March 21,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Audrey Meyers President and CEO, Valley Hospital remains one of the highest paid executives in New Jersey , yet
many residents are far from convinced she has done a good job.
Lets face it the Valley expansion like it or not has wasted a huge amount of time for the hospital while its competitors have better positioned themselves through strategic acquisitions . Valley has floundered in self indulgent arrogance and still has not been able to expand in Ridgewood . Audrey Meyers strategy of “my way or no way” has so far failed to make head way in the Village . While other major project like NJ Transit’s massive renovation on the Ridgewood Train station , trestle and elevated tracks is just a distant memory Audrey has made little to no head way despite devastation public relations reversals .
Readers for or against the expansion question why she still has the support of the trustees and wonder if she had shown even and once of flexibility the hospital expansion like the train station would have already been a thing of the past .
This is where opponents stumble. On an executive level, Valley is well run and very strong financially. A lot of that is due to Ms Meyers. The way they celebrated victory before the dust settled implied that there was an inside track to get this done. That was evident when she showed up at one meeting at the 11th hour in a panic. Fortunately they also fell under the svengali like influence of PR hacks who figured the village for a bunch of sheeple who would roll over. Remember the ads and the “poll” results? That tone-deafness is a characteristic of many successful executives in all fields of operations. Arrogant and tone deaf? absolutely. But that does not take away from the hospital’s successful track record.
Audrey, like a lot of the doctors that call Ridgewood “home,” just love the convenience and the commute. So why change a very good thing ?
Paul Smith is correct. The hospital is very successful internally. As far as any wasted time in their expansion, they are about to get everything they wanted. Instead of compromising on half a loaf a few years ago, they walk away with the whole bakery. Like it or not, we are about to be living in the City of Valleywood.
Paul Smith you start out with a brilliant comment but then you spoil it with the chip on the shoulder comment re Valley taking us for a bunch of sheep. I give you 5 points for the former and deduct 8 points for the latter, so now we are down to 17% friends.
Bil H. your comment is nonsensical. You and your ilk are blind to the fact that a world class hospital like Valley is not just an end by itself but as a magnet to medical talent all over the area. As a 75 year old seenager who tries to take good care of himself, I am impressed by the first class medical care I receive from many doctors in different specialties who practice in our area because of Valley’s presence.
Here’s to Valley, Ridgewood’s Crown Jewel, and to Ms. Audrey Meyers, one of the U.S.’s leading hospital administrators.
Rurik- when you look at this disastrous PR approach with misleading polls and adverts, trying to stack the auditorium at GW, resistance to a non binding referendum to gauge voter sentiment and the 11th hour appeal at the council meeting which spoiled the “victory” party at the Park West, it wreaked of people thinking it was a done deal and BOOM it wasn’t- this is going to continue to divide the town for a long time. With the parking garage, there was at least a non binding referendum which reflected a desire to move forward- Valley’s initial (haha) renewal wreaked of an inside job. I have been privy to the ivory tower types as well throughout my career and this was tone deaf arrogance 101 to the “nth” degree….. it should be a public relations case study…. I’m sure I’ll lose more points now…
Rurik- When it comes to Valley your subjective comments have become boring. I’ve been in this town for 33 yrs., and several of my doctors practice there. Not one of them have ever referred to Valley as a “world class” anything. And please, save the BS regarding “many doctors in different specialties who practice in our area because of Valley’s presence.” Are you telling me these folks could not make a living practicing out of another medical institution “in our area” were it not for “Ridgewood’s Crown Jewel?” If you believe that, well I have this bridge…
This “Crown Jewel” you keep referring to is flawed, big time. And the taxpayers of Ridgewood,(you know, the group they sued), keep paying for it. “World Class” hospitals usually don’t have to do that, don’t you think ?
Since you seem to be the self-appointed cheerleader, who, judging by previous comments does not really relish answering questions you don’ t feel like answering, tell me, why can’t Valley be “world class” in Mahwah or Paramus, you know, two places where they might fit ? (Not to mention pay taxes)
Rurik, the only sounding like a sheep here is you – – could you stop your damn bleating for once? What do these folks pay you anyway?
Rurik is a half-bit shill for the Valley Hospital, sort of like Donald Trump commenting on himself. Ridgewood’s crown jewel belongs to the village, it’s residents, it’s schools and even the quality of life, not some overdeveloped mega-maniacal bully, er, a, community hospital.
Rurik Halaby you have no standing when it come to commenting on Valley hospital. you wife is or was no the Board of Trusties.
Rurik is a half-bit shill for the Valley Hospital, sort of like Hillary stating “what difference does it make”.
Why trash Rurik? He’s entitled to his opinion, doesn’t hide and gives a little humorous twist now and then… People like Rurik keep this site from being an amen corner… Thank you James….
Paul- You are certainly right. On top of that he makes criticizing ANY comments he makes regarding Valley quite easy to take apart.
As a long time neighbor of valley hospital, I can say that they are NOT. A GOOD. Neighbor . I have found theValley culture to be that of a bully, The administration has ALWAYS acted as they pleased. The hospital does very little for its host Village.