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L-R: Thomas A. Biga, Executive Director, Clara Maass Medical Center, Dawn Bibbo, RN, Manager, Orthopedic Product Liner, Crystal D. Branch, RN, C, Nurse Manager, Orthopedics, and Frank Femino, MD, Medical Director, The Joint and Spine Institute
Belleville, NJ—Clara Maass Medical Center celebrated the opening of its new Joint and Spine Institute, expansion of the Emergency Department and designation of a Progressive Care Unit, with a reception followed by ribbon-cutting ceremonies on September 22, 2008.
The Joint and Spine Institute—formerly called the Orthopedic Spine and Joint Institute—has been relocated to 3 North Annex of the medical center. The Institute uses a nationally recognized patient management program providing guidelines for orthopedic patients to follow both pre-operatively and post-operatively. Orthopedists involved with the program follow established protocols that are proven to lead to improved clinical outcomes, quicker recovery times and shorter hospital stays. Education is an essential component of the program, which is designed to lessen anxiety before surgery and enable easier rehabilitation following surgery.
The Joint and Spine Institute includes a dedicated unit and staff, professional educational materials and a leadership team that ensures every patient experience is outstanding and every patient outcome is maximized.
Housed on a dedicated unit within the hospital, amenities include eight private patient rooms equipped with telemetry monitoring; a separate group PT gym and activities room; a dedicated nursing, PT and OT staff; and “Coach” participation from family and friends.
“The various programs we have incorporated into this upgraded unit will promote a culture of wellness,” said Frank Femino, MD, Medical Director of The Joint and Spine Institute at Clara Maass Medical Center. “To establish this, early patient mobility is key.”
Group physical therapy sessions, in their own separate gym, will be held twice a day to promote friendly patient competition and better outcomes. A motivating program entitled “Joint Adventures” will track patient progress and distance walked.
Patients will also attend education classes both before surgery and before discharge. Family and friends are encouraged to attend and participate as “coaches” in patients’ education classes and phsycial therapy sessions. Also, to create a comfortable atmosphere, patients will wear their own clothing rather than hospital gowns.
With recent neighboring hospital closures, Clara Maass is seeing a great increase in patient volume and has expanded its Emergency Department by adding 16 new beds to the unit to better accomoodate patients.
L-R: John Fontanetta, MD, Director of Emergency Medicine, Lea Rodriguez, RN, Director of Emergency Services, Michael A. Pontoriero, MD, President, Clara Maass Medical Center Medical Staff, and Thomas A. Biga, Executive Director of Clara Maass Medical Center
“This expansion will allow us to continue to provide members of our commuity with the excellent emergency services they deserve,” said John Fontanetta, MD, Director of Emergency Medicine at Clara Maass Medical Center.
The medical center also announced the designation of a Progressive Care Unit—a transition in care between the Intensive Care and Telemetry Units. “The Progressive Care Unit is something that was much needed at the medical center, “ said Kimberly Byrne, RN, Nurse Manager of The Progressive Care Unit. “The PCU will help alleviate some of the flow in the Emergency Department and ICU.”
Clara Maass is also ranked among the top hospitals in the state, according to the 2008 NJ DHSS Hospital Performance Report, for Heart Failure, Pneumonia, Heart Attack (number one in Essex County) and Surgical Care Improvement.
“This is an exciting time for Clara Maass Medical Center,” said Thomas A. Biga, Executive Director of Clara Maass Medical Center. “And we will continue to expand and add new technologies, programs and services so that we can provide our community with the best medical care.”
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