Southern Ocean Medical Center Expands Cardiovascular Offerings In Heart Month

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — This Heart Month, Southern Ocean Medical Center is expanding its cardiovascular offerings. The hospital announced it now will offering elective angioplasty.

James Young, executive fundraising director for Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center (SOMC), unexpectedly became a patient when he suffered a heart attack in late 2024. His emergency angioplasty at SOMC was a success, and coincidentally helped the hospital reach the case threshold required to offer elective angioplasty. The New Jersey Department of Health recently approved SOMC's application for this licensure, allowing the Armellino Family Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (a facility Young helped fund) to offer this service.

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked arteries. Elective angioplasty allows cardiologists to schedule procedures for stable patients with coronary artery disease, providing diagnosis and treatment in a single visit. Previously, SOMC only offered emergency angioplasty.

"Treating emergencies like Jim's is crucial, but offering elective angioplasty gives patients more control over their heart health," said Jason Nehmad, M.D., MBA, FACP, CPE, SOMC vice president and chief medical officer. "This enhanced care is paramount."

Young, 55, agrees. "Preventative medicine is much better than emergency medicine," he said.

“This expansion of cardiac services at SOMC – from diagnostic testing to emergency and now elective angioplasty – benefits the growing region,” said Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., MBA, FACEP, president, Southern Region, Hackensack Meridian Health. It complements the network’s comprehensive cardiovascular services available throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties. This includes the counties’ only open-heart and minimally invasive cardiac surgery program at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where Young conveniently received outpatient cardiac rehabilitation close to his Neptune home.

James Orlando, M.D., director of the Armellino Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at SOMC, emphasized the importance of patient involvement in heart care. “Elective angioplasty allows for personalized planning, avoids unnecessary travel, and maintains continuity with a patient’s local care team.”

For Young, it's been a full-circle experience. From fundraising for cardiac services to becoming a patient and now raising awareness for elective angioplasty, he's uniquely positioned to share his story. "I'm now the grateful patient," he said, praising the compassionate care he received. "Hackensack Meridian treats people like family."