St. Joseph’s Health has announced the appointment of Kenneth M. Morris, Jr.,  MHA, MA, as Vice President for External Affairs at the multi-hospital academic healthcare organization based in Paterson, New Jersey.

“I am pleased to welcome Ken Morris to his new position as Vice President for External Affairs,” said Kevin J. Slavin, President and Chief Executive Officer, St. Joseph’s Health. “With his broad background in governmental affairs, public affairs and marketing, coupled with nearly 40 years of service at St. Joseph’s, Ken is uniquely qualified to be the first Vice President of External Affairs in the history of our organization,” added Mr. Slavin. In his new role, Mr. Morris will oversee Government Relations, Real Estate, Marketing, Public Relations and Community Relations.

Since 2003, Mr. Morris served as Director of Government Affairs for St. Joseph’s with focuses on government relations, public policy, community development and removing barriers to health care access for the underserved. Prior he served as Director of the Department of Urban and Community Affairs, as well as Supervisor of Medical and Graphic Arts and Photography.

Involved in civic activities across the county and state, Mr. Morris is a Councilman-At-Large, City of Paterson, an elected position held through consecutive elections since 2002. He currently chairs the Community Development Committee and the Finance Committee, having previously served three consecutive years as Council President.

In addition, Mr. Morris is President of the Board of Directors of the Ethel J. Williams Scholarship Fund and Home Care Options, Inc., Past Board Chair of the Paterson Education Fund, Past Vice President of the Paterson YMCA, and has served as the Public Member of the District 11 Attorney Ethics Board.

A member of the Paterson Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Morris is a Paterson Rotarian, a member of the United Way of Passaic County Board, Passaic County Workforce Investment Board and the Minority Concerns Committee of the Passaic County Vicinage.

Mr. Morris earned his Master of Healthcare Administration at Seton Hall University, his Master of Arts at Montclair State University and his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Cleveland Institute of Art/Case Western Reserve University. He is a resident of Paterson, New Jersey.

April 30, 2015

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital (SJCH) in Paterson, New Jersey, received an exciting visit from members of The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, including Giants’ Head Coach Tom Coughlin. With a mission of helping families tackle childhood cancer by providing comprehensive financial, emotional and practical support, Coach Coughlin, along with his wife Judy, shared their support, words of encouragement and smiles with St. Joseph’s youngest patients, their parents and hospital staff.

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation has been a supporter of SJCH since 2012. Along with special visits from New York Giants players and staff, the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation has provided pediatric oncology patients and families financial assistance, a Financial Literacy Program, gifts during the holidays and an annual Valentine’s Day Party. St. Joseph’s relationship with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, the Coughlins and the New York Giants organization is greatly appreciated as so many young patients and their families have received crucial support during treatment for life-threatening illnesses.

Pictured left is St. Joseph's Children's Hospital patient Daniel Fernandez (Haledon, NJ) with Coach Tom and Judy Coughlin of The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation.

April 28, 2015

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation provides support through a long standing relationship

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital (SJCH) in Paterson, New Jersey, received an exciting visit from members of The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, including Giants’ Head Coach Tom Coughlin. With a mission of helping families tackle childhood cancer by providing comprehensive financial, emotional and practical support, Coach Coughlin, along with his wife Judy, shared their support, words of encouragement and smiles with St. Joseph’s youngest patients, their parents and hospital staff.

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation has been a supporter of SJCH since 2012. Along with special visits from New York Giants players and staff, the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation has provided pediatric oncology patients and families financial assistance, a Financial Literacy Program, gifts during the holidays and an annual Valentine’s Day Party. St. Joseph’s relationship with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, the Coughlins and the New York Giants organization is greatly appreciated as so many young patients and their families have received crucial support during treatment for life-threatening illnesses.

Pictured left is St. Joseph's Children's Hospital patient Daniel Fernandez (Haledon, NJ) with Coach Tom and Judy Coughlin of The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation.

April 28, 2015

In celebration of Earth Day 2015, Assemblyman Scott T. Rumana, Legislative District 40, presented St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center (SJWMC) with a Certificate of Appreciation. SJWMC and Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) recently completed $4 million in energy efficiency improvements that will save the acute care community hospital more than $435,000 annually in utility costs and improve the comfort and convenience of patients, staff and visitors.

The work was completed through the PSE&G Hospital Efficiency Program, a $129 million effort by New Jersey’s oldest and largest gas and electric utility that is helping 33 hospitals to better manage their energy consumption.

The energy efficiency improvements at St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center included the installation of new burners for the heating boilers and new air conditioning chillers, as well as the installation of other energy efficient equipment including lighting and ventilation controls.

The upgraded equipment installed through the PSE&G Hospital Efficiency Program has a broad impact at the Wayne campus, from enhancing patient care environments to reducing our electric and gas consumption and controlling our overall environmental impact.

Greater efficiency and greener outcomes are important components of facilities infrastructure at St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center. The PSE&G Hospital Efficiency Program positively impacted these areas.

Pictured (left to right) are: Gloria Kunze, Interim Vice President, Operations, St. Joseph’s Health (SJH); Kenneth Morris, Jr., Vice President, External Affairs, SJH; Scott Reilly, Director, Maintenance and Engineering, SJH; Assemblyman Scott Rumana; and Daniel Kline, Vice President, SJH, and Site Administrator, St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center.

April 23, 2015

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital (SJCH) in Paterson, New Jersey, received an exciting visit from members of The Tom Coughlin Jay (TCJ) Fund Foundation, including Giants’ Head Coach Thomas Coughlin. With a mission of helping families tackle childhood cancer by providing comprehensive financial, emotional and practical support, Coach Coughlin, along with his wife Judy, shared their support, words of encouragement and smiles with St. Joseph’s youngest patients, their parents and hospital staff.

The TCJ Fund Foundation has been a supporter of SJCH since 2012. Along with special visits from New York Giants players and staff, the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation has provided children with gifts during the holidays and an annual Valentine’s Day Party. St. Joseph’s relationship with the Jay Fund, the Coughlins and the New York Giants organization is greatly appreciated as so many young patients and their families have received crucial support during treatment for life-threatening illnesses.

Pictured left is St. Joseph's Children's Hospital patient Daniel Fernandez (Haledon, NJ) with Thomas and Judy Coughlin of the TCJ Fund Foundation.

April 23, 2015

Collaborative a Model for Others Nationwide

Battered and bruised from a recent confrontation, the young woman enters the Emergency Department (ED) at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson. She is treated with compassion and skill and, when she is more comfortable, gently offered the benefits of the innovative Hospital to Court program for victims of domestic violence. 

If she chooses, the woman will use a video link that will connect her promptly, in a private setting at St. Joseph’s, with a Passaic (Vicinage) Court judge or hearing officer. The court official will take testimony from the victim and decide whether to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO). The court will fax the order to the victim at St. Joseph’s. With a TRO, a legal protection order, in hand, the victim can be escorted home by a police officer.

Hospital to Court enables injured victims – women and men – to access legal protections from the court while having the capability of seeking healthcare for their often emergent trauma issues. Protocols, procedures and an electronic bridge allow emergency court hearings from the hospital, 24/7.

“St. Joseph’s continually explores new ways to better serve the community. Hospital to Court developed during discussions between St. Joseph’s staff and Passaic County court officials several years ago. Together, we provide a unique lifesaving service,” said Sr. Maryanne Campeotto, SC, LCSW, Vice President, Mission, St. Joseph’s Health.

“Initially, the Hospital to Court video-conferencing bridge was available for individuals treated in our ED,” explained Tina Miles, LCSW, Manager, Psychiatric Emergency Services, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center. “St. Joseph’s soon expanded the program to other departments, including the Pediatric ED, which serves patients to age 23, and the Obstetrics/Gynecology Department, which serves pregnant patients with emergent medical conditions. Today, connectivity is initiated from a rolling telecommunications link utilized, as needed, across the medical center.”

In 2015, the Hospital to Court link expanded to 24/7 functionality, from its original 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (court hours) availability, due to the strong commitment of the Passaic Vicinage Domestic Violence Hearing Officer, Superior Court Assignment Judge and the Presiding Family Court Judge. Broader hours of service will enhance efficacy as domestic violence victims often turn to the ED during the night and on weekends.

This innovative model is being widely adopted across the state and country, thanks to champions in the Judiciary and healthcare industry.

“St. Joseph’s purpose is to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. Within our mission statement stands a directive, ‘to care for people who through shame might conceal their necessities.’ When victims of domestic violence turn to St. Joseph’s, they may be just as injured emotionally as they are physically. We meet their needs with comprehensive services in a caring, nonjudgmental setting. They are free to voice concerns and have their needs addressed. Hospital to Court delivers our mission,” added Sr. Maryanne. 

April 16, 2015