Valley Hospital - Page 28 of 36 - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on March 5, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Events at the Ridgewood Library Next Week

Ridgewood Library Offers Organic Farming & Backyard Gardening Class
Mon, March 09, 2015
Time: 7:00 PM
Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Organic Farming & Backyard Gardening,
Monday, March 9, 7pm.
Natural and sustainable growing methods, safe seed/fertilizer sources, how to compost, natural pesticide control and more.Ridgewood Library Valley Hospital Wellness Partnership
Tue, March 10, 2015
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Ridgewood Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Brain Food and Brain Health
Tuesday, March 10, 7-8:30pm.
Did you know some foods can promote alertness while others keep us calm? Learn to make food choices for your body’s needs. All welcome, registration required.
Please call 1-800-825-5391 or visit www.valleyhealth.com/events. Please note location: Annie Zusy Youth Lounge at the Community Center.

Ridgewood Library 26th Annual Author Luncheon
Wed, March 11, 2015
Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Seasons, Washington Tsp, NJ 07676
26th Annual Author Luncheon
Wednesday, March 11, 11am-3pm.
Featuring Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train,
Seasons, Washington Township, NJ.
Reservation forms available at Ridgewood Library service desks

Posted on February 19, 2015February 19, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Spectrum for Living Clients Deliver Cards to Valley Hospital

Spectrum for Living Clients Deliver Cards to Valley Hospital

In honor of American Heart Month, The Valley Hospital welcomed clients from Spectrum for Living to the Cardiac Center. The clients delivered handmade cards to patients receiving cardiac therapy in recognition of American Heart Month. The cards will be displayed throughout the Cardiac Center throughout the month of February.

Currently, Spectrum for Living facilities and services touch the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities in over 100 New Jersey communities. Spectrum for Living is one of New Jersey’s most respected and recognized not-for-profit organizations assisting adults with developmental disabilities in Bergen, Passaic, Middlesex and Monmouth counties. Spectrum provides a wide array of housing, medical, clinical, habilitative, social and educational services to more than 200 residential consumers and hundreds of community clients.

For more information, please contact Spectrum for Living at (201) 358-8000 or [email protected].

Posted on February 17, 2015February 16, 2015 by James — 1 Comment

In Hospitals, Board Rooms Are as Important as Operating Rooms

In Hospitals, Board Rooms Are as Important as Operating Rooms

If you or a loved one is having a heart attack, your most pressing concerns probably include how quickly you can get to the hospital and the quality of care you’ll receive. You’re probably not thinking about the hospital’s board room, even though quality of care for heart attacks and many other conditions may be determined in large part by decisions made there.

Several studies show that hospital boards can improve quality and can make decisions associated with reduced mortality rates. But not all boards do so.

”Most board members are community leaders, serving on the board to support fund-raising goals,” said Ashish Jha, a Harvard physician. “They don’t think it’s their job to hold management accountable for performance. Board members often feel like clinical quality is physicians’ jobs, and they don’t want to step on doctors’ toes.”

The trouble with this perspective is that boards, and other hospital management, can influence care in ways that individual physicians cannot. They can promote protocols that ensure that crucial information is conveyed to the right people at the right time. They can establish systems so that equipment and supplies are available when needed. They can set expectations for a culture of high performance, not just from individuals but from teams of them that must work together. And they can require quality to be monitored against goals with incentives to push it toward those targets.

”I’m a much better doctor in a well-managed hospital where the systems are in place to help me do my best work,” Dr. Jha said. “Even a great chef can’t produce a good omelet with eggs that are stored in the freezer or the stove doesn’t work reliably.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/17/upshot/in-hospitals-board-rooms-are-as-important-as-operating-rooms.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1409232722000&bicmet=1419773522000&_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1

Posted on February 12, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Landmark Study Asks the Question: Are All Defibrillators Created Equal?

Landmark Study Asks the Question: Are All Defibrillators Created Equal?

First U.S. Patients Enrolled in International Trial to Evaluate Implanted Defibrillator that Offers Protection with Less Risk to the Heart

RIDGEWOOD, NJ, February 12, 2015 — The Valley Hospital has been selected as the United States Coordinating Center for the PRAETORIAN trial, an international trial designed to compare for the first time the traditional implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) with a newer model that may reduce the risk of complications associated with these otherwise life saving devices.

Although ICDs have been used for decades to safeguard patients deemed at high risk for sudden death due to a heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia), the traditional model relies on a transvenous electrode or lead placed in the heart. A major drawback of these ICDs has been the lead, which can break, become infected, or injure the heart and surrounding blood vessels. The alternative is a newer form of ICD, called a subcutaneous or S-ICD that is implanted entirely under the skin without entering the heart or blood vessels. Valley was one of the first hospitals in New Jersey and one of only three hospitals in the tri-state area to have early experience with the S-ICD.

“Both types of ICDs have been shown to reduce the risk of sudden death,” says Suneet Mittal, M.D., Direct of Electrophysiology and the Principal Investigator at Valley for the Praetorian Trial. “The S-ICD, because it does not involve a lead within the heart, may significantly reduce the likelihood of lead-related complications. This trial is the first attempt to compare the two types of ICDs in a randomized trial.”

In the PRAETORIAN trial, which originated at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, patients are randomly selected to receive either a traditional ICD or an S-ICD. Mark W. Preminger, M.D., Director, Implantable Arrhythmia Devices at Valley, enrolled the first patients in the United States into the study earlier this month.

“The S-ICD® is the world’s only subcutaneous ICD, and it represents a major step forward in the evolution of defibrillator technology,” Dr. Mittal says. “We are delighted to offer this advanced breakthrough in arrhythmia treatment to our Valley Hospital patients, and proud to be a leading participant in this important international trial.”

For more information please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Posted on February 3, 2015February 2, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Take Care, Take Heart February is American Heart Month

Take Care, Take Heart February is American Heart Month
Feb 2,2015 9:00 AM EST
Valley Health System

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — February is American Heart Month, the perfect time to be reminded to take care of your heart. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women,” says Gerald Sotsky, M.D., Chair of Cardiac Services, Valley Medical Group. “But there is good news,” he says, “heart disease is largely preventable and controllable.”

Heart health can be easier to achieve than you might think. It doesn’t require hours of grueling exercise or giving up all of your favorite foods. A few simple lifestyle changes can make all the difference. Here are some tips to get you on your way:
• Exercise 30 to 60 minutes a day on most days of the week. This can be as simple as taking a daily walk.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit or don’t start smoking.
• Eat a diet that’s low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt.

It’s equally important to be alert to the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, which can include:
• uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest;
• pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach;
• shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort;
• nausea, lightheadedness, or breaking out in a cold sweat; and
• chest pain or discomfort.

If you have any of these signs call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

Symptoms of a heart attack in women can be less distinctive than they tend to be in men. “Both men and women can experience the typical chest pain, pressure or discomfort, but women are somewhat more likely than men to experience more subtle symptoms, such as shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadedness, pressure or pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, or extreme fatigue,” says cardiologist Benita Burke, M.D., Medical Director of Valley Medical Group’s Heart Care for Women medical practice.

Even if you have no symptoms of heart disease, Dr. Sotsky suggests that an evaluation by a cardiologist may be appropriate if:
• you have a family history (mother, father, siblings) of coronary artery disease, aneurysm, and/or sudden death before age 50; and/or
• you have significant risk factors for heart disease,, which include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, poor diet and inactivity.

Everyone should be aware of their personal risk factors for heart disease. To raise awareness of the cause, symptoms, and prevalence of heart disease The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ, has established the Men’s Heart Center and the Heart Care for Women Screening Program. Both offer free comprehensive heart risk assessments to individuals between the ages of 20-79. Learn more about Valley’s free heart risk assessment for men and women:

Posted on January 5, 2015 by James — 3 Comments

Valley’s Research Center Participates in International Trial of New Bypass Device

Valley’s Research Center Participates in International Trial of New Bypass Device
December 31, 2014

Ridgewood NJ, The Valley Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute is one of 17 preeminent cardiac surgery centers in the United States and Europe selected to participate in a clinical feasibility trial of a new implant designed to support vein grafts used in performing a cardiac bypass procedure. The trial is included among a robust list of clinical trials currently underway through The Valley Hospital Okonite Research Center.

Alex Zapolanski, M.D., Director of Cardiac Surgery, and Juan B. Grau, M.D., Director of Cardiac Translational Research and site principal investigator of the trial at Valley, recently performed their first implant of an eSVS® Mesh as part of the Kips Bay Medical eMESH I clinical feasibility trial.

The Company expects to enroll up to 120 patients at 10 European and seven U.S. sites. In addition to The Valley Hospital, the U.S. sites include the Cleveland Clinic, Emory University Hospital Heart and Vascular Center, the Mayo Clinic, the Lenox Hill Hospital, Northeast Georgia Medical Center and the Texas Heart Institute.

“After completing my first case, I found the eSVS Mesh to be remarkably easy to implant and feel very comfortable with the device” Dr. Zapolanksi said. “I am pleased that we are able to be part of the eMESH I trial and it is my hope that this device will open the door to improved long-term outcomes for CABG surgery patients.”

An estimated 82 million Americans suffer from one or more types of cardiovascular disease. It is the cause of 1 out of every 6 deaths in the U.S., and every year more than 395,000 Americans undergo coronary artery bypass surgery to mitigate its effects.

The Kips Bay Medical eSVS Mesh is designed to address the limitations of saphenous vein grafts used in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The eSVS Mesh is fitted like a sleeve on the outside of saphenous vein grafts to strengthen the grafts. By strengthening the graft and preventing the damaging expansion of the vein graft, Kips Bay hopes to reduce or prevent the resulting injury which can lead to graft failure and potentially costly and complicated re-interventions for patients undergoing CABG surgery. This innovative design is also intended to ensure that blood flow is faster and more laminar, by reducing the diameter mis-match between the graft and target artery.

For more information about open clinical trials, including trials at The Valley Hospital, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Posted on January 4, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — 1 Comment

Readers define PILOT for ALL non-profit institutions from the educational, medical, and cultural

Readers define PILOT for ALL non-profit institutions from the educational, medical, and cultural

The PILOT should be for ALL non-profit institutions from the educational, medical, and cultural sectors that own property valued in excess of $15 million. Each institution should be eligible for a “community benefits” deduction generally limited to 50% of the total PILOT contribution, i..e 50% should be a cash payment to the Village and 50% can be defined as benefits that derive to Village residents. You need the Village Manager to initiate this, whereby tax-exempt, land-owning institutions make a voluntary payment-in-lieu-of taxes (“PILOT”) to the Village to help cover the cost of providing the institutions with essential Village services (i.e. police, fire, snow removal). The Village needs to set a standard level of contributions – in programs and payments – to be met by all major tax-exempt land owners in Ridgewood, based on an open and transparent methodology for valuing community partnerships made by tax-exempt institutions. We also need to propose a structure for a consolidation program and payment negotiation system, which will allow the Village and its tax-exempt institutions to structure longer term, sustainable partnerships focused on improving services for Ridgewood’s residents. You also have to clarify the costs associated with providing Village services to tax-exempt institutions, and if necessary, provide recommendations on legislative changes needed at the Village, County or state level. None of this should be difficult.

Posted on November 22, 2014November 22, 2014 by James — 21 Comments

Valley Hospital buys more land in Paramus

Valley Hospital buys more land in Paramus

November 22, 2014 Last updated: Saturday, November 22, 2014, 1:21 AM
By LINDY WASHBURN
STAFF WRITER |
The Record

The Valley Hospital has purchased 11 1/2 acres in Paramus across the street from its same-day surgery and outpatient cancer center on Winters Avenue, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Valley Hospital

The site, not far from Route 17 and the Fashion Center mall, has been the data-processing and software-development facility for the global package distributor, UPS.

The hospital has no immediate plans to use the property, said Megan Fraser, a spokeswoman. It will lease the land and buildings back to BT Property, from whom it was purchased, for three years.

Fraser declined to give the sales price.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/health-news/valley-hospital-buys-more-land-in-paramus-1.1139536

Posted on October 25, 2014October 25, 2014 by James — 22 Comments

Courts should decide hospital expansion

Courts should decide hospital expansion

OCTOBER 24, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014, 10:01 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Let courts decide Valley’s fate

Rurik Halaby

To the Editor:

I support The Valley Hospital’s decision to take the matter of its renewal to court, as I know that we, the residents of Ridgewood, will win if Valley wins. Valley has to renew to remain viable. And its future cannot be dictated by a small band of neighbors who are only guided by their parochial needs.

And before the politicians start beating their chests, I will relate a discussion I had with a Village Council member after the council voted against Valley in 2011. He/she shook his/her head and lamented the fact the issue ever came to the council: “It should have been settled by the courts.” Well, hopefully the Village Council’s work will be done for it.

History is full of missed opportunities, and Ridgewood’s great missed opportunity this past year was our mayor not mediating behind the scenes between Valley and its neighbors to alleviate the neighbors’ concerns and to arrive at a workable solution. If I lived in the neighborhood, I certainly would have had my concerns, but I would have worked hard to get Valley to address them to the satisfaction of most of the neighbors.

This is now doubly difficult because the neighbors’ fears have gone beyond rationality to the realm of paranoia: The neighborhood being smothered with a blanket of noxious fumes, basements being flooded, walls getting cracked, and children being mowed down by heavy trucks on their way to school. These concerns made me wonder if this project was actually taking place in the most advanced engineering country in the world.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-courts-should-decide-hospital-expansion-1.1117450#sthash.MC5oZryJ.dpuf

Posted on October 24, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Valley Hospital Welcomes Spectrum for Living

Supervisor of Junior Volunteers and Community Projects (far left) and Kaitlyn Hipshman, ‎Supervisor of Volunteer Resources (far right). The clients who created the cards and delivered them are from our North Haledon location .

Valley Hospital Welcomes Spectrum for Living
October 23,2014

Ridgewood NJ, Today, Spectrum for Living clients delivered cards of kindness and support to Valley Hospital for Breast Cancer patients in lieu of Breast Cancer awareness month. The clients designed and decorated the cards themselves offering encouraging words like “Don’t give up” and “Stay strong”.

Spectrum for Living is a non-profit organization dedicated to the philosophy that persons with developmental disabilities have the same rights as others to a fulfilling and meaningful life. Our programs and services support dignity, independence and encourage each person to reach their personal potential.
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Posted on October 23, 2014October 25, 2014 by James — 9 Comments

Reader says Valley tried to buy the license of Pascack Valley for $2 million in order to terminate and keep it CLOSED Pascack Valley, arguing that there were too many available health care services and beds in the region.

Chris Christie at People First , Open Pascack Valley Hospital Rally

Reader says Valley tried to buy the license of Pascack Valley for $2 million in order to terminate and keep it CLOSED Pascack Valley, arguing that there were too many available health care services and beds in the region.

Richard Keenan, Valley’s chief financial officer and senior vice president, said in his testimony “Most nights there are approximately 300 unoccupied hospital beds in Bergen County,” Some remaining hospitals “are still running at dangerously low occupancy levels,”

Do recall that Valley tried to buy the license of Pascack Valley for $2 million in order to terminate and keep it CLOSED, arguing up to 2013 decision that there were too many available health care services and beds in the region.

“The bed need study that we conducted again shows that opening another hospital in the most overbedded county in the state makes no sense,” said Valley CEO Audrey Meyers.

From a Valley lawyer at the time : ‘The board of trustees and the leadership of The Valley Hospital continue to believe that the opening of a new hospital ( PV) during an era of health care reform, declining hospital reimbursement, reduced patient hospitalizations, insignificant population growth and a challenging economy is wrong for the health care system of Bergen County,” “The latest numbers show that there will be no increase in demand for health care, and a new hospital will only hurt existing hospitals.”

So Valley basically argued that Pascack Valley wasn’t inherently beneficial to the region given healthcare surpluses but knowing that PV’s continued closure was inherently beneficial to Valley accumulating additional profits .

PV hearings exposed Valley’s ulterior motives and any pretense of altruism. The embarrassing double talk of Valley, the repeated attempts to shove through an overbuild and now this wasteful suit has alienated this community

Valley enjoys a coveted address and gracious host but its rather affluent residents are also educated and attentive and not willing to let the detriments of unbridled expansion degrade their town. Valley always had their support and ability to properly renew but their aspirations to be a regional behemoth needed to be thoughtfully planned especially given past rulings and guidance about limitations which they obviously choose to disregard.
Technology today allows the option of operating a right sized base with satellites , Valley could take this route or materially expand at another location as some other regional hospitals did. No legitimate rationale exists for any huge expansion not to be in a suitable location. Poor planning or arrogance are not a basis for an overbuild.

The existing building of HUMC PV was totally renovated with the newest technology for $80mil . Valley is a larger structure as is so the cost would be proportionately higher but a proper renewal would result in large scost avings that can be reinvested elsewhere. Valley and its trustees should take a cue from others and embark on a proper renewal at Van Dien and other options before they lose whatever is left of their goodwill and rank.

Posted on October 22, 2014October 22, 2014 by James — 14 Comments

Reader says Valley should focus on being a Community Hospital and stop the race to nowhere

Reader says Valley should focus on being a Community Hospital and stop the race to nowhere

by Thed

I’ve seen a lot of comments on this blog that people should stop going to Valley, stop using doctors that go to Valley, etc. to try to send the hospital a message.

Unfortunately, I don’t think they would receive that message. The truth of the matter is that most people are not going to stop going to Valley due to this issue. Most will continue using Valley as they always do, but maybe not be happy doing it.

I have no problem with most of the doctors, staff, etc. that work at Valley. I have a serious problem with the administration. They are tone deaf, their embarrassment of attorney Drill should actually be named Tool based on his immature and annoying behavior during the previous legal proceedings, and unless you have a financial interest in Valley, I would think that most residents that were indifferent to Valley’s expansion are now seriously opposing it.

The truth of the matter is, based on my observations about convenience etc., Valley’s arguments that it needs to double its size etc. to compete and to serve the community are irrational. Most people will go to the local medical establishments in their communities. Valley does not need to increase their draw to compete with the megahospitals in the region. If they continue on the path they have followed for the past half a century and focus on the local community and stop the race to nowhere, they could modestly improve over time and still be successful.

Posted on October 20, 2014October 20, 2014 by James — 7 Comments

Village Support for Valley Continues to Drop

Village Support for Valley Continues to Drop

I’m not going to disparage Valley service as their paid and volunteer workforce deserve better. Having said that, I am extremely disappointed in the actions of the hospital over the past several years and also disappointed with some trustees and foundation members who live in Ridgewood but apparently haven’t protested the shameful suit by the hospital. In my mind, their silence means tacit approval of these dealings which I find quite offensive to our residents.

A renewal of the hospital site should been simply that and the wishes, laws and decisions of this community should have respected. I will not boycott my doctors who are caught in the middle but I will no longer support the hospital nor will I hold some villagers in the same regard.

Posted on October 20, 2014October 20, 2014 by James — 4 Comments

Reader says Valley has already lost to HUMC

Reader says Valley has already lost to HUMC

Valley has already lost to HUMC. They’ve wasted 8 years trying to railroad a plan through that never had a shot at passing. Now at best they’ll get a watered down version of their plan which will be way too little and way too late to compete with Hackensack and Meridian.

If your kid falls off his bike take him to Valley – a boycott won’t accomplish anything. Sure, go ahead and have your babies at Valley too. Valley is a decent neighborhood hospital – run by people whose ambitions greatly exceed their abilities.

Posted on October 20, 2014October 20, 2014 by James — 14 Comments

Reader says Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli should resign

file photo by Boyd Loving

Reader says Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli should resign

If the deputy mayor’s firm still does work for Valley, i think he should either resign from the council or have his firm agree they wont represent Valley for a period of at least two years after everything is resolved. Clearly, Al can’t participate in any discussions involving Valley and this is a time where we need our entire council in place. Valley has declared war against the Village and the Village needs to be at full force to respond.

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