In 2005, plans for the new hospital were still in their infancy, with many unknowns—including the amount of funds that could be raised to support its construction. At the time, a new hospital had not been built in New Jersey in more than 30 years, and no hospital in the state had ever attempted to raise $100 million. Still, Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS) forged ahead by formalizing the project and setting a campaign goal of $115 million.
Since then, many new opportunities have been pursued by PHCS leadership, putting the hospital in a position to grow from a community hospital to a regional leader in health care. These new initiatives, such as our partnership with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), coupled with the generous support of the PHCS community, have led to the important decision to increase the Design for Healing campaign goal from $115 million to $150 million. We requested this increase not because raising the additional $35 million will be easy, but because doing so will enable PHCS leadership to build the hospital our region deserves: a cutting-edge facility that makes the most of the latest research in health care and leading technological advances.
What will the additional funds enable PHCS to do?
In short, they will allow PHCS to take advantage of new possibilities that were unknown when the campaign was first conceived. These new opportunities include:
- Doubling the number of beds in the Pediatric Unit and expanding care offered to newborns in the Special Care Nursery. The recent partnership with CHOP has resulted in an increased demand for pediatric services and has given our community access to world-class pediatric care right here in central New Jersey.
- Expanding the Emergency Department (ED) to allow for an additional treatment area designed specifically to accommodate geriatric patients.
- Enhancing service in the ED by incorporating a Results Waiting Area that will reduce waiting time by efficiently utilizing treatment space. Additional space in the ED will accommodate surge capacity in case of extraordinarily high volume, as might occur during an influenza epidemic or in similar situations. Plans also include the introduction of a rapid evaluation process, whereby patients will no longer sit in a waiting room before seeing a healthcare provider. Ideally, patients will be brought immediately to an open bed once they arrive.
- Increasing the number of beds designed and dedicated to caring for the elderly. Demand for geriatric services is growing at a faster-than-anticipated rate because of two factors: the growth of this population in central New Jersey and the success of geriatric-specific programs that have resulted in improved care. For example, the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) nursing unit established in 2009 has improved clinical outcomes for patients. Based on this success, the size of the ACE unit will be increased from 8 beds in the existing hospital to 12 in the new facility.
- Enlarging the Cancer Center and improving its design to accommodate a potential Cancer Center academic and research partner. Adding space for a broader range of therapies and more infusion bays will increase the ability to care for more patients.
- Adopting the very latest technology as it continues to emerge. We will develop two of the Operating Rooms (ORs), previously designed as shelled space into one larger, Hybrid OR, to accommodate technically advanced vascular surgery. Specialized equipment purchased for the new Hybrid OR will also be used to expand our offerings in Neuroscience. This will significantly increase our ability to conduct complex interventional radiology procedures and enhance our cardiovascular programs.
As the Co-chairs of the Design for Healing campaign, we can report that the fundraising efforts of campaign leadership and the many volunteers who assist us have resulted in more than $112 million in contributions from 6,000 individuals, corporations, and foundations. We plan to build on this success between now and March 31, 2013, the conclusion of the campaign, to raise the $150 million needed to catapult our new hospital to the forefront in healthcare delivery.
Please join us by becoming a donor to the Design for Healing campaign. Email Princeton HealthCare System Foundation today or call 609.497.4190, to learn how you can help. Visit our website, and follow us on Facebook or Twitter to learn about the new hospital and the campaign.
Bob Doll and JoAnn Heffernan Heisen serve as Co-chairs of the Design for Healing campaign. Bob Doll is Chief Equity Strategist of BlackRock and was President of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. JoAnn Heffernan Heisen is a member of the Princeton HealthCare System Board of Trustees and recently retired from Johnson & Johnson as Corporate Vice President and Chief Global Diversity Officer.
Campaign volunteers are pictured left with Barry S. Rabner, President and CEO of PHCS (top–bottom, left–right):
Steven Kahn, MD
(second row)
Jack Chamberlin
Gwen Guglielmi, MD
Rachel Gray
(third row)
Duncan MacMillan
Denise Wood
(bottom row)
Bob Doll
JoAnn Heffernan Heisen
Kim Pimley
Barry Rabner (standing)
Mark Pollard