News

Transitional Care Unit at Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center Receives Highest Quality Rating from CMS

Montclair, NJ, [June 2019] -- The Transitional Care Unit (TCU) at Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center, a post-acute skilled nursing facility located on the sixth floor of the hospital, received the highest ranking (Five Stars) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Five-Star Quality Rating System is based on three categories including Health Inspections, Staffing and Quality Measures.

Choosing to Have Bariatric Surgery Proves to be Positive for New Jersey Woman

As a young adult, Olivia Davis was in great physical shape and had always lived a very health conscious lifestyle. After giving birth to her daughter in the 1990s, she found it hard to maintain that lifestyle.

“I went through a series of bad events in my 40s which contributed to my weight gain,” said Olivia. “I had to have a hysterectomy, foot surgery on both feet and knee and shoulder surgeries to fix injuries sustained from a car accident.”

Even though Olivia was still physically active whenever possible, she continued to gain weight.

Double Hip Replacements Gives Mountainside Nurse New Outlook

Annie Mueller has been a nurse at Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center since 1992. In recent years, she started experiencing intense hip pain.

“Being a nurse, I was afraid to have the issue addressed because I knew what I was likely going to have to undergo a hip replacement,” said Mueller.

After a vacation with her husband, Mueller knew something had to be done.

Why Mixing Alcohol and Prescription Medication is Dangerous

Mixing prescription drugs with alcohol may lead to possible overdose, damage to the body, and even death. The National Council on Patient Information and Education warns consumers that “alcohol interacts with as many as 150 medications and can cause them to not work effectively.” Alcohol combined with prescription drugs can counteract the purpose and effectiveness of your medication. Combining alcohol with your prescription may also induce the drug to create an even more harmful effect on the body. Prescription misuse mixed with alcohol consumption can occur more frequently than expected.

Wound Treatment at Mountainside Medical Center

The Wound Care Center at Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center is a leader in Northern New Jersey in treating patients with stubborn wounds. Individuals living with diabetes are particularly prone to slow-healing and related risks when they experience a wound, especially foot wounds. To learn more about how wounds are treated, Lauren Danzi, RN, BSN, WCC, manager of the Wound Care Center, is telling us more, as well as sharing general foot health practices.

Stroke Care at Mountainside Medical Center Leads Woman to Successful Recovery

The morning of Christmas Eve 2018, Barbara Donahue was getting ready for her family’s annual dinner.

“Around 10 a.m., I told someone sitting nearby that I was starting to get a headache and my eye was hurting, which I thought was very strange,” said Donahue. “My oldest son turned to look at me and said something to which I thought I responded normally. It turns out I wasn’t making any sense with my responses and my son knew something wasn’t right.”

The rest of Donahue’s family agreed that something was wrong so they called 911 immediately.

New Jersey Police Officer Gets New Lease on Life Following Heart Attack

On June 5, 2014, Sergeant Fred Arnold’s day started out just like any other day.

“That morning, my police department was participating in our bi-annual weapons qualifications training at the Essex County Police Academy’s Shooting Range,” said Arnold. “After we finished up I made a quick stop before making my way back to police headquarters. At the time, I was on administrative duty so I didn’t go out on the road much, but I was driving my patrol car.”

Within minutes of starting his drive back to police headquarters, Arnold passed out and crashed his patrol car.

The Importance of Regular Colonoscopies

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, a reminder to all about the importance of regular colonoscopies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. Even so, 90 percent of people who are diagnosed through early detection can be cured.

Colon cancer typically develops with no symptoms. Undergoing a colonoscopy at age 50 is recommended for most people to fully assess risk. 

The Importance of Patient Safety

At Mountainside Medical Center, the safety of our patients and their families is top priority and is something we encourage all of our staff members to take seriously. Jill Ryan, Manager, Emergency Management and Safety Officer at Mountainside Medical Center, is speaking about the ways in which we strive to keep our patients safe and what we are working on to enhance the physical environment of the hospital to best support patient care.

Stroke Victims are Getting Younger and Younger