THE MUHLENBERG TRACT

 This was a lost morning; so Tuesday’s blog has been delayed. Not a great loss since Dan, Bernice, and David did a report on the noteworthy happenings at the Council meeting.

The Resolution which apparently originated in the Planning Division; to hire a consultant to investigate possible and practical redevelopment of the Muhlenberg Property was the main subject of community interest.

It was approved for inclusion on next Tuesday’s agenda, Monday being Columbus Day, by a 6:1 vote. The Nay vote was Councilman Reid’s who explained that he was afraid that the report would lead to non-medical use of the property.

Bill get realistic; JFK (Solaris) rightly or wrongly has legal title to the “campus”. JFK has no desire to have a competing facility in Plainfield even though it does not seem to be economically feasible in today’s climate.

Shortly after Muhlenberg closed there were several bonafide parties interested in a for profit operation on the hospital. JFK succeeded in defusing their interest and our political leadership never opposed JFK’s actions.

A full scale Hospital is less likely today than it was 5 years ago. Believe it or not the ACA (Obamacare) will contribute to that negativity. Health care unfortunately has become a product. All products have intrinsic costs to produce or provide. Affordable health care depends on limiting payment to “providers” be they hospitals, doctors, clinics, therapists etc...

Government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are continually decreasing allowable payments by actually lowering them or limiting raise to a level below the rise in the cost of living (COLA).

Institutions dependent on those plans are becoming bankrupt despite all attempts to control costs. Union County’s superior rehab facility, Runnels Hospital continues to run in an increasing debt and it is up for sale or closure.

So; if a “full service hospital” is unlikely what are the alternatives? The term Medical Mall is freely bandied around as a solution. But what is a “Medical Mall”? A collection of freestanding offices including all medical/dental specialties plus diagnostic and therapeutic facilities including mental health as well as “workout” space? Of course an urgent care operation would be part of the deal.

I do not believe that is practical. There is no dollar incentive for Physicians to start a practice here where there is no reasonably accessible hospital. The Edison/South Plainfield area is already loaded with large conglomerations of doctor’s offices.

What may be doable is the visualization of a cohesive Summit Medical Group type campus including not only the intrinsic diagnostic and therapy facilities as well as an urgent care unit; but in addition a dedicated emergency care unit with needed support equipment as well as an attached 24/7 staffed “surgicenter” and also a (very) short term in patient facility.

This will have to be a commercial enterprise as a long term project using a five or ten year plan. It could also be conducted under the control of an "authority".

Somehow or other the city must obtain the rights to the property.

What is not needed is another long term “nursing” home.