MediSys Network News

Jamaica Hospital Utilizes Patient-Centered Care Approach

 A new Performance Improvement Initiative at Jamaica Hospital is addressing issues aimed at improving the hospital’s HCHAP scores. Challenged by senior management and 1199SEIU, an interdisciplinary team staffed with employees from nursing, social work, dietary, housekeeping, and financial services was established to improve “patient experiences.” The program was piloted on 3 North.  

Specifically, the team worked to increase staff responsiveness. After identifying and analyzing this issue, the team determined call bell usage as a leading indicator of patient dissatisfaction. They worked through a system that helped emerge the top reasons for patients using the call bells. Supported by data, the team identified the top reasons for call bell usage: pain, help with bathroom, food complaints, repositioning/extra pillow or blanket, anxiety, ventilator alarms, and diaper changes.

To respond to these challenges, the team initiated hourly check-ins and instituted a “heads up”/no pass zone, where all staff members on the unit were responsible for immediately responding to call bells. The team also provided welcome bags to all admitted patients in an effort to increase overall patient satisfaction.

Preliminary results showed a significant increase in patient satisfaction scores on 3 North during the period of the performance improvement effort. Success of this pilot will lead to hospital-wide implementation of any new protocol developed through the process.

Patient-centered care is just one of several initiatives the hospital has implemented to help improve HCHAPS scores. Additionally, the Make a Difference ( MAD) initiative began this year. MAD is a project that provides hospital administrators with the opportunity to openly engage with patients in hopes to identify any issues they might have and resolve them in a timely manner.

Dr. Slota offered a special thanks to the members of the 3 North PCC Team for their hard work and dedication: Rebecca Roberts, LCSW Supervisor (Co-chair), Sheron Halley, Financial Investigator (Co-chair), Elaine Stewart, RN, Marykutty Aniyankunju, PCA, Marie Arty, RN, Robin Blackwell, DON, Calvin Blake, PCA, James Hudson, Clinical Nurse Manager, Rachel McCants, PIR, Kathleen Redmond, Dietitian, Jennifer Thomas, Housekeeping, and Martine Wiss, Dietary.

Astoria Federal Savings Adds Splashes of Hope at Jamaica Hosptial

 On July 26, Astoria Federal Savings and Splashes of Hope visited Jamaica Hospital to add a splash of color to the hospital’s pediatric unit. With a $6,900 donation from Astoria Federal Savings, one of Splashes of Hope’s talented artists painted six murals and installed them on walls throughout the unit.

The brightly colored, underwater themed murals feature hues of blue and green, and a wide variety of colorful fishes.

“We chose the underwater theme because it provides continuity to the work Splashes of Hope did previously, where we painted murals on the nursing station and the entry doors to the unit,” explained Heather Buggee, Founder and Executive Director of Splashes of Hope. “We were excited that the hospital reached out to us again because we truly understand the importance of facilitating healing through art.”

The murals, which were all painted by artist Heather LaColla, took about four months to complete. She used nontoxic Benjamin Moore paint and created the murals on moveable canvases.

Her artistry was admired by hospital staff, pediatric patients, and representatives of Astoria Federal Savings.

The hospital’s Development Department presented Astoria Federal Savings Bank with a certificate of appreciation for their generous donation. In addition, volunteers on the pediatric floor created a thank you book filled with handprints of patients—to symbolize that the donation made by Astoria Federal Savings Bank touched their hearts.

Medisys Health Network Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

 In the past, Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals celebrate World Breastfeeding Week by organizing events to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding. This year proved no different.

For World Breastfeeding Week, which was held from August 1 to August 7, Flushing Hospital became an informational hub, promoting breastfeeding and providing expecting mothers and breastfeeding mothers with literature on laws surrounding breastfeeding, various breastfeeding positions, and the benefits of breastfeeding. Staff was also available to answer all breastfeeding related questions.

Jamaica Hospital, as well, setup an informational and giveaway table at its Women’s Health Center. Breastfeeding information, community resource numbers, donated baby blankets, teddy bears, and refreshments were given to pregnant and breastfeeding women.

“Breast feeding is the natural process of feeding a baby after birth,” explained Kathreen Pattett, CNM, MSN, WHNP, Director of Midwifery at Jamaica Hospital. “Over the past few decades, women have gone away from this natural process and adopted a much "easier" way of formula feeding. It’s unfortunate because breastfeeding has tremendous health benefits to the babies and the mothers including, a reduction in infectious diseases, improved bonding and maternal wellness after delivery, and it boast huge economic saving.”

Earlier this year, both facilities became participants in the city’s “Latch on New York” program. As part of the program, Flushing and Jamaica Hospitals will no longer distribute formula, literature on formula, or other products that promote formula to new mothers—unless it is medically required or at a mother’s request.
“Latch on NY” is one of several efforts the hospitals have taken to encourage mothers to breastfeed. Flushing Hospital received a Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant for its commitment to support breastfeeding and help reduce childhood obesity. The grant allowed staff members to become certified lactation consultants. Three employees are Internationally Boarded Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC), an even more prestigious certification that the standard Certified Lactation Consultant certification. The hospital has also applied to become a “Baby Friendly” Hospital, a global initiative that promotes, protects, and supports breastfeeding through ten steps to successful breastfeeding. Also, the hospital boasts an active breastfeeding support group.

Jamaica Hospital, as well, boasts certified lactation consultants and a breastfeeding support group. The facility has also applied for Baby Friendly status and is currently working hard towards achieving it.

Epic Information Fair Held at Flushing Hospital

 To help promote the EPIC electronic medical record (EMR) roll-out at Flushing Hospital, the Medisys Informatics Department hosted an Epic Information Fair on June 29. The fair allowed employees to meet members of the informatics build and training teams, observe demonstrations of various aspects of the electronic health records, and have their questions answered.

The event was attended by over 200 employees, and the workflow demonstrations of the Epic EMR system proved really beneficial.

“Any change is always a challenge,” said Theresa Aliperta, Project Director of the Epic project team. “The fair eased the anxiety and apprehension of staff members that will be using computers for the first time.” 

Epic, a state-of-the-art electronic health record system, will replace the current pen-and-paper method of recording patient medical information, eliminating the need to store volumes of paper. In addition, EPIC will allow the hospital to track, assess and coordinate care across multiple systems, as well as integrate its many clinical and financial systems. The system will also allow e-prescribing, enable patients to access their health information on-line, and will comply with all criteria for electronic health records set forth by the federal government, under the HITECH ACT.

The anticipated Epic EMR roll-out at Flushing Hospital is slated for October 2012.  All Flushing Hospital employees are scheduled for training and will take a proficiency test to ensure their understanding of the new system, while maintaining the hospital’s commitment to excellence and the safety of its patients.

Jamaica Hospital Opens Sleep Center

 Jamaica Hospital recently opened a brand new state-of-the-art, four-bed Sleep Center. Located on the lower level of Trump Pavilion, the Sleep Center evaluates and treats adults and children suffering from a wide variety of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and pediatric sleep disorders, such as night terrors.

Boasting homelike and soundproof private rooms, each room is equipped with a queen size bed, flat screen television, and a DVD player—providing patients with a comfortable testing environment. Most patients are tested overnight, where they are set up to electrodes and continually monitored. An onsite technician specifically monitors their patient's breathing, brain waves, muscle movements, snoring, and heart rate.

“The opening of a Sleep Center in Jamaica Hospital provides the community with a much needed service,” said Dr. Mayank Shukla, Director of Sleep Medicine at Jamaica Hospital. “Being sleepy is often considered as normal—part of being a busy New Yorker. Consequently, there are too many New Yorkers unaware of the symptoms of a potential sleep-related disorder.”

Common signs and symptoms of a sleep disorder vary but typically include snoring loudly, gasping for breath while sleeping, feeling sleepy during the day, easily dozing off while engaged in daily activities, having trouble falling asleep, and experiencing tingling sensations in the legs.

According to Dr. Shukla, short sleep durations—anything less than six hours—has been linked to increased risks of psychiatric conditions, diabetes, heart problems, and obesity, as well as a decreased ability to focus.

Jamaica Hospital’s Sleep Center is open from 7:00pm to 7:00am.

Are You MAD? Well, You Should Be

 No one has ever wanted to be MAD.....until now.

In an effort to improve patient care and satisfaction, the hospital has implemented a new initiative called M.A.D. The acronym for Make a Difference, MAD provides hospital administrators with the opportunity to openly engage patients in an effort to identify any issues they might have and resolve them in a timely manner.

“I am very excited about this new initiative and what it means for Jamaica Hospital,” said Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO. “It’s a new beginning for Jamaica Hospital and it starts with improving the experiences our patients have and ultimately, the perception the community has about us.”

Make a Difference administrators represent a wide variety of departments and are committed to conducting daily rounds on every, non-critical patient unit. In teams of three, hospital administrators speak with patients and their families about several aspects of their experience, from the friendliness of the staff to the communication between themselves and their doctor, to the cleanliness of their room. The process is not meant to mirror the HCHAP survey, but it will show patients as well as employees how dedicated administration is to improving the overall patient experience, which will eventually lead to better scores.

HCHAPS, which stands for Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems, is a government survey used to measure patient satisfaction at hospitals across the country.  The survey is mailed out to patients once they are discharged from a hospital. In the past, Jamaica Hospital has maintained HCHAPS scores that fall below both New York and national averages.

The hope is that Making a Difference directly impacts the hospital’s HCHAPS score. So far, the efforts have been praised by patients and their loved ones, as well as by hospital staff.

“MAD isn’t restricted to just those who conduct daily rounds,” said Mr. Flanz. “Every hospital employee can help impact a patient’s overall experience during their hospital stay, whether making an effort to pick up trash in the hallways or asking a patient how you can assist them. Making is Difference is something we call can do.”

MediSys Health Network Hosts Annual Golf and Tennis Outing

 On Monday, May 14th, the MediSys Health Network held its 14th Annual Golf and Tennis Classic, where approximately 110 guests gathered at the Old Westbury Golf & Country Club to vie for bragging rights as the highest scoring team and/or player, or the player to score the prize winning hole-in-one. 

After enjoying the cloudy, yet, perfect day for golfing, guests attended a dinner reception, where they dined on delicious cocktails and tasty entrees. Remarks were made by Mr. Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO of the MediSys Health Network, and the event’s honorary chairman, Dr. Cono Grasso, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology. After the brief program, the business of drawing the winning raffle tickets took center stage.

This year, the raffle prizes were donated by various departments at Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals. Some of these prizes included a restaurant themed basket, a vodka themed basket, a Broadway themed basket, a day after mother’s day basket, an entertainment basket, and a barbecue themed basket. Other donations included an iPad3, tickets to a Mets vs. Yankees game, a flat screen television, Kindle Fire, and much more. The grand prize was two JetBlue tickets. As a result of employee involvement, over $13,000 worth of raffle prizes were donated.

The money raised from the event will be used to renovate and modernize the cafeterias at Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals.

Flushing and Jamaica Hospitals Latches On to NYC Initiative

 Breast milk is best for babies—and Flushing and Jamaica Hospitals are not afraid to say it, or show it.

As part of New York City’s “Latch on NYC” program, a new initiative to support mothers who breastfeed their infants, Flushing and Jamaica Hospitals have made a verbal and written commitment to NYC Health Commissioner Thomas Farley to participate in the program.

By joining the initiative, Flushing and Jamaica Hospitals will no longer distribute formula, literature on formula, or other products that promote formula to new mothers—unless it is medically required or at a mother’s request.

 “Latch on NYC” is a wonderful initiative,” explained Maria Smilios., Assistant Director of Nursing-Maternal Child Services at Flushing Hospital. “Our hospital has always encouraged new mothers to breastfeed, however, we, like many other local hospitals, would provide our new mothers with go-home bags that included formula. It sent mixed messages.”

She added: “Now, we can educate mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding and feel confident that they have the information they need to make an informed decision about their infant’s dietary needs.”

New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley officially launched “Latch on NYC” on May 9 at Harlem Hospital, where Smilios and Josie Kirton, Clinical Nurse Manager for Jamaica Hospital’s Mother/Baby Unit were in attendance. In addition to 23 hospitals committing to the initiative, a subway and hospital poster campaign is slated to start this month.

Flushing Hospital, in particular, and its participation in “Latch on NY” is one of several efforts the hospital has recently taken to encourage mothers to breastfeed. Earlier this year, the facility received a Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant for its commitment to support breastfeeding and help reduce childhood obesity. The grant allowed staff members to become certified lactation consultants. Three employees are actually Internationally Boarded Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC), an even more prestigious certification that the standard Certified Lactation Consultant certification. The hospital has also applied to become a “Baby Friendly” hospital, a global initiative that promotes, protects, and supports breastfeeding through ten steps to successful breastfeeding. Also, the hospital boasts an active breastfeeding support group.

Jamaica Hospital, as well, boasts certified lactation consultants, a breastfeeding class and support group, and offers a 24-hour rooming in option for new mothers and their babies. Additionally, midwives conduct daily rounds on the unit to provide new mothers with extra support.

Kirton said, “we’re very committed to promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding efforts. Ultimately, our goal is to help mothers succeed at breastfeeding.”

To watch Channel 7's coverage of the press conference, please click here.

TJH Medical Services, P.C. Receives NCQA Recognition

TJH Medical Services, P.C, a private physician group affiliated with Jamaica Hospital, was recently recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Receiving level 3 recognition, the highest recognition possible, TJH demonstrated its commitment to improving the quality and efficiency of primary care through its full functioning use of electronic health records.

“TJH is dedicated to achieving the highest level of quality and patient satisfaction in everything we do,” said Pauline Marks, Executive Director of TJH Medical Services, P.C. “We are very pleased to achieve such distinguished recognition and will continue to work hard to ensure that a high level of primary and specialty care is provided to our patients.”

Marks also thanked and credited the entire TJH team for their hard work and dedication, especially Fabiola Cencioni, Administrator, TJH Medical Services, P.C. and Dr. Robert Mendelson, Medical Director of TJH Medical Services, P.C., Director of Jamaica Hospital’s Division of Cardiology, and Medical Director, Informatics Department, MediSys Health Network.

Obtaining this recognition was no easy feat, as the application process was intensive and the criteria were demanding. TJH had to meet NCQA’s national Patient Centered Medical Home standards, which included patient self-management support, care coordination, evidence based guidelines for chronic conditions and performance reporting and improvement. In addition, TJH’s quality and safety operations were assessed, and changes to their infrastructure and work processes were implemented.

TJH’s efforts adhere to the PCMH model and ensure that the improvement of patient health outcomes is achieved through better coordination and integration of patient care. The recognition was awarded from February 2012 until February 2015.

Hospital Departments Take Part in Helping to Raise Money for the Network

 For the past 13 years, the MediSys Health Network has held an annual Golf and Tennis Classic to help raise money for Flushing and Jamaica Hospitals. The highly anticipated part of the event has always been the raffle ticket drawing during the dinner reception. 
 
This year, the Development Department challenged each department to create a themed gift basked, valued at at least $150, to be raffled off at the May 14th event.
 
The response has been more than anyone expected.
 
In addition to JetBlue tickets, over 10 themed gift baskets were donated by departments at Jamaica or Flushing Hospital who took on the challenge. A few of the baskets include:

• Restaurant themed basket: Restaurant gift cards to London Lennies, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Panera Bread, Uncle Bacala’s, and Starbucks. The basket is also filled with Godiva chocolates, and other delectable treats.
• Vodka themed basket: 12 bottles of Georgi flavored vodkas, a cocktail shaker and mixers.
• Broadway themed basket: Two tickets to “Nice Work if You Can Get It,” a gift card to the Palm Restaurant, and an overnight stay at the Marriott Marquis.
• Day after Mother’s Day themed basket: Luxurious creams, lotions, and other cosmetics.
• BBQ themed basket: Barbecue cooking tools and gadgets, including a barbecue grill brush, meat thermometers, cooking mitts, and more.
• Beach themed basket: Cooler with wheels, beach towels, sunscreen, wine, and an assortment of beach toys. 
 
Additional prizes include an ipad3, tickets to Mets vs. Yankees game, a flat screen television, a Kate Spade bag, Kindle Fire, Visa and AMEX gift Cards and much much more.
 
The Raffle Committee was delighted with the creativity and competitiveness of the participating departments. According to the committee, “the level of enthusiasm displayed by the hospital’s various departments showed how much employees do care about getting involved and helping the hospital when possible.”
 
The money raised during the event will be used to renovate the cafeterias at Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals. Raffle sales, in particular, will be significant in helping raise money for the hospitals. Raffle tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100 and can be purchased from the Development/Public Affairs Department at each facility. Call 718-206-8613 or 718-670-8930 for more information