Atlantic Health System Public Relations Department
Elaine Andrecovich
Hero Awards Strengthen the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Chain of Survival
Morristown, NJ – Five Atlantic Health System team members were recognized for their life-saving actions by the New Jersey American Heartsaver or Stroke Hero Awards, which recognize those who have made a rescue effort to save lives during a cardiac or stroke emergency, and take extraordinary steps to strengthen the American Heart Association Chain of Survival.
Team members recognized are:
- Joy Eboras & Megan Ewing – Joy and Megan are both stroke nurses at Overlook Medical Center’s Comprehensive Stroke Center. They are dedicated to raising awareness about stroke signs and the need for quick intervention. They educate EMS and hospital personnel, teach school children, talk to stroke victims and their families on secondary stroke prevention and quick recognition of stroke symptoms, instruct EMTs about the need for speed in stroke recognition and treatment, and talk to community groups.
They even volunteer: Each year, they spend a weekend with patients and their families at a sleep-away stroke camp - a wonderful gift of time that combines respite care for family members, a semblance of normality for patients, and teaching moments for all.
- Laura Pizzano— Laura, a nurse in Morristown Medical Center’s cardiac electrophysiology unit, was at a dance hall while on vacation in New Orleans when a man collapsed. Laura immediately performed CPR and administered a shock with an AED.
“Then we felt a pulse. He had a pulse and then a few minutes later he opened his eye,” said Pizzano.“ Then the paramedics got there and he was in a normal rhythm and his oxygen level was perfect. He started communicating with us and it was just a miracle.”
- Andrenise (Angie) Sainte-Joseph (and Kyle Wilson) – Angie, a patient care technician at Newton Medical Center, was looking out a second-floor window and spotted a man clutch his chest while walking across the parking lot and drop to the ground. She immediately used the emergency paging system to sound the alarm, and several emergency department members ran out to help.
One of those members was Kyle Wilson, assistant nurse manager, who was first on the scene and began chest compressions as they rushed the patient into the emergency department.
NJ American Heart and Stroke Hero Awards celebrate those who are working to strengthen the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Chain of Survival including:
- Individuals who recognize and respond in a stroke or cardiac emergency (please note that medical/EMS/police/fire professionals are eligible for consideration if they responded to a situation while off-duty),
- People, organizations or businesses who increase the awareness, education or accessibility of CPR training and Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and/or
- People or groups who empower the public to recognize cardiac or stroke emergencies through education.
The Chain of Survival refers to the links critical to improving the chances of survival and recovery for heart attack, stroke and other emergencies. The links are:
- Recognizing a heart attack, stroke or other cardiac emergency and activating the emergency response system, such as dialing 9-1-1
- Early CPR
- Rapid defibrillation
- Effective advanced life support
- Integrated post-cardiac arrest or stroke care
About Heart Care at Atlantic Health System
The Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers, part of Atlantic Health System, is home to New Jersey’s largest cardiac surgery program, and provides patients with world-class medical experts and award-winning cardiovascular diagnostic and treatment services. Specializing in open-heart, minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures, Gagnon offers its patients individualized care at a hospital that was named one of America’s 20 Best Hospitals for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery by U.S. News & World Report and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care by Healthgrades. Nationally ranked in cardiology since 2012, the heart care team at Morristown Medical Center includes cardiologists with expertise in multiple disciplines, cardiac surgeons, vascular specialists and allied health professionals.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 17,000 team members and 4,800 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 11 counties and 4.9 million people. The system offers 400 sites of care, including six hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ and Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ.
In addition to the employed workforce, Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network represents more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ. This network includes 1,000 physicians and providers comprising one of the largest multi-specialty practices in New Jersey - Atlantic Medical Group, as well as members of the Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners, which work to enhance patient care delivery.
Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health needs, including 12 urgent care centers, Atlantic Rehabilitation and Atlantic Home Care and Hospice. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of seven regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability, and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system expanding access to groundbreaking research across seven health systems in New Jersey.
Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.