Julissa is all about making sure our patients have everything they need to feel their best. For one, she knew that meant keeping his furry friend by his side. As a peer support specialist and clinical therapist for Emergency Psychiatric Services at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Julissa often finds herself working the phones, tracking down resources and making sure her her clients are prepared to succeed. On one frigid day in the emergency department, she knew what that was. A homeless man didn't want to be admitted for treatment out of fear he'd lose Rita, his beloved chihuahua Jack Russell mix. "It was clear to me that they were incredibly close. I knew he wanted to get help but I also knew he loved that dog so much and wasn’t going to give her up,” Julissa says. “I couldn’t make him make that decision." She made calls in search of someone who could take care of Rita and found St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, which would foster her for 30 days. Julissa had the patient complete the paperwork, and brought Rita to St. Hubert's herself. But her efforts didn't end there. She wanted Rita and her patient reunited permanently, and she knew that meant finding them both a place to call home. She coordinated a call with a former boss, who extended an offer for the patient and Rita to live and work with him. Julissa got the patient's phone turned back on with the help of the QIP-NJ First Thirty Program, secured funding from the Hackensack Meridian Health Patient Comfort Fund to purchase him a train ticket and a carrier for Rita and located a donated suitcase. Before the month was up, Julissa picked up Rita and provided the patient with a doggy-care package including food, treats and toys. The patient and Rita were reunited and sent to their new home on the day of discharge. It’s that type of happy ending that Julissa strives for with every one of the nearly 100 clients she's helped since joining the team. “My goal is to help reduce readmissions and more importantly to help patients live their lives to the best of their abilities,” she says. She will go above and beyond to do so. #PeopleofHMH (fb)

OBGYN Dr. Joseph Bouganim weighs in on the side effects and benefits of different forms of birth control, and which can be right for you. The best way to determine which to use is to discuss with your doctor. To learn more, including about other methods like the patch and the shot, listen to our podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/popculture-rx-love-is-blind-and-uneducated-on-birth/id1144653275?i=1000674054370 #womenshealth #birthcontrol #thepill #iud #nexplanon #obgyn (fb)