NEPTUNE, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center has opened a new, specialized center for pulmonary hypertension. Outpatient services are provided by the center, the only one of its kind in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
It is a type of high blood pressure present in the lungs that impacts older adults. It is a serious, underdiagnosed disease. Shortness of breath and difficulty being active are symptoms, as well as chest pain, feeling faint or complete fainting, as well as symptoms of heart failure, such as swelling in the ankles and legs.
Jesus Almendral, M.D., FACC, the medical director of Advanced Heart Failure Program, along with Eric Costanzo, D.O., a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center & Shore Pulmonary Associates, lead the center to stress the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. As Dr. Almendral stated, “Symptoms can become more serious and life-threatening without intervention. This complex disease may also cause heart failure, weakening the heart muscle and causing heart rhythm disorders. Seeking treatment in its early stages can significantly improve symptoms, quality of life and reduce risk for other cardiovascular illnesses.”
At the Pulmonary Hypertension Center, a collaboration between cardiologists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, dietitians, pharmacists, specialized nurses, rehabilitation professionals and diagnostic imaging techs enable patients to receive personalized therapy. This team-based strategy permits precise diagnoses and an appropriate plan of care for everyone. Prescribed medications form part of the treatment alonf with interventional and surgical options. The center’s medical staff also guide people towards lifestyle modifications such as healthier eating habits to sustain their overall wellness. According to Dr. Costanzo: “These measures all serve to increase the performance of the patient’s heart and lungs.”
It is a great new service for our community that will provide a convenient, centralized location where patients can see multiple specialists in one visit, said Vito Buccellato, MPA, LNHA, president and chief hospital executive, Jersey Shore University Medical Center. A great new service for our community. It is conveniently located in our Amdur Pavilion with valet parking available and just a short walk to the center.
As one of the state’s leading cardiovascular service providers for many years, the academic medical center performs thousands of diagnostic, interventional and surgical procedures each year. There is no other cardiac technology and treatment option available anywhere else in the region at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, which offers the only open and minimally invasive heart surgery program in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
As part of our extensive range of healthcare services at Jersey Shore, we continue to add advanced technologies, convenient amenities, and clinical experts,” said Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., MBA, FACEP, Hackensack Meridian Health regional president, Southern Market. Another good example of how we are meeting the needs of our community is the new center.