KJMC TO TAKE THE LEAD IN FORMING AN INTEGRATED FACILITY WITH NORTH BROOKLYN NEIGHBOR, BROOKDALE HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER; Recommendation Points to KJMC's Years of Balanced Budgets and Patient Care Distinctions

(Brooklyn, NY), Kingsbrook Jewish Medical CEO, Dr. Linda Brady, released the following statement, after Governor Andrew Cuomo's Medicaid Redesign Team's Brooklyn Working Group handed down official recommendations on how best to deal with the current crisis facing Brooklyn healthcare institutions:

"Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center is gratified that the MRT has recommended that KJMC play a lead role in the redesign of Brooklyn's healthcare system. We look forward to sharing our experience in serving a high-need community in a fiscally responsible manner as the State works to implement the Workgroup's recommendations. We are particularly pleased that the Workgroup has recommended that KJMC take the lead in establishing an integrated system with our North Central Brooklyn neighbor, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. We look forward in the coming year to working with the community, the Cuomo administration and Brookdale's Board of Trustees, physicians, administrators and employees to ensure an orderly transition in which the delivery of excellent patient care remains the highest priority."

LEADING ELECTED OFFICIALS BREAK GROUND ON NEW, STATE OF THE ART EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT KINGSBROOK JEWISH MEDICAL CENTER

Leading Federal, State and City elected officials will joined healthcare advocates and community leaders to officially break ground on the new, state-of-the-art emergency room and emergency department facilities at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in Central Brooklyn. In increasingly tough times in healthcare, many Brooklyn hospitals are in financial and programmatic crisis. In contrast, KJMC, while experiencing similar challenges, has a clean balance sheet and is able to welcome Brooklyn leaders to their campus to break ground on major new initiatives, which will allow their emergency department to serve over 6,000 more emergency and urgent care cases each year.

Kingsbrook Named One of the Safest Hospitals in New York State

The 2011 New York Hospital Report Card was released listing Kingsbrook as one of the safest hospitals in the state. This report is produced by Niagara Health Quality Coalition (NHQC). NHQC is an independent organization based in Western New York that pioneered methods to use federally-endorsed hospital quality indicators to measure hospital performance. Twelve other states have copied this group's work.

Kingsbrook Designated NICHE Facility

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center has been designated a NICHE Hospital, committed to patient-centered care for our older adults. We are proud to carry the NICHE designation as a sign of our resolve to provide patient-centered care for older adults. NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) is the only national designation indicating a hospital's commitment to elder care excellence.

Through our participation in the NICHE program - the largest geriatric nursing program available - we are able to offer evidence-based, interdisciplinary approaches that promote positive experiences for the older adults in our care. This results in improved outcomes and greater patient and family satisfaction.

Healthcare IT News & U.S News & World Report Features Kingsbrook as one of 118 'Most Connected Hospitals!'

U.S. News & World Report has released its list of 118 hospitals that are leaders when it comes to using electronic medical records and providing quality care.

"U.S. News defines a hospital as Most Connected if that hospital, or a major unit of it such as a children's hospital within the larger institution, has met twin standards: achieving Stage 6 or 7 of EMR adoption [based on HIMSS Analytics criteria] and earning either a national Best Hospital or Best Children's Hospital ranking or a high-performing designation in one or more medical specialties," according to the magazine's website. Only three hospitals in New York State received this recognition. Visit www.healthcareitnews.com for more information.

Kingsbrook Receives Recognition from NCQA

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center's primary care program received recognition from the NCQA Diabetes Recognition Program (DRP). Facilities who achieve DRP Recognition show their peers, patients and others in the community that they are part of an elite group that is publicly recognized for its skill in providing the highest-level diabetes care.Kingsbrook's region of Central Brooklyn is known as an epi-center for diabetes, one of the highest in New York State.

NCQA developed the Diabetes Recognition Program (DRP) to provide clinicians with tools to support the delivery and recognition of consistent high quality care. This voluntary program is designed to recognize physicians and other clinicians, who use evidence-based measures and provide excellent care to their patients with diabetes.

Kingsbrook Receives IPRO Award for Excellence in Surgical Care

Kingsbrook Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center has received the IPRO Award for its organization-wide, exemplary commitment to quality improvement in surgical care improvement. This impressive award recognizes Kingsbrook's outstanding commitment to quality practices and patient safety.

Each year IPRO recognizes outstanding performance by health care providers and stakeholders throughout New York State with its Quality Awards Program. This year's honorees included hospitals, nursing homes, an ambulatory care facility and patient support organizations.

IPRO is a national organization providing a full spectrum of healthcare assessment and improvement services that foster more efficient use of resources and enhance healthcare quality to achieve better patient outcomes. Founded in 1984, IPRO is highly regarded for the independence of its approach, the depth of its knowledge and experience, and the integrity of its programs.

Kingbrook's Nurses Rated the Best in Brooklyn For Communicating Well With Patients

Kingsbrook's Nurses have achieved this top score in Brooklyn for three quarters! This recognition is a true testimony to our Nurse's committment to compassion and caring. Detailed information listed on www.hospitalcompare.gov. As reported by HCAHPS: Date Range: Q4-09 to Q3-10.

Kingbrook's Doctors Rated the Best in Brooklyn For Communicating Well With Patients

Kingsbrook's Doctor's have achieved this top score as well, an indication of Kinsgbrook's overall focus on qualty and patient centered care. Detailed information listed on www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov. As reported by HCAHPS: Date Range: Q4-09 to Q3-10.

Kingsbrook ReceivesTop Hospital Recognition

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center is listed on "My Health Finder" Honor Roll for post-operative DVT and PE, and accidental puncture and laceration. Kingsbrook is one of 20 hospitals in the State of New York to receive "Top Hospital Recognition" and the only hospital in Brooklyn to be on this list.

Hospitals were evaluated based on mortality rates, patient safety indicators, two types of adverse events and participation in national safety programs. The analysis focused on areas where hospitals performed better than average. The top 15 percent of hospitals were selected for the Honor Roll.

Rutland Nursing Home's Adult Day Health Care Program Expands With $4.5 Million Grant

Kingsbrook's long term care facility, Rutland Nursing Home has received a $4.5 million dollar HEAL Grant from the New York State Department of Health . This grant will allow for the expansion of Rutland's Adult Day Health Care Program via the decertification of 60 skilled nursing home beds, the relocation of Rutland's Administrative offices and long term care Pediatrics.

Rutland's Adult Day Care Program promotes niche services for Russian, Chinese and Caribbean residents. Additionally, Rutland offers an array of services including skilled nursing , sub-acute rehabilitation, comprehensive wound care, certified ventilator dependent care, long -term skilled nursing pediatric care and a variety of other sub-acute services. The Adult Day Program currently maintains 60 day slots and 50 evening slots for community residents.

"On The Move!"

ADVANCEMENT

This spring, Kingsbrook will break ground for a major expansion of our emergency department which, when complete, will allow us to see over 6,000 additional patient visits each year. We are also about to launch several internal facilities renovation projects aimed at improving our ability to deliver more patient centered care within our various ambulatory care settings. We are able to pursue these growth oriented expansions because we received a highly competitive grant of $5 million from the New York State Department of Health. We were also chosen to receive an additional grant of $4.6 million from the same agency, allowing us to enhance access to those frail and elderly within our community who are in need of adult day care services. These same funds will also modernize the Pediatric Long Term Care Program; a Rutland Nursing Home program and the only such program in Brooklyn. You should know, being a recipient of these grants is more than an honor, it is validation that Kingsbrook is worthy of such an award, an award not every hospital receives.

QUALITY

The most recent nationally reported quality measures report has Kingsbrook rated above the state and national averages in the 30-day risk standardized mortality measures for heart failure and pneumonia. As you know, effective communication between a patient and their nurse is essential and just last week, we were notified that our nurses achieved the highest ranking of all hospitals in Brooklyn in the most recently reported national survey.

EXCELLENCE

In the area of IT technology, Kingsbrook has long been listed on the HIMSS Analytics website among the elite few hospitals in the country that has attained the near top tier Stage 6, acknowledging the facility's advanced approach to electronic medical record (EMR) technology and its commitment to quality care planning. Kingsbrook is the ONLY hospital in Brooklyn at this level and is one of four in all of New York State. Kingsbrook is also listed on the New York State Honor Roll for post-operative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and is one of just twenty hospitals in the State of New York to receive "Top Hospital Recognition" and the ONLY hospital in Brooklyn to be on this list.

We are on the move and well on the way to achieve our vision of being the premier hospital and long term care facility in central Brooklyn.