Wellness Waves

The mind body connection is crucial to improving health and wellness outcomes. Good nutrition helps medication absorption, mood, and more. Our team works to help those who are food insecure as well as patients who need balanced nutrition to help improve their overall wellbeing.

Worried a recall means the food in your fridge is unsafe? Carlye Gilbert, MSN, RN, CIC, Director of Infection Prevention at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, explains how to check FDA and CDC recall lists and perform a quick risk assessment for your household. Learn which recalls involve pathogens versus undeclared allergens, how to read use-by dates, when to discard versus cook, and questions to ask deli counters or food vendors.

For parents of school-aged children with mental illness or substance use disorders, it can be challenging to find the right care. Oftentimes, parents and caregivers neglect caring for themselves while seeking essential care for themselves. This podcast covers how to get help for kids in need and how to best support the entire family while dealing with a behavioral health crisis.

Transitioning from the hospital to home can be daunting. Sometimes, there are complications and coordination of care can be challenging. Bergen New Bridge Medical Center has partnered with Dimer Health to improve health and wellness outcomes following discharge. Their collaboration blends high-quality compassionate medical care with easy-to-use technology that supports patients through their recovery.

The holiday season can be a challenging time for many reasons. As joyful as the season can be, it can also be lonely or stressful. Some turn to alcohol or drugs for relief from stress, without realizing overindulging during the holidays can increase the risk of developing substance use disorders.

Holiday parties can also be like navigating a minefield as alcoholic beverages are woven into traditions with family and friends and can seem unavoidable. For those looking to make healthier choices for themselves this holiday season, the team at Bergen New Bridge has programs, treatments, and support.

Samantha Cohen, DO, is a queer provider and brings a personal understanding of the unique challenges and experiences faced by the LGBTQ+ community. With her special interests in women’s health, gynecological care, and preventive cancer screenings, she prioritizes and addresses women's health concerns. 

Learn more about Samantha Cohen, DO 

A recently released study found that children with a highly addictive use of social media, video games, or cellphones were two to three times more likely to have thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Gianna Carrino, Manager of Adolescent Services at Bergen New Bridge, discusses addictive behaviors in children and teens, the impact of these behaviors, and what resources and support are available to address these issues.

Dr. Melis Coklar discusses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) which is a noninvasive treatment that uses a series of short magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive nerve cells in those diagnosed with depression. These focused magnetic pulses revitalize underactive areas of the brain involved in regulating mood. When these regions are underactive, depression can result. Waking up these regions can have a lasting effect on depression, making long-term remission from depression a reality for more than a third of patients who have received TMS.

Vince Nicosia, LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Specialist, and Calla Myerjack, LGBTQ+ Clinical Community Liaison, discuss the work they do at the LGBTQ+ Health & Wellness Center at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. They will share their thoughts on the importance of taking care of both the body and the mind for optimum health and wellness and how the integrated care they provide is essential to the community. Vince and Calla will also talk about the importance of culturally competent care to ensure individualized, compassionate, and supportive care for all patients.

Individuals with autism often have differences from neurotypical patients related to communication, pain perception, and other treatments, highlighting the importance of autism training for hospital and emergency department staff. This can help prevent unnecessary care delays or misdiagnosis, patient anxiety, and potential sensory meltdowns.

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center’s Emergency Department recently received the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). In addition to the training and certification, IBCCES also completed an onsite review of the Medical Center to provide additional recommendations to enhance the overall experience for autistic and sensory-sensitive patients and their families.

Darian Eletto, Chief Clinical Officer, Behavioral Health Services, and Julia Orlando, Vice President of Integrative Services, will discuss the certification process and what it means for Bergen New Bridge.