Achieving more for Zufall Patients with RWJBarnabas Health
Longstanding Essex County partnership grows in 2025
Through a partnership that combines the accessibility of a community health center with the resources of an academic health system, Zufall Health and RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH) are changing how people and families in Essex County access the care they need.
A key part of this collaboration is a comprehensive maternity program that has welcomed hundreds of babies since its inception in 2016. Patients receive high-quality prenatal and postpartum care at Zufall Health – West Orange, with deliveries taking place at RWJBarnabas Health’s Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville. The program care team includes an obstetrician-gynecologist and a certified nurse midwife who work at both Clara Maass and Zufall, ensuring continuous care and seamless support for new mothers.
“Pregnancy is an exciting time, but many expectant mothers worry about accessing and affording proper care,” says Zufall Health Chief Medical Officer Rina Ramirez, MD. “Through our partnership with RWJBarnabas Health, we remove these concerns so families can focus on the joy of the arrival of a new baby.”
Ramirez and her team take pride in the program’s positive outcomes. In 2024, 99% of babies were born full-term and 98% had normal birthweight—both significantly higher than state averages and federal benchmarks. Patients also maintained near-perfect compliance with postpartum follow-up care last year.
RWJBH Community Health Worker Ryan Yacovino (right) reviews a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application with a patient.
In early 2025, Zufall Health and RWJBH expanded their partnership to include additional supportive services. A RWJBH Community Health Worker (CHW) is now available in West Orange to help with insurance enrollment, referrals to specialists, food insecurity, housing instability, and utility payment challenges. The CHW also coordinates patients’ use of Uber Health, a no-cost transportation service that helps patients access care at Zufall and other providers.
“The expansion aligns with Zufall’s mission to care for the whole person,” Ramirez adds. “Supporting our patients extends beyond the exam room to include all of the experiences that impact their health.”
“Partnerships like the one RWJBarnabas Health shares with Zufall Health are essential to our mission of building and sustaining a healthier New Jersey,” said Balpreet Grewal-Virk, Senior Vice President, Community Health, RWJBarnabas Health. “Together, we are breaking down barriers to care and creating healthier futures for families in Essex County.”
Above: A patient is grateful to receive excellent care from Obstetrician-Gynecologist Mary Chu, MD, during a prenatal visit at Zufall Health – West Orange. Initial funding for this program generously comes from the Healthcare Foundation of NJ.