Frequently-Asked Questions

Q. Is Trinitas giving up all services for children?
A. No! The inpatient Pediatric Unit is the only service that’s affected. As you can see from the chart on page 2, Trinitas offers care for over 98,000 children through a large number of programs and services - all of which will remain in place.

Q. What children’s services will continue at Trinitas?
A. Other than inpatient pediatrics, all children’s services at Trinitas will continue to be provided. These include newborn care, pediatric emergency, Children’s Therapy Services, the Pediatric Health Center, the WIC Center, child sleep studies, physical rehabilitation, same day surgery, lab and radiology testing and our full range of child and adolescent psychiatry programs including inpatient care, the Child Intermediate Unit, Residential Treatment Center, Outpatient Unit, Day Treatment Program, After School Program, Therapeutic School Program, Child Psychiatric ER and the County-Wide Mobile Crisis Program.

Q. How many children are served through Trinitas’ Pediatric Unit?
A. About 4 patients on average are hospitalized on the Unit at any one time, but there are many days when there are no patients at all. In fact, over the last month the Unit was closed on several occasions for days at a time due to a lack of patients. About 500 pediatric admissions are served per year. By contrast we serve over 17,000 adult inpatients.

Q. What should parents do if they have a child who needs emergency care?
A. Children who need emergency care can continue to come to the Trinitas ER. If there is a need for hospitalization, arrangements will be made for transfer to the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC). Historically, very ill children in our area have typically been transferred or sent directly to NBIMC.

Q. Why did Trinitas choose Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center?
A. NBIMC is a regional center for children’s care that is just 4 miles from Trinitas. Trinitas and NBIMC have had a relationship going back many years. 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.

Q. Will any Trinitas employees be affected by this move?
A. Eleven employees will be affected. Some of these employees will be offered other positions within the Medical Center, and we will work to help place the others in similar positions at other institutions. 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 unemployment insurance.