Raritan Bay Medical Center (RMBC) is a network of health care providers in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States.
History
editThe Raritan Bay Medical Center history dates to 1888 when a group formed the Perth Amboy Hospital Association to build a hospital in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Capital shortage delayed the eventual building of the hospital. In 1889 the Women's Hospital Guild was unable to raise the $6000 needed to buy a property on Gordon Street as a site for the hospital. It was not until 1900 that land was obtained for the hospital, when Cortland Parker offered 6 lots on New Brunswick Turnpike. The hospital was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1901. The $15000 Perth Amboy City Hospital was opened in 1902 with 12 beds and six doctors.[1] In 1903, the School of Nursing opened. The name was changed to Perth Amboy General Hospital in 1929, and more recently to Raritan Bay Medical Center.[2] Growth had been sustained until the 2010s, when it had to cut back.[3]
1907: 10 employees and 240 patients.
1912: first births.
1928: 62 employees, 2579 admissions and 252 babies born.
1947: 271 bed hospital .
1978: Old Bridge Regional Hospital was opened as part of the health service corporation.[1]
Merger with Hackensack Meridian Health
editIn the 2010s the hospital was caught in a downward financial spiral. A 2013 review showed RBMC operated at a loss and had a debt of $36 million. RBMC could not keep up with the newer insurance models, charity care and the funding of an employee pension plan.[4][5] 75% of its patients had either Medicare or Medicaid, each having lower reimbursements than commercial insurance. The hospital had to put off capital projects needed to remain competitive. The solution was consolidation with a larger organization to make up for lack of scale. After a five year search for a partner, and what was described as "a very challenging past for a variety of reasons," RMBC merged with Hackensack Meridian Health in early 2016. Preserving RBMC was welcomed by Perth Amboy city officials. Mayor Wilda Diaz stated: "Their presence in this city not only impacts the health and welfare of our residents, but they also employ approximately 1,200 people, making it the largest employer in the City of Perth Amboy and an integral part of our community."[3] This consolidation was part of a statewide pattern of hospital consolidation; as of February, 2020, of 70 previously independent hospitals in New Jersey only 10 remained so.[6]
As part of Meridian Health, RBMC currently has over 500 beds in its two hospitals with a staff of over 600 physicians. It is affiliated with the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. In addition to the hospitals, at the Medical Pavilion in Woodbridge RBMC provides outpatient services for cardiology, obstetrics/gynecology and physical therapy, and maintains an urgent care center.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ a b Frannie (2011-11-23). "Historic Perth Amboy Virtual Museum: Perth Amboy General Hospital". Historic Perth Amboy Virtual Museum. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
- ^ Harrison, Diane (2008-09-10). "Early Perth Amboy History". njtoday.net. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
- ^ a b Diamond, Michael L. "Meridian, Raritan merge hospitals". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- ^ "Meridian Health acquires Raritan Bay Medical Center in wave of N.J. consolidation". Modern Healthcare. 2016-01-04. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- ^ "Meridian Merges with Raritan Bay Health Services". The Two River Times. 2015-04-10. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- ^ "Not every N.J. hospital sees need to merge into bigger system — but independents are dwindling". ROI-NJ. 2020-02-20. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- ^ "About". Raritan Bay Medical Center. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- ^ "Clinical Services". Raritan Bay Medical Center. Retrieved 2020-03-25.