The N.J. Department of Health approved Monmouth Medical Center’s Certificate of Need application Thursday, clearing the way for RWJBarnabas Health to build its planned Vogel Medical Campus in Tinton Falls, just miles away from the current location of the hospital.
The move will not happen quickly; it is expected to take six years. And it did not happen without opposition – some in the community felt residents in Long Branch, where the current hospital has been for more than 100 years, will be hurt.
In the end, the state – following a unanimous recommendation from the state health planning board – backed the decision to create a state-of-the-art medical campus.
To be clear, RWJBarnabas Health is not leaving Long Branch. It had previously announced plans to upgrade its emergency department and mental health facilities and capabilities – stressing those were two areas of great use for area residents.
Monmouth Medical Center CEO Eric Carney obviously was thrilled the approval process is complete, touting the benefits of the plan.
“This is a major step forward for transforming health care for our patients and the communities we serve,” he said. “After years of careful planning, rigorous analysis, and extensive community input, this decision clears the way for a new, state-of-the-art, acute-care hospital in Tinton Falls and much-needed improvements to our existing site in Long Branch.
“These investments will bring the latest advanced technology and treatments, modern facilities, and world-class academic medicine closer to home for more patients.”
While the planning and approval processes are over, Carney noted the next phases will take time. He offered a timeline.
“We expect to move into the design phase in the coming months with the goal of completing construction and opening the new hospital in 2032,” he said. “During this period, we will continue to make significant investments to modernize facilities and maintain essential health services at our Long Branch campus.
“We look forward to continuing to work with state and local officials and keeping our patients and communities informed at every stage of the project.”
It was quite a week for RWJBarnabas Health, one of the state’s two major health systems.
On Monday, it announced a definitive agreement to bring the highly regarded Englewood Health into its system.
