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As part of RBMC’s community outreach efforts in conjunction with the American Heart Association’s National Go Red for Women campaign, the medical center provided free blood pressure screenings and stroke information on National Go Red Day February 3 at thirteen Middlesex County locations including YMCAs and select area banks and businesses, during afternoon and evening sessions.

“Too many women die or become disabled each year from stroke and heart disease, the number three and number one killers of women,” said Mirian Medina, RN, coordinator of RBMC’s stroke center. “As proud supporters of the Go Red movement, we want to spread the word to women about living heart healthy and getting regular heart screenings.”

The events were held at eight local YMCAs; Raritan Bay Area (in Perth Amboy), Sayreville, Old Bridge, Woodbridge, South Amboy, Metuchen, East Brunswick and Edison, at the Old Bridge Town Hall and Northfield Bank, Sovereign Bank and Vitto Mazza Salon in Woodbridge and the Medical Pavilion at Woodbridge. More than 40 RBMC nurses volunteered to provide the screenings and information. Community Health Manager Michelle Golba-Norek, RN, MS, BSN, CEN, MICN, who helped organize and participated in the event, was very happy with the number

of nurse volunteers, saying, “I put the word out about what we wanted to accomplish and we had the help we needed to be able to do this at all the locations.”

Medina told visitors at the Raritan Bay Area YMCA, “The acronym FAST can be a very helpful reminder of how to identify stroke, so remember these tips:

F is for facial drooping. Your face feels numb or frozen, especially on one side.A is for arm weakness, especially on one side.S is for speech problems. You can’t speak or understand properly.T is for time to call 911; the faster you get treatment, the less damage to your brain.

Be aware that women are more likely than men to report unusual stroke symptoms, such as sudden nausea or pain in the face, arm or leg.”

RBMC has a strong commitment to promoting stroke

awareness and providing optimal care for stroke patients, evidenced by the medical center’s designation as a New Jersey Primary Stroke Center and its Silver Get with the GuidelinesSM achievement award from the American Heart Association.

Registered nurse Mirian Medina, coordinator of Raritan Bay Medical Center’s stroke center, in red, takes the blood pressure of a woman at the Raritan Bay Area YMCA in Perth Amboy during the medical center’s Go Red for Women events.

Raritan Bay Medical Center Goes ‘Red for Women’

From left, registered nurses Dorothy Mroczek and Lisa Ringled, from the Old Bridge Emergency Department, set up RBMC’s Go Red table at the Old Bridge YMCA.

Raritan Bay Medical Center Senior Business Partner, Nurse Recruiter Kathryn McLay, RN, left, takes the blood pressure of an unidentified woman at the Old Bridge Town Hall during the medical center’s Go Red for Women events.

Direct Line February 2012

In March of last year RBMC launched the Institute for Weight Loss at Old Bridge, providing comprehensive medical and surgical weight loss solutions for patients. The new service has grown over the past several months and has helped many patients lose weight and become healthier. Lakewood resident Zakiya Del Orbe struggled with her weight for twenty five years. During her pregnancy three years ago, Zakiya developed high blood pressure. With a family history of hypertension and stroke, she was worried about her own health and being able to watch her daughter grow up. She made the decision to have bariatric surgery last March. Dr. Ayotunde Adeyeri, medical director of the Institute for Weight Loss, performed Zakiya’s laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Less than a year later she has already lost 67 pounds and is just 33 pounds away from her weight loss goal.

“I lost 40 pounds in just nine weeks following my bariatric surgery and experienced a huge difference in my life,” says Zakiya. “I enjoy the gym now, and I have the energy to run and play with my three-year-old daughter. I’m even planning to take swimming lessons for the first time. Thanks to the Institute, I’m well on my way to a healthier weight and a healthier me.”

The Institute provides support services for obese individuals seeking surgical weight loss who have been unable to lose weight through conventional dieting, exercise or weight-loss medication. Surgical candidates must have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, or a BMI of 35 with serious obesity-related medical problem such as diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea. Like Zakiya, many of these individuals have had a life-long struggle with their weight. Dr. Adeyeri, a board certified, fellowship trained laparoscopic surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive weight loss and gastrointestinal procedures, performs Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, gastric sleeve and other bariatric procedures.

“These procedures are done through small incisions,” says Dr. Adeyeri. “Patients spend one or two nights in private patient rooms and then return to work and resume normal activities in about three weeks.” People seeking obesity surgery must undergo medical and psychological evaluations to confirm that they are candidates for surgery, and then participate in monthly support groups and receive continuing guidance from the Institute’s bariatric health staff following their surgery to ensure successful, long-term weight loss. With motivation and commitment, most patients lose 100 pounds or more within two years of surgery. “We don’t just focus on your weight,” says Dr. Adeyeri. “We focus on your life.” Old Bridge resident Curtis Cannon had a multitude of health problems resulting from his obesity, including diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

His poor health led to him having a pacemaker implanted. During a sleep study test to determine how to treat his sleep apnea, Curtis’ heart stopped. Fortunately he was revived, but Curtis knew that weight loss was a life or death decision. Last July, weighing 348 pounds, he had gastric sleeve bariatric surgery and is now down to 288 pounds. “The care I received was beyond my expectations,” recalls Curtis. “I’ve been a patient at several other hospitals in the area, but the nurses, clinicians and staff at RBMC really cared about me and treated my family with respect. Dr. Adeyeri’s staff and everyone who played a role in my care were just great.”

Meet Another Surgeon from the Institute for Weight LossOluseun A. Sowemimo, MD (Dr. Seun) Dr. Seun is a board-certified, fellowship-trained general laparoscopic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive

weight loss surgery. Most recently, Dr. Seun completed specialized fellowship training in advanced minimally invasive (laparoscopic), robotic and open bariatric surgery at the Yale University Hospital of St. Raphael. Dr. Seun completed his general surgery internship and residency training at College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, Harlem Hospital Center.

Direct Line is a monthly newsletter published by the Marketing and Business Development Department. To submit story suggestions contact Eric Muench, editor, at ext. 5098 or emuench@rbmc.org.

Institute for Weight Loss Helping Patients

Curtis Cannon, IWL patient

Oluseun A. Sowemimo, MD