In direct response to the Coronavirus pandemic and the anticipated surge of patients in northern New Jersey, Sycamore Living has partnered with Atlantic Health System and RWJBarnabas Health to open a COVID-19 treatment center at its newly competed senior living community at 1
South Ridgedale Avenue, East Hanover, New Jersey.
By making available an additional 125 beds for post-acute patient care, this East Hanover facility increases the acute care bed capacity at Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, and Saint Barnabas Medical Center. Both Atlantic Health and RWJBarnabas Health have begun transferring stable COVID-19 patients to the facility, which will continue for as long as acute-care bed capacity is needed at the hospitals.
“We are proud to be partnering with our neighboring hospitals to fulfill the community’s healthcare needs, and additionally, we are extremely proud of our team and their commitment to provide patient care despite putting themselves and their families in harm’s way,” said Rich Molfetta, Chief Operating Officer of Sycamore Living. CHA Partners, a principal owner of Sycamore and a leader in preserving healthcare and jobs in communities, was integral to the success of this coordinated effort.
According to Bill Colgan, Managing Partner of CHA Partners, “None of this could have been possible, from a regulatory standpoint, without the leadership of NJDOH Commissioner Persichilli and Deputy Commissioner
Maziarz, and their commitment to minimize the bureaucratic hurdles to ensure that expanded patient care resources be available to treat COVID-19 patients in their communities”. “Additionally, it is nothing short of remarkable that two of New Jersey’s premier health systems were able to come together so quickly to coordinate patient care at a facility at which they previously had no familiarity,” added Colgan.
“Atlantic Health System is seizing all opportunities to meet the needs of each and every member of our community during this pandemic,” said Brian Gragnolati, president and chief executive officer, Atlantic Health System. “By forging partnerships with respected health care organizations
like RWJBarnabas Health and Sycamore Living, we are truly caring together to provide patients with the highest quality care in the most appropriate setting.”
John F. Bonamo, MD, EVP, Chief Medical and Quality Officer, RWJBarnabas Health, said “we are pleased to be working collaboratively with Atlantic Health System and Sycamore Living to meet the needs of the communities we serve in the fight against this pandemic”. “By utilizing this facility to treat stable COVID-19 patients, each of our respective hospital systems will be better able to manage critically ill patients, which can best be done in an acute care hospital,” said Bonamo.
Sycamore Living’s East Hanover facility is the result of the adaptive reuse of a former 100,000 sf office building into an innovative, state-of-the-art, 125-bed senior living community which includes Sub-Acute, Rehabilitation, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Long Term Care services, together with a wide range of additional amenities tailored to seniors. The building was meticulously redesigned and rehabilitated to create a vibrant senior living community.
