Hunterdon Medical Center unveils Emergency Department expansion

RARITAN TOWNSHIP - Hunterdon Healthcare celebrated the expansion of a third of the Emergency Department at Hunterdon Medical Center.

The eight new rooms will bring the total number of rooms to 32.

In 2022, the Emergency Department saw more than 30,000 patients, an average of 90 patients a day.

The expansion added 2,900 square feet to the unit and includes eight flexible-use rooms that can be used for both low acuity or behavioral health patients.

When a room is needed for a behavioral health patient, an automatic wall can be activated to safely store away equipment.

“By designing new rooms that can be used for psychiatric patients, we will be able to decrease wait times and improve the patient experience in the Emergency Department for everyone — especially our patients experiencing a mental health crisis,” said Dr. Edward Spector, medical director of the Hunterdon Medical Center’s Emergency Department.

The expansion also includes two large nurses’ stations and a private workspace for Hunterdon Behavioral Health’s Crisis staff.

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The $3 million was entirely funded by philanthropic support and the state of New Jersey. State Sen. Andrew Zwicker and Assemblyman Roy Freiman, both D-16th District, were instrumental in securing the state funding.

“This community deserves an emergency department that can provide great care to its patients and this addition will do just that,” Zwicker said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"Emergency rooms across the country have been seeing increased numbers of patients suffering with mental health," Freiman said. "It’s great to know that we have a facility that can care for them with dignity and compassion in our very own community.”

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“Hunterdon Health has been an important part of Hunterdon County since my grandfather was involved in its founding in 1946," Hunterdon County Commissioner Jeff Kuhl said. "The growth in quality of care over the years is something that every Hunterdon County resident can be proud of. It was an honor to be a part of the ribbon cutting ceremony.”

The lead donor was ShopRite of Hunterdon County operated by the Colalillo family.

The center will be officially open for patients in April.

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Hunterdon Medical Center unveils Emergency Department expansion