Penn Medicine Princeton Health

It may be surprising to know that pregnancy-related complications and poor maternal outcomes could be a big problem in a developed country like the United States. But, the statistics are high enough that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently funded a robust initiative to address it. Penn Medicine was chosen to be part of that effort. Alisha Sangal, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, said during pregnancy, comprehensive perinatal care is not just about checking how the baby is growing. It also means vigilantly screening for and managing any potential problems that could affect the birthing parent or baby. Sangal stresses how important it is to keep an eye out for potential complications early on. These problems might come from health issues you already have, or they could pop up during pregnancy. The most common health issues are gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and anemia. Learn more at https://spr.ly/6041t34rv

Entities across Penn Medicine offer a range of opportunities for students to gauge their interest and gain experience in health care. For the first time, through Princeton Health's partnership with the Pace Center for Community Engagement at Princeton University, 130 freshmen toured Princeton Medical Center and heard presentations on health equity, social determinants of health, and volunteer opportunities. Princeton Health’s Director of Volunteer Services Nanette Spedden emphasizes that these students “are our community members and hopefully future volunteers and employees!”

Various teams and individuals from across Penn Medicine put their creativity on display as they competed in a pumpkin decorating contest. From 'Bentricular Frankycardia' to a 'Therapy Go-round', winning pumpkins have been chosen for each entity, and they faced off off in a “best-of-the-best” competition. The winner is the Perioperative Care Team at Penn Medicine Princeton Health for their Perioperative Train of Horrors! Congrats to the team and all who were selected as regional winners.

In this season of thankfulness, we see the power of gratitude to shift focus from what we lack, to noticing the goodness already present. Holistic therapy educator Marygrace Lomboy, MSN, CRNP, says the G.L.A.D. technique can enhance your health and find more joy, purpose, and balance. Each day, write down: G (grateful): one thing you’re grateful for L (learned): one new thing you learned A (accomplishment): one small accomplishment you achieved D (delight): one delight that gave you joy or made you smile You can practice the G.L.A.D. technique in a private journal, or share it with family or friends to do together. Try following it daily for a week, and notice how your state of gratitude starts to remain with you throughout the day.

Thanks to an idea suggested by Princeton Health Acute Care for the Elderly nurse Jessie Twerdak, whose husband served in the Air Force, patients who are veterans or active military members now receive a “thank you” card and small table-top flag saluting their service. Since the program began in September, about 50 patients at Princeton Medical Center and Princeton Behavioral Health received deliveries. “It’s created a really nice moment between the patient and the employee or volunteer presenting the card,” said Ashley Wertman, project manager for Strategic Initiatives.

Menopausal symptoms (and their severity) vary by person and include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, weight gain (especially belly fat), brain fog, mood swings, low libido, insomnia, heart palpitations, and more. There are a number of treatments available today to help women manage the most common symptoms of hot flashes and night sweats, including hormonal therapies and a new hormone-free option: bioidenticals. Learn more at https://spr.ly/6043s9EKW

Congratulations, Jeremy Masanque,BSN, RN, a critical care nurse at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, on receiving The DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses, a nationwide program that rewards and celebrates the clinical skill and compassion nurses provide to patients and families. Here's how a patient’s family member described Masanque when nominating him for the award: "Any nurse can go through the steps and check list of to-do’s but Jeremy puts his heart and tenderness into his care and service of others. He’s outstanding.”

Penn Medicine Princeton Health has established a Shoulder Center to offer patients access to total shoulder and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty surgeries close to home. The Shoulder Center is the third orthopaedic center to be created as part of Penn Medicine Princeton Health’s commitment to providing comprehensive orthopaedic care. It joins the Jim Craigie Center for Joint Replacement and the Spine Center in offering specialized treatment options to the community. Under the medical direction of Frederick Song, MD and Nurse Navigator, Adrien Heller APN-BC, patients receive evidence-based care from a dedicated team of board certified orthopaedic surgeons. Care is coordinated by Adrien, the nurse navigator, who also provides preoperative education and is a patient resource who will help patients through the shoulder replacement journey. For more information, visit https://spr.ly/6041s3aHb For patient referrals and assistance, please contact shoulder nurse navigator Adrien Heller, APN-BC, at (609) 853-7973.

Join our experts for a training that will help you identify and understand signs and symptoms of individuals who may be dealing with issues such as depression, anxiety, substance use, eating disorders, trauma, psychosis, and deliberate self-injury. You will also learn how to respond in a mental health crisis, offer support to someone who appears to be in emotional distress and, if necessary, guide the person to appropriate services. https://spr.ly/6048StVn0

During a visit to the Medical, Neuro, Oncology Unit at Princeton Health, a patient was touched by nurse Emily Bettano’s ability to offer extraordinary support during a challenging time. Experiencing an accident or injury can be traumatic to the body, mind, and spirit and when nurses understand that and provide superior care, it should be recognized. "Emily was my nurse in the hospital with a hard to diagnose condition. It has been a real uphill battle for me, as there have been many obstacles. In a great deal of sadness, Emily was such a great nurse to have. She is very patient, thorough, and especially kind. She demonstrated through her attention, and help, that she is committed to her job and to helping people. She never seemed frustrated or overwhelmed to help. She was eager to help me feel not alone and that there was HOPE! Thank you, Emily.” - MNO Unit, Princeton Health Patient Congratulations, Emily, on receiving The DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses, a nationwide program that rewards and celebrates the clinical skill and compassion nurses provide to patients and families.