Public Q&A Thursday Night With Hudson Regional Hospital CEO

SECAUCUS, NJ — This Thursday evening, Jan. 3 Hudson Regional Hospital is holding a public community meeting and Q&A for Secaucus town residents and anyone who is interested.

The open forum will be held at 5 p.m. today at the hospital's GME Room. The forum will be hosted by Dr. Nizar Kifaieh, MD, MBA and president and CEO of Hudson Regional Hospital.

Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center existed for years as a private, for-profit hospital in Secaucus; it used to be owned by Liberty Health System, which also used to own the Jersey City Medical Center. Despite its bucolic setting on the banks of Hackensack River, the hospital struggled to obtain a positive reputation: It was routinely given "D" grades for patient safety and cleanliness by independent hospital review group Leapfrog.

In January of 2018, a North Jersey-based real estate developer Yan Moshe took over ownership of the hospital and renamed it Hudson Regional Hospital. In addition to taking over the hospital, Moshe owns Excel Surgery Center in Hackensack and HealthPlus Surgery Center in Saddle Brook. However, just days ago, it was revealed that Moshe is being personally sued by a patient at the Saddle Brook surgery center after state health officials said thousands of people were potentially exposed to viruses such as HIV and hepatitis. The surgery center did not follow correct cleaning and sterilization procedures, a state investigation found in December.

"The meeting tonight is an opportunity for the public to hear from Hudson Regional Hospital leadership about the hospital’s accomplishments for 2018 and what’s to come in 2019," said a hospital spokeswoman. "Hudson Regional Hospital is a completely separate entity from HealthPlus, and sterilization standards at HRH have not been an issue."

According to healthcare industry newsletter HPEA, Hackensack Regional Hospital will operate two first-aid stations and a wellness center at the American Dream mall across the river; the mall is scheduled to open this spring.

The Secaucus hospital has undergone an extensive rebranding effort ever since Moshe took ownership.

Tonight's forum will be followed by a question & answer period with the public in attendance. All are welcome at this open forum.

"Dr. Kifaieh will review the hospital’s extensive physical, procedural and administrative improvements already in place in 2018, as well as those to be completed in 2019," said the hospital in a statement.

The hospital is located at 55 Meadowlands Parkway in Secaucus.

Image via Google Earth.