Inside this issue:
SIX09
A Guide to Our Virtual Kitchen & Bath Check out our new arts Design Process and culture publication
JUNE 2020 FREE
Student leader Olivia Browndorf receives top award from state Assoc. of Student Councils By MaDELEinE MaCCaR
Olivia Browndorf knew something was afoot at the New Jersey Association of Student Councils convention earlier this year. Browndorf had her suspicions when her fellow High School North student council members kept sneaking glances at her. She put the pieces together when her advisor started recording the ceremony that preceded this year’s Student Leaders of the Year awards, which honor a student leader who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and service to both their school and community. By the time her name was announced, Browndorf admits that she, “freaked out at the moment.” “The Student Leader of the Year award was a total surprise to me,” the high school senior says. “My best friend Rohan Patel is on the state student council, so he heard of the award through running the council for the past year. My whole council knew what was going on at the meeting in January, but I didn’t. And then Rohan actually presented me the award at the meeting in January.” It was a fitting full-circle moment, as Browndorf says See BROWNDORF, Page 5
As we are all working from home together, this may be good COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG time to virtually plan out your upcoming kitchen or bath projects. You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish working remotely with one of our design professionals.
Making masks
Start with a Project “To Do” List
You’ve been watching the home improvement shows, looking at magazines and doing some research online. YouArea may residents even have band put together an inspiration file of all the things you would love to together to address have in your new kitchen or bathroom. the shortage of face
coverings
Where do you go from here?
By NiCOLE ViVianO First, make a list of what to change in your kitchen or bath area. Following is a brief checklist of what to consider: In response to news of local
face mask shortages, residents from West Windsor and Robbinsville joined forces to collect supplies and produce • Working with a new or existing floor plan? and distribute homemade masks for first responders • Adding new appliances, lighting, sinks and faucets? and other healthcare workers in their as community. • Changing flooring and if so, will other areas change well? Since the conception of the area? Mercer Mask Project, • Installing new tile in the backsplash or in the bath Dr. Aleesha Shaik (far right), a High School North graduate, stands with with other frontline which gained an official Facebook page and email back workers at Mount Sinai Hospital in •New York City. Taking out the tub or enlarging the shower area? in March, more than 14,000 masks and 1,100 gowns have Try to have some idea of cabinetry and countertop choices, been provided to those who need them. even though this is not something you need to finalize before The project was formed talking with a design professional. almost overnight after Robbinsville resident of over 20 was a high-risk patient given years Cindy Schwab Rosen Science in Molecular and CelNorth grad writes What Can Our Design Pros Do For You? shared a post about making lular Biology from Johns Hop- her lung disease. about working in a kins University. As I walked down to the on her personal Once you’ve done your research, you are ready masks to complete our FaceNYC hospital during The following is her account emergency department, I book account. briefit’squestionnaire. Upon your information, of our morning, triedreceiving to focus on how nice The one following of what like on the frontlines the pandemic would be to catch up discuss with Rosen heard from West Windof the COVID-19 pandemic. experienced designers ither will contact you to your ideas and hear which new sor resident, Johan Glozman, I had treated Ms. D back wishes. a design is created spaceto help with wordsconcept her granddaughter had for whoyour was looking in and November forNext, a COPD By DR. ALEEsHa SHaiK flare. She was a sweet, learned. Before going into the problem as well. He and and we’ll also give you an estimate range of what your project Editor’s Note: Dr. Aleesha elderly woman who loved her room, I carefully put on his wife, LeeAnn, further my N95 and face incorporated their friends me pictures of her Shaik is an internal medicine showing may cost. We look forward tomask helping youshield, get started on your knowing that they would have Brian and Brittany Cole. resident physician at Mount grandchildren. project. “The Mercer Mask Project When I saw her on my list to last me the rest of the shift. Sinai Hospital in New York City. The High School North of patients to admit in March, As I was tying my gown, my was the one that I saw that I graduate holds a doctor of a sense of dread grew in my phone rang. It was the senior thought had the most presence and was local,” Johan knowing that she resident. medicine degree from Drexel stomach Visit us at cranburydesigncenter.com/VirtualDesign. “The ED just called. Ms. D Glozman said. was most likely here with University. The five community memShe received her Master of COVID-19, as were nearly all passed away.” Standing there in shock, bers have since been working Public Health from Harvard the other patients in the hosUniversity and a Bachelor of pital at that time, and that she See SHAIK, Page 6 See MASKS, Page 8
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on in town. That being said, I wasn’t able to fit all of the news from the past 30 days in this issue due to space limitations, but you can find a lot more on our website communitynews.org. We are updating the site with news from throughout the area as it happens. We do have plans, however, to continue regional coverage at some level in our papers. Inserted in the center of this issue you will find the first edition of Six09, our new arts, food and culture publication. Our hope with Six09 is to present interesting and engaging content each month that will allow our readers to take full advantage of this vibrant region— extending south with our area code all the way to Cape May. We have many members of our staff lending their expertise in this area, including Dan Aubrey, arts editor of U.S. 1. Finally, I would like to congratulate the members of the Class of 2020. It’s been a tough senior year for them, and I wish them the best as they move forward into an uncertain future.
This month we return to our regularly scheduled issue of The West Windsor and Plainsboro News after running a special “regional” issue last month. As a result of economic realities created by the of the ongoing health crisis, Community News Service furloughed several members of the editorial staff. Rob Anthes, managing editor of our monthly papers, temporarily took over as the editor of U.S. 1, our sister weekly newspaper, and I had to opportunity to act as the editor of last month’s edition of our monthlies, which included news from towns throughout our area. While it was interesting to look with an editorial eye at our entire coverage area for the April issue, I am happy to be back to focusing on Plainsboro and West Windsor townships. We felt it was important to return to our usual hyperlocal coverage this Contact BILL SANSERVINO: bill@commonth so that we can let you know as munitynews.org, (609) 396-1511, ext. 104, much as possible about what’s going facebook.com/BillSanservino.
609.275.8989 Please check our website for COVID-19 procedures and order-ahead options
We are a newsroom of your neighbors. The News is for local people, by local people. As such, our staff sets out to make our towns a closer place by giving readers a reliable source to turn to when they want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood. As part of the community, the West Windsor and Plainsboro News does more than just report the news—it connects businesses with their customers, organizations with their members and neighbors with one another.
West Windsor Community
EDITOR Bill Sanservino (Ext. 104)
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arounD toWn West Windsor Police invite feedback for accreditation The West Windsor Police Department’s is seeking input from the community as part of its accreditation assessment process. “Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy, and more confidence in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs,” said Chief Robert Garofalo in a press release. A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police was set to visit the departmetn on May 31 to examine all aspects of the WWPD policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. “Verification by the team that the West Windsor Township Police Department meets the Commission’s ‘best practice’ standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Garofalo said. A copy of the department’s standards is available for inspection at the West Windsor Township Police Department, at 20 Municipal Drive. Comments about the WWPD
should be emailed to the Accreditation Program director at hdelgado@njsacop.org or written to the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12 Marlton, NJ 08053.
West Windsor Farmers Market now open The West Windsor Community Farmers Market opened last month for its 17th season. “Amidst a global pandemic, the board and manager are committed to bringing you the quality and freshness you have grown to know and love in a safe and comfortable space,” says a statement announcing the opening. The market is at its usual location— the Vaughan Drive parking lot at the Princeton Junction train station, and will be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The market layout has been changed this year, and vendors are split between two lanes—the old entrance lane to the Vaughn Drive lot in addition to the center aisle used in previous years. This is to allow additional open air between shoppers. Six
foot physical distancing is mandatory. Restrooms will not be available. Other new procedures, health and safety guidelines for shoppers are as follows: The entrance is now from the new upper lot on Alexander Road (the Vaughn Drive entrance is closed). 1. Parking is only be allowed along the exit lane of the lower lot. There is no exit back through the upper lot—one way in/ one way out. The customer entrance is directly across from the market shed. 2. Masks/facial coverings are required. Those who are feeling unwell should not attend the market. 3. Seniors and other shoppers at higher risk from COVID-19 complications are being permitted to move to the front of any farm/vendor line. They should reach out to the market manager for any additional accommodations. 4. Shopping time is limited to 15-20 minutes total. 5. Up to two shoppers per household are permitted (one person, a couple, parent and child). 6. Hand washing stations are located throughout the marketplace. Shoppers are asked to wash their hands before and after shopping.
7. Vendors will handle all produce and products. Shoppers are asked to bring freshly laundered reusable bags. Open the bags at checkout and the sellers will place purchases in the bags. 8. Market Bucks ($5 tokens) are temporarily discontinued. Vendors will only accept cash and credit cards for payment. The vendors will have contactless payment options and cash boxes for exact change) 9. SNAP/EBT and the dollar-fordollar match will continue (up to $20/ market day. Visit the entrance near our shed for transactions.) 10. Prepared food must be consumed off premises. 11. Pets are not allowed. For more information contact market manager Chris Cirkus at (609) 933-4452, manager@westwindsorfarmersmarket. org, or go to the market’s website at westwindsorfarmersmarket.org. –Compiled by editor Bill Sanservino
WHAT DID WE MISS? What are you noticing in your community? What stories do you think we should tell? Do you have news to share? We want to hear from you. Send your news or tips to news@communitynews.org.
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BROWNDORF cont. from Page 1 that Patel is how she got involved in her high school’s student council in the first place. “He called me right before freshman year started and asked if I wanted to be on the student council,” Browndorf said. “I basically became a volunteer for our council, where I just helped out with all the events and the planning where I could and when they needed.” Patel was among those who coordinated their efforts to submit Browndorf as a nominee for the statewide Student Leader of the Award. “Never have I met a student with so much charisma, enthusiasm and genuine dedication to make a positive impact,” the student body president said of his longtime friend and peer. “Olivia is one of the most inspiring leaders in our school, striving to make a significant impact on any project she takes under her wing.” North principal Jonathan Dauber agreed. “Olivia is one of the finest students I have come across in any capacity during my 22 years in education. She is a leader and role model, respected and appreciated by all students in our school… she is committed to her beliefs and willing to fight for those beliefs by advocating for herself and others.” Browndorf credits her mother’s own fondly recalled days on student council as being the inspiration behind wanting to enjoy that perspective, too—though it was an inauspicious introduction to student government in
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Olivia Browndorf holds her Student Leader of the Year award. middle school that sparked her determination to run full-tilt at it once she got to high school. “My mom had always spoken so highly about student council, so I was very interested in it in middle school and ran my eighth-grade year,” Brownsdorf said. “But then I didn’t get elected. That’s what really got me into doing it my freshman year.” And it’s that determination that opened the doors to the opportunities that student council has given Browndorf, while also being a first-hand lesson in how much of a difference just one person can make.
“What really stands out to me about student council is the impact you can have on so many things in our school and how many things you really can change just by being a voice for your grade as well as a voice for the entire student body,” she said. Browndorf also attributes being involved in extracurricular activities beyond student council—like Peer Leaders, a “20-person group who guide freshmen throughout their first year”— as well as the joy she gets from volunteer work as teaching her how to both be a leader and advocate for others. As a former athlete whose pursuits included field hockey, basketball, track and field and lacrosse, Browndorf has shared her love of organized sports with the all-volunteer nonprofit group Princeton Special Sports for years, and now serves as a coach for the organization. “I’m really into special education and working with special-needs kids,” she says. Browndorf has worked with Princeton Special Sports since seventh grade. PSS is a not-for-profit, volunteer, organization that provides adults and children with special needs the opportunity to play sports and engage in social activities Browndorf said that her years of volunteer work made such an impact that when she starts college in the fall to begin her next chapter at Syracuse University, she’ll be arriving as an education major with a focus on early childhood special education.
“Princeton Special Sports is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and I’ll be studying special education next year in college because of it,” she said. “It’s completely changed my world.” Browndorf said that where she sees herself in the future “basically changes every day,” but she is certain that her experiences with both volunteer work and student council have helped identify the path she wants to take—which she thinks will involve picking up a political science minor as she settles into college life. “I am more and more interested in advocating for education in a more political sense,” she said. “I like the idea of teaching and I love children, and the student council has made me really love advocating for others, which is why I want a poli-sci minor.” Browndorf said she believes that high school is filled with opportunities to learn about yourself and what you want from life, and she advises younger students to not let a stumble or two to dissuade them from reaching for what they want. “I lost two elections before I actually became a real member of our student council—that set me back, in a way, but I never stopped fighting to be on my student council,” Browndorf said. “That’s where I got my special assignments officer position: My council saw that I really wanted to be a part of it. I think the biggest thing is to always believe in yourself and believe that you will succeed.”
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SHAIK continued from Page 1 one gloved hand clutching the phone tightly, I had to ask her to repeat herself three times to make sure I had heard correctly. “She seemed stable. They were getting ready to put in another IV when they noticed that her pulse had suddenly stopped.” That was it. Per her wishes, she had not received CPR. I was standing just around the corner from her room. In a daze, I walked to her bed. The ED team had already started writing her death note. I held her hand and whispered, “I’m so sorry.” Every single one of my colleagues has stories like this. A 72-year-old patient who died in the ED before they even made it downstairs to examine her. A 37-year-old patient who seemed completely fine on minimal oxygen in the morning and was intubated by the evening. A 55-year-old patient who was planned for discharge in the coming days and was found dead on the floor in his hospital room. The worst part is calling the family afterwards. To reduce the spread of coronavirus, the hospital instated a “no visitors” policy. While certainly necessary, it also often means that patients can’t spend their last few minutes with their loved ones and that families don’t get a chance to say goodbye. Breaking that news over the phone and listening to the grief on the other side is heart wrenching. And it never gets easier. “But she just got there!” Ms. D’s
Dr. Aleesha Shaik in front of her family’s Plainsboro home with a lawn sign expressing appreciation for her work with coronavirus patients. daughter exclaimed in disbelief. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even know how her mother had died. Was it a blood clot to her brain? Did her heart just give out? Did her lungs get too tired? Dr. Shaik with other frontline workers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Even six months since the first COVID-19 case was discovered in
China, we still have more questions than we do answers. We do not definitively know the ultimate cause of death in many of these patients and we are still guessing at how to treat them. Hydroxychloroquine, high dose steroids, blood thinners, Remdesivir, famotidine: there is no conclusive evidence that any of these actually work, but we throw the kitchen sink at sick
patients because what other choice do we have? As a member of a profession that prides itself on evidence-based practice, COVID-19 makes us exceedingly uncomfortable. Adding to the unease is watching the increasing politicization of a public health emergency. The wall-to-wall news coverage often revolves around what controversial statement the president has made, and the subsequent partisan responses rather than focusing on vetted facts and science. Instead of having political leaders dominate the press coverage, physicians and public health professionals should have the most public facing voices. While perceptions of politicians and news media outlets vary drastically along partisan lines, this is not the case with doctors, who are considered trustworthy by members of both parties. With health professionals leading messaging, there would have been less misinformation and an early emphasis on changing behaviors to prevent further spread of COVID-19. The impacts of misinformation and partisan beliefs are apparent in the recent protests against stay at home orders and the spread of the “Plandemic” video, as doubts circulate that the threat of the virus has been blown out of proportion. For someone who has been staying home and doesn’t have a loved one affected by COVID-19, it can be difficult to understand how danger-
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risk everyday to help care for and protect their fellow New Yorkers. I’ve seen it in Plainsboro, my hometown. When my family heard that we were running out of personal protective equipment at my hospital, they asked around for donations and were able to collect nearly 700 surgical and N95 masks from Plainsboro residents, many of whom didn’t even know who I was. (A special shout out to the WWP Chinese community for coming together to send more than 500 of those.) When I went home to visit my family for the first time in three months (after completing my self-quarantine), I was surprised with a car parade by the residents of my neighborhood. Nearly 50 families drove by our house holding up homemade signs of gratitude and yelling wonderful messages of support through their car windows. I had never even met many of them before. As I write this, it has been 73 long, exhausting, terrifying days since the first patient in New York City—and the tristate area—was diagnosed with COVID-19. So much has changed since then; we had no idea what was ahead of us. As the light at the end of this seemingly interminable tunnel shines a little brighter, we must never forget what is behind us and use what we have learned to overcome the inevitable future waves. Because while this battle may soon be ending, the war against COVID-19 is just beginning.
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ous and pervasive this disease has been. The threat of this virus cannot be overstated for those of us who have worked in the epicenter of this epidemic. We have watched helplessly as young patients suddenly die despite every treatment we have tried. We have lasting scars from N95 masks and have not seen our families in months out of fear of infecting them. The fact that we are seeing fewer cases now than initially predicted and have not required as many ventilators as expected is not a reflection of an exaggerated threat, but a sign that we took it seriously enough— eventually—to make some life-saving changes, like social distancing measures and stay at home orders, though there is still room for further action. It will certainly take time to recover from the economic hardships and heal from the grief caused by this pandemic, but I hope that one thing will last: the humanity we’ve seen in each other and the sense of community that has blossomed. I’ve seen it in the young people who volunteer to buy groceries for their at-risk elderly neighbors. I’ve seen it in the healthcare workers who enlisted to come out of retirement to help out at hospitals in hard-hit New York City. I’ve seen it at 7 p.m. every night for the past couple months as cheers erupt from windows and rooftops across the city of New York for the essential workers putting their lives at
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MASK continued from Page 1 together under Mercer Mask Project, drawing on their different areas of expertise to help move towards their goal. Each help the production process in their own way. Rosen runs the Mercer County Chapter of Project Linus, a charity that makes homemade blankets for sick children, and had fabrics that could be used in the startup. She saw there was a need for masks and knew she had the beginnings of a decent supply to help. LeeAnn Glozman works as a nurse practitioner at Capital Health. “[She]
is obviously concerned for masks for herself and all her coworkers and just in general,” he said. “I wanted to try to figure out how we could coordinate with other people.” She has been the “subject matter expert” and has helped research the best way to make an effective mask that people can use. Both Johan Glozman and Brian Cole have backgrounds in information technology and spearheaded the project’s online management and help manage coordinating all aspects of the production process.
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Brittany Cole is an avid seamstress and has helped design and create the facemasks. She has Zoom tutorials on the Facebook page to help instruct volunteers on proper assembly. “Each hospital has sort of their own requirement for designs, even down to within different departments within the hospital,” Brian Cole said. “And all the seamstresses want to make what’s going to be useful.” Both the Glozmans and Coles reside in West Windsor and have their children home with them due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Working from home has allowed for more flexibility to manage this startup — picking up and delivering materials to handing off finished masks to the community. Beneficiaries of their efforts include West Windsor Fire and Police Department, Greenhill Pharmacy in East Windsor, Plainsboro Rescue Squad, the Philadelphia Homeless Clinic and private doctors and nurses who have requested them, along with home health care workers who make house calls to patients. “We’ve all been organizing and collecting materials and making the masks and we have a whole team now of people making them and dropping off and delivering,” Rosen said. The mass production pattern the project has set up is collecting materials such as elastic, pipe cleaners, cotton, felt or flannel, delivering them to the person who will cut them, assembling those into kits that can make 10 to 15 masks for people who want to sew and then col-
lecting the finished products. Masks are then delivered to those who request them. Throughout the process they clean and sanitize accordingly. Importantly, these are not N95 face masks — which provide the most protection against the virus — but they are considered surgical masks with designed filtration to block virus particles, while still being washer and dryer friendly. “So you would just use our mask one time, take it off after a patient encounter, put it in a bag and take it home and sanitize it for a later use,” LeeAnn Glozman said. What supplies are needed and how to safely share materials and volunteer are all posted to the Mercer Mask Project’s Facebook page. Thus far, requested supplies has been amply provided by the community. Currently volunteers with any sewing experience would be appreciated. “It’s been amazing,” Brittany Cole said. “It has restored my faith in humanity to see everybody just come together and people have been so generous with sending materials.” To find out how to help and what supplies are needed by Mercer Mask Project visit their Facebook page. Inquiries can be sent through Facebook Messenger or emailed to mercermaskproject@gmail.com. Contact staff writer NICOLE VIVIANO: nviviano@communitynews.org, (609) 3961511, ext. 118, twitter.com/nicoleviviano, facebook.com/nicoleviviano609.
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You’ve been watching the home improvement shows, looking at magazines and doing some research online. You may even have put together an inspiration file of all the things you would love to have in your new kitchen or bathroom. Where do you go from here? First, make a list of what to change in your kitchen or bath area. Following is a brief checklist of what to consider:
• Adding new appliances, lighting, sinks and faucets? • Changing flooring and if so, will other areas change as well? • Installing new tile in the backsplash or in the bath area? • Taking out the tub or enlarging the shower area?
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As we are all working from home together, this may be good time to virtually plan out your upcoming kitchen or bath projects. You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish working remotely with one of our design professionals.
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Try to have some idea of cabinetry and countertop choices, even though this is not something you need to finalize before talking with a design professional. What Can Our Design Pros Do For You?
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Once you’ve done your research, you are ready to complete our brief questionnaire. Upon receiving your information, one of our experienced designers will contact you to discuss your ideas and wishes. Next, a design concept is created for your space and we’ll also give you an estimate range of what your project may cost. We look forward to helping you get started on your project. Visit us at cranburydesigncenter.com/VirtualDesign.
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Travel Talk with Caryn and Aron As the world reopens
Each week we read the papers, listen to the news, or skim Facebook and are faced with a barrage of information about what the future holds and when we will be able to travel again. At this point it is all speculation, though as the states reopen, and flights are flying slightly more frequently and resorts in the Caribbean begin making plans for the summer, it is becoming a reality. Slowly the resorts, tour operators and cruise lines are beginning to think about how they will handle guests and your safety in the future. As of my writing this (and it could change as soon as I send this to print), there have not been any firm announcements besides the obvious – more sanitizing, more space between guests and less crowds. I have always gotten through stressful situations (e.g. presentations, competitions, medical procedures) by picturing myself relaxing somewhere afterwards. Same here! Before you know it, we’ll be back to cool ocean breezes and checking more destinations off our bucket lists! So keep your chin up! This year, perhaps you will stay local OR explore our beautiful country and save your International destination for another time. Either way, I’ve got your back. Let me know if you would like to talk about your dream destinations and making your next vacation memories. Also, my husband and I are planning our 10 year Cruise Planners anniversary celebration and would love for you to join us next May on a 7 night River Cruise in France. Contact us for more
information. Meanwhile you can visit us on Facebook and do some virtual traveling. Starting soon on Thursdays we will be hosting Travel Talk on Zoom and visiting destinations around the world. Contact us at cberla@ cruiseplanners.com or 609.750.0807 when you are ready to set up time to discuss your next memory making vacation. At Cruise Planners we specialize in all types of travel (not just cruises). We do not charge any additional fees for our vacation planning, and whether you are looking for a Cruise, an All-Inclusive Resort Vacation, or a European Land Tour, we will provide you with the exceptional service you should expect from a travel agent. Visit us at www. makingvacationmemories.net to register for hot deals delivered directly to your inbox and follow us at www.facebook.com/ familycruising. Unlike big online travel sites, Cruise Planners with Caryn and Aron, delivers the personal touch.
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HEALTH @capitalhealthnj
JUNE 2020
HEADLINES
B I - M O N T H LY N E W S F R O M C A P I TA L H E A LT H
CAPITAL HEALTH READY FOR SAFE POST-PEAK REOPENING OF SERVICES
In uncertain times, people often look to their community institutions for a sense of stability and comfort. For many residents in Mercer, Bucks, and Burlington counties during the ongoing health crisis, Capital Health is that institution. As the region’s leader in providing progressive, quality patient care, Capital Health has been taking an organized approach to meeting the needs of the community during the COVID-19 crisis and going forward as restrictions start to ease. Now it prepares to welcome patients back and schedule elective procedures in a safe, healthy environment.
Health continues to practice all precautionary measures for safety. Patients who test positive for COVID-19 continue to be treated in a highly secure area that keeps patients in a safe environment while making sure all visitors and staff are protected.
RESUMING ELECTIVE SURGERIES During his daily COVID-19 media briefing on May 15, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that hospitals in New Jersey will be permitted to resume elective surgeries starting Tuesday, May 26. Through intensive planning and implementation of processes that assure the highest level of patient and visitor safety, the health care professionals at Capital Health have a system of care that responds to all requirements for great services provided in a safe environment.
“There’s an old saying that describes how difficult challenges reveal who your true friends are,” said Sam Plumeri, Jr., chairman of the Capital Healthcare, Inc. Board of Trustees. “The outpouring of support we’ve seen shows that Capital Health has no shortage of friends in Mercer, Bucks, and Burlington counties. It also reaffirms our dedication to the safety of our community, now and in the future. It’s important for everyone to know that they can always rely on us to provide the safe care they need.”
“As we welcome more patients back in to our facilities, we are continuing to take necessary precautions to make sure the health and safety of our community and our staff remain the highest priority,” said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health. “We continue to practice social distancing, require visitors and staff to wear face mask and are fully operational.”
SAFETY FIRST Bolstered by the support of its community, Capital Health emergency departments and medical offices continue to take all the necessary precautions to keep patients safe on the front lines and across all service lines. Capital Health is now providing a broader range of inpatient and outpatient care that its neighbors can rely on as the pandemic evolves. This gradual reopening balances Capital Health’s patient-focused approach to care with best practices in infection prevention for our patients, visitors and staff.
CONTINUING VIDEO VISITS Capital Health will continue to offer video visits for both primary care and behavioral health through secure connections on patients’ computers or smart devices. New and established patients can schedule appointments with the same providers they see at Capital Health. The community is encouraged to maintain good health by scheduling appointments with their primary care and specialty physicians. Capital
A GRATEFUL COMMUNITY PARTNER Capital Health continues to be grateful for the wonderful community support it has experienced during the pandemic, having received generous donations for its front-line staff including PPE, hand sanitizer and other necessary supplies.
If you or your loved ones are experiencing a medical emergency, the patient care teams at Capital Health urge you to seek care immediately at their hospitals as they have safety procedures in place to protect you from infection. They look forward to seeing you and your family again at Capital Health.
Health Headlines by Capital Health | THE NEWS11
UNDERSTANDING BRAIN TUMOR SYMPTOMS signs to guide you to the right plan for care Brain tumors, while relatively rare, do not discriminate, affecting men, women, and children across all age groups and ethnicities. And because the brain is the critical organ that controls all others, it’s important to recognize the signs that may suggest a brain tumor and discuss them with your health care team. “The many parts of the brain control different body functions, so symptoms will vary depending on tumor location, type, and size,” said DR. NAVID REDJAL, director of Neurosurgical Oncology at the Capital Health Center for Neuro-Oncology. “However, there are some common symptoms to watch for which, if ongoing, may indicate the presence of a brain tumor. Anyone experiencing one or more of them over an extended period of time should see their doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.” “At the Center for Neuro-Oncology, our advanced technological resources and multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment are just as important as the compassionate and individualized care we provide,” said Dr. Redjal. “If a person experiences new symptoms or changes to existing ones, talking to your doctor is an important first step.” The Center for Neuro-Oncology, part of Capital Institute for Neurosciences and Capital Health Cancer Center, is a referral center for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer involving the brain and spine. The Center is housed in state-of-the-art facilities where patients have access to an experienced and caring team of physicians, nurses and staff who work closely with referring physicians to facilitate rapid and thorough evaluations and
COMMON BRAIN TUMOR SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: HEADACHES: A persistent, progressive pain that is different from a migraine, does not respond to over-the-counter pain medication (like aspirin or ibuprofen), gets worse when laying down, and may be accompanied by vomiting or changes in vision. SEIZURES: In some cases, a seizure may be the first indication that a person has a brain tumor. FOCAL PROGRESSIVE SYMPTOMS: Localized symptoms— such as hearing problems, difficulty walking or speaking, or feeling clumsy—can often help identify the location of the tumor. MASS EFFECT: Occurs when a brain tumor presses on surrounding normal tissue, causing nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, vision problems, headaches, and behavior changes. SUDDEN PERSONALITY CHANGES/COGNITIVE CHANGES/ MEMORY LOSS: A tumor may cause disruptions in normal brain function that lead to changes in a patient’s behavior and ability to reason, remember, and learn. recommendations for patients and their families. In addition to providing advanced, neuro-oncologic and neuroscience care, the Center participates in clinical trials to help fight and find cures for cancer. To learn more about Capital Health’s Center for Neuro-Oncology, visit capitalneuro.org.
Nationally Recognized Trauma Center Ready to Help Treat Severe Injuries While the number of cars on the road has decreased with stay-at-home orders, severe injuries can still take place in and around homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The experts at the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center would like to remind everyone that safety measures are in place to protect you from infection if you need immediate, lifesaving care for a severe injury. “Our trauma center has been certified eight times as a Level II Trauma Center by the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons [ACS]. This means that when residents of our community need us most, we are ready to meet the highest quality standards for safely treating severe injuries,” said DR. DOMINICK EBOLI, director of the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center. The Full Spectrum of Care According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, injury is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Care provided in a trauma center decreases the chance of death following injury by 25 percent compared to care in general hospitals.
12 Health Headlines by Capital Health | The News
In addition to providing the necessary resources for trauma care, ACS level II verification also means that centers like the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center address the needs of injured patients across the entire spectrum of care, providing patients at Capital Health Regional Medical Center with access to important injury prevention programs, pre-hospital care and transportation, acute hospital care, rehabilitation, and research. “Through programs and resources not available in most general hospitals—including 24-hour immediate access to trauma surgeons and other specialists—we are able to provide comprehensive care for severe injuries. The key is to call 911 as soon as the injury occurs so that we can treat the injury as soon as possible,” said DR. DENNIS QUINLAN, associate medical director of the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center. To learn more about the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center, visit capitalhealth.org/trauma.
DON’T DELAY: Call 911 If You Suspect a Stroke While the fear of contracting COVID-19 has encouraged compliance with stay-at-home orders and social distancing, front-line employees at Capital Health and across the country are seeing an alarming trend of people hesitating to call 911 and delay necessary treatment for time-sensitive emergencies like stroke. “When it comes to treating stroke, we always say ‘time is brain,’ which means that the sooner we can treat you, the better chance we have at a successful outcome,” said DR. CHRISTIAN SCHUMACHER, medical director of the Capital Health Stroke Program and a board certified stroke neurologist at Capital Health. “At Capital Health, we have safety procedures in place to protect you from infection, while making sure you get the immediate, lifesaving stroke care that you need.” The Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center at the Capital Institute for Neurosciences is a major referral center for the treatment of all types of neurovascular diseases, including cerebral aneurysms, strokes, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), cavernous malformations, carotid artery and vertebral artery atherosclerotic disease, intracranial stenosis as well as Moyamoya disease. The only Joint Commission certified Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center in the region, located at Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC) in Trenton, continues to provide safe emergency stroke and neurovascular services 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week during the current health crisis. “As soon as you call 911, our prehospital alert system allows our team in the hospital to prepare for your arrival, saving valuable time to treatment,” said Dr. Schumacher. “Your call could also activate our Mobile Stroke Unit, which can be co-dispatched with basic and advanced life support service to provide safe, immediate care at your location before you even arrive at the hospital.” CONTROLLABLE RISK FACTORS FOR STROKE There are steps you can take right away to lower your risk. Get started by talking to your primary care doctor to learn about stroke screenings and how you can treat or manage controllable risk factors such as:
… High blood pressure … High cholesterol … Heart/blood vessel disease … Cigarette smoking
… Physical inactivity/ obesity/poor diet … Diabetes mellitus
IF YOU SUSPECT A STROKE,
B-E F-A-S-T B
— Balance
E
— Eyes
F
— Face Drooping
A
— Arm Weakness
S
— Speech Difficulty
T
— Time to call 911
Is the person experiencing a sudden loss of balance? Has the person lost vision in one or both eyes?
Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven? Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly? If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.
… Atrial fibrillation … Sickle cell disease
Visit capitalneuro.org to learn more. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING SIGNS OF A STROKE, CALL 911.
Health Headlines by Capital Health | THE NEWS13
HELPING THE HOMELESS DURING COVID-19 Capital Health Joins Local Agencies to Support Underserved Population
New Jersey is among the states hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as one of the most densely populated states in the nation, urban areas like the City of Trenton are at increased risk of becoming hots spots for the disease. To address the needs of all people in this community and help slow the spread of coronavirus, Capital Health is collaborating with the City of Trenton, the Mercer County Human Services Department, the Mercer County Board of Social Services, the Trenton Health Team (THT), and other community partners to implement a multifaceted response. “For residents, stay-at-home orders and testing are important lines of defense against the spread of COVID-19, but for the city’s homeless population they are virtually impossible,” said Dr. Eric Schwartz, executive director of Capital Health’s Institute for Urban Care. “To help provide Trenton’s homeless with safe options for protecting themselves and the community against the spread of COVID-19, Capital Health is proud to join with the City of Trenton, Mercer County, and all of our partners on the Trenton Health Team in several important initiatives.” Because the virus can be spread by infected people whether or not they are showing symptoms, testing is an important tool for understanding how and where health care organizations direct their efforts. In Mercer County, Capital Health joined with the county’s Division of Public Health, the City of Trenton, and other health care organizations in the region to organize a drive-through COVID-19 testing center. The center is open by appointment only to Mercer County residents age 18 or older who have an order for testing from their primary health care provider. “Drive-through testing is an important service for Mercer County residents, but for the city’s homeless population and those without
transportation who have COVID-19 symptoms, a drive-through site is simply not an option,” said Dr. Schwartz. “To address the needs of this underserved population, Capital Health works with community partners to make walk-up test sites available in each Trenton ward one day a week.” For most people who test positive for COVID-19, sheltering in place is a common recommendation, but for those who are homeless, self-isolation is virtually impossible. Capital Health worked with its partner agencies and the City of Trenton to help establish an emergency shelter to provide homeless people with a safe space for recovery while not putting others in the community at risk. Other initiatives to provide support for the Trenton homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic include the coordination of food pantries and meal programs through local churches and community organizations and working with local pharmacies to ensure access to their services. To learn more about Capital Health Institute for Urban Care and its work in the City of Trenton, visit capitalhealth.org/urbancare. For more information about Mercer County resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit mercercounty.org/covid-19.
VIDEO VISITS FOR PRIMARY CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NOW AVAILABLE Now more than ever, your primary care provider should be your first point of contact if you’re not feeling well. To safely and conveniently provide you with the most appropriate care, Capital Health Medical Group offers video visits with the same great doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants that patients see in our Primary Care Network locations throughout the region. Available to current and new patients, these appointments are now covered by insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, and in many cases co-pays will not be charged. If you are a patient at one of our primary care offices, call your office to schedule your video visit. If you are a new patient, call 1.844.343.2464. The incredible physical toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on both patients and health care workers is unmistakable, but the crisis is also having a significant impact on the population as a whole that is sometimes less obvious. With more people experiencing feelings of helplessness, loss, and loneliness during the current health crisis, Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists offers video visit appointments to help current and new patients process and navigate these challenging times.
14 Health Headlines by Capital Health | The News
Out of an abundance of caution for patients and providers, Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists has temporarily switched to video visits only, with limited group support options available as well. Video visits for behavioral health are now covered by most major insurances, including Medicare, and in many cases co-pays will not be charged. Referrals from primary care providers are not required. To schedule a video visit appointment with one of the providers at Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists, call 609.689.5725 or visit capitalhealth.org/behavioralhealth for more information.
community forum
Isolation could be deadly for those in recovery By Diana Dubbs
I haven’t been to a traditional recovery meeting in almost two months. For me — like other addicts and alcoholics — meetings can be a lifeline. The precautions everyone needs to take during this pandemic to protect not only ourselves but our loved ones, neighbors and society from this virus have the adverse effect of putting those in recovery at risk. In other words, the current state of isolation for people like me could be deadly. Alcoholics and drug addicts hate the unknown. We hate not being able to control outcomes and dictate our circumstances and surroundings. When will we be able to attend our meetings, which many of us rely upon with urgency to keep us not only sober but also sane? This Covid-19 business is torturous for us in more ways than one. In 2013, I got sober. I lost the urge to put a mind-altering substance in my body, through no power that I could call my own. When I walked out of treatment on Thanksgiving morning 2013, my therapists and clinicians said things like, “Make sure you find people like you” and “Get to a meeting as soon as possible.” Traditionally the table at home would have been filled with wine glasses and drunken stories. That day, it was filled only with nervous laughter and water glasses on the table. I felt like a stranger in my own home. I couldn’t wait to “find people like me.” Later that evening, I made my way to my first recovery meeting. I have been attending ever since. Naturally, when Covid-19 hit and social distancing went into effect, meetings started to close. Because, let’s get serious, 20 alcoholics in a room are not practicing social distancing. I immediately started to panic. I’m not sure why, because my recovery has never failed me. It didn’t this time, either. Soon my phone started ringing, with my recovery family on the other end of the line. They called to say hello, or checked in with text messages. We scheduled Zoom meetings in place of regular meetings in our area. We added even more Zoom meetings for those of us who need a more intimate setting. It’s been fine for me, but for those who are new to recovery, the adjustment has not been as smooth. Today, I am not only a member of the recovery world, I also work in the field of addiction services. I work remotely from Mercer County for a treatment center based in Western Pennsylvania, trying to help individuals access resources for recovery. The quarantine in New Jersey has made it extremely difficult to enforce the necessity of drug and alcohol
West Windsor resident Diana Dubbs is regional outreach manager at DreamLife Recovery PA Southeast PA/ New Jersey. treatment. It has provided increased accessibility to alcohol with minimal consequences for daily drinkers, due to being restricted to home. Families who have been otherwise been educated to hold strict boundaries fear pushing loved ones who are engaging in risky behavior out in a risky health environment. Suddenly, the world became captivated with treating an unknown disease while an already existing epidemic took a backseat. As the Covid cases increased, bed capacity for anything else decreased. Quarantine has invoked a self-isolation in people in recovery by making meetings less accessible. For those who are less diligent in their recovery, virtual recovery programs become less identifiable and less emotionally responsive. It is easier for a person to go through the motions of recovery and think they are doing OK until their emotional walls implode. I have seen women and men, as their time removed from mind-altering substances increases, start to suffer from PTSD that seemed long laid to rest. Or anxiety issues that we have learned coping behaviors for suddenly cannot be controlled. Since social distancing began, I have had calls from adolescents seeking mental health treatment for depression disorders and increased shopping addictions, online gambling addictions and food compulsions. These behaviors, from a substance use disorder perspective, are the first steps to a relapse if not properly managed. Isolation for a person like me can be deadly. And I have seen the indicators that the world is more like me than I
thought. Access to treatment and mental health services have been limited in the State of New Jersey due to an impending need for Covid-19 bed capacity, and stricter restrictions and regulations have been placed upon assessing patients in order to prevent potential spread. The fear of the unknown continues to limit availability to basic services New Jersey has otherwise created access to. However, these services are still available. Facilities offering statefunded treatment for substance use disorder and mental health have continued to accept patients without symptoms, though at a much slower pace to limit the quantity of people in one location at one time. Privately operating facilities have done the same, most offering rapid Covid-19 tests on site, with quarantine precautions in place until results arrive. Outpatients and therapists quickly adapted to telehealth services, offering virtual group and individual sessions via Zoom or other virtual platforms protected by HIPAA, and
treatment advocacy groups continue to connect people to various forms of recovery as we have all conformed to technology being our vehicle to deliver mental health and substance use disorder services. The pandemic is serious, and we need to respect it. But it is not an excuse to allow our loved ones to continue with behaviors that can potentially hurt themselves or others. If you or someone you know is suffering from active mental health or substance use disorder, know that we have not stopped offering services, we have just adapted. Yes, Covid-19 has taken much from us. But it has also given us the opportunity to live in service, helping as well as accepting help from others. The stress and challenges are real for addicts and alcoholics, but they are not insurmountable. We can be a lifeline for someone else and become not only a solution, but a blessing to those in need. Dubbs is a resident of West Windsor. In recovery herself, Dubbs works in the substance use disorder and mental health field. For more information, go online or call (609) 851-2499.
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