THANK YOU DONOR IMPACT
REPORT
TREATING EPILEPSY IN
REAL-TIME
“The unit is a wonderful addition to our services and interprofessional team of specialists; neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, EEG technologists, neuroscience nurses, speech pathologists and social workers, and greatly benefits our patients.”
ARUN
R. ANTONY, M.D.
DIRECTOR, EPILEPSY AND SEIZURE DISORDER PROGRAM
The Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s newly opened, and donor-funded, Dr. Robert H. and Mary Ellen Harris Epilepsy Monitoring Unit offers specialized evaluation and treatment for adults with all types of seizure disorders and access to a team of epilepsy experts who provide advanced surgical, nonsurgical and supportive therapies. The rooms are equipped with the latest technologies, including ceilingmounted cameras and EEG machines, which facilitate close monitoring, accurate epilepsy diagnosis and identification of the area of the brain where seizures are originating. Now, patients don’t have to travel far to receive the best care for seizure disorders and can remain close to home and support services.
HEALING HARMONIES IN PEDIATRIC
CARE
Music is a universal language and an effective therapeutic tool to help people deal with illness. Similar to physical, occupational or speech therapy, music therapy uses music to achieve functional goals, such as expressing emotions or managing pain. The donor-funded music therapist at Hackensack Meridian K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital works with children facing a cancer diagnosis, trauma or other serious illness that takes an emotional toll, to empower children to express themselves through music. Music therapy also provides young patients with the opportunity to learn the basics of an instrument, offering something positive to reflect on once they return home.
A HEART HEALING HAVEN
The donor-funded Megan Schulman Pediatric Vascular Anomalies Clinic at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, located within Jersey Shore University Medical Center, offers specialized care for infants, children and teenagers. The clinic’s multidisciplinary team includes skilled nurses and specialists in pediatric surgery, pediatric hematology and pediatric cardiology, as well as radiology and orthopedic surgery. This collaborative approach ensures each patient receives individualized treatment plans and comprehensive support. The clinic provides close-to-home treatment options and
support services through a dedicated nurse navigator who assists families in navigating the health care system, managing their child’s condition and accessing necessary resources.
DELIVERING THE BEST IN BABY CARE
“We are grateful for our donors whose generosity helps us continue to meet the ever-growing needs of the Jersey Shore community and beyond.”
SCOTT W. SMILEN, M.D. CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
Jersey Shore University Medical Center is dedicated to providing exceptional family care, especially during life’s most cherished moments. This commitment is clearly reflected in the newly renovated Postpartum Unit, which was made possible through grants and private funding. Situated within the historic Ackerman Pavilion, this state-of-the-art facility now boasts 12 additional beds and 8 bassinets, enhancing the unit’s capacity to serve parents and their newborns. The redesign prioritizes comfort and modernity, offering a welcoming environment for families, and ensuring a supportive and pleasant postpartum experience. We express our deepest gratitude to the donors whose generosity has made this renovation possible, allowing us to continue offering exceptional care to our community.
COMBATTING CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
“As Chief of Cardiology, I am proud to say that the new cardiovascular suite represents a monumental leap forward in patient care, outcomes and satisfaction. It is truly a generational advancement that will redefine cardiovascular care for our community.”
BRETT A. SEALOVE, M.D., FACC, FAHA, RPVI, CPE, CHIEF, CARDIOLOGY
Jersey Shore University Medical Center provides the community with advanced structural heart, electrophysiology (EP) and emergency heart attack and stroke treatment options, as well as groundbreaking patient clinical trials and newlyapproved cardiovascular devices. Its new cardiovascular suite, nearly tripling patient capacity and partially funded through donor generosity, features four dedicated cardiac catheterization labs, four EP labs, two hybrid operating rooms and a 32-bay patient prep and recovery area. The new suite’s increased capacity facilitates scheduling elective cardiovascular procedures and provides crucial medical care for patients transferred from other hospitals. Cardiologists, nurses and team members have a more convenient, centralized and dedicated space with leading-edge tools that enables them to provide patients with world-class cardiovascular care in an environment designed to promote efficiency and provide an optimal patient experience.
Be The Difference is a transformational effort focusing on four key pillars: enhancing the delivery of patient care, accelerating groundbreaking research and discovery, expanding equitable access to advanced care and revolutionizing medical education while supporting the nursing profession.
Through this ambitious initiative, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation aims to reshape health care for patients, clinicians and the diverse communities it serves, paving the way for a brighter, healthier future. Thank you for making a difference!
TINY LIVES, BIG IMPACT
“We
are incredibly grateful to our donors whose generosity has made a tremendous impact on our NICU babies and their families. Thank you!”
ANN MARIE CONTE, DNP, MSN, RN, CPN DIRECTOR, PATIENT CARE, WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENTS
In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the health and stability of newborns, especially preterm infants, are of utmost importance, and transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitors are the gold standard for continuous non-invasive respiratory management of neonatal patients in the NICU. The monitors provide continuous monitoring for timely ventilator changes for patient weaning and respiratory escalations without invasive and painful blood draws. This leads to improved patient outcomes for many health conditions such as chronic lung disease. Continuous monitoring also allows for faster extubation of patients, a shorter hospitalization and minimizes anemia. This technology enhances the quality of care, improves survival rates and supports better long-term outcomes for infants in the NICU, all the while allowing our most fragile patients to remain close to home. Our donors are certainly making a difference in our babies’ lives!
