WELCOME LETTER

Stronger Every Day

COVID-19 brought with it a prolonged period of uncertainty and fear, as well as the continual need to find new ways to cope.

These days, however, we’re experiencing another, more welcome, feeling: optimism.

Thanks to the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and the massive effort we and others have made to administer them, we’re seeing real progress in containing the pandemic.

At RWJBH, we always strive to be proactive, positive and energetic in our response to issues and events. We acknowledge that disparities in healthcare for Black and brown communities exist, and we’re making every possible effort to address this issue throughout our entire organization. We’ve developed a far-reaching initiative, Ending Racism Together, to ensure that our organization is anti-racist in everything we do.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway recognizes the need to address health disparities, and we commit to help eliminate them.

In the end, it’s the resilience and strength of our healthcare providers, staff and patients that continues to inspire us. If you’ve been avoiding medical appointments or treatments because of the pandemic, please don’t put off getting care any longer. We’re here to help you stay healthy for all the good days to come.

Yours in good health,

BARRY H. OSTROWSKY

PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RWJBARNABAS HEALTH

KIRK C. TICE

PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL RAHWAY

RWJUH RAHWAY OPENS NEW UNIT

The newly renovated Surgical Center of Excellence 3E Unit has a host of patient-focused amenities, including a family lounge and nourishment station for visitors, flat-screen TVs in each room, large bathrooms and in-room work stations for the clinical staff.

The unit has eight private and eight semi-private patient rooms. Four of the rooms have body lifts to help with ambulation for surgical patients, and eight of them have dialysis capability. All rooms have new, energy-efficient windows and tiled in-room sinks.

For nurses and clinicians, the renovated unit offers telemetry (a way to monitor a patient’s vital signs remotely), multiple computers, a serenity room and a multipurpose room for conferences, joint education and therapy. The unit is dedicated to Dr. John Kline and his wife, Christine, philanthropic champions of the hospital.

865 Stone Street, Rahway, NJ 07065

732.499.6118 | www.rwjbh.org/rahway

CONNECT WITH US ON

@RWJRahway @RWJRahway RWJBarnabas Health Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. For more information, see link on our home page at www.rwjbh.org/rahway. RWJUH Rahway cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. ATENCIÓN: Si usted habla español, servicios de asistencia lingüística, de forma gratuita, están disponibles para usted. Llame al 732.499.6136. RWJUH Rahway konfòm ak lwa sou dwa sivil federal ki aplikab yo e li pa fè diskriminasyon sou baz ras, koulè, peyi orijin, laj, enfimite oswa sèks. ATANSYON: Si w pale Kreyòl Ayisyen, gen sèvis èd pou lang ki disponib gratis pou ou. Rele 732.499.6136.

healthytogether contents

SUMMER 2021

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4 6

17 18 23

2. WELCOME LETTER.

A community update from our CEOs.

4. HELP FOR A WOUND

THAT WOULDN’T HEAL.

How a bad sunburn almost led to the loss of a foot.

6. THE SCOOP ON SALT

AND HIGH BLOOD

PRESSURE. Too much sodium can harm your health, but tasty alternatives abound.

8. BEYOND SALT: THE

OTHER HYPERTENSION

RISKS. Many other factors can increase blood pressure levels.

10

9. ‘FOCUS ON THE GOOD.’

A determined young athlete battles back from partial paralysis.

10. ENDING RACISM TOGETHER.

RWJBarnabas Health is on a journey to create true equity in healthcare.

12. I HAVE HEART DISEASE.

SHOULD I GET THE

COVID-19 VACCINE? Yes, you should. Here’s why.

14. THE LIFE-CHANGING

IMPACT OF A KIDNEY

TRANSPLANT. Posttransplant, people with kidney failure find their world transformed.

16. MISSION POSSIBLE.

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey launches a new center to harness the power of immunotherapy.

17. A LEGACY OF GIVING.

Longtime leaders in caring for RWJUH Rahway.

18. COMING BACK STRONG.

The Post-COVID Recovery

Program helps people who struggle with ongoing symptoms.

20. LUNG CANCER: AWARENESS

SAVES LIVES. Protect yourself by knowing these important facts.

22. IS IT A HEART ATTACK OR

PANIC ATTACK? Let medical experts make the call.

23. COMMUNITY CALENDAR. A roundup of education and support programs.