Englewood Health \u2014 operator of one of the remaining independent hospitals in New Jersey \u2014 has signed an agreement with RWJ Barnabas Health, with the intent of becoming part of the large academic health system, leaders from both institutions announced Monday.<\/p>\n
The deal still needs approval from state and federal entities before the transaction is considered final. <\/p>\n
Officials said the proposed partnership would expand health care for residents in Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis business has become incredibly complex and being able to combine balance sheets, leverage scale for purchasing and technology purposes, to spread the cost of those things around a broader base is just part of becoming more efficient,\u201d RWJ Barnabas President and CEO Mark Manigan said in an interview with NJ Advance Media. <\/p>\n
RWJ Barnabas already operates 14 hospitals throughout the state. Under the deal, Englewood Hospital in Bergen County would become its 15th facility. <\/p>\n
Officials said this isn\u2019t a rescue mission. Englewood Hospital is in good shape, having just received the Leapfrog Group\u2019s \u201cTop Hospital Award\u201d for excellence in patient safety and quality of care.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s exactly why now is the right time for a partnership, said Englewood President and CEO Warren Geller. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re doing well and neither side is doing it out of need, that\u2019s the best time to partner up. Because you never want to be in a situation where you\u2019re making your most important long-term decision under duress,\u201d Geller said in an interview. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want a partner. It\u2019s different than needing a partner,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Officials said the partnership would provide an opportunity to expand clinical services. For example, Englewood patients will have access to care offered through the Rutgers Cancer Institute \u2014 the state\u2019s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement, RWJ Barnabas will also make significant capital investments in Englewood over the coming years, according to a press release. <\/p>\n
Tentative plans include building more operating rooms, renovating the hospital\u2019s neonatal intensive care unit, and investing in ambulatory care. <\/p>\n
As of now, officials said they don\u2019t anticipate layoffs to be part of the plan. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis thing ain\u2019t broke, so we\u2019re not looking to fix it. It\u2019s a terrific team. There will not be any kind of significant or, quite frankly, insignificant modifications to their employee base,\u201d said Manigan. <\/p>\n