Bloodless Techniques Used In Spinal Deformity Surgery

Posted on by Anthony Figueroa

One of the unique surgeries performed at Englewood Health that is not offered by many other health systems is bloodless spinal deformity surgery, which is reserved for patients such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, for whom blood transfusion is not an option. “Spinal deformity surgery is associated with significant blood loss, often requiring the transfusion of blood and/or blood products,” said Yakov Gologorsky, MD, a neurosurgeon at Englewood Health. Spinal deformity surgery is associated with unacceptably high rates of morbidity and mortality in patients who refuse blood or blood products, according to Dr. Gologorsky, who is also an associate clinical professor of neurosurgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City. “This is why these patients have historically been denied spinal deformity surgery,” he said.

Now, these patients can be referred to the bloodless surgery program at Englewood Health. With the help of multiple clinicians, including hematologists, patients may be pretreated with erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production. The clinical team also ensures that before surgery, patients have appropriate levels of iron, folate and other essential elements to optimize their blood count.

The anesthesiologist works closely with the surgeon to help minimize blood loss. Immediately prior to surgery, the anesthesiologist removes a certain volume of whole blood from the patient through acute normovolemic hemodilution and replaces it with intravenous fluids. “This process dilutes the whole blood that is present in the body,” Dr. Gologorsky said. “Hence, when a patient loses blood, they are actually losing diluted blood, which has fewer red cells.”

In the middle of surgery, the whole blood is returned to the patient to maintain the blood count within a safe range. In addition, antifibrinolytic agents such as epsilon-aminocaproic acid (Amicar) or tranexamic acid are administered perioperatively. “These agents help with clot formation and decrease blood loss,” Dr. Gologorsky said. Other blood conservation techniques that minimize the risk for transfusion, such as cell salvage, are used as well.

After surgery, which may last anywhere from two to 10 hours, patients remain hospitalized for three to 10 days. Some surgeries are purposefully staged three months apart, especially for those involving extreme deformity corrections. “In almost all instances, we are able to accomplish the goals of surgery and correct the spinal deformity,” Dr. Gologorsky said.

Dr. Gologorsky is the principal investigator of a new retrospective study of 28 patients with 34 admissions (median age, 37 years; range, 11-65 years). All patients underwent bloodless spinal deformity surgery at Englewood Health between 2002 and 2019. Of note, 50% of the cohort had significant medical comorbidities, but were still able to undergo the surgeries safely.

“Deformity correction and goals of surgery were achieved in 24 of the 28 patients,” Dr. Gologorsky said. “With proper preoperative planning and judicious use of blood conservation techniques, spinal deformity surgery may be performed safely and effectively.”

Dr. Gologorsky said the same techniques could be applied widely to the general population to minimize blood loss and the need for allogeneic blood transfusion.

“Patients are extremely pleased and truly grateful for the services that we provide,” he said. “These patients are often miserable and have undergone other surgeries. We offer them tangible results and improvement in their quality of life.”

Posted on December 18, 2020

COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives at Englewood Health

Posted on by John Williams

Frontline team members set to receive vaccination

Frontline team members receive COVID-19 vaccination

December 18, 2020 — In a historic event, Englewood Health has received its first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which it began administering to its frontline team members earlier today.

“Since day one of the pandemic, our team never hesitated for one second to care for the many communities we serve and stood tall in the face of an unknown and unpredictable new virus,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Health. “Today, by beginning to administer the first round of vaccines to our team members, we turn the page to the start of a new chapter in our efforts to combat COVID-19, and we could not be more excited.”

Frontline members of the emergency department—which has seen nearly 3,000 COVID-19 patients during the course of the pandemic—as well as the intensive care unit, other inpatient units, and specialty services such as infectious disease and pulmonology, are among the first to receive the vaccine today. The vaccine is being offered in a phased approach following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey Department of Health as the supply becomes available.

“It is so important to get the vaccine once it’s available to you in order to reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill,” said Kathleen Kaminsky, MS, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Englewood Health. “It’s the right thing to do to protect not only ourselves, but also one another.”

Frontline team members receive COVID-19 vaccination

The first injections of the vaccine were administered in unison earlier this morning to four team members from different disciplines in recognition of the teamwork and all-hands-on-deck approach that continues to help Englewood Health navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

“After a very long and trying year, today we take a collective sigh of relief and we celebrate,” said Hillary Cohen, MD, vice president of medical affairs and chief of the emergency department at Englewood Health. “We are not just celebrating the miracle of science that has brought us a safe and effective vaccine in record time, but we also celebrate the bravery and selflessness of our frontline healthcare workers. Today we thank our team members as we vaccinate them. The vaccine will make sure they are protected and can go home to their families at night and not worry they will bring home this disease, which is now taking 3,000 lives a day in this country.”

“Throughout the course of this pandemic, we’ve seen glimmers of hope. But what we are seeing today is more than a glimmer. It’s true light at the end of the tunnel. At the same time, it’s extremely important to remind everyone that this does not mean it’s okay to let our guard down,” said Stephen Brunnquell, MD, president of the Englewood Health Physician Network. “Even after receiving the vaccine, individuals must continue to wear masks, social distance, and practice hand hygiene—everything we all have been doing since the start of the pandemic in the spring. If we continue to keep our foot on the gas pedal, we’ll be that much closer to coming out the other side of this unprecedented series of events.”

The first recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were Craigh Bryan, MD, a hospitalist; Brianna Cioffi, a patient care associate in the main COVID unit; Cody Lallathin, RN, a nurse in the cardiac unit; and Eric Maldonado, RN, an ICU nurse.

“I’m proud to be from the ICU, and to be one of the first recipients,” said Maldonado. “It’s a sign of hope, a glimpse of going back to normal. “If the nurses get sick, who is going to take care of the patients?”

Dr. Bryan added, “The fact that we have a vaccine that we know is effective and safe is astounding. I’m very hopeful that from here on things are going to change for the better.”

Englewood Health expects to offer the vaccine to patients and the general public in 2021. More information will be posted on the Englewood Health website when those details are available.

The New Jersey Department of Health has set up a website for individuals to learn more about the vaccine and the vaccination process. Visit covid19.nj.gov for information.

In Major Shift, Regional Anesthesia Reduces Reliance on Opioids

Posted on by Anthony Figueroa

Anesthesiologists and pain medicine specialists are increasingly avoiding or reducing dosages in narcotics as the new standard of care. At the same time, advances in imaging and more portable ultrasound machines have allowed anesthesiologists to perform regional blocks of peripheral nerves with increased accuracy and frequency.

“Our precision with regional anesthesia has grown exponentially over the last few years as the imaging has become more fine-tuned thanks to the combination of ultrasound guidance and skill,” said Gregg Lobel, MD, the chief of anesthesiology at Englewood Health.

The ultrasound allows Dr. Lobel and his colleagues to visualize the nerve bundle that innervates the targeted area and to visualize the needle as it approaches the nerve. They stop the needle just short of the nerve to inject numbing local anesthetic. Ultrasound can visualize the local anesthetic surrounding the nerve.

The anesthesiology team can then thread a catheter through the needle to deliver a steady stream of site-specific nerve blocking agents to aid postoperative recovery for three days or more.

“By doing this, we reduce the need for opioids, which greatly reduces the future risk of substance abuse, so there’s tremendous upside to this method if you look at the risks and benefits,” Dr. Lobel said. “I’m glad to see it become the new standard of care.”

Opioids used for postoperative analgesia are frequently associated with adverse effects, including nausea and constipation, preventing smooth postoperative recovery.

“Suffering from those side effects causes stress,” Dr. Lobel said. “That’s not healthy for recovery.”

Regional anesthesia is commonly employed as brachial plexus blocks, paravertebral blocks, femoral nerve blocks, and sciatic and popliteal nerve blocks.

Academic research has found regional blocks to produce superior outcomes compared with IV opioids. A May 2020 study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (2020;102[10]:866-872) found that fascia iliaca nerve blocks following a hip fracture in a geriatric population were linked to shorter hospital stays, faster recovery and reduced opioid use. Similarly, on the other end of the spectrum, a review (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013;[12]:CD009587) found that a fascia iliaca compartment block for femur fractures in children provides better and longer-lasting pain relief with fewer adverse events than IV opioids.

Multimodal analgesia, which includes nerve blocks, is one of the most effective methods to reduce narcotic use in pain management, Dr. Lobel explained. It maximizes analgesic efficacy through the combination of several analgesic regimens, while minimizing undesired adverse effects, he said.

“We often turn to multimodal treatments since we can prescribe a combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories with COX-2 inhibitors, acetaminophen and gabapentin, among others that work on different pain pathways,” Dr. Lobel said. “Each diminished pain pathway then decreases the need for stronger treatments, which helps us reach our goal of ultimately reducing the need for narcotics.”

A 2019 literature review published online by Orthopedic Surgery (2019;11[5]:755-761) found multiple benefits of multimodal analgesia for total knee arthroplasty when compared with standard care: greater pain relief, better knee recovery, and reductions in opioid consumption and related adverse effects. “In pain management at Englewood, we’re dedicated to working with the patient to deliver the best outcomes that accelerate recovery and decrease the need for opioids,” Dr. Lobel said.

As a specialist in pediatric anesthesiology, he finds that commitment strikes a chord with parents who are concerned that childhood sports injuries will introduce their kids to narcotic pain medicine. “They’re usually relieved to find that our multimodal approach with nonopioid analgesic medications and regional anesthesia mean their kids won’t take anything much stronger than Tylenol.”

Posted on December 17, 2020

Englewood Health Nationally Recognized with ‘A’ for Fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Posted on by John Williams

December 14, 2020 — Today Englewood Health was awarded an ‘A’ in the Fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing the hospital’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. This recognition comes less than a week after Englewood Health was named ‘Pandemic Hero of the Year’ by The Leapfrog Group. 

“The entire team at Englewood Health takes great pride in receiving an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group for consistently putting patient care first,” said Kathleen Kaminsky, MS, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Englewood Health. “This recognition speaks to our primary goal of providing an exceptional experience to our patients.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data, developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

“At Englewood Health we aim to meet each patient’s individual needs as both as an inpatient and in transition of care after discharge. Earning The Leapfrog Group ‘A’ grade speaks to the dedication of our entire staff to ensuring our patients have the best possible outcomes,” said Jamie Ketas, vice president of quality at Englewood Health.

“We are extremely grateful to hospital leadership and healthcare workers who have remained steadfast in prioritizing patient safety as our nation battles COVID-19,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This ‘A’ is a testament to the care and commitment of those who work for Englewood Health. With the current pandemic exposing existing flaws within the U.S. healthcare system, we appreciate you putting patient safety first. Lives depend on it.”

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to healthcare quality and safety. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D,’ or ‘F’ to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months. It is based on a hospital’s performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harm to patients.

To see Englewood Health’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org.

Englewood Health Receives National Recognition as Pandemic Hero of the Year by The Leapfrog Group

Posted on by John Williams

December 8, 2020 — Englewood Health has been awarded the Leapfrog Pandemic Hero of the Year Award by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on healthcare safety and quality. This prestigious national honor recognizes Englewood Health’s extraordinary commitment to patient safety and ensuring the health and well-being of their employees throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The winner of this one-time national award was selected by an interdisciplinary committee of Leapfrog leaders and advisors.

“At Englewood Health, we absolutely know what it means to go above and beyond,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Health. “Our entire team did not hesitate for one moment to care for the many communities we serve. What I witnessed—not surprisingly—was each and every member of the Englewood Health team stepping up in every way imaginable. They put everything else aside. They saved many lives. And our job as leaders was to support them every step of the way. I thank Leapfrog for recognizing this team and I am confident that we will continue to live up to this recognition in the days and months ahead.”

“Our interdisciplinary awards committee had the difficult job of reviewing dozens of excellent nominees from across the country,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “They were most impressed by the people of Englewood Health, who came together in so many ways showing courage and compassion in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. They have inspired us all.”

In honoring Englewood Health with the award, the selection committee noted several initiatives acted upon by the health system during the height of the surge, including:

  • The creation of a physician liaison team, in which surgeons and other physicians who were not caring for COVID-19 patients served as a connection for the patients’ families
  • The launch of telemedicine visits to provide continuity of care
  • The efforts of the patient and family engagement team to maintain needed human connections and minimize feelings of isolation for patients and families through daily phone calls and the use of virtual technology
  • Human resources’ promotion of its employee assistance program and other means of mental health support for Englewood Health’s 5,000 employees and affiliated providers
  • The establishment of an employee relief fund
  • Myriad approaches to communicating the importance of social distancing
  • Partnering with local first responders to prepare for COVID-19 patient arrivals, establish triage protocols, increase understanding of COVID-19, and educate on personal protection
  • Taking time to celebrate successes, including a vehicle parade of first recognizing frontline workers, as well as playing the song “Don’t Stop Believin’” and having staff cheer as each COVID-19 patient was discharged to go home.

Hospitals and first responders must be ready to expect the unexpected. But there are moments when life challenges us in ways no one can anticipate. Here’s what the Englewood Health community did when COVID-19 emerged in 2020.

We Are Better Together: COVID-19 Commemoration

“Our nurses and multidisciplinary team members demonstrated a commitment to provide the very best care for our patients and our community when we were at the epicenter of the pandemic in New Jersey last spring,” said Kathleen Kaminsky, MS, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Englewood Health. “At Englewood Health, we have a culture of family, and that feeling of being part of something bigger than you is my takeaway on how a healthcare organization can weather a public health crisis of this magnitude. Thank you to Leapfrog’s leadership for recognizing our family and our commitment to doing what we do best—caring for our community and about each other.”

As part of one of New Jersey’s leading hospitals and healthcare networks, Englewood Health’s clinical leaders have served as thought leaders in the community and collaborated across health systems to share best practices and continue caring for patients and staff throughout the pandemic. In addition, the patient and family engagement team replaced traditional bedside rounding with virtual daily rounding, conducting daily calls to every admitted patient in the hospital, as well as every family, to provide updates and ensure needs were met.

“By sticking to our guiding principles of caring for our community and caring for one another, we were able to face the pandemic in a way that made our medical staff and team members feel supported and protected,” said Alexandra Gottdiener, MD, chief of medicine at Englewood Health. “On behalf of all of the physicians at Englewood Health, I thank Leapfrog for recognizing our team’s unwavering commitment to our patients and the community.”

Englewood Health Working to Ease Food Insecurity

Posted on by Keri Flaccomio

Hospital partners with Center for Food Action to feed families, support health needs 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the economic livelihoods of people in Bergen County and beyond, Englewood Health is providing resources and access to food through its new Food Insecurity Response Initiative (FIRI), in collaboration with the Center for Food Action (CFA). 

After screening patients for food insecurity, hospital staff register those in need with the CFA. Within 24–48 hours, the CFA team books an appointment with the patient for food pickup or delivery every two weeks. Individuals who reside outside of Bergen County are connected to local resources in their area. 

The FIRI program began in early September in the mother/baby unit of the hospital, where nurses and social workers recognized growing concerns over where some patients would get their next meal upon leaving the hospital. Over the past few months, the FIRI program has grown to include patients of the Englewood Health Physician Network. Currently the program is expanding to patients in other departments and geographic areas, including Hudson County. 

“Englewood Health is committed to promoting health and wellness by providing high-quality care for our patients, as well as addressing some of the social determinants of health affecting our community,” said Jamie Ketas, vice president of quality at Englewood Health. “This program began as a response to the food insecurity of our patients and families, and has grown into a partnership to address these needs across Bergen and Passaic counties, with plans to expand even further.” 

Englewood Health has identified access to healthy foods as a pervasive issue existing prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Every three years, the hospital—and all nonprofit hospitals in the United States—perform a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), surveying healthcare issues in the 18+ population, identifying current efforts to address these issues, and formulating a three-year plan to work toward cultivating a healthier community. 

In the Englewood Health community, wellness and prevention, behavioral health, and management of chronic conditions have been identified as top priorities. These areas are further impacted by socioeconomic factors, which include access to healthy foods. 

“We are delighted to partner with Englewood Health in making sure individuals and families can put healthy food on their tables,” said Patricia Espy, executive director at the Center for Food Action. “Through this collaboration, low-income households at high risk for food insecurity receive packages containing meat or fish, milk, eggs, dairy items, fresh produce, and shelf-stable foods. Providing food regularly to those in need helps ensure good nutrition and reduces the level of stress for those struggling to make ends meet. We are grateful to Englewood Health for their leadership in building a healthier, more food-secure community.”

Posted on December 1, 2020

Englewood Health, Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey Host Virtual Movie Screening and Discussion on Social Media

Posted on by John Williams
LIKE documentary banner

Englewood Health recently partnered with the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey to bring to life a discussion on the monumental impact social media has on our lives. On Wednesday, November 18 the two organizations held a virtual screening of “LIKE,” a documentary that explores how social media has become ingrained in the daily routines of both children and adults. Audience members—over 300 community members—were invited to submit questions for a panel discussion following the film.

The goal of the event, presented by The Gregory P. Shadek Behavioral Care Center at Englewood Health through the generous gift from Andrea and Neil Strahl, was to help address behavioral and mental health concerns, as well as provide a resource for parents and children to consider together. The film offers a chance to reflect on the issues and challenges of social media.

“LIKE looks at how we use social media, how it’s marketed to us, and how it affects us socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. The intent is for us to think about how we use social media, and what changes we can make in our lives to prevent isolation, anxiety, depression, and the symptoms and conditions that can be exacerbated by excessive use of social media.”

Danielle Lambert, LCSW, behavioral health manager at Englewood Health

Jennifer Yanowitz, LSW, strategic program manager at Englewood Health, explains that the film can “start a conversion about what the values are for our families, and what we can do about what we see happening.” An important message, it’s one that will be beneficial to all as we approach the season of family gatherings, amidst a pandemic.

Posted on November 25, 2020

Englewood Health Nurse Recognized as March of Dimes Nurse of the Year

Posted on by Lauren Weaver

November 17, 2020 — Englewood Health neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse Susan Maher-Dziemian, BSN, RNC-LRN, received an award in the Women and Children’s Health category at the March of Dimes Virtual Nurse of the Year Awards Wednesday evening.

The Nurse of the Year Awards event and fundraiser brings people together from the healthcare community each year to recognize nursing excellence and achievements in research, education, quality patient care, innovation, and leadership. Nurses can be nominated by peers, nurse managers, supervisors, or families they have impacted.

Susan has been a nurse at Englewood Health for 38 years and specializes in the care of newborns and families, as well as in perinatal bereavement support.

“Susan is incredibly dedicated to caring for our newborns and their families,” said Valerie French, senior director of maternal child health at Englewood Health. “She has been a maternal-child nurse for many years and always stays current with what is going on in neonatal care. Susan consistently brings new ideas and innovations to the department.”

More than 250 nurses were nominated for this year’s Nurse of the Year Awards, across 14 unique categories. Applications were then reviewed and scored by nurse leaders throughout the healthcare community. Through this competitive process, 80 finalists were selected, including NICU care manager Mary De Ritter, MSN, RN, CNL in Women and Children’s Health, and nurse manager of labor and delivery and pediatrics, Mary Ellen Garrity, MSN, RNC-MNN in the Nurse Manager category, also representing Englewood Health.

Englewood Health’s maternity services—including specialized education and support classes, nutritional support, and access to advanced medical care and neonatal intensive care unit—help make the experience of giving birth the best it can be by prioritizing patient safety and quality care.

For Men with Enlarged Prostate, Englewood Health Urologists Offers Minimally Invasive Solution

Posted on by Lauren Weaver

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, can restrict urine flow and sometimes cause complications such as urinary retention, infection, or kidney issues in men 50 years of age and older. Medication is often the primary choice of treatment among these patients, but some patients do not respond, have side effects, or are not interested in taking medications.

Englewood Health’s renowned team of urologists specializes in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, among other urologic conditions including cancer, kidney stones, diseases of the prostate, bladder, and kidneys, and other general urology disorders.

To treat BPH, the team offers several treatment options including the UroLift System, a minimally invasive option that provides an alternative to tissue-removal surgery with fewer side effects.

“We are continuously innovating and advancing our treatment options available to patients,” said Dr. Maz Ganat, program director of urologic oncology at The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center. “UroLift is a less invasive option with a quicker recovery time and very few side effects when performed in appropriate men. In most cases patients can go home the same day they have the procedure.”

With the use of the latest technology, including minimally invasive and surgical robotic techniques and MRI-ultrasound fusion-guided prostate biopsy, the urology team at Englewood Health works collaboratively with each patient to determine the care plan that is right for them, to provide thoughtful and thorough care, and to ensure the best possible outcomes.

To learn more or schedule an appointment with a urologist, call 201-608-2849.

Posted on November 3, 2020

Class on Preparing for Breast Cancer Surgery Marks One Year Supporting Patients

Posted on by Lauren Weaver

A breast cancer diagnosis can be frightening. Englewood Health is helping to make patients feel more comfortable by offering a free class that walks them through the breast cancer surgery and recuperation period. Now celebrating its one-year mark, Englewood Health’s Prepare for Breast Cancer Surgery class is a collaboration among the hospital’s breast cancer surgery, rehabilitation, and patient navigation teams.

“For women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, it can be a very scary time in their lives,” says Pat LoPinto, APN, a nurse practitioner with Englewood Health’s breast surgery program. “By participating in the class, patients begin to understand what to expect, which makes them feel more in control and therefore more comfortable. Ultimately, it helps to improve patient care.” 

She adds, “The class prepares patients and their families for all aspects of breast cancer surgery and recovery, including temporary restrictions, practical limitations, and caring for oneself at home after partial mastectomy, mastectomy, or breast reconstruction. We try to assure patients that they will get through this, while encouraging them to adhere to the recommended guidelines.”

The idea for the Prepare for Breast Cancer Surgery program sprang from Englewood Health’s rehabilitation team. “During the class,” says occupational therapist Erin Ingoglia, OTR/L, “we talk patients through all aspects of surgery—whom they will see, follow-up care, things to be aware of, resources, and more. The class helps reduce their anxiety about their upcoming surgery.”

Prior to breast cancer surgery, many Englewood Health patients have a physical or occupational therapy evaluation to address issues that might affect them post-surgically, such as posture, or limitations in strength or range of motion. After surgery, outpatient physical or occupational therapy can help patients to build strength, increase range of motion, and improve quality of life. During the class, Englewood Health’s rehabilitation team discusses signs and symptoms of potential surgical side effects, such as lymphedema (swelling due to build-up of lymph fluid in the body that can be caused by cancer or cancer treatment), and steps to take to prevent the condition or minimize its severity.

“The class,” says oncology patient navigator Cathy Verhulst, MS, LCSW, “is designed to increase knowledge, decrease fears, and elevate a person’s readiness for breast cancer surgery. Most important, we want patients to know that we are here for them. They can pick up the phone and call the team with questions, for guidance, or if they need support.”

During the class, Verhulst offers practical suggestions for the recuperation period on such topics as setting up a healing space; taking care of children and answering their questions; grocery shopping; transportation to doctors’ appointments; applying for disability coverage; community resources; and, most notably, taking time to breathe (in and out, she emphasizes).

The one-hour Prepare for Breast Cancer Surgery class is offered monthly, and participants are encouraged to bring a family member or friend. Its first year has been remarkably successful, with participants reporting that it helped them feel more relaxed about their approaching surgery.

The team is also producing an online version of the class. The Prepare for Breast Cancer Surgery video will be available through Englewood Health’s website. Breast cancer patients and their families will soon be able to access the class at home, or wherever they choose, at a time most convenient for them.

For more information, contact the breast cancer surgery program at 201-894-3893 or the cancer center at 201-608-2266.

The Englewood Health breast surgical services team
The Englewood Health breast surgical services team

About Breast Surgery at Englewood Health

Our team of renowned and expert surgeons diagnoses and treats breast disease and disorders and offers surgical diagnostic procedures and treatments. Working hand in hand with other specialists, we take a comprehensive approach to provide patients with a sense of clarity, calmness and reassurance that they are getting the best possible care. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, we remind our community that we are here to care for you in a safe environment. We are limiting the number of patients in our offices at one time and, when possible, offering video visits.

Major Areas of Expertise

  • Benign and malignant breast diseases
  • High risk patients – BRCA positive, atypical pathology
  • Hidden scar surgery
  • Oncoplastic reconstruction
  • Nipple sparing mastectomies
  • Breast reconstruction – implants and DIEP flaps

Posted on November 3, 2020