3 min read January 2023 —In an interview with Invest:, Deborah Visconi, President and CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, discussed how healthcare has changed since the pandemic. She also emphasized the focus on her community and expanding accessible healthcare.
How have priorities changed in the wake of the pandemic?
As we continue emerging from the pandemic, we are focused on ensuring that our consumers and communities can access healthcare, including wellness and preventive care when and where they need it and that they regain their confidence to return to hospitals if that level of care is required. There was a hiatus period when people hesitated or even stopped coming into hospitals and doctors’ offices for fear of getting sick. Now, our priorities are shifting to make sure people come back to the hospitals, that people start to get their preventive care, that they start to see their primary care doctors again, that they get the proper screenings and that we all make sure to take care of our mental and emotional health. This total wellness model and ease of healthcare access which included going into communities, setting up satellite locations, opening care centers in supermarkets, telehealth and, of course, onsite care has been our focus for this year and next year. We’ve seen an exacerbation of mental and behavioral health issues as well as an increase in substance use in our communities, partly due to the pandemic. We’re certainly at the forefront and leading the way in New Jersey to ensure people have access to the mental health and substance use treatment services they need.
What impacts do you think will come from patients putting off care?
We’re likely to start seeing more people presenting with a myriad of illnesses, whether it’s cancer or chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease. One of the things we recognized during the pandemic was the link between social determinants of health and the ability to access healthcare. We have been at the forefront of combating these determinants in New Jersey, meeting people where they are to ensure that they get the care they need on the terms that work best for them. As healthcare leaders, that’s something we must consider: people may not be able to get to a hospital or a doctor’s office because they don’t have access to transportation, funding, or whatever other obstacles they may be facing. The obligation is on us to go out and meet these people in their communities or whatever settings are most comfortable for them.
What is the purpose of the Guardian Research Network (GSN)?
We are just beginning our relationship with GSN at Bergen New Bridge. We’re excited about it because of the academic nature of research in general, and in particular, this research allows us to look at some of the diseases and their causes in vulnerable communities. Often, traditionally underserved communities are not adequately represented in medical and chronic disease research. We’ll be able to focus on cancer in communities of Color as well as diabetes and heart failure in some of these underserved populations, which aligns with our mission as a safety net provider. With the Guardian Research Network, we will be able to identify those communities upfront, reach out to them, put programs in place to have them be part of a beneficial research protocol.
How has the center taken hold in the community?
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center was established in October 2017. It was an evolution from the previous management and structure that was present for the previous 19 years. We changed from a for-profit management structure to a not-for-profit management structure. We wanted to align the community’s needs with the hospital’s services and listen to our communities’ voices regarding what they need us to provide. While Bergen New Bridge is celebrating five years since this major transformation began, the Medical Center itself has been in the community for over 100 years. In 1916, the founding intent of the Bergen County Freeholders, now known as Commissioners, was for the hospital to manage and address the community’s public health needs. Fast-forward 105 years and we’re still doing that, except back then it was tuberculosis and polio, now it’s mental health, behavioral health, substance use disorders, and chronic conditions. We take all patients regardless of their ability to pay, their insurance or lack thereof, or their immigration status. We are the definition of a safety-net hospital and our collaborative work with America’s Essential Hospitals truly reinforces this mission. Being able to work with them hand in glove, as well as now serving on their board, is really a very gratifying and meaningful role for me.
How has the healthcare industry changed?
The community is now much more aware of their health needs. We have made tremendous strides in the reduction of stigma and increased acceptance and understanding of certain health conditions, including mental health and behavioral health, chronic illnesses, and substance-use disorders. Our communities are much more aware and supportive of people with these conditions. I think the community recognizes that healthcare doesn’t have to only be delivered within the walls of a hospital; you can get care in your community. Healthcare providers and our communities have become very much aware of the inequities which were exacerbated by the pandemic. We have recognized as a society that we are only as healthy as our least healthy community members. That is a powerful realization which brings with it the responsibility to be change agents, provide education, access, and commit to building trust and partnerships.
What are the center’s plans for the near term?
We never sit still here at Bergen New Bridge. I always tell my team that grass can’t grow under our feet. We have to keep moving so we are ready to provide whatever services are needed by our communities. We plan to continue expanding our footprint into the community, whether it’s a storefront or a mobile van, or a team of people going up to the Ramapo Mountains to take care of the Lenape community. We also want to embrace technology to reach as many people as possible, whether via telehealth, medical devices at home, or healthcare professionals going into someone’s home to provide care. The world is getting older. The baby boomers are aging, so more and more people will require higher care levels. As our medical advances continue to progress, people are living longer, and so their needs are becoming more acute than before. We are situated to provide all levels of care and we have the largest licensed nursing home in New Jersey as part of our diverse Medical Center care specialties. I view us as not just healthcare providers, but as an educational resource for our communities, teaching people about health disparities and furthering access to care.
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