A Publication of FALL 2019 MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER healthytogether HOW ONE WOMAN BEAT LUNG CANCER REBUILDING STRENGTH AFTER HEART FAILURE DETECTING SEPSIS EARLY SEE THE DOCTOR ONLINE! PAGE 9 A GAME CHANGER FOR RUTGERS SPORTS MMC_Cover_Fall19_final.indd 1 9/13/19 3:03 PM A MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP HEALTH NEWS CREATING WINDOWS OF A NEW HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY PROCEDURE In June, Barnabas Health Medical Group physicians t RWJBarnabas Health, our missionour passionis to improve the performed the fi rst two heart valve replacement health of residents in the communities we serve. But we’re equally procedures in New Jersey using the new Lotus committed to ensuring that New Jerseyans have opportunities to valve, which helps to ensure optimal placement and A reduce complications associated with the surgery. learn, develop and pursue their goals. The valve was recently approved by the U.S. Food ou’ll see that commitment come to life in many ways in free support & Drug Administration. The physicians used a groups and classes, in health services delivered to senior citizens at home, in minimally invasive surgery known as transcatheter housing and employment assistance provided to local residents, and more. aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which involves In this issue, we spotlight two ways in which RWJBarnabas Health is repairing damaged heart valves without removing making a diff erence. Children’s Specialized Hospital, an RWJBarnabas Health them. The procedure was performed at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) by the following facility, has oined forces with Opportunity Proect, an organization that physicians: Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) helps adults living with the eff ects of traumatic brain inury. Together, the cardiologist Haris Usman, MD; Lenny Lee, MD, and two organizations create a continuum of care and learning opportunities for David Bersin, MD, from the Department of Medicine, patients with brain inuries, from childhood through adulthood. And in the Surgery and Anesthesiology at Rutgers Biomedical and state-of-the-art RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center, we’re Health Sciences and Barnabas Health Medical Group; and Mark Russo, MD, Ashok Chaudhary, MD, Bobby partnering with Rutgers niversity to provide spaces designed to optimize Ghosh, MD, and Abdul Hakeem, MD, of RWJUH. health-sciences learning and to give athletes the resources they need to reach RWJBarnabas Health was selected as one of the fi rst their full potential. 10 sites in the U.S. to implant the Lotus valve. To learn At Monmouth Medical Center (MMC), we strive to not only serve more, visit www.rwjbh.org/tavr. patients who need medical treatment, but also to help people thrive in their communities by investing in housing, education, nutrition and employment. On pages 6 and 7, you can read about ust a few of the ways MMC is committing to improve the social, economic and environmental conditions that contribute to THE LATEST IN poor health and reduced life expectancy. For example, MMC is partnering with ROBOTIC SURGERY local organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County, and MMC recently became the fi rst hospital in the region recently helped fund the construction of three new aff ordable homes, including and the second in New Jersey to introduce da Vinci two residences right here in Long Branch. SP, a robotic surgical system that enables physicians to We’re honored by the trust people place in us to care for their health. In perform surgery through a single small incision. With return, we’re continually working to increase opportunities for all New Jersey this minimally invasive procedure, patients experience less pain and bleeding and a faster return to their residents to live their best lives. usual activities. At MMC, the Robotic Surgery program ours in good health, is led by an experienced team of physicians who use the latest techniques to perform urologic, colorectal, gynecologic, thoracic, joint replacement and general surgeries. To learn more about robotic surgery treatment options at MMC, call 888.724.7123. BARRY H. OSTROWSKY ERIC CARNEY PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RWJBARNABAS HEALTH MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER 300 Second Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07039 732.222.5200 CONNECT WITH US ON @MonmouthMedicalCenter RWJBarnabas Health Monmouth Medical Center complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. For more information, see link on our home page at www.rwjbh.org/monmouth. Monmouth Medical Center cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. ATENCIÓN: Si usted habla español, servicios de asistencia lingüística, de forma gratuita, están disponibles para usted. Llame al 732.222.5200. Monmouth Medical Center konfòm ak lwa sou dwa sivil federal ki aplikab yo e li pa fè diskriminasyon sou baz ras, koulè, peyi orijin, laj, enfi mite oswa sèks. ATANSYON: Si w pale Kreyòl Ayisyen, gen sèvis èd pou lang ki disponib gratis pou ou. Rele 732.222.5200. Healthy Together | 2 | Fall 2019 MMC_Memo_FALL19_final.indd 2 9/13/19 3:19 PM healthytogether contents FALL 2019 2. WELCOME LETTER. 12. THE A-TEAMS FOR 18. THE SCAN THAT SAVES LIVES. A community update ADVANCED HEART FAILURE. Lung cancer screening helped from our CEOs. Two RWJBarnabas Health one patient beat the odds. heart transplant programs 4. STANDING UP FOR offer world-class, close-to- 20. TRAINING TOMORROW’S PEDIATRIC CARE. home care for New Jersey PHYSICIANS. A new An annual residents. Simulation Learning Lab will paddleboard race is transform medical education helping to improve 14. CANCER: WHERE TO CALL at MMC. emergency medical FOR HELP. Now there’s a services for children. single phone number for 21. IMPROVING PHYSICIAN clear and compassionate WELLNESS. How residents 6. FOSTERING HEALTHY answers about treatment. COMMUNITIES. 9. 10 TIMES TO USE are managing stress. MMC is committed TELEMED. A virtual doctor 16. BEYOND BRAIN INJURY. A 22. WHEN AN INFECTION TURNS to improving the visit can be the fastest new partnership provides MMC providers are well-being of local way to feel better. resources to people living DEADLY. residents. with traumatic brain injury. focused on diagnosing and 10. GAME CHANGER. The treating sepsis early. 8. A GYM FOR HEALING. RWJBarnabas Health 17. OVERCOMING LANGUAGE A rehabilitation Athletic Performance BARRIERS FOR BETTER 23. PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING center promotes Center at Rutgers CARE. A new program helps Community events raise recovery from heart University kicks off a new improve access to healthcare awareness of the importance and lung diseases. era for Rutgers sports. for the Indian community. of a healthy lifestyle. PB | Healthy Together | Fall 2018 Monmouth Medical Center | RWJBH.ORG/MONMOUTH | 3 MMC_TOC_Fall_final.indd 3 9/13/19 3:10 PM STANDING UP FOR PEDIATRIC CARE AN ANNUAL PADDLEBOARD RACE IS ver since Victor and Kari Rallos’ To express their gratitude, the Rallos premature twins, Jake and Jack, decided to give back to the hospital. “We HELPING TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY E spent the rst few weeks of their felt strongly this is where we wanted to MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE lives in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit contribute,” says Victor, a wine critic, (NIC) at Th e nterberg Children’s host of PBS’s Eat! Drink! Italy!, author and YOUNGEST PATIENTS. Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center owner of several restaurants, including a (MMC) 1 years ago, the hospital has chain of restaurants called SRF and two had a special place in the couple’s hearts. Mediterranean seafood restaurants in New “We have always found it to be very ork called Barca and Esca. compassionate and caring,” says Kari. For several years, the Rallos participated Healthy Together | 4 | Fall 2019 Monmouth Medical Center | RWJBH.ORG/MONMOUTH | 5 MMC_Rallo_Fall19_final.indd 4 9/13/19 3:10 PM for “stand-up paddleboard”) race on the Navesink River. The event is a natural fit for the family, which is passionate about the sport. “For us, the best part of paddleboarding is feeling like you’re a million miles away the second you step on TOP-NOTCH the board and paddle out into the water,” says Kari. “It’s not only great exercise, but EMERGENCY CARE it’s also a great way to decompress. It’s an FOR KIDS activity we enoy as a family.” At the Thomas & Ann Unterberg Pediatric Emergency Department at A UNIQUE EVENT The Unterberg Children’s Hospital The race’s popularity grows every year. at Monmouth Medical Center The first WhatSP race attracted 20 to 2 (MMC), more than 15,000 pediatric patients are cared for by physicians participants, and this year, more than 100 with fellowship training in pediatric participants were expected to enter the emergency care and pediatric race, which was held on July 27. “Everyone nurses. The department offers who comes says it’s the best-run race round-the-clock care by pediatric they’ve ever been to,” says Victor. specialists in a child-friendly Every year, the Rallos host a sunset environment. sponsor party the Thursday before MMC’s infl uence extends to the Safe the race to thank their committee and Kids Campaign, an initiative aimed sponsors for their support. On race at preventing childhood accidents day, Victor can be found in the water and injuries. The hospital leads the competing, while Kari pitches in where fi rst and only Safe Kids chapter in she’s needed to keep things running Monmouth and Ocean counties— smoothly. The couple’s three college-aged one of 500 chapters worldwide. children—Jack, Jake and Eli—are either MMC sponsors activities to educate spectators or participate in the race. parents, caregivers and children While many of the participants about ways to prevent injuries and accidents, which are the leading are from New Jersey, some travel from killers of kids ages 14 and under.