Riverdell Hospital

Riverdell Hospital was an 80-bed hospital located at 576 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, New Jersey. It was established in 1959 and operated successfully until it became associated with the infamous "Dr. X" murder trial involving former chief surgeon Dr. Mario Jascalevich. In an attempt to revive its declining fortunes, the hospital was renamed Northern Community Hospital in 1979. However, due to decreasing utilization, it closed its doors in 1981 and was eventually demolished in 1984.

Dr. Jascalevich joined the hospital as a surgeon in 1962 and gained recognition for developing a surgical stapler named after him. In 1966, a series of unexplained deaths occurred at the hospital, raising suspicions. Initial investigations by the Bergen County prosecutor's office did not find concrete evidence of criminal activity. The case remained dormant until 1976 when a series of articles by M. A. Farber in The New York Times revealed that there had been 13 suspicious deaths at the hospital, referring to Jascalevich as "Dr. X". The case went to trial, and Jascalevich was charged with three murders, although two counts were later dropped. After the longest criminal trial in New Jersey history at that time, Jascalevich was acquitted.

The hospital's reputation suffered greatly after being linked to the trial. Admissions declined significantly, and attracting qualified physicians became challenging. In 1979, the hospital changed its name to Northern Community Hospital, but by 1981, with only one-third of its beds occupied and substantial financial losses, the decision was made to close it. Attempts to repurpose the site as an alcohol rehabilitation center were unsuccessful, and the hospital became a target of vandalism. In June 1984, Riverdell Hospital was demolished.

The site where Riverdell Hospital once stood is now home to Care One's Oradell Health Care Center, a 164-bed nursing home.