Download For Immediate Release - Atlantic Health System

Media Contact: Janina Hecht [email protected] 908­522­2142 Atlantic Health P.O. Box 1905 Morristown, NJ 07962­1905
For Immediate Release Morristown Memorial Hospital Completes $20 Million Expansion of 80,000 Square Foot Carol G. Simon Cancer Center Deepak Chopra Speaks at Opening Event, November 11 MORRISTOWN, NJ OCTOBER 27, 2005 ­ Atlantic Health’s Morristown Memorial Hospital announced today the completion of the $20 million expansion project of its comprehensive Carol G. Simon Cancer Center. The Simon Cancer Center has doubled in size to 80,000 square feet and, among many new services, includes the Carol W. and Julius A. Rippel Breast Center, as well as dedicated space for the Peter B. Doherty Men’s Cancer Center. A weekend Grand Opening to the public is scheduled for: Friday, November 11, 7:30 to 9:00pm with keynote speaker Deepak Chopra. Dr. Chopra will share his latest ideas on mind body medicine. The free lecture is sponsored by Toyota of Morristown and The MCJ Foundation. Saturday, November 12, 11:30am to 3:00pm, an open house featuring free screenings, tours of the facility and mini lectures on the latest treatments and innovations in cancer care. Refreshments and entertainment are provided by Whole Foods Market of Madison. No registration is necessary. Parking is free. For more information, call 973­971­7009. Both events are located at Morristown Memorial’s Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, 100 Madison Avenue, Morristown. More than 10,000 cancer patients visit the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center every year, more than any other cancer center in the region. The comprehensive Cancer Center at Morristown Memorial opened its doors in 1998. Since then, its reputation has become evident as 98 percent of patients choose to remain at Morristown Memorial for treatment. The number of people diagnosed or treated annually for cancer at the hospital has increased 42 percent since 1997 and radiation oncology treatment has jumped 236 percent since that year. “Expanding the Simon Cancer Center was necessary to meet our dramatically increasing patient volume and the fast­ paced growth and development of our cancer programs and services, “ said Steven Papish, MD, medical director, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, Morristown Memorial Hospital. “The most exciting development is the creation of the Carol W. and Julius A. Rippel Breast Center headed by William D. Ko, MD.” Carol W. and Julius A. Rippel Breast Center In the last three years, mammograms have increased 79 percent at Morristown Memorial. The evaluation and ­more­ Morristown Memorial Expansion Page 2 of 5 management of abnormalities of the breast, including pre­cancerous and cancerous conditions, is a highly specialized area of emphasis at the Rippel Breast Center. A multidisciplinary team of physicians and nurses familiar with all aspects of breast disease participate in evaluation and treatment planning. The team approach includes participation by the patient and family, as well as the primary care and consulting physicians. “The new Rippel Breast Center will result in improved coordinated, time­sensitive care,” said Dr. Ko, director of Breast Imaging, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, Morristown Memorial Hospital. The Rippel Breast Center provides access to digital mammography and computer assisted detection (CAD), breast MRI with CAD, MRI­guided and stereotactic breast biopsy, ultrasound, biotherapy, hormone therapy, MammoSite seed radiation and genetic counseling for risk assessment, just to name a few of its specialized services. Associated services are available in patient education and patient support. In addition to the availability of individual and family counseling, a variety of support groups meet on a regular basis, including I Can Cope; Look Good, Feel Better; and the Breast Support Group. Peter B. Doherty Men’s Cancer Center The two­story Simon Cancer Center expansion also provides dedicated space to the Peter B. Doherty Men’s Cancer Center – home to the largest prostate cancer support group in the eastern United States, which attracts up to 300 participants at its monthly meetings and seminars. The Peter B. Doherty Men’s Cancer Center offers comprehensive care for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancers. A multidisciplinary team of board­certified urologists, surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and physicists work together to develop a treatment plan tailored to each patient’s specific needs. The Men’s Cancer Center’s multidisciplinary review committee and prostate tumor panel analyzes cases to form a consensus on the best course of care. The outcome of this review helps patients better understand their illness and choose the best treatment options to suit their needs. A full array of diagnostic tools and treatment options are available. From the digital rectal exam (DRE) to the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, and from radical surgery to cryosurgery to intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and experimental new drugs, the Men’s Cancer Center team stands ready to address any need a current or prospective patient may have. Thanks to Morristown Memorial’s research activities, patients have access to the most advanced treatments in modern medicine, including: IMRT, image­guided radiation therapy (IGRT), nerve­sparing radical prostatectomy, laparoscopic prostatectomy, seed implantation, bladder substitution, kidney preserving surgeries, and laparoscopic kidney removal surgery. ­more­
Morristown Memorial Expansion Page 3 of 5 Da Vinci Surgical System The Carol G. Simon Cancer Center now offers an approach to prostate cancer surgery known as robotic laparoscopic prostatectomy. In this procedure, a surgeon uses a laparoscope (a slender fiber­optic instrument) to view the interior of the body. The surgeon then uses highly precise robotic instruments to remove the cancerous prostate through a small incision. To perform a robotic laparoscopic prostatectomy, our surgeons use the state–of–the–art da Vinci surgical system. The da Vinci system is comprised of a surgeon console plus patient–side robotic equipment, including a high resolution camera and micro–instruments controlled from the surgeon console. The computer–enhanced system scales the hand movements of the surgeon at the console down to micro–movements of the surgical instruments on the patient side. The surgical system cannot be programmed; every surgical maneuver must be performed with direct input from the surgeon. Second Opinion Program If a patient has already been diagnosed with cancer elsewhere, the Men’s Cancer Center Second Opinion Program allows patients to have their records reviewed by cancer specialists, meet with a multidisciplinary team for a thorough consultation, and to take part in a unique pre–operative education program to answer questions about what to expect during treatment. All of the Peter B. Doherty Men’s Cancer Center patients also have access to programs and health care professionals that address their emotional needs, including the largest prostate cancer support group in the northeast United States, pre– operative support and education classes, short–term counseling services, and complementary medicine programs. Women’s Cancer Center The Carol G. Simon Cancer Center is also home to a dedicated Women’s Cancer Center which offers a wide range of services to help women meet the physical and emotional challenges associated with uterine, ovarian, and other gynecologic cancers. While treatment for these cancers may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or any combination of these, the Center’s primary goal is to help women understand and manage their disease. ”We firmly believe that you should be an active part in your treatment and recovery. That is why we candidly discuss all aspects of your diagnosis and treatment options, allowing you to choose from a range of medical and surgical options,” said Karen Houck, MD, the newest female gynecologic oncologist at the Women’s Cancer Center. The Women’s Cancer Center provides screening, evaluation and treatment for women with vulvar, vaginal, cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancers. Up–to–date screening facilities are available for cytologic and colposcopic detection of cervical cancer, sonographic detection of ovarian cancer, and surgical diagnostic and treatment procedures. Patients are evaluated and a plan for treatment is decided upon after consultation with the patient and appropriate specialists. Prompt communication and consultation with the patient’s referring physician is performed in order to facilitate treatment planning. ­more­
Morristown Memorial Expansion Page 4 of 5 Treatment options for gynecologic cancers include radical surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, or a combination of these modalities, and every effort is made to provide optimal treatment. The Women’s Cancer Center offers ovarian cancer genetics screening, an Early Detection Program for cervical cancer, and minimally invasive surgery for adnexal masses and gynecologic cancers. The Women’s Cancer Center not only offers the most advanced diagnostic technologies and treatments, but emotional, dietary and educational services as well. Complementary medicine is considered an important part of treatment. Partnership with The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Atlantic Health System is more than an affiliate of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ); they are a Partner of CINJ, making Morristown Memorial Hospital one of the most active cancer research programs in the state. Patients at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials that are part of national research groups such as: the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOG), the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), and The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Oncology Group. Morristown Memorial Hospital’s Carol G. Simon Cancer Center continues to offer the region’s largest staff of cancer specialists and the most advanced methods to diagnose, treat and manage all types of cancer. All members of its multidisciplinary care teams have been specially selected and trained to provide the highest level of care for both the physical and emotional needs of its patients. Integrating traditional and complementary medical modalities, the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center provides inpatient, outpatient, home care, support services, and preventive screenings. All of these services are conveniently offered at Morristown Memorial Hospital—allowing the cancer patient and care giver to remain within the community, close to family and friends. Part of the Atlantic Health System, www.atlantichealth.org, Morristown Memorial is a non­profit 642­licensed­bed hospital in Morristown, New Jersey. A clinical affiliate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey­New Jersey Medical School, Morristown Memorial’s specialties include cardiology and cardiac surgery, adult and pediatric oncology, critical and emergency care and inpatient rehabilitation and neonatal intensive care services. Morristown Memorial is also a Level II Regional Trauma Center, a Level III Regional Perinatal Center and a Regional Pediatric Center. Other services include the Goryeb Children’s Hospital, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, North Jersey Regional Arthritis Center, Wound Care Centerâ, Sleep Disorder Center, Hyperbaric Medicine Program, Diabetes Center, Valerie Fund Center (pediatric oncology cancer program), Photopheresis Center, Atlantic Mind Body Center, Atlantic Behavioral Health, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute, and Atlantic Home Care and Hospice. The hospital is the largest employer in Morristown, the second largest employer in Morris County, and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Morristown Memorial is ranked among the top 100 cardiovascular hospitals in the nation by Solucient, Inc., and is designated ­more­
Morristown Memorial Expansion Page 5 of 5 as a Magnet Hospital for Excellence in Nursing Service – the highest level of recognition by American Nurses Credentialing Center available to facilities that provide excellent acute care services. Atlantic Health System, one of the largest non­profit health care systems in New Jersey, includes Morristown Memorial Hospital, Overlook Hospital in Summit, and Mountainside Hospital in Montclair/Glen Ridge. # # #