Donation To Summit Firefighters Will Fund Equipment, Training

SUMMIT, NJ — Atlantic Health System, which includes Overlook Medical Center in Summit, presented a donation to the Summit Fire Department to fund firefighting and rescue equipment and specialized training for members of the department, at the meeting of the Summit City Council on Tuesday evening.

The donation was planned as part of Atlantic Health System’s project to build the helipad atop Overlook Medical Center which has been dedicated to expedite emergency stroke, aneurysm and neurosurgical patient transfers from other hospitals to Overlook Medical Center.

The donation was announced at the meeting by Summit Fire Chief Eric Evers, Overlook Medical Center president Alan Lieber, helipad project manager Martin Manfredo of Overlook, as well as John Halperin, MD, chair of neurosciences at Overlook Medical Center.

“Atlantic Health System is committed to the health and safety of our communities,” said Lieber. “With this donation, as part of the helipad project, we are proud to collaborate with the City of Summit to assist and enhance the capabilities of our local firefighters.”

Chief Evers and Manfredo closely collaborated to determine the needs of the fire department, which included standard rescue tools as well as supplemental fire suppression measures. The donation will also fund specialized training for members of the fire department.

“We appreciate this generous donation and for the ongoing working relationship with Atlantic Health,” explained Chief Evers. “These funds will help ensure that the fire department’s special operations division is prepared to meet the needs of Atlantic Health and the community. This is another great example of how municipalities and stakeholders can work together to optimize the services provided to citizens. The City of Summit is indeed fortunate to have Atlantic Health as a committed and proactive partner.”

The helipad opened for operation on Nov. 28, 2016. To date, 33 emergency neuroscience patients have been transferred, an average of two patient transfers per week. Referring institutions have included:

• Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune
• Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch
• Ocean Medical Center in Brick
• St. Clare’s Hospital in Denville
• Newton, Hackettstown and Chilton medical centers

As soon as a stroke occurs, brain cells die at a rate of 2 million per minute. Therefore, rapid treatment is the key to good outcomes.

“In just a few short months, the helipad has allowed us to more quickly provide life-saving treatment to dozens of patients and preserve their quality of life, all while maintaining our commitment to the Summit community,” said Dr. Halperin.

Overlook Medical Center is a Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center with two state-of-the-art interventional suites, neurosurgical operating rooms, advanced neuroimaging, a 10- bed neuro ICU staffed by 24-hour neuro ICU physicians (intensivists) and a nursing team with advanced neuroscience nurse training and credentials.

— By Robert Seman

(Image provided)

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