Runnells Specialized Hospital is a hospital in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.Encyclopedia of New Jersey: Hospitals in New Jersey, 2000 page 90: Accessed September 7, 2017 Runnells Specialized Hospital of Union County owns and operates nursing care facilities and hospitals in the state of New Jersey. It is a subsidiary of Center Management Group, LLC.Company Overview of RUNNELLS Specialized Hospital of Union County Bloomberg: Accessed September 7, 2017 Runnells Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare-Berkeley Heights has 344 beds and operates in Berkeley Heights.Runnells Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare-Berkeley Heights: U.S. News & World Report: Accessed September 7, 2017
History Originally called Bonnie Burn Sanatorium for Tuberculous Diseases,Berkeley Heights By Virginia B. Troeger, Arcadia Publishing, November 1, 1996: Accessed September 7, 2017 John E. Runnells Hospital in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey came into service in 1912.
The hospital was opened to isolate those suffering with Tuberculosis. Founded by John Runnells, it originally had 64 beds and grew to 300 beds by 1960. When it opened, there was no treatment for TB; however with the discovery of Streptomycin the disease became curable in many cases.
As of 1955, the Runnells Buildings were used for occupational therapy, and there were also facilities for entertainment and recreation. In the 1980s, the John E. Runnells Hospital for Chest Diseases closed. In 1990, the new facility on 45 acres of property adjoining the old location was opened as the Runnells Specialized Hospital.
In 2012, 150 were facing layoffs at the hospital,Author Julia Terruso, 150 facing layoffs at Runnells Specialized Hospital in Union County: NJ.com, May 6, 2012: Accessed September 7, 2017 and 80 layoffs followed.Author Julia Terruso, 80 workers face layoffs at Runnells Specialized Hospital as Union County privatizes some services: NJ.com, July 29, 2012: Accessed September 7, 2017 Some of the layoffs were held off as a buyer was sought to privatize certain departments.Author Julia Terruso: Layoff date is postponed for 101 Runnells hospital workers: NJ.com, May 12, 2012: Accessed September 7, 2017 Afterwards, plans to privatize and sell the hospital met with controversy.Author Richard Khavkine, Sale of Runnells hospital in Berkeley Heights could come at a cost, advocates say: NJ.com, March 10, 2012: Accessed September 7, 2017 It installed a solar panel system in 2013.Author Esther Surden: Wattlots Installation Projected to Save Berkeley Heights Hospital $1.7 million: NJ Tech Weekly, January 23, 2017: Accessed September 7, 2017
In May 2014, Union County approved the sale of the hospital for $26 million to a private management group. It had 300 beds for long-term care, and 44 beds for adult psychiatric care.Author Tom Haydon: Union County sells Runnells Hospital to private contractor for $26 million; NJ.com, May 23, 2014: Accessed September 7, 2017 Center Management Group of Flushing, New York took over the hospital on December 15, 2014. The county that had previously operated the hospital continued to operate a county psychiatric hospital attached to the Runnells building.Author Tom Haydon New Runnells Hospital owner hiring 'as fast as he can' after sudden staff shortage, state says; NJ.com on January 13, 2015: Accessed September 7, 2017 It was the hospital's first ownership change.Author Union County: County of Union Completes Sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital to Center Management; Leases Back Cornerstone Psychiatric Unit, December 15, 2014: Accessed September 7, 2017 209 of the 391 employees who worked at the hospital for the county were rehired by Center Management or transferred to other county jobs, while 63 employees retired.Author Tom Haydon: Union County sells Runnells Hospital for $26 million; day-long negotiation completes two-year effort: NJ.com, December 16, 2014: Accessed September 7, 2017
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