With four children under the age of eight, Liz Daly juggles an active calendar—but throughout her busy life one constant has endured: Redeemer Health has been at the side of her family over multiple generations.

On May 8th, Liz delivered her son Teddy at Holy Redeemer Hospital, broadening the legacy established by her mother-in-law, who delivered all five of her children at the Hospital, including Liz’s husband Austin.

It’s remarkable in and of itself to share in a family’s growth as Redeemer Health has been able to do, but the Daly family connection runs even deeper. During his lifetime, Austin’s father, who sadly passed away in 1998, was a member of the Redeemer Health family as a practicing urologist.

Not unlike his father, Austin himself is a physician, although his specialty is oral and maxillofacial surgery. After completing a surgical residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, both he and Liz were overjoyed they were able to move back to this area and plant roots in the Philadelphia suburbs.  

This fortunate turn of events may never have happened if not for a serendipitous conversation that occurred between Austin’s uncle and Dr. Michael Dachowski, a leader in oral and maxillofacial surgery who heads a practice that serves as the oral surgery group for Holy Redeemer Hospital.

During the conversation, it became clear that Austin’s father and Dr. Dachowski had been former colleagues. In fact, their offices had been across the hall from one another! Eventually, Dr. Dachowski asked Austin to join his practice, The Oral Surgery Group, located in the Redeemer Health Medical Office Building, as well as several other sites throughout the Philadelphia area. Liz too joined the practice and serves as its marketing director.

“We’re so grateful to Dr. Dachowski for taking us in and treating us like family. It was a great relief to know Austin had a job waiting for him and where we’d be moving, especially since we’d be back with loved ones again,” says Liz.

Coming Full Circle

Upon joining The Oral Surgery Group, Austin was delighted that, like his father, he was able to care for Redeemer patients. Yet, while Liz and Austin celebrated, even more happy news was in the offing. The two learned they were soon to be parents and, not surprisingly, Liz immediately aligned with Redeemer Health’s vibrant Redeemer Baby community. “I thought it would be nice, now that we were home, for me to deliver in the same place where Austin had been born and where we had so many connections.”

Liz says that she immediately felt comfortable at Redeemer Health throughout her pregnancy and both before and after her delivery. “I love that I was in a Catholic hospital. Seeing the cross on the wall after Teddy was born made me feel deeply connected and grateful for all that’s been given to us.”

“It was like a kind of homecoming and so comforting to be able to relax and enjoy this baby with our family close by. This whole journey has been a very emotional and rewarding experience.”

A Lifelong Health Partner

In addition to baby Teddy, Austin and Liz are the proud parents of three other children: seven-year-old Billy, five-year-old Claire, and three-year-old Olivia. Redeemer Health is honored to be such an important partner in the lives of Liz, Austin, and their children.

As with the Dalys, our caring and compassionate Redeemer family often has the privilege to nurture the health and well-being of generations of parents and children. We want to hear your story! Tell us how Redeemer Health has provided care and comfort to you and your family over the years.

William Scarlett, DO, MHCM, FACS, FACOS, has been named Executive Director of Redeemer Health in partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. 

In this role, effective as of March 2021, Dr. Scarlett provides administrative and strategic leadership for the entire cancer program at Redeemer Health and is responsible for overseeing daily management and coordination of the operations, including the provision of cancer-related services within all designated ambulatory sites. 

"Dr. Scarlett has a longstanding history of delivering quality care and using his expertise to humbly serve our community in key leadership roles," says Redeemer Health President and CEO Michael B. Laign. "We look forward to his continued contributions as the leader of our new cancer program - Redeemer Health in partnership with                  MD Anderson at Cooper."

Earlier this year, Redeemer Health and Cooper University Health Care announced a new partnership creating an integrated cancer program at Holy Redeemer Hospital that is overseen by MD Anderson at Cooper. The recently established cancer program allows Dr. Scarlett and other physicians to extend their outreach to more patients.

Currently, Dr. Scarlett serves as the Medical Director for Restorative Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Director of Surgical Services, and previously served as the Chair of Surgery at Holy Redeemer Hospital. Dr. Scarlett's many years of physician leadership experience and his passion for healthcare will benefit him in his new role.

Dr. Scarlett is board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery. He earned his medical degree from the University of Des Moines College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed a general surgical residency at Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, and fellowship training in Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He recently received a master's degree in Healthcare Management from Harvard University, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in May 2021.

About Redeemer Health in partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper 
In February 2021, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper and Redeemer Health formed a partnership to create an integrated cancer program at Holy Redeemer Hospital. Through this partnership, patients in Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties have access to expert physicians, innovative cancer treatment, and clinical research from one of the region's leading cancer programs.

Redeemer Health in partnership with MD Anderson at Cooper takes a multidisciplinary, disease-site approach to cancer care, where experts from every area of cancer medicine work together to ensure each patient receives personalized care from diagnosis to treatment, recovery, and beyond. Clinical excellence, compassionate care, and a collaborative, disease-site-specific approach are the hallmarks of the program. In addition, we offer advanced care options, including teams specializing in breast, lung, gynecological, and gastrointestinal cancers.

For more information about our cancer program, visit redeemerhealth.org/MDAndersonatCooper or call 215-938-3555. 

The Signs and Symptoms

Parkinson’s Disease  is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily impacts dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Since there are no diagnostic tests available and symptoms develop slowly over years, Parkinson’s is difficult to diagnose early. In fact, physicians may not diagnose until the later stages, when symptoms become more apparent. Signs and symptoms may vary, but patients or their families often notice these common characteristics:

• Tremor or an involuntary shaking of a hand or foot when resting that often stops when active or moving
• Smaller handwriting
• Slow movement in the limbs, face, walking, or overall body, known as bradykinesia
• Limb rigidity, marked by stiffness in the arms, legs, or trunk that doesn’t go away as you move
• Posture instability that can cause gait or balance issues
• Trouble swallowing
• Speaking in a low or soft voice
• Feeling dizzy when you stand up

Parkinson ’s disease may also present non-motor symptoms, sometimes before motor or movement-related symptoms. These early signs may include:  

• Unexplained anxiety or depression
• Memory loss
• Ongoing constipation
• Sleep disorders or disturbances
• Loss of sense of smell

If you notice any of these signs or symptoms and have not yet been diagnosed with Parkinson ’s disease, talk to your primary care physician about your concerns and request a referral for a neurological exam.

Living with Parkinson’s Disease

While needs and disease progression vary from person to person, learning to manage symptoms when they arise will help you adapt and maintain your quality of life.  The most commonly asked questions from those newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease center around what to do next and how to prepare for the future. If you are a caregiver, you may be looking for advice and how to best assist your loved one.

Make Lifestyle Changes

Research suggests that exercise can help prevent or slow the progression of Parkinson’s. It can also help improve symptoms such as stiffness and balance problems. Exercise is also proven to reduce stress, and group activities can help you avoid feeling isolated. Having a diet with a variety of healthy food choices that include whole grains, high fiber, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables is beneficial for your overall health. Limit processed foods, sugar and your sodium intake. Work with your medical team and keep them apprised of any health changes.

Find Resources

Support from family and friends can be beneficial to help process your emotions and provide assistance with modifications you may need.  Support groups for patients and caregivers can help reduce stress, provide information on resources and be a source of encouragement. Find organizations like the Parkinson’s Foundation that can provide information and connect you with resources.  

Prepare for the Future

In many cases, Parkinson’s disease can be managed with medications, and mobility won’t be an issue for many years. However, having the foresight to think about potential future needs will make situations easier when they arise. For example, is your bathroom accessible, can you install grab bars? Are there trip hazards in your home? Will your house accommodate a ramp?

When to Consider Home Care Services

The progression of Parkinson’s is different for each individual and as care needs change you should continually reevaluate your need for help. In late-stage Parkinson’s, many people need assistance with their own movements or activities of daily living. Home health aides can help with daily activities, however should symptoms become more limiting your physician may recommend skilled care in the home; nurses and physical therapists to help manage symptoms and improve mobility.

Redeemer Health Home Care specializes in helping patients and caregivers  manage complex and chronic diseases. Our team of clinicians can help Parkinson’s patients with symptom management and mobility.

If you have questions about  Redeemer Health Home Care please visit our website, redeemerhealth.org/homecare or call 888-678-8678.

As a service to the members of our Redeemer Health family who are military veterans, we are passing along information recently received from an advisory put out by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA).

First and foremost, the DMVA has found that veterans can be a target for scammers who are looking to profit from “helping” vets apply for benefits. In light of this danger, it’s important to know that free and safe assistance is available from any accredited Veteran Services Officer (VSO) to help veterans and their beneficiaries apply for veteran benefits.

There are over 200 accredited VSOs positioned across the commonwealth of PA which include:

• County Office of Veterans Affairs in all 67 counties
• Veteran Service Organizations that include The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and American Veterans PA
• PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)

There are also claims agents and attorneys who are VA-accredited to file claims for federal benefits. If you wonder whether someone is VA-accredited, search their name at https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp.

Finally, if you or someone you know suspects or has experienced a scam or fraud attempt related to any veteran benefit, report it immediately to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Military and Veterans Affairs section at (717) 783-1944, or by email to PAvets@attorneygeneral.gov, or online at www.attorneygeneral.gov.

Visit here for more information.

The English philosopher Francis Bacon once said, “Gardening is the purest of human pleasures.”

Now, researchers the world over can actually put science behind Bacon’s words uttered five centuries ago. Modern studies continue to find that gardening improves mood and self-esteem, fosters fellowship, and offers a respite from stress.

The recreation teams that organize leisure programs in the Redeemer Health Life Care communities of St. Joseph Manor and Lafayette, truly understand the essence of Bacon’s words and the validity of contemporary studies. Time and again, they see the priceless joy and connection that gardening brings to their residents. 

At St. Joseph Manor, residents can exercise their green thumb in a full-size, residential greenhouse that is attached to the community, as well as container gardens that adorn St. Joseph Manor’s beautiful courtyard. “It is lovely to see our residents tend to the plants and several of our gardens while enjoying the exercise that comes with gardening,” says Luljeta Muskaj, an activities coordinator at St. Joseph Manor.

While friendship and laughter blossoms in the greenhouse, so also does a cornucopia of good, wholesome food. “Residents have planted and grown eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, basil, parsley, and more. Once the vegetables grow, the residents get to enjoy the fruits of their labor by cooking the vegetables in dishes. In fact, they recently made eggplant parmesan,” enthusiastically declares Luljeta.

At Lafayette, residents cherish a thriving community garden that sits on the beautiful grounds of the community, which is surrounded by Pennypack Park. “Gardening, whether planting or just enjoying the atmosphere, cultivates a sense of community. The experience reminds a lot of our residents of fond gardening memories when they lived in their own homes, connecting their past to their present,” says Jillian Lockton, Manager of Wellness and Recreation at Lafayette.

Gardening is just one of the many life-enriching activities that Redeemer Life Care communities make available for residents. For more information about our Life Care communities, visit RedeemerHealth.org/lifecare.

Redeemer Health Fitness Center invites fitness enthusiasts of all ages and levels to take advantage of its affordable membership package of just $39/month—and if you join before July 1, 2021, you pay nothing for June! Further cost savings can be enjoyed for those who wish commit to three months of membership, which right now costs only $99.

The monthly membership fee includes:

• A FREE customized exercise program with orientation to cardio and weight equipment
• Full access to all cardio equipment including treadmills, elliptical machines, stationery bikes, seated steppers, and arm ergometers
• Full access to all upper and lower body weight equipment

Members value knowing that a professional fitness trainer is always available to assist with equipment. And, for those who want even more support, our highly qualified, degreed exercise physiologists offer training options for clients who want to focus on attaining specific health goals.

Safety is a top-priority at the Redeemer Health Fitness Center. For the protection of all our members, we allow access to the Fitness Center only when a member is two-weeks past their second COVID-19 immunization. Additionally, we continually sanitize all equipment with a solution that has been proven effective against COVID-19. Members continue to wear masks and adhere to social distancing.

Redeemer Health Fitness Center is currently open from 7:30am-7pm Monday through Friday. To join or request more information, call 215-938-5710.

As a registered nurse and leader of Redeemer Health Home Care, and as a child of parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia, Monica Castaño acutely understands how difficult it can be for underserved populations to access critical services and resources, including the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Nursing has always been my true calling, specifically in making a difference in underserved communities due to my own experience as an immigrant born to deaf parents,” says Monica. During the pandemic, her determination to help protect vulnerable populations led her to join forces with the NJ Medical Reserve Corps, a network of volunteers that provides critical support and services when a public health emergency occurs.

As a member of the Corps, Monica has been able to bring incredible peace of mind to people who otherwise may give up on vaccination due to inadequate childcare, lack of transportation, or competing time commitments. “With the tremendous pain and hurt caused by the pandemic, I was moved to see the outpouring of interest of those looking to be vaccinated in Trenton and how I have been able to help vaccinate the Hispanic population” she says.

Monica’s calling to help at-risk populations is truly an inspiration to her team. But it is not only they who recognize her kindness and compassion. Recently, Thomas Edison State University, where she is currently pursuing a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice), honored Monica with a full-length feature about her humanitarianism and accomplished scholarship in its magazine, Invention.

Through it all, Monica remains humbled and appreciative. The well-being of her patients and the dedication of her team are never far from her heart. “What inspires me most is seeing the level of commitment my fellow Redeemer Health Home Care and Hospice colleagues have to delivering quality, safe care to our patients and members of our communities.”

For more information about Redeemer Health Home Care, visit RedeemerHealth.org.

Ed Barr, Redeemer Health’s Director of Environmental Services, and Maggie Riveria, Director of Redeemer Health’s Child Care Center, have joined together to inspire a small, but mighty, squad—the children of the Redeemer Health Child Care Center—to nurture the earth and adopt environmentally friendly habits.

Through a special program, Ed and Maggie teach each pint-sized environmentalist to identify which materials are recyclable and make their own recycling box. The children engage in single stream recycling, a method in which materials are placed in one bin that can then be effectively sorted at a waste center. “It is so important to educate the next generation and give them the tools to protect the planet we live on,” says Ed.

“Raising children to be conscious about the environment will normalize this beneficial behavior into their adulthood,” says Maggie. “Implementing this program is such a simple yet impactful way to change the world. We want to show the children that change starts here at Redeemer Health Child Care Center.”

The recycling program has indeed become a beloved part of the children’s curriculum, so much so that according to Ed and Maggie plans are in motion to roll it out into the wider community. “We want to see change, and we want to be part of that change,” says Ed. “Reduce, reuse, recycle has been the anthem for protecting our environment, and we want that to live on for as long as possible.”

The Holy Redeemer Child Care Center is certified as an Eco Healthy Child Care Facility through the Children Environmental Health Network. Additionally, it is distinguished by a STAR 4 rating from the Keystone STARS early learning quality initiative, a continuous quality improvement learning initiative for early learning programs. If you are a Redeemer Health employee interested in enrolling your child, call 215-938-3382 for an application.

Screening mammography allows for early detection of breast cancer – before it can be physically felt – providing valuable time to start treatment. Many women have delayed routine screening mammography due to the COVID pandemic. A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) stated, “The delay in diagnosis will likely lead to presentation at more advanced stages and poorer clinical outcomes.”

“Even during this unusual time, yearly mammogram screenings remain a critical piece of early detection of breast cancer,” says Dr. Stacy L. Krisher, Director of the Breast Health program at Redeemer Health in partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. “When breast cancer is detected early, there is a better chance to achieve better clinical outcomes and increase survival rates.”

Although some women may have fears about going to a health facility during the COVID pandemic, at Redeemer Health we are taking comprehensive precautions to ensure patient safety. We have implemented extra protocols in all of our facilities, including time between appointments to allow for additional cleaning and social distancing in our waiting area.

Mammography and the COVID Vaccine

The COVID vaccine is an important resource to rid our community of the COVID virus. We encourage everyone to consider receiving the vaccine when they have the opportunity. However, please be aware of timing recommendations for scheduling your screening mammography and receiving the COVID vaccine.

Vaccines of all types can result in a temporary swelling in the lymph nodes, as your body’s immune system produces antibodies as intended. If you receive your vaccine too close to the date of your screening, this may result in a false read of lymph node enlargement.

If your screening mammogram is due now, please either schedule it prior to receiving the COVID vaccine, or delay 4-6 weeks after the final dose of the vaccine is administered. Please do not delay longer than the 4-6 weeks after the vaccine if you are due. However, if you are having an active breast issue that is concerning you or your doctor, then please proceed with any and all recommended imaging as soon as possible rather than delaying for the COVID vaccine.

If it is not possible to reschedule your screening mammogram or your COVID vaccine, then please inform the facility and the staff at the radiology center that you have been recently vaccinated.

Is it time for your mammogram?

Don’t delay your annual mammogram. Talk about your personal risk factors with your doctor to decide when to start and how often to get mammograms. Redeemer Health has five screening centers conveniently located in Bensalem, Feasterville, Huntingdon Valley, Northeast Philadelphia, and Southampton. To schedule your mammogram call 215-938-5700 or request an appointment online.

Not surprisingly, the pandemic has left many people feeling empty, stagnate, or foggy—a state of being otherwise known as languishing. Patricia Gonzalez, LPC, MT-BC, Director of Redeemer Health’s Behavioral Health Operations, explains that languishing is a common condition that falls somewhere in the middle of the emotional spectrum between flourishing (commonly thought of as “living the good life”) and depression (feelings of low self-worth or guilt and a reduced ability to enjoy life).

So what happens when we experience this thing called “languish”? According to Patricia, it becomes difficult to focus, be productive, and perform at maximum capacity. But, she says, there are things a person can do that can help them regain their energy and improve their outlook. “When you are in the moments of languish, start with taking it one day at a time. It’s OK to not want to look so far in the future. There’s solace in simply creating small goals and celebrating small achievements,” she says.

Patricia also points out that it's energizing to become fully immersed in a new activity. “Losing yourself in something new leads to a state commonly known as being ‘in the zone,’ and when that happens a renewed sense of optimism may not be far behind.”

Finally, it’s really important to set boundaries by giving yourself permission to take time for yourself. “This can help a person reset, focus, and reclaim their zest for life. I recommend scheduling regular, uninterrupted time for self-care—be it painting, music, gardening, fishing, nature walks, meditation, or whatever activity leads to inner peace,” says Patricia.

Ultimately, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. “Often, people can diffuse the charge that occurs when in a state of languishing when they are able to name it. By doing so, people can make choices that help them move through the experience, maintain a sense of who they are, and promote a sense of feeling grounded during challenging times,” says Patricia.

The experienced and compassionate therapists and social workers in Redeemer Health’s Counseling Center can help you or a loved one strengthen well-being and overcome emotional obstacles. For more information or to make an appointment call 215-914-4190.