Over 100 Student Athletes Screened at Clara Maass Program

The following is a press release from Clara Maass Medical Center. 

They came from as far away as Sussex and Monmouth Counties, soccer players, football players, and athletes of every kind for free cardiac and concussion screenings performed at Clara Maass Medical Center.

In all, 101 children were given complimentary health screenings as part of the Matthew J. Morahan “Play it Safe” program, sponsored by Barnabas Health. Each child received a baseline EKG, blood pressure check and impact test as part of the screening. It is the second one held at Clara Maass Medical Center.

 “We are so delighted to be able to offer this valuable community service and help protect the health and safety of student-athletes throughout the state of New Jersey,” said Mary Ellen Clyne, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of CMMC.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for young athletes to get a preventative screening at no cost that will help protect them from injury or illness on the athletic field,” said Dr. Frank Mazzarella, vice president of the Medical Staff at CMMC.

Mom Gabriela Costa of Nutley brought her two sons, ages 10 and 11, to the screening on Aug. 17 before they began their fall sports season. Alison Mackey of Verona brought her 9-year-old son who plays recreation football. Other children showed up in their soccer uniforms.

At the event, which was held in the Cancer Center at Clara Maass Medical Center, nurses were available to give complimentary blood pressure screenings to parents. Though the line moved quickly, light refreshments and comfortable seating was available for participating families.

CMMC plans to hold additional screenings in the future.

The Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes provides education, evaluation and assessment of sports injury and sports-related cardiac and concussion screenings. Barnabas Health serves and cares for more pediatric patients than any other health care organization in New Jersey; this program furthers our long-standing commitment to the health and well-being of children and young adults.

Screenings are free of charge and a parent or guardian is asked to be present.  For more information about the Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes, please visit our website at www.barnabashealth.org/morahan or call 973.322.7913.

About Matthew Morahan III:
Before finding his true athletic calling on the links, Matthew participated in little league, recreational football, and swimming.  In addition to becoming a golfer, Matthew went on to be an enthusiastic sports viewer as well as a devoted runner. To ensure child athletes can safely enjoy the same experiences Matthew did, his family and friends helped to create the Matthew J. Morahan III Memorial Health Assessment Center for Athletes.  Young athletes can be screened for otherwise undetectable brain and heart conditions at minimal or no cost.

Clara Maass Medical Center has won numerous awards and accolaes. In 2013, Becker’s Hospital Review named it one of “100 Hospitals with Great Heart Programs.” It is ranked among the 50 Best Regional Hospitals in the New York Metro Area by U.S. News & World Report. In 2013, it also received its third consecutive Grade “A” score in Hospital Safety by the Leapfrog Group, along with a HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award™.  HealthGrades awarded Clara Maass an Emergency Medicine Excellence Award. Thomson Reuters named Clara Maass among the top 100 hospitals nationwide in 2012, one of only three hospitals in New Jersey to attain the distinction. In addition, Clara Maass won the Thomson Reuters Everest Award, one of 12 hospitals in the United States to do so. Clara Maass Medical Center was ranked as the second highest in New Jersey for hospital safety by Consumer Reports. It is ranked top in the state for the treatment of Congestive Heart Failure and Heart Attacks by the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services.

Located in Belleville, NJ, Clara Maass Medical Center, a Barnabas Health facility, provides a complete continuum of care to residents of northern New Jersey. Clara Maass’ centers and services include The Health and Wellness Center, Nuclear Medicine, The Cancer Center at Clara Maass, Adult Cardiac Services including Diagnostic Services, Cardiac Catheterization, Elective and Emergency Angioplasty and Rehabilitation, The Pain Management Center, The Joint & Spine Institute, a Vascular Center, Same Day Surgery, The Wound Center at Clara Maass, The Center for Sleep Disorders, The Bariatric Surgery Center, Rehabilitation Services, The Eye Surgery Center,  Maternity Services and Parent Education, as well as Pediatrics.  For a physician referral or more information about Clara Maass, call 1-888-724-7123 or visit www.barnabashealth.org/claramaass