Healthy Aging: November 2016

A PublicAtion from monmouth medical center, southern campus

HEALTHY AGING November 2016

AVOIDING bREAST CANCER MEET A NEW TOP ER DOC FAMILIES GRATEFUL FOR ‘TERRIFIC’ CARE FUNDRAISING: GOLF + GALA

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WElcomE lEttEr Dear Friend,

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irst and foremost, I would like to thank you for your continued support and participation in the Better Health Membership Program. In the past year, Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus (MMCSC) has seen many changes, including the expansion of this program and dedication amongst its members to utilize our hospital’s services. In an effort to keep you up-to-date and informed on hospital happenings, I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with an update on what has occurred over the past year.

As you’ve probably seen, we are at the end stages of our Route 9 renovation and facelift. This update was the last in a major, three-phase renovation project. This project began with a full revamp of our main lobby, continued when we converted to all private rooms, and will be coming to full completion this fall with the unveiling of our new Route 9 fa ade, The River Avenue Pavilion.

In addition to these renovations, we’ve also made several other updates throughout the hospital. Early this year, we permanently relocated the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center from its location at 500 River Avenue to the main hospital near Outpatient Services. Breast Center services now include breast screening mammography, diagnostic mammography, breast surgery consultation and high-risk cancer assessment.

We will also be debuting our new Outpatient Infusion Unit and Geriatrics Institute in the coming weeks. The Outpatient Infusion Unit has undergone an expansion to better serve more patients, which included renovations to rooms with several updates and enhancements. Our one-of-a-kind Geriatrics Institute will be opening mid-November and will provide integrated inpatient, outpatient and community education aspects of geriatric medicine in one location.

Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and audiologists will also be located on this floor to accommodate the needs of our patients as they transition from inpatient to outpatient care. That will ultimately let them live their independent home lives once again.

I sincerely appreciate the trust you have put in Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, to care for you when you are most vulnerable, and I look forward to growing more together in 2017.

Sincerely,

Frank J. Vozos, m.D., FAcS Executive Vice President, RWJBarnabas Health Chief Executive, Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus

Seei ng t h e h ea rt

IN ACTION With neW 3-D echocarDiography, Doctors can check hoW the valves anD chambers are Working better than ever before.

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onmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, has added three-dimensional echocardiogram technology.

This state-of-the art ultrasound system, Live 3D Echo, lets cardiologists view the heart instantaneously, visualizing it from different perspectives and looking at the correlations among valves, chambers and vessels to identify abnormalities. It offers more complete and direct views than those of two-dimensional echocardiography.

“This ultrasound system brings a new standard of care to our facility by providing greater diagnostic accuracy and accessibility,” says Frank J. Vozos, M.D., FACS, executive vice president, RWJBarnabas Health and chief executive, Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus.

With the new technology, he explains, “physicians and staff members can now quickly share high-quality images between facilities, making communication a seamless process. For patients requiring multiple echocardiograms, it’s especially beneficial, as it allows for easier comparisons of tests, showing differences that signal improvements or declines faster.” to find out more about cardiology services available at monmouth medical center, Southern campus, or to schedule an echocardiogram, call 732.886.4426.

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EqUAL to EMERGENCIES

When immediate treatment is required, the neW mediCal direCtor of the emergenCy department is ready to proVide the finest.

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he recent appointment of Sreedar Raja, M.D., FACEP, as medical director of the Emergency Department at Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus (MMCSC), was news, but it was no surprise. This highly experienced specialist has been an attending physician at the facility for four years. According to the respected consulting firm Press Ganey, the department ranks in the top 5 percent nationally for patient satisfaction, and Dr. Raja is part of that success story.

The Colts Neck resident will also oversee MMCSC’s Geriatric Emergency Medicine (GEM) unit, which helps the medical center meet the complex health needs of Ocean County’s growing elderly population. The state-ofthe-art unit features an interdisciplinary team of providers specially trained in geriatric medicine and eight treatment rooms featuring amenities designed to meet the requirements of the geriatric population and their caregivers.

“We aim to be the region’s destination of choice for emergency care, especially for older patients, by work-

ing to meet their often more complex needs through enhanced team care Sreedar Raja, M.D., coordination in a holistic, patientFACEP centered environment,” says Dr. Raja.

Before joining MMCSC, Dr. Raja served as attending emergency physician at a number of other area hospitals, including Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Ocean Medical Center in Brick and Capital Health System in Hopewell.

A Cornell University graduate, Dr. Raja earned his medical degree at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark and completed an Emergency Medicine residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He also did an administrative fellowship with EmCare in Dallas. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Physicians, and is credentialed in hyperbaric (high-pressure oxygen) medicine and ultrasound technology.

Helping seniors

get more out of life Claire Verruni relishes her multifaCeted role as a Community health eduCator.

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or Claire Verruni, R.N., CHPN, education isn’t dry lesson plans. Her job as a community health educator at Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus (MMCSC), gives her a chance to help older people shatter the rocking-chair stereotypes and live actively, making each day count.

“I enjoy promoting health and wellness in the communities we serve,” says the Sea Girt resident, a married mother of two who has lived in New Jersey for 25 years and has been part of the Barnabas Health family for the past 15.

Verruni’s duties include promoting the medical center, its Center for Healthy Living and the Better Health program by providing health education, screenings, wellness programs and other nonclinical Claire Verruni, services. She helps with the day-to-day R.N., CHPN

operations of the Center for Healthy Living and all of MMCSC’s geriatric programs. Verruni also assists the diabetes education program by working with Lauren Dorman, certified diabetes educator, in performing glucose screenings and educating seniors about diabetes.

Healthy seniors stay engaged with friends and the community, and Verruni sets an example with her own active community life, serving on many hospital and communityrelated committees. In keeping with her broad definition of education, she helps to develop programs that put the latest scientific knowledge to work helping seniors maintain health and apply recommended best practices to the Center for Healthy Living, community organizations, geriatrics, on-site MMCSC programs and senior communities.

In her spare time she enjoys the beach at Sea Girt—and at Florida’s Siesta Key.

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Grateful family:

Jeff and Kim Price A couple recAlls the superb cAre in the Ace unit thAt brightened A pArent’s lAst dAys.

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t is never easy to care for an ailing parent; however, Jeff and Kim Price of Monmouth Beach found that with the help of Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus (MMCSC), and two physicians—internist Satyendra P. Singh, M.D., and cardiologist Rajesh Mohan, M.D.—that weight was lifted a bit. While recovering from a broken hip, Jeff’s mother, Helen, 86, was readmitted to MMCSC’s Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit due to complications from pneumonia. Although she was receiving home health care 24/7, her primary care physicians thought it best that she be seen as an inpatient at MMCSC. “We immediately saw a tremendous change from what was Kimball to what is now Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus,” Jeff Price says. “The facility looked terrific, with beautiful, large private rooms, and the nursing staff was amazing. Each nurse we encountered was compassionate, kind and knowledgeable.”

All those who were charged with Helen’s care took the time to know her on a personal level, which was of great comfort to Jeff and Kim. While they almost always had a family member on-site visiting with Helen, they knew that during the times when no one could be there she would be cared for in a compassionate and dignified manner.

And when family members were at the hospital, nurses and staff went above and beyond to make sure they

were comfortable as well, bringing in coffee trays and making everyone feel welcomed.

Jeff and Kim were impressed by the communication between departments in the hospital. Due to her medical condition, Helen was unable to chew certain things and needed a purée of real food instead.

Food Services accommodated this request almost immediately, getting Helen the food she needed within a half hour. Jeff then received a call from Patient Services to make sure their request had been taken care of sufficiently.

“There just seems to be a great communication flow throughout the hospital,” Kim Price says. “Everyone who works here is most concerned about doing what is best for the patient and family, making sure ev-

eryone is comfortable and cared for.”

Even though Helen has since passed away, Jeff and Kim are extremely grateful for the care she received during her time at MMCSC. Dr. Singh and Helen’s immediate nurse were not only attentive to Helen, but also served the Prices’ needs. Each provided them with their direct contact information, allowing them to call day or night in regard to Helen’s care.

“We would recommend Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, and the ACE Unit to family and friends without hesitation,” says Jeff. “Every person I encountered was kind. I always received a hello in the hallway, and these are the things that mean so much when you’re going through such a traumatic loss.”

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Grateful husband:

Bob Hertzendorf

When his Wife had a frightening irregular heartbeat, it Was a relief to see hoW promptly hospital personnel treated her—and assuaged her fears.

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nexpected trips to the hospital can be unsettling. But when Lakewood resident Bob Hertzendorf brought in his beloved wife Phyllis for emergency treatment, he was immediately impressed by the level of care and compassion they found there.

When Phyllis’ heart rate dropped and she began sweating, her husband of 65 years was understandably concerned.

Phyllis suffers from atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to serious heart-related complications, such as blood clots and stroke.

When Phyllis and Bob arrived in the Geriatric Emergency Medicine (GEM) unit at Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, Bob was able to breathe a sigh of relief. The GEM unit was developed in an effort to create an atmosphere that meets the unique health care needs of aging patients in a variety of ways—the result being efficient, safe, specialized medical care for older adults.

“From the time we arrived in the ambulance, the care was exemplary,” says Bob. “Phyllis means the world to me, and to witness the way the staff at Monmouth South treated my wife with such tender, loving care truly touched me. It was as if they were caring for their own mother!”

In addition to providing high-quality medical expertise, Bob found, each and every staff member at the facility was friendly and informative.

“When you are in the hospital, it makes such a difference to have someone with a friendly smile caring for you,” he says. “The attention the staff paid to my wife’s emotional state surely made Phyllis’ physical healing much faster.”

Like many, Bob admits he’s not fond of surprises.

But when Phyllis was admitted for further treatment, he was pleasantly surprised with her private room— not only was it near the nurse’s station, but there were

accommodations for him to stay with her.

“In the 18 years we have lived in Lakewood, we have seen the hospital change and grow. With significant updates in the last few years, we are more confident than ever in the medical care provided so close to home,” says Bob. “We are proud to encourage our friends and neighbors to visit Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus.”

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FOUNDATIONFOCUS

The ’20s roar once more

The FoundaTion’s annual humaniTarian Gala brinGs a niGhT oF Gatsby-sTyle merrimenT.

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ore than 300 guests “stepped back in time” for the recent Annual Humanitarian Gala of the Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus Foundation, which featured a Great Gatsby theme. Held at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale, the event provided an evening of sequins and glamour with 1920s flair, and attendees enjoyed dinner, drinks and dancing for a good cause.

Proceeds from the gala benefit the foundation, created to support the hospital and the programs and services it provides.

“We greatly appreciate the continued support from individuals and corporations for making our gala a tremendous success year after year,” said Denice Gaffney, the foundation’s vice president of development. “The

gala is a significant fundraising event as it provides support for state-of-the-art equipment, hospital programs and facility improvements to enhance the quality of care for our patients.”

At the gala, the foundation presented the 2016 Humanitarian Awards to Johnny Larsen, D.O., FACOEP, FACEP; Kiritkumar Pandya, M.D.; and Domenick Servodio, whose contributions have helped enable Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, to grow and adapt to the changing health care landscape, while continuing to meet the diverse needs of the community.

“We congratulate this year’s Humanitarian Award recipients for their well-deserved recognition and their extraordinary contributions to our community,” said Gaffney.

For information on upcoming MMCSC Foundation events, call 732.886.GIFT (4438).

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Golf Classic

raises the bar

An AnnuAl fundrAising event on the greens proves to be A record-setting success.

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early 130 golfers participated in Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus’ recent Annual Golf Classic at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale, making it the medical center’s most successful golf classic to date. Event proceeds will benefit the Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus Foundation to fund programs and services offered by the hospital to the community.

The golf classic featured a buffet lunch, a round of golf and a post-outing cocktail buffet reception, at which golfers participated in a silent auction and 50/50 raffle.

“We’re so excited about our amazing turnout and appreciate the continued support we receive from businesses and community leaders year after year,” said Denice Gaffney, vice president of development for the foundation. “The golf classic plays a key role in helping us fund our programs and services, which benefit our surrounding community.”

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Doctor

Ask the

Can I Cut my BREAST-CANCER RISk? A question for MAnpreet Kohli, M.D., breAst surgeon, MonMouth MeDicAl center, southern cAMpus.

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ne in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer—and most cases occur in women with no family history. Fortunately, medicine has learned a lot about risk factors for breast cancer.

Some factors—like carrying the BRCA gene—can’t be altered; with others, women can lower their risk with simple lifestyle changes: n Maintain a healthy weight. Fat is the building block for estrogen, the fuel for many breast cancers. A body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 25 is ideal and can even help prevent recurrences in women who have had breast cancer. (See “Calculate your BMI” at www.nhlbi.nih.gov.) n Exercising 80 to 110 minutes a week is linked to an 18 percent reduction in risk. n If you choose to drink alcohol, have less than five glasses of wine a week, or less than one drink a day.

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Don’t smoke!

Having children, especially before age 30, and breastfeeding also help lower your risk.

Alas, one can do everything right and still get breast cancer. Thanks to advances in screening mammography, though, many cancers are now found very Manpreet Kohli, M.D. early—that’s why it is vital to keep up with annual mammograms.

Breast cancer is still a serious threat, but women today can feel confident that the battle against it can be won. Survival rates are way up; for early-stage disease the five-year rate is approaching 100 percent. n

COMMuNITY CALENDAR Here are some upcoming events of interest to seniors: ELDERFEST

Thursday, November 3 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Clarion Hotel, 815 Route 37 West, Toms River Free lifestyle expo with health screenings, crafters, giveaways and chair massages. For more information, call 732.597.6075.

OPEN HEALTH SCREENINGS

Wednesday, November 9 8:30–10:30 a.m.

Center for Healthy Living, 198 Prospect St., Lakewood Free glucose, blood pressure, bone density and balance screenings. Registration is required by calling 888.724.7123.

COPING WITH CAREGIVER STRESS

FIVE WISHES

Friday, November 4 1–2 p.m.

Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, 600 River Ave., Lakewood Caring for a person with dementia can be overwhelming. This free program will offer coping strategies. To register, call 888.280.6055.

Wednesday, November 9 3–4 p.m.

Ocean County Library– Lakewood Branch, 301 Lexington Ave., Lakewood Learn about the Five Wishes document, which lets you control how you’re treated if you get seriously ill. Registration required; call 732.363.1435.

MMCSC FALL OPEN HOuSE

THE BASICS OF DIABETES

Thursday, November 10 4:30 p.m.

Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, Route 9 Entrance, 600 River Ave., Lakewood Please register by calling 888.724.7123.

Tuesday, November 15 10–11:30 a.m.

Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, 331 Georgia Tavern Rd., Howell Includes glucose screenings for those who have fasted for at least two hours prior. Registration required; call 732.751.9453.

LuNCH & LEARN: STRESS MANAGEMENT AND RELAXATION TECHNIQuES

(Better Health members only) Monday, November 14 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Center for Healthy Living, 198 Prospect St., Lakewood Lunch will be provided; space is limited. Registration required; call 888.724.7123.

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