Weekly Dose
Quick and timely news items delivered to your e-mail to keep you informed about hospital news and major trends in health care.
In This Issue
Aetna Contract Impasse
Breast Health at Mountainside
Mountainside Has a New Website
Local Artists Donate Photography
Childbirth at Mountainside
Joint Pain and Arthritis Relief
Mountainside Annual Public Meeting
Upcoming Events
MSH building
 
To register for an upcoming event please visit www.mountainsidenow.com or call1-888-973-4MSH unless otherwise noted.
 
Prenatal Health Workshop
Learn the do's and don'ts for a healthy pregnancy

October 22
12:00pm-1:00pm
Mountainside Hospital Bayberry Cafe
1 Bay Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042

Light lunch will be served.

Registration is encouraged. Please call 1-888-973-4MSH or visit www.mountainsidehosp.com to register.
Breast Health Workshop 

Learn techniques and steps for early detection. Cancer-
Fighting foods will also be discussed. 

 

 October 29
12:00pm-1:00pm
Mountainside Hospital, Bayberry Cafe
1 Bay Avenue

Montclair, NJ 07042

 

Light lunch will be served.

Registration is encouraged. Please call 1-888-973-4MSH or visit www.mountainsidenow.com to register.

 
Blood
Pressure Screenings
 
Make sure you're at or below 120/80-the national guideline for blood pressure.

Receive counseling and educational materials at these
free events. No registration is required.

Third Thursday of each month
 10am to Noon
 Brookdale Shop Rite, Broad Street, Bloomfield.

First Wednesday of each month
9am to 11:30am
West Caldwell Shop Rite, 540 Passaic Avenue,  West Caldwell.
 
December 3
10am to Noon
Little Falls Shop Rite
171 Browertown Road, Little Falls.
 
Diabetes Screenings 


Free Diabetes screenings with immediate results. 

No fasting or registration required. 

November 23

9am to Noon
Montclair Health Department, 205 Claremont Avenue, Montclair.
 
Cholesterol  and Glucose Screenings

Learn your total cholesterol, HDL and ratio with a simple, non-fasting finger stick test. 

 Fee: $12.00/$8.00 for those 55 and older.
Registration is required.
October 18
9am to 11am
Verona Health Department,
880 Bloomfield Avenue,
Verona.

 

To register, please call 973-857-4824

 

Fee: $15.00/$10.00 for those 55 and older.

 

Registration is required.

 

November 16

9am to 11am

Nutley Health Department, 149 Chestnut Avenue, Nutley.

To register, please call 973-284-4976.
 
Stroke Screenings

Evaluate your risk for stroke through cholesterol testing, blood pressure, pulse check, carotid artery assessment and stroke-related counseling from staff physicians.

Fee: $30.00/person, $20.00 for those 55 and older.

Registration is required.

November 9
10am to Noon
Bloomfield Health Department
1 Municipal Plaza, Bloomfield

To register, please call 973-680-4058.
 
Bone Density Screenings

An ultrasound of the forearm identifies women and men at risk for osteoporosis.

Fee: $10.00/person and $8.00 for those 55 and older.

Registration is required.
 
October 19
9am to 11am, Nutley Health Department, 149 Chestnut Avenue, Nutley.

 To register, please call
973-284-4976.

 October 26 &
December 14
10am to Noon
Bloomfield Health Department, 1 Municipal Plaza, Bloomfield. 
To register, please call 973-680-4058.
 
December 7
9am to 11am, Montclair YMCA
25 Park Street, Montclair.
To register, please call
1-888-973-4MSH.
Do you have a suggestion
for a Community Health program? 
We'd love to hear from you!

Send us an e-mail:
[email protected] 
 
Week of October 18, 2010

Mountainside and Aetna at Contract Impasse: Patient In-Network Benefits at Risk 

Mountainside Hospital is regrettably the latest healthcare provider to reach a contract impasse with a

third-party insurer. The hospital's

 in-network agreement with Aetna expired on October 1, 2010.  The decision to terminate Mountainside Hospital's in-network status with Aetna was not taken lightly.   In recent months, Mountainside Hospital has successfully renewed contracts with other major insurers who have agreed to reimbursement for patient services at fair market rates.  Acceptance of below market rates from Aetna could jeopardize those contracts and the health and survival of the hospital.  Mountainside Hospital is taking numerous steps to ensure patient continuity and minimize inconvenience.

 

The majority of Mountainside Hospital's Aetna patients are fully insured Employer Group plan patients and they are guaranteed in-network coverage through February 1, 2011 under a state-mandated grace period.  Managed Medicare plan patients and those covered under Self-Insurance plans are impacted immediately.   

 

CheckMountainside Hospital's Insurance Verification Department staff is ready to provide individual assistance as needed.  Here are some important facts and steps that patients can take based upon their own circumstances:  

 

  • Patients who are in the midst of outpatient treatment plans (including prenatal coverage, wound care, physical therapy, etc.,) should work with their doctors to submit a Transition Coverage Request form. Please contact Mountainside Hospital if you need copies of this form
  • While most patients immediately transition to out-of-network status, some are covered by a state-mandated grace period until February 1, 2011.
  • Emergency Department treatment for urgent care for all Aetna patients will be considered in−network.
  • Patients with Medicare as their primary insurance coverage and Aetna as their secondary insurance plan will be paid through Medicare, but we will verify their Aetna out-of-network benefit options as the secondary insurance provider.
  • The patient or physician's office can obtain a special Aetna Continuum of Care form to use to ensure continuity for those in the midst of treatment for certain conditions.
  • Medicare patients can change insurers and join Horizon Blue Cross Medicare, Cigna Medicare, AmeriGroup Medicare and AmeriChoice Medicare to continue Mountainside care.
  • Employees can ask their employers for access to other insurance plans in time for Open Enrollment.

 

The Mountainside Insurance Verification Department can provide assistance interpreting out-of-network eligibility and coverage.

 

Patient inquiries can be directed to the Insurance Verification Office at (973) 259-3600.

Mountainide Hospital offers comprehensive  

breast health and cancer treatment programs

New Jersey has the nation's seventh highest incidence of breast cancer and among the state's 21 counties, Essex County has the second highest breast cancer rate, according to data gathered by the National Cancer Institute and state government. In response to those disturbing statistics, Mountainside Hospital is focused on providing comprehensive and innovative breast cancer education, screening, diagnosis and treatment.

 

Knitters
Mountainside Hospital volunteers, Mary Gideon, Belinda Shimamoto and Mildred Bengivengo with donated scarves

In special recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all mammograms performed at Mountainside in the month of October will come with a special gift.  The Mountainside Hospital Women's Imaging Center will also hold raffles throughout the month for handmade pink scarves donated by the hospital's knitting group.

 

In fact, every month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Mountainside. Talks about breast health and breast cancer are available throughout the year and include the upcoming Breast Health presentation by AmeriGroup on October 29 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in Mountainside's Bayberry Caf�.  With some 6,300 new cases of breast cancer expected to be diagnosed in New Jersey this year, the hospital aims to use the October 29 event as an opportunity to educate the community about the importance of regular mammography screenings. 

 

High-tech tools benefit patients

 

"Mountainside's state-of-the-art digital mammography technology significantly enhances our ability to detect breast cancer by providing clearer, more detailed images," explains breast radiologist Dr. Madelyn Danoff. "It also allows us to perform mammograms more quickly and comfortably, particularly for women with larger breasts." In fact, Mountainside has large plate equipment available which reduces the number of images required for large-breasted women.

 

When a biopsy, the next diagnostic step, is indicated, Mountainside Hospital uses the most innovative and minimally invasive options available. Board-certified radiologists and surgeons perform procedures that can be completed in most cases in less than one hour with virtually no pain or complications.

 

Other diagnostic tools available at the hospital include risk assessment for women with a family history of breast cancer; breast ultrasound procedures that facilitate the evaluation of breast abnormalities by revealing the shape, texture and composition of tumors; and two different types of sentinel lymph node mapping.

 

Multiple treatment options

 

Diagnostic test results are confidentially reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of medical experts who collaboratively establish a treatment plan. An array of treatment alternatives are available within Mountainside Hospital. The hospital is equipped for surgical procedures performed by highly-skilled surgeons; consultation with plastic surgeons for breast reconstruction; radiation therapy; and chemotherapy treatment at an Infusion Center staffed by nurses who hold national certifications from the Oncology Nursing Society.

  

For further information about care at Mountainside Hospital, go to www.mountainsidehosp.com or call (973) 429-6000.

Mountainside has a new website!

 

An all new www.mountainsidehosp.com website featuring a more vibrant design, greater functionality and updated content has been launched.  With the internet playing an increasingly important role in consumer healthcare research and decision making, the new site will provide the hospital with an enhanced web presence.

 

Interactive patient services available at www.mountainsidehosp.com include:

 

  • "Find a Doctor" referral search engineMountainside EDoc
  • "Mountainside E-Doc" registration and access link
  • Online registration for hospital classes and seminars
  • Online sign up for the hospital's email newsletter
  • "Send a Compliment" feature for patients Sign Up

 

 Throughout the site, there is new or refreshed editorial content developed with the input of the directors of all medical departments. All hospital services are featured.

Content will be updated on an ongoing basis by the Marketing/PR Department. Any questions and content advisories should be directed to Natalie Thigpen at (973) 429-6841.

 

 

The homepage also houses a "For Doctors Only" link to HMS, PACS. webmail and other physician services.

Local Artists Donate Photography
Fran Pelzman Liscio
Frances Pelzman Liscio
Thanks to the generous donations of local artists Frances Pelzman Liscio and Michael Stahl, the hallways in Mountainside Hospital are beginning to resemble those of an art gallery rather than a hospital. 

Frances Pelzman Liscio's botanical photography is on display throughout the hospital, brightening the Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Same Day Surgery waiting areas.  Ms. Pelzman Liscio's work has been published in fine art and design magazines including Traditional Home and Martha Stewart Living, and is included in many private collections and galleries. 

Michael Stahl
Michael Stahl
Photographer Michael Stahl is known for his dramatic black and white portraits celebrating maternity, newborns and family relationships.  Stahl's striking portraits are aptly placed in the Postpartum and Labor and Delivery units of the hospital.  "They have enhanced the postpartum unit by illustrating family development in various stages," said Diana Durham, Director of Mountainside's Obstetrical Services.  Durham continued, "Patients and their visitors consistently admire these dramatic depictions of young families, expectant mothers and newborns."

Infant births at Mountainside Hospital increased 46% last year.  The hospital offers flexible, family- centered birthing options.  Mobile telemetry is available.  This highly valued service provides expectant mothers with the freedom to walk around, shower and remain active.  Both midwife births and physician-assisted births are supported at Mountainside Hospital.  A state-of-the-art maternal-fetal health unit is available as well as a Perinatologist who specializes in the care of women with complicated or "at-risk" pregnancies.  A Special Care Nursery is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by Neonatologists who are specially trained in providing care to newborns.  An array of pre-natal, post-partum and infant care courses and support groups are offered.  Among area hospitals, Mountainside Hospital has the highest percentage of infants breastfeeding at discharge.  The Mountainside Hospital Birthing Center hosts a free monthly tour and open house.

At Mountainside Hospital, world-class physicians treat a wide range of medical conditions using cutting-edge technologies. Patients have immediate access to innovative and effective treatment alternatives at specialized centers within the hospital that focus on women's health, cancer care, cardiac care, bariatric surgery, stroke, outpatient diagnostics, dialysis, and other needs.  Mountainside Hospital has been serving community health needs since 1891. Today, the 365-bed private hospital delivers personalized care while also functioning as a learning center via its nursing school and residency programs in family medicine, internal medicine and dentistry.

More information regarding the donated artwork on display at Mountainside Hospital may be found at: Frances Pelzman Liscio- www.punksandroses.com; Michael Stahl- www.bestfriendphotos.com.
Learn about the advantages of childbirth at Mountainside Hospital

Baby BellyMountainside Hospital invites you to take a tour of the hospital's birthing center and to learn more about their  comprehensive childbirth services:

  • 24/7 Neonatology Support and Special Care Nursery
  • Perinatal Services for High-Risk and Complicated Pregnancies
  • Flexible, Family-Centered  Birthing plans
  • Highly Attentive Nursing Care
  • Pre-natal and Post-discharge Support Groups, Classes and One-to-one Assistance
  • Ranked highest in the region for percentage of newborns breastfeeding at discharge

 Presentations and tours will be offered from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on:
  • November 9
  • December 14
To register, please visit www.mountainsidenow.com
or call 1-888-973-4MSH.
Joint Pain and Arthritis: Non-Surgical and Surgical Options 
A free seminar presented by Dr. John Mendes

Dr. John Mendes, Joint Replacement Program Medical Director, will highlight the latest non-surgical and joint replacement options for relieving pain and arthritis available through our highly skilled staff of orthopedic surgeons.

nursesIf joint pain and lack of mobility are keeping you from activities you used to enjoy, Mountainside Hospital's Joint Replacement Program can help. If surgery is right for you, our orthopedic surgeon will plan your surgical treatment, and our dedicated team of orthopedic surgeons, nurses and physical therapists - along with your medical doctor - will oversee your care. With minimal incision techniques, the latest implant designs, multi-modal pain management and rapid rehabilitation - Mountainside will get you moving again.

 November 10
6:00 p.m.
Mountainside Hospital
1 Bay Ave., Montclair

To register call 1(888)973-4MSH or visit www.mountainsidenow.com
Convenient Parking Available

Mountainside Hospital Annual Public Meeting

Good things are happening at Mountainside.  Come learn about the excellent progress being made as a result of the outstanding collaboration between the hospital's highly skilled employees and a talented medical staff.

 

We look forward to seeing you there.


 November 18
6:30 p.m.
Mountainside Hospital
1 Bay Ave., Montclair

To R.S.V.P. call 973-429-6012 or email [email protected].