A long-range strategic plan is the first step in achieving the hospital’s vision of partnering with communities to improve health outcomes for generations for come, officials say.
At its June meeting, the University Hospital Board of Directors unanimously adopted the first Strategic Plan since the 2012 enactment of the New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act, in order to guide the hospital’s future as part of an academic medical center in the greater Newark community, according to officials.
Officials say that the Strategic Plan focuses on two foundational strategies - Quality, Safety, and Reliability; and Leadership - to drive improvement in Community Health; Primary and Specialized Clinical Services; Innovation, Research, and Education; and Financial Stability.
“The University Hospital Board’s adoption of the strategic plan is a critical step toward ensuring a high level of care, reliability, and leadership that is needed,” said Governor Murphy. “I applaud the Board for their far-sighted decision to move forward with one of the Monitor’s key recommendations so that it can continue to serve the needs of the community, supporting a healthier New Jersey with access to care that is second to none.”
“In developing this comprehensive plan for the hospital’s future, we are grateful to have heard from such a broad range of voices from around the Newark community that all shared their perspectives on key priorities,” said Judy Persichilli, Acting President & CEO of University Hospital. “This plan charts a clear path forward for the hospital to consistently provide world-class, quality care to every patient, every time.”
As it is implemented by leadership, the Strategic Plan will guide the hospital toward increasing the effectiveness of community-focused healthcare, providing greater access to primary and specialty care, and partnering with the community to address social determinants of health, while expanding and enhancing its clinical presence through research and innovation as the principal teaching hospital of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, officials report.
“I am proud of the work done by the Board of Directors and hospital leadership to ensure that this strategic planning process was both broad and inclusive,” said Tanya Freeman, University Hospital Board Chair. “With these foundations in place, I am more confident than ever that University Hospital will be able to deliver high quality care by maximizing our partnerships with the community and other entities to address the needs of Newark and the surrounding areas for generations to come.”
According to officials, the development of the Strategic Plan, which was led by the University Hospital Board of Directors’ Strategic Planning Committee, included input from patients, employees, physicians, community members, patient advocates, community organization leaders, union leaders, and government officials. In total, more than 60 in-person stakeholder interviews and 550 surveys from employees and medical staff were incorporated into the plan.