Andrew Rubin, Author at Health BeatHealth Beat

Employee Spotlight Shines on Radica Rampersuad

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Radica Rampersaud, a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. She has been a member of our team for 21 years.

Radica is a native of Guyana, South America where her early education took place. She attended elementary school at Mibikuri South, Corentyne, Berbice, Manchester Secondary School, and graduated from Guyana School of Agriculture. In 1995, she moved to New York where she first lived in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn, and later on moved to Ozone Park, where she currently resides. Attending college in New York was a challenge for her because she was raising two small children and working 30 hours a week as a cashier in a supermarket, all while studying for her degree. Radica accomplished her goal and received her Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy from the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Radica is very family oriented. She has two daughters of whom she is very proud, both of whom volunteered at Jamaica Hospital and now both work in the healthcare field. One daughter is a clinical pharmacist and the other is a physician assistant in orthopedic surgery. She is grateful to her husband for all of his support through the years. Her dog Aurora and her cat named Grey are also part of her family.

In her free time, Radica enjoys online shopping, cooking and spending time with family. She also likes to go to movies and restaurants. Her favorite types of food are West Indian, Thai and Mexican. Her favorite types of music are Bollywood and Chutney. Radica enjoys traveling, especially to Europe and Asia. Dubai is one of the places that holds special interest for her and she plans on traveling to Japan soon with family. The sports that she enjoys watching are cricket and soccer.

Radica takes pride in making a difference in the community. This is something that she accomplishes through providing exceptional healthcare to her patients along with other members of the hospital staff. Radica enjoys being able to teach respiratory therapy students, and working closely with doctors and nurses in a team approach to caring for patients. In 2022, she received a proclamation from the New York State Senate for being an Outstanding Woman in Healthcare on the occasion of Women’s History Month. We are very fortunate to have Radica as a member of our Jamaica Hospital team and we look forward to having her continue working with us for many more years into the future.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Denise Roman, PT, DPT

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Denise Roman, PT, DPT, PPS coordinator and a PT supervisor in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Denise has been at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for 34 years. She was born and raised in Georgetown, Guyana. Denise attended Fountain A.M.E and St. Mary’s primary schools, and the Bishop’s High School. After graduating from high school, Denise traveled to Jamaica, West Indies where she studied and received her degree in Physical Therapy at the School of Physical Therapy on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies. In 1989, Denise immigrated to the United States. She continued her studies at the Empire College, receiving a BS in Community and Human Services. Denise then went on to receive a post graduate certificate in Early Intervention from the Westchester Medical College and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Utica College.

Denise currently resides in Springfield Gardens. She loves pets and while living in Guyana she had many, but currently doesn’t have any. In her free time she enjoys reading and volunteering with youth programs at her church. Denise has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. She believes that volunteering and giving back to the community are very important qualities. Denise has never forgotten the people who have helped her along the way and she feels that that she always wants to do her best to be of service to others.

Denise has traveled extensively and some of the places she has visited are Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. Of course, Guyana is one of her favorite places to visit. Denise enjoys many different types of food, especially West Indian, Mexican and Asian. Her favorite types of music to listen to are gospel, reggae, soca, R&B, jazz and folk. Denise enjoys watching cricket, and track and field. She played netball in school and likes outdoor activities that include walking, parasailing, and white water rafting.

Denise loves working at Jamaica Hospital as it has allowed her to grow professionally and has given her the opportunity to watch the hospital expand . She is proud of the fact that her colleagues work together as a team to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients. This was very evident during the COVID pandemic as the staff continued to give their best despite the dangers of the disease and being mentally and physically challenged. Denise was very thankful for the care her mother received while being a patient at the hospital and credits the staff for saving her life. We are very proud to have Denise as a member of our team and we look forward to her continuing to work with us for many more years to come.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Dolores Warren, RN, BSN, MSN

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Dolores Warren, RN, BSN, MSN, Assistant Director of Nursing.

Dolores has been with Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for 12 years. She grew up in Guyana and came to the United States when she was in her early 20’s. In Guyana, she attended St John’s Elementary School, Cummings Lodge High School, Accountancy and Business Education Center. Dolores received her Associate in Nursing degree from Queens Borough Community College, her BSN from York College, and her MSN Nursing Executive degree from Chamberlain University. She is now also an adjunct professor of nursing at Plaza College where she is able to share her knowledge with nursing students.

Dolores joined Jamaica Hospital as a nursing cadet in 2011 and returned as an RN in 2012, because there has always been a sense of caring and support at the hospital. In 2013 she was promoted to Assistant Head Nurse of 5 North and five years later she became the Nurse Manager of that same unit. During that time, she assisted the organization with establishing the Acute Stroke Unit and becoming a Comprehensive Stroke Designated hospital.

Dolores currently lives in Nassau County. She has three children, two boys and one girl. In her free time she likes to visit the local parks and beaches. She enjoys gardening and her favorite type of movies are good mysteries. One of the places she likes traveling to is St. Martin because the beaches are great and the people are very friendly and welcoming. Dolores likes Thai and Caribbean dishes. The types of music she enjoys are R&B, Jazz, and her favorite artist is Ed Sheeran. The sports she enjoys are football and basketball. Most important to her are family, health, happiness and progression.

Dolores enjoys working at Jamaica Hospital because of the colleagues she works with and nursing leadership. She appreciates the fact that this is an organization that supports internal growth. She also values the diversity of the patients that we are able to assist. We are very happy to have Dolores as part of our team and look forward to her remaining with us for many more years into the future.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Anessa Madraymootoo-Ramdial, RN

Posted on June 26, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our employee spotlight on Anessa Madraymootoo-Ramdial, RN, Clinical Nurse Leader on 6 South.

Anessa has been working at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center since 2018. She was born in Guyana and moved with her family to Queens when she was three years old. Since then, she has lived in the Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park area. She attended elementary school at PS 100Q, middle school at MS 226, high school at Hillcrest High School. Anessa obtained her Associate’s degree and her Bachelor’s degree from the New York City College of Technology. She was the class valedictorian. She then went on to obtain her Master’s in Nursing Administration & Leadership from Capella University in 2023.

Anessa is very family oriented and enjoys spending her free time with her loved ones. She owes much of her success to her parents and is grateful to them for their unwavering support.

Anessa enjoys different types of food, especially Thai, Italian, and West Indian cuisine. One of her favorite activities is online shopping. She enjoys travelling and has a trip planned soon to visit Singapore. One day she hopes to visit Thailand. Other activities that she likes to do are Do-it-Yourself projects and crafting. She likes to design and produce custom-made T-shirts, mugs and welcome signs for events. Her favorite types of music are Bollywood and Soca. She likes to dance as well.

Jamaica Hospital has been a part of Anessa’s life since she was a child. Her experiences as a patient in the pediatric clinic inspired her to pursue a career in healthcare. Despite the challenges that come with being a healthcare worker, Anessa derives immense satisfaction from helping others and there is no greater feeling than serving her community. She enjoys working with the diverse population that we serve. The satisfaction of her patients and colleagues is of paramount importance to her.

Anessa also has a passion for teaching nursing clinical skills to nursing students and it is something she feels very strongly about. It is also a way for her to stay up to date on new evidence-based knowledge that she can share with her colleagues.

Anessa enjoys working at Jamaica Hospital because her team feels like family to her. They support one another and with that comes great opportunities to learn and to grow professionally. We look forward to Anessa continuing to work with us for many more years into the future.

A Tasty Recipe for Baked Lemon Chicken

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

Warm spring evenings call for an easy to prepare recipe for baked lemon chicken to enjoy. Here is a recipe from the Food Network that we recommend.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-lemon-chicken-recipe-2128674

Heart Palpitations

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

Experiencing heart palpitations can be a very frightening occurrence. These palpitations have been described as feeling as though the heart is racing, missing a beat, pounding, or fluttering. Palpitations can be felt in the chest, the neck or the throat and they are seen more frequently in women than in men.

Some of the most common causes of heart palpitations include:

Anxiety
Stress
Depression
Fear
Fever
Panic attacks
Strenuous exercise
Pregnancy
Medications that contain pseudoephedrine
Consuming too much alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, or narcotics ( cocaine or amphetamines)

It is important to find the reason for experiencing heart palpitations and knowing how often they occur. Tests that will help a physician identify the cause include a blood test, an EKG, a chest x-ray, a Holter monitor and an ultrasound of the heart.

It is best to seek immediate medical help if the heart palpitations are accompanied by:

Feeling shortness of breath
Feeling dizzy
Feeling chest pain
Feeling light headed

Treatment for heart palpitations will be determined by what is causing them. When possible, eliminating external influences will be the first line of treatment. If the palpitations are caused by an irregular heart beat, medications may need to be prescribed.

It is important to get immediate medical care by calling 9-1-1 if the heart palpitations are accompanied by chest pain, severe dizziness, severe shortness of breath, or passing out.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-7001.

May is Designated as Mental Health Awareness Month

Posted on May 9, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

The month of May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month. This designation was first made in 1949 by the National Association for Mental Health. The goal of this recognition is to help take away the stigma of having a mental illness, increase awareness of resources available to treat mental illness, and to educate people about what it means to have a mental illness.

In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, we are sharing important statistics to know:

Mental illness affects one in twenty people in the United States each year, and one in five of these people are affected very seriously
Mental illness affects one in six children, and only half are getting treatment
Half of all lifetime mental illness starts by age 14 and 75% by age 24.
Anxiety disorder is found in 48 million people
Major depression is found in 21 million people
Bipolar depression is found in 7 million people
Obsessive compulsive disorder is found in 3 million people
Schizophrenia is found in 1.5 million people

A person who has mental health issues can live a full and productive life if they receive the proper care. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has a comprehensive Mental Health Department. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-5575.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Bibi Samlall

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Bibi Samlall, Ambulatory Care Representative in the Emergency Department. Bibi has been working at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for 10 years.

Bibi is a native of Georgetown, Guyana where she grew up and attended Charlestown Secondary School. She is currently enrolled in nursing school where she is pursuing her dream of becoming a registered nurse.

Bibi moved to the United States in 1999, first living in Queens. Currently, Bibi lives in Valley Stream, on Long island. She has two children, a son Rohan who is 19 and a daughter Raveena who is 23. In her free time, Bibi likes to watch movies, listen to music, her favorite being Bollywood and Chutney, and spending time with her family. When she has time off from work and school, she enjoys traveling. Some of her favorite places to visit are Aruba, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Bibi enjoys many different types of food, especially chicken curry and fried rice. She enjoys bike riding and her favorite sport is cricket. The things in life that are most important to Bibi are spending quality time with her family, her education and having gratitude for everything she has.

Bibi has always wanted to work in a healthcare setting, especially in one that prioritizes patient care and satisfaction. This is why she enjoys working at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Her priorities at work are to make sure that every patient has a pleasant experience. Her colleagues are like family to her and this helps all of them with their overall job satisfaction. We look forward to Bibi continuing to work with us for many more years to come.

What is a Bunion ?

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

Bunions are a bony bump that forms at the joint located at the base of the big toe. This is also called the base of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP).

Bunions are most commonly seen when there is a lot of pressure over time on the big toe, often due to wearing tight fitting shoes that push the big toe out of its natural alignment. Women experience this more often than men. Additional causes of bunions include genetic factors, walking in a manner that causes misalignment of the big toe, standing on one’s feet for extended periods over the course of many months or years, and certain disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

In severe bunions, a person may experience symptoms such as:

Redness at the inside base of the big toe
Stiffness of the big toe
Pain at the base of the big toe
Swelling of the big toe
Callouses at base of the big toe
Overlapping of the adjacent smaller toes

Typically, bunions are diagnosed by physical examinations and an x-ray when needed. Treatment for a bunion depends on the severity. These are the most common treatment modalities:

Change shoe gear
Take pain medication
Injections to reduce inflammation
Physical therapy
Surgical correction
Apply padding to affected area

If you are experiencing discomfort from a bunion, and would like to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, you may call 718-206-7001.

April is Autism Awareness Month

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

April was designated as National Autism Awareness Month in 1970. The idea to recognize a month for autism awareness came from Dr. Bernard Rimland, Ph.D who was an autism researcher. In April 1988, President Ronald Reagan made it official with a proclamation declaring April as Autism Awareness Month. It is meant to bring attention and a better understanding of this disorder.

The symbol of autism is a puzzle piece that represents power, strength, hope, and unity for people who are diagnosed with this disorder.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the United States, autism affects approximately one in 36 children and one in 45 adults. They also state that autism is seen more frequently in boys than in girls, is found in people of all ethnicities and races, and it affects people who have it in many different ways. Some people have very mild cases and some have very severe manifestations. Some children are verbal while others may not be. Some children, but not all, have intellectual issues, and some can be high functioning while others require assistance with activities of daily living. Signs of autism can be seen in children as young as age two or three and the diagnosis can usually be made definitively by age five.