Ocean Sheriff Seeks A Smooth Transition When MONOC Shuts Down

TOMS RIVER, NJ — With the coming shutdown of the MONOC paramedic and critical care services, the Ocean County sheriff's office says it is working with hospitals to make sure there is no lapse in care when the service shuts down.

MONOC — the Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corporation — announced Jan. 23 that it will cease its patient treatment services as of April 1 and that the hospitals that established the cooperative will take over sparked concern from a number of Ocean County residents, Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy said.

"My office received a number of calls from concerned residents who heard about the MONOC MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) program closing in April," Mastronardy said. His office has scheduled meetings with officials at Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJ Barnabas Health — the companies that operate the hospitals in Ocean County — to review concerns such as dispatch protocol, response coverage and other items.

"The Sheriff's Office is committed to making this a smooth transition of advanced life support services in order to protect our residents," he said. "With such a large county and with the largest senior population in the state, it's important concerns are addressed before the new providers take over the service."

MONOC — the Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corporation — formed in 1978 as a nonprofit shared services consortium comprised of 13 acute care hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Its board of directors consists of senior leadership from CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township, along with the RWJ Barnabas and Hackensack Meridian Health health systems. The board voted unanimously to dissolve the consortium, said Jeff Behm, president and CEO of MONOC.

For years, it was able to cover the costs associated with covering life-saving care at accidents and assist those needing critical care transport. But in recent years, as technology and patient care have become more sophisticated, it became a struggle to get adequately reimbursed for the cost of care. For two years, the consortium provided financial support to keep it afloat, Behm said.

"We have to take care of patients regardless of their ability to pay," he said, and insurance payments vary widely, from the pittance paid by Medicaid and Medicare to more realistic amounts paid by some companies.

MONOC, which serves more than 2.8 million residents living in more than 1,800 square miles, has found the need for its services, including its mobile intensive care unit (MICU) declined over time as the hospitals have expanded their own care in those areas.