Do you put off going to the doctor, even if you’ve been sick for days? Do you procrastinate annual screenings and bloodwork for years? Is avoidance your approach to healthcare? If so, you’re not alone.
Over 90% of adults in the U.S. said they delayed or skipped annual screenings, according to the 2025 Aflac Wellness Survey, which shows this is a growing trend, up from 85% in 2023. Further, 94% of respondents said they face barriers to getting checkups, the most common being logistical issues such as time, work, and scheduling.
HMH: Tackling Patients’ Logistical Issues
Hackensack Meridian Health is removing logistics from the healthcare equation for some commuters at Metropark Station, NJ Transit’s second busiest train station. Hackensack Meridian’s Health & Wellness Center at Metropark is the country’s first comprehensive medical facility at a major transit hub.
The $200 million wellness center aims to make it easier for busy people to prioritize their health. Offering extended hours and flexibility, commuters can see a doctor before or after work, according to the HMH statement.
The brand-new health office serves commuters and is also open to people who live or work in the area, or anyone who finds themselves near Metropark and in need of a doctor.
Roughly 60,000 commuters rush through Metropark Station each month. The new health center will now give them access to services such as advanced imaging, urgent care plus, primary care, surgical specialties, medical specialties, retail pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, rehabilitation, and phlebotomy, HMH said.
Big Picture, Long Range Plan
The development celebrated its grand opening last week and is part of the 12-acre Metropark Development Project, a broader non-fare revenue NJ Transit plan, and part of HMH’s $3 billion investment to expand access to healthcare.
“By locating this center steps from a major transit hub and incorporating new housing, we are advancing transit-oriented development that makes it easier for residents to live, work, and access care without relying on a car, strengthening the connection between healthy communities and sustainable infrastructure,” New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a statement.
In 2024 the project was awarded $113.7 million in state tax credits by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
The Center is part of the Metropark complex being developed by DOR, a partnership of the Dinallo family, Onyx Equities, and Russo Development, to add housing and retailers to the Woodbridge community.
The station is also home to the Vermella Metropark apartment complex, managed by Russo Development. Russo and Onyx are partners who own both Vermella Metropark and Vermella Woodbridge.
Hackensack Meridian Health Headquarters
Hackensack Meridian Health is moving its headquarters from Edison, New Jersey, to the upper floors of the roughly 60,000-square-foot Iselin building, allowing the chain to bring all its corporate employees previously spread across several buildings under one roof.
Hackensack Meridian expects that by moving its headquarters directly to the Amtrak station, it will have an easier time recruiting top talent from across the entire Northeast Corridor, with employees easily able to commute from major cities like New York and Philadelphia.
More From The Survey
About 4 in 10 Americans are primarily using the ER/urgent care for their health needs, but Gen Z (51%) and millennials (54%) skew significantly higher, per the survey.
🧑🏼⚕️Gen Z is more likely than other generations to avoid doctors because of distrust/embarrassment and to believe they don’t need regular checkups because they feel healthy, according to the survey.
🩻Those demographics also cited insurance concerns as a major reason for delaying checkups and screenings.
🩺Baby boomers remain the most likely to say nothing gets in the way of their regular checkups.
