OT: Medical School

[seton1996]

Most of the funding for the launch of a new, private medical school by Hackensack University Health Network and Seton Hall University would come from state taxpayers, under a line item state Sen. Paul Sarlo, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, says he plans to add to the budget.

The state budget for the year beginning July 1 would include $20 million for the medical school planned for the former campus of Hoffmann-La Roche on the Clifton-Nutley border ....

http://www.northjersey.com/news/sar...new-medical-school-on-ex-roche-site-1.1360766

 

[piratehall]

thanks for the info. Do you or does anyone know if we will lease more than the 14 acres the Med School and I believe another building are on. ? It would be such a tremendous plus for the University to finally have more land. The site is about 165 acres and I read where certain research companies will occupy some of the space which is good. If we can establish a great relationship with these companies it would be a tremendous POSSIBLE financial boon to the school in future donations. But if we could somehow secure maybe another say 80 acres it would allow the school to do so much more. This one im really praying for.

 

[seton1996]

I doubt SHU will be leasing or buying any more land other than what is needed for the medical school at this time.

From what I understand, Roche has an agreement to sell land to a developer once an environmental cleanup has been completed. I believe the developers early plans calls for a mix of different developments between medical school, office buildings, hotels and I believe retail. I believe Nutley & Clifton have been opposed to any residential development due to the impact on schools and other public resources.

 

[SPK145]

More public funding of private endeavors, what a joke!!! And by a seriously conflicted member of the legislature no less.

Why must this private affair be done on the backs of an already incredibly taxed NJ taxpayer? (No more making fun of Rutgers I guess.)

 

[cernjSHU]

More public funding of private endeavors, what a joke!!! And by a seriously conflicted member of the legislature no less.

Why must this private affair be done on the backs of an already incredibly taxed NJ taxpayer? (No more making fun of Rutgers I guess.)

While I somewhat agree with you concerning public money funding a private institution, at least there is a public good involved concerning health. It will also create jobs and have secondary and tertiary benefits as well for the public. Hopefully, this will increase the tax base.

 

[catholicman]

Taking public money is not good for a Catholic institution. Thirty pieces of silver...

 

[hallgrad80]

More public funding of private endeavors, what a joke!!! And by a seriously conflicted member of the legislature no less.

Why must this private affair be done on the backs of an already incredibly taxed NJ taxpayer? (No more making fun of Rutgers I guess.)

Steve
The State of NJ will by 2020 have a shortage of 2,500 primary care doctors and there is a continuing exodus of doctors as NJ is the second worse state in the country for doctors to practice in.

It is my firm belief that sound public policy is to support any endeavor to alleviate a shortage of doctors and at least in my option state funding for that is appropriate.

 

[400SOAVE]

Under most circumstances, I would agree about spending public money.

However, this money would be spent on a cause that's so important for the public good, that it's hard to argue against it.

We're talking about training doctors who might save our lives, or the lives of our children and grandchildren.

The money might train somebody who will advance life-saving medical research.

We're talking about $20 million in a proposed $35.3 billion state budget. Amortize that over the decades of good, and it's a pittance.

I hope that our members of congress will step up and get this important venture another $20 million. It would probably be the most meaningful expenditure in the entire $1 trillion-plus national disgrace of a federal budget.

This project will hopefully also have a major impact on the other science programs at SHU, and help to develop a major center for medical research at that location.

This is a rare everybody-wins idea.

 

[Seton75]

Every public spending endeavor for private companies/organizations can be touted with the many benefits they will bring. The stadium will do this and that. The casinos will revitalize AC...But the end is too often nothing like what was anticipated. If docs are fleeing, why will they stop fleeing just cause we have another school of medicine.

 

[hallgrad80]

Every public spending endeavor for private companies/organizations can be touted with the many benefits they will bring. The stadium will do this and that. The casinos will revitalize AC...But the end is too often nothing like what was anticipated. If docs are fleeing, why will they stop fleeing just cause we have another school of medicine.

You cannot compare the examples of the casino's or the public funding of sports facilities to funding a medical school. The examples you cite are for profit commercial ventures the medical school is an institution of higher education and not a commercial or for profit venture and serves the public good.

 

[SPK145]

Steve
The State of NJ will by 2020 have a shortage of 2,500 primary care doctors and there is a continuing exodus of doctors as NJ is the second worse state in the country for doctors to practice in.

It is my firm believe that sound public policy is to support any endeavor to alleviate a shortage of doctors and , at least in my option , state funding for that is appropriate.

Why are doctors fleeing?? Could one reason by high NJ taxes fueled by conflict of interest profligate spending?

Will the doctors that come out of this NJ taxpayer funded medical school be forced to practice in NJ?? If not, won't most just set up shop outside NJ??

Should NJ then fund all medical facilities in NJ?

Shouldn't NJ just fund it's public medical schools at a higher level??

TONS of questions............

 

[400SOAVE]

Doctors are fleeing northern NJ because of the extraordinary high cost of medical malpractice insurance and related issues, and the amount of time they have to spend on non-practice of medicine related paperwork. That's usually related to insurance, reimbursements, a new billing coding system, legal considerations, etc.

There has been nothing written or hinted that alumni of the medical school have NJ residential strings attached. Why talk about a nonexistent issue?

This is such a positive development for SHU. Why not give it your full support?

I'm just surprised some of you have not figured out a way to work in a "fire Willard" comment.

 

[SPK145]

There has been nothing written or hinted that alumni of the medical school have NJ residential strings attached. Why talk about a nonexistent issue?

It's a theoretical (as were the other questions) to combat the "this is good for NJ, we need more doctors in NJ" theme.

I'm against government spending taxpayer money on private ventures, I can't be hypocritical just because I have a diploma from Seton Hall.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

I'll be hypocritical. The medical school and its association with one of the finest medical facilities in the country puts Seton Hall in an elite position, so it has my wholehearted support. By the way, Rutgers has a billion $ support proposal which the state will be funding over the next 12 years that will be at taxpayer's expense. Millions will go to upgrading athletics according to Lesiak (?) so that they can compete in the "prestigious B1G."

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

More public funding of private endeavors, what a joke!!! And by a seriously conflicted member of the legislature no less.

Why must this private affair be done on the backs of an already incredibly taxed NJ taxpayer? (No more making fun of Rutgers I guess.)

I'd rather see state money invested into academics rather than wasted on Rutgers never ending quest to become relevant in athletics (the state could save a tremendous amount of money by telling Rutgers to go back to the Atlantic 10 where they are much better suited)!

 

[Flnj86]

Disagree with SPK, agree with SHUisNJsTeam!

 

[Shuathelete]

It's a theoretical (as were the other questions) to combat the "this is good for NJ, we need more doctors in NJ" theme.

I'm against government spending taxpayer money on private ventures, I can't be hypocritical just because I have a diploma from Seton Hall.

Sure ya can, SCREW RUTGERS GO HALL!!

 

[cernjSHU]

Btw, there is a shortage of doctors nationwide, not only NJ. http://www.cnbc.com/id/100546118

The family doctor will soon be of the way of the dinosaur. Your primary physician will eventually become a nurse practitioner. I am seeing this more and more.
Less people are going into medicine and that is being driven by the suction noise on Wall St. Why help people when you can just line your pockets and contribute very little to society, except for ostentatious wealth.

 

[jcalz88]

Btw, there is a shortage of doctors nationwide, not only NJ. http://www.cnbc.com/id/100546118

The family doctor will soon be of the way of the dinosaur. Your primary physician will eventually become a nurse practitioner. I am seeing this more and more.
Less people are going into medicine and that is being driven by the suction noise on Wall St. Why help people when you can just line your pockets and contribute very little to society, except for ostentatious wealth.

You do realize with out Wall Street and the banks this country goes no where correct...

 

[HALL85]

Btw, there is a shortage of doctors nationwide, not only NJ. http://www.cnbc.com/id/100546118

The family doctor will soon be of the way of the dinosaur. Your primary physician will eventually become a nurse practitioner. I am seeing this more and more.
Less people are going into medicine and that is being driven by the suction noise on Wall St. Why help people when you can just line your pockets and contribute very little to society, except for ostentatious wealth.

cern is correct. This is a national issue. It is exacerbated in states like NJ and NY because of the higher costs to practice. There is MD flight to sunbelt and western states. I don't begrudge Wall St and banks but there seems to be a more disproportionate amount of energy and wealth being created by working a system, moving money around and not creating something that provides a good or a service.

 

[SnakeTom]

Yes a lot of doctors may be leaving our state but so are a lot of non doctors. New Jersey has one of the highest exit rates and doctors are just one part of it. True our taxes are part of the reason but also our aging population is a major reasons as retiree's seem to be moving to the sun belt in increasing numbers. As to public funding of our new medical school I certainly think providing for the health and welfare of its citizens is a responsibility of any government and improving medical training and facilities is a worthwhile project for government.

Tom K

 

[donnie_baseball]

Most of the funding for the launch of a new, private medical school by Hackensack University Health Network and Seton Hall University would come from state taxpayers, under a line item state Sen. Paul Sarlo, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, says he plans to add to the budget.

The state budget for the year beginning July 1 would include $20 million for the medical school planned for the former campus of Hoffmann-La Roche on the Clifton-Nutley border ....

http://www.northjersey.com/news/sar...new-medical-school-on-ex-roche-site-1.1360766

A few things:

Is $20mil going to cover "most" of the funding?

Just because one resides in a wealthy, overprivileged county doesn't make the local medical center "one of the best in the country," unless one doesn't get out much.

Agree with SPK, BUT in the case of a job-creating entity on acres of wasted space, it might be a reasonable investment. Why is it "free money," and not a subsidized loan, though? No matter what, it's a better investement than ru athletics.

Agree with Merge regarding the suck of Wall Street. However, primary care docs will never be replaced by mid-levels, unless those mid-levels start going to medical school and doing residencies.

Until insurers stop treating PCP's like slave labor, and start reimbursing them at an equitable level, there will be a shortage. Why see 30 patients a day, and answer twice as many phone calls, when I could be a radiologist, look at films from 9-5, go home and forget about it, and make twice as much as my classmate in medical school, who went into internal medicine? Hell, my plumber makes more than most PCP's I know.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

just

 

[seton1996]

Governor Christie used his line-item veto Friday to eliminate $20 million in state taxpayer funding for a private medical school proposed at the former Roche headquarters on Route 3 by Seton Hall University and Hackensack University Medical Center’s parent corporation.

“This item is deleted in its entirety,” was the sole comment on the $20 million “grant in aid” in the budget that the governor released late Friday. The non-profit school at the vacated campus of the Swiss drug maker on the border of Clifton and Nutley would be the first private medical school in the state in 50 years. Its sponsors have said they hope to welcome the first class in 2017.

 

[SPK145]

Did anyone else see the full page ad in today's Star-Ledger from Seton Hall and Hackensack Medical Center explaining the cost will not be $30 million as reported but more like $200 million and then pleading for this $20 million?

Also mentioned that there will be an innovative method to keep graduates in NJ.

 

[jcalz88]

Is this a big hit?

 

[400SOAVE]

Well, at least some SHU alumni are quite happy. No money for the medical school.

Meanwhile, Rutgers gets hundreds of millions allocated to them.

"Oh, but RU is a public state school," some will counter. Please spare me. Most SHU students, their families and alumni are New Jersey residents and taxpayers.

Of course, it didn't help SHU's cause that the elected official who was asking for the money had highly questionable motives and did not team up with Republicans to urge the governor's support.

And why does SHU and HUMC take out a full-page ad? Pick up the phone and call the governor. Is it so hard to make a phone call to an alumnus?

"Hi Chris. I'm calling about the line item for the medical school. We really need your help on this. It's a great cause and, frankly, we need the money. I know how you feel about the partisan nature of the budget, but please go with us on this one. There are no politics here. You can easily make the case on the merits. So many people will benefit from the school. And don't forget, most Seton Hall students and alumni are New Jersey residents. I promise it will be a first-class organization. And you'll be there with us for the ground breaking and later the ribbon cutting. Thanks for talking to us and listening. I appreciate it. Say hello to Pat and the kids. Take care."

 

[SnakeTom]

Yesterday the NSL lead article was about Rowen University & NJIT starting up their own Medical School. Could it be that our Governor decided to give the money to Rowen rather than Hackensack Hospital/Seton Hall. Anyway in answer to Jcalz question, no I do not think this will affect the Seton Hall project. A $200 mil project will not be shut down due to one $20 mil component. Other funding will be found. Unfortunately everything our Governor does nowadays is to impress people in other primary states rather than what is beneficial for New Jersey.

Tom K

 

[piratehall]

I agree with you Snake Tom. And we really need this Med School not only for our school but in order as we all know to train future Docs who can be of service to so many in Jersey and all over our country. So tired of RU and reading about them almost everyday about their supposed facility upgrades their football their AD and on and on.

 

[Flnj86]

Gov. Christie has no chance of being the next President, he has a better chance of losing weight.

 

[Pirate64]

Yes a lot of doctors may be leaving our state but so are a lot of non doctors. New Jersey has one of the highest exit rates and doctors are just one part of it. True our taxes are part of the reason but also our aging population is a major reasons as retiree's seem to be moving to the sun belt in increasing numbers. As to public funding of our new medical school I certainly think providing for the health and welfare of its citizens is a responsibility of any government and improving medical training and facilities is a worthwhile project for government.

Tom K

One of the reasons for our high exit rate is the high taxes- income, property, inheritance.
I know of a few seniors who live in Florida 7 months a year and have become residents. Back in NJ for the other 5 months.
Our commitment to the poor, the unemployed, and especially municipal unions requires high taxes which drive people out
Thrilled about the medical school though. Something to be very proud of.

 

[SnakeTom]

I know of a few seniors who live in Florida 7 months a year and have become residents. Back in NJ for the other 5 months.

What I truly do not understand is those who move South for the Winter months and move back to NJ for the Summer. Don't they realize that means they will be away for Seton Hall Pirate Basketball season ??? To me that borders on sacreligious!

GO PIRATES !!!

Tom K

 

[400SOAVE]

A doctor reminded me yesterday that another financial burden facing the profession is student loan debt. Many doctors owe huge sums of money. Combine that with the rest of the problems they face and the very long hours they work, and you can start to understand why they're often in a bad mood.

Meanwhile, there's plenty of money to house, feed, educate and to take care of all the medical bills of anybody entering the U.S. illegally. There seem to be inexhaustible resources to provide these services no matter how many people come here.

There's plenty of money to send billions and billions in weapons and all sorts of aid around the world. Yet there's no money to fix the thousands of roads, bridges, century-old water mains and the rest of the infrastructure that's decaying.

Commuting on NJ transit can be a very expensive and hours-long daily ordeal for our residents. There's never enough money for the railroad.

It's funny that our Congress and state governments have all the money they need for foreigners but there's always a budget crisis of epic proportions when it comes to taking care of the citizens.

And, of course, there's always plenty of taxpayer money for wealthy Wall Street types, thousands of whom should be serving long prison sentences and whose families should be sweating it out in bankruptcy court.

No money for MD training, however.

 

[Pirate64]

You nailed it 400 in every way.

 

[cernjSHU]

Christie is a disgrace to Seton Hall. First, he roots for Notre Dame over Seton Hall in basketball. Now, he takes away the $20 million to the medical school. He is probably the worst alum ever to attend Seton Hall Law.

Not to mention that his word and promises and laws mean nothing.

 

[SPK145]

How do you take something away that you never had to begin with?

 

[Flnj86]

Gov. Christie is no Seton Hall Alum in my eyes. He thinks he has a chance of being the next President, he is a joke!

 

[Pirate64]

I am/ was a rocked ribbed Republican. Christie is too caught up in his Jerseyness.

He is a typical politician. Lots of talk and always looking for his own next coronation.

 

[HALL85]

Funny, we all know and complain about taxes in this state but can find a justification at add another $20 million of burden. Technology is changing healthcare like every other industry. Your diagnosis and treatment are becoming more and more data and technology driven. The day of a PCP really knowing their patient are over. In 10 years 90% of PCP's will be hospital employees because that's who is going to cover their malpractice and back office labor. Still a good profession but not as attractive as it used to be. Money is still there for high end specialists (orthopedic and cardiac surgeon). More Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistants will fill the gap). I can guess that part of the deal with Hackensack is that the graduate has to sign on for a 5 - 10 year contract to work there in return for a break on tuition.

 

[Pirate6711]

Yesterday the NSL lead article was about Rowen University & NJIT starting up their own Medical School. Could it be that our Governor decided to give the money to Rowen rather than Hackensack Hospital/Seton Hall. Anyway in answer to Jcalz question, no I do not think this will affect the Seton Hall project. A $200 mil project will not be shut down due to one $20 mil component. Other funding will be found. Unfortunately everything our Governor does nowadays is to impress people in other primary states rather than what is beneficial for New Jersey.

Tom K

Rowan and NJIT are state schools. Those two schools getting state funding over two private institutions is pretty reasonable.