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healthviews
a health publication from
Riverview Medical Center
Life’s Most
Precious Gift:
In Good Hands at
Riverview
page 6
Special Delivery
Arriving at
Riverview
in 2010!
page 7
Cutting Through the
Pain with CyberKnife ®
page 17
Alzheimer’s:
What You Need to Know
page 20
RiverviewMedicalCenter.com | November/December 2009

inside this issue
November/December 2009
4-5
• A Lung Cancer Patient Finds
an Advocate at Ocean
• Meridian Celebrates a Year
Being Smoke-Free
6-7
• Expecting? Expect Trust and
Comfort at Riverview
• Exercising Safely When
You’re Expecting
• Special Delivery in 2010!
8
• Coming Home for Skull
Base Repair
9
• Jersey Shore Keeps ED Nurse
on the Go
• Exercise Can Keep Women
Free of Fibroids
10
• Athletic Injury? We’ll Get You
Back Up to Speed
11
• A Life Saved Helps
Transform Others
12
• Life After a Stroke: Rehab
Makes It Happen
13
• Bone Health, by the Numbers
14
• Make the Most of Family Meals
15
• Ask the Health Experts:
Learning About Shingles
16
• Women, Take Note: Listen
When Your Body Talks
17
• Pain-Free CyberKnife ®
Treatment Can
Replace Surgery
18
• Pediatric Neurology Team
Gives Son a Second Chance
19
• Breathing Easier with the
Help of K. Hovnanian
Children’s Hospital
• Tonsils and Adenoids:
Double Trouble for Kids
20-23
• Calendar of Events
24-25
• Keep Your Nervous
System Healthy
26
• Keep Active to Keep Your
Mind Sharp
• Recipe: Cranberry-Vegetable
Risotto
• Word Jumble
On the cover: Nothing is more
precious than the gift of life,
something that Cynthia
Fornicola and daughter Ava,
now 6 months old, know better
than anyone, thanks to the
expert care they received at
Riverview Medical Center.
John K. Lloyd, FACHE
President,
Meridian Health
A Message to the Community
At Meridian Health, we are committed to keeping
children healthy by providing the highest quality of
care through our new Meridian Pediatric Network.
Quite simply, it’s a way of looking at pediatric care that
changes everything.
Our Network comprises nearly 300 obstetricians,
family practitioners, and community pediatricians
working side by side with the region’s largest group of
pediatric subspecialists to guide patients through every
step of care. Through K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital
at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, we offer the
most pediatric subspecialists in the region, including
dedicated pediatric trauma, emergency, surgical, and
specialty care, as well as dedicated neonatal and
pediatric intensive care units around the clock. From
helping children live every day with a chronic condition,
such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, or autism, to
attending to the most serious cases, such as those
requiring neurosurgery or intensive care, our specialists
work with pediatricians in the community and
community hospitals to provide leading care.
Both the Pediatric Emergency Center at Ocean Medical
Center and the Pediatric Care Center at Riverview Medical
Center provide the best care for our youngest patients in
special healing environments. And when more extensive
treatment is needed, a dedicated transport team seamlessly
brings children safely from our community hospitals
to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital.
No pediatric program in the region offers you more
complete, more coordinated care. When it comes to
care for your littlest loved ones, Meridian is where you
want to be, close to family and close to home.
Sincerely,
TAKING CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN
Turn to page 18 to read more stories about our
expert pediatric care inside this issue!
3
Meridian HealthViews November/December 2009

OCEan Medical Center
A Lung Cancer Patient Finds an Advocate at Ocean
When someone you care about has
a serious disease like lung cancer,
there is a lot to think about.
Follow-up tests, screenings, and appointments
need to be scheduled, on top of worrying
about the one you love. Now families
facing this diagnosis have a lot of extra help
when they come to Ocean Medical Center.
The hospital is home to the Lung Cancer
Specialty Program, which provides coordinated
care from a team of experts across
many different specialties. And a clinical
advocate specially trained to work with
lung cancer patients and their families is
there to help guide you through every step.
Barbara Schaffer, pictured here with Sammy, never smoked and never thought she’d develop lung
cancer. Fortunately, she never had to coordinate her own cancer care either. Her clinical advocate,
Joyce Cline-Blasi, R.N., guided her through treatment, every step of the way.
Learn About Treatment Options
In November, Ocean Medical Center will host a FREE symposium
on lung cancer. For more information about this special event,
please call 1-800-DOCTORS ® or see page 20. The phone number
for the Lung Cancer Specialty Program at Ocean is 732-836-4042.
A Personal Health Advocate
“My role is to be the patient’s and family’s
point person,” says Joyce Cline-Blasi, R.N.,
clinical advocate of the Lung Cancer
Specialty Program. “Once they receive a
diagnosis, I provide education and I help
each patient navigate medical care decisions
and appointments so they get the treatments
they need as quickly as possible — and find
the support they need.”
Lung cancer staging — what doctors
use to determine how far the condition
has progressed — can require several
different tests. At Ocean Medical Center,
the clinical advocate handles all test
scheduling behind-the-scenes.
“I set up all of the appointments
with radiology, oncology, and other
departments or medical specialists, which
patients appreciate a great deal,” Cline-
Blasi says. “There can be a lot of stress
and uncertainty during this time. Patients
and families appreciate having someone to
guide them through the process and make
sure they get access to the care they need.”
A Team Approach to Care
The Lung Cancer Specialty Program at Ocean
Medical Center offers a multi-disciplinary
approach to care for patients suffering from
lung cancer. The program teams the skills and
expertise of many different specialties. This
includes thoracic surgery, medical oncology,
radiation oncology, and pulmonology.
Every two weeks, the team meets to build
individualized care plans for the patients.
4
Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS

“By working together early on, we are
able to make sure that the patient gets
the most effective treatment as soon as possible,”
says James McCaughan, M.D., medical
director of the Lung Cancer Specialty
Program at Ocean. Dr. McCaughan
developed the idea for the program and
brought it to Ocean Medical Center.
Ocean also offers state-of-the-art tests for
lung cancer, such as endoscopy ultrasound
with needle biopsy. This test can help
patients avoid surgery that was traditionally
needed to determine the stage of cancer.
When surgery is needed, patients
might benefit from video-assisted thoracic
surgery, which uses minimally invasive
techniques. In addition, patients who
come to Ocean have access to the latest
therapies through clinical trials.
Family Finds Support —
Even on Saturdays
Sixty-year-old Brick resident Barbara Schaffer
and her family are just some of the people
who have been helped through the Program.
“Everyone should have a Joyce,” says
Lauren Hussey-LoRusso, Barbara’s daughter.
Because Lauren lives in Connecticut,
it’s not always easy for her to manage her
mom’s care. But Cline-Blasi has been a
great source of support, even coming to the
hospital on the weekend to see Barbara’s
family. “Having a clinical advocate has
been extremely helpful to us.
“Joyce has a way about her — she’s very
calm and soft-spoken,” Lauren continues.
“She always returns our calls right away.
We love her. She’s been invaluable to us.”
about the doctor
HV_OMC_Lung_7.375x2.75-09:Layout 1 8/18/09 1:24 PM Page 1
Cancer Can Affect Nonsmokers
Barbara, who never smoked, never thought
she would get lung cancer. Earlier this year,
doctors found her lung cancer by accident
during tests she had done while in the
emergency department after having tremors.
People who don’t smoke can develop
lung cancer, especially if they are exposed
to secondhand smoke at home or work.
As many as 3,000 nonsmokers die of lung
cancer every year, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
When doctors diagnosed Barbara, they
discovered that the lung cancer had spread
to her brain. They referred her to Ocean
Medical Center’s sister hospital, Riverview
Medical Center, to receive a targeted form
of radiation on her brain using CyberKnife. ®
This advanced treatment delivered intense
doses of radiation to her brain tumor. Today,
the tumor is no longer detectable.
At press time, Barbara was finishing
chemotherapy to help control her lung
cancer. Although she’s tired, she and
her family are grateful for the care they
received at Ocean Medical Center.
“We couldn’t have made it through this
without the kind of support we’ve received
from the hospital,” Lauren says. “They
really have gone above and beyond.” •
James McCaughan, M.D.
Board certified in
Thoracic Surgery
Brick | 732-836-0007
meridian Celebrates a
Year being Smoke-Free
This November, Meridian Health will
celebrate an important date: its first
anniversary being smoke-free. On
November 20, 2008 — the date of
the Great American Smokeout — all
Meridian facilities eliminated smoking
on their property — even outdoors —
as part of their commitment to provide
a healthier environment.
Are you ready to quit? Ocean Medical
Center can help you get started. Meridian
has partnered with the American Cancer
Society to offer the Freshstart program,
a group counseling program for people
who want to stop smoking. The program
consists of four one-hour sessions that
take place during a two-week period.
To register for one of the Freshstart
programs, call 1-800-DOCTORS.
For more information about smokingcessation
support available at Ocean
Medical Center, contact Certified Tobacco
Treatment Specialist Joyce Cline-Blasi,
R.N., at 732-836-4042. Other resources
available that can help you quit —
for good — include:
• American Cancer Society at
www.cancer.org or 1-800-ACS-2345
• American Lung Association
Freedom from Smoking ® Online at
www.ffsonline.org or 1-800-548-8252
• New Jersey QuitNet at
www.njquitnet.com
• New Jersey Quitline at 1-866-NJ-STOPS
Lung cancer is not just a smoker’s disease.
TAKING CARE OF
NEW JERSEY
Statistics show that the rate of lung cancer is higher in Monmouth and Ocean counties than state and national
rates. At Ocean Medical Center, we offer the right blend of medical technology and specialists to support you and
your family when facing a lung cancer diagnosis.
• A team of physicians across specialties that meet and discuss the best plan for each patient’s care
• A single point of contact for connecting patients with educational materials, support services, and critical
aspects of care
• Minimally invasive surgical techniques using Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) for faster recovery
• Access to lung cancer clinical trials
For more information, call 1-800-DOCTORS ®
or visit OceanMedicalCenter.com

Riverview Medical Center
Expecting?
Expect Trust and Comfort at Riverview
Proud mom Cynthia Fornicola is happy and healthy once
again, thanks to outstanding obstetrical care at Riverview.
about the doctor
Sagar Patel, M.D.
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Atlantic Highlands | 732-291-3831
Having a baby is an exciting
time, but it can also be an
anxious one. Women may
have concerns about an underlying
medical condition, their upcoming
birth experience, or the health of their
baby. It’s normal to worry sometimes.
But trusting in your physician to
support, understand, and guide you
through the process is essential.
Riverview Medical Center prides
itself on working with a strong team
of board certified OB/GYNs who will
be with you the entire way.
Cynthia Fornicola, 36, knows
too well the importance of having
a doctor she can trust. Cynthia was
pregnant with her first child when she
began to have medical problems.
By the time she was six months
pregnant, Cynthia’s heart rate shot up
dramatically and she was raced to the
emergency department. Cynthia was
diagnosed with a condition called
supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
SVT can cause the heart to beat so fast
that it can become hard to breathe.
Cynthia’s condition was managed with
medication by her cardiologist.
But she felt disconnected from her
OB/GYN and decided to switch doctors.
She called the office of Sagar Patel,
M.D., an OB/GYN on staff at Riverview.
“On that first call to his office,
Dr. Patel himself got on the phone
and listened to my entire story. He
addressed every concern I had and
assured me he would take care of
me,” remembers Cynthia. “He was so
compassionate and knowledgeable.”
This level of compassionate attention
— what some may consider going
above and beyond expectations —
is normal for Dr. Patel. In fact, he
wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I treat each patient as if she were
my only patient,” explains Dr. Patel.
“I put my patients in control — giving
them the time they need, answering all
of their questions, and teaching them
as much as I can. I believe trust is the
most important thing in a physicianpatient
relationship. It’s not enough to
be a knowledgeable physician if you
don’t really listen to the patient.”
Cynthia’s pregnancy wasn’t easy.
She was rushed to the hospital by
ambulance two more times for her
SVT. Each time, Dr. Patel was there,
providing support and assuring
Cynthia that her baby was OK. Today,
Cynthia is the mother of Ava, now a
healthy 6-month-old girl. She credits
her positive experience to Dr. Patel
and is relieved to have a doctor who
makes her so comfortable.
“As OB/GYNs, we are in a unique
position. Patients come to us, entrusting
us with the birth of their child,” says Dr.
Patel. “No matter what road the patient
has been on — through difficulties getting
pregnant, a medical complication,
or a normal pregnancy — it’s our job to
be there for them.” •
Baby on Board?
Are you looking to start or add to your family? Get the timing just right with the help of our online Wellness Center!
Visit WellnessCenter.MeridianHealth.com and type “Ovulation Date Calculator” in the search box. Click on the search
result to get started!
6
Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS

Exercising Safely when you’re expecting
When you’re pregnant, it can be an effort
to get off the couch, let alone hit the gym.
But it’s important. “Staying active has
many benefits for you — and your baby,”
says Michelle Jacoby, M.D., of Riverview
Medical Center. Exercise may:
• Increase your energy, strength,
and stamina
• Help you sleep better
• Reduce backaches, bloating, and swelling
• Control weight gain
• Help prevent or treat gestational diabetes
• Help manage high blood pressure
• Decrease the risk of premature birth
“If working out isn’t normally part of
your routine, check with your OB/GYN
before you begin,” advises Dr. Jacoby.
Walking, swimming, and indoor bicycling
are great exercises for beginners.
Start slowly and gradually increase your
activity level. Stop if you feel pain,
exhaustion, or shortness of breath. A
good goal is to build up to exercising at
about the doctor
a moderate intensity for 30 minutes a day,
most days of the week. If it’s difficult to
talk while you’re working out, then you’re
pushing yourself too much.
“If you already work out regularly, talk
to your OB/GYN about how you should
modify your routine,” says Dr. Jacoby.
“You may be able to continue activities
such as running and strength training
in moderation.”
Michelle P. Jacoby, M.D.
Board certified in
Obstetrics/Gynecology
HV_RMC_BabyShower_7.375x2.75-09:Layout Little Silver | 732-842-0673 1 8/11/09 12:09 PM Page 1
special delivery in 2010!
Exceptional doctors and nurses are at
the heart of our work bringing healthy little
ones into this world. And soon, our top-notch
care will be matched by top-notch amenities.
Riverview Medical Center is in the “family
planning” stage of a complete rebirth of
the Jane H. Booker Women’s and Children’s
Center in 2010. We are completely renovating
the Center. And we’ve thought of
just about everything. Below are just a few
changes we’re “expecting” in 2010:
• Beautifully renovated labor/delivery and
postpartum suites with comfortable
beds and inviting décor. Hidden hospital
equipment creates more of a hotel feel.
• A spacious, redesigned lobby with large
aquariums to calm and soothe our guests.
• A new massage room. A licensed
massage therapist provides moms with
a massage during their stay.
• An intimate dining experience where Mom
and her significant other can dine from a
high-end menu before going home.
• A private waiting room for dads with an
area for siblings. Kids can watch DVDs,
play video games, or surf the Internet.
We will continue to keep you updated
and hope to announce our “pregnancy”
in early 2010!
We’re Expecting Great Things at Riverview
Attend our Baby Shower to learn more!
TAKING CARE OF
NEW JERSEY
Join us for High Tea at a delightful baby shower where you will be able to meet our OB/GYNs, tour the
Childbirth Center, attend an educational session, and watch as we unveil what we’re expecting at
the Jane H. Booker Women’s and Children’s Center… it’s a big surprise!
November 14, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Riverview Medical Center, Blaisdell Lobby Entrance
Featured Education Seminar: Preparing for
The Big Event – 1:00 p.m., Blaisdell Auditorium.
Register by November 5 to receive your free New Mom Swag Bag!
Space is limited. Reservations are required.
Please call 800.560.9990 or visit
www.RiverviewMedicalCenter.com/BabyShower
Recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for
providing an Outstanding Maternity Experience.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Coming Home for Skull Base Repair
When Lynn Goebel, 65, flew from California to visit family in Atlantic
Highlands in September 2008, she thought it would be a quick trip.
Never did she imagine she’d end up staying for three months.
This New Jersey native is back to California dreaming,
thanks to the specialized expertise of a Jersey Shore
surgeon. Lynn Goebel’s strokelike symptoms actually
signaled a defect at the base of her skull.
Shortly before her trip, Lynn had
been in a car accident, but she
seemed to recover without
complications. She made the crosscountry
trip to visit her family, but
once in New Jersey, she began to
experience gradual physical and mental
changes and felt tired and weak.
When she eventually needed help
even to get up from a sofa, her family
became alarmed.
They took her to the emergency
department at Riverview Medical
Center where she had a CT scan.
“My sister was worried I might be
having a stroke,” Lynn recalls, “but I
assumed I’d be right home.”
The CT scan, however, revealed
a large amount of air near her brain,
at the base of her skull. This type
of problem, known as a skull base
defect, can compress the brain and
impair cognitive and motor function.
The Search for Treatment
After being released from Riverview,
Lynn went to New York City to consult
with skull base specialists. During
her consultations, she was examined
by Anthony Sparano, M.D., a skull
base, facial plastic, and reconstructive
surgeon affiliated with Jersey Shore
University Medical Center.
“Skull base defects are often
caused by trauma or tumors or can
occasionally occur spontaneously,”
Dr. Sparano explains. “Lynn had
a clear defect with a communication
between her nasal and cranial
cavities. She had a dangerous amount
of air compressing her brain and
required urgent intervention.”
Lynn was impressed with
Dr. Sparano’s credentials, but the
deciding factor in selecting him was
his rapport. “He’s the best doctor I’ve
ever had,” she says. “He listened well
and took the time to answer every
question. It was the reason I chose
him over the surgeons in New York.”
A Minimally Invasive Solution
Lynn had surgery in November 2008.
Dr. Sparano removed a segment of
bone from the nose and from above the
eyes, allowing him and the operative
team clear access to the problem area.
“This subcranial approach is
sometimes the best minimally invasive
approach for certain tumors or defects,”
says Dr. Sparano. “It generally allows
for a strong reconstruction and quick
recovery, without cosmetic effects.”
Returning back to her home in
Lawndale, Calif., took some time, but
she made it there a few months later.
Since then, Lynn is back to enjoying
her retirement with backyard barbecues,
movies, and light exercise. •
— Ryan Younger
about the doctor
Anthony Sparano, M.D.
Otolaryngology
Neptune | 732-280-7855
Skull Base Expertise Rarely Seen in the Region
Anthony Sparano, M.D., and a team of neurosurgeons at Jersey Shore University Medical Center have established one
of the few skull base programs in the region. The program is equipped to manage conditions including complicated
sinus disease, skull base trauma, and benign or malignant tumors of the sinonasal cavity, skull base, pituitary, or brain.
The program features the most cutting-edge technology and techniques, including 3-D image guidance endoscopic
approaches through the nose and other minimally invasive open approaches.
To learn more, call 732-280-7855.
8
Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS

Jersey Shore Keeps ED Nurse on the Go
A
15-year veteran of the
Jersey Shore University
Medical Center Emergency
Department, Marguerite Gatto, R.N.,
50, isn’t used to taking things slow.
So when she started feeling rundown
last year, Marguerite was caught
by surprise. For several months she
experienced very long and exceptionally
heavy periods. Then she started
getting dizzy and light-headed.
A coworker recommended she
see Steven Morgan, M.D., a Jersey
Shore OB/GYN and medical director
of the Ocean County Family Planning
Center. He diagnosed menorrhagia, or
heavy menstrual bleeding. Soon after,
Marguerite underwent a sophisticated,
minimally invasive procedure called
cryoablation, known as Her Option.
Fast, Safe Alternative
Heavy menstrual bleeding like
Marguerite experienced is not uncommon
as women approach menopause.
“But it’s not a normal part of aging,”
Dr. Morgan says, “and it’s not something
women have to live with.”
In the past, treatment for menorrhagia
meant surgery or hormone treatment.
Cryoablation is a safe office-based
about the doctor
Steven A. Morgan, M.D., FACOG
Board certified in
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Ocean | 732-531-1136
Marguerite Gatto, R.N., doesn’t just have a willing
ear in her dog, Snuggles. Her Jersey Shore
OB/GYN listened to her with respect and care.
procedure that takes just 15 to 20
minutes. It uses very cold temperatures
to destroy some of the endometrium.
“Most women see their periods return
to normal or eliminated altogether,”
Dr. Morgan explains.
Care for All Ages, Stages
Marguerite’s experience is far from
unique. Jersey Shore offers sophisticated
obstetric and gynecologic care for women
of all ages and at all stages of life. The
multi-disciplinary team includes
physicians who are board certified
in both obstetrics/gynecology and
gynecologic oncology, as well as
nurses who specialize in women’s
cancer care.
But it’s not just the high-tech
procedure that has Marguerite raving.
It was the thoughtful and respectful
care she received from Dr. Morgan —
something she’s come to expect from
her Jersey Shore colleagues. “He
took the time to explain things to me
and let me know that I had choices,”
she says. “It wasn’t just, ‘This is
what we’re going to do.’ And I really
appreciated that.”
For Dr. Morgan, who has been
at Jersey Shore since he did his
residency, the hospital combines the
best of high-tech care with a smaller,
friendly atmosphere. “It’s the kind of
place where you walk down the
hallway and everybody says ‘hello,’”
he says. “There’s a lot this hospital offers
that a lot of others don’t.” •
Know Your Body, Know Your Health
Are you doing a breast selfexam
every month? Knowing
your breasts helps you know if
something feels amiss, which
can be key to finding breast
cancer early. Join us on
November 7 for a FREE seminar
and learn how to do a breast
self-exam correctly. See page 22
for more information.
Exercise Can Keep Women Free of Fibroids
Abnormal bleeding and pelvic pain are common and can have many causes. One possibility is uterine fibroids. These are
noncancerous tumors that grow within the walls of the uterus. They are especially common in women of childbearing age.
Fibroids can cause heavy periods, bleeding between periods, and pain during intercourse. You can’t control most
factors related to their development: your age, when you started your period, and being African-American.
But here’s something you can control: your activity level. The most active women, who exercised vigorously at least
four hours a week, got the fewest fibroids. Get moving today!
9
Meridian HealthViews November/December 2009

meridian nursing &
rehabilitation at shrewsbury
Athletic Injury? We’ll Get You Back Up to Speed
After joint-replacement surgery, Loren Rabon, 70, of Red Bank wanted to get back to
his active lifestyle quickly. That’s why Loren, an avid bicyclist, chose to recover at
Meridian Nursing & Rehabilitation at Shrewsbury after bilateral knee replacements.
About 435,000 Americans have a hip or knee replaced every
year. While this trend is fueled by the success of these
procedures, osteoarthritis plays a key role for a growing
population of baby boomers who want to stay active longer.
Aging and obesity can cause cartilage to wear away, resulting
in increasing pain as tissues around the joint become inflamed and
the edges of bones rub against each other. The average age range
of patients seeking joint-replacement surgery is 65 to 75. Patients
typically go to an orthopedic surgeon when the pain and disability
reaches a point where it interrupts their lifestyle.
Loren Rabon was one such patient. An athlete all his life, he found
his activities curtailed as the arthritis in his knees worsened. “It became
very painful,” he says. Loren decided to have bilateral knee replacements
in January 2009 at Riverview Medical Center. This is a procedure
in which both knee joints are replaced during the same surgery.
A Rehabilitative Solution
The surgery at Riverview was a success, and Loren was ready to
do whatever it would take to get back to normal as soon as possible.
His orthopedic surgeon, Bernard Murphy, M.D., emphasized the
importance of a good rehabilitation program to Loren — particularly
for a bilateral joint replacement.
Loren was referred to 5 West, the dedicated orthopedic wing
at Meridian Nursing & Rehabilitation at Shrewsbury. It provides
specialized medical care and rehabilitative therapy to address the
unique needs of joint-replacement patients. Loren chose to spend
10 days as an inpatient there.
Both everyday athletes like cyclist Loren Rabon and people who simply
want to live pain-free can benefit from hip and knee replacements. The key
is to find a skilled surgeon and an excellent rehabilitation center.
about the doctor
Bernard P. Murphy, M.D.
Board certified in Orthopedic Surgery
Red Bank | 732-741-2313
Specialized Care Gets Results
At 5 West, therapy is offered seven days a week in the state-of-theart
rehabilitation gym, which features the latest technology and
equipment. The certified therapists and nurses are trained to treat
orthopedic patients, and they work with the surgeon and medical
staff to develop targeted plans for their patients’ recovery goals.
“The specialized skill of the rehabilitation facility has to be
above average,” Dr. Murphy says. “The staff on the orthopedic floor
at 5 West is dedicated and sophisticated in the care of these jointreplacement
patients.”
At 5 West, Loren got results, thanks in large part to his physical
therapist, Jackie Mueller, DPT. He continued therapy with Mueller as
an outpatient, and by the time he was done in March, his flexibility
was back within normal range. Loren was able to get back on his
bicycle, pain-free. •
Rev Up Your Recovery
To schedule a tour at one of our four nursing and rehabilitation facilities, please call 732-206-8000
(Brick), 732-481-8300 (Ocean Grove), 732-676-5800 (Shrewsbury), or 732-312-1800 (Wall).
10
Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS

FOUNDATION
A Life Saved Helps Transform Others
Couple’s gift helps with Jersey Shore’s Transforming Care expansion project
When a weekend trip to Wildwood in May 2009 became
a life-or-death struggle with acute pancreatitis, Barbara
Ventrella was transferred to Jersey Shore University
Medical Center. “We knew Jersey Shore had an excellent
reputation,” says Barbara. “Then we learned they had a skilled
pancreatic specialist in Jerome Vernick, M.D.”
Barbara ended up staying at the hospital for nearly a month —
most of it in the intensive care unit (ICU) due not only to the
pancreatitis itself, but also to several secondary infections she developed,
including pneumonia. On several occasions, her husband,
John, wasn’t sure she would survive the night, let alone ever be well
enough to come home. But, he says, expert staff provided the care
she needed and helped him stay hopeful, too. Today, Barbara is back
home with him. “They saved my wife’s life,” John says.
Giving Back in Healthy Measure
The high school sweethearts, who have been married 42 years,
wanted to give back to Jersey Shore for the excellence they experienced
at every level, from the various medical specialists, nurses,
and staff who seamlessly coordinated her treatment in the ICU to
the maintenance man who would sing to cheer her up. “Every person
we dealt with at Jersey Shore was skilled and professional,” John
says. “You just don’t hear about that happening everywhere else.”
The couple decided to make a gift to Jersey Shore’s Transforming
Care project. “We wanted it to be something we would feel — a
genuine thank-you,” John says.
The Ventrellas’ generous donation was used to help build the
new Northwest Pavilion at Jersey Shore. The Ventrella family’s
company, Systems Sales Corp., donated an additional $5,000 to
the hospital’s annual golf outing.
The Ventrellas intend to continue donating money to Jersey
Shore on a regular basis. “We knew Jersey Shore had a good
reputation, but you really don’t know what your local hospital
does until you experience it,” says John. “If we had, we would
have begun giving long ago.”
Ensuring Excellent Local Care
The goal of Transforming Care is to continue building on Jersey
Shore’s 100-year history as a community and teaching hospital. The
expansion combines the most advanced medicine in an environment
designed to create an exceptional patient experience.
John feels that those exceptional patient experiences are
already happening every day. “You sit in the ICU, and you
Barbara Ventrella credits the staff at Jersey Shore with saving her life —
and for her excellent treatment during her stay. Now recovered, she and
her husband, John, have given back by contributing to the Transforming
Care project and look forward to continuing to give in the future.
see all the thank-you letters from patients and their families
on the wall,” he says. “Every nurse there is willing to talk to
you and answer your questions no matter how small. They
say, ‘We’re treating your wife, so we’re treating you, too.’
And you want to help make sure care like this is there
tomorrow.” •
❯
Every
Gift Matters
All donations, large and small, help us provide excellent care to our community. To contribute to the Jersey Shore
University Medical Center Foundation, call Nancy Barone at 732-751-5117.
11
Meridian HealthViews November/December 2009

& wise&well
health news and information for the active adult
Life After a Stroke: Rehab Makes It Happen
Every year, approximately 795,000
Americans have a stroke that
affects their mental, physical, and
psychological functioning.
Some people who have a stroke —
a blood clot that blocks an artery or a
“
Participating in stroke
rehabilitation can help people
achieve the best quality of life.
”
— Paul Kostoulakos, D.O.
blood vessel to the brain — can benefit
from some form of rehabilitation.
“Participating in stroke rehabilitation
can help people regain as much
independence as possible and achieve
the best quality of life,” says Paul
Kostoulakos, D.O., of Ocean Medical
Center. “The goal of rehab is to help
a person relearn skills lost when a
stroke damages part of the brain.”
Rehab can take place at an inpatient
or outpatient unit, a nursing facility, or
at home.
Therapeutic Goals
Stroke rehab, Dr. Kostoulakos says,
may include some or all of the
following:
• nTherapy for communication
disorders. After a stroke, many
people have problems speaking,
listening, writing, or comprehending
speech. Speech-language pathologists
also help stroke survivors
improve their ability to swallow.
• nPhysical therapy. Therapists can
help improve strength and function
in stroke-impaired limbs, as well as
coordination and balance. Rangeof-motion
exercises help patients
regain mobility.
• nOccupational therapy. An
occupational therapist can help
stroke survivors relearn everyday
activities, such as eating, going to
the bathroom, and getting dressed.
about the doctor
Paul M. Kostoulakos, D.O.
Board certified in Psychiatry
and Neurology
Brick | 732-785-1500
• nPsychological therapy. Depression
is common after a stroke. Talking
with a counselor and participating
in support groups can help.
Keys to Recovery
The degree of recovery varies widely
from person to person, depending
on the amount of damage the stroke
caused and to which part of the brain.
But it also depends on the skill of the
rehabilitation team and the cooperation
of friends and family.
“The most important element in
a stroke rehabilitation program is
focused, repetitive practice that is
carefully directed by a therapist,”
Dr. Kostoulakos says. “The best thing
caregivers can do is meet patients halfway
— allowing them to do as much
as they can on their own before stepping
in to complete tasks for them.”
Getting your life back after a stroke
can be hard work and a slow process.
However, daily practice, a positive attitude,
and strong motivation are half the
battle and are the keys to recovery. •
Express yourself
Continue to work on your communication skills after a stroke. If you are age 55 or older, have had a stroke
or head injury, and have completed speech therapy, Express Yourself may be right for you. The course
meets once a month for six months. See page 22 for more details.
12
Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS

Bone Health, by the Numbers
It’s easy to tell how strong your
muscles are — just measure the
weight you can lift. But it’s important
to know how strong your bones
are, too. “Weak bones may break
and are signs of the common disease
osteoporosis,” says Robert Penney,
M.D., of Riverview Medical Center.
A bone mineral density test is the best
way to check your bone health. Your
doctor might recommend one if you are:
• nA woman age 65 or older
• nA younger woman who smokes, has
arthritis, takes medications that weaken
bones, has a low body weight, or
has other risk factors for fractures
• nA man age 70 or older, or a younger
man with signs of osteoporosis,
including back pain, stooped posture,
or sudden decreases in height
• nBeing treated for osteoporosis
• nAn older adult who has already
broken a bone
What to Expect
The most common and accurate type
of bone mineral density test is called a
DXA test. “During a DXA test, you’ll
take off your jewelry and recline on a
cushioned table,” Dr. Penney explains.
“A scanner will pass over your body,
taking pictures of your lower spine
and hip.”
The procedure is painless, exposes
you to about the same amount of
radiation as a plane flight, and takes
10 to 15 minutes. A computer crunches
the data and gives your doctor a
number called a T score.
A T score of 0 means you have
the bones of a healthy young adult.
Numbers between negative 1 and
negative 2.5 mean your bones may be
weak. The larger the negative number,
the more likely you are to get a fracture.
Boosting Bone Strength
Your doctor might tell you you’re one of
the 34 million Americans whose bone
mass is low, but who don’t have osteoporosis
yet. Dr. Penney recommends
taking these steps to improve your bone
health and help prevent osteoporosis:
• nEating foods rich in calcium,
including low-fat milk and yogurt,
dark green leafy vegetables, and
fortified juices and cereals
• nGetting enough vitamin D through
about the doctor
Robert P. Penney, M.D.
Board certified in
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Holmdel | 732-739-2500
sunlight exposure, foods like egg
yolks, or supplements
• nDoing weight-bearing exercises,
including walking, running,
strength training, and dancing
You may also start taking certain
drugs to prevent osteoporosis. If you
already have the condition, your doctor
will probably prescribe a different
medication along with healthy lifestyle
changes like those listed above. •
know your own strength
If your physician has prescribed a DXA test for you, schedule it at the hospital closest to you:
732-776-4698 (Jersey Shore University Medical Center), 732-836-4025 (Ocean Medical Center), or
732-530-2305 (Riverview Medical Center).
13
Meridian HealthViews November/December 2009

& wise&well
Make the Most of Family Meals
The most important part of a
holiday meal is not the turkey,
the stuffing, or the homemade
apple pie. It’s not even the gifts you may
exchange. What is? Family. Sharing a
meal with your family provides a
valuable opportunity to strengthen
bonds and create lasting memories.
“It is a time to reconnect and share
what is going on in each other’s lives,”
says Stacy Doumas, M.D., a board
certified psychiatrist at Jersey Shore
University Medical Center. “This is
especially true during the holidays,
when families come together to break
bread and celebrate.”
The Health Benefits of
Family Dinners
In addition to building a stronger
family, studies show that time
spent around the dinner table has
significant payoffs for children’s
and teens’ health. It can:
• nImprove their self-esteem
• nIncrease their intake of fruits and
health news and information for the active adult
vegetables so that they get the
vitamins and minerals their
growing bodies need
• nTeach them to enjoy a wider variety
of foods
• nReduce the risk for eating disorders,
especially among adolescent girls
• nLead to better grades in school
• nMake them less likely to smoke,
drink, use drugs, or get into fights
Concerned that your grandchildren
don’t appreciate family time as much
as you do? Rest assured that they see
the benefits, too. Recent research
suggests that more than 80 percent of
teenagers would prefer to eat together
as a family, rather than alone.
Four Tips for a Happy Meal
“Teens and kids often have busy
schedules, and finding time for an
extended family meal can be challenging,”
Dr. Doumas says. “That’s
why it’s important to make the most
of your time together during the holiday
season and throughout the year.”
about the doctor
Stacy Doumas, M.D.
Board certified in Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry
Neptune | 732-643-4402
She offers tips on how:
• nTurn off the TV during mealtime.
Studies show that having the television
on while eating negates many of the
benefits of a family meal.
• nEat at the table. Talking to one
another is easier when you’re facing
each other instead of sitting side by
side at a counter.
• nInclude everyone in conversations
and keep it positive. Avoid nagging,
complaining, or controlling
discussions.
• nAsk everyone to turn off cell phones,
smart phones, and other communication
devices while at the table. Even
if they don’t answer it, the ringing
alone can be a major distraction. •
Keep your mind healthy with food: FREE SEminars in November!
Family mealtime is good for your emotional health — but eating the right nutrients can also help prevent
dementia. See page 23 for more details on “Dodging Dementia with Diet & Nutrition,” a FREE seminar that
will be offered three times this fall!
14
Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS

Ask the Health Experts: Learning About Shingles
Q: What causes shingles?
A:
“Shingles is a painful rash
caused by the same virus
that causes chickenpox,” says
Georgios Giannakopoulos, D.O.,
of Riverview Medical Center.
“After you’ve had chickenpox,
the virus remains in certain
nerve cells.”
Illness, trauma, a weakened
immune system, or stress may
“awaken” the virus later in life and
cause it to reappear as shingles.
Shingles is most common in
people ages 50 and older. The
first signs of shingles are pain,
itching, or tingling on one side of
the body or face. Within a few
days, a rash appears in the same
area and may be accompanied by
fever, headache, stomach upset,
or diarrhea.
Q: How is shingles treated?
A:
Although there is no cure,
there are treatments that
can decrease your symptoms. Your
doctor will probably prescribe antiviral
medications to reduce the
length and severity of the illness.
“These medicines work best if you
start taking them within the first three
days of getting the rash, so call your
doctor as soon as you notice symptoms,”
says John Gumina, M.D., chief
of Family Practice Medicine at Jersey
Shore University Medical Center.
Very rarely, shingles can cause
permanent damage. If shingles
appears on your face, it can affect
your hearing or vision. About one
in five patients experiences pain
that continues long after the rash
clears, a condition called postherpetic
neuralgia.
“Sometimes pain can precede the
rash by a week, so when in doubt, see
your doctor,” Dr. Gumina concludes.
Q: How can I protect
myself from getting
shingles?
A:
Anyone who has had chickenpox
can develop shingles.
However, in 2006 the Food and Drug
Administration approved a vaccine
called Zostavax for people ages 60
and older. “The vaccine cuts the risk
of developing shingles by about half,”
says Maria Polizzi, M.D., of Ocean
Medical Center. “And if you develop
shingles, the vaccine can reduce
the severity of the infection and the
amount of time you have pain.”
The vaccine is given only once in
your lifetime and is recommended
for most adults older than age 60.
All Medicare Part D (prescription
drug) plans cover the shingles vaccine,
but Medicare Part B does not. If you
have private insurance or Medicaid,
contact your insurer to find out if
you are covered.
Talk with your doctor about
getting the shingles vaccine.
Georgios Giannakopoulos, D.O.
Board certified in Internal Medicine
Holmdel | 732-888-7381
John D. Gumina, M.D.
Board certified in Family Practice
Freehold | 732-625-3166
Maria Polizzi, M.D.
Board certified in
Internal Medicine
Howell | 732-458-9760
❯
Thanks,
we listened.
With the March/April 2009 issue of Meridian HealthViews, some
of you received a randomly sent survey about the publication.
To those of you who took the time to respond, we want to
extend to you a big “thank-you!” We will use the information
and opinions you provided to make Meridian HealthViews an
even better publication — one that gives you the information
you need to keep yourself and your family healthy. In addition,
we will continue to provide updates on Meridian’s services,
dedicated staff, and expansion plans.
If you didn’t receive this survey and have suggestions for
improving Meridian HealthViews, or if you have a health
question for our experts,* please e-mail:
healthviews@meridianhealth.com
Or mail:
Meridian Health, Attn.: Publications Manager
1350 Campus Pkwy., Neptune, NJ 07753
*If you need personal advice, please consult your own
general practitioner, consultant, or nurse.

OCEan Medical Center
Women, Take Note: Listen When Your Body Talks
Symptoms of a heart problem aren’t always
by the book. Just ask Joyce Fowlin, pictured
above with husband Roy. Hair loss and memory
trouble were just two of the unusual symptoms
she experienced, and they signaled a serious
heart situation.
about the doctor
Todd S. Cohen, D.O.
Board certified in
Internal Medicine and
Cardiovascular Diseases
Brick | 732-840-1900
If you’re a woman and think you’re
familiar with the signs and symptoms
of heart disease, think again. Would
it occur to you to visit your doctor if you
experienced jaw pain or a backache?
What about nausea or shortness of breath?
These and other more unusual symptoms
could be important signs of a serious
heart problem.
Just ask Joyce Fowlin, 67, of Toms River. A
case of very high blood pressure was her first
indication that something might be wrong.
A few months later, she experienced headaches,
shortness of breath, sharp neck pain,
and even discomfort in her teeth. When she
started to experience hair loss and problems
with her memory, she called her doctor.
That call would be a critical one.
Her doctor, Todd Cohen, D.O., a board
certified cardiologist, immediately sent her
to Ocean Medical Center.
“Women can have particularly unusual
symptoms. In Joyce’s case, she experienced
a multitude of different signs that were
concerning,” says Dr. Cohen. “Women
know their bodies. Don’t delay getting
medical help when things just aren’t right.”
At Ocean, they performed a catheterization
and found that her arteries were
severely blocked. She spent three days in
the Medical Center’s Critical Care Unit
and then was transferred to Ocean’s sister
hospital, Jersey Shore University Medical
Center, for heart bypass surgery.
“I am very fortunate to be alive,” says
Joyce. “The nurses were so wonderful and
comforting, and they made me feel that
everything would be OK.”
After surgery, Joyce took several
important steps toward recovery. She
participated in the cardiac rehabilitation
program at Ocean Medical Center to build
up her strength and then joined Meridian
Life Fitness, where she kept to a firm exercise
routine and learned to watch her diet.
About a year later, Joyce recognized
some unusual symptoms again and
required additional treatment. Thanks to
the comprehensive resources that make
up the Meridian CardioVascular Network,
she again experienced seamless diagnosis,
treatment, and recovery all close to home
and in coordination with her personal
physician.
If there is one piece of advice that
Joyce can share with other women, it is
to know your body and recognize when
something just isn’t right. “There’s nothing
to be afraid of,” notes Joyce. “Go in and
get it fixed. You’ll be in good hands!” •
— Donna Sellmann
Heart Health for the Holidays ... and All Year Round
Join us on November 5 as medical and nutritional experts discuss how to put a healthy twist on traditional
holiday foods and explore the latest medical options in the fight against heart disease. See page 20 for details.
16
Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS

Riverview medical center
Pain-Free CyberKnife ® Treatment Can Replace Surgery
Richard Tisdale, 51, needed options. For
nine years, the Jackson resident suffered
with bouts of extreme facial pain
due to a condition called trigeminal neuralgia.
It occurs when the sheath that protects
the face’s trigeminal nerve gets damaged,
such as from pressure caused by a neighboring
blood vessel. Richard had tried several
medicines, but nothing seemed to work.
“I couldn’t wash my face, shave, or
brush my teeth when the condition was
active,” he recalls. Then his neurosurgeon,
Bruce R. Rosenblum, M.D., suggested
CyberKnife ® treatment.
What Is CyberKnife?
CyberKnife is a system for planning and delivering
precise radiation therapy using robotics.
Despite the name, there’s no cutting involved.
CyberKnife can treat cancerous and
benign tumors, as well as trigeminal neuralgia
and blood vessel problems. It may be a
good choice for treating complex or hardto-reach
tumors. It also provides an option
for patients who cannot have anesthesia or
surgery due to poor health.
How Surgeons Use CyberKnife
First, patients like Richard have imaging
scans, such as CT and MRI, to create a map
of the affected body part. Data from the
scans goes into the CyberKnife software, and
doctors use the software to plan treatment.
“As the surgeon, I outline the exact
contour of the target structure, pinpointing
where radiation should be administered.
Then I outline nearby critical structures,
where radiation exposure should be minimized,”
explains Dr. Rosenblum, who is
director of neuro surgery at Riverview
Medical Center and codirector of the
Riverview CyberKnife Center.
Next, a radiation oncologist — Nathan
Kaufman, M.D., in Richard’s case —
As one of our IT specialists, Richard Tisdale knows technology. But technology has a whole new place
in his life, after CyberKnife relieved him of nearly unbearable nerve pain.
prescribes the appropriate dose of radiation.
The patient then returns for treatment and
lies on the CyberKnife table. The CyberKnife
robot moves around the patient, sending
beams of radiation to the target structure
from many angles. This destroys the target
cells. During treatment, the robot rescans
the patient often and adjusts to the patient’s
position, even to slight movements that
occur with breathing. This makes the
radiation delivery extremely precise.
What Are the Benefits?
CyberKnife treatment is painless. It requires
no anesthesia. Almost all patients return to
normal activities right away without side
effects. Because radiation delivery is so
precise, doctors can use high doses without
significant risk of nearby healthy tissue being
damaged. With higher doses, patients need
just one to five treatments of approximately
90 minutes each, not several weeks of daily
treatment as with standard radiation therapy.
Since his CyberKnife treatment in
February 2007, Richard has had no side
effects. Dr. Rosenblum says it’s unlikely that
Richard’s symptoms will return. “I was
literally cured,” says Richard. “CyberKnife
gave me my life back.” •
about the doctor
Bruce R. Rosenblum, M.D.
Board certified in Neurosurgery
and Pain Management
Shrewsbury | 732-460-1522
Healthy Holiday Eating
Yes, it’s possible to eat healthy around tempting holiday treats. Riverview teams with Whole Foods Market on
November 17 at a FREE seminar to show you how. Take away recipes and healthy cooking tips! See page 22 for details.
17
Meridian HealthViews November/December 2009

K. HovNanian Children’s Hospital
at Jersey Shore University Medical Center
David Parlman, at left with his mom, Stacey Silverman, got the benefit of a coordinated team of
pediatric subspecialists when he was admitted to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore
University Medical Center with a brain tumor.
Pediatric Neurology Team Gives
Son a Second Chance
about the doctors
❯
expert
Thomas Steineke, M.D.
Neurosurgery
Wall | 732-974-0003
Richard I. Sultan, D.O.
Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology
Neptune | 732-775-2400
care close to home
Stacey Silverman was at work last June
when her son, David Parlman, called
her for help from his cell phone. He
was hurt and lying in their yard at home in
Beachwood. David, 14, had been piling logs
when he began to fall. He threw the log he
was holding, but it landed on his neck as he
hit the ground and his legs went numb.
“It was terrifying. I told him not to
move, and then I called 911,” Stacey
remembers. “By the time I got there, the
police and two ambulances had arrived.
A helicopter was on its way.”
David was airlifted to the Trauma
Center at Jersey Shore University Medical
Center and soon admitted to K. Hovnanian
Children’s Hospital.
“David came in as a trauma patient
because of his neck injury. But the trauma
doctors identified there was something else
wrong,” explains Richard Sultan, D.O.,
18
Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS
pediatric neurologist and medical
director of the pediatric neurology team
at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital. “After
an MRI, we determined his symptoms
were actually caused by a brain tumor.”
Dr. Sultan consulted with a close interdisciplinary
team of specialists that included
pediatric oncologists, pediatric intensive
care doctors, and pediatric neurosurgeons.
They quickly decided that surgery was
necessary to remove the brain tumor.
Thomas Steineke, M.D., pediatric
neurosurgeon on staff, performed the
15-hour operation, removing a growing
mass in David’s brain. The surgery was a
success. After surgery, pediatric oncologists
Aaron Weiss, D.O., and John Glod, M.D.,
determined the tumor was not malignant.
“Although the brain tumor was
benign, the surgery was imperative,”
says Dr. Steineke. “If the tumor was not
removed, it would have continued to grow.
In time, this could have interfered with fluid
circulation in the brain, causing a host of
symptoms, including changes in personality
and mental abilities, as well as seizures.”
The success of the surgery is largely
attributed to the close collaboration and
expertise of the physicians at K. Hovnanian
Children’s Hospital.
“No other hospital in the area offers
so many pediatric subspecialists. This
interdisciplinary team works together every
day,” says Dr. Sultan. “We routinely handle
the most difficult and sickest patients.
There is no break in communication, no
delay in treatment, no surprises.”
David’s goal was to make it to his
middle school graduation on June 17 —
just two weeks after his surgery. Not only
was David at his graduation, he walked
across the stage to a standing ovation from
the audience.
“David continues in rehab, but is going
to be just fine. He has already overcome a
lot in life and is a fighter,” says Stacey. “We
are so grateful to the doctors and nurses who
helped him. They are so skilled and caring —
I can’t say enough.” • — Ryan Younger
Your child is in good hands at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. We have the most
pediatric subspecialists in the region, including dedicated pediatric trauma, emergency, surgical, and specialty care. And we
offer dedicated neonatal and pediatric intensive care units around the clock.

Breathing Easier with the Help of
K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital
Ryan Dunckley, 3, of Whiting was a constant worry to
his parents. Born with a congenital condition called
laryngomalacia, Ryan had an underdeveloped voice box
that lacked structural support.
But when he developed a strange breathing problem that
wouldn’t go away, his mother, Karen, grew concerned. “His
breathing sounded like a motor boat, especially when he was
exerting himself or sleeping at night,” she says.
She videotaped the noises and brought him to Mary Mitskavich,
M.D., a board certified otolaryngologist affiliated with Jersey Shore
University Medical Center.
Because the majority of children outgrow laryngomalacia by
age 2, Dr. Mitskavich at first took a watchful approach. But Ryan
was slow to crawl, walk, and talk, and his breathing became
more labored. At the next appointment, Dr. Mitskavich introduced
her new colleague in the practice, Samuel Engel, M.D., MPH, a
pediatric otolaryngologist at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at
Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Dr. Engel, who has a special interest in pediatric airway
obstruction, recommended a sleep study to make sure
Ryan’s breathing was not stopping during sleep, which is an
associated condition called sleep apnea. The study was done
in an overnight sleep lab, close to Ryan’s home in Brick, at
Ocean Medical Center.
After determining that Ryan did not have sleep apnea,
Dr. Engel recommended surgery known as supraglottoplasty
to fix the breathing problem. “I endoscopically corrected the
structure of his voice box, which had collapsed,” Dr. Engel
explains. “The entire surgery was performed transorally so there
are no scars. At the same time, Ryan had his adenoids removed
and ear tubes placed for recurrent ear infections.”
Ryan spent one night in the hospital before going home.
As a precaution, he stayed in the pediatric intensive care unit.
“The nurses and staff there are so friendly,” Karen recalls. “We
weren’t as severe a case as the other children in the unit that
night, but we got the same care. I swear it was just about the
next day when Ryan started running around at home. His life
changed right there.”
Ryan’s follow-up care involves speech therapy, but he’s “a big,
happy, healthy kid,” Karen says. “And I can’t say enough about Dr.
Engel. He is just such a nice guy and talks in a way you understand.
He made Ryan very comfortable, too.” • — Ryan Younger
Pediatric care at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore
University Medical Center scores a touchdown with 3-year-old Ryan and
his dad, Kevin. Breathing problems were keeping this kid from being
active — but not anymore!
Tonsils and Adenoids:
Double Trouble for Kids
Tonsils — and their trusty sidekicks, the adenoids — are the
body’s first line of defense against bacteria and viruses we
breathe in. But often in children, these protective tissues get
infected themselves.
When tonsils are infected, the result is tonsillitis. Common
signs include tonsils redder than normal, swollen, or coated
white or yellow; a change in voice; a sore throat; painful
swallowing; and swollen neck glands.
If your child’s adenoids are enlarged or infected, symptoms
may include noisy or mouth breathing, the nose sounding
blocked during speech, recurrent ear infections, snoring, and
sleep apnea.
about the doctor
Samuel Engel, M.D., MPH
Board certified in Otolaryngology
Neptune | 732-280-7855
Prepare Your Little One for a Visit
Going to the hospital can be scary for anyone — especially for a
child. Help your child get more familiar with our FREE Pediatric
Pre-Operative Tour. Learn more on page 22.
19
Meridian HealthViews November/December 2009

calendar of EVENTS
november and december 2009
Featured Events from Meridian Health
Call 1-800-DOCTORS (1-800-362-8677) to register.
Or register online at MeridianHealth.com.
All classes are FREE unless otherwise noted.
Heart Health for the Holidays
… and All Year Round
’Tis the season to be jolly … as well as extremely
busy! Don’t lose sight of the importance of your
heart health. Learn how to make traditional holiday
foods more heart-healthy and even sample a few
recipes. Plus, hear about the latest advances in
cardiac medicine and surgery with cardiologist
Ali Moosvi, M.D., and thoracic surgeon Richard
Neibart, M.D. A light breakfast will be provided.
Door prizes. Registration required.
November 5
8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Holiday Inn
Route 37, Toms River
New Horizons in Lung
Cancer Treatment
Get answers to your questions about lung cancer
from experienced members of the medical staff at
Ocean Medical Center. They will shed light on this
often-misunderstood form of cancer and treatment
options. Registration is required. A light snack will
be provided.
November 11
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Ocean Medical Center
East Wing Conference Center
Alzheimer’s:
What You Need to Know
Whether you’re caring for a family member
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or you want
to enhance your knowledge of the disease, this
program is for you! Join Stephen Swartz, M.D.,
board certified gerontologist; Kathy Kimm, manager,
Meridian At Home; Barbara D’Angelis, education
and training coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association;
and John W. Callinan, elder law attorney, for an
informative session about the latest information
about Alzheimer’s and dementia-related disease,
new treatment modalities, resources and new
technologies to assist in caring for your loved one,
help for caregivers, and legal and financial issues.
November 13
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Riverview Medical Center
Blaisdell Auditorium
Diabetes Awareness Day
Please join us for education and discussion about
healthy living strategies for managing your diabetes.
Registration is required.
November 20
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Lance Auditorium
20
Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS

services | events | lectures | screenings | 1-800-doctors
CANCER SERVICES
Freshstart Smoking
Cessation Program
Developed by the American
Cancer Society and presented by
a Meridian clinical advocate, this
program is designed to help adults
quit smoking. Four one-hour
sessions. Registration is required.
Call for dates and times.
LIFE Fitness Fights Fatigue
Group Exercise Class
Exercise programs help patients
with cancer meet the goal of
maintaining cardiovascular endurance,
muscular strength, and level
of functioning, which produces
the following benefits: decreased
nausea and fatigue and improved
physical endurance and quality of
life. Call 732-836-4007 for more
information or to register. Classes
are held at Meridian Life Fitness at
Ocean Medical Center in Brick.
Therapeutic Yoga
This class is appropriate for anyone
living with cancer, whether just
diagnosed, receiving treatment, or in
remission. Thera peutic yoga can help
improve sleep, mood, and overall
quality of life. Call 732-295-1778
for more information or to register.
Classes are held at Meridian Life
Fitness in Point Pleasant.
CARDIAC SERVICES
Heart-Healthy Holiday Tea
Sip tea and spice up your life. Join
Meridian Health registered nurses
and dietitians to review the signs
and symptoms of heart disease, the
health benefits of drinking tea, and
the heart-health and cancer-fighting
properties of herbs and spices. Registration
is required, and seating is
limited. Tea and light refreshments
will be served.
November 11
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Manor by the Sea
160 Main St., Ocean Grove
November 17
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Meridian Nursing and
Rehabilitation at Brick
November 18
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Meridian Nursing and
Rehabilitation at Shrewsbury
Women’s Heart Health
More American women older than
age 50 die of heart disease than
cancer. And women can experience
very different symptoms of heart attack
than men. Do you know what
they are? Learn about the symptoms
and what you can do to prevent
heart disease from a Meridian
Health registered nurse. Hosted by
the members of the Central Jersey
Club of the National Association
of Negro Business and Professional
Women’s Clubs Inc. Seating is limited.
Registration is required.
December 8
8:00 – 9:30 p.m.
St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church
Atlantic and Prospect avenues,
Asbury Park
CHILDBIRTH/
MATERNITY SERVICES
Childbirth Education Series
Meridian Health offers a full
range of educational classes and
seminars for both first-time and
experienced parents who want to
learn more about specific topics
and familiarize themselves with
their delivery hospital before the
birth. Topics include:
• Baby Care
• Baby Makes Three:
New Parent Education
• Breastfeeding
• Childbirth Series and
Childbirth Refresher
• Maternity Tour and Tiny
Tots Tour
• Sibling Class
• Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
Please register before your
third trimester. Sessions and class
details vary among our three
hospitals, but all are scheduled on
the basis of expected delivery date.
Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga
Classes focus on gentle postures,
breathing techniques, and overall
relaxation in order to prepare for
childbirth or recover after childbirth.
Call 732-295-1778 to register.
We’re Having a
Baby Shower!
Join us for high tea at a delightful
baby shower. You’ll meet our
OB/GYNs, tour the Childbirth
Center, attend an educational
session, and watch as we unveil
what we’re expecting at the Jane H.
Booker Women’s and Children’s
Center. … It’s a big surprise!
Register by November 5 to receive
your New Mom Swag Bag.
November 14
Noon – 2:00 p.m.
Riverview Medical Center
Blaisdell Lobby Entrance
CLINICAL TRIALS AT
MERIDIAN HEALTH
Choosing to participate in a clinical
trial is an important personal decision,
and it is often helpful to talk
to a physician, family member,
or friend before deciding to take
part in one. If you are accepted to
participate in a clinical trial, you
will be given a structured program
to follow. You may have a schedule
of tests, doctor’s appointments,
and treatments. If you are interested
in learning about the clinical
trials offered at all three Meridian
Health hospitals, please see the
information below or visit
MeridianHealth.com:
• Jersey Shore University
Medical Center: Please contact
the Office of Clinical Affairs at
732-776-2952.
• Ocean Medical Center:
Please call 732-836-4190.
• Riverview Medical Center:
Please call 732-530-2382.
COUNSELING AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Addiction Recovery Services
For adult family members of
addicted individuals. Call for
more information.
Children’s Art
Therapy Program
Kids have a special way of coping
with tragic events. They benefit
from age-appropriate counseling
and therapeutic techniques.
Meridian offers a multisession
program exclusively for youngsters
(ages 4½ to 13) who have experienced
a loss or are dealing with a
chronically or terminally ill loved
Any program may be canceled as late as an hour before the program’s start time if there are severe weather conditions. Please call
1-800-DOCTORS (1-800-362-8677) or the hospital’s information desk (after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends) for confirmation.
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Meridian HealthViews November/December 2009

meridian health | november and december 2009 | calendar of events
Meridian Health–sponsored events are free unless noted
otherwise. Please register to reserve a space as classes
and seminars can fill up quickly. To register for any event
or for more information, please call 1-800-DOCTORS
(1-800-362-8677). Register online at MeridianHealth.com.
one. Participants are interviewed
prior to attendance. Registration is
required. Call 732-530-2382.
Children’s Group Counseling
Meridian Health offers intensive
therapy through three different
programs at two hospitals for
children who are experiencing
all types of emotional and/or
behavioral difficulties:
• Adolescent Intensive Program
(ages 13 to 18)
• Children’s After-School Program
(ages 7 to 13)
• Children’s Therapeutic Nursery
Group (ages 3 to 6)
Age-specific groups address such
issues as coping techniques, anger
management, and social skills.
Call for registration, scheduling/
appointment details, insurance
information, and fees.
Support Group for Children
with Chronic Illness
Come join this children’s support
group to address issues associated
with coping with chronic illness.
Children ages 8 to 16 only. Contact
the Children’s Day Program at
Meridian Behavioral Health at
732-869-2790, ext. 2, for registration,
scheduling/appointment
details, insurance information, and
fees. Registration is required.
Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Meridian Behavioral Health
402 Highway 35 N., Neptune
DIABETES SERVICES
Comprehensive Diabetes
Management
Meridian offers educational
and support programs on an
individual or group basis for those
with diabetes. Learn more about
this disease and how to manage it.
Physician referral required.
Call 732-530-2555 for more
information.
Diabetic Eye Screenings
November is Diabetic Eye Disease
Month, and Meridian is offering
eye screenings to identify
potential diabetic eye diseases. This
screening will check for diabetic
retinopathy, macular degeneration,
glaucoma, and hypertension.
Images are read by a licensed
ophthalmologist. Registration is
required.
November 5
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Riverview Medical Center
Small Administrative
Conference Room
November 6
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Ocean Medical Center
Community Room
November 19
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Jersey Shore University Medical
Center, Lance B104-105
DIET AND NUTRITION
Healthy Holiday Eating
Riverview Medical Center and
Whole Foods Market present a
program to learn how you can
eat well while enjoying tasty food
during the holiday season. Healthy
cooking tips and recipes will be
provided. Registration is required.
November 17
7:00 p.m.
Middletown Township
Public Library
55 New Monmouth Road,
Middletown
FAMILY SERVICES
Breast Health and
Self-Exam Lesson
Do you know what a lump in
your breast actually feels like?
A registered nurse will teach you
how to do a breast self-exam properly,
discuss the latest information
on mammography guidelines, and
talk about how diet and lifestyle can
impact your breast health. Hosted
by the North Jersey Shore Chapter
of the Continental Societies Inc., a
member of Meridian’s Partners in
Health. Seating is limited. Registration
is required.
November 7
2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
John Knox Homes
Community Room
Davis Avenue, Neptune
Sexually Transmitted
Infections Clinic
The clinic offers the Oraquick
Rapid HIV-1 Test, a 20-minute
rapid antibody test that detects HIV
in your saliva. Testing and treatments
for chlamydia, gonorrhea,
and syphilis are also available. Other
services include TB screening,
hepatitis B vaccine, and more. The
clinic is located on the campus of
Jersey Shore University Medical
Center, 71 Davis Ave., Neptune.
Pediatric Pre-Operative Tour
Help your child (ages 1 to 12)
prepare for hospital admission to
K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital
by accompanying him or her on
a tour, which runs every Tuesday.
Registration required.
Safe Sitter ®
Join Meridian Health and Safe
Sitter–certified Nurse Educators
for this babysitting preparation
program designed for 11- to
13-year-olds. The course curriculum,
written by a pediatrician,
includes babysitting as a business,
how to care for children, personal
safety, injury prevention, basic
first aid, and more. All students
receive a Safe Sitter Student
Manual. Bring lunch and a snack
to this daylong class. Fee: $50.
Registration required. Call for
dates, locations, and times.
GENERAL FITNESS
AND WELLNESS
Express Yourself
If you are age 55 or older, have
suffered from a head injury
or stroke, and have already
completed speech therapy, this
class may be for you. Continue
to work on your communication
skills! This course meets once a
month for six months. Fee: $30
per class. Registration is required.
Call 732-836-4007 to register.
Third Wednesday of November
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Ocean Medical Center
Fibromyalgia and Chronic
Pain Life Enhancement
This two-step program, designed
and administered by physical
therapists and exercise specialists,
is aimed at helping individuals
whose pain is limiting their daily
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Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS

services | events | lectures | screenings | 1-800-doctors
functions. Sponsored by Meridian
Life Fitness (Point Pleasant). Call
732-295-1778 for registration.
Lose for Life
This weight-loss/-management
program, created by health
professionals, helps you lose
weight while still enjoying food.
Available at all Meridian Life
Fitness locations. Call for fees
and more information:
• 732-295-1778 (Point Pleasant)
• 732-836-4007 (Brick)
Parkinson’s Life Enrichment
This two-step program, designed
and administered by physical
therapists and exercise specialists
at Meridian Life Fitness (Brick),
helps people with Parkinson’s
improve their flexibility, balance,
and strength, enabling them to
perform everyday activities with
greater ease. Call 732-295-1778
(Point Pleasant) or 732-836-4007
(Brick) for fee and registration.
MISCELLANEOUS
Booker Library
Home Delivery
The Booker Health Sciences
Library at Jersey Shore University
Medical Center accepts inquiries
and requests for materials from
anyone looking to learn more
about a medical topic or a specific
disease or condition. Consumer
health information materials
can be requested via telephone,
fax, or e-mail. In response, the
library sends a packet of credible,
reliable information directly to the
individual, at no cost. Contact the
library by:
• Phone: 732-776-4265
• Fax: 732-776-4530
• E-mail: jsumclibrary@
meridianhealth.com
CPR Training
All Meridian hospitals are
American Heart Association
(AHA) CPR Training Centers.
The AHA strongly promotes
knowledge and proficiency in
CPR and has developed instructional
materials for this purpose.
Dates, times, and locations for
the classes vary. For further
information, please call
1-800-DOCTORS.
• Adult HeartSaver AED
• Health Care Provider CPR
• Health Care Provider CPR
Renewal
• HeartSaver First Aid
• Pediatric CPR for Friends
and Family
• Pediatric HeartSaver CPR
SCREENINGS
Health Screenings
Meridian Health offers
screenings year-round, including
screenings for blood pressure,
cholesterol, body composition,
bone density, stroke risk assessment,
and more. Registration
required.
November 7
9:00 a.m. – noon
Ocean Medical Center
Community Room
November 14
9:00 a.m. – noon
Riverview Medical Center
Blaisdell Lobby
November 21
9:00 a.m. – noon
Jersey Shore University Medical
Center, Lance B104-105
SENIOR SERVICES/
WISE & WELL
AARP Defensive Driving
Taking this two-day course —
a classroom presentation with
no behind-the-wheel driving —
can reduce your car insurance
costs! Fee: $14 per person or $12
for AARP members. Registration
required. Call for dates, times,
and locations.
Dodging Dementia with
Diet & Nutrition
A Meridian Health registered
dietitian will review what foods
and nutrients contribute to brain
and heart health. Registration
is required.
November 12
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Ocean Medical Center
Conference Room A
November 17
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Jersey Shore University
Medical Center
Brennan Rooms 104 and 105
November 23
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Riverview Medical Center
Blaisdell Auditorium
Exercise Programs from the
Arthritis Foundation and
Meridian Life Fitness
Meridian Life Fitness in Point
Pleasant proudly offers two
exercise programs developed
by the Arthritis Foundation.
Dates and times vary. Call 732-
295-1778 for more information:
• Arthritis Foundation Aquatic
Program (AFAP) — This warmwater
exercise class can reduce
pain and stiffness while helping
to increase range of motion.
• Tai Chi — Reduce pain and
stiffness while improving
balance and flexibility. This
class uses higher stances, making
it easy and comfortable to learn.
Ocean County FREE
Cholesterol and Blood
Pressure Screenings for
Low-Income Seniors
The Ocean County Board of
Chosen Freeholders has provided
Ocean Medical Center with a
grant to perform a once-a-year
cholesterol and glucose screening
for qualified residents of Ocean
County who are ages 60 and older.
Call for dates and locations.
Registration required.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Meridian offers a variety of
support groups addressing
concerns such as bereavement,
anorexia and bulimia, cancer,
Alzheimer’s disease, stroke,
Parkinson’s disease, sleep
disorders, and many other
medical conditions. For information,
dates, and times, please
call 1-800-DOCTORS or log on
to Meridian’s Web site at
MeridianHealth.com for a
complete listing.
Any program may be canceled as late as an hour before the program’s start time if there are severe weather conditions. Please call
1-800-DOCTORS (1-800-362-8677) or the hospital’s information desk (after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends) for confirmation.
23
Meridian HealthViews November/December 2009

meridian health
Join the Community ...
Keep Your
Nervous System
Healthy
... The Monmouth and Ocean County Multiple Sclerosis Support Community,
that is. Sponsored by Meridian Health, this FREE Web site provides a forum
for those diagnosed with MS, as well as those who care for someone with this
condition. Comment in discussion boards, learn about the latest treatments,
and get tips for living with MS. Visit www.MeridianHealth.com/support/ms to
get started.
Approximately 50 million people
in this country suffer from damage
to the nervous system. Multiple
sclerosis, migraines, stroke, and epilepsy
are just a few of the more than 600
neurological disorders that can affect
your quality of life — and sometimes
even cause death.
The hospitals of Meridian Health use
sophisticated technology to diagnose
these conditions, rapid and effective
procedures to treat them, and outpatient
rehabilitation care to help manage them.
What’s more, nationally accredited
Stroke Centers have been developed at
each hospital. Ocean Medical Center
and Riverview Medical Center have also
achieved state designations as Primary
Stroke Centers, and Jersey Shore University
Medical Center as a Comprehensive Stroke
Center. They each received the Gold Seal
of Approval from the Joint Commission,
meaning they meet the highest national
standards for safety and quality. That’s
something fewer than 5 percent of
hospitals in the nation can claim.
Here, you can learn more about
common neurological conditions —
and how we can help.
Managing Multiple Sclerosis
Approximately 2,000 people in Monmouth
and Ocean counties are living with multiple
sclerosis (MS). “MS is a disease of the central
nervous system that damages the myelin
sheath, the material that surrounds and
protects nerve cells,” says Paul Gilson, M.D.,
a neurologist at Ocean Medical Center.
“That damage interferes with messages
between the brain and the body.”
As a result, a person with MS may
experience:
• Blurred or double vision
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty with coordination and balance
• Feelings of numbness or “pins and needles”
• Fatigue
• Problems with memory, concentration,
and attention
The disease is mild for many people,
but in more severe instances, it can render
patients unable to write, speak, or walk.
Many patients with MS experience unpredictable
remissions, where they have fewer
or no symptoms at all, followed by relapse.
24
Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS

meridian health
“Treatment for each patient is decided
upon based on their individual symptoms,”
says Dr. Gilson. These treatments — all
of which are available at Ocean —
may include:
• Steroids to reduce the length and
severity of MS attacks, although exactly
how they work is unknown
• Injections of disease-modifying therapies,
which may decrease myelin destruction
• Tysabri (a possible option for patients
who do not respond to conventional
therapies), which stops certain cells of
the immune system from damaging the
brain and spinal cord
A Breakthrough Treatment
for Migraines
When a migraine headache strikes, the
pain and throbbing can be unbearable. For
some, it may last a few hours. For others, it
can go on for a few days. In addition to an
intense headache, migraine sufferers may
also experience symptoms such as nausea,
vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
A lot isn’t known about migraines. The
majority of migraine sufferers are women,
probably due to hormonal changes throughout
the menstrual cycle. The exact cause of
migraines is also unknown. Blood vessels in
the brain may become inflamed and press
on nerves, causing pain.
Traditionally, migraines are treated
with over-the-counter pain relievers or
prescription medications called triptans.
Riverview Medical Center now offers
a brand-new treatment for migraine
sufferers: botulinum toxin, or Botox. ®
“Botox was discovered as a way to prevent
migraines when people receiving it to
reduce wrinkles reported that it also helped
their headaches,” says Noah Gilson, M.D.,
of Riverview Medical Center. “Researchers
believe that it may work by stopping the
release of certain chemicals in the brain
responsible for causing migraines.”
Sophisticated Stroke
Interventions
When stroke happens, every minute
counts. “Getting treated within the first
4.5 hours can limit the damaging effects
of stroke,” says Ronald Benitez, M.D., of
Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
“It’s important to be able to identify the
signs of stroke in yourself or someone you
know right away.”
Signs include:
• Numbness or weakness on one side
of the body
• Confusion
• Trouble seeing or walking
• Severe headache
Jersey Shore University Medical
Center’s Comprehensive Stroke Center
is able to mobilize a stroke rescue team
that evaluates and treats stroke patients
immediately. The Center also features
biplane digital imaging equipment, which
provides fast and accurate images to diagnose
and treat aneurysms, hemorrhages,
and complex strokes.
It offers sophisticated technologies,
including the Merci Retrieval System and
the Penumbra System. “These systems help
the endovascular surgeon remove, rather
than dissolve, blood clots from the brains of
patients suffering strokes,” says Dr. Benitez.
Treating Pediatric Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which
clusters of nerve cells in the brain sometimes
signal abnormally, causing seizures.
About 2 million Americans have had a
seizure or have been diagnosed with epilepsy,
and around 300,000 of those with
epilepsy are children younger than 14.
“Some children eventually grow out it,”
explains Rajesh Sachdeo, M.D., pediatric
neurologist at K. Hovnanian Children’s
Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical
Center. “But for others, it can be a lifelong
condition.”
What causes epilepsy? For 70 percent
of patients, doctors do not know. For the
rest, the cause is related to something that
affects how the brain works, such as:
• Head injuries
• Lack of oxygen during birth or problems
in brain development before birth
• Brain tumors
• Genetic conditions
• Infections like meningitis or encephalitis
• Lead poisoning
“Epilepsy is often treated with
medications that prevent seizures,” says
Dr. Sachdeo. “When medications fail,
doctors may do surgery to remove the
areas of the brain in which seizures occur.”
Sometimes a specialized diet very high
in fats and very low in carbohydrates is
recommended. This diet has been found
to be particularly effective for treating
children with epilepsy. •
about the doctors
Ronald Benitez, M.D.
Board certified in Neurosurgery
Neptune | 973-285-7800
Noah R. Gilson, M.D.
Board certified in Neurology
West Long Branch | 732-935-1850
Paul J. Gilson, M.D.
Neurology
Brick | 732-840-4666
Rajesh C. Sachdeo, M.D.
Board certified in Psychiatry
and Neurology
Neptune | 732-776-4551
❯
More Information at Your Fingertips
Have you visited our Wellness Center? The FREE online Wellness Center is jam-packed with additional information
about all of these neurological conditions, plus interactive tools, including animations and quizzes to help
you understand more about a condition. To start exploring, visit WellnessCenter.MeridianHealth.com.
25
Meridian HealthViews November/December 2009

Healthy highlights
Keep Active to Keep Your Mind Sharp
recipe:
Cranberry-Vegetable
Risotto
Ingredients
2 tbsp. butter
1 small onion, diced
¾ cup Arborio rice
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1 cup sliced portobello
mushrooms
1 cup asparagus, diced
¾ cup sweetened dried cranberries
2 tbsp. fresh basil, minced
1 tbsp. Parmesan cheese
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Grease a medium casserole dish.
2. Melt butter in a large saucepan.
Add onion and cook over medium
heat until soft.
3. Add rice; cook for two minutes.
4. Add broth; bring to a boil for
four minutes.
5. Stir in remaining ingredients,
except Parmesan cheese. Pour
mixture into casserole dish.
6. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
Stir in cheese. Serve immediately.
Makes four servings; serving size is
2 cups. Each serving provides:
Calories 280, Total fat 5 g (Saturated
fat 3 g), Cholesterol 10 mg, Sodium
200 mg, Carbohydrates 55 g, Fiber
4 g, Protein 5 g
Your mind as well as your body will thank you for
keeping fit. A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine
followed 1,740 adults ages 65 and older for about six
years. Compared to adults who exercised less, those who
exercised three or more times a week for as little as 15
minutes enjoyed a 32 percent reduced risk for dementia.
Stay active this winter with these ideas:
• Take a dancing or yoga class at a local fitness center.
This is also a great way to meet new people.
• Design a workout space at home. Clear out space in
front of the TV and move along with a workout video.
• Head to the mall. Many shopping centers allow
walkers to stroll before stores are open.
Eating well also helps body and brain. “Studies
have shown that obese people with high blood pressure
and high cholesterol are much more likely to develop dementia,” says
Nancy Skoog, R.D., of Ocean Medical Center. She recommends following a
heart-healthy diet, with dishes such as the produce-packed risotto recipe at left.
Word Jumble
How many of the health-related words below do you know?
(Hint: You can find them all in this issue of HealthViews!)
L K U S L S E A B
N I S S O LT
KROTSE ATERITHINOBILA
E G L I S H N S
G L U N E C C R A N
E B N O S I N Y T E D
Stay Tuned
Look for the solution to this issue’s Word Jumble
in the next issue of HealthViews!
Solution to last issue’s word jumble
H I P R E P L A C E M E N T D I A B E T E S *
O S T E O P O R O S I S
M A M M O G R A P H Y
P E D I A T R I C
C A R P A L T U N N E L
* If you noticed an extra “e” in the original jumble, congratulations! You’re a word jumble master!
26
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HV_RMC_DI_7.375x9.875:Layout 1 8/4/09 3:12 PM Page 1
TAKING CARE OF
NEW JERSEY
Head and Shoulders Above the Rest
The Diagnostic Imaging Center at Riverview: Designed with you in mind.
The Diagnostic Imaging Center at
Riverview offers a comprehensive
array of diagnostic procedures at
your convenience in a convenient,
friendly and comfortable setting.
• 64-Slice CT Angiography
• 64-Slice CT Scan
• Breast MRI
• Computed Tomography (CT)
• GI Series/Barium Enema
• Interventional Radiology
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Nuclear Cardiology
• Nuclear Medicine
• PET/CT
• Radiology
• Ultrasound/Vascular Ultrasound
• Uterine Artery Embolization
• X-Ray/IVP
Where can you go for all your diagnostic imaging needs, walk-in service, leading edge technology, and
a caring team of technologists, nurses, and radiologists?
Superior Technology in Expert Hands
At the Diagnostic Imaging Center at Riverview, technology like the 64-Slice CT Scan and PET/CT comes
to life in the expert hands of the Diagnostic Imaging Team. Our team, which includes highly trained and
e xperienced physicians and technologists, performs and interprets a wide range of imaging procedures
with the utmost precision so that you and your doctor receive the most accurate diagnostic information.
Convenience and Service are Paramount
Our focus on comfort, service, and convenience continues to delight our patients and as a result, in
a recent survey of patients by J.D. Power and Associates, R iverview was recognized for delivering an
Outstanding Outpatient Experience. From complimentary parking, to convenient appointments, to a
comforting hand to hold, our goal is to provide the best health care experience.
Mention this ad upon arrival for your appointment
at the Diagnostic Imaging Center and you’ll
receive a cup of coffee on us! To book your
appointment, call 732.530.2525 or to learn more, visit
www.RiverviewMedicalCenter.com/DiagnosticImaging.
Recognized J.D. Power and Associates for providing
Outstanding Maternity and Outpatient Experiences.

Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Meridian
Health
One Riverview Plaza
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Timothy J. Hogan, FACHE
President
1945 Route 33
Neptune, NJ 07753
Steven G. Littleson, FACHE
President
Visit us on the Web at MeridianHealth.com
RiverviewMedicalCenter.com
1945 Route 33
Neptune, NJ 07753
Steven G. Littleson, FACHE
President
425 Jack Martin Blvd.
Brick, NJ 08724
W. Peter Daniels, FACHE
President
This free bimonthly magazine is
prepared by the Communications
Team of Meridian Health. Please call
1-800-DOCTORS (1-800-362-8677)
with any questions or comments.
Inquiries or ideas can also be
addressed in writing to:
Publications Manager
Meridian Health
1350 Campus Parkway
Neptune, NJ 07753
Peter Wegener, Esq., Chairman
John K. Lloyd, FACHE, President
Chrisie Scott, Vice President
Communications and Marketing
Elliot Frank, M.D., Medical Advisor
Photography: Chris Gahler, Russ Seuffert,
and Tom VanDyke
© 2009 Meridian Health
The material provided in this newsletter
is intended to be used as general information
only and should not replace the
advice of your physician. Always consult
your physician for individual care.
Hotel Perks
at a Hospital
– by Tim Hogan, President
Tim Hogan, President of Riverview Medical Center
When you’re away from home for a hospital stay, making sure you feel at home is important.
At Riverview Medical Center, we strive to make our patients and guests as comfortable
as possible. In fact, we consider ourselves to be your “hospital-ity” partner.
That’s why we’re pleased to present our new personal concierge service, which offers those visiting
Riverview direct access to a multitude of services. Similar to what you would find in a five-star hotel,
our concierge welcomes visitors in Riverview’s lobby and is available to assist with a variety of
needs during their stay.
For example, if you have family visiting from outside the area, our concierge can give directions
to the hospital, and offer advice on places to spend the night and local restaurants. The concierge
can also arrange for spa services in the Medical Center, including having your hair done, a shave
for men, massages, and manicures or pedicures.
If you or your loved one is religious, the concierge can also connect you with religious leaders
in the community to ensure that your needs are met during your stay. We like to say you can “leave
the rest to us” so you can focus your energy on the healing process.
These are just a few of the many ways in which Riverview’s new concierge is able to help make
your stay as homelike as possible. I like to think of it as yet another way in which Riverview provides
an outstanding experience. It’s part of the reason we’ve been recognized by J.D. Power and
Associates on many services throughout the hospital — services that benefit our visitors, patients,
and families alike. •
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6116M-A