Innovative Program Recognized for Excellence in Patient Experience

From left to right: Suzanne Spernal, DNP, APN-BC, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, Senior Vice President, Women’s Health; Connie Greene, Senior Vice President, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery; and Alexis LaPietra, DO, FACEP, System Director, Addiction Medicine Emergency & Hospitalist Service Line, RWJBarnabas Health, and Medical Director, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery

West Orange, NJ, July 1, 2025 – The New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) recognized the RWJBarnabas Health Maternal Health Peer Recovery Program for its Excellence in Patient Experience at the 2025 Best at the Beach Awards. Suzanne Spernal, DNP, APN-BC, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, Senior Vice President, Women’s Health; Connie Greene, Senior Vice President, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery; and Alexis LaPietra, DO, FACEP, System Director, Addiction Medicine Emergency & Hospitalist Service Line, RWJBarnabas Health, and Medical Director, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery, accepted the award on behalf of the system. This annual awards program celebrates organizations that share NJHA’s commitment to improving the health of New Jersey.

Addressing perinatal substance use disorder (SUD) requires a coordinated, compassionate approach that integrates education, screening, treatment, and community support. RWJBarnabas Health, as the leading provider of maternity services in New Jersey, has taken great strides toward changing the staggering statistics related to perinatal overdose deaths in the state.

The RWJBarnabas Health women’s health leadership team collaborated with the Institute for Prevention and Recovery (IFPR) to develop a specialized group within IFPR. The goal of this specialized patient program is to educate healthcare providers about the complexities of substance use during pregnancy and foster a supportive, compassionate environment for care, implement harm reduction strategies, and provide peer-based support for healthier outcomes for mothers and their babies.

The program includes an integrated team of obstetric, maternal fetal medicine and addiction medicine physicians, nurses and maternal health peer recovery specialists, who are in long-term recovery themselves. Cross-trained as doulas, the maternal health peer recovery specialists provide invaluable support to expectant and postpartum mothers, ensuring they receive the resources needed for a healthy pregnancy and recovery.

In 2024, the program supported 1,736 follow-up visits for 82 patients and 28 babies, connecting many to essential services like housing, food assistance, education, and employment programs. To strengthen recovery and reduce stigma, the program hosted myriad events to engage and support their patients, including: 51 All Recovery Meetings, 11 community resource events, and 150 statewide awareness and education sessions. These efforts demonstrate the importance of integrated care and strong community ties in supporting recovery and improving maternal and infant outcomes. By addressing both medical and social needs, RWJBarnabas Health is leading the way in transforming care for pregnant individuals with SUD and breaking the cycle of addiction for future generations.

About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.

RWJBarnabas Health partners with its diverse communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate and equitable manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.

RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 43,000 employees, contributing more than $5.5 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit rwjbh.org.

Media Contact:

Carrie Cristello

Carrie.Cristello@rwjbh.org