When Dr. Alexander Salerno and his staff greet patients at his practice locations in northern New Jersey and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, they continue the legacy of three generations of caring community care families. In fact, his roots in Nirvana Healthcare Management Services (NHMS) return to both his parents' Newark-based medical practices in the 1950s.
“I grew up accompanying them on patient rounds and house calls, which instilled me with incredible respect for a patient-centered approach to providing healthcare that would serve the low-income people in the community we lived in,” he recalls. “Like my parents, I strongly believe that quality health care should be an intransitable right, not a privilege.”
Personal journeys will lead to healthcare transformation
His family development has led Dr. Salerno to acquire education and qualifications that will help him rethink his healthcare delivery, particularly for underserved urban communities. In addition to his MD, he was board-certified in internal medicine and earned a master's degree in medical management and public health. He is also a retired captain, US Air Force Medical Reserve.
Dr. Salerno joined his mother's practice in 2001, and quickly blended his father's practice in order to pursue his vision of providing equitable and quality health care for everyone. At the time, they only had five employees working in a modest 1,200-square-foot office.
But from the start, Dr. Salerno was able to calm the patient's fear and promote healing, not only by patient-centered care, but also by ensuring that the overall patient experience was extraordinary, as his parents had. As he explained, “I thought of my great experience as a hotel, restaurant or retail customer and thought, 'Why can't I take it to medication?' ”
Initially, Dr. Salerno bootstraped his clinic upgrade with a small amount of money he left out of the operating cash flow of his practice. “I might use the furniture in the IKEA basement to turn the waiting room into a living room, play DVD movies and see patients or doctors who are nervous about their condition,” he said.
“No one did that back then. I wanted my healthcare model to be an exceptional and nurturing experience for all my patients. And today, that's true. When patients enter our office, the experience is comfortable, comfortable, barren and not a ban.”
From single practices with 60,000 patients to healthcare companies – and TD Bank support
Today, NHMS is an innovative healthcare company serving over 60,000 patients. Most offices are designed to restore nearby family homes filled with art and provide peace of mind while receiving the best possible care.
With its support centre in India, the organization employs around 500 people, including over 30 doctors, providing 49 health services, ranging from primary care to mental health. This is a true one-stop shop for community health care needs.
Additionally, NHMS is pioneering innovative programs that address healthcare disparities, including domestic chores and community education initiatives. “We firmly believe that healthcare professionals must be both healers and educators to improve patient outcomes,” Dr. Salerno said. “Almost everything is bilingual. He can speak Spanish as much as he speaks English. This helps to connect with all his patients. Patient education helps to change the healthcare model from reactive to proactive.
This patient-centered approach flourished with support from TD Bank, which has helped expand NHMS to almost 12 facilities, over 100,000 square feet. The relationship began with his parents being a long-time customer of Commerce Bank, which TD Bank acquired in 2008.
“Good old customer service”
“TD went on to do what might be called 'good old customer service',” Dr. Salerno said. “I still went to the same brunch that Mom and Dad went. So TD knows me. They know that they handle both my business and my personal bank. My TD relationship manager, Chris Stucus, visits all my offices and regularly learns and advises about our plans.”
Through the Healthcare Practice Solutions Group, TD Bank supports Dr. Salerno's vision at every stage, providing mortgages, working capital, construction loans, and financial management systems*. “It's not just banks, it's about building relationships,” Dr. Salerno pointed out. “TD was there for us during the pandemic and helped us stay open and managed during very troublesome times. They're an important part of my team and we're getting together with me when we're calling plays.”
For TD Bank, supporting Dr. Salerno's vision is precisely what community banking should be like. This is the catalyst for positive change that spans generations. Together, they demonstrate that transformative healthcare is possible for all communities when their passion for healing meets innovative thinking and powerful financial partnerships.
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