PRINCETON – Stephen K. Jones of Kendall Park, president and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson Health System in New Brunswick, today was installed as chairman of the board of the New Jersey Hospital Association, the state’s oldest and largest hospital and healthcare advocacy organization. The board chairman’s official installation, as well as the appointment of new board officers and members, was held during NJHA’s 95th Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Princeton.
Jones succeeds outgoing chair Joseph P. Coyle of Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin. In taking the reins of the NJHA Board, Jones said, “I believe that when future generations look back on healthcare’s history, 2014 will stand as a pivotal year as we continue to redesign our system of healthcare to preserve it for years to come and also promote health, wellness and access.”
Jones went on to say that key components of that redesign include improved care coordination, better integration of hospitals and other healthcare providers and patient engagement, including an emphasis on wellness and prevention.
“Our task at this historic juncture is achieving value in healthcare: Value, as in, that simple but sometimes evasive equation of better care at less cost,” said Jones.
Under Jones as board chair, the following officers also were appointed to the NJHA Board: Secretary Steven G. Littleson of Fair Haven, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Meridian Health; Treasurer: John A. Brennan, MD, MPH of Randolph, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Barnabas Health; Vice Chair Dr. Deborah K. Zastocki, RN, CNAA, BC, FACHE, of Randolph, Chilton Medical Center, Atlantic Health; and Chairman-elect Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, of Denville, Saint Clare’s Health System.
The following healthcare leaders also were appointed as new board members:
Joseph W. Devine of Sewell, Kennedy Health System; James R. Gonzalez, MPH, FACHE, of Nutley, University Hospital; Lori Herndon, RN, BSN, MBA, of Brigantine, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, AtlantiCare; Adrienne Kirby, PhD, FACHE, of Cherry Hill, Cooper University Health Care, Cooper Health System; Barry S. Rabner of Skillman, Princeton HealthCare System.
Also, Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, of Morris Township, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack University Health Network; Linda A. Savino, MS, of Belmar, HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls; Frank Sheehy of Ridgewood, The Valley Hospital, Valley Health System; Kevin J. Slavin of Hackettstown, East Orange General Hospital; Patricia Steingall, RN, MS, NE-BC of Washington, Hunterdon Medical Center; and Ruth Schulze, MD, of Upper Saddle River, the Medical Society of New Jersey.
The New Jersey Hospital Association, based in Princeton, is the statewide advocate for its 108- member hospitals, its 300-plus post-acute members and the patients they serve.
