TRINITAS HOSPITAL AND NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER PLAINFIELD REACH AGREEMENT ON BIRTHS FOLLOWING MUHLENBERG CLOSURE
Following the announced closure of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center’s OB/GYN services on June 30, 2008, Trinitas Hospital will provide maternity services for the patients of Neighborhood Health Center Plainfield. This means that Trinitas Hospital will be the new medical home for maternity services resulting in an expected 800 additional births per year at the Elizabeth hospital, according to an agreement between the two organizations.

"The Neighborhood Health Services Corporation (NHSC), which operates the Neighborhood Health Center Plainfield (NHCP), and Trinitas Hospital have formed a special partnership to guarantee continued high-quality OB/GYN care for the patients we serve," stated Rudine Smith, NHSC President and Chief Executive Officer. Smith stated, "I am especially pleased that the hospital is transitioning our nurse midwife model of care." She continued, "A NHSC/Trinitas transition committee has been established to address the details for a successful transfer of services." It was important to Smith to have an orientation for the NHSC patients, who noted, "It is critical that the patients have an opportunity to become familiar with their new OB/GYN medical home." Staff from Trinitas is scheduled to provide an overview of the hospital’s services and distribute a brochure package to each patient.

Ms. Smith explained that the midwives at Neighborhood Health Center Plainfield have been credentialed by the medical staff at Trinitas, which currently has a midwifery program. "This means that the midwives who have been providing prenatal care will also be the same midwifes who will be with the patients and follow through with the delivery of their babies at Trinitas," she said. Smith concluded by stating, "It is also important to note that high risk pregnancies will continue to be referred to Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center or St. Peter’s University Medical Center in New Brunswick."

Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinitas Hospital stated, "We are very happy to help meet this need for women in the Plainfield area." He added that women should be comforted in knowing that Maternal/Child Health is a Center of Excellence at Trinitas. "Our nursery is a designated Level 2 Intermediate Care program, which can treat infants with a high level of care, if needed. An obstetrician and a midwife are on the premises 24 hours, and a neonatologist is always available. Trinitas’ postpartum unit is newly renovated, with 20 private rooms with showers," he explained. Expectant mothers served by Neighborhood Health Center Plainfield will be invited to tour Trinitas Hospital and meet the maternity staff that will be involved in their care.

Trinitas Hospital currently delivers 2,000 babies per year. The hospital is adding staff to its maternity division to accommodate the additional volume.

Smith added, "We are telling our mothers-to-be that when their labor begins, or if they have any questions about their condition, to call Trinitas Hospital. They will be connected with an on-call midwife who will advise them on what action they need to take." She added, "If there is an emergency, they should dial 911 and the EMTs who respond will take them to the nearest hospital." Information shared with the expectant mothers also provides detailed driving directions from Plainfield to Elizabeth, and public transportation routes.

"We were sorry to learn that Muhlenberg is closing as the health center has enjoyed the working relationship with the hospital for the past four decades. We are elated that Trinitas Hospital has rescued a vital service program that we have offered the community for several years and allows for a smooth transition to assure that our expectant mothers have uninterrupted high quality care during their delivery," Smith said.

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About the Neighborhood Health Services Corporation (NHSC)
NHSC is one of New Jersey’s 19 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). FQHCs are the nation’s "safety net" primary healthcare providers and are charged with providing medical and dental services to the uninsured, and under-insured regardless of their ability to pay. In 2007, NHSC provided healthcare services to 25,759 patients (up from 24,489 in 2006), which comprised 91,907 patient visits (up from 91,115 in 2006). Founded in 1969, NHSC also operates the Neighborhood Health Center Elizabeth, the Neighborhood Health Center Newton, and the Neighborhood Health Center Phillipsburg. Services include: Adult Medicine; Dentistry; HIV Testing and Counseling; Ob/Gyn; Pediatrics; Podiatry, Social Services; and Vision. NHSC also operates the following school-based sites in Plainfield: the Neighborhood Health Center Cardinal (on the campus of Plainfield High School), and the Neighborhood Health Center The Healthy Place (at Washington Community School).

Posted: July 2, 2008

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