Saint Peter’s Healthcare System and RWJBarnabas Health End Definitive Agreement

 After thorough evaluation, Saint Peter’s Healthcare System in New Brunswick, New Jersey will not move forward with a proposed transaction with RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH), headquartered in West Orange, New Jersey.  The leadership of both organizations mutually made the difficult decision after the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) recently filed suit to block the deal that would have enabled the creation of the first premier academic medical center in New Jersey designed to increase services, provide better access, and reduce the overall cost of such care. 

Today’s announcement culminates a discernment process at Saint Peter’s during the past several years that included a Request for Proposal in October 2018 seeking a strategic partner best suited to help the organization maintain its rich Catholic mission and identity in an increasingly changing and competitive healthcare market.

“After careful consideration by leadership, the Saint Peter’s Board of Governors, and the Most Reverend James F. Checchio, Bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, and sole corporate member of Saint Peter’s, we have decided to terminate the Definitive Agreement to fully integrate with RWJBarnabas Health. We are very disappointed with this outcome. However, we are grateful for the strong partnership we’ve had with the RWJBarnabas leadership,”said Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System.

Hirsch added that, “We were truly excited about the potential of this opportunity with RWJBarnabas to create a premier academic medical center of national distinction that would have improved quality and increased access especially to the most vulnerable in the communities we serve.  We are now assessing the best way to move forward as we consider potential options to ensure Saint Peter’s longstanding Catholic healthcare mission.”

As Middlesex County’s only independent hospital not operated as part of a larger healthcare system, Saint Peter’s remains committed to providing the highest quality care and patient experience to the community through humble service, particularly to the most vulnerable and chronically underserved.