Keep Pediatric Hospital Care Open at University Hospital
Nurses, health professionals and community members have united to send a message to University Hospital – Keep Pediatric Care OPEN at University Hospital. A Certificate of Need application was filed with the Department of Health by University Hospital on April 2, 2018 seeking approval to close inpatient pediatrics units and is currently under review.
On Wednesday, May 16th in a packed room nurses, doctors, and community representatives spoke before the UH-Community Oversight Board to tell their stories and demand that the Pediatric units remain open. After two hours of public comment and discussion the COB tabled a vote to approve the closure.
Under the 2013 New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act and its by-laws, the COB shall review all plans that could or are intended to make substantive changes that will result in the diminution, deterioration or reduction to essential health care services currently provided by the Hospital to the community of the City of Newark.
The following week these voices continued to speak out at the Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, May 22nd urging the Directors to reconsider their decision to close inpatient Pediatrics, which is a financial based decision that does not take into consideration the healthcare needs of the community.
University Hospital is New Jersey’s only public, state operated Level 1 Trauma Center serving the residents of Newark and is a safety net hospital for the entire state of NJ.
