Atlantic Health System Public Relations Department
Elaine Andrecovich
Morristown, NJ – Despite its crowded healthcare market and strong efforts to make healthcare more accessible to patients, New Jersey has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation – an issue so pertinent that First Lady Tammy Murphy created the Nurture NJ initiative to help reduce infant and maternal mortality.
What women – and physicians – may not know is that preeclampsia and its complications are a major part of this equation. Preeclampsia is a condition that can develop during pregnancy and causes high blood pressure in women who may not have had it before and symptoms that may indicate damage to other organs – a high level of protein in urine or swelling in the feet, legs, and hands, among other symptoms.
Preeclampsia is a rapidly progressive, potentially life-threatening complication of pregnancy and the postpartum period that affects 5-8% of pregnant women.
“I strongly believe that if we can educate women and the medical community about the risk factors, signs, and symptoms of preeclampsia, we can significantly decrease the maternal mortality rate not only in New Jersey, but across the nation,” said Colleen M. Coughlin, MD, a cardiologist with the Women’s Heart Program at Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center.
Dr. Coughlin frequently lectures on this topic in local communities and at national meetings, educating both the public and physicians about preeclampsia.
She shares these top 10 preeclampsia facts:
For more information on preeclampsia, speak with your physician or contact the Preeclampsia Foundation.
The Women’s Heart Program at Atlantic Health System is dedicated to addressing women’s specific cardiac needs and providing a full array of therapies as needed. Learn more or call 973-971-4179.
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.
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.