A proposal to relocate many of Monmouth Medical Center’s acute care services – including labor and delivery – from Long Branch to a new facility in Tinton Falls cleared a major regulatory hurdle after the State Health Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the state Department of Health’s recommendation.
The vote advances a Certificate of Need application that would allow RWJBarnabas Health, which owns Monmouth Medical Center, to move labor and delivery, surgical care, pediatrics and other services to a planned $800 million medical complex on the Vogel Medical Campus in Tinton Falls. The proposal now awaits final approval from Acting Health Commissioner Jeffrey A. Brown.
RWJBarnabas Health thanked state officials and participants in the review process following the decision.
“We thank the dedicated, expert staff at the New Jersey Department of Health for their thorough review and approval of the application,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to transforming health care and bringing world-class care, advanced technologies and innovative academic medicine to all residents of Monmouth County and beyond.”
Before the vote, board members reviewed hundreds of written comments and heard more than 10 hours of public testimony during hearings held in November and early December. Board member Kevin J. Slavin described the process as the most expansive public comment period he had experienced in New Jersey.
Supporters of the relocation cited aging infrastructure at Monmouth Medical Center and the need for expanded space and modern technology. Opponents raised concerns about access to care, transportation challenges and the potential impact on nearby hospitals, including Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune City, Ocean University Medical Center in Brick and Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank.
The board had postponed a vote at its Dec. 4 meeting, requesting additional information on transportation access, healthcare disparities and workforce planning. On Thursday, RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Eric Carney said the project includes free transportation between the Long Branch hospital and the new campus. He said the closest NJ Transit station is in Fort Monmouth, about one mile from the Vogel Medical Campus, and that the hospital plans to work with NJ Transit and the Department of Transportation to expand bus service.
Carney said the relocation would increase access to care, noting that Monmouth Medical Center averages 185 inpatients daily and that 86% live outside Long Branch. He also said the move would not overwhelm neighboring hospitals and that the system plans to hire additional staff, host medical trainees and recruit nationally.
According to Carney, at least 83% of current Long Branch employees are expected to remain in their roles.
The board approved the application subject to 17 conditions set by the Department of Health, including outreach efforts to notify residents, no-cost transportation between Long Branch and Tinton Falls, priority hiring for existing employees and the creation of a Community Advisory Group.
The board added three additional requirements: the continuation of outpatient services in Long Branch, documented engagement with NJ Transit to expand transportation, and investment in community public health programs focused on preventive care. Carney said the health system agreed to all conditions.
If the relocation is approved by the commissioner, Monmouth Medical Center will continue operating 24/7 in Long Branch with a full-service emergency department. The hospital would also maintain inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, imaging, outpatient surgery, specialty clinics and adaptable patient rooms capable of intensive care.
Acting Health Commissioner Brown has not yet announced when a final decision will be made.