The youngest patients in Monmouth County will soon have a new state-of the-art facility that combines pediatric emergency and inpatient services in one location.

On March 6, Atlantic Health System officials unveiled the new $4 million Hersh Pediatric Center at CentraState in Freehold during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

Funded in part by a $1 million grant from the Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation, the 6,000-square-foot center combines the renovated Star and Barry Tobias Pediatric Emergency Department and a new inpatient/observation pediatric unit. 

The new facility was designed to streamline care and “dramatically” reduce time between emergency department visits and inpatient admission, according to Atlantic Health. 

Construction of the Hersh facility, located at CentraState Medical Center, 901 W. Main St., took more than a year, a representative for Atlantic Health told NJBIZ. 

Officials expect the new center will begin treating patients – from infants to young adults – in the coming weeks. 

“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,” CentraState President and CEO Thomas Scott said in a statement. “From advanced diagnostics to prompt treatment in a nurturing atmosphere, the center sets a new standard for pediatric care in the community.” 

Features of the Hersh Pediatric Center include: 

• State-of the-art diagnostic technology 
• A separate pediatric entrance from the adult emergency area 
• A new inpatient unit with bright, private rooms featuring en suite bathrooms, a family lounge and a children’s play area
• Six inpatient/observation rooms featuring one isolation room for children with potentially contagious infections as well as a behavioral health room 
• Four emergency department rooms staffed by pediatricians and pediatric nurses 
• In-room, overnight accommodations for parents 

“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. 

The Hersh Foundation provides grants for capital expenditures benefiting children throughout New Jersey.