Acupuncture, Integrative Medicine Come To Riverview

RED BANK, NJ — Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center has expanded its integrative medicine services this summer, now offering acupuncture and other services.

Acupuncture will now be offered on Tuesdays at Riverview, and will be administered by the hospital's medical director, Dr. David Leopold. The hospital just started offering it this past Tuesday, July 30.

If you are interested in booking an appointment, call 732-263-7999. Most of Riverview's intergrative services (excluding massage therapy) are covered by most insurers, but patients are recommended to call their insurer to confirm.

Hackensack Meridian Integrative Health & Medicine was able to expand at Riverview through a generous donation from Frank and Valerie Montecalvo, who own Woodbridge-based Bayshore Recycling. New services now include: integrative physician consultations, nurse practitioner consults, acupuncture, nutrition counseling and health coaching services. Health psychology will be available in September.

“We are firm believers in the care of the entire person," said Valerie Montecalvo in a statement provided to Patch by the hospital. "We're so excited to see how this program will help the medical center continue its critical work in providing the highest quality health care to thousands in our region."

Integrative health incorporates Eastern medicine therapies and focuses on care of the entire person.

What is Health psychology? According to Hackensack Meridian, this "focuses on identifying the factors that impact health and wellness and helping people to implement practices, behaviors and mindsets which promote physical and emotional health. These factors include biological, psychological, social, cognitive, spiritual and environmental components. These components interact with each other and influence both the risk of an illness and the body’s ability to heal."

“Being able to offer Integrative Health & Medicine at Riverview Medical Center greatly expands our ability to care for our community,” said Kelli O’Brien, chief hospital executive at Riverview Medical Center. “We strive to take a comprehensive approach to health care and this allows us to provide patients with types of care they might not have previously considered.”