Employee Spotlight Shines on Ida Ogrenaj, RMA

Posted on April 27, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our employee spotlight on Ida Ogrenaj, Registered Medical Assistant in the TJH Medical suite at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. She has been working at our hospital for the past seven years.

Ida grew up in Albania where she attended elementary school, high school and college where she graduated with a degree as a teacher. She moved to the United States in 2010, settling in Middle Village where she still lives. She followed her passion for helping people by obtaining her Medical Assistant degree from the Bramson ORT school in Forest Hills.

Ida has an eight year old daughter, Alessia who she is very proud of. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. One of her favorite sports is volleyball. She enjoys travelling and some of the countries she has visited are Greece, Italy, and Turkey. Most recently, she had the opportunity to visit a few states within the United States.

Ida enjoys many different types of cuisine, Mediterranean, Italian, and Spanish are her favorites. She likes various types of music and her favorite singer is Celine Dion. In her free time Ida enjoys photography, cooking and decorating. The things that are most important to her are family, friendships, peace, health and love.

Ida feels that working at Jamaica Hospital in the TJH Medical suite is a wonderful experience. She likes it because it is a great working, teaching, and learning environment. The staff is very friendly and she enjoys the diversity of the people she works with. Ida values the interactions with patients every day. She has a passion for helping people to stay healthy and looks forward to working at TJH Medical for many years in 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.

A Springtime Recipe for Fettuccine Alfreddo and Vegetables

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

A beautiful, spring evening calls for a light, easy to prepare, fettuccine alfredo and spring vegetable dish to enjoy. Here is a recipe from the Food Network that we recommend.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/spring-vegetable-fettuccine-alfredo-3577686

Losing Winter Weight

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

During the winter months we tend to gain weight because we are usually less active and also because of excess holiday eating. Now that spring has arrived we can go outdoors and increase physical activity.

In addition to exercising, there are a few adjustments that can be made to our diets and lifestyle that can help us lose winter weight.

Some tips for losing weight include:

Eating high fiber foods
Sleeping at least 6 hours every night
Taking probiotics
Avoiding drinking alcoholic beverages
Avoiding sugary drinks
Eating more fish
Practicing portion control
Avoiding late night snacking
Taking walks during daylight hours to increase Vitamin D production
Drinking water instead of snacks
Practicing portion control

Before starting any type of diet, it is best to consult your physician first to discuss what they recommend is best for you. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-7001.

Employee Spotlight Shines On Eulanda Corales, DNP, RN, CCRN

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Eulanda Corales, DNP, RN, CCRN, Clinical Nurse Manager for the NICU and Pediatric unit.

Eulanda has been at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for 36 years. She grew up in the Philippines where she attended elementary school, high school and obtained her RN degree. She moved to Queens in 1986 and has since obtained her Master’s degree in Nursing Administration at Adelphi University and her Doctorate degree from Chamberlain University. Eulanda now resides on Long Island.

Eulanda has two daughters who are both nurses and that she is very proud of. Her older daughter is a NICU nurse and her younger daughter is a Pediatric Cardiothoracic ICU nurse. She also has a granddaughter who is one year and nine months old. Her granddaughter brings her much joy and she loves spending time with her. Her granddaughter’s favorite thing to do is to dance and sing, especially to Michael Buble’s version of the song “Sway” and “Save the Last Dance for Me”.

In her free time, Eulanda enjoys reading and online window shopping. She likes many types of sports, especially archery, volleyball, rock climbing, jet skiing, parasailing, standup paddling, and body paddling. Eulanda enjoys travelling and has been to many places of interest that include all of the Hawaiian Islands, California, many cities in Mexico, the Bahamas, Virginia Beach, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. She likes to go “Glamping” which is glamorous camping whenever she can. Eulanda also practices Neurobics which is aerobics for the brain.

Eulanda likes all types of food, especially, Indian, Mexican and Italian. While she enjoys many types of music, at the moment her favorite musician is the Croatian cellist Hauser. Her hobbies include photography, collecting stamps and coins from all over the world, and she also collects pens and beautiful rocks that she gives as gifts to her daughters at Christmas.

Eulanda enjoys working at Jamaica Hospital because everyone works well together as a team. She enjoys the diversity of the patients as well as the staff. She has learned many life lessons from the diversity of the people she has had the pleasure to meet over the years. We are very happy to have Eulanda as a member of our team and look forward to her continuing to work at the hospital for many more years.

Allergic Rhinitis

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

A seasonal allergy, often called allergic rhinitis or hay fever, is an allergy that occurs during a specific time of the year. Seasonal allergies are most often caused by three types of pollen: grass, tree, and weed.

Seasonal allergies can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life and are a significant burden on the healthcare system. Approximately 600 million people are thought to be affected by rhinitis, and there is evidence showing that those numbers are on the rise.

Rhinitis is generally divided into two groups: allergic and non-allergic. Differentiating between allergic and non-allergic rhinitis is critical, as half of patients prescribed antihistamines for their reported allergic rhinitis have symptoms that are not due to allergy. Symptoms such as sleep disturbance and daily fatigue, along with inappropriate use of antihistamines, can result in impaired performance at school and work.

It is important to use testing for allergen sensitization to help you decipher allergic from non-allergic rhinitis. These results, along with a physical exam and medical history, can ensure that patients receive appropriate treatment sooner, as well as helping to reduce avoidable antihistamine use.

To get tested, schedule an appointment with our Family Medicine Center by calling (718) 206-6942.

Can Exercise Relieve Nasal Congestion?

Posted on March 24, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Mild to moderate physical exercise can temporarily relieve nasal congestion. A runny nose often occurs because of irritation in your nasal passages. This can occur due to a variety of causes, including sinus infections, airborne substances such as smoke or strong perfumes, and allergies.

Exercises such as push-ups can provide quick relief by opening your nasal passages and reducing inflammation that may be affecting them. However, this may not be the best approach in all cases.

Relieving nasal congestion through light exercise can be helpful when your symptoms are not severe and are limited to your nose, throat, or other parts of your head. However, if you’re experiencing symptoms that are worse or occurring in other parts of your body, such as a fever, fatigue, chest congestion, or muscle aches, it may be best to rest and avoid unnecessary exertion.

Additionally, physical exercise may even be a contributing factor to your nasal congestion in certain cases. If you have asthma, for example, your congestion may be a result of exercise-induced asthma, which causes your airways to constrict in response to hard physical activity.

Before exercising with nasal congestion or a cold, you should talk to an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT), also known as an otolaryngologist, to determine the cause of your congestion and whether physical exercise may help or harm your symptoms. An otolaryngologist can also prescribe decongestant medication or recommend alternative methods of relieving your congestion that may be safer for you, such as:

Using a humidifier
Taking a hot shower
Drinking more water throughout the day
Applying a warm compress to your face

If you’re experiencing nasal congestion, you can find an otolaryngologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-7110.

Stomach Flu

Posted on March 23, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

Gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu, is a very contagious bug that is common in our region beginning in the fall and winter months.

The stomach flu attacks your intestines causing the following symptoms:

Watery, non-bloody diarrhea
Abdominal cramps and pain
Nausea, vomiting or both
Occasional muscle aches, headache, and low-grade fever

Gastroenteritis is typically spread through the sharing of food or drink with someone who is infected or sharing other items with them such as utensils or towels. Children can also spread the illness by placing their hands in their mouths after touching contaminated items or surfaces.

Symptoms usually appear within one to three days after exposure and can range from mild to severe. Typically symptoms last only a day or two, but in some cases, they may persist for up to ten days.

The main complication from viral gastroenteritis is dehydration — a severe loss of water and essential salts and minerals. If you’re healthy and drink enough to replace fluids you lose from vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration shouldn’t be a problem. However, infants, older adults and people with suppressed immune systems may become severely dehydrated when they lose more fluids than they can replace. Hospitalization might be needed so that lost fluids can be replaced intravenously. Dehydration can be fatal, but rarely.

To avoid catching the stomach flu, it is recommended that individuals wash their hands thoroughly, use separate items around the home, disinfect all potentially infected items and surfaces, and keep your distance from those who are infected.

If you do contract gastroenteritis, follow these tips:

1) Let your stomach settle. Stop eating solid foods for a few hours.
2) Try sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water. You might also try drinking clear liquids or broths or non-caffeinated sports drinks. Drink plenty of liquid every day, taking small, frequent sips.
3) Ease back into eating. Gradually begin to eat bland, easy-to-digest foods, such as ginger ale crackers, toast, gelatin, bananas, rice and chicken. Stop eating if your nausea returns.
4) Avoid certain foods and substances until you feel better. These include dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and fatty or highly seasoned foods.
5) Get plenty of rest. The illness and dehydration may have made you weak and tired.

For babies and young children, seek medical care if vomiting is frequent, there hasn’t been a wet diaper in 6 hours, has bloody stools, if diarrhea is severe, cries without tears, and if they are unusually drowsy, sleepy or unresponsive.

See a doctor if you become dehydrated (characterized by excessive thirst, dry mouth, dark yellow or no urine, severe weakness, change in mental status or dizziness), if symptoms persist for over 24 hours, if you are vomiting blood or have blood in your stool, or if you have a temperature of 104 degrees or above.

While most people will recover from a stomach virus after 24 – 48 hours, in some severe cases it may be necessary to go to the nearest emergency room. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-7001.

Jamaica Hospital’s Cure Violence Program Receives Over $1 Million to Address Gun Violence in our Community

Posted on March 13, 2023 by Michael Hinck

Congratulations to the Trauma team at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for being awarded over $1 million by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice for the continuation and expansion of the hospital’s Cure Violence program. The goal of Cure Violence program is to fund anti-violence community groups in their efforts to steer young New Yorkers away from violence and gun use.

In 2021 Jamaica Hospital created the VETO (Violence, Elimination and Trauma Outreach) program to provide a comprehensive and patient centered approach to victims of gun violence. The VETO team engages patients who are victims of gun violence, develop specific care plans to address social determinates of health, and follow them until all of their care plan goals are met.

The VETO program was awarded the Marla Becker Scholarship from The HAVI foundation for new and emerging HVIP’s, connecting us with HVIP’s in Philadelphia and our community for consultation in structuring our hospital-based violence intervention program.

In addition, Jamaica Hospital has also formed partnerships with numerous community organizations including violence interrupter groups to address the issue of gun violence in our community.

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 153,020 cases of colorectal cancer will appear in 2023.

Someone with this form of cancer may only begin to experience symptoms from stage two onward, with many cases only presenting symptoms in the third and fourth stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, they typically include changes in bowel habits and stool consistency, bloody stool, chronic abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss.

The primary risk factor for colorectal cancer is age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend regular screening for this form of cancer starting at age 45. However, if you’re at higher-than-average risk for colorectal cancer, screening may need to begin at an earlier age.

Other risk factors include:

Inflammatory bowel disease
A family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
Certain genetic syndromes such as Lynch syndrome
Obesity
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco usage

Aside from improving lifestyle factors such as physical activity levels and nutrition, the best way to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer is to keep up with regular diagnostic screening. Procedures for screening include:

Stool tests: These tests check for blood or changes to your DNA in your stool. The guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) which check for blood, are performed annually. The FIT-DNA test, which checks the DNA in your stool, is performed every three years.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: This test checks for polyps and cancer inside the lower third of your rectum and is performed every five years or every 10 years if you receive a FIT annually.

Colonoscopy: A standard colonoscopy checks for polyps and cancer throughout the rectum and the entire colon, allowing your doctor to spot and even remove most of them. This is performed every 10 years for people with an average risk of colorectal cancer. Alternatively, a virtual colonoscopy, which produces images of the entire colon using X-rays, can be performed every 5 years.

You can receive a colorectal cancer screening from a gastroenterologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-7001.

March is National Kidney Month

Posted on March 2, 2023 by Andrew Rubin

March is National Kidney Month and the National Kidney Foundation is urging all Americans to give their kidneys a well-deserved checkup.

The kidneys are two fist-sized organs, located just below the rib cage, in your lower back. The left kidney is on the left side of the spine and the right kidney is on the right side of the spine. Blood flows through the kidneys many times a day. They maintain overall health by serving the following functions:

Filtering waste out of 200 liters of blood each day
Regulating of the body’s salt, potassium and acid content
Removing toxins from the body.
Balancing the body’s fluids
Releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure
Producing an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones
Controlling the production of red blood cells

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control, some quick facts on Kidney Disease are:

Kidney disease is the 9^thleading cause of death in the country.
More than 26 million Americans have kidney disease, and most don’t know it.
There are over 95,000 people waiting for kidney transplants.
Currently, more than 590,000 people have kidney failure in the U.S. today.
Risk factors for kidney disease are hypertension, diabetes, family history, and age over 60.

Symptoms of kidney disease include:

Swelling of the face, hands, abdomen, ankles, and feet
Blood in the urine
Puffy eyes
Painful urination
Increased thirst
Fatigue

Often times, kidney failure can be prevented or delayed through early detection and proper treatment of underlying disease such as diabetes and high blood pressure which can slow additional damage to the kidneys.

If you are 18 years or older with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or a family history of kidney disease, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor and ask that you be screened for kidney disease.

If you would like to make an appointment to have your kidney’s checked, you can call Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center at 718-206-7001 for an appointment.