Englewood Hospital Earns 2019 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award

Posted on by John Williams

National Recognition Distinguishes Hospital for Achievements in Quality and Safety

December 17, 2019 — Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Englewood Hospital was named a Top Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety, quality, and transparency. Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive honors American hospitals can receive.

Of the 2,100 hospitals considered for the award, a total of 120—less than six percent of those eligible—were selected as Top Hospitals, including Englewood Hospital as one of 55 Top Teaching Hospitals.

Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care, and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.

“We are pleased to recognize Englewood Hospital as a 2019 Leapfrog Top Hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This demonstrates extraordinary dedication to patients and to the northern New Jersey community. We congratulate the board, staff, and clinicians whose efforts made this honor possible and know they share pride in this achievement.”

To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers in the 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest known standards for quality and patient safety, and achieve top performance in its category. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2019 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.

Englewood Hospital’s distinction as a Top Hospital follows its recent achievement of an “A” Hospital Safety Grade, also from The Leapfrog Group, based on measures pertaining to freedom from harm, injuries, accidents, and errors to patients; only 33% of 2,600 hospitals graded earned an “A.” These merits demonstrate the hospital’s commitment to prioritizing patient and community wellness.

Legends of The Bloodless Institute: Dr. Nimesh Nagarsheth

Posted on by John Williams

Nimesh Nagarsheth, MD, is internationally recognized within the field of gynecologic oncology for his expertise in transfusion-free surgery

Dr. Nagarsheth, a gynecologic oncologist who serves as Director of Gynecologic Oncology and Director of Robotic Surgery at Englewood Health, began his college career at the University of Wisconsin studying music. However, he quickly found his way to the field of medicine.

“I realized after my first year of college that I was not going to be a professional musician,” Dr. Nagarsheth says. “I had already taken some advanced science classes, and a lot of my friends were applying to medical school, so it almost became more of an afterthought. It was not until I got into medical school at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York that I realized how privileged I was to be able to pursue medicine for a career.”

Thanks to this career change, Dr. Nagarsheth has been able to make a major impact on the field of gynecologic oncology. A board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist with fellowship training in gynecologic oncology from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and New York University Medical Center, Dr. Nagarsheth has conducted extensive research on the mechanisms of cancer prevention, as well as patient blood management in gynecology and gynecologic oncology.

He has also been presented with numerous awards and honors, including recognition as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, multiple Vitals’ Patients’ Choice awards and Compassionate Doctor Recognition awards, and a Vitals’ Top 10 Doctor award. Most recently, Dr. Nagarsheth accepted the 2018 Public Service Award from the Foundation for Women’s Cancer on behalf of his band, N.E.D. (No Evidence of Disease), for their efforts in raising awareness about gynecologic cancers through their music and documentary film. The band is comprised of gynecologic oncologists who donate all of their time and profits to women’s cancer.

Bloodless Gynecologic Oncology

As a blood management physician for the Institute for Patient Blood Management and Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at Englewood Health, Dr. Nagarsheth specializes in using transfusion-free surgery and other blood management techniques to help treat gynecologic cancers, such as ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulva, and vaginal cancer, while minimizing patients’ risk of blood loss.

“Numerous studies show that bloodless medicine has a vast number of benefits,” Dr. Nagarsheth says. “Transfusion-free surgery, for instance, reduces the risk of infection and cancer recurrence and increases the patient’s chance of overall survival.”

These blood management techniques include preoperative measures, such as counseling, intravenous iron treatments, and erythropoiesis- stimulating agents (medications designed to increase patients’ blood count), as well as intraoperative measures, such as the use of minimally invasive surgery in place of conventional open surgery. “My involvement in bloodless medicine has made me a better physician and a better surgeon,” Dr. Nagarsheth says. “I feel privileged and honored to be able to do this type of work and help patients and their families during their times of need.”

Originally published in CHOICES, Issue 2, 2019

Bringing Bloodless Expertise to Nigeria and Japan

Posted on by Michael Chananie

For 25 years, Englewood Health has been an international leader in patient blood management and bloodless medicine and surgery. Two of its pioneers—Sherri Ozawa, RN, the clinical director of the Institute for Patient Blood Management and Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at Englewood Health, and Aryeh Shander, MD, former chief of the department of anesthesiology, critical care medicine, pain management and hyperbaric medicine at Englewood Health and now a senior consultant for the hospital’s bloodless institute—recently were invited to Nigeria to give keynote speeches at the 5th annual conference of the Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Society of Africa.

5th annual conference of the Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Society of Africa, Calabar, Nigeria

Held from October 31 through November 1 at the University of Calabar in Calabar, Nigeria, the conference addressed the pressing need for the development of bloodless medicine and surgery programs in that part of the world, in large part because of the high contamination rate of the donor blood supply.

The risk of transmission of serious infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV, is extremely high in underdeveloped and economically challenged nations, such as Nigeria. The positive effects on patient outcomes from the application of patient blood management techniques developed and used at Englewood Hospital are now well documented in the medical literature worldwide.

Faculty members of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital have visited Englewood Hospital and drawn from its internationally renowned bloodless medicine and surgery program as the model for their institution. They have cared for hundreds of patients successfully, despite functioning in a severely economically challenged healthcare environment.

Asia Society of Patient Blood Management Symposium 2019, Tokyo, Japan

Ozawa, who is also president of the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management, and Dr. Shander, former president, were also recently invited to present at the 5th Asia Society of Patient Blood Management Symposium 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Despite taking place during the largest typhoon to hit Japan in many years, attendees from throughout Asia presented their patient blood management experiences from various countries and medical settings. Speakers and attendees from Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and China described their visits to Englewood Hospital and the knowledge and inspiration they gained implementing patient blood management programs throughout Asia.

Posted November 2019

Gynecologic Oncologist Nimesh Nagarsheth, MD Joins the Englewood Health Physician Network

Posted on by Michael Chananie

November 14, 2019 — Gynecologic oncologist Nimesh Nagarsheth, MD, has joined the Englewood Health Physician Network. Dr. Nagarsheth has been on the medical staff at Englewood Hospital since 2004, and is the medical director of gynecologic oncology and medical director of robotic surgery. He specializes in minimally invasive gynecologic cancer surgery, and his primary clinical interests are cervical, endometrial, ovarian, uterine, and vaginal cancers. He welcomes new patients to his Englewood practice.

“As a doctor, I am deeply committed to humanistic care and to providing optimal choices for medical and surgical care to women who have cancer,” says Dr. Nagarsheth. “Based on scientific evidence, the latest surgical techniques, and an understanding of the patient’s quality-of-life priorities, I customize a treatment plan together with each patient, to ensure that she receives the most appropriate treatment.”

“At the Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health,” says Dr. Nagarsheth, “we take a multidisciplinary approach to cancer. That’s why I’m thrilled to join the Englewood Health Physician Network, where my patients have access to an integrated team of specialists who share an electronic medical record system, which helps us to collaborate more fluidly, providing more coordinated and streamlined care.”

“We are very excited to welcome Dr. Nagarsheth to our team of renowned specialists and providers. Dr. Nagarsheth’s expertise in gynecologic oncology will help meet an important need in our community,” said Dr. Stephen Brunnquell, president of the Englewood Health Physician Network. “As our network continues to grow, we remain focused on ensuring that our patients have access to leading care right here, in their own backyard.”

Board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and in gynecology oncology, Dr. Nagarsheth received his MD from Mount Sinai School of Medicine (now Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai), in Manhattan. He did an obstetrics and gynecology residency at Duke University Medical Center, followed by a Galloway Fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He then did a gynecologic oncology fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center and a research fellowship at NYU Langone Medical Center.

Dr. Nagarsheth is a clinical professor of gynecologic oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is a co-author on numerous research papers published in peer-reviewed journals, author of the book Music and Cancer: A Prescription for Healing, and a recipient of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award.

He is also a percussionist in the rock band N.E.D. (No Evidence of Disease), a group of five gynecologic oncology surgeons from across the U.S. taking healing and the arts to a new level: writing, performing, and recording original music to raise awareness and funds for women’s cancers. Dr. Nagarsheth accepted the Foundation for Women’s Cancer 2018 Public Service Award on behalf of the band, which was selected for its “commitment to bringing attention to gynecologic cancers and raising funds for ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancer awareness.”

Englewood Health Hosts 2019 Art of Healing Reception

Posted on by Michael Chananie
2019 Art of Healing Reception

On Thursday, Nov. 7th Englewood Health and The Art School at Old Church hosted the Art of Healing reception celebrating the latest art exhibition on display. With almost 100 works of art on display by over 50 artists, over 140 guests had a chance to meet the artists and enjoy live jazz music. This is the fifth year of the Art of Healing program and the eighth exhibition.

Posted November 13, 2019

Englewood Hospital Named 5-Star Recipient for Appendectomy, Carotid Procedures, Gallbladder Surgery, Hip Fracture Treatment

Posted on by John Williams

Englewood Hospital Excels in Clinical Outcomes According to Healthgrades

November 12, 2019 — Englewood Hospital has been recognized as a 5-star recipient in appendectomy, carotid procedures, gallbladder surgery, and hip fracture treatment by Healthgrades, an online resource for information about physicians and hospitals.

This achievement—the fourth consecutive year for appendectomy and the second consecutive year for the other services—is part of the Healthgrades 2020 Report to the Nation, which underscores the importance of hospital quality to both consumers and hospital leaders.

“These 5-star distinctions indicate that Englewood Hospital’s clinical outcomes are statistically significantly better than expected when treating the condition or performing the procedure being evaluated,” says Jamie Ketas, vice president of quality at Englewood Health.

Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions using Medicare data. Outcomes for appendectomy are determined using all-payer data provided by 15 states.

Variation in care has a significant impact on health outcomes. From 2016-2018, if all hospitals performed similarly to hospitals receiving 5 stars, on average, 220,019 lives could potentially have been saved and 149,403 complications could potentially have been avoided.*

For the 2020 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 2016‐2018, patients having hip fracture repair in hospitals with 5 stars had, on average, a 46.6% lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated by hospitals with 1 star.* In addition from 2016‐2018, patients having carotid procedures in hospitals with 5 stars had, on average a 64.7% lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated by hospitals with 1 star.*

“Receiving 5-star ratings in these areas for several years in a row reflects the dedication of the Englewood Health team to put patient needs first, therefore ensuring the best clinical outcomes,” says Kathleen Kaminsky, MS, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Englewood Health. “As we hold ourselves to the highest standards of both quality and safety, our goal is to always provide an exceptional experience. This is made possible through the commitment of our providers, nurses and the entire healthcare team.”

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) categories.

“Consumers have many choices when it comes to choosing a hospital where to receive care and the choice can be a matter of life and death,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer at Healthgrades. “The hospitals that have been recognized as 5-star rated for specific procedures and conditions stand out above the rest for the ongoing dedication and commitment to providing exceptional care to their patients.”

*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2016 through 2018 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.

Englewood Hospital Earns ‘A’ in Fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Posted on by Michael Chananie

National Recognition Distinguishes Hospital for Achievements in Patient Safety

November 7, 2019 — Englewood Hospital today earned an ‘A’ in the Fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing its commitment to protecting patients from harm and providing safe health care.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to all general hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harmful circumstances to patients in their care.

“Patient safety and quality remain our top priorities,” said Jamie Ketas, vice president of quality at Englewood Health. “As a team, we are committed to treating patients using state-of-the-art technology, taking an individualized approach, and providing ongoing care after patients leave the hospital. Receiving an ‘A’ grade from the Leapfrog Group speaks to the dedication of our entire staff to ensuring our patients have the best possible outcomes.”

Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data 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 freely available to the public.

“‘A’ hospitals show us their leadership is protecting patients from preventable medical harm and error,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It takes genuine commitment at every level—from clinicians, to administrators, to the board of directors—and we congratulate the teams who have worked so hard to earn this ‘A.’”

To see Englewood Hospital’s full grade details, learn how employers can help, and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization, driven by employers and other purchasers of health care, committed to improving healthcare quality and safety for consumers and purchasers.

United Hatzalah/Rescue Opens Englewood Chapter

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Englewood Health Ambulance
Englewood Health Ambulance

United Rescue, the American affiliate of the Israeli organization United Hatzalah, (“rescue” in Hebrew), has partnered with Englewood Health and the City of Englewood to become integrated directly with the local 911 system and will run in partnership with the town’s emergency medical services organization, Englewood Health EMS. The United Hatzalah/Rescue model aims to get help to people in distress within three minutes via trained volunteer emergency medical technicians who live or work in the neighborhood where the emergency is reported. United Rescue Englewood’s activities launched with a September 19 inauguration event at Englewood Health. Participants included 25 volunteer trainees who were soon to start 60 hours of instruction; volunteers from the Jersey City chapter; Englewood’s Mayor Michael Wildes; Englewood Health EMS director, Rick Sposa; and Englewood Health’s Vice President for Facilities Management and Emergency Preparedness, Harvey Weber.

Read the article here.

Posted November 2019

Comet Clinical Trial: An Option for Patients with Low-Risk DCIS Available at Englewood Health

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Englewood Health is a clinical trial site for the Comparison of Operative to Monitoring and Endocrine Therapy (COMET) study for low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This is the first large Phase III randomized clinical trial in the United States to look at different clinical management strategies for low-risk DCIS.

Chief of breast surgery Violet Merle McIntosh, MD, a site principal investigator for the COMET trial, shares insights about this important study.

What is DCIS?

Dr. McIntosh: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is noninvasive breast cancer, accounting for approximately 20 percent of new breast cancer cases each year. It is a condition in which some of the cells lining the milk ducts undergo a cancerous change, dividing and filling up the ducts. DCIS does not spread beyond the ducts to other parts of the breast or to other parts of the body.

What is low-risk DCIS?

Dr. McIntosh: There are three grades of DCIS: low, intermediate, and high. Generally, low and intermediate grades (Grades I and II) are considered to be “low risk,” with the lowest chance of becoming an invasive cancer or of recurrence. There is increasing scientific evidence that low-risk DCIS grows slowly and, left untreated, would not cause health problems during a woman’s lifetime.

What is the COMET study?

Dr. McIntosh: Currently, women with any grade of DCIS are treated with surgery, with or without radiation. The COMET study is comparing that standard treatment with monitoring, for low-risk DCIS.

How does the study work?

Dr. McIntosh: Study participants, who have been diagnosed with low-risk DCIS, are randomly assigned to one of two groups:

  • Active surveillance: ongoing monitoring with mammograms and physical exam every six months or
  • Surgery, with or without radiation therapy, and an annual mammogram

Participants in both groups may choose to have adjuvant hormone therapy. Patients in active surveillance are closely monitored during the five years of the study, and if they advance to an invasive cancer, receive appropriate treatment.

Who is eligible to participate?

Dr. McIntosh: Women who are newly diagnosed with low-risk (Grade I or II) DCIS are eligible for the COMET trial. Currently, if a woman is diagnosed with DCIS, her treating physician cannot say, “Let’s try active surveillance,” as it is not the standard of care. Therefore, the only way to receive active surveillance at this point is to participate in the trial.

Why is this clinical trial so important for women?

Dr. McIntosh: According to a study published in JAMA Surgery, about 80 percent of women diagnosed with DCIS will not have a future DCIS or invasive breast cancer. The big question is, “Are we overtreating women?” Right now, we don’t know how to identify who is at high risk and who can safely avoid surgery and possibly radiation treatment, with or without hormone treatment. We are hoping to answer these questions with this important study.

What holds patients back from participating in a clinical trial?

Dr. McIntosh: Patients often say, “I don’t want to be a guinea pig.” The reality is that most of the time in these studies, we are comparing reasonable treatments. It is usually a question of whether one treatment is better than the other.

In the COMET trial, researchers want to confirm that active surveillance is effective for most patients.

Englewood Health is currently the only site in Bergen County enrolling patients in the COMET clinical trial.

Posted October 2019

Breast Cancer Services at Englewood Health: What’s New?

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Breast cancer is the Number 1 cancer affecting women, with more than 268,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center

Accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center at Englewood Health provides a high level of convenience and personalized attention for women in need of breast imaging, diagnostic evaluations, and procedures. With private waiting rooms, a spa-like environment, and minimal waiting times, the center has an in-house team of board-certified radiologists and pathologists whose primary focus is breast disease. All diagnostic tests are conducted and interpreted at one central location at the medical center.

The American College of Radiology recommends that women with an average risk of developing breast cancer begin annual screening mammography at age 40.

At The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnostic Center, all women who have a mammogram are seen by a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant, who performs a breast exam and obtains a history. Almost all patients undergoing mammography have a 3D mammogram.

Same-Day Mammogram Results

Patients having screening mammography are offered the option of remaining in the center while their results are reviewed. If additional mammogram views are needed, they are done the same day. If there is a suspicious finding on a mammogram and an ultrasound is needed, patients are offered the option of having that, too, the same day. Many ultrasound-guided biopsies can also be performed during the same visit.

To make an appointment call 201-894-3640 or schedule online.

The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health

The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program, demonstrating high quality of care and commitment to continuous quality improvement. The center diagnoses and treats approximately 1,200 patients each year.

A Team of Breast Cancer Experts

At Englewood Health, our physicians and surgeons reflect the center’s culture of deep scientific knowledge, professional expertise, and collaborative spirit, as they determine the best care for their patients. Our Breast Cancer Disease Management Team of medical oncologists, breast surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, and geneticists meets weekly to discuss each new patient case and create an individual plan for each patient.

Also participating in the weekly patient conferences are a patient navigator, a genetics nurse practitioner, a clinical trials coordinator, a social worker, medical residents, and the tumor registrar. At the meeting, each patient’s history, images, and pathology are presented; all aspects of the patient’s medical and social history are considered; and a treatment plan is formulated.

At Englewood Health, we offer:

  • Personalized care
  • Medical oncologists who specialize in breast cancer
  • A team of breast surgeons
  • Advanced radiation therapy
  • Genomic profiling and genetic counseling
  • Clinical trials
  • Support services

Join Us for the 20th Annual Walk for Awareness!

2019 marks a milestone year for Englewood Health Foundation’s Walk for Awareness, with the beloved community fundraiser celebrating its 20th anniversary this fall. Founded by Jill Fader and her late husband and former City of Englewood mayor, Paul Fader, the Walk has inspired—and mobilized—thousands in our community to fundraise in support of The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center at Englewood Hospital. Funds raised have helped to offset the costs of care for uninsured and underinsured women in our community. And invite your favorite canine companion to tag along for the Susan Lucianna Memorial Dog Walk.

Walk for Awareness and Susan Lucianna Memorial Dog Walk: October 27, 2019

Registration: 11:00 a.m.
Welcome and warm-up: 12:30 p.m.
Walk begins: 1:00 p.m.

For more information and online registration, go to walkforawareness.org.