OUR VOICES Employee & Community Digital Magazine JANUARY 2024
New Year, New You! Weight Loss Surgery
ARI D. SAPIN, M.D. Bariatrics and General Surgery
Beacon of Excellence New Employee Wellness Room Facility Tour: Assembly Member John Zaccaro, Jr.
TOP FEATURES 01
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY Jacobi’s Bariatric Surgery Center has offered safe and effective weight loss surgery, using the most up-to-date techniques and technology. Bariatric surgery works by making your stomach smaller, so you feel full while eating less food.
CEO MESSAGE
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EMPLOYEE WELLNESS ROOM Celebrating our Daisy Award winners, recognizing our nurses for their exceptional commitment to compassionate person-centered-care. Nurses every day go above and beyond to not only provide patients and families with excellence in clinical care but also compassion. January is beautiful because it's the beginning of the year. It's a perfect time to reflect on your growth and achievements throughout the past 12 months and an opportunity to pursue new goals. The year is off to a phenomenal start.
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BEACON OF EXCELLENCE AWARD
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The Beacon Award signifies exceptional care in a unit that puts patients first. For nurses, this award can mean a positive and supportive work environment with greater collaboration, higher morale and lower turnover. TOUR: ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOHN ZACCARO, JR. Assembly Member John Zaccaro, Jr. visited the NCB facility to meet our administrative leaders and learn about the comprehensive services available at the facility.
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NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
Our Voices
is a digital print publication designed to communicate, inspire, engage, and connect employees at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx, patients, and Bronx residents to valuable wellness content, plus relevant hospital information, updates, and events.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx Two Facilities-One Hospital | Same Exceptional Person-Centered care
Editor-In-Chief & Graphic Design Keisha Gilles Director, Communications, Public Affairs & Community Relations
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM
John Doyle Associate Director, Communications & Media Liaison Diane Arroya Assistant Director, Public Affairs & Community Relations
Rawle Titus Assistant Director, Communications
Martin Johnson Digital Marketing & Graphic Design Manager
Dominique Maddox Social Media Manager
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
Chris Mastromano Chief Executive Officer
Healthcare is about people who selflessly and heroically deliver it in the face of adversity with compassion.
Message from Chris
Dear Colleagues: January is beautiful because it's the beginning of the year. It's a perfect time to reflect on your growth and achievements throughout the past 12 months and an opportunity to pursue new goals. The year is off to a phenomenal start! Join me in congratulating the Jacobi teams for achieving the AACN Beacon Award for Excellence—the Cardiac Catheterization Lab Team at the Gold Level, plus the NICU and CCU teams at the Silver Level. I continue to be motivated to walk alongside you to advance your daily critical work to build healthy communities and address the social determinants of health in the Bronx. As you know, EveryTable abruptly pulled out of the New York market, leaving a void in permanent food options for employees at the Jacobi campus. Please know that I regret the inconvenience. I am working closely with our operations and finance teams to secure a permanent food vendor to ensure you all have access to food while at the hospital. In the interim, we have the Pop-Up Food Shop in Building 4, food trucks, and complimentary coffee and tea for all employees in Building 1. Your ID card is required for access. On January 24, NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitch Katz addressed staff across the system in his first live Town Hall meeting of 2024. During the session, Dr. Katz discussed balancing and overcoming the challenges of our success. He encouraged us to continue masking throughout the facility despite decreasing COVID rates. He also reminded us that metal detectors will be installed at all our facilities. As you know, we have already implemented metal detectors at our Jacobi and North Central Bronx facilities. We are expanding that program to improve campus safety. Lastly, despite the pressures of our work, Dr. Katz encourages us all to be kind and sign the Kindness Pledge. We hosted a ribbon-cutting event at North Central Bronx to celebrate the launch of the new Employee Wellness Room. Special thanks to our central office colleague Jeremy Segall, our System Chief Wellness Officer, Alicia Bronne, Care Experience Officer, and the Care Experience team. The Employee Wellness Room is a dedicated space for all staff to recharge, de-stress, and heal, emphasizing the importance of taking a break and caring for themselves during the workday. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and dedication to transforming the health of our patients and their families. I wish you all the best in this new year.
Chris Mastromano
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY: BARIATRIC SURGERY
MEET OUR BARIATRIC SURGEON
Ari D. Sapin, M.D. Bariatrics and General Surgery
Dr. Sapin joined the Jacobi team in 2022. He attended St. George’s School of Medicine (Grenada). He completed his surgical residency at Rutgers Health/New Jersey Medical School (Newark, NJ), where he was voted to be an Administrative Chief Resident during his final year. He then completed a fellowship at NYU Long Island (Mineola, NY), specializing in Advanced GI MIS and Bariatric Surgery. During his training, he won multiple awards for quality improvement and physician well-being. His surgical research has focused on enhanced recovery after surgery pathways that he has brought to our hospital. He started the robotic surgery program here at Jacobi Medical Center in 2023. He is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and is board-certified in General Surgery. During his free time, he enjoys the outdoors with his wife and two daughters and loves trying new restaurants throughout the area.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY: NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!
ACHIEVE THE LIFE YOU WANT, SAFELY. At Jacobi, weight loss is just one part of our goal. We also help improve your diet, physical activity and general wellbeing. Surgeons and medical providers work as a skilled team to evaluate and support you through the entire process. Since 2004, the Jacobi Bariatric Surgery Center has offered safe and effective weight loss surgery, using the most up-to-date techniques and technology. Our team has earned a Center of Excellence accreditation from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). This means we meet the highest standards for patient safety and surgical success. While every patient has a unique experience, we know that weight loss can have a positive impact on your health, comfort, confidence, and quality of life. We invite you to join our more than 2,500 satisfied patients and start a new chapter of your story. While diet and exercise play an important role, they are not enough in severe obesity. Bariatric Surgery is a procedure that changes the stomach to reduce how much you can eat at one time. The surgery also reduces appetite and hunger while increasing feelings of “fullness.” Bariatric surgery is the most effective method of sustainable long-term weight loss compared to non-surgical methods like medications, diet and exercise.
WHO CAN GET BARIATRIC SURGERY You may be eligible for bariatric surgery if: You are unable to maintain a healthy weight despite previous weight loss efforts PLUS one of the following: You weigh 100 pounds or more over your ideal body weight Your body mass index (BMI, is at least 40 (BMI calculator); Your BMI is at least 35, but you also have medical problems related to obesity, such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or diabetes.
Learn More
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
EMPLOYEE WELLNESS ROOM RIBBON CUTTING
To prioritize the health and wellness of our fantastic staff, the North Central Bronx campus launched our new Employee Wellness Room. This dedicated space offers hospital employees a sanctuary to unwind, recharge, and de-stress during demanding shifts. Our health system's chief wellness officer, Jeremy Segall, attended the auspicious event. During his remarks, he emphasized the importance of employee wellness, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has contributed to high-stress levels and burnout among healthcare workers nationwide. The new wellness room at North Central Bronx Hospital provides a quiet space for staff to decompress while providing exceptional person-centered care for the Bronx communities.
Bronx Times Article
OPEN TO ALL NCB STAFF 9TH FLOOR - ROOM#9M05B ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
Event Video
From a grateful colleague: Robert Mastando , telecom associate, consistently proves his reliability in handling telecom issues in the Cath Lab. His dependable nature and ability to get the job done have been consistent throughout my experiences in the Emergency Department and the Cath Lab, making him a trusted resource for professionally resolving telecommunication challenges. In addition to his unwavering reliability, Robert Mastando’s technical expertise and prompt problem-solving skills have been pivotal in ensuring seamless telecommunications operations within Jacobi. His consistent performance and commitment to excellence make him an invaluable asset in addressing complex telecom issues across the hospital. Submitted by: Nicole Weinheimer-Saccente Coordinating Manager Cardiac Cath Department
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
From a grateful family member: I want to express my deepest gratitude for the invaluable assistance in navigating the ER yesterday. The experience was made considerably more manageable by the professional, calm, attentive, and patient demeanor of the entire ER team. Dr. Silverberg and his team, in particular, were nothing short of amazing. In the midst of the overwhelming influx of individuals in need, we felt genuinely cared for. Please thank the entire team for their dedicated and compassionate work each and every day.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
Care Experience Committee
For the first time, we launched our first Care Experience committee meeting! This collaboration combined forces from both our Planetree and Patient Experience teams. The group will now be involved with information and feedback sharing and project planning in one session. Planetree is all about Person-Centered Care. By amplifying the voices of our patients and staff, we look to raise the “Jacobi Experience” and improve our Patient experience, Staff wellness, and Staff engagement efforts. Further, by instilling our ICARE with Kindness mission in everything we do, together, we can bring about a culture change that makes us proud of the work we do every day and improve the lives of our patients. We are truly grateful to our Quality Management team for their partnership and dedication to helping us bring this vision to life! Together, we created five QAPI (Quality Assurance Performance Improvement) projects that prioritize the needs of our patients and staff and our organization’s strategic goals. With the help of our committee members, we will lay the groundwork for our project plans. OUR VISION IN 2024 INCLUDES: Care Partner Program to improve health outcomes and raise the Patient experience ICARE with Kindness Training for leaders and staff to enhance person-centered practices and support all communication efforts that improve staff and patient satisfaction Evening and Night Shift Staff Support with equitable programming and opportunities that enhance staff wellness and engagement. Increase access to Language assistance to improve the quality of care, clinical outcomes, and readmission rates. Employee Feedback Survey and Action Planning with Leaders to reinforce staff support efforts and empower workplace culture. The Care Experience committee has already put partnering with patients (aka Co-design) at the top of our list for planning! We will also continue to look at staff burnout, access to wellness, and engagement efforts (ex., recognition) to boost the retention of our valued staff, residents, and volunteers.
We look forward to our future collaborations together and hearing your ideas on positive changes you would like to see happen at Jacobi. Thank you for all your support!
Barbara A. Foote, FPCC Program Manager Care Experience | Planetree
Donna Geiss, RN, NNP, MSN, FPCC Care Experience Officer
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
JACOBI CAMPUS
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
Congratulations PROUD TO ACHIEVE AACN BEACON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION LAB GOLD-LEVEL NICU SILVER LEVEL CCU SILVER LEVEL JACOBI TEAM
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments — recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
FACILITY TOUR
LEADERS IN PERSON-CENTERED CARE Assembly Member John Zaccaro, Jr. visited the NCB facility to meet our administrative leaders and learn about the comprehensive services available at the hospital.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
Thanks to all the leaders who helped to facilitate the tour of the different departments.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
TAKE THE KINDNESS PLEDGE
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
WE ARE HIRING
Do you know someone who has a passion for health care? Help us spread the word about our
EVERY FRIDAY Weekly Job Fairs! Scan the QR Code below to submit your resume.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx hosts weekly Job Fairs every Friday to recruit the most talented Health Care Professionals. Come Grow with Us! Submit your resume today! Registration is Required.
SCAN ME
SCAN ME
NURSING
NON NURSING
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
Nikisha Bailey DNP, RN, NE-BC, C-EFM, RNC-NIC
Dr. Nikisha Bailey is the Associate Director of Nursing for Maternal Child Health services. Dr. Bailey has been a nurse for over 18 years and worked in varied units such as subacute, labor and delivery, postpartum, and the NICU. Before joining North Central Bronx, Dr. Bailey was a Clinical Nurse Manager in a level IV NICU at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital overseeing the delivery of patient care on the assigned unit to ensure efficient and high-quality healthcare services.
Dr. Bailey received a Master of Science in Nursing from Columbia University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Leadership from Case Western Reserve University.
Dr. Bailey also holds a Nurse Executive certification (NE-BC), an RNC-NIC certification for neonatal nurses, and a basic certificate in Quality and Safety from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), as well as certification in electronic fetal monitoring (C-EFM).
NCB CAMPUS
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
Yvonne Fernandes, BSN, RN, CCM, CMCN
We are excited to announce the appointment of Yvonne Fernandes, BSN, RN, CCM, CMCN, as the new Director of Care Management. Ms. Fernandes holds a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree and most recently had a leadership position at New Jersey’s only state-owned hospital, University Hospital. Ms. Fernandes has overseen Care Management, Discharge Planning, Clinical Documentation Improvement, Appeals and denials, and Transition of Care at various hospitals, such as Northwell Health System, Lutheran Medical Center, SUNY Downstate, and Interfaith Medical Center. She has been instrumental in transitioning ancillary services such as home care and Durable Medical Equipment from the medical groups to the corporate office setting. She has also led onboarding, new staff hire, and training, significantly decreasing readmissions. Ms. Fernandes excels at team building and collaboration and eagerly anticipates interacting with and working with the NCB team and the rest of the health system.
NCB CAMPUS
REACH OUT AND READ
We are thrilled to announce that Reach Out and Read of Greater New York and The Guru Krupta Foundation have made it possible for North Central Bronx to launch our Connections Begin at Birth pilot. Books build connections, and those connections begin at birth. At NCB, we are introducing ROR from the newborn visit instead of the traditional 6-month visit. We have tailored our language, especially in those earliest visits, to emphasize the life-changing role of books and reading in family bonds.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
Get a Flu Shot Today! Get your flu vaccine now before the flu begins spreading in the community.
This year, you can get a flu vaccine at the same time as the updated COVID-19 vaccine at no cost. A flu shot helps protect you and your family and can reduce your risk of illness, hospitalization and even death. All New Yorkers 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine, especially: + Children under 5 + Adults over 50 + Pregnant and postpartum individuals + People with chronic medical conditions like diabetes, asthma, HIV, kidney and heart disease + All essential workers, especially health care workers Availability of getting both flu and COVID-19 vaccine may vary by location. Visit your doctor’s office or call us to make an appointment. Established NYC Health + Hospitals patients can also walk-in at many of our locations. 1-844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692). Check with your clinic!
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi|North Central Bronx-January 2024
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