Quest Diagnostics agrees to manage laboratory operations for Barnabas Health hospitals

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, and Barnabas Health, New Jersey's largest not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system, are teaming up to enhance quality and value of diagnostic services to patients and their doctors through an agreement for Quest to manage laboratory operations for Barnabas Health hospitals.

Under the agreement, Quest Diagnostics will manage Barnabas Health laboratory operations for: Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville; Community Medical Center, Toms River; Jersey City Medical Center, Jersey City; Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, Lakewood; Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch; Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark; and Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston.

"Leading hospitals are increasingly focusing on their core business and turning to Quest to help them evaluate and execute their lab strategy so they can do what they do best - deliver great patient care," said Steve Rusckowski, President and CEO, Quest Diagnostics. "This partnership follows a model for delivering high-value diagnostic information services for our nation's cost-pressured health systems."

"As Barnabas Health transforms into an organization that focuses on the health of populations of people, we are continually looking for partners that enable us to find creative solutions to deliver high-quality, cost-effective services," said Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and Chief Executive Officer for Barnabas Health. "Our agreement with Quest enables us to offer patients a standardized level of care throughout our laboratories at all seven Barnabas Health hospitals."

Through this partnership, patients and consumers will have expanded information connectivity options, reduced laboratory testing costs and access to Quest's IntelliTest Analytics solution, which provides timely access to utilization insights.

Clinical testing volumes are expected to be fully transitioned by mid-year of 2016.