By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HAMILTON – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJ) Hamilton teamed up with the Joshua Harr Shane Foundation in dedicating the hospital’s newest inpatient rehabilitation room to honor East Windsor resident Joshua Harr Shane.
“We are excited about this addition to the RWJ Center for Orthopedic & Spine Health, which provides an expert team skilled in the latest technology, orthopedic and surgical procedures, pain management and rehabilitation for our patients,” said RWJ Hamilton President & CEO Richard Freeman, according to a press release on Tuesday.
RWJ Hamilton is the only hospital in the region nationally certified by the Joint Commission in knee replacement, hip replacement and spine surgery, and to offer robotic arm-assisted surgery using the MAKOplasty surgical robot, according to a press release.
“Our ability to provide physical therapy for our patients beginning the day of surgery has been critical to our success,” he said. “This rehabilitation gym will ensure that our patients continue to have excellent results and are prepared to resume their normal lives after surgery.”
The highlight of the new inpatient rehabilitation room is a car-transfer simulator for hip surgery patients. Patients who have received hip joint replacement surgery are highly susceptible to injury by simply twisting their leg, crossing their legs, or bending over too far. The car transfer simulator allows patients to train on correct techniques to ensure a successful outcome and prevent dislocation after surgery, according to the press release.
The rehabilitation room, located within the RWJ Center for Orthopedic & Spine Health in the hospital’s Lakefront Tower, houses state-of-the-art physical and occupational therapy equipment used to help surgical patients begin the healing process before returning home, according to a press release.
The event featured a ribbon cutting, followed by light refreshments and tours of the facility. It was held on Jan. 22 at the Center for Orthopedic & Spine Health located on the First Floor in the Lakefront Tower at RWJ Hamilton in Hamilton.
Guest speakers at the dedication included Mr. Freeman, Joshua Harr Shane Foundation Founder Judith Harr Shane, Sen. Linda Greenstein, Sen. Raymond Lesniak, Assemblyman Dan Benson, East Windsor Township Mayor Janice Mironov, RWJ Health System Corporate Chief Development Officer Brian Agnew, and Rutgers alumnus.
More than 100 people attended the dedication of the rehabilitation room, according to officials.
Mr. Shane was an East Windsor resident and Rutgers University student who died in a car accident in 2000. He was an active community volunteer who dreamed of becoming a doctor, according to the press release.
“The foundation has pledged $55,000 to the RWJ Hamilton Foundation for the Joshua Harr Shane Rehabilitation Room at RWJ Hamilton,” said Jen Samuel, a longtime volunteer of the East Windsor foundation.
Ms. Samuel served previously as the managing editor of the Windsor-Hights Herald, and now works as a social media specialist at Creative Marketing Alliance in Princeton Junction.
“Joshua’s room is a place of healing and of hope for all who pass through its doors,” she said.
“All money was raised by the Joshua Harr Shane Foundation through events and donations,” said Judith Harr Shane. “We donated $25,000 now and moving forward, we will be donating $5,000 annually for the next five years.”
She said that this amount is subject to change based on what is needed for Josh’s room.
“It may be in excess of $5,000,” she said. “We want to stay involved in the room going forward. After all, it is the Joshua Harr Shane Patient Rehabilitation Room.”
For her, the highlight was every second that led up to and including that day.
“It is still my favorite everything, and will always remain that way,” she said. “My son wanted to be a doctor. This is as good as gets.”
She expressed thanks to many individuals at the ceremony, including hospital officials Lindsay Warren and Pam Randolph for working with her to attain this.
“RWJ for allowing us to be part of their family,” she said. “Kim Pollard, my niece, for bringing the need for this room to our attention. Jen Samuel for working so hard with me and volunteering to help JHSF.”
She said that it is just wonderful that so many took the time out of their busy schedules to show their support and show love.
“We truly are honored,” she said. “Words are not enough to express our gratitude,” she said. “The support was unbelievable. A feeling we will never forget.”
She said it was an amazing day.
“I had made up my mind I was only going to look at the day as a dream come true for our son, Joshua,” she said. “Joshua is exactly where he belongs, with the Joshua Harr Shane Patient Rehabilitation Room, at RWJ Hamilton.”
