MediSys Network News

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

 

Flushing Hospital Opens Hospice Unit

 On Monday, April 23, Flushing Hospital Board Chairman, Michael Russo, along with family and close friends, gathered with hospital administration and staff to open the Maureen Russo Hospice Unit in honor of his late-wife.

After privately touring the unit, Bruce J. Flanz, President and CEO of Flushing Hospital, Michael Russo, and Dr. Anthony Vela, Medical Director of the Hospice Unit, welcomed guests and spoke briefly about the significance of the unit as well as the woman the unit was named after.

Michael Russo expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he’s received from family, friends, and Flushing Hospital.

“I’ve been involved in many business ventures over the years and have started several businesses,” he said. “Opening this hospice unit in honor of Maureen has been by far the most satisfying.” He continued: “Maureen cared for others her entire life and at the end of her life she had to be cared for. Hospice played a significant role in providing her with the physical, emotional, and social support she needed. It was fitting to create this unit in her name, so that others can have the final chapter of their lives filled with dignity, care, and support.”

The Maureen Russo Hospice Unit is a four-bed unit committed to ensuring that patients and their families receive a comfortable end of life experience. A team of highly-skilled and trained physicians, nurses, and social workers, will provide inpatient medical care to manage all symptoms commonly experienced by hospice patients, as well as offer a wide variety of social and support services, including bereavement services and grief counseling, family advocacy, spiritual support/pastoral care, and dedicated volunteer assistance.

“Hospice is a philosophy and approach to care, not just a place. It focuses on the need of the patient and their family,” said Dr. Anthony Vela. “The Maureen Russo Hospice Unit at Flushing Hospital will be a place to receive medical care in a comforting and caring environment and for patients and their families to spend quality time with each other.”

After remarks, attendees were invited to tour the hospice unit, which boasts extra large private patient rooms with brand new furniture, a convertible couch for overnight guests, a flat screen television, internet service, and additional home-like furnishings. The unit also includes a family room and a kitchen area, microwave, refrigerator, comfortable chairs, a big screen television, and a wide variety of reading material.

Springing Ahead with a New Look

 Though NYC fashion week ended last month, a new Spring look has débuted at Jamaica Hospital. The Department of Volunteer Services recently unveiled its new volunteer uniform to hospital leadership.

The new uniform, which consists of a short sleeve burgundy polo shirt, will be distributed to volunteers on their first day of service. Those individuals who have already started volunteering are expected to receive their new shirts immediately.

“The new uniform supports the requirement that Jamaica Hospital volunteers present an image that is consistent with their role as health care workers and that is acceptable to the level of interaction with patients, staff and the public,” explained Arlene Martin, Director of Volunteer Services. “All of our volunteers, despite their service areas, are required to wear the uniform and an identification badge.”

Previously, hospital volunteers wore a teal, shirt jacket with pockets.

Jamaica Hospital Celebrates National Nutrition Month

 Though March is mostly associated with the NCAA’s March Madness, it is also national nutrition month. To help promote health and fitness, specifically in the work place, and to raise awareness about the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ annual efforts, Jamaica Hospital’s Food and Nutrition Department hosted a wide variety of events for its employees.

To kickoff national nutrition month, a health fair was organized, where employees were able to receive free blood pressure and glucose screenings, as well as free counseling and an assortment of healthy snacks.  Throughout the month, a culinary demonstration on how to prepare Tilapia with peach salsa over couscous was also organized and Sodexo’s Carey Bear delivered frozen yogurt to Trump residents.

Other activities included: free Zumba classes, an employee gym open house, and a culinary demonstration for Trump residents.

Flushing Hospital Receives Susan G. Komen Grant

 Flushing Hospital was recently awarded a one-year, $99,908 grant, from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the world's largest and most progressive grassroots network of survivors and activists fighting to cure breast cancer. The grant, called the “Providing Breast Screening Services to Chinese, Korean, and South Asian women” will provide this target group with effective care and management.

“I am very happy about receiving the grant and the benefits it will bring to our patients,” said Dr. Sabiha Raoof, Chairperson, Radiology Department and Project Director for the grant. “Too often cultural differences hinder treatment and make our patients less receptive to proper care.”

Flushing Hospital has an established clinical screening program, conducts breast health and educational outreach, and boasts a culturally competent Patient Navigator. The grant will allow Flushing Hospital to continue to provide comprehensive breast health services to uninsured and under-insured Chinese, Korean, and South Asian women who live in the area.

The grant period is from April 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013.

MediSys Hosts Fourth Annual Psychiatry Symposium

 On March 15, the MediSys Health Network’s Department of Psychiatry held its fourth annual child and adolescent psychiatry symposium at Jamaica Hospital. This year’s topic, “Child Abuse, Trauma, and Consequences” attracted 135 attendees from across several agencies, including the Department of Education, foster care agencies, community mental health agencies, and the juvenile court system, to name a few.

After breakfast, opening remarks were made by Dr. Vinod Dhar, Associate Chairman of Psychiatry at Jamaica Hospital, and a welcome address by Mr. Bill Lynch, Chief Operating Officer at Jamaica Hospital. Then three different subtopics were presented—child abuse and trauma: clinical perspectives on complex pediatric cases,  neuropsychological functioning among children and adolescents exposed to complex trauma, and reflections on trauma- informed resources in the community.

Attendees were educated on the prevalence of child abuse and neglect in New York City, risk factors that contribute to child abuse and neglect, and vulnerabilities in medically ill children. They were also informed about treatments available in the community, as well as ways to identify alterations in brain development and how to integrate neuropsychological assessments into the clinical evaluation of children and adolescents with complex trauma exposure. In addition, attendees were able to participate in a Q&A session.

"We were very pleased with this year's outcome," said Mr. Anthony Maffia, Vice President of Psychiatry for the Medisys Health Network. "The speakers were informative and the information was timely. The participants found this symposium to be very valuable."

This year’s speakers included Dr. Warren NG, Director of the Special Needs Clinic at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Natalie Humphrey, Clinical Director of Mental Health Services at Harlem Hospital, and Dr. Jacob Ham, Program Director of BI-SLR Hearts (Healing Emotions and Achieving Resilience to Traumatic Stress) at Beth Israel Medical Center. 

 

MediSys Volunteers Honored by United Hospital Fund

 On March 16, the United Hospital Fund held its 19th Annual Hospital Auxilian and Volunteer Achievement Awards Ceremony, where four MediSys volunteers were recognized for their exceptional service.

Alice Jena (Jamaica Hospital), Elizabeth Newell (Jamaica Hospital) Aida Ramos (Brookdale Hospital), and Esperanza Chung (Flushing Hospital) were four of 89 city-wide hospital volunteers chosen as this year’s honorees. Selected from among New York City’s tens of thousands of health care volunteers, these women exhibited an impressive level of dedication and commitment to the hospitals they serve.

“The United Hospital Fund was founded by volunteer leaders over a century ago,” said James R. Tallon, Jr., President of the United Hospital Fund. “Today, we remain committed to supporting the work of hospital volunteers through recognition programs, like this one. Listening to their amazing and varied stories, you quickly understand they are a part of what makes our city and its hospitals great.”

Brookdale Celebrates its 2012 its Annual Gala

It was party time at the magnificent Gotham Hall in Manhattan on Saturday, March 10th as Brookdale celebrated its 90th Tribute Gala.  Brookdale’s friends and supporters enjoyed the evening while raising funds for future modernization of the Radutzky Emergency Care Pavilion. 

Originally built to accommodate 60,000 patients, the Emergency Department now provides care for over 100,000 patients annually. Future renovation and enhancements will ease the current overcrowding, and further advance the quality of care already provided.

Trustee Richard Radutzky welcomed the evening’s attendees.  He acknowledged the importance of Brookdale Hospital to the community, and how the success of the hospital has been an integral part of the Radutzky family for three generations.

Honored was Brookdale’s Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Dr. Ira W. Reiser for his outstanding 32 year medical career at Brookdale.  His dedication to his patients and the “doctors to be” who have chosen internal medicine and nephrology as their specialty, has been exemplary.  This was reiterated by President and CEO Bruce J. Flanz during his remarks in which also thanked the attendees for their generous philanthropy.

Dr. Reiser’s children, Craig and Samantha spoke eloquently about their father with a huge sense of pride and admiration.  Dr. Reiser’s parents live in Florida and were unable to attend.  However, unbeknownst to him, they recorded an audio message that was played at the end of Craig and Samantha’s speech culminating in a standing ovation.

Congratulations Dr. Reiser on a well deserved honor.  You are truly a key member of the Brookdale family and a loyal and dedicated clinical leader.

Additional photos can be seen at: Brookdale Events

 

 

 

 

 

MediSys St. Albans Puts Heart into Healthcare

 On February 3rd, the staff at MediSys St. Albans participated in the American Heart Association’s annual “Go Red for Women Day.” The event raises awareness about heart disease by educating the community, especially women, about its risks factors and prevention measures.

According to the American Heart Association, more women die each year from cardiovascular disease than from any other illness even though nearly 80% of cardiac cases can be prevented. There are usually no prior symptoms associated with heart disease, which makes prevention key to combating the disease. Some ways to prevent heart disease include, eating a heart healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in high fat foods, light to moderate exercise on a daily basis, and being a non-smoker.

The staff at MediSys St. Albans dressed in red for the event and raised $300 in their efforts to increase awareness about women and heart disease. We thank them for their support to this very worthy cause.