SEPTEMBER 2011

Dear Colleagues:

As Queens continues to clean up the water and tree damage from Hurricane Irene, we think back to a few weeks ago as we prepared for the worst. We were fortunate that the hurricane’s wind and flooding spared our hospital. I want to thank the employees, medical staff and volunteers, who spent additional time at the hospital to ensure that our patients and visitors were safe, well-informed and had a positive experience even under strenuous conditions.

Reflecting back on the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and tragic events that occurred on 9/11, we can’t help but be reminded of how vulnerable we are.

Since that fateful day of September 11 ten years ago—many things have improved. City, state and federal agencies have aligned with hospitals in establishing a better communication structure and coherent emergency preparedness plans. We perform interagency drills and continually train to deal with catastrophic events whether caused by nature or man.

However, the harsh reality is that should a catastrophe or lethal pandemic occur, hospitals are the first place people come for emergency care. There are 2.5 million people residing in this borough. Queens is the home to two major airports, and two sports stadiums, which at any given time holds tens of thousands of people. In Queens, there are 10 hospitals, which have a total of 2,300 acute care beds. Accessibility to Manhattan and its resources require people and cars to cross a river.

As the economy declines, hospitals and health care facilities are forced to cut costs. And, as we have seen in Queens over the past several years, four hospitals have had to shut their doors.

The unfortunate truth is that as a borough, Queens cannot handle a deadly pandemic or major catastrophic event—effectively.

Our ability to respond to a disaster is commensurate with adequate funding for preparedness, intensive care facilities and trauma facilities, as well as having the ability to hire more highly trained personnel for trauma and critical care— physicians and nurses.

That is why we continue to urge our elected officials to continue investing in our medical system so that we can handle a potential surge of patients. Having surge capacity, or the ability to manage a sudden or rapidly progressive influx of patients in response to a large scale incident, is synonymous with being prepared. Being prepared is something that we can't afford not to do.

Sincerely,

Stephen S. Mills, F.A.C.H.E.

PEOPLE & PROGRAMS

People News

We are pleased to announce the following appointments to our medical and professional staff:

Thomas B. Evans (pictured, above) has been appointed as the vice president for Physician Business Development. In this role, he will work with community based physicians to develop strategic relationships for our collective benefit. This is a varied approach to preserve independence and to include employment across a wide spectrum of possible arrangements. Mr. Evans reports to Stephen Rimar, M.D., chief medical officer. To contact Mr. Evans, call (718) 670-8714.

Mr. Evans brings to NYHQ more than 15 years of leadership experience in administrative and financial management for medical groups, hospitals and health care systems. He most recently served as the vice president for Physician and Ambulatory Network Services for the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Prior to that position, Mr. Evans worked for Continuum Health Partners, Inc. as the vice president for Medical Enterprises.
He has also held several positions within the Beth Israel Medical Group – Physician Professional Services, Boston, MA.

Welcome to Shanon Kleinman, M.D., attending anesthesiologist. Dr. Kleinman comes to us from the Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, NJ, where he was an attending anesthesiologist. Dr. Kleinman achieved his medical degree from the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, Israel.

Welcome to Cristina Guitierrez, M.D., attending physician, Department of Medicine, as a specialist in critical care medicine. Dr. Gutierrez completed her residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, NY. She served as chief fellow of intensive care medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

 

Jason Hu, M.D., (pictured, above) has joined the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, as an attending surgeon. He specializes in spine, sports and performing arts medicine. He completed his fellowship training at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University/Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill and Columbia campuses. His internal medicine internship was completed at Johns Hopkins University/ Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, MD. He achieved his medical degree from New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. He is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.

Welcome to Christos Iordanou, M.D., an attending surgeon from Greece, who is the third fellow to visit as a result of the NYHQ Hellenic American Emergency Medicine Exchange Program funded by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Dr. Iordanou comes to us from Thriassio Hospital in Elefsina, an industrial city between Athens and Corinth with a busy Emergency Department. He is also responsible for teaching emergency surgery and trauma to the nine residents in his emergency department. He achieved his medical degree from the University of Patras in the Peloponnese, Greece.

Mark Kindschuh, M.D., associate chairman and director of clinical operations, Emergency Medicine, has been appointed medical director, Employee Health Services. Dr. Kindschuh has been an occupational health consultant to the construction and aviation industry for several years and is a licensed NYS Workers’ Compensation Board physician. Dr. Kindschuh is a graduate of Stanford University, where he was a Fulbright Scholar. He achieved his medical degree from the University of Texas and completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at New York University Medical Center. In addition, he holds an M.B.A. from the NYU Stern School of Business.

The Theresa and Eugene M. Lang Center for Research Center and Education has appointed James Stoeckle as the first Dr. Holly Andersen Scholar. He will serve as a cardiovascular research assistant for the Lang Research Center. The Dr. Holly Andersen Scholar position is funded by Eugene Lang, long-time friend and benefactor to the hospital and the Lang Research Center. Mr. Lang funded this endowment as a way to honor his personal cardiologist, Holly Andersen, M.D. Mr. Stoeckle is responsible for patient recruitment for a coronary artery disease genetics study led by Andrew Buda M.D., attending cardiologist, New York Hospital Queens, and in partnership with Columbia University.

Our physicians and clinical staff frequently present their work at medical conferences and in peer-reviewed publications:

Bruce Spinowitz, M.D., associate chairman, Department of Medicine, and associate director, Nephrology, served as a principal investigator in a phase 2 study of a medication’s effect on kidney disease and diabetes. Data from this phase 2 study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study showed that patients with moderate to severe kidney disease and type 2 diabetes who received bardoxolone methyl for one year experienced a sustained improvement in kidney function. Bardoxolone methyl is an antioxidant inflammation modulator, which means it reduces oxidative stress (which can damage cells) and suppresses inflammation.

The study recently entered phase 3, which will study the medication’s impact on clinical outcomes. The study plans to enroll approximately 1,600 patients with kidney disease and type 2 diabetes at more than 300 sites worldwide. Dr. Spinowitz and his associates are participating in this study. Research results are expected in 2013.

It is an honor for us when our hospital team members are recognized by other organizations and when they attain professional achievements:

U.S. hospitals are racing to implement Electronic Medical Records, Computerized Physician Order Entry and Health Information Exchange technology in time to meet deadlines and receive maximum funding from federal incentives. Kenneth Ong, M.D., M.P.H. Chief Medical Informatics Officer, will serve on a panel of speakers at the Health IT Summit, September 20-21, to discuss how hospitals can achieve federal guidelines, such as establishing “meaningful use” criteria.

Congratulations to Charles Lombardi, D.P.M., for being selected as the recipient of the 2012 American Podiatric Medical Association’s (APMA) Award of Excellence. The award is given to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding national accomplishments in scientific, professional or civic endeavors. The award presentation will occur at the APMA House of Delegates meeting scheduled for March 2012 in Washington, D.C.

Joseph J. Abularrage, M.D., was presented an Award of Recognition for his leading role in the “Leadership Workgroup” of the Education Unit for Weill Cornell Medical College. The award presentation was held at the Cornell Club and was hosted by Antonio Gotto, M.D., D.Phil., the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of the Medical College.

Dr. Abularrage addressed the new class of first year medical students on the newly launched leadership curriculum, which teaches future doctors how to become future clinical leaders. Additionally, Dr. Abularrage served as an associate group leader for the Cornell Curriculum Retreat. 

Program News

New Pre-Operative Area Opens
With the relocation of cardiac catheterization services to the new West Building, the vacated space was renovated to house our newly expanded pre-operative area for the Main OR. The pre-op area is located immediately adjacent to the Main OR. It accommodates 12 beds, up from five. The new space is designed to increase patient privacy.

Transitional Care Unit Gets Green Light
The Public Health and Health Planning Council has granted us conditional approval to create a 16-bed transitional care unit. We will renovate 5,700 square feet on the eighth floor to make way for the new unit. A transitional care unit can reduce length of stay and prevent readmissions by letting patients fully recover before being released while freeing up acute-care beds.

New Service Offered at Queens Eye Center
Our Queens Eye Center expanded its service to provide full, partial and artificial corneal transplant surgery. Jayati Sarkar, M.D., attending ophthalmologist, performed the center’s first corneal transplant surgery on a 32-year-old woman. A corneal transplant is performed when the cornea, the transparent tissue that covers the eye’s pupil and iris, is damaged or diseased. The cornea can then be fully or partially replaced by donor or artificial corneal tissue. Since the surgery last month, the patient’s vision has greatly improved.

“Our service is now more convenient for patients in Queens. Our patients do not need to go to Manhattan for corneal transplant surgery,” said Dr. Sarkar. “You can have the surgery, right here in Queens.” For more information, contact the Queens Eye Center at (718) 661-8800.

Ryan White Grand Award for Dental and Oral Medicine
In August, the Department of Dental and Oral Medicine received a Ryan White Grant Award in the amount of $94,686. This award is the 22nd consecutive Ryan White Grant for uncompensated costs for HIV patients since 1990. NYHQ is one of a few voluntary hospitals that has received Ryan White funding for 22 consecutive years. Since 1977 the dental department has received multiple Federal HRSA training grant awards, which has enabled the department to expand our program from 4 to 16 dental general practice residents. The combination of the Ryan White and HRSA training grants is reaching the $5 million dollar mark.

Support NYHQ And Donate to the HANYS PAC
The 2011 Annual HANYS-PAC campaign is underway. HANYS (Healthcare Association of New York State) is an industry advocacy organization that represents hospitals on issues related to health care policy at the state and federal government levels. The organization makes sure that our elected officials understand the challenges we face so they can advocate for effective approaches for the health care of New Yorkers. To make a voluntary donation to the New York Hospital Queens campaign for the 2011 HANYS-PAC, or for more information, please contact Debra Pagano Cohen at (718) 670-1586.

NYHQ Goes Greener
We have entered a partnership with Stericycle, a medical waste management company, to enhance efforts in the following areas: pharmaceutical and medical waste disposal, regular solid waste disposal, Sharps disposal and recycling cardboard, paper, plastic, metal and glass. These initiatives will help reduce the amount of waste in landfills and demonstrate a commitment to water quality.

To improve our “green” practices, the hospital installed the Sharps Management System using Bio Systems reusable containers, which significantly helps reduce the hospital’s carbon footprint. We expect to prevent 34,203 pounds of carbon from being emitted annually by not sending 57,644 pounds of plastic and 4,453 pounds of cardboard to landfills. These numbers equate to conserving 1,761 gallons of gasoline.

NYHQ maintains “green” partnerships with federal, state, and city agencies, including the EPA, Department of Energy, New York State Research and Development Authority, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation. For more about our “Go NYHQ Green” Initiative, visit the hospital Web site: http://nyhq.org/gogreen.

Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation Symposium Set for October 28
Pediatric sports-related injuries are on the rise. To help prepare health care providers who care for young patients with these injuries, The Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation will present the symposium, “Comprehensive Care of the Pediatric and Adolescent Athlete” on October 28 in the Lang Auditorium. The symposium is accredited for continuing medical education credit for physicians. For more information or to register for the symposium, contact the Continuing Medical Education office at (718) 670-1419.

The Save-A-Life Campaign
Our Women’s Auxiliary and Community Advisory Council (CAC) have kicked off the Save-A-Life campaign to raise money to purchase cardiac equipment for our hospital ambulances. Each top-of-the-line cardiac monitor/defibrillator is approximately $30,000.

The new cardiac machines are designed to bring the Emergency Room physician—virtually— to the patient. Vital signs, heart rhythms (ECG) and other important information are wirelessly sent to the receiving hospital. The physician can view the information from a computer monitor at the hospital and give direct guidance to the paramedics and EMTs before the patient reaches the hospital.

To raise funds, raffle tickets are being sold for $10 each. Or, to make a direct donation, contact Jody Eglinton, president, Women’s Auxiliary, at (718) 670-1249. The raffle prize is a 40-inch flat screen T.V. or a Tiffany & Co silver chain and pendant. Raffle winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 23.

PROGRESS 

OUR VISIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY

Nick Cannon & the NY Mets Deliver Toys to the Children at NYHQ

 

Nick Cannon (pictured, above) host from the 92.3 NOW FM Morning Show and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” visited New York Hospital Queens to deliver toys to the children at our hospital. Cannon and the NY Mets recently attempted to break the Guinness Record for hugs in one hour. For every hug, the WowWee toy company donated a Paperjamz toy guitar to a child a New York Hospital Queens. Cannon missed the record by 52 hugs. Regardless, 1,698 young patients from our hospital will get a brand new guitar.

Bone & Joint Hospital Advertising Campaign Launches

In August, we launched another public marketing and advertising campaign. This campaign is designed to raise awareness of our orthopaedic and rehabilitation services. The message of the campaign is that you should do something about bone and joint pain, and the relief for that pain can be found right here—at The Bone and Joint Hospital of Queens—at New York Hospital of Queens. This campaign is running in 4 languages in several types of media in and around Queens, including: radio commercials, newspaper and online advertising, billboards, on the sides of buses as well as on bus shelters.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NYHQ Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
On October 16, New York Hospital Queens will join the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. To join the NYHQ team contact Barbara Mondrow at 718-670-1006 or e-mail her at bam9034@nyp.org.

Women’s Auxiliary to Honor Pastoral Care Services at Annual Luncheon
The Women’s Auxiliary Annual Luncheon will be held on October 12, at The Inn At New Hyde Park. The luncheon is themed “Tribute to the Ministry” and will honor Rabbi David Keehn, Reverend Eun Joo Kim and Sister Rosarine Quinn as this year’s Spirit Award recipients. Tickets are $75 each and a table of 10 is $750.  If you are interested in attending or would like to purchase raffle tickets call Jody Eglinton at 718-670-1249.