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WEB ARCHIVE
NJHA's 88th Annual Meeting - Friday, May 19, 2006 - Summary
D'Agnes Assumes Chairmanship at NJHA Annual Meeting
Michael R. D'Agnes, president and CEO of Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth
Amboy, today was named chairman of the board of NJHA. The chairman's
installation, as well as the appointment of new board members, was held during
NJHA's 88th Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Princeton.
D'Agnes accepted the gavel from outgoing chair Dr. Jonathan Metsch, president
and CEO of LibertyHealth.
D'Agnes acknowledged the many challenges confronting healthcare – primarily,
the constant fiscal challenge of providing quality care in the face of
ever-declining reimbursement. Those difficulties have often resulted in
divisions among hospitals, legislators and physicians.
But D'Agnes reminded members that the values that bind them are stronger than
the challenges that divide them.
"Our common ground is providing the best care for the patient...that's where it
begins...and by building partnerships with our physicians, our legislators and
each other...that's also where it will end. Three united forces, one common
goal."
Metsch, meanwhile, recounted a year's worth of NJHA accomplishments including
vigilant advocacy on the state budget; tremendous advances in quality through
NJHA's ICU and pressure ulcer collaboratives; task force efforts addressing
Medicaid reform, diversity and electronic medical records; and legislative wins
including HMO reform.
Special guests at today's meeting included Jeannine LaRue, a former Saint
Barnabas Health Care System executive who now serves as one of Gov. Jon
Corzine's chiefs of staff; Corzine policy adviser Heather Howard; former N.J.
First Lady Mary Jo Codey and state Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge.)
Luncheon speaker Brian Williams, NBC Nightly News anchorman, entertained the
audience with a firsthand perspective of today's headlines and also answered
questions from hospital leaders.
In addition to D'Agnes' installation as chairman, the business session included
the appointment of NJHA's new board officers. They are: Secretary Audrey Meyers
of the Valley Health System; Treasurer Alexander J. Hatala of Lourdes Health
System; Vice Chairman Richard P. Miller of Virtua Health; and Chairman-elect
Paul A. Mertz of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Saint Barnabas Health Care
System.
The following healthcare leaders were appointed as board members: Darlene Cox,
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey—University Hospital;
Barbara K. Allen, University Medical Center at Princeton; Henry Amoroso, Esq.,
Catholic Health and Human Services Corporation; Robyn Begley, RN, AtlantiCare
Regional Medical Center City Division; Sister Jacqueline Burns, SC, Sisters of
Charity of St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph's Healthcare System; Joanne M. Conroy, MD,
Morristown Memorial Hospital, Atlantic Health System; Richard L. Hines, Solaris
Health System; Clifton R. Lacy, MD, Robert Wood Johnson Health System; Virginia
Newman Littell, Saint Claire's Health Services; Gordon N. Litwin, Esq.,
Meridian Health; John L. McGuire, Hunterdon Healthcare System; Christopher T.
Olivia, MD, The Cooper Health System; Patricia Elder Ostaszewski, HEALTHSOUTH
Rehabilitation Hospital of Toms River; and Mark D. Pilla, Saint Barnabas Health
Care System.
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