MAYOR ZIMMER AND HOSPITAL AUTHORITY SEEK STAKEHOLDER INPUT
Earlier this year Mayor Dawn Zimmer and the Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority determined that the long term success of the Hoboken University Medical Center, currently owned by the City, could best be achieved by privatizing the hospital. More specifically, conversion to a non-governmental manager will give the hospital access to capital necessary to compete in today's competitive hospital marketplace, relieve the City of its guarantee of $52 million in municipal bonds, and prepare the hospital for the impact of the recent federal health care reform legislation.Over the summer, an RFP focusing on strategic opportunities was drafted and issued by the Authority. The deadline for submission of proposals was September 13, 2010, and a number of strong responses were submitted.
Today, Mayor Zimmer and Hoboken Municipal Authority Chairwoman Toni Tomarazzo announced a series of meetings to receive stakeholder input to assist the Authority Board in evaluating the proposals that have been received. The stakeholder group will be designed to represent the diversity of Hoboken and will meet on Monday, October 18th from 6pm to 9pm, and Saturday, October 23rd from 3pm to 6pm.
Hoboken residents and HUMC employees are encouraged to apply to participate on the Stakeholder Committee by emailing a short cover letter and biography to hmha@hobokenumc.com no later than October 16th (or mail to: Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority, Attn: George W. Crimmins, Executive Director 308 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, NJ 07030).
"The long-term sustainability of the hospital is best achieved by moving forward with the plan to privatize the hospital -- ending the city's ownership and transitioning governance to a new non-governmental entity,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “City ownership has always been a bridging strategy and not a permanent solution. I have instructed the Authority, as part of the RFP process, to identify the essential core acute care inpatient clinical and diagnostic services that must continue to be provided at the 'new' hospital after the conversion.”
"Physician, hospital staff and community input are critical to this phase of the conversation,” added Chairwoman Tomarazzo. “We hope there are a large number of stakeholders participating so the input reflects the diversity of Hoboken.”
Click below to view the letter from Mayor Zimmer to Hoboken University Medical Center employees regarding this process:
http://hobokennj.org/docs/mayor/Zimmer-HUMC-letter.pdf
Link: http://www.hobokennj.org/news/mayor-zimmer-and-hospital-authority-seek-stakeholder-input/ ◦
