Robert Wood Johnson and Barnabas Health merger creates largest NJ hosp chain

Barnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson Health System have completed their merger.

The merger creates the largest hospital chain in the state, stretching from Essex County to the Jersey Shore.

The new nonprofit entity is known as RWJBarnabas Health. It includes 11 acute care hospitals stretching from Toms River to Somerville.

The hospital has 32,000 employees, along with 9,000 doctors and 1,000 interns — making it the state's second largest private employer.

Barry Ostrowsky, who was president and chief executive of Barnabas Health, is now in the same position with the merged hospital. Former Robert Wood Johnson president and CEO Stephen Jones is the chief academic officer in the president's office.

The health systems contributed a combined total of over $550 million in community benefit services annually, the company said, supporting charity care, food pantries, community gardens, patient education, and programs with schools and religious groups.