Hackensack Meridian Health Honored by U.S. Department of Defense for Support of Team Members in National Guard and Reserve

Emergency physician and network receive major awards for commitment to service members

Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health network, is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve honored an emergency physician and the health network for supporting team members who also proudly serve our country.

Hackensack Meridian Health received the Above and Beyond Award and Douglas Finefrock, D.O., vice-chair of the Emergency Department at Hackensack University Medical Center and founding EM Residency Program director at the hospital, received the Patriot’s Award.

“Our network is very proud to receive the Above and Beyond Award, which demonstrates our unwavering support for our service men and women in the National Guard and Reserve,’’ said Robert C. Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health.

Mark Sparta, president of Hackensack University Medical Center, accepted the award on behalf of Hackensack Meridian Health.

“We are truly honored and privileged to support those who so bravely serve our country,’’ Mr. Sparta said. Alvin Star, area chair for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, presented the award.

In honor of his support for team members who serve in the Guard and Reserve, Dr. Finefrock was nominated for the Patriot’s Award by Maj. Anthony Bells, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve who is a physician assistant in the emergency department at Hackensack University Medical Center.

“It’s a profound honor to receive the Patriot’s Award in recognition of our support of team members who protect our country at home and abroad,’’ said Dr. Finefrock. “These citizen soldiers are vital members of our care team and help us deliver the high-quality, exceptional patient experience our communities count on from Hackensack University Medical Center.’’

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has recognized organizations and employers who support military personnel and their families for more than 45 years.

Hackensack University Medical Center, which employs more than 40 active duty, reserve, and retired active duty team members, has a long history of supporting U.S. military veterans. The Hackensack Veterans Network, founded in 2013, is comprised of Hackensack University Medical Center team members who are serving, or who have served, in all branches of the U.S. military. The Hackensack Veterans Network provides Hackensack University Medical Center veterans with information, education, resources and offers its members an opportunity to continue to give back to their community. In addition, Hackensack University Medical Center joined the Hiring our Heroes Program, sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in 2014, aimed at helping U.S. Military Veterans and their spouses find employment. Hackensack University Medical Center is also part of the VetFriendly 50,000 Jobs Challenge, sponsored by Veteran Recruiting, which has the goal of helping 50,000 veterans find employment.

In 2017, Hackensack University Medical Center formed a partnership with the United States Army Reserve known as Operation Hackensack S.M.A.R.T. (Strategic Medical Asset Readiness Training). This innovative, first-of-its-kind partnership focuses on high-quality, individualized specialty medical training for service members to improve their knowledge, skillsets and increase soldier readiness. Operation Hackensack S.M.A.R.T. integrates interactive observation training that is specific to the jobs soldiers perform in their military capacity. During the training, soldiers partner with their civilian counterparts at the medical center for 14 days of immersion training utilizing cutting-edge technology, at no additional cost to the government. This program contributes to superior readiness and in-depth training within the medical ranks. It also provides critical knowledge sharing between military and civilian medical professionals about best practices, techniques and procedures to ensure military service members are trained to use the most current technology in today’s rapidly changing health care landscape. In August 2018, Hackensack University Medical Center welcomed the third class of 14 soldiers from across the country representing the following branches of the military: Army, Army Reserve, Air Force, NJ National Guard, and Coast Guard received training in the laboratory, administration, operating room, radiology and with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crews.

About Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center

Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center, a 781-bed nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. Founded in 1888 as the county’s first hospital, it is now part of the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care, which is comprised of 35,000 team members and more than 7,000 physicians. Hackensack University Medical Center is ranked #2 in New Jersey and #59 in the country in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019-20 Best Hospital rankings and is ranked high-performing in the U.S. in colon cancer surgery, lung cancer surgery, COPD, heart failure, heart bypass surgery, aortic valve surgery, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, knee replacement and hip replacement. Out of 4,500 hospitals evaluated, Hackensack is one of only 57 that received a top rating in all nine procedures and conditions. Hackensack University Medical Center is one of only five major academic medical centers in the nation to receive Healthgrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award for five or more years in a row. Becker’s Hospital Review recognized Hackensack University Medical Center as one of the 100 Great Hospitals in America 2018. The medical center is one of the top 25 green hospitals in the country according to Practice Greenhealth, and received 26 Gold Seals of Approval™ by The Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence; receiving its sixth consecutive designation in 2019. Hackensack University Medical Center has created an entire campus of award-winning care, including: John Theurer Cancer Center, a consortium member of the NCI-designated Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center; the Heart & Vascular Hospital; and the Sarkis and Siran Gabrellian Women’s and Children’s Pavilion, which houses the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and Donna A. Sanzari Women’s Hospital, which was designed with The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center® and listed on the Green Guide’s list of Top 10 Green Hospitals in the U.S. Hackensack University Medical Center is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls and is Official Medical Services Provider to THE NORTHERN TRUST PGA Golf Tournament. It remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events especially the Tackle Kids Cancer Campaign providing much needed research at the Children’s Cancer Institute housed at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital. To learn more, visit www.HackensackUMC.org.

ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers – Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children’s hospitals - Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals – Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital – Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals - JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick. Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 34,100 team members, and 6,500 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves. The network’s notable distinctions include having four hospitals among the top 10 in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report. Other honors include consistently achieving Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and being named to Becker’s Healthcare’s “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare/2018” list. The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its first class of students in 2018 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to find more cures for cancer faster while ensuring that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it. Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.

For additional information, please visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org.