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healthviews<br />
<strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
a health publication from <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
The Art and<br />
Science of<br />
Robotic<br />
Surgery<br />
Solving a Mysterious<br />
Spine Condition<br />
Groundbreaking Cancer<br />
Surgery at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong><br />
What 4 Common Heart<br />
Tests Can Tell You<br />
visit us online at <strong>Jersey</strong><strong>Shore</strong>University<strong>Medical</strong><strong>Center</strong>.com
A Message to <strong>the</strong> Community<br />
Although it’s been almost two months since Hurricane Sandy<br />
hit, we know that <strong>the</strong> effort to rebuild our beloved <strong>Jersey</strong><br />
<strong>Shore</strong> is far from over. Our thoughts and prayers continue to<br />
go out to everyone affected by this devastating storm.<br />
As we welcome 2013, Meridian Health is proud to offer <strong>the</strong><br />
community a wealth of free classes, screenings, and events<br />
to help you take charge of your health. This winter, we invite<br />
you to get involved. Explore new fitness demonstrations, join<br />
a discussion about your health, learn what to expect as your<br />
child enters <strong>the</strong> teen years, or jump-start your weight loss for<br />
2013. No need to stay cooped up this winter; Meridian offers<br />
something for everyone. Our community calendar starts on<br />
page 21.<br />
Of course, <strong>February</strong> is American Heart Month — <strong>the</strong> perfect<br />
opportunity to take ano<strong>the</strong>r look at your heart health. Turn<br />
to <strong>the</strong> calendar for related events, such as a discount on<br />
AngioScreen testing, a revolutionary new vascular screening<br />
that gives you information about your circulation and risk for<br />
heart attack and stroke. In this issue, you’ll also learn more<br />
about top treatments for heart attacks and how your diet<br />
can affect your heart.<br />
At Meridian Health, we<br />
couldn’t be more proud to<br />
care for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong><br />
community. We look to<br />
<strong>the</strong> new year as a time of<br />
rebuilding, revitalization, and,<br />
as always, good health.<br />
<strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
4<br />
6<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
12<br />
13<br />
Health Briefs<br />
Family First: Maternity Care<br />
at Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Emphasizes Parent-Baby<br />
Bonding<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> Spine Experts<br />
Solve Mystery Condition<br />
Groundbreaking Cancer<br />
Surgery Changes Lives for<br />
<strong>the</strong> Better<br />
First-of-its-kind surgery gave<br />
Patricia Wilcox her life back<br />
Prostate Cancer Treatment<br />
Gives Local Men New Hope<br />
Patient Recovers from<br />
Paralyzing Infection<br />
Woodworker Is Back to<br />
Work Thanks to Physical<br />
Therapy<br />
John K. Lloyd, FACHE<br />
President, Meridian Health<br />
Read us on <strong>the</strong> go! The Meridian HealthViews<br />
app is now available for free download from <strong>the</strong> App<br />
Store on iTunes. Once you’re in <strong>the</strong> store, simply search<br />
“HealthViews” to download <strong>the</strong> app.<br />
This free bimonthly magazine is prepared by <strong>the</strong> Marketing and Communications Team<br />
of Meridian Health. Please call 732-751-7530 with any questions or comments. Inquiries<br />
or ideas can be addressed to healthviews@meridianhealth.com.<br />
Gordon N. Litwin, Esq., Chairman<br />
John K. Lloyd, FACHE, President<br />
Chrisie Scott, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications<br />
Elliot Frank, M.D., <strong>Medical</strong> Advisor<br />
HealthViews production team: Michael McCauley, Gabriella Heizler, Jacki Kronstedt<br />
© 2012 Meridian Health<br />
The material provided in this magazine is intended to be used as general information<br />
only and should not replace <strong>the</strong> advice of your physician. Always consult your physician<br />
for individual care.<br />
Connect with Us!<br />
e<br />
Winter means baking! Try a recipe for<br />
healthy dark chocolate chip oat bars at<br />
www.facebook.com/MeridianHealthNJ.<br />
Meridian Health tweets hot health-related<br />
headlines and local news pieces regularly at<br />
www.twitter.com/MeridianNJ.<br />
When a daily walk ends in a heart attack:<br />
View Barbara Sarno’s compelling story at<br />
www.youtube.com/MeridianHealthNJ.<br />
Receive free e-newsletters on cardiovascular<br />
and pediatric health topics! Sign up at<br />
www.MeridianHealth.com/enewsletters.
18<br />
15<br />
14<br />
15<br />
16<br />
EMT Chooses Bayshore for<br />
Lifesaving Emergency Care<br />
New Device Stops Back<br />
Pain Before You Feel It<br />
Now, Barbara Petersen is<br />
finally pain-free<br />
Robotic Technology Keeps<br />
Patients in Mind<br />
17<br />
18<br />
The Sensitive Touch:<br />
Small Changes in Diet<br />
and Lifestyle Make a<br />
Big Difference<br />
9<br />
Rehab Helps College<br />
Athlete Score a Comeback<br />
from a Stroke<br />
Physical <strong>the</strong>rapy got Cory<br />
Weissman back on <strong>the</strong> court<br />
20<br />
21<br />
27<br />
28<br />
Stroke: When Minutes<br />
Count, Count on Us<br />
Community Health<br />
Programs<br />
Sugar Shock: Could Too<br />
Much Harm Your Heart?<br />
What 4 Common Heart<br />
Tests Can Tell You<br />
healthviews<br />
<strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
a health publication from <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
19<br />
When Time Matters:<br />
Cardiac Cath Lab Treats<br />
Heart Attacks<br />
30<br />
My Health Views<br />
The Art and<br />
Science of<br />
Robotic<br />
Surgery<br />
Cover Stories<br />
When a routine MRI led to a diagnosis of kidney cancer, Michael Mahon was<br />
overwhelmed. But just days after he had robotic surgery, he was feeling great.<br />
Read more about this advanced surgical technique on page 16.<br />
Solving a Mysterious Groundbreaking Cancer What 4 Common Heart<br />
Spine Condition Surgery at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> Tests Can Tell You<br />
visit us online at <strong>Jersey</strong><strong>Shore</strong>University<strong>Medical</strong><strong>Center</strong>.com<br />
Solving a Mysterious<br />
Spine Condition<br />
page 8<br />
Groundbreaking Cancer<br />
Surgery at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong><br />
page 9<br />
What 4 Common Heart<br />
Tests Can Tell You<br />
page 28
Health Briefs<br />
More Kids Head to<br />
<strong>the</strong> Hospital with<br />
Hypertension<br />
Skinned knees. Broken<br />
bones. Hypertension? It may<br />
not make most parents’ lists of top health<br />
concerns for children. But a new report finds<br />
high blood pressure is making an increasing<br />
number of children seriously ill.<br />
An estimated 71,000 kids ages 18 and younger<br />
went to <strong>the</strong> hospital with high blood pressure<br />
between 1997 and 2006. Many had kidney disease<br />
or a kidney transplant.<br />
Between 1 and 3 percent of U.S. children have high<br />
blood pressure. “Have your child’s numbers checked<br />
regularly beginning at age 3,” says Mitchel Alpert,<br />
M.D., of K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at <strong>Jersey</strong><br />
<strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. “Finding and treating<br />
hypertension early can prevent complications, which<br />
also include heart disease and eye problems.”<br />
Living with congestive heart failure?<br />
Attend our event on <strong>February</strong> 27 at<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>.<br />
A nurse practitioner will discuss <strong>the</strong><br />
latest research and smart tips for<br />
managing this condition. Turn to<br />
page 22 for details.<br />
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS®<br />
Fight Off Colds with Mind and Body<br />
Forget chicken soup. Scientists may have found two new ways<br />
to battle <strong>the</strong> common cold: exercise and meditation.<br />
Study participants performed moderate daily workouts or studied<br />
mindfulness meditation for eight weeks. During cold and flu<br />
season, <strong>the</strong>y reported fewer illnesses than people who didn’t<br />
exercise or meditate. And when <strong>the</strong>y did get sick, <strong>the</strong>y<br />
described <strong>the</strong>ir symptoms as less severe and required fewer<br />
days off work.<br />
For best results, combine <strong>the</strong>se new routines with o<strong>the</strong>r coldprevention<br />
methods. “Wash your hands frequently and avoid sick<br />
people,” recommends Diana Verga, M.D., of Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>.<br />
Exercise can keep your heart healthy, too. Learn how at our class<br />
on <strong>February</strong> 21 at <strong>the</strong> Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at<br />
Hazlet. See page 24.<br />
4
Could You Be Driving<br />
Toward Heart Disease?<br />
Your daily drive could cost you<br />
more than gas money. People with long<br />
commutes may be harming <strong>the</strong>ir heart,<br />
researchers report.<br />
Employees who commute more than<br />
20 miles have a higher risk for high blood<br />
pressure. Distances of more than<br />
15 miles are linked to being unfit and<br />
obese and packing on belly fat. In addition to<br />
decreasing available exercise time, long drives<br />
also increase stress and are linked to unhealthy<br />
habits like hitting <strong>the</strong> drive-through.<br />
You can balance your commute by building<br />
activity into your day. “For example, park far<strong>the</strong>r<br />
away, and walk to your coworker’s office instead of<br />
making a phone call,” says Eugenia Zilber, M.D., of<br />
Bayshore Community Hospital.<br />
Be smart about your heart.<br />
The AngioScreen ® test gives<br />
you information about<br />
your circulation and risk for<br />
heart attack and stroke. See<br />
page 21 for all <strong>the</strong> details,<br />
including where <strong>the</strong> screening<br />
is offered around <strong>the</strong> region.<br />
Choose <strong>the</strong> Right Fats<br />
for Brain Health<br />
When it comes to fat, what’s good for your<br />
heart may also be better for your brain. That’s<br />
according to a new study in <strong>the</strong> journal Annals of Neurology.<br />
Women who ate more heart-healthy monounsaturated fats<br />
scored higher on thinking and learning tests as <strong>the</strong>y aged.<br />
Meanwhile, those who ate artery-clogging saturated fats had<br />
more memory troubles. In fact, <strong>the</strong> difference was equivalent<br />
to about six years of brain aging.<br />
To stay sharp, swap out bad fats for good fats. “Cut<br />
back on butter, sausage, bacon, and coconut or palm<br />
oil,” advises Robert Terranova, D.O., of Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. Instead, choose avocados, olive or<br />
canola oil, nuts, and nut butters.<br />
Our life-enrichment exercise class for people with<br />
Parkinson’s, held in Brick, helps participants<br />
improve flexibility and strength. Turn to page 23.<br />
Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
5
First:<br />
Maternity Care at Ocean<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> Emphasizes<br />
Parent-Baby Bonding<br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>Family<br />
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
Few experiences are as special<br />
as <strong>the</strong> birth of a baby, and<br />
Jodie Ricciardi and her partner<br />
wanted just <strong>the</strong> right setting to<br />
welcome <strong>the</strong>ir first child. When <strong>the</strong>y<br />
toured <strong>the</strong> maternity unit at Ocean<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> in <strong>January</strong> 2012, <strong>the</strong><br />
Brielle couple knew right away that<br />
it was <strong>the</strong> perfect<br />
place to start<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir family.<br />
“We really liked<br />
it,” says Jodie, 35, a<br />
physical education teacher<br />
at Sharon Elementary School<br />
in Robbinsville, N.J. “We<br />
felt comfortable <strong>the</strong>re.<br />
The nurses were friendly,<br />
<strong>the</strong> hospital was very<br />
clean, and we really liked<br />
<strong>the</strong> private rooms with our own<br />
bathroom and shower. Plus, Ocean<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> has very high-tech<br />
security for <strong>the</strong> babies, which also<br />
impressed us.”<br />
All Toge<strong>the</strong>r Now<br />
On April 3, 2012, Jodie gave birth to<br />
a boy, Patrick, weighing 9 pounds<br />
and 2 ounces, by cesarean section.<br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> embraces<br />
a style of maternity care known as<br />
“Family-<strong>Center</strong>ed Care,” so Patrick<br />
was able to remain with his parents<br />
all three days at <strong>the</strong> hospital,<br />
returning to <strong>the</strong> nursery only when<br />
necessary. Family-<strong>Center</strong>ed Care<br />
emphasizes keeping <strong>the</strong> family<br />
toge<strong>the</strong>r throughout <strong>the</strong> birthing<br />
process — from admission through<br />
discharge — encouraging parents<br />
and infants to bond from <strong>the</strong> very<br />
beginning.<br />
Jodie Ricciardi and her partner welcomed <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
son, Patrick, at Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> last April.<br />
The proud parents report that his ear-to-ear smile<br />
is contagious.<br />
6
“We told <strong>the</strong> nurses up front that<br />
we were newbies,” says Jodie, “and<br />
<strong>the</strong>y really watched over us. They<br />
would come in and check on <strong>the</strong><br />
baby. We asked <strong>the</strong>m questions like<br />
‘Did we swaddle <strong>the</strong> baby right?’ and<br />
‘Did he need his hat on?’ because he<br />
seemed warm. They answered our<br />
questions and made sure we knew<br />
what we were doing. They always<br />
had <strong>the</strong> bottles of formula ready<br />
and showed us how to feed Patrick<br />
and burp him.” At Ocean <strong>Medical</strong><br />
<strong>Center</strong>, whe<strong>the</strong>r parents choose to<br />
breastfeed or use formula, nurses<br />
provide <strong>the</strong> necessary information<br />
and support.<br />
“When we left Patrick in <strong>the</strong><br />
nursery at night, we didn’t worry,”<br />
Jodie adds. “The nurses were just so<br />
on top of everything.”<br />
Caring, Inclusive<br />
Environment<br />
Alynn Alexander, M.D., <strong>the</strong><br />
OB/GYN who delivered Patrick,<br />
agrees that one of Ocean <strong>Medical</strong><br />
<strong>Center</strong>’s greatest strengths is its<br />
nationally recognized nursing<br />
staff, dedicated to providing<br />
compassionate care in a culturally<br />
sensitive and inclusive environment.<br />
“Our nurses have years of<br />
experience caring for newborns, and<br />
<strong>the</strong>y’re warm and caring because<br />
<strong>the</strong>y love <strong>the</strong>ir jobs,” Dr. Alexander<br />
says. “This is a close community, and<br />
<strong>the</strong>y love taking care of <strong>the</strong>ir friends<br />
and neighbors. Our nurses are very<br />
accommodating and generous with<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir time, energy, and effort because<br />
<strong>the</strong>y want all our families to have a<br />
positive experience.”<br />
In addition, amenities such as<br />
complimentary Concierge Care help<br />
make families feel special and make<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir hospital experience memorable,<br />
Dr. Alexander says. Available to<br />
all patients and guests of Ocean<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>, Concierge Care can<br />
assist with tasks such as arranging pet<br />
care while families are at <strong>the</strong> hospital<br />
and making hotel reservations for<br />
visiting relatives.<br />
Everything They Hoped For<br />
After Patrick was born, Jodie and her<br />
partner loved being able to share<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir special event with relatives and<br />
friends in <strong>the</strong>ir private room. Their<br />
birth experience, Jodie says, was<br />
everything <strong>the</strong> couple had hoped for.<br />
“Dr. Alexander is great,” Jodie says.<br />
“She knows her stuff, and we’ve<br />
always had such confidence in her.<br />
“And we knew we were in good<br />
hands at Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. You<br />
Share, Learn, and Grow with O<strong>the</strong>r Moms<br />
Alynn B. Alexander, M.D., FACOG<br />
Board certified in Obstetrics<br />
and Gynecology<br />
Manasquan • 732-528-6999<br />
always hope your delivery is going<br />
to go smoothly, but <strong>the</strong> ‘what ifs’ are<br />
at <strong>the</strong> back of your mind. We felt<br />
very reassured that <strong>the</strong> hospital has<br />
a Level II Special Care Nursery, just in<br />
case it was needed.”<br />
The Right Start<br />
Patrick, now 9 months old, is a<br />
happy baby who loves going to <strong>the</strong><br />
boardwalk with his parents, watching<br />
surfers ride <strong>the</strong> waves on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Jersey</strong><br />
shore, and attending minor league<br />
baseball games. “He’s a busy boy<br />
already,” Jodie says. She adds that if<br />
she and her partner have a second<br />
baby, <strong>the</strong>re’s no question where<br />
<strong>the</strong>y’ll deliver.<br />
“I highly recommend having a baby<br />
at Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>,” Jodie says.<br />
“If we have ano<strong>the</strong>r, we’re definitely<br />
going <strong>the</strong>re.” •<br />
Have you joined Meridian Momtourage? This interactive resource for<br />
local expectant and experienced moms is full of useful tools, including<br />
mobile apps that can help with everything from contraction timing to potty<br />
training. Get connected today at MeridianMomtourage.com.<br />
Explorer.<br />
Barbara didn’t realize that one day her passion would<br />
save her life.<br />
To learn more about Barbara’s minimally invasive procedure, visit<br />
MeridianCardioVascularNetwork.com. For a physician, call 1-800-DOCTORS ®<br />
Research<br />
& Education<br />
Prevention<br />
& Wellness<br />
Diagnosis<br />
Taking Care of<br />
New <strong>Jersey</strong><br />
Meridian CardioVascular Network<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital<br />
Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Bayshore Community Hospital<br />
Meridian Network of Physicians<br />
Meridian At Home<br />
Meridian Rehabilitation <strong>Center</strong>s<br />
Meridian Life Fitness <strong>Center</strong>s<br />
Treatment<br />
Recovery<br />
Home<br />
© Meridian Health 2012
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
8<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong><br />
Spine Experts<br />
Solve Mystery Condition<br />
In April 2012, Richard Weiss tripped<br />
on <strong>the</strong> stairs of his Freehold<br />
Township home and crashed to<br />
<strong>the</strong> bottom. As his wife, Arlene, called<br />
an ambulance, <strong>the</strong> 64-year-old lost<br />
consciousness. Quickly, he was<br />
rushed to <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>.<br />
There, doctors found that Richard’s<br />
injuries were not typical of a fall.<br />
In fact, <strong>the</strong> accident had left him<br />
completely paralyzed. Richard, who<br />
would remain unconscious for several<br />
days, needed specialized trauma and<br />
spine care.<br />
Expert Diagnosis and<br />
Spine Care<br />
“The Meridian System is prepared<br />
to handle <strong>the</strong> most complex spine<br />
cases with expert staff and specialized<br />
equipment,” explains Michael<br />
Lospinuso, M.D., FACS, medical director<br />
for <strong>the</strong> Spine Program at Meridian<br />
Neuroscience. “Our spinal care is<br />
second to none in <strong>the</strong> area. Our transfer<br />
center from one Meridian campus to<br />
ano<strong>the</strong>r allows specialized care available<br />
to all patients who need it.”<br />
After a thorough examination<br />
and several imaging tests, Dr.<br />
Lospinuso diagnosed Richard with<br />
a rare rheumatic condition called<br />
ankylosing spondylitis. A form of<br />
arthritis in <strong>the</strong> spine, <strong>the</strong> condition<br />
usually strikes men between ages<br />
20 and 40. Richard had unknowingly<br />
lived with it for years while <strong>the</strong><br />
disease caused <strong>the</strong> vertebrae in his<br />
spine to fuse toge<strong>the</strong>r. Until his<br />
accident, <strong>the</strong> hardened vertebrae had<br />
shielded his spine. But when he fell,<br />
this protective shell shattered and<br />
part of <strong>the</strong> cracked vertebrae pierced<br />
his spinal cord, paralyzing him.<br />
“Correctly diagnosing Richard<br />
Making Every Moment Count<br />
Retired pharmacist Richard Weiss is enjoying life<br />
after his spine surgery. He and his wife, Arlene, love<br />
spending time with <strong>the</strong>ir grandson, Zachary. They<br />
also enjoy visiting <strong>the</strong> beach and <strong>the</strong> boardwalk.<br />
Michael F. Lospinuso,<br />
M.D., FACS<br />
Board certified in<br />
Orthopedic Surgery<br />
Red Bank • 732-359-5777<br />
was important not only to his<br />
spinal cord treatment, but also<br />
to his long-term health,” says Dr.<br />
Lospinuso. “Untreated, this rheumatic<br />
condition can cause immune system<br />
deficiencies and organ failure.”<br />
Complex Spinal Surgery<br />
Dr. Lospinuso and his team knew<br />
Richard needed extensive spinecorrecting<br />
surgery. They opened his<br />
back from neck to hip and removed<br />
<strong>the</strong> fractured vertebra from Richard’s<br />
spinal cord, correcting his paralysis.<br />
The team <strong>the</strong>n completely realigned<br />
Richard’s spine and built a permanent,<br />
scaffolding-like structure with a rod<br />
and screws to support each vertebra.<br />
This corrected Richard’s deformity,<br />
allowing him to stand up straight<br />
where he could not before.<br />
“When I woke up, I didn’t really<br />
know what had happened. In fact, I<br />
felt so good my wife had to tell me<br />
I’d even had surgery,” says Richard, a<br />
retired pharmacist.<br />
To help in <strong>the</strong> recovery of <strong>the</strong><br />
procedure, Richard underwent <strong>the</strong>rapy<br />
at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong>. Less than three<br />
months later, he was back home.<br />
Although he’ll need regular monitoring<br />
for adverse effects of his condition,<br />
such as heart or kidney problems,<br />
today he feels no signs from his fall.<br />
He is walking without problems and<br />
enjoying time with his family.<br />
“I’m so thankful I was taken to<br />
<strong>the</strong> right hospital and had <strong>the</strong> right<br />
doctors,” Richard says. •<br />
Read more inspiring stories at MeridianNeuroscience.com, such as<br />
that of Peter Hetzler. He broke his neck and spine in a skiing accident<br />
but is back on his feet after a complex procedure to rebuild his spine.
Groundbreaking Cancer Surgery<br />
Changes Lives for <strong>the</strong> Better<br />
In 2005, Patricia Wilcox of Brick<br />
followed her doctor’s orders and<br />
made an appointment for her<br />
first colonoscopy. She’s glad she did<br />
— <strong>the</strong> screening saved her life. But<br />
<strong>the</strong> results left her with an agonizing<br />
decision.<br />
Patricia, <strong>the</strong>n 64, was found to<br />
have both colon and rectal cancer.<br />
While surgery could treat it, <strong>the</strong><br />
disease was so low in her pelvis<br />
that <strong>the</strong> procedure would damage<br />
her sphincter muscle. Afterward,<br />
Patricia would need a colostomy bag,<br />
permanently attached to <strong>the</strong> outside<br />
of her body, for voiding waste.<br />
She dreaded that option. So when<br />
her surgeon at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> mentioned a brandnew<br />
surgery that could save her<br />
Successful surgery for cancer has allowed 71-year-old<br />
Patricia Wilcox to live her life fully. She’s a regular<br />
golf player, and she loves spending time with her<br />
mini dachshund, Ceara.<br />
life — without a colostomy — she<br />
wanted to hear more.<br />
A New Solution<br />
Her surgeon, Glenn Parker, M.D.,<br />
chief of <strong>the</strong> Division of Colon and<br />
Rectal Surgery and director of<br />
Gastrointestinal Oncology at <strong>Jersey</strong><br />
<strong>Shore</strong>, part of Meridian Cancer Care,<br />
understands how challenging it can<br />
be to live with a colostomy. Besides<br />
<strong>the</strong> hassle of regularly changing<br />
<strong>the</strong> bag, a colostomy can have a<br />
significant impact on a person’s selfesteem,<br />
relationships, and quality of<br />
life. That’s why Dr. Parker had spent<br />
years designing and exhaustively<br />
testing a new surgical instrument<br />
that could treat rectal cancer while<br />
avoiding a colostomy.<br />
“The instrument is much narrower<br />
than previous surgical tools and<br />
allows us to go lower in <strong>the</strong> pelvis<br />
with more accuracy and efficiency,”<br />
he explains. “I knew we could use<br />
<strong>the</strong> new instrument to<br />
remove <strong>the</strong> cancer in Patricia’s<br />
rectum without harming <strong>the</strong><br />
surrounding tissues.”<br />
First-of-Its-Kind<br />
Surgery<br />
Dr. Parker asked Patricia if she<br />
would be interested in being<br />
<strong>the</strong> first person to undergo<br />
surgery with <strong>the</strong> curved<br />
Get <strong>the</strong> Facts at a Free Lecture<br />
Glenn S. Parker, M.D.<br />
Board certified in Colon and<br />
Rectal Surgery<br />
Oakhurst • 732-531-5445<br />
stapling instrument. She said yes.<br />
“I put myself in Dr. Parker’s hands,”<br />
she says. “I had faith in him.”<br />
Using <strong>the</strong> instrumentation he<br />
helped create, Dr. Parker successfully<br />
performed a low interior resection<br />
surgery on Patricia at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong><br />
— <strong>the</strong> first surgery of its kind. The<br />
procedure is now used throughout<br />
<strong>the</strong> world as <strong>the</strong> gold standard in<br />
rectal cancer surgery.<br />
‘I’m One of <strong>the</strong> Lucky Ones’<br />
Today, seven years after <strong>the</strong><br />
procedure, Patricia enjoys a healthy,<br />
normal life. She plays golf, walks her<br />
dog, works part time at a bank, and<br />
spends time with her family — all<br />
without <strong>the</strong> physical and emotional<br />
weight of a colostomy bag.<br />
“Half <strong>the</strong> battle in health<br />
care is finding <strong>the</strong> right<br />
doctors,” says Patricia.<br />
“I’m one of <strong>the</strong> lucky<br />
ones. I can’t say<br />
enough about<br />
Dr. Parker. He was<br />
my strength.” •<br />
One out of 25 Americans will develop colon-rectal cancer,<br />
but with early detection, <strong>the</strong> survival rate can be as high<br />
as 75 percent. Educate yourself at our free physician lecture,<br />
and take home a simple test that could be lifesaving. The<br />
event will be held <strong>January</strong> 24 at 11:00 a.m. at <strong>the</strong> Ocean<br />
Club in Stafford Township. Turn to page 22 for details.<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
9Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013
Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Prostate Cancer Treatment<br />
Gives Local Men<br />
Howell Township resident Peter Travers never<br />
expected his doctor to say he had prostate<br />
cancer. Nei<strong>the</strong>r did Warren Beebe of Monmouth<br />
Beach. But thanks to <strong>the</strong> advanced technology available at<br />
Meridian CyberKnife® <strong>Center</strong> at Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>,<br />
both men had a new option for attacking <strong>the</strong>ir disease —<br />
one with shorter treatments and fewer side effects than<br />
traditional methods.<br />
Peter’s cancer journey began in August 2011. After<br />
experiencing frequent urination, <strong>the</strong> 66-year-old made<br />
an appointment with his primary care doctor, Anthony<br />
DeLuca, M.D., who administered a prostate-specific<br />
antigen (PSA) blood test. “My results came back ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />
high, so he referred me to a urologist to undergo a second<br />
PSA test and biopsy,” Peter recalls.<br />
That’s when his prostate cancer was found.<br />
Knowing that <strong>the</strong> sooner he began treatment, <strong>the</strong><br />
better his outcome could be, Peter wasted no time<br />
researching his options. He began by seeking a second<br />
opinion from a urologist, who recommended traditional<br />
intensity-modulated radiation <strong>the</strong>rapy (IMRT) — an<br />
approach that can require up to 45 treatment sessions<br />
over eight to nine weeks.<br />
Peter followed <strong>the</strong> recommendation of friends and<br />
contacted Adnan Danish, M.D., medical director of <strong>the</strong><br />
CyberKnife <strong>Center</strong> at Riverview and part of Meridian<br />
Cancer Care. “With CyberKnife,” Dr. Danish explained,<br />
“Peter would need only five treatment sessions over <strong>the</strong><br />
course of one week.” He was immediately on board.<br />
When he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Warren Beebe investigated<br />
his options, talked with several doctors, and ultimately decided on<br />
treatment with CyberKnife. In just five sessions, his treatment was done.<br />
Only two weeks after first meeting with Dr. Danish,<br />
Peter was at Riverview for his first treatment. “Although<br />
I was a little nervous, Dr. Danish and <strong>the</strong> Riverview team<br />
made me feel comfortable and confident in <strong>the</strong> treatment<br />
I had chosen,” he says. His first session was over in just<br />
45 minutes. “The remaining four treatments took even<br />
less time. There was no cutting. I just laid <strong>the</strong>re, and <strong>the</strong><br />
CyberKnife did its job.”<br />
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
10<br />
Fewer Sessions and Side Effects<br />
CyberKnife uses imaging and robotics to deliver radiation<br />
beams with extreme accuracy while avoiding nearby<br />
healthy tissue. Customized molds are created to help<br />
patients lie still during treatment, but <strong>the</strong> system will stop<br />
treatment and adjust itself if any movement is detected.<br />
For men, this precision drastically helps reduce <strong>the</strong> risk for<br />
incontinence and sexual side effects, which are common<br />
after traditional methods of treatment.<br />
“The system’s submillimeter accuracy allows high doses<br />
of radiation to treat <strong>the</strong> affected area while sparing <strong>the</strong><br />
surrounding healthy areas,” Dr. Danish explains. “CyberKnife<br />
is performed on an outpatient basis with no incisions, no<br />
pain, and no recovery time. Most people resume <strong>the</strong>ir daily<br />
activities immediately following <strong>the</strong>ir treatments.”<br />
Good Alternative to Surgery<br />
Twenty-five miles up <strong>the</strong> road, Warren Beebe was relieved<br />
to hear his prostate cancer could also be treated in short<br />
sessions with minimal side effects. The 65-year-old’s<br />
condition was found in March 2010, when high PSA test<br />
results led him to a urologist, who performed a biopsy and<br />
made <strong>the</strong> diagnosis. Like Peter, Warren immediately began<br />
investigating his options.<br />
“I did some research and sought a second opinion,” he says.<br />
“I had narrowed it down to an eight-week IMRT radiation<br />
<strong>the</strong>rapy regimen or CyberKnife. I examined both options and<br />
talked with several doctors for <strong>the</strong>ir medical opinions. Since<br />
I have some significant lung compromise attributable to<br />
scoliosis, <strong>the</strong> physicians felt that <strong>the</strong> eight-week option was<br />
not in my best interest, and I opted to go with CyberKnife.”
Peter Travers opted to have his<br />
prostate cancer treated at <strong>the</strong> Meridian<br />
Cyberknife <strong>Center</strong> at Riverview <strong>Medical</strong><br />
<strong>Center</strong>. Today, he’s enjoying <strong>the</strong> same<br />
lifestyle he did before his diagnosis,<br />
including plenty of hunting, fishing,<br />
and playing sports.<br />
Soon after his consultation with Dr. Danish, Warren had<br />
a CT scan to measure his anatomy and map out where <strong>the</strong><br />
radiation would be delivered. In just five sessions, Warren’s<br />
treatments were complete, in March 2011.<br />
“I cannot express how pleased I was with <strong>the</strong> entire<br />
process at Riverview,” he says. “From <strong>the</strong> moment I was<br />
introduced to <strong>the</strong> staff and Dr. Danish, I had a level<br />
of comfort that is so important in facing this sort of<br />
uncertain situation.”<br />
Today both men are back to enjoying <strong>the</strong> same hobbies<br />
and lifestyle <strong>the</strong>y did prior to <strong>the</strong>ir cancer diagnoses. Peter<br />
enjoys retirement by hunting, fishing, and playing sports on<br />
<strong>the</strong> weekend, and he continues to visit his doctors regularly.<br />
In Monmouth Beach, Warren is still hard at work as an<br />
accountant and enjoys spending his weekends watching golf,<br />
baseball, and football, and spending time with family and<br />
friends. Warren continues to go for follow-up appointments<br />
at Riverview and is pleased with his progress with each visit. •<br />
Adnan F. Danish, M.D.<br />
Board certified in Radiation Oncology<br />
Red Bank • 732-530-2468<br />
He, too, made an appointment to see Dr. Danish, who<br />
once again went over every detail to ensure Warren was<br />
confident in his decision.<br />
“Choosing a cancer treatment can be challenging, and<br />
I encourage my patients to do <strong>the</strong>ir research and ask<br />
questions,” says Dr. Danish. “Today <strong>the</strong>re are a number<br />
of treatment options available to patients with cancer.<br />
CyberKnife is a safe and effective alternative for many<br />
people who, like Warren, may not be candidates for some<br />
of <strong>the</strong> more traditional surgical techniques.”<br />
Free Lecture on Men’s Urologic Health<br />
At this lecture, a physician will discuss prostate health<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>r men’s health issues. Don’t miss this chance<br />
to get <strong>the</strong> facts. The event will be held on <strong>February</strong> 6 at<br />
7:00 p.m. at <strong>the</strong> Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at<br />
Hazlet. Turn to page 22 for registration information.<br />
HV-CyberKnife8.375x3.pdf 1 10/22/12 1:20 PM<br />
Thanks to CyberKnife, you can count your<br />
prostate cancer treatments on one hand.<br />
CyberKnife ® treats prostate cancer in 5 easy treatments.<br />
Traditional radiation takes more than 40 treatments.<br />
If it’s prostate cancer, be sure to examine your options. Traditional radiation takes more than 40 treatments<br />
while CyberKnife typically requires just five treatments. Fortunately, <strong>the</strong> region’s most experienced team is close<br />
by at Meridian CyberKnife <strong>Center</strong> at Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> in Red Bank. In fact<br />
<strong>the</strong>se experts have treated more than 1,100 patients in <strong>the</strong> last six years. CyberKnife<br />
uses radiation beams to destroy tumors with pinpoint accuracy, so <strong>the</strong>re is no pain<br />
and no recovery time. Choose CyberKnife and get back to your life sooner.<br />
To see if CyberKnife is right for you, call 1-800-554-7877.<br />
Or learn more at MeridiahHealth.com/CyberKnife<br />
©Meridian Health<br />
Meridian Cancer Care<br />
-<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
-Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
-Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
-Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
-Meridian Partner Companies<br />
-Meridian Team of Physicians
Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
After Richard Martin was treated for an infection,<br />
Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean’s Transitional Care Unit helped<br />
him regain his independence and health. Richard<br />
progressed from being unable to feed himself or<br />
move his legs to resuming his job as a meat cutter.<br />
“I can’t say enough about <strong>the</strong> entire <strong>the</strong>rapy team,”<br />
he says. “They are family.”<br />
Arvind Baliga, M.D.<br />
Board certified in Physical<br />
Medicine and Rehabilitation<br />
Northfield • 609-641-2581<br />
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
from Paralyzing Infection<br />
Richard Martin didn’t think<br />
anything of <strong>the</strong> heel pain that<br />
started in May 2011. But soon,<br />
<strong>the</strong> active 62-year-old Barnegat<br />
resident was unable to walk. In<br />
constant agony, he developed lifethreatening<br />
symptoms including<br />
a dangerously fast heartbeat and<br />
was admitted to Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. The diagnosis? An<br />
infection with flesh-eating bacteria.<br />
“By that time, Richard couldn’t<br />
move at all. He was slowly losing<br />
his ability to speak clearly and was<br />
drifting in and out of consciousness,”<br />
remembers his wife, Susan. “We<br />
weren’t sure he would survive.”<br />
Thanks to surgery on his right<br />
heel and calf to remove <strong>the</strong><br />
bacteria, Richard did survive. But his<br />
ordeal was far from over.<br />
After three weeks in critical care,<br />
he was strong enough to leave <strong>the</strong><br />
hospital but too weak to return<br />
home. Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean’s Transitional<br />
Care Unit (TCU) helped Richard<br />
regain his independence and health.<br />
Hope Through Therapy<br />
The TCU, which celebrated its 10th<br />
anniversary in August, is an inpatient<br />
subacute unit within Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. Staffed by physicians,<br />
nurses, <strong>the</strong>rapists, and o<strong>the</strong>r experts,<br />
it helps patients recover function and<br />
independence after an illness or injury.<br />
“When I first got <strong>the</strong>re, I couldn’t<br />
move my arms or legs, couldn’t<br />
feed myself or touch my nose, and<br />
required a mechanical lift to get in<br />
and out of bed,” says Richard. “Even<br />
so, <strong>the</strong> first thing my doctor said to<br />
me was, ‘You’re going to walk again.’”<br />
That doctor was Arvind Baliga,<br />
M.D., a physical rehabilitation specialist<br />
who oversaw Richard’s treatment.<br />
“Richard’s disease caused his<br />
nervous system to shut down,<br />
paralyzing him,” Dr. Baliga explains.<br />
“However, he had tremendous<br />
motivation to improve, which is vital<br />
to recovery. My job was to ensure he<br />
had <strong>the</strong> right prescription of <strong>the</strong>rapy<br />
to account for his unique illness.”<br />
Who Benefits from Transitional Care?<br />
Staff Like Family<br />
Twice a day, Richard received physical<br />
<strong>the</strong>rapy to help him regain <strong>the</strong><br />
use of his legs. He also worked on<br />
streng<strong>the</strong>ning his upper body and<br />
relearning everyday tasks such as<br />
feeding himself. Nurses and aides<br />
encouraged him and celebrated<br />
his progress.<br />
“I can’t say enough about <strong>the</strong><br />
entire <strong>the</strong>rapy team,” says Richard.<br />
“They are family.”<br />
In all, Richard spent three months<br />
in <strong>the</strong> unit. Slowly, he regained <strong>the</strong><br />
use of his body and was able to walk<br />
out of <strong>the</strong> TCU unassisted.<br />
“Since <strong>the</strong> illness, I have a<br />
different perspective and know<br />
what’s important,” says Richard,<br />
who is now back to work as a<br />
meat cutter. “I’ve probably visited<br />
<strong>the</strong> TCU staff at least five times to<br />
say thanks.” •<br />
The TCU is ideal for medically stable people who need short-term<br />
skilled care, as well as those who are possible candidates for intensive<br />
acute rehabilitation services. Learn more about transitional care and who it<br />
helps at Sou<strong>the</strong>rnOcean<strong>Medical</strong><strong>Center</strong>.com. Click on “Services.”<br />
12
Woodworker Gets<br />
Back to Work<br />
Thanks to Physical Therapy<br />
Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Manahawkin resident Robert Skrable always has<br />
a project on <strong>the</strong> go in his woodshop. But when<br />
knee pain made it difficult for <strong>the</strong> 80-year-old<br />
to stand at a saw — or even complete basic daily activities<br />
like climbing stairs — he knew he had to make a change.<br />
The first step, in May 2012, was two knee replacements,<br />
performed at Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> by<br />
orthopedic surgeon W. Francis Kennard, M.D. The second,<br />
equally important step was rehabilitation.<br />
“With knee replacements, <strong>the</strong> physical rehabilitation<br />
component is extremely important,” says Dr. Kennard.<br />
“Successful surgery without physical <strong>the</strong>rapy will not<br />
result in a successful outcome. Rehabilitation is<br />
necessary to streng<strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> knees and develop<br />
good range of motion.”<br />
Robert Skrable and his wife, Ruth, met in grammar school and have been married<br />
for 59 years. After two knee replacements and successful rehabilitation, Robert<br />
has kept up with his exercises at home, using a bike and walking with weights. He’s<br />
also back to doing what he loves in his woodworking shop.<br />
W. Francis Kennard, M.D.<br />
Board certified in Orthopedic Surgery<br />
Manahawkin • 609-597-1556<br />
Customized Care for Each Person<br />
Rehab at Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> is customized<br />
to match each patient’s particular routine. “We focus<br />
on each individual’s goals and lifestyle as we create <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
treatment plan,” says Josie Douglas, P.T. “If <strong>the</strong>y had been<br />
enjoying a particular activity, we tailor our treatment<br />
to ensure <strong>the</strong>y can resume that activity with comfort<br />
and confidence.”<br />
For Robert, that meant focusing on his ability to walk<br />
and stand for long periods. He started <strong>the</strong>rapy while still<br />
in <strong>the</strong> hospital, only a day after his surgeries. After two<br />
weeks in <strong>the</strong> Transitional Care Unit, he progressed to<br />
outpatient care through Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>’s<br />
Physical Therapy Department.<br />
The whole time, he says, “I had top-notch people<br />
treating me and coaching me as I regained my ability to<br />
walk and stand. All my <strong>the</strong>rapists were great. And I am<br />
very grateful for <strong>the</strong> guidance and care I received <strong>the</strong>re.”<br />
Continued Exercise at Home<br />
Robert was also taught routines he could do on his own<br />
at home. To maintain his strength, he still spends an hour<br />
each day using a bike, walking with weights, and performing<br />
exercises for his legs and knees.<br />
“You’ve got to keep it up,” says Robert. “And <strong>the</strong> results<br />
are well worth it. Three months after <strong>the</strong> surgery and<br />
physical rehabilitation, I could walk any distance and could<br />
go up and down steps with no problems or pain.”<br />
Most important, he could spend hours back in his shop.<br />
“I’m back to collecting quality scrap wood for my<br />
projects. I made 150 joker board games and 200 wooden<br />
napkin holders that I give as gifts,” says Robert. “And I guess<br />
my wife, Ruth, is happy now, too, because I’m back to<br />
helping with chores!” • — Joyce McFadden<br />
One-on-One Care Makes a Difference<br />
Our team of skilled physical <strong>the</strong>rapists establishes<br />
personal goals for each patient. We develop carefully<br />
planned treatment programs and maintain an ongoing<br />
dialogue with <strong>the</strong> patient’s physician. Get more details,<br />
including our list of 14 locations, at MeridianHealth.<br />
com. Just search for “physical <strong>the</strong>rapy.”<br />
Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
13
Bayshore Community Hospital<br />
Jennifer McKay volunteers with <strong>the</strong> Hazlet First Aid &<br />
Rescue Squad, with a long-term goal of becoming a<br />
physician’s assistant. Quick surgical care saved her life<br />
after a boating accident last June.<br />
David Dupree, M.D.<br />
General Surgery<br />
Tinton Falls • 732-450-9700<br />
bleeding. They immediately called<br />
for surgeon David Dupree, M.D.<br />
“I took one look at Jennifer and<br />
saw she was a dying woman. Without<br />
intervention, she probably had 15<br />
minutes to live,” Dr. Dupree recalls.<br />
Within minutes, he had her in <strong>the</strong><br />
operating room, where he found that<br />
Jennifer had torn her spleen in two<br />
and severed part of her pancreas.<br />
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
for Lifesaving Emergency Care<br />
14<br />
I believe in community hospitals and love<br />
Bayshore. Because of <strong>the</strong>ir quick action,<br />
I am thankful to be alive.”<br />
–Jennifer McKay<br />
Jennifer McKay was on her dad’s<br />
boat docked in <strong>the</strong> Atlantic<br />
Highlands Marina in June 2012<br />
when <strong>the</strong> unexpected happened. The<br />
21-year-old fell into an open engine<br />
compartment, wedging a fiberglass<br />
hatch against <strong>the</strong> left side of her<br />
body. Although she had no visible<br />
injuries, Jennifer knew immediately<br />
that something was very wrong.<br />
As a volunteer emergency medical<br />
technician (EMT), Jennifer was used<br />
to medical emergencies. And <strong>the</strong><br />
constant, growing pain in her belly was<br />
a sign that she needed to get to <strong>the</strong><br />
emergency room fast. Although o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
hospitals were much closer, Jennifer<br />
instructed her dad to drive her straight<br />
to Bayshore Community Hospital.<br />
“As a local EMT, I know and trust<br />
<strong>the</strong> doctors at Bayshore,” says <strong>the</strong><br />
Hazlet resident. “In my opinion, <strong>the</strong>y<br />
provide a higher level of care. It’s<br />
where I knew I needed to be.”<br />
Quick Action Needed<br />
Jennifer arrived at Bayshore’s<br />
Emergency Care <strong>Center</strong> in just 14<br />
minutes, but her health had already<br />
deteriorated. She was weak and<br />
could barely talk, and her stomach<br />
was distended. A team of doctors<br />
and nurses led by Daniel Yu, M.D.,<br />
quickly determined that Jennifer had a<br />
ruptured spleen and extensive internal<br />
Critical Care When It Matters Most<br />
Surgical Harmony for Team<br />
In surgery, Dr. Dupree was able to<br />
stop Jennifer’s internal bleeding. He<br />
<strong>the</strong>n removed her spleen and part<br />
of her pancreas, which were not<br />
necessary for her to live a normal life.<br />
“Without <strong>the</strong> spectacular work of<br />
<strong>the</strong> ER and operating teams, Jennifer<br />
wouldn’t be here today. From <strong>the</strong><br />
time her accident occurred to <strong>the</strong><br />
moment we stabilized her in surgery,<br />
only 45 minutes had passed,”<br />
Dr. Dupree says. “I have performed<br />
a lot of trauma surgery at o<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
larger medical centers. Nothing I’ve<br />
experienced was as smooth as this.<br />
The operating staff worked toge<strong>the</strong>r<br />
in complete surgical harmony.”<br />
Today, Jennifer is healthy and<br />
back to volunteer work on <strong>the</strong><br />
Hazlet First Aid & Rescue Squad.<br />
She also takes classes at Brookdale<br />
Community College.<br />
“The care I received was amazing,”<br />
she says. “I believe in community<br />
hospitals and love Bayshore.<br />
Because of <strong>the</strong>ir quick action, I am<br />
thankful to be alive.” •<br />
Bayshore offers area residents an expert emergency medicine team.<br />
Plus, with its Fast Track Program, <strong>the</strong> Emergency Department is able to<br />
quickly treat non-life-threatening conditions. We even offer a Pediatric Care<br />
<strong>Center</strong> to treat our youngest patients. Learn more at BayshoreHospital.org.
Barbara Petersen’s severe back pain is now under<br />
control, thanks to a revolutionary new implanted<br />
device called <strong>the</strong> RestoreSensor. Pain-free, she’s<br />
back to enjoying <strong>the</strong> things she loves, such as<br />
spending time with her granddaughter.<br />
Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
New Device<br />
Stops Back Pain —<br />
Before You Feel It<br />
In spring 1999, a car accident changed Barbara Petersen’s<br />
life. The Middlesex County resident was violently rearended,<br />
leaving her with severe back pain.<br />
“My life was completely turned upside down,” says<br />
Barbara, 57.<br />
For three years, she tried physical <strong>the</strong>rapy and surgery<br />
to relieve her pain, but nothing helped. “I couldn’t even<br />
walk down <strong>the</strong> sidewalk or sit up in bed without pain<br />
shooting down my legs,” she recalls.<br />
After seeing a pain management specialist, Barbara<br />
was referred to Bruce Rosenblum, M.D., a neurosurgeon<br />
affiliated with Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> and part of<br />
Meridian Neuroscience. “From <strong>the</strong> moment I met Dr.<br />
Rosenblum, I knew I was in capable hands,” Barbara says.<br />
Easing Pain with Electric Currents<br />
Dr. Rosenblum explained that Barbara’s pain was due to<br />
lumbar radiculopathy. “This condition occurs when part of<br />
a disk is forced through a weakened portion of <strong>the</strong> spinal<br />
column, placing extreme pressure on nearby nerves,” he says.<br />
He suggested treatment with a dorsal column stimulator,<br />
an implant that stimulates <strong>the</strong> affected area with an electric<br />
current. “Patients with chronic neck, back, arm, and leg pain<br />
can benefit from this small device,” he says.<br />
When Dr. Rosenblum implanted <strong>the</strong> stimulator in<br />
Barbara’s back, her pain was significantly reduced.<br />
“I was able to control <strong>the</strong> pulsating of <strong>the</strong> implant with<br />
a handheld device,” she says. “Whenever my back hurt,<br />
I could increase <strong>the</strong> current to soo<strong>the</strong> it.”<br />
A Revolutionary New Device<br />
For more than a decade, Barbara’s pain was under control,<br />
but by 2012 <strong>the</strong> stimulator had reached <strong>the</strong> end of its life<br />
Hear from <strong>the</strong> Experts<br />
Bruce R. Rosenblum, M.D.<br />
Board certified in Neurosurgery<br />
Shrewsbury • 732-460-1522<br />
cycle. Dr. Rosenblum recommended a new implant, called<br />
a RestoreSensor, to replace it.<br />
The RestoreSensor uses motion-sensing technology<br />
that picks up <strong>the</strong> person’s movement, <strong>the</strong>n adjusts its<br />
stimulation accordingly. As a result, patients experience<br />
maximum relief without <strong>the</strong> hassle of constantly<br />
reprogramming a device.<br />
“What’s unique is that <strong>the</strong> affected area is stimulated<br />
before pain signals can reach your brain,” Dr. Rosenblum<br />
says. “This means you never actually feel <strong>the</strong> pain.”<br />
Plus, with no remote needed, <strong>the</strong> RestoreSensor is more<br />
convenient, giving people <strong>the</strong> freedom to move with ease.<br />
Barbara received her RestoreSensor at Riverview — she<br />
was <strong>the</strong> first person in Monmouth and Ocean counties to<br />
undergo <strong>the</strong> procedure — and has been pain-free<br />
ever since.<br />
“Thanks to Dr. Rosenblum and Riverview’s great staff,”<br />
she says, “I can now get back to <strong>the</strong> things I love, like<br />
walking on <strong>the</strong> beach and enjoying time with my five<br />
grandchildren.” • —Tom Paolella<br />
Visit MeridianNeuroscience.com to watch<br />
videos of our physicians discussing topics such as<br />
stroke symptoms, back surgery, and migraine treatment.<br />
Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
15
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
The Art and Science of Surgery:<br />
Robotic Technology Keeps Patients in Mind<br />
In August 2012, a back injury sent 39-year-old Michael<br />
Mahon for a routine MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). But<br />
<strong>the</strong> results were life-changing. The imaging showed that<br />
Michael had an unrelated growth on his kidney. After fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />
testing, <strong>the</strong> Avon-by-<strong>the</strong>-Sea resident was quickly referred to<br />
Michael Lasser, M.D., urologist and medical director, <strong>Center</strong><br />
for Robotic Surgery at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>.<br />
Dr. Lasser diagnosed <strong>the</strong> growth as kidney cancer.<br />
“My cancer diagnosis came as a complete shock. I had<br />
no symptoms,” Michael says. “It was overwhelming, but<br />
Dr. Lasser sat down and explained everything to me in<br />
great detail. I was confident in him.”<br />
The Robotic Difference<br />
Dr. Lasser performed surgery to remove <strong>the</strong> cancerous<br />
part of Michael’s kidney using <strong>the</strong> da Vinci® Surgical<br />
System — a robotic and minimally invasive surgical<br />
technique. Dr. Lasser is one of only a few surgeons in <strong>the</strong><br />
state who successfully performs <strong>the</strong> procedure, called a<br />
partial nephrectomy.<br />
“Without robotic assistance, this procedure would<br />
be more difficult and may have required open surgery.<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r minimally invasive surgical options do not<br />
provide <strong>the</strong> level of precision necessary for <strong>the</strong><br />
intricate stitching required to reconstruct <strong>the</strong> kidney,”<br />
Dr. Lasser says. “By using <strong>the</strong> robotic system, we can<br />
perform <strong>the</strong> surgery without making a large incision.<br />
It leads to less pain and bleeding and a faster recovery<br />
for <strong>the</strong> patient.”<br />
During robotic surgery, <strong>the</strong> surgeon controls <strong>the</strong> robotic<br />
system at all times. Long, thin robotic tools work through<br />
a few small cuts in <strong>the</strong> skin. A high-definition camera,<br />
with up to 10x magnification, gives <strong>the</strong> surgeon a superior<br />
three-dimensional view and added precision.<br />
“The system provides a better view of <strong>the</strong> surgical site<br />
than is possible with <strong>the</strong> naked eye. It also mimics <strong>the</strong><br />
human wrist, allowing for precise movements in a very<br />
small space,” explains Dr. Lasser. “By using this system,<br />
we were able to remove Michael’s cancer and save his<br />
kidney. This provides <strong>the</strong> best outcomes with <strong>the</strong> fewest<br />
complications.”<br />
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
16<br />
Michael Mahon’s diagnosis of kidney cancer came as a complete shock. Thankfully,<br />
he was a candidate for robotic surgery, which left him feeling great just days after<br />
<strong>the</strong> procedure. Today he’s back on <strong>the</strong> job at Avon-by-<strong>the</strong>-Sea Public Works.<br />
Michael S. Lasser, M.D.<br />
Fellowship trained in Robotic and Laparoscopic<br />
Urologic Surgery and Endourology<br />
Neptune • 732-775-8444<br />
See <strong>the</strong> Future of Surgery — Now<br />
Visit <strong>Jersey</strong><strong>Shore</strong>University<strong>Medical</strong><strong>Center</strong>.com<br />
to watch Dr. Lasser and learn about innovative<br />
surgical solutions and upcoming lectures.<br />
A Focus on Patient Benefits<br />
Robotic surgery is used throughout <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong><br />
University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> because of its tremendous<br />
benefits to patients. Currently, robot-assisted surgery is<br />
available for urology, gynecology, and general surgery, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> program continues to grow.<br />
“We have a very active robotic surgery program. We<br />
continue to train and recruit more surgeons with expertise<br />
in this state-of-<strong>the</strong>-art surgical approach,” says Dr. Lasser.<br />
For many patients, including Michael, this means<br />
excellent surgical outcomes with less pain and a<br />
quicker recovery.<br />
Michael reports that days after surgery, he was feeling<br />
great. And a few weeks later, his tiny surgical scars had<br />
almost disappeared. Today, Michael is back to his job at<br />
Avon-by-<strong>the</strong>-Sea Public Works, which involves lifting<br />
heavy materials.<br />
“I’m so glad this is behind me,” says Michael. “I received<br />
unbelievable care, from <strong>the</strong> nursing staff to <strong>the</strong> surgery<br />
itself. And my family and friends were great support.<br />
I never felt alone.” •
The Sensitive Touch<br />
Small changes in diet and lifestyle make a big difference in Manasquan girl’s life<br />
As an active 10-year-old, Christina Guinco has<br />
always participated in all <strong>the</strong> fun activities <strong>the</strong><br />
shore has to offer. Whe<strong>the</strong>r it was maintaining<br />
her excellent grades, swimming, playing soccer, or doing<br />
arts and crafts, Christina was always on <strong>the</strong> go.<br />
But in 2009, Christina began complaining of stomach<br />
pain, sometimes causing her to miss swim practice.<br />
Christina’s mom, Maggy, made some adjustments to<br />
Christina’s diet, like limiting wheat and milk, with little<br />
success. The pain continued to worsen.<br />
“I initially thought she was just nervous about swim<br />
practice, but it became obvious that her physical<br />
symptoms were not going away and something else<br />
was wrong,” Maggy says. Christina’s pediatrician, Lorette<br />
Sciarappa, M.D., recommended that she visit pediatric<br />
gastroenterologist Beth Loveridge Lenza, D.O., on staff at<br />
K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>, part of Meridian Pediatric Network.<br />
In <strong>January</strong> 2012, Dr. Lenza met with Christina.<br />
“Christina’s initial symptoms suggested gastroesophageal<br />
reflux disease (GERD), a digestive condition that occurs<br />
when stomach acid flows back into <strong>the</strong> food pipe. But<br />
medications offered only minimal relief, and this was a red<br />
flag that something else was wrong,” Dr. Lenza says.<br />
Dr. Lenza continued working to find <strong>the</strong> source of<br />
Christina’s pain. “I <strong>the</strong>n performed an endoscopy, a procedure<br />
with a tiny camera attached to a scope that allowed me<br />
to get a closer look at her stomach. This confirmed that<br />
Christina had eosinophilic esophagitis, or EE, an allergic<br />
inflammatory reaction of <strong>the</strong> esophagus, <strong>the</strong> muscular tube<br />
that carries food from <strong>the</strong> throat to <strong>the</strong> stomach.<br />
“EE is often caused by seasonal, environmental, or food<br />
allergies, and it’s found in many allergic children,” Dr. Lenza<br />
explains. “With Christina, additional tests revealed that she<br />
had multiple food and animal allergies — including milk, eggs,<br />
onions, chocolate, garlic, and cat and dog danders.”<br />
Dr. Lenza prescribed a medication to reduce <strong>the</strong><br />
inflammation of Christina’s esophagus and also recommended<br />
diet and lifestyle changes. These included avoiding certain<br />
foods and not allowing her cat to lie on her bed.<br />
Almost immediately, Christina’s condition improved.<br />
Learning what was making Christina so uncomfortable<br />
was a great relief to <strong>the</strong>m both, Maggy says. “With<br />
A Free Resource for Parents<br />
Dr. Beth’s help, we discovered how we could help<br />
manage Christina’s condition.”<br />
While <strong>the</strong> changes take some effort on Christina’s part<br />
— chocolate isn’t allowed, and holidays like Halloween<br />
can be challenging — it’s all been worth it. Perhaps <strong>the</strong><br />
biggest change is Christina’s new enthusiasm for her<br />
activities. “Thanks to Dr. Beth, I feel better and I’m able to<br />
do all <strong>the</strong> things I love to do,” Christina says. •<br />
Fourth-grader Christina Guinco<br />
enjoys playing defense on her<br />
soccer team as well as taking<br />
gymnastics. She’s learned<br />
to manage her eosinophilic<br />
esophagitis, an allergic<br />
inflammatory reaction of<br />
<strong>the</strong> esophagus.<br />
Beth Loveridge Lenza, D.O.<br />
Board certified in Pediatrics and<br />
Pediatric Gastroenterology<br />
Neptune • 732-776-4860<br />
We’re pleased to offer you Check Up!, a complete guide to children’s<br />
health from Meridian Pediatric Network. For your copy, email us at<br />
kidviews@meridianhealth.com. Please write “Check Up” in <strong>the</strong> subject line.<br />
K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital<br />
Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
17
<strong>Shore</strong> Rehabilitation Institute<br />
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
Rehab Helps College Athlete<br />
SCORE<br />
More than 100,000 viewers<br />
have watched <strong>the</strong> YouTube<br />
footage of Cory Weissman<br />
— Jackson native, Gettysburg College<br />
basketball player, and stroke survivor<br />
— scoring his only college point. But<br />
few people know what it took to get<br />
him that far.<br />
Cory was 19 in March 2009 when his<br />
head started to hurt and his left arm<br />
went numb while he lifted weights.<br />
After a stroke at age 19, athlete Cory Weissman<br />
was paralyzed on his left side. Years of <strong>the</strong>rapy<br />
got him back on <strong>the</strong> court, and he now plans to<br />
become an athletic trainer or physical <strong>the</strong>rapist.<br />
A<br />
COMEBACK<br />
from a Stroke<br />
Doctors determined he’d had a stroke<br />
caused by burst blood vessels in his<br />
brain. They stopped <strong>the</strong> bleeding and<br />
later performed surgery.<br />
But Cory, a former star athlete<br />
at Jackson Memorial High School,<br />
was paralyzed on his left side.<br />
He couldn’t walk, had short-term<br />
memory loss, and suffered seizures.<br />
It would take years of <strong>the</strong>rapy — and<br />
<strong>the</strong> dedication of his team at <strong>Shore</strong><br />
Rehabilitation Institute — before<br />
Cory was back at <strong>the</strong> free-throw line<br />
in front of a cheering crowd.<br />
Team Approach and a<br />
Passionate Coach<br />
At <strong>Shore</strong> Rehabilitation Institute, an<br />
acute rehabilitation facility located in<br />
Brick and adjacent to Ocean <strong>Medical</strong><br />
<strong>Center</strong>, Cory worked with Priya<br />
Sharad, P.T., who directs <strong>the</strong> outpatient<br />
stroke program <strong>the</strong>re, which is part<br />
of Meridian Neuroscience. Although<br />
Cory had already made substantial<br />
progress after five weeks of inpatient<br />
<strong>the</strong>rapy, Sharad wasted no time getting<br />
him to work. “She had me doing<br />
one-legged squats <strong>the</strong> first<br />
session,” Cory says. “It didn’t<br />
take Priya long to start<br />
kicking my behind.”<br />
Sharad says she focused<br />
on helping Cory stabilize<br />
his trunk and realize how<br />
much he was compensating for his<br />
deficits. “He had to relearn how to<br />
use both sides of his body,” she says.<br />
“Recovering from stroke is a lifelong<br />
process.”<br />
“Priya’s an incredible <strong>the</strong>rapist,”<br />
says Cory, “but <strong>the</strong>re’s also such<br />
great teamwork at <strong>Shore</strong> Rehab.<br />
The <strong>the</strong>rapists are constantly<br />
communicating with each o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
about how to help <strong>the</strong>ir patients<br />
do better.”<br />
A Champion’s Heart,<br />
a Dream Fulfilled<br />
By fall 2009, Cory was ready to return<br />
to college, where he spent three<br />
years helping <strong>the</strong> basketball team.<br />
Then, on <strong>February</strong> 11, 2012, with 52<br />
seconds left in <strong>the</strong> season’s last<br />
home game, his heroic moment<br />
happened: His coach put him in, an<br />
opposing player intentionally fouled<br />
Cory, and he finally got a basket as a<br />
college player.<br />
While Cory remembers that day<br />
fondly, he’s looking ahead. Although<br />
he still walks with a slight limp, he can<br />
run up to three miles. He graduated<br />
from Gettysburg in December 2012<br />
and plans to become an athletic<br />
trainer or physical <strong>the</strong>rapist.<br />
“It’s not going to be easy,” he says.<br />
“I have a little more trouble studying<br />
and doing my work. But I never quit<br />
anything in my life.” •<br />
Restoring Your Life<br />
<strong>Shore</strong> Rehab provides a broad spectrum of rehabilitation<br />
services, bringing toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> latest innovative equipment<br />
with a newly opened Neuro-Rehab Technology <strong>Center</strong>. With <strong>the</strong><br />
expertise and care of our compassionate team, we’re committed<br />
to restoring your life back to you. Call 732-836-4500 or visit<br />
<strong>Shore</strong>RehabilitationInstitute.com.<br />
18
When Time Matters:<br />
Cardiac Cath Lab Treats Heart Attacks<br />
Early one July morning in 2012, Brick resident Neal<br />
Metnick awoke suddenly with an intense, constricting<br />
pain running down both arms. He knew right away<br />
something was terribly wrong. Neal’s wife immediately called<br />
911. Although <strong>the</strong> 64-year-old didn’t experience <strong>the</strong> typical<br />
tightness or squeezing in <strong>the</strong> chest, Neal was having a serious<br />
heart attack. Thankfully, he was rushed by ambulance to<br />
nearby Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>’s Emergency Department.<br />
“I had been regularly monitored by a cardiologist<br />
because of issues with mild hypertension. However, it was<br />
very much under control,” remembers Neal. “This truly<br />
came without warning.”<br />
Seamless Coordination<br />
Neal’s cardiologist, Vincent Vivona, D.O., met him in <strong>the</strong><br />
Emergency Department and evaluated his condition.<br />
Neil was diagnosed with an acute heart attack, which<br />
required immediate treatment. Dr. Vivona coordinated<br />
with Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>’s Emergency Department<br />
staff, who called interventional cardiologist David<br />
Pinnelas, M.D., to perform <strong>the</strong> cardiac ca<strong>the</strong>terization.<br />
“It was very important to get Neal into <strong>the</strong> cardiac cath lab<br />
as quickly as possible to open any blocked arteries,” says Dr.<br />
Vivona. “When it comes to heart issues, time really is muscle.<br />
There is only a 90-minute window of opportunity after a<br />
heart attack occurs before <strong>the</strong> heart muscle begins to die.”<br />
Expert Heart Treatment<br />
The ca<strong>the</strong>terization lab is used routinely by Meridian<br />
CardioVascular Network cardiologists to diagnose<br />
and treat coronary artery disease. In <strong>the</strong> event of an<br />
emergency, doctors can perform angioplasty and stenting<br />
without <strong>the</strong> need of an on-site cardiac surgery program.<br />
Quick treatment in <strong>the</strong> cardiac ca<strong>the</strong>terization lab at Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
saved Neil Metnick after he had a serious heart attack. Now he’s back to an<br />
active schedule, including attending cardiac rehabilitation.<br />
“Not every community hospital has <strong>the</strong> capability<br />
to provide interventional treatment in <strong>the</strong> event of an<br />
acute heart attack, which is <strong>the</strong> gold standard of care.<br />
Ra<strong>the</strong>r, clot-busting medications are used, which are not<br />
as effective,” explains Dr. Pinnelas. “Area residents can<br />
rest assured that if a heart attack occurs, Ocean <strong>Medical</strong><br />
<strong>Center</strong> is equipped to take care of <strong>the</strong>m. Our cardiac cath<br />
lab is staffed by <strong>the</strong> same interventional cardiologists<br />
who treat patients at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>.”<br />
During <strong>the</strong> cardiac ca<strong>the</strong>terization, Dr. Pinnelas found<br />
that Neal’s left anterior descending coronary artery was<br />
completely blocked. Dr. Pinnelas quickly performed an<br />
angioplasty to open <strong>the</strong> blocked artery and placed a stent<br />
to keep it open. They were a success, and Neal came out<br />
of <strong>the</strong> procedures feeling “absolutely fine.”<br />
Now, weeks after his heart attack, Neal is back to<br />
an active schedule. In addition to attending cardiac<br />
rehabilitation at Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>, <strong>the</strong> retired school<br />
psychologist is involved in his synagogue. He’s also an<br />
active volunteer at <strong>the</strong> hospital, serving as chairman<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Community Advisory Committee and an Ocean<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> Association trustee. He continues to<br />
function as an educational consultant.<br />
“Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> provides <strong>the</strong> whole continuum<br />
of care for heart attack patients,” says Dr. Vivona.<br />
“Patients in <strong>the</strong> community can expect exceptional care<br />
and outcomes.” •<br />
Vincent Vivona, D.O.<br />
Board certified in Internal Medicine<br />
Brick • 732-458-5744<br />
David J. Pinnelas, M.D.<br />
Board certified in Cardiovascular Disease, Internal<br />
Medicine, and Interventional Cardiology<br />
Brick • 732-262-4262<br />
Cath Lab Gets to <strong>the</strong> Heart of <strong>the</strong> Problem<br />
Learn how Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>’s Cardiac<br />
Ca<strong>the</strong>terization Laboratory can help you by calling<br />
732-836-4347.<br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
19
When Minutes Count,<br />
Count on Us<br />
Meridian Health<br />
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
20<br />
When a stroke strikes, every minute counts.<br />
Getting emergency care within an hour of<br />
<strong>the</strong> start of a stroke can prevent disability<br />
and death. Unfortunately, many people don’t get help<br />
quickly enough.<br />
For stroke victims, <strong>the</strong> best chance for recovery lies in<br />
<strong>the</strong> hands of people around <strong>the</strong>m. When someone else is<br />
alert to <strong>the</strong> problem, <strong>the</strong> stroke sufferer is more likely to<br />
get to a hospital in time to stop <strong>the</strong> damage.<br />
Knowing what to look for can make all <strong>the</strong> difference.<br />
If a person suddenly has trouble speaking, smiling, or<br />
moving an arm or leg on one side, it could be due to<br />
stroke. O<strong>the</strong>r signs include:<br />
• Confusion or dizziness<br />
• Trouble walking or seeing<br />
• Sudden, severe headache<br />
If you witness <strong>the</strong>se signs in someone or experience <strong>the</strong>m<br />
yourself, call 911 right away.<br />
Who’s At Risk?<br />
Some factors that put you at risk for stroke are out of<br />
your control. These include aging, family history of stroke,<br />
and ethnicity. In Monmouth and Ocean counties, stroke<br />
mortality is much higher among African-Americans when<br />
compared with Caucasians and Hispanics. This is partly<br />
because <strong>the</strong> African-American population has a higher<br />
rate of high blood pressure.<br />
But research shows you can control o<strong>the</strong>r risk<br />
factors by choices you make every day, such as not<br />
smoking, keeping blood pressure in check, maintaining<br />
a healthy weight, and exercising moderately on most<br />
days of <strong>the</strong> week.<br />
Harry Carson knows that stroke is in his family. He encourages people to share<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir family health histories with younger relatives so <strong>the</strong>y can take action.<br />
Exercising, limiting sodium, and not smoking can all help prevent stroke.<br />
“Based on my fa<strong>the</strong>r’s strokes and simply being a black<br />
male, I know I’m at greater risk for stroke,” says Harry<br />
Carson, former captain of <strong>the</strong> New York Giants, Hall of<br />
Famer, and spokesperson for Meridian Neuroscience.<br />
“But I make certain to do all I can to live a healthy<br />
lifestyle, which includes exercising, eating a healthy diet,<br />
and never skipping a yearly physical examination.”<br />
Top-Quality Care Is Close By<br />
Each year, almost 5 percent of <strong>the</strong> deaths in Monmouth<br />
and Ocean counties are caused by stroke. And among<br />
residents ages 65 and older, 6.4 percent have had a<br />
stroke. So it’s reassuring to know that top-quality care<br />
is just minutes away. Meridian Health is home to five<br />
nationally accredited Primary Stroke <strong>Center</strong>s, each with<br />
specialized teams of stroke experts who are poised to<br />
stop <strong>the</strong> advance of stroke. Through Meridian, you’re also<br />
connected to <strong>the</strong> region’s only Stroke Rescue <strong>Center</strong>, at<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>, where nationally<br />
renowned neurosurgeons perform groundbreaking —<br />
and lifesaving — stroke rescue procedures. •<br />
A Revolutionary New Screening<br />
A comprehensive AngioScreen ® can give you<br />
information about your circulation and risk for<br />
stroke and heart attack. The test is offered at locations<br />
around <strong>the</strong> region at a special discounted price of $49.95<br />
in <strong>January</strong> and <strong>February</strong>. See page 21 for details.
Meridian <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
Community Health Programs<br />
All programs are FREE unless o<strong>the</strong>rwise noted. Reserve your spot by calling 1-800-DOCTORS (1-800-362-8677) or<br />
1-800-560-9990 or by visiting MeridianHealth.com. In cases of severe wea<strong>the</strong>r, a program may be canceled as late<br />
as an hour before <strong>the</strong> start time. Call 1-800-DOCTORS or 1-800-560-9990 to confirm.<br />
Red Dress Event<br />
Meridian Women’s Heart Connection presents The Heart Truth campaign’s Red Dress Collection.<br />
View designer dresses fresh off <strong>the</strong> runway from New York’s Spring 2013 Fashion Week.<br />
Enjoy a heart-healthy menu, door prizes, and giveaways. Most important, learn how to live a<br />
heart-healthy lifestyle. Tickets are $50, and a portion of <strong>the</strong> proceeds will benefit Meridian<br />
CardioVascular Network.<br />
Thursday, <strong>February</strong> 21<br />
7:00 – 9:30 p.m.<br />
Buona Sera<br />
Red Bank, NJ<br />
Registration is required; call 1-800-DOCTORS.<br />
For more information, please visit www.365DaysofHeart.com.<br />
Special<br />
Heart Month<br />
discount:<br />
$49.95<br />
AngioScreen ® : What You Learn Can Save Your Life<br />
This revolutionary new vascular screening is designed to give you information about your circulation<br />
and risk for heart attack and stroke. Screening checks your carotid artery, peak systolic velocity,<br />
abdominal aortic aneurysm, ankle brachial index, blood pressure in both arms, body mass index,<br />
and heart rhythm. Participants receive an instant color report of <strong>the</strong> findings, educational materials,<br />
and consultation with a registered nurse. And to celebrate Heart Month, <strong>the</strong> screening is just $49.95!<br />
Registration is required.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 9, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.<br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Conference Room A<br />
<strong>January</strong> 16, 1:30 – 7:00 p.m.<br />
Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Joan and Robert Rechnitz<br />
Conference <strong>Center</strong><br />
<strong>January</strong> 17, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Brennan Rooms 104/105<br />
<strong>January</strong> 21, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.<br />
<strong>Center</strong> for Health, Little Egg Harbor<br />
<strong>February</strong> 9, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness at Hazlet<br />
<strong>February</strong> 12, 2:30 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Brennan Rooms 104/105<br />
<strong>February</strong> 20, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
<strong>February</strong> 26, 1:30 – 7:00 p.m.<br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Conference Room A<br />
Find o<strong>the</strong>r Heart Month events on page 22. <br />
Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
Call 1-800-DOCTORS or 1-800-560-9990 to register for programs.<br />
21
Community Health Programs • Services • Events • Lectures • Screenings • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
MERIDIAN CANCER CARE<br />
Look Good, Feel Better<br />
Get hair and makeup tips to help you<br />
look and feel better. The American Cancer<br />
Society offers this program to individuals<br />
being treated for cancer.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 14, 10:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Cancer <strong>Center</strong> Conference Room<br />
<strong>February</strong> 25, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Fresh Start<br />
This four-session smoking-cessation<br />
program is offered by Meridian Cancer<br />
Care and <strong>the</strong> American Cancer Society.<br />
Participants must attend all four sessions.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 15, 17, 22, and 24, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.<br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>, Conference Room C<br />
Colon-Rectal Cancer<br />
Screening and Lecture<br />
One out of every 25 people in <strong>the</strong> United<br />
States will develop colon-rectal cancer.<br />
With early detection, <strong>the</strong> survival rate can<br />
be as high as 75 percent. Even so, 60,000<br />
people will die from this disease this year.<br />
Vishal Jain, M.D., will review <strong>the</strong> risks, and<br />
participants will take home a simple test<br />
that could be lifesaving.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 24, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Men’s Urologic Health<br />
Join urologist Saad Antoun, M.D., as he<br />
discusses prostate health and o<strong>the</strong>r men’s<br />
health issues.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 6, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at Hazlet<br />
Stop Smoking with Hypnosis<br />
Hypno<strong>the</strong>rapy is effective in alleviating<br />
unwanted habits and developing positive<br />
behaviors and lifestyle changes. Fee is $30.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 13, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Children’s Art Therapy<br />
Meridian Cancer Care offers art <strong>the</strong>rapy<br />
for children ages 4½ to 13 who have<br />
experienced a loss or are dealing with<br />
a chronically or terminally ill loved one.<br />
Registration required. Call 732-530-2382.<br />
MERIDIAN<br />
CARDIOVASCULAR<br />
NETWORK<br />
Exercise, Diet, and a<br />
Healthy Heart<br />
Join Meridian Life Fitness to learn how<br />
exercise, food choices, and medications<br />
play a role in keeping your heart healthy.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 3, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Ocean County Library, Point Pleasant<br />
<strong>February</strong> 12, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.<br />
Meridian Life Fitness: Point Pleasant Beach<br />
Hypertension and You<br />
Are you living with hypertension? Join<br />
Vasantha Perkari, M.D., as she shares ways<br />
to manage it through lifestyle changes.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 10, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at<br />
Hazlet<br />
Preventing Heart Disease at<br />
Any Age<br />
Taking care of your heart now can have<br />
lifelong benefits. Cardiologist Douglas<br />
Chudzik, M.D., will discuss risk factors,<br />
symptoms, and prevention of heart disease<br />
at any age at this informative lecture.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 7, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at<br />
Hazlet<br />
Meridian Women’s Heart<br />
Connection<br />
Women and Heart Disease<br />
Heart disease is <strong>the</strong> number one killer of<br />
American women. Prevention is <strong>the</strong> best<br />
medicine. Come learn your risk for heart<br />
disease and <strong>the</strong> different symptoms that<br />
women may experience.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 12, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Healthy Hearts and Massage<br />
Start your evening off right with a relaxing<br />
chair massage, <strong>the</strong>n listen to cardiologist<br />
Julie Master, D.O., as she provides an<br />
informative talk on risk factors of heart<br />
disease and <strong>the</strong> signs and symptoms that<br />
women experience.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 13<br />
Chair massages: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.<br />
Lecture: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Joan and Robert Rechnitz Conference and<br />
Education <strong>Center</strong><br />
Understanding Your Risk<br />
for Heart Disease<br />
Heart disease remains <strong>the</strong> number<br />
one cause of death. Join a health care<br />
professional who will review your risk<br />
for heart disease and what you can do<br />
about it.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 27, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Peripheral Artery Disease<br />
Peripheral artery disease is a common<br />
circulatory problem in which narrowed<br />
arteries reduce blood flow to <strong>the</strong> limbs.<br />
Join Owano Pennycooke, M.D., for an<br />
informative lecture on causes, diagnosis,<br />
and treatment options for this disease.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 26, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at<br />
Hazlet<br />
Living with Congestive<br />
Heart Failure<br />
Nurse practitioner Kim McCourt will<br />
discuss <strong>the</strong> latest research, risk factors,<br />
symptoms, and how to live with congestive<br />
heart failure.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 27, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Brennan Rooms 104/105<br />
Men’s Health Matters – Just for Men!<br />
Start <strong>the</strong> year off right and join <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> and First<br />
Presbyterian Church Men’s Ministry of Manasquan for a breakfast focusing on men’s<br />
health issues. The morning will include lectures featuring <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> physicians, free health screenings, and educational displays. A light<br />
breakfast will be served. Registration is required.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 2, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.<br />
First Presbyterian Church of Manasquan<br />
22<br />
Call 1-800-DOCTORS or 1-800-560-9990 to register for programs.
MERIDIAN NEUROSCIENCE<br />
Headaches: What Are<br />
<strong>the</strong> Causes?<br />
Join Farag Mankarios, M.D., as he discusses<br />
diagnosis, causes, and <strong>the</strong> latest treatments<br />
for headaches.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 9, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at<br />
Hazlet<br />
Improving Balance Through<br />
Exercise and Balance<br />
Screening<br />
Join physical <strong>the</strong>rapist Pam Eluri as she<br />
discusses <strong>the</strong> importance of exercise to<br />
maintain balance and how to minimize<br />
your risk for episodes of dizziness. Free<br />
balance screenings will be provided.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 18<br />
Lecture: 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Screenings: noon to 1:00 p.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at<br />
Hazlet<br />
Memory Loss<br />
If you or a loved one is experiencing<br />
increased forgetfulness, trouble<br />
concentrating, or difficulty performing<br />
familiar tasks, you may benefit from one of<br />
<strong>the</strong>se informative lectures. Afterward, free<br />
memory screenings will be offered.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 28<br />
Lecture with Richard Rhee, M.D.: 9:30 a.m.<br />
Screenings: 10:00 a.m. – noon<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Brennan Rooms 104/105<br />
Are You Getting a Good<br />
Night’s Sleep?<br />
Do you or does someone you love snore,<br />
have sleep apnea, or suffer from insomnia?<br />
Join pulmonologist Sam Bebawy, M.D.,<br />
and learn what you can do to get a better<br />
night’s sleep.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 29, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong><br />
at Hazlet<br />
Stroke: When Minutes Count<br />
Join Shirley Shook, R.N., as she discusses<br />
lifesaving information on risk factors,<br />
prevention, and detection of stroke. A light<br />
heart-healthy lunch will be served.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 12, noon – 1:30 p.m.<br />
Bayshore Community Hospital<br />
Conference Rooms A and B<br />
Parkinson’s Update<br />
Parkinson’s disease, which causes tremors<br />
and muscular rigidity, affects about 1 million<br />
people in <strong>the</strong> United States. Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> neurologist Tommasina<br />
Papa-Rugino, M.D., will speak on <strong>the</strong> latest<br />
treatments for Parkinson’s.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 15, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Caregiving for <strong>the</strong> Person<br />
with Dementia: Things You<br />
Need to Know<br />
This program will focus on <strong>the</strong> major areas<br />
of concern for families and caregivers of<br />
those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease<br />
or related dementias. Cosponsored with<br />
<strong>the</strong> Alzheimer’s Association. Continental<br />
breakfast served.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 16, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Express Yourself — Group<br />
Speech Therapy<br />
If you’ve had a head injury or stroke and<br />
have already completed speech <strong>the</strong>rapy,<br />
this class may be for you. Continue to<br />
work on your communication skills in<br />
this program, held once a month for six<br />
months. For pricing and registration, call<br />
732-836-4007.<br />
parkinson’s life-enrichment<br />
exercise class<br />
Designed and administered by physical<br />
<strong>the</strong>rapists and exercise specialists, this<br />
program helps people with Parkinson’s<br />
improve <strong>the</strong>ir flexibility, balance, and<br />
strength, enabling <strong>the</strong>m to perform<br />
everyday activities with greater ease.<br />
Call Meridian Life Fitness in Brick at<br />
732-836-4007 for fees and to register.<br />
MERIDIAN PEDIATRIC<br />
NETWORK<br />
Safe Sitter<br />
Meridian offers training for babysitters<br />
ages 11 to 14. In a fun learning environment,<br />
this class will review safety for both<br />
babysitters and <strong>the</strong> children left in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
care, including information on handling<br />
emergencies, first aid, and CPR. The fee<br />
is $40.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 19, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
<strong>February</strong> 18, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.<br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> Conference Room A<br />
<strong>February</strong> 23, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at Hazlet<br />
What to Expect from<br />
Adolescence to <strong>the</strong><br />
Teen Years<br />
Join pediatrician Sharon Yuen, M.D., as<br />
she discusses vaccines, sleep patterns,<br />
attitudes, and body changes in your child<br />
from adolescence to <strong>the</strong> teen years.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 24, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at Hazlet<br />
Car Seat Safety Check<br />
Sponsored by <strong>the</strong> New <strong>Jersey</strong> State Police and<br />
<strong>the</strong> Trauma <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. No registration necessary.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 5, 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
CHILDBIRTH/MATERNITY<br />
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION SERIES<br />
Meridian Health offers classes and seminars<br />
for first-time and experienced parents,<br />
as well as tours, classes for siblings, and<br />
more! Registration required. Please register<br />
before your third trimester. To learn more<br />
about our fun and informative classes, visit<br />
MeridianMomtourage.com.<br />
STRIKE A POSE: YOGA FOR<br />
MOMS AND MOMS-TO-BE<br />
Classes focus on gentle postures, breathing<br />
techniques, and relaxation to prepare for<br />
childbirth or recover after childbirth. Call<br />
Meridian Life Fitness in Point Pleasant at<br />
732-295-1778 for fees and to register.<br />
COUNSELING AND<br />
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH<br />
Addiction Recovery Services<br />
For adult family members of addicted<br />
individuals. Call for information.<br />
Children’s Counseling<br />
Meridian Behavioral Health offers a variety<br />
of counseling services at both our Neptune<br />
and Shrewsbury locations. We offer<br />
age-specific group <strong>the</strong>rapy, a <strong>the</strong>rapeutic<br />
after-school program for children ages 7<br />
to 13, and traditional individual and family<br />
<strong>the</strong>rapy. Call 732-869-2784, ext. 2, for<br />
registration, schedules, and fees.<br />
Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
Call 1-800-DOCTORS or 1-800-560-9990 to register for programs.<br />
25 23
Community Health Programs • Services • Events • Lectures • Screenings • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
DIABETES<br />
Controlling Your Diabetes<br />
Are you having a hard time managing your<br />
diabetes? Join Ammar Bazerbashi, M.D.,<br />
and learn risk factors, latest treatments,<br />
and how you can keep your diabetes under<br />
control.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 15, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at<br />
Hazlet<br />
Comprehensive Diabetes<br />
Management and Education<br />
The focus of diabetes education is on both<br />
<strong>the</strong> person with diabetes and <strong>the</strong> family.<br />
Meridian offers educational and support<br />
programs at all our hospitals on<br />
an individual or group basis for people<br />
with diabetes. In Monmouth County, call<br />
732-530-2555. In Ocean County, call<br />
609-978-3400.<br />
FITNESS<br />
Self-Defense Exercises<br />
Black belt instructor Walter Miller will<br />
teach you how to use balance and leverage<br />
to help defend yourself. Fee is $3 per class.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 3 and 17, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 7 and 21, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Never Exercised Before and<br />
Don’t Know Where to Start?<br />
Join Meridian Life Fitness to learn <strong>the</strong><br />
benefits of exercise, what a basic exercise<br />
routine consists of, and how to make sure<br />
you’re doing what’s right for you.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 10, noon – 1:00 p.m.<br />
Meridian Life Fitness: Point Pleasant Beach<br />
Yoga for Golfers<br />
Join Meridian Life Fitness for this demo<br />
class and find out how doing yoga<br />
can improve your flexibility and your<br />
golf game.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 12, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.<br />
Meridian Life Fitness: Point Pleasant Beach<br />
Exercise Can Keep Your<br />
Heart Healthy<br />
Join physical <strong>the</strong>rapist James McCracken<br />
and learn how you can start a safe exercise<br />
program to help keep your heart healthy.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 21, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong> at<br />
Hazlet<br />
Gentle Fitness Classes<br />
Learn how exercise can improve your life. A<br />
variety of classes that include a combination<br />
of strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular<br />
exercises are offered: Arthritis Foundation<br />
Classes (land, pool, and Tai Chi), Zumba®<br />
Gold, Back Streng<strong>the</strong>ning, Pre/Post Bariatric<br />
Exercise Class, and Balance Training. Call<br />
732-206-8263 for fees and locations.<br />
NUTRITION<br />
Weight Loss with Hypnosis<br />
Jaime Pitner, MICP, RNC, will lead a session<br />
to help you lose weight with hypno<strong>the</strong>rapy.<br />
Hypnosis is effective in alleviating unwanted<br />
habits and developing positive behaviors<br />
and lifestyle changes. Fee: $30.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 9, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
FREE Lecture: Jump-Start<br />
Your Weight-Loss Goals<br />
Join Meridian Life Fitness for this<br />
informative discussion on weight loss<br />
and what a healthy weight-loss program<br />
consists of. Learn tips for success.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 14, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.<br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>: Community Room<br />
13 Keys to Improving Your<br />
Health in 2013<br />
It’s that time of year again when we all try<br />
to make healthy changes. Liz Amisson, R.D.,<br />
will discuss her top 13 tips to guide you in<br />
improving your diet and exercise.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 24, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Nutrition Counseling<br />
Consult a registered dietician to design<br />
a food plan that meets your weightmanagement<br />
and medical-nutrition needs.<br />
To register, call Riverview <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
at 732-530-2555, Meridian Life Fitness at<br />
732-295-1778, or Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong><br />
<strong>Center</strong> at 609-978-3400.<br />
Weight-Loss and<br />
Wellness Programs<br />
Meridian Life Fitness offers a variety<br />
of weight-loss, wellness, and nutrition<br />
programs to suit your lifestyle, including<br />
Lose for Life, a medical weight-loss<br />
program, and <strong>the</strong> ability to meet with a<br />
wellness advisor. Call 732-206-8263 for<br />
more information or to register.<br />
ORTHOPEDICS AND<br />
SPORTS MEDICINE<br />
My Achy Back<br />
Approximately 80 percent of Americans<br />
will suffer back pain at some point in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
lives. Learn what you can do to prevent it.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 24, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Ocean County Library, 834 Beaver Dam Road,<br />
Point Pleasant<br />
Analyze Your Gait to<br />
Improve Your Run: Lecture<br />
with Foot Screenings<br />
Learn how <strong>the</strong> MotionXcellence Sports<br />
Performance Lab can analyze your gait to<br />
help improve your run. Learn what to look<br />
for in footwear based on your type of foot.<br />
Foot screenings available.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 28, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.<br />
Meridian Life Fitness & Rehabilitation<br />
Suffering from<br />
Shoulder Pain?<br />
Join orthopedic surgeon Michael<br />
Cunningham, M.D., for an informative<br />
discussion on <strong>the</strong> causes, latest treatment<br />
options, and determining whe<strong>the</strong>r or not<br />
you are a candidate for shoulder surgery.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 31, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong><br />
at Hazlet<br />
Putting Your Best<br />
Foot Forward<br />
Learn how faulty foot mechanics can lead to<br />
many dysfunctions — not just in <strong>the</strong> foot,<br />
but in <strong>the</strong> knee, hip, and back — and what is<br />
<strong>the</strong> best footwear for your foot. FREE foot<br />
screening is available following <strong>the</strong> lecture.<br />
To register, call 732-206-8263.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 7, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Ocean County Library, 834 Beaver Dam Road,<br />
Point Pleasant<br />
Minimally Invasive<br />
Joint Replacement<br />
More than 300,000 knee and hip<br />
replacement surgeries are done each year,<br />
and <strong>the</strong> age for replacements is getting<br />
younger. David Rodricks, M.D., will explain<br />
who’s a candidate for knee replacement<br />
and <strong>the</strong> latest in minimally invasive<br />
techniques.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 21, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
24<br />
Call 1-800-DOCTORS or 1-800-560-9990 to register for programs.
SCREENINGS<br />
SENIOR PROGRAMS<br />
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY<br />
New Year, New You<br />
Start <strong>the</strong> year off right. Join experts from<br />
Meridian Health for an informative lecture<br />
on good health, nutrition, and exercise.<br />
Free health screenings will be provided.<br />
Registration is required.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 8<br />
Lecture: 10:00 a.m.<br />
Screenings: 10:30 a.m. – noon<br />
Manchester Library<br />
21 Colonial Drive<br />
<strong>January</strong> 12<br />
Lecture: 9:00 a.m.<br />
Screenings: 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong><br />
at Hazlet<br />
Blood Pressure Screenings<br />
First and third Wednesday of <strong>the</strong> month,<br />
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
BALANCE SCREENING<br />
Minimize your risk for falls or episodes of<br />
dizziness. Call 732-206-8263 to register for<br />
a free balance screening.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 15, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.<br />
Meridian Life Rehabilitation, Ocean <strong>Medical</strong><br />
<strong>Center</strong><br />
<strong>February</strong> 7, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.<br />
Meridian Life Rehabilitation, Point Pleasant<br />
Diabetes Foot Screening<br />
For an appointment, call <strong>the</strong> Wound <strong>Center</strong><br />
at Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> at<br />
609-978-3077.<br />
First Wednesday of each month<br />
Noon – 1:00 p.m.<br />
Ocean County Cholesterol<br />
and Blood Pressure<br />
Screenings for<br />
Low-Income Seniors<br />
Funding provided by Ocean County Board<br />
of Chosen Freeholders for qualified<br />
residents ages 60 and older. Call for dates,<br />
times, and locations.<br />
AARP Driving<br />
Safety Program<br />
Driving program for adults ages 50 and<br />
older who want to develop safe, defensive<br />
driving techniques. Certificates awarded.<br />
(This class is not recognized in <strong>the</strong> states of<br />
Florida and New York.) Fee is $12 for AARP<br />
members and $14 for nonmembers. Make<br />
checks payable to AARP. Call for dates.<br />
Fall Prevention<br />
Do you know how to prevent falls in your<br />
home and outside this winter? Come learn<br />
tips on keeping yourself safe and active.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 15, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Solutions to<br />
Balance Problems<br />
Join Meridian Life Rehabilitation to learn<br />
how your vestibular system influences<br />
your balance and what treatment options<br />
are available for those with balance and<br />
dizziness symptoms.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 17, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.<br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Conference Room A<br />
Fall Prevention<br />
Exercise Demo<br />
Join Meridian Life Fitness for this demo<br />
class to help improve your balance through<br />
exercise.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 25, noon – 12:30 p.m.<br />
Meridian Life Fitness: Point Pleasant Beach<br />
Incontinence: Take Control<br />
Do you or does a loved one suffer from<br />
bladder control problems? Urologist<br />
Deep Trivedi, M.D., will share <strong>the</strong> latest<br />
treatments for bladder control and urinary<br />
function. This seminar can help you reclaim<br />
an active and healthy lifestyle.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 29, 11 a.m. – noon<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Forever Fit Mature<br />
Adult Fitness<br />
Registration is not necessary for this<br />
60-minute adult fitness program. Fee: $3.50<br />
per session. Bring payment to class.<br />
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays<br />
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.<br />
Stafford Community <strong>Center</strong>, Manahawkin<br />
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY:<br />
THE FACTS<br />
Karl Strom, M.D., medical director of <strong>the</strong><br />
Bariatric <strong>Center</strong> of Excellence at Sou<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> and Bayshore<br />
Community Hospital, and surgeons<br />
Jonathan Reich, M.D., and Silvia Fresco,<br />
M.D., will host educational programs on <strong>the</strong><br />
benefits of weight-loss surgery.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 8, <strong>February</strong> 12, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
Ocean County Library<br />
100 Washington St., Toms River<br />
<strong>January</strong> 9, <strong>February</strong> 13, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
<strong>January</strong> 10, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.<br />
Bayshore Community Hospital<br />
Ground Floor Conference Room<br />
<strong>January</strong> 17 and <strong>February</strong> 21, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong><br />
at Hazlet<br />
Options for Weight-<br />
Loss Surgery<br />
Join Seth Kipnis, M.D., for this program on<br />
<strong>the</strong> benefits of weight-loss surgery.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 9, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 6, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Brennan Rooms 104/105<br />
GENERAL WELLNESS<br />
SURGERY TODAY: HERNIAS<br />
AND GALLBLADDERS<br />
Do you need your gallbladder? What are<br />
hernias? Surgeon Emil Shakou, M.D., will<br />
discuss how surgery has changed and<br />
what <strong>the</strong> latest minimally invasive surgical<br />
techniques are.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 9, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
GENEALOGY BEYOND<br />
THE BASICS<br />
If you tried and failed to find those<br />
branches of your family tree, come join us.<br />
This class is designed for those who have<br />
already started a family tree and have basic<br />
computer skills.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 15, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
Call 1-800-DOCTORS or 1-800-560-9990 to register for programs.<br />
25
Community Health Programs • Services • Events • Lectures • Screenings • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
CELIAC DISEASE<br />
Celiac disease is characterized by poor<br />
food absorption and intolerance to gluten.<br />
Megan Linberry, PA-C, will discuss signs,<br />
symptoms, and treatments.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 22, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
VARICOSE VEINS: CAUSES AND<br />
TREATMENT OPTIONS<br />
Varicose veins are dilated veins in your<br />
legs that may cause mild to severe pain.<br />
Join Meridian experts as <strong>the</strong>y discuss what<br />
varicose veins are, <strong>the</strong>ir causes, and <strong>the</strong><br />
latest in treatment options.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 22, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong><br />
at Hazlet<br />
Speaker: Girija Surya, M.D.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 31, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Brennan Rooms 104/105<br />
Speaker: Lawrence Mueller, M.D.<br />
Free leg screenings will be provided.<br />
FOR WOMEN ONLY<br />
As you age, your body goes through many<br />
different changes. Join Adi Smolinsky, M.D.,<br />
as she discusses women’s changes after <strong>the</strong><br />
age of 50: what to expect and things you<br />
may be at risk for.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 4, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.<br />
Meridian Fitness and Wellness <strong>Center</strong><br />
at Hazlet<br />
NATIONAL SAFETY DEFENSIVE<br />
DRIVING CLASS<br />
Open to anyone who wants to develop<br />
safe, defensive driving techniques and<br />
save on your insurance policy. Certificates<br />
awarded. Fee: $18 (additional $10 fee for<br />
point reduction).<br />
<strong>February</strong> 11, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
GENEALOGY<br />
Interested in tracing your family history?<br />
Join us for a hands-on session in our<br />
computer learning center. Class maximum<br />
is 16 students.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 12, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
LIVING WITH CHRONIC<br />
OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY<br />
DISEASE (COPD)<br />
COPD is a combination of chronic<br />
bronchitis, emphysema, and small-airway<br />
disease. Come review <strong>the</strong> latest treatments<br />
available and learn tips to keep your<br />
lungs healthy.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 13, 11:00 a.m. – noon<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
INTRO TO IPAD, FACEBOOK,<br />
AND TWITTER<br />
Have you heard people using <strong>the</strong> words<br />
“tweet,” “friend me,” and “iPad” and<br />
wondered what <strong>the</strong>y were talking about?<br />
Come learn about <strong>the</strong> iPad and see a<br />
demonstration firsthand. Learn how to set<br />
up accounts for Facebook and Twitter, how<br />
to send/receive messages using this social<br />
networking technology, and more. Fee: $10.<br />
<strong>February</strong> 18 and 20, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.<br />
Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township<br />
MEET WITH A<br />
WELLNESS ADVISOR<br />
Consult with a Wellness Advisor at<br />
Meridian Life Fitness to learn how our<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> Fitness Membership or Wellness<br />
Coaching can help you stay motivated to<br />
manage symptoms of chronic conditions<br />
such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease,<br />
osteoporosis, and many o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />
Call 732-206-8263 to speak to a<br />
Wellness Advisor.<br />
REFLEXOLOGY<br />
Reflexology is a holistic form of healing<br />
through applying pressure at designated<br />
points on <strong>the</strong> body (most commonly <strong>the</strong><br />
feet) that benefits <strong>the</strong> entire mind-body<br />
system. Reflexology is offered at Meridian<br />
Life Fitness in Brick on Wednesday<br />
mornings. Call for fees and to schedule an<br />
appointment at 732-836-4007.<br />
CPR TRAINING<br />
All Meridian Health hospitals are<br />
American Heart Association CPR<br />
training centers. Call for dates, times,<br />
locations, and classes offered.<br />
MERIDIAN PROGRAMS<br />
AND SERVICES<br />
BOOKER HEALTH SCIENCES<br />
LIBRARY HOME DELIVERY<br />
The Booker Health Sciences Library at<br />
<strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
accepts requests from anyone looking to<br />
learn more about a medical topic, disease,<br />
or condition. The library sends a packet<br />
of reliable information to you at no cost.<br />
Contact <strong>the</strong> library by:<br />
• Phone: 732-776-4265<br />
• Fax: 732-776-4530<br />
• Email: jsumclibrary@meridianhealth.com<br />
CLINICAL TRIALS<br />
Choosing to participate in a clinical trial is<br />
an important personal decision. To learn<br />
more about current clinical trials available at<br />
Meridian Health, visit us at MeridianHealth.<br />
com, call 732-776-2953, or email us at<br />
clinicaltrials@meridianhealth.com.<br />
INFECTIOUS DISEASE CLINIC<br />
Exams, testing, and treatment of sexually<br />
transmitted and o<strong>the</strong>r infectious diseases are<br />
available at this clinic, located at <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong><br />
University <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. Call 732-774-0151<br />
to schedule a free, confidential appointment.<br />
PERSONAL ENRICHMENT<br />
PROGRAMS<br />
The Family Resource <strong>Center</strong> at <strong>the</strong> Ocean Club,<br />
Stafford Township, offers personal enrichment<br />
programs, including computer classes,<br />
genealogy, self-defense, and more. Call for<br />
current class offerings, dates, and times.<br />
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS<br />
Meridian Health is happy to arrange custom<br />
health-education programs to meet <strong>the</strong> needs<br />
of your community group, organization, or<br />
school. Call 732-751-7590 to learn more.<br />
SUPPORT GROUPS<br />
Meridian offers support groups for<br />
bereavement; caregivers; diabetes; anorexia<br />
and bulimia; breast, lung, prostate, thyroid,<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>r cancers; Alzheimer’s disease; stroke;<br />
Parkinson’s disease; sleep disorders; celiac<br />
disease; Mended Hearts; weight loss; and more.<br />
Call for more information, dates, and times.<br />
26 Call 1-800-DOCTORS or 1-800-560-9990 to register for programs.
Could Too Much<br />
Harm Your Heart?<br />
Roses are red, violets are<br />
blue, sugar is sweet—and<br />
you may be eating way too<br />
much. It’s <strong>the</strong> newest diet warning:<br />
Added sugars are taking a toll on<br />
heart health.<br />
The average American consumes<br />
more than 22 teaspoons or 355<br />
calories of added sugars per day. That<br />
means sugars that are put into <strong>the</strong><br />
foods you eat, ra<strong>the</strong>r than those that<br />
occur naturally in fruits, vegetables,<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>r unprocessed products.<br />
What’s so wrong with a sweet<br />
treat? Sugar provides fuel but has<br />
no o<strong>the</strong>r nutritional value. Eating<br />
more sugar than we need has been<br />
linked to:<br />
• Higher triglyceride and lower<br />
“good” HDL cholesterol levels<br />
• Tooth decay<br />
• Trouble controlling diabetes<br />
• Obesity<br />
• Heart disease<br />
Most added sugars in our diets<br />
come from soft drinks and o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
beverages, candy, baked goods,<br />
and ice cream. They also lurk<br />
Sweet Tips for Healthier Desserts<br />
where you wouldn’t expect <strong>the</strong>m:<br />
dairy products such as some<br />
yogurt, canned fruits and fruit<br />
drinks, and cereal.<br />
Experts at <strong>the</strong> American Heart<br />
Association recommend women<br />
get no more than 100 calories a<br />
day from added sugars and men<br />
no more than 150 calories. To<br />
spot sugars, check food labels<br />
for amounts. Remember that<br />
1 gram is about 4 calories. And<br />
look for <strong>the</strong>se red-flag words in<br />
ingredient lists:<br />
• Cane juice or syrup<br />
• Corn sweetener or syrup<br />
• Dextrose, fructose, or glucose<br />
• Lactose or maltose<br />
• Molasses<br />
Buy sugar-free or low-calorie<br />
beverages. Cut back on <strong>the</strong><br />
amount of sugar you add to items<br />
like coffee and oatmeal. Baking?<br />
Reduce <strong>the</strong> amount of sugar you<br />
add by one-third to one-half.<br />
Add flavor with almond or vanilla<br />
extracts, or use spices such as<br />
ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. •<br />
Have a sweet tooth? Simple changes to your dessert<br />
recipes can make <strong>the</strong>m healthier — while keeping all <strong>the</strong><br />
flavor. For some sweet tips on lowering fat, cutting calories, and<br />
limiting sugar, visit Wellness<strong>Center</strong>.meridianhealth.com. Just<br />
search for “light desserts.”<br />
Chicken Gumbo<br />
This warm, satisfying meal<br />
will stick to your ribs — while<br />
benefiting your heart.<br />
Ingredients<br />
1 tsp. vegetable oil<br />
¼ cup flour<br />
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth<br />
1½ lb. chicken breast, skinless<br />
and boneless, cut into 1-inch<br />
strips<br />
1 cup white potatoes, cubed<br />
1 cup onions, chopped<br />
1 cup carrots, chopped<br />
½ medium carrot, grated<br />
¼ cup celery, chopped<br />
4 cloves garlic, finely minced<br />
2 stalks scallion, chopped<br />
1 whole bay leaf<br />
½ tsp. thyme<br />
½ tsp. ground black pepper<br />
1 cup okra, sliced into ½-inch<br />
pieces<br />
To taste: jalapeño pepper<br />
Directions<br />
1. Add oil to a large pot and heat<br />
over a medium flame.<br />
2. Stir in <strong>the</strong> flour. Cook, stirring<br />
constantly, until <strong>the</strong> flour<br />
begins to turn golden brown.<br />
3. Slowly stir in all <strong>the</strong> broth<br />
using a wire whisk. Cook for<br />
2 minutes. The mixture should<br />
not be lumpy.<br />
4. Add <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> ingredients<br />
except <strong>the</strong> okra. Bring to a<br />
boil, <strong>the</strong>n reduce <strong>the</strong> heat<br />
and let simmer for 20 to<br />
30 minutes.<br />
5. Add <strong>the</strong> okra and cook for<br />
15 to 20 more minutes.<br />
6. Remove <strong>the</strong> bay leaf and<br />
serve.<br />
Yield: 8 servings<br />
Serving size: ¾ cup<br />
Each serving provides:<br />
Calories: 165, Total fat: 4 g,<br />
Saturated fat: 1 g, Cholesterol:<br />
51 mg, Sodium: 81 mg, Fiber: 2 g,<br />
Protein: 21 g, Carbohydrates:<br />
11 g, Potassium: 349 mg<br />
Healthy Highlights<br />
Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
27
What 4 Common Heart Tests<br />
Can Tell You<br />
Meridian Health<br />
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
28<br />
If your doctor lowers her<br />
stethoscope and says you need<br />
a cardiac test, take heart. Many<br />
screenings and procedures are quick,<br />
painless, and noninvasive. They give<br />
your caregivers an accurate picture of<br />
your heart health — and help ensure<br />
that your ticker keeps on ticking.<br />
Here are four common tests you may<br />
need to have done.<br />
1<br />
Don’t Stress Over a<br />
Stress Test<br />
The “stress” in this test is nothing to<br />
worry about. “It’s simply an indication<br />
of how your heart responds to work,”<br />
explains Tommy K. Ng, M.D., of<br />
Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ocean <strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>.<br />
Also called a treadmill test or an<br />
exercise test, it’s usually performed<br />
while you walk on a treadmill.<br />
Tiny wires connect your chest to<br />
Dale E. Edlin, M.D.<br />
Board certified in Cardiovascular<br />
Disease, Internal Medicine, and<br />
Nuclear Cardiology<br />
Shrewsbury • 732-542-7600<br />
Thomas Komorowski, M.D.<br />
Board certified in Cardiovascular<br />
Disease, Interventional Cardiology,<br />
and Internal Medicine<br />
Brick • 732-840-0600<br />
Leonid Mandel, M.D.<br />
Board certified in<br />
Internal Medicine and<br />
Cardiovascular Disease<br />
Neptune • 732-776-8500<br />
Tommy K. Ng, M.D.<br />
Board certified in Cardiovascular<br />
Disease, Interventional Cardiology,<br />
and Internal Medicine<br />
Manahawkin • 609-978-2337<br />
monitoring equipment that tracks<br />
your heart while you move. After<br />
exercising, you rest while your heart<br />
and blood pressure are checked.<br />
A stress test can:<br />
• Reveal an inadequate blood supply<br />
to your heart<br />
• Help <strong>the</strong> doctor diagnose<br />
symptoms such as chest pain,<br />
light-headedness, or shortness<br />
of breath<br />
• Evaluate your response to<br />
medications<br />
• Suggest what type of exercise<br />
you should do<br />
“In some cases, <strong>the</strong> test is done on<br />
a stationary bike or with medication<br />
that temporarily speeds up your<br />
heart rate,” Dr. Ng says. O<strong>the</strong>r<br />
options include a stress echo, which<br />
is an ultrasound scan of your heart<br />
at work, and a thallium stress test,<br />
which uses a radioactive substance<br />
and special photographs to show<br />
how well blood flows into your heart<br />
during and after exercise.<br />
2<br />
EKG: A Picture of Your<br />
Heart Health<br />
You’ve probably seen those graphs<br />
that show a heartbeat as a series<br />
of peaks and valleys. Those images<br />
are called electrocardiograms —<br />
abbreviated as EKGs or ECGs — and<br />
<strong>the</strong>y record <strong>the</strong> heart’s electrical<br />
activity.<br />
“EKG testing is fast, simple, and<br />
painless,” says Leonid Mandel,<br />
M.D., of <strong>Jersey</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> University<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. While you lie down,<br />
electrodes are placed at specific<br />
points on your chest, arms, and legs.<br />
You won’t feel anything, but <strong>the</strong><br />
procedure will be tracing <strong>the</strong> activity<br />
of your heart.<br />
Abnormal tracings may indicate<br />
problems such as:<br />
• Heart damage<br />
caused by a heart<br />
attack or reduced<br />
oxygen levels in<br />
your heart<br />
• An abnormal heart<br />
rhythm, called an<br />
arrhythmia<br />
• A problem with<br />
a heart valve<br />
“EKGs are also<br />
used to check how<br />
well a pacemaker<br />
is functioning or<br />
determine whe<strong>the</strong>r heart medication<br />
or o<strong>the</strong>r treatments have been<br />
effective,” Dr. Mandel says.<br />
3<br />
Going Deeper with<br />
Cardiac Cath<br />
If a stress test or EKG suggests<br />
you could have heart disease,<br />
your doctor may need to perform<br />
cardiac ca<strong>the</strong>terization to arrive at<br />
a diagnosis. “Also known as ‘cardiac<br />
cath,’ <strong>the</strong> test is often done on an<br />
outpatient basis,” notes Thomas<br />
Komorowski, M.D., of Ocean<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong>.<br />
During <strong>the</strong> procedure, a small,<br />
hollow tube called a ca<strong>the</strong>ter is<br />
inserted into a blood vessel in your<br />
groin or arm and threaded up toward<br />
your heart. Once it’s in place, your<br />
doctor can perform tests and even<br />
some treatment procedures.<br />
“One common test is called<br />
coronary angiography or<br />
arteriography,” Dr. Komorowski says.<br />
Dye is injected into <strong>the</strong> ca<strong>the</strong>ter so it<br />
flows into your heart. Then, with <strong>the</strong><br />
use of a special type of X-ray called<br />
fluoroscopy, any blockages in your<br />
arteries will be visible.<br />
Cardiac cath can help identify issues<br />
such as coronary artery disease, heart<br />
failure, and birth defects.
When Dotty Petrenko’s leg hurt<br />
while walking, it turned out she had<br />
a blockage in her femoral artery … a<br />
serious condition that could lead to<br />
amputation. Her doctor performed<br />
angioplasty, inserting a stent that<br />
opened her artery and saved her leg.<br />
4 Echocardiography:<br />
A Moving Image<br />
To evaluate <strong>the</strong> heart’s structures as<br />
well as its function, doctors often<br />
turn to echocardiography, or “echo.”<br />
“This painless, noninvasive test uses<br />
high-frequency sound waves to<br />
create a moving image of <strong>the</strong> heart,”<br />
explains Dale Edlin, M.D., of Riverview<br />
<strong>Medical</strong> <strong>Center</strong> and Bayshore<br />
Community Hospital.<br />
First, you’re connected to an EKG<br />
monitor to create heart tracings that<br />
can be compared with <strong>the</strong> images<br />
produced by <strong>the</strong> echo. Then, <strong>the</strong><br />
examination room is darkened, warm<br />
gel is rubbed across your chest,<br />
and a wand called a transducer is<br />
positioned over your heart. When<br />
<strong>the</strong> transducer is held at certain<br />
locations and angles, <strong>the</strong> sound<br />
waves bounce or “echo” off <strong>the</strong> heart<br />
structures. These waves are sent to a<br />
computer to create moving images<br />
of <strong>the</strong> heart walls and valves.<br />
Echo images can help diagnose:<br />
• Prior heart damage from artery<br />
disease or viruses<br />
• An enlarged heart<br />
• Heart defects<br />
• Congestive heart failure<br />
• Aneurysms<br />
• Malfunctioning heart valves<br />
Top Care for Matters of <strong>the</strong> Heart<br />
Chris Morano is a black belt<br />
in karate, and his heart attack<br />
caught him totally off guard. In<br />
<strong>the</strong> cardiac ca<strong>the</strong>terization lab,<br />
doctors treated him with three<br />
stents. “My life was saved that<br />
day,” Chris says.<br />
At <strong>the</strong> age of 48, Jane Drucker<br />
didn’t realize how her stressful<br />
job was affecting her health. Then<br />
she suffered a heart attack. After<br />
treatment including cardiac rehab,<br />
she’s back to enjoying an active life.<br />
• Tumors<br />
• An inflammation or infection of <strong>the</strong><br />
sac surrounding <strong>the</strong> heart<br />
“An echocardiogram may also be<br />
performed to assess <strong>the</strong> heart’s overall<br />
function and general structure,”<br />
Dr. Edlin adds. •<br />
Meridian CardioVascular Network offers a complete range of heart<br />
and vascular services, from prevention to advanced surgery and<br />
rehabilitation. View inspiring stories from our patients, including <strong>the</strong><br />
three pictured on this page, at MeridianCardioVascularNetwork.com.<br />
Meridian HealthViews • <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> 2013<br />
29
Become our next featured community<br />
member. See details below.<br />
My<br />
health views on …<br />
When Red Bank resident Jennifer<br />
Carbone turned 40 last year,<br />
she realized that she had to put<br />
a little more effort into staying<br />
healthy and keeping pounds at<br />
bay. Here’s what works for her.<br />
… dancing it off<br />
Most nights of <strong>the</strong> week, I come home from<br />
work and do 20 to 40 minutes of <strong>the</strong> “Just<br />
Dance” video game on my Wii. It’s so much<br />
fun, I work up a sweat, and it’s easy to quickly<br />
fit in before dinner. I actually look forward to it<br />
because it feels more like just having fun than<br />
working out.<br />
… satisfying snack attacks<br />
At work, I stock up on snacks like string cheese,<br />
almonds, apples, and baby carrots. That way I<br />
always have healthy, satisfying options available.<br />
Plus, <strong>the</strong>y keep me from giving in to office<br />
treats like birthday cake and candy. Those<br />
calories quickly add up!<br />
MeridianHealth.com • 1-800-DOCTORS<br />
30<br />
… getting a move on<br />
Whenever possible, I try to walk to colleagues’<br />
desks instead of emailing <strong>the</strong>m. I always have a<br />
mug of water on my desk, so I frequently get<br />
up to refill it. I try to build as much activity into<br />
my workday to help break up <strong>the</strong> amount of<br />
time I spend sitting.<br />
Jennifer Carbone enjoys exercising with <strong>the</strong> game “Just Dance” on her Wii at<br />
home. It’s easy to fit in after her workday. “It feels more like just having fun than<br />
working out,” she says.<br />
Picture This:<br />
Your Photo and Story in Meridian HealthViews!<br />
Are you part of a workout team? Do you exercise or play a sport with a friend, sibling, neighbor, or<br />
coworker? We want to hear about it! Email your story to healthviews@meridianhealth.com or post it at<br />
www.facebook.com/MeridianHealthNJ. You could be featured in an upcoming issue! As a thank-you,<br />
everyone who submits a story for consideration will receive a FREE cookbook full of healthy recipes!
Unstoppable.<br />
With his health at a crossroad, Joseph kept going.<br />
A bricklayer for 55 years, Howell resident Joseph Meaghan always found his life’s<br />
work liberating. That was until a partially clogged artery threatened his independence<br />
and his livelihood. Joseph turned to <strong>the</strong> experts of Meridian CardioVascular Network<br />
with <strong>the</strong> most complete cardiac care in <strong>the</strong> region. There, his cardiovascular team<br />
acted quickly and used a stent to open his artery and restore blood flow to his heart.<br />
Today, Joseph has regained his balance, his breath, and his coveted spot on <strong>the</strong> crew.<br />
The words “slow down” never did apply to Joseph Meaghan. To put it simply,<br />
he never quits.<br />
To learn more about Joseph’s relentless heart,<br />
visit MeridianCardioVascularNetwork.com.<br />
For a physician, call 1-800-DOCTORS.<br />
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