Reactive Arthritis

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Reactive arthritis is a condition that occurs when the immune system reacts to an infection somewhere in the body and causes joint pain and inflammation. This infection usually starts in the digestive system, genitals, or urinary tract. Reactive arthritis usually affects the knees, ankles, and feet, but it can also cause inflammation in the eyes, skin, and urethra. Reactive arthritis is considered a form of a group of inflammatory diseases that mainly affect the spine, joints, and places where tendons and ligaments attach to bones called spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Although reactive arthritis isn’t contagious, the bacteria that cause it can spread through sex or food. Several types of bacteria can trigger reactive arthritis, including:

Chlamydia trachomatis

Clostridium difficile (C. Difficile)

Escherichia coli (E. Coli)

Campylobacter

Salmonella

Shigella

Yersinia

While only a small number of people who are exposed to these bacteria develop reactive arthritis, certain factors increase the risk of developing the condition, including:

Infection

Sex assigned at birth

Genetics

The symptoms of reactive arthritis usually start one to four weeks after a triggering infection. Common symptoms include:

Pain and stiffness

Urinary issues

Swollen toes or fingers

Eye inflammation

Inflammation of tendons and ligaments where they attach to bone

Skin issues

Lower back pain

Reactive arthritis isn’t common and usually happens for a short period of time. For most people who experience this condition, symptoms can come and go, usually disappearing within a year.

A healthcare provider can diagnose reactive arthritis with a physical exam, as they check the eyes and joints for inflammation, warmth, and tenderness, as well as the skin for rashes. They may also order blood tests, joint fluid tests, and imaging tests to help diagnose the condition.

The main goals of treatment for reactive arthritis are to relieve symptoms and treat any infection that may still be present. Since reactive arthritis can affect different parts of the body, there may need to be multiple doctors or healthcare providers involved in treating this condition. Treatments for reactive arthritis can include:

Medicines such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, and rheumatoid arthritis medicines

Physical therapy exercises that strengthen the muscles around the affected joints, improve flexibility, and prevent stiffness

Although genetics is a risk factor for developing reactive arthritis, that risk can be lowered by reducing exposure to bacteria that cause infections by:

Practicing food safety

Preventing sexually transmitted infections

If you are experiencing any symptoms of reactive arthritis, you can schedule an appointment with a rheumatologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. Please call (718) 206-7001.

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.

Jamaica Hospital’s New Ambulatory Surgery Unit

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center recently opened its new Ambulatory Surgical Unit (ASU).

The expanded ASU enables the hospital to enhance its surgical services by increasing volume and provides a more efficient and enhanced layout, with a dedicated space for the timely service of elective and same-day procedures. “The new ASU will allow us to increase our volume and accommodate our growing surgical services to meet the needs of our community”, said Dr. Antonietta Morisco, Chairperson of Anesthesiology.

Jamaica Hospital’s ASU features four state-of-the-art operating rooms, a spacious admitting and recovery area for patients, and a comfortable waiting area for family members. Patients who have been to the ASU are amazed at how beautiful and modern the facility is and have said they have had a wonderful experience there.

The ASU has the latest technology to support minimally invasive surgical procedures, highlighted by a da Vinci robot. A few of the surgical subspecialties provided at the ASU include general surgery, ENT, urology, orthopedics, podiatry, gynecology, pain management, and pediatrics. Jamaica Hospital’s new ASU has a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, and support staff.

With the new amenities at the Ambulatory Surgery Unit, the team at the ASU looks forward to continuing to provide the community with high-quality care, building on its commitment to giving patients the best and most stress-free experience possible before, during, and after their surgical procedures.

Meet Our Doctors- Dr. Andrew Bi

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to introduce Dr. Andrew Bi, the newest member of our orthopedic surgical team.

Dr. Bi was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in East Lyme, Connecticut, and currently resides in Queens. He graduated from the University of Connecticut magna cum laude with honors. He then graduated from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine summa cum laude with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. Then he completed his orthopedic surgery residency training at NYU Langone Orthopedics, where he served as Executive Chief Resident. Dr. Bi later underwent subspeciality training at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in a sports medicine fellowship, where he served as assistant team physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Steel, and DePaul University.

Dr. Bi has received numerous awards for teaching, clinical care, and research, including the Ralph Lusskin Senior Resident Teaching Award, the Marian Frauenthal Sloane Clinical Research Award, and the Rush Annual Thesis Day Award.

Dr. Bi treats all aspects of orthopedic injuries with a special interest in the management of all shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee conditions, including, but not limited to robotic-assisted joint replacements for arthritis, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgeries for sports injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), meniscus, cartilage, rotator cuff, and labrum injuries, and the fixation of fractures. His current research efforts involve anterior cruciate ligament injuries, meniscal allograft transplantations, rotator cuff tears, hip arthroscopy, and orthobiologics.

Dr. Bi is excited to begin at the Medisys family at Jamaica Hospital, bringing with him expertise in sports medicine subspecialization, as well as his Chinese heritage, to care for the diverse population surrounding the hospital.

If you are experiencing any conditions or injuries affecting your bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, you can schedule an appointment at Orthopedic Specialists of New York by calling 718-206-6923

National Breastfeeding Month

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

August is National Breastfeeding Month. It is a time when communities and health organizations work in tandem to share the many health benefits of breastfeeding for the nursing mother and baby and to celebrate the natural and healthful bond between a new mother and her infant.

There are five great health benefits of breastfeeding, including:

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies. As the baby grows, the mother’s breast milk will change to meet the baby’s nutritional needs.

Breastfeeding can help protect babies against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, Type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs.

Breast milk shares antibodies from a mother to her baby. These antibodies help babies develop a strong immune system and protect them from illnesses.

Mothers can breastfeed anytime and anywhere. Mothers can feed their babies on the go without worrying about having to mix formula or prepare bottles. Breastfeeding can also provide a source of comfort for babies whose normal routine is disrupted while traveling.

Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother as well. Breastfeeding can reduce the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Ways you can celebrate National Breastfeeding Month include:

Learn more and educate others about breastfeeding

Support breastfeeding mothers

Advocate for better breastfeeding policies

Donate to relevant breastfeeding advocacy organizations

Share stories and experiences about breastfeeding

Volunteer during National Breastfeeding Month

Participate in breastfeeding events

Express gratitude for those who are breastfeeding

At Jamaica Hospital’s Baby Friendly USA-designated Department of Women’s Health Services, we are passionate about meeting the various needs of women in our community. We proudly treat women from all walks of life, and we provide a warm and welcoming environment. To learn more about our OB/GYN services, such as breastfeeding, please contact us at 718-291-3276 for more information.

Primary Heart Attack Center Certification

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Every year, more than 800,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced or blocked. The blockage is usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the heart’s arteries. The amount of damage to the heart muscle depends on the artery and the treatment.

Most heart attacks are caused by coronary artery disease, which is the most common cause of death in the United States.

The warning signs of a heart attack include:

Chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or doesn’t go away and returns
Pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, and stomach
Shortness of breath

Other signs of a heart attack can include:

Breaking out in a cold sweat
Nausea
A rapid or irregular heartbeat
Unusual tiredness
Heartburn or indigestion
Lightheadedness

Several key factors can affect your risk of having a heart attack. Unfortunately, some heart attack risk factors aren’t things you can modify. They include:

Age and sex
Family history of heart disease
Lifestyle
Certain health conditions

Healthcare providers usually diagnose heart attacks in an emergency room setting. If you have heart attack symptoms, you should undergo a physical exam. A healthcare provider will check your pulse, blood oxygen levels, and blood pressure, and listen to your heart and lung sounds. They will also ask about the symptoms you experienced.

A healthcare provider will diagnose a heart attack using the following testing procedures:

Blood tests
An Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
An echocardiogram
A coronary angiogram
A heart computed tomography (CT) scan
A heart MRI
An exercise stress test
Nuclear heart scans

Treating a heart attack means restoring blood flow to the affected heart muscle immediately. This can happen in various ways, ranging from medication to surgery. Treatment will likely include:

Supplementary oxygen
Medications
Percutaneous coronary intervention
Coronary artery bypass grafting

Although several risk factors for a heart attack can’t be modified, there are many ways to reduce your risk of a heart attack, including:

Scheduling a check-up with a healthcare provider
Quitting tobacco products
Exercising regularly
Eating nutritious foods
Maintaining a healthy weight
Managing existing health conditions
Reducing stress
Taking medications as prescribed
Keeping all medical appointments

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center has been awarded the Joint Commission’s Primary Heart Attack Center certification with a gold seal.

This certification standardizes patient care across hospital settings regarding identification, assessment, monitoring, management, data sharing, and performance improvement for multidisciplinary STEMI heart attack care. Our hospital collaborates with the American Heart Association (AHA) in providing patient-centric cardiac care for all patients, their families, and the community the hospital serves.

The protocols and performance measures related to this designation reduce variances and promote standardization of the best practices in cardiac care. This, in turn, assists in improving clinical outcomes.

For more information about heart attacks, visit the American Heart Association’s website: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/about-heart-attacks

If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 right away. If you are experiencing heart attack symptoms, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-7100.

Patient Testimonial- Wayne Texeira says, “Dr. Lasic and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Gave Me a Second Chance.”

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

“I got a second chance”, is what Wayne Texeira said after his experience at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. While working at Jamaica Hospital, Mr. Wayne Texiera suddenly couldn’t breathe and fell to his knees. He saw the lights fading and passed out. While in the ER, he was told his lungs were filling with fluid, he had heart failure, and he almost died. His doctor, Dr. Zoran Lasic, told Mr. Texiera that he had to change his lifestyle after performing an angiogram that showed that he had 30% functionality in his heart.

Over the next year, through the care and recommendations from Dr. Lasic, Mr. Texeira lost 45 pounds, quit smoking, and stopped eating unhealthy foods. He also gained 60% functionality in his heart, which is remarkable. “I am very grateful to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, the staff, and the doctors. My perception changed after I got a second chance.” Now living in Georgia with his wife and daughter, the catalyst for his lifestyle change, “I kept looking at her and I didn’t want her not to have a father, Mr. Texeira said. With a second chance, Mr. Texeira is grateful, “Life has been good. I have no regrets.”

Patient Testimonial – Agostino Romano says, “If it wasn’t for Dr. McKenzie, I’d be dead”, after Dr. Katherine McKenzie Saved His Life.

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

“If it wasn’t for Dr. McKenzie, I’d be dead”, is what Agostino Romano said after his experience at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Mr. Romano has been a patient of Dr. Katherine McKenzie for the last four years. He was first seen by her to treat perforated appendicitis in 2021. During this time, Dr. McKenzie observed that Mr. Romano wasn’t responding well to standard treatment. She suspected an underlying malignancy and investigated further. Dr. McKenzie diagnosed Mr. Romano with a rare and aggressive cancer called Burkitt’s lymphoma.

Mr. Romano received treatment for the cancer and has been in remission. He returned to see Dr. McKenzie for surgery, an abdominal wall reconstruction with a component separation in 2023. He recovered and is doing well. He continues to see Dr. McKenzie every four to six months. He is back at work and has been able to resume his passions which include cooking and sharing Italian food. He has even made trips to see his family in Italy.

“I wouldn’t go to any other hospital. I’ve formed a bond with them,” Mr. Romano said of Dr. McKenzie and her team. Born in Italy, Mr. Romano lives with his wife of 30 years in Ozone Park, Queens. Despite the surgeries and cancer diagnosis, Mr. Romano keeps a positive perspective: “I have nothing but great things to say, even in the dark times.”

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Now Offering Inspire® Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Posted on January 21, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Queens, NY— Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is the only hospital in Queens to offer Inspire therapy, a breakthrough treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for those who cannot use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy.

OSA affects 22 million Americans and when left untreated, it can cause vehicle and workplace accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack, and even death. It occurs when the airway collapses during sleep and blocks oxygen flow to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to breathe, then falls asleep. This cycle repeats throughout the night and causes poor, disruptive sleep.

Inspire works inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process to treat sleep apnea. Mild stimulation opens the airway during sleep, allowing oxygen to flow naturally. The patient uses a small handheld remote to turn Inspire on before bed and off when they wake up.

Inspire’s safety and efficacy were evaluated during the STAR clinical trial. Five-year STAR trial outcomes show that patients using Inspire experience significant reductions in sleep apnea events and significant improvements in quality-of-life measures. Over 150 peer-reviewed publications on Inspire show results consistent with those seen in the STAR trial.

“In our practice, we see many patients who have stopped using or are unable to tolerate CPAP,” said Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. “Inspire represents a significant advancement in treating sleep apnea. It is clinically proven to reduce sleep apnea events and has a high level of patient satisfaction and high therapy adherence. We are excited to offer this promising therapy to sleep apnea patients who struggle with CPAP.”

Our team of otolaryngologists offers effective treatment for many common conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat. These conditions cover various levels of severity; some, such as certain allergies and hearing problems, may pose a distracting annoyance that makes your day-to-day activities more challenging, while others, such as sinus infections, ear infections, and sleep apnea, may develop more serious complications without prompt diagnosis and treatment.

To learn more about Inspire at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please visit Jamaicahospital.org or call 718-206-7110 to make an appointment with an ENT doctor.

Gallbladder Robotic Surgery

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

Gallbladder removal surgery, or cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder, a pear-shaped organ that sits below the liver on the upper right side of the abdomen and collects and stores bile made in the liver.

Gallbladder removal surgery is a common surgery that treats many types of gallbladder disease including:

Gallstones (cholelithiasis)
Cholecystitis (inflammation)
Biliary dyskinesia
Gangrene
Gallbladder cancer
Cholangiopathy
Pancreatitis caused by gallstones

The most common and recognizable symptom of gallbladder disease is biliary colic. It is a pattern of pain in your biliary tract in your upper right abdomen that occurs in episodes, often with nausea. Biliary colic is usually an early sign of biliary disease that is likely to get worse. When your bile flow stalls completely, you’ll feel intense bladder pain that won’t go away until you get medical care. Other signs of possible gallbladder disease include:

Jaundice
A swollen abdomen that is tender to the touch
Large gallbladder polyps discovered on an ultrasound

If you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, your healthcare provider will examine you and conduct the necessary tests to diagnose the cause. They will let you know if gallbladder surgery is recommended.

There are three types of gallbladder removal surgery, they include:

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Robotic cholecystectomy
Open cholecystectomy

Through the acquisition of the Da Vinci robot surgical platform, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center can now perform minimally invasive robotic surgical procedures.

There are many potential advantages of robotic-assisted surgery over other types of surgery, including:

Robot-assisted surgery provides the surgeon with 3D images inside the abdomen and pelvis that create a clearer picture to reference as they operate.
Under the surgeon’s direction, the robot can move more freely and with more versatility than a human hand
You’ll have a few tiny scars.
You’re more likely to experience less pain and less bleeding after surgery compared to open surgery.
A shorter hospital stay.

For more information about robotic surgery at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center or to learn more about other surgical options, please call (718) 206-7001 to make an appointment.

The Lown Institute Has Recognized Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers For Excellence in Health Equity

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

The Lown Institute has recognized Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers for excellence in health equity, receiving an “A” grade on the 2024-25 Lown Institute Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility.

Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital Medical Centers achieved this honor through strong performance across metrics of community benefit, pay equity, and inclusivity out of more than 3,500 hospitals nationwide.

“Great care is only great if everyone can access it,” said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. “We need hospitals to be strong community partners—and Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals are at the top of our list showing the way.”

The Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility is the only ranking to combine health equity metrics and value of care alongside patient outcomes, for more than 2,700 acute care and 800 critical access hospitals nationwide—offering a holistic view of hospitals as total community partners. In the fifth annual rankings, the 2024-25 Lown Index evaluates hospitals on over 50 measures including novel metrics such as community benefit, racial inclusivity, and avoidance of overuse. Data sources include Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage claims, CMS patient safety data and hospital cost reports, and IRS 990 forms. The full can be found on the Lown Index website.

The Lown Institute is an independent think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring system for health. Learn more at www.LownHospitalsIndex.org.