NJBIZ

Grapevine Analysis Hard Rock’s plans for Atlantic City

Hard Rock International will pump $375 million into the recently acquired former Trump Taj Mahal casino and hotel with the hopes of rebranding the Boardwalk property into a world-class entertainment and gaming destination.

On Wednesday, company officials formally unveiled their renovation plans for the site, which, when completed in summer 2018, will feature two separate 7,000-plus-seat multipurpose arenas, a larger Hard Rock Café, redesigned hotel rooms and an updated casino floor that will include 2,400 slots and 130 table games.

Hard Rock says the property will lead to 3,000 permanent positions and 1,000 construction jobs, helping to counter the effects of the loss of approximately 3,000 jobs last October when billionaire investor Carl Icahn and management company Trump Entertainment Resorts closed the Taj Mahal due to poor performance and ongoing labor disputes over what local labor leaders claimed were inferior benefits included in recent contract negotiations.

One by one, company representatives and elected officials lined up at the podium Wednesday to sing the project’s praises. But how good of a deal is it? Let’s take a closer look.

Why is Hard Rock interested in the Taj Mahal? Why not Revel?

When you look at other Hard Rock properties across the globe and then compare them to the renderings the company has released for the Taj Mahal site, it’s hard not to immediately think that Revel would have better served the project. It’s sleek, modern and easily fits with the Hard Rock theme.

No doubt someone could’ve turned that massive golf ball at the top of the building into one of the brand’s signature guitar logos.

Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen has previously said in reports and reiterated Wednesday that the company did look at Revel, which has now been rebranded as TEN Atlantic City under new owner Glenn Straub, but has mostly left it at that.

While we don’t have details of the Taj sale, we know that Hard Rock plans to put $375 million towards the site to remake it as its own. That’s not a massive amount, considering that the casino opened in 1990 and its unique theme is heavily carried throughout the entire property.

Sources have repeatedly told us through the years since Revel’s closing that despite it still being the newest and shiniest of the bunch, the casino’s layout is dreadful and would require a huge capital investment just to correct its design flaws before anything else was touched up.

Consider that, in 2014, when Revel was going up for auction after declaring bankruptcy for a second time, industry experts told us that fixing the layout alone could cost a potential buyer approximately $200 million.

Hard Rock officials Wednesday referred to the Taj’s “good bones” and experts point out that the building former owner Donald Trump once referred to as the “eighth wonder of the world” used to also be the highest-grossing casino in the city until Borgata opened in 2003.

Sources say that a well-established gaming giant like Hard Rock should have little issue restoring the property into a moneymaker, as long as the Atlantic City market will allow for it.

So, can Hard Rock make money on the property?

Seems like a silly question, but the way things have been in Atlantic City, you never know.

At least, that’s the perception. One Allen quickly said was false.

“I want to make sure everybody understands. We’ve done amazing in-depth analysis. No one in Atlantic City is losing money. Everybody is positive at the EBITDA line,” he said of the acronym for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

“And frankly, some properties are doing in excess of $250 million in EBITDA, that rivals anything in Atlantic City except for two places. Atlantic City is back, it’s profitable.

“Certainly, yes, I am from this area. But I assure you I would have never made this decision and recommended to the tribal council or the board of Hard Rock International if we did not think this would be an amazing addition and asset to the Hard Rock brand and family.”

Is this good for Atlantic City?

So, the obvious answer is undoubtedly “yes.” There are 3,000 new permanent jobs being created to fill the void of the 3,000 permanent jobs that were cut due to the closing of the Taj. The 1,000 or so construction jobs on top of that are just gravy.

Elected officials from both sides of the aisle are calling this project a winner. Gov. Chris Christie and Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) had a bit of a Kumbaya moment Wednesday as each talked about their willingness to work with the other and make the hard decisions needed to revive the city.

“We’re bringing Atlantic City back,” Sweeney said. “We’re bringing jobs back.”

The project also got a thumbs-up from state Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Northfield) and even Mayor Don Guardian, who last year likened the Christie-imposed state takeover of Atlantic City to a “fascist dictatorship” and has remained critical of the governor, gave Christie some credit and said the project was a “great way to rebuild our city.”

Assemblyman Chris Brown (R-Linwood), who had been very critical of the Christie takeover of the city, was equally critical in telling the Press of Atlantic City that Hard Rock’s project was a “direct result” of last year’s ballot-box defeat of the referendum to bring casino gaming to northern New Jersey.

“There was talk of Hard Rock being interested in a boutique casino in Atlantic City. However, the interest waned when they had the option of building a billion-dollar casino in North Jersey,” Brown told NJBIZ.

Which brings us to our next question…

Didn’t Hard Rock want to build a casino in the Meadowlands?

Yes. One source in the room Wednesday noted that he thought it was a little rich to hear Allen and other officials talk about Hard Rock’s commitment to not just New Jersey, but Atlantic City in particular when, less than two years to the date, Allen was unveiling the company’s plans for a $1 billion casino project at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

On Wednesday, Allen played up his Atlantic County roots and investors in the project, include the Jingoli family of Lawrenceville and the Morris family of Piscataway.

“We don’t forget where we came from, and that’s why we’re back here,” said Jack Morris, CEO of Piscataway-based Edgewood Properties.

That’s all fine and dandy, and the case can be made that any investment in New Jersey is potentially better than no investment at all, especially with last year’s proposal slated to pump a chunk of new revenue back into Atlantic City.

But that was then, and this is now. Despite its defeat, the referendum is sure to come up again in another couple of years and, as one source pointed out, Hard Rock could still be in line for a future casino in northern New Jersey if any future proposal is similar to last year’s in that only currently-licensed operators in the state will be permitted to apply for a new gaming permit.

Just some food for thought. For now, it’s all about Atlantic City for Hard Rock.

But what about Pennsylvania? Does Atlantic City really need another casino?

From a pure gaming revenue standpoint, Hard Rock’s place in Atlantic City is questionable.

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last decade, the growth of Pennsylvania casinos has wreaked havoc on the city’s gaming market, and there is yet another massive property in the works coming soon to South Philadelphia.

Since the shuttering of four Atlantic City casinos in 2014, industry experts have noted that revenues have increased. But that’s mostly due to less competition, not a growing market.

Allen got out in front of that topic Wednesday, noting in his news conference that Hard Rock plans on attracting new customers to Atlantic City, as opposed to just poaching them from other existing properties.

“We are very confident that we can grow the market,” Allen said.

While that’s debatable, a point to consider that was repeated throughout Wednesday’s event, particularly by Christie and Allen, is that Hard Rock wouldn’t be entering the market and undertaking a massive renovation project if it didn’t think it could make money.

And though other existing properties may now have to deal with increased competition for customers, no one can deny that Hard Rock will bring a much-needed boost of energy and intrigue to the market that could, indeed, attract a new audience.

Nothing wrong with some healthy competition if it makes everyone else better, right?

So, what’s next for Atlantic City?

For believers in the city, one of the best parts about Hard Rock’s entry into the market is that it’s not occurring in a bubble.

Elected officials will tell you that it’s not just Hard Rock. It’s Hard Rock, plus the Stockton University Gateway Project.

It’s Hard Rock, plus Boraie Development’s planned $81 million residential project in the South Inlet.

It’s Hard Rock, plus Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein’s acquisition of the Showboat and other properties in the city.

There is finally momentum, even if it’s tough to quantify at the moment. It’s way too early to celebrate, but officials aren’t totally off base with their high levels of enthusiasm.

That’s how the dialogue starts changing from it being Hard Rock, plus a state takeover.

The ultimate Grow N.J. program starts with Jersey Guys Why Morris, Jingoli feel Hard Rock venture is a gamble they are eager to take

Jack Morris was walking through Atlantic City with longtime friend Joe Jingoli when he knew he had finally had enough.”I saw things that I didn’t like,” he said. “I saw things that hit me straight in the heart and I said, ‘I just can’t walk away and not do anything about it.’ “

Morris and Jingoli had been talking about getting into the casino game since Revel had declared for bankruptcy a year before, in March 2016. Now it was time for action

Soon after, Morris made it happen — as only a Jersey guy could. He got into his car, drove to New York City, met with Carl Icahn and made a deal to buy the Trump Taj Mahal. Just like that.

Jingoli recalled the story with a laugh Wednesday afternoon at the formal launching of the opening of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, a deal that will bring $300 million in investment and 3,000 jobs to the city.

“Let me tell you how this whole thing really happened,” Jingoli said. “Jack Morris got in his car a little more than 30 days ago and said, ‘I’m going up to meet with Carl Icahn and we’re just going to make a deal and buy this thing.’ He walked in and made a deal that night.

“He called me on the way back home at 10 o’clock and said, ‘We just bought the Taj Mahal and we’re closing in 30 days.’ “

State incentives have done wonders for helping to spur investment and revitalize New Jersey’s struggling urban cores. The results can be seen in Jersey City, Newark and now Camden.

But if the state is ever going to regain its place as an economic stronghold in the country — not one routinely labeled and ranked as a “tough place to do business” — it’s going to take individuals dedicated to growing the state as much as growing their bottom line to do the dirty work.

Morris and Jingoli, who teamed with the world-renowned Hard Rock International, are just the latest examples.

Don’t be fooled. Morris’ car ride to New York City wasn’t a wild dash made on a whim. That’s not a recipe for success when dealing with Icahn, one of the country’s premier dealmakers. And it’s certainly not how Morris got to where he is today.

It was the final step of a process. The final step of a vision that Morris and Jingoli saw because they are Jerseyans first.

“We’re here on the ground,” said Jingoli, who has worked and lived in Atlantic City for many years. He currently heads up efforts at the Atlantic City Boys and Girls Club to help local teenagers find the right path.

“Jack has a lot of real estate in this county. He saw this early because he’s on the ground. If you’re not here, you won’t see it. How do you get in on the bottom? You are here on the bottom.”

Smart businesspeople seeing the opportunity in their home state: It’s the ultimate Grow New Jersey program.

Morris and Jingoli know they can’t do it alone. Especially in Atlantic City, the toughest — but arguably most important — urban center in this state that needs revitalization.

They are thrilled Bart Blatstein has purchased the Showboat and a handful of other city properties in the past two years. Glad Boraie Development has broken ground on the first luxury apartment complex in the city in decades. And, of course, happier still about the soon-to-be formally introduced Gateway Project, which will bring businesses and higher ed to the city like never before.

“I have a passion for helping cities and towns that need to be revitalized,” Morris said. “It is something that I truly enjoy; it gets me fired up to have this opportunity.

“This is a big one, but you can do it when you have good partners, like the Jingoli family and Jim Allen at Hard Rock. This is not about some big company coming in here and making money. We know lots of people with lots of money. This is about putting the time and the passion and the commitment into making this work.

“Now, it’s about taking it from here and seeing where it’s going, because everybody is going to want to follow our footsteps and see how they can benefit from the success that we can bring. And we want that. We don’t think we’re going to do this ourselves. We need other good people to come in.”

Both Morris and Jingoli realize there is plenty more to do.

Allen, who also hails from New Jersey, said the Hard Rock is coming to Atlantic City because he is confident it can make money in Atlantic City. That in itself speaks volumes about a perception in the business community that the long-struggling gaming town finally may be on the upswing.

But all those involved know a revitalization can’t begin and end at a gaming table.

Jingoli stressed how the Hard Rock will bring jobs and hope to the next generation, which he sees every Wednesday night at the Boys and Girls Club programs that he himself helps teach. The latest is a construction industry course whose graduates can earn financial incentives to continue on to college or entry into construction projects themselves.

“We’re going to have 3,000 jobs,” he said. “That gives us a lot of head room to employ local people. Hard Rock has committed to having jobs that are going to be coming in one year, two years, three years and matching that to the students who are in our live classrooms at the Boys and Girls Club so that young people can say, ‘I’m going to work there.’

“That will help them make the right decisions. We believe when the choice comes to make a right or a left, they’ll make the right decisions because they’ll have the opportunities, the same opportunities that we have had. It’s our belief that if you put the same opportunities in front of these local people, you’ll get the same good positive results.”

Morris is eager to get going.

“People have asked me, ‘What are you doing here? You have so much on your plate, it’s such a big risk,’ ” he said. “And the only thing that can come to mind is: We’re the Jersey boys.

“I was born and raised in this great state. As were my partners. And I’m so proud to be here today with the Jingoli family and the Hard Rock team. They can say what they want about New Jersey, but one thing I can say is, ‘We have loyalty.’ And we don’t forget where we came from. And that’s why we’re back here.”

Hard Rock unveils plans for Atlantic City casino hotel

Hard Rock International formally unveiled its plans Wednesday for the $375 million renovation of the recently acquired former Trump Taj Mahal casino and hotel in Atlantic City.Hard Rock International formally unveiled its plans Wednesday for the $375 million renovation of the recently acquired former Trump Taj Mahal casino and hotel in Atlantic City.
Set to open in summer 2018 as the rebranded Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, the Boardwalk property will feature two separate 7,000-plus-seat multipurpose arenas, a larger Hard Rock Cafe, redesigned hotel rooms and an updated casino floor that will include 2,400 slots and 130 table games.
Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen said Wednesday that the company plans to “do it right” with its renovation plans, aiming “to create a true entertainment destination, not just a gambling destination.”
Though Hard Rock is based in Florida, the company played up its local ties Wednesday. Allen is an Atlantic County native and investors in the project include the Jingoli family of Lawrenceville and the Morris family of Piscataway.
“We don’t forget where we came from, and that’s why we’re back here,” said Jack Morris, CEO of Piscataway-based Edgewood Properties.
Allen, who noted that the deal for the property had been finalized with billionaire investor Carl Icahn and that “the funding is in place to move forward,” added that Hard Rock believes it can not only be profitable in the Atlantic City market, but that it won’t need to poach customers from other properties, either.
“We are very confident that we can grow the market,” Allen said.
The Taj Mahal has been shuttered since October, when Icahn and former management company Trump Entertainment Resorts closed the property due to poor performance and an ongoing labor strike over what members of Unite Here Local 54 deemed to be inferior benefits included in recent contract negotiations.

Though President Donald Trump’s name adorned the casino up until earlier this year, the former Atlantic City real estate mogul has not had an ownership stake in the property for many years.
Hard Rock says the property will lead to 3,000 permanent positions and 1,000 construction jobs.
That was music to the ears of several of the state’s elected officials present at Wednesday’s unveiling.
Gov. Chris Christie said he is “thrilled to welcome” Hard Rock to the state and noted that the company’s investment is a sign to all that “Atlantic City is worth coming into (and) worth working with.”

“This is an extraordinary brand that’s coming here to Atlantic City in a very big way,” said Christie, who added that he didn’t think Hard Rock “would come here if they didn’t think they could make money.”
Christie said that, collectively with Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford), his administration has “shown that we’re committed to doing the hard things in Atlantic City,” a place he said was previously far too accustomed to doing the “easy things.”
“Whatever we need to do to get the previous governmental obstacles out of the way, we will do that,” said Christie.
Sweeney called Wednesday a “good day” for the state.
“We’re bringing Atlantic City back,” Sweeney said. “We’re bringing jobs back.”
Local officials appear to also be on board. State Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Northfield) called the project “good stuff” and Mayor Don Guardian added that the Hard Rock development was “a great way to rebuild our city.”
The project even received the thumbs-up from Steven Van Zandt, the Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band guitarist and actor of “The Sopranos” fame, who was on hand Wednesday.
“These guys are going to do it right this time,” Van Zandt said.

Camden Coalition, NJSHINE form data-sharing alliance

The Camden Coalition of Health Providers and health care services company NJSHINE announced a new data-sharing agreement to better care for patients in South Jersey.The Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers and health care services company NJSHINE announced a new data-sharing agreement to better care for patients in South Jersey.

This data being shared include visits, labs, tests, medications, emergency department summaries, progress notes and any other information from when patients visit hospitals and emergency rooms in other networks.

This means greater data-sharing capacity for those using the coalition’s Health Information Exchange.

This includes Lourdes Health System, whose chief medical information officer, Todd Warden, chairs the Camden Coalition HIE oversight committee.

“We are so pleased that NJSHINE has joined the Camden Coalition HIE to expand our collective network of regional data to improve health care in our region,” he said. “This will help support multiple initiatives we are working on in the tri-county region. I know that this will greatly enhance the LHS Health Network (the Lourdes accountable care organization) provide population health services to its patients in Gloucester County. In addition, this data integration will provide support to the South Jersey Behavioral Health Innovation Collaborative, as it builds its network of providers to assure comprehensive and efficient care to the behavioral health patients we all serve.”

The effort will especially help patients with complex health needs.

“Many patients, particularly those with complex health and social needs, visit multiple hospitals and emergency rooms throughout the region over the course of a year. When providers can’t access patient records from other institutions, timely, important details are missed and patient care suffers. HIEs help to resolve this issue by providing better access to a patient’s health information and reducing the time and effort spent by staff to gather this data,” according to a joint statement from NJSHINE and the Camden Coalition.

Redd won’t seek re-election as Camden mayor

Camden mayor Dana Redd announced Wednesday that she will not seek re-election to a third term, and will instead support city council President Frank Moran’s bid to succeed her.“While it has not been a cakewalk, and there were plenty of really long days and nights, I can honestly say this has been the most satisfying experience of my life,” Redd said at a news conference at City Hall.

Redd said the city will be in good hands with Moran, a Camden native who has served as a councilman for 20 years.

“We will not skip a beat,” Redd said. “Camden will continue on its upward progression towards even more prosperity. Camden will continue to rise under the leadership of Frank Moran.”

Redd, a former state senator, was first elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2013. During her tenure she has been a champion of the city’s unique positioning to benefit from corporate incentives under the Economic Opportunity Act and has presided over a number of high-profile projects slated for the city.

For her efforts, she was recently ranked No. 68 on the NJBIZ Power 100 list.

Cold cap company signs lease in Cherry Hill

Commercial real estate firm NAI Mertz announced it has completed a 3,310-square-foot lease at Two Executive Campus, Cherry Hill.Commercial real estate firm NAI Mertz announced it has completed a 3,310-square-foot lease at Two Executive Campus, Cherry Hill.

Artic Cold Caps, a designer of cold caps — a therapy used to prevent hair loss for chemotherapy patients — will occupy part of the 102,591-square-foot property owned by 1930 NMT Owner LLC.

“We were extremely humbled to bring this company to Cherry Hill, and to recognize that more people dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy are using and benefiting from this innovative product,” Rebecca Ting, vice president, said. She represented 1930 NMT Owner alongside sales associate Julie Kronfeld.

Ting and Kronfeld also recently completed a 13,923-square-foot lease and a 15,127-square-foot lease at Two Executive Campus.

Mortgage firm PHH making changes at the top

Mount Laurel-based mortgage solutions firm PHH Corp. announced a leadership transition Thursday, as it undergoes a strategic downsizing to reduce costs.Mount Laurel-based mortgage solutions firm PHH Corp. announced a leadership transition Thursday, as it undergoes a strategic downsizing to reduce costs.

The company said in a news release that its chief financial officer, Robert Crowl, has been named chief operating officer, reporting to CEO and President Glen Messina. However, effective June 28, the scheduled date for PHH’s annual meeting, Crowl will assume Messina’s roles as CEO and president and stand for election to the board of directors.

“Rob has been an invaluable partner to Glen and the board in executing our transformation, and we are fortunate to have an executive of his caliber available to step into the CEO and director roles,” James Egan, nonexecutive chairman of the board, said in a prepared statement.

Messina, in addition to stepping down as CEO and president, will not seek re-election to the board.

“Glen has led PHH with vision, decisiveness and integrity through one of the most turbulent periods in the mortgage industry in decades, overseeing a dramatic strategic transformation of the company that included the sale of the fleet business, implementing capital strategy initiatives to reduce unsecured debt levels and return capital to shareholders, re-engineering our cost structure, enhancing our risk and compliance programs and implementing the strategic review to maximize the value of our mortgage business,” Egan said. “On behalf of the board and the entire PHH team, I would like to thank Glen for his significant contributions and accomplishments over the course of his five-year tenure with the company.”

The company announced a series of additional management changes, as well.

Michael Bogansky, the company’s controller and a senior vice president, has been appointed CFO to succeed Crowl.

Kate Williamson, senior vice president, human resources, will become SVP and chief human resources officer, effective June 30. She succeeds Kathryn Ruggieri, who is leaving the company.

Ian Hill, vice president, information technology enterprise services, will become SVP and chief information officer on the same date. He succeeds Gabriel Minton, who is also leaving the company.

“Mike, Kate and Ian have been key players in our transformation and are well-qualified to assume their new roles,” Egan said. “Kathryn and Gabe have made significant contributions to the company over the years and, on behalf of the board and the entire PHH team, I would like to thank them for their dedication and service to PHH.”

In addition, William Brown, SVP and general counsel; Leith Kaplan, chief risk and compliance officer; and Richard Bradfield, SVP, financial institutions group, are expected to depart the company, although they will remain throughout 2017 to support company strategy. PHH said it will announce further leadership changes at the appropriate time.

“I would also like to thank Bill, Lee and Rich for their many contributions to PHH and their continuing support of our strategic actions for the remainder of the year,” Egan said.

PHH said the management changes are expected to result in $5 million or more in annual savings.

Poll N.J. voters still low on Trump, want to keep Obamacare

Support for Republican President Donald Trump is up marginally in New Jersey over his first few months but is still “epically low for a new administration,” according to a new Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind Poll released Thursday.The poll found that just 28 percent of voters said they support the job is Trump is doing, outpaced by the 61 percent who feel the opposite way. But Trump’s support in the Garden State is up from 18 percent in January, the poll noted.

While the majority of state voters, some 58 percent, still believe the country is “headed down the wrong track,” that figure is also down from a 73 percent mark in January. Inversely, some 31 percent of New Jerseyans now say that they believe the country is moving in the right direction, up from 20 percent at the beginning of the year.

And more New Jersey voters appear to favor Trump over fellow Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who recently netted just 20 percent support in an FDU poll.

“For a guy who has spent a lot of time at his New Jersey golf course, the president has a lot of ground to cover if he’s going to reverse the numbers and have more supporters than detractors in New Jersey,” said poll director and FDU professor Krista Jenkins. “But, it’s still good news for him that at least in the Garden State, more residents support him today than they did when he took office a few months ago.”

However, the poll found that most New Jersey voters were likely pleased with the defeat of a Trump-backed proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which 67 percent of voters say has helped lives of those previously uninsured.

That figure stands despite only 39 percent of Garden State voters noting that Obamacare has helped them, compared to 37 percent who said it has had no bearing on their lives.

“Obamacare was never a slam dunk in New Jersey, but there’s enough support for the act to warrant concern should it ever be repealed without an adequate replacement,” Jenkins said. “This is especially true as it pertains to the significant funding the state receives to provide insurance for the poor through Medicaid’s expansion.”

As for Medicaid funding, an overwhelming 83 percent of state voters agreed that the federal government should continue its support of the program.

“As with most things in politics, taking something away is a lot harder than giving it to begin with,” said Jenkins. “With millions in savings for the state since the act’s passage, in addition to the swell of those joining the ranks of the insured, federal assistance will continue to trump ideology when it comes to support for Medicaid expansion.”

How does your county measure up when it comes to health?

When it comes to health in the Garden State’s 21 counties, there’s northern New Jersey … and then there’s everywhere else.On Wednesday, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute released its health rankings for counties around the country, including New Jersey.

The rankings, which rank the nation’s counties within their states, provide a snapshot of how health is influenced by where people live, learn, work and play. The two factors of length and quality of life are weighed equally.

Here’s how New Jersey’s counties stack up:

Hunterdon
Morris
Somerset
Bergen
Sussex
Middlesex
Monmouth
Union
Warren
Ocean
Burlington
Mercer
Hudson
Gloucester
Passaic
Cape May
Atlantic
Camden
Salem
Essex
Cumberland

And here is how New Jersey’s counties fare in terms of health factors, based on weighted scores for health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and the physical environment:

Hunterdon
Somerset
Morris
Bergen
Monmouth
Middlesex
Sussex
Mercer
Burlington
Warren
Ocean
Union
Gloucester
Cape May
Camden
Hudson
Passaic
Atlantic
Essex
Salem
Cumberland

The rankings are compiled using county-level measures from a variety of national and state data sources. These measures are standardized and combined using scientifically informed weights.

The goal of the rankings is to provide a starting point for change in the community by raising awareness about the many factors that influence health and that health varies from place to place — not to produce lists of the healthiest 10 to 20 counties in the nation.

Camden County meeting on ambulance service is latest issue for Virtua

Virtua Health appears to be once again playing defense with regard to its response times for ambulance services, this time in Camden County.Virtua Health appears to be once again playing defense with regard to its response times for ambulance services, this time in Camden County.

County mayors met Tuesday evening with county government officials to discuss concerns from a 2015 report that detailed response times in Camden County. The same report ultimately led to Virtua losing its 30-year run as primary responder for advanced life support services in the city of Camden last year to Cooper University Health — with the help of legislation and $2.5 million from the state to purchase 15 ambulances.

Since Virtua pulled out, both the health system and the city appear to be satisfied.

Cooper recently touted the success of its first year as the provider of emergency medical services in Camden, which began when legislation was enacted appointing it the primary responder.

Meanwhile, Virtua says it has upgraded its response technology, invested more than $1 million in improvements in the last few years — non-taxpayer money, a spokesperson noted — and reiterated its stance that the response times are based on old rules.

Scott Kasper, assistant vice president of emergency services at Virtua, said the system has been working with county officials to ensure better coordination in its remaining service area.

In fact, the volume of service has increased 8 percent since the previous year, a direct result of the changes Virtua has put in place, Kasper said.

“What we did when that change took place (in Camden) is redeployed resources from Camden city to other areas of Camden County,” Kasper said. “We were able to retain jobs of all the paramedics, so it did not create a jobs issue. We moved resources around and created a better, more efficient system for the county. Even though there is another provider in Camden city, at their request, we still provide 10 percent of all responses.”

The takeover by Cooper in Camden city appears to be limited to that roughly 10-square-mile region.

Dan Keashen, spokesperson for Camden County, said he has been told by Cooper that they are not interested in expanded EMS services outside of the city.

Kasper said the loss of service in the city was a small portion of Virtua’s emergency coverage — roughly 1,300 square miles in Camden and Burlington counties.

Mike Kotzen, executive vice president for population health management at Virtua, said the health system has received no negative feedback from its service area, and was upset that Virtua had not been invited to the forum Wednesday.

“Virtua became aware last week of a meeting (between) freeholders … and Camden County mayors to discuss what was described as ‘woefully inadequate’ ALS in Camden County. This reeks of a political backroom deal, because as the provider of ALS for the county, Virtua was not invited,” Kotzen said.

Keashen replied in a statement: “Weeks ago, the freeholders were notified that Cooper Healthcare System has no interest in providing ALS or BLS service to suburban towns outside of Camden city. (Virtua CEO Richard) Miller must be hallucinating and is obviously trying to distract from the service Virtua is providing; the facts and data are clear in regard to response times. Simply put, time matters and residents expect and deserve more from their ALS provider.”

But, Keashen added, if Virtua was willing to provide newer information to demonstrate improvements to the emergency response system in the county, the county was willing to hear.

“If Mr. Miller would like to dispute the facts, we will take the Pepsi Challenge,” Keashen said. “It could be that Virtua has improved significantly since 2015. We would love to hear more about that if they can show me facts. The bottom line is, I would love to know, are the number of (ambulance) rigs on the street commensurate with the population? What is the formula for putting rigs on the street?”

Kotzen said Virtua tried to reach out to the county freeholders but received no reply.

“We really want to just continue to tell the story about the quality that the residents are getting,” he said. “What we are trying to get is reinforce that message. We’ve invested heavily for improvements to the system. … Camden County freeholders and Director Lou Cappelli are attempting to incite fear and insinuate a crisis. We at Virtua disagree. There is no crisis.”

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DIGITAL EDITIONS

Why is Hard Rock interested in the Taj Mahal? Why not Revel?

So, can Hard Rock make money on the property?

Is this good for Atlantic City?

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Didn’t Hard Rock want to build a casino in the Meadowlands?

But what about Pennsylvania? Does Atlantic City really need another casino?

So, what’s next for Atlantic City?

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