Wellness Waves

Individuals with autism often have differences from neurotypical patients related to communication, pain perception, and other treatments, highlighting the importance of autism training for hospital and emergency department staff. This can help prevent unnecessary care delays or misdiagnosis, patient anxiety, and potential sensory meltdowns. Bergen New Bridge Medical Center's Emergency Department recently received the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). In addition to the training and certification, IBCCES also completed an onsite review of the Medical Center to provide additional recommendations to enhance the overall experience for autistic and sensory-sensitive patients and their families.Darian Eletto, Chief Clinical Officer, Behavioral Health Services, and Julia Orlando, Vice President of Integrative Services, will discuss the certification process and what it means for Bergen New Bridge.

Regardless of whether you are running a marathon, biking your favorite trail or taking your first steps toward a healthier life; the same expertise used for the competitive athlete can be applied to return the individual. Sports medicine takes a team approach to address injuries and lingering conditions that impede overall health, wellness, and functionality. Although 90% of sports and exercise related injuries can be resolved without surgery, 10% require the intervention of an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Raunak Singh, sports medicine physician, and Dr. Christopher Inzerillo, Chair of Orthopedics, discuss common injuries, prevention, and when surgical intervention is necessary.

Now more than ever, partnerships between higher education and healthcare have become essential. Higher education helps shape the next generation of healthcare workers and the healthcare industry relies on solid education and training for their employees. With the ever-changing landscape of the healthcare industry, both groups must work together to ensure that the education and training received by students fits their reality once they are on the job. Since the pandemic, staffing shortages have significantly increased in healthcare and higher education is partnering to help address this need.

No one likes to think about the end of their or a loved one's life, but advanced planning is essential. Krishna Shah, Director of Social Services for Long Term Care at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center discusses how developing a plan provides security, making your healthcare and financial choices clear to everyone.

At least one-in-eight teenagers have misused an illicit substance in the last year, including opioids, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and more. Fifty percent of teens said they have misused drugs at least once and more than 62% of high school seniors reported abusing alcohol. How do we stop teens from experiencing high risk substance use? And how do we treat and support those who are facing their addiction?At Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, the Teen T.H.R.I.V.E. program serves adolescents between the ages of 13 – 17, offering them the ability to focus on recovering from alcohol, drugs, abuse, and addiction. The program encompasses multiple levels of care, including the involvement of their loved ones in the treatment and recovery process.

The impact of opioid addiction and overdoses continues to be felt in New Jersey and across the country. Since 2018, tens of thousands of New Jerseyans have experienced an overdose and more than 15,000 have died of a suspected drug-related death. To combat this epidemic, New Jersey has worked to increase harm reduction efforts throughout the state including expanding the availability of naloxone through statewide distribution days. In January 2023, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced a program that allows anyone 14 years or older to acquire naloxone anonymously and at no cost at participating pharmacies across New Jersey. The NJ Department of Human Services partnered with the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy and its Medicaid division to craft and implement this unique program.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the US and is responsible for one of out every three deaths each year. However, only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat. Heart disease and stroke can affect women of any age, so it is important for women to understand their risk factors and family history. Life events like pregnancy and menopause can also impact heart health. Stress can also play a role which is why it is important to understand the mind-body connection to improve physical health and mental well-being.

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center's new Research & Innovation Center is focused on advancing medical research with a specific emphasis on the importance of healthcare equity. The Medical Center supports the participation of representative subjects in clinical trials and data collection projects – studies must include all genders, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds to provide the most comprehensive results.The Center will redesign healthcare delivery and therapeutics for the patients it serves. Bergen New Bridge is partnering with industry leaders to innovate integrated care that yields the best health and wellness outcomes.The team will be working to develop ideas that could lead to improvements in care, reductions in overall costs, and will provide new products and services. The mission of the Center is to create solutions that benefit all patients at Bergen New Bridge and beyond.

Diabetes has reached a crisis point in the United States. According to the CDC, cases of diabetes have risen to an estimated 37.3 million in this country. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. What can Americans do to prevent diabetes? What can those living with diabetes do to better manage their health? Good nutrition is an important tool in the prevention of this disease and is essential to those already diagnosed. Making the right dietary choices can limit the impact this silent killer has on the health and wellness of all Americans.

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center offers a variety of Acute Rehabilitation Services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology to their patients and long-term care residents. The latest program being offered by the Medical Center is therapeutic intervention for those grappling with lymphedema. The overall goal of rehabilitation services at Bergen New Bridge is to improve a patient's level of functioning and quality of life by assisting them with achieving their maximum potential in all aspects of daily living.

Teens across the country are facing a mental health crisis. An estimated 49.5 percent of adolescents will experience a mental health disorder. According to a recent study, 4 in 10 U.S. high schoolers have experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness with nearly a quarter seriously considering attempting suicide. How can we help our teens who are in crisis? What treatments and support can families turn to for their children?

In a recently released survey on drug use in America, more than 20 percent of those age 12 or older said they used illicit drugs in the past year. More than nine million Americans misused opioids during that same period. The pandemic exacerbated substance use disorders in this country with overdose deaths reaching record levels. What tools do substance use disorder clinicians have to treat addiction? With seven out of ten Americans who had a substance use disorder considering themselves to be recovering or in recovery, there is hope.

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center has established a new line of services through its CareRite Now partnership with Inserra Supermarkets, bringing convenient quality healthcare directly into the communities it serves. The experienced healthcare providers staffing CareRite Now include physicians and nurse practitioners. These centers will provide sick and wellness visits, physicals, vaccinations, point-of-care testing including COVID, flu and RSV, lab testing, blood draws, and EKGs. The new CareRite Now locations are a direct result of data collected during the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment which showed the need for expanded access to healthcare directly in communities.

Black Americans have higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, asthma, cancer, and preterm birth than other groups and have a life expectancy of four years less than white Americans. Black children have a 500% higher death rate from asthma than white children. How can these disparities be addressed? How can health outcomes be improved for Black Americans? What are the contributing factors that have led to this disparity?In terms of becoming healthcare providers, Black medical school applicants constituted only 8.4% of the U.S. medical school applicant pool compared with 46.8% of white applicants in 2019. How can more young Black Americans be encouraged to apply to medical schools? What types of programs and support can help address this disparity?

Eating disorders are one of the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid overdose. Eating disorders affect at least nine percent of the population worldwide and more than 28 million Americans will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime. Since the pandemic, these numbers have only continued to rise. For those who are uninsured or underinsured, many do not have access to treatment. The new Center for Eating Disorders & Body Positivity at Bergen New Bridge accepts all patients for treatment regardless of their ability to pay and takes a unique approach to helping those it serves. A focus is placed on balancing the mind body connection through nutritional counseling, group therapy, family therapy, and individual counseling.

Join our Chief Medical Officer as he shares the latest information on monkeypox including symptoms, risk factors, and vaccination availability; COVID-19 variants and the timeframe for an updated booster for the fall; Polio and the importance of being vaccinated and who may need a booster.

Modern Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is very safe and effective. It is a viable treatment option for patients whose medication or other treatments have failed to ease symptoms associated with some mental health issues. Today's ECT has evolved into a valuable treatment tool recognized by the National Institute of Mental Health, American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association, and the U.S. Surgeon General. This episode will review the modern day application of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and address the benefits of the clinical intervention for Treatment Resistant Depression. Why would someone consider ECT?

Dr. Kollar talks about bariatric surgery and healthy weight management. Dr. Kollar discusses who is the ideal candidate for weight loss surgery, when is the perfect time for surgery, and the health benefits that it can provide.

Dr. Gian Varbaro discusses the Omicron COVID-19 variant: its symptoms, testing, vaccines and treatments.

Children and adolescents never infected with the COVID-19 virus are displaying some of the most severe pandemic-related complications. Rates of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and suicidal thoughts have risen considerably among young people across America, including in New Jersey, since the pandemic began in early 2020.

The importance of getting vaccinated, understanding variants and emerging from the pandemic.

Join Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Gian Varbaro as he discusses the COVID-19 vaccines and the importance of vaccination.