Healthy Aging: May 2016

A PublicAtion from monmouth medical center, southern campus

HEALTHY AGING mAy 2016

stAy sAfe!

learning self-defense mammograms after 65 the joy of tai chi

HOLISTIC heALING methODs

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WElcomE lEttEr To our community: This is the beginning of an exciting new era for health care in New Jersey as Barnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson Health System have united to create the most comprehensive health system in the state, RWJBarnabas Health. We are bringing the best of academic medicine, research and teaching and community providers together to create healthier communities.

For our patients this means greater, more convenient access to high-quality care, the development of advanced new services and the expansion of, and access to, cutting-edge clinical trials. Our systems contributed a combined total of over $550 million a year in community beneft services. These investments go toward outreach and engagement programs, programs with schools and religious groups to keep people healthy. Together we will be able to accomplish even more.

As one, we are positioned to better combat disease and promote wellness in our region—truly making our communities healthier while also making health care more affordable. Thank you for trusting RWJBarnabas Health as your healthcare partner. We look forward to serving you for generations to come.

Best regards, Frank J. Vozos, m.D., FAcS

Executive Vice President, Barnabas Health Chief Executive, Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus

WORkINg FOR PATIENT SATISFACTION T

he Affordable Care Act has put patient satisfaction at the top of the list of goals for all health care providers, and Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus (MMCSC) recently hired a new Director of Patient Care to oversee that mission. Since starting at MMCSC this past October, Suji Thomas, M.S.N., M.B.A.–HCM, R.N., along with her assistant clinical nurse directors, has made great strides in improving patient satisfaction ratings. Her efforts and those of her team have resulted in dramatically increased patient satisfaction scores for the past two quarters—specifcally in communication with nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff and pain management.

Thomas has monthly staff meetings along with daily huddles, where she utilizes an evidence-based approach on educating the multidisciplinary team to strive for improvement in patient satisfaction and patients’ perceptions of their hospital experience. “During the daily huddles we focus on quality of care and patient satisfaction data,” Thomas says.

“We point out where a good job has been done and where we see a need for improvement.” Awareness is the key to success. Investing this time and effort into her team’s education on current trends in health care is crucial as it presents a greater understanding of HCAHPS Hospital Survey and valuebased purchasing (VBP); this awareness of the front-line staff brings forth high patient satisfaction and quality clinical outcomes. The front-line staff members are oftentimes the individuals who make the most impact on patients, which is why it is imperative that they are exhibiting best practices.

Thomas has based much of her practice around Jean Watson’s Caring Theory. Watson, an American nurse theorist and nursing professor who is best known for her theory of human caring, believes that to improve self-care and the care of others both staff morale and satisfaction need to be at the forefront of our minds. Thomas, in collaboration with other disciplines in the hospital, is in the process of developing a “caring trolley” for this reason. The “caring trolley” will deliver coffee and refreshments daily to front-line staff on inpatient foors by senior leadership. “This will demonstrate a genuine act of caring and concern for the health and wellbeing of staff by hospital leaders,” she says.

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Keep up the habit of

MAMMOGrAMS Older wOmen still need this screening, as an Outreach team explains.

D

o older women still need mammograms? Many such women mistakenly think that, after a certain age, these imaging tests are no longer important. But that’s not true; in fact, aging is one of the primary risk factors for breast cancer. Now Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, has secured a Healthy Living Grant for Cancer Prevention from the American Medical Association Foundation to fund educational outreach in order to stress the importance of continuing breast health screening for women 65 and older.

“Our team of nurse practitioners, breast surgeons, genetic counselors and oncology nurse navigators will go out into the community to lecture groups of women in Ocean and Monmouth counties,” says Laura Gallo, special projects manager for cancer services. The educators will appear at various locations including hospitals, senior and community centers, libraries, houses of worship, worksites and shopping malls.

During education events, which feature both a lecture and a Q&A session, the team will address all the issues and myths related to breast health, including the fear some women feel about mammograms. The breast health educators will conduct risk assessments, discuss risk factors, help patients to make convenient appointments based on their own schedules and

even help arrange transportation to and from the hospital.

Mammography is proven to fnd cancers early, when they are most easily treated and cured, yet many women have never had a mammogram, while others have stopped their regular screenings.

“Ultimately, the program will result in more early detection, more hope and more survivors,” Gallo says. “If you are interested in having us speak to you—it can be for an organization or just a group of friends—we are willing to come out.”

To better serve patients, the Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center was permanently relocated to the main hospital last month. Services will now include breast screening mammography, diagnostic mammography, breast surgery consultation and high-risk cancer assessment.

To fnd the location of future events, or to schedule an event for your group, contact Laura Gallo at lgallo@barnabashealth.org or 732.923.6509. Or to schedule a mammogram, call 732.923.7700.

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Meditative moves Tai chi for seniors offers beTTer healTh and balance—and fun.

T

ai chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art, is sometimes called “moving meditation.” Practitioners move their bodies slowly and gently through postures while focusing on breathing and relaxation. The movements can be adapted or practiced while walking, standing or sitting, making tai chi an excellent exercise for older adults and those with chronic health concerns.

And it provides more than exercise. Scientifc research has found that practicing tai chi may improve balance and stability in older people and those with Parkinson’s, which can help reduce the risk of suffering a harmful fall. Studies also show that tai chi may ease pain from knee osteoarthritis, help people cope with fbromyalgia and back pain and promote quality of life and mood in people with heart failure and cancer. It also offers psychological benefts, such as reducing anxiety.

For all these reasons, the Center for Healthy Aging at Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus is offering tai chi classes for Better Health members. Classes are available for both those experienced at tai chi and those who are not.

Instructor Kit Lau, who has been teaching tai chi for more than 10 years, will instruct Better Health members in the fne art of tai chi from both standing and sitting positions. “We feel that tai chi is wonderful opportunity for members to improve their balance and to also socialize

and meet new people,” says Kelly DeLeon, health coach.

Classes will be offered throughout the year and beginers are welcome. All seniors age 55 and older are invited to participate, regardless of medical conditions. The cost is $5 for one class or $40 for eight sessions, all held at the Center for Healthy Living, located at 198 Prospect Street in Lakewood. Space is limited and registration is required; call the Barnabas Health LINK at 888.724.7123.

A tai chi class can be good exercise, spiritual centering and social fun.

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Don’t be a viCtim an octogenarian teaches the art of self-defense.

Y

ou don’t want to mess with Walter Miller. He has a black belt in three martial arts: judo, selfdefense and jiu-jitsu. He teaches these techniques to men and women of all ages—which is remarkable, because Miller is in his 80s.

“Walter understands the needs of older adults,” says Kelly DeLeon, a health coach with Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus. He is offering two classes in self-defense— one specifcally for adults 60 and older and one for all ages—to help people learn to protect themselves from personal assaults, street at-

tacks and abductions. The classes also promote physical activity and socialization along with safety, DeLeon says.

Miller teaches participants how to use leverage and balance, rather than brute strength, to fend off would-be assailants. He says he is happy to provide this class because it teaches people “how to stay safe using hands-on techniques for protecting themselves during attacks. Older women and young girls are the biggest targets of crimes.”

You do not need any prior experience in self-defense to attend the classes, DeLeon says. There is no protective

gear needed, and the classes are safe and designed to meet the age-appropriate needs and physical abilities of participants. Be sure to wear comfortable, loose-ftting clothing to class.

The classes are held the second and fourth Tuesday and Thursday of every month, and open enrollment means you can start at any time. They are held at the Center for Healthy Living at 198 Prospect Street in Lakewood. The cost is $15 for fve one-hour classes.

Space is limited and registration is required. Call 888.724.7123 to register or fnd out more.

Techniques for self-protection taught

by Walter Miller, right, can increase the confdence of seniors—or anyone else.

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A HOLISTIC AppROACH to heAlth

the medical center offers spiritual healing to patients and staff.

I

n the past few decades, Western medicine has caught up to what Eastern health care practitioners have known for centuries: healing sometimes works best with both the expertise of medically profcient physicians and holistic modalities that soothe the mind and spirit as well as the body. “Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus [MMCSC] wants to be moving with current trends in healthcare to ensure that our staff and community receive what is helpful in addition to what conventional medicine has to offer,” explains Donna Cetroni, board certifed holistic nurse and performance improvement coordinator.

“There is ample research supporting the benefts of the integration of holistic modalities to improve outcomes and honor each person as an individual,” she continues. “Our goal is to provide evidence-based scientifc

methods for holistic healing to our patients, their caregivers and our staff.”

These evidence-based methods of complementary and integrative holistic care are defned by the American Holistic Nurses Association as an all-nursing practice that has healing the whole person as its central goal.

These modalities serve to enhance the person’s experience and enrich healing potential. They include healing arts such as yoga therapy, massage therapy, aromatherapy and the healing touch amongst others.

The hospital has opened a Tranquility Room that is available for staff to use to reenergize in a peaceful setting. The Healing Garden is also part of the facility and it is available to patients, families and staff to refect and restore in a natural setting with a calming and soothing atmosphere.

MMCSC is embodying a Barnabas Health Corporate approach in

the development of standardizing a special outlet to support staff members facing emotional and spiritual challenges with what is called Code Lavender. The purpose is to initiate and provide a formal setting for emotional support for an employee who was exposed to a critical incident in the acute care setting of the hospital.

It provides an immediate vehicle for healthcare providers to express themselves amongst colleagues, to share their emotions and relieve stress.

In addition, the Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus Holistic Council wants to provide bedside nurses with tools for selfcare so they are balanced and mindfully present to provide the fnest care for their patients. “We are committed to providing skilled care, empathy and compassion as this is what our staff and community deserve,” Cetroni says.

Suji Thomas, director, Patient Care; Donna Cetroni, coordinator, Performance Improvement; Geraldine Smith, administrative director, Surgical Services; Wendy Mahne, critical care nurse; Jennifer Lees, assistant director, Patient Care; Rosalina Manongdo, assistant vice president, Patient Care; Judy Colorado, chief nursing ofcer; Chela Rajakumar, staf nurse, Med-Surg.

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Doctor

Ask the

Can ExErCisE HElp my pEripHEral artErial DisEasE?

A question for ChArles MArkowitz, M.D., PhysiCAl MeDiCine AnD rehAbilitAtion sPeCiAlist, MonMouth MeDiCAl Center, southern CAMPus.

T

he short answer: YES! Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a condition that usually affects lowerextremity blood vessels. Fatty material (plaque) causes the hardening and narrowing of arteries, resulting in lessened blood flow, which in turn may produce weakness as well as pain and other abnormal sensory symptoms of legs and feet.

These symptoms first appear with long walks and then recede with rest, but over time they occur when walking even short distances.

Legs may become cool to the touch or feel numb at rest. When PAD becomes severe, one may experience nighttime leg cramps and/or con-

stant pain or tingling of the feet, which may become hypersensitive to even the lightest touch. Calf muscles may atrophy and shrink as well.

In addition, feet may appear pale or bluish with toenails thickening, and non-healing skin sores may develop.

Treatment for PAD may include medication, dietary changes (including weight loss if indicated), avoidance of smoking and vascular surgery if necessary.

Exercise is a proactive way to help control PAD, while at the same time contributing to a healthier, more active lifestyle. Symptom reduction by exercising, including distance improvement while walking, has been

CoMMuniTy CaLendar

Here are some upcoming events that will be of interest to seniors.

apriL LunCh & Learn: undersTanding MediCare and your opTions For CoMprehensiVe CoVerage

Wednesday, April 20, 11:30 a.m.

Center for Healthy Living Register by calling 888.724.7123 LunCh & Learn: under pressure— heaLing probLeMaTiC Wounds WiTh oxygen presenTed by Johnny Larsen, d.o.

Friday, April 29, 11:30 a.m.

Center for Healthy Living Register by calling 888.724.7123

May gLuCose sCreening

Tuesday, May 10, 9–10 a.m.

Center for Healthy Living Register by calling 888.724.7123

audioLogy prograM WiTh dr. boyer

Wednesday, May 11, 12:45 p.m.

Jackson Twp. Senior Center 45 Don Connor Blvd., Jackson Register with Jackson Senior Center at 732.928.1323 skin CanCer sCreening WiTh dr. TarLoW

Thursday, May 19, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Center for Healthy Living Register by calling 888.724.7123; by appointment only for people aged 60 and older. aging eyes WiTh dr. paTeL

Tuesday, May 24, 11 a.m.–noon Howell Senior Center, 251 Preventorium Rd., Howell Register with Howell Senior Center at 732.938.4500

established by medical research. A balance program involves supervised leg exercises and walking (with or without a treadmill) to the point of pain, followed by rest periods. Your circulation may improve over time, as small new (collateral) blood vessels form in response to the exercise.

Always consult with your doctor before starting an exercise program.

The Comprehensive Vascular Center at Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, stands ready to assist you and your primary physician.

For a referral to a primary care physician, call 888.724.7123. To learn more about The Comprehensive Vascular Center, call 732.923.5030.

reCurring groups bereaVeMenT supporT group

2nd & 4th Tuesdays (April 12 & 26; May 10 & 24) 2:15–3:30 p.m.

Center for Healthy Living For more information, call 732.730.9112 CaregiVers supporT group

Every Tuesday 12:15–2:15 p.m.

Center for Healthy Living For more information, call 732.730.9112 diabeTes seLF-ManageMenT eduCaTion

Every Thursday 10 a.m.–noon Center for Healthy Living Register by calling 732.886.4731 grandparenTs raising grandChiLdren supporT group

Every Wednesday 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m, Center for Healthy Living For more information, call 732.730.9112

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