Fresh on the heels of Monday’s announcement that Salem Medical Center will join the Inspira Health Network, we now know the hospital’s new name will be Inspira Medical Center – Salem.
“Joining forces with Inspira will mean so much to our hospital — to our physicians, to our staff, to our community,” said CEO Tammy Torres. “Our partnership will allow us to continue to serve the community by providing the latest in medical and communication innovation. This is an important — and exciting — moment for our hospital and for Salem County.”
The SMC board of trustees voted unanimously to become part of Inspira.
“This is a historic moment,” SMC Chairman William Colgan said. “Our
decision to become part of Inspira and its growing health network in South Jersey will ensure high-quality health care for Salem for many years to come.”
Salem County will benefit in many ways from joining a larger health care system, but
sustainability is benefit No. 1.
With more than 100 years of service to the Salem County area, Salem Medical Center has been and continues to be a major resource for health expertise in this region, and for some residents unable to travel out of the county, it remains the only resource.
In February 2019, SMC transitioned to new ownership and returned to not-for-profit status. It is guided by a volunteer board, comprised of many local members.
SMC said joining a larger health care organization will enable it to expand its services to include women’s services; expanded primary care practices and physician specialists; comprehensive oncology, such as radiation treatments, and cardiology services, such as catheterization and other heart-related procedures and surgeries; urgent care; and access to affiliations with larger university hospitals.
An added benefit to help offset the COVID-19 pandemic would be access to additional intensive care beds, additional staff and other resources to lessen the already overburdened resources of local health care providers.
