$1M Awarded To Morristown Medical Center For Renovation, Expansion

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced that 14 community projects she submitted to the House Appropriations Committee are moving forward for funding in this year's budget.

One of the 14 projects, the Morristown Medical Center Emergency Department Renovation and Expansion Project, is receiving $1,000,000.

The project is sponsored by Atlantic Health System.

"The projects include infrastructure investments to improve water quality and mitigate flood risks, healthcare facility upgrades, programs to address the affordability of housing and college tuition, public health support, and funding for law enforcement," Sherrill said.

The awarded funds will be used to replace existing patient monitors, expand monitoring capability in Red Zone hallways, build additional negative pressure rooms to control airborne pathogens and modernize the triage space.

According to Morristown Medical Center, the emergency department has not undergone a major renovation since a former project began in 2011, and advances in technology and basic upgrades are required for equipment and infrastructure that has already outlived its useful life.

"The emergency department at Morristown Medical Center is a vital lifeline to millions of patients and families throughout the region. Morristown Medical Center had over 101,000 emergency department visits in 2019, and over 93,350 visits in 2021, providing lifesaving care to families in NJ-11 and across northern New Jersey," Sherrill said.

The project sites, according to Sherrill, are within walking distance of necessary community resources such as educational facilities, recreation areas, public transportation, grocery stores, and the commercial district.

"All of these local projects address pressing needs raised by communities without burdening local taxpayers. I am ready to do all I can to secure this funding as this bill moves through the House and Senate,” Sherrill said.

The Morristown Medical Center's Sameth Emergency Department expansion and modernization project was first announced last year, with an anticipated completion date of 2024.

"We are thrilled to bring a much-needed, newly expanded and modern Emergency Department to our community," said Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN, President of Morristown Medical Center. "During the last few years and throughout the pandemic, we have experienced an increased demand for emergency medical and trauma services. We have exceptional medical specialists and sub-specialists available to treat any illness that comes through our doors for adults and children. We continue to provide extraordinary, high-quality care, the latest technology and modernized space to continue to serve our community now, and well into the future."

The two-phase project will optimize existing emergency department space to meet the community's current and future needs, allowing the hospital to continue to provide a good patient environment for better outcomes while also improving operational flow.