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A Sept. 30 groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of a construction on Inspira Health‘s new $240 expansion project at its Mullica Hill campus.

The multiyear project will add 168,000 square feet of clinical space as well as more parking.

Key details of the project include:

• A new, 150,000-square-foot, five-story wing that will extend out toward Route 55
• An overbuild to the right of the hospital’s main entrance that expands maternity services
• The renovation of various clinical and non-clinical spaces on the first floor

The expansion will allow Inspira to extend its capabilities and enhance its services, including the Intensive Care Unit, Medical/Surgical, Maternal Child Health, Observation, Imaging (MRI and CT), Interventional Radiology and Graduate Medical Education, as well as offer a simulation lab for hospital residents. It will create 500 jobs for tradespersons during construction and more than 100 new permanent positions upon completion.

Phase one will include the parking lot expansion in addition to the new wing and the overbuild. That work expects to open for patients in the first quarter of 2027. Renovations of existing space will begin in fall 2026.

Several areas of the new construction will be shelled out for future expansion projects.

The Monday groundbreaking ceremony included Inspira leadership and team members, elected officials and community partners and stakeholders.

Inspira officials said the project will increase capacity to answer rapid and project patient growth while offering next-generation care, creating jobs, and generating economic activity.

‘A new era’

“As a leading health care provider, we are always looking to propel the organization forward to ensure sustainable growth for the long term,” said Warren Moore, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Inspira Health. “Today, we are excited to officially break ground on this new multi-year initiative to continue providing advanced care for our community through an expanded Mullica Hill campus.”

“We are excited to start this project, which marks a new era for Inspira Health and the surrounding communities,” said Lydia Stockman, senior vice president and chief administrative officer, Inspira Medical Centers. “When completed, this expansion will allow us to care for even more members of our community and provide our clinical teams with an expanded environment for our patients, for years to come.”

“Since 2012, we have rapidly continued our focus on providing accessible, high-quality care to the rapidly growing South Jersey community,” said Amy Mansue, president and CEO, Inspira Health. “The opening of the state-of-the-art facility here at Inspira Medical Center in 2019 was a gamechanger. And just to make sure we understand how much of a gamechanger it was – when we first opened, we budgeted that we would be at 110 patients on an average daily census. Most days, we’re over 200 in the same-size facility. So that’s why you see just how important this is.”

Transcending politics

Harrison Township Mayor Lou Manzo thanked Inspira for bringing quality health care to the community and region.

“This is still early in the story, and we are so excited to be part of the growth of Inspira here in South Jersey and Mullica Hill,” said Manzo.

“It’s going to be wonderful to see this level of health care here. It’s South Jersey first,” said U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd District, who said that the good of South Jersey transcended politics and political parties. “It’s about taking care of our people, our constituents – most importantly, when they are the most vulnerable; when they are sick; when they are in need.”

More growth:

Inspira Health also recently opened its Inspira Medical Group Primary Care Millville. Click here for a photo tour.

U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., 1st District, lauded Inspira for understanding the power of partnerships.

“If you look back 15 years ago, health care in South Jersey – it was different. It was, at times, combative, not always working together,” said Norcross. “That has literally turned 180 degrees – where health care systems are working together for one reason: so those who are seeking help can come right here; can work together. And I just want to thank Inspira, the board, the administration for doing that.”

“This expansion project is a $240 million investment in our region,” said Mansue. “And when we open, it means that we will provide more space for our patients by 40% and advance Inspira’s care and services for the benefits of our patients and families.”

“I want to thank our partners for their ongoing support on this major project that will have a lasting impact for years to come for Gloucester County and the South Jersey region,” said Moore.