Golf Classic Raises Record $362K to Improve Patient Access to Specialty Services at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital through Telemedicine

JACKSON, N.J. – A record $362,000 was raised to boost telemedicine services at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) at the RWJ University Hospital Foundation’s 27th Annual Invitational Golf Classic, held this week at Metedeconk National Golf Club.

Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technologies to provide clinical health care at a distance. It gives patients access to highly qualified specialists and advanced technology they use to provide treatment, and it has the potential to reduce health care costs by reducing patient transports or by troubleshooting health risks at home to prevent costly and often avoidable hospital readmissions. During the coming year, telemedicine services will be a central part of Robert Wood Johnson Health System’s effort to enhance service and increase patients’ access to specialty capabilities in their communities, and funds raised through the Golf Classic will contribute toward these efforts.

“This Golf Classic continues to grow each year and provides us with critical funds to support essential programs and services at our hospital. On behalf of our team and our patients at RWJUH, thank you to our Golf Committee and to participants for your generous support to help our hospital deliver exceptional care to more people in our state and region,” said Stephen K. Jones, FACHE, president and C.E.O. of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson Health System.

Under the leadership of co-chairs Bernard Rineberg, M.D., a longtime orthopedic surgeon and member emeritus of the RWJUH Board of Directors, and Glenn Mekles, senior vice president of Conner Strong & Buckelew and member of the RWJ University Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, the Golf Classic committee continues to achieve record proceeds. This year’s Honorary Co-chairs were New Brunswick Police Department Director Anthony Caputo and New Brunswick City Council President Kevin Egan, representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 456.

The Golf Classic was made possible through the generous support of all of our participants, including Overall Sponsors Barr & Barr, Conner Strong & Buckelew and Kaufman Hall Associates; Platinum Sponsor Revenue Guard; and Supporting Sponsors Haddad Brands and Michael Graves Architecture & Design.

The RWJ University Hospital Foundation encourages everyone to save the date for our next golf outing, The Children’s Health 17th Annual Golf Outing, to be held on August 3, 2015 (Rain date: August 10, 2015) at The Ridge at Back Brook in Ringoes, N.J. The outing benefits The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at RWJUH. For more information or to register, visit www.rwjuhfdn.org.

Pictured above right, from left: RWJ Sr. Vice President, Development, and Executive Director of the RWJ University Hospital Foundation Brian Agnew; Director of Marketing Operations, Robert Wood Johnson Health System, Rachael Fonseca; Glenn Mekles, senior vice president of Conner Strong & Buckelew and member of the RWJ University Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees; RWJ University Hospital and Health System President and C.E.O. Stephen Jones; and Jack Morris, chair, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Board of Directors.