At Zufall Health, Substance Use Recovery is Part of Primary Care
Providing support for substance use disorders (SUDs), which involve the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs despite harmful consequences, is one of the many ways that Zufall Health helps patients achieve better health. Though SUDs can be managed, most people do not get help. Only 1.4 percent of the 41 million people in the U.S with a SUD in 2020 received treatment. Misconceptions about people with SUDs – that they are...
Zufall Health Awarded More than $650,000 to Confront the HIV Epidemic in Essex County
Zufall Health’s HIV Services program is implementing a new, status neutral system of HIV care in Essex County, New Jersey, thanks a grant of more than $650,000 from the New Jersey Department of Health’s Division of HIV, STD, and TB Services. The grant program, Comprehensive Status-Neutral HIV Services for Focus Populations, is part of the state’s efforts to elevate HIV strategy in line with efforts to end the epidemic nationally....
Zufall and NJ Department of Health Rural Oral Health Conference Draws 300-Plus Learners
Zufall Health, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), hosted virtually the Fourth Annual Rural Oral Health Conference (ROHC), on Friday, November 18. The day-long continuing education (CE) program provided more than 300 registrants in 45 U.S. states and around the world with expert insights about oral health in rural communities. Why does oral health in rural communities matter? Three of Zufall’s seven counties (Hunterdon, Sussex, and Warren)...
Meet Your Provider: Patricia Kao, M.D.
Pediatricians have a big responsibility to the littlest members of our community: they help patients ages birth to 21 grow into healthy adults. For Zufall Health’s Patricia Kao, M.D., being a pediatrician also means helping young patients overcome barriers to care. As the lead physician at Zufall’s Plainsboro site for the last year and, previously, a physician at our Somerville location for five years, Kao uses a person-centered, trauma-informed approach to...
Zufall Health Creates Healthy Smiles in Time for Veterans’ Day, and All Year-Round
Dozens of low-income military veterans received no-cost dental care at Zufall Health’s “Smiles for Our Heroes” event, sponsored by Delta Dental and the New Jersey Dental Association, on Saturday, November 5 in Dover and Morristown. Zufall provided a full range of services including dental exams and cleanings, oral cancer assessments, x-rays, fillings, and dentures, as well as refreshments, goodie bags, and nutrition education. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), a former U.S. Navy...
American Academy of Pediatrics Publishes Advice from Zufall Pediatrician Christine Pagano, M.D., About Keeping Kids Safe from Batteries
Christine Pagano, M.D., a pediatrician in Zufall’s Dover location, was published in October 2022 in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ digital publication HealthyChildren.org. Dr. Pagano’s article, “How can I protect my child from the dangers of lithium coin and button batteries?” addresses the growing problem of kids being admitted to emergency rooms for swallowing batteries, which are harmful to the body. Dr. Pagano writes: “In just 2 hours, lithium coin batteries can...
Art Exhibition Receptions Return to Zufall’s Dover Health Center
This month, Zufall Health’s Dover headquarters welcomed to its walls new works of art by local creatives. The group exhibition, “Movement,” curated by Zufall Communications Coordinator Amanda Barron, is the health center’s first since early 2020. The more than 60 original works include representational and abstract drawings, paintings, collage, and photography. Participating artists, art enthusiasts, and Zufall supporters gathered at the opening reception on Friday, September 16. An acoustic guitar performance...
Congratulations to Our Inaugural Class of Community Dental Health Coordinators
On Friday, September 9, Zufall Health honored its inaugural cohort of Community Dental Health Coordinators (CDHCs) in a graduation ceremony. The hybrid in-person/virtual celebration held in Zufall’s Dover headquarters capped a one-year program led by Zufall Chief Dental Officer Sam Wakim, DMD, MPH. Developed by the American Dental Association and initiated in 2007, the CDHC program trains dental professionals and other health professionals to improve access to oral health care. As...
Ask Dr. Bob: Are You Depressed, and What Can You Do About Depression?
We all have times when we feel bad, even guilty, about our lives, ourselves, our careers, or our futures. But for many people, this sad mood won’t go away and becomes a way of life. They may lack energy, have trouble concentrating, experience a change in appetite, or have sleep problems. It doesn’t do any good to tell them to just snap out of it. They would like to, but...
How You Can Participate in the Fourth Annual Rural Oral Health Conference
Save the date! Zufall Health’s dental department will host virtually the Fourth Annual Rural Oral Health Conference on Friday, November 18, 2022 in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health. The theme is “Diversity and Inclusion: Addressing the Needs of Marginalized Populations in Rural Communities.” Although the conference is still a few months away, it’s not too early to mark your calendar for the event! Zufall also welcomes commitments...