New Offerings At Clara Maass Medical Center Provide Essential Support.
Affordable Blood Tests
A small sample of blood can yield a whole lot of data about cholesterol, sugar, and blood cell levels, and more—and that information is critical to helping a person stay healthy.
But for those without insurance or whose insurance has a high deductible, blood screenings can be too costly. That’s why Clara Maass Medical Center (CMMC) offers a monthly Comprehensive Blood Screening Program. Patients can have a complete blood test for just $40, and no prescription is required. Appointments should be made in advance.
“Not every medical condition presents itself as something you can see,” says Valerie Fitzhugh, MD, Medical Director, Department of Pathology at CMMC. “With our blood screening program, we’re able to let patients know, at an affordable cost, whether they are at risk for diseases they may not be aware of.”
Adults should have a blood screening test every year, Dr. Fitzhugh says. “Our bodies are changing all the time. If a patient is borderline diabetic or their cholesterol is outside a healthy range, a doctor can work with them to take care of that,” she says. “Patients have a better shot at doing well and living with certain conditions if they’re identified early.”
The Comprehensive Blood Screening Program takes place at the Cancer Center Conference Room at One Clara Maass Drive from 7 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month (except for November and December, when they are on the third Thursday). Preregistration is required; call 888.724.7123. Payment of $40 by check, cash, credit card, or money order s due at the time of the screening. CMMC has taken every precaution to ensure the safety of patients and team members
Virtual Help For Our Community
When in-person meetings aren’t possible, Clara Maass Medical Center is here to help. Below are just some of the online support groups we offer.
To learn more, visit www.rwjbh.org/claramaass.
Breastfeeding Support Group
Mondays, 12 to 1 p.m.
Do you have questions about breastfeeding? We are pleased to offer a safe place for new and expecting moms to connect online in a friendly virtual environment. Our International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants will provide guidance and answer questions about latch issues, breast/nipple pain, milk supply concerns, pumping, supplementation, returning to work, and weaning. We are here to support you along your breastfeeding journey.
For more information and to be sent the link to participate in the group, please register online at www.rwjbh.org/breastfeedingsupport.
Virtual All Recovery Meeting
Mondays, 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Recovery meetings are non-denominational and offer an opportunity to focus on the hope found in recovery. Recovery does not happen alone.
Join us and connect with others who are initiating and maintaining a recovery lifestyle. All Recovery meetings are facilitated by trained and certified Institute for Prevention and Recovery Peer Recovery Specialists and provide social support for those seeking or maintaining recovery, as well as for family members, friends, and supporters of those who have been influenced by substance use.
To learn more, call 883.233.IFPR (4377).
Bariatric Support Group
Our online Bariatric Support Group
A meeting is held on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. and focuses on a host of top cs, from yoga to plastic surgery to healthy eating to help patients who have undergone bariatric surgery to maintain weight loss and receive support from others.
For more information or to register, call 973.450.2393.