Exceptional Standards of Care

Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Cardiology Diagnostic & Treatment Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health. The medical center is a designated teaching institution for therapists and maintains affiliations with several major universities and colleges, including University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), Seton Hall University, Columbia University, Boston University, Quinnipiac University, Syracuse University, City University of NY-Hunter College, Widener University, Newmann College, Union County College and Essex County College.

Emergency Care

When someone is experiencing chest pain or cardiac arrest, medical care often begins before the patient reaches the hospital. Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Mobile Intensive Care Unit responds to thousands of 911 calls in Middlesex County. The fleet’s certified paramedics are trained to administer electrical defibrillation, intravenous therapy and other procedures at the scene of an emergency, while working with physicians to expedite hospital treatment, including cardiac catheterizations and angioplasty.

Patients exhibiting warning signs of heart attack are promptly triaged to the Emergency Department’s Chest Pain Center, where they are closely monitored and assessed by a team of board-certified emergency physicians, cardiologists and registered nurses. Under the hospital’s stringent protocols, potential heart attack victims receive priority for surgical and non-invasive diagnostic testing to facilitate treatment and ultimately prevent irreparable heart muscle damage.

Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

The cornerstone of Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Cardiology and Diagnostic Treatment Center is its full service Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Housed on the Perth Amboy location, the facility is equipped with state-of-the-art digital imaging technology that allows physicians to view the heart’s blood flow and vessels so they can accurately diagnose coronary artery disease, valve disease and congenital heart anomalies. The Lab is available around-the-clock and is expertly run by a highly experienced team of interventional cardiologists, registered nurses and cardiovascular technologists. Over 1,000 cases are performed annually.

Angioplasty

Raritan Bay Medical Center is among a select group of New Jersey hospitals approved by the State Health Commissioner to perform both primary and elective angioplasty. Primary angioplasty, regarded as the gold standard, most effective intervention for heart attacks, is used to open clogged arteries and restore blood flow within 90 minutes of a patient’s arrival at the hospital. This is accomplished by inserting a balloon into the blocked arteries followed by a stent, in some cases, to keep the arteries clear. The technique halts or prevents the potentially deadly consequences of heart attack while facilitating the best possible patient outcomes.

Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tools

Raritan Bay Medical Center employs a vast range of non-invasive diagnostic tools for detecting and managing heart disease. It is one of only a few hospitals in the country to use three-dimensional echocardiography ensuring the most vivid, accurate images for cardiovascular studies. The facility performs over 20,000 procedures annually, with a full complement of tests that include:

• electrocardiograms
• echocardiograms
• cardiac stress tests
• holter monitoring
• nuclear stress tests
• signal-average electrocardiograms
• transesophogeal echocardiograms
• ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
• cardiac event recording

CCU/ICU/ACU

Cardiac patients requiring hospitalization are transferred to the Medical Center’s Critical Care Unit or dedicated Angioplasty Care Unit, where they remain under the watchful eye of registered nurses who are specially trained and credentialed in cardiovascular care.

Exceptional Care a Heartbeat Away

Know the early warning signs of heart attack

When it comes to a heart attack, time lost is muscle lost. Recognize the early warning signs to avoid irreparable heart damage:

• Chest discomfort that lasts several minutes or occurs intermittently. It may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such as the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea, lightheadedness or a cold sweat.

If you or someone you’re with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don’t wait longer than five minutes before calling 9-1-1.

The Cardiac Club

The Cardiac Club at Raritan Bay Medical Center promotes cardiovascular health through monthly support and education meetings. The group is open to former cardiac patients and their families as well as members of the community, offering a valuable forum for sharing concerns and strategies for living with heart disease. The meetings are free of charge and held at the Perth Amboy location. For more information about The Cardiac Club, please call 732.324.5178.

Special Deliveries

As a Major Clinical Affiliate of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Raritan Bay Medical Center delivers an integrated maternal/child health program addressing the prenatal, birthing and postpartum needs of mothers and their newborns. The hospital’s beautifully appointed Dr. Sam Gordon Berkow Maternity Pavilion offers the highest standards of care and comfort. The unit is operated by an experienced team of clinicians, including board certified obstetrician/gynecologists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, pediatricians and resident physicians along with nurses trained in maternal and pediatric specialties.

Whether this is your first baby or the next in your growing family, we understand that nine months of anticipation evoke a myriad of emotions, wonder and questions beyond “Pink or Blue?” Raritan Bay Medical Center’s full complement of services prepares expectant parents for the exciting journey to come while facilitating a healthy start.

Exceptional Standards of Care

Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health. A Major Clinical Affiliate of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the medical center is a teaching hospital and integral part of an established Obstetrics/Gynecology residency program. This educational status enhances the hospital’s maternal/child health services through on-site University faculty and residents.

Mothers with Special Needs

In partnership with UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Raritan Bay Medical Center offers perinatology care to women with high-risk pregnancies due to pre-existing medical conditions, multiple births or other complicating factors. Mothers have access to advanced diagnostic ultrasound, genetic counseling and other specialized consultations to help manage their prenatal needs. The hospital will soon expand this service so most appointments can be accommodated on the Raritan Bay Medical Center campus.

The medical center is also a member of the New Jersey Hospital Association Perinatal Collaborative, a forum for exchanging innovations and best practices in patient safety and care.

Maternity Pavilion

When that precious moment arrives, mothers and their families find comfort in the Dr. Sam. Gordon Berkow Maternity Pavilion. This completely renovated and refurbished facility provides the perfect setting for a memorable birthing experience. Enveloped within a warm, spacious, nurturing environment, the unit features 14 private and semi-private birthing suites that allow mothers to labor, deliver and recover in one place, as well as surgical suites, two newborn nurseries and a medically-equipped neonatal special care nursery.

The Maternity Pavilion has around-the-clock coverage by obstetricians, anesthesiologists, pediatricians and neonatologists along with 24-hour access to a full range of pain management options, including epidural, guided imagery and other techniques.

Importantly, state-of-the-art clinical capabilities and security are complemented by amenities that promote family bonding, such as sleeper beds for birthing partners and extended visiting hours. New mothers also rest easier with caring, personalized attention from the unit’s nursing staff as well as lactation specialists and consulting physicians involved in maternal or newborn care.

Integrative Medicine

The birthing experience is often enhanced through harmony of mind, body and spirit. Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Division of Integrative Medicine fosters this connection through a growing number of programs offered to maternity patients. Techniques such as massage therapy, Reiki, energy medicine, Tai Chi and Qigong may be explored before, during or after childbirth.

Upon admission to the Maternity Pavilion, laboring mothers are encouraged to discover the benefits of guided imagery. An audio system and meditation CDs, that may help alleviate stress and discomfort while inspiring confidence and relaxation, is available upon request in all birthing suites. For more information about the hospital’s Integrative Medicine programs, call 732.442.3700, ext. 5861.

Preparing for Childbirth

Raritan Bay Medical Center’s prenatal programs are designed to be a guide for the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. The hospital hosts a monthly Open House for expectant parents, featuring a tour of the Dr. Sam. Gordon Berkow Maternity Pavilion and Pediatric Unit, as well as a wealth of information regarding childbirth preparation classes, breastfeeding, car seat safety, mother/baby nutrition, integrative medicine, infant/child CPR and other aspects of family health.

Additionally, the hospital offers online childbirth classes, which cover a range of birthing and pediatric topics. Participants learn about labor and delivery, including Lamaze and other pain management options, as well as issues related to postpartum and infant care, such as feeding, bathing, immunizations and common newborn conditions. Parents may also be interested in the hospital’s CPR awareness program for instruction in adult, child and infant CPR as well as emergency procedures for choking. For more information regarding upcoming tours and birthing classes, call 732.324.5300. Those interested in CPR may call 732.324.5393.

Finding a Doctor

Selecting the right physicians for mother and baby is the first step in ensuring a health pregnancy and the finest care for your newborn. Call Raritan Bay Medical Center’s free physician referral service. 1-800 DOCTORS or click here for our physician directory to locate an obstetrician/gynecologist, pediatrician or other specialists in your community.

Our Patients Breathe Easier

They say life shouldn’t be measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.  While the message is meant to inspire, the words can sting for those who suffer from pulmonary illness.

Shortness of breath, or the feeling that you cannot get enough air, can be frightening.  It can result from a number of different medical conditions and transform even the simplest activities into monumental challenges, from walking up a flight of stairs to doing the laundry.  On the bright side, however, it’s also a problem that can be effectively managed, in many cases, through pulmonary rehabilitation, giving those afflicted renewed independence and a fuller, more active lifestyle.

Raritan Bay Medical Center’s (RBMC) Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is designed to help patients breathe easier.  Under the medical direction of a board certified pulmonologist, our comprehensive outpatient service offers a uniquely personalized approach. Our program provides one-on-one rehabilitation with a respiratory therapist following a plan of care tailored to the patients’ particular needs and goals.

Who We Help

RBMC’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, operated by our Department of Respiratory Therapy, may help anyone who has difficulty breathing or experiences shortness of breath that interferes with daily activities.  This includes individuals with the following conditions:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Chronic bronchitis
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Heart disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Asthma
• Obesity
• Other lung diseases
• Recent or upcoming chest or upper abdominal surgery

To participate in our program, you must be properly evaluated and referred by your physician, who can assess the potential benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation and work with us to provide the best possible care.

A Program Just for You

Our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program is dedicated to helping individuals understand their pulmonary disease, strengthen lung function, and ultimately enhance their enjoyment of life.  Since we accommodate patients with a vast range of conditions, our service is flexible and personalized.

When you enter our program, you’ll team up with a licensed respiratory therapist to create a customized treatment plan that includes self-care education, physical reconditioning and maintenance planning.

Personalized Instruction
In order to manage your disease, you need to understand it first. One of our professionals will teach you everything you need to know about your medical condition and strategies for improving your health.  You’ll discuss how to properly use your medication and respiratory equipment, when to see your doctor, the importance of exercise, energy conservation, stress and relaxation, and a host of other topics to facilitate positive changes in your lifestyle.  Additionally, we’ll provide resources and referrals to help you address other aspects of your well-being, including nutrition, weight management, occupational therapy, physical therapy and behavioral health.

Physical Reconditioning
Our medically supervised program includes up to 18 weeks of aerobic and strength training, breathing exercises, symptom management training and relaxation techniques.  Your sessions will be closely monitored by a respiratory therapist, and held in a dedicated gymnasium equipped with a treadmill, recumbent exerciser, free weights and other tools to help you safely increase your exercise tolerance and regain control of your breathing.

Planning Ahead
Finally, we’ll make sure you’re prepared to maintain the goals you’ve achieved.  You’ll leave our program with a personalized exercise routine to follow at home as well as a library of knowledge on how to overcome your breathing challenges.

What You’ll Gain

Upon completion of the program, you’ll enjoy a multitude of benefits that improve your pulmonary health along with your quality of life:

• Stronger breathing capacity
• Reduced shortness of breath
• Improved endurance and strength
• Decreased respiratory symptoms and complications
• Reduced number of hospitalizations
• Better knowledge of your lung disease and how to control it
• In some cases, decreased dependence on medication/oxygen
• Improved daily functioning

Let’s Get Started

You will need a prescription from your physician to participate in RBMC’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program.  Then a respiratory therapist will meet with you to discuss your needs and recommendations for your personalized rehabilitation, as well as anticipated outcomes.  We’ll set up a convenient schedule at one of our locations, Old Bridge or Perth Amboy, and you’re ready to begin.

Most insurance plans cover pulmonary rehabilitation.  Our staff will verify your benefits before enrolling you in the program.

If you struggle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or another condition that causes shortness of breath, ask your doctor if you could benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call our Department of Respiratory Therapy; Old Bridge at 732.360.4290 or Perth Amboy at 732.324.5108.