Holy Name Medical Center - Jewish Community Services and Sinai Schools

Overview

Holy Name Medical Center (HNMC) offers 83,700 Jewish community members targeted health education and screenings, including Sunday mammograms and hospice programs accredited by the National Institute for Jewish Hospice. Other HNMC culturally appropriate amenities within the hospital system include accommodations for the observant Jewish community, such as a Sabbath elevator, Sabbath room for family overnight stays and kosher food for patients and visitors. Each year, HNMC constructs a sukkah for patients’ families, physicians and staff members to take their meals. In addition, medical services are afforded the Jewish community through a variety of outreach efforts in cooperation with local Jewish organizations. HNMC’s sponsorship of a Mitzvah Day event involves more than 1,000 volunteers from the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, who spend an entire day comforting the sick, visiting nursing homes, sending care packages, cleaning parks and nature centers, and performing other good deeds throughout northern New Jersey.

HNMC’s strong 15-year support of the Sinai Schools’ developmentally challenged students includes volunteer work placement throughout the Medical Center. This highly successful, labor-intensive program has helped students achieve a real-life view of potential community integration, enhanced their ability to continue to complete their education, and most importantly, elevated their sense of worthiness, value and self-esteem. HNMC features Sinai students in an innovative “My Challenges Don’t Define Me” billboard campaign.

Impact

With Holy Name’s focus on serving its diverse population in a culturally sensitive environment, the hospital’s outreach efforts to the Jewish community have increased patient volume, both for inpatient and outpatient services. Jewish families find that the cultural amenities and programs targeted specifically for their community allow them to seek medical education, screenings and, when necessary, treatment within the confines of religious restrictions. More women are seeking Sunday mammograms as word spreads of their availability. Educational events that focus on conditions more common in the Jewish community, such as discussions on how some mutated genes are more prevalent in people of Jewish descent, are drawing larger crowds. And as evidence of the proficiency and culturally sensitive care given to members of the Jewish community, a guest book in the Sabbath room is filled with notes of appreciation from family members of patients to staff members about the awareness and compassion shown during their health crisis. Holy Name is continuing to build on the programs and amenities offered to its diverse population, including the Jewish population.

Lessons Learned

Relationship building, based on respect for the unique strengths and perspectives of partners, constitutes the bedrock of vibrant communities that help people heal and grow.

Future Goals

In 2016, HNMC anticipates a 50 percent increase in financial support to Sinai Schools and in the number of health festivals and screenings within the Jewish community. Also this year, a pilot program began for a unique initiative in collaboration with Sinai Schools and the Institute for Simulation Learning. A simulation-based course seeks to train health care providers on more appropriate care for those with complex issues associated with intellectual disabilities. This training is expected to be highly transferable to other institutions and organizations empathetic to this issue.

Contact: Barbara Bermudez
Marketing Coordinator
Telephone: 201-833-7116
Email: b-bermudez@holyname.org