NEWS FROM ENGLEWOOD HEALTH FOUNDATION • SUMMER 2022
PHILANTHROPY cultivates a garden of innovation
With the nicer weather finally here, you can find me getting in my steps with a walk through the neighborhood on most nights. Admittedly, I sometimes need to bargain with myself to hit the pavement instead of the couch but my lack of enthusiasm is nearly always short lived. I am a garden junkie. There is no greater pleasure during my evening walk than to enjoy my neighbors’ gardens. Tulips, peonies, irises, roses – I love them all! For someone who replaces wilted houseplants on a quarterly basis, I am thankful to their green thumbs for helping me unwind at the end of a long day. At Englewood Health, in many ways, we are tending to our very own amazing garden – one richly rooted in innovation that feeds hearts, souls and bodies. Ongoing investments help reimagine the delivery of healthcare by enhancing imaging, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance capabilities. Clinical research and data analytics create pathways to new care models that improve patient outcomes. We are broadening access to prevention and wellness services with pioneering community programs. By acquiring cutting-edge technology, the health system attracts and retains a top-notch clinical team with the most sophisticated skill sets. These seeds of innovation that we plant and cultivate together enable more families throughout our region to live stronger and healthier. Thank you for continuing to help advance our mission by thoughtfully tending to our garden with the impressive dedication and investment required to ensure healthy and full blooms.
Debra Albanese Executive Vice President
HOW DOES OUR garden GROW? At Englewood Health, there is a rich and vibrant garden of innovation flourishing thanks to philanthropic cultivation. The Physician Innovation Fund (PIF), established in 2021 in collaboration with the Physician Philanthropy Council (PPC), underwrites Englewood Health physician-led projects focused on medical equipment and technologies, research studies, and education and training programs. 3L[»Z [HRL H JSVZLY SVVR H[ [OL ZP_ H^HYKLLZ and their projects taking root!
Margit Kaufman, MD Nimesh Nagarsheth, MD
Troy Callahan, MD | Anna Serur, MD Nimesh Nagarsheth, MD
Non-invasive patient monitors in outpatient pre-operative settings, physician decision support app development, data-driven research
SPY Portable Handheld Imaging Camera System with fluorescence imaging technology
Allow for enhanced clinical efficiency and workflow in Patient Blood Management
Allow surgeons to visualize blood flow in vessels and related tissue perfusion
Improve quality patient care and protocol compliance
Improve patient outcomes, reduce complications, speed recovery times
Mira Upadhyaya, MD Natasha Rastogi, MD
Addiction Medicine specialty department within the health system focused on prevention and intervention
Video interpreter technology in health clinic examination rooms
Broaden access to care for those battling substance abuse and addiction
Reduce language barriers between clinicians and underserved community residents
Engage patients in active treatment, reduce Emergency Department visits and hospitalizations, aid in recovery
Improve patient experiences and outcomes with an increased patient ability to absorb information regarding their health
To learn more about The Physician Innovation Fund, scan this QR code:
PHILANTHROPY IS THE BACKBONE TO SPINE CARE innovation Something big is coming to Englewood Health.
“Very soon, Englewood Health will be the first in the state and among only a handful in the country to utilize the next evolution of robotic spine surgery. This is a big deal. We are at the forefront of this game-changing shift in the dynamics of spine surgery. This equipment gives surgeons an enormous advantage in the operating room and will propel Englewood Health to the next level in Spine Care. Most importantly, this technology will benefit our patients in making surgery even more precise and less invasive.” Englewood Health Chief of Neurosurgery Kevin Yao, MD Revolutionary Surgical Technology The ExcelsiusGPS® is a groundbreaking robotic navigation platform that raises the bar even higher on spine surgery. Using sophisticated imaging, the technology allows surgeons to pre-operatively visualize and plan spinal hardware implantation based on the individual patient’s anatomy. Utilizing this plan, a robotic arm then moves to the specified spine location, much like the GPS navigation in a car, in order to facilitate placement of the instrumentation.
Patient Benefits This powerful combination of pre-, intra-, and post-operative imaging and spine robotics removes any guesswork. A surgeon no longer needs to rely on visualization of surface anatomy and experience alone to insert hardware that typically has no more than a few millimeters of tolerance on either side. Because the robot positions itself with pinpoint precision every time, a minimally invasive surgical incision is possible and this has a big payoff for the patient, including shorter operating time, lower risk of complications and a quicker recovery. Attracting a Growing Team of Experts Englewood Health expects to perform at least 700 spine surgeries and just over 400 joint replacements this year. To stay ahead of patient demand, the health system continues to assemble an impressive clinical team. “Englewood Health’s reputation for advanced surgical techniques attracts top-notch experts in both orthopedics and neurosurgery,” explains Dr. Yao who credits philanthropy for helping the health system make these important investments. “We are in a position to attract and retain emerging leaders in the field who know that they can care for patients using state-of-the-art equipment.” Englewood Health is one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery according to Healthgrades and is also a 5-star recipient for Spinal Fusion Surgery for the second consecutive year.
Kevin Yao, MD
Chief of Neurosurgery
To learn more on this revolutionary robotic equipment, scan this QR code:
Q A &
What’s new in the ability to treat patients with AFib? Dr. Simons: Patients with this condition are at a much greater risk for stroke. Blood thinners, often used to prevent clots that can lead to a stroke, are not an option for many. Englewood Health has consistently led on state-of-the-art alternatives. Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) devices are implanted through a minimally invasive surgical procedure and permanently close off the appendage of the heart where most clots develop. How has Englewood Health been a leader? Dr. Hastings: We were an original lead research site for the WATCHMAN and a first in the region to implant the device after its FDA approval in 2015. Fast forward to today, and we continue to stay out ahead on the technology. Englewood Health is one of the few in the region to implant the Amulet, as well as the next generation WATCHMAN FLX. Let’s talk more about the research. Dr. Simons: The premier multi-center trial right now in the country is the Champion AF Trial. I am a principal investigator and Englewood Health is a chosen site for this important research that will determine if LAAC with the WATCHMAN FLX is a reasonable alternative to blood thinners. This study is good for science and for patients – we are recruiting and implanting patients right now.
The Cardiovascular Health Center at Englewood Health continues to lead in patient safety, clinical excellence and innovation. Technology plays a critical role in enabling this high-quality, high-volume Center to deliver life-saving care to a growing number of cardiovascular patients. We recently caught up with Englewood Health’s Section Chief for Heart Rhythm Services Dr. Grant Simons and Director of Structural Heart Dr. Ramin Hastings to dig in on the surgical devices helping those with atrial fibrillation.
Why is continued investment in technology important? Dr. Hastings: As someone who grew up in Bergen County, I am incredibly proud to be a part of what we built here at Englewood Health. Cardiovascular health touches nearly every family, so the importance of high-level cardiac care and clinical expertise cannot be understated. We are performing the most advanced complex procedures, participating in leading research trials and investing in emerging technologies, which are all testament to our physicians, staff, administration and community support. Philanthropy helps make access to world-class, patient-centric cardiovascular care possible.
DIG IN with our DOCS Grant Simons, MD
Section Chief Heart Rhythm Services
Ramin Hastings, MD
Director of Structural Heart
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Special Performance by Idina Menzel Honorees: David L. Abramson, MD Lynne and Marty Zaikov
New Jersey Performing Arts Center 1 Center Street Newark, NJ
OCT
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Our Moment in the Fight Against Breast Cancer
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