The Master Plan: We Want a Hospital

The Department of Health Planning Board will hold a public hearing Wednesday, October 19th in the auditorium at Westwood Regional High School in Washington Township. Its purpose will be to hear testimony from the public as to whether a hospital of any sort is needed in Westwood. It’s a procedural activity in the Certificate of Need (CN) process. It IS NOT an assurance of any affirmative decision.

The public will be given an opportunity to speak. Naturally many politicians will offer their thoughts. Some will speak because they care; others will speak for a share of the spotlight. Those individuals you’ll be able to spot by their focus on jobs and economic concerns. They’ll want to cover the broadest range of voter favor in this election season. But those two aspects are superficial to the responsibility in the planning board members’ decision process.

The opening of any hospital has to compliment the overall State health ‘system.’ It was the premise of the Reinhardt Report that took center stage in the opposition’s first salvo at keeping Pascack Valley Hospital (PVH) closed. Too many beds in the area were cited over and over; and if the State doesn’t hear a passionate outcry of concern toward the ACCESS parameter, the bed argument could garner new weight.

Even if Westwood and the Pascack Valley are honored with an approval by the DOH commissioner, the fight will most likely not end there. Valley and Englewood Hospital haven’t come this far to simply throw up their hands and say, “Oh well.”  Barring any deal,  it’s probable that the opposition will file a motion in an attempt to stay any approval pending an appeal.

Consider the players and various grounds for such an action beyond trumped up research papers. It is my understanding that Commissioner Ms. O’Dowd is the first appointee who wasn’t a physician. It is therefore implied that her appointment was politically motivated, which is purportedly supported by her husband’s position as the Governor’s Deputy Counsel. And as many know, Governor Christie stood in the PVH parking lot when running for office and campaigned in support of the hospital’s reopening. Could there be a conflict of concern within Ms. O’Dowd’s decision process? Surely any attorney reaching for distractions could manipulate the idea into an argument.

Now add to the mix, John Ferguson, the former CEO of HUMC, an integral participant in the beginning of HUMC’s review and subsequent victory in acquiring PVH’s assets. He now works as a consultant for Englewood Hospital. He’ll be able to offer insight to HUMC’s for-profit partner deal. If anybody is going to derail the reopening opportunity, he could be a major asset to the goal; structural information in deal making can be useful for both pro and con motivations. It also isn’t a stretch to assume that Mr. Ferguson might be a little bitter against HUMC, for releasing him over political dealings that were originally for his employer’s benefit. Who knows, it could be an ego stimulant, assuming Mr. Ferguson has any narcissistic tendencies.

The point being is that the public needs to BE SEEN and BE HEARD. It cannot assume or expect HUMC to bring this hospital home without public support. Hopefully area residents won’t let weather or traffic be an inhibitor to being involved.

Recent articles leading to CN hearing:

- HUMC Submits Hospital Application [06/09] (Click Here)

- State Reviews PVH Application [09/04] (Click Here)

- HUMC Defends State Query [09/15] (Click Here)

- Public Hearing To Be Held [10/08] (Click Here)