COMMUNITY CALENDAR february 2014

a LISTING Of PrOGraMS OffereD THIS MONTH CaN be fOuND ON THe reVerSe SIDe.

NeeD a DOCTOr? TO fIND a SaINT PeTer’S PHySICIaN, CaLL 1-855-SP-My-DOC (1-855-776-9362).

Archana Singh, MD

Saint Peter’s Children’s Hospital Only One in State Recognized for

Treatment of AsthmaAsthma is a chronic inflammatory

disease of the airways. The inflammation causes the airways to

produce large amounts of mucus. This may cause plugging of the inflamed airways, making it even harder to breathe.

Among children and adolescents aged 5-18 years, asthma is the leading cause of hospital stays and school absences, accounting for a loss of 14 million school days annually. In recent years there has been a spike in the number of children developing asthma, partly attributed to environmental factors such as air pollution, indoor pollutants such as animal dander, house dust mites, and fumes from cleaning liquids.

Because a child’s airways are narrower than an adult’s, children have a greater risk of developing airway constriction. According to Archana Singh, MD, chief of pediatric pulmonology at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University

Hospital, symptoms of asthma in children include:• Cough - typically dry and sometimes the only symptom of asthma • Wheezing - A high-pitched whistling sound during breathing Other symptoms can include tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, poor exercise endurance, and feeling tired.Saint Peter’s Healthcare System was recently named one of the nation’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures 2012 by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of healthcare organizations in America. Recognized for exemplary performance in the use of processes attributed to care that leads to positive patient outcomes in the treatment of such conditions a heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia, and surgical care, Saint Peter’s was the only New Jersey hospital cited for quality care of childhood asthma.

At The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a child suspected of having asthma undergoes thorough examination, evaluation, and tests necessary to confirm diagnosis. Diagnostic tests include allergy testing when allergies are suspected to trigger asthma and a lung function test.

Treatment must include the management of asthma triggers, says Dr. Singh.

In addition to indoor and outdoor allergies, asthma triggers include: • Cigarette smoke• Air pollution• Acid reflux• Infections such as flu and sinus problems• Weather - sudden changes in cold or heat• Excessive crying or laughing• Vocal chord problems

As is the case with adults, medications can be prescribed to treat asthma. Rescue medicines are taken when children are having an asthma attack with symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and/or having trouble breathing. Examples of quick-relief medicines include albuterol, proventil, ventolin, and xopenex.

Long-term control medicines are prescribed to be taken every day so as to prevent asthma symptoms. Children must take these medicines even if no symptoms are present, says Dr. Singh, and some children may need more than one long-term control medicine.

“The goal of asthma treatment should be to use minimum medication necessary to maintain control of the condition and prevent long-term lung damage,” says Dr. Singh.

Because management is so important to controlling symptoms, it is important that parents work with their child’s school to attempt to minimize the absences related to asthma. School nursing offices should have a copy of a child’s asthma management plan, says Dr. Singh. Parents usually sign consent so children will be able to take medicine during school hours.

According to New Jersey school laws and regulations, school districts allow students to self-administer emergency asthma medication if approved to do so by a physician. The law also requires schools to have a nebulizer on-site.

Asthma can be life threatening. If a child is unable to speak in full sentences, confused and weak, and the skin is turning blue or grey, SEEK immediate medical attention, says Dr. Singh.

“A parent should not waste time calling a doctor at this point. Call 911 immediately,” says Dr. Singh.

For more information or questions contact the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology at 732-565-5467.

SuPPOrT GrOuPSautism family Support GroupFEBRUARY 9, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM877-886-9462

alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group FEBRUARY 11, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AMSaint Peter’s Adult Day Center200 Overlook Drive, Monroe Township Rachel Kallish, CSW Lisa Sparaco, MSW, LSW 609-655-6853

bariatric Surgery Support GroupFEBRUARY 13, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Lisa Lapinski, RD 732-745-8600, x8159

bereavement Support Group7:00 PM – 8:30 PMCall 732-745-8565 for dates.

bereavement Support GroupFEBRUARY 18, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PMFor spouses and significant others 55 and older. Saint Peter’s Adult Day Center200 Overlook Drive, Monroe TownshipSean O’Brien, MSW, LSWLisa Sparaco, MSW, LSW 609-409-1363, option 5

Caregivers Support Group/MonroeFEBRUARY 13, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PMSaint Peter’s Adult Day Center200 Overlook Drive, Monroe TownshipStephanie Fitzsimmons-Sexton, RN, NP609-655-2220

SHare Support Group(for those who have suffered miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death)FEBRUARY 13, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PMIrina Mariano-Brown, MSW, LCSW 732-745-8522

NeW Stroke Support Group(for survivors and caregivers) FEBRUARY 4, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Call 609-448-7140 to register. Monroe Township Senior Center, Monroe.

DIabeTeS eDuCaTIONChildren’s Insulin Pump GroupFEBRUARY 14, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Donna Dziedzic, RN, MSN, CDE 732-745-8600, x8751. Call for more information.

Diabetes education and Support Group/MonroeFEBRUARY 25, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Saint Peter’s Adult Day Center, Monroe Township. Contact: Lisa Sparaco, MSW, LSW, or Therese Wyman, RD, CDE, at 609-409-1363.

Diabetes Self-Management education HELD MONDAYS AND TUESDAYSRegistration and doctor’s prescription required.732-745-6667

Gestational Diabetes Self-Management ClassHELD WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYSRegistration and a doctor’s prescription required. 732-745-6667

COMMuNITy MObILe HeaLTH SerVICeS For more information about screenings and educational programs, or the CMHS corporate flu shot program, please call 732-745-8600, x8903. blood Pressure/blood Sugar Screenings FEBRUARY 14, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen, New Brunswick

FEBRUARY 16, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM South Brunswick Pubic Library Book Sale

FEBRUARY 26, 10:00 AM – NOON Hillsborough Senior Center, Hillsborough

FEBRUARY 26, NOON – 1:30 PM SHIPS 1 Soup Kitchen @ St. John’s Episcopal Church, Somerville

blood Pressure/blood Sugar/Cholesterol Screenings FEBRUARY 2, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM Church of Annunciation, Bloomsbury

FEBRUARY 3, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Crescent Park Senior Housing, Spotswood

FEBRUARY 14, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM New Brunswick Senior Center, New Brunswick

FEBRUARY 20, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Parker, Highland Park

blood Sugar Screening FEBRUARY 4, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM South Brunswick Senior Center, South Brunswick

flu Shots FEBRUARY 9, 10:15 AM – 11:45 AM First Baptist Church Lincoln Gardens, Franklin

Health fairs FEBRUARY 14, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Oticon Corp. Employees only.

free COMMuNITy LeCTureS

keePING yOur MIND SHarP FEBRUARY 3, 1:00 PM Presenter: Michele Lardieri, MSA, CALA, Program Director, Saint Peter’s Adult Day Center Greenbriar at Whittingham Adult Community, Monroe. Residents only.

NuTrITION eDuCaTION FEBRUARY 5, 2:00 PM Presenter: Teresa Grasso, RD, CDE Oak Creek Village, East Brunswick

FEBRUARY 10, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Presenter: Teresa Grasso, RD, CDE Highland Park Senior Center, Highland Park

DINING DOS aND DON’TS FEBRUARY 11, 3:00 PM Presenter: Caryn Alter , RD Saint Peter’s Adult Day Care

PareNT eDuCaTIONFor information, fees and registration, call Parent Education at 732-745-8579, unless otherwise indicated.

baby Care FEBRUARY 3, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

FEBRUARY 10, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

FEBRUARY 22, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

breastfeeding ClassFEBRUARY 15, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

breastfeeding Support GroupFEBRUARY 7, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM732-745-8600, x8820

Grandparents Class FEBRUARY 6, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Marvelous Multiples FEBRUARY 3, 10 & 27, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

New Daddy ClassFEBRUARY 27, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

New Mom Support GroupFEBRUARY 7, NOON – 1:00 PMLight lunch will be served at noon. Registration required.

Postnatal yoga and exercise Class(four-week sessions)HELD FRIDAYS, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Registration required.

Prenatal yoga and exercise Class(four-week sessions)HELD WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Registration required.

Prepared Childbirth ClassesMONDAYS, THURSDAYS, OR ALL-DAY SESSIONS SECOND AND FOURTH WEEKENDSRegistration required.

Sibling Class FEBRUARY 15, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

CaNCer SerVICeS The American Cancer Society offers daily information and support to cancer patients and their families. Call 1-800-227-2345 to talk to a cancer information specialist 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week or visit us online at www.cancer.org.

breast Cancer Support GroupFEBRUARY 3 & 17, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMGuest speaker and open discussion.Registration required.Cancer Institute of New Jersey Deborah Leif, MSW, LCSW732-235-7011

Gynecologic Cancer Support GroupFEBRUARY 11, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMCancer Institute of New Jersey732-235-6792

Latina Women with Cancer Support Group FEBRUARY ?, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Sister Marie de Pazzi Conference Center Light lunch will be served. Free, but registration requested. Sessions conducted in Spanish. Call 908-658-5400 for more information.

Living with Cancer Support GroupFEBRUARY 12 & 26, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMCancer Institute of New JerseyBarbara Hale, LCSW732-235-7557

Catholic hospital sponsored by the Diocese of Metuchen | State-designated children’s hospital and regional perinatal center

Regional medical campus of Drexel University College of Medicine | Affiliate of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

february 2014

All programs are designed for community members and are held at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register for a program, call the contact number listed or visit saintpetershcs.com/newsandevents.

aMerICaN HearT aSSOCIaTION GO reD fOr WOMeN CaMPaIGNFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 1:00 PM - 4:00 PMSister Marie de Pazzi Conference Center. Celebrate the nationwide campaign promoting heart health. Free blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol screenings, and body mass index measurement and counseling provided by the Community Mobile Health Services staff. Call 732-745-8600, x8903 for more information.

barIaTrIC WeIGHT LOSS SeMINar THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 137:15 PM - 9:30 PM For more information, and to register, call Lisa Lapinski at 732-745-8600, x8159.

eMS eDuCaTION SerIeSTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 277:00 PM TOPIC: PSYCHIATRIC EMERgENCY Free; refreshments served. CEU credits. Call 908-238-3254 to register.

faSHION ruNWay 2014 SPrING feVerSATURDAY, MARCH 22The Pines Manor 2085 Route 27 (Lincoln Highway), Edison. Annual fashion show sponsored by The Saint Peter’s Auxiliary to benefit Saint Peter’s University Hospital’s Breast Center and breast health programs. The event also features a Tricky Tray and a 50/50 raffle. For tickets or more information, call Saint Peter’s Foundation at 732-745-6641.

kIDfeSTSATURDAY, MARCH 22 11:30 AM - 3:30 PMRutgers University College Avenue Gymnasium Staff of The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital will provide health information and education. Co-sponsored with Magic 98.3 FM. Visit magic98.3.com for more information.

aNNuaL GaLaSaINT PeTer’S HeaLTHCare SySTeMSATURDAY, MARCH 29The Heldrich 10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick Annual black-tie fundraising gala hosted by Saint Peter’s Foundation. Various sponsorships are available to support Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. For details, call 732-745-8542.

baby aND CHILDreN’S faIrSATURDAY, APRIL 26 NOON - 3:00 PMSister Marie de Pazzi Conference Center Local vendors and various Saint Peter’s departments will feature their services. Call Parent Education at 732-745-8579 for more information about the event or about reserving a vendor table.

SPECIAL EVENTS

SaVe THe DaTe

254 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 | 732-745-8600 | 800-269-7508 | www.saintpetershcs.com

This calendar is for information only. Do not rely on it to make healthcare decisions on your own; instead, talk with your healthcare provider for advice and treatment. Do not ignore medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. We do not suggest or endorse that you have any tests, use products, or use other

information in this document without advice from your healthcare provider.

Central Jersey Health and Life, published quarterly, features stories about Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. To subscribe, call 201-573-5541.

Top Performer on Joint Commission Key Quality Measures™ 2012