A Healthy Marriage: Cape Regional Joins Forces with Cooper University Health Care
Cape May County has just received a medical-advancement injection: Cooper has come here.
As of July 1, Cape Regional Health System joined Cooper University Health Care, enlarging the footprint of high-level medical services here. The facility in Cape May Court House is now called Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional.
According to company officials, the combined health system has:
Two hospitals with more than 900 licensed beds.
Revenue exceeding $2.2 billion annually.
Nearly 11,000 combined team members.
More than 1,000 employed physicians in three physician groups.
More than 550 advanced practice providers.
130-plus ambulatory locations across eight counties.
Six urgent care centers.
In addition to inpatient services at the 213-bed Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional in Cape May Court House, Cooper’s extensive academic health system now has 30 primary care, specialty care, wound care, and urgent care offices in these shore communities: Cape May Court House, Marmora, North Cape May, Rio Grande, Seaville, and Wildwood.
Residents and visitors to Cape May County thus have greater access to Cooper’s specialists, unique programs and services, advanced technologies, innovative treatments, and outstanding cancer care at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.
Company officials say Cooper has experts in 75 specialties and at more than 130 locations throughout South Jersey.
Cooper University Hospital has been recognized as a top-performing regional hospital by U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best Hospitals annual survey.
With the situation evolving, Cooper has compiled a recent list of frequently asked questions:
What does Cape Regional joining Cooper University Health Care mean for me?
As a resident of Cape May or Atlantic counties, it means you will have greater access to specialty care from the leading academic health system in South Jersey, Cooper University Health Care (Cooper).
I am a patient of Cape Regional, will my current care or health care services be affected?
No. You will continue to see your current physicians and providers in the same locations with the same telephone numbers and patient portal. You will begin to see new signs at offices and receive correspondence from Cooper. You will also have access to Cooper specialists and locations. If there are any changes to any of your services in the future, you will be notified.
After July 1, 2024, will my health insurance still be accepted now that Cape Regional is part of Cooper?
Yes.
Will there be an increase in costs now that Cape Regional is part of Cooper?
No.
Is Cape Regional Physicians Associates also joining Cooper?
Yes. Cape Regional Physicians Associates is also now part of Cooper University Health Care. The physicians’ group will, however, retain its name for a period. You will begin to see Cooper referenced on correspondence, bills, and signs at Cape Regional Physicians Associates offices. The same will be true for Cape Regional Physical Therapy.
What Medical Lineup Expansion Means
For second homeowners, especially those from western New Jersey and the Philadelphia area, it’s a form of double coverage. The Cooper network has extended from its Camden base to the shore. Going on vacation at the Jersey Shore does not disrupt their connection to the Cooper medical family.
For area residents, it’s a substantial breakthrough. There are extensive new resources, linking their needs to the renown Cooper name.
The merger combined two strong entities.
Cooper University Health Care, with its MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper and affiliation with Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, is a leading academic health system. Cooper has more than 10,000 team members, including nearly 1,600 nurses, more than 950 employed physicians, and more than 550 advanced practice providers.
Cape Regional Health System is an integrated health care delivery system serving residents and visitors throughout Cape May County. The system includes Cape Regional Medical Center, three urgent care facilities, Cape Regional Physicians Associates with more than 60 primary care providers and specialists, the Thomas and Claire Brodesser, Jr. Cancer Center, the Claire C. Brodesser Surgery Center, the Jane Osborne Center, Cape Regional Home Health Care managed by BAYADA, Cape Regional Miracles Fitness, and various freestanding outpatient facilities offering wound care, radiology, lab, and physical therapy services.
Cape Regional is accredited by and has received the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission.
Here is how some of the major executives view this partnership:
Joanne Carrocino, CEO, Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional: “The future of health care is very bright for the residents and visitors of Cape May County as a result of this merger. The Cape Regional team is excited to begin working with our new colleagues at Cooper.
“We are thrilled to have this final approval and look forward to joining Cooper University Health Care. Our respective health systems have a long history of working together to serve the residents and visitors of Cape May County.”
Kevin O’Dowd, JD, co-CEO of Cooper University Health Care: “Today is a day of great promise, as two teams have become one team dedicated to serving communities across South Jersey. We look forward to the future and the work we will do with our new team members and with residents and visitors to the shore region.
“The approval marks a moment of great promise, as two anchor institutions in the southern New Jersey region are now cleared to join forces to better serve communities across South Jersey. “We look forward to working with our soon-to-be new colleagues to build upon their tremendous tradition of service to the residents and visitors of Cape May County.”
George E. Norcross III, chairman of Cooper University Health Care’s board of trustees: “This historic agreement will provide the residents and visitors of Cape May and Atlantic Counties with greater access to more health care resources, innovative technologies, and specialists. As the leading academic health system in the region, we committed to working with our new colleagues to provide the highest level of advanced health care and serve the health care needs of more communities across southern New Jersey.”
