Trinitas’ Role As A Catholic Healthcare Provider Will Be Enhanced Under Terms of Agreement
Trinitas Regional Medical Center (“Trinitas”) and RWJBarnabas Health (“RWJBH”) today 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.”
ABOUT RWJBARNABAS HEALTH
RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering nine counties with five million people. The system includes eleven acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, three acute care children's hospitals and a leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital with a network of outpatient centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.
RWJBH is New Jersey’s largest private employer – with more than 34,000 employees, 9,000 physicians and 1,000 residents and interns – and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBH launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBH with Rutgers' education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
ABOUT TRINITAS HEALTH AND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Trinitas Regional Medical Center was created in January, 2000 upon the merger of Elizabeth General Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital. The 554-bed, Catholic acute care hospital offers 12 centers of excellence in such areas as: cancer, behavioral health, a breast center, maternal/child health, emergency/cardiology, renal, wound treatment, sleep disorders, women's care, an institute for Dialectical Behavior Therapy ("DBT"), and seniors care including a skilled nursing facility. It is a teaching hospital with a medical residency program and a professional school of nursing.
Trinitas has a statewide presence, providing care in each of New Jersey's 21 counties through over 80 locations. Trinitas provides care for over 16,000 inpatients, 1,500 newborns, 63,000 emergency visits and over 400,000 outpatient visits each year.
Contact:
Doug Harris, BA, MS
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
973-583-1091
Ellen Greene
RWJBarnabas Health
973-220-1321