This month we are proud to shine our employee spotlight on Pedro Degante, mailroom coordinator. Pedro has been working at Flushing Hospital Medical Center for 13 years and is a very familiar face around the hospital.

Pedro is a native of Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in the Williamsburgh section of the borough and currently resides in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood. He attended Eastern District High School. and Washington Irving High School.  Pedro then went on to attend the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

In his free time, Pedro likes to ride his bicycle around the city, especially on the West Side Highway in Manhattan. He enjoys listening to different types of music, especially dance music. He also enjoys going to the beach at Coney Island in nice weather. Pedro enjoys all types of food, his favorite dishes are shrimp parmigiana and lobster. His family is very important to him and he enjoys visiting his relatives  that live in North Carolina. Baseball and basketball are the two sports that he enjoys playing when he gets the opportunity.

Pedro likes working at Flushing Hospital because the people are all supportive of one another. It is a great place to come to every day. We are very happy to have Pedro as a member of our team and we look forward to him working 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.

In collaboration with hospitals across the state, the MediSys Health Network (Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center) is conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment survey to determine the most important health concerns of the community, and we would greatly appreciate your input.

The Community Health Needs Assessment survey will assist in the development of a plan that involves many community partners to improve the health of our community. The results of this survey are very important as they can also impact funding, spending, and other wide-reaching decisions about healthcare delivery systems.

The survey is open to all community members residing in New York. To access it, please click here, and share what issues matter to you most.  Please share the survey with family, friends, and others so that their input can be heard. All responses are confidential.

Thank you for your time and for helping us gain valuable insights into the needs of the community.

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.

Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens the bones, making them more susceptible to breaking. Approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 44 million have an increased risk due to poor bone density. In fact, one in two women over 50 years of age will develop osteoporosis  and one in four men will too.

To raise awareness about this disease, May has been designated as National Osteoporosis Month by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF).

According to the BHOF, one of the ways to combat osteoporosis is through bone-strengthening exercise. Additional diet and lifestyle recommendations for maintaining bone strength are:

• Getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D in your diet
• Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption

To schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center to discuss osteoporosis, please call 718-670-5486.

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.

The liver plays an essential role in helping our bodies to digest food, maintain healthy blood sugar levels, manage the clotting of blood, and remove harmful chemicals from the blood.

When our liver is damaged or not functioning properly it can lead to complications such as liver disease, which can potentially become life-threatening.

People with early-stage liver damage or disease may not experience symptoms. However, as time progresses, the body may send warning signs to let us know that the liver is not working the way it should.

Paying attention to these signs and receiving timely treatment can reduce the risk of serious illnesses. Here are five signs you should not ignore:

1. Itchy skin
2. Jaundice (Yellowing of the skin and eyes)
3. Edema (Swelling in the arms and legs)
4. Bruising easily
5. Nausea and vomiting

Treatment for liver disease may include medications, lifestyle changes, or in some cases, liver transplantation.

There are steps you can take to prevent certain types of liver disease. This includes eating less red meat, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting or avoiding the consumption of alcohol, exercising, and getting the hepatitis  A and B vaccine if you are at risk.

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.

May 5^th has been designated as World Hand Hygiene Day by the World Health Organization (WHO). The slogan for this year’s campaign is “Unite for safety: clean your hands.” This year’s theme focuses on  recognizing that we can all contribute to healthcare facility’s culture of safety and quality by cleaning our hands.

Practicing good hand hygiene helps with infection prevention and control. This is why the WHO is encouraging people to clean their hands at the right time and with the right products. Furthermore, healthcare workers at all levels and all others who visit healthcare facilities must unite by cleaning their hands, not just on World Hand Hygiene Day, but every day.

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.

This month we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Joy Batoon, a medical technologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Joy has been employed at Flushing Hospital for 13 years and prior to that worked at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center from 1992 until 2008.

She was born in Cebu, Philippines where she attended elementary through high school at Saint Catherine’s. Joy then attended Southwestern University where she obtained a bachelors of science degree in medical technology. Prior to moving to New York in 1992, Joy lived for a few years beginning in 1977 in Honolulu.  She has a daughter Jowin and a 16-year-old cat named JoJo that she has had since it was a kitten.

Joy has a third degree blackbelt in Taekwondo and in her free time volunteers as a teacher of Taekwondo. She also enjoys horseback riding, rock climbing, indoor skydiving  and attending rock concerts.  Her favorite place to travel to is Hawaii, and she has also enjoyed vacations to Aruba, Austin Texas, and Los Angeles.  Joy enjoys many different types of food, especially Filipino. She also enjoys Indian, Jamaican, Italian and Ukrainian food.

Joy states her colleagues have become like family to her. They are all very supportive of one another. We look forward to her continuing to work at Flushing Hospital 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.

One or both people involved in an intimate relationship may feel as though communication is lacking, their emotional or physical needs are not being met or may feel that there is no longer a real connection with their partner.

Typically, one of the people in a couple will feel the need to get help for their relationship and will act on it first.  However, bringing up this topic with the other person is often very difficult, it can provoke feelings of anxiety, and be met with hesitation or even resistance at first.   Here are a few tips to help with having that conversation:

• Gently approach the topic of going to therapy
• Speak with love, understanding, and compassion
• Inform them that therapy is not to place blame or pick sides
• Focus on the benefits of therapy
• Give your partner time to consider all options

What should you expect to happen in couples counseling? The purpose of couples counseling is to help partners communicate issues, express their emotions, resolve conflicts, or improve intimacy with the guidance of a licensed therapist. Couples therapy typically includes individual sessions to learn about each person, and meetings together as a couple.

The focus of couples counseling includes improving:

• Communication skills
• Stress management
• Selflessness
• Honesty and Trust
• Forgiveness and Patience

Couples therapy often involves giving homework to partners to work on between sessions. This may involve keeping a log of what they are feeling.

To make couples therapy successful both partners should go in with an open mind, agree to disagree about certain issues, and both should be active participants in the therapy process.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers outpatient counseling. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 718-670-5316.

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.

Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is produced in the testicles. It stimulates sperm production, has an effect on sex drive, and helps to build bone and muscle mass. Testosterone levels typically decrease with age. A low testosterone level in the blood is classified as having less than 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl).

What are some of the reasons for low testosterone levels ?  Other than aging, the level of testosterone in the body may be reduced due to chemotherapy, congenital diseases that cause the testicles to not develop properly, use of narcotics, high blood pressure, diabetes, injury or removal of the testicles, radiation, or infection.

The symptoms of low testosterone include:

• Reduced sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction
• Loss of body hair
• Irritability
• Depression
• Reduced muscle mass
• Reduced bone mass
• Obesity
• Reduced physical strength

Treating low testosterone levels should begin with tests to determine the cause of it. This will include a physical examination and blood tests. It is possible to take testosterone supplements which can be given as an injection, gels, patches and tablets. None of these supplements should be taken without consulting with a physician first as they may have side effects that outweigh the benefits. Some of these supplements are also not advised for men who have certain conditions such as heart disease, uncontrolled hypertension, prostate or breast cancer and clotting disorders.

Speak with your physician if you have reason to believe that you have low testosterone levels. You can schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center by calling 718-670-5486.

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.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that are spread by sexual contact. April marks National STI Awareness Month, a campaign sparked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an effort to counter the nation’s high rates of sexually transmitted infections. The United States currently has one of the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases among all countries in the developed world.

The best way to prevent STIs is to not have sexual intercourse but that isn’t realistic for most. However, knowledge of prevention is the second-best option. To prevent the transmission of STIs, people need to be taught how to effectively use condoms.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), outlines the steps on their website https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/male-condom-use.html

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.