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DEPARTMENT
PHILIP D. MURPHY

Governor

OF HEALTH

PO BOX 358
TRENTON, N.J. 08625-0358

www.oj.gov/health
JUDITH M. PERSICHILLI, RN, BSN, MA

SHEILA Y. OLIVER

Commissioner

Lt. Governor

INRE:
ST. JOSEPH'S SENIORS' HOME NURSING
CENTER & ASSISTED LIVING

TO:

EMERGENCY ORDER CLOSURE OF FACILITY AND
DISCHARGE OF RESIDENTS
TO CAREONE HANOVER

Administrator
St. Joseph's Seniors' Home Nursing Center & Assisted Living

Pursuant to Executive Order 103, Governor Philip D. Murphy declared the existence of a Public
Health Emergency, pursuant to the Emergency Health Powers Act, N.1.S.A. 26:13-1 et seq., and a
State of Emergency, pursuant to the Disaster Control Act, in the State of New Jersey for COVID19, which is a novel coronavirus first identified in China, spread to multiple other countries,
including the United States, and has been identified in New Jersey. Under the declared health
emergency, the Department is empowered, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:13-8(a), "[to] close, direct and
compel the evacuation of, or to decontaminate or cause to be decontaminated, any facility of which
there is reasonable cause to believe that it may endanger the public health."
Pursuant to Executive Order 103, the spread of COVID-19 within New Jersey Constitutes an
imminent public health hazard that threatens and presently endangers the health, safety, and
welfare of the residents of one or more municipalities or counties of the State.
Pursuant to Executive Order 103, it shall be the duty of every person or entity in this State or doing
business in this State to cooperate fully with the State Director of Emergency Management and
the Commissioner of the Department of Health in all matters concerning this state of emergency.

EMERGENCY ORDER - CLOSURE OF FACILITY AND DISCHARGE OF RESIDENTS
TO CAREONE HANOVER
Pursuant to the above-referenced authority, the Department hereby issues the following
Emergency Closure and Discharge Order to St. Joseph's Seniors' Home Nursing Center &
Assisted Living (collectively "the facility"), which is effective immediately:

 •

You are ordered to immediately begin discharging all residents into the care of Care One
Hanover, except those residents whose responsible parties/Powers of Attorneys choose to
take them home. This exception also extends to any Sisters who will be transferred to the
Convent.

•

You are ordered to cooperate completely with CareOne Hanover administration.

•

You are ordered to notify each residents' contacts on file, including family, guardians and
powers of attorney, regarding the transfer.

•

You are ordered to send the following with each resident:
Medical records;
o List of physicians;
o Medications;
o Contact information for family, Guardians and Powers of Attorneys;
o Copies of Powers of Attorney and Guardianship documents;
o Documentation regarding any special dietary needs.
o

•

The facility shall notify each resident's physician and Managed Care Organization
(M. C.0.) or other insurer about the transfer.

•

Upon the discharge of your last resident, your long term care facility shall close and you
shall not accept any new or returning residents during this period of closure.

•

This Emergency Order shall remain in effect until the Department lifts the Order.

The basis upon which the order is justified is the significant spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey,
the high number of COVID-19 cases at the facility and inadequate staffing at the facility to care
for its residents.

RIGHT TO HEARING:
Pursuant to NJ.S.A. 26: 13-8(a)(2), the facility has the right to request a hearing regarding this
Order before the New Jersey Superior Court.

OTHER REMEDIES:
Failure to comply with this Emergency Order may result in the imposition of penalties and/or other
applicable remedies.

 Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your anticipated cooperation. If you
have any questions, please contact the NJ Coronavirus and Poison Center Hotline at 1-800-2221222.

Gene Rosenblum, Director
Office of Program Compliance
Division of Certificate of Need and
Licensing
GR:LK:jac
DATE: March 24, 2020
REGULAR AND CERTIFIED MAIL,
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, AND
E-MAIL
Control # X20028