administrator of the Center and Jeannese Barritau, Clinical Coordinator of the Center among others.  They detailed the process, from the first visit of a surgical candidate to the Center through post-op care.

Following the steps a bariatric patient upon arrival at the hospital, filming began in Pre-Admission Testing.  Emphasis was made on the special equipment that is subtly incorporated as part of the area.  Moving up to Same Day Surgery, where the bariatric patient arrives prior to surgery, both Ms. Ronnberg and the cameraman where highly impressed by the sensitivity of the staff and the availability of furniture and special equipment in the operating room and inpatient unit where they interviewed a patient.

Filming concluded at the ABC Center where a nutritional session and support group were held as a demonstration of the post op care of ABC’s multidisciplinary approach to weight loss surgery.  “The Swedish people are going to be as impressed as I am.  Everything is done here for the comfort of the patient,” said Ms. Ronnberg.

The documentary is scheduled to air in November.

Angels on the Bay Continues Its Support

  The MediSys Health Network surely has an angel on its side.

On October 13, Angels on the Bay donated over $92,000 to the Pediatric Departments at Flushing, Jamaica, and Peninsula Hospitals.

The donations were made during the organization’s Annual Benefit Ball and the funds will be used to purchase equipment to enhance the care our Queens hospitals offer pediatric patients. 

Flushing Hospital funding will enable them to purchase a second Giraffe OmniBed for their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Last year, Flushing Hospital purchased its first Giraffe OmniBed, a device that combines state-of-the-art technology, innovative design, and exceptional thermal performance, to create a healing environment for intensively ill infants.

Jamaica Hospital received the second installment of a five year donation. The funding will help purchase a mobile Central Monitoring Station, with two additional monitors for its Pediatric Unit. In 2006, Jamaica Hospital dedicated its critical care pediatric unit  to Angels on the Bay for the equipment it was able to purchase with their donations.

Peninsula Hospital will use their donation to purchase new equipment in Pediatric ER, Pediatric Family Health Center and their "Angels on the Bay" pediatric inpatient unit. The hospital designed and constructed its entire Angels unit with prior donations. Its support also helped the hospital establish a designated pediatric treatment and waiting area in the Emergency Department and enhance the Pediatric environment in the Family Health Center. 

“We are always grateful for the financial support we receive from Angels on the Bay,” explained Mr. David P. Rosen, President and Chief Executive Officer of the MediSys Health Network. “For the past 14 years, we’ve been able to use their donations to enhance our Pediatric Departments and ensure that we’re providing our youngest patients with the highest quality of care.”

To date, the network has received over $1 million from Angels on the Bay. With these funds, the hospitals have made significant and much needed purchases.

Angels on the Bay is a nonprofit organization that raises money and awareness to help provide life enhancing services for the chronically ill, developmentally disabled and physically challenged children in the community. The organization began donating to Jamaica Hospital in 1995, Peninsula Hospital in 1999, and recently began a relationship with Flushing Hospital, in 2008.

Administration and hospital employees thank Angels on the Bay for their continued support.

Peninsula Hospital Receives Donation from Elected Officials

  
  The season of giving has started early this year.

On September 29, Senator Malcolm Smith and Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer presented Peninsula Hospital with a check for $600,000. The funds will be used by the Department of Radiation Oncology to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment for the facility, specifically a linear accelerator with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), and a CT Simulator.

“Cancer patients can now receive the quality health care they deserve close to home. The funding will allow the facility to acquire equipment to aid patients in their battle against cancer,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm Smith. “With these funds, PHC can continue to provide treatment that will extend and improve the quality of life for people under their care.”

The new linear accelerator is a technology that uses precise radiation to shrink cancer tumors. It will also allow physicians to check the position of a patient’s tumor before treatment and modify their setup on a daily basis, taking into account organ movement. The CT Simulator, a planning guide, will help oncologists plan the most effective treatments for their patients.

Peninsula Hospital’s new equipment will benefit patients tremendously. The technologies will help physicians avoid damage or injury to tissues surrounding a patient’s tumor.

“We are extremely grateful for Senator Smith’s efforts on behalf of Peninsula Hospital Center,” said Robert V. Levine, President and Chief Executive Officer for Peninsula Hospital Center. “In response to community needs, the Hospital Center is expanding its Cancer Care Center and this $600,000 will enable us to bring exceptional cancer care to so many here in the Rockaways and surrounding communities – close to home.”

Peninsula Hospital has the only Radiation Oncology Department in the region.