RWJ And Saint Peters Hospital Announce Merger – New Brunswick, NJ Patch

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — In big news for Central New Jersey’s healthcare scene, RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH), announced Thursday it is merging with Saint Peter’s, a smaller Catholic hospital in New Brunswick.

RWJBH is essentially taking over financial operations at Saint Peter’s, but Saint Peter’s will still remain fully open, and will remain a Catholic hospital.

Whether Saint Peter’s will keep its name remains to be seen, and will be discussed later as per the terms of the agreement, a hospital spokeswoman said. However, she emphasized that this is an integration of the two healthcare systems, and Saint Peter’s doctors, level of care and — most importantly — strong Catholic identity, will remain.

Middlesex County and Central New Jersey is a competitive and crowded healthcare market, as New Jersey healthcare giant Hackensack Meridian Health is eager to expand in the area. Penn Medicine is also a player, taking over operations at Princeton Hospital.

The heads of both hospitals signed a “definitive agreement” Thursday, outlining their intention to integrate the two healthcare systems. The announcement comes less than a year after Saint Peter’s and RWJBH signed a letter of intent to explore a strategic partnership.

In October of 2018, Saint Peter’s put out a request for proposals, saying it was seeking “a strategic partner … in an increasingly changing and competitive healthcare market.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Saint Peter’s will continue day-to-day operations of its a 478-bed acute care teaching hospital and acute care children’s hospital.

“After careful consideration by Saint Peter’s Board of Governors, senior leadership and the Most Reverend James F. Checchio, Bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen and sole corporate member of Saint Peter’s, we have signed a Definitive Agreement to integrate with RWJBarnabas Health that assures Saint Peter’s continued mission and identity as a Catholic hospital,” said Leslie Hirsch, president and CEO of Saint Peter’s.

With the signing of the definitive agreement, the proposed partnership will begin a period of review by various state and federal regulatory agencies. Approval by the Catholic Church will also be required.

“RWJBH has a rich history of providing high quality care to the residents of New Jersey – with our Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital campuses in New Brunswick and Somerville, as well as our Rutgers partners at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, to name but a few – and the inclusion of Saint Peter’s will allow us to only build upon this legacy of service,” said Barry Ostrowsky, president and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health. “When finalized, we will have the necessary foundation for the creation of our state’s first and only premier academic medical center.”