Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Opens Expanded Emergency Department With 28 New Beds

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center opened its bigger Emergency Department on Feb. 11. Capacity jumped from 19 beds to 47. The $10 million project gave the Paramus facility 10,000 more square feet.

Construction started in May 2024 and targets rising emergency care needs throughout New Jersey. Emergency Department visits per 1,000 people in the state hit 397 in 2024, per KFF data. That number shows a steady climb since 2020 and nears 2019’s pre-pandemic mark of 409 visits.

“What we are celebrating today is far more than a ribbon cutting,” said Deborah Visconi, president and CEO, according to ROI.NJ.com. “This is a modern, thoughtfully designed Emergency Department built for the realities of today and the needs of tomorrow.”

The bigger space brings the EmPATH (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing) model to the hospital. This approach uses living-room style spaces for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Jefferson Health Cherry Hill adopted the same model in New Jersey.

The new treatment areas place patients in therapeutic settings that encourage stabilization, healing, and connection to ongoing care. A staff of experts will tackle the state’s growing mental health crisis through these spaces.

The facility is a clinical affiliate of Rutgers University and the largest hospital in New Jersey, with more than 1,000 beds. It ranks as the fourth-largest publicly owned hospital in the United States.

“This expanded emergency department reflects a clear understanding that emergency care must evolve,” said Lt. Gov. Dr. Dale G. Caldwell. “It must meet people where they are, respond to complex medical and behavioral health needs, and do so with dignity and respect.”

The redesigned space has areas for pediatric and geriatric patients, along with sensory-sensitive spaces for neurodivergent patients. The health equity strategy aims to improve access for communities affected by chronic illness, substance use, mental health conditions, and barriers to care.

The 24/7 facility has an average wait time of five to 10 minutes. A Jan. 2 report from Becker’s Hospital Review puts the statewide average wait time at 183 minutes, higher than the national median of 161 minutes.

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