HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony to Officially Introduce New State-of-the-Art Community Hospital

WESTWOOD, N.J., May 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, May 23 at HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley, Hackensack University Health Network and LHP Hospital Group officials, as well as state dignitaries, gathered to officially introduce the return of healthcare to the Pascack and Northern Valley communities. HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley will be the recipient of the first license New Jersey has granted to a new hospital since 1984.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130524/DC20570)

The ceremony included remarks by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, New Jersey Commissioner of Health Mary O'Dowd, Westwood Mayor John Birkner, as well as members of the new hospital's leadership.

"The reopening of this state-of-the-art community hospital is the right thing to do for the residents of Pascack Valley," said Governor Chris Christie. "HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley will be an economic engine for the region with the creation of nearly 500 jobs including 30 new medical residency positions. This new facility will be able to coexist with other nearby hospitals, and together they're going to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare for the people in this region."

"The opening of a new hospital is always an exciting day in health care. Hackensack University Medical Center has made a significant commitment to the Pascack Valley community. When the hospital closed in 2007, Hackensack stepped up to run the Satellite Emergency Department and has provided emergency care to thousands of residents," said Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd. "They have furthered this commitment by enhancing the hospital with state-of-the art services and private rooms that improve patient care and reduce the risk of infection."

"Opening HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley is a major fete for the people living and working within the Pascack and Northern Valley regions. These communities rallied together and now their efforts are finally being realized – a community hospital in their own backyard," said Robert C. Garrett, president and CEO of the Hackensack University Health Network. "Together, the Hackensack University Health Network and our partner LHP Hospital Group remain steadfast in our commitment to improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare for the people of this region. We look forward to serving these communities for years to come."

Garrett added, "We would also like to sincerely thank Governor Christie and Commissioner O'Dowd for their support. The governor has allowed us to proceed with our strategic vision to partner with not only communities lacking a hospital nearby, but also with elite academic institutions such as Georgetown University. As such, his guidance has proved to be the catalyst we needed to expand our network, improve patient outcomes and build upon New Jersey's preeminent position as a center of innovation for the health science industry."

"The residents have waited a long time for health care to come home to Pascack and the Northern Valley," said Dan Moen, CEO, LHP Hospital Group, Inc. "HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley will provide much needed health care to area residents in a very congested part of Bergen County. In addition, by being a part of the Hackensack University Health Network, one of the strongest regional networks in New Jersey, the hospital is well positioned for any future changes in the healthcare delivery systems."

"HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley is eager to accept our first patient on June 1, 2013,"said Chad Melton, CEO of HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley.  "The community has been the vanguard of bringing this hospital back to life and reviving this much needed resource.  We are committed to serving each and every person that walks through our doors with the highest quality, cost effective healthcare. The construction teams along with our hard working staff have been working diligently to bring healthcare home to the region and we look forward to opening our doors."

HackensackUMC and LHP formed a joint venture in 2009 to reopen the former Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, NJ, which was closed in April 2007.  In early 2012, the State of New Jersey approved reopening the hospital under the HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley name.

The return of a healthcare facility in Westwood, NJ, will bring high quality healthcare back to the Pascack and Northern Valley communities and deliver economic growth in the region.  HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley is committed to supporting growth in the local community and restoring jobs that will fuel the local and the state economies. 

By June 1, 2013 HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley will employ nearly 375 people.  As 2014 approaches, the hospital anticipates employing close to 500 people including nurses and clinical staff, administrative staff. 

The hospital has been under construction since April of 2012 and has been converted to a 128 bed, all private room facility. The hospital will be the only facility with all private beds in Bergen County.  Each room will feature fully renovated patient rooms provided at no extra cost to the patient, including a variety of amenities and specialty features for advanced patient care including 32 inch flat screen televisions, Wi-Fi, cable and phone use at no additional cost, brand new Stryker patient beds with built in call system, bedside documentation, bar-coded pharmacy medication. 

PHOTO:
On Thursday, May 23, Hackensack University Health Network and LHP Hospital Group officials, as well as state dignitaries, gathered in Westwood, NJ, to officially introduce the re-opening of Pascack Valley Hospital as HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley.

Pictured from left to right:
Westwood Mayor John Birkner Jr.; Joseph Simunovich, chairman, Hackensack University Health Network Board of Trustees and chairman of the HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley Joint Venture Board; New Jersey Governor Chris Christie; Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of the Hackensack University Health Network; New Jersey Commissioner of Health Mary O'Dowd; Dan Moen, chief executive officer of LHP Hospital Group, Inc.; Chad Melton, chief executive officer, HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley.

About Hackensack University Health Network
Hackensack University Health Network is the New Jersey based parent company of HackensackUMC, the HackensackUMC Foundation, Hackensack University Medical Groups, and corporate joint venture partners with LHP Hospital Group (Dallas, TX) in ownership of two hospitals: HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley and HackensackUMC Mountainside. With nearly 10,000 employees and 2,200 credentialed medical staff members at hospitals within the Network, Hackensack University Health Network is the largest healthcare system in northern New Jersey.

About HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley
HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley will be a 128-bed, full-service, acute-care community hospital, providing the same nationally recognized quality care for which Hackensack University Medical Center is known. The hospital will feature all private patient rooms at no additional cost, a state-of-the-art obstetrical unit, an intensive/critical care unit, five operating rooms, one special procedure room, and a cardiac catheterization laboratory. This inpatient hospital will act as an anchor to many in-demand, outpatient services such as radiology, women's health and same-day surgery. For more, please visit www.hackensackumcpv.com                                                            

About Hackensack University Medical Center
HackensackUMC, a nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. It is the flagship hospital of the Hackensack University Health Network, one of the largest health networks in the state comprised of 1,140 beds, nearly 10,000 employees and 2,200 credentialed physicians. HackensackUMC was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey and one of the top four New York metro area hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report, and has received nine national rankings in: Cancer; Cardiology & Heart Surgery; Ear, Nose & Throat; Gastroenterology; Geriatrics; Neurology & Neurosurgery; Orthopedics; Urology; and the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital ranked as one of the Top 25 Best Children's Hospitals for Neurology and Neurosurgery in the 2012-13 Best Children's Hospitals list. HackensackUMC is among Healthgrades® America's Best 100 Hospitals in 10 different areas – more than any other hospital in the nation, is one of Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals™ for seven years in a row, and received the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ 11 years in a row. The medical center has also been named a Leapfrog Top Hospital, and received 19 Gold Seals of Approval™ by the Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence. HackensackUMC is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls, and remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events. To learn more, visit: www.HackensackUMC.org.   

About LHP Hospital Group, Inc.

LHP Hospital Group, Inc. (LHP) is a privately held company established to provide essential capital and expertise to not-for-profit hospitals and hospital systems. In cooperation with local hospitals, LHP forms joint ventures to acquire, own, operate and manage acute care facilities in small cities and select urban markets throughout the United States. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, LHP is owned by affiliates of the private equity firm CCMP Capital Advisors, LLC and the CPP Investment Board as well as certain members of management and the board of directors. For more information, please go to www.lhphospitalgroup.com.

SOURCE Hackensack University Health Network