Cooper University Health Care (CUHC) has entered into an alliance with The Memorial Hospital of Salem County (MHSC) to provide physician coverage for the Emergency Department and Hospitalist program at the Salem County hospital.
As of July 1, 2015, Cooper physicians are staffing the MHSC Emergency Department 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All physicians are board-certified/board–eligible in emergency medicine and will work in conjunction with the Cooper Hospitalists, who are already providing care to MHSC patients.
“This unique relationship will enhance the MHSC brand and community perception by leveraging Cooper’s reputation as a health care leader in South Jersey and the region,” said MHSC Chairman of the Board Ralph Padilla. “This alliance will bring not only a higher level of specialized care to our community, but also provide continuity of care for patients and physicians by having a dedicated team of hospitalists working hand-in-hand with emergency medicine specialists from Cooper.”
“As an academic tertiary care health system, our priority at Cooper is to bring the highest level of care and services to the region,” said Adrienne Kirby, PhD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cooper University Health Care. “Patients will benefit from the skills and high standards of emergency care provided by Cooper’s physicians.”
“The Emergency Room experience for our patients will be enhanced and improved with the addition of Cooper emergency physicians,” said Chief Executive Officer Ryan Jensen, FACHE. “Inpatient care will also be improved and enhanced with the addition of Cooper Hospitalists. Our patients will benefit from access to the highest level of skilled health-care provided by a university-level teaching hospital.”
The Emergency Department at Memorial Hospital of Salem County treated more than 21,000 patients in 2014 and to date is on track to see more than 22,000 patients in 2015. Serving as Medical Director for the Emergency Department is Beth Lovell, MD.
“This is a ‘win-win’ for all involved – our patients, our community, for Cooper as well,” said MHSC Medical Director John Amrien, MD.
Emergency Medicine Resources at Cooper
Cooper University Hospital operates a high-volume Emergency Department, handling more than 81,000 cases in 2014, as well as three Urgent Care Centers staffed by emergency department physicians in Cherry Hill, Audubon and Sicklerville. As a leader in Emergency Medicine, Cooper provides medical direction and ongoing training to more than two dozen EMS operators in southern New Jersey.
In addition, Cooper is one of only three New Jersey State-Designated Level I Trauma Centers verified by the American College of Surgeons, the highest national recognition possible. Cooper was also recently verified as a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center. Cooper serves as the regional Trauma Center for southern New Jersey including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Ocean and Salem counties and acts as a resource for the Level II Trauma Centers in our region. The Trauma Center has medical experts from every field including surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, anesthesia and cardiology.
As part of its trauma services, Cooper operates a critical care air medical transportation helicopter which is staffed with an experienced crew that includes flight nurses and paramedics. Based at the Millville Municipal Airport in Millville, Cumberland County, Cooper Air Two is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide rapid emergency transit from the seven counties of southern New Jersey to Cooper.
Hospitalists Care for Inpatients
Earlier this year, MHSC patients began benefiting from the addition of Cooper Hospitalists to the staff. A hospitalist is a doctor who practices exclusively in the hospital setting, managing a patient’s care while in the hospital. Studies have shown that patients who were co-managed by hospitalists and their own private physicians experienced fewer transfers to an intensive care unit, fewer postoperative complications and increased efficiency of discharge.
“Because hospitalists don’t have the conflicting demands of a private practice and practice solely on-site at the hospital, they are able to devote more time to making rounds and effectively coordinating patient care with other specialists, both of which contribute to enhanced quality of care and patient safety,” said Inciya Rangwalla-Malickel, DO, Director of the MHSC-Cooper Hospitalist program.
“Having Cooper ED physicians staff our Emergency Department is a big benefit to our community,” said Mr. Jensen. “But when you combine their presence with that of the Cooper Hospitalists, you strengthen the core of our hospital. By aligning with a clinical academic medical center, we not only improve the quality of care we provide but also improve the continuity of care from the front door of our Emergency Department to acute care on patient floors.”
Media contact:
Wendy A. Marano
marano-wendy@cooperhealth.edu
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