Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus Hosts Community Celebration

More than 350 members of the community joined local officials, leaders and executives from Barnabas Health on June 23 to celebrate Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus’ regionalized, two-campus partnership with Monmouth Medical Center, a teaching hospital located in Long Branch.

Lakewood Township Mayor Menashe Miller and state Senator Robert Singer (R-30) presented Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus with proclamations recognizing the positive impact the merger will have on the region – including expanded outpatient services, renovations and upgrades to the Lakewood hospital, and enhanced emergency medicine services, including a Geriatric Emergency Medicine Unit.

“This merger is really a step to the future,” Senator Singer said. “Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus create a center of excellence right here in our community.”

The celebration honored Dr. Paul Kimball's pioneering vision and leadership in building Ocean County's first hospital, recognizing that the merger is a continuation of the hospital’s effort to build upon Dr. Kimball's legacy of improving the health of the community. The plaque will be built into the building’s Route 9 façade during an $11 million construction project that will result in private patient rooms for all overnight stays.

“Barnabas Health is continually identifying ways to provide the highest level of quality care to the communities it serves,” said Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and CEO, Barnabas Health. “By merging these two great hospitals, we are able to enhance access to Monmouth’s specialty services in northern Ocean County and also make Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus part of a great teaching hospital.”

The theme of the celebration was the hospitals’ willingness to adapt to the seismic shifts occurring within the industry as demand for outpatient medicine grows and the demand for inpatient medicine shrinks.

“This merger represents our effort to adjust to the rapid changes occurring within our industry,” said Michael Mimoso, FACHE, President and CEO, Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus. “I believe one day we will look back at this partnership as a vital moment in the history of this hospital and this community.”

“We believe Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus represents the future of health care,” said Frank J. Vozos, M.D., FACS, President and CEO, Monmouth Medical Center. “We will bring many of the great services that currently exist at Monmouth Medical Center and join them with the great services that have always existed at the former Kimball Medical Center and create a new model of health care.”

Since the hospitals’ first announced their intention to merge in January, Monmouth Medical Center has added the following services to the community:

• A Geriatric Emergency Medicine Unit at Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus;
• Monmouth Hematology Oncology Associates at 51 Kent Road in Howell;
• Adult and Pediatric Neurology at 51 Kent Road in Howell; and
• A High Risk Cancer Assessment Program and genetic counseling services at 51 Kent Road in Howell.

Hospital officials described the vision for the future of Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, noting that plans include the addition of:

• The New Jersey Bariatric and Metabolic Institute for comprehensive weight management services;
• Multispecialty surgical services;
• Outpatient cardiology;
• A pediatric subspecialist from The Unterberg Children’s Hospital;
• A comprehensive sleep program; and
• A Transient Ischemic Attack Program for outpatient treatment of mini strokes.

A single Board of Trustees will oversee both the Long Branch and Lakewood campuses. During the event, the outgoing Board of Trustees was joined by Monmouth Medical Center Board of Trustees’ Chairman Ronald Riccio and Vice Chairman Raymond Shea, Jr., and was recognized for its service to Lakewood.

“Everybody associated with Monmouth Medical Center wants both institutions to flourish and be first rate in every respect,” Riccio said.

About Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus
Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus is an acute-care community hospital located in Lakewood, Ocean County. A Barnabas Health facility, Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus merged with Monmouth Medical Center, a teaching hospital located in Long Branch, Monmouth County, in 2014. The hospitals are dedicated to improving the health and well being of the communities they proudly serve through expanded access to specialty outpatient services that focus on preventive medicine and healthy living. The partnership has also expanded patients’ access to geriatric and pediatric emergency services, as well as outpatient neurology, oncology and geriatric services. Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus is in the process of converting to all private rooms, which will make it the only provider in the region with all private rooms for overnight stays.

For more information about Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, visit www.barnabashealth.org.