Monmouth Medical Center Delivers Excellence In Maternity Care

{ IN GOOD HEALTH } MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER DELIVERS EXCELLENCE IN MATERNITY CARE

The hospital receives a host of national recognitions for the quality of its childbirth care.

Members of the Monmouth Medical Center mother/ baby team gather at the TeamBirth NJ launch in September.

Money and The Leapfrog Group

announced its list of the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care in October, with Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) joining sister hospitals Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset among just 259 U.S. hospitals to receive the award.

To compile its list of the best hospitals in the country for maternity care in partnership with the digital platform Money, The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization that helps to help consumers make informed decisions about their health and access to safe, high-value care, used maternity care data submitted via the 2022 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. For over two decades, The Leapfrog Group has collected and published data on patient safety and quality of care from voluntary surveys and other sources. More than 2,200 hospitals completed its flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey in 2022.

Eligible hospitals were required to receive an “A” or “B” letter grade on the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assessment for spring 2022 and meet specific maternity care standards.

“As the health system that delivers the most babies in the state, we are deeply committed to ensuring we provide our communities with quality, equitable maternity care and these recognitions underscore that mission,” says Suzanne Spernal DNP, APN-BC, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, Vice President of Women’s Services, RWJBarnabas Health. “These distinctions are a testament to our facilities’ commitment to excellence in maternity care and are reflective of our dedicated and compassionate staff who ensure the highest level of care and safety for the patients we serve.”

Further illustrating MMC’s ongoing commitment to women’s health and maternity care, the recognition comes on the heels of the hospital’s recent distinctions in Healthgrades’ OB/GYN Excellence Awards. RWJBarnabas Health received 26 awards, the highest number of any system in the state, for excellence in comprehensive women’s care, with MMC receiving the 2022 Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award and Labor and Delivery Excellence Award. For seven consecutive years, the hospital has received these two HealthGrade distinctions, ranking among the top 5 percent of hospitals evaluated for both obstetrics and gynecology, and for labor and delivery. MMC also was a Five-Star Recipient for Vaginal Delivery, a distinction that on average results in a 45.1 percent lower risk of experiencing a complication in the hospital than if the patient were treated at One-Star hospital.

This fall, the excellence of MMC’s maternity care was once again in the spotlight when the hospital was chosen as one of three New Jersey hospitals (along with sister hospital Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center) to launch the TeamBirth NJ initiative. This evidence based, national model for better provider and patient communication is designed to enhance birthing experiences and improve outcomes for people giving birth and their babies. Most recently, MMC was chosen by the readers of the Asbury Park Press in their annual “Best of the Best” survey as the best hospital in Monmouth County for maternity/ childbirth care.

More than 6,000 babies are born at Monmouth Medical Center annually, more than any other regional facility. Monmouth Medical Center has been a Level III Regional Perinatal Center since the designation was initiated more than 40 years ago, and has built one of the safest obstetrical and gynecologic services in the nation.

“The recognitions of the excellence of our maternity care are representative of our deep commitment to providing superior care to women of all ages through a comprehensive range of women’s health services,” says President and CEO Eric Carney. “These distinctions would not be possible without the clinical excellence and compassion of our dedicated staff and clinicians that continually prioritize patient outcomes, safety and care for every patient we serve.”

For the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list, visit money.com/besthospitals/maternity/.

Meredith (seated) and Nick (center) Picurro are pictured in an MMC postpartum suite with their newborn son Steven, who wears a commemorative TeamBirth onesie, with her care team (from left) Terry Tompkins, RN, and obstetrician-gynecologist Karen Smith, DO. Not pictured is Steven’s twin brother, Nicholas, who was being cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit at the time the photo was taken.

To learn more, visit rwjbh.org/womenshealth.

YOUR BODY A HEAD-TO-TOE GUIDE

More than the sum of your parts? Of course you are. But a part-by-part check can’t hurt. By Leslie Garisto Pfaff

Your body is an intricate assemblage of parts designed to work seamlessly together. And while it’s critically important to take care of the whole, it’s equally essential to make sure all those parts are in peak shape. We’ve combed through the research—and asked the experts— for info to help you maintain your body, part by part, so you can function like a well-oiled machine, throughout the coming new year and many years to follow.

SKIN: Cuts and scrapes are inevitable, but often scarring isn’t. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends keeping wounds from drying out. Cleaning injured skin, applying old-fashioned petroleum jelly and covering the area with a bandage is the best medicine to reduce scarring. Wounds should be cleaned with soap and water, and bandages should be changed daily.

HEAD: To avoid tension headaches, you don’t have to retire to an ashram. But do make sure that you’re getting sufficient vitamin D. Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland discovered that chronic headache sufferers had levels of vitamin D below the threshold for deficiency. Your primary care doctor can measure your D levels through a simple blood test. If yours is low, he or she may suggest you take a supplement.

BRAIN: If you’re looking for a way to amp up your ability to commit facts to memory, look no further than your kitchen coffeemaker (or your neighborhood barista). Neuroscientists have long known that caffeine, in moderate amounts, can improve brain function overall, but a new study out of Johns Hopkins University found that participants who were given 200-milligram tablets of caffeine (roughly equivalent to two cups of brewed coffee) after looking at a series of images were significantly better at remembering those images than their noncaffeinated counterparts. Just make sure that your daily intake doesn’t exceed 400 milligrams, the amount deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration.

TEETH:

Teeth need healthy gums to stay healthy themselves, and an analysis of eight recent studies published in the journal Clinical Oral Investigations showed that omega-3 fatty acids can help keep gums in the pink. You’ll find omega-3s in supplement form, as well as in fish such as mackerel, wildcaught salmon, herring, bluefin and albacore tuna, lake trout, whitefish, bluefish, halibut and sea bass.

HAIR: These days, everyone is talking about the gut microbiome—the microscopic flora and fauna that live in the intestines and, in balance, promote good health and overall immunity. Turns out our scalp is home to a microbiome of its own, and, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, coconut oil can supply the vitamins and amino acids necessary to keep that microbiome happy— which, in turn, can help banish scalp itch, dry scalp and dandruff and promote healthier hair in the process.

EYES: To protect against macular degeneration, the leading cause of agerelated blindness, go for the goji. Researchers at the University of California–Davis found that eating a handful of goji berries five times a week increased the eye pigments that ward off the disorder. The same wasn’t true for goji supplements, so toss an ounce or so of gojis in your cereal, smoothie or yogurt parfait to perfect those pigments.

EARS: If you’re like most Americans, you’ve never had a baseline hearing test. But the folks at the American Academy of Audiology say it’s the best way to monitor the health of your hearing, now and over time. You needn’t see an audiologist unless you suspect you’ve suffered significant hearing loss; just ask your family doctor to perform the test at your next checkup.

SHOULDERS: To avoid those all-too-common shoulder injuries, Allen Nicholson, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon at Monmouth Medical Center and Professional Orthopaedic Associates in Tinton Falls, says it’s important for all parts of the shoulder—bones, muscles and tendons—to be strong and healthy. “Working out is very beneficial to the strength of [bone, muscles and tendons], yet sometimes working out can directly injure these structures,” he says. “The safest way to work out is to gradually ramp up the intensity with more repetitions at submaximal weight to gradually increase tendon and bone strength. This decreases the chance of traumatic injury.” Take it slow, and remember to listen to your body, Dr. Nicholson says.

NECK: Sitting is a pain in the neck—literally. Benjamin Giliberti, M.D., an orthopaedic spine surgeon at Monmouth Medical Center advises those of us with sedentary jobs to take frequent breaks to stand up and walk around. And, he notes, when we are seated, especially when facing a computer monitor, to make sure “screens are at eye level, and use supportive arm rests to avoid straining the neck and subsequent discomfort.” Sleeping can be just as hard on your neck as sitting, and folks should always try to maintain a neutral neck position. “Side sleepers should use enough pillows to align the neck and head with the body,” Dr. Giliberti says, “and people who sleep on their back can use a soft supportive pillow under the natural curvature of their neck.”

WRISTS: When you think of strength training, you likely don’t envision your wrists. But a 2023 study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research showed that building up the muscles of the wrist protected against the development of common disorders such as wrist tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Yes, you can pump iron—two small dumbbells—to develop your wrist muscles. Ask your doctor or orthopedist for recommended exercises using light weights and involving extension, flexion, supination and pronation.

HEART: Want to boost heart health? Get to bed on time. For years, the American Heart Association maintained a list of seven lifestyle factors associated with heart health: nicotine exposure, diet, physical activity, weight, blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure. In 2023 the AHA added an eighth factor: sleep. To support a healthy heart, they recommend that adults get between seven to nine hours a night (and even more for kids, depending on age).

GUT: Boosting the good bugs in your gut and banishing the bad ones does more than promote gastrointestinal health; it also revs up immunity; protects against inflammation, cancer and diabetes; helps with weight loss; delays the onset of Crohn’s disease; and extends life. Two recent studies in the journal Gut found that one of the best ways to boost the health of your intestinal microbiome is to follow a Mediterranean diet, high in fresh fruits and veggies, fish, legumes, whole grains and nuts.

SPINE: A surprising study out of Berlin’s Humboldt University found that elite athletes suffer from lower back pain as often as the rest of us, most likely because they, too, have weak lower back muscles. To strengthen these muscles and gain greater control of the spine, the study’s lead author, Maria Moreno Catala, recommends incorporating Pilates into your fitness routine. In another study, Catala found that adding some instability to your workout, like trying to balance on a workout ball, actually relieved lower back pain. (As with any exercise regimen, consult your doctor before trying this.)

LEG MUSCLES: If you experience spasms or cramps after a workout, you may be dehydrated, pushing yourself too hard or doing something incorrectly, warns Mitchell Kim, M.D., a family medicine physician and sports medicine specialist at Monmouth Medical Center. “Muscle cramps and spasms most commonly occur in the legs because of a combination of dehydration, overuse, electrolyte imbalance and tight muscle groups,” Dr. Kim says. “Consider dynamic stretching for five to 10 minutes before your workout and static stretching and cool down period for five to 10 minutes after your workout. Static stretching on non-workout days and before bed should also be practiced.” He recommends people slowly drink 12 to 20 ounces of water about one to two hours before exercise and another 8 to 12 ounces between 15 and 30 minutes before working out. After your workout, he advises to “drink 20 ounces of water or sports drink for every pound lost after your workout.” Foam rollers and massage guns should also be used to relax muscles.

LIVER: From 2012 to 2019, the number of annual hepatitis C cases in the U.S. more than doubled, from to 24,700 to 57,500. Because untreated hep C, a viral inflammation of the liver, can lead to liver disease and even liver cancer, and because in its early stages it’s asymptomatic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended every American be tested at least once for the disease and that women be tested during each pregnancy.

KIDNEYS: Want

to avoid kidney stones? Stay hydrated. Propa Ghosh, M.D., a urologist and member of the RWJBarnabas

Health Medical

Group affiliated with Monmouth

Medical Center, notes that dehydration is the single greatest contributing factor to the development of the painful condition. “Remember to drink plenty of fluids to prevent stones from forming,” she says. Dr. Ghosh recommends 8 glasses (64 fl. oz.) a day; more (10-12 glasses) if you had a history of stones. “Keep your urinary a system a ‘stream,’ and not a ‘stagnant pond’,” she adds.

COLON: Want to do your colon a favor? Forget cleanses (research shows that they do little good and could even be harmful) and eat yogurt instead to keep your colon clean— of the polyps that can be precursors to cancer. A recent analysis of data from the famous Nurses Study revealed that regular consumption of yogurt—one or more servings per week—was associated with a decreased risk of colon cancer. (And if you want another reason to snack on the fermented milk product, it’s been shown to help protect against colds as well.)

FEET:

Whether, like 12 million Americans, you suffer from toenail fungus or, like pretty much everyone else, you’d like to avoid it, taking good care of your feet is a must. Don’t wear shoes that press on your nails, and do wear socks that wick away moisture. (Manmade fibers are actually better at this than 100-percent cotton.) If you use a common shower (at the gym, say), always wear flip-flops or shower shoes. And use separate nail clippers for infected and uninfected nails.

BUTT: At the height of the pandemic, as The New York Times reported, doctors received a record number of complaints of buttock pain. It turns out that the pain in the butt, for most, was brought on by long hours spent sitting on soft surfaces (think “pandemic couch potato”). If it feels like your derriere is in need of repair, consider switching to a more supportive seat.

KNEES: Walking has often been touted as the perfect exercise, and if your knees could talk, they’d almost certainly agree. A British

study published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research indicated

that walking 6,000 steps a day could stave off the development of osteoarthritis in the knee—a cause of knee pain and disability in 27 million

Americans and 250 million people worldwide. In addition, recent research out of Northwestern University’s Northwestern Medicine suggested that just one hour a week of rapid walking—the kind you do when you’re late for an important appointment—can decrease the chance of disability in people already suffering from knee osteoarthritis. If you don’t have a solid hour free for brisk walking, don’t worry—researchers say you can break those 60 minutes into six 10-minute intervals per week.