Department of Human Services

Two of the six state psychiatric hospitals will get new chief executive officers next month, when Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital CEO Gregory Roberts will move on to Trenton Psychiatric Hospital and Janet Monroe, who began her career as a nurse at Greystone, will be promoted to the Greystone CEO position.

"It is critical for us to establish permanent leadership at these hospitals now, as we are still in the early stages of a long-term effort to remake the state's mental health system," said Commissioner Gwendolyn L. Harris. "Mr. Roberts has proven himself a capable leader, and Trenton seemed a natural fit for him. I am also excited to see Janet Monroe take on her first CEO position after working her way up through the ranks at Greystone."

The CEO changes, effective Monday, Sept. 15, come about as the DHS Division of Mental Health Services continues implementing Redirection II, a multi-year plan to greatly increase the number of community-based treatment programs and residences for people with mental illness. The goal is to help prevent unnecessary hospitalizations for people with mental illness and allow nearly 400 patients who are clinically ready to leave state hospitals to be discharged with the assurance that they will receive appropriate support services in the community.

Despite the state's fiscal crisis, the Fiscal Year 2004 budget includes a $10 million increase for Redirection II.

Redirection II also includes plans to construct a smaller, modern hospital on the grounds at Greystone, which serves New Jersey's six northernmost counties. Greystone, which opened in 1876, currently houses 550 patients in several buildings spread across a sprawling campus. The DHS is finalizing plans to replace Greystone with a 410-bed hospital complex.

Roberts took over as Greystone CEO in July 2000 amidst considerable turmoil, after a federal review cited serious deficiencies in the physical plant and the quality of patient care. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) cited treatment shortcomings and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had threatened to de-certify Greystone, which would have lifted the hospital's eligibility for Medicaid funding.

Since then, however, CMS has noted significant improvement and renewed the hospital's certification. Greystone also received full accreditation from the JCAHO and passing marks from the Doe v. Klein committee, a court-appointed panel that monitors conditions at the hospital.

"We are fortunate to have a qualified candidate ready to step in and continue our progress at Greystone," Commissioner Harris said. “Ms. Monroe has been an important part of the management team at Greystone and that will assure that we continue to move in the right direction.”

Monroe, who currently supervises the four complex administrators at Greystone, began working as a nurse at Greystone in 1978. She spent her entire state career there except for a brief stint in 1992 and 1993 as a program coordinator at Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital in Hunterdon County.

Monroe was a nurse at Greystone until 1985, when she began working her way up through various administrative positions. She was appointed to her current post in January 2001.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to become CEO at Greystone," said Monroe. “With the help of the excellent management team and dedicated employees at this hospital, I will continue with the good work we have started.”

Roberts said he looks forward to assuming the CEO post at Trenton, which is considerably closer to his home.

“The three years I have spent as CEO at Greystone have been the most challenging and rewarding of my career,” Roberts said. “I am proud of the major accomplishments made by the staff there and of the improvements in serving our patients. At the same time, I very much look forward to new challenges at Trenton and in working with the excellent staff I know are there.”

Before becoming CEO at Greystone, Roberts previously served as CEO at the now-closed Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital in Monmouth County and Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Camden County. He also served briefly as acting CEO at the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center in 1990.

William May, who has served as acting CEO since September 2001, will assume the Deputy CEO position at Trenton.

"Bill May and his management team performed well at Trenton, so Mr. Roberts will take over the hospital under considerably better conditions than when he arrived at Greystone," said Commissioner Harris.

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