Foundation for Morristown Medical Center Campaign for Building Excellence in Emergency Care Raises More than $13 Million

Thanks to generous donors, upgrades include new pediatric entrances, enhanced behavioral health treatment rooms and latest technological advancements

Morristown, NJ – November 21, 2023 – In a sign of remarkable community support for the expansion and modernization of the Sameth Emergency Department (ED) at Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center, the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center is pleased to announce it has raised more than $13 million for this vital project — exceeding the $12.5 million philanthropic goal. In order to continue to provide the highest level of emergency and trauma care to our communities, the multi-phase project — with a total estimated cost of $26.9 million — is expected to be completed in 2024.

Bill Marino, chair of the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center’s Campaign for Building Excellence in Emergency Care said, "We asked, and the community responded. We are grateful to our donors for their dedication to advancing world-class emergency care. Through their generosity, Morristown Medical Center can continue its mission of saving lives and providing critical care when it’s needed most."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for expanding and modernizing Morristown Medical Center’s ED became increasingly apparent. As a designated Level 1 Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons, the hospital’s ED treated well over 100,000 patients in 2022, among the highest in the State of New Jersey.

“Our bold vision for the future of emergency medicine continues to take shape in dynamic ways, and we are forever grateful to our donors, physicians, team members and neighbors for their profound support,” said Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN, President, Morristown Medical Center and Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive, Atlantic Health System.

Construction on the 18-bed Gagnon Children’s Emergency Department is well underway. Located on the first floor of Goryeb Children’s Hospital, the new pediatric ED will feature a separate entrance and an expanded behavioral health unit. On the Franklin Street side of campus, changes include a dedicated ambulance entrance for pediatric patients, as well as a separate pediatric exterior vestibule and walk-in entrance. The Pediatric Day Hospital and Sleep Center has been relocated to new, modern space on the second floor of Goryeb Children’s Hospital.

Interior construction continues in the adult ED, which is being reconfigured to increase the number of adult treatment rooms/bays from 61 to 96. It will also be able to accommodate 30,000 additional patient visits per year – this is in addition to the more than 100,000 annual visits. The plans also allow the relocation and expansion of the Adult Behavioral Health Unit, to provide enhanced patient comforts. Equipment upgrades will include the latest, best-in-class technology, including advanced computed tomography (CT) scanners to abbreviate imaging times.

Generous contributions to the campaign include a $2.5 million grant from the Margaret A. Darrin Charitable Trust, more than $1.9 million from the late Allan and Barbara Staats, $750,000 from Frank and Mimi Walsh and a $500,000 grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, as well as leadership gifts from the D’Aloia Family Foundation, John and Sheridan Greeniaus, the Ann K. Kirby Foundation, the Maoli Family, Paula and Bill Marino, MCJ Amelior Foundation, Priti and Chirag Patel, Zotec Partners and many others.

In addition, the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center’s Third Annual Golf Classic was held on Monday October 30, 2023, at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. More than $441,000 was raised to benefit the Campaign for Building Excellence in Emergency Care.
 

About the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center

Established in 1995, the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center’s mission is to inspire community philanthropy to advance exceptional health care for patients at Morristown Medical Center and Goryeb Children’s Hospital. Over the past 10 years, donors have contributed more than $209 million to support both Morristown Medical Center and Goryeb Children’s Hospital. The Foundation for Morristown Medical Center is recognized by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy as a “High Performer” among the nation’s leading hospitals.

About Atlantic Health System

Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 19,000 team members and 5,440 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 12 counties and 6.2 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 400 sites of care, including its seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and through its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, NJ.

The system includes Atlantic Medical Group, part of a physician enterprise that makes up one of the largest multispecialty practices in New Jersey with more than 1,600 physicians and advance practice providers. Joined with Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners they form part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.

Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 24 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.

Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of six regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across five health systems in the region.

Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.