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(Paramus, NJ) – Paramus, NJ – Bergen New Bridge Medical Center’s antimicrobial stewardship efforts have again been recognized by The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH). The Medical Center’s Long Term Care Division earned the New Jersey Antimicrobial Stewardship Recognition Program’s 2022 Gold Steward Award and the Acute Division received a Silver Steward Award. The New Jersey Antimicrobial Stewardship Recognition Program acknowledges the achievements of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) in local healthcare facilities. Awardees have demonstrated effective implementation of the CDC Core Elements of Antimicrobial Stewardship. The ASRP application evaluated metrics on hospital leadership commitment, accountability, pharmacy expertise, action, tracking, reporting, and education. “This recognition highlights our dedication to providing high quality, safe and effective healthcare which leads to improved patient outcomes,” said Deborah Visconi, President & CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. “We continually strive to reduce antibiotic resistance with procedures in place to track antibiotic use as well as ongoing education on antimicrobial stewardship for our clinicians.” Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have proven to be even more important through the pandemic because improper treatment of COVID-19 with antimicrobials, reliance on telemedicine usage and lack of diagnostic information, could have increased antimicrobial resistance in hospitals and communities. For more information, visit www.newbridgehealth.org. ABOUT BERGEN NEW BRIDGE MEDICAL CENTER Bergen New Bridge Medical Center (BNBMC), a clinical affiliate of Rutgers, is a 1,070-bed hospital located at 230 East Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus, NJ. The Medical Center is both the largest hospital and licensed nursing home in NJ and the fourth largest, publicly owned hospital in the nation. Bergen New Bridge, a not-for-profit safety net facility, provides high-quality comprehensive services, including acute and ambulatory care, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, long-term care, 24/7 emergency department, surgical suites, physical rehabilitation, pharmacy, laboratory, radiologic services (including digital mammography). It is a leading provider of COVID 19 testing, vaccinations, and therapeutics. The Medical Center also has satellite offices in Bergenfield, Englewood, and Paterson. Primary care and other health and wellness services are available at the hospital's CareRite Now centers located in select Inserra Supermarkets in Bergen County. Bergen New Bridge is in network with all major New Jersey commercial insurance plans covering 99.91% of NJ residents and is a Veterans Community Care Provider. It is also a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). Learn more at www.newbridgehealth.org.