HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER
NEW METHOD FOR LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure can be astubborn problem . Some people don ’ t respond well to traditional approaches such as incorporating lifestyle changes and staying committed to daily medication regimens , especially when the medications produce unwanted side effects . But suffering from uncontrolled hypertension can lead to worse outcomes , including an increased risk of suffering aheart attack , stroke , kidney disease or cognitive issues .
Now comes an alternative approach to lowering blood pressure that is FDAapproved and has been shown to be safe and effective across three randomized controlled clinical trials : renal denervation . Dr . Jaffar Raza , an interventional cardiologist at Holy Name Medical Center , recently performed the first ultrasound renal denervation procedure in New Jersey .
During this process , which takes about an hour and can be performed in an outpatient setting , apatient is made comfortable with anesthesia . An interventional cardiologist makes asmall incision in the groin and inserts acatheter into the femoral artery . The catheter is guided to the renal arteries in the kidneys , where ultrasound energy is delivered to blood vessels supplying blood to them . The energy destroys the overactive nerves in the kidneys without damaging the arteries , resulting in reduced blood pressure .
BERGEN NEW BRIDGE MEDICAL CENTER
CALM OF A HOME SETTING
It ’ s asad fact that in recent years , there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people – especially children – seeking help for mental health crises in emergency rooms across the country . Bergen New Bridge Medical Center , whose psychiatric emergency screening and evaluation program provides specialized care for those experiencing a mental health crisis , is meeting this need by doubling the number of bays offering acomprehensive range of medical and psychiatric services . Currently , the hospital offers 18 .
In the new emergency department , patients will find themselves in asetting that is less clinical and more comforting . They will enter an area that resembles aliving room , acalm and therapeutic alternative to the traditionally more charged emergency room environment . This
ST . JOSEPH ’ SHEALTH
MAKING THE GRADE
What adifference ayear can make : The Leapfrog Group , an independent nonprofit health care watchdog organization , recently bestowed St . Joseph ’ s Wayne Medical Center with an Arating , and St . Joseph ’ s University Medical Center in Paterson with aB . Both scores are afull grade higher than the assessment the group awarded the hospitals in 2023 .
The upgrades are the result of aconcerted multi-year effort by employees to enhance safety measures and shift longstanding hospital culture . Before asurgery is scheduled , physicianled teams now assess apatient ’ s risk for complications such as post-operative infection , respiratory failure orblood clots , and generate aplan to prevent them . The group then shares these results with patients and their families so they can make more informed decisions about their care .
Employees are also encouraged to speak upifthey have questions about aphysician ’ s order , or notice something amiss in apatient ’ schart , medication oreven on their meal tray .“ We empower our front-line staff sothat more eyes are on every detail of our patients ’ care ,” says Michael Cairoli , vice president and site executive at St . Joseph ’ s Wayne Medical Center .“ These extra measures ensure that patients get exactly what they need , when they need it .”
NURSE STATION RENDERING
living room design will feature special areas dedicated to pediatric and geriatric patients , ensuring they receive age-appropriate treatment and support .
Groundbreaking for the ED expansion took place on May 13 . The Medical Center ’ snew emergency department will continue to provide treatment and support for all medical emergencies , 24 / 7 , with an average wait time of five to 10 minutes . n
EXTERIOR : TARIQ ZEHAWI ; MACHINE : PROVIDED BY HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER ; NURSE STATION RENDERING : PROVIDED BYBERGEN NEW BRIDGE MEDICAL CENTER
10 2024 EDITION ( 201 ) HEALTH