Patient Care Team

Many medical professionals and other employees are involved in your care at Atlantic Health System facilities. The information you provide to them is essential for your treatment and will be held in the strictest of confidence. The following is a list of some of the team members and a brief explanation of their functions.

Nurses

The following are the types of nurses you may meet during your hospital stay:

• Registered nurse (RN) – in conjunction with your physician they plan, coordinate and provide 24-hour patient care. Your care is coordinated in collaboration with all members of the health care team and includes your daily care, tests and treatments and medication administration. Health education is also provided to you and your family and significant others. All registered nurses have completed state-approved educational programs and are licensed to practice in New Jersey.
• Nursing assistant – helps you with your daily personal care, checks on your needs and collects specimens. The nursing assistant works under the supervision and direction of the registered nurse.
• Private duty nurse and aides – are self-employed and work for the patient or family who contracts with them. They work under the supervision of the hospital’s nursing staff and observe all hospital policies and practices. The social work service staff person or care manager can provide a list of nursing agencies that offer private duty nurses. All fees for private duty nurses or aides are the responsibility of the patient.
• Unit manager – each unit has a registered nurse manager who is responsible for supervising health care team members.
• Care manager – is a registered nurse who works closely with your physician and all members of your health care team to coordinate the services you receive during your hospitalization. The care manager also coordinates medically necessary home care services for patients requiring this service upon discharge.
• Patient relations manager – is a registered nurse who is committed to respecting your rights and encourages you to participate actively in all of your health care decisions. The patient relations manager is available to assist you and your family in several ways, including answering questions regarding patient rights, hospital policies and procedures, advance directives and bioethical issues; assisting in resolving grievances or concerns that may occur during your hospital stay; and arranging for translators or sign language interpreters.

Physicians

Many of the physicians are independent contractors who have been granted the privilege of using the hospital’s facilities for the care and treatment of their patients. This includes emergency department physicians, anesthesiologists, cardiologists and other consultants who may treat you.

The following are other types of physicians who may treat you:

• Residents – working under the guidance of your attending physician at all times, residents undergo postgraduate training for a medical specialty.
• Hospitalists

Other Clinical Personnel

Numerous other clinical staff members are on our team, including the following:

• Patient liaison – is a non-clinical patient representative who visits the patient on a daily basis, to assist in meeting the personal needs of patients and their families. Unit representative – is a non-clinical employee who helps support the patients and staff on the unit.Patient satisfaction staff – are available to help enhance your experience, receive any feedback you may have concerning your visit, and also to assist with any survey questions you may have.
• Social workers – help individuals and families cope with the impact of illness and hospitalization, plan for their post-hospital care and handle physical, emotional and social problems. The social worker offers practical help and advocacy in locating appropriate resources, referral sources, or aftercare facilities and helps coordinate hospital and community services for you. The social worker also provides counseling services to help you and your family deal with social and emotional concerns and explore solutions related to your health care needs. Communication is encouraged between you and your family to achieve a better understanding of your situation.
• Other health care professionals – such as pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory care practitioners, speech pathologists, dietitians, radiology technologists and technicians – may also participate in your treatment. Based on your needs, your physician coordinates these services to provide you with the best possible care. Please feel encouraged to ask these professionals about their role in your care. They will be happy to tell you about it. 

Intensive Care Medical Team

Having a loved one in the intensive care unit (ICU) can be stressful. Each patient is under the care of a team of doctors. The intensive care teams are based on the nature of the illness or injury. One thing is for certain, no matter what ICU location your loved one is at: everyone's goal for our patients is to return them to everyday living at the highest level of functioning possible. 

Find out more about the important role that our intensive care experts play for patients in the ICU. Watch our videos, where our experts discuss each of their roles, and how they collaborate toward patient care to ensure that all of patients' needs are met.

Palliative Care

To assist in improving the quality of life for patients and families who are coping with a serious illness, our palliative care consultation team is there to educate you about illness, treatment options and management of pain. They focus on emotional support and coordination of care, allowing you and your loved ones to feel stable and secure.

Support Staff

Support staff is responsible for the daily cleaning of your room. They will deliver all meals and menus to your bedside and provide assistance with dietary related tasks. Support staff will also transport you to your tests and procedures.