About Us
Our state of the art ED has 82 treatment areas in a spacious 50,000 square foot area which operates around the clock, 365 days per year. We specialize in treating adults and children with major or minor illnesses or injuries, and mental health problems in the most efficient way possible.
Patient satisfaction is a high priority. The ED at Community Medical Center is consistently rated in the 99th percentile of high volume EDs by Press Ganey.
Our Stroke Center is a multidisciplinary team of professionals who specialize in the rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke. Our Stroke Center has been awarded the Gold Seal of Approval and achieved Disease-Specific Care Certification for Acute Stroke from the Joint Commission.
We are also an accredited Chest Pain Center, offering rapid diagnosis and fast treatment before a situation worsens, often preventing a severe heart attack from occurring.
All of our ED physicians are board certified in emergency medicine, and several are also certified in other specialties such as internal medicine and sports medicine.
Our nurses are all certified in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support by the American Heart Association. Many nurses also have certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support and in Emergency Nursing. All nurses receive ongoing continuing education in acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and trauma.
As part of the Jay and Linda Grunin Neuroscience Institute, our Stroke Center offers:
- A designated stroke team of doctors, nurses and therapists
- State-of-the-art diagnostic brain imaging capabilities
- An intensive care unit highly experienced in neurological care
- An inpatient stroke care unit with specially trained nurses
- Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs
What is a Stroke?
A stroke occurs when a part of the brain dies from lack of blood, usually
because one of the arteries that supply oxygen-carrying blood to the brain
has been blocked or damaged.
Are You at Risk?
- These factors increase your risk of stroke:
- Age
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol levels
- Heart disease
- Smoking
- Physical inactivity
Think FAST: Know the signs of a stroke
Face: Does the face look uneven? Ask them to smile
Arm: Does one arm drift down? Ask them to raise both arms
Speech: Does their speech sound strange? Ask them to repeat a phrase
Time: Every second, brain cells die. Call 9-1-1 at any sign of stroke!
Caring for Your Heart
More people choose Community Medical Center for cardiac care than any other
hospital in New Jersey without an open heart surgery program. Utilizing
the most advanced treatment options available, our highly skilled emergency
medicine physicians, cardiologists, cardiac nurses and technicians provide
exceptional patient-centered cardiac care.
Specialized Cardiac Care
Dedicated Chest Pain Center in the Emergency Department to treat patients undergoing a heart attack
or having symptoms.
Emergency Angioplasty available 24/7 when life-saving care is needed.
Inpatient Units staffed by highly-experienced cardiologists and nurses who care for patients
with heart disease and those who have undergone cardiac procedures.
Critical Care Units offering individualized care for patients with a variety of high-risk
cardiac diagnoses, such as myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure
and unstable angina.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
If you think you may be experiencing a heart attack, call 9-1-1. Do not delay.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense and there is no doubt what is happening. More frequently, heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people aren't sure what is wrong and may wait too long to call for help.
According to American Heart Association, some signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Women’s Symptoms May Be Different
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or
discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience
some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting,
and back or jaw pain.
Heart Attack Signs in Women
According to the American Heart Association, symptoms of a heart attack
in women may include:
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
- As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
If you think you may be experiencing a heart attack call 9-1-1 immediately.