By Zachary Lewis
Access to quality health care is not just a convenience, it is a fundamental determinant of health, quality of life, economic success, and community well-being.
For too long, Black and Latino families in New Jersey have faced disproportionate barriers to receiving the care they need. The proposed construction of a new, state-of-the-art, 252-bed acute care hospital in Tinton Falls represents a crucial step toward closing those gaps and ensuring health care access for all.
New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the nation, but it remains among the most unequal when it comes to health outcomes. According to the New Jersey Department of Health, Black residents have a life expectancy nearly six years shorter than white residents. Hispanic and Latino communities experience higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and maternal health complications.
Monmouth County and the surrounding area, while often viewed as a region of relative affluence, is not immune to these disparities. In many of its communities, particularly among working-class and immigrant populations, residents must travel long distances for advanced medical services or emergency care.
RWJBarnabas Health’s Vogel Medical Campus at Fort Monmouth in Tinton Falls promises to deliver comprehensive services in a centralized, more easily accessible location, recognizing that more than eight out of 10 current Monmouth Medical Center patients, who identify themselves as people of color, live outside of Long Branch.
The health system’s proposal includes the new hospital and five-story outpatient and cancer center that will bring lifesaving care closer to home for thousands of New Jerseyans who currently face unacceptable obstacles to accessing it. The proposed location, conveniently situated near the Garden State Parkway, Routes 18 and 36, and other major roadways, ensures that patients and their families will be able to reach care quickly and safely.
The project keeps a modernized, upgraded Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch open and maintains key health services. Free transportation will also be provided for patients who need to get from Long Branch to Tinton Falls.
Operating a full-service emergency department in Long Branch and adding a second one to the region in Tinton Falls will provide greater capacity and improved service where black and brown patients need it most. In a medical emergency, minutes can mean the difference between life and death. For a parent whose child is struggling to breathe, or a senior experiencing chest pain, that shorter drive could be the factor that saves a life.
Studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kaiser Family Foundation consistently show that proximity to health care facilities is a key social determinant of health. Communities with limited hospital access experience higher rates of preventable hospitalizations and worse chronic disease management. In the U.S., Black adults are 30% more likely to die from heart disease and twice as likely to die from diabetes compared to white adults. Latino adults are 70% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and face greater barriers to receiving specialty care.
By investing in a modern health care infrastructure that integrates advanced treatments, cutting-edge technology, and culturally competent care, the Vogel Medical Campus can become a model for addressing these disparities. This project represents an opportunity to reimagine the delivery of care in a way that truly serves the needs of all communities.
For Black and Hispanic mothers, who face significantly higher risks of complications and mortality during childbirth, expanded access to high-quality maternity care is especially critical. According to the New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review Committee, Black women in our state are seven times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. That is not a statistic; it is a moral emergency.
We can no longer accept a system in which a family’s zip code determines their chance of survival. Building a new, world-class hospital and medical campus in Tinton Falls is not just an investment in bricks and mortar, it’s an investment in justice, dignity, and the right of every New Jerseyan to live a healthier life.
Zach Lewis is the president of the Monmouth Medical Center Community Board and founder of Lewis Consulting Group.