AtlantiCare 2025 Annual Report

Expanded Stroke Recovery Options with Southeastern New Jersey’s First Vivistim ® Paired VNS ™ Therapy Procedure AtlantiCare and Global Neurosciences Institute (GNI) recently introduced an advanced treatment option that gives stroke survivors renewed opportunities to regain strength and movement in the arm affected by their stroke. The neurosurgical team at AtlantiCare and GNI performed southeastern New Jersey’s first Vivistim Paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy procedure, marking an important step forward in supporting long-term recovery for patients. The procedure was performed by GNI Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon Dr. Rudy Rahme, Chief of Neurosurgery at AtlantiCare, on a patient who had been living with ongoing weakness in the arm affected by their stroke. For individuals facing similar challenges, Vivistim provides an additional pathway to continue rebuilding strength and function. Vivistim is an FDA-approved therapy that pairs gentle electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve with guided therapeutic exercises. During each session, a small pulse is delivered to the vagus nerve as the patient practices everyday motions such as reaching or grasping. This coordinated approach helps relearn or reinforce the brain pathways involved in movement that may have been affected by stroke. Clinical studies have shown that when incorporated into a structured rehabilitation program, Vivistim can support improvement in arm and hand function, helping patients increase their independence in daily activities. For many, it offers patients a sense of hope as they work to return to more of the life they knew before their stroke. As southeastern New Jersey’s only Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, AtlantiCare provides the highest level of stroke care, from emergency intervention to long-term recovery. AtlantiCare is expanding access to advanced treatment through its partnership with Global Neurosciences Institute, working together to make Vivistim therapy accessible to patients throughout southeastern New Jersey. Together, AtlantiCare and GNI are broadening what recovery can mean for stroke survivors who have reached the limits of traditional therapy.

First Patient to Undergo Robotic Lung Surgery

Most days, Debbie Flad doesn’t have a moment to herself and she wouldn’t have it any other way. At 56, her home in Rio Grande is filled with the laughter of her grandchildren. But her world shifted when doctors discovered something quietly growing inside her. Debbie soon became the first patient to undergo robotic thoracic surgery at AtlantiCare. Her journey began a decade ago after a routine hysterectomy left her struggling to breathe. Tests revealed lung nodules, prompting years of monitoring. When advanced imaging showed one nodule had enlarged, her care team scheduled a biopsy for answers. The results: a Stage 1 neuroendocrine tumor, a rare early form of lung cancer.

She met with Dana J. McCloskey, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon specializing in treating diseases of the chest, including cancer, who explained she was an ideal candidate for robotic thoracic surgery, an advanced, minimally invasive technique that allows surgeons to remove cancerous tumors through small incisions using precise, computer-assisted tools. “In thoracic surgery, there has been a tremendous amount of momentum behind robotic-assisted procedures as it allows us to complete operations minimally invasively, leading to shorter hospital stays and better outcomes,” said Dr. McCloskey. Debbie chose the procedure and became AtlantiCare’s first robotic thoracic surgery patient. “Being able to offer patients the latest in minimally invasive technology close to home is a significant step forward for our thoracic surgery program,” said Dr. McCloskey. “And that care doesn’t stop after surgery. We walk with patients through follow-ups, monitoring and survivorship.”

Dr. Dana J. McCloskey

Just weeks after the operation, Debbie was cancer-free and back to her busy routine. She will continue receiving routine CT scans every six months for five years and then annually. “It’s tough to hear the word cancer , but catching it early saved my life. No one wants surgery, but the team was great. They made everything easy for me and my family.”

TAVR allows specialists to replace a narrowed aortic valve using a small catheter rather than with open-heart surgery, enabling many patients, especially those at higher surgical risk, to return home within 24 hours and recover in days instead of weeks. This milestone reflects the skill and leadership of AtlantiCare’s multidisciplinary team, led by Interventional Cardiologist Jeffrey Van Hook, DO, and Cardiothoracic Surgeon Demetri Mavroidis, MD, who together have helped shape one of the region’s most advanced structural heart programs. Dr. Van Hook also serves nationally as a TAVR proctor, sharing expertise and supporting physicians through case planning and technical guidance across the country. As part of our commitment to advancing structural heart care, AtlantiCare plays an active role in national research efforts.

Through participation in the ENVISION and EMBLOK II clinical trials, AtlantiCare specialists are helping evaluate next-generation technologies and systems that may help reduce stroke risk during TAVR procedures. This research gives AtlantiCare patients early access to emerging innovations while helping to shape cardiac care nationwide. Recognized by the American Heart Association for excellence in heart and stroke care, AtlantiCare remains the region’s only 24/7 full-service cardiac center and southeastern New Jersey’s only STEMI-designated hospital, providing round the clock access to life-saving intervention. The 1,000th TAVR milestone reflects a single, powerful commitment that has guided the program from day one: bringing world-class heart care.

A Milestone in Advancing Heart Care Celebrating 1,000th TAVR Procedure

AtlantiCare’s Heart & Vascular Institute marked an important milestone this year: the completion of its 1,000th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. The achievement reflects more than a decade of progress and expertise in delivering advanced cardiac care close to home. Since launching the program in 2014, AtlantiCare has transformed how aortic valve disease is treated in southeastern New Jersey.

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