TRINITAS NAMED  A TOP HOSPITAL – AGAIN!

Inside Jersey magazine’s just-published ranking of the state’s best hospitals shows that Trinitas is ranked as a 2017 Top Hospital in the following categories: Top Hospital Overall, Treatment of Breast Cancer, Treatment of Prostate Cancer, Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure, Hip and Knee Repair, Care of High-Risk Pregnancies, Patient’s Room and Bathroom Kept Clean, Doctors Always Communicated Well, and Registered Nurses

Always Communicated Well. “We are gratified that physicians in our region responded so enthusiastically to the survey, which produced Top Hospital rankings for Trinitas in so many categories.  Their trust in the quality of our care is very important to us,” stated Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President & CEO of Trinitas.

TRINITAS RN JOINS GATEWAY CHAMBER TO EMPOWER YOUTH!

The Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a comprehensive event for our youth on the importance of networking and building key skills. Veronica Sanchez-Rico, RN, Clinical Coordinator at Trinitas, was among the featured panelists who discussed their careers. Students gained critical insight that included the value of following one’s passion. Veronica and Jim Coyle (President, Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce) participated in an interactive networking activity with the students who attended the event

ST. PATRICK’S PRIDE

As tradition holds, Trinitas participated in the Union County St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 18th. Congratulations to the parade’s organizers, especially this year’s Grand Marshal, radio personality Joseph Nolan, for their great work despite the weather. The Trinitas team marched proudly down Morris Avenue, wearing their pride on their sleeve!

UNION COUNTY’S GOT TALENT!

Trinitas sponsored the Union County Teen Arts Festival, an annual two-day celebration of the arts. The event is open to all students from public, charter, private and parochial middle and high schools in Union County.  Over 4,000 students from across Union County attended the event over the course of two days. Sixty-six Union County middle and high schools participated in the various exhibits, proving that Union County teens have tons of talent! 

HEALTH RANKINGS RELEASED FOR NJ 

Joe McTernan, Senior Director/Community & Clinical Services, took part in a press conference announcing the publication of the eighth annual County Health Rankings by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.  The event was held at the Gateway Family YMCA Elizabeth Branch. Thanks to health improvement initiatives by Trinitas, the Gateway Family YMCA, the City of Elizabeth and others, Union County was ranked as the 8th healthiest out of the 21 counties in New Jersey. “Trinitas Regional Medical Center has a strong, deep-rooted desire to improve the health of those we serve,” explained McTernan. The full Rankings are available at www.countyhealthrankings.org.

TRINITAS PARTNERS WITH  ELIZABETH HEALTH DEPARTMENT  AND SHAPING ELIZABETH       

The City of Elizabeth Health Department and Shaping Elizabeth came together with Trinitas experts to discuss health-related issues in honor of National Minority Health Month. The forum discussed topics such as where to find health care information, as well as how to prevent heart and kidney disease. Attendees received key information on exercise options, eating habits, and where to find healthy food throughout the community.

TRINITAS PARTICIPATES IN REGIONAL DRILL

Trinitas Regional Medical Center participated in Operation Gotham Shield, a comprehensive drill involving a mock radioactive “dirty bomb” explosion in the metropolitan area. As part of the exercise, the Trinitas team assembled a decontamination tent with staff in full protection suits in order to treat injured “patients.”  The purpose of this exercise was to create a learning environment intended to measure and improve the team’s ability to work through an integrated response to a widespread disaster.

HITTING A HIGH NOTE

Chuck Salamone and Diane Aragona, the husband and wife duo behind His & Hers Music based in Nutley, NJ, recently brought their passion for music and their ability to recognize talent to the Spring festival of the Mid-Atlantic Music Teachers Guild (MAMTG). They joined fellow music instructors at the event, where they also evaluated performers from throughout the region at the MAMTG’s rigorous competition. Three of their students were among those recognized at the festival. Graduates of Rutgers with Bachelors and Masters degrees in music, Salamone and Aragona, shown here with their winning student, vocalist Stephanie Helfgott, offer voice and instrument lessons for children through adults in their private home studio and in students’ homes. To learn more about His & Hers Music, check out their Facebook page @hisandhersmusicllc. further information about Diane Aragona and Chuck Salamone can be found at dianearagona.squarespace.com and http://AmigosAmigosBand.com.

2017 TRINITAS HEALTH AND WELLNESS EXPO 

The 2017 Trinitas Health and Wellness Expo was held on Sunday, February 26th at Pantagis Renaissance in Scotch Plains, with over 500 people in attendance. Guests enjoyed demonstrations, resources, and some great presentations by experts on a variety of topics from stroke prevention to healthy dietary guidelines to follow. Ben Michaelis, Ph.D., author of Your Next Big Thing, and regular feature on The Today Show, Fox News and MSNBC, was the keynote speaker and focused on mental health and well-being through creative expression. The Expo was a collaborative effort with the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, which aims to connect local businesses with the community.

A VICTORIAN SPRING 

A Victorian themed flower show will be presented by the Rake and Hoe Garden Club of Westfield on April 28, 2017 from 1:00 to 7:00 pm at the Presbyterian Church on 140 Mountain Avenue in Westfield. As a prelude to the flower show, Ken Norman from KN Floral Inspirations presented examples of Victorian arrangements at a recent club meeting. The show will provide the opportunity to enjoy floral design and horticulture, photography and fashions. For more information, call Pat Wilson (908-389-9342) or visit the club’s website: www.rakeandhoe.org or Facebook page. From left to right: Alice Cowell, Junior Committee Chair; Ken Norman, KN Floral; Diana Kazazis, President; Barbara Mullin, Design Commit-tee Chair. 

REDUCING SALT AND ENHANCING FLAVOR

In honor of Black History Month, Trinitas addressed high blood pressure within the African-American community with a cooking demonstration on reducing sodium in your day-to-day diet. Michelle Ali, Director of Food & Nutrition Services at Trinitas, shared key tips on how to reduce salt without losing the flavor in your meal. Trinitas hosts programs every month open to all members of the community on a variety of topics. For a full list of upcoming events, refer to the Community Events on page 60.

TRINITAS LISTED AMONG TOP EMPLOYERS IN THE UNITED STATES

For the second year in a row, Becker’s Hospital Review has named Trinitas Regional Medical Center one of the 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare. The hospital, which employs almost 2,800 individuals, developed its “Pat on the Back” awards program to recognize employees who go above and beyond on a continuous basis. Trinitas also recognizes five employees annually with the Elizabeth I. Kellogg Award which includes $5,000 for their commitment to the hospital’s mission, vision and values. Employees can take advantage of the hospital’s tuition reimbursement program, on-site fitness facility and leadership academy program; in addition, employees who use the Trinitas network are offered discounted healthcare services at Trinitas sites throughout the state. 

LITTLE RED HATS WARM HEARTS IN A BIG WAY 

Trinitas participated in the American Heart Association’s Little Hats, Big Hearts program to empower new moms to live heart-healthy lives while raising awareness of congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country. As part of the Little Hats, Big Hearts program, babies born at Trinitas in February received a red crocheted hat and a kit full of heart-healthy information for mom and baby. 

GOING RED WITH TORY BURCH

Big thanks to Bloomingdale’s at The Mall at Short Hills, who very generously donated a beautiful red Tory Burch Tote in honor of American Heart Month. Trinitas employees and community members purchased a chance to win the bag, raising awareness of Heart Month and over $1,700 to support the cardiac area of Trinitas’ emergency department expansion project. Congratulations to our winner, Trinitas employee Nancy Farrell!  

COLOR ME CALM

Barnes & Noble in Springfield made a special donation of four cartons filled with coloring books for the Trinitas HELP Program. These coloring books are an extension of art therapy, which has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and increase self-esteem in adults.  From left to right: Diana Noboa (Elder Life Intervention Assistant), Veronica Vargas (Barnes & Noble), Johanna Thomas (Elder Life Intervention Clinician), and Kathryn Loaiza (HELP Volunteer).

TOYS FOR TOTS MAKES A SPECIAL DELIVERY

Toys for Tots paid a visit to the Trinitas Pediatric Health Center and brought along two surprise guests. NFL Player Desmond Bryant (center) and Marine Ramon Perez (far right) made a special delivery for all the children visiting the health center on December 15th. The gifts were donated to the center as part of  Toys for Tots’ continuous effort to make the holidays special for every child. Nadine Brechner, VP of the Foundation (far left) and Dr. Samofalov made sure the gifts were distributed to some of the center’s proudest patients.

POPP CULTURE 

Summit Mayor Nora Radest joined salon owner Vicki Jimenez and her team of stylists to celebrate the opening of the new Vicki Popp Salon in Summit. Jimenez is passionate about great hair care and is committed to offering area residents a personalized beauty experience in her new state-of-the-art salon. “Our goal is to ensure that our clients’ hair doesn’t just look good the day they leave the salon,” says Jimenez, “but that they will be able to style it easily themselves and look amazing every day.” The salon is located at 456 Springfield Avenue.

KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE

The George Miller Art Society kicked off the holidays by donating its artistic services to the Trinitas Child and Adolescent wing of New Point Campus. George Miller, a North Arlington based high school teacher, touched the lives of many students in his 30-year career before his passing in 1993. Co-founders and former students Andrea Jennings (left) and Daniel Marck (right) strive to continue this tradition to spread cheer and promote artistic expression in Miller’s memory. Special thanks to the family and friends of George Miller for their help in keeping one of Mr. Miller’s finest philanthropic traditions alive.

ROOM TO GROW

Chatham Day School recently completed a $6 million expansion project, which includes a new wing for Upper and Middle Schoolers. Students have a new theater, dining hall and S.T.E.A.M. Suite. 

TRINITAS EMS RAISES THE BAR  FOR SAVING LIVES       

The American Heart and Stroke Association honored Trinitas Regional Medical Center Mobile ICU with the 2016 Mission: Lifeline EMS Recognition Gold Award for decreasing the “door-to-needle” timeframe for cardiac patients. The success of the Trinitas Mobile ICU program is due in great part to the joint effort between the Trinitas EMS squad and the local Elizabeth Fire Department. 

DEDICATED TO EXPANSION

From Left to Right: Kathleen Shevlin, Nadine Brechner (Trinitas Health Foundation) and Gary Horan (President & CEO of Trinitas), pose with Beth Levithan, PhD and Marsha Atkind, from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, and Dr. John D’Angelo  as they dedicated three key areas of the new Emergency Department at Trinitas Regional Medical Center. The Foundation granted$500,000 for the geriatric unit, $250,000 for the diagnostic suite, and$1 million for the transitional care unit.

HOSPITALS JOIN FORCES  TO FIGHT DRUG OVERDOSES 

Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway, all recently signed memorandums of understanding with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office to provide the counter-active drug — commonly known as Narcan — to all police departments in the county at no charge to the police. This drug is used to counteract opioid overdoses, and saved 124 lives in the first 10 months of use by police officials throughout Union County.

NylaGray Photography

KNOT A PROBLEM

After our special OUR TOWN: SUMMIT insert special ran a year ago, an EDGE reader requested extra copies to include in the gift bags for his daughter’s Spring ’18 wedding. We were happy to oblige, but with one “hitch”—we asked for a PEOPLE PAGE wedding shot in return. So we hereby present newlyweds Annie Ferguson and Phillip Henderson—hiding behind EDGE cover boy Reid Scott—who tied the knot on May 19th at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Summit.  

Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Rae Moreno

WELCOME TO PENSACOLA 

Union’s own Petty Officer 1st Class Leon Welcome is now an instructor at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. An accomplished structural mechanic, Welcome is pulling double-duty, lecturing on a wide range of topics—including personal finance and nutrition—at the Naval Air Technical Training Center. He was born in Guayana and raised in Union.

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Rae Moreno.

BY GEORGE!  

Growing up in Elizabeth, Petty Officer 3rd Class George Garces absorbed life lessons that have accelerated his career in the Navy. He is now a Ship’s Serviceman—responsible for management and operation of shipboard retail and service activities. “I learned to work hard [in Elizabeth], which helps me do better at my job in the Navy, while improving my job skills and being a leader,”  says Garces, who continued a family tradition when he enlisted after graduating from high school.