Founded in 1888 with just 12 beds, Hackensack University Medical Center was Bergen Countys first hospital. Today, this nonprofit, teaching and research hospital has grown to become the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in New Jersey. In fact, were Bergen Countys hub of health care for the Northern New Jersey and New York metropolitan areas. Hackensack University Medical Center enjoys numerous clinical, research and academic affiliations with world-renowned partners. Our medical and dental staff represent the full spectrum of specialties and subspecialties and are international leaders in health care. Hackensack University Medical Center was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey in U.S. News & World Reports 2017-18 Best Hospital rankings maintaining its place atop the NJ rankings since the rating system was introduced. It was also named one of the top four New York Metro Area hospitals. At Hackensack University Medical Center, we are proud to also serve as the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls soccer team. The medical center remains committed to the community through fundraising and community events, such as its annual Life & Liberty event, health fairs and Healthy Heart events.
More than 130 years after we became Bergen County's first hospital, we are proud to have grown into becoming the best hospital in New Jersey. Its an honor and privilege to care for our community. Ultimately, our goal is to enable every member of our community to get better and live healthier - from preventive care and specialty care to state-of-the-art surgery, treatment and rehabilitation. - Mark D. Sparta, FACHE
Forty-four-year-old Carey Miller doesnt smoke, eats a healthy diet and is proactive about her health, making sure to get all the annual screenings her health care provider recommends. So, on an unassuming day in March 2021 when she saw bright red blood in her stool, it caught her attention.
She wasnt overly concerned at first, but she knew from reading online that bright red blood in feces could be an indicator of colorectal cancer. Even though she knew of no colorectal cancer history in her family, she decided to keep a watch on it. From her reading, she knew that rates of colorectal cancer in people younger than 50 have been increasing, which recently prompted the U.S. Preventative Services Task Forceto recommend beginningscreening for colorectal cancer at age 45instead of age 50.
An endoscopic ultrasound was scheduled withRosario Ligresti, M.D., chief of the gastroenterology division at Hackensack University Medical Center, in late May. The endoscopic ultrasound provided a detailed visualization of the tumor so that the multidisciplinary team at the hospital could understand how deep and large it was and whether the cancer had spread to any lymph nodes.
We were able to get all the staging information and then connect her to the appropriate management teamthe surgeons and oncologistspretty quickly, Dr. Ligresti says. With the staging information and the input of the multidisciplinary team, you really have a good picture of the tumor in the best possible way before you get to the operating room.
Because Carey had a small, localized tumor, the multidisciplinary team assessed that she didnt need chemotherapy or radiation to shrink the tumor before surgery; she could go directly to surgery, which she did. In early June, she had a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery that removed the cancerous tumor and more than 50 lymph nodes. She was able to go home two days later.
Her surgeon,Howard Ross, M.D., removed all of the cancer so she didnt need any radiation or chemotherapy following surgery either. She will need annual colonoscopies going forward. After her surgical incisions healed, she returned to her regular routines and diet without any restrictions.
Im just thankful, she says. This could have been so much worse if not caught early. And I cant say enough about Hackensack. My stay there was great. The nursesall of the hospital staffwere just wonderful. They made a stressful time a little bit easier to deal with because everyone was so caring and sympathetic.
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:
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 36,000 team members, and over 7,000 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.
The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine opened in 2018, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years where it welcomed its third class of students in 2020 to its 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.
Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 13 hospitals, including two academic medical centers, two childrens hospitals and nine community hospitals, physician practices, more than 120 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, and urgent care and after-hours centers.
Notable distinctions include having one of only five major academic medical centers in the nation to receive Healthgrades Americas 50 Best Hospitals Award for five or more consecutive years, the number one hospital in New Jersey as ranked by U.S. News and World Report, consistently achieving Magnet recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, recipient of the John M. Eisenberg Award for Patient Safety and Quality from The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum, a six-time recipient of Fortunes 100 Best Companies to Work For, one of the 20 Best Workplaces in Health Care in the nation, and the number one Best Place to Work for Women. 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.