Penn Medicine Princeton Health

During a visit to the Medical, Neuro, Oncology Unit at Princeton Health, a patient was touched by nurse Emily Bettano’s ability to offer extraordinary support during a challenging time. Experiencing an accident or injury can be traumatic to the body, mind, and spirit and when nurses understand that and provide superior care, it should be recognized. "Emily was my nurse in the hospital with a hard to diagnose condition. It has been a real uphill battle for me, as there have been many obstacles. In a great deal of sadness, Emily was such a great nurse to have. She is very patient, thorough, and especially kind. She demonstrated through her attention, and help, that she is committed to her job and to helping people. She never seemed frustrated or overwhelmed to help. She was eager to help me feel not alone and that there was HOPE! Thank you, Emily.” - MNO Unit, Princeton Health Patient Congratulations, Emily, on receiving The DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses, a nationwide program that rewards and celebrates the clinical skill and compassion nurses provide to patients and families.

Princeton Health Innovations, a grant program funded by philanthropy to promote innovation and creative problem-solving, recently awarded three grants to programs and services proposed by Penn Medicine Princeton Health clinicians, physicians, and other employees. In June, three Princeton Health units jointly received $62,000 to initiate or continue programs to improve patient outcomes, initiate new programs, or advance organizational goals. Swipe to learn more about this year’s grantees and their projects.

On October 10, Penn Medicine Princeton Health held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new OB/GYN practice location at Forrestal Village in Princeton. Members of the community were invited to tour the facility and meet with providers and staff. Pictured at the ribbon cutting are the physicians and staff of the new practice location, Penn Medicine Princeton Health CEO James Demetriades, and township committee member and deputy mayor of Plainsboro, Neil J. Lewis. The practice includes several providers who see patients at the new site. Other practice locations include Pennington, Robbinsville, Hillsborough and on the hospital campus in Plainsboro. For more information on OB/GYN at Forrestal Village, visit http://spr.ly/6040qFZEu

A joint replacement used to mean spending a week in the hospital, followed by a stay in a nursing facility. Now, thanks to advances in minimally invasive surgery, patients like Peter Mavraganis can have surgery in the morning and walk out in the afternoon with a new hip or knee. Learn about the same-day joint replacement program launched by orthopaedic surgeon Brian Culp, MD, medical director of the Center for Joint Replacement at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, that enables patients to recover much more quickly. http://spr.ly/6045qsRPF

Pickleball, the fast growing sport in America, attracts enthusiasts of all ages. Among older adults, this has led to an unfortunate increase in related injuries. Princeton Medical Center physical therapist Barbara Kutch says because pickleball isn’t as intense as tennis and the equipment is lighter, people can play for much longer, dramatically increasing the workload on tendons in the shoulder (rotator cuff) and elbows. This can lead to overuse injuries. To avoid these injuries, she says it’s important to stretch before and after playing and gradually increase your length of play. If you do get hurt, physical therapy may help. And the good news is, most patients can continue playing while undergoing therapy. Exercises are personalized to each patient’s needs and may involve: → Stretching → Strengthening muscles around the affected joint → Improving posture → Expanding range of motion → Refining the patient’s form to avoid future injuries To find a Penn Medicine Princeton Health provider, please call 800-789-7366 or visit http://spr.ly/6040qHTM8

Princeton House Behavioral Health nurse Karen McPherson (left), an advisor on the board of Jazz for Dads in East Windsor, NJ, raised $15,000 to support Jazz for Prostate Cancer Awareness (Jazz4PCA). McPherson received a Penn Medicine CAREs grant which helped cover some of the event’s marketing and advertising costs. Ralph Stowe (middle) founded Jazz4PCA to honor his brother, a renowned jazz musician who died of prostate cancer at age 61. McPherson says she plays “a small, yet significant role in bringing awareness of prostate cancer to African American men,” who are disproportionately affected by the disease.

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center’s Center for Digestive Health is pleased to offer a convenient and innovative program, Direct Access Colonoscopy, to help speed the scheduling of routine screening colonoscopies. You can schedule a procedure without first having an office visit with a gastroenterologist if you meet these criteria: ✓ Are age 45 or older or 40 or older and have not been screened ✓ Have a family history of colon cancer ✓ Have no significant heart, lung, liver, or kidney disease (ask our nurse for details) ✓ Are not on blood-thinning medications other than routine aspirin (ask our nurse details) ✓ Have no history of stroke or blood clots ✓ Do not have active asthma Individuals who meet the criteria above can call 609-853-6390, option 2, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy.

Each person’s risk for developing breast cancer depends on a variety of factors. Some—like age, family history, or having dense breasts—can’t be controlled. Some can: ✓ Maintain a healthy weight ✓ Limit alcohol intake ✓ Don’t smoke ✓ Understand your risk and get genetic counseling if appropriate ✓ GET AN ANNUAL MAMMOGRAM Mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer in its early stages, when most treatable. Schedule your mammogram: 609-853-7070. Princeton Medical Center provides mammograms on the hospital campus in Plainsboro and at the Breast Health Center in Plainsboro. Extended hours are available.

On September 29, Princeton Health Community Wellness hosted their first Annual Autumn Self-Care Retreat at the serene Plainsboro Preserve. Nearly 100 attendees enjoyed a day of nourishing activities, including nature walks, breathwork, meditation, mindful art, and yoga, along with specialty classes like backyard birding, Tai Chi and Qigong. A heartfelt thank you to Plainsboro Preserve, our talented and knowledgeable instructors (listed below), Nick Palumbo from Willow Tree and Vanessa Sanford for the relaxing chair massages, and to everyone who made this retreat a huge success! → Beth Young, nutritionist → Carolyn Schindewolf, Craig Harley, Cynthia Sinicropi-Philibosian, Maria Benerofe - → Community Wellness → Cynthia Maltenfort, Ed Parma, and Jessie Kraja - Princeton Fitness & Wellness → Leena Dave, Creative Corner of Plainsboro → Tara Miller, Plainsboro Preserve → Rajan Narayanaswamy We’re excited to announce our Spring Self-Care Retreat will take place in May 2025 at the same location. Stay tuned for more details.

Anxiety over making food choices has led to an increase in online testimonials on meal uniformity throughout social media platforms. Rebecca Boswell, PhD, supervising psychologist at the Princeton Center for Eating Disorders at Princeton House Behavioral Health, states that having the same daily foods can stem from psychological issues around food, including textural sensitives, food-related fears, and even disordered eating. Read the full article at http://spr.ly/6041UiuTV