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This comes as attorneys for Hackensack University Medical Center began arguing that court hearings involving the hospital’s future should be held in Hackensack and not Trenton.
McNerney hasn’t set a firm date yet, but those with knowledge of his plans say it will be next week, before a Friday hearing. “He’s just trying to get certain people on board” for the official news conference, one of them told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
HUMC wants to reopen the bankrupt hospital against opposition from The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, who say the proposed 128 beds aren’t needed and will hurt their business.
HUMC already has the powerful law firm of DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick & Cole in its corner.
What’s more, Gov. Christopher Christie, while running for office back in August, held a news conference outside the building, calling for Pascack Valley to be reopened.
“It seems clear to me that from a health and safety perspective, for the people of Pascack Valley, we need to allow them to have access to this type of health care facility,” Christie told the crowd gathered at the entrance to the hospital in Westwood.
“You have our support,” he said that day.
All that’s left is McNerney’s entry into the fray, and things will begin to get even more interesting.
That’s all but assured now, the sources told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
The nearly 300-bed hospital, which opened a half-century ago, closed three years ago after being forced into bankruptcy. The state Health Planning Board must recommend whether it should remain closed or allow Hackensack University Medical Center to open a 128-bed acute care facility managed and mostly owned by a for-profit partner — a first for North Jersey.
HUMC’s application is still pending before the state Health Department, at the medical center’s request.
Residents and officials have fought in favor of reopening Pascack, saying that the health of local citizens is at stake.
But Valley Hospital and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center have vehemently opposed it, saying that area residents aren’t hurting. A reopening would clearly siphon away patients from both of those hospitals, threatening their survival. It quite likely would put Englewood Hospital out of business.
Days before the hospital closed in November 2007, the certificate of need for the hospital’s mobile intensive care unit — which had provided advanced life support services to 18 towns in the Pascack and Northern Valleys — was auctioned in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Hackensack University Medical Center was the winning bidder at $3.6 million and began providing paramedic services to the area.
After several delays, the hospital building and property were auctioned on February 27, 2008. HUMC and Touro University College of Medicine won with a joint bid of $45 million — and announced plans to reopen a full-service hospital and a new medical school.
But in September 2008, Touro backed out of the deal, deciding instead to open the medical school in Hasbrouck Heights. HUMC then submitted its revised proposal to the state.
Now, the system of health care in the area hangs in the balance.
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