VIRGINIA HARKNESS SAWTELLE DEPARTMENT OF

Radiation Oncology Newsletter

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Our first full year as a member of the Hackensack Uni-versity Health Network was marked by many suc-cesses and throughout the hospital we realized our goal of providing world-class healthcare within our convenient, suburban setting. In fact, despite a myriad of challenges posed by reimbursement cuts and un-certainties related to federal health care reform, our team came together to ensure that our patients re-ceived the finest quality care.

Along with securing an “A” grade for overall hospital

safety in the national Leapfrog survey, Consumer Re-

ports ranked us among the top four in New Jersey in

its inaugural “Surgical Safety Ratings”. Our Stroke

Center again received a Gold Award from the Ameri-

can Heart/Stroke Association. Our Bariatric Center of

Excellence maintained its standing among the “best in

class” nationwide and our Sleep Center received ac-

creditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medi-

cine.

In addition to maintaining multiple prestigious accredi-tations, the HackensackUMC Mountainside Cancer Center continues to expand its offerings to the com-munity. Many new surgical oncologist have joined the Medical Staff, providing unprecedented access to na-tionally and regionally recognized specialists close to home, including: Hepatobiliary/Surgical Oncol-ogy: Dr. Donald McCain and Dr. Zubin Bamboat; Thoracic: Dr. Bernard Park, Dr. Nazly Shariati and Dr. Geoffrey Pelz; Neurosurgery: Dr. George Kap-tain, Dr. Kangmin Lee, Dr. Tony Mammis, Dr. Charles Presticgiancomo, Dr. Patrick Roth and Dr. Roy Vin-gan; Head and Neck/ Otolaryngology: Dr. Evelyn Kalyouseff and Dr. Robert Jyung; Gynecological Oncology: Dr. Karen Houck and General Surgery/Surgical Oncology: Dr. Ravi Chokshi. The Center has reaffirmed its commitment to multidis-ciplinary, “whole patient” care and embraced new treatment options. The Breast Cancer Program un-der the direction of Dr. Jan Huston, one the country’s top surgeons, also expanded its public awareness, early detection and genetic counseling activities. As a result of these developments and others, Hack-ensackUMC Mountainside is entering 2014 well posi-tioned to continue providing a caliber of care that is unsurpassed at any other facility while also meeting the operational challenges that lie ahead.

To all who contribute to our success and those who

entrust us with their healthcare needs, thank you and

best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year!

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Strong Performance

and a Positive Out-

look

John A. Fromhold, FACHE

President and CEO

HackensackUMC Mountain-

side

1 Bay Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey 973-429-6096 Vol. VI, No. 61 January 2014

Jose Barba, M.D. Medical Director

VIRGINIA HARKNESS SAWTELLE DEPARTMENT OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY NEWSLETTER

Page 2

Printed in the Mountainside Hospital Medical Library. Narmin Kurzum, Library Manager and Layout Specialist.

Recent Headlines in Cancer Publications

1. Red meat consumption associated with greater

risk for esophageal cancer.

2. Genetic mutation identified in castration–

resistant prostate cancer.

3. Androgen deprivation therapy linked to acute

kidney injury risk in non-metastatic prostate

cancer.

4. Glioblastoma: no benefit for added bevacizu-

mab over standard first-line chemo-RT.

5. Spouses of patients with HPV-related oro-

pharyngeal cancer found to have no increased

risk.

6. Radiotherapy showed similar control rates,

fewer adverse side effects than lymph node dis-

section in breast cancer.

Happy New Year

January 2014

The Intensive Care Team of HackensackUMC Mountainside

Christmas Tree Lighting at HackensackUMC Mountainside Dec. 3, 2013

L-R

Dr. A. Nafees, Dr. T. Luma, Danilo Bolima, Nurse Manager, Dr. S.

Holland, Marcia Sistrunk, Laurie Teran, RN, Linda Ellmer, RN,

Dr. Zaza Cohen, Medical Director, Lisa Steele, Uma Anand, Dr. A.

Jenkins, Marie Cho, RN, Lauren Shabunia, PA student.

The critical care teams at HackensackUMC

Mountainside are healthcare personnel that pro-

vide expert care of the acute and critically ill pa-

tients. The goal of the critical care department is

to promote optimal wellness of patients and their

family members through the course of a critical

illness with comfort, respect, safety, and dignity.

The team comprises of the intensivists, residents,

surgeons, critical care nurses, nursing assistants,

unit secretaries, respiratory therapists, nutrition-

ists, pharmacists, social workers, and case man-

agers. The critical care unit is equipped to per-

form invasive arterial pressure monitoring, cen-

tral venous pressure monitoring, and cardiac

monitoring including continuous cardiac output

monitoring. Registered Nurses are specially

trained to work in the intensive care unit, perform

the necessary assessments and interpret and take

appropriate actions related to the monitoring. A

strong collaboration with other departments such

as laboratory, radiology, transport, dietary, and

housekeeping makes the team a truly special

group of people.

Christmas Tree Lighting at HackensackUMC Mountainside

December 3, 2013