■ Healthcare
Continued From Page 38 mission in the delivery of outstanding comprehensive oncology care for our state and improving the health and well-being of our residents ,” stated Barry H . Ostrowsky , president and chief executive officer , RWJBarnabas Health .
The facility — which will be positioned adjacent to the existing Rutgers Cancer Institute building and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital — also will house state-of-the-art research laboratories . Scientific investigation is a core pillar of Rutgers Cancer Institute , the state ’ s only National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Center . The project is expected to be completed in 2024 .
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Grants Fund Early-Stage Research
The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine is providing $ 100,000 in grants to support Hackensack Meridian Health physicians and researchers seeking novel breakthroughs and treatments for some of the most difficult afflictions challenging medicine today . The five projects selected will receive approximately $ 20,000 each and include development of a novel nanoparticle-based targeted multiple myeloma drug ; deciphering the DNA damage and stress responses of major fungal pathogen Candida glabrata ; exploring niche-specific extracellular vesicles to promote healthy hematopoietic aging ; speech as an indicator of concussion severity and recovery in pediatrics ; and implementation of continuous glucose monitoring in an academic medical practice serving persons with health disparities .
New Ambulances ( EMS , Bergen New Bridge Medical Center )
“ This program is a vital pipeline to jumpstart new research ,” said Ihor Sawczuk , M . D ., FACS , chief research officer and president of the Northern Market for Hackensack Meridian Health . “ When we seed these projects , we are expecting it to benefit everyone , long-term .”
New Ambulances , Mobile COVID-19 Testing for Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
The Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Emergency Medical Service ( EMS ) program has added two new ambulances to its fleet , which offer the latest technology in safety and ergonomics . Designed with transporting patients contaminated by pathogens or hazardous materials in mind , these units have fully isolated modules with air filtration systems separate from the cabin . They also have additional storage capacity for medical supplies and personal protective equipment that can be isolated from the patient compartments .
The ambulances are equipped with GPS , active feedback driver behavior monitoring , drive cameras and an audio-visual monitor system so the driver and attendant can stay in communication . Additionally , these ambulances are equipped with a lateral-load oxygen system that is designed to ease lifting and loading and combat back injury for providers . The cabin seating was also modified to provide additional legroom for providers .
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony debuting the vehicles , it was also announced that COVID-19 antigen testing is available on all Bergen New Bridge Medical Center ambulances , including the two newest rigs , and can be used for any of the 911 responses when a COVID-19 infection is suspected . The Bergen New Bridge Medical Center EMS program provides 911 response to 22 municipalities and multiple healthcare facilities .
“ Our EMS team is trained in COVID-19 sample collection and processing in the field resulting in quicker evaluation and transfer of patients to the appropriate level of care ,” said Bergen New Bridge Medical Center President and CEO Deborah Visconi . “ This is just another way we are leading the fight against the virus and utilizing the latest science and technology .”
Electronic Prescribing Mandates Can Reduce Opioid-Related Overdoses
In the first study examining the impact of mandated electronic prescriptions for controlled substances , William Paterson University Professor Rahi Abouk and David Powell of the Rand Corporation published findings that show New York State ’ s e-prescribing mandate reduced the rate of overdoses involving natural and semi-synthetic opioids by 22 percent .
Abouk and Powell received funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse ( NIDA ) to conduct the research , which was published in the Economics and Human Biology Journal .
“ The results are very promising ,” says Abouk , health economics professor in William Paterson University ’ s Cotsakos College of Business . “ The findings suggest that after the e-prescribing mandate was enacted in New York State , beginning in April 2016 , there was a significant decline in opioid mortality by approximately 22 percent compared to the states without such mandates .”
With overdose deaths escalating at an alarming rate over the past two decades , several states have adopted numerous drug-related policies to reduce the epidemic , says Abouk . New York was the first of several states to enact and fully enforce the electronic prescribing mandate .
Electronic prescribing or “ e-prescribing ” requires prescribers to electronically send accurate , error-free and understandable prescriptions directly to a pharmacy through a secure network . It also mechanically forces prescribers to observe patients ’ histories under the prescription drug monitoring programs ( PDMPs ). “ This reduces the likelihood of doctor shopping , forging , writing the wrong prescription , and error , all of which are beneficial to the health of the patient ,” Abouk explains .
To do the evaluation , Abouk says the researchers compared the trend in opioid-related mortality , the supply of opioids by pharmacies and other related outcomes between New York and 12 other states in the Northeast and Midwest areas . They also found complementary evidence that the mandate was associated with a six percent reduction in opioid supply in New York . The researchers did not find any comparable reductions or increases in overdoses involving illicitly produced or acquired heroin or synthetic opioids .
40 COMMERCE www . commercemagnj . com