Atlantic Health System (AHS) has officially selected three northern New Jersey skilled nursing facilities to lead a new Pulmonary Integrated Care (PIC) collaboration. The partnership is designed to revolutionize post-acute clinical management for patients battling Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and pneumonia.
Early data from the initiative is already showing a significant impact on New Jersey’s healthcare landscape: hospital readmission rates for pulmonary patients at these sites have dropped by nearly 7% in just three months, outperforming the national average.
The three facilities, all members of the Atlantic Health System High-Performing Network and supported by Marquis Health Consulting Services, have been designated as Pulmonary Centers of Excellence:
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Florham Park Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center (Florham Park)
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Spring Grove Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center (New Providence)
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Oakland Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center (Oakland)
Each center features a specialized onsite team, including board-certified pulmonologists and registered respiratory therapists, to provide 24/7 clinical oversight.
The PIC program moves beyond traditional referral patterns, establishing a seamless “clinical-to-clinical” bridge between AHS hospitals and the nursing centers. This ensures that the evidence-based protocols started in the hospital—such as specialized medication management and oxygen therapy—continue without interruption upon discharge.
“When a patient is discharged to one of these centers, it is more than just a referral,” said Jennifer Hertzog, Vice President of Marquis Health Consulting Services. “It is the beginning of a deep engagement among providers to ensure consistency of care.”
The program utilizes multidisciplinary protocols to address the specific needs of respiratory patients:
| Program Component | Clinical Objective |
| Evidence-Based Protocols | Standardizing treatment for COPD and pneumonia to reduce flare-ups. |
| Onsite Respiratory Therapy | Providing immediate intervention for breathing difficulties. |
| Continuity of Care | Direct communication between hospital physicians and facility clinicians. |
| Staff Education | Intensive training on the latest pulmonary recovery techniques. |
The success of the PIC program is a response to the historically high return-to-hospital rates for pulmonary patients. By meeting AHS’s stringent criteria for quality scores and care coordination, these three facilities are setting a new benchmark for sub-acute respiratory care in the region.
“We look forward to enabling future collaborations based on developing effective solutions for real needs,” Hertzog added, noting that the model may eventually be expanded to other specialized areas such as cardiac or chronic kidney disease management.
