An Introduction to Breastfeeding

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As a new mom, you want to make sure your baby is off to a great start — and we do, too. That’s why we are committed to educating parents about the benefits of breastfeeding and encourage all mothers to prepare in advance with the goal of exclusively breastfeeding your baby during your hospital stay. The evidence is clear that breast milk is best, and most healthy newborns require only breast milk for the first six months of life.

The Family Birth Place at Englewood Health offers a warm and nurturing team of specialists who will support you and work closely with you before and after you give birth.

Benefits of Breastfeeding
  • Breast milk is rich in nutrients and antibodies to protect your baby.
  • It changes to fit your growing baby’s needs.
  • Research shows breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing asthma, obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, lower respiratory infections, childhood leukemia, and more.
  • For mothers, research has shown that breastfeeding can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and breast and ovarian cancers.
Before Your Baby’s Birth
  • Don’t wait until you are in the hospital to begin thinking about breastfeeding. The best time to begin preparing is during your pregnancy.
  • Learn all you can about breastfeeding. Englewood Hospital and Medical Center offers a prenatal breastfeeding class. Visit www.englewoodhealht.org/maternity to learn more and sign up. You should also read trusted books and websites and talk with other moms who have breastfed their babies.
  • Get the support of your partner, family members, and friends. Invite them to attend a breastfeeding class with you.
  • Tell your doctor about your plan to exclusively breastfeed you baby during your hospital stay.
  • Check with your insurance company. Many health plans now cover breastfeeding support and supplies. Your insurance carrier can provide more information about what is covered under your plan. Hospital-grade electric breast pumps are available in the hospital if needed and can be rented from the gift shop when you leave.
  • When you go to the hospital, tell your nurses and doctors that you want to breastfeed as  soon as possible after your baby is born.
During Your Hospital Stay

Every member of the Englewood Hospital and Medial Center postpartum team is your ally and will work with you to support your breastfeeding goals. The nursing staff are all specially trained and educated to assist patients with breastfeeding. In addition, certified lactation consultants will be able to provide additional education and support as needed.

Skin-to-skin contact: Within an hour of giving birth, or as soon as possible after delivery, you’ll want to hold you baby “skin to skin.” This means your baby will be dried, placed on your chest against your skin, and both of you will be covered with a warm blanket. This will let your baby latch onto your breast on his or her own, getting your breastfeeding experience off to a good start, and will help stimulate milk production. Your support person may be able to do skin to skin if mom is not available to do so.

Skin-to-skin contact will also help normalize your baby’s breathing and heart rate, keep your baby warm, reduce crying, and increase your baby’s comfort, alertness, and interest in feeding. For both you and your baby, you’ll likely experience a strong feeling of closeness and protectiveness.

Even after the first few hours, continue to place your baby skin-to-skin often during your stay to experience these benefits for you and your baby.

Getting started with feeding: The first milk, colostrum, is the perfect food for your newborn, and is present in just the right amount. You will be encouraged to breastfeed when your baby is showing hunger cues. Healthy full term babies do not need bottles of water or formula unless there is a medical reason.

Rooming in and practicing togetherness: Staying close to your newborn as much as possible will help you gain more confidence in caring for him or her. You and your baby will have the same nurse, who will assist you with breastfeeding together. With our nurse’s help, you will learn your baby’s behavior and hunger cues and be better prepared to take your baby home.

And the research shows that babies cry less and mothers sleep better with your baby in your room.

After You Go Home

No matter how you feed your baby, life with a newborn can be challenging. For the first few weeks, most babies do not eat and sleep on a regular schedule. The following tips can help you continue breastfeeding when you return home.

  • You and your baby need to recover. Plan to spend a lot of time resting, holding your baby skin-to-skin, and breastfeeding.
  • Refer to the booklet A Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding, which will be provided during your hospital stay for additional information regarding feeding your baby in your first weeks at home.
  • If you have breastfeeding concerns or question that are not urgent, call our breastfeeding line, 201-894-3354, and a lactation consultant will retur your call within 24 hours.
  • If you need additional support, refer to the list of breastfeeding community resources provided to you during your stay.

Posted July 14, 2017

Protect Yourself From Skin Cancer

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Summer is fast approaching, leading more people to take advantage of the outdoors. But dermatologists caution that too much natural or artificial ultraviolet light at any time can raise your risk for skin cancer – about 1 in 5 people are diagnosed during the course of their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We sat down with Dr. Gary Brauner, chief of dermatology at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center who offered insight into preventing skin cancer.

Q: How do I know if a spot or mole should be checked out? Are there more than one type?

Dr. Brauner: Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer with the most typical being basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, which often affect the face, lips, ears, neck, and hands, and generally don’t spread if found and treated early.

The third type, and also the most concerning, is melanoma. Melanomas are also often found on parts of the body not exposed to the sun and can spread deeply and widely if not caught early.

We use an acronym called the ABCDEs to differentiate between concerning and benign moles or marks.

  • Asymmetry: Uneven moles or spots
  • Borders: Irregular edges
  • Color: Multiple colors
  • Diameter: The size of a pencil eraser
  • Expanding: A mole that changes and grows

However, I always tell my patients that if they find something that makes them worried, they should make an appointment and come to the office. When found early many skin cancers are treatable and curable, and we use the least invasive treatment approach possible.

Q: Who is most at risk?

Dr. Brauner: Anyone, of any skin color, and even millennials, can get skin cancer. It is usually caused by too much exposure to the sun and artificial ultraviolet ray sources like tanning beds. Some common risk factors include:

  • Light skin, eyes, blond or red hair
  • Those who burn or freckle easily
  • Age – typically those 50+
  • Family history
  • Blistering sunburns
  • Exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet light
  • Weakened immune system
  • Multiple moles on skin

Q: Are there any misconceptions about skin cancer?

Dr. Brauner: There are several, but three in particular come up the most:

Misconception 1. Skin cancer is a summertime problem.
Skin cancer can occur at any time of the year, even in the winter. Year-round skin protection is recommended.

Misconception 2. People with darker skin don’t have to worry about skin cancer.
 Research shows those with darker skin not only get skin cancer but may be diagnosed at a later stage when it’s harder to treat. Everyone should wear sunscreen, even people with darker skin and those who tan easily.

Misconception 3. Sunscreen isn’t needed on days when it isn’t sunny.
Water, snow, sand, even clouds reflect UV light and can increase your chance of getting a sunburn and subsequently your risk for skin cancer.

Q: Do you have some tips?

Dr. Brauner: Sunscreen – everyday. A good rule of thumb is to:

  • Get a yearly skin checkup
  • Wear a hat outdoors – a circular floppy rim not baseball-type cap
  • Wear protective clothing when outdoors
  • Seek shade whenever possible- use umbrellas at the beach and never ever sunbathe!
  • Wear sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB and reapply generally throughout the day

Posted on July 19, 2017

Renowned Bariatric Surgeon Appointed to Leadership Role at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center

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Dr. James McGinty, Chief of Surgery and Surgical Services

July 17, 2017 – Dr. James McGinty has been named chief of surgery and surgical services at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

A board-certified general surgeon with expertise in bariatric surgery, Dr. McGinty performs minimally invasive and robotic weight-loss procedures, focused on helping patients lose weight and improve, resolve, and prevent conditions associated with obesity. He has a special interest in novel surgical techniques and technology including simulation and robotic surgery.

As chief of surgery and surgical services, Dr. McGinty will provide leadership for inpatient and outpatient operating rooms, surgical staff, and programs with a focus on patient safety and efficiency.

Dr. McGinty will step into the role previously held by Dr. Michael Harris, a nationally recognized gastrointestinal surgeon. Dr. Harris currently serves as senior vice president and chief medical officer.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. McGinty to the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center family,” says Dr. Harris. “Dr. McGinty’s expertise in robotic and laparoscopic bariatric surgery and foregut procedures, in addition to his breadth of leadership experience will build on our already exceptional surgical department and bring it to that next level of excellence.”

Most recently, Dr. McGinty was chief of minimally invasive and bariatric surgery and vice chairman of surgery at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West Hospitals, and an assistant professor of surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. For 10 years he served as the director for the general surgery residency training program there. After receiving his medical degree from Drexel University School of Medicine, Dr. McGinty completed his surgical residency at Allegheny General Hospital and his advanced laparoscopic surgical fellowship at the Minimal Access Surgery Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.

Dr. McGinty has published multiple research articles and presented at national and international conferences. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Society of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, American Hernia Society, and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Dr. McGinty is also a member of the board of directors for the Association of Program Directors in Surgery.

Dr. McGinty is a member of the physician network of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, and can be reached at 201-608-2848.

 

Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Physician Appointed to American Society of Clinical Oncology Position

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June 14, 2017 – Dr. Minaxi Jhawer, Chief of Hematology and Oncology at The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, has been appointed to the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This appointment is in recognition of Dr. Jhawer’s expertise in gastrointestinal oncology, as well as her strong interest in developing guidelines that ensure high-quality oncology programs. The Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee comprises multidisciplinary cancer experts from around the world and works to develop clinical practice guidelines, clinical tools and resources, promote leading-edge cancer care, and enhance the quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of cancer services from prevention through palliative care.

“This appointment is a testament to the commitment that Dr. Jhawer has to not only her patients, and The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, but the oncology community as a whole,” said Dr. Steven Brower, medical director and chief of surgical oncology at The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center. “On behalf of the entire cancer center team, we congratulate Dr. Jhawer on this very prestigious achievement.”

The American Society of Clinical Oncology is known to provide the highest-quality resources in education, policy, the pioneering of clinical research, and above all, in patient care. It is comprised of over 40,000 oncology professionals in over 120 countries around the world, and the only organization that is inclusive of all oncology subspecialties.

Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Named ‘Most Wired’ for Fourth Consecutive Year

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July 13, 2017 – Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has been named to the Most Wired list for the fourth consecutive year (2014 – 2017) according to results of the Annual Health Care’s Most Wired® survey released earlier this week by the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Health Forum.

The Most Wired® survey examines how organizations are using IT to improve performance for value-based health care in the areas of infrastructure, business and administrative management; quality and safety; and clinical integration. Hospitals named to the Most Wired list are recognized for transforming care delivery with knowledge gained from data and analytics, investing in analytics to support new delivery models and effective decision-making as well as training clinicians on how to use analytics to improve quality, provide access and control costs.  Being named to this list places Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in an elite category of institutions that are effectively using technology to the meet the needs of the very dynamic healthcare industry.

“Hospitals in the New York metropolitan area are among the best places to receive advanced level diagnosis and treatment. At Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, our clinical and IT teams are able to deploy and use the newest technologies to provide care more quickly, more accurately and with better outcomes,” says Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.  “We are proud to receive the Most Wired designation and will continue to look for new and innovative ways to use technology to improve healthcare for our patients and their families.”

“The Most Wired hospitals are using every available technology option to create more ways to reach their patients in order to provide access to care,” said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “They are transforming care delivery, investing in new delivery models in order to improve quality, provide access and control costs.”

Detailed results of the survey and study can be found in the July issue of H&HN. For a full list of winners, visit www.hhnmag.com.

Lung Cancer Alliance Recognizes Englewood Hospital as a Screening Center of Excellence

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July 12, 2017 – Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has been named a Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance for its ongoing commitment to responsible lung cancer screening.

Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer saves tens of thousands of lives a year, according to the Lung Cancer Alliance. To ensure that screening is carried out safely, efficiently, and equitably, patients need to be assessed by their physician for eligibility and must engage in counseling and a shared decision-making visit. Designation as a Screening Center of Excellence demonstrates that Englewood Hospital and Medical Center is committed to providing clear information, based on current evidence, on which patients are a candidate for lung cancer screening and compliance with comprehensive standards developed by premier professional organizations for controlling screening quality, radiation dose and diagnostic procedures within an experienced, multidisciplinary clinical setting.

“Since we began performing low-dose CT scans for lung cancer in 2014, we have screened more than 600 at-risk smokers and former smokers. Six cancers were diagnosed,” said Mark Shapiro, MD, chief of radiology at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “Prior to the introduction of this important tool, physicians had little to offer for the early detection of lung cancer. The demonstrated value in this screening, however, entails adhering to evidence-based criteria and guidelines. Earning this designation is a reflection of the commitment to patient safety and quality of every member of our team.”

“We are proud and honored to be working with Englewood Hospital and Medical Center as a Lung Cancer Alliance Screening Center of Excellence,” said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, president and CEO of the Lung Cancer Alliance. “Their commitment to practice responsible lung cancer screening will lead to advancements in research and many lives saved. They are an example to follow.”

George Washington Bridge Challenge 2017

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More than 100 runners from Team Englewood, including Englewood Hospital and Medical Center patients, doctors, and staff, joined thousands more for the American Cancer Society’s annual George Washington Bridge Challenge, held on June 4, 2017. The hospital was one of the co-sponsors and provided information about cancer risks and services, as well as offered ear acupuncture and therapeutic massages after the run.

 

 

Dr. Herbert Dardik Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

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Herbert Dardik, MD, chief emeritus of vascular surgery and general surgery at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society for Vascular Surgery. (Photo courtesy of the Society for Vascular Surgery)

June 22, 2017 – Dr. Herbert Dardik, chief emeritus of vascular surgery and general surgery at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood, N.J., was awarded the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) at the organization’s annual meeting in early June.

The award is the highest honor SVS bestows on one of its members. Selection for this honor recognizes an individual’s outstanding and sustained contributions to the profession and the Society, along with exemplary professional practice and leadership.

Dr. Dardik, 82, still maintains office hours, runs student and resident programs and works in his vascular lab. He was recognized for his tireless contributions over many decades to the specialty as a physician, surgeon, teacher, researcher, clinician, community practitioner and academician. For the Society, he is the first community practitioner to receive the award.

“In every way Dr. Dardik is a shining example, thanks to his contributions to research, science, practice and leadership, and his never-say-quit work ethic,” said Society President Dr. Ron Fairman while presenting the award.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Dardik has earned a prestigious reputation for many of his contributions and innovations in field of medicine including innovations in resident training for vascular surgery, contributions in clinical research in lower extremity bypass patency studies, evaluation of thrombolytics, and work with small vessel bypass, exposure, technique, indications and outcomes.

He is director and founding member of the bloodless medicine and surgery program for the avoidance of blood transfusions and in developing blood conservation techniques.

“Dr. Dardik is a great surgeon, a great leader, a great mentor and a true pioneer in the field of medicine. His innovation and drive have helped Englewood Hospital and Medical Center become the great medical center that it is today,” said Dr. Michael Harris, senior vice president and chief medical officer. “On behalf of the entire Englewood Hospital and Medical Center family, we congratulate Dr. Dardik on this well-deserved honor.”

Dr. Dardik has given more than 450 invited lectures, chaired the annual Vascular Symposium for 15 years and started one of the first approved noninvasive vascular laboratories. Further contributions include his work on the nationalization of the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery and as a founding member of the Eastern Vascular Society and the Vascular Society of New Jersey, all three of which he served as president.

Choline C-11 PET Now Offered at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center

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May 31, 2017 – Englewood Hospital and Medical Center now offers an advance in the detection of prostate cancer recurrence for men who have undergone treatment such as prostate cancer surgery or radiation therapy.

A C-11 choline PET scan is a highly sensitive imaging test that can indicate prostate cancer cells and their specific location earlier than previous, more conventional tests. During the exam, the patient is given choline C-11 (a radioactive isotope) intravenously in the arm and then undergoes a PET/CT scan. Choline is absorbed by prostate cancer cells and indicates the precise location of the cancer recurrence, for example if the cancer has recurred in the pelvis or spread to the bones.

With more information, physicians can decide what the optimal treatment protocol might be for an individual patient. For example, if the study indicates a local recurrence in the prostatic bed, the patient might be able to be treated locally with salvage radiation therapy. If the study indicates a distant spread of the disease (such as bone metastases), the patient might need a different therapeutic approach requiring a more systemic treatment.

For men who have had primary treatment for prostate cancer, but are continuing to show rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in blood tests (after prostatectomy or radiation therapy PSA levels should be zero or near zero), a choline PET scan can detect potential sites of cancer recurrence or spread, while levels of PSA are still low. Traditionally, urologists would have to use indirect measures to determine whether a patient had local or systemic disease. Furthermore, C-11 choline PET can pick up cancer recurrence at earlier stages than more traditional imaging studies such as CT, MRI, or bone scans, which only visualize cancer when PSA level volumes are higher in later stages of the disease.

“This is an advance in the detection of recurrent prostate cancer that allows for more effective treatment,” says Dr. Kavitha Vadde, director of nuclear medicine at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “We now offer technology whereby we can give the urologist more specific information earlier and can give the patient a chance for a better outcome.”

Choline C-11 is an FDA-approved marker used with PET/CT. The test is covered by Medicare and requires a low level of radiation exposure for the patient.

According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 180,000 new prostate cancer cases and more than 26,000 deaths were estimated in 2016. Between 13 and 25 percent of patients will experience a recurrence, despite having had surgery or radiation therapy.

Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Earns Accreditation for Ambulances – Only Service in Bergen County

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May 26, 2017 – Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), for the second consecutive period, based on compliance with national standards of excellence. Earning this distinction makes the hospital’s ambulance service the only one in Bergen County, and one of only 182 in the country, to do so. This certification comes after a voluntary comprehensive application process which included an on-site review by national experts in emergency medical services.

“We are very proud to have achieved this accreditation for the second consecutive time – it is truly a team effort,” said Denise Arzoomanian, Assistant Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “This recognition reflects our support and commitment to both our patients and the community. I applaud our team for their unwavering efforts to saving lives and keeping patients at ease during an emergency situation.”

The primary focus of the commission’s standards is high-quality patient care. This is accomplished by establishing national standards which not only address the delivery of patient care, but also the ambulance service’s total operation and its relationships with other agencies, the general public, and the medical community.