Jill S. Menell, MD, Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital (SJCH), is recognized by the Sickle Cell Association of New Jersey (SCANJ) as one of five “Iconic Women” in the State. This prestigious award is part of a nation-wide collaborative in recognition of Women’s History Month, between FENDI and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., to honor women who have made a significant impact in the Sickle Cell Disease community.

Dr. Menell is passionate about caring for children with sickle cell disease. In 2014, the SCANJ recognized her as a recipient of the “Dr. Charles F. Whitten Award,” in the Health Care Professional category. As Chief, Dr. Menell leads a team of Board-certified Pediatric Hematology and Oncology physicians on staff at SJCH. They work together with a specially trained nursing staff skilled in administration of sickle cell disease treatment and associated therapies, as well as a psychosocial team that includes a social worker and child life specialist.

The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Division of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital provides state-of-the-art family-centered care for children with blood disorders and cancer. For additional information on Pediatric Hematology/Oncology services at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, visit StJosephsHealth.org/PedsHemOnc.

April 9, 2015

Top Quality Heart and Vascular Care Close to Home

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every 4 deaths. The experts at the St. Joseph’s Health (SJH) Department of Heart and Vascular Services are focused on providing advanced services to prevent and treat a broad spectrum of heart diseases.

The experienced and caring Heart and Vascular Services team of physicians, nurses, residents, technicians, administrators and support staff provide patients with ongoing exceptional and compassionate care. Every member of the health care team stands firm in their dedication to a ‘patients first’ approach to top quality, safe and effective care – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

According to Mark Connolly, MD, Chairman, Department of Surgery, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, “St. Joseph’s prides itself on performing the newest minimally invasive cardiac procedures. When medication and catheter-based treatments cannot relive symptoms, surgery remains the accepted treatment for a range of cardiothoracic conditions, including but not limited to mitral valve prolapsed, atrial septal defect and coronary artery disease.”

“The multidisciplinary care system that the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery has in place, combined with outstanding clinical staff expertise, leading edge technology and minimally invasive and robotic surgical approaches have produced outstanding patient outcomes at St. Joseph’s,” explains Dr. Connolly.

The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery offers procedures including:

Cardiac Surgery

• Minimally Invasive 3-inch Right Thoracotomy AVR
• Minimally Invasive Robotic Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement
• Robotic and Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
• MAZE Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation
• Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Surgery and Stent Grafts
• Off Pump/Beating Heart Surgery (no heart/lung machine)
• Congenital and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
• Left Ventricular Assist Devices
• Cardiac Surgery for CHF

Thoracic Surgery

• VATS Thoracic Surgery
• Robotic and Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
• Esophagectomy
• Laparoscopic Repair of Esophageal Reflux

Often care begins with Diagnostic Testing. “St. Joseph’s Division of Cardiology provides a broad spectrum of diagnostic tests that assist physicians in determining whether or not a patient has heart or vascular disease,” states Dr. Connolly. “These tests can show if the disease has progressed and guide treatment that is suited to the needs of the individual. Our interdisciplinary team of compassionate cardiovascular experts use the latest technology and procedures to pinpoint the nature and scope of cardiovascular issues,” he says.

Diagnostic tests, most of which are available at both St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, NJ, and St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center in Wayne, NJ, can be performed on an outpatient basis and will not require an overnight stay. These include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Holter monitor (24 hour EKG)
• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
• Cardiac event recording
• Stress testing
• Cardiac nuclear stress testing
• Pharmacological stress testing (Dobutamine, Persantine)
• Echocardiogram
• Transesophageal echocardiography
• Pediatric echocardiography
• Transtelephonic pacemaker monitoring
• Electrophysiology studies
• Cardiac catheterization

Cardiac catheterization interventional procedures are available to help treat an array of diagnoses such as blocked arteries, hypertension, leg pain or claudication. Interventional procedures include Balloon Angioplasty, Stent placement and Peripheral Angiograms. Most interventions are performed as same day procedures, allowing patients to return home later that day. In addition, the Cardiac Catheterization Labs at both St. Joseph’s University Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center offer Carotid Artery Stenting, an effective treatment to prevent stroke for patients with carotid artery blockage, as an alternative treatment for high surgical-risk patients.

“Nationally recognized for peak performance and leading edge health care, patients can be assured that the Heart and Vascular experts at St. Joseph’s Health will provide them with top quality heart care in the most advanced way,” adds Dr. Connolly.

April 7, 2015

The Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital strives to provide the best care possible for children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases.  Pediatric rheumatic diseases are comprised of chronic, complex autoimmune and multisystem inflammatory diseases, which often can be a challenge to diagnose and treat.  Pediatric rheumatic diseases differ significantly from adult rheumatic conditions, and require specialized care with the considerations of growth, development and quality of life of pediatric patients.  With the specialized and unique training of our pediatric rheumatologist, we offer expert and quality care tailored for each child’s needs in a pediatric focused environment.  Through our family centered care and collaboration among the various pediatric disciplines, we are committed to provide the most comprehensive and complete care for each patient.

The Division of Pediatric Rheumatology provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and management of several rheumatic conditions, including:

• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Juvenile Dermatomyositis
• Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
• Vasculitides
• Scleroderma (systemic and localized)
• Periodic Fever Syndrome and other autoinflammatory diseases
• Musculoskeletal Pain Syndromes, including fibromyalgia
• Reactive Arthritis
• Lyme arthritis
• Other connective tissue diseases

St. Joseph’s Health CEO Recognized by NJBIZ

Kevin J. Slavin, President and Chief Executive Officer at St. Joseph’s Health, a leading academic healthcare organization serving Northern New Jersey, has been recognized as #34 on the prestigious NJBIZ 2015 Power 50 Health Care List.

A results-oriented executive with nearly three decades of healthcare industry leadership experience and expertise, Mr. Slavin has demonstrated abilities to deliver high quality services, exceptional financial performance and lead organization-wide transformations in diverse environments.

The selection listing reads: Kevin Slavin, CEO, St. Joseph’s Health: All of our insiders felt Slavin, the CEO of St. Joseph’s Health in Paterson, is the right person to do a tough job. “Running East Orange General, as he did for years, under the most trying of circumstances, was a great set of accomplishments,” one admirer said. “He understands urban health care, and he understands what it means to serve a community.” How far could he go? One believes he’s a future list-topper: “He’s a star. He’s a comer.”

Mr. Slavin’s career encompasses healthcare senior management roles, predominately in New Jersey. These include serving as President and Chief Executive Officer at East Orange General Hospital, Essex County; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at St. Joseph’s Health, Passaic County; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at St. Clare’s Health System, as well as President and Chief Executive Officer and Vice President for Ambulatory Care at St. Clare’s Hospital, Morris County; and Vice President for Planning and Marketing at Dover General Hospital and Medical Center, Morris County, NJ.

A highly-respected healthcare industry leader, Mr. Slavin is a Trustee of the New Jersey Hospital Association (2013-present), a Member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a Trustee and Immediate Past Chairman of the Hospital Alliance of New Jersey (2005-present) and has held a variety of legislative appointments to healthcare boards, commissions and task forces. He is a Seton Associate of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth.

Mr. Slavinhas received numerous professional recognitions throughout his career, including the American College of Healthcare Executives New Jersey Senior Executive Award, Community Leadership Award from the Morris County Organization of Hispanic Affairs, Community Service Award from the Caribbean Medical Mission and recognition from the East Orange Democratic Committee as a Jewel of the Community.

March 30, 2015

The Outpatient Electromyography (EMG) Laboratory at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center (SJUMC) recently received Laboratory Accreditation with Exemplary Status from the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), making it one of just three laboratories in New Jersey with this level of accreditation. Exemplary Status is the highest level of accreditation an electrodiagnostic (EDX) laboratory can achieve under the AANEM Accreditation Program.

“We are very proud and honored to receive AANEM Laboratory Accreditation status,” says Beth Stein, MD, Attending Neurologist, Director, Neuromuscular Disorders and Outpatient EMG Laboratory, SJUMC. “One of St. Joseph’s Value-based Standards is ‘Excellence’ and that is exactly what we strive for each day at the EMG Lab – to provide our patients with excellent care and overall service.”

The Outpatient EMG Laboratory at St. Joseph’s provides state-of-the-art diagnostic testing and neuromuscular evaluations, using advanced techniques to diagnose a range of neuromuscular disorders, including radiculopathy (pinched nerves), carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, muscle disease (myopathy), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig disease), myasthenia gravis, and many others. Patients with numbness, tingling, weakness, fatigue, muscle twitching or cramping, or difficulty ambulating, may benefit from an EMG evaluation to further understand their disorders. Dr. Stein is an experienced electromyographer, Board-certified in Neurology, Electrodiagnostic Medicine and Neuromuscular Medicine, and active in electrodiagnostic and neuromuscular clinical research.

The AANEM established laboratory accreditation criteria for EDX laboratories to ensure patients receive quality medical care in a safe environment. Laboratory accreditation provides patients, referral sources, and payers with a credible measure to differentiate the laboratory’s quality of care. The accreditation standards evaluate the diagnostic services and clinical operations essential to providing quality patient care.

Click here for additional information regarding the Outpatient EMG Laboratory and Electromyography/ Nerve Conduction Studies at St. Joseph’s.

March 20, 2015

The Outpatient Electromyography (EMG) Laboratory at St. Joseph’s, which holds Laboratory Accreditation with Exemplary Status from the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), provides state-of-the-art diagnostic testing and neuromuscular evaluations. Common and advanced techniques are used in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders, including radiculopathy (pinched nerves), carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, muscle disease (myopathy), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig disease), Myasthenia gravis, and many others. Patients with numbness, tingling, weakness, fatigue, muscle twitching or cramping, or difficulty ambulating, may benefit from an EMG evaluation to further understand their disorders.

EMG/NCS

Electromyography & Nerve Conduction Studies

Electrodiagnostic Medicine

A specially-trained physician conduct tests that record and analyze electrical impulses between the nerves and muscles. The results are combined with the patient’s clinical history and physical exam in order to diagnose and treat neuromuscular, musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders.

Neuromuscular (NM) Medicine

NM medicine is the practice of medicine that involves the care of adult and pediatric patients with disorders of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and its connections with the central nervous system. The PNS includes the motor and sensory neurons, peripheral nerves, NM junctions, and muscles. NM medicine requires training and knowledge beyond that expected of a general neurologist or physiatrist.

Who performs the needle electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS)?

The EMG specialist at St. Joseph’s is a Board-certified Neurologists with subspecialty training in electrodiagnostic medicine.

Why am I being sent to the EMG Lab for tests?

You are being sent to the EMG Lab because you have numbness, tingling, pain, weakness or muscle cramping. Some of the tests that the EMG doctor may use to diagnose your symptoms are NCS and needle EMG. The doctor will examine you to decide which tests to perform.

What do nerve conduction studies (NCS) show?

NCS show how well the body’s electrical signals are traveling in a nerve. This is done by applying small electrical shocks to the nerve and recording how the nerve works. These shocks cause a quick, mild, tingling feeling. The doctor may test several nerves.

What happens during needle EMG testing?

For this test, a small, thin needle is put into several muscles individually to see if there are any problems. A new needle is used for each patient, and it is thrown away after the test. There may be a small amount of pain when the needle is put in. The doctor tests only the muscles necessary to decide what is wrong. The doctor will look at and listen to the electrical signals that travel from the needle to the EMG machine. The doctor then uses his or her medical knowledge to determine what could be causing your problem.

How long will these tests take?

The tests usually take 20 to 90 minutes. You can do any of your normal activities, like eating, driving, and exercising, before the tests. There are no lasting side effects. You also can do your normal activities after the tests.

How should I prepare for the tests?

• Tell the EMG doctor if you are taking aspirin, blood thinners (like Coumadin® or Pradaxa ®), have a pacemaker or have hemophilia. Take a bath or shower to remove oil from your skin.
• Do not use body lotion on the day of the test.
• If you have myasthenia gravis, ask your EMG doctor if you should take any medications before the test. The EMG doctor will discuss your test results with you and send them to your referring doctor. After the exam, check with the doctor who sent you to the lab for the next step in your care.

When will I know the test results? What other tests may be recommended?

Depending on your symptoms, your physician may recommend neuromuscular ultrasound, blood tests, biopsies or genetic testing.

What if I need to change or cancel my appointment?

Patients must provide at least 24 hours notice of cancellation. It is our policy to allow rescheduling of no more than two appointments, after which another referral will be required from their physician. We strive to see all of our patients at the time of their scheduled appointment. Patients who arrive more than 15 minutes late may be rescheduled.