LIFE

Heartbeats: Stroke centers receive award

Brad Wadlow
@BradWadlowMyCJ
  • RWJUH New Brunswick earned Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus recognition and RWJUH Somerset earned Target: Stroke Honor Roll recognition as a primary stroke center.
  • Hunterdon Healthcare announced Dr. Mitra Abessi, M.D., joined the practice of Hunterdon Internal Medicine Associates on Aug. 1.
  • SAGE Eldercare will offer two new caregiver support groups — one for spouses and one for adult children of older adults.
  • American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer has granted a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the cancer program at JFK Medical Center in Edison.

The Stroke Centers at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) New Brunswick and Somerset recently received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke GOLD PLUS Achievement Award.

As a comprehensive stroke center, RWJUH New Brunswick earned Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus recognition and RWJUH Somerset earned Target: Stroke Honor Roll recognition as a primary stroke center.

Get With The Guidelines-Stroke is an in-hospital program that emphasizes improving stroke care by encouraging consistent adherence to the latest scientific treatment guidelines. The program provides clinical tools and resources to educate medical providers on the most recent developments in stroke treatment and prevention. Hospitals are encouraged to track their treatments in an online management tool which provides real-time performance reports. By following the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program, hospitals are working to improve patient outcomes after the patient has suffered from a stroke or transient ischemic attack.

“Being named a Get With The Guidelines-Stroke GOLD PLUS Achievement Award Hospital is an honor that reaffirms the quality of care consistently provided at RWJUH’s New Brunswick and Somerset campuses,” said Judy Lane, director of Neurosciences at RWJUH’s New Brunswick and Somerset campuses, in a news release. “When it comes to a stroke, every second counts which is why our team of neurologists, emergency physicians, therapists, nurses and many more work around-the-clock to provide our patients with outstanding care, not only during their stay in the hospital, but to ensure the best quality of life after treatment.”

Hospitals that actively participate in the program are given national recognition based on individual achievement. Recognition is determined based on a variety of quality indicators. To receive the award, RWJUH New Brunswick and Somerset had to achieve an 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals and achieve 75 percent or higher compliance with five of eight Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.

These quality measures are designed to help hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of improving patient care and outcomes. The designations place RWJUH New Brunswick and Somerset among the highest-achieving stroke centers in the country.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, someone dies of a stroke every four minutes and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

The Stroke Centers at RWJUH New Brunswick and Somerset offer care from diagnosis through discharge. The Comprehensive Stroke Center at RWJUH New Brunswick is staffed 24-hours-per-day, seven-days-per-week by the Code Stroke Response Team to quickly diagnose and treat strokes no matter the time of day. Treatment options available include rapid administration of medication such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), endovascular procedures, surgery, rehabilitation and counseling. All staff members are trained in stroke care, including neurologists, emergency medicine physicians, radiologists, speech pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, social workers and EMTs.

RWJUH Somerset provides care through the Edward and Anita Hogan Neuroscience Pavilion, featuring state-of-art technology, therapy and dedicated rehabilitation rooms, placing everything a stroke patient needs under one roof for primary stroke care. Teleneurology services at the Somerset campus ensure that stroke patients receive timely diagnosis and treatment. Coordination between both RWJUH Somerset and RWJUH New Brunswick ensures that the appropriate treatment options are made available to all patients, and that patients requiring a higher level of care may be transferred to RWJUH New Brunswick. RWJUH New Brunswick offers community education through regular classes and conducts clinical research to gain a further understanding of stroke prevention and treatment. Support groups for stroke victims and their families are offered at both RWJUH New Brunswick and Somerset.

In addition to regular participation in the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program, RWJUH New Brunswick is also accredited by The Joint Commission, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for meeting The Joint Commission’s standards for Disease-Specific Care Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification. RWJUH New Brunswick is certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center through the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. RWJUH Somerset is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services.

To learn more about RWJUH, visit www.rwjuh.edu. For a referral to a physician affiliated with RWJUH, call 1-888-MD-RWJUH. Follow them on Twitter at www.rwjuh.edu/twitter and Facebook at www.rwjuh.edu/facebook.

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State-of-the-art ambulances added

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s Mobile Health Services has recently added four new state-of-the art-ambulances that are designed to enhance patient safety and comfort, reduce crew members’ injuries and promote energy efficiency.

The ambulances are in use in Hamilton Township and East Windsor Township. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital provides primary ambulance coverage in those municipalities, responding to nearly 1,000 emergency calls per month.

The new ambulances are type 2 transit vans custom-designed by American Emergency Vehicles. Their high-tech features include:

  • Stretchers with a hydraulic system that enables patients to be lifted with the touch of a button. The stretchers meet the national standards for patient safety and help reduce back injuries among crew members. A floor-mounted track system secures the stretchers in place in the event of an ambulance roll-over.
  • Lifting Cushions that inflate to help lift patients or help patients to sit up.
  • Portable “stair chairs” to help safely transport patients up and down stairs or through tight spaces.  
  • Wi-fi mobile technology to allow electronic patient care reporting. Charging stations for mobile devices.
  • Solar panels to charge the vehicles, saving gas and prolonging battery life. The ambulances no longer need to idle when parked.

“We are proud to add these vehicles to our fleet of 72 ambulances serving Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s New Brunswick, Somerset and Hamilton campuses,” said Don Roberts, director of Mobile Health Services for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, in a news release. “They were designed with input from our team with a focus on the safety of our patients and our crew members. We plan to roll out more of these state-of-the-art ambulances to the New Brunswick and Somerset areas over the next few months.”

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Mobile Health Services provides advanced life support service to most of Somerset County as well as New Brunswick, East Brunswick, South Brunswick and Monroe. In addition, it provides primary ambulance coverage in New Brunswick, Hamilton Township, East Windsor Township, Piscataway, Franklin Township, Manville, South Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Raritan, Far Hills/Bedminster and Branchburg. The department also handles hospital-based transports, inter-facility transports and specialty pediatric transports.

In 2014, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s Mobile Health Services was honored with the Outstanding Private EMS System award from the New Jersey EMS Council and the New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of EMS.

For more information about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s Mobile Health Services, visit www.rwjuh.edu.

Abessi joins practice

Hunterdon Healthcare announced Dr. Mitra Abessi, M.D. joined the practice of Hunterdon Internal Medicine Associates on Aug. 1.

Abessi will be working with Internal Medicine Specialist Gregory E. Broslawski.

Abessi received her medical degree from Saint George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada. She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Albany Medical Center. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Physicians and Spanish Honors Society. Abessi has been a practicing Internist for more than 11 years.

Abessi comes to Hunterdon Internal Medicine Associates from Montgomery Medical Associates in the Belle Mead section of Montgomery. She is currently taking new patients and will see patients age 13 and older. 

Internal Medicine doctors, commonly known as "Internists," concentrate on the management of chronic and complex illnesses usually in conjunction with one or more specialty physicians. 

Some of the medical services at Hunterdon Internal Medicine Associates include:

  • General or "annual" physical examinations
  • High school sports participation exams
  • College entrance exams
  • CDL commercial driver examinations
  • Aviation (pilot) medical exams, Class 1, 2 and 3
  • Electrocardiography and pulmonary function testing
  • Travel medicine consultation and services
  • Destination-specific and all adult vaccinations
  • International certificates of vaccination
  • Hospice oversight.

Hunterdon Internal Medicine Associates is located in the Sandhill Professional Building, 6 Sandhill Road, Suite 201, in Flemington. Hunterdon Internal Medicine Associates accepts most managed care plans. To schedule an appointment with Abessi or Broslawski, call 908-782-8019.

Mitra Abessi, M.D., Hunterdon Internal Medicine Associates

Treatment trial

Males who have autism are invited to take part in a treatment trial to see if sulforaphane, a chemical found naturally in certain vegetables such as broccoli, improves core symptoms in autism such as verbal communication, social interaction and abnormal behavior, as measured by scales commonly used in autism.

Led by Dr. William G. Johnson, MD, professor of neurology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, the clinical trial is being done with the support of the New Jersey Governor’s Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism and the New Jersey Department of Health.

The treatment trial will be an 18-week, double blind placebo-controlled study open to male adolescents and adults between the ages of 13 and 30 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. In addition to the sulforaphane treatment, a small amount of blood will be drawn at each visit, and urine samples will be taken at the beginning and end of the treatment.
To determine its effectiveness, the researchers will look at differences in treatment response based on changes to the genes used by the body to metabolize sulforaphane. 

In addition the researchers will test for specific chemicals and genes needed for sulforaphane usage to try to understand differences in response.

Interested participants or caregivers may call Johnson or the study coordinator, Edward S. Stenroos, with questions and for additional information at 732-235-5490. Interested individuals will be asked a few questions to assess eligibility for the study. Invitation to participate in the study will be based upon the responses to these questions. Not all individuals will be eligible to participate.

For more information about Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, visit rwjms.rutgers.edu. Find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RWJMedicalSchool and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RWJMS.

Caregiver support groups

SAGE Eldercare will offer two new caregiver support groups — one for spouses and one for adult children of older adults — led by licensed clinical social worker and InfoCare Manager Kathy Larkin.

The caregiver support group geared for adult children who assist in the caregiving of their parents will take place over seven sessions in the evenings, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 12. The other seven-session group for spouses will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m., also beginning Sept. 12. Both groups are free and will cover topics such as coping with caregiver emotions and managing stress, navigating care options, and defining the roles as caregivers.

“Caregiving can be gratifying, but it is also very challenging. It is important to know that you are not alone with your concerns and questions,” said Larkin in a news release. “SAGE’s new support groups will give those that help take care of older adults, whether they are a spouse or an adult child, a safe place to discuss their experiences, share ideas, and get emotional support.”

Dates for the caregiver support groups are: Sept. 12, Sept. 26, Oct. 10, Oct. 24, Nov. 7, Nov. 21, and Dec. 5. Both groups take place at SAGE Eldercare, 290 Broad St. in Summit. 

Registration is required for the support groups. To register, call Larkin at 908-598-5509.

For more information about SAGE Eldercare, call 908-273-5550 or visit www.sageeldercare.org.

Three-year accreditation granted

The American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) has granted a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the cancer program at JFK Medical Center in Edison.

To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet or exceed 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation is only awarded to a facility that exceeds standard requirements at the time of its triennial survey. 

As a CoC-accredited cancer center, JFK Medical Center takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care. 

The CoC Accreditation Program provides the framework for JFK Medical Center to improve its quality of patient care through various cancer-related programs that focus on the full spectrum of cancer care including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, life-long follow-up for recurrent disease, and end-of-life care. When patients receive care at a CoC facility, such as JFK, they also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient centered services. CoC facilities offer psycho-social support, a patient navigation process, and a survivorship care plan that documents the care each patient receives and seeks to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.

Like all CoC-accredited facilities, JFK Medical Center maintains a cancer registry and contributes data to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society (ACS). This nationwide oncology outcomes database is the largest clinical disease registry in the world.

Data on all types of cancer are tracked and analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore trends in cancer care. CoC-accredited cancer centers, in turn, have access to information derived from this type of data analysis, which is used to create national, regional, and state benchmark reports. These reports help CoC facilities with their quality improvement efforts.  

There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, representing 30 percent of all hospitals. CoC-accredited facilities diagnose and/or treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients. When cancer patients choose to seek care locally at a CoC-accredited cancer center, they are gaining access to comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care close to home. The CoC provides the public with information on the resources, services, and cancer treatment experience for each CoC-accredited cancer program through the CoC Hospital Locator.

For more information on JFK Medical Center and its affiliates, visit www.jfkmc.org.

Seminar for healthcare professionals

Children’s Specialized Hospital is hosting a seminar, “The Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Epidemic: Evidenced Based Recommendations for the Provision of Quality Care.”

The seminar will be held on Sept. 30 at the hospital’s New Brunswick location. Healthcare professionals are invited to attend the full day seminar and hear from experts in the field of treating infant drug dependency that results from maternal substance abuse during pregnancy.

The symposium is $75 per-person, which includes breakfast and lunch. Registration is required by Sept. 15, at www.childrens-specialized.org/NASsymposium.

Presentations will cover a variety of topics including: understanding addiction, medical detoxification, use of the Finnegan Scale, nutritional and feeding challenges, occupational therapy and sensory variations, care coordination, the role of Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP), a family’s personal story of recovery, clinical outcomes, available support services and a panel discussion.

The full list of topics and presenters are:

  • The NAS Epidemic: Epidemiology and Physiology of Addiction, Sharon Burke, MD
  • Pharmacokinetics of Opioids and Medication Detoxification in Newborns, Sharon Burke, MD
  • Using the Modified Finnegan Scale, Elaine Mustacchio, MSN, RN, CRR
  • Nutritional Needs for Newborns in Withdrawal, Arti Shah, APN
  • The Role of Occupational Therapy in Sensory Modulation in Infants with NAS, Alana Murphy MS OTR/L
  • Feeding Therapy for Infants with NAS, Lindsay Lisch MA, CCC-SLP
  • Care Coordination: Supporting the Transition Home, Marianne Aiello, CSW
  • The Role of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) Community Supports, Debbie Catanese, CSW
  • One Family’s Journey, Candace Symington, former Children’s Specialized Hospital patient family
  • Developmental Outcomes in Opioid Exposed Infants, Malia Beckwith, MD
  • Panel Discussion: Full list of presenters and Naomi Pickholtz, PhD; Pat O’Hanlon of CSH Family Faculty. 

Children’s Specialized Hospital provides inpatient and outpatient care for children from birth to 21 years of age facing special health challenges — from chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities like brain and spinal cord injuries, to developmental and behavioral issues like autism and mental health.  

At the New Brunswick location, PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital handles cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome. The Neonatal Withdrawal and Rehabilitation Program at Children’s Specialized Hospital treats the most severe cases of infant drug and alcohol dependency that result from maternal substance abuse during pregnancy. NAS babies are typically underweight. They are born with low birth weight, are prone to seizures and internal bleeding, and they are at risk for a host of mental and physical short- and long-term problems. Wracked by the pain of withdrawal, they are often impossible to console in their agony and suffer tremors, feeding problems, difficulty sleeping, and fever.

Babies at Children’s Specialized Hospital undergo a multi-week program. Children’s Specialized Hospital provides babies loving care in addition to advanced therapeutic techniques, which combine to improve these infants’ chances of enjoying normal development and a high quality of life.

  • In a stimulating environment with caring professionals, babies are gradually weaned off opiates like heroin and methadone.
  • With the aid of an aquatic pool, toys, and soothing attention, babies’ musculature and motor skills are strengthened, and their drug-induced disorientation is replaced with the healthy, bubbling curiosity of a normal infant.
  • Therapeutic techniques pioneered by CSH include portable ventilators that help transition children to independent breathing and electro-stimulation that shows NAS babies how to use their oral muscles to feed properly. 

For more information and to register by Sept. 15, visit www.childrens-specialized.org/NASsymposium.

Children’s Specialized Hospital is a provider of inpatient and outpatient care for children from birth to 21 years of age facing special health challenges — from chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities like brain and spinal cord injuries, to developmental and behavioral issues like autism and mental health. At 13 different New Jersey locations, pediatric specialists partner with families to their therapies and medical treatments more personalized and effective.  To help, or for more information, call 888-CHILDRENS; visit www.childrens-specialized.org; Facebook: www.facebook.com/childrensspecialized; Twitter: www.twitter.com/childrensspecnj; YouTube: www.youtube.com/cshnj; and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/children's-specialized-hospital.

Three forms of yoga offered

Trinity United Church in Warren will be offering three forms of yoga under one roof in September.

“These three forms of yoga benefit the body, mind, and spirit in different ways, yet they complement each other,” said Kay Hurd, parish nurse and coordinator of Health Ministries at the church, in a news release.

Gentle Hatha Yoga will be presented at 10 a.m. on Thursdays. Students will systematically exercise different parts of the body in a gentle, pleasant way. Muscles are strengthened and the body relaxes and comes back to a natural position. The stretches are done slowly. Chair yoga will be incorporated if needed.

Korean Yoga will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. The goal of this class is to feel your body, connect with the energy of your body and let go of ego. During this class, the focus will be on breathing and proper energy circulation. That is the difference in this style, as it concentrates on the mastery of energy and enhancing the body-brain connection along with the stretches.

Restorative Yoga will be held at 10 a.m. on Fridays. Restorative Yoga is completely different from the active practice of contemporary yoga, moving from pose to pose. This is about slowing down and opening the body through passive stretching. Participants hardly move at all, doing just a few postures in the course of an hour. During these long holds, which use props to support the body, the muscles relax deeply. Restorative classes are very mellow, making them a good complement to more active practices, and an antidote to stress. Seniors in particular find this style beneficial, but it is beneficial for all.

Anyone can participate in any of the classes for a drop-in fee of $20, and then sign up with each teacher for a series of classes. Call the church office at 732-469-5044 for any information or questions, or visit www.TrinityUnitedChurch.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TUCNJ/.

Trinity United Church is at 118 King George Road.

Team members from ShopRite Supermarkets Inc. (SRS) present a check for $192,000 on June 5 to representatives from Autism Speaks, whose mission is to change the future of all who suffer with autism spectrum disorder. In support of Autism Awareness Month, ShopRite stores throughout Middlesex, Sussex and Union counties in New Jersey, and Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Schenectady, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties in New York, participated in a Light It Up Blue fundraising campaign, collecting donations at checkout and holding in-store events, including raffles and educational workshops with ShopRite’s in-store dietitians, during a two-week period in April, with all proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks. ShopRite, whose top fundraising stores included ShopRite of Clark, ShopRite of Montgomery and ShopRite of Spotswood, and Autism Speaks seek to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and advocate for the needs of individuals with autism, as well as their families and caregivers. From left: Damaris Posadas, area human resources specialist, ShopRite Supermarkets Inc.; Mike Schoendorf, district manager, ShopRite Supermarkets Inc.; John Hunker, district manager, ShopRite Supermarkets Inc.; Robin Morris, Westchester/Fairfield walk co-chair; Paul Morris, son of Robin and Daniel Morris; Daniel Morris, Westchester/Fairfield walk co-chair; and Lisa Goring, executive vice president, Autism Speaks.

Heartbeats is compiled by Community Content Specialist Bradley W. Wadlow. Email items for Heartbeats to Bradley W. Wadlow at health@MyCentralJersey. You can also reach him at 908-243-6604. Interact with him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brad.wadlow.1 and follow him on Twitter @BradWadlowMyCJ.​