Traditional vs Robotic Surgery

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

When a patient requires a surgical procedure, a healthcare provider and surgical team determine the most appropriate surgical method based on the patient’s condition. Two types of surgical methods that can be used are traditional and robotic.

Traditional, or open surgery, is a surgical technique that involves cutting the skin and tissues to provide the surgeon with a complete view of the structures or organs involved, such as the removal of the gallbladder or kidneys.

Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique in which a surgeon performs a surgical procedure using a robotic device. The device features a robotic arm that can hold small surgical instruments and is more dexterous than a human hand.

There are several advantages of traditional surgery, including:

The effectiveness in treating a wide range of medical conditions
It allows for direct visualization and manipulation of organs and tissues
It can be performed quickly in emergencies
Many surgeons are highly trained and experienced in traditional surgical techniques

Traditional surgery can also have its disadvantages, including:

It can be invasive and cause pain, scarring, and longer recovery times
It can have a higher risk of infection and other complications
It can be expensive, especially if multiple procedures are needed

Robotic surgery can have several advantages, including:

It is more precise and accurate than traditional surgery
It is less invasive
It reduces blood loss
It has a faster recovery time
It creates fewer scars
It gives the surgeon a better range of motion
It gives the surgeon a better view of the surgical site, leading to more accurate and effective surgeries

The disadvantages of robotic surgery include:

It can cost more than traditional surgery
It gives the surgeon limited tactile feedback
There can be technical difficulties

Both traditional and robotic surgery have advantages and disadvantages. It all depends on the patient’s needs and what the healthcare provider and surgical team deem as the best course of action for that patient.

For more information about robotic surgery or to learn more about other surgical options at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, call (718) 670-5000 to make an appointment.

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.

Employee Spotlight Shines on Sarah Kan

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to shine our Employee Spotlight on Sarah Kan, Executive Receptionist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center. Sarah has been working at the hospital for 14 years.

Sarah grew up in Queens where she attended the High School for Health Professionals and Human Services and is a graduate of Baruch College. She has two children, a girl who is 20 years old and a boy who is 16. Sarah has one cat named Miso that she adopted from a shelter and one fish named Eden. Eden is an Oscar cichlid native to the Amazon Basin. Both of her pets are two years old. In her free time, Sarah enjoys taking care of her plants, baking, playing with her cat, and keeping up on current events in the world. Sarah has also taken up painting. She enjoys traveling, especially with her family, at least once a year. A few of the places she has visited are Switzerland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Japan. She would like to visit Germany, Italy, Norway, the French Polynesia, and revisit Japan.

Sarah enjoys different types of cuisine. Her favorites are Japanese, Italian, steak and all types of desserts. She plays the piano, and her favorite type of music is classical. Romantic comedies are her favorite type of movies. She also enjoys stand-up comedians. Sarah likes to watch tennis.

Sarah enjoys working at Flushing Hospital because the employees are so pleasant and they work together well as a team. She receives great satisfaction from assisting patients and visitors, many of whom show their appreciation as they leave the hospital. We look forward to Sarah continuing to work with us for many more years.

Health Benefits of Walking

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Several types of exercise, such as swimming, weightlifting, and running, offer many health benefits. Walking also provides numerous benefits to our health, including:

Helps you maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat
Helps prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, and type 2 diabetes
Helps improve cardiovascular fitness
Helps strengthen bones and muscles
Helps improve muscle endurance
Helps increase energy levels
Helps improve mood, cognition, memory, and sleep
Helps improve balance and coordination
Helps strengthen the immune system
Helps reduce stress and tension
Helps extend a person’s lifespan
Helps inspire creative thinking

Walking is a versatile exercise for people of all ages and fitness levels. However, it is advised that you gradually work your way up to walking faster and walking a mile in a shorter amount of time. It can improve your heart health and increase your endurance while burning more calories.

Be sure to warm up and cool down before walking to avoid injury.

It is recommended that you consult your doctor before starting or adding new exercises to your routine. You can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.

Gout

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Gout is a common, painful form of inflammatory arthritis. It is caused when the body’s natural production of uric acid breaks down chemicals called purines found in certain foods and drinks. This causes sharp crystals to form in your joints, usually the big toe. Gout can also affect other joints, including the knees, ankles, feet, hands, wrists, and elbows.

Gout symptoms can come and go in episodes called flare-ups or gout attacks. They can be very painful and can happen suddenly. During a gout attack, symptoms in the affected joints may include:

Intense joint pain
Inflammation and redness
Stiffness
Swelling
Tenderness

Healthcare providers usually diagnose gout based on the results of a physical exam, your symptoms, and the appearance of the affected joint. Tests to help diagnose gout may include:

A joint fluid test
Blood tests
X-ray imaging
An ultrasound
An MRI
Dual-energy computerized tomography (DECT)

Gout medications are available in two types and focus on two different problems. The first type helps reduce the inflammation and pain associated with gout attacks. The second type works to prevent gout complications by lowering the amount of uric acid in the blood.

Which medication is right for you depends on the frequency and severity of your symptoms, and any other health problems you may have.

Medications used to treat gout flare-ups and prevent future attacks include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Colchicine
Corticosteroids

If you experience several gout attacks each year, or if your gout attacks are less frequent but particularly painful, a healthcare provider may recommend medication to reduce your risk of gout-related complications. If you already have evidence of damage from gout on joint X-rays, or you have tophi, chronic kidney disease, or kidney stones, medications to lower the body’s level of uric acid may be recommended.

Medications are often the most effective way to treat gout attacks and prevent recurrent symptom flare-ups. However, lifestyle changes are also important. Lifestyle changes to help prevent gout include:

Choosing healthier beverages
Avoiding food high in purines
Exercising regularly and losing weight

If you are experiencing gout-related symptoms, visit Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486. If there is an emergency, please call 911.

Meet Our New Beginnings Team Member Ma Christina Lopez

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Andrew Rubin

This month, we are proud to highlight our New Beginnings team member, Ma Christina Lopez, a Labor and Delivery Unit Clerk. She has been working at Flushing Hospital Medical Center for 15 years. She was initially hired as a postpartum evening clerk who cross trained in labor and delivery. After two years she was transferred to the inpatient pediatric unit where she stayed for 12.5 years. While in pediatrics, she was given the opportunity to learn and work in different units in the hospital. In July of 2024 she decided to move back to the labor and delivery unit.

Ma Christina enjoys being a part of a life-affirming process. It gives her great pleasure being a part of the patient’s incredible journey of childbirth, witnessing the miracle of life and supporting families during a significant and often emotional time. Ma Christina likes the constant activity and ever-changing situations that keep things interesting and challenging, ensuring no two days are ever the same. The labor and delivery unit is a high-stakes environment where she has the chance to learn quickly and expand her knowledge of medical procedures, terminology, and patient care.

Ma Christina appreciates the collaborative nature of the unit, working closely with nurses, doctors and other healthcare staff to ensure the best possible care for patients. She
feels a real sense of purpose in knowing that her administrative and organizational skills are contributing to the smooth and efficient operation of the unit, allowing the medical staff to focus on patient care.

She enjoys interacting with patients and their families, providing support and information when needed and helping to make their experience as comfortable as possible. Ma Christina understands that as a unit clerk, she is the invisible hands behind the doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, and physician assistants, and takes pride in that.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Xavia Malcolm

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes. It occurs when diabetes damages the small blood vessels in the retina.

In some people, diabetic retinopathy may cause blood vessels to swell and leak fluid; in others, abnormal blood vessels may grow on the retina’s surface. These changes over time can lead to vision loss or permanent blindness.

The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to develop diabetic retinopathy. They may not have any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. However, as it progresses, they might experience:

Trouble seeing far-away objects
Seeing dark, floating spots
Difficulty reading
Blurry vision
Poor night vision
Color blindness or color vision changes
Blind spots

In addition to having diabetes, other factors can increase the risk of diabetic retinopathy. They include:

High blood pressure
Pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
High cholesterol
Poor control of high blood sugar levels
Smoking

You can reduce your risk of diabetic retinopathy by:

Controlling blood sugar levels by taking medications as prescribed and following your healthcare provider’s care plan
Quitting smoking
Managing cholesterol
Managing high blood pressure
Maintaining a healthy diet
Getting regular eye exams

Regular eye exams can help your doctor detect and diagnose diabetic retinopathy early. Timely treatments can reduce the risk of complications or other serious eye conditions.

There are several treatment options available if you develop diabetic retinopathy. They can include injecting medications into the eye, focal laser treatments, scatter laser treatments, or eye surgery.

If you are looking for an eye doctor in Flushing, NY, our ophthalmology clinic provides a range of treatment options for both adults and children. To schedule an appointment, please call 718-670-5486.

Older Americans Month

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

May is Older Americans Month, a month that recognizes older Americans’ contributions, highlights aging trends, and reaffirms the commitment to serving older adults in the community.

At the time Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65^th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty, and there were few programs that met their needs. Because of this, interest in older Americans and their concerns grew.

After an April meeting between President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens, May was designated as “Senior Citizens Month”, the prelude to “Older Americans Month.”

Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, especially those who have served our country.

Here are some ways you can participate in Older Americans Month:

Share facts about the mental, physical, and emotional health benefits of social connection and how it contributes to overall well-being
Promote resources that help older adults engage, like community events, social clubs, and volunteer opportunities
Connect older adults with local services, such as transportation, that can help them overcome obstacles to achieving or maintaining meaningful relationships
Encourage partners to host a connection-centric event or program focused on older adult mentors to youth, peer-to-peer support, or similar efforts
Challenge professional and personal networks to prioritize meaningful social connections and share the benefits
Inspire older adults to “flip the script on aging” and focus on transforming how society perceives, talks about, and approaches aging. Encourage individuals and communities to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions.

During this Older Americans Month, join in by honoring older adults’ contributions, exploring the many opportunities for staying active and engaged as we age, and highlighting the opportunities for purpose, exploration, and connection that come with aging.

Sinus Infections

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

A sinus infection, also known as acute sinusitis, is the inflammation of the tissues in your sinuses.

A sinus infection can make breathing through the nose difficult and swell the area around the eyes and face. It may also cause a headache or a throbbing pain in the face.

The common cold is the usual cause of a sinus infection. However, other viruses, bacteria, fungi, and allergies can cause it.

The symptoms of a sinus infection include:

A runny nose with thick yellow or greenish mucus
Post-nasal drip
A stuffy nose
Pain, tenderness, swelling, and pressure around the eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead that gets worse when bending over
Ear pressure or pain
Pain or pressure in your teeth
Fever
Cough
Bad breath
Headache
Tiredness
A changed sense of smell

Some people are more likely to get a sinus infection than others. Risk factors include:

Nasal allergies
Asthma
Nasal polyps
A deviated septum
A weakened immune system
Smoking

When diagnosing a sinus infection, a healthcare provider may ask about your symptoms and do an exam. The exam might include feeling for tenderness in the nose and face, and looking inside the nose.

Other ways to diagnose a sinus infection and rule out other conditions include:

A nasal endoscopy
Imaging studies
Nasal and sinus swab samples
Allergy testing

Most sinus infection cases get better on their own. Self-care is usually all that is needed to ease its symptoms.

Treatments to ease sinus infection symptoms can include:

Saline nasal spray
Nasal corticosteroids
Decongestants
Allergy medicines
Over-the-counter pain relievers

Several home remedies can help relieve symptoms of a sinus infection, including:

Resting
Drinking plenty of fluids
Using a warm compress
Keeping the sinuses moist
Rinsing the inside of the nose

If you are experiencing any problems due to a sinus infection, visit Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

National Stroke Awareness Month

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. It is observed to raise awareness about the prevention and treatment of strokes, supporting stroke survivors, and educating the public on the impact of this serious medical condition.

Strokes happen when a blood clot or broken blood vessel prevents blood from getting to your brain. The lack of blood flow deprives brain cells of the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive, causing them to die in minutes.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Stroke can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time, so it is important to know the warning signs. The warning signs of a stroke can be found using the B.E. F.A.S.T. acronym, which emphasizes the urgency of seeking immediate medical attention:

B- Balance- is the person experiencing a sudden loss of balance or coordination, or dizziness
E- Eyes- is the person experiencing sudden vision problems, like blurred or double vision, or vision loss in one or both eyes.
F- Face drooping- by asking the person to smile, you can tell immediately if one side of the face droops
A- Arm weakness- ask the person to raise both arms. Observe to see if one arm drifts lower than the other
S- Speech difficulty- slurred speech is a symptom of stroke. Ask the person to repeat a single sentence
T- Time to call 911- time may be the difference between life and death, or even partial and full recovery

There are several ways to get involved with National Stroke Awareness Month, including:

Educating yourself about the signs of stroke and sharing it with others
Participating in stroke awareness events
Advocating for legislation that improves stroke care, funds research, or enhances patient care recovery from strokes
Supporting survivors
Wearing purple

If you are experiencing any symptoms of a stroke, call 911 immediately. If you need assistance managing your health to prevent a stroke or maintaining your overall wellness, visit Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Services Chemical Dependence Unit Offers Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Opioid overdose deaths are a major public health problem in America. More than 107,000 people lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2023, with 70% of those deaths attributed to opioids such as fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more deadly than heroin. One gram of fentanyl, which is equivalent to the size of a sugar packet, has the potential to kill up to five hundred people.

There was a 14.5% decrease in opioid overdose deaths in 2024 due to public health measures.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Services provides care and support to help people recover from opioid addiction. The department has the only medically managed detoxification unit in Queens County.

The unit, called the Chemical Dependence Unit, is a 30-bed medically managed detoxification unit that helps people safely withdraw from opioids, alcohol, and benzodiazepines. Under the direction of the Medical Director for Addiction Services and Unit Chief, staff includes physicians board-certified in addiction medicine, physician assistants, nurses, addiction counselors, psychotherapists, and creative arts therapists.

In addition to medical treatment such as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction, the unit provides nursing care, individual and group counseling, creative arts therapy, self-help groups, and, very importantly, discharge and aftercare planning to help people continue their Recovery Journey, with follow-up calls after discharge.

For additional admission information, please call the Addiction Treatment Unit at 718-670-4524.