Shining Our Employee Spotlight on Keila Tapia

Posted on July 29, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

This month we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Keila Tapia.

Keila has been with Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for eight years and is an administrative assistant in the Security Department. She grew up in the East New York section of Brooklyn and currently lives in Queens.

Keila attended P.S. 214, John Adams High School, received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Medgar Evers College in 2010 and currently is studying for her master’s degree in health administration at Capella University.

Family and friends are the most important part of her life. Keila enjoys spending time with them in her free time. She also likes to go to concerts, spend time outdoors, watch baseball games and go out to eat. Her favorite types of food are Mexican and Italian. Keila enjoys many genres of entertainment; however, her favorite type of movie are horror movies and she likes to listen to Latin and R & B music.

When she has the opportunity Keila likes to travel to places that have warm climates and beautiful beaches. Some of the places she has been to are Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, and the Dominican Republic where she spends time with her loved ones.

Keila enjoys working at Jamaica Hospital because it provides opportunities to keep growing within the organization and also because people work together so well as a team. We look forward to having Keila continue with us for many more years.

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.

Supplements And Drug Interactions

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Xavia Malcolm

It is common for people to take dietary supplements while using prescribed medications. However, many do not disclose this information to their doctors.

Informing your doctor of prescription and supplement usage is important because some supplements when combined with certain medications can cause interactions that endanger your health.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), warns against combining the following medications and supplements as doing so can result in adverse reactions:

Drugs for HIV/AIDS, heart disease, depression, treatments for organ transplants, and birth control pills are less effective when taken with St. John’s wort, an herbal supplement.
Warfarin (a prescription blood thinner), ginkgo biloba (an herbal supplement), aspirin, and vitamin E (a supplement) can each thin the blood. Taking any of these products together may increase the potential for internal bleeding or stroke.

Other examples of dietary supplement and prescription medication interactions are:

Goldenseal – it is highly advised that goldenseal not be combined with most over-the-counter and prescription medicines. It may interact with blood thinners, chemotherapy and HIV drugs.
Calcium- may interact with certain antibiotics, thyroid or osteoporosis drugs.
Co-Q10- may interact with blood thinners and cancer drugs.
Valerian- may interact with anti-anxiety drugs.

It is important to keep in mind that while many supplements are labeled as natural, they may not always be safe, especially when taken with certain medicines. The FDA advises patients to always consult with their physicians before taking any dietary supplement and medication combinations.

Wearing Compression Socks During Long Flights

Posted on July 19, 2022 by Xavia Malcolm

Staying seated during long-haul flights lasting four or more hours can slow down the flow of blood in the legs.

A slow-down in circulation can increase the risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when blood clots form in the deep veins in the legs. Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when there is a blockage in the pulmonary arteries in the lungs. This is most likely caused by a blood clot that traveled from the deep veins in the legs to the lungs.

DVT and PE can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications. However, there are several things you can do to reduce the risk of developing these problems while flying, one of which is wearing compression socks.

Compression socks work by squeezing or placing pressure on the veins in the legs and feet. This helps with improving circulation and preventing blood from pooling in the veins.

Additional health benefits gained by wearing compression socks are:

They can help ease swelling in the feet
They can provide some relief to tired and achy feet
They can help improve lymphatic drainage

When purchasing a pair of compression socks, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

They have different levels of pressure, measured in mmHg
You likely have the wrong size if they feel too tight or painful

If you are flying for an extended period, consider wearing compression socks. But first, speak with your healthcare provider to decide if they are right for you. Compression socks may do more harm than good if not worn properly or if they do not fit correctly.

Summer Skin Problems

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

Many people tend to spend more time outdoors during the summer months. This is a welcome change from the colder months when we spend most of our time indoors. However, more time spent outdoors can present challenges to the health of our skin.

These are a few of the conditions that can affect the skin during the summer months:

Sunburn – Caused by prolonged unprotected exposure to UV rays from the sun
Skin cancer – Caused by being exposed for prolonged periods of time to UV rays from the sun
Acne – Caused by bacteria on the surface of the skin mixing which blocks pores
Sun allergy – Caused by taking certain medications or having sensitivity to the sun
Plant rashes – Caused by coming in contact with poison oak, ivy, or sumac
Melasma – Caused by the sun making brown spots on the skin more noticeable
Prickly heat – Caused by blocked sweat glands which form tiny bumps on the surface of the skin
Seabather’s eruption – Caused by a reaction to seawater
Athletes feet – Caused by walking barefoot on damp surfaces without shoes in places such as communal showers, gyms, and wearing other peoples’ shoes

Many of these summer related conditions can be prevented by applying sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher, keeping the skin clean, wearing insect repellant, not wearing alcohol based perfumes, wearing protective clothing, wearing a hat, showering after being out in the sun and after swimming in seawater, and also avoiding being out and unprotected during the hottest times of the day. Following these tips can help prevent some of the summer skin problems that can occur.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-7001. If you are experiencing a severe reaction to any of the above conditions, seek medical care immediately.

Jamaica Hospital Signs Formal Agreements With Local Cure Violence Groups To Help End Gun Violence In Our Community

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

On Monday, June 13^th, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center held an important event to address the gun violence epidemic in our community.

On that date, the hospital signed official partnerships with three members of The NYC Crisis Management System – King of Kings, Life Camp, and Rock Safe Streets as part of its commitment to end gun violence in our community. The objective of the landmark agreement is for all involved to work together to prevent violence and assist in protecting the health of patients and community members.

According to the formal collaboration, Jamaica Hospital will designate employees who will support the provision of anti-violence and violence interruption services by responding to referrals of traumas associated with gun violence. These designated employees will also assist in coordinating the visitation of Responders (individuals appointed by Cure Violence groups) with patients and loved ones, with their consent and as authorized by the law.

Responders’ duties include conducting follow-up visits during the inpatient stay with identified hospital patients, upon a determination by Jamaica Hospital that the patient is stable. Responders will provide supportive services such as mediation, conflict resolution, and service referrals to assist in the prevention of re-injury to these patients or to prevent retaliation connected to gun violence incidents.

Participating in the event were many local elected officials including Congressman Gregory Meeks, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Senator Leroy Comrie, and Chief Kevin Williams, NYPD Patrol Borough Queens South. Each official praised both Jamaica Hospital and the three members of The NYC Crisis Management System for working together to help end the gun violence crisis.

In addition, Dr. Katherine McKenzie addressed the audience to share information about Jamaica Hospital’s existing Violence Elimination and Trauma Outreach (VETO) program, which aimed to provide support for victims of gun violence as well as the hospital’s plans to create a dedicated center where gun violence victims can have all their clinical and social needs met as part of our Trauma Healing & Recovery Integrative Violence Elimination (THRIVE) Survivor Center.

After the presentation, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center President & CEO, Bruce Flanz signed formal Memos of Understanding to officially mark the occasion.

The event received significant media attention. To see the press clips, please click on the links below:

Employee Spotlight Shines on Jonathan Benedek, LMSW

Posted on June 30, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Jonathan Benedek, LMSW. Jonathan has been with Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for five years. He is a native of Queens and still resides in the borough. He attended elementary school at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe in Kew Gardens, Mesivita Yesodei Yeshurun in Kew Gardens Hills for high school and Touro University where he obtained a BA in Psychology. He then received his Master’s Degree in Social Work from Touro Graduate School of Social Work.

Jonathan resides with his wife and they are expecting their first child in mid-July. In his free time he enjoys playing the piano/keyboard both for his own enjoyment and also to entertain at social events like birthday parties. He likes to cook with his wife and some of their favorite dishes to prepare are fish, pasta, chicken, and meat. Whenever he gets a chance, he enjoys a good bagel and also a nice slice of pizza. Jonathan also enjoys taking walks with his wife and engaging in religious studies. Some of Jonathan’s favorite sports to watch and play are volleyball, tennis and soccer. He also enjoys hiking, camping, and zip lining.

Jonathan likes to travel and he has been to Florida, Rhode Island, Canada and Israel. In the future he hopes to visit places around the world that he has only visited virtually through Google Earth. Learning about other cultures is also very important to him.

Jonathan loves working at Jamaica Hospital because of his great co-workers and the diversity of the staff and the patients that they take care of. He enjoys being able to serve patients and assisting them with finding practical solutions to the challenges that they may be facing. He feels that it is very important to treat people the way he would like to be treated.

We are very fortunate to have Jonathan as a member of our healthcare team at Jamaica Hospital and we hope that he remains with us for many more years.

Tick-Borne Diseases

Posted on June 28, 2022 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

With summer in full swing, we will be spending more time participating in activities outdoors in areas such as parks, forests, and hiking trails. While getting out and keeping physically fit is strongly encouraged it is important to keep in mind that being in these areas can put you at risk for tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infection in New York City and in the United States. On the east coast, Lyme disease is spread by the bite of a black-legged tick infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Not all black-legged ticks carry this bacterium and, even if they are infected, they must be attached for at least 36 – 48 hours after a person is bitten to transmit the disease.

Although Lyme disease is common, it is not the only tick-borne disease to be wary of; other diseases include tularemia, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, and anaplasmosis.

The best way to avoid contracting Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases is to avoid direct contact with ticks. You can do this by avoiding wooded and brushy areas, and high grass.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends the following to reduce exposure to ticks:

Wear a hat and light-colored clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into boots or socks.
Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone
Check your skin and clothes for ticks
Remember to check your hair, underarms, and groin for ticks.

Some of the tips to find and remove ticks from your body and clothing are:

Take a shower soon after returning indoors. If you wash within two hours of returning indoors, the ticks are more easily found and washed off your body.
Once you are indoors, take your clothing and place them in the wash using hot water and then put them in the dryer on “high” for at least 10 minutes; if the clothes were washed in cold water, place them in the dryer on “high” for at least 90 minutes

If you have been bitten, please consult a doctor immediately. Tick-borne diseases that are left untreated can cause arthritis, facial palsy, and nervous system problems. To schedule an appointment with a doctor at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-7001.

Cannabis: Driving Under The Influence

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management states, “Cannabis is legal in New York for adults 21 and older.”

Cannabis or marijuana refers to the dried leaves, stems, flowers, or seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant. It contains the psychoactive or mind-altering chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD).

Although the use of cannabis is permissible for adults 21 and older, that does not mean it can be smoked or consumed anywhere you want. Cannabis must be used responsibly and according to law.

According to the NYS Office of Cannabis Management, “Cannabis can be consumed in a private home or at a state-licensed on-site consumption site (coming soon). The smoking of cannabis is prohibited anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited.”

It is also illegal to drive while under the influence of marijuana. There is a direct link between THC blood level concentration and impaired driving. THC can impair important skills needed to drive safely. It is known to distort perception, and slow motor coordination and reaction times.

In addition to impairing driving abilities, the use of cannabis can have negative health effects. Some of which are:

Hallucinations
Psychosis
Impaired memory
Difficulty thinking and problem solving
Increased heart rate
Breathing problems
Changes in mood
Headaches
Fatigue
Severe nausea and vomiting

Cannabis affects everyone differently. Therefore, it should never be used before driving, operating heavy machinery, or making important decisions. The NYS Office of Cannabis Management also recommends that those who are, “pregnant or breast feeding, have been diagnosed or are predisposed to having a serious mental illness, have a history of respiratory or cardiovascular illness, or are currently taking any prescription medication,” consult a physician before consuming.

To schedule an appointment with a doctor at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-7001.

Learning The Facts About Aphasia

Posted on June 20, 2022 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Aphasia is a neurological condition that can affect your speech, as well as your ability to write and understand both spoken and written language.

Aphasia typically occurs after a stroke or a head injury, but it can also have a gradual onset as the result of a slow-growing brain tumor or a disease that causes degenerative damage. Sometimes temporary episodes of aphasia can occur. These can be due to migraines, seizures or a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA occurs when blood flow is temporarily blocked to an area of the brain.

The severity of aphasia varies depending on the cause and the extent of the brain damage.

Some of the symptoms of aphasia include:

Speaking in short or incomplete sentences
Speaking in sentences that don’t make sense
Substituting one word for another or one sound for another
Using unrecognizable words
Not understanding conversations
Writing sentences that don’t make sense

Aphasia can create numerous quality-of-life problems because communication is so much a part of your life. Communication difficulty may affect your job, relationships, and general day-to-day functionality. Communication difficulties can also lead to feelings of shame and depression.

Once the cause has been addressed, the main treatment for aphasia is speech and language therapy. The person with aphasia relearns and practices language skills and learns to use other ways to communicate. Family members often participate in the process, helping the person communicate.

Because aphasia is often a sign of a serious problem, such as a stroke, seek emergency medical care if you suddenly develop any symptoms.

Meet Dr. Mina Guerges

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center would like to introduce vascular surgeon Dr. Mina Guerges to our community.

Vascular surgeons are physicians who specialize in treating diseases of the vascular system, also known as the circulatory system. Diseases of the vascular system include atherosclerosis, carotid artery disease, and peripheral artery disease.

Dr. Guerges is highly trained and skilled in performing minimally invasive endovascular and open-ended procedures. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and his medical degree from the Ross University School of Medicine. Dr. Guerges completed his general surgery residency at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and his vascular surgery fellowship at Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell. He serves as a military surgeon in the United States Navy Reserves and is an active New York Police Department trooper surgeon. Dr. Guerges is RPVI certified and is an active member of the American Board of Surgery as well as the Society of Vascular Surgeons.

Dr. Guerges’ specialties include treating lower extremity peripheral artery disease, carotid stenosis, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and other conditions that affect the vascular system. He takes great pride in building relationships and helping patients beyond surgery by applying a holistic approach to treatment. This involves identifying risk factors that can lead to vascular diseases such as diabetes and hypertension and working with patients to develop a lifestyle plan that addresses these issues and ensures long-term success.

“Vascular disease is prevalent in our community. Therefore, it is important that I educate patients about their risk for developing preventable diseases,” shares Dr. Guerges. He also believes that it is important to collaborate with physicians of other specialties such as podiatrists and neurologists to lower the risk for disease and avoid serious problems such as stroke or leg amputation. “By working together we can create the best plan of treatment to achieve optimal results for our patients.”

Dr. Guerges is extremely happy to join the vascular surgery team at Jamaica Hospital. He treats patients at 134-20 Jamaica Avenue as well as the hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call 718-206-8755 or 718-206-7001.