Benefactor Names Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center

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Pictured from left, Warren Geller, CEO and President of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Jay Nadel, Chairman of the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Foundation, Ronald Lefcourt, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center benefactor and local businessman, and Thomas C. Senter, Esq., Chairman of the Englewood Healthcare System and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

November 17, 2016 — Englewood Hospital and Medical Center unveiled the name of its new cancer center, The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, on November 16, and recognized local businessman and philanthropist Ronald Lefcourt for his support of the medical center’s mission to bring high-quality, humanistic cancer care to the region.

Mr. Lefcourt, president of Alliance Shippers Inc., headquartered in Englewood Cliffs and one of North America’s premier, privately owned global logistics and transportation companies, made a lead gift to the medical center’s capital campaign, Transforming the Future: Our Campaign for Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

“My family considers Englewood Hospital and Medical Center a trusted and valued pillar of our community,” says Mr. Lefcourt. “When communities have access to good quality care, everyone wins. I am proud to support the medical center in recognition of the outstanding care provided to me and my family over the years.”

The gift brings the total amount raised in the campaign to $42 million, within reach of its $50 million goal.

“We see ourselves as a partner in our patients’ healthcare. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Lefcourt, our patients and our community will benefit from a stronger clinical team, new services and programs, enhanced diagnostics and treatment, all centered on the humanistic care our patients expect,” says Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

“Mr. Lefcourt’s commitment to our medical center is exemplary of Englewood Hospital’s strong culture of philanthropy,” says Jay Nadel, Chairman of the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Foundation. “The investments made by Mr. Lefcourt and the many others who have given to Transforming the Future: Our Campaign for Englewood Hospital and Medical Center are a reminder that we can successfully work together to secure and improve access to care in our communities.”

Established with support from Transforming the Future, The Lefcourt Family Cancer and Treatment Center represents a new standard for cancer care, where patients are treated as guests with amenities to ensure a comfortable and convenient experience. The 185,000 sq. ft. facility houses all cancer services and specialists in one location, minimizing patient anxiety and making for a smooth, seamless transition from one area to another. The cancer center offers a multidisciplinary care approach, bridging nationally recognized specialists, empathetic clinical staff, advanced technology, and comprehensive services together to create tailored plans for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer.

“The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center offers a personalized approach to cancer care that is built around each individual’s unique needs, with special attention given to caring for the whole body and addressing the needs of the patient’s family,” says Steven Brower, MD, medical director of The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center.

Patient diagnostic and treatment services include advanced breast imaging using 3D mammography, laser-focused detection of cancer using a 3T MRI machine, robotic and minimally invasive surgical techniques, TrueBeam radiotherapy system for a more precise treatment and quicker recovery, precision medicine and infusion therapy to target cancer on a molecular level, cancer risk assessment, access to clinical trials and research, integrative medicine to reduce symptoms and enhance quality of life, and support groups and other services. Carefully considered design elements from soft lighting to spa-infused features to comfortable furniture and private infusion rooms make for a relaxing space for patients to receive treatment, and where family and friends are encouraged to participate in ways that help their loved one heal.

The cancer center has been designated as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

Patient Safety Recognized as Top Priority at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center

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November 2, 2016 – Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has earned the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade “A” for the 10th consecutive time since 2012, making it one of only three hospitals in New Jersey and one of 72 hospitals in the nation to earn straight “A’s.”

The Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog organization, recently announced its fall 2016 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a biannual letter grade assigned to more than 2,600 hospitals in the nation.

“We are very proud to receive our 10th consecutive Safety Grade “A” from the Leapfrog Group, which reflects our commitment to meeting the highest care standards and prioritizing patient safety,” said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

Using 30 evidence-based measures of patient safety, The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is calculated by top patient safety experts. The rating system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

“Earning Straight ‘A’s’ in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is a remarkable achievement and testament to a hospital’s ongoing vigilance and commitment to patient safety,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We thank Englewood Hospital and Medical Center for being an example of excellence in preventing harm to patients.”

15 Tips to Reduce the Risk of SIDS

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Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death in infants from ages one month to one year. October is SIDS Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about this tragic cause of death.

Here are 15 recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics on reducing the risk of SIDS.

1. Back to sleep for every sleep.
Whether it’s a short nap during the day, or putting your baby down for the night, infants should always be placed to sleep on their backs.

2. Use a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib.
Cover the mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else! No soft, fluffy bedding, toys, or pillows in the baby’s sleep area.

3. Breastfeeding is recommended.
Unless medically contraindicated, mothers should breastfeed exclusively or feed with expressed milk (i.e., not offer any formula or other non-human milk-based supplements) for at least six months.

4. Room-in with your infant at home.
It is recommended that infants sleep in the parents’ room, but in his/her own crib or basinet, ideally for the first year of life, but at least for the first six months. Evidence exists that infants who sleep in their parents’ room, in their own cribs, have a decreased risk of SIDS of as much as 50%.

5. Keep soft objects and loose bedding away from the infant’s sleep area to reduce the risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment, and strangulation.
Soft objects, such as pillows and pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, and loose bedding, such as blankets and non-fitted sheets, can obstruct an infant’s nose and mouth. An obstructed airway can pose a risk of suffocation, entrapment, or SIDS.

6. Consider offering a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.
Although the mechanism is yet unclear, a protective effect of pacifiers on the incidence of SIDS has been reported. The protective effect of the pacifier is observed even if the pacifier falls out of the infant’s mouth. It does not need to be reinserted once the infant falls asleep.

7. Do not allow any smoking near or around your baby!
Both maternal smoking during pregnancy and smoke in the infant’s environment after birth are major risk factors for SIDS. Mothers should not smoke during pregnancy or after the infant’s birth. The risk of SIDS is particularly high when the infant shares a bed with an adult smoker, even when the adult does not smoke in bed.

8. Avoid alcohol and illicit drug use during pregnancy and after birth.
There is an increased risk of SIDS with prenatal and postnatal exposure to alcohol or illicit drug use. Parental alcohol and/or illicit drug use in combination with bed-sharing places the infant at particularly high risk of SIDS.

9. Avoid overheating and head covering in infants.
In general, infants should be dressed appropriately for the environment, with no greater than one layer more than an adult would wear to be comfortable in that environment. Parents and caregivers should evaluate the infant for signs of overheating, such as sweating or the infant’s chest feeling hot to the touch. Overbundling and covering of the face and head should be avoided.

10. Pregnant women should obtain regular prenatal care.
There is a substantial linking of a lower risk of SIDS for infants whose mothers obtain regular prenatal care. Pregnant women should follow guidelines for frequency of prenatal visits.

11. Infants should be immunized in accordance with recommendations of the AAP and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Evidence suggests that vaccination may have a protective effect against SIDS.

12. Avoid the use of commercial devices that are inconsistent with safe sleep recommendations.
Be particularly wary of devices that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS. Examples include, but are not limited to, wedges and positioners and other devices placed in the adult bed for the purpose of positioning or separating the infant from others in the bed.

13. Do not use home cardiorespiratory monitors as a strategy to reduce the risk of SIDS.
The use of cardiorespiratory monitors has not been documented to decrease the incidence of SIDS.

14. Supervised, awake tummy time is recommended to facilitate development.
The SIDS taskforce and the AAP Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine and Section on Neurologic Surgery agree that “a certain amount of prone positioning, or ‘tummy time,’ while the infant is awake and being observed is recommended to help facilitate the infant’s development and strength necessary for timely attainment of certain motor milestones.”

15. Swaddling is not recommended as a strategy to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Swaddling, or wrapping the infant in a light blanket, is often used as a strategy to calm the infant while he/she is lying on their back. There is a high risk of death if a swaddled infant is placed in the crib/basinet lying on their stomach, or if a swaddled infant rolls to that position. If infants are swaddled, they should always be placed on the back. Swaddling should be snug around the chest but allow for ample room at the hips and knees. When an infant exhibits signs of attempting to roll, swaddling should no longer be used.

For additional information, please see “SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment” from the AAP.

Posted on October 28, 2016

Annie’s Story – IBD

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When Annie experienced intense pain near her appendix, she knew something was wrong. She turned to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, where gastroenterologists discovered the reason for her pain–Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease that was damaging sections of her intestines. Learning surgery might be her best option to improve her quality of life, Annie decided to have a portion of her colon and appendix removed. The personal connection she experienced with her care team helped Annie see the light at the end of the tunnel and not let her disease define her. Learn more about Annie’s inspirational story.

Posted on October 14, 2016

Immediate Mammogram Results

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Beginning October 2016, the Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center is offering mammogram results and many follow-up tests during the same visit. Our newly renovated center offers a serene environment, the latest technology, and a dedicated, compassionate team working to get you the care you need, when you need it.

To make an appointment, call 201-894-3640. When you make an appointment, please be sure to ask about the availability of immediate results.

New Dissolvable Device Offers Alternative Option To Treating Heart Disease

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Dr. Joseph De Gregorio
Dr. Joseph De Gregorio, chief of invasive cardiology and principal investigator of the ABSORB trial at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

September 6, 2016 – Englewood Hospital and Medical Center is one of the first in the nation, one of two in New Jersey, and the only hospital in Bergen County to offer a recently FDA-approved, first-of-its-kind dissolvable heart stent to treat patients with heart disease. Englewood Hospital performed its first case on August 8, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the Absorb stent in July.

The hospital was a leading enroller nationally to the ABSORB study, a 3-year clinical trial of the device.

“We’re proud to be one of the first hospitals in the nation to offer the Absorb coronary heart stent to patients with certain types of arterial blockages,” says Dr. Joseph De Gregorio, chief of invasive cardiology and principal investigator of the ABSORB trial at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “This new medical device allows us to treat coronary artery disease with the same effectiveness as the traditional stent without patients living with a lingering metal device in their body, which is unnecessary once the artery is healed and blood flow restored.”

With the arrival of the Absorb dissolvable heart stent, manufactured by Abbott Vascular, Inc., patients receive the same benefits and outcomes as the traditional metal stent without the concern of carrying hardware in the body indefinitely. Like the metal stent, the Absorb drug-coated device holds the clogged artery open and slowly releases medication to the diseased area. After blood flow is restored, the stent, which is made from material similar to dissolvable stitches, is absorbed naturally by the body in two to three years. As a result, the risk of certain types of blockages that can occur with metallic stents is reduced, additional interventions in the future may be easier to offer, and the treated artery may return to normal since there is no metal restricting its movement.

The Absorb stent is not for every blockage, but is beneficial for certain patients who may need to have coronary bypass surgery in the future, as well as those who have specific types of blockages.

Coronary artery disease is caused by a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque, which narrows the arteries that supply blood to the heart. As a result, patients with heart disease may be at increased risk of heart attack. Since the 2000s, drug-coated permanent metal stents have been the standard nonsurgical intervention used to restore blocked arteries.

Jane’s Story – Cancer Care

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Jane was busy loving life as a mom, wife, and musician when she found out she had cancer. She turned to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center for her care, and spent the next several years being treated for multiple cancers. After a seizure revealed her cancer had spread to her brain, Englewood Hospital’s neuro-oncology team performed delicate surgery. One month later, Jane was back on the stage she loved, beating the drums after beating the odds.

Posted on September 12, 2016

Donor Milk Gives Tiniest Infants a Healthy Start

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Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staff
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center now offers pasteurized human donor milk for preterm and low birth weight babies.

August 12, 2016 – Englewood Hospital and Medical Center now offers pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) to the most vulnerable preterm infants in its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Donor milk is rapidly becoming the standard of care for early feedings of preterm infants and low birth weight babies when mother’s milk is unavailable or cannot be used due to medications or illness. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends all preterm babies receive human milk because of its proven benefits.

Englewood Hospital and Medical Center receives its donor human milk from Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast, a nonprofit community milk bank that operates under the guidelines of the HuEHMC_DonorMilk3
man Milk Banking Association of North America. To ensure safety, all donor mothers are required to undergo a comprehensive screening process, including a detailed health history, blood work and physician approval. Milk from mothers who pass the screening is then pasteurized and tested by an independent lab for an added level of safety.

“Human milk is easily digested and contains the necessary nutrients, enzymes, growth factors and hormones essential for growth and development,” says Dr. Loren Deluca, a neonatologist at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and its PDHM program coordinator. “It also decreases the risk of infections in preemies, especially a life-threatening infection called necrotizing enterocolitis. Pasteurized donor human milk can be lifesaving for preterm infants. We are proud to be among the hospitals nationwide to partner with Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast to provide pasteurized donor human milk to mothers and babies in need.”

 

Inside Jersey Recognizes Englewood Hospital and Medical Center as a Top Hospital

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August 11, 2016–The Star Ledger’s Inside Jersey magazine released its Top Hospitals 2016 rankings in April in which it recognized Englewood Hospital and Medical Center as a healthcare leader among large hospitals.

Englewood Hospital was ranked among the top 10 large hospitals in New Jersey for overall care and in seven specialty areas: stroke, bypass surgery, hip and knee repairs, congestive heart failure, high-risk pregnancies, neurological disorders, and pain management.

The magazine partnered with Castle Connolly, a leading health care research firm in which New Jersey physicians graded the state’s best hospitals. Inside Jersey also partnered with IPRO, an independent not-for-profit health care consulting organization, to identify the best hospitals based on patient experience ratings for overall satisfaction, communication, and cleanliness. Based on that criteria, Englewood Hospital ranked among the top 10 large hospitals in all areas.

“We’re proud to be recognized as a top hospital in New Jersey, providing high-quality, safe, and compassionate medical care to our community,” says Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. “This distinction highlights the talent and dedication of our healthcare professionals and investment in cutting-edge technology to provide advanced care to patients with serious health conditions.”