The major grocery supermarket chain was going to introduce its medical clinic at its Weehawken store and then feature other medical clinics at 13 other Pathmark locations around the state.
There was only one problem. No one from Pathmark contacted Weehawken officials to see if the clinic idea was indeed feasible and practical.
In fact, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner didn't know about Pathmark's plan until he read the article in the Weehawken Reporter.
"I didn't know a thing," Turner said. "Pathmark didn't think it through. In order to do something like this, they need to get the proper codes and approvals. Every time you open a new facility like this, you need to apply for a change of use variance. You apply to the Board of Adjustment and then you need to come back to get approval. You have to meet all the codes and standards. That was not done. There are very strict health codes that need to be followed. Pathmark completely forgot the process.
Added Turner, "They need to submit a plan, because this is a major expansion of use. We have to make sure that everything is done the right way."
Clinic opening delayed
Pathmark had hoped to have the first of their convenient medical care clinics open and operational by the end of March. According to Pathmark's director of public affairs Rich Savner, the projected opening date will now not take place.
"Pathmark has always been very cooperative with the township of Weehawken in everything we do," Savner said. "We never intended to circumvent the approval. Whatever licenses or approvals are necessary, we intend on coming before the township in order to obtain them. If there was a misunderstanding, we apologize for the miscommunication. Our doctors will go before the appropriate authorities. Saying that we were going to open in March was very premature on our part."
Savner said that the plans have to be revised and submitted in the near future.
"We want to be a good neighbor with Weehawken," Savner said. "We've been there since 1982 and hope to be there for a long time. We didn't intend to circumvent the process. Now that we know, we're going to do it the right way."
The initial plans were to have MiniMedCare of Chester, N.J. to open the medical clinic inside the Weehawken Pathmark, which would have medical practitioners and physician assistants on hand seven days a week, offering medical care for those who might not have sufficient medical insurance or did not want to attend a hospital emergency room.
Other MiniMedCare clinics have been designed to treat patients for common ailments and do not require an appointment. During patient visits, a brief medical history would have been entered, as well as the recommended treatment and prescriptions. Should a patient's symptoms suggest a more serious condition or illness, he or she will be referred to their primary physician.
But now, it's all in a holding pattern until the approvals can be met.
"There could be some concerns from the Department of Health, regarding mixing patients with regular shoppers," Turner said. "Whether this clinic will be separated from the supermarket. We also can't allow this clinic to subtract from our local ambulance service. Pathmark apologized for jumping the gun. It's going back to the drawing board, but it's not opening in March. They have to go through the process."
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at either OGSMAR@aol.com or jhague@hudsonreporter.com
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