Wellness Waves Bergen New Bridge Medical

The impact of opioid addiction and overdoses continues to be felt in New Jersey and across the country. Since 2018, tens of thousands of New Jerseyans have experienced an overdose and more than 15,000 have died of a suspected drug-related death. To combat this epidemic, New Jersey has worked to increase harm reduction efforts throughout the state including expanding the availability of naloxone through statewide distribution
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In January 2023, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced a program that allows anyone 14 years or older to acquire naloxone anonymously and at no cost at participating pharmacies across New Jersey. The NJ Department of Human Services partnered with the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy and its Medicaid division to craft and implement this unique program.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the US and is responsible for one of out every three deaths each year. However, only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat. Heart disease and stroke can affect women of any age, so it is important for women to understand their risk factors and family history. Life events like pregnancy and menopause can also impact heart health. Stress can also play a role which is why it is important to understand the mind-body connection to improve physical health and mental well-being.

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center's new Research & Innovation Center is focused on advancing medical research with a specific emphasis on the importance of healthcare equity. The Medical Center supports the participation of representative subjects in clinical trials and data collection projects – studies must include all genders, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds to provide the most comprehensive results.

The Center will redesign healthcare delivery and therapeutics for the patients it serves. Bergen New Bridge is partnering with industry leaders to innovate integrated care that yields the best health and wellness outcomes.

The team will be working to develop ideas that could lead to improvements in care, reductions in overall costs, and will provide new products and services. The mission of the Center is to create solutions that benefit all patients at Bergen New Bridge and beyond.

Diabetes has reached a crisis point in the United States. According to the CDC, cases of diabetes have risen to an estimated 37.3 million in this country. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. What can Americans do to prevent diabetes? What can those living with diabetes do to better manage their health? Good nutrition is an important tool in the prevention of this disease and is essential to those already diagnosed. Making the right dietary choices can limit the impact this silent killer has on the health and wellness of all Americans.

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center offers a variety of Acute Rehabilitation Services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology to their patients and long-term care residents. The latest program being offered by the Medical Center is therapeutic intervention for those grappling with lymphedema. The overall goal of rehabilitation services at Bergen New Bridge is to improve a patient's level of functioning and quality of life by assisting them with achieving their maximum potential in all aspects of daily living.

In a recently released survey on drug use in America, more than 20 percent of those age 12 or older said they used illicit drugs in the past year. More than nine million Americans misused opioids during that same period. The pandemic exacerbated substance use disorders in this country with overdose deaths reaching record levels.

What tools do substance use disorder clinicians have to treat addiction? With seven out of ten Americans who had a substance use disorder considering themselves to be recovering or in recovery, there is hope.