Community Impact
NJ’s ONLY Public Hospital
Since its opening in 1972 University Hospital has served as a public hospital and is now the state of New Jersey’s only public hospital in jeopardy of closure. Since the transfer of the medical and dental schools formerly under the University of Medicine and Dentistry to Rutgers University health care insurance is not accepted and are being turned away.
Staffing/Service Impacts Physicians
There’s a service shortage due to services and resources previously dedicated to Newark University Hospital being split and/or moved to Robert Wood Johnson/Barnabas Health in New Brunswick, NJ to service wealthier communities. Staffing originally tied solely to Newark University Hospital now being split between Newark and Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health System in New Brunswick is making it dangerous for both patient care and quality of care. Transportation is one of the social determinants of health and the cost of transportation to get to locations outside of Newark are prohibitive.
The CEO of University Hospital stated “UH does not have the ability to hire its own physicians.” Physician staff which also served as faculty and professor infrastructure was stripped away from the hospital along with staff budgets which were transferred to Rutgers University. The result is that University Hospital Newark currently contracts with Rutgers for the same physicians previously under University Hospital creating higher costs for sustainability of continuing operations of the hospital.
Nursing Staffing & Adverse Impacts
Consistent, excessive nursing vacancies create a dangerous situation for staff and adversely impacts the quality of care for patients.
Revenue Generation for Operation/Sustainability of University Hospital
Long-time clinics previously under Newark University Hospital have been moved to Rutgers. University Hospital no longer benefits from the revenues previously generated by these clinics for financial and operational sustainability.
Medivac
The North Star Medivac Helicopter that provides coverage of the Northeastern region and services for emergency preparedness and response in the event of a natural or manmade disaster was moved from University Hospital leaving a gap in this vital service for Newark and the Northern region of New Jersey.
LEVEL I Trauma Center-Newark/Northern NJ Region
Unstable staffing, operations and sustainability threaten University Hospital’s long-standing designation as a Level 1 Trauma Center which serves not only Newark but the Northern Region of New Jersey.
Community Regionalt Economic Engine
The proposed merger further undermines the Newark Agreements as an economic engine for Newark and its neighboring communities. This negatively impacts the opportunity for to secure education and training, gainful employment at the hospital, medical and dental school along with training and employment in construction trades for living wages, union memberships, pensions and health benefits. This negative impact extends to these communities as those who are employed spend a portion of their incomes within these communities.
Upholding the 1968 Newark Agreements is vital to the health, education and economic sustainability of Newark, in particular and other surrounding communities in general.