June 2010

Dear Friend:

I am writing to let you know that Trinitas Regional Medical Center is restructuring its pediatric service – a service that has many dimensions including a Pediatric Health Center, treatment of pediatric patients in our Emergency Department, a level II neonatal program, extensive child and adolescent psychiatric services, same day surgery, school-based children’s therapy services and one of the state’s most active WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Centers. Together, these specialized programs provide quality care for over 98,000 pediatric patients or visits each year (see graph below).

While the use of our outpatient children’s services remains high, demand for inpatient pediatric care at Trinitas has been very low for a number of years. Indeed, the average daily census in our 11-bed pediatric unit is just 4 patients, and on many days there are no patients at all in the unit. Hospitals across the state are also experiencing very low inpatient volume in their pediatrics units. In fact, the average pediatric occupancy rate for New Jersey’s hospitals – including designated children’s hospitals – stood at just 35 percent of licensed beds in 2008.

This low usage, combined with the high cost involved in maintaining an inpatient pediatrics program, has led to our decision to transfer inpatient pediatric care to Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC), effective Thursday, July 1, 2010. Effective Monday, June 21, we will no longer accept admissions to the inpatient pediatric unit. ALL OTHER COMPONENTS OF CHILDREN’S CARE AT TRINITAS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE.

Trinitas has a strong and historic collaborative relationship with NBIMC, a regional perinatal center located just four miles away that provides 24/7 physician coverage for our pediatric program. In fact, the pediatric specialists in Trinitas’ pediatrics unit are all employed by NBIMC. Very sick children in our service area have historically been sent directly to NBIMC, which offers a comprehensive pediatric service with 31 inpatient beds. Since the medical component of our pediatrics service is already provided by NBIMC, this transfer of inpatient services will allow continuity of care for our young patients.

Sadly, this transfer will impact 11 employees at Trinitas. Some of these employees will be offered other positions within the Medical Center, and we will work with the remainder to help place them in similar positions in the area. Trinitas will also extend severance pay and additional compensation that can be used to purchase COBRA insurance during their transitional period. These individuals will also be eligible for state statutory employment insurance.

Trinitas Regional Medical Center’s strengthened relationship with NBIMC will assure quality regional pediatric care for the community. The plan to transfer inpatient pediatric care builds on the strengths of each hospital while creating economies of scale that will result in both higher quality and more cost efficient delivery of care.

I thank you for your understanding and support.

Sincerely,

Gary S. Horan, FACHE
President & Chief Executive Officer