Kennedy has three acute-care hospitals, conveniently located in Cherry Hill, Stratford and Washington Township, NJ. Our hospitals offer an array of services, ranging from our top-notch Emergency Departments to our high- tech Intensive Care Units. The following services are provided through Kennedy's hospitals:
Acute Care
Kennedy provides acute care services at its three hospitals in Cherry Hill, Stratford and Washington Township. Patients are attended by more than 900 of the region's most experienced and knowledgeable physicians, a caring staff of nurses and other professionals.
Cardiac Catheterization
To help diagnose heart diseases, highly sophisticated, state-of-the-art equipment provides multi-dimensional images of the heart in our Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, located at our hospital campus in Cherry Hill.
Emergency Services
Top-notch emergency physicians staff Kennedy's three emergency departments. In fact, Kennedy was the first hospital system in southern New Jersey certified to train doctors who specialize in Emergency Medicine. Our Emergency Departments are equipped with leading-edge medical equipment. Kennedy also offers a variety of ongoing medical training to emergency personnel to ensure that pre-hospital care is delivered with the same high standards used at the hospital.
Intensive Care Unit
Medical, surgical, coronary and respiratory intensive care units at all three Kennedy hopitals are equipped with sophisticated monitoring equipment and staffed by critical care nurses.
Laboratory Services
Any time, any day, you can call on Kennedy Memorial Hospitals for the laboratory testing you need. Our state-of-the-art, multi-accredited laboratory system -- based in our three hospitals in Cherry Hill, Stratford and Washington Township -- offer outstanding services.
Medical/Surgical Units
Medical/surgical units provide patients with a wide array of care in cardiology, gastroenterology, gynecology, hematology/oncology, infectious diseases, nephrology, neurology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, podiatry, proctology, pulmonary, rheumatology, urology and vascular treatments.
Neonatal Intensive Care
Kennedy's Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery in Washington Township is designed for newborns that have special needs. It is equipped with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and staffed with specially-trained neonatologists and registered nurses.
New Emergency Department
In 2003, Kennedy opened a $23.4 million Emergency Department at its Washington Township campus. The largest Emergency Department in the region, it quadrupled the size of the former Emergency Department, to 26,000-square-feet. Features of the state-of-the-art facility include separate, designated patient-care areas for acute and less serious illnesses and injuries, with a combined 29 treatment and exam stations; all private exam rooms; two new radiographic rooms; a new reception area; Ronald McDonald House family room; and a children's play area.
Operating Room
As part of its commitment to provide the finest in patient care, the Operating Room at Kennedy's Washington Township hospital contains five operating suites to more easily accommodate surgeries involving high technology. There is also be a new Recovery Room and Preoperative holding area for patients waiting to go to surgery.
Physical/Speech/Occupational Therapies
Atlantic Orthopedic and Sports Physcial Therapy (AOSPT) provides the highest quality rehabilitative therapy to Kennedy patients at all Kennedy hospital campuses in Stratford, Cherry Hill and Washington Township. Services are provided to both those staying in the hospital and those needing outpatient treatment. Services include management of many conditions, including:
* Accident injuries
* Athletic/sports-related injuries
* Post-operative and wound care
* Hand therapy
* Musculoskeletal disorders
* Pediatric intervention
* Occupational medicine
Brian Duffy, DPT, Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilation for the Kennedy Health System, oversees these services.
For more information, call Atlantic Orthopedic and Sports Physcial Therapy (AOSPT) at one of our hospitals:
· Cherry Hill: 856/488-6842
· Stratford: 856/346-7842
· Washington Township: 856/582-2842
Ronald McDonald Pediatric Center
Kennedy's Washington Township Hospital houses our Ronald McDonald Pediatric Center. This comprehensive pediatrics unit offers round-the-clock pediatric care in a modern, yet "homey" environment. Our team of board-certified pediatricians also works round-the-clock in our Washington Township Emergency Department, providing pediatric care to youngsters admitted through our ER.
Surgical Services
All three Kennedy hospitals offer surgical services, including Same-Day Surgery units. In addition, Kennedy has a modern, state-of-the-art Surgical Center, located at its Washington Township campus. This facility, which opened in 1996, houses five operating rooms, two procedure rooms, two recovery areas and a surgical mammography suite. It is a popular choice for less extensive and elective same-day procedures and can be reached at 856/218-4900 .
Transitional Care Unit
Kennedy offers a Transitional Care Unit at its Stratford Hospital, providing short-term, skilled nursing and rehabilitative care, as a "bridge" between acute hospital care and a return to home. Patients are referred to this unit by their attending hospital physician, if deemed appropriate. Licensed by the NJ Department of Health & Senior Services, which sets admissions guidelines, the Kennedy TCU meets required standards for Medicare participation. For more information, call 856/346-7956.
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care is a national provider of hospice services, caring for more than 10,500 patients daily in 16 states. Kennedy selected VITAS as our inpatient hospice provider because their mission and vision was an excellent fit for a partnership arrangement with Kennedy.
VITAS is a licensed provider of the service, which offers an end-of-life alternative in the continuum of care for physicians and their patients. Kennedy provides the space, ancillary and support services to this new unit at our Stratford Campus. The hospice unit is an "open unit," available to all Kennedy Medical Staff members who choose to follow their patients on the unit. VITAS will have several Kennedy-based physicians who will provide medical leadership over care in the unit.
The unit opened in September of 2006.
Friday 6 March 2009
Helping Patients Battle Obesity with Bariatric Surgery
Kennedy's Bariatric Surgery Team lead by Drs. Marc Neff & Louis Balsama
Today, one in three adults in the United States is obese and about 20 million are morbidly obese. With obesity a growing medical and emotional problem, many severely overweight people are turning to gastric bypass surgery for help. Kennedy can now offer that help through our own Bariatric Surgery Program.
Three Surgical Options
Drs. March Neff and Louis Balsama, both specially trained in weight-loss surgery, offer three options to qualified patients: the popular Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; the less invasive gastric "sleeve" surgery; and the adjustable LAP-BAND weight-loss surgery.
All bariatric surgical procedures reduce food consumption by restricting the size of the stomach. Eligible patients usually have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater, which translates to about 100 pounds over ideal body weight for men, or 80 pounds overweight for women.
Weight loss surgery may also be an option for people with a BMI of 35 or greater who suffer from life-threatening obesity-related health issues, including diabetes, heart disease or severe sleep apnea.
LAP-BAND Surgery
In LAP-BAND weight-loss surgery, lap bands are placed around the stomach through small incisions on the abdomen. Patients are usually discharged the day after the surgery, allowing them to resume their regular activities sooner. Postoperative adjustments can be made by changing the amount of saline in the band, which will control the amount of food that is consumed comfortably by the patient
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
This type of surgery uses a combination of restriction and malabsorption. During the procedure, the surgeon creates a smaller stomach pouch. The surgeon then attaches a Y-shaped section of the small intestine directly to the pouch. This allows food to bypass a large portion of the small intestine, which absorbs calories and nutrients. Having the smaller stomach pouch causes patients to feel fuller sooner and eat less food. Bypassing a portion of the small intestine means the patient's body absorbs fewer calories.
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG)
In addition to these forms of bariatric surgery, Kennedy offers Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG), considered one of the safest weight loss surgeries. It is less restrictive than some other bariatric weight loss surgeries, has no effect or change to the small intestine and, because it is done laparoscopically, requires a shorter recovery time.
If you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, your physician will determine which procedure is best for you. The first step is to make an initial appointment with our bariatric team. Patients will learn more about the procedure and nutritional issues related to surgery. They will also attend a support group.
Prospective patients will undergo a physical exam and pre-operative testing, including lab work, an EKG and a chest x-ray. Patietns are also advised to begin compiling a weight loss histrory for insurance company requirements.
After all consults are completed, authorization from your insurance company for the surgery will be sought. Once insurance approval is obtained, patients will be scheduled for surgery.
Bariatric surgery at Kennedy is performed by Drs. Marc A. Neff, FACS, (right) and Louis H. Balsama, both of whom are certified by The American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Neff earned his medical degree from The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His residency was in York, Pennsylvania, where he trained with Dr. John Monk, a leading gastric bypass surgeon in central Pennsylvania. He then spent two years in fellowship with Dr. W. Peter Geis, one of the leading laparoscopic surgeons in the country and with Dr. Robert Brolin, a leading expert in bariatric surgery and former president of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS).
Dr. Neff completed a Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. He then accepted a position as a surgical attending at Crozer-Keystone Health System where he performed and assisted on laparoscopic gastric bypasses and was instrumental in establishing a Bariatric Surgery Program. Overall, he has performed more than 125 obesity surgeries.
Dr. Balsama, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at UMDNJ-SOM, earned his medical degree from UMDNJ-SOM. He completed his Internship at Horizon Health System/Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan, and his Residency in General Surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown. He performed/assisted on laparoscopic gastric bypasses at one of the busiest obesity surgery programs in the region.
Commitment and Impact
Patients looking to have bariatric surgery must first try diets, exercise and other methods to loss weight., which is a pre-requisite for all insurance companies. Failing that, they must undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if they are a candidate for weight loss surgery.
“We require all candidates to commit to lifestyle changes before they undergo surgery,” says Dr. Neff. “You can’t be motivated to have surgery for the wrong reasons; you must be committed to a healthy lifestyle after surgery.”
But once a person undergoes surgery, the statistics are impressive. A Swedish study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2004 found obesity surgery resulted in greater sustained weight loss and more improvement in related health conditions than conventional treatments over a 10-year period.
Dr. Neff is very excited about the impact that bariatric surgery has on patients. “Morbid obesity is linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, breathing problems and has a negative impact on virtually every one of your organs,” he explains. “Bariatric surgery not only helps to alleviate up to 20 medical problems, it can also mitigate an unknown number of emotional and lifestyle issues. After surgery, people report that they go to the theater, play sports, dance, have children, get married, go skiing—do so many things that other people take for granted. There are few medical procedures that can make such a dramatic difference in a person’s life.”
Today, one in three adults in the United States is obese and about 20 million are morbidly obese. With obesity a growing medical and emotional problem, many severely overweight people are turning to gastric bypass surgery for help. Kennedy can now offer that help through our own Bariatric Surgery Program.
Three Surgical Options
Drs. March Neff and Louis Balsama, both specially trained in weight-loss surgery, offer three options to qualified patients: the popular Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; the less invasive gastric "sleeve" surgery; and the adjustable LAP-BAND weight-loss surgery.
All bariatric surgical procedures reduce food consumption by restricting the size of the stomach. Eligible patients usually have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater, which translates to about 100 pounds over ideal body weight for men, or 80 pounds overweight for women.
Weight loss surgery may also be an option for people with a BMI of 35 or greater who suffer from life-threatening obesity-related health issues, including diabetes, heart disease or severe sleep apnea.
LAP-BAND Surgery
In LAP-BAND weight-loss surgery, lap bands are placed around the stomach through small incisions on the abdomen. Patients are usually discharged the day after the surgery, allowing them to resume their regular activities sooner. Postoperative adjustments can be made by changing the amount of saline in the band, which will control the amount of food that is consumed comfortably by the patient
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
This type of surgery uses a combination of restriction and malabsorption. During the procedure, the surgeon creates a smaller stomach pouch. The surgeon then attaches a Y-shaped section of the small intestine directly to the pouch. This allows food to bypass a large portion of the small intestine, which absorbs calories and nutrients. Having the smaller stomach pouch causes patients to feel fuller sooner and eat less food. Bypassing a portion of the small intestine means the patient's body absorbs fewer calories.
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG)
In addition to these forms of bariatric surgery, Kennedy offers Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG), considered one of the safest weight loss surgeries. It is less restrictive than some other bariatric weight loss surgeries, has no effect or change to the small intestine and, because it is done laparoscopically, requires a shorter recovery time.
If you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, your physician will determine which procedure is best for you. The first step is to make an initial appointment with our bariatric team. Patients will learn more about the procedure and nutritional issues related to surgery. They will also attend a support group.
Prospective patients will undergo a physical exam and pre-operative testing, including lab work, an EKG and a chest x-ray. Patietns are also advised to begin compiling a weight loss histrory for insurance company requirements.
After all consults are completed, authorization from your insurance company for the surgery will be sought. Once insurance approval is obtained, patients will be scheduled for surgery.
Bariatric surgery at Kennedy is performed by Drs. Marc A. Neff, FACS, (right) and Louis H. Balsama, both of whom are certified by The American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Neff earned his medical degree from The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His residency was in York, Pennsylvania, where he trained with Dr. John Monk, a leading gastric bypass surgeon in central Pennsylvania. He then spent two years in fellowship with Dr. W. Peter Geis, one of the leading laparoscopic surgeons in the country and with Dr. Robert Brolin, a leading expert in bariatric surgery and former president of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS).
Dr. Neff completed a Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. He then accepted a position as a surgical attending at Crozer-Keystone Health System where he performed and assisted on laparoscopic gastric bypasses and was instrumental in establishing a Bariatric Surgery Program. Overall, he has performed more than 125 obesity surgeries.
Dr. Balsama, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at UMDNJ-SOM, earned his medical degree from UMDNJ-SOM. He completed his Internship at Horizon Health System/Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan, and his Residency in General Surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown. He performed/assisted on laparoscopic gastric bypasses at one of the busiest obesity surgery programs in the region.
Commitment and Impact
Patients looking to have bariatric surgery must first try diets, exercise and other methods to loss weight., which is a pre-requisite for all insurance companies. Failing that, they must undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if they are a candidate for weight loss surgery.
“We require all candidates to commit to lifestyle changes before they undergo surgery,” says Dr. Neff. “You can’t be motivated to have surgery for the wrong reasons; you must be committed to a healthy lifestyle after surgery.”
But once a person undergoes surgery, the statistics are impressive. A Swedish study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2004 found obesity surgery resulted in greater sustained weight loss and more improvement in related health conditions than conventional treatments over a 10-year period.
Dr. Neff is very excited about the impact that bariatric surgery has on patients. “Morbid obesity is linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, breathing problems and has a negative impact on virtually every one of your organs,” he explains. “Bariatric surgery not only helps to alleviate up to 20 medical problems, it can also mitigate an unknown number of emotional and lifestyle issues. After surgery, people report that they go to the theater, play sports, dance, have children, get married, go skiing—do so many things that other people take for granted. There are few medical procedures that can make such a dramatic difference in a person’s life.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)