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Efforts to save hospital underway
When Pascack Valley Hospital announced its bankruptcy in September, it gave itself a maximum life expectancy of two and one half months. Local efforts and business inquiries of late, however, have given hope to a last-ditch resuscitation of the hospital.
Currently more than $100 million in debt, Pascack Valley Hospital (PVH) is in the midst of Chapter 11 bankruptcy procedures. Medical services offered by the hospital have already been cut back, and it has announced a cessation of patient treatment in November.
Last Tuesday, however, local legislators Gerald Cardinale, John Rooney, and Charlotte Vandervalk appeared before the hospital, calling for Gov. Jon Corzine to step in and push for state funding that would allow the hospital to stay open.
With hospitals closing across New Jersey, the state has dedicated funds to keep hospitals in low-income areas alive. Pascack and Northern Valley residents are now pushing for the same support for PVH.
In a press release, Cardinale said, “This funding… would ensure that Pascack Valley Hospital could continue providing vital, emergency medical care to the residents of Bergen County.”
Because the 20-acre property is zoned only for a hospital, any potential developer would have to go through the Zoning Board of Adjustment to obtain permission to build commercial or residential structure on the lot. Furthermore, Council President and mayoral candidate John “J” Sciara has vowed to keep zoning as is.
Township of Washington Council President Robert Schroeder announced Monday night that the township is looking to organize a rally among residents and emergency service providers in the area to implore the governor to step in.
Should the state not come through, emergency services may have certain contingency plans with different forms of takeovers by nearby hospitals.
Several hospitals, including Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center, have expressed varying levels of interest in acquiring the emergency services department at PVH.
Westwood Mayor Thomas Wanner explained, however, that nothing can be made certain until bankruptcy proceedings are complete. The outcome for bondholders is yet to be determined, and creditors will have a say in what is done with the property.
Wanner added that, while several options have been suggested, there was yet to be a consensus on which option was “best for Westwood.”
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