EDISON — After months of negotiations and reviewing documents for approval, JFK Health is officially part of Hackensack Meridian Health.
It was on May 2, 2017, when the Board of Trustees of JFK Health and Hackensack Meridian Health announced that the two not-for-profit health networks signed a definitive agreement to merge.
On Jan. 3, it was announced the merger was finalized.
“JFK Health and Hackensack Meridian Health share a common mission and commitment to providing high quality care and an enhanced patient experience,’” said Robert C. Garrett, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “As we continue to grow, we will transform health care in New Jersey and provide residents with greater access to care in hundreds of locations throughout the state.”
JFK Medical Center opened in 1967 in response to the increasing demand for health care services created by a rapid population growth occurring in Edison, Woodbridge, Metuchen and surrounding communities. In 1961, Edison Mayor Anthony M. Yelencsics launched an effort to establish a hospital. This past year, the hospital celebrated 50 years.
JFK Health is comprised of the 499-bed JFK Medical Center in Edison, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation centers, nursing facilities and specialized treatment programs.
With JFK joining the network, Hackensack Meridian Health will employ nearly 33,000 team members, 6,500 staff physicians and maintain 4,520 beds.
“We have a long history together through our partnerships with rehabilitation and home care and we are both committed to providing the most advanced treatment,” said John K. Lloyd, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are thrilled to have JFK in our network.”
Raymond Fredericks, president and CEO of JFK Health, said in a rapidly changing health care environment, this merger strengthens and aligns services to maximize care options for everyone from newborns to the geriatric population.
“Hackensack Meridian Health’s culture of high quality care and innovation is one that matches our values and principles sustained during JFK’s 50-year history,” he said.
Hackensack Meridian Health also announced the investment of $12 million in a major expansion of the cardiac catheterization lab at JFK Medical Center to be completed this year pending regulatory approval.
Garrett said the project will add a treatment suite that will consolidate and expand non-invasive cardiac diagnostic services — echocardiograms, EKG and vascular studies — in one accessible and convenient location.
“JFK is already an outstanding provider of cardiac services in central New Jersey and with this investment, I am confident we will not only maintain but expand this leadership role in serving the region,” he said.
With the merger, Hackensack Meridian Health now expands to 16 hospitals in its network and with now more than 160 patient care locations; it is the largest health network in the state.
The 16 hospitals are located from Bergen to Ocean counties, including three academic medical centers — Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children’s hospitals — Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals — Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood; and two rehabilitation hospitals — JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.