Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Acknowledged for Antimicrobial Stewardship Leadership

(Paramus, NJ) –Bergen New Bridge Medical Center’s Antimicrobial Stewardship efforts have again been recognized by The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH). The Medical Center’s Acute Division earned the New Jersey Antimicrobial Stewardship Recognition Program’s 2021 Silver Steward Award, and the Long Term Care Division obtained the 2021 Gold Steward Award.

The New Jersey Antimicrobial Stewardship Recognition Program acknowledges the achievements of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) in local healthcare facilities. Awardees have demonstrated effective implementation of the CDC Core Elements of Antimicrobial Stewardship. The ASRP application evaluated metrics on hospital leadership commitment, accountability, pharmacy expertise, action, tracking, reporting, and education.

“These awards validate our continued commitment to quality and dedication to enhancing patient health outcomes, reducing resistance to antibiotics, and decreasing unnecessary costs,” said Deborah Visconi, President and CEO of Bergen New Bridge. “We have many processes in place focused on antimicrobial stewardship. We track our antibiotic use metrics by drug/dose furthering organization-wide accountability, including the identification of a pharmacist, nurse, and clinical leader of this program. We conduct regular committee meetings, ongoing education, and long-term data monitoring on related markers throughout our Medical Center.”

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have proven to be even more important through the pandemic because improper treatment of COVID-19 with antimicrobials, reliance on telemedicine usage and lack of diagnostic information, could have increased antimicrobial resistance in hospitals and communities.

About Bergen New Bridge Medical Center

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center (BNBMC), a clinical affiliate of Rutgers, is a 1,070-bed hospital located at 230 East Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus, NJ. The Medical Center is both the largest hospital and licensed nursing home in NJ and the fourth largest, publicly-owned hospital in the nation.

Bergen New Bridge, a not-for-profit safety net facility, provides high-quality comprehensive services, including acute and ambulatory care from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and community physicians, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and long-term care to the greater Bergen County community. The Medical Center, including its Long-Term Care Division, is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and is in network with all major New Jersey commercial insurance plans covering 99.91% of NJ residents.

The Medical Center is a full-service hospital with a 24/7 emergency department, surgical suites, physical rehabilitation, pharmacy, laboratory, radiologic services (including digital mammography), and more than 26 medical specialties available through its Ambulatory Care Center. It is a leading provider of COVID 19 testing, vaccinations, and therapeutics.

Bergen New Bridge is a Veterans Community Care Provider proudly serving the healthcare needs of veterans and is a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) for 2020.  Learn more at www.newbridgehealth.org