New Pediatric Center Unveiled At CentraState Medical Center

FREEHOLD, NJ — A new pediatric center has come to CentraState Medical Center (part of Atlantic Health System) in Freehold, combining advanced pediatric emergency and inpatient services into one integrated, family-friendly location.

On Thursday, hospital officers were joined by donors, local elected officials and other supporters for the Hersh Pediatric Center’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Spanning nearly 6,000 square-feet, officials said the center combines the renovated Star and Barry Tobias Pediatric Emergency Department and a new inpatient/observation pediatric unit intended to streamline the transition of care and dramatically reduce time between emergency department visits to inpatient admission for pediatric patients (ranging from infants to young adults).

Designed to offer direct access to an environment that solely focuses on the needs of children, officials said the center is expected to begin treating patients in the coming weeks.

The upgraded pediatric emergency department also comes fully equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to handle the full range of pediatric conditions and has a separate pediatric entrance from the adult emergency area to ensure a more child-focused experience for families.

“We are proud to provide young patients and their families with high quality pediatric care in a dedicated space, thoughtfully designed for their unique needs,” said Thomas W. Scott, FACHE, FABC, president and CEO of CentraState Medical Center.

“The focus of the Hersh Pediatric Center is not just treating young patients but also ensuring that families feel supported and confident throughout the process," Scott continued. "From advanced diagnostics to prompt treatment in a nurturing atmosphere, the center sets a new standard for pediatric care in the community.”

For those who require a hospital stay, officials said the new inpatient unit offers comforting special touches, such as bright private rooms with en suite bathrooms, a family lounge and a children’s play area.

In addition to those features, the Hersh Pediatric Center also includes:

• Six inpatient/observation rooms, including one isolation room for children with potentially contagious infections and a behavioral health room, staffed by a dedicated team of pediatric hospitalists
• Four emergency department rooms staffed by pediatricians and pediatric nurses
• In-room accommodations for patients to stay the night with their children
• Numerous structural and design elements to enhance the safety, comfort and security for patients and families.

“Board-certified pediatricians and nurses with specialized training in pediatric emergency and inpatient care offer expert, compassionate treatment for young patients in the Freehold area 24/7,” said Sanjay Mehta, DO, division chief of the pediatric emergency department and medical director of the pediatric hospitalist program at CentraState.

“Our specialized pediatric team follows and cares for patients from the ED through inpatient care to ensure the continuity of care by having clinical teams dedicated to pediatric patients from the moment they enter, through every stage of their experience," Mehta continued.

Funded in part by a $1 million grant from the Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation, the Hersh Pediatric Center comes after CentraState’s emergency and pediatric emergency departments earned the 2023 Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award, one of only six emergency departments in NJ and 53 nationally to do so.

The Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation itself was established in 1979 to fulfill the wishes of Dorothy B. Hersh. Today, the foundation provides grants for capital expenditures benefitting the needs of hundreds of thousands of children throughout New Jersey.

“We are proud to support the development of the Hersh Pediatric Center at CentraState, furthering our commitment to raising the standard of vital pediatric care in communities, which also includes supporting pediatric needs at Atlantic Health System’s Overlook Medical Center and Morristown Medical Center,” said Harriet Donnelly, Hersh Foundation administrator.

To learn more about pediatric services at CentraState, you can click here.

CentraState Medical Center is located at 901 West Main Street, Freehold.