Newswise — Manahawkin, NJ ― July 25, 2019 ― On July 19, Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean Medical Center Foundation hosted the Fifth Annual Signature Social, raising more than $175,000 in support of programs and services at Southern Ocean Medical Center. The cocktail reception took place at Bonnet Island Estate on Long Beach Island where more than 230 guests joined in celebration of the hospital. The evening featured a cocktail-style format, an array of hors d’oeuvres and stations, music, dancing and a 50/50 raffle. Additionally, George Way, whose wife, Noreen, received care at Southern Ocean Medical Center for more than five years, offered emotional remarks about the care she received at the hospital, expressing gratitude to the physicians and clinicians who cared for her during her illness.
“We are grateful for the generosity of the community surrounding Southern Ocean Medical Center, who show their support for the hospital in many different ways,” says Kimberly Hogan, M.D., family medicine physician at Southern Ocean Medical Center and reception co-chair. “Their investment in our local hospital helps to provide area residents and visitors with superb care, access to the newest technologies and the development of programs that help to maintain health and wellness. Thank you to everyone who attended the Signature Social and who continue to provide support to Southern Ocean Medical Center.”
In addition to the remarks offered by Way, guests at the Signature Social had the opportunity to learn more about recent developments at Southern Ocean Medical Center, including recognition of the hospital’s second ‘A’ rating by The Leapfrog Group, which measures hospital quality and safety. Additional speakers included Joseph Lattanzi, M.D.; Regina Foley, PhD, MBA, RN, chief hospital executive, Southern Ocean Medical Center; Thomas Dolan, chair of the Southern Ocean Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees; and Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., MBA, FACEP, regional president, southern market, Hackensack Meridian Health.
“Southern Ocean Medical Center is a special place,” says Dr. Sable. “Despite its relatively small size in comparison to other New Jersey medical centers, it is doing very big things in terms of the care it is able to provide to the community – particularly when it comes to treating cancer and cardiac and vascular diseases. Philanthropy helps to make that possible through the purchase of the state-of-the-art equipment needed to best treat those ailments. We are extremely grateful for the support of generous donors, who give in both big and small amounts.”
Funds raised at events such as the Signature Social all contribute toward a $150 million fundraising goal as part of the Meridian Health Foundation’s Giving Heals campaign. Giving Heals supports four important initiatives: strengthening oncology services, improving clinical outcomes, enhancing the patient experience and broadening clinical research and academic programs at the following Hackensack Meridian Health medical centers in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, Bayshore Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center and Southern Ocean Medical Center.
“Southern Ocean Medical Center is fortunate to have such a strong board and community who are deeply committed to supporting the hospital,” says Joseph Stampe, president and chief development officer, Meridian Health Foundation. “Whether giving of their time at one of the medical center’s four auxiliaries, making a $1 million donation like that from area resident Mike Armellino, leaving a bequest, attending the Signature Social, or giving what they can afford, we are grateful for the support. The money raised at this event will make a true difference for the hospital and the community.”
The reception was co-chaired by Joseph Lattanzi, M.D., Kimberly Hogan, M.D., Thomas Yu, M.D., and Jane Yu and supported by Celebration Sponsor: the medical team at Southern Ocean Medical Center and Reception Sponsors: Coastal Imaging and Walters Homes.
To learn more about how you can support Southern Ocean Medical Center Foundation, the Giving Heals campaign, or how you can volunteer your time in support of the medical center, contact James Young, executive director, at [email protected] or 609-978-3040.
ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH SOUTHERN OCEAN MEDICAL CENTER
Located in the heart of southern Ocean County, Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean Medical Center has been caring for the community for over 40 years. With more than 400 physicians and over 1,000 dedicated health care professionals, the medical center provides comprehensive high-quality, advanced inpatient and outpatient services. Numerous investments have been made to facilities and services to bring a new level of innovative technology, advanced treatments and skilled expertise to the southern ocean community, including: bariatric surgery, urology and uro-gynecology, cardiovascular services and rehabilitation, advanced imaging services for expert screening, diagnostics and treatment, laboratory services, pain management, telemedicine for stroke patients, maternity, sleep medicine, convenient outpatient locations and two urgent care centers. Southern Ocean is designated by the ACS-MBSA QIP as the most comprehensive quality bariatric surgery program in the region.
The Emergency Department sees more than 40,000 patients of southern Ocean County each year in a setting that reinforces comfort, privacy and compassion. A committed focus to expanding physician expertise has increased the scope of advanced specialty care available close to home. The completion of the state-of-the-art Cancer Care Center provides a single destination for multidisciplinary cancer treatment and advanced radiation therapies and the new Vascular Surgery Center provides specialized care and expert diagnosis and treatment of arterial and venous disease. The nurses and allied health providers are consistently recognized as providing high-quality, personalized care to patients and their families. Southern Ocean was awarded an ‘A’ rating in the spring 2019 Leapfrog Safety Grade and received a four star rating from the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services for overall hospital quality. The nursing team achieved Magnet® status, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence for nursing practice, quality and safety in patient care. The Diabetes Self-Management Education Service (DSMES) has been awarded continued Education Recognition by the American Diabetes Association for offering high-quality education services. Southern Ocean Medical Center’s Project Aware program was highlighted in the 2018 Commerce and Industry of New Jersey CEO Best Practices Award and the medical center has been honored for Environmental Excellence by Practice Greenhealth. Southern Ocean is a designated primary stroke center and has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report in 2018-19 as a high performing hospital in heart failure.
ABOUT THE MERIDIAN HEALTH FOUNDATION GIVING HEALS CAMPAIGN
Giving Heals is a $150 million regional comprehensive campaign to raise funds for strengthening oncology services, improving clinical outcomes, enhancing the patient experience and broadening clinical research and academic programs. Publicly announced at the Meridian Health Foundation Gala on November 17, 2018, the campaign will run through 2020. Over $90 million dollars has been raised to date to support following Hackensack Meridian Health medical centers: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, Bayshore Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center and Southern Ocean Medical Center.
ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH
Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care.
Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers – Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children’s hospitals - Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals – Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital – Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals - JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.
Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 34,100 team members, and 6,500 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.
The network’s notable distinctions include having four hospitals among the top 10 in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report. Other honors include consistently achieving Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and being named to Becker’s Health care’s “150 Top Places to Work in Health care/2018” list.
The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its first class of students in 2018 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to find more cures for cancer faster while ensuring that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it.
Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.
For additional information, please visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org.
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