Sources: Asbury Park Press
In New Jersey, there are two kinds of emergency medical service: basic life support services, usually run by volunteer rescue squads, fire or police departments; and advance life support services like the Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corp (MONOC), staffed by paramedics who must complete a two-year training program. These paramedics can insert breathing tubes into patients, give medicine through an oxygen mask or intravenous therapy, among other medical treatments.
MONOC, the sole authorized provider of paramedic services in Monmouth and Ocean counties, will cease operations by April 1.
A spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health spokeswoman Donna Leusner confirmed the news in an email: “The Department of Health was notified today (of MONOC’s announcement),” but no additional information was provided.
In the letter, Jeff Behm, president and CEO, told employees: “MONOC has experienced a challenging financial environment caused by declining reimbursements and increasing payor restrictions, while the costs of running a high quality, high performance EMS and medical transport program, continued to rise over the last few years.” The letter continued:
“On April 1, 2020, the MONOC MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) program will close, and Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJBarnabas Health will assume full operational and administrative responsibility of the program.”
Mr. Behm could not be reached immediately for comment.
RWJBarnabas owns Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood and Community Medical Center in Toms River. Hackensack Meridian owns Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Ocean Medical Center in Brick and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Stafford.