Providing Leading-Edge Care in Your Backyard.
Fall 2019
da Vinci XI® Surgical System
Moving Health Care Forward in South Jersey
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elcome to the first issue of Inspira Innovation, the new magazine from Inspira Health. Several times a year, we’d like to let you know what we are doing at Inspira to better care for you and your family. In future issues we will introduce you to some of the excellent physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians and support staff who have been with us for many years, as well as those who are joining Inspira today. From time to time we’ll also tell inspiring, and perhaps challenging, stories about patients. South Jersey is our home. We’re taking steps big and small to improve the patient experience for the people who live here with us. Our primary goal is, naturally, to provide excellent health care. But we also want to make receiving health care services simpler, faster, more convenient, and more understandable. Right here, close to your home.
Thanks for reading. I hope you find something of interest in every issue. Please let us know what you’d like us to tell you about, by writing to us at news@ihn.org. We wish you good health. We’ll do all we can to give you great health care. John DiAngelo President and CEO Inspira Health
Table of Contents In This Issue: 2-3: Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill
8: Capital Campaign Breaks Record
4 New Technology Helps Patients
Expanding Care in Gloucester County
5 Inspira Training More Doctors
9: Best Place to Work
6-7: Leading-Edge Cancer Center
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Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill
Bringing Innovative Health Care Closer to Gloucester County People living in Gloucester County will soon have easier access to health care in a brand new, comfortable and convenient medical center designed to meet a wide range of inpatient and outpatient needs. Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill is scheduled to open by the end of 2019, adjacent to Rowan University’s west campus. The new medical center will feature a large senior emergency department (ED) with a dedicated pediatric emergency room, a home-like maternity center, state-of-the-art surgical suites, and, in 2020, a leading-edge cancer center (see page 7).
“Our goal is to make life as simple as possible for our patients, while delivering the best health care,” said John DiAngelo, president and CEO of Inspira Health. “This facility, with our outstanding staff of doctors, nurses and other professionals, using the best technology available, strengthens our ability to take care of our community in our community.”
Smart Room Technology Connects Patients and Care Providers
Inpatient care at Inspira Mullica Hill will look and feel different. Smart Room technology will create a seamless experience for patients, their loved ones, and caregivers, with communication tools that include: • Mobile devices and bar code technology to relay vital information directly into a patient’s electronic medical record • Interactive in-room TV to help patients know who is in their room, communicate with the care team, view information about their care and watch entertainment programming • Touchscreen digital signage outside patient rooms, with real-time patient information available to the care team • 3D-video patient monitoring technology
Advanced Surgery at Inspira Mullica Hill
Our surgeons will perform advanced procedures, treating a wide range of conditions, in eight state-of-the-art surgical suites that include: • A single- and bi-plane cardiac catheterization lab, with emergency PCI (angioplasty) for heart attack patients • Two gastrointestinal suites • A hybrid OR for advanced vascular surgeries
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• Robotic technology for minimally invasive surgeries • An orthopedic surgery robotic system
Private Suites for Maternity
Private Exam rooms for Seniors Access to Care
Maternity Care That Feels Like Home Patient comfort and a focus on the family will provide a personal birth experience.
Emergency Care Close to Home
Inspira Mullica Hill’s 62-room Emergency Department (ED) will include specialized sections and services for children and adults. Through a partnership with Delaware-based Nemours Children’s Health System, pediatric patients will have 24/7 access to Nemours pediatricians. A six-room pediatric ED will take care of patients 17 years and younger. Patients in the senior ED will receive care in 14 private exam rooms, from a nursing staff with special expertise in treating senior patients.
USING LESS TO DO MORE
Fifteen private suites combine labor, delivery, postpartum and recovery beds all in one room. In most cases, parents and babies will remain in one room throughout their stay. Rooms will feature: • Modern labor beds • Wireless fetal monitoring • A sleep area for a family member or support person
• Refrigerator • Private bathroom • Jetted tub for pain relief and relaxation
The center also will include two triage rooms and a six-bed special care nursery with private rooms where parents can enjoy room service while bonding with their babies. Neonatologists from Nemours will be on-site to provide advanced care.
The new medical center was designed and built with energy conservation and sustainability in mind. It will be 25% more energy-efficient than most hospital facilities in the region. A three-acre field of solar panels will provide power, reducing energy costs and CO2 emissions. Landscaping will include native meadow grasses and wildflowers, reducing the need for watering, fertilizer and herbicides. More than 800 trees will be planted on the site. Patrick Nolan, chief operating officer of the new facility, said that the plans include room for growth.
Come see us on Community Day
“You don’t get the chance to build from the ground up very often,” he said. “We designed Mullica Hill to deliver the best care and patient experience possible today and we have almost 40 acres on which to expand to serve the growing needs of patients in our region.”
Saturday, November 9, is Community Day! Join us at 700 Mullica Hill Road, in Mullica Hill, N.J. from noon - 3 p.m. to see the new hospital and take part in children’s activities, games, music and light refreshments.
210 private rooms inpatient beds 1400 employees
200+ new jobs generated 62 ED beds 20 bed ICU
465,000 square feet 100 acres $356 million total cost 3
New Technology Helps Patients, Right At Home For a group of qualified patients in a pilot program at Inspira, having a doctor check on them will require little more than answering their doorbell. Using a technology called holoportation, registered nurses will wear a special headset during a portion of their patient visit. The device will allow a physician, at a remote computer, to see the patient, review vital statistics, and examine any areas of concern as if they were in the patient’s home themselves. For members of the care team, it means being able to check on more patients, more efficiently, sharing information in real time. For patients, especially those who have chronic ailments or need to be seen quickly, but for whom leaving home would be a hardship, it means receiving the care they need while sitting in their favorite chair. Ankur Patel, M.D., MBA, is a family medicine physician and geriatrician who heads the Inspira Living Independently For Elders (LIFE) Center in Vineland, and its at-home care program.
Ankur Patel M.D., MBA
“This technology lets me see how our patients are doing in their home environment,” he said. “Being an effective clinician, especially for older patients, means being a good detective. Now, I can see our patients and how they are living – in much the way as if I were making a house call.”
Dave Johnson, vice president of Inspira Innovations, said that holoportation is just one more tool that Inspira uses to deliver care to patients when and where they need it. “We are using high-tech tools to support the high-touch approach all our care teams take. This technology lets the doctor see through the nurse’s eyes. They can even use augmented reality to, for example, outline areas on the patient that they want to examine. The information gathered gets documented at the LIFE Center and in the patient’s electronic medical record.”
Helping Patients Who Have Trouble Traveling “We have learned that, for many patients, transportation is a serious challenge,” Johnson said. “This new technology makes being seen by a physician more convenient for our LIFE patients.” Patel said that another benefit of the program is prevention. “No one wants to go to the emergency department if they don’t have to,” he said. “This technology may help us notice issues that need to be addressed before they become an emergency. And sometimes it is reassuring to be able to tell a patient that they are doing fine and that they don’t need to come in to be seen.” What is Inspira LIFE? The Inspira LIFE program enables seniors to live independently in the comfort of their homes while being closely monitored by a team of health care professionals. It currently serves all of Cumberland County and parts of Salem and Gloucester counties. The Inspira LIFE Center in Vineland provides a wide range of medical, social and nutritional services. Inspira LIFE provides all-inclusive, no-cost care to eligible participants 55 years and older that meet a nursing home level of care.
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Inspira Training More Doctors Every Year With 165 medical school graduates in nine different specialties, the residents and fellows at Inspira Health make up one of the Garden State’s largest programs for doctors-in-training. “Our graduate medical program has been among the fastest growing in the country and is a leader in the state,” said Alka Kohli, M.D., MBA, executive vice president, chief population health and clinical officer for Inspira Health. “Our commitment to excellence in teaching is reflected in our facilities and our faculty. For instance, the $550,000 Jane and Peter Galetto Simulation Center models an ER where three complex, automated mannequins are used to test and improve the clinical skills of residents and others. Additionally, many of our Inspira Medical Group physicians and members of our medical staffs are very involved in the training of our residents.” The residency program currently covers the following medical specialties:
Transitional (1-year, multi-specialty internship)
Family medicine Internal medicine
Foot and ankle surgery (Podiatry) Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN))
General surgery Emergency Medicine
Orthopedic surgery
Critical Care (Fellowship program)
“Our commitment to educating tomorrow’s doctors is strong – and growing,” said Michael Geria, D.O., vice president of academic affairs and director of the residency program. Geria started the program not long after he joined Inspira in 2009. The training program is affiliated with the nearby Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Inspira Physician Wins State-Wide Award Muhammad Durrani, D.O., a recent graduate of the Inspira residency program, was honored as the New Jersey “Resident of the Year” by the American College of Emergency Physicians for 2019. He was also selected for a similar internal Inspira award from among more than 40 emergency medicine residents in the system. He has chosen to stay at Inspira as an attending emergency medicine physician. “I love it here,” said Durrani. “I think the awards are a testament to the excellent medical and technical education at Inspira. The program took into account all the things that go into being a good doctor, including listening to patients, talking with each other to produce the best outcomes for them, and managing a work/life balance. I look forward to continuing to care for patients, conduct research and teach residents here in South Jersey.”
The residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. They draw applicants from medical schools around the country. Geria said that one goal of the program is to produce well-rounded physicians who will serve communities throughout South Jersey and beyond.
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New Cancer Center Brings Technology, Expertise, Compassion to Patients
Cancer care is not a sprint, it is a journey. Patients with a cancer diagnosis often need acute care, but almost always need continuing aftercare. With that concept in mind, Inspira Health is opening the Leading-Edge Cancer Center on the campus of the new Mullica Hill medical center. The new facility will feature the most advanced technology in the fight against cancer and was designed to be comfortable and convenient for patients and families. It represents a significant addition to Inspira’s wide range of cancer care, research programs, and clinical trials. The 35,700-square foot cancer facility is projected to open in January 2020. The goal, according to Erev Tubb, M.D., FACP, medical director of the Inspira Mullica Hill Cancer Program, is to serve patients who need treatment and
comprehensive follow-up with a whole host of support services, without making them travel. “Patients in southern New Jersey want high-quality cancer care close to where they live,” he said. “In this brand new center, we will put many advanced services and highly-skilled specialists under one roof.” The design of the cancer center will give patients local access to comprehensive oncology services. Medical, radiation and surgical oncologists will all be in one space. Patients will be able to see multiple specialists in one location, during one appointment, often in the same exam room. Support services, including social work, nutrition counseling, genetic counseling and a wide range of personalized programs will also be housed in the building. Cancer navigators will help guide patients through their treatments, care plan, and paperwork. Access to clinical trials and support groups will be offered.
Assessing risk, with or without a diagnosis When a patient is referred to Inspira for cancer services or has a routine test, such as a mammogram, they will be surveyed about family history, lifestyle and other topics that will help assess their risk level. If determined to be at an elevated risk, they may be referred to the Inspira Insight High Risk program. Once enrolled, they will be provided with a customized surveillance and prevention plan. It may include more frequent or additional testing (such as breast MRI), advanced genetics services, and appointments with cancer surgeons or other specialists. Michelle Marshall, assistant vice president of Cancer Services at Inspira Health, said, “We are giving patients access to cancer specialists with world-class training, while also getting to know them as people. Especially in health care, knowledge is power, and we want to give everyone we see, whether they’ve received a cancer diagnosis or not, the best patient experience and outcome possible.”
Research and clinical trials benefit patients Kush Sachdeva, M.D., oncologist and medical director of the Inspira Frank and Edith Scarpa Regional Cancer Pavilion in Vineland, said that expanded clinical trials will be a benefit to patients across all Inspira locations.
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Sami Abate, Ph.D., R.N., director of Clinical Research Office and Nursing Quality
“Tomorrow’s treatments and cures are today’s clinical trials,” he said. “Patients, especially those with a poor prognosis, can have access to new treatments earlier, and at no cost to them, by participating in trials. They can receive cutting-edge, evidence-based care, close to home. Sami Abate, Ph.D., R.N., director of Clinical Research Office and Nursing Quality, heads a new clinical research office at Inspira Health that conducts clinical research on new treatments for a range of conditions and diseases. “Physicians are overwhelmingly in favor of working with a health care system that does research,” she said. “We already are doing a great deal of clinical cancer research at Inspira. Our goal is to make discoveries available to the patient as quickly and safely as possible. We also will continue to expand our research to cover conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac issues and obesity – things that affect a great number of the people in the communities we serve.” Carl Minniti, Jr., M.D., chief of the Division of Oncology & Hematology and chairman of the Cancer Committee at Inspira Medical Center Woodbury and Mullica Hill stated that major strides have been made in oncology drug development, which have had a significant impact on the care he provides to his patients. “Over the past decade, targeted therapies which attack particular genomic characteristics of certain cancer cells have allowed for more effective treatments with less side effects. The availability of these new drugs has changed our treatment options quite a bit. Immunotherapy has also become a game changer for many patients with diverse cancer types. We are truly witnessing a new level of sophistication for cancer therapy.” Many new drugs have been recently approved and a lot more are in clinical trials. The Cancer Research Program at Inspira has allowed many of his patients to access new drugs and therapies long before they were officially FDA approved. Minniti added that his practice has participated in hundreds of clinical trials over the years and looks forward to the continued success of the research program.
Improving the patient experience Tubb said one other thing is going to make cancer care at Inspira stand out; a personal touch. “I want our patients to know us, and our staff to know our patients. We will deliver excellent, advanced, cancer care, but will also work hard on the ‘little’ things, such as keeping wait times to a minimum and providing a calm, reassuring environment. I plan to keep my door open to patients, families and referring physicians. No one Skin should ever feel like just a case to be treated or a number when they come to Inspira.” Inspira doctors, surgeons and other caregivers treat virtually all types of cancer, including:
Breast
prostate
Gynecologic
Leukemia
Testicular
Lung Bladder
Colorectal
Thyroid
Kidney Head and Neck
lymphoma
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Captial Campaign Breaks Fundraising Record
In June, Inspira Health Foundations reached the goal of its first network-wide fundraising campaign, raising $20 million six months ahead of schedule! It is the largest amount Inspira has ever raised, and makes the campaign, “Invest. Impact. Inspire.” one of the most successful of its kind in South Jersey. More than one thousand businesses, community leaders, family foundations and individuals contributed. “The generosity of our communities, employees and leadership has been truly humbling,” said Jessica Kowal, chief development officer, Inspira Health. “Their support will help Inspira actively address our region’s greatest health care needs.” Among the projects supported by the campaign program are a new cancer center in Mullica Hill (pg. 6-7), Inspira’s growing residency program (pg. 5), and community health initiatives that address addiction, food insecurity, homelessness and health care access for under served populations. Capital investments at Inspira Health also support the building of Gloucester County’s first new hospital in 45 years, expansions at Inspira Medical Center Vineland, and a growing number of urgent care centers. John DiAngelo, president and CEO, Inspira Health, said, “The tremendous response to this campaign allows us to continue to invest in serving the people of South Jersey. It helps us bring more innovative health care services to more people, closer to home, than ever before.”
A New
$23
Million
Goal
According to Kowal, the success of the campaign prompted Inspira Health Foundations to set a new goal of $23 million by the end of 2019. “We want to build on our momentum,” she said. “We hope our supporters will be inspired to join us and make an investment in the health of our local community.” Donations can be made through a secure online portal. Patients can make a gift in honor of a doctor, nurse, volunteer or other staff member who provided them with outstanding care. Physicians and employees can give through payroll deductions. Other ways to give include gifts of stock, planned gifts, and donor-advised funds. To learn more about “Invest. Impact. Inspire.” and how you can help, visit InspiraFoundation.org or call the Inspira Foundations office at 856-641-8290.
Inspira Health will open two new outpatient ambulatory care facilities in northern and eastern Gloucester County next year, bringing care closer to home for the region’s rapidly growing population. The 18,000-square-foot building is being renovated inside and out, with a new facade and roof, upgrades to the parking lot and a completely redesigned interior.
The new outpatient care centers, in Sicklerville and Woolwich, are part of Inspira’s goal of expanding access to health services in under served areas. “People want outpatient services close to where they live and work,” said Clare Sapienza-Eck, vice president, Business Development and Planning, Inspira Health. “With these facilities, and others in the planning stages, we are fulfilling our strategic plan to extend our network throughout the northern reaches of our service area.” Inspira Health Center Sicklerville will be located in the building that currently houses Inspira Medical Group Primary Care Sicklerville.
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150+
Access Points (anD counting!)
Inspira Primary Care Sicklerville will remain and will be joined by radiology, laboratory, physical therapy, rehab services and a sleep center. The expansion was driven by increasing patient volume and to move more services into the communities Inspira serves. “From the layout of the building, to the materials and color palettes we used, to signage and lighting, everything is designed to meet the needs of our patients and employees,” said Brandon Bardowsky, vice president, Facilities & Engineering, Inspira Health. “Inspira has made it a priority to grow and expand to offer increased access across South Jersey,” said Todd Way, executive vice president of operations. “We want to make it easy for our patients to get world-class care without going too far from home.”
A TOP PLACE TO WORK
Team players, leaders, innovators, nurturers, educators, advocates, people with character—these are the individuals that make up Inspira Health. With approximately 6,000 employees, Inspira is one of the largest employers in the region. And with the opening of its new medical center in Mullica Hill later this year, Inspira has even more opportunities to join the organization. From nursing positions, to laboratory, environmental services, food and nutrition, and more, Inspira is always looking for talented team members who are dedicated to health care excellence. The organization recently launched a new recruitment site making it even easier for those seeking employment to find and apply to open positions. With the ability to search by locations, titles, and keywords, applicants will now have a more user-friendly experience. “When we interview candidates, we are looking for people who embrace and embody our values of quality, partnership, empowerment, integrity, stewardship and compassion,” said Nicole Wilson, director of Talent Acquisition. “There is nothing more important to us than providing patients with a Wow experience. To provide the best care starts with having the best people - and we look for new employees who will strengthen our culture and commit to our mission of ‘improving the lives of all we serve’.” Culture is a word many organizations use, but what does it mean? Inspira’s Chief People Officer Erich Florentine explained. “At Inspira, it comes down to one thing: caring and caring enough to go above and beyond people’s expectations. It is at the heart of everything we do – from the way we treat patients, each other, and every person we come in contact with throughout the organization. This provides a positive work culture that fosters employee pride and loyalty, improved patient satisfaction and a great work environment.” In addition to a caring culture, Inspira provides employees with many learning opportunities, including continuing education, tuition assistance and a variety of internal and external programs. Not only do employees have the opportunity to advance their careers, but also advance their professions through innovative practices and research opportunities. “We strive to provide all the tools and resources to ensure our employees’ success,” added Florentine. “From offering competitive pay and benefits and recognizing employee achievements to engaging staff in making improvements every day, we are dedicated to building and fostering a positive culture that people want to be a part of.” Interested in becoming a part of the Inspira Health team? Visit careers.inspirahealthnetwork.org to view all employment opportunities. “In my years working at Inspira I’ve encountered a lot of changes – a lot of good changes. I’m proud to be a part of this system. I’ve been promoted to different positions and have been given responsibilities that make me feel special.” – Robert “Boots” Harris Transporter, Vineland, 45-year employee
“I’m proud to work for Inspira and that’s why I have been here for 20 years. I like my co-workers – they are like family. They are very helpful, and we have a good team.” – Cheryl Christian, Finance, Bridgeton, 20-year employee
Each year, Becker’s Healthcare releases its “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare” list, which highlights hospitals, health systems and health care companies that promote diversity within the
workforce, employee engagement and professional growth.
Inspira has earned this recognition two years in a row. Becker’s, a go-to source in the health care industry, highlighted Inspira’s focus on employee wellness, including its 10 consecutive American Heart Association Platinum Fit Friendly Awards, its on-campus fitness centers, mindful meditation classes, and the overall dedication to mental and physical well-being.
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Elaine Cheng, M.D. General Surgeon
Innovation Where it Matters Most