MediSys Network News

MediSys Emergency Departments Become "Empowered"

In mid-December, the MediSys Health Network went live with one of the most advanced Electronic Medical Record and Patient Tracking System available for their very busy emergency departments.

The advanced system from a company called EmpowER, went fully operational beginning with Flushing Hospital on Monday, December 15, and continuing with Brookdale and Jamaica Hospitals on the following two days. It is fully integrated with the network’s various lab, radiology, billing and registration systems. The software builds a completely paperless medical record that is more comprehensive and legible, and with built in risk management features, can help clinicians prevent medical errors by avoiding, drug interactions, allergies and dosage errors. The program also helps clinicians avoid  missing critical lab values and prompts them for other risk management and QA measures. Prevention and avoidance of these key elements are done in real time and are built right in.

The Tracking feature allows doctors and nurses to know at any time in a patient’s visit, who is taking care of a patient, what a patient is waiting for and exactly how long they are waiting. This new system will help to reduce waiting time and turn around times at our hospitals and will greatly improve patient satisfaction.

In addition, if a patient returns to the hospital, their medical record is instantly available from the previous visit and their Emergency Department record can be immediately emailed or faxed to their private MD.

“I am extremely proud at how well our clinical and ancillary teams performed during this roll-out” stated Ole Pedersen, Vice President of Emergency Medicine for MediSys “This is due to the hard work of our ED Chairman, Clerical Directors and ED Nursing leadership.”  The Department of Psychiatry under the leadership of their Chairman and Vice President also took part in this successful endeavor.

Pedersen also would like to thank the IT Departments at each of the MediSys facilities for their hard work during this end of year holiday season for getting the project done on time, despite the challenge. In addition thanks to the Purchasing Department for their efforts in getting  the hardware into place in record time.

Lastly a special thanks to Paul Maguire, Sami Boshut and Nally Luna for their efforts on this important project.

Thanks to all for a job well done.

Flushing Hospital Hosts Its Annual Asthma and Allergy Day

On Friday, December 5, more than 60 families participated in Flushing Hospital’s 18th Annual Pediatric Asthma and Allergy Day. The event, which was held in the hospital's auditorium, was aimed at educating asthmatic children, their parents, and medical personnel, about asthma symptoms and the importance of medical treatment and management. Informational brochures were distributed to the families, along with free medical supplies—inhalers, aerochambers, peak flow meters, and nebulizers.

“It is so important that we have an event to educate the community about asthma,” explained Dr. Won H. Baik-Han, Director of Pediatric Allergy. “Asthma has the highest hospitalization rate for children, especially in the winter, and is considered the most chronic respiratory condition.”

“Treating asthma early helps manage the disease, however, many asthmatic children in our area lack health insurance. This event has been able to provide them with the some of the medical equipment they greatly need,” added Dr. Baik-Han.

The event was sponsored by Astra Zeneca and Seprocor Inc.

Brookdale's Healthy Family Program Receives Major Grant

Brookdale's Department of OB/GYN has received an award of $400,000 from the Robin Hood Foundation to expand its Healthy Families Program. Healthy Families is a national home visiting model that uses several innovations to reach out to high-risk families, engage them, and make sure that they receive vital health and social services for themselves and their children.

The Healthy Families program at Brookdale was implemented in September, 2007 through a grant received from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.  Under the direction of Dr. Mark Spitzer, Chairman of OB/GYN and Catherine Tanksley, Director of Midwifery & OB/GYN Outreach the goal of the program is to address the of needs of expecting and new parents.

According to statistics from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, infant mortality rates, late or no prenatal care, low birth-weights, poverty, and teenage pregnancies in Brookdale's service area are among the highest in NYC. 

Currently, the program serves over 50 families. The additional Robin Hood Funds will provide resources to employ a program supervisor, four family support workers and one family assessment worker that, through intensive home visiting, will allow the program to provide services for an additional 60-80 families. 

For additional information on the Healthy Family Program at Brookdale, please call 718 240-8340. (or 718 240-8342)

Jamaica Hospital Impresses the Joint Commission

“We blew them away” were the words David Rosen, President and CEO of Jamaica Hospital, used to describe the impact the hospital had on the Joint Commission. After a rigorous, demanding, five-day survey, Jamaica Hospital not only passed inspection but left the Joint Commission extraordinarily impressed.

“They praised us at every opportunity and it was very heartfelt,” said Mr. Rosen. “They left with a snapshot of the strength of our organization, the conditions under which we work, the obligations we take on, and how we do it with a smile, professionalism, and no hesitation.”

During the week of December 8, six JCAHO surveyors conducted hundreds of interviews, read charts, and observed techniques, as they determined whether the facility met nationwide hospital standards.

To determine Jamaica Hospital’s level of care and preparedness, the surveyors toured the entire hospital and a number of the hospital’s off-site Ambulatory Care Centers. In total, they were 9 RFIs (Requirements for Improvement) for Jamaica Hospital and two RFIs for the Home Care Agency.

“We have a little bit of work to do but nothing we cannot handle,” said Ms. Jacqueline Holley, Vice President of Nursing.

Compared to other hospitals, Jamaica Hospital did exceptionally well. One surveyor mentioned to Bruce Flanz, VP and COO of Jamaica Hospital, that he found 30 RFIs alone in each of the last three hospitals he visited. Another surveyor stated that Jamaica Hospital was the best hospital he’s seen out of the 10 New York hospitals he surveyed.

The success of the inspection, as echoed through the comments of the hospital’s JCAHO team, can be attributed to the hospital staff. “The hospital’s most valued asset is the staff. They are accommodating and showed a willingness to be interviewed and answer questions,” one surveyor said.

“The staff really did a phenomenal job in showing the complexity of our organization. This really couldn’t have been done with them,” added Ms. Holley.

Mr. Rosen, Mr. Flanz, and Ms. Holley extend their gratitude to the entire hospital for their level of preparedness and ability to show the Joint Commission what the hospital effectively does on a daily basis.

Brookdale Celebrates at Annual Gala

On Saturday, December 6th, Brookdale Hospital celebrated its 87th annual Tribute Gala in grand style at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge.

Dinner Chairman, Trustee Richard Radutzky opened the program by acknowledging the importance of the event and thanking the Hospital’s loyal supporters and this year's honorees, Dr. Shyan-Yih Chou and Dr. Warren Shapiro,two physicians who have demonstrated exemplary commitment and devotion to Brookdale and the Department of Nephrology for over 35 years.

Both men were awarded Brookdales's highest honor, the Brookdale Medal.  The Medal, along with a  plaque were presented to both honorees by Drs. Richard Fogler, Sr. Vice President and CMO and Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Dr. Ira Reiser, Chairman of the Department of Medicine.  Both presenters spoke about Dr. Chou’s and Dr. Shapiro’s clinical and academic excellence as physicians, leaders and teachers and the impact they have had on all the Nephrology Fellows and the Department over the years.

Mr. David P. Rosen, President and CEO of Brookdale reiterated the fact that the attendees’ generous philanthropy would be earmarked for completion of the ongoing expansion and renovation of the Cardiac Critical Care Unit.  The new spacious area will enhance the quality of care already provided in a setting that is more conducive to recovery, restfulness and privacy.  It will also provide state-of-the-art Information Technology which will allow the physician to view patients’ EKG, laboratory results and other important health information via internet access, even if off hospital campus. 

 

Jamaica Hospital Activates Code Purple

On Friday, December 5, Jamaica Hospital took precautionary measures and implemented its fire and safety procedures after a fire extinguisher was accidentally discharged on the third floor. Code purple was activated and a horizontal evacuation was executed.

Approximately 30 patients on 3 South were relocated to suitable patient care areas throughout the hospital, as security, building services, emergency management, and the local NYC Fire Department assessed the area. It was determined that the incident posed no serious threat to patients, visitors, or staff. To help ease anxiety during this time, flyers were distributed to every nursing station, as well as posted by the information desk. Also, hospital staff spoke individually with the families of several patients, ensuring patient safety and providing them with the new location of their loved ones.

Patients were returned to their rooms as soon as the cleanup process was complete. A special thanks to all the departments that assisted in the efficient handling of the evacuation. Job well done!

The Live Light - Live Right Program Receives Grant for Expansion

for the second consecutive year, the Robin Hood Foundation awarded a grant to “Live Light – Live Right,” Brookdale’s pediatric obesity program .  This year’s grant totaled $380,000 (the most the program has received to date) and will be used exclusively towards the expansion of the program.  “We will increase screening and treatment for pediatric obesity and spread the program to other areas of Brooklyn,” stated Dr. Sarita Dhuper, Director of the Program.  Other program goals include the initiation of two more community-based exercise programs, working with the schools on the school food program and strategic planning for long term vision to address childhood obesity in Brooklyn. 

One of the recent achievements of the Program was the creation of the first overweight camp in the country for children from low income families.  By partnering with the Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency that since 1877 has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million children, forty members of the Program went to sleep away camp and enjoyed all kinds of summer activities while learning about proper nutrition and exercise.

Live Light - Live Right has also launched a new and unique 12-week Core exercise program. There are five facilities in the community where the members attend exercise sessions: the Brownsville Recreation Center, the Flatbush YMCA, the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA, Q-Fitness Center and the Flatbush Shotokan Karate Program.

What makes this program so unique is that it involves the parents as well.  As part of the program requirements, parents must attend a monthly support group, two group nutrition sessions and the monthly clinic appointment with their child.  “Knowing that their parents are working together with them to achieve success in their fight against obesity gives the children the support they so desperately need,” says Dr. Dhuper.  “It becomes a family project.”

The excitement that this program has generated within the community is apparent by the number of enrollees awaiting the beginning of the next session.  For additional information on the Live-Light, Live-Right Program, please call 718-240-8325.

Tulip Bulb Planting at Flushing Hospital

The frigid air wasn’t enough to keep Boy Scout Troop 754 from participating in Flushing Hospital’s Beautification Project. About a dozen boy scouts, their troop leaders, and a few parents, all from the Buddha Light International Association, spent Sunday morning planting tulip bulbs outside of the hospital. Donated by the Holly Civic Association, the 200 tulip bulbs were planted along 45th Avenue and are expected to bloom early next Spring.

“We are very happy that the boy scouts were able to help us with the tulip planting,” said Vicky Hung, Community Relations Coordinator. “This is just one of many things we want to do to beautify our neighborhood and we’re trying to make it a community effort.”

Outreach to neighboring businesses is being planned, as well as a cleanup of Triangle Park, located across the street from Flushing Hospital.