Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Division Offers Tips to Avoid Falls

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Michael Hinck

September 22 was National Fall Prevention Awareness Day and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Trauma Division wants to make sure you and your loved ones are taking the proper steps to avoid these preventable incidents.

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “falls are the leading cause of injury leading to death for adults 65 or older and are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admission for trauma for this age group.” Falls are also the most common form of traumatic brain injuries in older adults.

As we get older, physical changes and health conditions — and sometimes the medications used to treat those conditions — increase the chances of falls. It is very important to follow these simple steps to decrease your chances of falling:

• Make an appointment to see your doctor to determine your risk of falling. Discuss the factors that increase your chances of falling, including your medical history, your muscle strength and your medications to see if they have side effects such as dizziness or weakness. You should also have your sight and hearing tested regularly.

• Find a good exercise program aimed at building balance, strength, and flexibility. Consider activities such as walking, water workouts and even tai chi. Ask your doctor to write a referral to a physical therapist, who can create a customized exercise routine for you if you are unsure.

• Wear appropriate footwear. High heel shoes, slippers, sandals, or any shoes with slick soles can greatly increase your chances or slipping and falling. Instead, wear properly fitting shoes with nonskid soles. Choose shoes with laces or fasteners over slip-ons and women should avoid walking in stocking feet.

• Look around your home and remove any tripping hazards. Remove any boxes, electrical cords or stacks of paper from the floor and move furniture from high traffic areas. Secure loose rugs with double-sided tape and use nonslip bathmats in the bathtub.

• Properly light your living space by placing nightlights in your bedroom and in your hallways. Create clear paths to light switches and always turn on lights before using the stairs. Also, store flashlights in easy to find locations in the event of a power outage.

• Speak with your doctor about the utilization of assistive device such as canes or walkers for balance. Other assistive devices that are recommended for the home are handrails for both sides of stairways, nonslip treads for bare-wood steps, grab bars for the shower, and a raised toilet seat with armrests.

Falls are a largely preventable public health problem. Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Division urges older adults and their loved ones to follow these fall prevention measures and live safe, healthy lives.

For more information about falls or other trauma related issues, please contact Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Division at 718-206-8552.

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.

Back To School: Are Your Children Vaccinated

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Michael Hinck

Today’s vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools for preventing disease and death and have helped many illnesses become distant memories. However, many parents are still unclear which vaccines their children should receive or if their children should receive any at all? School-age children, from preschoolers to college students, need vaccines. Here are five important reasons to vaccinate your child:

• Immunizations can save your child’s life
The polio vaccine is one example of the impact that vaccines can have on the eradication of a disease. Dr. Anatasia Fokas, Pediatrician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center, states, “Vaccines have eradicated many illnesses which have caused death and paralysis in the past. Thankfully, medical advancements have eliminated diseases such as polio and today, there are no reports of polio in the United States.”

• Vaccinations are safe and effective
With extensive testing and careful monitoring of quality, safety, and effectiveness, vaccines are reviewed and approved by a panel of scientists, doctors and healthcare professionals. “Vaccines may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of the injection,” but Dr. Fokas advises, “This shouldn’t deter families from receiving the vaccines. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.”

• Immunizations protect others you care about
Getting your child vaccinated at the scheduled times helps prevent the spread of diseases to you and your loved ones. In 2010, a resurgence of whooping cough (pertussis) and measles caused 26 deaths out of the 21,000 cases presented; most of the deaths were in children under 6 months. Infants need time to build their immunity and may not be able to receive vaccines at birth. For this reason, it is important for you and your children to receive the vaccinations to help prevent these occurrences.

• Immunizations can save your family time and money
“Getting vaccinated against these diseases is a good investment and usually covered by insurance,” says Dr. Fokas. Children with vaccine-preventable diseases can be denied permission to attend school or day care. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long-term disability care. Ensuring that you and your loved ones receive the scheduled vaccinations can save your family time and money.

• Immunizations protect future generations
If we have effective vaccination programs in place today we will be able to prevent the spread of disease s in the future.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s On-Site Pediatric Ambulatory Care Center is located on the ground floor of the hospital. Please call 718-206-7001 to schedule an appointment with one of our Pediatricians.

Lice

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Michael Hinck

Lice are tiny little parasitic insects that receive their nutrition from the blood of their host. They do not have wings and are therefore spread by close contact with people who are infected with them or with the items of clothing or bedding that those people may be using. Since lice do not fly, it is sometimes thought that they either crawl or jump from one person to another. There are three types of lice to be aware of. , Head Lice, Body Lice and Pubic Lice. The most commonly found are the lice that live on the hair and scalp, known as Head Lice.

The signs and symptoms of head lice are itchy scalp, small bumps on the back of the neck and on the scalp that are red in color, the presence of tiny off-white or light brown insects crawling in the hair or back of the neck, and finding lice eggs also called nits, about the size of a pin head, attached to the hair shafts. Some people who are infected with lice have swollen neck glands, indicating a possible infection.

Detecting head lice can be difficult, since they can be confused to the untrained eye with other things found in people’s hair like dandruff, lint, sand, and dirt. The difference is that lice, especially their eggs (nits) are usually firmly attached to the hair follicle and do not come out with simple rinsing or combing. One method of diagnosing lice is to wet the person’s head, separate the hair in to sections, sit them under a very bright light, and using a very fine comb made specifically for this purpose, comb the hair from the scalp outwards looking for lice and their eggs.

Treating lice involves using a shampoo made specifically for this purpose. These shampoos are very different than regular hair products and they are to be used very carefully, making sure that the instructions are followed closely. Usually the recommendation is to use the product once and wait a few days to see if it is working.
Each day after treatment it is recommended to use the special fine tooth comb to remove the lice and the nits. It is also recommended that all bedding be thoroughly washed in hot water and dried at a high temperature to limit the possibility of reoccurrence. If the signs and symptoms of an infestation persist, it is advised to see a dermatologist who may prescribe a stronger medication to treat the problem.

When a person is diagnosed with lice, it is wise to limit their contact with others until the problem is resolved. This is especially true of school aged children.

If you suspect that your child has lice and over-the-counter remedies are not successful, please schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital by calling 718- 206-7001.

Jamaica Hospital Warns – Summer is Kidney Stone Season

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Michael Hinck

They are less than a centimeter in size, yet they can cause intense discomfort. Kidney stones are one of the most painful urologic disorders, and they occur more frequently during the summer because our bodies loose more water due to sweating, which can result in dehydration.

Kidney stones are small, hard masses made of mineral and acid salts that develop in the urine. No single factor causes kidney stones, and not everyone is susceptible to them. Several factors often work together to create an environment in which at-risk people develop kidney stones. People most at risk for kidney stones include:

• Adults
• Males
• Those with family or personal history of kidney stones
• Those with personal history of digestive diseases and/or surgery

In general, kidney stones form when the fluid and various mineral and acids that make up urine are out of balance. “With adequate hydration, calcium and other crystal-forming substances properly dissolve in the urine,” says Ricardo Ricciardi, MD, Director of Urology at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

Although genetics, family history, and some medical conditions can increase your odds of developing kidney stones, you can still play a role in preventing them through the following steps:

• Drink enough water. “If you’re prone to kidney stones, your best defense is to stay hydrated during hot summer months,” says Dr. Ricciardi. “Hot temperatures make your body lose more water than usual, so it is important to replenish it throughout the day, depending on your weight and activity level.”

• Eat less meat. Diets rich in animal protein increase your risk for kidney stones; so try to incorporate other protein sources, such as beans, nuts and seeds, instead.

• Limit your salt intake. Excess salt absorbs water in your system, which can also dehydrate you. Limit your daily sodium intake to 1,500 mg or less by avoiding fast food, reading nutrition labels when you buy groceries, and cooking with less salt and more herbs and spices.

• Drink less caffeine. Even though you may think you are getting enough liquid by consuming caffeinated sodas, coffee, or tea, caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it can dehydrate you.
Sneaking Symptoms

Kidney stones often do not cause symptoms. If the crystals are small enough, they may pass through the urinary tract and out of the body without being felt. If a stone is large enough to attract attention, however, the first symptom is usually severe pain in the backside that begins when the stone moves into the urinary tract, blocking the flow of urine. The pain may later spread to the groin and lower abdomen. Other symptoms include a persistent urge to urinate, painful urination, and pink, red, or brown urine.

Seek medical attention if you have pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting or fever and chills, or if pain is so severe that you cannot sit still or find a comfortable position. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned, or suspect you have Kidney Stones and would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Dr. Ricciardi at 718-206-7110.

Jamaica Hospital Offers Tips to Avoid Bug Bites

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Andrew Rubin

What’s Bugging You ?

Summer usually means picnics and family reunions, but it also means a reunion with insects that can wreak havoc on outdoor activities. Follow these tips to minimize the potential for bug bites and bee stings.

When outdoors – especially in wooded areas – wear long sleeves, pants, and socks to help protect your skin from insect bites. Be aware that insects may be drawn to scented soaps and perfumes. Also, cover food and drain or dump standing water.

“Although applying insect repellent may help adults and children avoid bug bites, these products are unsafe to use on infants,” says Farshad Bagheri, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. “Repellents containing citronella or less than 10 to 30 percent DEET are safe for older children, but they should only be applied once and washed off as soon as possible.”

Treating Bites and Bee Stings

If a sting occurs, remove the stinger as soon as possible by scraping the area with your fingernail or something with a flat surface, such as a credit card. For bee and wasp stings and non-poisonous spider bites, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and apply ice to reduce swelling. Continue to wash two or three times daily until the skin has healed.

“Be sure to talk with your physician before taking antihistamines or other over-the-counter medications for itching to avoid potential drug interactions,” says Dr. Bagheri.

Severe Reactions

“If you notice swelling or a rash around the site of a sting or if pain persists for three days, seek medical attention,” says Dr. Bagheri. “Dizziness, nausea, tightness of the throat or chest, wheezing, or swelling of the lips, face, or tongue can indicate a severe allergic reaction, which requires immediate emergency medical attention.”

If you or your child is stung in the mouth, seek medical attention immediately. Severe swelling occurs quickly in oral mucous membranes and can block airways, making breathing difficult or impossible.

If you have a severe reaction to a bug bite, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Room or call 911. Otherwise, to schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-6742.

Erectile Dysfunction: More Common than You Think

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Natifia Mullings

It is reported that nearly 30 million American males suffer from erectile dysfunction. Defined by the National Library of Medicine, erectile dysfunction is when a man has trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse, accompanied by a reduced sexual desire. While some men will experience erection difficulties every now and then, an ongoing erection problem indicates a larger problem.

What Happens During an Erection?
In order for an erection to occur, a male must first be sexually aroused. Next, the brain must “communicate” this sexual arousal to the body’s nervous system, which activates blood flow to the genital area. Lastly, relaxed blood vessels must supply blood to the penis. This results in an erection. If anything affects these three steps—arousal, the nervous system, or the vascular system— erectile dysfunction can occur.

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Since male sexual arousal is a process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels, erectile dysfunction can be caused by any of these, as well as stress, fatigue, anxiety, and mental health diseases. Erectile dysfunction effects men as they age, but it can also be a sign of an underlying health problem, such as heart disease, blocked blood vessels, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, making it extremely important to speak with a physician.

“For most men, talking to their doctor about erectile dysfunction is awkward and embarrassing, and therefore a conversation that is often avoided,” said Dr. Riccardo Ricciardi, a Urologist at Jamaica Hospital. “Men have to speak up, especially since there are tests and procedures that can be performed to address their impotence.”

Millions of men have tried medications, such as Viagara, in an attempt to improve their erectile function and regain intimacy in their lives. While this option has proven successful for many, for approximately 30-40% of men this method of therapy is not effective. For these men, a variety of options are available, including penis pumps, penile implants, or surgery.

Jamaica Hospital’s Division of Urology currently offers an advanced surgical device for impotence. The Coloplast Titan and Titan One Touch Release inflatable penile implants are self-contained, fluid-filled systems made from Bioflex and silicone. The treatment features:

a 3-piece design for a more natural-appearing erection, providing greater flaccidity than with two-piece implants. Each part is connected by silicone tubing. The Titan implant is MRI conditional and latex free.
an ease-of-use pump, which means fewer squeezes to achieve a full erection and smooth, simplistic deflation.
a lock-out valve for less chance of unintentional inflation and smooth, simplistic deflation.
a hydrophilic coating that attracts water contained in solutions used to prepare the device.

The Coloplast Titan One Touch Release features an innovative “One Touch Release,” making deflation of the implant possible with only one hand.

For more information about erectile dysfunction or to schedule an appointment to see a Urologist for other men’s health issues, please call 718-206-7110.

Jamaica Hospital’s Community-Based Care Program Significantly Benefits Patients

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Natifia Mullings

Being admitted to the hospital is often a necessary experience but being readmitted to the hospital shortly after being discharged is something most patients simply want to avoid. Jamaica Hospital’s newly implemented Care Transitions Program is a momentous effort the facility is taking to provide proactive medical and social interventions to patients who pose a high risk for hospital readmission.

One major component of the new program is Community-Based Care. Two teams were developed to reach patients who typically don’t have repeated in-hospital stays, but are still at risk for hospital readmission because of their health status or other risk factors.

Both teams consist of a nurse practitioner, a care coordinator, and a community care assistant. The teams monitor 30-40 patients each, for up to 29 days, and work closely with the patient’s primary care physician to ensure coordination of health care needs for 30 days post discharge. To best meet the needs of the patient, health care interventions, such as medication reconciliation, referrals to health care services, and management of medical services, are provided in the home and/or the community. After the completion of 30 days, patients may be referred to ongoing services in the community, ongoing monitoring by their primary physician, or to the hospital’s IMPACT program, another aspect of the Care Transitions Program that specifically provides long term, managed care to patients who have repeated in-hospital stays.

“The idea behind our care transitions initiative is to provide interventions in the home to high risk individuals and to reduce the risk of preventable readmissions,” said Dr. Angelo Canedo, Vice President at MediSys Health Network. “We understand that hospital stays are usually unwanted by patients. It’s taxing, both emotionally and physically, for patients, and their loved ones.”

He added, “with Community-Based Care, we are able to provide our patients with preventive measures that will help keep them out of the hospital, improve the quality of care they receive, and provide them with care in the comforts of their own home—all significant benefits.”

Jamaica Hospital’s Care Transitions Program is aimed at cutting 30-day readmissions by at least 20%, which is also aligned with the government’s recent effort to decrease hospital readmissions, and increasing community based/ambulatory care.

Tubal Reversal is Now Offered at Jamaica Hospital

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Michael Hinck

For women, the decision to have tubal ligation, or getting their “tubes tied,” is a difficult one, but that decision no longer needs to be a permanent one. Doctors at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center now offer a tubal reversal procedure for women, giving them the opportunity to become pregnant again.

Tubal reversal is a simple, minimally invasive procedure that reconnects the fallopian tubes and restores their ability to function after a previous sterilization procedure. The surgery is performed by trained doctors, who use specially designed instruments to gain access to the fallopian tubes. The ends of the damaged tubes are reconstructed and repaired. Once the surgery is complete, testing will be performed to make sure that the tubes are open or “patent.”

Dr. Khaled Zeitoun, Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Gynecologist, performs this procedure with great success at Jamaica Hospital. “This procedure gives women a second chance at having a baby,” states Dr Zeitoun. “The effectiveness of tubal reversal is approximately above 50% and is a much more affordable fertility option than other procedures such as IVF (in vitro fertilization).”

While the overall success rate for conception is high for those who have tubal reversal surgery, there are some factors that affect this success, such as the degree of damage to the tubes during the original tubal ligation procedure, the weight and health status of the patient and other medical factors in the patient and the partner.

The procedure traditionally takes from 2-4 hours and recovery time is minimal. “In most cases patients can try to become pregnant during their next ovulation cycle and every cycle after that, which is another benefit when compared to other options which only allow patients one chance of conception,” explains Dr. Zeitoun.

To learn more about the tubal reversal procedure or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Zeitoun, please call 718-206-7642.

Heart Health: Things You Should Know

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Michael Hinck

Every year, more than 1.2 million Americans die from heart attacks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 50 percent of those deaths occur outside the hospital—a figure suggesting many people with heart disease don’t act on early warning signs.

“Chest pain or discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes is a primary heart attack symptom,” says Dr. Subrahmanya Bhat of Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department. “Shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, lightheadedness, and upper body discomfort are also red flags and an indication to immediately call 911. Just a few wasted minutes can stand between life or death.”

There are several factors that can put you at risk for heart disease, including high blood pressure, being overweight, having diabetes, and being over 55 years old for men and 65 years old for women.

Despite having these risk factors, it is possible to protect yourself against the biggest heart health conditions. Dr. Bhat encourages individuals to maintain a nutritious diet, exercise regularly, manage stress, and quit smoking. In addition to making healthy lifestyle changes, other ways to manage heart disease is medication.

Flushing Hospital offers a non-invasive Cardiology Lab, as well as other services for heart diseases, such as arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, and cardiomyopathy.�
Our non-invasive Cardiology Laboratory performs the following tests:

• Electrocardiograms, which allow the electrical activity of the heart to be examined
• Echocardiograms, which use sound waves to take pictures of the heart to assess how it is working
• Stress tests, both chemical and exercise, with and without imaging modalities to assess the blood flow to the heart and the function of the heart with exercise
• Holter monitors
• Event recorders
• Tilt table testing
• Nuclear wall motion studies
• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Non-invasive treatment of coronary artery disease is available for patients who are not candidates for angioplasty, stenting or coronary artery bypass surgery, but who have continued chest pain or angina.

To speak with a cardiologist about your heart health or to obtain more information about the cardiology services offered at Flushing Hospital, please call 718-670-5489.

Heart Health: Things You Should Know

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Michael Hinck

“Chest pain or discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes is a primary heart attack symptom,” says Dr. Robert Mendelson, Director of Cardiology at Jamaica Hospital. “Shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, lightheadedness, and upper body discomfort are also red flags and an indication to immediately call 911. Just a few wasted minutes can stand between life or death.”

There are several factors that can put you at risk for heart disease, including high blood pressure, having high cholesterol, being overweight, smoking cigarettes, having diabetes, and being over 55 years old for men and 65 years old for women.

Despite having these risk factors, it is possible to protect yourself against the biggest heart health conditions. Dr. Mendelson encourages individuals to maintain a nutritious diet, exercise regularly, manage stress, and quit smoking. In addition to making healthy lifestyle changes, other ways to manage heart disease include medication and invasive procedures, such as pacemakers and stents.

Jamaica Hospital Treats Heart Attacks and a Wide Variety of Heart Diseases
Jamaica Hospital offers comprehensive cardiac care, including swift interventions for heart attack and services for heart diseases such as arrhythmias, coronary heart disease, and cardiomyopathies.

Our cardiac catheterization laboratory performs diagnostic cardiac catheterizations to identify blockages in the arteries bringing blood to the heart. It performs angioplasty and stent implantation to open the arteries that are found to be blocked. Blockages in the arteries in the legs are also diagnosed and treated with stents.

Our noninvasive Cardiology laboratory performs the following tests:
• Electrocardiograms, which allow the electrical activity of the heart to be examined
• Echocardiograms, which use sound waves to take pictures of the heart to assess how it is working
• Stress tests, both chemical and exercise, with and without imaging, to assess the blood flow to the heart and the function of the heart with exercise
• Holter monitors
• Event recorders
• Tilt table testing
• Nuclear wall motion studies
• Signal-averaging electrocardiography
• Pacemaker and automatic implantable defibrillator evaluation
• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

We also offer an arrhythmia service, where abnormal heart rhythms can be diagnosed and treated using invasive electrophysiologic testing. Medical treatment of coronary artery disease is available for patients who are not candidates for angioplasty, stenting, or coronary artery bypass surgery, but who have continued chest pain or angina.
To speak with a cardiologist about your heart health or to obtain more information about the cardiology services offered at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-7100.