Pictured left to right: Seth D. Rosenbaum, MD, MMM, SVP & Chief Medical Officer, RWJUH Hamilton; William F. DiStanislao, VP, Operations, RWJUH Hamilton; John Doll, Chief Operating Officer of RWJBarnabas Health; Marie DiDario, DO, member of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group; Brionya Paylor, CCMA, Woods Primary and Behavioral Health Center at Hamilton; Frank Ghinassi, PhD, ABPP, Senior Vice President, Behavioral Health Services at RWJBarnabas Health and President and Chief Executive Officer, Rutgers Health University Behavioral Health Care; Stephen J. Kolesk, MD, Chief of Family Practice, Woods Primary and Behavioral health Center at Hamilton; Ethan Diamond, Practice Manager, Woods Primary and Behavioral Health Center at Hamilton; Tine Hansen-Turton, President and CEO of Woods System of Care; Deanna Sperling, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center; Dawn Hutchinson, Chief Nursing Officer, RWJUH Hamilton; and Lisa Breza, Chief Administrative Officer, RWJUH Hamilton
Hamilton, N.J. — A groundbreaking healthcare initiative has opened in New Jersey, marking a major step forward in care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and autism. The Woods Primary and Behavioral Health Center at Hamilton—developed through a partnership between RWJBarnabas Health and Woods System of Care —will be the first integrated clinic of its kind in the state, designed to close longstanding gaps in healthcare access for this underserved population.
RWJBarnabas Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, and Woods System of Care, the largest provider of services for individuals with I/DD have joined forces to bring a new model of compassionate, specialized care to Mercer County.
“This population has had a very challenging time seeking services in traditional settings not designed with their needs in mind, and that unmet need is now beginning to be addressed here,” said Frank A. Ghinassi, senior vice president of Behavioral Health Services at RWJBarnabas Health and president and chief executive of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. “This project shows what can happen when organizations come together with a shared purpose to remove barriers and innovate, blending physical and behavioral health care while creating an opportunity to advance the research mission at Rutgers— a tremendous example of how RWJBarnabas Health partners with community-based programs to better serve all patients.”
“We could not do what we do in the community without a hospital partner,” says Tine Hansen-Turton, President and CEO of Woods System of Care. “Being able to partner with RWJBarnabas Health System enables us to provide the full care continuum from primary and behavioral health all the way into allied health, hospitalization, and specialists.”
“By drawing off Woods System of Care’s long, meaningful history and experience, this model also aligns perfectly with RWJUH Hamilton’s nursing care model of patient-centered care,” adds Lisa Breza, Chief Administrative Officer, RWJUH Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility.
The center is based on the nationally recognized Medical Center at Woods in Pennsylvania, the first integrated primary and behavioral health facility for people with I/DD in the country. That Pennsylvania model has demonstrated exceptional impact, including a more than 20% reduction in emergency room visits and nearly a 40% decrease in hospitalizations, while improving overall health outcomes and generating significant Medicaid and Medicare savings.
The Woods Primary and Behavioral Health Center at Hamilton will offer an array of coordinated services tailored to the needs of people with I/DD and autism, including:
- Annual physicals and wellness visits
- Immunizations and preventative screenings
- Chronic disease management
- Behavioral health and psychiatric evaluations
- Therapy and medication management
- Care related to COVID-19
- Seamless access to specialists within the RWJBarnabas Hamilton Hospital network
A central focus of the new clinic is supporting youth with I/DD and autism as they transition from pediatric to adult healthcare. Partnerships with developmental pediatric specialists will help ensure continuous access to primary and behavioral health services throughout adulthood.
“Moving people from the margins of treatment and society into the forefront and the mainstream is something that has been a long time coming,” notes Mark Williams, Chair of the Woods System of Care Board of Trustees.
Beyond improving individual outcomes, the long-term goal of the center is to reduce pressure on local emergency departments, which are often unprepared to meet the complex medical or behavioral needs of people with I/DD. By expanding access to coordinated, specialty-informed care, the center aims to provide patients with the right care in the right setting—preventing crises before they occur.
The Woods Primary and Behavioral Health Center at Hamilton is now open. To schedule a tour or learn more, call (888) 628-9661.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 45,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year.
About Woods System of Care
Woods System of Care, a large population health management organization with 21 affiliates, provides lifelong care and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, behavioral health challenges, and complex medical needs. The system offers comprehensive and integrated health, education, housing, workforce development, behavioral health, and case management services. For more information, visit www.Woods.org.
Contact:
Carrie Cristello
908-347-3157
carrie.cristello@rwjbh.org
Carrie Adkins-Ali
215-750-4216
carrie.adkins-ali@woods.org