Englewood Health Among Nation’s Top-Performing Hospitals for Treatment of Heart Attack Patients

Posted on by Keri Flaccomio

American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain — MI Registry Silver Award recognizes high standards of patient care

Englewood Health has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Silver Performance Achievement Award for 2020. Presented to only 124 hospitals nationwide, the award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to and success in implementing a high standard of care for heart attack patients. 

To receive the award, Englewood Health demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain  ̶   MI Registry for four consecutive quarters during 2019, performed with distinction in specific performance measures in the treatment of myocardial infarction patients, and engaged in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements. 

Samuel Suede, MD
Samuel Suede, MD, chief of cardiology

“This award is a testament to the dedication of our entire cardiology team to deliver the highest quality in cardiovascular care to our patients,” said Samuel Suede, MD, chief of cardiology at Englewood Health. “We are continuously improving and evolving in our treatment of heart attack patients to ensure the best possible outcomes and quality of life.” 

The Center for Disease Control estimates that almost 700,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others. 

“As a Silver Performance Award recipient, Englewood Health has established itself as a leader in setting the national standard for improving quality of care in patients with acute myocardial infarction,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “By meeting the award requirements set forth in the registry, Englewood Health has demonstrated a commitment to providing reliable, comprehensive treatment for heart attack patients based on current clinical guideline recommendations.” 

Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety, and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.

Posted on October 26, 2020

Englewood Hospital Excels in Clinical Outcomes for Hip and Spine Care

Posted on by John Williams

Hospital Named 5-Star Recipient by Healthgrades for Hip Fracture Treatment and Spinal Surgery; Also Recognized for Gallbladder Removal Surgery

October 26, 2020 — Englewood Hospital has been recognized as a 5-star recipient in hip fracture treatment, gallbladder removal surgery, and spinal fusion surgery outcomes by Healthgrades, an online resource for information about physicians and hospitals.

This achievement—the third consecutive year for hip fracture treatment and gallbladder removal surgery—is part of the Healthgrades 2021 Report to the Nation, which underscores the importance of hospital quality to both consumers and hospital leaders.

“This recognition demonstrates the commitment of our entire team to make exceptional care a top priority at Englewood Health,” said Kathleen Kaminsky, MS, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Englewood Health. “As we remind the community the importance of not delaying care, this acknowledgment is more vital than ever.”

For the 2021 Report to the Nation, Healthgrades compared hospitals with statistically better-than-expected performance (5 stars), as a group, to those with statistically worse-than-expected performance (1 star) and found that from 2017 through 2019, patients having hip fracture repair in hospitals with 5 stars had, on average, a 47.7% lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated by hospitals with 1 star.*

“At a time when the healthcare field is facing unprecedented challenges, we are especially proud to be recognized for providing high-quality, safe care with industry-leading outcomes,” said Jamie Ketas, vice president of quality at Englewood Health.

Variation in care has a significant impact on health outcomes. From 2017 through 2019, if all hospitals performed similarly to hospitals receiving 5 stars, on average, 218,785 lives could potentially have been saved and 148,681 complications could potentially have been avoided.*

Healthgrades recognizes a hospital’s quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance, and overall clinical quality. Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5-star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3-star (not statistically different from expected), and 1-star (statistically significantly worse than expected).

“Hospital quality has never been more important, and consumers are becoming more aware of the importance of researching where they receive care before they visit a hospital for a specific procedure or condition,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer at Healthgrades. “Hospitals that receive a Healthgrades 5-star rating for hip fracture treatment, gallbladder removal surgery, and spinal fusion surgery demonstrate exceptional outcomes and their ability to provide quality care for patients.”

Englewood Hospital also received the Healthgrades 2020 Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award™, Labor and Delivery Excellence Award™, 5-star recognition for vaginal delivery, and 5-star recognition for C-section delivery, all for five years in a row. The Labor and Delivery Excellence Award™ places Englewood Hospital in the top 5% of all hospitals evaluated and recognizes the exceptional care of mothers during and after labor and delivery. The Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award™ recognizes Englewood Hospital for exceptional care of mothers during and after labor and delivery, as well as care of women undergoing gynecologic procedures. Englewood Hospital is in the top 10% of hospitals evaluated for this award.

*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2017 through 2019 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.

2020 TV Commercial: You’ll still feel it the moment you meet us.

Posted on by John Williams

Much has changed over this year, but one thing has remained the same. When you come to Englewood Health, you’ll still experience the feeling of belonging that can only come from a healthcare team who really knows you, and knows how to care for you.

Posted October 19, 2020

What Medicare Patients Should Know About the Annual Wellness Visit

Posted on by Lauren Weaver
Doctor and patient: Annual wellness visit

What is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and why do I need it?

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly visit with your healthcare provider to develop or update a personalized care plan. This plan and visit are aimed at preventing disease and disability based on your current health and risk factors. Identifying health issues and risks early can help you stay healthy longer by addressing your medical problems before they become chronic or unmanageable.

Who can get an Annual Wellness Visit?

Anyone who has had Medicare Part B coverage longer than 12 months.

Do I have to pay for this visit?

No. Medicare covers an Annual Wellness Visit once every 12 months (11 full months must have passed since your last visit).

I already get a routine physical exam every year. Is this the same thing?

No. Unlike a head-to-toe physical exam, the Annual Wellness Visit is more of a planning session with your healthcare provider for your future visits and overall health. It is meant to help prevent disease, not address specific concerns at the time of your visit.

If you receive any additional services or screenings during the Annual Wellness Visit, then you may have an additional charge for those services. Services not included in the Annual Wellness Visit will be billed separately. You may be charged your usual copay and deductible if the additional service is covered by Medicare.

What should I expect during my visit?

A personalized prevention plan will be developed or updated with your healthcare provider to help you stay healthy and well all year long, based on your health needs at the time of the visit. Your Annual Wellness visit may include:

  • A health risk assessment (filled out during first Annual Wellness Visit)
  • A review or update of your medical and family history
  • Development or update of current providers and medications
  • Documentation of height, weight, blood pressure, and other routine measurements
  • Screening for cognitive impairment such as dementia, memory loss, or Alzheimer’s disease
  • Health advice and referrals aimed at reducing identified risk factors and promoting wellness
  • A list of risk factors and treatment options for various health conditions
  • A long-term screening checklist for recommended preventive services

You may be asked to bring a list of medications, medical records, family health history, or other information that may help your healthcare provider develop or update your personalized care plan.

Posted October 2020

Englewood Health First in New Jersey to Offer New Heart Rhythm Device Featuring Patient App and Bluetooth Connectivity

Posted on by Lauren Weaver

October 9, 2020 —Englewood Health successfully performed New Jersey’s first implant using Abbott’s Gallant™ implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and Gallant HF cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) devices, making it the first center in New Jersey, according to Abbott. 

This latest advancement from Abbott offers Bluetooth® communication and a new patient smartphone app for improved and continuous remote monitoring, allowing for increased patient/physician engagement and streamlined communications. This device combines smartphone connectivity with long-lasting therapy that can be intuitively programmed to make a powerful difference in heart failure patients’ lives. Additionally, compared to other ICD and CRT-D devices, this new technology is very small and does not impact a person’s ability to get an MRI.  

Dr. David Feigenblum, director of the Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Center at Englewood Health, discusses the hospital’s first successful device implantation. “Unlike other defibrillators, this device allows physicians and patients direct access to activity in the patient’s heart,” he said. “The convenience in this technology gives us real-time information to be able to treat each patient faster and more efficiently.” 

The new Gallant system pairs with Abbott’s secure myMerlinPulse™, an intuitive mobile smartphone application designed to help streamline communication between doctors and their patients. The app provides access to data, device performance, and transmission history, which helps people take an active role in their care. Through the myMerlinPulse app, physicians can continuously monitor their patients remotely allowing for identification of asymptomatic episodes as well as patient-triggered transmissions, which can lead to earlier intervention. 

It is estimated that as many as 6.1 million people in the United States battle cardiac arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms, according to the CDC. ICDs are often recommended to help reduce the risks of life-threatening arrhythmias. For patients with heart failure or in situations when the heart’s chambers beat out of sync, CRT-Ds can be used to restore the heart’s natural pattern of beating. 

Note: Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.  

Englewood Health Earns 2020 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired Recognition

Posted on by John Williams

Health system uses innovative technology to improve patient care, outcomes

October 6, 2020 — Englewood Health, together with the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), is proud to announce its 2020 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired recognition, marking its seventh consecutive year named a Most Wired hospital.

The CHIME Digital Health Most Wired program conducts an annual survey to assess how effectively healthcare organizations apply core and advanced technologies in their clinical and business programs to improve overall health and access to care in their communities.

“Hospitals in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area are among the best places to receive state-of-the-art, comprehensive health care,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Health. “At Englewood Health, our clinical and information technology teams effectively deploy and use the latest technologies to provide care more quickly, more accurately, and with better outcomes.”

A total of 30,091 organizations were represented in the 2020 Digital Health Most Wired program, which this year included four separate surveys: domestic, ambulatory, long-term care, and international. The surveys assessed the adoption, integration, and impact of technologies in healthcare organizations at all stages of development, from early development to industry leading.

Each participating organization received a customized benchmarking report, an overall score, and scores for individual levels in eight segments: infrastructure; security; business/disaster recovery; administrative/supply chain; analytics/data management; interoperability/population health; patient engagement; and clinical quality/safety. Participants can use the report and scores to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. Participants also received certification based on their overall performance, with level 10 being the highest.

“Digital technology has been a driver of innovation in health care for many years now, but never to the degree that we saw in 2020 with the pandemic,” said CHIME President and CEO Russell P. Branzell. “The Digital Health Most Wired program underscores why healthcare organizations keep pushing themselves to be digital leaders and shows what amazing feats they can achieve. This certification recognizes their exemplary performance in 2020.”

This is the third year that CHIME has conducted the survey and overseen the program. In each successive year, CHIME has expanded the survey to capture more types of organizations that serve patients across the continuum of care. CHIME also continues to promote the program internationally to provide a global overview of digital health advancements.

As in past years, CHIME will publish an industry trends report based on Digital Health Most Wired responses from U.S. participants. The 2020 National Trends Report is scheduled to be released in November during CHIME20 Digital.

For more information about the CHIME Digital Health Most Wired program, please visit chimecentral.org/chime-most-wired-2.

Mental Health Awareness: Substance Abuse

Posted on by Lauren Weaver

Stress can give rise to, or aggravate, a person’s susceptibility to substance abuse, as well as make those in recovery susceptible to relapse. When so many of our normal routines have been disrupted, the lack of structure can lead to anxiety or boredom. And for people who are homebound, it can be difficult for them to draw upon their natural support system.

“Boredom is a risk factor for substance use,” says Danielle Tischer, LCSW, an Englewood Health social worker who sees behavioral health patients at the Englewood Health Physician Network’s Leonia Medical Associates in Englewood. “Change in daily activities can create anxiety for people, particularly those with substance use disorders. For those who are not working, including those who have been furloughed or laid off, or who have recently retired, not being busy can put them at risk of an increase in using or a relapse.”

Social isolation is also a significant concern for those with substance use disorders. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are available (in person or online via Zoom) and offer a way for those with addiction to stay connected. While for some, zoom may not feel quite the same as an in-person meeting, where participants might receive a hug or say a prayer while holding hands, these virtual meetings can still provide needed support and help a vulnerable person to feel less isolated.

Extensive community-based resources are available throughout Bergen County for those struggling with substance use disorders and for family and friends seeking support. The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources (tcadr.org), in partnership with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, has a 24/7 call or text hotline available to support people with substance use disorders and their loved ones. Individuals can also get connected to other resources throughout New Jersey by calling 201-589-2976.

7 Tips for Avoiding Drug and Alcohol Misuse or Relapse

  • Make a schedule. Create structure for your day; fill up your schedule and stick to it! Overfill your schedule, so you don’t have time to think about using drugs or alcohol.
  • Keep yourself distracted. Watch a favorite movie on Netflix, read a book, talk with friends, or play a game.
  • Engage in a hobby. This is a great time to enjoy a hobby. Try something new!
  • Exercise. Find ways to exercise at home or outside. Go for a walk. Participate in online group activities such as yoga or Pilates.
  • Seek support. Many community resources are available. The Englewood Health Physician Network offers individual outpatient therapy through in-person and telehealth appointments.
  • Lean on family and friends. Seek out family and friends who are able to be there for you emotionally.
  • Take one day at a time: Anyone in recovery can relapse. Keep an eye out for yourself and your friends and family. Put one foot in front of the other—take one step at a time.

The Graf Center for Integrative Medicine, together with the Gregory P. Shadek Behavioral Care Center at Englewood Health, offers Yoga for Addiction Recovery—a Facebook Live series on Wednesdays from 11 am to 12 noon. It’s a good way to stay active and connected. To join, go to facebook.com/thegrafcenter.

Danielle Tischer, LCSW, is a population health social worker with the Englewood Health Physician Network.

Posted October 5, 2020

Englewood Health Announces Diversity and Inclusion Education Council

Posted on by John Williams

Health system pledges to address healthcare disparities and diversity in the workplace

October 1, 2020 — Englewood Health has announced the formation of its Diversity and Inclusion Education Council, created to implement and foster practices that support and accelerate diversity and inclusion, with a specific focus on addressing healthcare disparities and diversity in the workplace.

The 2020 council members, 12 Englewood Health physicians and team members collaborating across departments, will work with the health system’s leadership team to provide guidance and direction on programs dedicated to ensuring that Englewood Health is fully living up to its goals of diversity and inclusion.

“Our country’s history of racism and current inequalities have impacted every aspect of life and, most importantly, our health and well-being,” said Warren Geller, President and CEO of Englewood Health. “With the establishment of a Diversity and Inclusion Education Council at Englewood Health, we are committing to doing more and doing better for the communities we serve.”

Council members have pledged, first and foremost, to address healthcare disparities among diverse populations in the local community by identifying existing inequalities, developing an action plan, and expanding programs designed to improve access to services and to reduce risk factors for disease.

The council has also committed to identifying, attracting, and retaining a diverse workforce across the organization. Its members have pledged to understand, address, and help diminish unconscious bias in the workplace and in patient care, while recognizing diversity and inclusion issues related to a multigenerational workforce.

“As caregivers, our council will help us closely examine our existing clinical policies and procedures to identify areas of healthcare disparity or lack of healthcare access for our most vulnerable communities,” Geller said. “Our council will also work toward improving diversity in the workplace, most significantly in our leadership and management roles.”

As Englewood Health continues to grow and expand its team of professionals, emphasis will be placed on engaging candidates who will be a “culture add,” and on the importance of perpetual learning to maintain and advance a climate that builds cultural competence and awareness of intergenerational differences.

These initiatives will begin with employee orientation, continue through annual mandatories, and be supplemented by new and ongoing training curriculum, including cross-generational mentoring to improve knowledge transfer.

The announcement of the council comes as Global Diversity Awareness Month is recognized around the world.

3 Skills for Improving Your Emotional Well-Being

Posted on by Lauren Weaver

Looking for ways to improve your quality of life? Learning healthy coping skills on one’s own can help both adults and children improve and maintain their emotional well-being. The three skills described below have been shown to be particularly effective at improving overall quality of life.

  1. Mindfulness: When you practice mindfulness, you stay in the present moment, experiencing it in a nonjudgmental way. Sharpen your mindfulness skills by doing mindfulness exercises regularly. Try a deep-breathing exercise and focus on the sensations of the breath. Pay attention to the physical sensations of everyday activities. When washing dishes, for example, notice how the soap feels, the warm water, the texture of the dish towel. Incorporate mindfulness into your daily routines. You may be surprised by how it changes your experience of the activity. Be patient and try not to become discouraged if you get distracted; like everything, mindfulness gets easier with practice.
  2. Recognize your level of distress: Use a scale to measure the intensity of your emotional distress. The Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) is a tool used to subjectively rate one’s level of distress. Picture a thermometer where 0 (at the bottom) is feeling calm and peaceful with no distress, and 100 (at the top) is feeling overwhelming negative emotions that are difficult to manage. The goal is to be attentive to your emotional state and aware of your “temperature” on the thermometer. You will learn to recognize when your distress level is rising, so you can apply healthy coping mechanisms to reduce the intensity of your negative emotions and return to your baseline.
  3. Reduce vulnerability: Reducing your emotional vulnerability to stressful events can help you keep your SUDS level lower by acting as a preventative measure. One important way is to take good care of your overall physical health. Use “PLEASE” skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes acceptance of difficult emotions and techniques for relieving them): treat Physical ILLness; Eat healthy balanced meals on a regular schedule; Avoid mood-altering substances (unless prescribed); Sleep properly; and Exercise. 

Routinely check in with yourself. Ask yourself, “How am I feeling right now? What is my SUDS rating?” The more in tune you are with how you feel, the better able you’ll be to manage your emotional responses to stressful events. It is easier to intervene and manage distress when it is at a low level. The higher your distress gets, the more difficult it is to think clearly, to apply healthy coping mechanisms, and to reduce the intensity of your emotions. In addition to the three coping mechanisms discussed above, others to try include relaxation techniques, distraction, pleasurable activities, acceptance, and reaching out for support, if necessary.

Yael Yankelewitz, LCSW, is an Englewood Health behavioral health social worker with the Englewood Health Physician Network who sees patients at Bergen Medical Alliance.

Posted September 18, 2020