Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center offers world-class comprehensive
inpatient and outpatient health care to more than 450,000 people in Hudson and southern Bergen
counties. It is one of 17 hospitals in the Hackensack Meridian Health network. Located on the
Hudson River waterfront in North Bergen, the hospital has been adding top doctors to its ranks
and enhancing services to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the community.
In spring 2022, the medical center earned an “A” rating from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey,
which evaluates the safety, quality and efficiency of hospitals. The hospital is the only hospital
in Hudson County to earn this highest mark — a sign of their commitment to continuous quality
improvement to meet patients’ expectations.
More top doctors. Enhanced services. A new standard of care.
The not-for-profit Palisades Medical Center is a 228-bed hospital offering a range of
services, including surgical care, maternity care, cancer diagnosis and treatment, weight loss
(bariatric) surgery, digestive care, pain management, neurology, gynecology, heart care, stroke
treatment, orthopedics, respiratory care (pulmonology), urology and emergency medicine.
Just a short walk from the hospital entrance is the Medical Office Building, which provides
comprehensive specialty outpatient services. The building is home to cancer care professionals
from Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center. It also houses the outpatient adult and
pediatric rehabilitation center, sleep wake and breast center.
Comprehensive breast care
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Earlier this year,
Palisades Medical Center expanded its suite of multidisciplinary breast care services to form the
Comprehensive Breast Center.
“There’s no need to go into New York City to get comprehensive breast care,” said Ann Chuang, M.D., director of breast surgery at Palisades Medical Center. “We offer all of the screening, diagnostic, treatment and follow-up services patients with breast cancer could need – close to where they live and work. During and after treatment, patients see the same doctors regularly, ensuring personalized continuity of care.”
The Palisades Medical Center Breast Center offers 3D digital mammography, breast ultrasound
and breast MRI in a center accredited by the American College of Radiology. Stereotactic-guided, ultrasound-guided and fine needle biopsy are available onsite on the same
day for patients whose imaging tests show suspicious areas in need of further assessment —
sparing them from the anxiety they would feel if they had to wait to come back for this
procedure.
Those diagnosed with breast cancer have access to treatment options based on the latest medical
research. Breast cancer surgery is provided at the main Palisades Medical Center hospital —
including oncoplastic “hidden scar” surgery, which achieves the best cosmetic result possible,
and breast reconstruction, such as DIEP flap approaches which rebuilds a breast from a patient’s
own natural tissue.
Chemotherapy is provided at the Breast Center, overseen by an experienced medical oncologist who also connects patients with available clinical trial opportunities. Radiation therapy is delivered at the state-of-the-art radiation oncology center at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, using the most advanced technologies.
Genetic counseling and testing are also provided at the Breast Center to individuals at high risk
of breast cancer. Support groups connect patients with others going through similar experiences
and are a source of education and comfort.
Advanced care for complex pregnancies
Palisades Medical Center’s newly renovated maternity center combines high-quality care with
state-of-the-art technology and calming, comforting amenities. Educational resources prepare
new parents to welcome their newborns into the world safely and comfortably. The hospital
consistently earns five-star ratings for excellence in C-section and vaginal delivery from
Healthgrades.
In addition to routine maternity care, women receiving pregnancy care through Palisades
Medical Center have access to experts in maternal-fetal medicine. This includes the care of women with complex pregnancies that are considered “high risk” due to their own health concerns or those of the developing baby.
The maternity care team includes ob/gyns, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, obstetric nurses, obstetric anesthesiologists, neonatologists and pediatricians who provide care tailored to each patient’s needs.
Experts in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine created the first program in the country for
women with abnormal placental development. In addition to the Center for Abnormal
Placentation, patients have access to the Fetal Care Program (for fetuses with birth defects or
other problems that can complicate birth), advanced obstetric imaging and screening procedures
and the Center for Early Pregnancy Loss to evaluate women who have experienced loss of a
pregnancy between 12 and 20 weeks, especially those who have had multiple miscarriages.
“Hackensack University Medical Center treats more women with high-risk pregnancies than any
other center in northern and central New Jersey,” said Abdulla Mohammad Al-Khan, M.D., vice
chairman and director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Surgery at Hackensack University Medical
Center. “Women who have their babies at Palisades Medical Center have the benefit of
extraordinary maternity care close to home, as well as facilitated access to one of the world’s
preeminent maternal-fetal medicine centers.”
Minimally invasive surgery
Surgeons at Palisades Medical Center perform procedures using minimally invasive surgery
whenever appropriate, operating through small incisions and often enabling patients to return to
the comfort of their homes the same day.
“Minimally invasive surgery is associated with less blood loss, less pain after surgery and a quicker recovery than traditional open surgery,” explained Jeffrey Kraft, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery at Palisades Medical Center. “We use the least invasive approach necessary to perform each surgical procedure, matching each patient with the best operation to achieve optimal results.”
The hospital is also home to an accredited General Surgery Residency Program to train new
surgeons. The Graduate Medical Education Program also offers residencies in podiatry,
dermatology, family medicine and internal medicine, as well as gastroenterology fellowships
and traditional rotating internships.
Award-winning care
Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center has been recognized with:
- Healthgrades 5-Star Rating in C-Section and Vaginal Deliveries
- The Get With The Guidelines “Gold Plus” Stroke Award and Elite Honor Roll and Heart Failure “Gold Plus” Award and Honor Roll from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
- Accreditation by The Joint Commission and the Gold Seal of Approval for Stroke and Sepsis Disease-Specific Certifications
Palisades Medical Center is located at 7600 River Road in North Bergen. For more information
or to make an appointment with a Palisades Medical Center physician, call (201) 854-5000.
