MediSys Network News

MediSys Helping New Yorkers Get a Second Chance at Life

In 2007, approximately 22,000 out of nearly the 100,000 people in the United States that need an organ transplant received one, but there are 6,411 that lost their lives because they never did.  In the greater New York area, there are approximately 8,500 needy patients and nearly 7,000 of them are in the greater New York metropolitan area.  Last year, from 322 deceased donors, 722 lives were saved.

April has been designated by the federal government as National Donate Life Month to raise awareness about the need for organ, eye, tissue, blood and bone marrow donors.  MediSys Health Network facility staff have always been strong advocates of organ donation.  In 2004, Jamaica Hospital was the top Organ Donor Hospital in its category and Brookdale Hospital ranked 10th. Last year, Jamaica Hospital was one of only 14 hospitals in the greater New York area to receive a Medal of Honor from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for substantially raising life-saving organ donor rates. 

Together with the New York Organ Donor Network, MediSys Health Network is appealing to all individuals age 18 years and older to commit to saving lives by enrolling in the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry.  Bill Lynch, MediSys’ Vice President for Professional and Regulatory Affairs said: “We join the Donor Network in calling upon New Yorkers to enroll in the registry because this is the most effective way there is for us to know that someone wishes to be a donor. As a place of healing, we witness all too often the suffering of patients who would benefit from transplants. When family members of a potential donor are informed their loved one enrolled in the registry, they feel reassured that they are carrying out his or her wishes, to save lives as that person requested.”
      
Elaine Berg, President and CEO of the New York Organ Donor Network, said the majority of people enroll in the registry when they apply for a driver’s license or when renewing their licenses. “However, the average renewal date for licenses in New York State has been extended to every 10 years, and may account in large part for the registry’s slow growth. New Yorkers can do better. To each one of them our message is this: Find out more about organ, eye and tissue donation, discuss it with your family, and enroll throughout April in the donor registry. It is easy to do so online.” 

To enroll or obtain more information on organ and tissue donation, you can visit their website at www.donatelifeny.org

Thank you!

Healing is a Sweet Deal at Flushing Hospital’s Wound Care Center

Flushing Hospital Wound Care Center was recently featured on CBS’ April 14th morning news health segment. Health reporter Dr. Max Gomez examined the Wound Care Center’s use of a honey-based dressing, MediHoney, to treat patients with chronic and non-healing wound.

The Wound Care Center currently treats four patients with MediHoney. These patients have wounds that have showed no improvement after other treatments failed, VAC therapy and other specialty dressings included. Honey has been used as a final attempt for any possible healing.

“In our observation, the honey dressing tends to work better on deeper cavities than superficial wounds,” said Dr. Roberto Cantu, General Surgeon at Flushing Hospital. “We’ve seen significant improvement in our patients.”

MediHoney works primarily because of its natural healing properties. It is made from various honeys found in New Zealand and Australia, including manuka honey, which speeds healing and kills germs. In addition to being antimicrobial and fluid absorbing, it also helps dissolve dead tissue, reduces inflammation and helps eliminate odors associated with infected wounds. The effects are long-lasting.

Patients apply the honey-based dressing to their wounds once daily.

Martiza Rao, Clinical Nurse Manager at Flushing Hospital’s Wound Care Center, said that MediHoney works well for patients with “weeping wounds”— pressure ulcers, open wounds, chronic infections, wounds as a result of radiation, and wound dehiscence; adding that the honey-dressing does not work well and should be avoided by patients who are allergic to bees or who have dry wounds.

Wound Care Center Celebrates Its Second Year with Expansion

The Wound Care Center at Flushing Hospital has had a lot to be delighted about lately. In addition to celebrating two successful years of treating patients who suffer from chronic or non-healing wounds, the center has recently expanded and has now grown to a six-bed unit. 

“We are extremely pleased about the services we've been able to provide to our patients over the last two years,” said Fran Pugliese, Program Director of the Wound Care Center. “The center has seen an increase in cases and adding two beds to the unit will definitely help us ensure that patients are receiving the highest quality of care.”

The Wound Care Center currently provides patients with specialty dressings, V.A.C. therapy, home care services, evaluation for and referral to hyperbaric unit if needed, advanced therapies, education materials and resources, one-on-one doctor/patient assessment, and ongoing care.

The Center also addresses underlying issues related to wounds, such as nutrition, lack of exercise, hygiene, and ill-fitting shoes.

The Wound Care Center opened in 2006 as a four-bed outpatient center designed to bring multidisciplinary wound care to patients whose wounds were resistant to traditional forms of treatment. Since its inception, the center has benefited numerous patients and their families by improving disease management, integrating more convenient patient care, and reducing inpatient re-admission. Last year, the center treated over 200 patients and had a 95% overall satisfaction rate and 91% healing rate.

For more information on the Wound Care Centers treatment or services call 718-670-4542