Meridian Health Opening Cancer Center in Jackson

Meridian Health has launched a $128 million initiative to open six Cancer Care centers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties every six months, with the first slated to open this April in Jackson. 

The massive project is aimed at bringing a higher level of care close to  home by enhancing services Meridian Cancer Care already provides.

“Meridian is investing in more ways to bring extraordinary oncology care closer to the community we serve,” said Mark J. Krasna, M.D., Medical Director of Meridian Cancer Care. “Our entire team is excited about the changes and how they will transform the way in which we deliver care. Our patients deserve the best, and our plans blend comfortable, spacious facilities, advanced technology, and a streamlined, convenient care process for an ideal patient experience.”

Meridian Health Village at Jackson is located at 27 South Cooks Bridge Road on the first floor, and will feature a single location with a dedicated team of cancer experts from various specialties, outpatient infusion and radiation therapy, incuding the new TrueBeam Linear Accelerator machine pictured above, in a state-of-the-art setting.

The next expansion project is expected to begin in the Fall, at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, according to Krasna. The other projects include Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Stafford Township and Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel. The largest piece of the expansion will take place at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

“Our community has come to know and trust the physicians and level of care they provide,” said Steven Littleson, FACHE, Executive Vice President of Meridian Health and President of Meridian Hospitals Corporation. “We’re taking things to the next level and building hope with new cancer specialists, even more advanced technology, and a truly multi-disciplinary approach to care that will elevate our patients’ experience and outcomes in an enhanced healing environment.”

Meridan Cancer Care plans to set its services apart by offering a multi-disciplinary approach to care. Navigating a cancer diagnosis will begin with a single, yet comprehensive, appointment. A nurse navigator helps each patient move through their visit, which includes meeting with each specialist individually. The doctors and clinical experts then meet as a team to discuss all aspects of the case and determine a treatment plan. The patient leaves their appointment with a comprehensive plan and a clear understanding of next steps.

"As much as possible, the patients are all discussed before any actual treatment is given," said Dr. Krasna. "When the patient has any kind of issue that comes up, or if it's unclear about what the plan was and what should be the next step, the nurse navigator, is there when those initial decisions and discussions are had, and they're there to literally hold the hand of the patient all along the way," he said.

Meridian treats more patients diagnosed with cancer in Monmouth and Ocean counties than any other health system, hospital or cancer-related organization, according to Krasna. "

We are well positioned to provide a personal and compassionate experience to each and every patient we have the privilege of caring for,” Krasna said.

Meridian Cancer Care was established to help patients and their families navigate through what may be one of the most difficult times in their life.  In addition to screening, diagnosis, treatment, and support resources, Meridian provides access to treatment options through affiliations with one of the nation’s top cancer centers. Meridian is a System Partner of the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCI-CCC). NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers lead this country’s fight against cancer and signify a relentless dedication to improving prevention, detection, treatment and care by quickly transforming laboratory discoveries to the bedside. They investigate and share the nation’s very latest treatments and most promising clinical trials.

To learn more about how Meridian Cancer Care is expanding, visit www.MeridianBuildingHOPE.com.