Page 27 - midJersey Business - January 2015

AREA HEALTHCARE INNOVATIONS

HEART OF THE MATTER
for hip and knee replacement, and spine variety of textures will enable patients with

● Providing cutting-edge imaging via ro- surgery—the irst hospital to receive this dis- autism to self-soothe and better deal with
botic technology and positioning lexibility tinction in the region. The hospital’s intense the stress of being in the hospital.

that has unique applications in angiogra- focus on orthopedic care over the past ive
phy, cardiology, and surgical procedures, years mirrors the growing prevalence for GET WIRED

St. Francis Medical Center became joint replacement procedures in the United ● For the 13th year, Hunterdon
the irst medical facility in Mercer County to States and has led it to establish the Center Healthcare was named one of the “100

offer the Artis zeego multi-axis C-arm sys- for Orthopedic and Spine Health. The Most Wired” hospitals in the country, ac-
tem from Siemens Healthcare. Located in multidisciplinary program brings together cording a survey by Hospitals and Health

a new hybrid lab, this technology combines a highly trained team of orthopedic special- Networks magazine. To be included on
the imaging capabilities of a cardiac cath- ists, pain management professionals, and this list, hospitals must invest in technol-

eterization lab with the sterile environment physical and occupational therapists.
ogy to streamline business and clinical

of a conventional operating room (OR).
“Certiication from The Joint Commission practices and improve patient safety and
Cath labs are used for minimally invasive is evidence of RWJ Hamilton’s longstand- clinical outcomes.

catheter procedures such as balloon ing commitment to quality,” says Roy Say- Hunterdon Healthcare has focused
angioplasties, while standard ORs are les, RN, orthopedic program coordinator.
on the implementation of the electronic

used for more invasive procedures such medical record system, which promotes
as open-heart surgery. “The hybrid OR A MORE CALMING ER
better communication between multiple

enables physicians to do procedures
● Capital Health has launched an healthcare providers by allowing them
that may require minimally invasive and autism-friendly program in its pediatric to view one common medical record for

open-surgery techniques simultaneously,” emergency department to better serve each patient.
says Jay K. Patel, MD, medical director of patients with autism spectrum disorder This record contains medical history,

the St. Francis cardiac catheterization and (ASD) and their families. Pediatric emer- drug allergies, immunizations, and treat-
interventional department.
gency department staff at Capital Health ments prescribed by primary care provid-

St. Francis, along with sister hospital Our Medical Center—Hopewell has received ers and specialists, including test results.
Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, also made specialized training to recognize the

news by recruiting Robert Poston, MD, a behaviors that characterize autism and TOP MARKS

physician nationally known for his work in provide a calming setting for patients
● The clinical care provided by Univer-
the use of robotics for minimally invasive as well as to better communicate with sity Medical Center of Princeton

cardiac surgery. He joins the department of patients with ASD.
(UMCP) has earned its sixth straight “A” in
cardiovascular surgery at St. Francis.
“Because the emergency room can patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, a

Dr. Poston is one of only a handful of seem like an extremely threatening place national nonprofit working to improve the
cardiac surgeons in the nation to offer for children and especially children with safety, quality, and affordability of health-

robot-assisted minimally invasive coronary autism, we realized we needed to imple- care. The Leapfrog Group calculates and
bypass surgery. This procedure doesn’t ment practices to create a better encoun- publishes the letter grades semiannually

require the more conventional splitting of ter for them and their families,” says Zach- through the Hospital Safety Score, a peer-
the sternum and results in less pain and ary Kassutto, MD, medical director, Capital reviewed rating system based on data

blood loss, a shorter hospital stay, fewer Health pediatric emergency department.
related to preventable medical errors,
complications, and a faster return to nor- In addition to receiving special training, injuries, accidents, and infections. UMCP

mal activities.
pediatric emergency nurses will use iPads has earned all A’s since the grades were
Over the past several years, St. Francis— with apps designed to help staff com- first published in spring 2012.

part of Trinity Health—has invested nearly municate with patients with autism and “This rating further validates that our
$10 million on facility and capital equip- verbally impaired patients. The devices patients and their loved ones can trust

ment improvements to support the growth help medical providers learn the reason in the safety and quality of the care we

of the cardiac surgery program.
why the patient has arrived for care, the provide,” says Barry S. Rabner, president
patient’s pain and discomfort level, and his and CEO of Princeton HealthCare Sys-
FOCUS ON
or her communication preferences. It also tem, which includes UMCP. “The quality
ORTHOPEDIC CARE
enables staff to better explain what the pa- of care also is evidenced by our inpatient

● Robert Wood Johnson University tients can expect during their visit to allevi- satisfaction scores, which consistently
Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) has ate fear and confusion. In addition, the use rank among the top 1 percent of hospi-

earned The Joint Commission’s certiication
of sensory boxes containing objects with a
tals in New Jersey.”

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