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LIJ Forest Hills hosts event to better health care in Queens
Lorraine Chambers Lewis, PA-C, reaffirms commitment to Queens residents during the hospital's inaugural Community Connection event
The leadership team of Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Forest Hills provided its vision for a collaborative effort to provide health care in Queens to more than 50 community leaders and elected officials during the hospital’s inaugural Community Connection event in the Queens Museum.
“The purpose of doing this is to connect with all of you,” said Lorraine Chambers Lewis, PA-C, executive director of the hospital. “I see everyone here as my partners in healthcare in the community, and we can’t do this without you.” Some of those in attendance will be called upon to join the hospital’s new community advisory board to help shape the services and programs offered by LIJ Forest Hills.
“We want to make sure that we have our finger on the pulse and that this is not just a one-way conversation,” said Ms. Chambers Lewis. “We want you to tell us what the community needs.”
LIJ Forest Hills expands services
The event was also meant to reintroduce the hospital to the community post-pandemic, and redefine what a community hospital is and what it can provide.
The 312-bed hospital delivers almost 2,000 babies and treats more than 50,000 patients in its emergency department annually. In addition, LIJ Forest Hills provides employment to upwards of 1,500 staff, many of whom come from within Queens. The hospital’s staff is actively involved in major community events such as the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Races, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Night Out Against Crime with the 112th Precinct.
Recently, the hospital launched its electrophysiology program offering leadless pacemakers to treat patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, as well as its advanced endoscopy services which allow for less invasive biopsies. The hospital is also designated as a Center of Excellence for bariatric surgery and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. “We’re not a sleepy community hospital,” said Ms. Chambers Lewis.
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Investments in patient care
Questions from the audience ranging from flu shots to immigration status of patients were answered by a panel of medical leadership composed of Christopher Calandrella, DO, chair of emergency medicine; Mitchell Jacobs, MD, medical director; John Raimo, MD, chair of medicine; Armando Castro-Tie, MD, chair of surgery; and Ms. Chambers Lewis.
John D’Angelo, MD, senior vice president and regional executive director for Northwell Health’s central region, addressed the audience about the health system’s community investment and goals for patient care in Queens.
“The beauty of Northwell is that we have pretty much everything,” said Dr. D’Angelo, who oversees LIJ Forest Hills, LIJ Valley Stream, LIJ Medical Center, Northshore University Hospital, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, and about 280 ambulatory practices in Queens and Nassau County.
“We don’t think of things as just a hospitalization. In fact, we’re trying to get rid of the word ‘discharge’ because it sounds like we’re done with you when you leave our hospital,” explained Dr. D’Angelo. “It’s all about transitions of care. What is that continuity of care that we need to deliver to the community to promote wellness and then transition people to the level of service they need, and make that as seamless as possible for our patients.”
Interpretative services make all patients feel welcome
Rounding out the evening, Ms. Chambers Lewis praised Queens as the ‘world’s borough’ where more than 164 languages and dialects are spoken, including 35 languages spoken by hospital staff.
To meet the needs of the hospital’s culturally diverse patient population, the hospital uses video-assisted interpreter devices so that patients can speak to someone in their native language in real-time regarding their health care. In addition, patient TV channels are offered in Spanish, Russian, Korean and Chinese. Additionally, meal offerings such as Kosher and Halal food adhere to religious dietary requirements.
“We brag about how diverse we are,” she said. “It is also a challenge because anything that we do, we have to do it with that in mind in order to be successful.”
State Senators Joseph Addabbo, Jr.,and Leroy Comrie, Assemblyman David Weprin and Councilwoman Lynn Schulman were in attendance at the event, and Borough President Donovan Richards sent a video message.
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