May 15, 2018 – Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has received the Healthgrades 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award™, a designation that recognizes superior performance of hospitals that have prevented the occurrence of serious, potentially avoidable complications for patients during hospital stays. The distinction places Englewood Hospital among the top 5 percent of all short-term acute care hospitals in the nation reporting patient safety data for its excellent performance as evaluated by Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. Englewood Hospital is the only hospital in Bergen County, New Jersey, in the top 5 percent of Patient Safety Excellence Award recipients.
During the 2014 to 2016 study period, Healthgrades found that patients treated in hospitals receiving the Patient Safety Excellence Award were, on average:
55.6 percent less likely to experience an accidental cut, puncture, perforation or hemorrhage during medical care, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals
52.4 percent less likely to experience a collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or around the chest, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals
62.8 percent less likely to experience catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired at the hospital, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals
54.3 percent less likely to experience pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals1
During the study period (2014 to 2016), Healthgrades 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient hospitals demonstrated excellent performance in safety provided for patients in the Medicare population, as measured by objective outcomes (risk-adjusted patient safety indicator rates) for 13 patient safety indicators defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
If all hospitals achieved the average performance of award recipients for each of the 13 Patient Safety Indicators evaluated, during the 2014 to 2016 study period, 126,342 patient safety events could have been avoided.
“As the healthcare industry continues to put more deserved attention on quality and value, our efforts to improve patient safety are unwavering,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “Earning the Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades is a testament to the tireless efforts of our entire staff that work to ensure that our patients receive the best, and safest, medical care.”
“We applaud the hospitals who have received the Healthgrades 2018 Patient Safety Excellence Award,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Healthgrades. “Their dedication and commitment to providing safe care creates tangible results for patients.”
Access the recently released Patient Sentiment Report from Healthgrades and MGMA, which analyzed nearly 7 million online patient reviews and reveals what patients say about their physicians.
1Statistics are based on Healthgrades Patient Safety Ratings and Excellence Award methodology, which is primarily constructed using AHRQ Technical Specifications version 5E applied to MedPAR data for years 2014 through 2016 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.
Physicians and staff from Englewood Hospital and the Englewood Department of Health during the designation of the hospital as a stigma-free zone. Pictured from left to right, Phyllis Brown-Edwards, Deborah Baldwin (Englewood Department of Health), Lauren Menkes, Dr. Hillary Cohen, Dr. Stephen Bischoff, Dr. Steven Samuels, Jo-Ann Venezia, and Linda Leighton.
May 7, 2018 – Englewood Hospital has been designated a stigma-free zone after demonstrating a dedicated effort to educating the community and offering resources to help combat discrimination and negative perceptions toward individuals with mental illness.
“With the number of cases of mental illness on the rise, it is imperative that patients feel safe and comfortable seeking care,” explained Dr. Hillary Cohen, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Englewood Hospital. “At Englewood Hospital, we have always and will always treat those with mental illness in the same way we would treat anyone, with any condition – and that’s with compassion, diligence, and a patient-first approach. Being designated as a stigma-free zone is a wonderful recognition of those efforts and a signal to the community that we are doing all that we can to help break down barriers and provide a judgment-free space to seek care.”
Englewood Hospital hopes to raise awareness of mental illness, provide an effective way to reduce stigma against those who suffer from it, and encourage individuals with mental illness to seek services and feel supported. The designation of stigma-free will raise awareness of Englewood Hospital’s mental health resources, so no patient or community member need feel hopeless or alone. The elimination of stigma will enable people to ask for help when they need it, so they can start on the road to recovery, have hope for their future, and be spared avoidable tragedy.
The resolution was made during the City of Englewood’s third annual town hall meeting organized by the Englewood Municipal Alliance and Stigma-Free Task Force, on Tuesday, May 1 at Englewood Hospital.
The Graf Center for Integrative Medicine was featured in an article discussing meditation. The author interviewed Mark Van Buren, a mindful-living trainer affiliated with the Graf Center, who encourages people to look at meditation as the “cultivating the art of leaving things alone.”
April 26, 2018 – Last November, a rare East Asian tick, the Haemaphysalis longicornis—also known as the Longhorned tick or bush tick—was found on a farm in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
Until this time, the Longhorned tick, which has been suspected to cause illnesses and diseases in livestock and humans, was never known to exist in the U.S. and how it ended up in the Garden State continues to be a mystery.
On Wednesday, April 25, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture confirmed that the tick has also been found at the Watchung Reservation in Union County, 40 miles away from the initial site in Hunterdon County. The tick was originally collected from the reservation in May of 2017 during an ongoing tick study, but had not been identified until just recently.
“Various local, state, and federal animal health officials, as well as Rutgers University are working together to identify the range of the ticks and develop a plan to eliminate this pest from the area in Union County,” the New Jersey Department of Agriculture said in a press release.
The press release did not say whether the ticks found in Union County survived the winter, as was the case in the first sighting in the Hunterdon County.
On April 17th the National Veterinary Services (NVS) confirmed that the initial outbreak of ticks, found primarily on the face and feet of a 12-year-old Icelandic sheep, had survived the winter and become established in our state.
On Tuesday, the NVS Laboratory confirmed that the Longhorned tick had also been found on a white-tailed deer near the farm where the sheep resided. This marks the first recording of the tick feeding on local wildlife.
“The fact that, despite the freezing temperatures that occurred over the winter, the tick survived—this means it’s here to stay. Does that mean the Longhorned tick is going to cause us any real harm? That has yet to be seen,” Dr. Ashwin Jathavadem said.
Dr. Jathavadem is Chief of Infectious Disease at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and he believes, like many specialists in the field of disease, that it is too soon to panic about the Longhorned tick.
“It’s not clear whether the tick is going to transmit infections to the general population. If we begin to see unusual cases or symptoms that match the infection the Longhorned is linked to, that will be a different story,” Dr. Jathavadem said.
The infection in question that is associated with the Longhorned tick is an outbreak of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (STFS) in China. STFS has been described by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as “an emerging hemorrhagic fever.”
“The only real concern regarding the Longhorn is the outbreak in China and even in that case, the virus was mainly restricted to people who had contact with farm animals,” Dr. Jathavadem said.
According to Dr. Jathavadem, it will be “very difficult” to spot the Longhorned tick visually, as it is roughly the size of a pea when fully engorged, can be as small as a speck of dirt and often is mistaken for a common spider.
Longhorned tick (Photo courtesy New Jersey Department of Agriculture)
“Use the same precautions this summer that you would use any other summer. Mainly keep yourself covered and do full body checks if you go hiking or in the woods,” Dr. Jathavadem said.
If you do happen to find a tick on your body this summer, treat it the way you would normally treat any tick bite. Remove the bugger as quickly as possible, save it in a sterile bag or jar and monitor yourself for symptoms over the following days and weeks. If you begin to experience rash, fever or any other unusual symptoms, bring yourself and the tick to the doctor’s office to get examined and tested.
So is the Longhorned tick cause for the concern? According to Dr. Jathavadem the answer is, “not just yet.”
“Anytime there is a new potential vector for infections, we just don’t know how it is going to behave. A lot of questions have to be answered before we hit the panic button,” Dr. Jathavadem said.
By no means should you let the presence of the Longhorned tick get in the way of your summer hiking, biking and camping plans. Simply take the necessary precautions to protect yourself against ticks of every sort, especially when walking in tall grass. Do regular body checks on yourself, your children and your pets, watch out for strange symptoms and perhaps be a little cautious when interacting with livestock this summer.
Dr. Jamuna Rajasingham, Dr. Harvey Gross, Dr. Samantha Hutten, Carol Silver Elliott, Dr. Rikki Racela, and Dr. Lauren DeNiro come together for a community update on Parkinson’s research. Dr. Rajasingham, Dr. Racela, and Dr. DeNiro practice together at Bergen Neurology in Englewood. Dr. Gross is the medical director of the Jewish Home Family and chief of the department of family practice at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. Dr. Hutten is senior associate director of research programs for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. And Ms. Elliott is the president and CEO of the Jewish Family Home.
April 26, 2018 – In recognition of Parkinson’s Awareness Month and growing concern about treatment and quality-of-life options for those with Parkinson’s disease, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and the Jewish Home Family partnered with The Michael J. Fox Foundation to present the latest updates in Parkinson’s research.
With one in 100 people over age 60 living with Parkinson’s disease, 60,000 new cases to be diagnosed this year, and an estimated 14 million projected for 2040, Parkinson’s is the most common neurodegenerative disorder next to Alzheimer’s.
Samantha J. Hutten, PhD, senior associate director of research programs for The Michael J. Fox Foundation, discussed clinical breakthroughs; the latest research in therapeutics, medications, and biomarkers for diagnosis; and the relationship between genetics and environment, including risk factors.
As the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is focused on understanding the biology of the disease to develop new therapies and treatments for those it serves.
Due to the highly variable nature of the disease, no two people with Parkinson’s are the same. There is currently no objective test for the disease, so diagnosis is often the result a clinical exam. But many patients see their family physicians—rather than a neurologist or movement disorder specialist—and often have their symptoms confused with those indicative of other chronic conditions.
A combination of environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors increase a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s. Genetic mutations can make us more susceptible to the disease with exposure, explained Dr. Hutten. For this reason, the foundation has been exploring ways to treat the source of the problem.
Since the 1960s, the “gold standard” in Parkinson’s treatment has been levodopa, a drug the brain converts to dopamine, replacing what’s lost with damaged brain cells. While it works well, levodopa only treats certain symptoms, can cause dyskinesia (involuntary motor movement), and can wear off between doses, making patients feel “off.”
Recently approved treatments, including medications delivered orally and by direct infusion to the small intestine, aim to keep levodopa levels consistent, thereby controlling symptoms more consistently and avoiding side effects. Other new therapies work as “add-ons” to levodopa, helping avoid the natural breakdown of dopamine so it can function longer and alleviating dyskinesia.
Other treatment options are currently under review by the FDA. These include an levodopa inhaler and a thin under-the tongue strip of another drug (apomorphine) to quickly alleviate symptoms during “off” periods, and botulinum toxin for decreased saliva production to prevent drooling in Parkinson’s.
Equally important, Dr. Hutten noted, are various non-motor symptoms: cognitive impairment and dementia, urinary problems and constipation, depression and anxiety, vision disturbances, speech and swallowing problems, smell loss, fatigue, hallucinations and delusions, low blood pressure, pain, and sleep disorders. Walking and balance problems also are difficult to treat with available therapies.
Advancements in treatment of these symptoms include cognitive behavioral therapy for depression and anxiety in Parkinson’s; retinal studies tracking eye movement for vision problems that affect gait and balance; transcranial magnetic stimulation for pain; swallowing, breathing, and voice exercises to increase clarity and volume; the use of cocoa extract for fatigue; and a fiber supplement for delivering proper bacteria to the gut.
Additional treatments are being repurposed from other fields. Drugs approved for diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and inflammatory diseases are currently being explored for use in Parkinson’s.
“Everything that we’ve talked about to date, with motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms, is still only addressing the symptoms,” said Dr. Hutten. “It’s not addressing the cause. So, what we consider our holy grail is finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. What that would mean is finding something that could halt the disease in its tracks, or even a treatment that could be administered to people that were identified as being at risk to develop Parkinson’s disease. So this would really be what we call a disease-modifying therapy—therapy that actually changes the course of Parkinson’s disease.”
Through its Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative study, The Michael J. Fox Foundation collects clinical and biological data, specimens, and important information—from those with and without genetic mutations linked to Parkinson’s—to investigate biology and develop new tests to diagnose and track the disease.
Dr. Hutten explained the significance of such objective tests of Parkinson’s disease—called biomarkers—which ultimately could transform clinical care and fuel clinical trials. Scientists are looking for differences in body fluid and tissue, imaging changes in the brain, and wearable device data to diagnose and track Parkinson’s.
Following the presentation, Dr. Rikki Racela of Bergen Neurology and Dr. Harvey Gross, medical director of the Jewish Home Family and chief of the department of family practice at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, joined Dr. Hutten on a panel to answer questions from physicians, medical professionals, and members of the community.
Strong themes included the impact of exercise on prevention and slowed progression of Parkinson’s; the importance of an expert care team and family support system; and the benefit of getting involved with the Parkinson’s community, research opportunities, and clinical trials.
“Exercise, not just for general health, is good, but in Parkinson’s it is absolutely essential,” said Dr. Racela. “It is more powerful and better than any sort of drug we can give you, or any technology. And, actually, it’s the only thing that has shown evidence where it actually modifies the disease.”
A marine, renowned detective, and motivational speaker twice nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, David Toma has spent his life helping others. Diagnosed with aortic stenosis, Toma turned to Drs. Bart and Joseph De Gregorio to receive the kind of support he was used to providing. Learning he was a candidate for TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement), Toma traveled an hour to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center for the procedure and personalized care.
January 18, 2018 — With the turn of the year, the Graf Center for Integrative Medicine at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center is launching The Rodgers Family Meditation Program to grow its array of holistic services and highlight the link between traditional medical treatment and mindfulness. The new wellness program expands meditation offerings to patients with chronic conditions such as cancer or heart disease, as well as to clients in good health looking to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and manage pain.
Among its additions are meditation for stress, anxiety, and depression, a class led by Mark Van Buren, mindful living trainer, yoga and meditation instructor, personal trainer, musician, and author; and meditation for stress and pain management, a class led by Jeri G. Kadison, a certified yoga and meditation instructor. Meditation for stress, anxiety, and depression, held on Monday evenings, teaches simple meditation techniques to help relax the body, center the mind, and build resistance to stress by incorporating meditation into the daily routine to boost mood, and better manage life stressors. Meditation for stress and pain management, held on Wednesday mornings, teaches mindfulness using breathing techniques and slight movement to reduce the risk of stress-related diseases.
Van Buren explains meditation as “cultivating the art of leaving things alone,” training those who practice to acknowledge stray thoughts, stress, anxiety, and sadness, but then accept and embrace these feelings instead of fearing them, ultimately fostering compassion, wisdom, and peace. “Know that anxiety and pain will come and go naturally,” Van Buren said. “It’s just a passing energy like a thunderstorm. You can’t do anything about a thunderstorm, you just let it do its thing and pass.”
Other classes include guided meditation in Spanish, pre- and post-surgery meditation, and acupuncture for stress and ailments. Additional special offerings include a well-being and weight loss six-session series, and events introducing Reiki, massage and meditation, and the healing power of sound.
Established in 2015, the Graf Center and its team of licensed and certified professionals provides evidence-based services to patients, their families, and the general community to promote prevention, recovery, and support in a safe, comfortable environment.
January 11, 2018 — Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has appointed Stephen Brunnquell, MD, president of its physician network and Hillary Cohen, MD, vice president of medical affairs.
Stephen Brunnquell, MD
Dr. Brunnquell’s position has been created in response to a shifting healthcare model in which hospitals are partnering with physician practices to provide care to the community. In his new position, Dr. Brunnquell will serve as the liaison between providers and MDPartners, the physician network of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, which, in less than 6 years, has grown to become a $100 million enterprise comprising close to 400 providers with 75 locations in 6 counties. For Dr. Brunnquell, who will step down from his current position of vice president of medical affairs at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, the decision was easy. “I am humbled to take on this role and to help continue to shape and grow this great group of doctors,” says Dr. Brunnquell. “As the industry continues to change, it is imperative that hospitals and health systems have a firm grasp on the issues, concerns, and happenings of their physicians – who better to understand and appreciate that than a physician.”
Hillary Cohen, MD
Dr. Cohen, who is currently chief of emergency medicine, has been selected to take on the role of vice president of medical affairs following the transition of Dr. Brunnquell. In her new role, Dr. Cohen will serve as a linkage between the medical staff and executive leadership of the hospital, with particular emphasis on population health and projects related to clinical care and efficiency throughout the continuum. Dr. Cohen will also serve as medical director of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center’s clinically integrated network. “As Englewood Hospital and Medical Center continues to grow and expand services beyond the walls of the hospital, it’s important that high-quality care remains at the forefront,” says Dr. Cohen. “It’s an honor to assume this position and work with our medical staff to continue to enhance our services across our organization.”
“Dr. Brunnquell and Dr. Cohen have both brought invaluable expertise, leadership acumen and passion to their current roles, and we’re delighted to welcome them to these new leadership positions,” says Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “Having Dr. Brunnquell and Dr. Cohen in these new roles will be a great asset not only to our medical center, but the patients and communities we serve.”
Englewood, NJ (January 10, 2018) — Several local community leaders have been named to the Boards of Trustees of Englewood Healthcare System, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center (EHMC), and its fundraising organization, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Foundation. Joining the healthcare system’s board are Richard Lerner and Leon Redensky; joining the medical center’s board is Lisa Sepulveda; and joining the Foundation’s board are Neil Piekny and Karen Singer.
“These appointments come during a pivotal time for Englewood Hospital and Medical Center,” said Thomas C. Senter, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and its parent organization, Englewood Healthcare System. “We recognize the integral role of our trustees, who will undoubtedly strengthen our medical center and help advance its mission as we enter an exciting new era of growth that will continue to revolutionize how we deliver care.”
“We recognize the important role that each of our new Board members will have. They will be invaluable in building upon our medical center’s impact in the entire region for years to come,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees of EHMC Foundation Jay C. Nadel.
“We’re very excited to welcome new members to our governing boards, whose visionary leadership, ideas, and perspectives will continue to move our mission forward,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “Their insight and guidance provide an opportunity to build upon our legacy of medical excellence, while also innovating to meet the new demands of a modern healthcare model.”
Englewood Healthcare System
Richard Lerner is a partner at Housing and Healthcare Finance (HHC), one of the country’s largest financers of healthcare and senior housing real estate. Lerner is regularly consulted by senior members at the department of Housing and Urban Development and, through its Office of Healthcare Programs, advises on loans for hospitals and senior housing facilities. Previously a managing director at Credit Suisse, Lerner was responsible for the company’s healthcare and affordable multifamily housing loans. He was appointed to the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Board in 2014, serves on various other boards, and is active with the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Lerner graduated from Dartmouth College with degrees in economics and English. He resides in Alpine with his wife, Amy, and two children.
Leon Redensky is the co-founder of Lynx Capital Partners, a financial trading and technology firm. He and his wife, Shiri, are also invested in philanthropic work, supporting local charities and foundations including the Arnold P. Gold Foundation and Hopes and Heroes. Redensky has been a member of the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center board since 2015. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in bioengineering, with a minor in economics. Redensky and his wife live in Demarest with their three daughters.
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center
Lisa Sepulveda is chief client officer at Edelman, the world’s largest independent communications marketing company, and a member of Edelman’s 10-person executive committee. With over 25 years of marketing experience, she has played an integral role in some of Edelman’s most successful work, including the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. Her clients include eBay, GE, Mars, PayPal, SC Johnson, Starbucks, and Unilever. Sepulveda is known as a mentor among professionals, and was recently named in the 40 Women to Watch Over 40 ranking. She lives in Rockland County, New York with her husband Andrew, and is an ardent supporter of both her college-aged daughters and their rivaling sports teams.
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Foundation
Neil Piekny is a partner at Ernst & Young LLP with over 18 years of experience advising life science and other multinational corporations in a variety of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, structuring and divestitures, IPO planning, international tax planning, tax accounting and reporting, tax processes and systems, and accounting methods consulting. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Piekny earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He and his wife, Jodi, support the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, and the American Diabetes Association of Central New Jersey. They live in Demarest and have two children.
Karen Singer, Psy.D. earned a doctorate in psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and worked as a primary school psychologist from 2001 through 2014. Along with her husband Gary and their three children, Singer is a benefactor of several local and national organizations, including Adler Aphasia Center, Alpine Learning Group, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, Kaplen JCC on the Palisades—with a focus on the therapeutic nursery and special needs programs—Ronald McDonald House, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Lehigh University, The Jewish Home Family, and Temple Emanu-el of Closter. They are longtime Cresskill residents.
The New Year is an opportunity to make a fresh start and refocus our minds on taking good care of our health, in particular, our heart. Dr. Joseph Shatzkes, a board-certified cardiologist who focuses on general cardiology and prevention, shares some wisdom on making a good start for your heart in 2018.
What advice can you give about making resolutions?
Set realistic goals. I tell people it’s a marathon, not a sprint. When it comes to your heart, you want to make changes that you can continue lifelong. Set realistic goals, so you do not get discouraged.
What first steps do you recommend?
Exercise. Finding ways to exercise is the first step toward a healthier heart. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. It can be as simple as going for a brisk walk. I tell my own dad, “Get off the subway a stop earlier. Walk the extra 10 blocks.” Getting your heart rate up is a good place to start.
Get an internist. Have a doctor with whom you have a good relationship.
Look at your own personal risk factors. If you have a sibling or parent who had cardiovascular disease, come in for an evaluation. Modifying risk factors can be very important for your own health.
What are your top tips for the New Year?
Diet. Let’s face it, the holidays and winter are really tough. I suggest that people focus on goals. I preach moderation.
Quit soda. Quit drinking all soda. You’ll lose weight just by quitting soda, including diet sodas. Quitting soda can be a springboard to a healthier lifestyle.
Don’t eat late at night. The last thing you do for the evening shouldn’t be food. Doing something after dinner can make a difference. In my family, we go for a walk around the neighborhood after dinner. We’ve incorporated walking into our routine. My kids know it as going for a “moonlight walk.”
Lower your carbs. One thing you can do easily is focus on reducing your carbohydrate intake. Eat more protein.
Limit salt. If you have borderline high blood pressure, limit your salt intake. This doesn’t mean you have to cut it out completely, but start reading labels and become aware of how much salt is in your food.
Exercise. Exercise will help lower your blood pressure and increase your energy. It can help reduce the number and amount of medications you need to be on.
Quit smoking. Most of the time when we see young people—such as people in their 40s—with heart disease, they are smokers. If you smoke, your New Year’s resolution should be, “I quit yesterday.”
Get support. I’m a big fan of ancillary practitioners, such as nutritionists and personal trainers. They are good resources, especially for heart patients.
Be a “cheater”. Whether it’s improving your diet, exercising every day, or reducing your stress, focus on doing that thing most of the time. Being a cheater means that you’ve quit something and you cheat only occasionally.
How do you incorporate heart healthy practices into your own life?
I’m at the gym at 6 a.m. several mornings a week. I used to be a little heavier and I lost weight. It’s not easy, but I focused on it. I limit my snacking and try to keep it to fruit or nuts or other healthy options. A decade ago, I gave up soda. If I need to get moving, I ask my wife if she needs anything at the store and I’ll run an errand. I try to go do something rather than just sit.
I’m a big sports fan. I often exercise while watching my teams. During the Sunday football game, I try to go for a walk at halftime, so that I don’t spend the whole three hours just sitting on the couch.
If someone has worrisome symptoms, how do you encourage that person to address them now?
As doctors, sometimes what we do is rule things out and reassure patients. Addressing something early is better than waiting. Early action can prevent so much down the road. Never be afraid to come in.
What about people who are afraid to go to the doctor?
Going to the doctor does not have to be a cold experience. In my practice, we try to be super friendly and not scary. I like getting to know my patients as people . . . their families, their interests. I like seeing them in the community. I run into my patients at ShopRite!
For me, there is no greater joy than being able to take care of my neighbors and help them feel healthy. People know that they can rely on me to take care of their health. That’s why I became a doctor.
What makes Englewood Hospital so special?
As a patient, you can come to Englewood Hospital and get the tender loving care of a community hospital without compromising any of the expertise or technology. Our interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons are superb. They perform advanced procedures, such as TAVR, that are often found only at academic medical centers, with outstanding results. I feel blessed to have joined a great group of academic cardiologists. In our practice, the patient comes first. We make it a priority to be available and to get patients in the next day if needed.
Posted December 2017
Cookie Consent
We use cookies and other tools on this website to enhance the user experience and to analyze our web traffic. By continuing to use this site, you agree to the use of cookies and similar technologies. For more information, see our Terms of Use.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
