RWJBarnabas Gets Green Light on Tinton Falls Hospital Plan

Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch retains acute-care inpatient and outpatient surgery services.

On Jan 9, 2026

In agreed upon legislation brokered between RWJBarnabas Health, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Gov. Phil Murphy, and New Jersey legislative leaders, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch will continue providing acute-care inpatient and outpatient surgery services, while RWJBarnabas receives certificate-of-need approval from the New Jersey Department of Health to move forward with its plans to open a new $800 million, 252-bed modern acute care hospital in Tinton Falls on its Vogel Medical Campus, by 2032.

The move comes amid widespread concerns from residents and clinicians that removing in-patient surgery services at the Long Branch hospital could worsen health disparities, increase travel times for health care, and stress overburdened nearby hospitals.

“While the state commissioner of health approved RWJ Barnabas’s application for a new hospital in Tinton Falls, they also required that the emergency department and outpatient surgery services, including specialty clinics and imaging services, remain in Long Branch indefinitely,” said Pallone. “In addition, the behavioral health hospital with both inpatient and outpatient services stays.”

The legislation would establish a pilot program at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. RWJBarnabas Health would be able to operate acute-care hospital services at both Monmouth Medical Center Hospital in Long Branch and the proposed facility in Tinton Falls for at least 10 years after relocation with the ability for the Commissioner of Health to extend the pilot program further.

Under the proposed framework, the Long Branch facility would continue with 48 surgical and observation beds, with up to 12 beds convertible to intensive care use. Operating rooms for major surgery would also continue. The hospital would retain a full-service emergency department.

The pilot legislation was sponsored by State Senators Vin Gopal and Joseph Vitale as well as Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul.

According to George Helmy, executive vice president RWJBarnabas Health, the health system “remains steadfast in its commitment to transforming healthcare throughout Monmouth County. This includes our promise to maintain essential services in Long Branch and developing world-class facilities at the Vogel Medical Campus in Tinton Falls. This pilot program seeks to continue the investments and care delivered by our incredible team at Monmouth Medical Center, which was heralded by hundreds of speakers in public hearings.”

Monmouth Medical Center President and CEO Eric Carney commented, “After years of careful planning, rigorous analysis, and extensive community input, this decision clears the way for a new, state-of-the-art, acute-care hospital in Tinton Falls and much-needed improvements to our existing site in Long Branch. These investments will bring the latest advanced technology and treatments, modern facilities, and world-class academic medicine closer to home for more patients.

“We expect to move into the design phase in the coming months with the goal of completing construction and opening the new hospital in 2032. During this period, we will continue to make significant investments to modernize facilities and maintain essential health services at our Long Branch campus. We look forward to continuing to work with state and local officials and keeping our patients and communities informed at every stage of the project.”

The proposed 252-bed acute care hospital in Tinton Falls will feature all-private inpatient rooms, innovative medicine, and cutting-edge technology to enhance the patient experience and the highest-quality outcomes. It will include emergency and surgical services, radiology, and all other critical support services.

The 150,000-square foot Specialty and Cancer Care Center at the Vogel Medical Campus will provide outpatient cancer care in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute. It will offer innovative treatment options such as precision medicine and cellular therapies, and access to the latest clinical trials. The outpatient center will also offer surgical and imaging services, physician offices, and support services. Construction is currently underway and anticipated to be completed in late 2026.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: