New Jersey hospital wins the battle, but loses the war

Memorial Medical Center of South Amboy, N.J., was forced to close its doors and give up its license to operate as an acute care hospital. But a consortium of physicians and business people in the north central New Jersey city decided they couldn't do without the hospital's emergency service and attempted to reopen it. At the same time, the state's health department completed a report that found the state's 83 acute bed hospitals were "over-bedded" and refused to renew Memorial's license. This led to court actions and negotiations between the hospital and the state. The hospital's supporters mounted a major public relations blitz that reached the state capitol in Trenton. The campaign was successful in forcing negotiations, but the hospital was only allowed to provide emergency service as a satellite of a neighboring hospital.