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.

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 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.

Enjoy This Easy to Prepare and Healthy Springtime Recipe for Minestrone

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

Here is a healthy, easy to prepare, and delicious springtime recipe for minestrone with fresh vegetables from the Food Network. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/minestrone-with-spring-greens-12544874

What is an Elimination Diet ?

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

Foods that you’re allergic to can cause you to experience a variety of symptoms, including gas, bloating, nausea, or diarrhea. While these types of problems are rarely life-threatening allergic reactions, they can cause significant discomfort and disruption in your daily life. However, you may not know for certain which exact foods are causing these reactions. An elimination diet can help you identify them.

Elimination diets involve removing, then later re-adding, certain foods from your diet which are suspected to be the cause of allergic reactions. This diet is typically only maintained for a brief period of up to six weeks.

An elimination diet is typically divided into an “elimination” phase and a “reintroduction” phase. During the elimination phase, potential allergens are removed from your diet. These typically include foods such as:

Nuts
Seeds
Legumes
Dairy products
Starchy foods
Caffeinated drinks
Spices
Meat
Fish
Sugary products
Certain fruits and vegetables

During the reintroduction phase, you once again start to eat each food group you’ve cut out of your diet. Each of these groups is individually re-introduced over the course of up to three days, providing adequate time to watch for potential symptoms.

Different versions of the elimination diet, such as the low-FODMAPs diet (which targets short-chain carbohydrates), only remove specific food groups. Alternatively, varieties such as the fasting elimination diet, which involves only drinking water for up to five days, may be more extreme than the standard version.

No matter which version of the elimination diet you plan to try, you should only do so under the supervision of a medical professional. The re-introduction of food allergens can potentially cause anaphylaxis, a severe reaction that causes airways to swell and restricts your breathing. Extreme varieties such as the fasting elimination diet can be especially dangerous to your health without the guidance of a doctor.

If you suspect you have a food allergy and plan to follow an elimination diet, schedule an appointment with a registered dietician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Outpatient Nutritional Services Department by calling (718) 206-7056.