Make Sure Resident Voices Are Heard in the Restructuring of NJ Hospitals

We, the undersigned resident physicians of UMDNJ, call on the Governor's task force on Graduate Medical Education, the Governor, and our elected representatives in the State Legislature to include input from housestaff in the ongoing deliberation over the future of New Jersey's teaching hospitals. Any plan for reorganization of UMDNJ should include the perspectives of frontline healthcare providers and prioritize the following:

• Patient care. Our hospitals serve a critical mission in the community and we must ensure that patient care doesn't suffer due to any restructuring
• Resident physician training. UMDNJ institutions train over 1000 physicians each year, many of whom will continue to practice in New Jersey.
• Collective bargaining rights. Changes to our teaching hospitals must not undermine the right of housestaff and other healthcare providers to advocate for themselves and their patients and maintain high standards on the job.
 

Background on Executive Order 51 

In January 2011, Governor Christie’s signed Executive Order 51. The order establishes the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Advisory Committee, composed of five members appointed solely by the Governor to examine medical education in the state and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in particular.  They are expected to issue recommendations on September 1, 2011. 

Questions under consideration are:

1. Should Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and UMDNJ School of Public Health become part of Rutgers University’s New Brunswick-Piscataway campuses?
2. Should UMDNJ’s Newark-based schools merge with one of the public universities in Newark (such as Rutgers or NJIT)?
3. Should SOM (School of Osteopathic Medicine) merge with one of the public universities in South Jersey (such as Rowan – State University in South Jersey)?
4. What will the role of University Hospital be?
5. Should NJIT start its own medical school?
6. How should Graduate Medical Education be delivered in South Jersey?

We believe that any decision must take into account the pespectives of resident physicians who serve on the frontlines of UMDNJ institutions. Stay tuned for more information as the situation develops.