As the May 22 date draws nearer, Princeton Township Committee held a “work session” at its Monday evening meeting, detailing the “old” hospital’s move to the new University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro.
Susan Lorenz, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, and Vice President for Government and Community Affairs Pam Hersh described plans for moving patients at the Princeton hospital site to the new facility on opening day. The new campus will include a medical office building attached to the hospital, an education center, a health and fitness center, a skilled nursing facility, a pediatric services facility, and a 32-acre public park.
Estimating that there will be approximately 110 patients to be moved, Ms. Lorenz described how ambulances — including pediatric ambulances — will accomplish the transfer in about six hours, with a patient leaving once every four minutes.
There will be no gap in emergency room services; the current emergency room will close at 7 a.m. on May 22, just as the new one is opening, and both will be fully staffed. There will be a one-week curtailment of non-emergency services, said Ms. Lorenz, citing caesarean sections as an example.
The use of traffic light preemptor devices by ambulance drivers will ensure a quick ride to the new facility, said Ms. Hersh, thanking the town for endorsing their purchase by the hospital. Bus service will be available for non-emergency access to the campus, which Ms. Hersh described as “easy to negotiate.”
Ms. Hersh reported that Outpatient Clinic director Margaret Lancefield had been “eloquent” in expressing concern about how the move would affect the clinic’s patients, many of whom are used to walking to the hospital on Witherspoon Street. It was agreed, Ms. Hersh said, that the level of service for clinic patients should be the same as for other patients, and the hospital offered to provide on-demand transportation for patients who typically walked to the clinic. “But we found that clinic patients don’t like to do that,” said Ms. Hersh, and so they will be eligible for free rides on the bus which will -otherwise cost $1.50. On-demand capability will remain however, using shuttles and cabs. Ms. Hersh also pointed out that “75 to 80 percent” of the clinic’s patients come from east of Route 1. Over 19,000 patients a year reportedly visit the clinic.
The new hospital’s community health information center, which will be staffed by bilingual, non-medical personnel, will provide transportation-related information; information about area community health programs; and “basic health information.”
After the move, the current hospital site will be “in limbo,” said Ms. Hersh, and round-the-clock security personnel will ensure its safety. Landscaping and maintenance will continue, and at the Borough’s request, a final “clean-up” will be done by October. The wide use of signs at the old site was promised to avoid confusion among those patients who continue to go there.
“I for one will miss the easy access to the emergency room,” said Committeemen Bernie Miller, citing the fact that he raised six children in Princeton. “It’s going to leave a hole for some of us.”
“I think you’re going to be surprised because it’s so easy to go to the new hospital,” responded Ms. Hersh, noting that for many people, the new location will be closer. Although 99 percent of Princeton residents currently use the hospital, she noted, they account for only 30 percent of its patient base.
A “community open house” on May 12 will provide an opportunity to become familiar with the new campus.
“Consent agenda” items at the meeting included “separation agreements” for Police Chief Robert Buchanan and Township Administrator James J. Pascale, who both retired effective March 31.
Princeton University’s “voluntary payment” to the Township for 2012 will be $750,000, which is $250,000 more than last year. The additional money will be used, it was agreed, for consolidation costs.