Jamaica Hospital Named One Of America’s 100 Best Hospitals

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has been named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for 2024, by Healthgrades.

The achievement places Jamaica Hospital in the top 2% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance and serves as a testament to the organization’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional patient care.

This year, only seven hospitals in New York were recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals. Jamaica Hospital is proud to join the elite ranks of top providers and be counted as one of only two hospitals in Queens to receive the prestigious award. The hospital is also celebrating its advancement in the national rankings, having climbed up 150 spots on the list from its previous position as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals, an accolade it consecutively earned from 2020 through 2024.

Hospitals ranked as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals, by Healthgrades, a leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals, are nationally recognized for their high performance and quality achievements. To determine the top hospitals for 2024, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for more than 30 conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide. Unlike other hospital studies, Healthgrades ratings are based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes.

“Healthgrades commends Jamaica Hospital for their leadership and continued dedication to high quality care,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades. “As one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals, Jamaica Hospital is elevating the standard for quality care nationwide and ensuring superior outcomes for the patients in their community.”

Jamaica Hospital’s pursuit of excellence and dedication to providing high-quality, equitable care has also yielded the following 2024 Healthgrades awards:

America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention Award
Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award
Gastrointestinal Surgery Excellence Award

These awards have distinguished Jamaica Hospital as one of the leading healthcare organizations in the country, an achievement made possible through the tireless efforts of hospital employees to deliver the best care, and the vision of leadership to provide the community with world-class services close to home.

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.

Wellness Wednesday: Tips for Supporting Your Physical Well-Being

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Jacob Lobosco

With the first month of 2024 coming to an end, it’s a great time to check in on the progress you’ve made toward the goals you’ve set for the year. Whether you’re looking to get into better physical shape, reach a career milestone, or gain better control over any medical conditions you experience on a regular basis, wellness is an important part of moving toward your goals in a steady, efficient way. Make sure that you are:

Staying physically active (about 150 minutes of moderate exercise, including 2 days of strength training, each week)
Getting enough sleep (at least 7 hours per night)
Making some time each week for social connections with friends and loved ones
Eating enough food for your size
Avoiding smoking and limiting consumption of harmful substances such as alcohol
Making some time each week for leisurely activities that you enjoy
Practicing mindfulness and staying focused on the present moment
Keeping up with preventative medical screenings and addressing medical problems as they appear by visiting a doctor

For preventative visits and specialized treatment for medical problems, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 206-7001.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Christa Deleon

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Christa Deleon, Executive Administrative Assistant in our Food and Nutrition Department.

Christa has been working at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for 10 years. She grew up in Island Trees on Long Island and currently resides in Levittown. Christa attended Island Trees Elementary School and Island Trees High School. She graduated from Berkley College where she received her bachelor’s degree.

She has two sons, Luca and Massimo who are seven and five years of age. Christa also has a one year old female American Bully who’s name is Raven. One of Christa’s favorite things to do is to spend time with her sons, her family and friends. She likes to try all types of new restaurants, but her favorite would be anything Italian.

Christa loves to travel. She has been to many different cities both domestically and internationally, including Paris, Washington D.C and her favorite place to go on vacation is to Aruba. One of the countries she would like to visit one day is Italy. Christa enjoys reading, especially psychological thrillers. She likes all different types of music. Her sons play football, soccer and lacrosse and she enjoys watching them when they are playing. Christa used to play softball and soccer and is an avid hockey fan. Her favorite hockey team is the New York Islanders.

Christa enjoys working at Jamaica Hospital because of the diversity of the staff and our patients. She feels as though she has learned a lot culturally and linguistically. Christa is proud to be part of a team that has a positive impact on people’s lives and their health. We look forward to her working with us for many more years into the future.

What To Do When Your Baby Suddenly Stops Breastfeeding

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

When most people hear the words “nursing strike” the most common assumption is that it has something to do with a work stoppage by hospital caregivers, but the term can also refer to when a baby suddenly refuses to breastfeed. This response can sometimes be mistaken for weaning, but unlike a nursing strike, weaning normally takes place gradually over weeks or months.

Nursing strikes can be frightening and upsetting to both you and your baby, but they are almost always temporary. Most nursing strikes end with your baby back to breastfeeding, within a few days. In some cases the cause is a mystery, but most of the time it is due to some external factor. Some of the most common triggers for a nursing strike include:

An illness affecting your baby such as an ear infection or stuffy nose
A change in deodorant, soap, lotion, or anything that would result in you smelling different to your baby
Your baby is teething or experiencing sore gums
A temporary reduction in the milk supply
A change in nursing patterns
Your baby was frightened during a previous nursing experience

Whatever the cause, getting the baby back to the breast can sometimes be challenging. Here are some tips that can help get your baby back to breastfeeding:

Be patient. Don’t try to force your baby to breastfeed as it can make the situation worse.
Rule out any physical problems such as an ear infection, stuffy nose, teething issues, or a bladder infection.
Spend more skin-to-skin time together.
Avoid giving your baby a pacifier.
Attempt to nurse when your baby is either falling asleep, sound asleep, or just waking up.
Movement helps so try putting your baby in a sling while you walk around or try relaxing in a rocking chair.
Take a bath together or cuddle in a quiet, dark room.

You should continue to pump or hand express milk while your baby is refusing to nurse to prevent plugged ducts and infections. It is also important to remain calm and understand that your baby isn’t rejecting you and while the situation can be upsetting it is only temporary and everything will go back to normal.

If your baby is experiencing a nursing strike and you have additional questions, you should speak with your doctor or a lactation consultant.

Tips To Help You Your New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on January 17, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

The beginning of every new year always seems to be a great time to make resolutions for changes to something in our lives. However, these New Year’s resolutions are often easier to make than to keep.

Here are some tips to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions:

Select one goal that you want to achieve instead of many
Plan in advance how you intend to achieve your goal
Don’t be too ambitious with your goal, it is best to keep it simple
Break up your goal into smaller, manageable parts
Pick a goal that involves a new activity
Try to learn from past challenges with achieving your goals
Don’t let yourself become discouraged if you have setbacks
Keep a daily log of your progress
Pick a goal where you can measure the results

Achieving a goal that you made as your New Year’s resolution is always easier when you have the support of friends and family. Let people know what you hope to achieve and enlist others who can be supportive. Additionally, give yourself some positive reinforcement when you are working towards a goal.

A Recipe for Healthy Chicken Soup

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

Not only does a bowl of chicken soup help keep us warm in the winter, its ingredients may also provide several benefits for our health. Here is a recipe from the National Foundation for Cancer Research for chicken soup that is both healthy and delicious. https://www.nfcr.org/blog/chicken-soup-helps-soothe-the-common-symptoms-of-cold-flu-and-mild-covid-19/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoKOfvpLEgwMV_mBHAR0u_wzQEAMYASAAEgKmf_D_BwE

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

Posted on January 2, 2024 by Andrew Rubin

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that mainly affects people who are middle aged or older, but it can affect anyone at any age. There are more than three million people in the United States and 60 million people worldwide who suffer from glaucoma. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. Typically the disease starts to develop suddenly, often without symptoms, and once vision is lost, it is permanent. As much as 40 percent of vision can be lost before some people even notice a problem. It usually starts with loss of peripheral vision. Glaucoma is caused by damage to the optic nerve so that the brain isn’t able to receive images from the eyes. There are two types of Glaucoma, Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma where pressure inside the eye increases on its own and damages the optic nerve and Secondary Glaucoma where another disease causes the pressure in the eye to increase and that results in optic nerve damage. Both types will eventually lead to blindness. Early detection of Glaucoma can help to slow down the progression of the disease. Regular eye exams are very important. To schedule an appointment with an eye doctor at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718- 206-5900.

Yorkshire Pudding Recipe

Posted on December 21, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Enjoy the holiday season with this delicious recipe from the Food Network for Yorkshire Pudding. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/yorkshire-pudding-recipe-1943597

Tips to Maintain Dental Health During the Holidays

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year. While it is easy to get caught up in the merriment, we need be to be mindful of the effects all of the holiday festivities can have on our dental health. With sweet treats all around us, one particular cause of concern is how our teeth can be impacted.

Here are a few tips to help make sure we maintain good oral health into the new year:

Don’t forget your dental routine – No matter how busy you get this holiday season, don’t forget to practice good oral hygiene.
Eat healthy – Cookies and sweets are nice holiday treats, but instead of reaching for another candy cane, take a cue from the reindeer and fill your plate with vegetables, such as carrots.
Drink healthy – Avoid drinking sodas, sports drinks and juices with lots of sugar. Instead, drink water with fluoride in it to keep your teeth strong and healthy. If you want something bubbly, try carbonated water. If you must drink soda, use a straw to keep most of the acid off your teeth.
Be responsible while drinking alcohol – Aside from all the obvious reasons to be responsible when consuming alcohol, also know that it can affect your teeth. Red wine can stain your teeth and the acid in most alcoholic beverages can also be damaging.
Don’t skip your dental visit – We all know how hectic the holidays are, but whether it is a regular check-up or a visit to deal with an existing issue, it is important to make the time to honor your regular dental visit and not out it off until after the holidays.
Don’t use your teeth as a tool – Avoid using your teeth to tear open packages, tear tape or ribbons, or cracking nuts. These types of cations can lead to chips or breaks.
Stuff your stocking wisely – Sugary treats such as candy canes are a holiday staple, but try to limit the number of sweets in Christmas stockings that can lead to cavities. Use the holidays as an opportunity to replace everyone in the family’s toothbrush by dropping one in each stocking.

By following these simple dental tips, you can avoid being placed on Santa’s naughty list this year.

Tips for Managing Holiday Stress

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

For many people, the holiday season can be a stressful time. Whether you’re experiencing financial difficulties, relationship issues with loved ones, or health problems that interfere with your ability to enjoy the holidays, it’s important to have effective ways to manage these causes of stress to prevent them from disrupting your holiday season. Some steps you may consider taking include:

Setting reasonable expectations for yourself: Circumstances such as cost or availability may sometimes make it difficult to accomplish certain things during the holiday season, such as getting an expensive gift for someone or hosting a big family dinner. To avoid stress, don’t over-extend yourself; instead, recognize what you can reasonably accomplish with the time and resources you have. Set realistic expectations for any gift-giving, hosting, or other responsibilities you have for the holidays.

Learning to de-escalate (or avoid) conflicts: Some holiday gatherings may bring family members together who don’t get along well. Conflict at these gatherings can create negative experiences for everyone involved, so it’s helpful to consider ways in which you can de-escalate them. If you’re hosting, try to steer the conversation into a more friendly direction; if the conflict escalates, remove the involved members from the gathering. Alternatively, it can also help to remove yourself from the situation, particularly if you’re one of the people directly involved in the conflict.

Keeping up with therapy: If you regularly attend therapy sessions for your mental health, try to maintain this schedule during the holiday season. While this part of the year can become extremely busy for many people, therapy can be an important outlet for stress, as well as a tool to help you learn coping mechanisms throughout the holidays.

If you need a psychiatrist to help you manage mental health problems, such as severe stress, that worsen during the holiday season, you can schedule a therapy appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry by calling (718) 206-5575.