An attempt to map hospital and community needs for the next 10 years.
By: David Campbell
The Medical Center at Princeton has begun a public planning process to map hospital and community needs for the next 10 years.
"We want everyone to be able to look at the facts, to understand all the issues and to help us evaluate all of the options available to us as we figure out what is best for both the Medical Center and the community we serve over the next decade," said Medical Center President Barry Rabner.
Mr. Rabner, who replaced Dennis Doody as president April 1, indicated community outreach would be a premium consideration under his administration.
Soon after joining the hospital, the new president made the rounds with Princeton University and municipal officials, and met with residents living in the vicinity of the hospital to address questions and concerns about future growth.
In March, the former hospital president told a subcommittee of the Princeton Regional Planning Board the hospital will need up to 60,000 square feet of new space in the next four years and around 100,000 square feet in total in the next several years in order to maintain core hospital services.
Mr. Doody said all future growth likely would be constrained to the Medical Center proper, a city block flanked to the north and south by Henry and Franklin avenues, and to the west and east by Witherspoon Street and Harris Road. He indicated that the hospital has little choice other than to expand toward Harris Road.
Harris Road residents have fought encroachment by the hospital for years. In April, the Princeton Township Zoning Board of Adjustment held the Medical Center to an Appellate Court ruling remanding the hospital’s petition to maintain professional offices on residential Harris Road back to the zoning board.
The hospital, which had hoped to seek Master Plan revisions leading to a change in zoning, has until October to prepare an application, which the court ruled must demonstrate how the offices advance the core function of the hospital’s inherently beneficial use if they are to remain there.
Under Mr. Rabner’s administration, the Medical Center has embarked on a public planning process to identify future needs. The hospital hopes to have a comprehensive strategic plan finished by early 2003, according to spokeswoman Carol Norris.
Beginning in September, the Medical Center will hold five open houses during which community members will have the opportunity to ask questions, tour the facility and express their views, Ms. Norris said.
The planning process will involve Medical Center trustees, administrators, physicians, employees and volunteers, as well as officials from Princeton Borough and Princeton Township, civic leaders and residents.
In addition, a Community Advisory Committee will be established to ensure that community views are well represented during the strategic planning process, Ms. Norris said.
The advisory committee will be comprised of elected officials, civic leaders and citizens from the communities the hospital serves and is expected to meet throughout the planning process to give input and monitor progress.
An additional subcommittee for Princeton residents will be formed to discuss potential impacts on neighborhoods, Ms. Norris said.
She said the hospital does not know what impact if any the strategic planning process will have on the October filing deadline for the Harris Road offices.
"We are beginning a new chapter in the history of the Medical Center," Mr. Rabner said. "I am asking for everyone’s support as we work together to build the future of healthcare services for Princeton and the surrounding areas."