Jersey Shore University Medical Center Opens Pulmonary Hypertension Center
Jersey Shore University Medical Center Opens Pulmonary Hypertension Center
The outpatient center is the only of its kind in Monmouth and Ocean counties and provides patients with comprehensive services to diagnose and treat the disease
Thom Kim Coco, PharmD, BCPS, CTTS, Clinical Pharmacy specialist, meets with a patient in the new center.
Neptune, NJ, February 28, 2023… Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center recently celebrated the opening of a new, specialized Pulmonary Hypertension Center. The outpatient center, the only of its kind in Monmouth and Ocean counties, provides patients with comprehensive services to diagnose and treat the disease.
Pulmonary hypertension is a serious, underdiagnosed disease caused by a variety of conditions. It is a type of high blood pressure present in the lungs and typically impacts older adults. Symptoms include shortness of breath and difficulty being active, chest pain, feeling faint or complete fainting, as well as heart failure symptoms, such as swelling in the ankles and legs.
The center is led by Jesus Almendral, M.D., FACC, medical director, Advanced Heart Failure Program; Eric Costanzo, D.O., pulmonologist and critical care specialist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, and Shore Pulmonary Associates. “Early diagnosis and treatment is important, as symptoms can become more serious and life-threatening,” said Dr. Almendral. “This complex disease can also involve heart failure, weakening the heart muscle and leading to heart rhythm disorders. Early treatment can appreciably improve symptoms, enhance quality of life and reduce risk of other cardiovascular illnesses.”
The Pulmonary Hypertension Center’s multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, dietitians, pharmacists, specialized nurses, rehabilitation professionals, diagnostic imaging techs and other medical professionals collaborate to provide patients with appropriate therapy with medications as well as interventional and surgical treatments. “This team approach allows us to accurately diagnose the cause and severity of the disease so that we can customize an effective plan of care for our patients,” said Dr. Costanzo. “This includes pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation to improve the efficiency of the heart and lungs as well as guided support for patients to make lifestyle changes, like adding proper nutrition to their diet to better manage their well-being.”
“The new center opens with a focus on providing a convenient, centralized location for our patients, where they can see multiple specialists in one visit,” said Vito Buccellato, MPA, LNHA, president and chief hospital executive, Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “Located in our Amdur Pavilion, it is easily accessible through its outpatient entrance with available valet parking and a short walk to the center. This is a great new service for our community.”
For many years, the academic medical center has been one of the leading cardiovascular service providers in the state, performing thousands of diagnostic, interventional and surgical procedures annually. Jersey Shore University Medical Center provides the only open and minimally invasive heart surgery program in Monmouth and Ocean counties, as well as cardiac technology and treatment options unavailable anywhere else in the region.
“We continue to add advanced technologies, convenient amenities and clinical experts to our extensive range of healthcare services at Jersey Shore,” said Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., MBA, FACEP, regional president, Southern Market, Hackensack Meridian Health. “The new center is another great example of how we are meeting the needs of our community.”
For more information about the Pulmonary Hypertension Center, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.
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ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN JERSEY SHORE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
Located in Neptune, N.J., Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center is a not-for-profit teaching hospital and the only Level I Adult and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Monmouth and Ocean counties. It is home to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital – the first children’s hospital in these counties. With more than 1,200 physicians and dental staff in 60 specialty areas, Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s (JSUMC) team provides high-quality care in a patient-centered, environmentally-friendly setting.
The team’s commitment to excellence has earned JSUMC numerous quality accolades, including being named the #6 best hospital in New Jersey, #24 in the NY metro area and high performing in ten specialties, procedures and conditions by U.S. News & World Report for 2022-23. K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, as part of Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health network, is ranked #1 in N.J., in the top 20 in the Mid-Atlantic Region and #34 in the nation in pediatric nephrology care by U.S. News for 2022-23. JSUMC has also received national recognitions demonstrating clinical quality from Healthgrades, including America’s 250 Best Hospitals (2021, 2022), 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care (2020-2023), 100 Best for Gastrointestinal Surgery (2022-23) and Patient Safety Excellence Awards (2020, 2021) as well as Excellence Awards in Neurosciences (2020-2023), Cranial Neurosurgery (2022-23) and Bariatric Surgery (2021-23). Jersey Shore’s programs and services continue to receive numerous national recognitions, including designation as high-performing in cardiac (including American College of Cardiology’s HeartCARE Center, National Distinction of Excellence recognition, 2021-22), stroke, surgical and oncology services.
The medical center’s clinical research program and longstanding commitment to medical education is evident through an affiliation with Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and an affiliation with St. George’s University School of Medicine. JSUMC serves as an academic center dedicated to advancing medical knowledge, training future physicians and providing the community with access to promising medical breakthroughs.
JSUMC’s HOPE Tower, 10-story medical office building, provides a healing outpatient experience. Guided by a patient-centered approach towards care, and informed by the latest medical breakthroughs, HOPE Tower includes advanced imaging services, a clinical academic center, innovative simulation laboratory, state-of-the-art amphitheater, specialty physician offices. It includes a cancer center featuring a range of comprehensive treatment options, including surgical specialties, medical oncology, and the most advanced radiation therapy and minimally invasive interventional therapies. For information, visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org.
