36 JANUARY 6 - JANUARY 12, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP Declaration of flu season is a call to action for New Yorkers New York State has officially declared that the flu is “prevalent” in the state. This declaration serves as a reminder that it’s not too late to get vaccinated. Each flu season, NYC Health + Hospitals reminds New Yorkers about the importance of getting the flu vaccine. The flu is serious, highly contagious and sometimes fatal. The best defense against the flu is yearly vaccination. Machelle Allen, MD, interim chief medical officer, NYC Health + Hospitals, answers five common questions about the flu. Who should and shouldn’t get the flu vaccine? Dr. Allen: Everyone six months of age and older should get a flu vaccine, every year, with the exception of those with rare, but severe, life-threatening allergies to flu vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine, which might include gelatin and antibiotics. Those who have egg allergies can get the flu vaccine, but first need to speak with their doctor. This season, the nasal spray flu vaccine is not available; only the injectable flu vaccines are recommended for 2016-2017. When is the best time to get the flu shot? Dr. Allen: It’s best to get vaccinated early in the season, as it takes two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body, which is what will protect you. Each year, the flu season is unpredictable, but the need for annual vaccination remains the same. If you haven’t been vaccinated, now is the time to do so! Where can I get vaccinated? Dr. Allen: The hospitals and community health centers that are part of NYC Health + Hospitals offer flu vaccination at no charge for all patients, visitors and staff. Flu vaccination is also offered by doctor’s offices, clinics, pharmacies, college health centers and many employers. Find an NYC Health + Hospitals location in your neighborhood, by visiting http://bit. ly/2hR4fek. Will I get the flu from the flu shot? Dr. Allen: Contrary to the common myth, the flu shot will not give you the flu. The flu shot contains inactivated (killed) flu viruses that cannot cause illness. Most people have no reaction to the vaccine, but some people may experience mild soreness, redness or swelling at the vaccination site, mild fever or body aches. It’s riskier to go without the protection of the flu vaccine than it is to get vaccinated. What symptoms are associated with the flu? Dr. Allen: Most commonly, people with the flu will experience fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, sore throat, and headache. The flu usually comes on suddenly, symptoms can be mild or Photo: Jakkrit Saelao severe, and in some cases, the flu can be fatal. Sometimes, people who are vaccinated still get the flu during flu season, but their symptoms are milder and the duration is shorter. So protect yourself the best way possible – get your flu shot today! New York Methodist Hospital receives rare distinction for information technology New York Methodist Hospital (NYM) was recently certified by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) as an Electronic Medical Record Adoption Stage 7 IT Hospital. This is a distinction shared by fewer than five percent of hospitals around the country. No other hospital in Brooklyn has achieved it. The HIMSS visited New York Methodist and evaluated the hospital’s information technology systems prior to granting it a Stage 7 certification– the highest designation the organization offers. After achieving Stage 6 standards for data management, interoperability, process integration and clinical electronics, a hospital can achieve Stage 7 certification by refining clinical and electronic processes further and driving all paper out of the system. “HIMSS was extremely impressed with the infrastructure, innovations, use of analytics and quality improvement projects at the hospital,” said Parag Mehta, M.D., senior vice chair of the Department of Medicine and chief medical information officer at NYM. “They were also impressed with the users’—physicians and nurses—cooperation with alerts to improve the quality and culture of organization. Lauren Yedvab, chief operating officer of NYM, said that the hospital has been working since 2002 to go completely digital. “Since partnering with the Cerner Corporation and implementing their electronic medical record (EMR) system, we have continuously built on and refined our health information system. This designation shows that NYM not only has the technology in place, but also that it is using it in a way that saves lives,” she said. “It has been an incredible journey with a team of the smartest technical staff led by highly engaged physicians and nurses.” ”This certification confirms New York Methodist’s commitment to pursuing, developing and adapting the most advanced medical information technology,” said Mark Mundy, CEO and president of the hospital. “I could not be prouder of the staff who worked tirelessly to get the Hospital to this point.” The certification will be officially presented to the Hospital at the HIMSS meeting in Orlando in February 2017. “This designation shows that NYM not only has the technology in place, but also that it is using it in a way that saves lives.” – Lauren Yedvab
BSR01052017
To see the actual publication please follow the link above