Hackensack Meridian Health, a 13-hospital system in Edison, N.J., and Paterson, N.J.-based St. Joseph's Healthcare revealed plans to form a jointly owned home health services agency and a hospice services agency.
Under the partnership, the organizations will collaborate to form the Visiting Health Services of New Jersey, a Medicaid-certified, full-service home health agency, and VHS Hospice Services of New Jersey, which will provide patients with in-home personal assistance.
Robert Garret, co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, told Becker's Hospital Review the goal of the partnership is to "provide [patients] with additional access to care and services, such as maternal-child health home care, increase efficiencies and share best practices" between the organizations.
Officials told Becker's both institutions plan to add additional staff and are "already looking for [new] talents" to add to their respective teams. No lay offs are reportedly scheduled to occur as a result of the partnership.
Officials also said they plan to make a half-million dollar investment into the health systems' technology infrastructures to help staff provide the highest quality of care available.
"St. Joseph's Healthcare System, through Visiting Health Services, has been dedicated to providing quality care to patients in their homes for the past three decades," said Kevin Slavin, president and CEO of St. Joseph's Healthcare System. "Our partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health will further enhance our mission to improve the health and quality of life in the communities we serve. It will also ensure more patients experience a seamless transition from hospital to home, providing patients the professional care and support they need to accelerate their recovery or improve their quality of life with loved ones in the comfort of their own homes."