PVH Community Life — Letter to the Editor
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
BY LEONARD J. LYON, MD, FACP, FACC, Westwood

Although I was on the medical staff of Pascack Valley Hospital for nearly 40 years before it closed last fall I oppose its reopening.

I agree with the Reinhardt Commission’s conclusion that New Jersey has too many hospital beds. Certainly in Bergen County changes in medical practice allow treatment of seriously ill patients with much shorter hospital stays than before. The proliferation of surgical centers means patients needing cataract surgery, many urologic and orthopedic procedures and gastrointestinal endoscopies don’t even come to a hospital anymore.

In the 11 months since Pascack Valley Hospital closed its doors, none of my patients has suffered. Those with urgent serious problems went to Englewood or The Valley hospital where they were treated promptly and well.

I have learned that HUMC together with Legacy Partners wants to re-open Pascack Valley Hosptial (HUMC North at Pascack Valley) as a for-profit hospital, not a community hospital. Legacy Partners includes many people associated with the HCA hospital chain, which became known for systematically over billing and performing unnecessary lucrative procedures in its patients. This Is the last thing we need in our community.