MediSys Network News

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.

Flushing Hospital Employees Enjoy Appreciation BBQ

The official start of Fall was warmly welcomed at Flushing Hospital’s employee appreciation barbecue last month. On September 22, the cool, crisp air greeted employees, as they gathered for free food, an eclectic mix of music, and the ribbon-cutting of their brand-new outdoor patio. 

Located outside, behind the ambulatory care center, the outdoor patio is a smoke-free area where employees can eat and socialize with their colleagues throughout the day. It is furnished with umbrella tables, chairs, and lighting, as well as several small trees.  In the near future, benches, additional greenery, and a small cascading waterfall will be added to the area.

 “The patio is a small gesture of appreciation,” said Mr. Bruce J. Flanz, Executive Vice President of Flushing Hospital. “It is our way of acknowledging the continuous hard work and dedication of our employees for the past 125 years.”

Added Andres Suren, Director of Building Services at Flushing Hospital and the catalyst behind the project, “we wanted to give our employees a place to call their own. Before the patio, employees congregated in front of the hospital. Now, they have a place specifically for them and a greater sense of belonging to the hospital community.”

The patio, which was funded by the Development Department and Department of Medicine, is now open everyday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, weather permitting.

A Celebration Worth Celebrating

  The event may be over but the success of Flushing Hospital’s Celebration ’09 still has everyone jubilant—and with good cause. The annual fundraiser, which was held on September 16 at Russo’s on the Bay, was a tasteful, yet casual evening of exquisite dining, live entertainment, boundless excitement, and several significant accomplishments.

With over 300 guests, Celebration ’09 doubled its attendance from previous years and raised a record high of $130,000 to renovate the hospital lobby. At the event, oversized renderings of the lobby were on display and to the delight of all employees.

“The renderings are breathtaking,” exclaimed Isidra Medina, Administrative Assistant for the Department of Emergency Medicine. “The renovated lobby will be such a warm welcome to our patients and truly enhance our facility.”

Event Chairman, Dr. Robert Crupi, Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine, expressed his anticipation of the renovation before presenting the evening’s honorees—Michael J. Russo, Chairman of Flushing Hospital’s Board of Directors, Myra Baird Herce, President of Flushing Chamber of Commerce, Charles “Cliff” Johnson, Foreman, Central Store Room, and Sandra Montes, Pharmacy Technician.

“I was surprised when I found out I was going to be honored at this year’s event,” said Montes, “But being acknowledged by administration and hospital staff is such an honor. I am extremely pleased.”

This year was the first time that Flushing Hospital honored some of its hardest working and dedicated employees. The success of the event couldn’t have been attained without the help of these honorees, the support of the Celebration ’09 committee, and the participation of every employee who attended the event.

Excellent Joint Commission Survey at Brookdale.

 On August 25th, a team of six surveyors from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations arrived at Brookdale Hospital, the Family Care Centers and Brookdale Home Care and spent four days evaluating hospital policies and practices, conducting interviews with staff on all levels, reading charts, observing procedures and inspecting the operation of the organization. 

“The results were superb!  Not only did we have a small number of direct impact RFIs,” said Brookdale’s President and CEO, David P. Rosen. “We really had a great survey!”

The Hospital was acknowledged with two Best Practices: Environment of Care and Life Safety.  This exemplifies the hard work of the Engineering, Safety, Security and Building Services Departments, led by Vito Buccellato, VP for Clinical Services.  “Each member of the team executed his/her role to perfection,” stated Mr. Buccellato.

The surveyors were also extremely impressed and complemented the organization for its level of competency in management and community involvement.  Brookdale was commended for its level of Emergency Preparedness, Medication Management and Infection Control’s procedures and outcomes.  Surveyors requested that Infection Control publish the data.
 
The survey’s results also acknowledged the longevity of employment of a large number of staff, which demonstrates their dedication to the hospital, its patients and the community they serve. “We are so grateful to the entire staff for their professionalism and dedication, we could not have done it with out them” said Suzanne Pennacchio, Sr. Vice President for Patient Care Services.  “We demonstrated that we provide the highest level of quality care and we are a great institution.”
   
The Executive Staff would like to express its heartfelt gratitude is to the entire hospital staff for a job well done! 

 

MediSys Braces for H1N1

As the nation continues to prepare for a potential H1N1 pandemic this Fall, the MediSys Health Network is working diligently on finalizing its own strategic plan.

Over the summer, the network began devising a pandemic influenza plan, which consists of six functional workgroups— critical care, inventory control, human resources, data management, facilities and support, and incident operations.

The workgroups will be responsible for ensuring that the facilities have logistical protocols in place to handle the anticipated influx in patients, adequate supplies throughout the season, and programs aimed at employee safety. The plan will also include the development of communication messages, as well as the distribution of H1N1 informational brochures and flyers.

“Preparation is imperative,” said Mark Marino, Director of Emergency Management at Jamaica Hospital. “It is during this process that we’re able to identify the anticipated needs of our patients, community, and importantly, our employees. Our strategies and plans are focused on meeting these needs and addressing any potential problems that can arise.”

He continued: “We are satisfied in the direction we’re moving in and are confident that we’ve considered all possible audiences in our plan.”

Most recently, Dr. Geoffrey Doughlin, Chairman of Jamaica Hospital’s Emergency Department appeared on Good Day New York to discuss the network’s efforts. To see the interview, visit http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/health/swine_flu/090903_hospital_ready_for_swine_flu

Employees are being asked to continually read their email, check the employee newsletter, and watch for posters, as additional information on H1N1 employee requirements, policies, and procedures will be made available later this month.

MediSys Hospitals Included in Award-Winning Series

Jamaica, Flushing, and Peninsula Hospitals are currently featured in an award-winning series produced by QPTV. The “Circle of Life” series, which portrays excellence in Queens healthcare, tells the stories of residents affected by various medical conditions and the exceptional care they receive from local hospitals and their medical staffs.

The series focuses on individuals suffering from a wide-array of health conditions, ranging brain trauma to autoimmune diseases to childhood conditions, and more. In addition to patient interviews, the network’s participation included interviews with:

• Mr. Robert V. Levine, President and CEO, Peninsula Hospital
• Dr. Ajey Jain, Director of Neonatology at Jamaica Hospital
• Drs. Meggan Mackay and Cynthia Aranow, Rheumatologists at Jamaica Hospital’s Lupus Center
• Mr. James Baylis, Clinical Manager of the Reflections Program
• Dr. Joseph Cannavo, Director and Unit Chief of Flushing Hospital’s Chemical Dependency Unit
• Dr. Susana Rapaport, Chairperson of Pediatrics at Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals
• Ms. Lillian Walcott, Nursing Administrator for Flushing Hospital’s Pediatric Department
• Dr. Jeffery Kornreich, Chief, Traumatic Brain Injury Unit/Inpatient Acute Rehabilitation Unit
• Dr. Martin Grossman, Director of Medicine at Peninsula Hospital Center
• Dr. Olajide Olawepo, Assistant Director at Peninsula Hospital Center’s Pediatric Unit

For a listing of airdates or to watch webisodes, please visit QPTV .

A Look Back: Discovering the West Nile Virus

Ten years ago, panic swept through the city when Queens became the epicenter of the West Nile virus outbreak. The unfamiliar virus had never before seen in the United States before and was described by the CDC as serious, life-altering, and even fatal.  

It all began with a small cluster of patients that were admitted to Flushing Hospital, none of whom had any contact with one another, but all presenting with similar symptoms. Three of the patients suffering from this mysterious illness eventually died, prompting Flushing Hospital to alert health officials.

The detection of what would eventually be known as West Nile virus was made by Dr. Deborah Asnis, Director of Infectious Disease at Flushing Hospital, Dr Robert Crupi, Chairman of Flushing Hospital’s Emergency Department, and Dr. Rick Conetta, ICU attending. Their immediate actions led to a timely response by NYC and NYS Health Departments and the CDC and prevented the outbreak from spreading further, saving many lives in the process.  

Based on the information they received from Flushing Hospital, City and State Health Officials were able to alert the public about the disease and how it was spread and begin an aggressive spraying campaign.  In total, there were 62 reported cases statewide, but if not for the actions taken by Flushing Hospital, the outbreak could have been far worse.

“The outbreak gave me a true appreciation and respect for the New York City and New York State Departments of Health, as well as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Dr. Asnis. “The significance and dedication of individuals that work there cannot be overstated. One of the fortunate results of the outbreak was the establishment of the two-way communication between community physicians and the public health department.”

The West Nile Virus outbreak served as a model on how future outbreaks—natural or intentional—and bioterrorism were approached thereafter. The outbreak showed that even with the best of bioserveillance systems in place, the ability to identify a small cluster can be missed and must rely on front line physicians.

 

Donation Makes Walking Easier for Peninsula Hospital Patients

Thanks to the Kolody Foundation and its generous donation to Peninsula Hospital’s Traumatic Brain Injury/Acute Rehabilitation Unit, patients who require assistance walking, as a result of foot drop, will soon use WalkAide, a new, state-of-the-art device, during their rehabilitation. 

Using Bluetooth-Enabled data transfer technology, WalkAide can sense the angle and velocity of the tibia’s motion. This promotes normal gait by triggering customized stimulation at the appropriate time in the walking cycle— even accommodating walking speeds and climbing stairs.

In addition to featuring the latest technological advancements, WalkAide is manageable and patient-friendly, a contrast to previous devices, which were cumbersome and uncomfortable for patients.

“This new technology will be a wonderful rehabilitative addition for patients who need this type of therapy and assistance,” said Janet McGowan, RN., Nurse Manager of the TBI/Acute Rehabilitation Unit.  “It is absolutely amazing to witness how effective this new device really is.” 

Added Bill Kolody, RN and President of the Kolody Foundation: “After learning about this device and the benefits it offers to patients who need it, we were very happy to make the donation.”