News from the University Hospital of Brooklyn | January 2021

A Message from David H. Berger, MD, MHCM, FACS
CEO of University Hospital of Brooklyn   

“What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't even happened yet.” Anne Frank

I love this quote from Anne Frank, who wrote this while in hiding from the Nazis during World War II. It is a message of optimism and hope from a young girl whose world offered little of either.

January marks the time when we are out with the old and in with the new. It is also the time, for better or worse, when we are inundated with advertisements for weight loss and exercise programs.

This January, in particular, should be a time of optimism. We are done with 2020!

The year 2020 will be remembered for the rise of a devastating global pandemic and a year in which we witnessed the consequences of systemic racism both in our healthcare system and in our criminal justice system. With the distribution of vaccines against COVID-19 and with a new administration in Washington, we can begin to conquer the problems that came to light in 2020.

As you may know by now, I am a big New York Sports fan. The year 2020 closed with dismal performances by our two football teams. However, there is much to be optimistic about in 2021. My beloved, but woebegone Knicks have won more games in their first 12 contests this year than they won in twice as many contests in 2020. Our Brooklyn Nets now have three of the top 10 basketball players on the planet. The Mets now have one of the top five players in all of baseball, and one of the top pitching staffs. The New York Rangers start the season with the No. 1 pick in the National Hockey League 2020 draft. Things are certainly looking up for New York sports in 2021!

The year 2021 is also a year to be optimistic about the direction of University Hospital of Brooklyn.

Our kidney transplant program is up and running again. This critical program has performed four successful kidney transplants over the past month and a half. Dr. Suresh and the entire team have done an amazing job moving the program forward. Additionally, we have recruited a new Chief of Transplant, who will be joining us in June.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force and the COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Team have provided first doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna Vaccine to over 3,500 members of our Downstate Community. We are well on our way to beating the virus. If you have not already done so, please consider getting vaccinated ASAP.

In 2021, we will continue to capitalize on this momentum. We will be rolling out training for our staff on continuous performance improvement and high reliability. We will refocus our efforts to become a Nurse Magnet Organization, and we will make progress on the construction and opening of a new ambulatory care center. Additionally, we will commit to improving our care environment.  We will do this all while working to provide equitable access to quality healthcare to address the health disparities inherent in communities of color.

What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives at University Hospital of Brooklyn and Downstate Health Sciences University haven't even happened yet!

Improvement in Performance in Newborn Screening

We are proud to announce a spectacular quality performance achievement by our NICU and Nursery staff in the Department of Pediatrics: Two #1 rankings from the New York State Department of Health.

As part of its effort to improve childhood health, NYSDOH mandates all newborns be screened for serious metabolic and genetic conditions that require timely diagnosis. A blood sample must be drawn between 24-36 hours of life and specimens submitted to the DOH’s Wadsworth Center testing site in Albany for analysis.

In August, 2020, our Children’s Hospital drew and submitted 100 percent of its specimens within this time period, for a #1 ranking out of 122 hospitals. Additionally, we achieved a #1 ranking for submitting blood samples using proper specimen collection techniques, with zero specimens reported as unsuitable.

Congratulations to our Nursing staff for their tremendous efforts and dedication to improving the quality of our newborn screens. Following the reopening of L&D in June, due to a change in phlebotomy services, our Nursing staff developed a plan of action and undertook the task of drawing specimens. The newborn screens require a good deal of skill to draw correctly within the allotted time and this is the first time ever that we have scored so highly. It is truly an amazing feat to be ranked #1 out of 122 in New York State.

It is also notable that our stellar performance ranking reflects multidisciplinary collaboration among nursing, physicians, lab personnel, and administrative staff. Everyone worked together to achieve these improvements and succeed. Thank you and congratulations to the teams on postpartum (NS32) and NICU (NS35). Thank you also to Ms. Yolaine Henry, Director of the OPD lab, for her tireless efforts in organizing and following up on the newborn screen results. We are very proud and wish to acknowledge all involved in this accomplishment.

Let’s keep the momentum going!

Popping by to say Thank You to Our Staff

A nice surprise has been “popping up” throughout the hospital. Our units have been receiving a lovely basket with a balloon that includes packs of popcorn for our staff. Please enjoy a few pictures (see below) and look out for these baskets coming to a unit near you. We are just popping by to say thank you for everything you do to care for our patients—a little token to let you know that we appreciate you. And did you know that January 19 was National Popcorn Day?

COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout at Downstate

Last December, the FDA approved the COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use. Our COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force intensively focused on designing and implementing a system for administering the vaccine safely and equitably to Downstate’s staff, beginning with frontline workers.

As it relates to the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines available, our team has personally reviewed the relevant data and encourage all clinical and patient care-related staff to consider getting vaccinated.

As a reminder, please continue to wear masks, practice social distancing of at least six feet, and continue to avoid large gatherings at all times while on- and off-campus.

In addition, we wanted to share a collage of some of our staff and students after they got their shot. Feel free to post your own selfie on our Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn sites, and tag us in one, or all of our pages. This way, we can re-share your posts in a variety of ways that will help us promote the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine to family, friends, colleagues, and our community.