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Hackensack Meridian Health announced Friday that John K. Lloyd, the affable medical executive who took over the failing Neptune Hospital and built the state’s largest health care system, has died. The cause of death has not been disclosed. He was 77 years old.
Lloyd built a reputation for his collegial and humble management style, which appealed to the public. He often introduced himself by his first and last name, even when everyone knew him.
“John is not only a visionary leader, he is a wonderful person and someone who truly cares about each and every team member at HMH,” said Robert C. Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. He was well known for that.”
Lloyd was a well-known figure on the Jersey Shore. He lived in Avon with his wife Maureen. He also served on the boards of Lakewood’s Georgian Court University and Tom’s River’s Ocean First Financial Corporation.
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For 35 years, he oversaw Meridian Health, which included five hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Ocean University Medical Center in Brick, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Stafford.
His goal was to create a health care system that could care for patients at every stage of their lives.
Career advice from my father-in-law
Lloyd found his career by chance. His father was a lieutenant colonel in the Army and died when Lloyd was 17 years old. But he followed in his father’s footsteps and attended Princeton University, where he studied religion before joining the Marines.
He was sent to Vietnam but saw no combat. When he returned, his father-in-law, Robison Hurley, a physician, thought his personality suited him for health care.
Lloyd returned to school. He attended Temple University in Philadelphia and earned a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in hospital administration.
He took a job at Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia, rose through the ranks, and was hired in 1982 for the top job at what was then Jersey Shore Medical Center Fitkin Hospital, with a mandate to turn the failing hospital around. I did.
By the time he arrived, the medical staff had filed a no-confidence motion against the leadership, the state had fined the hospital for inadequate staffing, and Lloyd was anxious to make matters worse. He joked that he accepted the job because he knew he couldn’t do it.
He began a rebuilding plan. “I had to earn the trust of the doctors, and we started working together,” Lloyd told the Asbury Park Press in 2015. “It took literally five years of us improving our operations, improving quality, finding better leaders and recruiting physicians before we finally started to take off.”
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Among the doctors he hired was Michael Lopinuso, an orthopedic spine surgeon who had immigrated from New York City.
“John used to say, ‘There’s always change, we adapt,’ and he meant it,” Los Pinuso said in 2015. “John never said the words and thought behind it. “I never talk about my plans without knowing the mission and beliefs behind them.” That’s his leadership style. ”
growing
Under Lloyd, Meridian Health continued to grow to include eight hospitals in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. And the hospital rolled out expansion projects including Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s $265 million HOPE Tower, which includes the John K. Lloyd Amphitheater.
Meridian Health ceased operations in 2016 and merged with Hackensack University Medical Center to form Hackensack Meridian Health. The Edison-based company has 18 hospitals, 35,000 employees and 7,000 physicians.
Mr. Lloyd served as co-chief executive officer with Mr. Garrett for two years until his retirement in 2018. In recent years, Lloyd’s vision of a single system capable of providing a continuum of care has become clouded. Hackensack Meridian sold most of its nursing homes to nursing homes. And consumer healthcare costs continue to rise.
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However, when Lloyd did his farewell tour, it was clear that he did not want to retire. Lloyd visited Jersey Shore University Medical Center during the 2018 holiday season, shaking hands with longtime employees, introducing herself to those she had never met and sharing memories.
“It’s an innate skill,” Dr. Kenneth Sable, currently president of Hackensack Meridian’s southern region, said at the time. “There are people who are better at it, but what John has, you can’t teach that. You can’t teach that he knows everyone’s name. He’s always smiling and happy to meet people.” I can’t teach you to be. You can’t do that.” I can’t teach you that. ”
Michael L. Diamond is a business reporter who has written about New Jersey’s economy and health care industry for more than 20 years. Contact him at mdiamond@gannettnj.com.
