During the ribbon cutting and open house at the new Hersh Pediatric Center at CentraState in Freehold.

New facility centralizes pediatric emergency department and inpatient unit for streamlined, dedicated care

FREEHOLD, NJ – CentraState Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System, today unveiled the Hersh Pediatric Center at CentraState, a new facility that combines advanced pediatric emergency and inpatient services in one integrated, family-friendly location.

Hospital officials were joined by donors, local elected officials and other supporters today for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new center is expected to begin treating patients in the coming weeks.

The nearly 6,000 square-foot center combines the renovated Star and Barry Tobias Pediatric Emergency Department and a new inpatient/observation pediatric unit to streamline the transition of care and dramatically reduce the time between emergency department visits to inpatient admission for pediatric patients ranging from infants to young adults. The center is designed to offer direct access to an environment that focuses solely on the needs of children.

“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. From advanced diagnostics to prompt treatment in a nurturing atmosphere, the center sets a new standard for pediatric care in the community.”

“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,” says 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 care 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.”

Leaders in emergency medicine, CentraState’s emergency and pediatric emergency departments earned the 2023 Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award, one of only six emergency departments in New Jersey and 53 nationally that have earned the coveted award.

The upgraded pediatric emergency department at CentraState is fully equipped with state-of the-art diagnostic technology to handle the full range of pediatric conditions. A separate pediatric entrance from the adult emergency area ensures a more child-focused experience for families.

For patients who require a hospital stay, 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, the Hersh Pediatric Center at CentraState includes the following:

• 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 parents to stay the night with their children
• Numerous structural and design elements to enhance safety, comfort and security for patients and families

The Hersh Pediatric Center at CentraState is funded, in part, by a $1 million grant from the Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation. Established in 1979 to fulfill the wishes of the late Dorothy B. Hersh, the Hersh Foundation provides grants for capital expenditures benefiting the needs of hundreds of thousands of children throughout the state of 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.

Learn more about pediatric care at CentraState.