Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) and Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) are the only two hospitals in New Jersey honored with the Gold Level Center of Excellence in Life Support award.
The Excellence in Life Support Award recognizes medical centers that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, including staff training, continuing education, patient satisfaction and ongoing clinical care.
Hackensack University Medical Center and Jersey Shore University Medical Center provide Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, ECMO, for support of failing organ systems in infants, children and adults. ECMO is one of the most advanced forms of life support available to patients experiencing acute failure of the cardio-respiratory system.
ECMO allows time for the patient’s lungs or heart to heal over a period of time by using a heart-lung machine to oxygenate the blood outside the body. It temporarily takes over the functions of the heart and lungs for people with life-threatening conditions, including those with cardiac arrest, heart attack, heart failure, lung failure, pulmonary embolism, respiratory failure, cardiogenic shock or severe trauma and infections, like the COVID-19 virus.
Medical centers receiving the award use ELSO guidelines and are expected to go above and beyond expectations. Centers must be experienced in patient care with established policies and procedures.
“We are honored to be the recipient of such a prestigious award regarding the critical care services and life support equipment and training provided to our Hackensack University and Jersey Shore University medical center patients,” said Elizabeth A. Maiorana, MBA, MSN, R.N., vice president, Cardiovascular Care Transformation Services, Hackensack Meridian Health. “The ECMO center accomplishments reflect the dedication to advancing health care that we continuously strive to achieve at Hackensack Meridian Health.”
The application is divided into seven sections:
- Systems Focus: Supply generalized institutional information
- Environmental Focus: Define the facility and equipment available for ECLS
- Workforce Focus: Describe personnel caring for the patient
- Knowledge Management: Detail specifics on ECLS Team training and competencies
- Quality Focus: Provide evidence regarding continuous quality improvement activities
- Process Optimization: Explain strategies developed from outcome and quality reviews
- Patient & Family Focus: Illustrate family education and participation in care
About ELSO
ELSO is an international nonprofit consortium of health care institutions, researchers, and industry partners. The organization provides support to those delivering extracorporeal life support through continuing education, guidelines, original research, publications, and a comprehensive registry of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patient data.
About HMH, HUMC and JSUMC
HUMC and JSUMC are licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health for open heart and minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and have earned distinguished three-star ratings from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for their high-level of patient care and exemplary outcomes in adult cardiac surgery.
The academic medical centers provide the communities they serve with adult and pediatric trauma care services, and serve as their region’s centers for advanced treatment, with community hospitals referring their most complex patients to both locations for care.
Hackensack Meridian Health is the largest not-for-profit, integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. With18 hospitals, and over 36,000 team members, 7,000 physicians and 500+ patient care locations, the network also includes
• Ambulatory care centers
• Surgery centers
• home health services
• Long-term care
• Assisted living communities
• Ambulance services
• Lifesaving air medical transportation
• Urgent care centers
• Physician practice locations
• Fitness and wellness center
For information, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org. For a free physician referral, call 844-HMH-WELL.