St. Joseph’s Health, Hackensack Meridian Health Announce Partnership

Innovative partnership will provide broad-based healthcare coverage throughout Bergen and Passaic counties, enhancing the continuum of care for communities across the region

On Sep 25, 2019

Paterson-based St. Joseph’s Health and Hackensack Meridian Health have formed a clinical and strategic partnership which will deepen their commitment to deliver innovative, high-quality and cost-effective care throughout Bergen and Passaic counties.

“This is an exciting step forward in the history of St. Joseph’s Health,” said Kevin J. Slavin, president and chief executive officer at St. Joseph’s Health. “After a comprehensive search to find just the right partner who would support our Catholic roots and philosophy, while at the same time embrace our commitment to the local communities of northern New Jersey, we are delighted to join efforts with Hackensack Meridian Health in this forward-thinking collaboration.”

“St. Joseph’s Health and Hackensack Meridian Health are natural partners who share a common mission and culture – increasing access to high-quality, affordable care to the communities we serve,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE,CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are excited to enter into a partnership with a first-class healthcare network like St. Joseph’s Health. The formation of this innovative partnership will transform healthcare in New Jersey and provide more residents access to the most advanced treatments.”

St. Joseph’s Health and Hackensack Meridian Health are entering a transformative partnership that will advance their commitment to meet the needs of the communities they serve, including the underserved and vulnerable. The organizations are focused on providing patient-centered care that humanizes the patient experience and is respectful of individual preferences, needs and values. Under the new partnership, St. Joseph’s Health will remain an independent organization, governed by a separate board of directors, with continued sponsorship by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth.

“The partnership of our two organizations deepens our commitment to the communities we serve,” said Sister Marilyn Thie, SC, chair of the board of trustees at St. Joseph’s Health. “It will enable us to sustain our proud 152-year history and Catholic Mission for many years to come.”

This clinical and strategic partnership builds upon the existing collaboration between the two organizations. In 2017, Hackensack Meridian Health and St. Joseph’s Health formed the Visiting Health Services of New Jersey, a jointly owned home health services agency and hospice services agency that successfully serves patients and families across Bergen, Passaic and parts of Morris County. VHS received nearly 4,000 admissions in 2018, a 160 percent increase over the prior year, and is setting a new standard of excellence in home health services, providing high-quality, highly coordinated and professional continuum of care to patients in the comfort of their homes.

“Partnerships are the future of healthcare, and together, with like-minded partners like St. Joseph’s Health, we will be able to transform health care delivery,” said Gordon Litwin, Esq., chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health board of trustees.

The new clinical and strategic partnership will have a significant impact throughout Bergen and Passaic counties, increasing the region’s access to wide-ranging health care services, and expanding the network of aligned physicians to better serve the community. It will also enable the two networks to continue to advance medical education for the next generation of health care providers, and work together to support population health management and effectively transition to value-based care. The partnership also provides the opportunity to expand state-of-the art oncology services, featuring a Comprehensive Cancer Center with multiple locations throughout Passaic County including in Paterson, Wayne and Totowa.

“I firmly believe that innovative partnerships like this are the answer to enhancing healthcare delivery to those who need it most,” said Bishop Arthur Joseph Serratelli, Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson. “New models and structures are imperative for Catholic health systems (like St. Joseph’s Health) to remain strong, while evolving as the leading health resource in the community.”

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: