MediSys Network News

Party Celebrates New High Tech Play Room At Brookdale Thanks To Toys "R" Us & Starlight Foundation

On October 5, 1994, Brookdale inaugurated a beautiful playroom completely donated by Toys “R” Us.  After 13 years of seeing children come and go, the playroom was in need of renovation.  What a blessing when Starlight Starbright Children’s Fund contacted the Public Affairs office and offered to completely renovate it together with the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund.

On August 23rd Mr. David Rosen and Dr. Alvin I. Kahn were joined by representatives from Starlight Starbright, Toys “R” Us (including Geoffrey) and Babies “R” Us to officially open a “high tech” playroom stacked with all the latest computerized games, Wii, Playstation, two plasma TVs and loads of toys for children of all ages. 

This playroom is designed to provide a safe and supportive environment, offering activities, educational, social and play stimulation to our youngest patients enabling them to forget, even if it is only for a short while, that they are ill and hospitalized.   Kids can come and feel safe in the playroom as NO MEDICAL PROCEDURES ARE PERMITTED IN THE PLAY AREA.

Come and take a look at the beautiful new space and challenge one of the children in a video game..if you dare.

Spotlight on Services - NHP

An important member of the MediSys Health Network family is Neighborhood Health Providers (NHP), a health management organization founded in 1996 to complement the services provided to the Medicaid population traditionally by the MediSys facilities. NHP has over 9,000 Primary Care Providers and Specialists to serve the needs of our community.

Since its inception, NHP has expanded its scope of coverage from the Medicaid population to include Child health Plus, Family Health Plus, and the Medicare population. This allows NHP to provide coverage to New York City families of all ages.

NHP is an important component of the MediSys network and its success contributes to the vitality of our facilities.  If you know anyone who needs health insurance or for more information about the different forms of coverage NHP offers, please call 1-888-815-9822.

Spotlight on Care - Department of Neurosurgery

Many people that are afflicted with osteoporotic compressions believe that they have to suffer in silence. Well search no more; relief may be right in your own backyard.

Brookdale Hospital’s Department of Neurosurgery now performs a state of the art surgery that can alleviate back pain. Kyphoplasty is a surgical procedure used to permanently treat often painful osteoporosis induced fractures or compressions. This minimally invasive process involves inserting a balloon between vertebrae after which bone cement is used to fill up the balloon thus eliminating the painful compressions. 

The Department of Neurosurgery offers an array of cutting edge procedures, many, like Kyphoplasty can be performed in as little as one hour.  Patients usually notice a reduction or elimination of pain within the first 48 hours post surgery. For more information about Kyphoplasty or to find out if you or a family member might be a candidate for the surgery please contact the Department of Neurosurgery at (718) 240-5286.

The Stars Are Out At Flushing Hospital

In anticipation for the 2007 Wish Book Event, Flushing Hospital proudly unveiled its Gallery of Stars wall, which showcased the generous contributors who made a difference in last year’s campaign.  The 2006 Wish Book Event successfully raised $92,000 for various areas within Flushing Hospital, and this money was used to further the clinical departments in their efforts to serve their patients with greater efficiency and care. 

The Gallery of Stars unveiling ceremony took place on August 15, in the Flushing Hospital lobby.  The "Gallery  Wall" features the names of each upper-level sponsor that helped make many wishes come true during the second year of the Wish Book campaign and also marks the kick-off of this year's campaign.   

In attendance were several departmental chairpersons and administrators, including Dr. Crupi, Chairman of Emergency Medicine, Ole Pedersen, Vice President of Emergency Medicine & Public Affairs, Dr. Stephen Quarcoo, Chairman of Dentistry, Dr. Sabiha Raoof, Chairperson of Radiology, Russell Smith (Radiology), and Dakshesh Sanghavi, Rehab coordinator.  Also present: Chris Hwang, Senior Vice President of Flushing Savings Bank and member of the Flushing Hospital Board of Trustees and Honorary Chairman for the 2007 Wish Book Campaign, which will  take place on September 19.

Brookdale’s Director of Pediatric Critical Care Featured on GMA About Lead Poisoning and Choking

In light of the massive recall of over 9 million Mattel toys produced in China due to lead content in the paint and dangerously small pieces that could easily cause a child to choke, Dr. Mary Baldauf, Director of Critical Care at Brookdale was interviewed by Dr. Tim Johnson on the National ABC News Now program on August 13th.  She spoke about the hazards that these toys may pose to children.

Lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the body.  Because it occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized.  Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and, at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even death.   

As “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, check your children’s or grandchildren’s toy boxes for recalled items and remove them immediately.  If in doubt, ask the pediatrician to tests their blood for lead contents.  Also, keep all toys with small pieces that can be easily swallowed, especially magnets, away from small children.

Click link to see full video of story:  Video Link

Flushing Nurse Saves Baby Trapped in Car

MediSys employees are in the business of saving lives. We get paid to do it every day.  Sometimes however, a life saving situation arises while we are “off the clock” and when one of our own responds to that situation, they deserve our congratulations.

One such instance took place earlier this month when Zuka Ramusevic, an LPN at Flushing Hospital, while on her way to work on the evening shift came across an infant trapped inside a car.  The baby’s mother inadvertently locked the baby inside and the scorching heat was an immediate threat to the baby’s health.  Zuka could not wait for Police to respond as she watched the crying, visibly flushed and possibly dehydrated baby suffer from the conditions. She was able to open the door with a screwdriver and rescue the infant. 

  Zuka examined the baby and noticed the baby was weak, red and gasping for air. She poured water on the baby’s head and replenished her fluids.  She recommended that the mother bring her child to the ER for further evaluation.

Once again, we commend Zuka, whos quick response and dedication to helping others was never cause for hesitation in her off-duty personal life as well as her professional career.

MediSys Team Makes The MOLST Of New Proxy Form

An educational DVD was recently released to health care professionals across New York State touting the revolutionary Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form and we are proud to announce that two members of the MediSys Health Network are featured in it.

The creator of the MOLST form, Dr Patricia Bomba, VP & Medical Director of Geriatrics at Excellus asked Bruce Flanz, VP and COO of the MediSys Health Network and Dr Alan Roth, FAAFP Chairman of Family Medicine, Ambulatory Care and Palliative Care Services at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center to appear on the video because of their integral roles in bringing the form to New York City.

The MOLST form was developed to provide individuals with a comprehensive and clear record of their end of life wishes. The form is to be completed by a health care professional, (ideally a member of a Palliative Care team), based on the wishes of the patient. Printed on bright pink paper, the MOLST form is easily identifiable in the case of an emergency and offers family members clear instructions on life sustaining treatments including CPR, feeding tubes, mechanical ventilation, and antibiotics just to name a few.

The form was developed in 2006 and used exclusively at upstate hospitals. After being introduced to the MOLST system, Mr. Flanz and Dr Roth quickly saw its benefits and began to introduce it at all three MediSys hospitals.

Currently, Jamaica, Flushing and Brookdale Hospitals are the only hospitals in the metropolitan region to exclusively use the MOLST form. Hopefully, their participation in the video, will spur their colleagues in the area to follow suit.

Jamaica EMT's Up A Creek "With" A Paddle

While a torrential downpour crippled the rest of New York City on Wednesday, August 8th, two Jamaica Hospital EMTs decided not to let a mere four feet of water prevent them from carrying out a Queens water rescue of sorts.



At approximately 9:00 am. EMT's Robert McAuley and Natasha Brown responded to a 911 call of a woman in obstetrical distress. When they arrived at the scene they found the street completely flooded. Cars on the block were submerged and a previous ambulance unit had become disabled while trying to respond. After a call for assistance yielded no response, the crew decided to take matters into their own hands.



Quick thinking and a little ingenuity resulted in EMT McAuley and his partner commandeering a kayak from a local resident who assisted the crew. With no previous kayaking experience, they were able to navigate to the woman’s house, and with the help of neighbors, bring her back to the ambulance where she was then taken to the nearest receiving hospital.



The crews dramatic and different morning was reported citywide on Channel 7 (WABC), NY 1, and also covered the next day in the Daily News and the Newsday.



In the end, this experience, while unique, is just another example of the great lengths the thousands of employees that work for the MediSys Health Network will go to ensure superior care for our patients.

Exciting Progress for New Trump Pavilion

As everyone is probably aware, the New Trump Nursing Home Project at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is in full swing. The project, which commenced construction with the start of excavation of the former visitor parking lot on February 20 of this year, is progressing on schedule. Concrete foundation work was substantially completed in the middle of July making way for the start and continuation of the structural steel erection.

The steel, which is being fabricated on Long Island, is being stored on site after fabrication, so that it can be staged to provide a continuous flow of material for erection. The extraordinary 350 foot boom crane provides the reach needed to erect the steel in the far corners of the site. Following the steel erection, bolt-up and welding crews will plumb and finalize the steel structure all of which will be complete by mid-September. Concrete floor slabs will then be poured and the interior and exterior work of the building will get underway. At this point the work of constructing the tunnel which will connect the New Nursing Home and the A-B Hospital Building under 135th Street will also begin. The continued cooperation of patients, staff, and visitors, especially with regards to parking vehicles that could affect proper emergency vehicle or construction vehicle access, is essential and much appreciated. Please stay tuned for further updates. Attached photo shows crane and beginning of steel construction.

Special Thanks to:
Guest Blog Reporter
Hans Kuenstler
Director of Construction
MediSys Health Network

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