Chris Christie at People First , Open Pascack Valley Hospital Rally
Reader says Valley tried to buy the license of Pascack Valley for $2 million in order to terminate and keep it CLOSED Pascack Valley, arguing that there were too many available health care services and beds in the region.
Richard Keenan, Valley’s chief financial officer and senior vice president, said in his testimony “Most nights there are approximately 300 unoccupied hospital beds in Bergen County,” Some remaining hospitals “are still running at dangerously low occupancy levels,”
Do recall that Valley tried to buy the license of Pascack Valley for $2 million in order to terminate and keep it CLOSED, arguing up to 2013 decision that there were too many available health care services and beds in the region.
“The bed need study that we conducted again shows that opening another hospital in the most overbedded county in the state makes no sense,” said Valley CEO Audrey Meyers.
From a Valley lawyer at the time : ‘The board of trustees and the leadership of The Valley Hospital continue to believe that the opening of a new hospital ( PV) during an era of health care reform, declining hospital reimbursement, reduced patient hospitalizations, insignificant population growth and a challenging economy is wrong for the health care system of Bergen County,” “The latest numbers show that there will be no increase in demand for health care, and a new hospital will only hurt existing hospitals.”
So Valley basically argued that Pascack Valley wasn’t inherently beneficial to the region given healthcare surpluses but knowing that PV’s continued closure was inherently beneficial to Valley accumulating additional profits .
PV hearings exposed Valley’s ulterior motives and any pretense of altruism. The embarrassing double talk of Valley, the repeated attempts to shove through an overbuild and now this wasteful suit has alienated this community
Valley enjoys a coveted address and gracious host but its rather affluent residents are also educated and attentive and not willing to let the detriments of unbridled expansion degrade their town. Valley always had their support and ability to properly renew but their aspirations to be a regional behemoth needed to be thoughtfully planned especially given past rulings and guidance about limitations which they obviously choose to disregard.
Technology today allows the option of operating a right sized base with satellites , Valley could take this route or materially expand at another location as some other regional hospitals did. No legitimate rationale exists for any huge expansion not to be in a suitable location. Poor planning or arrogance are not a basis for an overbuild.
The existing building of HUMC PV was totally renovated with the newest technology for $80mil . Valley is a larger structure as is so the cost would be proportionately higher but a proper renewal would result in large scost avings that can be reinvested elsewhere. Valley and its trustees should take a cue from others and embark on a proper renewal at Van Dien and other options before they lose whatever is left of their goodwill and rank.
Why rehash this very old news?
because Valley is “rehashing ” old news and suing the Village
Nice come back James.
Heard it all before ….. old news, new news, old news, new news.
Some things are worth repeating, especially when it comes to Valley as they have short memory’s.
Seems that Valley and its supporters need to be reminded about how out of touch and off the mark they’ve been for the past 8 years. They keep hoping everyone will forget but now that they’ve put things into the courts, everything is on the record. Including the past employment history of Mr. Pucciarelli and fundraising efforts of Mrs. Hauck. You guys sued – now everything that you’ve said is admissible and re-hashible. Sorry.
#4, it isn’t “old news”, maybe you just don’t want to hear it.
It is very relevant to their current lawsuit, to their lack of credibility, and their willingness to say whatever suits their corporate needs. They think because they are a medical care provider, the ends justifies ANY means.
Valley, has become everything we hate going on in this country.
They believe they are above a towns detriment? They believe they can do whatever means it takes to get what they want.
I’d like to see workers and supporters rethink working and going to Valley.
Valley, should end their suit. This may wind up being more harmful than they expected? They will blame Ridgewood instead of themselves.
This is far from old news, #1 & #4. The only thing that’s getting old is Valley Hospital’s attempts to ram an overexpansion onto a site that is not suitable. Original post is spot on. Thank you for reminding readers how two-faced Valley was in their legal arguments.