Fast Access Saves Lives: Welcome to St. Joseph’s Transfer Center

Efficient and effective emergency transfer services can be a lifesaver for a critically ill or injured patient.

St. Joseph’s University Medical Center’s Critical Care Building brings a multidisciplinary emergency/trauma/critical care resource to northern New Jersey and the surrounding region. In conjunction with the facility, we have our Transfer Center phone number: 1.855.SJ ADMIT (1.855.752.3648). Physicians in need of obtaining specialized care for their patients at our tertiary regional medical center will benefit from:

• A centralized transport communications system staffed 24/7 by registered nurses with critical care backgrounds
• A Transfer Center RN who manages each inquiry with a single call to facilitate a rapid transfer via ground or air
• A large rooftop helipad capable of accepting the largest medical and military-style helicopters
• Rapid transfer directly to our regional medical center and access to St. Joseph’s outstanding healthcare professionals

Purpose of the Transfer Center

Designed to provide an effective means for referring facilities and physicians to transfer patients in need of specialized care, the Transfer Center may be accessed 24/7 for the following purposes:

• Trauma transfers 
• Surgical transfers
• Pediatric transfers
• Cardiac transfers
• Neurological and neurosurgical transfers including patients requiring neuro-endovascular procedures
• Neonatal transfers
• OB/GYN transfers
• All other emergent and non-emergent (lateral) transfers

Goal of the Transfer Center

To serve as the entry point for all hospital-to-hospital transfer requests and to streamline the transfer process to minimize, if not totally eliminate, the multiple telephone calls that usually need to be placed by sending institutions.

• A physician or hospital representative calls the St. Joseph’s University Medical Center’s Transfer Center at 1.855.SJ ADMIT (1.855.752.3648)
• The Transfer Center RN will manage each inquiry with a single call by determining the needs of the patient in conjunction with the referring physician
• The Transfer Center RN will connect the referring physician to the on-call physician specialist via three-way recorded communication
• When medically appropriate, the Transfer Center RN will arrange or assist in the facilitation of rapid ground or air transport to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center

When calling the Transfer Center, please be prepared to provide the following information:

1. Referring hospital’s name and contact information
2. Referring physician’s name and contact information
3. Patient’s name, date of birth, diagnosis, type of specialty services required and any other information pertinent to the patient’s condition

Once the decision to accept has been made by the physician, the Transfer Center RN will:

1. Request patient be accompanied by a complete copy of the medical record and all radiological films, and CDs
2. Request a faxed copy (973.754.2208) of the patient’s admitting face sheet, consent to transfer, Authorization to Transfer and any pertinent medical information that will expedite the patient’s treatment on arrival at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center.

St. Joseph’s Department of Dentistry provides comprehensive orthodontic care to patients with functional and/or cosmetic needs As core members of the hospital’s craniofacial team, staff orthodontists care for patients with cleft lip and palate and other dentofacial conditions, integrating this treatment with services provided by other involved specialty groups.

The full range of orthodontic services is available to populations with special needs as well to any children and adults who wish to have straighter teeth and a healthy bite. Orthodontic treatment is available in the form of metal braces, ceramic (tooth-colored) braces and clear aligners (Invisalign).

Other services include opening collapsed spaces prior to implant placement and the use of expansion appliances and headgear. In addition, orthodontists may be involved in treating patients as young as 5 years old using functional appliances to help stop damaging habits such as thumb-sucking and tongue-thrusting.

Overview

The Department of Dentistry provides inpatient and outpatient dental services for adults and children. In addition to managing urgencies and emergencies, dentists provide comprehensive oral health care including the full spectrum of diagnostic, preventive and treatment services. General dentistry and dental specialty services including prosthodontics, periodontics, and endodontics are based at the Family Health Center at 11 Getty Avenue in Paterson. Outpatient special care for medically complex patients and for mentally and physically challenged children is also available at this site. Hygiene services including education, prevention and treatment are provided at the FHC for the special care and general patient population.

The operating room at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center is specially equipped for the full scope of general dentistry including: imaging, restorative procedures, preventive care, endodontic and periodontal treatment as well as extraction of teeth. Patients unable to receive care in the outpatient environment may be candidates for comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia in the operating room.

St. Joseph’s offers many support services, including psychosocial services, nutritional counseling, genetic and risk counseling, pain management, pastoral care, psychiatric care, referrals for financial assistance and grants, hospice care, as well as many other services.

Our cancer program has an onsite Patient Navigator provided by the American Cancer Society, as well as a nurse navigator and a surviviorship coordinator to assist patients and their families, during their journey through treatment and beyond.

The Research Institute at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center strives to improve our patient's quality of life, advance science and develop better standards of care.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, we invite you to call us at the Office of Clinical Trials. Our treatment protocols are sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, large United States cooperative cancer groups and the pharmaceutical industry. These programs may be beneficial to you since they provide excellent comprehensive cancer care, as well as long term monitoring and follow-up. In general, participation in a trial does not increase the cost of your medical care. In most cases, the study drugs and some of the required tests are provided to you free of charge.

If you enroll in a study, you do not have to change your oncologist. Our office works with your private or clinic oncologist to coordinate your care. Your doctor will remain with you during treatment. Your participation is very important as clinical trials help us to learn more about cancer and to discover new and more effective ways of treating cancer.

Please call us for further information. We would be happy to speak with you and answer any questions concerning our clinical trials.

Cancer Rehabilitation Services works closely with our physical therapy department to provide treatment to address pain, fatigue, weakness and dependence in mobility.  We also offer vestibular rehab for cancer-associated dizziness. The occupational therapy department provides treatment to address difficulties with upper extremity function or dependence with self-care and activities of daily living.

At our Voice Center, speech therapists provide treatment for cancer-related speech disorders. The Swallowing Center provides diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with cancer-related dysphasia and most common cancer related issues. 

For more information, please visit the Clinical Focuses section of the site and click on Rehabilitation Services.