Meridian Health, Raritan Bay Health Services To Merge

Meridian Health and Raritan Bay Health Services Corp plan to merge the two nonprofit health systems once they receive state regulatory approval, according to a release from Meridian Health.

The two systems spent almost seven months of reviewing clinical, regulatory, service and financial issues before decided on the merger. Officials expect to secure state approval later this year.

“We’ve been excited about this opportunity with Raritan Bay Medical Center from the beginning,” said John K. Lloyd, president of Meridian Health. “Both of our organizations share a commitment to quality and together, we will take progressive steps to join our services and our neighboring geographies to offer expanded choices for care to our residents.”

Meridian Health serves Monmouth and Ocean counties and parts of Middlesex County, Raritan Bay services Middlesex County and parts of Northern Monmouth County. The combined entity will have eight hospitals — Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, Ocean Medical Center, Brick, Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, Southern Ocean Medical Center, Manahawkin, Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, Neptune, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge and Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy.

They will also share a network of physician practices, ambulatory surgery centers, home care, long-term care and assisted living facilities, ambulance services, fitness and wellness centers, and outpatient centers.

The combined entity will serve a regional population of about 1.5 million residents, and employ approximately 15,000 team members and have more than 2,700 physicians on staff.

“We spent a number of years looking for the right partner, one that not only offered the resources to help us to grow, but also shared our vision to be the region’s best medical center,”.said Michael R. D’Agnes, president of Raritan Bay Medical Center. “I could not be happier to work with my long-time professional colleague John Lloyd to integrate Raritan Bay Medical Center into their system and provide our community greater access to superior care.”