Mar 20, 2019 Bold Plans and Big Ideas

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center renovation projectAn ambitious renovation project will help the medical center better serve the community.

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is embarking on an ambitious $150 million renovation project that will literally change the face of the medical center and the Lyons Avenue landscape. The highlight of the project will be the hospital’s new main lobby, an estimated 17,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed space with modern seating areas, community meeting spaces, an expansive registration area and cafés.

“We are an anchor institution in Newark that is providing world-class care to the residents of the South Ward, the greater Newark area and beyond. It is important that our appearance reflect our commitment to the communities we serve,” says Darrell K. Terry, Sr., MHA, MPH, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“In recent years, our patients have benefited from significant investments made in new technologies, physician recruitment and clinical programs. Now our patients and the general public will see the progress we are making as they travel along Lyons Avenue,” says Terry.

“This transformation will create a more welcoming space filled with transparency and natural light that promises to invoke a sense of wellness and renewal for our patients, their families and our community.”

Highlights of the project include:

An expanded Emergency Department (ED): The ED will increase by approximately 4,000 square feet, including nine new treatment areas in the adult ED, three new pediatric treatment areas and one new fast-track treatment area. It will also boast new exterior signage as well as a separate entrance and waiting area for families receiving care in the pediatric ED.

“First impressions matter. For many of our patients, the Emergency Department may be their first experience with our facility, and we want them to know we value that experience,” says Terry. “Last year we received more than 95,000 people in our Emergency Department—the highest number of visits in our 117-year history.”

New advanced heart failure treatment and transplant facilities: Newark Beth Israel is home to one of the nation’s top 10 heart transplant centers, which has performed more than 1,000 heart transplants; New Jersey’s only Advanced Lung Disease and Transplant Program; and a Valve Center that performs complex cardiac valve procedures, including minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVRs). The renovation project places all of these services under one roof in a center that is easily accessible to patients and will include new patient consult rooms, exam rooms, cardiac catheterization suites with the latest advanced medical imaging devices, and a hybrid operating room.

Continued remodeling of the maternity unit: “Last fall, we converted our maternity unit into a 34-bed private-room unit with 13 brand-new suites. As we continue renovations of this space, we plan to redesign our family waiting areas to enable families to share more time with mom, and create new nursing stations,” says Terry.

Renovated intensive care units: The Intensive Care Units will be right-sized to accommodate all patient needs. This includes additional space for clinical equipment and more room for loved ones. “We are consistently growing and adapting to meet the ever-evolving needs of our patients and their families,” says Terry. “I was born at The Beth, raised in this community, and I have been a member of this organization for more than 22 years. That is why it is truly an honor and a privilege for me to be here at this time, working with my team to leave an indelible footprint on this hospital and the community we serve.”

Learn more about programs and services at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.