Trinitas Regional Medical Center, an acute care teaching hospital, provides care throughout the state. It will retain its Catholic identity.
RWJBarnabas Health, based in West Orange, New Jersey, has signed a letter of intent to acquire Trinitas Regional Medical Center, a 554-bed acute care Catholic teaching hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The organizations announced the letter's signing Thursday and said they expect to reach a definitive agreement by the end of the year to make Trinitas and its affiliates—which provide healthcare services throughout New Jersey's 21 counties—into the RWJBarnabas Health organization.
Trinitas, which formed as the result of a merger between Elizabeth General Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital in 2000, would continue to be a Catholic institution that abides by the Catholic Ethical and Religious Directives, according to the announcement. It would continue to be sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, served by the Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation, and overseen by the Trinitas board.
"I see our eventual move into the RWJBarnabas Health system as an extremely positive and exciting development for our institution—one that will give us the resources and opportunities to greatly enhance the already high level of care we provide to our community," Trinitas President and CEO Gary S. Horan, FACHE, said in a statement.
RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Barry H. Ostrowsky said his team is excited to collaborate through this potential deal.
"The rapidly changing health care landscape presents new challenges and opportunities," Ostrowsky said in the statement. "Trinitas is a vital resource to the eastern Union County community, and through this agreement we would greatly expand our reach into new communities with our mission of improving the health and well-being of its residents."
RWJBarnabas Health includes 11 acute care hospitals, three acute care children's hospitals, and a pediatric rehabilitation hospital, among many other facilities. It also partners with Rutgers University to create an academic health care system.
The transaction would require approvals from state and federal officials and the Catholic Church.
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Steven Porter is an associate content manager and Strategy editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.