(L to R) first row, Louis Brusco, M.D., FCCM CPE, chief medical officer, Raritan Bay Medical Center; Robert C. Garrett, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health, Yvonne Lopez, Assemblywoman; Todd Way, central region president, Hackensack Meridian Health. Left to right back row, Raja Barakat, M.D., chair, pediatrics, Raritan Bay Medical Center; Thomas Shanahan, chief hospital executive, Raritan Bay Medical Center; Michael Eagan, M.D., physician director, Emergency Services, Raritan Bay Medical Center. *Photo Submitted

Press Release 8/18/20

PERTH AMBOY – Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay Medical Center Perth Amboy unveiled its new Pediatric Care Center today, which is specially designed to meet the emergency needs of sick and injured children while maximizing comfort, increasing efficiency, and reducing wait times. 

“This new Pediatric Care Center will deliver high-quality, compassionate care and help us live our mission to transform health care,’’ said Robert C. Garrett, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health. “It is foundational to our investment in Raritan Bay Medical Center and is another example of innovating treatment on behalf of the communities we are privileged to serve.’’

Located next to the adult emergency department, the Pediatric Care Center’s bright and cheerful environment puts children at ease with private observation rooms and treatment bays specifically designed to support pediatric patient needs. It also features an exceptional team of board-certified physicians, magnet-recognized certified nurses, expertly trained emergency care nurses and nurse practitioners, who specialize in pediatric care. Additionally, the center has multilingual team members committed to improving the emergency care experience. 

“Opening a dedicated pediatric ambulatory and observation center for local families will continue to provide the community complete and coordinated care when they need it the most,” said Thomas Shanahan, chief hospital executive, Raritan Bay Medical Center.  

Patients that require inpatient pediatric services under the age of 14, will be transported to Hackensack Meridian JFK Medical Center in Edison, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, or Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack.

“In an emergency, families want access to specialized care close to home,” says, Michael Eagan, M.D., physician director, Emergency Services, Raritan Bay Medical Center. “We are advancing the quality of care to our pediatric patients, by creating this Pediatric Care Center that is designed specifically for our young patients with board certified pediatricians. That will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Raritan Bay Medical Center has implemented many new protocols with safety at the forefront. Raritan Bay Medical Center has separate areas for non-COVID-19 patients, temperature checks for all patients, visitors, team members and physicians, rigorous cleaning and sanitization of our facilities, and much more.