Baby and Mom are First Patients in RWJ Hamilton's Lakefront Tower
Newborn Girl in Care of Hospital's Expanded Maternity Unit Receives $1,000 Savings Bond as Building's First Baby

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY – Brooke Mary Hreiz, weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces, became the first baby to enter the new Lakefront Tower patient building at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton at 11 a.m. on April 2. Brooke and her mom, Silvana Hreiz of Hamilton, share the distinction of being the first patients in the new building.

Newborn Brooke Mary Hreiz, held by her mother, Hamilton resident Silvana Hreiz, is at the entrance to the new Lakefront Tower patient building at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. Silvana was given the honor of cutting the ribbon to the Lakefront Tower as she and daughter Brooke were the building's first two patients. Mom and baby are accompanied by family and members of RWJ Hamilton's Maternity department including (left to right) Laura Pilgren, RNC, Clinical Coordinator; Silvana's sister-in-law, Roberta Hreiz; Joy Rende, RNC, MSA, CNA, Director of Maternity; Carol Weremijenko, RN, Maternity Staff Nurse; and Sharon Shedaker, RN, Staff Nurse.

Silvana went into labor about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 1 and about two hours later, she gave birth to Brooke at RWJ Hamilton. On the morning of Monday, April 2, mother and child were joined by Silvana's sister-in-law, Roberta Hreiz, also of Hamilton, and a parade of maternity unit nurses; the group embarked on a short journey through freshly painted hallways to the Lakefront Tower. Silvana was given the honor of cutting the ribbon to open the new wing from her maternity wheelchair. Those accompanying her coupled the exuberance of Brooke's birth with a celebration of the unit's expansion into the new building.

"This is beautiful," Silvana remarked as she was wheeled through the new patient areas before arriving at a spotless, state-of-the-art maternity suite. "This bed is very comfortable. And everyone here has been so nice. The staff has been asking what they could do for me even before I had the chance to ask."

Brooke's due date had been penciled in for April 15. She joins brother Mark, who was born at RWJ Hamilton 15 months ago, older brother Anthony, age six, and her dad, Rabih. Brooke was delivered by Lisa Tufankjian, DO, FACOOG, who is a physician with the Robert Wood Johnson OB/GYN Group at Hamilton, which has an office on the hospital's campus.

The honor of being the first baby to enter the Lakefront Tower is accompanied by a $1,000 savings bond in Brooke's name from RWJ Hamilton. Brooke was also presented with a quilt that was donated by the organization Quilts for Kids. The group, which includes elementary and middle school students from throughout greater Mercer County and Pennsylvania, creates quilts for donation to RWJ Hamilton's maternity unit.

Lakefront Tower Now Open to Patients
The four-story Lakefront Tower, which broke ground in October 2005, opened to patients on April 2 after four years of planning. The new building, with 64 private patient rooms, provided RWJ Hamilton an opportunity to expand its maternity unit from 14 to 30 rooms and makes available a large, state-of-the-art nursery. The building also features private rooms devoted to medical/surgical and orthopedic nursing units.

Materials used in patient rooms have been selected based on their contribution to a quiet environment. Quieter floors, wall coverings and ceiling tiles all play a role in reducing noise and helping patients heal.

The leading-edge design of the Lakefront Tower incorporates the power of nature to improve healing. All windows have been angled to maximize exposure to sunlight and elements of nature, including bright photographs of plants, have been placed throughout the facility. Most rooms have soothing views of the adjacent lake in Hamilton Veterans Park or the newest Grounds For HealingTM, the hospital's fourth on-campus garden devoted to peaceful reflection. The Grounds For Healing is being designed in partnership with Hamilton's Grounds For Sculpture, the internationally know organization devoted to promotion of the art form.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.