CAMDEN, NJ--Cardiologist Reginald J. Blaber, MD, has been named president of Lourdes Medical Associates (LMA), Lourdes Health System's network of primary and specialty care physicians and its health management services organization. LMA is a network of over 70 physicians at more than 30 practice sites throughout the southern New Jersey region.

"Dr. Blaber assumes leadership of LMA at a time that Lourdes Health System is pursuing a more integrated care delivery model, with physician practices that are aligned with the system's goals for improved patient outcomes," said Alexander J. Hatala, Lourdes Health System president and CEO. "Dr. Blaber's leadership, organizational and strategic skills will be critical for us to achieve better coordination between the care of patients in our hospitals and at our community-based physician practice settings."

"Among my first priorities with LMA is to choose and implement an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system for our patients and physicians" said Dr. Blaber. "It is important that we choose the right system, as it will serve as a platform to improve patient care in the outpatient setting and enhance the flow of vital patient information to those caring for our patients when they are hospitalized. This integration will improve healthcare quality, safety and efficiency, while reducing costs." EMRs, a critical component of all healthcare reform efforts, are an essential element in disease management and continuity of care.

Dr. Blaber currently serves as President of the Medical Staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and has served in many other leadership positions since he joined the staff in 1998. He is board-certified in cardiology and internal medicine, and is a well-known heart failure specialist. Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center is well regarded in the field of cardiology and is the recipient of HealthGrades' 2010 Coronary Excellence Award™. HealthGrades ranks the hospital among the Top 10 in New Jersey for Overall Cardiac Services.

A graduate of Bucknell University, Dr. Blaber received his medical degree from the Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC and a fellowship in cardiovascular diseases from Allegheny University of the Health Sciences at Hahnemann Hospital.

Dr. Blaber achieved the rank of major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and is presently a clinical instructor of internal medicine and cardiology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He has been named a "top doc" by several area magazines.

Lourdes Health System is one of southern New Jersey's leading healthcare providers. The system is comprised of Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, a 410-bed regional referral center located in Camden, Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, a 249-bed community hospital located in Willingboro, the Lourdes Wellness Center, Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing and various outreach services. The Lourdes Health System is sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY, and is a member of Catholic Health East, a health system with 34 hospitals on the East Coast.

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