Monmouth Medical Center's New and Improved Emergency Room Unveiled

It was an emotional but proud day for Morgan E. Cline as he helped unveil the new and improved emergency room of Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch during a ceremony Monday afternoon.

Emotional, because he was standing near the hospital bed where his partner Benjamin R. D'Onofrio lost his long battle with lung cancer in 2009.

Proud, because he was able to make a donation which helped the hospital make a $500,000 refurbishment to that area of the hospital, and have it named in D'Onofrio's honor.

That area of the hospital, commonly referred to as its "nerve center," will forever be known as Ben's Place 24/7.

"I'm proud to dedicate this area, where Ben spent his last moments," Cline said. "I'm proud to dedicate Ben's Place 24/7.

The new donation also has allowed the hospital to create a separate observation/chest pain and stroke clinical decision-making unit for rapid assessment.

The refurbishment also includes new floor and ceiling tiles and a new ambulance entrance. The improvements also include a new nursing station, cabinetry and counters in all treatment areas, as well as upgraded lighting and new flat screen televisions. 

The existing cubicle curtain track system also will be replaced with the On The Right Track cubicle curtain system. The new system operates without any hooks, chains or carriers, and its split-ring design allow the curtains to quietly slide silently along the rail and allows doctors or nurses to easily access the patient.

Dr. Catherine Hanlon, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Monmouth Medical Center, spoke and thanked Cline for helping make the renovation possible.

"It's up to us to use this gift wisely," Hanlon said. "We will do our best to live up to the opportunity you've given us."

A portrait of D'Onofrio was unveiled, along with a plaque which commemorated his life and all he has done for the hospital.

This is not the first time Cline and D’Onofrio have made a generous donation to the hospital. In 2007, they made a $3 million donation to benefit the emergency department, which was named the Cline-D'Onofrio Emergency Services Pavilion of Monmouth Medical Center. 

After the plaque and portrait were unveiled, several hospital officials and doctors gathered to cut the ribbon which officially opened Ben's Place 24/7.

Cline finished his speech with a quote from William Shakespeare's famous play "Hamlet" that he said best personifies D'Onofrio.

"He was a man, take him for all in all," Cline said.