>Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Last updated: Tuesday August 18, 2009, 8:02 AM
BY SCOTT FALLON
The Record
STAFF WRITER
https://www.northjersey.com/news/health/hospitals/Reopen_hospital_Christie_declares.html
WESTWOOD – Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie said he wants Pascack Valley Hospital to reopen — adding another political voice to the ongoing battle between Bergen County’s hospitals.
At a news conference in front of the Westwood hospital Monday, Christie said area residents “deserve and need” Pascack to reopen.
Hackensack University Medical Center has applied for state permission to open a 128-bed, for-profit community hospital in Westwood. Hackensack, which bought the property after Pascack Valley closed two years ago, currently operates an emergency department at the Westwood site.
Hackensack’s effort is opposed by The Valley Hospital and Englewood Hospital Medical Center, who say they already meet the health care needs of the area and that reopening Pascack would harm the remaining hospitals.
“At the end of the day, adding a new hospital to a county with an oversupply of hospital beds would weaken the area’s existing hospitals,” a statement released by both hospitals Monday said. “This is not a partisan issue. This is not about any political party or any candidate for office — it is about the long-term health of Bergen County’s hospitals.”
A spokesman for Governor Corzine’s campaign called Christie’s announcement “political grandstanding” and refused to comment further beyond saying it is up to the state health officials to decide whether Pascack will reopen.
Corzine’s running mate, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, has opposed reopening Pascack calling it “irrational health policy.” Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, D-Englewood, and Sen. Bob Gordon, D-Fair Lawn, have also opposed the plan.
Hackensack recently took its application off the state Health Planning Board’s agenda. Hospital officials wanted time to strengthen their case after learning that health officials were preparing a recommendation against the reopening.
Christie’s appearance at the hospital lasted only 20 minutes. Standing with about 40 supporters in a sweltering parking lot, the former U.S. attorney made a point to criticize Weinberg for her stance.
“I would ask Loretta Weinberg today to get into a private room with Jon Corzine and tell him that it’s time for him to get his Department of Health &hellip to make sure a certificate is granted so we can start serving patients from Pascack Valley once again,” he said.
The issue has sparked an intense debate among local and state officials. A public meeting in June drew 700 people, most of whom supported the reopening.
Supporters include Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney and the Democratic Freeholder Board, who called over the weekend for all hospital leaders to meet and hammer out an agreement.
Sen. Gerald Cardinale, R-Demarest, Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk, R-Westwood, and Assemblyman John Rooney, R-Northvale, also support the reopening and stood with Christie at the news conference.
Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Wood Ridge, also wants Pascack to reopen, but criticized Christie for his statements Monday.
“I feel that this process should be done with all the stakeholders at the table, with no political grandstanding,” he said.
E-mail: fallon@northjersey.com
https://www.northjersey.com/news/health/hospitals/Reopen_hospital_Christie_declares.html
