Reconnecting with the community has been a top priority for Old Bridge Medical Center since it joined the Hackensack Meridian Health network. The hospital has been providing quality care close to home for over 40 years, and it continues to innovate and expand its services to meet the evolving needs of the community.
“Being part of a network has been beneficial for us as well as the community,” said Pat Carroll, FACHE, President and Chief Hospital Executive, Old Bridge Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center. “People know they can come to their community hospitals to receive quality, compassionate patient care. The new emergency department at Old Bridge Medical Center is among the latest investments aimed at enhancing accessibility to cutting-edge care within our community.”
The 24,000-square-foot emergency department, unveiled in April 2022, signifies a $39 million investment. It offers state-of-the-art technology and innovative diagnostic and treatment options, including advanced imaging, private patient rooms, and a dedicated Behavioral Health crisis unit. The facility also expanded its ambulance bays and redesigned pediatric patient rooms.
Through the Raritan Bay & Old Bridge Medical Center Foundation, the center has secured funding that helps meet the needs of the diverse community it serves, while also giving back. A recent program allowed the center to provide patients with weight scales as a form of empowerment.
“We are helping our patients take control of their health by empowering them with the resources they need to take an active role in decisions about their wellbeing,” said Stephen Maher, executive director of the Raritan Bay & Old Bridge Medical Center Foundation.
The foundation also offers a scholarship program to support the ever-growing medical profession.
Old Bridge Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center are proud to be among the top 9.4% of hospitals in the United States to achieve Magnet® designation, which is considered the “gold standard” for nursing practice, quality, and safety in patient care. The facilities received their fifth consecutive Magnet® designations earlier this year from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
“We are so proud of our nurses and nurse leaders who led us to receive this prestigious recognition. There is something special about working in a community hospital, and we put an emphasis on the fact that you can have a meaningful career here while impacting so many lives,” said Carroll.
In pursuit of enhancing patient-centered care, the hospital has recently implemented the “grab a seat” mentality. Staff members are encouraged to take a seat when in patient rooms so they can sit at eye level while delivering care.
“We’ve had such positive results with ‘grab a seat.’ A lot of what we do is about compassion, and it’s the small gestures of compassion during our busy days that make all the difference,” said Carroll.
Learn more at www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/locations/old-bridge-medical-center.
