Jamaica Hospital Medical Center -- Department of Public Affairs -- 8900 Van Wyck Expressway Jamaica, New York 11418
For Immediate Release
Name: Xavia Malcolm
Telephone: 718-206-6746
Email: xmalcolm@jhmc.org
Jamaica Hospital Breaking Ground and Barriers in the Hospice Community
Sep 22,2016
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to announce that on Thursday September 22, it will be hosting a renovation commencement ceremony for what will be the newly developed Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care.
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<br>The ceremony will be attended by community leaders including Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and other elected officials who have supported the hospital with this project. Additionally, the family member of a former hospice patient will share his loved-one’s experiences while being cared for on Jamaica Hospital’s Hospice Care Unit and what it meant to the entire family.
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<br>Not that long ago there were no dedicated, hospital-based hospice care units in the borough, leaving residents of Queens without any access to quality, end-of-life care close to home. In 2010, Jamaica Hospital opened its Hospice Care Unit so our community could have a place to receive this very important service.
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<br>Since its opening, Jamaica Hospital’s Hospice Care Unit has continuously provided compassionate comfort care to countless patients facing end of life. The unit’s multidisciplinary team of specially trained hospice professionals has developed a reputation in the community for going above and beyond by administering exemplary clinical services and meeting the spiritual, cultural and social needs for patients and loved ones during what can be a difficult time.
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<br>While providing the highest level of compassionate care is an important component in the hospital’s hospice care model, offering patients a comfortable environment is equally as important. For this reason, Jamaica Hospital leadership was inspired to initiate a capital campaign to renovate its existing hospice unit. Thanks to the generosity of several donors the hospital is now able to begin construction.
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<br>The unit’s redesign will offer patients and families many upgraded amenities that promote serenity, privacy and will allow them to feel more at home. Some of the new upgrades will include private and spacious suites for patients, family meeting rooms and a relaxing family lounge that offers loved ones a space to gather decompress or reflect. “The needs of our patients and community are at the top of our list of priorities; our commitment to patient satisfaction is reflected in every amenity and feature we will offer at the Ferrara Family Center for Hospice Care,” stated Jamaica Hospital President and CEO Bruce J. Flanz. Mr. Flanz continued, “We want to ensure that compassion and comfort are received at all times.”
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<br>The hospital’s staff is very enthusiastic about the future of the hospice care center. “Our vision is to not only offer a home-like environment to patients and their loved ones but to also provide education and many avenues of support during a challenging time in their lives,” shared Dr. Alan Roth, Chairman of Family Medicine and Chief of Palliative Care Medicine. Jamaica Hospital plans to embark on an educational campaign within the community. The objective is to dispel some of the myths associated with hospice care and inform people about the many supportive services that are coupled with hospice such as bereavement counseling, family advocacy, as well as psychosocial and emotional counseling. Additionally, the hospital hopes to address some of the cultural concerns that often arise when planning end of life care.
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<br>Jamaica Hospital Medical Center serves a population greater than 1.2 million in Queens and Eastern Brooklyn. This 408-bed medical center is an accredited community teaching hospital with a large network of community-based ambulatory care centers. JHMC offers an array of acute inpatient, rehabilitation and mental health services, and is one of the busiest Level 1 trauma centers in New York City. The hospital provides general medical, pediatric and Ob/Gyn services. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s mission is to serve patients and the community in a way that is second to none. For additional information, please contact Public Affairs at 718-206-6020.
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