Newark, N.J.-based University Hospital, the state's only public hospital, reversed plans to outsource pediatric inpatient services to another Newark facility, a hospital spokesperson told NJ.com.
The backpedal follows pushback from physicians and nurses who claimed moving pediatric inpatient care from the 519-bed hospital to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center would be a "death blow" for Newark's children. Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is 3 miles from University Hospital. Opponents also worried pulling back inpatient pediatric care would jeopardize the hospital's Level 1 trauma status.
John Kastanis, CEO of University Hospital, said reducing pediatric services was necessary given the low volumes of child patients at the hospital. Mr. Kastanis told NJ.com University Hospital often closed its pediatric intensive care unit, and only three to four children used inpatient services each day.
University Hospital has since withdrawn its application to reduce its pediatric services from the New Jersey Department of Health. A hospital spokesperson told the publication, "While our proposal was based on the clinical needs and volume of patients we see in the pediatric inpatient program, based on the feedback we have received and our ongoing assessment, we have decided to keep the unit operating at its current level."