Help Comes Quickly at the Ocean Care Center
When a new Jackson resident needed medical attention quickly, she found relief in the hands of a skilled doctor at the Ocean Care Center.

Maritza Adams is breathing easy again, thanks to the efficient, caring doctors at the Ocean Care Center, a satellite emergency department of Ocean Medical Center.

Maritza Adams loves to read motivational self-help books, is very involved in her church, and enjoys playing bocce ball at her active adult community.

It was during an evening game of bocce ball that Maritza started to experience a nagging dry cough. She initially assumed it was allergies but knew it was something more serious the next morning. She had a hard time getting out of bed, and her breathing was very labored.

Finding a Local Doctor
Maritza and her husband, John, moved to Jackson from north Jersey almost five years ago. They hadn't established relationships with local physicians, so Maritza contacted her neighbor Sandra Fellen, R.N., for a recommendation.

Fellen, who writes the health and prevention articles for the community newsletter and organizes its health fairs, suggested a local physician. The physician diagnosed Maritza with asthma. But when the prescribed medication didn't help, the doctor advised her to go to the hospital.

Maritza and her husband were concerned about the potential wait time at a hospital emergency department, so John contacted Fellen for another recommendation.

"At a recent presentation on Ocean Medical Center's health fairs, the Ocean Care Center in Point Pleasant was mentioned," Fellen says. "It was fresh in my mind and I had heard good things about it, so I advised John to bring Maritza there."

How the Ocean Care Center Is Different
The Ocean Care Center is a satellite emergency department of Ocean Medical Center located in Point Pleasant. It's open around-the-clock and is staffed by emergency department physicians. Last year, the average turnaround time at the Ocean Care Center was 70 minutes, which is well below typical emergency department averages.

Upon arriving at the Ocean Care Center, Maritza was suffering from shortness of breath and high blood pressure, and she was wheezing. "They took me right away," says Maritza. "I was very impressed with the nurses and doctor."

Maritza had a complete workup done, including blood work, an EKG, and a chest X-ray. Bronislaw Partyka, M.D., an emergency physician at Ocean Medical Center, diagnosed her with asthma and slight pneumonia. She was given oxygen, nebulizer treatments, and IV medication.

Take Symptoms Seriously
"Asthma can be deadly," explains Dr. Partyka. "If you are experiencing shortness of breath and it does not improve after using an inhaler, come to the emergency department immediately."

After returning home and taking it slow for a few weeks, Maritza is now fully recovered. "I would recommend the Ocean Care Center to anyone. Though there were many people with many different issues at the Care Center when I arrived, the staff took the time to care for each individual, calm every patient down, and provide treatment."

Maritza is committed to taking some time to establish some local physician relationships. But that won't interfere with her bocce ball game.

– Anne Marie Keevins

About The Doctor

Partyka, Bronislaw, M.D. Board certified in Internal Medicine Bricktown, NJ  08724 (732) 840-3380