Hospitals in Action >> Case Examples

ST. JOSEPH'S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, PATERSON, AND ST. JOSEPH'S WAYNE HOSPITAL, Wayne, NJ
The Women's Heart Center at St. Joseph's

What is it? 
A comprehensive cardiac risk screening and community education program that serves women from all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.  The goals of the Women's Heart Center are to evaluate and identify women for cardiac risk factors and previously unrecognized heart disease.  The Advanced Practice Nurses who provide these evaluations also offer community education programs that expand women's awareness of their risk for heart disease and stroke, educate them about specific modifiable risk factors and provide strategies for heart-healthy living. 

Who is it for? 
All women who live in Passaic and Bergen Counties and the surrounding areas, with an emphasis on minority and economically disadvantaged women. 

Why do they do it? 
To improve women's awareness of heart disease risk, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment; to offer women strategies to access appropriate care; and to reduce the cultural, racial, ethnic, economic, and language barriers in the identification and treatment of heart disease and risk factors in women. 

How do they do it? 
The WHC collaborates with civic, religious and community groups; women's organizations; and corporate leaders to arrange educational outreach programs.  They also work with OB/GYN physicians, internists and family practitioners to identify and treat women in their practices that are at risk for heart disease and identify those women with previously unrecognized heart disease. 

Contact: Carolyn Strimike or Margaret Latrella
Advanced Practice Nurses
Telephone: 973-754-2600
E-mail:  strimikc@sjhmc.org or latrellm@sjhmc.org