Contributed by: CBrining
However, AtlantiCare officials and the state legislators who actually represent Hammonton say they did not hear about the plan until they were sent copies of the request.....Continue Reading
State Sen. Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam, all D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, made the request in an April 7 letter to U.S. Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both D-N.J.
"We believe the Kessler hospital site is a prime location to meet the increasing medical needs of our nation's bravest," they wrote. "We ask that you thoroughly investigate the possibility of housing a South Jersey veterans hospital in Hammonton."
Kessler closed March 12 after years of financial difficulties, which culminated with a last-minute deal to sell the hospital falling through.
Van Drew said Wednesday that the idea to turn Kessler into a veteran's hospital was hatched by a group of veterans.
"Veterans from the area have looked to bring something to South Jersey for many years," he said, adding that veterans now have to travel to Philadelphia, Delaware or northern New Jersey for treatment. "There is a building that needs to be utilized and is smack dab in the middle of South Jersey. This is the right thing to do for our veterans."
The proposal calls for a joint venture between the Department of Veterans Affairs and AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, which opened a satellite emergency department at the facility after Kessler closed.
Van Drew said other VA hospitals have similar arrangements with private hospitals.
But Jennifer Tornetta, spokeswoman for AtlantiCare, said the health care provider was not informed of the plan prior to the letter being sent and has not been contacted about it since.
"We have not heard from anyone about this," she said. "It would be inappropriate for us to comment on our position at this point, because we don't have any of the details."
Another group apparently left in the dark was state Sen. Christopher Connors and Assemblymen Brian Rumpf and Daniel Van Pelt, all R-Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean.
But Connors said it was not a surprise.
"Not if you know Sen. Van Drew," he joked. "He is an extremely ambitious and responsive individual. And although Kessler is in Hammonton, there are obviously veterans in need throughout the region who would be helped by this."
After receiving a copy of the request, the 9th District legislators sent their own letter to Lautenberg and Menendez on April 15 supporting the 1st District lawmakers' plan.
"There would be ancillary benefits for such a facility at the Kessler Hospital site," they wrote. "The local economy continues to feel the economic repercussions of Kessler's closing and, therefore, would stand to benefit greatly from an institution taking advantage of the existing facility and providing treatment and services of equal or even greater scope."
Coincidentally, the 9th District legislators have a veterans' roundtable planned for April 29 in Stafford Township to discuss the needs of the region's veterans that are not being met.
The funding for such a hospital would likely have to come from the federal government, but two area U.S. representatives already appear willing to fight for those dollars.
Jason Galanes, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said LoBiondo is dedicated to bringing additional VA health care services to the region.
"(LoBiondo) is in regular communication with the VA to examine all options and has been pleased with the expanded services already enacted at the VA community-based clinics in Ventnor, Vineland and Cape May," Galanes said via e-mail.
And U.S Rep. John Adler, D-3rd, who is a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and represents the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, said the facility could help correct the problems the region's veterans face in accessing preventative and emergency health care.
"In New Jersey, veterans have to travel, some close to an hour, to the nearest VA hospital," Adler said via e-mail. "I am optimistic that a new VA hospital would benefit veterans in southern New Jersey and the shore area."
Van Drew said the plan is only in the conceptual phase and still has to be thoroughly investigated. But the "obvious" need for a VA hospital in the region could help its progress, he said.
"Funding is always a challenge and this is not going to be an instantaneous thing. We have to show the need is there, and I believe it is," he said, adding that the need would multiply when the troops return from Iraq and Afghanistan. "No one ever said it would be easy, but the goal is a worthwhile one and our veterans deserve our efforts."
E-mail Robert Spahr: RSpahr@pressofac.com
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