Cryan Praises Elnahal Selection to Head University Hospital – Urges Impartial Review of Trauma Application by Trinitas

Trenton – Senator Joseph Cryan (Union-20) issued the following statement praising the selection of Shereef Elnahal as the new President and CEO of University Hospital and urging an impartial examination of the trauma application by Trinitas Hospital:

“I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Health Commissioner Elnahal as the next President and CEO of University Hospital in Newark. I have two dear friends whose lives were saved at University Hospital so I appreciate the fact that it is an institution that deserves a steady hand to move forward and provide vital medical care.

“However, I must express my trepidation about the application for Trinitas Hospital to receive a Level II Trauma designation that is currently pending before the Commissioner. University Hospital has been the loudest opponent to Trinitas receiving a trauma designation, claiming that the new designation will siphon patients and hurt University Hospital. This criticism was refuted by the state’s own Health Planning Advisory Board when the application was pending before them, striking down the department’s recommendation to reject Trinitas’ application and acknowledging the need for the Level II designation.

“As the Commissioner departs, I would urge the Deputy Commissioner to support the recommendation of the State Health Planning Board that repudiates the Department’s position with a point-by-point rebuttal. This is not the time to begin building silos. After an accident, no patient wants to be driven past one hospital and wait in traffic to be transported to a hospital further away. Each and every patient wants to be taken to the closest hospital possible to receive emergency care and, at the least, to be medically- stabilized.

“Designating Trinitas a Level II facility formally recognizes their expertise and allows the doctors there to do what they are trained to do—take care of trauma patients.”

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