March 2022 - Page 2 of 2

Repairing A Chipped Or Broken Tooth

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Xavia Malcolm

A chipped or broken tooth can occur for several reasons including a blow to the face, falling, or biting down on something hard.

The damage to your tooth can be slight or severe, and you should see a dentist for an examination and treatment. You should never attempt to fix a chipped or broken tooth on your own, doing so may cause further damage or infection.

Before heading to your dental appointment there are a few things you can do to care for your tooth and alleviate symptoms. This includes:

Not chewing with the affected tooth
Flossing or rinsing to get rid of particles that may aggravate the injury
Temporarily covering the tooth with sugarless chewing gum or dental wax. Temporary broken tooth repair kits are also available in most drug stores
Taking over-the-counter pain relievers
Only eating soft foods

There are a variety of ways to treat broken or chipped teeth. They include:

Bonding
Tooth reattachment
Porcelain veneers
Dental onlays
Dental crowns and caps
Root canal

Keep in mind, the sooner you receive treatment the better. Early treatment can reduce the risk of several dental problems.

To schedule an appointment with a dentist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call (718) 670-5521.

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.

MediSys Health Network CEO Named to the Mayor’s Health Equity Task Force

Posted on March 4, 2022 by Flushing Hospital

On February 17, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the formation of his administration’s COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force. This task force was created to advise the administration on long-term, comprehensive policies around health equity and health access.

This roughly 40-person commission, unprecedented for its diversity, is comprised of a group of leaders from 11 different industries from across the city. One of those chosen to join this esteemed panel of leaders is MediSys (Jamaica and Flushing Hospital) President and CEO, Bruce J. Flanz.

Mr. Flanz, along with the other members of the COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force will meet monthly and focus their attention on continuing the city’s path to a speedy, effective, and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as building a healthier and stronger city for all New Yorkers.

According to Mayor Adams, “We cannot build a just and prosperous recovery for all New Yorkers without bringing together and listening to experts and community leaders from across the city. The COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force brings not only the best minds together to build a speedy recovery, but a lasting one. I’m grateful to the members for bringing their time and ideas to the city as we work towards this shared goal.”

First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo added, “I’m thrilled to have leaders from every corner of New York City as part of our COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Taskforce. Thank you to everyone who has joined this effort, I’m looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work developing long term policies to guide our city through a just and equitable recovery.”

Mr. Flanz stated, “I am extremely proud to serve on this task force and I commend Mayor Adams for addressing these important issues. Representing two Queens-based hospitals located at the epicenter of the COVID pandemic, I witnessed first-hand the devastating effects the pandemic had on our communities that already face many socio-economic challenges. I look forward to working with this diverse group of talented individuals to address these disparities and create a more equitable health system for all.”

Tips on How to Avoid Purchasing a Fake At-Home COVID Test Kit

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Michael Hinck

There was a time when many of us would stand in line for hours to get a COVID test, but due to the increased availability of at-home kits, more and more are opting to perform the test themselves. While home tests are very convenient, consumers must be careful that the tests they are purchasing are real.

Experts warn that inadvertently buying fake tests are not only are a waste of money, but they can also increase the risk of unknowingly spreading the virus and not receiving appropriate treatment.

Flushing Hospital offers the following information on how to avoid buying a fake test.

When purchasing a COVID-19 home test on-line, it is best to check the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website: https://www.fda.gov/ The FDA maintains a running list of every SARS-CoV-2 antigen diagnostic test approved under its emergency use authorization (EUA) process. The list includes several types of test kits and features product brand names for easy reference. Websites selling false tests may falsely claim that that their tests are FDA approved so it’s important to check for authenticity.

When buying an over-the counter COVID test kit in person, it’s important that you purchase it from a reliable source, such as your local pharmacy or supermarket. It is strongly advised that you do not buy a test kit from a street vendor as they may be selling kits from oversees that are not FDA-approved or they may be selling old or fake kits in boxes that appear to be legitimate. Experts warn if the seller cannot produce a business license, then you should not buy a kit from them. Additional tips include avoid packaging in foreign languages and kits not sold in boxes.

Flushing Hospital warns when purchasing a test kit, avoid being tempted by lower prices and don’t rush to buy a suspect kit out of fear of limited availability. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to get a test kit that will offer you accurate results.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Andrew Rubin

In February 2000, President Clinton dedicated March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States today. It is estimated that 140,000 people are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year and about 50,000 die from the disease.

The good news is that the disease is highly preventable by getting a regular screening. The reason that the screenings are so important is because if precancerous polyps are found early, they can be removed and treatment can be started early.
Risk factors for colorectal cancer include:
• Family history
• Precancerous polyps
• Smoking
• People over the age of 50
• People who have diets high in red meat and processed meat.

It is important to be checked regularly as people get older. For many people who don’t have a family history of colorectal cancer or experience symptoms of the disease, screenings can be started at age 50. If however there is a family history or symptoms exist, screenings should start by age 40 without symptoms or earlier if there are.
Screening for colorectal cancer can be done in several ways. Some of the more common methods include:
• Checking the stool for occult blood by either a high sensitivity guaiac fecal occult blood test or fecal immunochemical test
• CT colonoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Sigmoidoscopy

If there is blood present in the stool, or you are experiencing unexplained abdominal pain or weight loss you should consult with your physician immediately. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486.