Obesity is a national epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 97 million adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. That represents more than fifty percent of the adult population. Of this group, 11 million adults suffer from severe obesity.


The new Institute for Weight Loss at Raritan Bay Medical Center provides solutions and support for obese individuals seeking surgical weight loss who have been unable to lose weight through conventional dieting, exercise or weight-loss medication. Many of these individuals have struggled with their weight all their lives. They worry about being around to enjoy their kids and grandkids.

Having to deal with their own discomfort and frustration has led many area residents to seek help from Dr. Ayotunde Adeyeri, M.D., medical director of the Institute forWeight Loss at Raritan Bay Medical Center. A board certified, fellowship trained, bariatric surgeon, Dr. Adeyeri specializes in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy and other minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgical procedures.

“These procedures are done through small incisions,” says Dr. Adeyeri. “Patients can return to work and resume heavy lifting and strenuous activity, inmost cases, in about two weeks. Those who are able to do light duty at work may go back even sooner.”

People seeking obesity surgery must undergo medical and psychological evaluations to determine if they are candidates for surgery, and then participate in support groups following their surgery to ensure successful, long-term weight loss.

Dr. Adeyeri and his staff at the Institute forWeight Loss at Raritan Bay Medical Center always put the patient first. “Our patients love us because we take the time to explain,” says Dr. Adeyeri. “We show them how the surgeries are performed. We make sure that they really understand the care and support they will receive – before,  during and after their procedure.”

Dr.Adeyeri derives satisfaction from helping people overcome their obesity. “We watch lives transform as our patients start discovering a whole new world and the possibilities that life offers,” says Dr. Adeyeri. “Our focus at the Institute forWeight Loss at Raritan BayMedical Center is to ensure that patients have their surgeries and then stay motivated, eat healthily, change undesired patterns, exercise, and more than anything…enjoy a new lease on life.”

For more information please call: (732) 324-5300

At least 1 in 14 people has diabetes, and the risk of diabetes for people of color over the age of 45 can be four times greater. Although there is no cure, diabetes can be managed by keeping blood sugar levels normal, maintaining proper nutrition and exercise, and monitoring insulin and other medications.

Signs of silent or undiagnosed diabetes can include: increased urination, more frequent urination at night, increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger, nerve pain or numbness. “If you are experiencing all or a combination of
these symptoms, see your doctor,” says Dr. Kaur. “And remember, having diabetes doesn’t mean you have to go it alone.”

People with diabetes should work with a diabetes care team which may include a family medicine physician, dietitian, diabetes educator, eye doctor, foot doctor, dentist, and possibly an exercise trainer. But remember, you are the most important member of your diabetes care team. Your health care team is there to help you manage your diabetes and maintain your good health.

Dr. Kaur encourages anyone recently diagnosed with diabetes to work closely with their family physician to learn all they can to monitor their diabetes. “Together you will find that, with proper management, people with diabetes can lead a full and active life,” says Dr. Kaur.

“This unique new program offers a comprehensive continuum of musculoskeletal care through a highly integrated orthopedic healthcare delivery network.”

The experts and technology available at the new Human Motion Institute at Raritan Bay Medical Center will get you back to work, out on the playing field, teeing off at the golf course, down on the floor playing with your grandchildren, or just doing the things you love.

This unique new program offers a comprehensive continuum of musculoskeletal care through a highly integrated orthopedic healthcare delivery network. Patients benefit through streamlined access to education, assessment, treatment and therapy services, as well as preventative services that help them achieve maximum functionality and mobility as quickly and safely as possible.

Using RBMC’s Patient Family Centered Care Model as its model, the “team approach” at the Human Motion Institute combines the clinical excellence of highly trained technicians, skilled surgeons, interventional pain management physicians, specialist physicians, Magnet status nurses, and other experienced health care professionals, in a wide range of orthopedic areas. HMI’s clinical professionals are committed to achieving the highest standards of excellence through diagnostic and treatment technologies, state-of-the-art medical procedures, rehabilitation and overall patient care.

“We care for you throughout your surgical experience and work together as a team to deliver excellent service,” says orthopedic and joint replacement surgeon Abdel Masih Bakhos, M.D. “Thanks to advances in orthopedic care such as hip, knee and shoulder replacement and repair, people are enjoying longer, more active lives. Our network at HMI brings together a wide range of comprehensive services and skilled health care providers focused on the prevention and correction of injuries and disorders of the skeletal systemand associated muscles, joints and ligaments,” says Dr. Bakhos.

Fausto J. Ramos, D.P.M., a board-qualified podiatrist and surgical specialist of the foot and ankle, agrees. “It is extremely beneficial for patients to have all of their care integrated under one roof, so to speak,” says Dr. Ramos. “We are able to track the care of each patient in a very effective, very comprehensive way. Each patient has special needs, and the HMI takes this into account. A high school athlete with an ankle injury may require podiatric assessment and surgical intervention followed by physical therapy.

The diabetic patient with a foot wound requires very specialized treatment and rehabilitation that takes into account this chronic health condition. Elderly patients require thorough assessment, treatment, and perhaps physical therapy to improve their balance and range of motion. With our integrated approach, each of these patients will receive the very best care.”

An alarming number of people are living in pain. A study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2006 projected that nearly 800,000 New Jersey residents may be suffering from chronic pain. The Human Motion Institute provides central New Jersey residents with a destination that can help them improve, says Kashif Siddiqi, M.D., who is board certified in pain management and anesthesiology. “Pain management takes an interdisciplinary approach,” says Dr. Siddiqi. “A patient may start with their family physician, perhaps seeking relief from back pain. Following an MRI or a CAT scan, they may seek help from a specialist; perhaps initiate physical therapy, use medication to relieve pain. If these therapies are not successful, the patient will be referred to a pain management specialist. Based on symptoms and imaging results, we will evaluate if the patient is a candidate for interventional procedures, including joint injections and epidurals on to spinal cord stimulation and other sophisticated treatments. We work very collaboratively with each patient and their medical team.”

Douglas Pitchford, M.D., who is also board certified in pain management and anesthesiology, believes in being an advocate for the patients he cares for at the Human Motion Institute. “Apatient may arrive with an injury but we also need to take into consideration pre-existing chronic conditions or health issues. Our HMI team takes the whole patient into consideration. We want our patients to enjoy life. We want to help them in every way possible. Working together with other health care professionals, we can manage their pain and get them on the road to recovery as quickly as possible while being thorough and comprehensive in the care they receive.

You’ll learn more about our new Human Motion Institute in our next issue of The Bay. To make an appointment with the doctors or for more information: 1(855)5MOTION.

Did you know that up to eighty percent of strokes are preventable, yet it is expected that nearly 795,000 people in the U.S. will have a stroke this year? Mirian Medina, R.N., Stroke Coordinator at RBMC, says that stroke can strike without warning.

“There often aren’t any symptoms. The only way to beat the ‘silent killer’ is to know when your blood pressure is elevated and take steps to control your hypertension. One in three adults is hypertensive; many don’t know it. The only way to know if you are hypertensive is to have your blood pressure checked by a medical professional. Medication and lifestyle changes, such as exercising, dieting, quitting smoking and limiting salt intake, can be effective, especially for people in the pre-hypertensive range.

Specially trained staff at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, a NJ-designated Primary Stroke Center, can quickly implement life-saving protocols to control the effects of a stroke in patients arriving at the ED. For patients, this means rapid triage, diagnostic evaluation and treatment by a team of specialists who respond within minutes to a “Stroke TeamActivation” alert, and who work together to provide seamless care for patients who may be having a stroke.

Who’s the busiest person you know? Probably yourself, right? Always taking care of everyone and everything…but it’s important to take time for yourself, especially for those important women’s health checks. The Center for Women at Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Old Bridge and new Perth Amboy locations meet a busy woman’s special health needs, including digital-mammography, stereotactic biopsy, ultrasound guided biopsy, bone densitometry and now, breast MRI at PerthAmboy.

Special attention is given to each woman’s personal and medical needs, to enhance her well-being and support her doctor’s plan for good health. Women can also learn to take care of themselves, from self-breast examination and general women’s health education through health care literature, videos and seminars.

Our newest location in Perth Amboy features breast MRI and breast MRI biopsy. Breast MRI produces the most detailed images of your breast possible, offering physicians a diagnostic advantage not available through the use of other imaging methods such as mammography, ultrasound or CAT scans.

“Our experienced and courteous staff is open to any questions you may have about your health,” says Donna Earley, R.T., Director of Diagnostic Imaging. “We take great pride in caring for our patients and making sure they understand all of their options when it comes to their health, from an annual mammogram to specialized diagnostic tests.”

The Center for Women is affiliated with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

RBMC’s Perth Amboy hospital celebrated the opening of its newly expanded and renovated 3,530 sq. ft. Emergency Department, part of the medical center’s ongoing growth and renewal program, Vision 2011.

“This new expansion is making a tremendous difference in how we serve our community during a medical emergency,” says Dane Clarke, M.D., FACHPE, medical director of emergency services at RBMC. “In addition to adding new life-saving technologies, we have created a more modern and comfortable facility, improving the environment of care for our patients and their families and loved ones.”

Ten additional treatment areas, more space for family members and loved ones, new state-of-theart patient monitoring, “see thru CPR” defibrillator equipment which analyzes a patient’s heart rhythm during continuous CPR, and an expanded Fast Track area for less serious emergencies complete the comprehensive expansion. The new defibrillators may be used in conjunctionwith RBMC’s Thermosuits, inflatable cocoonlike, non-invasive devices which reduce body temperature rapidly in patients experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. This constitutes an extremely effective resuscitation bundle, enhancing Emergency Department clinicians’ ability to save lives.

The expansion also includes a dedicated elevator for rapid transfer of patients to patient floors, and to cardiac catheterization and stroke units. New bedside monitoring equipment standardizes patient data and, in the near future, will allow caregivers to share 12-lead EKG data with the cardiology department through RBMC’s computer-based Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS).

Welcome to the premier issue of The Bay, the new community health publication of Raritan Bay Medical Center, providing thousands of households in Central New Jersey with useful health and wellness information touching every member of your family.
The Bay has seceded Pulse Magazine as our communications strategy evolves to keep pace with the announcement of new plans and improvements at Raritan Bay Medical Center.

This updated, timely health care publication will become a primary means of keeping you informed as we launch new and enhanced services, amenities, technologies and facilities. We hope The Bay will become a valuable tool for you and your family, one you will look forward to sharing with others.

This first issue shares plans for our Human Motion Institute, a unique new program offering a continuum of care focusing clinical expertise on specialties including spine care, joint care, hand and upper extremities, sports medicine, foot and ankle, and physical therapy.The Human Motion Institute provides education, assessment, treatment, therapy and preventative services to help patients return to and maintain their normal routines as quickly and safely as possible, while employing the latest medical techniques.

You’ll also find updates on our new $1 million Emergency Department expansion, the opening of the new Center for Women at our Perth Amboy location, managing diabetes, and an important health check from our Primary Stroke Center. With obesity reaching epidemic levels across the country, area residents can now find solutions and support at the new Institute for Weight Loss at Raritan Bay Medical Center.

The pace of diagnostic and treatment technology is growing at an unprecedented rate at RBMC’s Cardiac Diagnostic and Treatment Center. Learn about the more than half a dozen new advances that are helping us lead the way in cardiac care. Raritan Bay Medical Center is driven by our team of expert physicians, Magnet status nurses and highly trained health care professionals. We are committed to excellence wherever we care for you and your family, from Raritan Bay Medical Center at Old Bridge and Perth Amboy to our outpatient facilities in Edison,Woodbridge and Matawan, as well as through health education in the communities we serve.

At Raritan Bay Medical Center, we are advancing care every day.

In good health,

Michael R. D’Agnes, President & CEO