RWJBarnabas, Trinitas Reach Definitive Agreement

Trinitas’ Role As A Catholic Healthcare Provider Will Be Enhanced Under Terms of Agreement

On Nov 12, 2020

Trinitas Regional Medical Center (“Trinitas”) and RWJBarnabas Health (“RWJBH”) entered into a definitive agreement whereby Trinitas and its affiliates will become a part of the RWJBH system. The agreement follows the October 2019 signing by both institutions of a Letter of Intent to explore a potential transaction. “Our discussions during this past year have been very fruitful and encouraging, and through this process we learned that we share very similar commitments to quality and excellent healthcare. We are increasingly confident that the path we are taking toward integration with RWJBH is the right one for our institution and our community,” stated Trinitas President and CEO Gary S. Horan.

“We are excited that Trinitas Regional Medical Center and its affiliates will become a part of RWJBarnabas Health,” said Barry H. Ostrowsky, president and chief executive officer, RWJBarnabas Health. “Trinitas is a vital resource to the communities it serves, and we intend to greatly expand its excellent care to residents of new communities in northern and central New Jersey. When joining together two entities with such similar missions and goals, the opportunities are enormous.”

Approvals will be necessary from State and Federal authorities and the Catholic Church before the transaction is considered complete in a process that is expected to take up to one year.

Under the terms of the agreement, the role of Trinitas as a full service, Catholic provider of acute health care services for the eastern Union County community will be enhanced. RWJBH will make significant investments in Trinitas and will expand the network of outpatient services currently provided by Trinitas, resulting in an even higher level of care for the community.

RWJBH will become the sole member (i.e., corporate parent) of Trinitas. Trinitas will retain its identity as a Catholic institution and will abide by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth will continue to serve as the Catholic sponsor of Trinitas. The Trinitas Board will continue to oversee day-to-day operations of Trinitas.

RWJBH is New Jersey’s most comprehensive academic health care system with a service area of nine counties covering five million people. The system includes 11 acute care hospitals, three acute care children’s hospitals, and a renowned pediatric rehabilitation hospital, among many other facilities. RWJBH has a partnership with Rutgers University, creating New Jersey’s largest academic health care system.

Trinitas Regional Medical Center is a 554-bed, Catholic, acute care teaching hospital located in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Trinitas provides over 400,000 patient contacts per year and renders care throughout the State of New Jersey. Trinitas is the result of a merger in the year 2000 between Elizabeth General Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital.

The agreement states, in part: “The parties have been in discussions for some time and share a common perspective and culture regarding the provision of high quality, cost-effective services to their communities consistent with their respective missions and the need to move in the direction of population health management.”

According to Gary S. Horan, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Trinitas, “Throughout several years of discussion, including a very thorough due diligence process, I am more convinced than ever that our eventual move into the RWJBH system is an extremely positive and exciting development for our institution. Our chief goal is to provide care for our community, and this partnership will give us the resources and opportunities to greatly enhance the already high level of care we provide.”

Victor M. Richel, chairman of Trinitas, agreed, saying, “Our organization has been committed to serving the community to the best of its ability since 1879. It’s wonderful to know that this commitment will continue far into the future as part of RWJBH.”

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