COURT HOUSE – A reader contacted the Herald regarding several points of concern about Cape Regional Medical Center. The first regarded an early-morning emergency room visit for an elderly family member of the reader. “I was told that the hospital no longer cares for someone that has taken a stroke or heart attack, and they are shipped out.” Following is Cape Regional’s response:
“Cape Regional Medical Center continues to be committed to providing the highest quality of medical care to the residents and visitors to Cape May County. When the needs of the patient can be met in a community hospital setting, then the patient will be admitted here. However, there are times when complex cardiac and neurological diseases require specialized care and advanced procedures which are only available at an academic medical center. For times like these, Cape Regional Medical Center has transfer arrangements with the finest institutions in southern New Jersey and Philadelphia including our clinical affiliate, the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
“The next concerned staffing at the medical center: “Many of the senior qualified staff have left or have been let go due to attrition, and if staffing is continually let go then the hospital is looking at paying cheaper wages while cutting benefits and we the patients suffer on the quality of care.”
Following is Cape Regional’s response:
“Cape Regional Medical Center has been recognized by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey for their excellence in quality and resource efficiency. Cape Regional Medical Center scored above the state and national averages in quality, resource use, and value in the 2012 Hospital Recognition Program.
“The Hospital Recognition Program database contains more than 1,100 general hospitals in 47 states – this is a notable recognition, and the staff and management are very proud of this accomplishment.
“The Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Hospital Recognition Program is designed to acknowledge hospitals for improvements and for sustained superior performance. Scoring for hospitals participating in the Leapfrog Hospital Recognition Program is based on results in quality outcomes and resource efficiency in numerous clinical focus areas.”
To meet the increased patient load of peak summer months, the medical center has made a change in its Emergency Department.
“Cape Regional Medical Center has opened its “Quick Care” in the Emergency Department to facilitate the increased number of patients seen during the busy summer season.
“Upon arrival at the Emergency Department, patients will be asked several questions by a Registered Nurse to determine if “Quick Care” is an option for treatment. Typically, patients who may be treated in “Quick Care” include those who present with minor lacerations, bumps and bruises, sprains, minor coughs and earaches, sunburn, rashes and insect bites.
“During the summer months, Cape Regional Medical Center sees a significant increase of patient in our Emergency Department. In response to the anticipated increase, the Medical Center has added eight treatment areas to help alleviate some of the volume during peak periods of the day.
“Quick Care” patients will be seen much faster and incur a shorter emergency stay. We typically treat a Quick Care patient from start to finish in less than 90 minutes while still providing the highest quality of care. ‘Quick Care’ is supervised by our highly-skilled physicians who are Board-certified in emergency care.”
“Quick Care” at Cape Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department will operate through Sept. 15.
Avalon – Eighty percent of working-age Americans have jobs, and the average after-tax income is up almost $4,000 since before the pandemic, significantly outpacing inflation.
