Below is a report released by the Department of Health and Senior Services pertaining to Solaris’ compliance with a majority of conditions the City of Plainfield has asked. Also, please note annotation at the bottom:
Status of Solaris’ Compliance with Conditions Placed of Closure of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center
Based on documentation and written statements from Solaris, the Department of Health and Senior Services (Department) considers that Solaris has complied with the majority of conditions and is working with the Department and the Plainfield community on the remainder, as follows:
Condition 1: Surrender Muhlenberg’s operating license.
Status: License was surrendered to the Department on August 22, 2008.
Condition 2: Approximately maintain the grounds at Muhlenberg.
Status: Muhlenberg states it is maintaining the grounds and visits by Department staff have not indicated any problems nor have there been any complaints regarding this condition.
Condition 3: State where medical records are kept and how to obtain copy.
Status: On August 5, 2008, Solaris notified the Department of its compliance, how to obtain records and plans to advertise this in local papers and the Muhlenberg website.
Condition 4: implementation of communication plan notifying public of hospital closure and alternate providers.
Status: a sample closure announcement was included as part of the closure certificate of need application. Solaris reports this information was published in English and Spanish in several newspapers on four occasions in August 2008.
Condition 5: Solaris to notify EMS providers and other area hospitals 15 days prior to Muhlenberg’s closure.
Status: Solaris reports written notice was provided to these entities when CN approval granted.
Condition 6: Solaris to develop a Community Advisory Group (CAG).
Status: In September, 2008 it was agreed by all parties to amend this condition to place responsibility for CAG development and implementation on the Office of the Mayor of Plainfield and not Solaris. The first CAG meeting under this arrangement was held on July 21, 2009.
Condition 7: Solaris to fund a physician to provide oversight of midwifery services at the Neighborhood Center – Plainfield (NHC) commencing on hospital closure and for at least two years.
Status: Solaris has reported retaining a physician’s group to perform this function and will continue to do so for two years.
Condition 8: Solaris to reimburse NHS for cost of credentialing each certified nurse mid-wife at Trinitias and waive fees for credentialing NHC physicians at JFK Medical Center.
Status: Solaris reports that all such fees were waived.
Condition 9: Solaris to establish primary care services at Muhlenberg site alone or in cooperation with NHC.
Status: Solaris was granted a deferral of this and they and NHC are, with the Department’s assistance, actively working on an arrangement that best suits the needs of the community.
Condition 10: Under the license of JFK, a SED shall be developed at the Muhlenberg site.
Status: The SED was licensed effective August 14, 2008 and operates 24/7.
Condition 11: Submission of a licensing application and compliance with licensing standards for the services required to be provided on Muhlenberg site.
Status: Completed except for the primary care services still being discussed with NHC.
Condition 12:
A. Requires a continuous loop shuttle service between the SED and JFK, 7 days a week from noon until 8:30 at no cost to passengers.
Status: Solaris reports that services began on August 14, 2008
B. Requires a door-to-door medical taxi service for patients in Muhlenberg primary and secondary service areas to access schedule non-emergent care at JFK and Trinitas at no cost.
Status: Solaris reports this also began on August 14;
C. 24/7 Medical transport from SED to area health care providers for patience who need care not available at SED and at no cost to those whose insurance does not cover this transport.
Status: Solaris reports this also began on August 14, 2008
Condition 13: Develop an ongoing communication program to advise public of the operation of the transportation programs required by Condition 12.
Status: Solaris reports that in August and September 2008 they advertised these programs in English and Spanish via local newspapers, flyers and press releases. This is continued through pamphlets at libraries, community-based programs, in the SED, JFK’s ER and on websites.
**Condition 14: Develop a transportation plan in cooperation with the CAG to determined transport needs to alternative providers.
Status: Not completed due to delay in CAG formation. Department expects this to be a CAG priority.
Condition 15: Provide free round trip taxi vouchers to Trinitas for inpatient OB and behavioral health services for patients and families.
Status: Solaris reports it uses the same taxi service for this as for Condition 12.
Condition 16: Outreach to ensure all residents of the area have access to available services at Muhlenberg site.
Status: Solaris reports that is started such outreach at hospital closure and continues through newspapers, mailings to community organizations, press release and on Muhlenberg website.
Condition 17: Maintain a job placement program for employees displaced by hospital closure.
Status: Solaris reports that about 60% of former employees of Muhlenberg were offered and acquired positions in other Solaris facilities. Solaris maintains a list of former employees and contacts those on list monthly regarding vacancies within Solaris. At time of closure, Muhlenberg employees were offered job placement assistance and continues these services upon request.
Condition 18: Solaris not to terminate lease of DaVita, a chronic hemodialysis provider, unless DaVita has obtained an alternative site in the service area.
Status: DaVita’s lease remains in effect and the facility in operation.
The Department will assist the CAG in the ongoing monitoring of the above conditions.
**Upon our formation of a Community Advisory Group as of July 13, 2009, we have been able to move forward in meeting this condition. Solaris has agreed in principle to providing an additional ambulance service.
As Co-Chair to the Community Advisory Group, I would like your feedback on this issue as well as our collective movements in satisfying each condition.
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