Penn Medicine Princeton Health

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.

Princeton Health Innovations, a grant program funded by philanthropy to promote innovation and creative problem-solving, recently awarded three grants to programs and services proposed by Penn Medicine Princeton Health clinicians, physicians, and other employees. In June, three Princeton Health units jointly received $62,000 to initiate or continue programs to improve patient outcomes, initiate new programs, or advance organizational goals. Swipe to learn more about this year’s grantees and their projects.

On October 10, Penn Medicine Princeton Health held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new OB/GYN practice location at Forrestal Village in Princeton. Members of the community were invited to tour the facility and meet with providers and staff. Pictured at the ribbon cutting are the physicians and staff of the new practice location, Penn Medicine Princeton Health CEO James Demetriades, and township committee member and deputy mayor of Plainsboro, Neil J. Lewis. The practice includes several providers who see patients at the new site. Other practice locations include Pennington, Robbinsville, Hillsborough and on the hospital campus in Plainsboro. For more information on OB/GYN at Forrestal Village, visit https://spr.ly/6040qFZEu

A joint replacement used to mean spending a week in the hospital, followed by a stay in a nursing facility. Now, thanks to advances in minimally invasive surgery, patients like Peter Mavraganis can have surgery in the morning and walk out in the afternoon with a new hip or knee. Learn about the same-day joint replacement program launched by orthopaedic surgeon Brian Culp, MD, medical director of the Center for Joint Replacement at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, that enables patients to recover much more quickly. https://spr.ly/6045qsRPF