Hackensack Meridian Health

Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) operates as a not-for-profit, integrated healthcare network in New Jersey. The entity was formed in June 2016 through the merger of Hackensack University Health Network and Meridian Health. This strategic consolidation created what is now the largest and most comprehensive healthcare system in the state. The leadership was initially structured with co-CEOs: Robert C. Garrett, then-president and CEO of Hackensack University Health Network, and John K. Lloyd, then-president and CEO of Meridian Health. After a planned two-and-a-half-year transition, Robert C. Garrett became the sole CEO. Garrett began his career at Hackensack University Medical Center in 1981 and has been instrumental in the network's expansion through various acquisitions and partnerships. The merger was a response to shifts in the healthcare landscape, partly influenced by the Affordable Care Act, aiming to move from a fee-for-service model to one emphasizing quality of service and patient outcomes.

The network serves a broad client base, reaching a majority of New Jersey residents through its extensive infrastructure. The business operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Its revenue is generated through the provision of a wide array of healthcare services. HMH also owns a significant share in Braven Health, a Medicare Advantage plan, and operates a substantial Home Care division. The organization's operating model focuses on integrating its various business units under a centralized leadership structure to foster collaboration and adapt to market demands.

HMH provides a complete range of medical services across more than 500 patient care locations, which include 18 hospitals, ambulatory care centers, fitness and wellness centers, home health services, and skilled nursing centers. The network's services cover over 200 medical specialties, including prominent programs in cancer care, cardiology, neurology, and behavioral health. A key milestone was the 2019 merger with Carrier Clinic, a respected behavioral health provider, to enhance mental health and addiction treatment services. Academically, HMH partnered with Seton Hall University to open the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in 2018, the first private medical school in New Jersey in several decades. The organization is also committed to research and has established the Center for Discovery and Innovation to translate biomedical science into improved clinical outcomes. Recent developments include a partnership with CLEAR to implement a digital identity platform for a more seamless patient experience. Keywords: integrated healthcare network, New Jersey healthcare, hospital system, academic medical center, not-for-profit healthcare, population health, medical services, patient care, behavioral health services, cancer care, cardiology, medical education, clinical research, ambulatory care, home health services, Robert C. Garrett, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Carrier Clinic merger, healthcare innovation, integrated delivery network