Two Raritan Bay Medical Center Physicians Named Top Doctors

PERTH AMBOY, NJ, March 30, 2010… Raritan Bay Medical Center’s (RBMC) Chair, Department of Surgery Kumar Dasmahapatra, M.D., and Director, Division of Hematology and Oncology Gregory Shypula, M.D., were recently named to Inside New Jersey magazine and Castle Connolly Medical, LtD.’s list of Top Doctors for Women’s Health in New Jersey. Both physicians were recommended by their peers as leaders within their medical specialties in the treatment of women.

Dr. Dasmahapatra of Bernardsville, NJ, has been a member of RBMC’s medical staff for 24 years. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey and a member of the Oncology Society of New Jersey. Dr. Dasmahapatra is a clinical associate professor of surgery at UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School in Newark. He is also a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society for Breast Diseases. Dr. Dasmahapatra maintains a private practice Comprehensive Surgical Associates in Edison.

Dr. Shypula of Oldwick, NJ, has been a member of RBMC’s medical staff for 20 years. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, International Society of Thrombosis and Hemosthasis and the Oncology Society of New Jersey.  Board certified in Medical Oncology and Hematology, Dr. Shypula is director of the hospital’s Jacqueline M. & Robert N. Wilentz Cancer. He is also a clinical assistant professor, department of medicine, at UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, a clinical affiliate of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Dr. Shypula is a distinguished fellow of the American College of Cancer Specialists and a member of the American Academy of Oncology.

In selecting the Top Doctors for Women’s Health, Castle Connolly’s physician-led research team gave consideration not only to the doctors’ areas of medical specialty, but also to their expertise as it relates to the medical needs of women. Physicians do not, and cannot, pay to be selected as a Top Doctor. Castle Connolly’s researchers follow a rigorous survey, research and screening process. Criteria and selection information are as follows;

• Selects only physicians who are board-certified and for whom the company has verified that the board certifications are current.
• Uses “minimum years in practice” standards, based on the medical specialty, because studies show quality increases with clinical experience.
• Surveys, by mail and online, thousands of physicians and other health care professionals and asks them to identify excellent doctors in every specialty in their region and throughout the nation. While the nomination process is anonymous and confidential, each invitee has a unique access code to the nomination website. This code helps ensure doctors do not nominate themselves.
• Makes thousands of phone calls each year, talking with leading specialists, chairs of clinical departments and vice presidents of medical affairs, seeking to identify top specialists for most diseases and procedures.
• Reviews the credentials of all physicians under consideration, including their medical education, training, hospital appointments, administrative posts, professional achievements, and malpractice and disciplinary history.

The listings of top doctors are updated annually. And doctors’ profiles are adjusted whenever Castle Connolly’s research staff becomes aware of changes in the physicians’ information.

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-Restrictions were enacted during height of H1N1 Flu Activity-

PERTH AMBOY, February 16, 2010… Raritan Bay Medical Center has lifted the restriction preventing visitors 18 years of age and under at both its Old Bridge and Perth Amboy locations, effective immediately. In a proactive measure to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 (swine flu) influenza virus, the hospital temporarily suspended visitor privileges to those 18 years of age and under at both locations in November.

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-Hospital Now Accepting Applications for 11^th Annual Healthcare Connection Program-

OLD BRIDGE / PERTH AMBOY, February 24, 2010… Raritan Bay Medical Center is accepting applications now for an intensive four-day career workshop designed for students entering their senior year of high school who are interested in pursuing careers in healthcare. The 11^th annual Healthcare Connection program will be held July 6-9, at the hospital’s Old Bridge and Perth Amboy locations. The application deadline is Friday, April 2.

The six students selected will observe a variety of healthcare situations and interact with physicians, nurses and administrative staff in a wide range of departments including the emergency department, nursing units, cardiac catheterization lab, surgical suite, pharmacy and many others. Experts in each field will provide career information and resources, and students will engage in hands-on experiences and observations that promise to offer insights into a large number of healthcare careers.

Acceptance into the healthcare connection program is limited. Transportation between the Old Bridge and Perth Amboy locations is the responsibility of each participant. Contact Susan Pasternack in the volunteer services department at 732.324.5006 for information and an application packet.

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PERTH AMBOY, NJ, February 23, 2010…Joseph J. Jankowski, Esq., of Morganville, has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of Raritan Bay Medical Center. Jankowski’s appointment was part of a new slate of officers elected recently during the board’s annual business meeting. Raritan Bay Medical Center President and CEO Michael R. D’Agnes announced the appointment of the new officers during the meeting.

Other newly elected officers include Deborah Tripod of Island Heights, vice chairman; Michael J. Losch of Shrewsbury, treasurer and Dennis Doll of Monroe Township, secretary.

Mr. Jankowski was elected to the hospital’s Board of Directors in 1991 and has served as vice chairman of the board. He is a partner in the law firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, PA, in Woodbridge.

Mrs. Tripod was elected to the board in 2003, has served as board secretary and on the Finance & Personnel Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee and the Audit Committee. She is president and owner of Englert, Inc., in Perth Amboy.

Mr. Losch was elected to the board in 2005 and has served on the Executive, Finance and Executive Compensation Committees. He is chief financial officer, secretary and treasurer of Ridge Partners, LLC.

Mr. Doll was elected to the board in 2008 and has served on the Finance, Affiliation and Audit Committees. He is President and CEO of Middlesex Water Co. in Iselin.

A New Jersey state-designated primary stroke center, the hospital has locations in Perth Amboy and Old Bridge and is ranked among the nation’s top ten percent of hospitals in the care of stroke patients*, a position the hospital has held for the past five consecutive years. Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC) is also one of less than two percent of hospitals nationally to achieve re-designation as a Magnet Hospital, recognizing nursing excellence, and has been the recipient of a New Jersey Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield patient care quality award for the past three years.  The hospital recently celebrated the opening of its new Medical Pavilion at Woodbridge, 740 Route 1 North, Iselin, providing urgent care services 365 days a year, housing Bay Obstetrics and Gynecology and comprehensive physical therapy services.

Licensed for 501 beds with a medical staff of more than 500, RBMC provides medical-surgical, maternity, pediatric, general and critical care, as well as adult behavioral health, emergency and interventional cardiac and same day surgery services.  A leader in cardiovascular care, RBMC is one of only twelve New Jersey hospitals currently participating in a national Johns Hopkins University Medical Center demonstration project studying the benefits of providing elective angioplasty in hospitals without onsite cardiac surgery.

The hospital has several specialty services including the Center for Wound Healing, Center for Sleep Medicine, Center for Women and Pulmonary and Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Programs. RBMC is a major clinical affiliate of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Health Network and affiliate of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

For more information about services, visit www.rbmc.org. For a free physician referral and practice information call 1-800-DOCTORS.

*HealthGrades, Inc. 2009 ratings

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Raritan Bay Medical Center
Focuses on New Technologies and Patient Comforts
as Part of its Growth and Renewal Plans

Perth Amboy, NJ, March 10, 2010… After more than a year Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC) and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) have agreed to end discussions for the purchase of RBMC’s Old Bridge hospital and the inclusion of the Perth Amboy hospital as a system hospital by RWJUH.  While this decision allows RBMC to remain an independent two-hospital organization it also poses challenges for RBMC’s community hospitals in a healthcare environment plagued by shrinking reimbursement and an increasing number of charity care patients. Despite these challenges RBMC has been working diligently to secure its financial outlook and grow its services so it remains a trusted resource in its communities.

Financial Improvement
“Our biggest immediate challenge was to stem the tide of losses we were experiencing.  Not only were we able to stop the losses in 2009, but we performed better financially than our budgeted projections,” said RBMC President and CEO Michael R. D’Agnes.  “We concentrated on keeping expenses down and trimming our costs providing more cost effective yet higher quality patient care,” D’Agnes continued.  “As a result we maintained our designation as a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence, a state-designated primary stroke center and a 5-star rating in the care of stroke patients by HealthGrades, Inc., the national healthcare rating agency.

Vision 2011
Going forward RBMC is concentrating on expanding its services to adapt to the ever-changing healthcare environment.  RBMC is undergoing a number of renovation projects at both hospitals including adding new private rooms at both facilities and expanding the emergency department in Perth Amboy. Administrators are also exploring funding opportunities to build a new surgical suite at Old Bridge, expanding the capacity of the operating rooms and creating appropriate pre- and post-operative space.

A new women’s center to include digital mammography, ultrasound, bone density and MRI among other technologies will provide the highest quality diagnostic and treatment services for women in various stages of life at the Perth Amboy hospital while the existing women’s center at the Old Bridge hospital will receive a number of technological improvements.

The hospital also recently received a $3.1 million grant from PSE&G to install a number of energy efficiency improvements at the Perth Amboy hospital including new cooling towers, lighting improvements, boiling burners, windows and a new roof.  These improvements enable the hospital to reduce energy use now and subsequently save on energy expenses, estimated at more than $1 million over the next three years.

These and several patient satisfaction initiatives are being implemented in cooperation with the medical staff to ensure Raritan Bay Medical Center becomes the destination of choice for area patients.

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Raritan Bay Medical Center 2010 Auxiliary Officers Formally Installed

PERTH AMBOY, NJ, March 12, 2010… Newly elected officers from Raritan Bay Medical Center’s three adult auxiliaries joined their fellow auxilians for an evening of celebration and formal installation recently. Hospital administrators Vincent Costantino, senior vice president, operations, and Leonard Dunikoski, PhD., vice president and Old Bridge site director, personally greeted the men and women; praising them for their invaluable contributions to the medical center’s many successes throughout the years. Dr. Dunikoski discussed the auxiliaries’ and medical center’s rich history, noting that Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC) just celebrated its 108th anniversary and the Perth Amboy Auxiliary will celebrate its 122nd anniversary in 2010.

“The annual hospital auxiliary installation dinner is special evening celebrating each auxiliary’s accomplishments over the past year as well as officially welcoming those who have stepped forward to lead these groups of dedicated men and women,” said Susan Pasternack, volunteer services manager. “These valued auxilians serve as ambassadors to our community. Each group went above and beyond this year to support the hospital as we continue to provide high-quality healthcare to our growing community.”

The newly elected officers for 2010 are:
Perth Amboy Auxiliary: Carol Ann Bilas, president, Mary T. Smith, 1st vice-president; Joan Baldwin, 2nd vice-president; Joan Polansky, 3rd vice-president; Carmela Guarnera, secretary; Claire Tauber, treasurer; Lynn Markus, assistant treasurer and Dee Ziemba, immediate past president.
Ernest R. Hansen Chapter Auxiliary: Marcella Massopust, president; Carolyn Poulakowski, vice president; Donna Fojtlin, corresponding secretary; Joan Zaleski, recording secretary and Barbara Gallop, treasurer.
Old Bridge Auxiliary: Dorothy Ivancoe, president; Adele O’Hara, membership vice-president; Joseph Viviani, education vice-president; Trudy Getty, fundraising vice-president; Dorris Buckiewicz, programming vice-president; Randi Neuman and Mary Ellen Torre, recording secretaries; Claudia Hunter, corresponding secretary; Randi Neuman, treasurer and Mary Ellen Torre, assistant treasurer.

In addition to the installation of officers, Ollie E. Smith of the Perth Amboy Auxiliary, Marcella Massopust and Dorothy Ivancoe shared the results of their fundraising efforts for 2009.  The three auxiliaries gave a combined total of $34,000 towards projects and programs at RBMC’s Perth Amboy and Old Bridge locations.

Auxiliary fundraising efforts and activities support the environment of care enjoyed by members of community and assist Raritan Bay Medical Center in continuing to meet the changing healthcare needs of the community.

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‘Inspirations’ Art Show Benefits Patient Care
-Annual event sponsored by the Raritan Bay Medical Center Foundation,
 fundraising arm of the hospital-

PERTH AMBOY, March 15, 2010… Art aficionados, those interested in supporting Raritan Bay Medical Center’s patient care services or simply looking to enjoy an elegant night out will want to attend Raritan Bay Medical Center Foundation’s “Inspirations: A Celebration of Art & Spring,” art show reception Thursday, April 22, 6 p.m., at the hospital’s Perth Amboy location, 530 New Brunswick Ave. This chic evening includes hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, valet parking and music provided by the Victor Quezada Jazz Trio. As part of the evening, longtime civic champion Constance Elek will be honored for her commitment and advocacy for Middlesex County.

Cost is $50 per person and $10 for each raffle ticket. To purchase event tickets, raffle tickets or for more information call Gina Mancini at (732) 324-5374. Proceeds benefit the hospital’s Wilentz Patient Care Center and breast cancer services. Raffle ticket holders need not be present to win prizes. Attendees must RSVP by Friday, April 16.

The works of local artists, including; the late Louis P. Booz III, EJ Davis, Cabbar Komek, Michele Mastrangelo, Francis McGinley, Carolyn Opderbeck, Susan Schaffer, David Simchock, Rina Varia, Kim Adlerman, Dawn Arena, Constance Elek, Lois Griffin, Olivia Keithley-Mckeon, Glenn Murgacz and Lois Nagy-Hartnack will be showcased along with works from Woodbridge and Perth Amboy school district art students.

The artwork will be displayed on the hospital concourse level through July. Any groups interested in a tour of the concourse and artwork, should contact the Foundation at 732.324.5374.

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