Transcription
yearsOF CARING2000 2020
The main campus on Williamson Street asit appeared in 2000 (right) and today.MissionVisionTrinitas Regional Medical Center will continue toadvance its position as a premier healthcare providerin Central New Jersey that:ValuсTrinitas Regional Medical Center is a Catholiccommunity teaching hospital sponsored bythe Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth inpartnership with Elizabethtown HealthcareFoundation. At Trinitas Regional MedicalCenter we dedicate ourselves to God’s healingmission. We strive to provide excellent,compassionate healthcare to the people andcommunities we serve, including thoseamong us who are poor and vulnerable.Faithful to the values of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth andElizabethtown Healthcare Foundation, Trinitas Regional Medical Centeris committed to: Supports the mission and core values of TrinitasHealthCompassion: Provide service in a caring, personalized manner toall and serve as an advocate for those in greatest need Exemplifies service excellence by continuallyimproving quality and exceeding customerexpectationsCommunity: Advocate for a society in which each person in ourorganization and in the community can realize his or her fullpotential and achieve the common good Is recognized for outstanding medical andnursing care and for advanced capabilities inselected clinical specialtiesReverence for Life: Recognize and respect the dignity and value oflife in every stage and condition Is acclaimed for the education of nurses,physicians, and other healthcare professionals Is the hospital of choice for physicians andpatientsResponsible Stewardship: Manage all resources responsibly insupport of our missionCharity: Witnesses to God's love by serving all peopleCourage: Dare to take the risks our mission demands of us
As we close the book on 2020, a year that has stretched us to be better and domore than we ever thought possible, it seems appropriate to consider all thatcame before.This book is a tribute to a history of which we can be very proud. A history that officiallybegan on January 6, 2000, in a small ceremony held by members of the Boards andsenior leadership of Elizabeth General Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital. Heldin historic Boxwood Hall on East Jersey Street, that ceremony culminated a years-longeffort spearheaded by David Fletcher, CEO of Elizabeth General, and Sister ElizabethAnn Maloney, CEO of St. Elizabeth’s. For the good of the community, the two institutionsput aside a century of tradition and healthy competition, and joined forces in a mergerthat has truly withstood the test of time, just as the partnership between Trinitas’ sponsors,the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth and Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation. It wasground-breaking in many ways, and was one of the earliest such moves to take placeamong hospitals in New Jersey.Part of the Trinitas Mission statement falls under the heading “Courage” and urges usto “dare to take the risks our mission demands of us.” Courage was certainly inevidence in those years leading up to the merger, and it has made a strong mark on the20 years since.On a good day, healthcare is one of the more challenging professions. Yet even throughthe endurance test that defined this past year, we have carried out our organization’smission with stamina, grace and yes, courage. Little did we know that all theachievements and progress we have made since merging our two Elizabeth hospitals in2000 would help lay the groundwork for our ability to withstand a global pandemic20 years later.It is with great pride that we present to you this snapshot of our 20 years of caring.Gary S. Horan, FACHEPresident/Chief Executive OfficerTrinitas Health & Regional Medical CenterVictor M. RichelChairmanTrinitas Health & Regional Medical CenterTrinitas Regional Medical Center 1
2000“After years of hard effort, Trinitas Hospital wasborn following a merger between ElizabethGeneral Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospitalon January 6th.The name Trinitas is Latin for Trinity, a term that hasspiritual meaning and which also conveys a strongsymbol of the two hospitals teaming with eachother and the community to provide qualityhealthcare into the 21st Century.6On that day, David A. Fletcher,President of Elizabeth General,became President of Trinitas, andElizabeth Ann Maloney, SC,relinquished her role as Presidentof St. Elizabeth’s to becomeTrinitas’ first Chairperson.5Church bells tolled and employees sipped sparkling cider as officials atElizabeth General Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital celebrated theirmuch-anticipated consolidation during a private ceremony held on January6th. The new organization, Trinitas Hospital, was officially launched duringthe ceremony held in the 250-year-old Boxwood Hall, located between thetwo hospitals on East Jersey Street. Trinitas is sponsored by the Sisters ofCharity of Saint Elizabeth, in partnership with Elizabethtown HealthcareFoundation (the former parent of Elizabeth General Medical Center).2 Trinitas Regional Medical Center
3Much of the physical consolidation of the two hospitals took place at theformer St. Elizabeth Hospital, where Maternity, Pediatrics, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Radiological Services were combined, and plans were laid toenlarge the Emergency Department and build a Cancer Center.6Employees celebrate the new hospital.4Elizabeth General Medical Centerbecame Trinitas Hospital’s JerseyStreet Campus.6TheElizabeth General EastCampus, known previously as TheAlexian Brothers Hospital, wasrenamed Trinitas Hospital’s NewPoint Campus.5The new hospital made good on its promise to provide community basedcare as clinics were upgraded, screenings for cancers of the breast, prostateand skin were scheduled, and a Cancer Survivor’s Picnic and HIV AwarenessDay were held. The year ended with the launch of a Bloodless SurgeryProgram.Trinitas Regional Medical Center 3
20019/11and an Anthrax scare test the newhospital. Acute care areas are expandedand Gary Horan becomes the new CEO.3David A. Fletcher, former Presidentof Elizabeth General MedicalCenter and President of Trinitassince 2000, is thanked upon hisretirement by Sister BarbaraConroy, Chairperson, and theTrinitas Board.3In July, Gary S. Horan, FACHE, was welcomed as the new President andCEO. Gary served previously as President and CEO of Our Lady of MercyHealthcare System and brought a combined total of 30 years of experiencein healthcare administration to his new role at Trinitas. Explained SisterBarbara Conroy (left), Chairperson, “He’s made a positive impact on theTrinitas Family, and we feel confident that Trinitas will continue to flourish underhis leadership.” Gary is pictured with his wife, Arlene.4Much of the physical merging of the two hospitals took place during 2001.By the end of the year the young hospital had completed the task oftransferring all acute patient care services from the former Elizabeth General(Jersey Street Campus) to the St. Elizabeth facility (Williamson Street Campus).In the process services were expanded and modernized including Renal,Intensive Care, Diagnostic Services, Operating Room, Intensive Care Unit,Psychiatry, Mother/Baby Unit and many support areas. Construction of a newEmergency Department continued throughout the year.4 Trinitas Regional Medical Center
5Prayer gathering following 9/11 at the Williamson Street Campus.3The shocking events of September 11 produced an institution-wide response.By the time the World Trade Center towers had collapsed — an event thatcould be seen from the hospital campus — Trinitas was already in action.Physicians and employees worked tirelessly, first by manning a triage centerat Liberty State Park, and later during recovery operations at Ground Zero.Several residents of lower Manhattan were admitted for treatment. TrinitasBehavioral Health counselors formed what would become a County-widenetwork to help citizens manage their grief.5The events of 2001 highlighted the need for readiness.Above, staff in theEmergency Department register a mock patient from a drill that simulated anaircraft disaster at Newark Liberty Airport.3Both the January and May 20016Infectious disease specialists from Trinitas Hospital — together with healthprofessionals from the City of Elizabeth and County of Union — gathered atthe Hospital in the Fall to report on their readiness to combat a possibleanthrax attack. Trinitas became the first in the state to receive Department ofDefense training for anthrax.graduating classes of the Schoolof Nursing scored a 100 percentpass rate on the rigorous NCLEXprofessional licensing examination.Also during 2001 plans were putinto place to move the School ofNursing to the Elizabeth Campusof Union County College.Trinitas Regional Medical Center 5
2002Much of the task of physically bringing twohospitals together into one was achievedin 2002.5The construction project designed to enlarge and modernize the mainEmergency Department was completed in July, bringing to the community27 emergency beds, including 15 acute-care beds, a 6-bed fast-track area,a 6-bed observation area, two triage rooms and a decontaminationshower facility. An “Emergency Walk-In Center” was established at the NewPoint Campus, along with an adult and child/adolescent psychiatricemergency service, which had formerly been housed at Elizabeth GeneralMedical Center. This service provides emergency screening, treatment,crisis intervention and stabilization to adults and children experiencingmental illness.6 Trinitas Regional Medical Center
3To accommodate an increase involume, the number of OperatingRooms was increased from fourto five.6Provider of the Regional End Stage Renal Program for Eastern Union County,Trinitas Hospital furthered its commitment to patients experiencing kidneyfailure. The inpatient unit and inpatient/outpatient dialysis unit were movedfrom the Jersey Street Campus to spacious new quarters at the WilliamsonStreet Campus.3TheBreast Health OutreachProgram, led by the OncologyDepartment, reached 714 minoritywomen with invaluable breasthealth information.6Trinitas Children’s Therapy Servicesmoved into spacious new quartersin Cranford.5An animal-assisted therapyprogram was initiated.4TheFacilities Management staff was extra busyin 2002 as the hospitalgrew in all directions.3Opened in 2002, the DiagnosticCenter provides a convenient,all-in-one facility for inpatientand outpatient testing includingechocardiograms, nuclear stresstesting, electrocardiograms, electroencephlagrams, holter monitoring,pacemaker evaluations, vascularstudies, muga scans and pulmonaryfunction tests.Trinitas Regional Medical Center 7
2003The year was marked by significant advances inwomen’s care, cardiology, cancer care and more.4In Cardiology, Trinitas was selectedby the Department of Health andSenior Services to provideEmergency Angioplasty procedures.Also that year, an innovative newtechnique (below), EnhancedExternal Counterpulsation (EECP),was initiated. EECP is a nonsurgical treatment of angina andcoronary blockages.3A new Fetal Surveillance system,implemented in 2003, improvespatient safety by allowingphysicians and nurses to view thefetal heart rate and mother’scontraction status from almost anylocation within the Labor & DeliveryUnit. Through a connection calledOB Link, physicians were able toview real-time patient data from theiroffices and from other locationswithin the Medical Center.8 Trinitas Regional Medical Center
3Our commitment to women’s healthwas reflected in the establishmentof The Women’s Imaging Center,providing women with the latesttechnology in preventive anddiagnostic services in breastimaging and biopsy, osteoporosisdetection and ultrasound. It waspart of a 3.8 million investmentthat included new MRI and CTequipment.3Anew Palliative Care programat Trinitas combines active andcompassionate therapies intendedto comfort and support individualsand families experiencing progressive, life-threatening illnesses, andwho ultimately approach thetransition to the end of life.5Toincrease the accuracy andeffectiveness of radiation treatment, a state-of-the-art CT-Simulatorwas installed in December 2003to allow physicians to “mock up”or simulate treatment prior to theactual use of radiation. During itsfirst year in service over 200simulations were performed.6Site work began on the Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center on the maincampus, corner of North Broad Street and Pearl Street.5Trinitas initiated laser treatment forvaricose veins as Dr. PedroCordero performed the area’s firstsuch procedure.3Hundreds of staff signed a Trinitasbanner that was delivered asa show of support to a Navyship during Operation EnduringFreedom in Afghanistan.Trinitas Regional Medical Center 9
2004Trinitas continued to add new services, including aunique outreach program for future healthcare workersknown as Nurse Camp. The Williamson Street Campusgrew before our eyes with the construction of thefive-story Comprehensive Cancer Cancer.4The new, 10-bed statewide unit for mentally ill/developmentally disabledpatients was recognized in statewide publications and by federal (CMS)and state agencies as a major success. This secure unit, located at the NewPoint Campus, is geared toward preventing long-term institutionalization byallowing patients to remain in the community either with family members or ina group home.6Governor McGreevy visited Trinitas several times in 2004. Here he is picturedwith Gary Horan and Ann Baran, Vice President/Community, GovernmentRelations.5As more room became available at the Elizabeth General building, movieand television studios took interest in using it as a film location. Gary Horan(President & CEO) and Paul Dabrowski (CFO) pose with actor JamesGandolfini during filming of the “Dover” car-crash episode in Season 5 ofThe Sopranos.3An expanded, four-bed, state-of-the-art Sleep Disorders Center was openedin a private area of the Administrative Services Building. The Center diagnosessleep disorders which may include insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy andrestless leg syndrome. Under the direction of Vipin Garg, a Board Certifiedsleep specialist, studies are performed by specially trained sleeppulmonologists, registered polysomnographers and licensed, credentialedrespiratory therapy personnel.10 Trinitas Regional Medical Center
3In 2004 Trinitas started its most ambitious undertaking yet – the building of a 28 million comprehensive cancer center. When completed in the Fall of2005, the Center will provide state-of-the-art care for patients with cancer.6A “topping off” ceremony was held to commemorate the placement of thelast major piece of structural steel on the 5-story Comprehensive CancerCenter building – a 25-foot beam that was signed by over 900 employeesand physicians.5Trinitas became the first in the 4Kidneystate to convert to the SunriseClinical Manager from EclypsisCorporation, which provides avisual, computerized record ofpatient tests, reports andcondition.6A first-ever “Nurse Camp” washeld over the summer, allowing20 area high school students tosample nursing as a possiblecareer.patients at Trinitas havesome of the best clinical outcomesamong all hospital dialysis centersin the Premier network of more than1,600 hospitals nationwide. APartnership between Premier andAmgen Inc. awarded 67,000and their top award – The PatientCare Award for Excellence InAnemia Management – to the RenalProgram at Trinitas, led by JamesMcAnally, MD.3UnionCounty’s first cryosurgerytreatment for kidney cancer wasperformed by Urologist AlanKrieger, MD. The surgery usesextreme cold to destroy cancer,leaving functioning intact.Trinitas Regional Medical Center 11
2005Trinitas turns five as the new 28 millionComprehensive Cancer Center building is dedicated.Awards start to pour in with the first of many BestPlaces to Work designations.4The 5th Anniversary of Trinitas was6celebrated throughout the year.A time capsule from ElizabethGeneral was opened in a publicceremony by Trinitas Health &Hospital Chairman Andrew Campelland President/CEO Gary Horan.Inside were newspapers, postcards,coins and other items dating backto 1921.12 Trinitas Regional Medical Center
3Three Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy chambers were added to the WoundHealing Center, which was renamed The Center for Wound Healing &Hyperbaric Medicine. The Center reached an astounding 98% heal rate andwas named Center of the Year by a leading wound care company.6In conjunction with this innovation,specialized physical therapy servicestargeted to female patients withpelvic floor and incontinence problemswere introduced. This new physicaltherapy program can be used inconjunction with incontinence surgery,or as a safe and effective alternativeto surgery and medication.6A Medical Mentorship programforfuturephysicianswasestablished. It furnishes indepthinstruction to seniors from localhigh schools over the summer.3Trinitas was selected in 2005 toparticipate in an elective angioplasty study program known asthe Atlantic C-PORT Trial. Trinitaswas one of nine hospitals in NewJersey participating in the threeyear, multi-state demonstrationproject that assessed the safety,quality and cost of electiveangioplasty in hospitals that offeremergency angioplasty withoutonsite cardiac surgery backup.5Brothers Peter (standing back row, 4One of the largest projects ever3rd from left) and Jim Kellogg (front)provided major support to theComprehensive Cancer Center,including a challenge grant toensure the success of the project’sfundraising campaign.undertakenbyTrinitas,theconstruction of the ComprehensiveCancer Center, was completed inthe Fall of 2005. The five-story 28 million facility furnished amodern, comfortable environmentfor patients undergoing outpatientmedical and radiation oncologytreatments. The building’s 40,000square feet also provided space forthe future expansion of ambulatorysurgery and other services. SingerGloria Gaynor performed her hit“I Will Survive” during the building’sdedication.5At the NJBIZ “Best Places to Work in NJ” awards program, held in NewBrunswick in April, Trinitas was awarded the Best Place to Work in NewJersey Award. The top listing represented hospitals and a broad range ofbusinesses in the state.Trinitas Regional Medical Center 13
2006Big advances in Behavioral Health came ourway in 2006 with the establishment of a15-bed residential facility for youngsters, andgrowth in the Medical Residency program toinclude a Psychiatry component.4Newtechnology for improveddetection of breast cancer wasintroduced at the Women’s ImagingCenter. Computer-aided detection(CAD) for mammography usesspecialized computer software thatprovides a valuable “second look”at areas of concern that areidentified on mammogram images.3The Medical Residency Program was expanded to include Psychiatry amongits list of practice locations. Also in 2006, Trinitas residents earned braggingrights with their win of the state title in the New Jersey American College ofPhysicians Associates 2006 “Challenge Bowl” competition.14 Trinitas Regional Medical Center
3Sadly, 2006 saw the passing of Andrew Campbell, who served as Chairmanof Elizabeth General Medical Center during the period leading up tothe consolidation, and later as Chairman of Trinitas Hospital. The newComprehensive Cancer Center Building was named the Andrew H. CampbellPavilion in his honor.6Clients and staff of the Trinitas WIC program celebrate Breastfeeding Month.Many thousands of local women and children are served through theprogram.3Gloria Piserchia (r.), the first Chair-person of the Trinitas Auxiliary,stepped down in 2006 after 51years of service to ElizabethGeneral Medical Center and laterTrinitas. The Auxiliary’s newChairwoman, Robin McHugh (l.),has already made a positive markon this vibrant organization. ArleneHoran offers congratulations.5Surgeons David Poulad, MD and Sanford Fineman, MD, performed NewJersey’s first spinal fusion surgery using miniaturized robotic te
graduating classes of the School of Nursing scored a 100 percent pass rate on the rigorous NCLEX professional licensing examination. Also during 2001 plans were put into place to move the School of Nursing to the Elizabeth Campusanthrax attack. Trinitas became the first in the
