COMMUNITY CALENDAR

NOVEMBER 2014

Saint Peters Launches

New Concussion Program
C

oncussions are
common among
student athletes in
sports, particularly football
and soccer. The recent
deaths of three high
school athletes from
around the country
have raised concerns
again about the dangers
of sports injuries. But
you dont have to be a
student athlete to suffer a
concussion. School-aged
individuals (ages 6-21)
can suffer a concussion
during every day play at
home or in gym class.
A mild traumatic brain
injury caused by a blow
to the head or to the body
with an impulsive force
transmitted to the head,
this invisible injury disrupts the brains normal
physiology which can affect mental endurance
and function, causing the brain to work harder
and longer to complete even simple tasks.
Cognitive and physical rest are essential to
recovery.
A patient should see a concussion specialist
if they are still symptomatic at three weeks
or have the following risk factors for delayed
recovery: history of ADHD or a learning
disability, depression, anxiety, history of
multiple concussions, migraines, symptoms
lasting two to three weeks.
Arlene Goodman, MD, pediatric sports
medicine specialist at Saint
Peters Sports Medicine
Institute and head of the
concussion program launched
this fall, answers your most
frequently asked questions
about concussions.
Arlene Goodman, MD

What are the signs and symptoms?

Headache
Dizziness
Loss of consciousness
Disorientation
Nausea
Vomiting
Confusion
Vision changes
Balance problems
Personality changes
Anterograde amnesia, difficulty remembering
events after the injury
Retrograde amnesia, difficulty remembering
events before the injury

neurologist for medication

management.
What are the danger
signs?
Monitor for worsening
symptoms and if the child
shows the following, he
or she should be taken
to a hospital Emergency
Department by
ambulance:

Other signs that people may observe in the

athlete include appearing dazed or stunned;
answering questions slowly; confusion about
assignments or position played; forgetting
instructions; and moving clumsily.
Must you have a loss of consciousness to
have suffered a concussion?
No, loss of consciousness occurs in only 10
percent of concussions.
How are concussions diagnosed?
A concussion is diagnosed based on history
and a physical exam. You cannot see a
concussion on imaging such as CT or MRI
scans.
How are concussions treated?
Initial treatment for a concussion is both
cognitive and physical rest. Patients under
cognitive rest cannot take part in demanding
activities such as going to school, homework,
reading, using a computer, watching TV or
playing video games, texting, or listening to
loud music.
How long does it take to recover from a
concussion?
Eighty percent of high school athletes will
recover in three weeks. However, 20 percent
will take more than a month to recover.
What interventions should be undertaken
if symptoms do not resolve in one month?
If an athlete has not recovered in a month and
is complaining of headaches, eye strain, blurry
vision, dizziness, or balance problems, a doctor
will prescribe vestibular ocular rehabilitation
with a physical therapist trained in concussion
rehab. If the headaches are severe, a doctor
will recommend that the patient see a

Unequal pupils
Convulsions
Severe or increased
headache
Unusual/increased
drowsiness
Projectile or repeated
vomiting
Severe personality
changes
Weakness in either arm(s) or leg(s)
Numbness in the face/extremities
Bleeding/clear fluid from the ear/nose
Unusual stiffness in the neck area

When should a student return to play?

An individual should not return to play until
he/she can perform a full workload at school
without accommodations while being symptomfree and he/she has completed the gradual
return to play protocol as recommended by a
doctor.
How can you help prevent student
athletes from getting a concussion?
There are a few things that can be done to
decrease the likelihood that student athletes
will suffer a concussion.
Encourage and teach good sportsmanship
and instill in athletes the need to follow the
rules
Teach good playing technique
Ensure that athletes wear proper-fitting
equipment. The equipment should be
checked and maintained regularly.

Dr. Arlene Goodman is seeing patients

at the Saint Peters Sports Medicine
Institute, 562 Easton Avenue,
Somerset. For more information
about the Concussion Program at
Saint Peters call 732-565-5455 or visit
www.saintpetershcs.com/
SportsMed/ConcussionFAQ.

A LISTING OF PROGRAMS OFFERED THIS MONTH CAN BE FOUND ON THE REVERSE SIDE.

need a doctor? To find a Saint peters physician, call 1-855-sp-my-doc (1-855-776-9362).

zheimers/Dementia Caregivers Support Group

JULY 13, 10:00 AM 11:30 AM

nt Peters Adult Day Center

november 2014
All programs are designed for community members and are held at Saint Peters University Hospital, unless otherwise noted.
For more information or to register for a program, call the contact number listed or visit saintpetershcs.com/newsandevents.

CANCER
SERVICES
Breast Cancer Support Group

NOVEMBER 3 & 17, 7:00 PM 8:30 PM

Guest speaker and open discussion.

Registration required.
Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Deborah Leif, MSW, LCSW 732-235-7011

Gynecologic Cancer Support Group

NOVEMBER 11, 7:00 PM 8:30 PM

Cancer Institute of New Jersey 732-235-6792

Latina Women with Cancer

Support Group
NOVEMBER 8, 10:00 AM 1:00 PM

Sister Marie de Pazzi Conference Center

Light lunch will be served. Free, but registration
requested. Sessions conducted in Spanish.
Call 908-658-5400 for more information.

Living with Cancer Support Group

NOVEMBER 12, 7:00 PM 8:30 PM
Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Barbara Hale, LCSW 732-235-7557

SUPPORT
GROUPS
Autism Family Support Group
NOVEMBER 9, 3:00 pM 5:00 pM
877-886-9462

Alzheimers/Dementia Caregivers
Support Group
NOVEMBER 11, 10:00 AM 11:30 AM

COMMUNITY
MOBILE HEALTH
Services
For more information about

PARENT
EDUCATION
For information, fees and registration, call Parent

screenings and educational

programs, please call 732-745-8600, x8903.

Baby Care
NOVEMBER 8, 9:00 aM 1:00 PM

Blood Pressure/Blood Sugar Screenings

NOVEMBER 14, 9:30 AM 10:30 aM

NOVEMBER 3 & 10, 7:00 PM 9:30 PM

NOVEMBER 14, 11:00 AM 12:30 pM

Breastfeeding Support Group

NOVEMBER 7, 1:00 PM 2:30 PM

New Brunswick Senior Center, New Brunswick

Elijahs Promise Soup Kitchen, New Brunswick

Breastfeeding Class
NOVEMBER 22, 9:00 AM 11:30 AM

732-745-8600, x8820

NOVEMBER 19, 10:30 AM noon

Sterling Pointe @ Franklin, Somerset

Grandparents Class
NOVEMBER 6, 4:00 PM 6:00 PM

Blood Pressure/Blood Sugar/

Cholesterol Screenings
NOVEMBER 14, 9:00 AM noon

Infant Massage
NOVEMBER 4, 6:30 PM 7:30 PM

SS White Technologies, Piscataway

Employees only.

Marvelous Multiples
NOVEMBER 3, 10 & 17, 7:00 PM 9:30 PM

Health Fair
NOVEMBER 5, 11:00 AM 2:00 pM

New Mom Support Group

NOVEMBER 7, Noon 1:00 PM

Senior Health Fair

Neptune Senior Center, Neptune Township

free community
lectures

FRIDAYS, 6:00 PM 7:15 PM

Registration required.

Prenatal Yoga and Exercise Class

(four-week sessions)

Prepared Childbirth Classes

MONDAYS, THURSDAYS, or ALL-DAY
SESSIONS SECOND AND FOURTH
WEEKENDS

(for those who have suffered miscarriage, stillbirth

or neonatal death)

NOVEMBER 13, 7:00 PM 9:00 PM

Irina Mariano-Brown, MSW, LCSW
732-745-8522

DIABETES
EDUCATION

Registration required.

Presenter: Pramila Veeraswamy, MD, internist

Stonebridge Adult Community, Monroe Township

Registration required.

Sibling Class
NOVEMBER 22, 12:30 pM 1:30 pM

A Brief Overview of Hip and Knee

Replacement Surgery
NOVEMBER 10, 2:00 PM

Gestational Diabetes
Self-Management Class
HELD WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS

Registration and a doctors prescription required.

732-745-6667

Free; refreshments served. CEU credits.

Call 908-238-3254 to register.

stroke screenings

Life Line Screening has partnered with

Saint Peters Healthcare System to provide health
screenings throughout Central Jersey. Stroke
screenings will be available at the following
locations. Pre-registration is required. All
screenings begin at 9:00 AM. For more
details about the screening and cost for
screening, call 1-866-964-5850.

tuesday, NOVEMBER 4

United Reformed Church, Somerville

wednesday, NOVEMBER 5
monday, NOVEMBER 17

Manville Senior Center, Manville

Preventing a Fall
NOVEMBER 11, 1:30 PM

wednesday, NOVEMBER 26

Presenter: Erinn Beagin, MD, geriatrician

Concordia Adult Community, Monroe Township

First United Methodist Church, Westfield

SAVE THE DATE

Nutrition
NOVEMBER 13, noon - 1:00 PM

ANNUAL DIABETES HEAD TO

TOE CONFERENCE

Presenter: Teresa Grasso, RD, CDE

Manville Senior Center, Manville

saturday, decEMBER 6
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Back Pain in the Elderly

NOVEMBER 18, 3:00 PM

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

604 Bartholomew Road, Piscataway
Busch Student Center
Call 732-469-7979 for more information.

Presenter: Didier Demesmin, MD, pain specialist

Clearbrook Adult Community, Monroe Township

diabetes education
support group/Monroe

Donna Dziedzic, RN, MSN, CDE

732-745-8600, x8751

Registration and doctors prescription required.

732-745-6667

thursday, NOVEMBER 20 7:00 pm

topic: pharmacology review

Sayreville Senior Center, Sayreville

Presenter: V. Karthik Jonna, MD, orthopedist

The Ponds Adult Community, Monroe Township

Childrens Insulin Pump Group

NOVEMBER 11, 6:30 PM 8:30 PM
Diabetes Self-Management Education
HELD MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS

THURSday, NOVEMBER 13
7:15 PM - 9:30 PM

EMS Education Series

(four-week sessions)

ABCs of Medicare
NOVEMBER 5, 1:00 PM

SHARE Support Group

bariatric WEIGHT LOSS

SEMINAR

Postnatal Yoga and Exercise Class

NOVEMBER 2, 11:30 aM 1:30 pM

Bariatric Surgery Support Group

NOVEMBER 13, 6:00 PM 7:00 PM

Saint Peters Adult Day Center

200 Overlook Drive, Monroe Township
Stephanie Fitzsimmons-Sexton, RN, NP
609-655-2220

Presenter: Peter Fish, MD

A night of fun featuring health education,
refreshments and raffles. Community Mobile
Health Services staff will provide blood pressure
and blood sugar screenings, and body mass
index measurement. Call 732-745-8600,
ext. 6415, for more information.

St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Piscataway

Presenter: Donna Makris, RN, BSN, IBCLC

Neptune Senior Center, Neptune Township

Caregivers Support Group/Monroe

NOVEMBER 13, 1:30 PM 3:00 PM

wednesday, november 5
5:00 pm - 7:30 PM

For more information, and to register, call Lisa

Lapinski, RD, at 732-745-8600, x8159.

Saint Peters Adult Day Center

200 Overlook Drive, Monroe Township
Rachel Kallish, CSW 609-655-6853

732-745-8565

Mens health awareness event

Light lunch will be served at noon.

Registration required.

WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS

7:00 PM 8:30 PM

Bereavement Support Group

NOVEMBER 6 & 20, 7:00 PM 8:30 PM

for men only

Education at 732-745-8579, unless otherwise indicated.

Breast Health and Cancer Information

NOVEMBER 5, 11:00 am

Lisa Lapinski, RD 732-745-8600, x8159

SPECIAL EVENTS

thursday, decEMBER 9
11:00 AM - NOON

treating diabetes and hypertension

Saint Peters Healthcare System has launched a patient-centered medical
home for uninsured and underinsured adults with diabetes mellitus and
hypertension who reside in central New Jersey. This highly targeted effort
takes direct aim at two of the most serious but often preventable diseases.
Patients will be referred to the new Saint Peters program through outpatient
services, the emergency department, inpatient services, same-day services,
and community health screenings conducted by Saint Peters clinical staff.
Services will be provided at Saint Peters Family Health Center, 123 How Lane,
New Brunswick. The program will provide preventive care, education, lifestyle
modification, nutrition consultation, and medication management.

Saint Peters Physician Associates

Clearbrook Commons Medical and
Professional Park
294 Applegarth Road, Monroe Township
Call 732-745-8600, ext. 8105, for more
information.

diabetes education
support group/
New Brunswick
thursday, decEMBER 10
10:30 AM - 11:30 Am

Center for Ambulatory Resources (CARES)

240 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick
Call 732-745-8600, ext. 5795, for more
information.

This calendar is for information only. Do not rely on it to make healthcare decisions on your own; instead, talk with your healthcare provider for advice and treatment. Do not ignore medical advice or delay
seeking it because of something you read here. We do not suggest or endorse that you have any tests, use products, or use other information in this document without advice from your healthcare provider.

254 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

732-745-8600

800-269-7508

www.saintpetershcs.com

Top Performer on
Joint Commission
Key Quality
Measures
2012

Catholic hospital sponsored by the Diocese of Metuchen

| State-designated childrens hospital and regional perinatal center

| Affiliate of The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia

Major clinical affiliate of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences