Major Enhancements Reported By RWJUH After Merge With Somerset Medical Center

By Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Two flagship hospitals in Central Jersey became one on June 1, 2014, as a result of the merger of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) and Somerset Medical Center, ushering in a period of historic and rapid change.

Over the past year, the 7,600 employees on the hospital’s Somerset and New Brunswick campuses have been focusing on assuring the community a smooth and seamless transition, while continuing to provide the most advanced, comprehensive health care services close to home.

Since finalizing the merger in June 2014, RWJUH has made significant strides, cultural shifts, program changes and significant faculty improvements on its New Brunswick and Somerset campuses.

“The integration of the Somerville campus into Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has allowed us to stay true to our mission and longstanding commitment to improving the health and well-being of the diverse communities we serve,” said Stephen K. Jones, FACHE, President and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson Health System. “Over the past several months, we have made positive changes and improvements, and have launched a number of projects to enhance the medical care and services we provide. We are now one strong, unified organization that provides comprehensive treatment options and expanded access to top specialists for Central Jersey residents.”

RWJUH has embarked on a number of projects and programs to enhance and expand access to high-quality care to better serve its patients and the community. Key initiatives and accomplishments include:

RWJ Somerset Adopts AllScripts Bed Management System:

In August, RWJ Somerset went live with the AllScripts Bed Management System. The new system gives hospital staff real-time electronic information shared among all departments to help them more efficiently manage patient admissions, discharge and transports.

The new system replaced a manual bed management system which contributed to a slower patient flow process. Through the new system, staff sees exactly where a patient is as well as the floor and the room to which the patient is assigned. This information helps staff transport the patient efficiently and accurately and ensures that the staff has rooms prepared for their arrival.

Gynecologic Oncology Program Established at RWJ Somerset:

A new gynecologic oncology program launched at RWJ Somerset’s Steeplechase Cancer Center in August.

The program offers patients a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of and clinical research on cancers of the female reproductive system, including cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, vulvar, fallopian tube, primary peritoneal, endometrial cancers, in addition to gestational trophoblastic disease, vulvar, vaginal or cervical dysplasia and complex benign surgical conditions. The program is a unique partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and brings an experienced team of specialized physicians, led by Darlene G. Gibbon, MD, to the Somerset campus.

Sleep Centers Merge:

Both RWJ New Brunswick and RWJ Somerset have offered outstanding, expert sleep disorders treatment to the Central Jersey community for many years.

Now, the two programs have merged across the New Brunswick and Somerset campuses to enhance the quality of care and scope of services offered to patients.

Located in the former Sleep for Life facilities on Route 206 in Hillsborough, the Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Center will continue to provide a full range of sleep studies and treatment options for a variety of sleep issues affecting adults and children including obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, periodic limb movement, insomnia, REM disorders, upper airway resistance, narcolepsy, parasomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and restless leg syndrome. Patients will still have access to state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, expert care and cutting- edge continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and sleep apnea treatment.

Cardiac Catheterization Lab Renovated and Upgraded:

One of RWJ Somerset’s cardiac catheterization laboratories (cath labs) underwent major renovations to upgrade the facility with a more efficient layout and design and equip it with the latest diagnostic tools.

The new cath lab offers better patient and operator care, increased speed and quality of imaging, easier transition between labs and is able to accommodate more patients.

The lab’s layout is identical to the labs at the New Brunswick campus, which utilize the newest innovations and equipment. All are Philips labs, designed to simplify cath lab workflow, which helps empower physicians, technicians and nurses to focus on the patients and help them to deliver faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Having the same set up and equipment in all of the labs will allow for easier transition for the physicians using them, and will allow for flexibility of alternating between campuses.

New Audiology Suite:

RWJ Somerset opened a new audiology suite in March, which offers a range of assessment and treatment services for infants, children and adults, under the direction of licensed audiologists and speech language pathologists. The new audiology suite allows the staff to expand their capabilities specifically for newborns, and perform hearing tests and conduct the proper evaluations on infants delivered in the hospital.

3D Mammography:

In June, RWJ Somerset began offering its patients the option to get 3D mammograms, the latest and most advanced technology in breast cancer screenings and detection, at the Sanofi US Breast Care Program in the Steeplechase Cancer Center.

3D mammogram, also known as a digital breast tomosynthesis exam, moves in an arc over the breasts to capture multiple images of the breast from various angles that create a clear, 3D reconstruction of the breast, which allows radiologists to examine the patient’s breast tissue in far greater detail.

The 3D mammogram picks up invasive tumors and abnormalities more easily, increases accuracy, avoids false alarms and detects breast cancer at its earliest stages when it is the most treatable.

Proton Therapy:

RWJ became the first hospital in the Tri-State area to offer proton therapy treatment to cancer patients, representing a significant advancement in the range of cancer treatment options that are currently available to New Jersey and New York residents.

Proton therapy provides targeted treatment to cancer cells and causes less damage to surrounding healthy tissues than photon radiation, making it an ideal option for pediatric and adult patients with tumors in sensitive locations, such as near the heart, brain and spine. It is the most precise and advanced form of radiation treatment today, and it is now an option for patients at the New Brunswick campus.

The improvements and enhancements at both RWJUH campuses will continue throughout the remainder of the year. Upcoming projects for the remainder of 2015 include:

• RWJ Somerset lobby and outpatient registration renovations
• Renovations to the Maternity and Cardiology units at RWJ Somerset
• New Wound Care Center opening in 2015
• New Sports Arena in Bridgewater
• Partner in opening a new Ambulatory Surgical Center
• Develop Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence
• Open Cardiac Rehabilitation/ Physical Therapy location in Bridgewater
• New Sports Performance, Physical Therapy and occupational Therapy Center
• Grow Cardiac, Cancer and Psychiatric Services
• Open on-site Retail Pharmacy at RWJ Somerset

“As we look to the future, we will continue to have our patients at the forefront of our care, and make strategic decisions to meet the challenges presented by today’s complex health care environment to enhance and strengthen the quality and delivery of services to our patients and the community,” said Anthony V. Cava, MS, RPH, FACHE, Chief Administrative Officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset.

To learn more about RWJUH, please visit www.rwjuh.edu. For a referral to a physician affiliated with RWJUH, please call 1-888-MD-RWJUH. Follow us on Twitter at www.rwjuh.edu/twitter and Facebook at www.rwjuh.edu/facebook.