Vandervalk, Birkner and Twomey: Residents should have a role in hospital's future

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Last Updated Tuesday February 19, 2008, EST 7:59 AM

Just as we had no say in the closing of the hospital, there is still no mechanism to give those of us most affected a voice in what happens next.

THREE BIDDERS have emerged who want to re-open a health care facility where Pascack Valley Hospital stood for 50 years.

While many in our local towns may differ on exactly what we need, we all agree that the loss of our hospital has had a severe impact on our community, patients, workers and local businesses.

Since Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood closed its doors, stories abound of long ambulance rides, ambulances diverted from hospital to hospital, long waits for hospital beds and even longer waits in our remaining emergency rooms.

But just as we had no say in the closing of the hospital, there is still no mechanism to give those of us most affected a voice in what happens next.

The three different bidders (Hackensack University Medical Center, Paradigm Physician Partners and Valley Hospital-Englewood Hospital and Medical Center) appear to have different plans, but they are not subject to the scrutiny of the public, of our local or state elected officials.

The future of our health care needs here in the Pascack Valley will be determined by a bankruptcy judge, bondholders and creditors, as soon as Feb. 27.

In the dark

We don't even know which plans will keep an acute care hospital open, which will provide emergency services, or which plans are financially viable.

That has to change.

Recently, a report of the Reinhardt commission, created by the governor in response to the financial failings of many of our state's hospitals, recognized that New Jersey faces a health care crisis that calls for a change from the state's "hands-off" approach to hospital financial and patient care operations, to a "hands-on" approach to ensure that market forces are at least tempered by the need to ensure access to care for our residents.

We couldn't agree more, or more loudly, that we can no longer afford to treat hospitals like private businesses.

Many hospitals are facing bankruptcy or closures due to poor management decisions, inadequate governance, lack of state oversight and intervention, and lack of accountability to our communities.

Early intervention

Perhaps if Pascack Valley Hospital had been the subject of early intervention from the state, or had to publicly report its plans and finances to the community, this bankruptcy could have been prevented.

We hope that the Reinhardt recommendations for early intervention, hospital best practices, a state early-warning system, and monitoring of hospital debt will be enacted into law so that we can avoid more hospital closings.

A fund to assist in hospital closures is also proposed, as well as protection for employees displaced by the closing, as well as a better, more open certificate-of-need process. At Pascack Valley Hospital, a legally required hearing on state approval of the hospital's closing was held one day prior to the hospital's actual closing, completely shutting the community out of the process.

While we wait for action on the report's recommendations, Pascack Valley residents have a right to know the plans of the bidders, and they have the right to speak up for the right plan for their health care needs.

We hope the state, and bidders, are listening.

Charlotte Vandervalk, R-Westwood, is an assemblywoman, John Birkner is mayor of Westwood and Ann Twomey is president, of Health Professionals and Allied Employees.

Just as we had no say in the closing of the hospital, there is still no mechanism to give those of us most affected a voice in what happens next.

THREE BIDDERS have emerged who want to re-open a health care facility where Pascack Valley Hospital stood for 50 years.

While many in our local towns may differ on exactly what we need, we all agree that the loss of our hospital has had a severe impact on our community, patients, workers and local businesses.

Since Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood closed its doors, stories abound of long ambulance rides, ambulances diverted from hospital to hospital, long waits for hospital beds and even longer waits in our remaining emergency rooms.

But just as we had no say in the closing of the hospital, there is still no mechanism to give those of us most affected a voice in what happens next.

The three different bidders (Hackensack University Medical Center, Paradigm Physician Partners and Valley Hospital-Englewood Hospital and Medical Center) appear to have different plans, but they are not subject to the scrutiny of the public, of our local or state elected officials.

The future of our health care needs here in the Pascack Valley will be determined by a bankruptcy judge, bondholders and creditors, as soon as Feb. 27.

In the dark

We don't even know which plans will keep an acute care hospital open, which will provide emergency services, or which plans are financially viable.

That has to change.

Recently, a report of the Reinhardt commission, created by the governor in response to the financial failings of many of our state's hospitals, recognized that New Jersey faces a health care crisis that calls for a change from the state's "hands-off" approach to hospital financial and patient care operations, to a "hands-on" approach to ensure that market forces are at least tempered by the need to ensure access to care for our residents.

We couldn't agree more, or more loudly, that we can no longer afford to treat hospitals like private businesses.

Many hospitals are facing bankruptcy or closures due to poor management decisions, inadequate governance, lack of state oversight and intervention, and lack of accountability to our communities.

Early intervention

Perhaps if Pascack Valley Hospital had been the subject of early intervention from the state, or had to publicly report its plans and finances to the community, this bankruptcy could have been prevented.

We hope that the Reinhardt recommendations for early intervention, hospital best practices, a state early-warning system, and monitoring of hospital debt will be enacted into law so that we can avoid more hospital closings.

A fund to assist in hospital closures is also proposed, as well as protection for employees displaced by the closing, as well as a better, more open certificate-of-need process. At Pascack Valley Hospital, a legally required hearing on state approval of the hospital's closing was held one day prior to the hospital's actual closing, completely shutting the community out of the process.

While we wait for action on the report's recommendations, Pascack Valley residents have a right to know the plans of the bidders, and they have the right to speak up for the right plan for their health care needs.

We hope the state, and bidders, are listening.

Charlotte Vandervalk, R-Westwood, is an assemblywoman, John Birkner is mayor of Westwood and Ann Twomey is president, of Health Professionals and Allied Employees.