News — The Behavioral Health Home at Jersey Shore University Medical Center has received certification from The Joint Commission (TJC). This optional certification goes above and beyond what is required for accreditation and provides additional recognition for the behavioral health services offered at the medical center.

The Behavioral Health Home is a high intensity outpatient service targeting those with the most need. It is focused on bringing together physical and behavioral health care in a coordinated and integrated manner. The goal is to decrease high rates of morbidity and mortality of individuals with serious mental illness/behavioral health conditions and also dealing with (or at risk for) chronic medical conditions.

“Our Behavioral Health Home offers a continued standard of care that allows individuals to have all of their health care needs identified, addressed, and treated in a coordinated way,” says Ramon Solhkhah, M.D., chair, Department of Psychiatry at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and corporate medical director of Hackensack Meridian Health Behavioral Health Care Transformation Service. “The same team of clinicians and practitioners either deliver, or coordinate the delivery of, all the necessary medical, behavioral, and social supports required for the individual, acknowledging the impact each area has on the others.” 

Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s team facilitates and coordinates the psychiatric and physical health care of Behavioral Health Home members, whether they receive that care at one of the Hackensack Meridian Health facilities or elsewhere in the community. The program is focused on wellness, disease management, prevention and coordination. Services are designed to reduce fragmented care that may lead to unnecessary use of emergency department visits and hospital admissions.

“Receiving this certification is an incredible accomplishment by an amazing team and I am extremely proud of what they do to care for our community in a comprehensive and compassionate manner,” says Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., MBA, FACEP, regional president, southern market, Hackensack Meridian Health. “As the health care community works to address the behavioral health care needs that are so prevalent, achieving a whole-person care delivery model truly sets our services apart from others.”

Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Home is specific to Monmouth County residents who are NJ Medicaid beneficiaries. Patients must meet criteria to participate, such as having an approved psychiatric diagnosis and either have, or be at-risk for, a chronic medical condition. To learn more about the Behavioral Health Home or for a referral, call 732-643-4342.

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ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH JERSEY SHORE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Located in Neptune, New Jersey, Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center is a not-for-profit teaching hospital and the only Level II Trauma and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Monmouth and Ocean counties. It is home to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital – the first children’s hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties. With more than 1,200 physicians and dental staff in 60 specialty areas, Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s team provides quality care in a patient-centered, environmentally-friendly setting.

The team’s commitment to excellence has earned Jersey Shore University Medical Center numerous accolades, including being named #4 in New Jersey. The medical center’s clinical research program and longstanding commitment to medical education is evident through an affiliation with Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University and a new affiliation with St. George’s University School of Medicine. Jersey Shore University Medical Center serves as an academic center dedicated to advancing medical knowledge, training future physicians and providing the community with access to promising medical breakthroughs.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s programs and services have received national recognition, including designation as high-performing in cardiac, stroke, surgical and oncology services. Jersey Shore University Medical Center is also recognized as the first hospital in New Jersey to have implanted the Micra Transcatheter Pacing System – the world’s smallest pacemaker, and is one of the elite facilities in the region to perform robotic-assisted minimally invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery and Transcarotid Arterial Revascularization.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center recently completed the HOPE Tower Project – a $265 million 10-story medical office building that provides a new healing outpatient experience. Guided by a patient-centered approach towards care, and informed by the latest medical breakthroughs, HOPE Tower includes advanced imaging services, a clinical academic center, innovative stimulation laboratory, state-of-the-art amphitheater, specialty physician offices, a nine-level parking garage, and a 58,000 square foot cancer facility. The new cancer facility features a range of comprehensive treatment options, including surgical specialties, medical oncology, and the most advanced radiation therapy and minimally invasive interventional therapies. Nurse navigators guide patients through every step and provide an extra layer of support and coordination.

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