WINTER 2017
FOR 125 YEARS, OUR HOSPITAL AND ITS COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN INEXTRICABLY LINKED, KEEPING EACH OTHER HEALTHY AND THRIVING PG 4 also inside: Ribbon Cuttings | Gifts from and for the Heart | The Abbey in May
SPOTLIGHT ON NURSING INNOVATION AND RESEARCH Nurses are innovators by nature, and as health care continues to change at rapid speed, it’s this spirit of innovation that has kept our nursing staff at the forefront of the field for years. With our nurses ranked among the top 1 percent in the world — having earned four consecutive Magnet Awards for Nursing Excellence — a Center for Nursing Innovation and Research is a natural next step. This new center will accelerate the innovative works already being accomplished here. One study undertaken by nurses in our Intensive Care Unit helped to remove patients from respirators sooner. Another increased mobility in geriatric patients, and the innovative Soothing Paws™ pet therapy program lowered anxiety levels among patients and staff. Interested in being a part of future innovations? Please contact major gifts officer Noelle Deihl-Harteveld at Noelle.Harteveld@atlantichealth.org or 973-593-2409.
Cover image: 1876 Bird’s Eye View of Morristown from the collections of the North Jersey History & Genealogy Center | The Morristown and Morris Township Library
Q&A with Carol Jones, MSN, RN Beginning in 2017, nursing innovation will become a strategic priority at Morristown Medical Center. Carol Jones, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer, explains the need for our 2,000 strong nursing staff to embrace innovative thinking and discover new solutions for advancing practices. Q: What makes innovation happen and how are you planning on fostering it?
both formal and informal resources to support
within an organizational support structure
creative problem solving while on the job.
and can spot areas that, with creativity, can be improved upon. Biomedical engineers, on
A: T here are three intersecting components to innovation: the innovation itself, creativity
Q: D oes our Magnet status play a part in advancing innovation?
and the environment. All of these need to be present for the innovation to come about.
the other hand, approach innovation from a different vantage point, mainly through the design of products or equipment that will
A: A s Morristown Medical Center embarks
improve patient care.
Our department will be holding a series of
on its fifth Magnet® designation, we need
educational sessions to further our nurses’
to demonstrate to the American Nurses
ability to nurture the creative process and
Credentialing Center that we are among
apply it to their day-to-day work here.
the very best in the country in caring for our
A: O ne of our nurses, Pamela Wohlgemuth,
Building a Center for Nursing Innovation
patients and that our nurses are driving new
RN (Heart Success Program, Gagnon
and Research — where nurses can meet
ideas on an ongoing basis. We need to be
Cardiovascular Institute), set out to lower
and exchange ideas — will help innovation
seen as promoting innovation and incorpo-
the infection rate of patients who repeatedly
to flourish.
rating that innovation into practice. In this
needed a bandage change after the insertion
process, we are required to provide tangible
of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). She
examples with evidence of an improvement
reviewed literature on the topic, looked at the
that has stemmed from innovative thinking.
various dressings available, and ultimately
Q: How prevalent are nursing innovation programs?
Q: W hat’s a recent example of innovation?
was able to modify the process and make it Q: Why are nurses tasked with being
easier for patients to care for their bandage
new to the science of innovation, there are
innovators? Isn’t that typically the
and keep it clean. As a result, LVAD patients
now more than 100 examples of nursing
purview of biomedical engineers?
began having fewer infections. They also
A: A lthough the health care industry is relatively
innovation programs on the American Hospital Association website. The key in all
used fewer supplies and saved about $300 A: U nlocking the power of innovation, in some
in out-of-pocket expenses each month. The
of these programs, many of which are similar
instances, requires the engagement of
project reaped multiple benefits, which is an
to ours, is to provide nurses with a variety of
clinicians at the bedside. Nurses also work
example of this process working at its best. f4mmc.org | Viewpoint
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OUR 125TH ANNIVERSARY In 2017, we mark a major milestone — Morristown Medical Center turns 125 years old. For a century and a quarter, our hospital has faithfully delivered on one clear mission: to preserve the health of our community, a mandate never taken lightly for neighbors who, in turn, have invested extraordinary amounts of time and resources here. Without those steady years of assistance, we would not be where we are today — a medical center ranked regionally and nationally (U.S. News & World Report), indeed the only one in New Jersey named one of ‘America’s 50 Best Hospitals’ (Healthgrades®).
for the purchase of the Dr. Timothy Johnes’ parsonage on Morris Street to house the first Morristown Memorial.
We’re also giving young adults opportunities to shadow physicians and nurses, hoping to inspire them to consider careers in science and health.
As the years came and went, community members were always available to raise money for programs, equipment and expansion efforts.
Problem solving opportunities also come into play. With heroin use at an all-time high, police were overwhelmed with drug fatalities. Morristown’s Sameth Emergency Department (ED) is stocked with Narcan ®, a prescription medicine that reverses overdoses.
When the hospital relocated to Madison Avenue in 1952 and more than 2,000 people from four counties showed up for the dedication, a turning point from community hospital to regional medical center had begun. The hospital expanded steadily throughout the next several decades with volunteers always finding new ways to raise money. Women’s Association (WAMMC) members, who from the earliest days steadily boosted the hospital’s bottom-line, began charging the public for tours of local mansions, setting them up as designer showcases. These events and WAMMC’s other ventures have raised more than $22.5 million since 1985. By 1991, another significant milestone was reached with more than 1,000 volunteers giving 100,000 hours annually.
Looking back, no role was too small for townspeople who sewed linens for hospital bedding, picked vegetables to feed hungry patients, and cleared trees when the expansion of buildings or relocation to other parts of town was imminent. During an influenza outbreak in 1917, more than 100 volunteers worked day and night assisting a depleted staff. And years later, when hospital employees went overseas to serve in World War II, neighbors cooked and served meals, answered phones and even drove the ambulance.
When the Foundation was founded in 1995, it energized volunteer fundraisers to reach goals they had never dreamed possible: $28 million for a cancer center and its expansion a decade later, nearly $30 million for a children’s hospital, and $45 million toward a cardiovascular institute.
This giving spirit began with Myra M.B. Brookfield, who bequeathed her home and property on DeHart Street in the late 1800s for the purpose of establishing a hospital. Augusta Stone came alongside of her efforts and raised $15,000 from the community to furnish and equip it. Even 13-year-old Selma Darrell, while stricken with scarlet fever, persuaded her classmates to collectively donate $300 toward the cause.
“Having such a long-time relationship with our community has shaped our priorities,” says Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN, president of Morristown Medical Center. “Our conversations together provide opportunities for us to help our community and its circumstances.”
Though it was ultimately deemed unsuitable for a hospital, the Brookfield home’s sale allowed 4 Focus On | f4mmc.org
Last year, at the culmination of Campaign 3SIXTY, donors toppled a never-seen-before goal, bringing in $106.7 million for programs addressing community needs.
Forging strong partnerships with local schools is one example: “In over 500 schools, we present dental hygiene programs and educate our youth on healthy eating and exercise,” she says, noting that we’ve donated playground equipment to several nearby school yards.
“We now donate these drugs for police to administer on-the-spot,” says Ms. O’Keefe. The rising senior population is another concern, which led directly to the establishment of the David and Joan Powell Center for Healthy Aging. Under its auspices, we’ve developed a separate geriatric ED and an assessment center for comprehensive testing, treatment plans and follow-up care. Just as Phanett C. Barker, MD, the hospital’s first physician-in-chief, addressed small pox, influenza and scarlet fever in epidemic proportions, our doctors are facing present-day medical issues that need their own swift answers. A health
assessment now underway will take the pulse of local neighborhoods to bring the right medical care to a population more diverse than ever before.
Visit the hospital’s anniversary web page: mmc125.org
“This three-square-mile city has millionaires, day laborers, Mom and Pop shops, a massive corporate complex and vibrant family-owned restaurants,” says Ms. O’Keefe. “It is home to a number of people from unique backgrounds. That has always been our appeal.”
Main map: 1899 Landis & Alsop, Library of Congress.
And it has always been our strength — along with an unwavering all-hands-on-deck attitude that will shape our future as much as it has defined our past.
Brookfield home: Robinson 1887 Atlas from the collections of the North Jersey History & Genealogy Center | The Morristown and Morris Township Library. Original hospital: From the library collections. Present-day hospital: ©2017 Google.
ZACH R ICE
“[M]y mom … showed me that, if I can dream it, I can do it.” A self-described extrovert, Zach Rice says he can talk to anybody, anywhere about anything. “It’s easy for me to always be putting myself out there,” says the freshman from West Morris Central High School in Long Valley. “I’m the kid that dyes his hair pink for the entire month of October for breast cancer awareness.” With this kind of winning personality, Mr. Rice has been able to raise more than $75,000 for Goryeb Children’s Hospital in the last four years. His idea to donate money to Goryeb came from a time of severe pain in his own life with an infected hip and several hospital stays. “I was hospitalized with a septic hip infection,” says the young philanthropist. “It was very painful, but when my dad brought in my video gaming system and I had this activity as a distraction, it was a lifesaver to me.” During a follow-up hospital stay, Mr. Rice had an external fixator placed on his hip, a large metal bar that was connected to him through metal pins in his muscles and bones. “It was terrible, but lying there is when I realized I wanted to raise money that would help other kids have distractions when they were in the hospital,” he says.
After being discharged, he and his mom began working with Kids4Kids, the Foundation’s youth philanthropic committee whose fundraisers benefit the hospital’s pediatric services. They came up with the idea of an Annual Action for Distraction 5K Family Fun Run/Walk. The first one was held in May 2013 at Loantaka Brook Reservation in Morristown and has become a popular and much-anticipated annual event ever since. The first two events raised more than $40,000 — enough to purchase gaming systems for every room at Goryeb. Last year’s event raised another $20,000 and has allowed Mr. Rice to upgrade the older systems and add new games. He has also donated some of the proceeds toward art and music programs for the children. “The whole thing has been an incredible experience for me,” he says. “I really credit my mom because she’s the one who showed me that, if I can dream it, I can do it.”
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Becky Bedrosian
He thought the best way to help was to find a way to purchase video gaming systems for all the hospital rooms at Goryeb.
This conviction of dreaming it and then doing it has been his motivation, especially when he went from business to business raising money and getting sponsors with the fixator still attached to his hip. It was removed less than a month before his first Action for Distraction event, and he walked the course with the help of a cane, crossing the finish line after about an hour. Today, he has a slight limp and barely any pain: “I’m pretty much just your normal teenager,” says the 14 year old who touts his mom’s homemade meat sauce as his favorite food. Reflecting back, he has found the silver lining in all of his medical challenges: “I don’t think I’d be the person I am today if it hadn’t happened to me.”
LOOK WHO’S TALKING
All photos: Media Services
The second annual MMC MedTalks — a take-off on TED Talks — brought an eclectic group of innovations to donors on October 20, 2016. Held at the Spring Brook Country Club, the event showcased the Arctic Sun Temperature Management System, Sports Medicine’s VO2 Max test, Radial Catheterization (pictured left with Dr. Jordan Safirstein), the BodPod body composition assessment, immuno-oncology, and acupuncture, with ear seeds applied on anyone seeking stress relief.
EMIL’S LEGACY Nearly 70 family members, friends and colleagues of the late Dr. Emil P. Bisaccia turned out on Sept. 28, 2016, to pay tribute to the former chairman of dermatology and witness the dedication of the relocated and expanded Center for Photopheresis, made possible by a gift from the SOLAR Foundation. The center, now bearing the Bisaccia name and located in the Anderson building, is one of the country’s largest thanks to the late physician, who started this clinical service at the hospital.
LOVE AND HONOR Even with two unexpected helicopter transports landing nearby, the annual Memorial Wall dedication on the Rooke Family Plaza drew praise from the 150 attendees who came to pay tribute to their loved ones. Foundation Board Vice Chair Les Quick opened the program at the September 15, 2016, event, which included a talk by Carole Reifsnyder of our Chambers Center for Well Being, the creation of keepsake stones (pictured center), and a performance by a teen musical ensemble from the Mayo Performing Arts Center (pictured left). Pictured right, one of several multigenerational families in attendance.
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toasting OUR CAREGIVERS Sitting on hospital boards for much of his adult life, Sal Davino understands both the operations and the financial concerns of hospitals, which is why
“ Fran and I made this gift because we wanted to, not because we could.”
he was pleased to give $3 million last year to help our facility. Mr. Davino also understands what it’s like being a patient at Morristown and is thankful for the excellence of its doctors and nurses as well as the attentive and caring attitude of the entire staff during his stay. The donation made by him and his wife, Fran, is unrestricted and can be used to support new equipment, programs and technology for which capital is needed. “Fran and I made this gift because we wanted to, not because we could,” he adds. “Morristown is our hospital. All of our grandchildren were born here.” In recognition of the gift, the Davino Pavilion was unveiled this past fall at a dedication ceremony honoring the couple and re-naming a building on the main campus.
8 News | f4mmc.org
Sal and Fran Davino
Becky Bedrosian
—Sal Davino
GAGNON’S LATEST COUP Already recognized as a national leader in valve procedures, the Structural Heart Program at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute has a new medical expert on board and a generous gift from longtime donors Neil and Lois Gagnon to support him. World-renowned interventional cardiologist Philippe Genereux, MD, recently became one of the co-directors of Structural Heart alongside esteemed colleagues John Brown, MD, and Robert Kipperman, MD. The program is already the largest in New Jersey providing advanced interventions to treat all forms of heart valve conditions. Previously the director of New York City’s Angiographic Core Laboratory (part of the Clinical Trials Center of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation), Dr. Genereux will be the national principal investigator for a new asymptomatic aortic stenosis trial here at Gagnon. “Dr. Genereux was chosen wisely by Dr. Linda Gillam and her entire staff,” says Mr. Gagnon, who, with his wife, made the lead gift to the campaign that helped build the cardiovascular institute. “We feel fortunate to be able to continue supporting this institute; it’s a win-win for everyone.”
MANSION IN MAY MUSE: MILLIONAIRE’S ROW If walls could talk at Alnwick Hall, aka The Abbey, this next Mansion in May venue would delight every eavesdropper. The Women’s Association’s 18th Designer Showhouse and Gardens fundraiser, which benefits a new Center for Nursing Innovation and Research at the hospital, was built in the early 1900s. Original owners Edward and Rosalie Meany named their country mansion after Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England, which served as the set for Hogwarts Castle in two Harry Potter films. Bearing a faint likeness to the famed School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Meanys’ 20,000-square-foot home provided ample room for entertaining neighbors. Mrs. Meany loved throwing elaborate parties and once stunned her guests by wearing a gown decorated with Christmas tree lights. Another time she hosted an exclusive performance by Metropolitan Opera singer Madame Alma Gluck for 200 guests in her great hall. “The mansion’s rich history and proximity to the hospital during its 125th anniversary year make this location a show stopper,” says Katie Nolle, co-chair along with Megan Schubiger. Visit mansioninmay.org for tickets.
NEW F4MMC TRUSTEES
FRAN DAVINO
Philanthropist and community volunteer
LINDA GILLAM, MD, MPH The Dorothy and Lloyd Huck Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine
ANU GUPTA
Partner and managing director, The Boston Consulting Group
WILLIAM J. MARINO Retired chairman and CEO, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
STEVEN A. MASER, MD Medical director, Orthopedic Surgery, AHS Interim chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Morristown Medical Center
CHRISTOPHER ZIPP, DO Chair, Family Medicine Department, Morristown Medical Center
TRUSTEE EMERITUS
THOMAS WELSH Principal, Welsh Chester Galiney Matone Inc.
HONORARY TRUSTEES
ROBERT AND BARBARA LUCIANO Mr. Luciano, retired chairman, Schering-Plough Corporation Mrs. Luciano, philanthropist and community volunteer
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DREAM MACHINE Days at the race track with her family while growing up are some of Cristina Commerato’s fondest memories. So when this former patient had the opportunity to catch a fast ride in a Porsche with Foundation trustee Rick Goryeb, she didn’t hesitate jumping in. The 18-year-old lymphoma survivor talked about cars all the time during her year of treatments at the Valerie Fund Children’s Center. Staffers placed a call to Mr. Goryeb who often uses his race cars to entertain patients here. “I had never been in a car like that before,” says Ms. Commerato, who goes back to the center for check-ups every six months. “It was a big experience for me and really fun.” Pictured above (l-r): John Vogt of High Marques Motor Cars, Alisa and Cristina Commerato, and Rick Goryeb
rewarding EXTRAORDINARY CARE EASY ANSWER When asked why The McGuinn Foundation would donate to Morristown Medical Center every year for the last nine, Patrick McGuinn didn’t hesitate to explain.
A $1 million gift to establish the Huff-Winters Atrial Fibrillation Center
“Two of my daughters were born at the hospital, and we use this place on a regular basis — we were just at the Emergency Department last week when one of them had croup,” says the Drew University professor of political science and education.
Program at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute.
Mr. McGuinn’s parents founded the Pittsburgh-based foundation, and the local professor takes pride in his $5,000 yearly contributions to the Child Development Center and to Atlantic Neonatal Research.
is one more way that Bill Huff and Cathy Markey Huff said thanks to Stephen Winters, MD, director of the Cardiac Rhythm Management
The reason for such an extravagant thank you? Dr. Winter’s decades-long care of Mr. Huff for his atrial fibrillation (AFIB) condition. “Our motivation solely focuses around Dr. Winters,” says Ms. Markey Huff. “His intelligence, expertise and untiring service is what made our decision to donate an easy one.” “Under the medical care of Dr. Winters and his electrocardiology group, Bill’s AFIB is under control and his health is better than ever,” she says.
“We feel blessed to have such a wonderful hospital in our community,” he adds. “It’s an honor to support it.”
Previously, the Huffs donated funds to cover the expense of opening a new AFIB operating room complete with new equipment.
Pictured above: Back row (l-r) Bailey, Ilana and Patrick McGuinn. Front row (l-r): Haven, Payton, and Carigan McGuinn
“Dr. Winters and his department all work well together and always put their patients first,” says Ms. Markey Huff. “He even makes house calls!”
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News | f4mmc.org
CALLING OUT ADDICTION Most substance abusers hide their addiction, but a new program will seek to identify users when they are being admitted to the hospital for other medical reasons. A $200,000 gift from Robert, Barbara and Susan Luciano and $150,000 from the Marion E.C. Wall’s Trust will launch the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment Service designed to help identify and cure addicts. The Luciano gift is earmarked in memory of daughter Susan Luciano’s late husband Stephen Gelber. “My husband didn’t have substance abuse issues, but he had lost friends to addiction over the years,” says Ms. Luciano. Patients withholding addiction issues during admittance usually go into withdrawal during hospitalization, leading to complications with other medical issues. This new service will offer patients immediate treatment while in the hospital and continued outpatient care upon discharge. Once the program is in full swing, a psychiatrist, a psychiatric advanced practice nurse and two social workers will manage an expected influx of 30-40 patients on a weekly basis.
GAINing RESEARCH Autoinflammation is a big word for many children to grasp and even bigger is the scope of young patients afflicted by its symptoms every year. Luckily, a recent $50,000 grant from the Willits Foundation will bring much-sought-after advances to the Farris Family Center for Advanced Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP) where treatment is found for many. “The funding from Willits will enable us to develop a Center of Excellence for autoinflammatory diseases to be called GAIN (Goryeb Auto-Inflammatory Network),” says Sivia Lapidus, MD, pediatric rheumatology division director at Goryeb Children’s Hospital. GAIN will foster pediatric research in rare diseases through new clinical research and partnerships with other disciplines and institutions.
SAYING THANKS
GAME ON A recent $500,000 grant from the Boomer Esiason Foundation has given our cystic fibrosis center a touch of celebrity fame. Now named for Boomer Esiason’s son, the Gunnar H. Cystic Fibrosis Center at Morristown Medical Center will be expanding its staff, increasing clinical capabilities and launching new research with the grant funding. One new study now underway is investigating how exercise may improve adherence to medications and overall well-being. As part of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Therapeutics Development Network, the center has been part of groundbreaking national research for years. “We were already the largest center in New Jersey, but now the name recognition of the Boomer Foundation, especially in the New York Metro area, will help us even more,” says Stan Fiel, MD, chairman of medicine at Morristown Medical Center and director of the Esiason Center. Dr. Fiel, himself, is world-renowned for his expertise in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the management of cystic fibrosis in adults.
Who would think that something the size of an M&M® would be able to instantly give laryngectomy patients their voice back? A voice prosthesis does just that. What’s more, a mini grant of $8,000 easily covered the cost of a fully-stocked supply for our Outpatient Oncology Speech Department. Mini grants are made from unrestricted donations to the Foundation, filling needs for supplies, equipment or programs not covered otherwise. “Now we can immediately fit patients with the proper size prosthesis,” says Lisa DeMasi, speech pathologist, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center. “Before this supply, patients sometimes had to wait weeks to be fitted and, if it was the wrong fit, then start the process over again.”
Becky Bedrosian
Illustration created by Macmillan Cancer Support and reused with permission
Gunnar, Cheryl and Boomer Esiason
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bull’s EYE A CUT ABOVE Physician emeritus and loyal donor Allan Newcomb retired from Morristown Medical Center almost 20 years ago, but he can’t stop singing its praises or giving to its Annual Fund either for that matter. “The hospital gave me a wonderful opportunity to practice for all those years, and I am devoted to it because of that,” says the Chester resident who spent his career as a radiologist with a short stint as acting chairman of the Radiology Department in the ‘80s. “As a teaching hospital, Morristown has high academic standards, therefore the medical care is excellent,” he adds. “Working in a hospital, you get to know it very well. I realized early on how exceptional it was.”
When pediatric cancers or blood disorders target a patient, the effects weigh heavily on family members, too, with more than traditional medicine needed for healing. The Valerie Fund understands these often complex issues and has steadily increased its support each year to address them at our Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Goryeb, last year giving $350,000. The grant money will fund psychosocial programs for pediatric patients, including care for parents and siblings. “We need to treat the child emotionally, socially, developmentally and medically as a key to their total recovery,” says Barry Kirschner, executive director of The Valerie Fund. “It’s also important that the entire family stay healthy and connected with ongoing, individualized care of their own as the child is recovering.”
Services and staff supported by this grant include the Child Life Program; integrative medicine, including acupuncture; psychologists and social workers; an educational specialist and palliative care. “We have found this approach to be the most effective way to fight and win against childhood disease,” he adds.
FAVORING THE GOOD When bad times hit his family, Robert Codner III sought to be thankful for what remained good. Then he went on to do good himself, giving a $3,500 gift to Sam’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). He raised the money for a NICU feeding pump at his second annual Uncle Bobby Golf Classic, a fundraiser honoring his dad who died of cancer in 2013. That same year his son Royce, who was struggling with feeding issues, was diagnosed with Rubenstein-Taybi syndrome, which affected his cognitive and physical functions. “Royce had complex surgeries at another medical facility, and they couldn’t say enough about Morristown Medical Center,” says Mr. Codner. “I feel likewise. The NICU was unbelievable.” Pictured above: The late Robert Codner II and his grandson Royce
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EASING THE STRESS What runs counter to a scary and costly hospital experience? The Child Life Program and Project Independence Fund of course, both of which recently received generous gifts from the Goryeb family. “We have seen firsthand how distracting kids from their fears of being hospitalized can make a big difference in their recovery and level of comfort,” says Rick Goryeb who along with brother Joe, Jr., and sister Lynne oversee their late father Joseph P. Goryeb’s charitable fund. “For many kids, Child Life brings some fun and joy to the hospital experience, and that’s a good thing,” he adds. Part of the new Goryeb gift will also support Project Independence, the Foundation’s relief fund for patients and their families who fall behind on bills during an overwhelming medical crisis. “We are aware of the financial stress associated with getting treatment and hope to ease that burden for parents who already have more than enough on their plate when caring for a sick child,” says Mr. Goryeb.
MEMORY MAKER Paul Piccoli’s life will be remembered for many reasons, but for adult oncology patients at Carol G. Simon Cancer Center it will surely be for the wishes that came true because of him. Paulie’s Gift Fund was launched last year at the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center with a $5,000 gift from family and friends, which will fulfill four patient wishes each year at the hospital.
HONOR YOURS On Thursday, March 30, 2017, we will celebrate National Doctors’ Day. One way we honor our physicians is to showcase the notes we receive from their patients. Please consider making a gift to the hospital using the envelope attached within this Journal and include a note about your physician using the space below. Or give a tribute gift online at f4mmc.org (there’s space to include your note in the online form). Thank you!
“I have been volunteering at the Simon Cancer Center for more than eight years now and have gotten to understand the long road that patients with cancer face,” says Theresa Parise, the late Mr. Piccoli’s sister. “Granting a wish provides some small relief from their struggles.” Pictured above: Back row (l-r) the late Paul Piccoli and his wife Cathy. Front row (l-r) Andrew, Olivia, and Melissa Piccoli
✃ CARRY ON Caring, intelligent and precise are the words that come to mind when Dorothea Johnson thinks of the late Emil P. Bisaccia, MD, and she is thrilled that her and her husband Harry’s gift of $25,000 will go toward a center bearing his name. “I didn’t realize until I read a story in the Foundation’s Journal (winter 2016 issue) about the naming of The Emil P. Bisaccia, MD, Center for Photopheresis that we would have this opportunity,” says the Basking Ridge resident who had 50 carcinoma surgeries with Dr. Bisaccia while he was practicing at Morristown. Dr. Bisaccia’s groundbreaking work that began decades ago with HIV patients and those suffering with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma will continue at the Bisaccia Center. Pictured above: Dorothea and Harry Johnson
Cut out your note and include it with your gift in the envelope provided.
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SPOTLIGHT ON LVADs A sudden shortness of breath and trouble sleeping led 37-yearold Jon Antal to his doctor for what he thought would be a simple solution. The news of an abnormal heart was not what he was expecting. Luckily, the Montville resident received a referral to the Thomas E. Reilly Heart Success Program at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute. After evaluation and admittance to the Louise Washington Trust Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, both his left and right ventricles were found to be problematic. This second round of unfortunate news meant that a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) couldn’t be implanted right away. Instead, doctors had to place an Impella, a small motor, in his right ventricle to force blood flow throughout his body. About a week later, Mr. Antal received the LVAD implant. He is waiting for a donor heart, and the LVAD has afforded him that time.
Media Services
“The entire staff was so helpful through this difficult process,” says Mr. Antal. “I really struggled finding my new normal, and their honesty and care made all the difference.”
A SELECTION OF ANNUAL FUNDING PRIORITIES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
Support Services in the Psychiatric ED | $34,500
Integrative Medicine Support | $150,000
In providing rapid treatment to psychiatric patients in the ED, we have found that art therapy is one of the most useful techniques. This therapy works in tandem with traditional medical treatment to improve a patient’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. We now have a full-time art therapist during the work week and want to cover the cost of a per diem art therapist on weekends.
These funds will provide complimentary healing and energy therapies — Jin Shin Jyutsu, Massage, Relaxation Techniques, Guided Imagery and Reflexology — for patients at their bedside and for family members.
CARDIOLOGY
Nursing Education Fund - Fund for Excellence in Nursing $150,000
Inpatient Cardiac Rehab | $351,000 (over three years)
An important component of maintaining our Magnet Recognition for nursing excellence is to encourage registered nurses to become certified in their area of specialty. This fund will assist nurses who are working to increase their training and expertise.
A full-time inpatient cardiac rehab nurse or exercise physiologist will support and work with patients in our Cardiac Intensive Care and Cardiac Post Anesthesia Care units so they can begin cardiac rehab as early as possible to facilitate a smoother recovery and quicker discharge.
GASTROENTEROLOGY Nurse Practitioner IBD Center | $279,450 (over three years) A dedicated nurse practitioner who specializes in IBD will develop and implement medication protocols, oversee patient management programs, and help patients access care and services, such as psychosocial support, pain management resources, and enterostomal and wound care therapy.
GERIATRIC MEDICINE Geriatric Medicine Center for Excellence Fund | $75,000 Funds will be used for strategic investments in continued education, training and programming for our nationally recognized geriatrics program.
HOMECARE AND HOSPICE In-home Aide Support Fund | $40,000 Home health aides provide temporary relief for caregivers so they can “recharge their batteries.” Medicare pays for five consecutive days of respite care if it’s provided in a skilled nursing facility. This fund helps families who cannot move their loved one or pay for in-home aide support.
INPATIENT HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE Music Thanantology Program | $25,000 A palliative medical modality dedicated to the care of the dying with harp and voice. Music thanatologists serve at the bedside of the dying in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and private homes.
NURSING
ONCOLOGY Integrative Medicine (IM) for the Cancer Center | $100,000 Expanding IM services — massage, acupuncture, and nutritional consultations — into the Inpatient Unit allows for continuity of care and reduces stress and anxiety related to inpatient admissions and cancer diagnoses.
PEDIATRICS Applied Behavior Analysis Training Program $40,250 (for 10 families) This program is run by Dr. Kelly Carlile, our ABA therapist, for families who cannot afford ABA therapy. She works with families to develop specific goals, trains them on ABA methods and checks in weekly via Skype to evaluate progress and answer questions.
WOMEN’S HEALTH Urogynecology: Ultrasound | $115,000 An ultrasound machine configured for pelvic floor function will help clinicians determine the cause and effect of pelvic floor dysfunctions and is the ideal imaging modality for patients who have undergone surgery to repair and strengthen a prolapse.
You can make a difference! To lend your support, please call the Foundation at 973-593-2400 or visit f4mmc.org and make a gift online.
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475 South Street | Morristown, NJ 07960
CalendarofEvents For upcoming events, log on to f4mmc.org and select News & Events Celebrating 125 Years in 125 Words
What Morristown Medical Center Means To Me by BILL BRUEN Chairman of the Brookfield Legacy Society
Our hospital is etched in my heart. My wife, Sue, and I have happily spent decades — as my parents did — in service here. Our sons Bill and Andrew and our grandchildren Ella Rose and Graham were welcomed into caring hands here just as my father and I before them.
Sal Benedetto
My mother passed away two years ago on Franklin 3. The hospital chaplain recited the 23rd Psalm in her room, and I confess I had never really heard those words so clearly. Looking through tears out her hospital window, I could see — ‘spotlighted’ by the sun — the cemetery monuments of the hospital’s founder Myra Brookfield and its first physician-in-chief Dr. Phanett Barker. Once again, at a defining moment in my life, our hospital was my anchor.
Bill Bruen with a painting of hospital founder Myra Brookfield
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Writer: Laura Deal | Editor: Regi Diverio Layout: Susan Falcone, Envoi Design
The Foundation for Morristown Medical Center is a nonprofit public foundation whose mission is to inspire community philanthropy to advance exceptional health care for patients at Morristown Medical Center and Goryeb Children’s Hospital. Our objective is to use philanthropy to preserve and expand programs and services in direct patient care, clinical research, medical and public health education and preventive medicine.
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