Wellness Waves

Regardless of whether you are running a marathon, biking your favorite trail or taking your first steps toward a healthier life; the same
expertise used for the competitive athlete can be applied to return the individual. Sports medicine takes a team approach to address injuries and lingering conditions that impede overall health, wellness, and functionality. Although 90% of sports and exercise related injuries can be resolved without surgery, 10% require the intervention of an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Raunak Singh, sports medicine physician, and Dr. Christopher Inzerillo, Chair of Orthopedics, discuss common injuries, prevention, and when surgical intervention is necessary.

Now more than ever, partnerships between higher education and healthcare have become essential. Higher education helps shape the next generation of healthcare workers and the healthcare industry relies on solid education and training for their employees. With the ever-changing landscape of the healthcare industry, both groups must work together to ensure that the education and training received by students fits their reality once they are on the job. Since the pandemic, staffing shortages have significantly increased in healthcare and higher education is partnering to help address this need.

No one likes to think about the end of their or a loved one's life, but advanced planning is essential. Krishna Shah, Director of Social Services for Long Term Care at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center discusses how developing a plan provides security, making your healthcare and financial choices clear to everyone.

At least one-in-eight teenagers have misused an illicit substance in the last year, including opioids, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and more. Fifty percent of teens said they have misused drugs at least once and more than 62% of high school seniors reported abusing alcohol. How do we stop teens from experiencing high risk substance use? And how do we treat and support those who are facing their addiction?

At Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, the Teen T.H.R.I.V.E. program serves adolescents between the ages of 13 – 17, offering them the ability to focus on recovering from alcohol, drugs, abuse, and addiction. The program encompasses multiple levels of care, including the involvement of their loved ones in the treatment and recovery process.

The impact of opioid addiction and overdoses continues to be felt in New Jersey and across the country. Since 2018, tens of thousands of New Jerseyans have experienced an overdose and more than 15,000 have died of a suspected drug-related death. To combat this epidemic, New Jersey has worked to increase harm reduction efforts throughout the state including expanding the availability of naloxone through statewide distribution
days.

In January 2023, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced a program that allows anyone 14 years or older to acquire naloxone anonymously and at no cost at participating pharmacies across New Jersey. The NJ Department of Human Services partnered with the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy and its Medicaid division to craft and implement this unique program.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the US and is responsible for one of out every three deaths each year. However, only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat. Heart disease and stroke can affect women of any age, so it is important for women to understand their risk factors and family history. Life events like pregnancy and menopause can also impact heart health. Stress can also play a role which is why it is important to understand the mind-body connection to improve physical health and mental well-being.

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center's new Research & Innovation Center is focused on advancing medical research with a specific emphasis on the importance of healthcare equity. The Medical Center supports the participation of representative subjects in clinical trials and data collection projects – studies must include all genders, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds to provide the most comprehensive results.

The Center will redesign healthcare delivery and therapeutics for the patients it serves. Bergen New Bridge is partnering with industry leaders to innovate integrated care that yields the best health and wellness outcomes.

The team will be working to develop ideas that could lead to improvements in care, reductions in overall costs, and will provide new products and services. The mission of the Center is to create solutions that benefit all patients at Bergen New Bridge and beyond.

Diabetes has reached a crisis point in the United States. According to the CDC, cases of diabetes have risen to an estimated 37.3 million in this country. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. What can Americans do to prevent diabetes? What can those living with diabetes do to better manage their health? Good nutrition is an important tool in the prevention of this disease and is essential to those already diagnosed. Making the right dietary choices can limit the impact this silent killer has on the health and wellness of all Americans.

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center offers a variety of Acute Rehabilitation Services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology to their patients and long-term care residents. The latest program being offered by the Medical Center is therapeutic intervention for those grappling with lymphedema. The overall goal of rehabilitation services at Bergen New Bridge is to improve a patient's level of functioning and quality of life by assisting them with achieving their maximum potential in all aspects of daily living.

Teens across the country are facing a mental health crisis. An estimated 49.5 percent of adolescents will experience a mental health disorder. According to a recent study, 4 in 10 U.S. high schoolers have experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness with nearly a quarter seriously considering attempting suicide. How can we help our teens who are in crisis? What treatments and support can families turn to for their children?