Acquisition of the 140-bed southern New Jersey community hospital depended on approvals by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and by the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Health under the Community Health Care Assets Protection Act. During the application and approval process, the hospital received a negative result on its biannual health services survey and was ordered to curtail elective surgery and admissions through its emergency department. Working through the night, hospital staff formulated a plan to address perceived shortcomings, and met with our Health Law Chair at 7:00 a.m.to finalize the plan and its implementation for a subsequent meeting that same morning with the DHSS commissioner. The parties agreed to conduct another survey that afternoon, and by 6:30 p.m.that evening, the admissions ban was lifted. The State Health Planning Board unanimously recommended approval of the ownership transfer to the DHSS. Approval was received under the Community Health Care Assets Protection Act and the hospital continues to undergo normal health care reviews by accrediting bodies that include the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.