MediSys Network News

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.

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.