Proposed Westwood Hospital Already has CEO

Although the application of the certificate of need for a new hospital in Westwood was just , LHP Hospital Group, Inc. (LHP) and Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) have already named a chief executive officer for the facility.

Richard S. Freeman will serve as the CEO of Hackensack University Medical Center at Pascack Valley (HUMC-PV) if the hospital is approved by the state Department of Health and Senior Services. He was previously the COO of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, the CEO of Medical College of Pennsylvania and CEO of Delray Community Hospital, among other positions.

Freeman said he was honored to be named CEO for HUMC-PV. "Hackensack University Medical Center is one of the most outstanding systems in our nation based on any quality measure," he said. "The people of Westwood and the
surrounding communities deserve to have their local hospital reopened."

LHP CEO Dan Moen called Freeman an experienced hospital administrator and said he believed he would do well at HUMC-PV.

"I am thrilled to have Rich Freeman come aboard as we work to restore the much needed hospital services to Pascack Valley and Northern Valley," said HUMC President and CEO Robert Garrett. "His proven leadership experience will help us to bring high quality care to Westwood, while maintaining the close-knit community once familiar at Pascack Valley Hospital."