MediSys Network News

MediSys Health Network Updates Websites with Extensive Health Content

In an effort to keep the websites a community resource, the MediSys Health Network has recently contracted with an outside content provider and will use their content, including disease and wellness topics, health news, and interactive features, to provide top quality health content to its visitors.

The Brookdale Hospital website is the first to feature the new online health library, with content in both English and Spanish. The library provides viewers with education in specific areas, such as women’s health, heart information, cancer information, senior issues, children’s health, wellness and fitness, and much more.

The health content is provided by Concept Communications and comes from the most trusted medical sources. The content also undergoes a rigorous screening process by a team of trained journalists and board certified MD’s to ensure both accuracy and ease of comprehension.

The Jamaica and Flushing Hospital websites will feature the online health library in the near future.

To view Brookdale’s new online health library, visit http://www.brookdale.edu/html/health_info/index.htm.

Verizon Pioneer Club Makes Annual Visit to Flushing Hospital

For the past 10 years, the Verizon Pioneer Club, a group of retired telephone workers, ages 70-80, have delighted Flushing Hospital patients and staff by making bi-yearly donations to the hospital. This year proved to be no different.

On January 7, club members Margie Wolchok and Rose Bittner donated an abundance of teddy bears, infant blanket sets, heart pillows, dolls, books, stuffed dogs, and tissue covers to the hospital.

What keeps the group working well beyond their retirement?

“We get more out of it than what’s given and the appreciation from the nurses and patients, especially the children is absolutely wonderful,” said Ms. Wolchok.

Ricki Lake Attends the Screening of The Business of Being Born at Brookdale.

Brookdale’s Department of OB/GYN has 18 midwives, who, together with the staff of attending physicians, care for expectant mothers and deliver their babies.  Catherine Tangsly, Director of Midwifery not only provides care to her patients, she is also a budding star on the silver screen.  As a result of her experiences as a midwife, Catherine was chosen to participate in the filming of the recently released documentary THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN, directed by Abby Epstein and produced by Ricki Lake.

On Monday, January 7th, a fund-raising, advanced screening of the film that premiered in the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and officially opened in NYC on January 9th was held in Brookdale’s Sonja and Dr. Alvin I. Kahn Auditorium. Over 150 people had the opportunity to preview this important documentary, including Ricki Lake herself, who was in attendance to answer questions at the conclusion of the documentary. The filmmakers have allowed local screenings to help raise awareness on the topic of midwifery and to support local birth organizations. All proceeds from this advance screening will benefit Brookdale’s Labor, Delivery and Recovery Suite.

  In collaboration with filmmaker Abby Epstein, Ricki Lake set off to produce a documentary that portrays intimate birth stories of home deliveries with the assistance of midwives.  The film includes statistics and a historical background of midwifery and facts about the maternity care system in the United States.  The film’s fundamental question is: should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potential medical emergency?

After the film ended, Dr. Mark Spitzer, Chairman of OB, presented a plaque to Ms. Tangsly to acknowledge Brookdale’s midwives and their dedication to their patients.  After a question and answer session with Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, the producer and director were treated to a tour of the Labor, Delivery and Recovery Suite.  What a treat for the staff and patients to receive a visit from these two celebrities.

Brookdale Develops Pharmacy Partners Volunteer Program

Through a grant awarded by the United Hospital Fund, Brookdale’s Volunteer Department has developed a program in collaboration, with the Adult Literacy Media Alliance to train volunteers to develop the skills to help patients read prescription labels and to properly manage their medication.

Working in the Brookdale Retail Pharmacy, the Linden Family Care Center and the Treatment for Life Center, a group of specially trained volunteers now have the ability to assist patients understand the sometimes confusing medication labels. Important issues such as proper dosing and how to use a weekly pill container to improve medication compliance are addressed.

The Pharmacy Partners Program has successfully trained 11 volunteers to provide one-on-one assistance and education to Brookdale’s outpatient population.  The goal of the program is to improve the patients’ understanding of medication safety as well as teach them the necessary skills to manage multiple medications. Patients are provided tools to help them better understand their medications and are also encouraged to maintain a medical journal to record important health information.   

Dr. Deborah S. Asnis: New Inductee into the New York City Hall of Fame

Dr. Deborah S. Asnis, Director of Infectious Diseases at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, was inducted into the New York City Hall of Fame in the category of Health & Science on December 8.

During the induction ceremony, Dr. Asnis and 11 other individuals were honored as being remarkable New Yorkers who have contributed to the betterment of the City and will serve as role models for the New York's youngsters.

“It’s really nice to have this type of acknowledgment, where average people are recognized for their contributions to the city,” said Dr. Asnis. “A lot of people have done significant things, have championed for various causes, and so often it goes unnoticed. The NYC Hall of Fame is a wonderful way to identify these people and I’m happy that my work and commitment to the City has been recognized.”

Dr. Asnis was nominated because of her significant role in discovering the West Nile Virus during the summer of 1999. After detecting a “cluster” of patients with unusual and severe symptoms that were potentially deadly, she alerted health officials at the New York Department of Health. Once confirmed to be the West Nile Virus, health authorities took aggressive action to inform the public and prevent the spread of the disease, which is carried by mosquitoes. Up to then, this virus was never seen in the United States or the Western Hemisphere. Dr. Asnis’ quick actions helped save the lives of many New Yorkers, who would have otherwise not taken proper precautions against West Nile. For this finding, Dr. Asnis received national and worldwide recognition, including a documentary on the events of 1999 on the Discovery Channel.

This year’s inductees were selected by a panel of distinguished judges from several nomination submissions in the following categories: Architecture, Business Development, Charitable Contribution, Communications, Cultural Contribution, Education, Entertainment, Health & Science, Heroism/Act of Bravery, Humanitarian, Sports, and Volunteerism.

Congratulations Dr. Asnis!!!!

First Babies of 2008 in MediSys Network

The first baby of the New Year is always a special event at each of our three hospitals. While this year none of the three hospitals in the MediSys network can claim the honor of having the first baby born in New York City, our first babies are still extra special to us. The first MediSys babies posed beautifully for our photographer and they each received a gorgeous gift basket courtesy of Babies “R” Us. Special thanks to the staff that assisted with these deliveries.

These are our first babies of the New Year:

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
Baby Boy Persaud
Weight: 6lbs. 2 oz.
Length: 20”
Time: 2:36 AM on 1/1/ 08

Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center
Baby Girl Crawford
Weight: 6 lbs. 10 oz.
Length: 19 3/4”
Time: 4:57 AM on 1/1/08

Flushing Hospital Medical Center
Baby Boy Sarikov
Weight: 2lbs. 7 oz.
Length: 14”
Time: 4:54 AM on 1/1/08

Congratulations to these babies. We wish them and their families a lifetime of happiness.