Bergen Hospitals, Officials Meet On Coronavirus Preparedness

HACKENSACK, NJ - Officials from North Jersey hospitals met over the weekend to discuss Coronavirus preparedness across the region.

On Sunday, representatives from Hackensack University Medical Center, New Bridge Medical Center, Holy Name Hospital and Atlantic Health, along with U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer, sat down to talk about coordination and response to the virus, also known as COVID-19.

“As the situation continues to unfold and we learn more, it is critical now more than ever that the state’s health experts collaborate and share information to respond to and mitigate this growing public health crisis,” said Suraj Saggar, Chief Infectious Disease Specialist at Holy Name Medical Center. “Today’s discussion with Congressman Gottheimer certainly put us on that path and we look forward to working with our elected officials and colleagues to ensure we all remain vigilant and prepared to respond to potential cases of Coronavirus in New Jersey.”

There have been no confirmed cases of the virus in New Jersey, but during a news conference on Monday Gov. Phil Murphy said another person is going to be tested for Coronavirus.

Over the weekend, two Coronavirus deaths were reported in Washington and infections have been discovered in New York, Rhode Island, Illinois and California.

Gottheimer said, “While it is important to address the Coronavirus issue on a federal level, the impact and solutions come from everyone here on the local level. We need to make sure our hospitals and health facilities have everything they need ranging from personal protective equipment for employees, comprehensive quarantine plans, and the necessary medicine and materials to treat patients afflicted with this virus. I was here today to listen to the professionals and understand what they need. We also discussed the importance of hospitals coordinating their testing, plans and response, including the need for daily phone calls.”

Recently, Gottheimer pushed for a boost in federal investment to combat coronavirus and prevent the spread of the virus within the United States, by urging Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to request emergency supplemental appropriations from Congress.

Mark Sparta, president of Hackensack University Medical Center, said the meeting also included a discussion about best practices to support communities and how hospitals can collaborate with each other.

“We are prepared and will remain focused on delivering high quality care and the best patient experience possible," he said.

Locally, communities are continuing to coordinate with state and county officials to gather the latest information and keep residents informed. And, the state has set up a hotline for 24/7 inquiries - 1-800-222-2222