April 17, 2020 — Today, hundreds of Englewood Health staff gathered at the hospital, lining the hallways to clap out the 500th COVID-19 patient to be discharged from the hospital. The patient, a 38-year-old man from Bergen County, was admitted early in the week. Broadway musician and trumpeter Domenic Derasse joined nurses, doctors, and support staff outside the hospital entrance to mark the milestone moment with a rendition of “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
April 3, 2020 — The Englewood Health Foundation has received a transformational philanthropic donation from The Kaplen Foundation and its president, Maggie Kaplen. The $10 million gift is the largest in the health system’s history and will establish The Kaplen Institute for Nursing Excellence at Englewood Health.
“Conversations with Maggie about this incredible opportunity began last year,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Health. “And now more than ever, we are reminded of how valuable access to high-quality care can be for a community. Maggie and The Kaplen Foundation will not only help us to secure, but also reimagine, the future of nursing for our health system.”
A philanthropist, advocate and mentor, Mrs. Kaplen is renowned for her commitment to improving access and advancing healthcare and has had a singular impact on Englewood Health and the many patients that it serves. Her generosity will enable the health system to advance its pledge to invest, develop and nurture current and future nursing professionals.
“The nursing profession is facing unprecedented challenges as we enter a new decade,” said Kathleen Kaminsky, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Englewood Health. “This extraordinary gift is especially noteworthy because it will provide access to professional development resources for our existing nursing professionals and create a pipeline for new nurses to establish careers at Englewood Health.”
Mrs. Kaplen is herself a retired nurse, and this philanthropic investment underscores her formative nursing experience of many years. “I was a student at Dwight School for Girls when I first began my relationship with the hospital as a volunteer. Then, it was just an old building. Today, it is a comprehensive health system,” said Mrs. Kaplen. “I know the importance of access in healthcare and to have the reassurance that patients and families in our community do not have to go far from home for world-class care is paramount. It is incredibly rewarding to be part of what Englewood Health delivers to our greater community.”
The Kaplen Foundation’s longstanding relationship with Englewood Health includes multiple leadership-level gifts that helped to establish the Emergency Care Center, The Kaplen Pavilion and The Wilson Kaplen Infusion Center. “Gifts like this come from a place of vision and trust,” said Michael Gutter, chairman of the board of the Englewood Health Foundation. “It is a momentous day in our health system’s 130+ year history and Maggie’s spirit of generosity will no doubt galvanize support from others who believe in the future of Englewood Health and our strategic priorities.”
Englewood Health is proud to be among the seven percent of hospitals in the nation that have been recognized by the Magnet Recognition Program® from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This distinction has been earned four consecutive times by the nursing team for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice.
To learn more about the Englewood Health Foundation and how philanthropy creates impact on patient care, visit englewoodhealthfoundation.org.
April 1, 2020 — Englewood Health now offers urgent care. Located in Cresskill, Englewood Health Urgent Care provides adult and pediatric urgent and non-urgent medical care seven days a week, with extended weekday and weekend hours available. Patients with minor injuries and illnesses can conveniently access diagnostic services and treatment, as well as referrals to other specialists within the Englewood Health Physician Network, on a walk-in basis with no appointment needed.
At Englewood Health Urgent Care, health care providers are available to assist with illnesses and injuries; pre-employment, camp and school physicals; lab tests; X-rays; vaccinations; and other urgent and routine care. The center, located at 46 Union Avenue in Cresskill, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Englewood Health accepts most insurance plans. For more information on Englewood Health Urgent Care or to book an appointment, call 201-205-2172.
“The addition of Englewood Health Urgent Care is one more way we are meeting the needs of our community,” says Stephen Brunnquell, MD, president of the Englewood Health Physician Network. “We are providing convenience and improved care for Bergen County patients with non-emergency medical needs. Urgent care through Englewood Health also means better coordinated care with other providers in the Englewood Health Physician Network, who are all connected on a single electronic health record system.”
Englewood Health Urgent Care is led by two board-certified emergency medicine physicians, Ajay Jetley, MD, and Aaditya Desai, DO, who recently joined the Englewood Health Physician Network. Dr. Jetley has been treating patients in Englewood Hospital’s Emergency Department since 2013.
Dr. Brunnquell adds, “In establishing Englewood Health Urgent Care, we welcome these two outstanding emergency medicine specialists to the Englewood Health Physician Network. Together with their team, they will provide much-needed urgent care locally in our community.”
Dr. Jetley is board certified in emergency medicine. His primary clinical interests are urgent care and emergency medicine. Dr. Jetley received his MD from the Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine and did an emergency medicine residency at the University of Toledo Medical Center, in Toledo, Ohio.
Dr. Desai is board certified in emergency medicine and board eligible in family medicine. His primary clinical interests are urgent care and emergency medicine. He received his DO from Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and did a combined emergency medicine and family medicine residency at St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, Illinois, where he was chief resident. Dr. Desai is a member of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin.
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread throughout our community, we have all been impacted. On a practical level, the closures of schools, gyms, and restaurants have upended our lives and have forced most to practice social distancing or even quarantine in their homes.
For many of us, the impact of the pandemic is akin to a prolonged traumatic experience and can take a toll on our emotional wellness. Our usual approach to life and the rules we follow are no longer in place. The normal lifestyle and function of a routine in a relatively safe and stable world now feel compromised. When our normal way of life is overturned, and our sense of safety and security is disrupted, what can you do?
There is a close relationship between our mental and physical health—when one area of our health suffers, so does the other. When experiencing a traumatic situation, here are some of the best tools to combat the experience:
Self-care is essential. It requires thought and commitment. Make a plan to take care of and protect yourself by getting back to some of the fundamentals tied to wellness.
In addition to getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating well, here are some other self-care tips to practice:
Updated June 9, 2020
The heart is one of the hardest working organs in the human body. It beats 80 times per minute and pumps upwards of 1,500 gallons of blood per day. It’s no wonder that when we treat our bodies poorly—when we smoke, eat junk food, and shun exercise—our workaholic hearts bear the brunt of that neglect.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in four Americans will die from cardiovascular disease, an umbrella term that refers to all conditions affecting the heart and circulatory system, such as stroke, heart attack, and aortic disease.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide; and while these conditions are largely preventable, the incidence of their risk factors—high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, tobacco use and obesity—continue to rise.
“One of the easiest and most important changes a person can make is dietary modification,” says Samuel Suede, MD.
Dr. Suede is chief of cardiology at Englewood Health and a founding partner of Cardiovascular Associates of New Jersey. When it comes to advising his patients on heart health, Dr. Suede has a few ready tips.
“First, eat the rainbow—include a wider variety of color in your diet. Consume unprocessed, healthy foods rich in nutrients and vitamins, such as green leafy vegetables, fresh berries, fruits, fish, lean meats, and whole grains.
“Second, cut the salt. You don’t have to eliminate it out all at once, but reduce the amount you use with each meal, work toward preparing foods with little or no salt, and never use a salt shaker.
“Third, don’t regularly indulge in sweets. Read labels and minimize the amount of sugar you consume in beverages and prepared foods,” says Dr. Suede.
As you walk down the aisles of your local grocery store, you’ll see all kinds of brands claiming to be “heart healthy.” But how many of those labels can be trusted?
While some food and drink labels are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many are not, and telling the difference can be confusing. The only label you can be sure has been vetted for truthfulness by the FDA is the Nutrition Facts Label, found on the back or side of food and drink packages.
Being an informed consumer is an important part of protecting your heart. Learn to read the Nutrition Label Facts. Seek out low levels of added sugar, sodium, and trans fats, as well as higher levels of calcium, dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamins A, C, D, and E.
When it comes to the heart, diet alone is not enough to boost long-term health. Exercise is the other half of the equation. You don’t have to become a gym rat, but you do need to get your heart rate up a few times per week.
“Make sure you’re not sitting all day—move more! Build exercise into your schedule, so it becomes a habit. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate–intensity aerobic activity, five days a week. If you have a job that keeps you deskbound, take breaks to stretch and go for a walk,” Dr. Suede says.
Dr. Suede explains that it’s critical that you make every effort to quit smoking and limit alcohol intake to one glass or less per day.
“If you do overindulge, don’t be too hard on yourself, and don’t give up. Each new day counts when it comes to heart health,” Dr. Suede says.
One of the most important pieces of advice Dr. Suede gives his patients is to relax.
“Stress itself can cause and aggravate hypertension,” he says. “It can also lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as smoking, excessive drinking, overeating, and physical inactivity, causing high blood pressure and high cholesterol.”
Learning healthy ways to cope with stress is a lifelong journey for many of us. A good place to start is by cultivating a new hobby or exercise routine. Spending time with people who make you feel at ease, whether family, friends, coworkers, or a romantic partner, is also a great way to unwind.
“Our Graf Center for Integrative Medicine here at Englewood Health offers yoga, guided meditation, massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, Reiki, smoking cessation courses, nutritional counseling, and various other services to help relax the mind and body,” says Dr. Suede.
As clichéd as it might sound, a new year, and especially a new decade, is a great time to take stock of your health and begin to make improvements. Where do you want to be at the end of this year, and eventually the end of the decade? The decisions you make about your heart health today should inform that answer.
“This year, focus on you,” says Dr. Suede. “Manage and prevent your risk factors, take steps to reduce your stress levels, exercise regularly, take heed of any warning signs, and have an in-depth conversation with your physician about your numbers and heart health.”
Posted February 2020
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, those that are caring for a person with a form of dementia report that they frequently experience high levels of stress. Too much stress can be damaging to both a caregiver and the person with dementia.
If you are not able to maintain a healthy lifestyle for yourself then you may not be able to provide continued support for the person who you are caring for.
Posted January 2020. Information taken from Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org.
January 14, 2020 — This week Englewood Health’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) director, Richard Sposa, and assistant director, Michael Geisler, received the Patriot Award from the Department of Defense for providing support to Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Castro, a mobile intensive care nurse at Englewood Health.
The Patriot Award recognizes efforts made by supervisors to support National Guard and Reserve Forces service members by providing flexible schedules and granting leaves of absence as needed. Supervisors must be nominated by reserve members, or spouses of guards or reserve members, to be eligible for the award.
“I was honored to receive the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s (ESGR) Patriot Award,” Sposa said. “We at Englewood Health EMS proudly support our EMTs, paramedics, and nurses who serve our military and we’re glad to do whatever we can to make their service a bit easier.”
“I was honored—and, to be honest, humbled—to receive the Patriot Award,” Geisler added. “It’s easy to support a group of individuals who are professional and respectful in every encounter they face. Our EMS department employees who also serve in the National Guard or Reserve Forces make our organization proud every time they put on the Englewood Health uniform and serve our communities. I am happy to provide support for our team to also serve our country.”
In addition to the Patriot Award from ESGR, Castro presented Sposa and Geisler with a framed American flag—one that had accompanied Castro’s crew on aeromedical evacuation missions transporting wounded warriors home following Operation Freedom’s sentinel.
“At times,” Castro said, “balancing civilian life, family life, and a military career can be challenging, but knowing that I have the support of Englewood Health makes it a lot easier.”
New beginnings. A fresh start. Each year, January 1st gives us the chance for a reset, an opportunity to make our lives better, happier, and healthier. Although it is just one date on the calendar, most of us see New Year’s Day as an opportunity to break bad habits and begin anew.
And we set out with the best of intentions. “I will lose 20 pounds.” “I will start to meditate.” “I will begin an exercise program.” We start out with enthusiasm and commitment. We wake up early to get a run in before work, shop for healthy ingredients for a new diet, or set aside time to meditate. Some of us will succeed in making these changes last a lifetime, but most of us struggle, eventually succumbing to old habits and giving up a few weeks—or days—after we’ve begun.
So how can we make this year different? How can we make change permanent? Even if we’ve failed in the past, experts say it’s possible to make our resolutions stick this time.
“To succeed, I recommend limiting the number of goals, being specific about what you want to improve, and focusing on making incremental changes to accomplish goals gradually,” says Tracy Scheller, MD, medical director of the Graf Center for Integrative Medicine. “It also helps to enlist support from others and take advantage of the expanding resources that have become available as more and more people strive to live their best lives.”
One tool many find helpful is a vision board. Vision boards are usually made by attaching images and words that represent goals to a poster board, which serves as a physical reminder of what the user wants to accomplish and what success looks like. The board is placed in a prominent location where it can be seen often. Vision boards can also be created digitally or online—think Pinterest—and pulled up whenever the user needs motivation, or used as a screen saver that will be seen throughout the day.
This winter, the Graf Center is offering two workshops on creating vision boards so you can help achieve your own goals for 2020. The 75-minute workshops will be taught by Mary Ann Fernandez, who also teaches yoga and meditation at the center. The class will start with a discussion on what vision boards represent, their purpose, who uses them, and why vision boarding is a successful practice. Class will include a gentle meditation to open up your mind, and will end with a focus on your individual goals. Mary Ann says vision boards can be effective motivators. “There’s power in visualization,” she says. And creating a board is “a really fun way” to make goals for the new year.
The Graf Center and its staff offer a wide range of services for those who resolve to live healthier, happier lives. Acupuncture therapy helps clients reduce stress, and meditation classes teach them how to relax and sharpen their focus. Massage therapy can improve circulation, reduce pain, lessen side effects from chemotherapy, and even reduce insomnia. Aromatherapy, in which essential oils are diffused into the air, promotes health and well-being and helps clients stay focused on their goals for mind and body. Staff members are engaged and supportive, working closely with clients to help them feel better and accomplish their health objectives.
In addition to being an instructor at Graf, Mary Ann has been a client herself. She took advantage of the center’s services after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She says she especially liked Reiki, a Japanese technique involving gentle touch that aims to reduce stress and promote healing. Mary Ann says it helped her relax, “accept what was going on at the moment, and allowed my body to heal.” She believes Reiki and other Graf Center resources are especially helpful for those receiving challenging treatments such as chemotherapy.
Today Mary Ann is cancer-free. Reflecting on her treatment at Englewood Health, she expresses gratitude for the care she received and looks forward to a bright future. “I was in the best hands I can imagine,” she says. A self-declared optimist, Mary Ann says every day is New Year’s Day—an opportunity for new beginnings and fresh starts.
“Making fitness and health changes can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Accomplishing your goals can be simple and enjoyable when approached correctly. Motivate yourself by choosing meaningful, realistic, and specific goals, with an ultimate achievement in mind. Consider working with an expert to help guide you, monitor your progress, and adapt to obstacles. Lastly, remember to celebrate your achievements, both big and small.”
Katie Reiss-Tolliver, Exercise Physiologist
Creating realistic and sustainable changes in nutrition and health is never a “one size fits all” solution. Everyone is different. People often tell me exactly what they should and shouldn’t eat or do to lose weight. I work with them to tease out what stops them from making the “right” choices, i.e. identifying triggers. We then work together on behavioral changes to support an overall healthier lifestyle and tenable weight loss. It’s important to create an action plan—a sequence of short-term goals that help change habits gradually and create new sustainable patterns of behavior when it comes to nutrition and health.
Nina Spiegel, Holistic Nutritionist
December 20, 2019 — As 2019 comes to a close, Englewood Health has once again been nationally recognized as a leader in providing exceptional and safe patient care by The Leapfrog Group, Healthgrades, and Quantros, Inc. as well as by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives.
At this year’s Celebration of Excellence award ceremony, held at Englewood Hospital, representatives from Quantros and Healthgrades, two respected health rating agencies, presented medical excellence and patient safety awards in the following clinical areas: gastroenterology, general surgery, heart and vascular, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedic surgery, pulmonology, and women’s health.
Recognizing achievement in information technology, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) also named Englewood Hospital and Englewood Health Physician Network as Level 8/10 among HealthCare’s Most Wired hospitals and ambulatory care networks. According to CHIME, organizations designated as level 8 have deployed technologies and strategies to help them analyze their data and are starting to achieve meaningful clinical and efficiency outcomes.
“Receiving national recognition for our care is a truly remarkable honor for the entire Englewood Health community,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Health. “These awards are a reflection of the outstanding efforts and unwavering commitment of our staff to providing exceptional care for our patients.”
