Summer 2007 - Trinitas Regional Medical Center

Transcription

Summer 2007
for GRACIE
Andrew Shue on -location
with Davis Guggenheim
Elisabeth Shue w
ith Carly Schroed
er
and Dermot Mulr
oney at movie
screening 2007
The Heart of the Matter
Angioplasty at Trinitas Hospital
Tiny Balloons
Bring Big Benefits
Art Imitates
Life on Screen
Exclusive
Interview
Drench Yourself
in Summer
Family Ties: Siblings Elisabeth and Andrew Shue of South
Orange turn the cameras on their Jersey roots in their new film, GRACIE
W
hen it Comes to Quality
Nursing Education,
Magazine
SUMMER 2007
Welcome to…
As the summer is in full swing, I hope you and your family are enjoying all the benefits of warm weather and extended
daylight hours. This issue of HEALTHYEDGE brings you articles to help you make the most of your summer days and nights
No One Does It Better Than
Trinitas School of Nursing!
100 percent!
while staying healthy and safe.
This issue also takes an in-depth look at the innovation that is the driving force behind our Angioplasty Program, where
patients receive top notch treatment for blockage of coronary arteries. Our highly skilled staff, together with a new state-ofthe-art Catheterization Laboratory, ensures high quality care for people undergoing elective or emergency angioplasty procedures. There is also an exclusive interview with New Jersey natives and siblings, Elisabeth and Andrew Shue, who bring a
special brand of commitment to their lives, on screen and off.
I’d also like to share with you news associated with the passing on April 20 of Andrew H. Campbell, Vice Chairman of the
Board of Trinitas Health and Hospital. Andy served as Chairman of Elizabeth General Medical Center at a unique moment
in time when that hospital was heavily involved in consolidation discussions with St. Elizabeth Hospital.
T
he 67 graduates of the January and May 2006 graduating classes
of the Trinitas School of Nursing achieved a perfect 100% pass
rate on the national registered nurse licensing examination
(NCLEX-RN) on first writing!
Since 1990, Trinitas graduates have achieved an average
NCLEX-RN pass rate of 97.44% – far above the 5-year national
average of 88.8% for nursing diploma schools!
Congratulations to our faculty and graduates for your
commitment to nursing excellence!
His commitment to our organization was unwavering, and was demonstrated in part by his willingness to serve as
Chairman of the Board during the years immediately following the creation of Trinitas. His many efforts on behalf of Trinitas
were recognized by the New Jersey Hospital Association, which honored him as “Trustee of the Year” in 2006.
I can say with confidence that the level of care that is now being provided to the residents of Elizabeth and Union County
has reached new heights as a direct result of Andy’s exceptional leadership, courage, wisdom and vision for a better future.
I am honored to announce that the Board of Trustees of Trinitas
Health and Hospital resolved to name the building that houses
the Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center in his memory. The
entire five-story building at the corner of Pearl and Williamson
Streets will now be known as the Andrew H. Campbell Pavilion.
Trinitas School of Nursing conducts a Cooperative Nursing
Program with Union County College and confers a Diploma
in Nursing from Trinitas and an Associate Degree from the
College. Initially offering nursing studies as the Elizabeth
General Medical Center School of Nursing, Trinitas School
of Nursing has been in continuous operation since 1891.
Students may enroll in the Day, Evening, or the LPN to RN
division on a full-time or a part-time basis.
Gary S. Horan, FACHE
President & CEO
Trinitas School Of Nursing
12 W. Jersey St., 5th floor
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
908-659-5200 (Phone)
908-659-5201 (Fax)
www.ucc.edu/go/trinitas
Gary S. Horan, center, joins Schering-Plough executives,
Trinitas Board members, Catheterization Lab staff and
fellow administrators during a recent ceremony that
recognized the generous donation made to the new
Cath Lab by Schering-Plough Foundation.
SUMMER 2007
1
HEALTHYEDGE EXCLUSIVE
CONTENTS
Family Ties
SUMMER 2007
FEATURES
3 Family Ties
Essex County Siblings Elisabeth and Andrew Shue
Strike Chord with Family-Based Film
8 The Heart of the Matter
18 Tiny Balloons Pack Powerful Surgical Punch
Innovative Surgeries Address Vein and Sinus Issues
20 Drench Yourself in Summer
Making the Most of the Season
IN EVERY ISSUE
Sr. Maureen Shaughnessy, SC
Chairman, Trinitas Health & Hospital
Board of Trustees
Gary S. Horan, FACHE
President & CEO, Trinitas Hospital
HEALTHYEDGE STAFF
Executive Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . Doug Harris
Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn C. Salamone
Manager, Public Relations and Marketing
Contributing Writers . . . . . . . . . Rena Kotik
Judith Trojan
16 Calendar of Events
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES:
Rob Rubilla
(908) 337-3276
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Healthy Edge
Public Relations Department
Trinitas Hospital
225 Williamson Street
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207
2
HEALTHYEDGE
Essex County Siblings Elisabeth and Andrew
Shue Strike Chord with Family-Based Film
The pundit who coined the phrase,
“There are no second acts,” certainly never
met the Shues of South Orange. Andrew
Shue and older sister Elisabeth are perhaps
most widely known for their acting—he
for his six-year stint as heartthrob Billy
Campbell on TV’s Melrose Place, and she
for her Academy Award-nominated role
in Leaving Las Vegas. But the New Jersey
natives have also starred on the world stage
as athletes and social activists. Currently,
they co-star in GRACIE, a new familyfriendly film based on incidents in their
own lives growing up in South Orange
in the 1970s.
The film features 15-year-old Carly
Schroeder as Gracie, the only girl in a
family of three boys who are forever in
the grip of their soccer-enthusiast dad.
Although a gifted soccer player, Gracie tags
along in their shadow until tragedy strikes
beloved older brother Johnny. Gracie vows
to honor Johnny by nabbing his spot on
their high school soccer team. The twist:
It’s an all-boys’ team. There were no girls’
soccer teams in 1978.
GRACIE was filmed in and around
South Orange and in the halls and playing
fields of Maplewood’s Columbia High
School, the Shues’ alma mater. Although
names and timelines have been changed,
GRACIE essentially is Elisabeth’s story,
helmed by her husband, Academy Awardwinning director Davis Guggenheim.
Academy Award-winning director Davis
Guggenheim, Elisabeth Shue’s husband,
on-location in New Jersey.
In the interview that follows, the Shues
graciously share anecdotes about the
making of GRACIE, the back-story
that inspired it, and their
“Andrew’s the dreamer in the
all-consuming passion
for sports.
family. He’s also a great
22 Vital Signs:
example of never giving up.”
Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center News
– Elisabeth Shue
25 Foundation Focus:
News of the Trinitas Health Foundation
26 Hospital Beat:
People and Events of Note
Andrew, what are your childhood recollections
of Elisabeth playing soccer with the boys at
home and in school?
Andrew: I was 3 1/2 years younger, but I do remember
very distinctly there being no understanding that she was
a girl. We all kind of thought she was a boy, a tomboy,
Contributing Photographers. . Doug Harris
Kathryn C. Salamone
Graphic Design . . . . . . . . . . Jama Bowman
by Judith Trojan
which may be part of the problem. I don’t think she ever
Trinitas Hospital is a Catholic Teaching Hospital sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
in partnership with Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation.
HEALTHYEDGE Magazine is published quarterly by Trinitas Hospital and Trinitas Comprehensive
Cancer Center, 225 Williamson Street, Elizabeth, NJ, 07207.
This is Volume 1, Issue 2. This material is designed for information purposes only. None of the
information provided in Healthy Edge constitutes, directly or indirectly, the practice of medicine, the
dispensing of medical services, a professional diagnosis or a treatment plan. The information in
Healthy Edge should not be considered complete nor should it be relied on to suggest a course of
treatment for a particular individual. You should not rely on information provided in Healthy Edge
as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. You should never
disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in Healthy
Edge. If you have any health care related concerns, please call or see your physician or other
qualified health care provider.
got the credit she deserved from us. She was the first girl
in northern New Jersey to play competitive soccer. There
were no girls playing, period. You’d think that her family
would have noticed that what she was doing was really
special and brave.
very distracted by developing into a woman, worried about
what other people would think of me.
GRACIE hits a nerve on two levels, first as a
film about a girl breaking into a sport previously closed to girls and, second, about a
family working through the grieving process.
Andrew: A lot of moms have been coming up to us after
seeing the movie and saying, ‘My daughter doesn’t have
any idea how tough it was back then, and now they think
they can do anything.’ We wanted to magnify that cultural
shift to empower girls, but also, as you said, to celebrate
what it means for families to really stay together in the face
Elisabeth: Sports were the proving ground in our family.
of bad news. Very few families live happy, hunky-dory lives.
I was the only girl in New Jersey to play boys’ soccer for
But if you don’t really work at it, then you don’t build that
about four years. And then I quit, which I very much regret,
support system.
SUMMER 2007
3
tractions, playing video games or
becoming couch potatoes and gaining weight. It’s important for parents
to find the programs for their kids
to stay active, whether they’re at the
YMCA or part of the local church or
recreation center.
Elisabeth: Computers are really
tough on kids. They just beckon them
at all hours. I see it with my own kids.
They would be happy to sit in front of
a computer all day long.
How do you handle that?
Carly Schroeder as Gracie proves her mettle to the all-male members of the high
school soccer team, ultimately gaining their respect and admiration.
Andrew, what was it like
working with your sister on
this film?
Andrew: As somebody who has followed my sister’s path into acting and
been inspired by her, this was a great
opportunity for me to celebrate her.
Early on, she was the one following
the boys. Then through her own
courage, she was able to gain the
confidence to become the woman
and actress that she became. So now
we’re all kind of following her, which
is nice.
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HEALTHYEDGE
band and wife when we were working. I was so excited to have his direction because I’ve seen his talent
develop over 16 years. Whenever I
get insecure about something, he
always says, ‘Lisa, it’s just about the
work.’ He’s always helped me focus
my attention on this career as a job,
so that our family will always be more
important than a job. Having three
children doesn’t hurt when you’re trying to find the balance in your life.
They keep your attention naturally.
Elisabeth, you and your
husband, director Davis
Guggenheim, have a successful marriage in an industry
not known for successful
unions. Could you talk about
your work-life balance?
Statistics show that kids today
are too sedentary, with obesity and juvenile diabetes on
the rise. New Jersey alone
has the highest percentage
of overweight kids under age
five in the country. Are sports
the healthy solution?
Elisabeth: That’s definitely something that I’m very proud of. It’s not
without focus and commitment. I’m
lucky because he’s somebody I so
admire and respect and that helps a
lot. A few moments on-set were a little tense; but we had already fixed the
ground rules about how we would
deal with conflict, that we would have
to respect the roles of actor/director
no matter what. We couldn’t be hus-
Andrew: Not only the health part
of it, but I think a great way to learn
life skills is to be on a team and to
understand all of the elements that go
with that, from humility and personal
responsibility to commitment and
understanding how to lose. A lot of
kids go home after school and sit
around. If you’re not engaged in
something that’s meaningful, you’ll
be sitting there, just looking for dis-
Elisabeth: We just don’t let them.
A great idea for any family is to
put the TV in a room that’s off and
away—not in a family room or
kitchen. We put the TV downstairs,
so it’s not in our living space. That’s
really helped eliminate that screen
from our kids’ lives.
GRACIE provides a positive
role model for girls who are
media-blitzed with the
wreckage of Paris Hilton and
Lindsay Lohan, not exactly
healthy lifestyles for girls to
aspire to.
Elisabeth: I think that’s why sports,
especially for girls, are really important. Introduce them at the earliest
age possible, when they start walking
and don’t even know what they’re
doing, so they can gain a relationship
with the ball. Kids love balls.
Encourage them to play any and
every sport, and then help them with
the organization of it. It does take a
lot of work—driving them to soccer
practice and coaching if you can,
which I’m going to do. My daughter
is on the beginning developmental
gymnastics team at age six, and she
loves it. Her sense of herself is so
strong right now.
Andrew, you’ve actually
moved back to New Jersey,
and were adamant about
filming GRACIE on home turf.
Andrew: We wanted it to be
authentic for the time and place, so
we thought it was important to go
back to where we grew up to film it.
I definitely wanted to raise my kids
back on the East Coast. We like the
four seasons and the renewal that the
East Coast has to offer. We’ll be here
until the kids go to college for sure.
Are you active with parents’
groups in your communities?
Andrew: There’s a soccer association in our town, and I participate as
assistant coach. It’s very fulfilling to
see my kids as excited about the
game as we were.
Elisabeth: It’s really important for
parents to be more involved with their
kids’ education. We’re so lucky in
Los Angeles. They ask you to be
involved. Every morning at my kids’
school, we read to them for 15 minutes before they start their day. I think
that it’s important for kids to see that
Continued on page 6
Andrew Shue
Social Activist
“It’s all about helping young
people change themselves
and the world around them.”
– Andrew Shue
Since 1993, Do Something has
inspired youth leadership in
schools and communities across
the country. The national nonprofit
organization, co-founded by
Andrew Shue with entrepreneur
Michael Sanchez, not only motivates young people with the tools
and funding to be proactive in
their communities, but also recognizes them for a job well-done.
“It’s still thriving,” enthused Shue.
“We activated around Hurricane
Katrina: Over 150,000 kids filled
backpacks with school supplies.”
Projects run the gamut from environmental clean-up and animal
rights advocacy to global hunger,
child abuse and poverty initiatives.
The organization’s Brick Awards
annually honor young people who
launch projects on a local, national
and international level. Supported
by a kid-friendly Web site, the Brick
Awards aired on network television
this year for the first time.
“We’re creating grant opportunities
and a culture on our Web site
www.dosomething.org to inspire
young people to share their ideas
and build a community around
social activism.” – J.T.
SPRING 2007
5
What about your dad?
Andrew: There’s no doubt that his
passion for ‘climbing’ tall mountains
rubbed off on me, the idea that even
if you slip, you just get back up and
keep going. When I quit the Boy
Scouts, he gave me a friendly nudge
and said, ‘Look, you don’t have to be
a Boy Scout to do your own community programs. You might want to
think about doing something on your
own.’ He didn’t tell me what to do,
how to do it, when to do it. He just
kind of planted that seed in a clever
way. So I started an organization in
my high school to help senior citizens.
Andrew Shue (left) and his brother-in-law Davis Guggenheim consult on-location
during the filming. Guggenheim also directed the 2006 Academy Award-winning
documentary feature film, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.
Continued from page 5
their parents are actually engaged
and interested.
Kind of against the odds, he kept getting there somehow.
Who would you say had the
greatest impact on your life
choices?
Elisabeth: Will was the person who
helped us when things were tough.
He was the one who stood up for us
and was most proud of us when we
would accomplish anything.
Andrew: My brother, Will, was
probably the greatest teacher in my
life. He was six years older than me.
He never gave up on any of the
things he was pursuing in life, from
the time that he decided to be an
Eagle Scout to running for senior
class president, to getting into
Dartmouth to becoming a doctor.
Dermot Mulroney portrays Gracie
Bowen’s father who finally agrees
to train her for a spot on the all-boys
soccer team after he recognizes that her
competitive spirit is undaunted even in
the face of gender discrimination.
Andrew Shue Advocates for Moms
Even before fatherhood played a major role in his life,
Andrew Shue banked on moms. In 1999, with business
partner Michael Sanchez and TV news personality Meredith
Vieira, Shue co-founded ClubMom, Inc. The first free
membership organization empowering mothers and mothers-to-be, ClubMom recently unveiled CafeMom, the
“largest social network for moms on the Web,” according
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HEALTHYEDGE
to Shue. With some 3,000 moms joining every day,
CafeMom provides a support and information life-line,
or as Shue likes to call it “MySpace for moms.”
Meanwhile, Shue relishes being a soccer dad to his three
young sons, ages 10, 8 and 3. For more information,
visit www.clubmom.com and www.cafemom.com – J.T.
Students would do chores and spend
time with senior citizens in their
homes and in nursing homes.
This really was the inspiration for
Do Something later on.
(See sidebar on page 5)
Andrew, you played professional soccer as an adult, in
Zimbabwe while teaching
math, and in Los Angeles
while acting in MELROSE
PLACE. How did you deal
with injuries that could have
sidelined you?
Andrew: I dislocated my shoulder.
I hurt my knee. You just work through
it. Luckily, I never hurt anything that
affected my acting career. No facial
disfigurement.
Elisabeth, you’re now a
serious tennis player. Why
tennis? Will you still take
acting gigs?
Elisabeth: I guess psychologists
would say that I have a need to complete something that I didn’t complete
back when I was a girl. Or that I still
need to get my father’s attention and
make him believe that I’m a great
athlete. I would hope that it’s still this
personal need of mine to commit to
the idea of striving towards excellence. You work hard, you train,
and you see how you get better. It’s
always been a wonderful balance for
me to have sports as a constant in my
life. I quit soccer; I was a gymnast for
awhile and started playing tennis after
I ripped my Achilles when I was doing
gymnastics. I’ve just committed to tennis in the last few years. My personal
goal is to get a first ranking. I train
every day, but I hope to still be acting,
and be more proactive in terms of
creating projects. With GRACIE, it was
definitely fulfilling to be a part of creating something and not waiting for
the phone to ring.
As you move into the next
chapter of your life, what are
your priorities? Are you hoping to produce other films?
Andrew: Not necessarily. It was a
onetime event, something that I wanted to do for 10 years. Right now, my
family is definitely my priority, so anything I do from a career standpoint
will not be so involved that it takes
away from time with my family.
What core values have stood
you in good stead throughout
your life?
Andrew: I think that life’s only
meaningful when shared with people
you really care about. And, for me, if
you’re not ‘climbing’ a mountain, it’s
hard to get excited about life. I love
the pursuit of a challenge, and I like
all different kinds of mountains.
What advice would you give
your own kids or other young
people who want to tackle
acting or professional sports’
careers?
Elisabeth: I would be thrilled if my
kids would be so committed to challenging themselves on any level and
want to work towards it. You just hope
that they know the hard work it takes
to strive for excellence in anything.
What’s difficult is if they don’t have
those dreams, how do you nudge
them?
Andrew: You have to look at the
thing that you’re most passionate
Elisabeth Shue, Carly Schroeder and
Dermot Mulroney were photographed at
a recent screening of GRACIE prior to its
premiere earlier this summer.
about. I think if you’re going to get up
in the morning and go after something, it’s got to be something that
you’re excited about. Half the battle
for young people is figuring out what
they actually are excited about. You
have to taste different things to figure
that out.
Photos by K.C. Bailey
©2007 Picturehouse
Judith Trojan is an award-winning
entertainment journalist and the director of
The Christopher Awards, currently in its
59th year of honoring films, TV/cable programming and books that “affirm the
highest values of the human spirit.”
Andrew, you initiated, cowrote and produced GRACIE.
SUMMER 2007
7
The Heart of the Matter
enced, and the new Cath Lab where these
procedures take place.
by Kathryn Salamone and Doug Harris
Improved heart health for patients in
Central New Jersey is the primary goal of
the services and treatments that can be
found in the hospital’s Center for
Cardiology. From innovative non-invasive
surgeries to preventive health, cardiac rehabilitation to community education, physicians, nurses and various other health care
professionals at Trinitas Hospital are dedicated to “matters of the heart.” Together,
they care for more than 75,000 patients
each year in nearly 5000 inpatient visits
and nearly 231,000 outpatient visits for
those diagnosed with cardiac problems.
Nearly two years ago, NJ State Health
Planning Board approved Trinitas
Hospital’s application for eligibility for the
Atlantic C-PORT study. In October
2005, Trinitas was designated as one of
nine hospitals in New Jersey selected to
participate in the three-year study that is
expected to involve up to 16,000 patients.
The multi-state demonstration project is
currently assessing the safety, quality and
cost of elective angioplasty in hospitals
that offer emergency angioplasty without
having onsite cardiac surgery backup.
Coronary angioplasty, be it elective or
emergency surgery, involves the insertion
of a catheter into a blocked artery in the
heart. A small balloon on the end of the
“In an emergency
situation in the cath
lab, the ability of a
nurse to assess,
monitor, and treat
a patient is critical.”
8
HEALTHYEDGE
catheter is inflated, thereby opening the
artery and restoring blood flow to the heart.
Since 2003, and prior to its involvement in the Atlantic C-PORT Trial,
Trinitas Hospital had successfully performed 118 angioplasties in emergency circumstances for patients experiencing active
heart attack symptoms. These results evidenced that the hospital was well-prepared
to perform those same surgeries in purely
elective circumstances. Moreover, these
emergency angioplasty procedures resulted
in survival rates well above the national
average for such procedures. Just as noteworthy, in the 18 month period from
January 2005 through June 2006, the hospital performed more than 1000 diagnostic
catheterizations with zero mortality.
As Director of the Interventional
Cardiology program at Trinitas Hospital,
Fayez Shamoon, MD, FACC, FSCAI,
oversees the emergency and elective angioplasty programs. Although his colleague
Fayez Shamoon, MD, Director of
Interventional Cardiology
Matthew Cholankeril, MD was the surgeon who performed Juan Vidal’s historymaking elective angioplasty last year,
Dr. Shamoon takes great pride in the
accomplishments of his fellow surgeons,
the success of the program, such as the
positive outcome that Mr. Vidal experi-
Michael Bailey, Senior Radiologic Technician, (left) assisted Matthew
Cholankeril, MD, who performed the first elective angioplasty at Trinitas
Hospital as part of the Atlantic C-PORT Trial. The multi-state, three-year
study continues to assess the safety, quality and cost of elective angioplasty
in nine New Jersey hospitals that offer emergency angioplasty without onsite
cardiac surgery backup.
“Our entire team is extremely competent and capable in every aspect of this surgical procedure,” notes Dr. Shamoon who
further explains that cardiac catheterization
and angioplasty surgeries at Trinitas
Hospital are performed in operating room
suites specially designed for minimally invasive interventional procedures. The surgeons, the radiologic technicians, the highly
trained nurses, working together as a team
make the procedure and the post-operative
period progress efficiently and with little
stress. In fact, Mr. Vidal was discharged
from the hospital following his elective
angioplasty the day after the procedure.
A significant part of the reason behind
this success is the commitment of the staff
members of the hospital’s Catheterization,
or Cath, Lab where emergency and elective
angioplasties are done. All members
of the staff receive several weeks of
training to acquaint them with the
monitoring and x-ray equipment
that they now use. The recently
installed x-ray equipment was chosen for use because of its upgrade
capabilities. It will enable the completion of peripheral studies and interventions that more and more are becoming a valued and useful technology. With
the expansion that has created an additional suite, the Cath Lab now has the option
of performing simultaneous procedures
thereby enhancing the schedule of procedures on a timely basis for physicians and
patients alike. An additional enhancement
in the new section of the facility is the procedure table that can accommodate morbidly obese patients who weigh up to 550
pounds. Trinitas Hospital is one of only a
handful of hospitals in the area that has a
table that is suitable for such patients.
No matter what
the circumstances,
anticipating the needs
of the interventional
cardiologist results in
the best possible care
for the patient.
In the hospital’s newly expanded Cath
Lab, with its ultra modern equipment,
there is an underlying sense of teamwork
between physicians and highly trained
nurses who take patients through these
procedures with competence and care.
Continued on page 10
“BALLOON” MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO CARDIAC PATIENT
One wouldn’t normally think
that a balloon could change
your life. But, for cardiac
patient Juan Vidal of
Elizabeth a balloon did just
that. Mr. Vidal was the first
person to successfully undergo an elective angioplasty
at Trinitas Hospital during
which a small balloon was
inflated in order to restore
the flow of blood to his heart.
In July 2006, Mr. Vidal’s
minimally-invasive procedure
paved the way for more than
65 elective angioplasties that
have been done since then.
he elected to have the angioplasty
performed at Trinitas Hospital.”
A year out from his landmark surgery,
Claudia Stoffers, BSN, RN, Cath Lab
Operations Coordinator, still vividly
recalls Mr. Vidal’s experiences with
elective angioplasty.
Claudia Stoffers, BSN, RN, offers reassurance to an
emotional Juan Vidal, the first patient to undergo
elective angioplasty at Trinitas Hospital, a day
following his surgery.
Prior to his elective angioplasty, Mr.
Vidal noticed that he was frequently
tired, that he had little energy, and
wasn’t sure why. Thanks to the interventional procedure which went so
well for him, his daughter Camilia
Vidal also of Elizabeth, reports that
today her father is doing much better,
his overall health has dramatically
improved, he is watching what he
eats, and he is getting more exercise
than in the past. “My father’s procedure has made a world of difference
for him and he is certainly happy that
“Mr. Vidal’s case was straight forward
and uncomplicated. Although there
were language limitations, I sensed
quite dramatically that he was most
appreciative of the efforts of the medical and nursing team. Once he was
getting ready to be discharged and
we gathered for a photograph, I
could really feel the emotions that
were welling up within him. He
became overwhelmed by the realization that through the elective procedure he had avoided serious problems down the road. We all take
great pride in what we accomplished
for him that day.”
SUMMER 2007
9
TRINITAS CHIEF
OF CARDIOLOGY
IS “KING OF
HEARTS”
Arthur Millman, MD, Chief of
Cardiology and Medical Director
of the Catheterization Lab and
Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at
Trinitas Hospital, who oversees the
hospital’s participation in the
Atlantic C-PORT Study, was recently
honored by the American Heart
Association. Dr. Millman received
the Harvey E. Nussbaum
Distinguished Service Award for his
dedication to his patients, his commitment to advancing the understanding of heart disease and his
innovative and energetic approach
to the highest quality care.
Dr. Millman graduated Cum
Laude from The City College of
New York, and he received his
MD degree from the Albert
Einstein College of Medicine. He
is presently an Associate Professor
of Medicine at Seton Hall
University School of Graduate
Medical Education, and a Clinical
Assistant Professor of Medicine at
The University of Medicine &
Dentistry. He also serves as a lecturer at the Mt. Sinai School of
Medicine. Dr. Millman is the
founder of the Northern New
Jersey Echocardiology Club.
10
HEALTHYEDGE
within reach,” notes Claudia. “Often, the
interface between physicians and nurses is
like a choreographed dance in which
movements flow with precision and grace.
As the nurse sets up emergency equipment, such as a balloon or temporary
pacemaker, the interventional cardiologist
continues to address the issue of stabilizing
the patient in the emergency setting.”
In the elective angioplasty setting, the
graceful dance-like movements are again
played out, this time in a much more
Janice Lynch, RN, and Claudia Stofffers, BSN, RN, during a less hurried moment in
the new Cath Lab where both emergency and elective angioplasties are performed.
Balancing Act
Since emotional issues play a large role
in these types of procedures, nurses need
to be very attuned to the needs of patients.
Every nurse must be capable of balancing
attention between the physical and emotional needs of each patient. However, a
Cath Lab nurse needs an extra measure of
sensitivity to cardiac patients since their
anxiety level is often higher. “Keeping an
eye on all of this is crucial to successful
outcomes of both elective procedures,
which are generally brief and calm, while
emergencies can be complex and very
fast paced,” notes Janice Lynch, RN,
Regulatory/Research Coordinator.
Being there with support and compassion for patients and family members is
standard operating procedure among these
nurses. In most instances, elective angioplasty patients come to the hospital at an
appointed time, frequently accompanied
by family members. For emergency angioplasty patients, it’s a different story, one in
which a patient may be suffering from an
acute closure of a major vessel feeding the
heart muscle.
The presence of a knowledgeable nurse
is a critical element. “In this emergency
situation, the ability of a nurse to assess,
monitor and treat a patient is critical to
assuring that the situation does not
become unstable unexpectedly,” explains
Claudia Stoffers, BSN, RN, Cath Lab
Operations Coordinator.
Added Assets
Within the Cath Lab environment, the
nurse ultimately is the eyes and ears of the
doctors as they perform the intricate intervention procedures on blockages. As nurses simultaneously view the progress of the
procedure on display screens, they are
poised to respond and can expertly anticipate anything that may occur during an
emergency angioplasty.
“We have support equipment, emergency medications, and anesthesia well
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
240 Williamson Street • Elizabeth, NJ 07207
908-994-5300 • Fax 908-994-5308
ARTHUR E. MILLMAN, MD FACC/FSCAI
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MECICINE
SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MEDICAL EDUCATION
FOR POSITIVE HEART HEALTH,
PUT DIET AND ACTIVITY ON YOUR AGENDA
Here are some dietary and physical fitness tips from Kerry Cowart, Manager,
Nutrition Services, and Jim Dunleavy,
Director of Rehabilitation Services.
• Become a “nutrition detective;”
read labels and limit the amount
of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium you eat.
• Eat fruits and vegetables and
whole grain foods regularly, and
fish at least twice a week.
• When dining out, be wise to portion size. A healthy portion of
meat, chicken, or fish is 3 oz, or
about the size of a deck of cards.
In the dairy group, a serving of
milk or yogurt is considered
1 cup while cheese is 2 oz., or
the size of six dice. For pasta,
rice, potatoes, corn and peas,
strive for one half cup, or the size
of a tennis ball.
• Give your body physical exercise
and you’ll do your heart some
good, too.
• Walk wherever and whenever
possible. At the mall, get extra
exercise by parking your car farther away than usual. At work,
walk to ask someone a question,
use the steps as often as possible, or brainstorm while on a
brisk walk with a co-worker. If
you travel regularly, use hotel
fitness centers and swimming
pools. Consider active vacations
during which you can get a
workout by swimming, hiking,
sightseeing or bicycling.
• Help your heart by beginning a
regular exercise regimen. Begin
with simple activities that you can
easily build into your everyday
routine. Your heart, muscles and
joints will benefit, you’ll ward off
disease, and improve your quality of life. Exercising with a friend
or friends is a social activity that
is fun and you won’t get easily
bored. By doing so, you’ll have
fewer issues that can potentially
lead to health problems.
Being wise to the benefits of good nutrition and a regular
regimen of healthy exercise contributes to good heart
health, say Jim Dunleavy, Director of
Rehabilitation Services, and Kerry
Cowart, Manager, Nutrition
Services, photographed in
the Trinitas Hospital
Bottled sodas
Fitness Center located
have increased from
at the Williamson
Street Campus.
6.5 oz to the typical
To learn about
20 oz today, French
the Cardiac
Rehabilitation
fries servings at fast
Department
and Fitness
food restaurants
Center, call
from 2.4 oz to 6.9 oz.
(908) 994-5695.
SUMMER 2007
11
relaxed tempo, but again in a manner to
keep the patient as comfortable as possible.
No matter what the circumstances, anticipating the needs of the interventional
cardiologist results in the best possible care
for the patient.
The care and attention devoted to
patients goes well beyond the walls of the
Cath Lab. “The Cath Lab nurse is heavily
involved in pre-screening patients and in
nine months of follow-up after the procedure,” explains Janice. Education is a
primary element as cath lab nurses interact
with patients and their families. Home
visits with patients may be conducted to
do pre-procedural teaching. As part of the
recovery process, post-procedure teaching
may include suggestions of lifestyle changes,
pointers on diet, self-help measures to help
reduce risk factors, and clarifications on
medications.
Rigorous documentation is part and
parcel of the flow of activity in the Cath
Lab. A typical day may include coordinat-
ing patients’ and doctors’ schedules, contacting outpatients prior to and after their
procedures, and reviewing relevant tests
and medications in preparation for
catheterizations. Moreover, the hospital’s
participation in the C-PORT study
requires attention to follow-up with
patients that sometimes means home visits
to obtain necessary information.
Both Janice and Claudia agree that
beyond the paperwork and the attention to
detail that governs the Cath Lab, the goal in
both emergency and elective circumstances
is the comfort of the patient. That’s what
makes their work most gratifying for them.
“Since July 2006 when Trinitas began
its participation in the Atlantic C-PORT
study, more than 100 procedures have
been done in our Cath Lab,” explains
Nancy DiLiegro, PhD,FACHE, Director,
Clinical Services. “We’ve significantly
raised the bar for treatment in both elective and emergency circumstances for
A LIFESAVING BALLET
Patients With Coronary Blockage Benefit From Close Coordination Between Departments
by Doug Harris
Kanisha Basden, RN, Nurse Manager,
Telemetry, checks the specialized
monitoring equipment used to provide
continual bedside monitoring of postangioplasty patients.
patients in the Central New Jersey region.
We’ve risen to the challenge of offering
state-of-the-art care since, very simply,
today’s patients expect that level of care for
both emergency and elective procedures.
Our Cardiology Center of Excellence continues to be at the forefront of care as evidenced by our newly installed second cath
lab. We’re prepared for the future today.”
A NON-INVASIVE ALTERNATIVE TO HEART SURGERY
An innovative procedure is offered
0at Trinitas Hospital for patients who
suffer from coronary artery disease,
angina or congestive heart failure.
Enhanced External Counterpulsation
(EECP) – is the only non-surgical cardiac treatment that has been clinically
proven in medical studies to be as
effective as bypass surgery, stents or
Ann Marie Scanlon, RN, EECP Technician,
readies a patient for treatment.
12
HEALTHYEDGE
angioplasty without any of the risks or
recovery time associated with surgery.
Enhanced External Counterpulsation
opens or forms small blood vessels,
thereby creating natural bypasses
around narrowed or blocked arteries
and improving the flow of healthy, oxygenated blood to the heart. These new
blood vessels help reduce or eliminate
angina, increase energy and stamina
and return patients to activities they
thought they had given up forever.
The FDA-approved procedure, which is
covered by Medicare and most insurance, is a relatively simple treatment.
Patients lie comfortably on a special
bed while several blood pressure cuffs
are wrapped around their legs. These
cuffs inflate and deflate in sync with
the patient’s heart beat, pumping
healthy blood throughout the body
and pushing oxygen-rich blood toward
the heart. Patients undergo a one-hour
treatment every day for seven weeks,
and are able to read, listen to music or
sleep during the procedure.
“Many patients assume that their cardiac symptoms, including chest pain,
pressure or lack of energy, are irreversible,” says Arthur Millman, MD,
Chief of Cardiology at Trinitas. “But
studies show that the EECP procedure
can significantly improve or completely eliminate symptoms, and greatly
increase stamina, exercise tolerance
and quality of life. It can also reduce
or eliminate the use of nitroglycerin
and other medications.”
Nearly everyone with coronary artery
disease, angina or congestive heart
failure can benefit from EECP. It is
particularly well-suited to people who
have already had angioplasty, stents
or bypass surgery and are experiencing a return of their heart disease
symptoms. It is also ideal for patients
who are not candidates for surgery
due to other conditions, as well as
diabetics and women with small
blood vessels.
Ask your physician about EECP.
For more information,
call (908) 994-5075.
Thanks to the quick-acting members
of the Trinitas Mobile Intensive Care
Unit (MICU), the process leading up to
an emergency angioplasty can begin
in the patient’s home - often within
minutes after the onset of chest pain.
The Trinitas MICU, described by Clinical
Coordinator Vito Cicchetti, MICP, as an
“Emergency Room on wheels,” works
closely with the main ER at Trinitas
Hospital so that the patient can be
moved swiftly through initial treatment
and on to the cardiac catheterization
lab for an emergency angioplasty procedure if one is warranted.
Real-time data on the patient’s heart
function is transmitted through a dedicated phone line directly to the
Trinitas Emergency Department,
where a physician interprets the
results and directs treatment.
“We can start medications and essentially do exactly what the ER would
do, right in the patient’s living room,”
Vito explained.
The entire process at Trinitas aims to
reduce the “door to balloon” time meaning the time that passes from
the patient’s arrival in the Emergency
Department until he or she undergoes
angioplasty treatment.
Trinitas Paramedics Vito Cicchetti (left)
and Jim Brindle conduct a test on the
12-lead EKG machine that is used to
transmit patient data directly to the
Emergency Department from anywhere
in the community.
“To further speed treatment, the
Emergency Room will activate the
catheterization lab team so that they
are ready to go before we even get to
the Hospital,” Vito explained.
A total of 41 Trinitas paramedics and
three state-of-the-art MICU vehicles
serve the Union County region.
Once the emergency angioplasty has
been performed, the patient is moved
to the Intensive Care Unit, where he
or she is monitored and cared for by
a highly specialized staff.
“Patients who have emergent angioplasty are having a heart attack.
These are patients who possibly have
injury to the heart muscle,” explained
Debbie Durand, RN, APN, Clinical
nurse specialist for critical care.
“An emergency angioplasty eliminates
the blockage - the cause of the problem – but these patients need to be
closely monitored in the Intensive Care
Unit. This is an injured heart. You
have to anticipate what might happen
and be ready to intervene,” she
explained, adding that the ICU staff is
ACLS certified with additional training
on such aspects of critical care as
medications and monitoring.
According to Ms. Durand, patients
who have had a heart attack and go
on to the cath lab for an emergency
angioplasty might be very compromised medically. “Perhaps they
require a special balloon pump afterwards to maintain blood pressure.
That first 24 hour period after a heart
attack is a very vulnerable period,
and they are watched very closely.”
“The overall goal, of course, is to minimize damage and injury,” she said.
Most of the angioplasty procedures
done at Trinitas are elective in nature,
meaning that the patient is experiencing a blockage in the heart, but is not
having an active heart attack. In both
instances, a patient’s blockage is
Raffee Matossian, MD (seated), Medical
Director for the Trinitas MICU and
attending physician in the Trinitas
Hospital ER, along with ER clinical coordinators Ruby Andrion, RN, and Guy
Moyer, RN, review a patient’s EKG that
is being sent from the paramedics staff
over a dedicated phone line.
cleared and propped open with a
stent, a tiny mesh device that enables
blood to flow to the heart.
Following elective angioplasty procedures, patients come under the care
of Kanisha Basden, RN, and her staff
in the Telemetry Unit. There, beds
equipped with specialized monitors
allow the interventionalist to view such
functions as pulse oxygenation, blood
pressure, respirations and EKG - all
at the bedside.
“The Telemetry Unit serves as a step
down from the Intensive Care Unit,”
Kanisha explained. “Whenever the
ICU or the Emergency Department
are busy, we’re busy since many
patients in those areas naturally
progress to telemetry for further
monitoring.”
All members of the nursing staff on
the Telemetry Unit are ACLS certified
with further specialized training
received at the cardiac catheterization
lab at St. Michael’s Medical Center in
Newark. Nurse-to-patient staffing at
the Trinitas Hospital Telemetry Unit
can be as close as 1 to 1, based on
the needs of the patient.
SUMMER 2007
13
ANESTHESIOLOGIST SPEAKS CANDIDLY ABOUT ANGIOPLASTY
Sees surgery from “Both Sides Now”
As an anesthesiologist by profession, Leon Pirak, MD,
Director of the Anesthesia Department at Trinitas Hospital,
is well informed about the medical profession. But, the
surgical tables were turned recently as he began to experience alarming pains that he realized were much more than
indigestion. Suddenly, he was the patient.
Awakened from his sleep, Dr. Pirak felt alarming pain in
his shoulder, a discomfort unlike anything he had ever felt
before. “I wanted my pain to be indigestion, but it just wasn’t going away, even will all the tricks that have worked in
the past for indigestion.” When the pain did not lessen, Dr.
Pirak said that he was forced to admit that perhaps he was
experiencing a cardiac event.
Leon Pirak, MD, (left) and Avi Yarmove, CRNA pause for a
photo in the Operating Room.
Dr. Pirak is in surprising good shape. “Who of us wants to
believe we’re not fit?” A non-smoker, not overweight, not a
diabetic, Dr. Pirak began to wonder how this was
happening.
Despite the fact that his medical knowledge and experience
makes him more informed than the average patient, Dr.
Pirak had to come to terms with the fact that it was suddenly
his life, his health, his issue. “I began to plot a strategy
based on my 20 plus years of experience as a Cardiac
Anesthesiologist. I recognized the issues as well as the risks.
There was absolutely no doubt that I needed to get myself to
a facility that could manage my presumed diagnosis expeditiously and without delay. Time was not on my side.”
The next step proved to be a “no-brainer” for Dr. Pirak.
14
HEALTHYEDGE
“As I walk around the
hospital, I continue to
realize that it’s great to
be part of an institution
that has so much to offer.”
“I knew that Trinitas had been performing emergency
angioplasty safely and that results had been excellent. I
did not want to risk going to a place virtually unknown to
me and my family. So, Trinitas Hospital was my choice.”
Dr. Pirak can’t speak highly enough of his colleagues who
now became his doctors and nurses. Arthur Millman, MD,
his cardiologist, and Fayez Shamoon, MD, his interventional cardiologist, the team in the Cath Lab, the nurses and
support staff of the Intensive Care unit and the Cardiology
unit all demonstrated the highest degree of professionalism
and care. “When I was in the Emergency Room that
morning, Dr. Millman’s judgment was based on years of
experience, a gut feeling that he had, that turned out to be
fortunate in my case. Fayez Shamoon was notified and he
rushed in to perform the angioplasty. I wish I could say
more about the procedure, but thanks to the sedation I
received from my colleague, Abir M. Adam, MD, I have
no recollection whatsoever of the entire procedure.”
Recuperation was normal and swift, accompanied by the
introduction of medications that are now part of his diet.
Within a week following his procedure, Dr. Pirak returned
to work at Trinitas Hospital.
With the patient experience behind him, Dr. Pirak reports
that his emergency angioplasty has helped him become a
better doctor. “I am more aware of my surroundings, especially when I walk past patients in the critical care units of
the hospital. I realize that I was there just a short time ago,
that the same people nursed me back to my good health,
and they continue to care for many new patients. How
fortunate those patients are. Having been there, confined to
a room waiting for the next caregiver to arrive with medications or news from the doctor, I now have a keener sense of
the thoughts in people’s minds and their body language
that tells me, ‘please, give me some good news.’”
Physicians & Surgeons
HEALTHYEDGE is grateful to the following physicians and surgeons for their
support of our publication as a vital health information resource for our community.
GASTROENTEROLOGY
Ricardo E. Rodriguez, MD
318 E. Westfield Avenue
Roselle Park
(908) 245-2229
INTERNAL MEDICINE
NEPHROLOGY
George V. Thalody, MD
240 Williamson Street, Suite 400
Elizabeth
(908) 352-0560
K. Ayyanathan, MD
517 Rahway Avenue
Elizabeth
(908) 527-1247
Union Square Medical Associates
449 Elmora Avenue
Elizabeth
(908) 282-6474
Kusum A. Jethwa, MD
117 Westfield Avenue
Elizabeth
(908) 354-1400
Maria L. Khazaei, MD
Elizabeth
(908) 353-2064
OB/GYN
Kamran Khazaei, MD
Elizabeth
(908) 353-5551
OPTHAMOLOGY
John M. Boozan, MD
776 E. Third Avenue
Roselle
(908) 298-8558
OTOLARYNGOLOGY
Raimundo Obregon, MD
1308 Morris Avenue
Union
(908) 688-8855
Rolando Lozano
MD, FAAP
Hours by Appointment
Office is open
Monday - Saturday
PEDIATRICS
Oscar Verzsosa, MD
Elizabeth
(908) 289-6996
NEPHROLOGY
SPRINGFIELD
PEDIATRICS
We Speak English
and Spanish
PULMONOLOGY
Carlos Remolina, MD, P.A.
515 N. Wood Avenue
Linden
(908) 241-2030
SURGERY
Advanced Surgical Associates
• Ronald D. Pallant, MD
155 Morris Avenue, Springfield
(973) 232-2300
• James H. Frost, MD
(973) 232-2300
• Muhammad S. Feteiha, MD
(973) 232-2300
THORAIC SURGERY
Paul J. P. Bolanowski, MD
219 South Broad Street
Elizabeth
(908) 352-8110
435 Elmora Avenue
Elizabeth, NJ 07208
Phone: (908) 659-9200
Fax: (908) 659-9210
939 Park Avenue
Plainfield, NJ 07060
Phone: (908) 226-5445
Fax: (908) 226-5481
190 Meisel Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
Phone: (973) 467-1009
Fax: (973) 467-7836
SUMMER 2007
15
Community Calendar
All speakers, dates, times and locations were current as of press time. Readers are encouraged to call in advance if they wish
to confirm any information published here about seminars, special events, classes, support groups or special programs.
Seminars (Offered Free to Our Community)
Special Events
Support Groups (Offered Free to Our Community)
Special Programs
All seminars take place in the Physicians Conference Room, 210 Williamson Street,
Elizabeth, except where noted. To register for any seminar, call (908) 994-5138 or
register online at www.TrinitasHospital.org.
September 17, 2007
Alzheimer’s Support Group
Cardiac Support Group
1st Golf and Tennis Tournament
and Day at the Spa
Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club
Scotch Plains, NJ
Tennis location to be announced
Vito Mazza Spa in Woodbridge with
roundtrip transportation to and from
Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club.
AM Shotgun Start 8am
PM Shotgun Start 1pm
Dinner 7:00 pm; Fees $650 per person,
$3,000 per foursome, $125 per person
for guests who want to attend dinner
only. Sponsorship opportunities are
also available!
For reservations or information,
call Laura Ciraco, (908) 994-8249 or
lciraco@trinitas.org
September 5, October 3, November
7, December 5
Family Resource Center
300 North Avenue, Cranford, NJ
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
1st Wednesday of the month
Open to anyone caring for person who
suffers from Alzheimer Disease
(908) 994-7313
(Open to cardiac patients only)
October 18
5:00 – 6:00 pm
Call Ann Marie Scanlon, RN, to register.
(908) 994-5082
(Offered Free to Our Community)
Look Good, Feel Better
August 8, 2007
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
“Fit Body/Fit Bones for Women”
Jim Dunleavy, Admin. Director,
Rehabilitation Services, Trinitas Hospital
August 22, 2007
October 16, 2007
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Healthy Desserts: A Special
Mother/Daughter Program
Lucielle White, Food Service Manager
Location to be announced
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
“Alzheimer’s Disease”
Karim Khimani, MD
Department of Medicine
October 25, 2007
September 5, 2007
November 8, 2007
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Blood Pressure
Maria Khazaei, MD, Nephrology
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
“Is There a Stroke in Your Future?”
Michael Sananman, MD, Neurology
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Sickle Cell Anemia
Vincent Salerno, MD, Hematologist
September 25, 2007
November 14, 2007
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
“MYSPACE is Not Just For Kids”
Donald Caldwell, Technical
Supervisor/Manager, IT
Elisabeth Jocobsen, Director,
Library Services
Location: Computer Training Room
September 26, 2007
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
“Hormone Treatment Dilemma”
Cesar Holgado, MD, OB/GYN
October 1, 2007
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
“Breast Cancer and the Komen
Promise”
Deborah Belfatto, Exec. Dir. and
Co-Founder, Susan G. Komen for the
Cure, North Jersey Affiliate
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
“Avoid the Holiday Spread”
Luciele White,
NPC Food Service Manager
Location: Coffee Shop
November 28, 2007
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
“Caregiver’s Seminar”
Gerardo Capo, MD
Donna Filocamo, Manager,
PsychoSocial Services,
Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center
November 29, 2007
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
“Diabetes – a General Overview”
Sr. Mary Ann Mueller, Registered
Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator
October 6
Power of Healing Health Expo
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Mother Seton High School
Valley Road, Clark, NJ
Diplomate American Board of Surgery
Former Medical Director of Trinitas Center for
Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine
General Surgery - Vascular Surgery
Wound Care Specialist
240 WILLIAMSON STREET, SUITE 302, ELIZABETH, NJ 07202
TEL: (908) 355-3600 FAX: (908) 355-9490
16
HEALTHYEDGE
August 20, September 17, October
15, November 19, December 17
Conference Room A
Trinitas Hospital
225 Williamson Street, Elizabeth, NJ
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Meets third Monday of every month.
Open to patients, families, friends
and loved ones. Please RSVP in
English to Donna Filocamo, LCSW,
at (908) 994-8730; in Spanish to
Griselda Hildago, (908) 994-8535.
Breast Feeding Support Group
Trinitas Hospital
Auxiliary
The community is invited to join
in the following activities:
August 26, 2007
Day at Monmouth Park Racetrack
PETER J. MLYNARCZYK, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Breast Cancer Support Group
October 9, 2007 • 11:30 am
“Beyond Curb Appeal: How to
Get Your Home Ready for Re-Sale”
Janice VanDerVeken, owner and
operator of Town and Country
Home Staging.
For more information about these
events that benefit Trinitas Hospital,
call the Auxiliary at (908) 994-8988.
Coping With Cancer
Support Group
August 14, September 11, October 9,
November 13, December 11
Conference Room A
Trinitas Hospital
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Speakers address cancer-related topics.
Contact Donna Filocamo, LCSW,
at (908) 994-8730.
Sleep Disorders Support Group
October 24
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Physicians Conference Room
Call (908) 994-8694 to register.
Firday mornings
10:00 am - 11:30 am
WIC Office
65 Jefferson Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ
Classes
Child Birth/Breast Feeding Classes
August 20 - September 24 (Mondays)
October 1 - November 5 (Mondays)
November 12 - December 17
(Mondays)
Trinitas Hospital
Call Christine Guarnera at (908) 994-5410
6 week classes for $60
Made For Me Boutique
September 6, October 4,
November 1, December 6
Appointments only.
Call Amparo Aguirre at (908) 994-8244
Managing Your Medications:
“Ask the Pharmacist”
Offered the fourth Tuesday of every month.
August 28, September 25,
October 23, November 27
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Free of charge, by appointment only.
Call (908) 994-5984.
Medication Assistance Program
Check out
www.TrinitasHospital.org
for more information…
If you need help paying for prescriptions, you may be eligible for free
medication assistance.
Call (908) 994-5423. Appointment
hours and locations:
10:00 am – 12 noon, Tuesdays
Administrative Services Building,
210 Williamson St., Elizabeth, NJ
10:00 am – 12 noon, Wednesdays
New Point Campus,
655 E. Jersey St., Elizabeth, NJ
H E A LT H & S A F E T Y P R O D U C T S
“Your Protection is Our Business”
Medical / Dental / Food / Industrial / Auto
Breast Feeding Classes
Every Monday
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
WIC Office
65 Jefferson Street, Elizabeth, NJ
Breast Feeding Hotline: 800-994-5142
August 21, December 11
Thanks to a partnership of the American
Cancer Society (ACS), the National
Cosmetology Association, and the
Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance
Association (CTFA) Foundation, Trinitas
offers patients at its Comprehensive
Cancer Center personal beauty tips and
techniques that they can use everyday.
Physicians Conference Room
Gary Berman
President
633 Jackson Avenue
Elizabeth, NJ 07208
800-432-4568
Cell 973-668-1294
Fax 908-352-0743
glove3030@aol.com
toplineglove.com
SUMMER 2007
17
Tiny Balloons Pack Powerful Surgical Punch
Tiny balloons are bringing big benefits
to patients at Trinitas Hospital, which
recently unveiled new minimally-invasive
procedures for the treatment of deep vein
thrombosis (DVT) and chronic sinus
infection. These procedures are providing
excellent results with little or no recovery
time.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
A new and highly effective treatment
for Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT),
called “isolated thrombolysis,” is now being
performed at Trinitas Hospital by board
certified vascular surgeon Jung Tsai, MD.
Deep Vein Thrombosis is a condition
resulting from the formation of a blood
clot inside a deep vein, commonly located
in the calf or thigh. DVT occurs when the
blood clot either partially or completely
blocks the flow of blood in the vein. Left
untreated, DVT may cause severe complications, and can sometimes be fatal.
“Before this procedure was available, a
patient with a DVT was treated with clot
dissolving drugs such as heparin or
coumadin,” explained Dr. Tsai, who added
that for some patients who are not candidates for anticoagulant therapy, a vena cava
filter may be used. While this therapy
reduces the risk of fatal pulmonary
embolism and further blood clot formation, the underlying clot may remain and
cause permanent vein damage. “Clinical
data show that removing the clot vastly
improves patient outcomes,” Dr. Tsai said,
adding that the new, minimally invasive
procedure allows patients to be treated
and discharged from the hospital on the
same day.
The goal of this minimally invasive
surgery is to eliminate large blood clots in
the upper leg or arm using a small dose of
clot-dissolving drug over a short period of
time. During the procedure the clot is isolated between 2 balloons that are inserted
into the vein using a Trellis-8 isolated
by Doug Harris
and Rena Kotik
Relief For Chronic Sinus Infections
➔
➔
Above: These fluoroscopic images show
a leg vein blocked by a deep vein
thrombosis (DVT) (left).
Below: Following treatment, blood flow
is fully restored and the vein is now
visible.
thrombolysis catheter. A clot-dissolving
drug is infused and mixed into the clot.
The clot becomes liquefied, is removed,
and normal blood-flow is restored.
Trinitas Hospital is also offering a
highly effective, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of chronic sinus
infection. Each year, Sinusitis affects
approximately 37 million people in the
United States. Sinusitis is a condition
where the sinus lining becomes inflamed
due to a bacterial, viral and/or microbial
infection. Blockages of the sinus opening
may close, and – in turn – normal mucus
drainage cannot occur. This obstruction
can lead to infection and inflammation of
the sinuses.
Sinusitis sufferers have the option to
treat their condition with antibiotics or
topical nasal steroid sprays. For those who
cannot find relief from these medical-therapeutic options turn to Functional
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS): a procedure where bone and tissue are removed to
enlarge the sinus opening. This procedure
is performed approximately 330,000 times
each year in the U.S. and often leads to
post-operative pain and bleeding that
requires inconvenient nasal packing.
Fortunately, a new, less invasive surgical treatment is now available at Trinitas
Hospital that involves a small, flexible
sinus balloon catheter that is placed into
the nose to reach the sinuses. These instruments –called Balloon Sinuplasty devices –
are reported by surgeons to effectively
relieve the sinus obstruction – generally
without tissue or bone removal – with
diminished post-operative pain, scarring
and bleeding that is often seen with traditional instruments. Otolaryngologists
(head and neck surgeons) are qualified to
perform the surgery with the FDA-cleared
Relieva™ Sinus Balloon Sinuplasty system,
which – at the end of surgery – leaves an
open sinus passageway and repairs normal
sinus drainage and function.
While any type of surgical treatment
involves some risk, a number of clinical
studies have proven the Balloon Sinuplasty
system to be safe and beneficial. Dr.
Raimundo L. Obregon, MD, of Trinitas
Hospital has witnessed favorable outcomes
to this operation. “This is a very safe procedure and most patients respond favorably,” he claims. He continues to praise
the new technology by saying, “It can
improve life significantly without any
interruption to every day life. This procedure is less traumatic and patients lose less
blood than with conventional sinus surgery.” Other benefits of the Balloon
Sinuplasty system is that it does not limit
treatment options and can be used in combination with other medical therapies or
surgical techniques.
A lifelong fitness enthusiast,
Rena Kotik is a certified personal
trainer and nutrition coach. In
addition to her passion for health
and fitness, Rena is a full-time
copywriter at an advertising
agency and a freelance journalist.
Deep Vein Thrombosis occurs when
the circulation of the blood slows down
due to illness, injury, or immobility, giving
the blood an opportunity to pool in the
arteries of the legs or arms. “A static pool
of blood offers an ideal environment for
clot formation and poses a potential risk
for DVT,” Dr. Tsai explained.
Approximately 500,000 cases of DVT
are diagnosed in the United States each
year, and complications of DVT kills up
to 200,000 people.
Vascular surgeon Jung-Tsung Tsai, MD,
removes a blood clot using a new minimally invasive procedure known as
Isolated Thrombolysis.
18
HEALTHYEDGE
Guided by a tiny camera, surgeon
Raimundo L. Obregon, MD inserts a
small balloon into the sinus cavity of a
patient. Once inflated, the balloon
opens blocked sinus passages without
the removal of tissue or bone.
SUMMER 2007
19
Drench Yourself in Summer
BE TRAVEL WISE
by Rena Kotik
Making the Most of the Season
The sun sets at 9 pm, the thermometer
never sinks below 70°F, and the smell of
your neighbor’s fresh-cut grass is in the air.
Summer is the most wonderful time of the
year to bond with friends and family over
food and drinks in the great outdoors. But,
before you fire up your grill and entertain
your guests, sink your teeth into the following facts.
Approximately 127 million adults in
the US are overweight, while 60 million
are obese. (According to the Body Mass
Index, or BMI, one is considered obese if
his/her body mass index is greater than
30.) An estimated 400,000 deaths per year
may be attributed to poor diet and infrequent physical activity. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in
the United States. (Cigarette smoking is
the first.)
So, if you want to be a health-con-
scious host, here are a few tips to keep in
mind when entertaining guests this summer. Leave greasy hamburgers and arteryclogging ribs at the supermarket. Lean
turkey burgers with nominal fat and calories, salmon, or tuna burgers are adventurous alternatives. If you’re passionate about
red meat, choose lean cuts such as sirloin,
rather than chopped meat for hamburgers.
Strip the skin from chicken before you
grill it and you’ll avoid 150 calories and
four grams of saturated fat. Packed with
vitamins A and C, corn is great on the
grill, especially if you substitute light olive
oil instead of butter while grilling.
When you’re planning to dine or picnic outside, take some precautions so that
your dining adventures are happy ones. Be
mindful of the potential hazards the blazing summer sun can cause on foods you
plan to prepare, serve and eat during the
summer months. Here are a few common
myths about food contamination.
Myth: It’s OK to keep raw meat with
other ready-to-eat foods, as long as they
are kept on ice.
Fact: Raw meat should be sealed securely
in a zip lock bag away from fruit, vegetables, and other prepared food, in order to
avoid contamination.
Luciele White, Food Service Manager,
at Trinitas Hospital suggests that coolers
should be maintained at 40° F or below to
avoid bacterial growth. “The temperature
danger zone for food is between 40° F and
140° F. When outside, meals should always
be covered with a plastic wrap, foil, or lid.”
Myth: Blackened vegetables cause cancer.
Fact: Although it is still unclear, research
suggests that there may be an increased
GREAT GRILLING DO’S & DON’T’S
Do
• Buy organic vegetable when possible since you’ll avoid
increased levels of pesticides.
• Refrigerate marinated food for more than 30 minutes.
• Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meat.
Don’t
• Use a charcoal grill on a wood deck without having
a deck protector underneath.
• Use Teflon or a nonstick spatula when grilling;
it may burn or melt on your food.
• Leave perishable items un-refrigerated for more
than two hours when the temperature outdoors is
90° F or above.
20
HEALTHYEDGE
risk of cancer affiliated with charcoal
grilling and broiling red meat and poultry.
Luciele explains, “It is believed that
during the grilling, broiling and pan-searing process, chemicals called Heterocyclic
Amines (HAs), are formed when high heat
breaks down the amino acid, creatine.
While research shows that HAs cause cancer in animals, it is unclear whether the
amounts found on grilled meat may actually cause cancer in humans.”
Grilling and broiling are still healthy
methods of cooking; however, Luciele recommends limiting grilling on a charcoal
grill and avoid the burned or blackened
parts of meat and poultry. If those luscious grill marks are what you crave,
Luciele suggests precooking red meat and
poultry in the oven and then dropping
them on the grill for only a few minutes to
reduce the effects of the HAs.
Finally, she suggests eating small
portions of grilled meats with grilled vegetables on the side to complete the main
course. Keep ripe, refreshing fruit on hand
for all to enjoy.
There are even unseen health hazards
hiding where we may least suspect them.
Sodas and sugary drinks, even those posing
as “100% Real Juice,” cause blood sugar
levels to spike and, in turn, a rise in insulin
levels, prompting the liver to turn sugar
into fat. Skip these beverages and you’ll be
halfway to beating the battle of the bulge.
If you’re in a rush in the morning, grab a
healthy snack to start your day. At
lunchtime, opt for a salad and avoid a gargantuan burger. You’ll be saving 760 calories and 47 grams of fat, to be exact!
Luciele White cautions that most calories in a salad come from the dressing.
When you pick up a salad “to go,”
prepackaged salad dressings can help you
control how much you use. “Try to stick
to lighter dressings that are vinaigrettebased since cream dressings contain more
calories.” If greens won’t satisfy you, eat a
meat-based sandwich that’s either grilled
or baked.
With summer comes travel that
can sometimes create dietary
detours for even the most savvy
traveler. Airline menus and highway rest stops tend to ignore the
fact that the obesity rate in
America is climbing to new
heights. You can avoid becoming
a statistic by planning ahead.
When traveling by air, request a
vegetarian meal. These refreshments often include fresh fruit
rather than processed, and usually contain a greater variety of vegetables. If vegetarian meals are
not your preference, bring your
own snacks. Pack a turkey sandwich or healthy granola bars that
come in a variety of flavors to satisfy your cravings. Even throw in a
slice of angel food cake for
dessert. Re-circulating air in flight
cabins often causes dehydration,
so it’s vital to drink water as often
as possible. Be sure to ask the
flight attendant for water to avoid
dehydration associated with coffee, soft drinks or alcohol. While
on the road, avoid the temptation
of vending machine stand-bys.
Instead, pack healthy snacks and
drinks from home.
A place where you can find….
• Kindness, caring and
understanding
• Transportation
• Make new friends
• Beauty Salon
• Receive excellent medical care
• Arts and Crafts program
• Enjoy life to the fullest
• Meals (breakfast, snack,
and lunch)
• 100% covered by Medicaid and
private payment also accepted
• Daily Trips
430 East Westfield Avenue | Roselle Park, New Jersey 07204
908-620-1889 | 908-680-1899 Fax
SUMMER 2007
21
SUN SENSE
The sun is our main source of vitamin
D for calcium for healthier bones. But, it
doesn’t take the body long to absorb the
vitamin D we need. Unprotected exposure
to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause skin
and eye damage, immune system suppression and worst of all – cancer.
THE ABC’S OF
THE SUN’S RAYS
UVA rays make up the majority of
our sun exposure. These rays
cause skin aging and wrinkling
while contributing to melanoma,
the most dangerous form of skin
cancer. A tan that comes from
UVA rays merely produces color
and does not protect the skin from
further damage.
UVB rays cause sunburns,
cataracts and immune system
damage. They contribute to skin
cancer including melanoma which
is thought to be associated with
severe UVB sunburns that occur
before the age of 20.
UVC rays are the most dangerous
form of ultraviolet rays. These
rays are generally blocked by the
ozone layer and don’t reach the
earth. However, with the thinning
of the ozone layer, UVC rays may
become a serious health risk in
the future.
Unprotected sun exposure is additionally dangerous to those who
have moles on their skin, fair skin
and hair and a family history of
skin cancer, including melanoma.
A lifelong fitness enthusiast,
Rena Kotik is a certified personal
trainer and nutrition coach. In
addition to her passion for health
and fitness, Rena is a full-time
copywriter at an advertising
agency and a freelance journalist.
22
HEALTHYEDGE
Although the general public is educated about the hazardous effects of overexposure to the sun, skin cancer rates are on
the rise. This increase is attributed to a
number of causes —- the most prevalent
being the thinning of the ozone layer. As a
result, UV energy found in UVA, UVB
and UVC rays can penetrate the earth’s
surface more readily. In fact, by the year
2050, it is speculated that there may be a
12-36 percent increase in skin cancer rates.
Dangerous sun exposure doesn’t stop in
the outdoors. A growing number of
Americans use tanning beds each year
where they are exposed to harmful UVB
and UVA rays.
As awareness of the harmful effects of
UVB radiation became well known, tanning salons began to introduce tanning
beds that emit mostly UVA light sources.
However, the safety of tanning bed exposure still exists and is suspected to have
links to malignant melanoma and immune
system damage.
Joseph D. Alkon, MD, Chief of the
Division of Reconstructive and Plastic
Surgery at Trinitas Hospital, has been witnessing skin cancers appearing in younger
patients – many who admit to frequent use
of tanning salons. Dr. Alkon is concerned
by this pattern of behavior.
“I always instruct my patients on the
importance of sunscreen, sun avoidance,
and I often counsel them on the potential
dangers of tanning beds,” notes Dr. Alkon.
“With an estimated 30 million Americans
using indoor tanning salons annually, I
suspect we shall see an even more dramatic
rise in the number of skin cancers in the
years to come, including the appearance in
an increasingly younger patient population
who experience this type of cancer.”
Dr. Alkon explains that it’s still possible to achieve a healthy glow without
exposure to these potential dangers. “I
recommend sunless tanning sprays to
my patients as a substitute for time in a
tanning bed or sunbathing outdoors,” he
notes. Many nationally marketed tanning
sprays last for several days. Some tanning
salons also offer sunless tanning sprays; in
30 seconds, your body is sprayed with a
tanning formula that remains on the skin
for approximately four days.
Protect yourself and loved ones from
the devastating effects of ultraviolet rays
to ensure many more relaxing days in
summers to come.
Vital Signs:
Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center News
by Kathryn Salamone
NEW BREAST CANCER RADIATION REDUCES TREATMENT TIME
Women with early stage breast cancer
can now benefit from an innovative radiation therapy treatment which can be completed in less than 20 percent of the time
required for traditional treatments. The
new treatment, called MammoSite© therapy, is usually completed in five days and is
considered the treatment of choice for
thousands of women who would otherwise
require up to six weeks of daily radiation
therapy. MammoSite therapy gives
women the gift of time and lets them get
back to their daily lives.
MammoSite treatment differs from
traditional radiation therapy following a
lumpectomy in that it can reduce the
time required for post-operative radiation
therapy from six weeks to as little as 5
days. The mostly widely-used therapy in
a category called partial breast irradiation
(PBI), MammoSite has been used to treat
more than 17,000 breast cancer patients.
It is an outpatient therapy that minimizes
the effect of radiation to healthy tissue and
reduces the potential for side effects. The
procedure offers good to excellent cosmetic
results for most women and no radiation
remains in the woman’s body between
treatments or after the final treatment
is over.
The MammoSite
procedure starts with a
breast sparing surgical
removal of the cancerous tumor via a
lumpectomy. “During
surgery, the patient
undergoes a minimally
invasive procedure
wherein a MammoSite,
a small balloon
attached to a thin
catheter, is gently
inserted into the
lumpectomy cavity —
Linda Veldkamp, MS, DABR, Chief Medical Physicist and
the space left inside the
Administrative Director of Radiation Oncology at Trinitas
breast after the tumor
Comprehensive Cancer Center, displays an image of a
is removed,” explains
patient who is being treated with the new Mammosite radiaDr. James Frost, a sur- tion therapy system for breast cancer. Use of Mammosite
effectively shortens the duration of radiation therapy treatgeon at Trinitas
Hospital. “The balloon ment from six weeks to as little as five days.
end of the catheter is
therapy sessions, (usually twice a day for five
inflated with saline solution so that the
days), a “seed” smaller than a grain of rice is
surrounding tissue conforms to the shape
inserted through the catheter into the
of the balloon,” continues Dr. Ronald D.
MammoSite apparatus. There, the seed
Pallant, the first surgeon at Trinitas to perremains for just a few minutes where it
form the Mammosite procedure. The surdelivers a customized and targeted dose of
gical site is then dressed and the patient is
radiation to the lumpectomy site and then is
sent home to recover.
removed. Because the radioactive seed is
During subsequent out-patient radiation
inside the balloon, focused radiation is delivered only to that internal area of the breast
where the cancer is most likely to recur.
From a safety perspective, Linda
Veldkamp, Director of the Radiation
Oncology Department, points out that
“some tumors are very close to the chest
wall and MammoSite’s confined and targeted treatment minimizes the radiation
exposure to vital organs such as the heart
and lungs while directing it right around
the tumor area.”
SUMMER 2007
23
VITAL SIGNS
NURSES RECEIVE AWARD FOR REACHING
100% ADVANCED CERTIFICATION
CANCER CAREGIVERS CAN PLAY A VITAL ROLE
When facing a diagnosis of cancer,
patients often look to the love, care and
support of a family member. Typically,
a daughter, sister, or wife, serves as the
primary caregiver who also helps the
patient navigate the complexities of the
healthcare system. Playing a critical role in
the patient’s therapy, the primary caregiver
serves as a constant source of comfort and
optimism.
It’s not an easy job. In spite of new
advances in drugs and technology, the
prospect of facing the disease remains
frightening for both patient and caregiver.
Members of the PsychoSocial Services
Department of the Trinitas Comprehensive
Cancer Center share these seven steps to
ease the fear and increase the likelihood of
a successful outcome.
1 Become an informed patient advocate.
Learn all you can and ask questions of
the medical team. Read books and
browse the many websites specific to
your loved one’s cancer. Bring printouts and photocopies to therapy sessions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
2
Be sure your loved one will be treated
with state-of-the-art radiation technology specific to their type of cancer.
Explore cancer centers such as Trinitas
Comprehensive Cancer Center which
houses the only Trilogy Linear
Accelerator in New Jersey that provides the latest in radiation technology
with tumor targeting precision, shorter treatments, and better treatment
outcomes.
3 Look for a cancer center that understands and meets all your loved one’s
needs, one that offers a supportive and
24
HEALTHYEDGE
healing atmosphere. New Jersey is
home to many options for high quality
cancer care. But, you should recognize
the importance of selecting a cancer
care facility that is close to home. Also,
before choosing a treatment facility,
find out what ancillary services they
offer. Comprehensive services offered
at Trinitas include nutritional, psychosocial, symptom management,
support groups, and more.
4 Seek recommendations from your primary care physician when selecting a
cancer specialist. Be sure to ask about
the oncologist’s training and credentials. Seek out reputable oncologists
who are knowledgeable, patient, and
compassionate. Confidence in your
oncologist will make it easier to
remain optimistic.
5 Build a relationship with nurses and
oncology therapists at a cancer care
center. You will likely have more contact with these skilled specialists than
with your doctor. Tap into their
knowledge of technical concerns, rely
on their experience and compassion
for emotional support.
6 Use all the resources available to you.
As a primary caregiver you have a big
job, but, you are not alone. Beyond
oncologists, nurses, and technicians,
your cancer care center will offer a
team of specialists to help you and
your loved one. At Trinitas, there is
help with nutrition and appetite
issues. Social workers provide assistance with home care and family or
work issues. Other team members
run bilingual support groups. Check
other sources of information for
Donna Filocamo, Manager of
PsychoSocial Services at Trinitas
Comprehensive Cancer Center, stresses
that patient caregivers can make a true
difference.
cancer support groups in your
community or online.
7 Your role as primary caregiver during
the course of therapy is vastly important. You’ll be setting up a busy calendar of appointments and managing a
complicated medication regimen. You
may be dealing with health insurance
forms and unfamiliar financial responsibilities. You’ll be chauffeur, administrative assistant, and primary cheerleader rolled into one. Remember
that all the other aspects of you own
life still go on. Be sure to take care of
yourself. Seek out help and support
you need from friends, relatives, and
your own doctor.
Helping a loved one overcome cancer
is one of the most challenging and rewarding tasks you are likely to face. By working
with a respected medical team at a state-ofthe-art and convenient cancer care center,
and by building your own expertise
through research and outreach, you can
fulfill that role with success and personal
satisfaction.
The infusion/chemotherapy department is an essential group of professionals
that has helped to make the TCCC a community resource known for excellence in
compassionate patient care and outstanding customer service. The department has
now attained the full 100% OCN certification in oncology nursing of its nursing
staff. OCN certification is a voluntary
process that signifies a nurse has developed
specialty knowledge beyond the entry
level. Oncology certified nurses have met
or exceeded requirements for practice in
cancer care, have completed education in
oncology nursing, and have a tested
knowledge of the specialty.
Carol Blecher, Nurse Practitioner, RN, MS, AOCN, APN,C; Karen Ebert, RN, OCN;
Jennifer Mattaliano, RN, BSN, OCN; Diane Davis, Nurse Manager, Infusion, RN, BSN,
OCN; Thomasina Savage, RN, OCN; Jeanette Barefoot, Director of Clinical
Operations, RN, MSSL, OCN and Rita Winnieker, RN, OCN paused for this photo
recently at the Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Certification in oncology nursing is
based on current professional practice,
thereby validating that a nurse’s knowledge
is up-to-date. The Oncology Nursing
Certification Corporation (ONCC)
recently recognized Trinitas Cancer
Center’s infusion department for its
achievement in reaching 100% oncology
nurse certification.
Founded by the Oncology Nursing
Society (ONS) in 1984 in response to a
request from the membership for a certification program to further establish oncology nursing as a specialty and to recognize
expertise in the field, the ONCC leadership also recognized that public protection
is a goal of professional certification.
ONCC continues to uphold these goals by
defining minimum competency standards
and developing a mechanism to distinguish nurses who meet the standards.
For more information about cancer
care at TCCC, call (908) 994-8000
or visit www.TrinitasHospital.org or
www.trinitasccc.org
SUMMER 2007
25
Foundation Focus:
News of the Trinitas Health Foundation
Hospital Beat:
People and Events of Note
by Kathryn Salamone
by Kathryn Salamone
GALA EVENING SUPPORTS “THE POWER OF HEALING”
It was a Gala night indeed as the guests
gathered for the wonderful black tie event
at The Palace at Somerset in May. Nearly
500 guests shared in the festivities as “The
Power of Healing” raised approximately
$450,000 to benefit Trinitas Hospital and
its patients. Cardinal Health was honored
with the Foundation’s “Celebrating
Philanthropy Award” for its exemplary
philanthropic practices while Gloria H.
Piserchia, former Chairwoman of the
Trinitas Hospital Auxiliary, received the
“Humanitarian Award” for her 51 years of
service to Elizabeth General Medical
Center and later, Trinitas Hospital. Emil
Piserchia, MD, Gloria’s husband, served
as chairman of Anesthesia Services at
Elizabeth General Hospital and Medical
Center for more than 35 years.
Emmy Award-winning journalist Rita
Cosby was the evening’s gracious Master
of Ceremonies who presented the two
awards. Although illness prevented Gloria
and Emil Pischeria from attending, ten
members of the Pischeria family represented the couple. Comedian, singer, and allaround showman, Joe Piscopo supplied the
evening’s entertainment. An entertainment legend and a proud native of New
Jersey, Piscopo performed a tribute to
Hoboken-born Frank Sinatra, entertained
guests with a novelty number about being
a New Jerseyan, and later even took an
energetic turn at the drum set with his
back up orchestra.
The Gala also raised nearly $35,000
from the more than 100 Silent Auction
items that individuals and groups donated
for the event.
For more information about
the Trinitas Health Foundation,
please call (908) 994-8249,
email the Foundation at
giving@trinitashospital.org,
or visit the hospital’s website,
www.TrinitasHospital.org.
Rita Cosby, far left, and Joe Piscopo,
far right, posed during the reception
with Treasurer of the Trinitas Hospital
Board of Trustees Vic Richel and his
wife Andrea.
GARY S. HORAN APPOINTED CHAIR
OF GREATER NEW YORK HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Trinitas
Hospital, was installed as Chairman of the
Greater New York Hospital Association
(GNYHA) on May 31. As GNYHA
Chairman, Mr. Horan will help shape the
policies, projects, and advocacy efforts of
the trade association, which represents
more than 280 not-for-profit hospitals and
continuing care facilities, both voluntary
and public, throughout the New York
metropolitan area, upstate New York, and
in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode
Island. He was previously Vice Chairman
of the Board of Governors of the
GNYHA.
Mr. Horan is the first Chairman in
GNYHA’s 103-year history to come from
a non-New York hospital – a testament to
the geographic diversity of GNYHA’s
membership.
“I am honored to be the new
Chairman of GNYHA and look forward
to working with my fellow Board members
and the GNYHA staff on important health
care issues,” said Mr. Horan. “These
include fighting Medicare and Medicaid
funding cutbacks to hospitals and nursing
homes and increasing access to health
insurance for the uninsured.”
Gary S. Horan, President & CEO, at
the podium as Gloria Piserchia’s granddaughter, Gloria Ehrenberg, accepted
a tribute from Trinitas Hospital on
behalf of her grandparents.
26
HEALTHYEDGE
Rita Cosby, Master of Ceremonies, and
Joe Piscopo, entertainer for the evening,
enjoyed being in the spotlight together
at the Gala.
Nadine Brechner, Executive Director of
the Trinitas Health Foundation, Vic
Richel, Treasurer of the Trinitas Hospital
Board of Trustees, and Gary S. Horan,
President & CEO, congratulated Tony
Caprio, Executive Vice President,
Cardinal Health, center, as he accepted
the Foundation’s “Celebrating
Philanthropy Award.”
Photos courtesy of Black Lab Studios
GNYHA President Kenneth E. Raske (left) congratulates Trinitas Hospital President
and CEO Gary S. Horan at his installation ceremony as chairman of GNYHA.
“We are very fortunate to have Gary
Horan as our new Chairman,” said
GNYHA President Kenneth E. Raske.
“He is a proven leader, and his vision and
experience will be invaluable during these
challenging times for hospitals in the
metropolitan New York area, including
New Jersey.”
Mr. Horan earned his BS degree in
Economics from St. Peter’s College, Jersey
City, and his MA degree in Health Care
Administration from The George
Washington University, School of
Government and Business, Department
of Health Care Administration,
Washington. DC.
In addition to his leadership roles at
Trinitas and the GNYHA, Mr. Horan is also
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Hospital Alliance of New Jersey, and a member of the Board of Directors of the New
Jersey Chamber of Commerce. He is a former Chairman of the Hospital Association of
New York State. He was a member of the
Board of Governors of the American College
of Healthcare Executives and continues as a
Fellow of that organization.
SUMMER 2007
27
HOSPITAL BEAT
TRINITAS SUPPORTS NATIONAL HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE
As the Medicare Bus Tour for the
Healthier US Starts Here initiative made a
stop recently at Elizabeth High School, the
emphasis was on preventive health care and
living healthier and more active lives.
Spearheaded by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS), the bus tour is an initiative to raise
awareness about the importance of prevention. Julie L. Gerberding, MD, Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), other local partners, and
staff members of Trinitas, shared valuable
health care information with the community
and students at the nation’s largest high
school. Also on hand were Dr. Charlotte
Yeh, Regional Administrator, Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services; Pablo
Munoz, Superintendent, Elizabeth Public
Schools; Joetta Clark-Diggs, Four-Time US
Olympic Track and Field Competitor; and
Chuck Mound, CEO of Chuck Mound
Performance Training.
For the second consecutive year,
Trinitas Hospital was among one of the
top rated 25 large employers in the state
who participated in the Best Places to
Work NJ 2007 competition coordinated
by NJBIZ. Trinitas achieved a 9th place
ranking among a variety of companies
including insurance, consulting and
accounting firms, health care facilities,
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120 Chestnut St., Roselle Park • (908) 241-1131 / (908) 245-2611
28
HEALTHYEDGE
A total of 50 large and small companies were selected from among hundreds
that participated to determine which companies were considered outstanding places
to work in the Garden State.
BRING YOUR CHILD TO WORK DAY A BIG SUCCESS
Northern Italian Cuisine
17
“The very favorable ranking Trinitas
Hospital achieved in the Top Ten among
the 25 large companies honored by NJBIZ
is a confirmation of the excellent care that
all of our employees provide each day,”
notes Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President
& CEO, adding, “It is also a reflection of
the regard
and respect that our employees
have for the hospital as their employer.”
CHILDREN GET INSIDER’S LOOK AT TRINITAS
diet and nutrition, and sleep disorders.
The event was sponsored by Trinitas
Hospital, the Gateway Regional Chamber
of Commerce and the Elizabeth Board
of Education.
I TA L I A N R I S T O R A N T E
& C AT E R I N G
$
global health care companies, and health
care service providers.
Photographed following their visit to Elizabeth High School as part of the Healthier
US Starts Here initiative were left to right: Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President & CEO,
Trinitas Hospital; Joetta Clark-Diggs, Four-Time US Olympic Track and Field
Competitor; Dr. Charlotte Yeh, Regional Administrator, Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services; Julie L. Gerberding, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC); Chuck Mound, CEO of Chuck Mound Performance
Training; Pablo Munoz, Superintendent, Elizabeth Public Schools; James Coyle,
President, Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Nancy DiLiegro, PhD,
FACHE, Director of Clinical Services at Trinitas Hospital.
The school auditorium was transformed into an exposition space where
attendees could learn about health care
concerns and issues. The Trinitas Hospital
participation, spearheaded by Nancy
DiLiegro, PhD, FACHE, Director of
Clinical Services, included health screenings and information on cancer, healthy
75 HOT & COLD DISHES
(Includes cake, coffee & soda)
From 10-200 people
TRINITAS HOSPITAL IS ONE OF
“BEST PLACES TO WORK IN NEW JERSEY”
CDC Director Julie Gerberding, MD,
stopped by the smoothie station to
enjoy a healthy snack preprared by
Luciele White, Food Service Manager
at Trinitas Hospital.
For the second consecutive year, children and grandchildren of Trinitas
Hospital employees spent a day touring
the hospital and learning about many of
the departments and activities that are
basic to the efficient daily operations of
the facility. Coordinated by the Human
Resources Department and the
Department of Nursing, the day began
with an orientation program and included
stops in the Laboratory, the Operating
Room area, Radiology, and the Mobile
Intensive Care Unit. The day proved to be
an eye-opener for many of the children
who ended the day with a much better
understanding about how their parents
and grandparents spend their work days.
Stethoscopes were fascinating
as was the equipment in the
Mobile Intensive Care Unit.
A presentation on choking
hazards held the group in
rapt attention.
SUMMER 2007
29
HOSPITAL BEAT
SURVIVOR SPEAKS OF
RENEWED LIFE AFTER CANCER
FROM BLANK CANVAS TO WORK OF ART
Employee revels in artistic expression
Noted author and cancer survivor,
Beverly Kirkhart, addressed an audience of
cancer survivors and others who came to
hear her share her personal experiences
with breast cancer and the way the illness
changed her life for the better. A woman
who had the perfect life, a perfect marriage
and the perfect career as the owner and
operator of a successful Bed & Breakfast
on the California coast, Kirkhart suddenly
faced an unexpected detour in life when
she was diagnosed with breast cancer in
1991. Soon after the diagnosis, her marriage ended, she was in financial ruin, and
her life as she knew it was over.
Cuban born Carmelina Arias,
Administrative Secretary in Emergency
Medicine at Trinitas Hospital, came to this
country as a child. Without the benefit of
bi-lingual classes for elementary school
children, she found a way to express herself
through simple coloring. She prized Blue
Ribbons from art teachers who appreciated
her drawings. Now, 50 years later,
Carmelina has redisovered her love of art
that has led to the creation of more than
125 paintings.
Drawing from
passages found
in Chicken Soup for
the Surviving Soul,
Beverly Kirkhart
inspired an
appreciative and
enthusiatic audience
at Trinitas, many
of whom received
heart felt hugs
from the speaker.
For her 50th birthday, Carmelina
received a gift certificate for instruction at
an art studio in Brooklyn. “It was a
diverse group of students, many senior citizens, some younger people, but together it
was like a scene from a Woody Allen
movie,” smiles Carmelina. Her instructor
guided Carmelina in finding the best
medium for her expression and, little by
little, her firm and determined brush
strokes led her to oil painting.
Determined to regain her sense of self
and to get her life back on course, she
began to record her experiences in a journal that helped her to face the insurmountable. She revealed to the audience
that journaling helped her to make sense
of the dramatic, life-altering events that
she faced; the more she wrote, the stronger
she became. As she reached the completion of her treatments, Beverly Kirkhart
realized that she had to move forward, to
face new joys, new passions. By doing so,
she discovered new ways to give back to
those who had helped her —- family,
friends, doctors, nurses, fellow support
group members.
A cancer survivor since 1993 and a frequently sought-after inspirational speaker,
Kirkhart is the author of My Healing
Companion and the co-author of Chicken
Soup for the Surviving Soul. Her appearance at Trinitas Hospital during Cancer
Survivors Week was hosted by Roche
Pharmaceuticals.
30
HEALTHYEDGE
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Carmelina admits that painting is often
tied to her moods, noting that when she is
in good spirits her creativity swells while
when she is under stress or feeling down,
her creative energies seem depleted.
Painting often helps to relieve everyday
anxieties. Carmelina draws inspiration
from museum trips, thrills to the works of
Native American artist R. C. Gorman,
Mexico’s Diego Rivera, and French impressionist Claude Monet, and also traces some
of her paintings back to places she has visited while traveling.
For several years, Carmelina lived in
New Hope, Pennsylvania, well-known for
its thriving artists’ colony. “The level of
talent among the artists there far surpassed
my own. I realize that being there among
those talented people helped me to understand how I could make the most of my
own creative abilities.”
Other artists depicted rustic and rural
scenes, while Carmelina’s visions were of
beaches, sand dunes, palm trees, and still
lifes. She soon realized that she could visualize a scene and give it life on canvas.
Carmelina displayed some of her work at
an art festival in New Hope in 2004 and
although she did not win any awards for
her work, a number of people admired her
canvases. “That validation, their acceptance of my work among the more wellknown and highly-regarded artists, was
really gratifying for me,” she explains.
When she became an employee of
Trinitas Hospital, Carmelina began to produce paintings on a fairly consistent basis.
She struck a deal with the Auxiliary of
Trinitas Hospital which hosts her art shows
twice a year. Carmelina donates a portion
of the proceeds of her sales back to the
Auxiliary.
In offices throughout the hospital,
originals by Carmelina Arias grace the
walls. Nurses, administrators, physicians,
and others have chosen her works for their
vivid and vibrant colors, their simple
themes, their drama. Some of her canvases
have also found their way into the homes
of these co-workers.
Carmelina Arias prefers to work with
16 x 20 inch canvases and often creates
a painting that she is happy with in
about a week’s time.
I find here. I am thrilled to take that energy and transform it into my own artistic
expression. The fact that the hospital
receives some of the money from the sale
of my paintings gives me such a good feeling that it’s easy for me to be inspired to
do more.”
“I draw such energy from the diversity
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SUMMER 2007
31
City of Elizabeth Designated a
“Transit Village” by Governor Corzine
Elizabeth is now a Transit Village – a
designation that will help the City’s economy grow through transit-oriented land use
planning and redevelopment. The City
was awarded $100,000 in state funding as
a part of its designation.
The Transit Village initiative strives to
help redevelop and revitalize communities
around mass transit stations to make them
an appealing choice for people to live and
work, thereby reducing reliance on the
automobile and strengthening local
economies. The result is an increase in
quality of life as congestion is reduced and
town centers become more pedestrianfriendly.
The Transit Village initiative designates
municipalities with a bus, train, light rail
station or a ferry terminal that have
embraced a Smart Growth vision. That
vision includes opportunities for growth
and economic revitalization; a commitment to compact, mixed-use development;
a strong residential component including
affordable housing; and jobs, restaurants,
arts and entertainment and preservation of
a rich architectural character within walking distance of a passenger transportation
facility.
“In recent years, the City of Elizabeth
has experienced a renaissance through the
incorporation of booming economic development, new market-rate and affordable
housing, and the revitalization of our
neighborhoods,” stated Elizabeth Mayor
Chris Bollwage. “This renaissance continues with the Transit Village initiative,
which seeks to bring more housing, businesses and people into communities with
mass transit stations.”
New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine
proclaims Elizabeth as a Transit Village
during a ceremony held recently at
the Elizabeth Train Station. With the
Governor are (l to r): Elizabeth Mayor
Chris Bollwage; State Transportation
Commissioner Kris Kolluri; and
Assemblyman Joseph Cryan.
In addition to Elizabeth, other Union
County municipalities that enjoy Transit
Village designations are Cranford and
Rahway.
CITY OF ELIZABETH GOES WI-FI!
Becomes First in NJ to Offer Free Wireless Internet Network
Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage and
Union County Freeholder Bette Jane
Kowalski surf the Internet during the
kick-off ceremony.
Elizabeth Mayor
Chris Bollwage
launched New
Jersey’s first Wi-Fi
Wireless Internet
Program at a kickoff event recently
that allowed participants to connect
to the Internet
from their Wi-Fi
enabled devises.
“We are excited to
be leading the way
in municipal wireless technology
here in New Jersey,” said Mayor Bollwage. “In the future we
hope to bring free wireless Internet access to all our residents, students, visitors and local merchants. ”
32
HEALTHYEDGE
The Pilot Program coverage area ranges from the Union
County Courthouse to the Midtown Train Station and
allows users to log on to the Internet for free.
If successful, future plans for the program will include expanding coverage throughout the City and will allow access to
emergency personnel. Through the Wi-Fi Technology, first
responders will have the advantage of attending to an emergency almost instantly through the use of wireless equipment.
With the authorization of the Union County Freeholders,
the City was able to post a Wi-Fi antenna on the roof of
the County Courthouse tower on Broad Street. “We are
pleased to provide technological assistance to Elizabeth,
one of the major centers for commerce in Union County
and the State of New Jersey,” stated Freeholder Bette Jane
Kowalski. “The Wi-Fi project helps to market Elizabeth and
Union County as a premier place for business.”
Sponsors of the program include Mayor Chris Bollwage,
Union County, Kean University, Nortel and WavHost. For
more information, please contact the City of Elizabeth
Public Information Office at (908) 820-4124.
225 Williamson Street
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207

Summer 2007 - Trinitas Regional Medical Center

Transcription

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