New Valley Hospital ready to welcome patients with state-of-the-art tech

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As Valley Health System puts the finishing touches on a state-of-the-art hospital on a brand-new campus in Paramus, the regional health care system is poised to begin its next chapter in North Jersey. During a March 22 ribbon-cutting ceremony, Valley executives were joined by Gov. Phil Murphy, elected leaders, donors and other community members in celebrating the long-awaited opening in the heart of one of Bergen County’s busiest municipalities.

Located on Winters Avenue, the 370-bed, 910,000-square-foot, seven-floor acute care hospital is the centerpiece of a 40-acre campus that unites inpatient care with the network’s wide range of outpatient services.

Designed to adapt to the changing health care needs of the state’s most diverse and heavily populated area, the new hospital’s key features include single-patient rooms for privacy and healing, an expanded emergency department, larger operating rooms, the latest technology and park-like grounds.

The campus also integrates the system’s existing facilities across the street from the new hospital: Valley’s medical arts building and the Robert and Audrey Luckow Pavilion, which provides same-day surgery, cancer care and retail pharmacy services.

“Today marks the culmination of a vision Valley has long had to offer our community the most technologically advanced, beautifully designed and constructed, sustainable, patient-friendly facility,” said Audrey Meyers, Valley Health System’s longtime CEO. “Today, Valley ensures its future as the health care system of choice for our region. It is a great privilege to cut this ribbon, knowing that all those who come through our doors for their care will be well served by Valley’s compassionate staff and this stunning facility for generations to come.”

‘Changing the skyline’

The new Valley Hospital will replace the network’s 73-year-old facility that is just 2.5 miles away on North Van Dien Avenue in Ridgewood.

On April 14, patients from the current hospital will move to the new one for emergency and inpatient care. Many staff members and departments will also relocate to Paramus; however, Ridgewood will remain open for some services, like imaging, lab work, endoscopy and the breast center.

Valley initially sought to expand that location, but after encountering resistance from the village it decided in 2017 to withdraw the proposal and build a new facility in Paramus. As Valley considered its options for how best to meet the long-term needs of North Jersey, hospital leaders said it became apparent that building the new facility in Paramus would be the best way to accomplish this goal.

Besides being a welcoming home for the Robert and Audrey Luckow Pavilion, Paramus is the base for many community outreach programs Valley has supported over the years, hospital executives said.

Following the Paramus Planning Board’s June 2019 approval of the plan, Valley held a groundbreaking that fall. Despite construction being substantially complete by the end of last year, the system decided to push the opening date from December 2023 to April 2024.

According to Valley, the change is meant to avoid any weather or flu-related risks during the transition from Ridgewood to Paramus – especially on moving day – as well as to minimize disruptions to patient flow as the first quarter has historically been one of Valley’s busiest times for patient volume. The delay also would allow time for enhanced staff training, according to Valley.

Kevin Lobo, chair of Valley Health System’s board of trustees, described the upcoming opening as an exciting moment for Valley that “honors the legacy of more than 70 years of exceptional world-class health care delivery.”

“We look forward to expanding Valley’s ability to positively impact the lives of those we serve in our community,” he said.

Added Paramus Mayor Christopher DiPiazza, “We’re happy to have you. It’s changing the Paramus skyline forever. Right now, we’re known for our malls, but from here on out, we’ll be known for having one of the best hospitals in New Jersey and Northeast. Being part of the Paramus community is unique and there’s nothing like it – it’s a great community of families, seniors, volunteers and veterans. We have a great police department, great volunteer emergency services and great school system. The residents and governing body are excited to begin this new phase.”

Bergen County Executive James Tedesco – a former Paramus mayor – commented, “I am grateful for Valley’s continued investment into Bergen County with nearly 4,600 employees. Valley Hospital is critically important to our region not only as a health care provider but as an employer, serving as the second largest in all of Bergen County.”

Tedesco said, “We all know that health care is one of the fastest growing industries and is expected to continue to expand rapidly in the decades to come. This new facility will provide vital services and outstanding care with the capability of adapting to new and emerging care models as health care continues to evolve. Already a state leader for medical care, the new Valley Hospital and Paramus will continue to lead with distinction by providing cutting edge services and growing highly skilled jobs that attract the best and the brightest to Bergen County.”

Raising the bar

The new facility’s design – which was developed using feedback from doctors, nurses and staff – emphasizes flexibility, resiliency and sustainability while leveraging the latest technology to ensure patient safety and well-being, according to Meyers.

“Our new hospital and Paramus will raise the bar on everything we do and how we provide care to our patients with all single-patient rooms, the latest medical innovations and a flexible design that will allow us to adapt to future health care needs. This facility will serve as the premier health care destination for our region for generations to come built, with patient safety and comfort in mind,” she said.

Dr. Robert Brenner, president of Valley Health System, said, “The designing and building of the new hospital has been a true collaboration by staff, doctors and patients across Valley Health System. Teams from virtually every department and service within the organization have shared their input regarding ways to improve patient care and streamline workflows.”

“When designing the new facility, several key design elements were taken into consideration,” he said. “These included employing the latest in health care technology, the adjacency of services to improve patient care and ensuring we can operate our campus sustainably for years to come,” he said.

Valley Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Karteek Bhavsar, said, “The patient experience at The Valley Hospital in Paramus will truly be like no other.”

Along with offering a “superior healing environment,” the design will provide staff “with more opportunities to form personal connections with each of their patients,” he said. “At Valley, we provide patient- and family-centered care, so creating a space where our families and guests can reside was of the utmost importance to us.”

With an estimated cost of $868 million, the facility was funded through the issuance of bonds, hospital equity and philanthropic contributions, according to Valley. In an FAQ section of its website about the project, the network said it is in a “strong position” to finance the build and noted that it has been saving for the last decade to develop a new hospital.

Valley Hospital Foundation set a capital campaign goal of $125 million and reported it received about $120 million in support of the project, making it the largest fundraising effort in the nonprofit’s history.

Altogether, the new hospital has 48 critical care beds, 268 medical surgical beds, 44 OB/GYN beds, four pediatric intensive care (PICU) beds and six pediatric beds, for a total of 370. It has one transportable lithotripter, three on-site MRI machines, three cardiac surgery operating rooms, 14 mixed operating rooms, five cardiac catheterization labs and six CT machines.

At Valley’s Ridgewood location, the 431-bed hospital has 48 critical care beds, 331 medical surgical beds, 38 OB/GYN beds, four PICU beds and 10 pediatric beds. Ridgewood also has one transportable lithotripter, an on-site MRI machine, three cardiac surgery operating rooms, 14 mixed operating rooms, six cardiac catheterization labs and six CT machines.

Key features at Paramus also include universally sized operating and procedure rooms that will enable the hospital to adapt to changing needs and medical technology, as well as the use of state-of-the-art systems, like artificial intelligence and smart beds.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Valley conducted behind-the-scenes tours for the media, giving a first look at the hospital’s emergency department, intensive care unit and NICU unit.

Patient rooms

The new hospital has single-patient rooms rather than traditional shared spaces as a way to enhance privacy, safety and comfort. Each 300-square-foot private space is equipped with its own bathroom and family area that includes a fold-out couch so loved ones can comfortably spend time with patients.

The space also has a 75-inch television that serves as a key communication tool between the patient, their care team and their family. Located across from the patient’s bed, the large digital screen displays care team information, clinical details and patient schedules. Additionally, it features entertainment options, provides patient education and offers capability for telemedicine meetings with clinicians and family.

Patients will also be in control of their room environment, with the ability to adjust temperature, lighting and window shades. A room service delivery model for patient meals allows patients to order meals and their preferred times using the digital screen display, bedside companion tablet or telephone located in their room.

Also included is a supply closet known as a nurse server, which houses items like medication for patients. Since it can be stocked and accessed from the hallway, it means a nurse does not need to go into the room to add supplies, giving patients more privacy and fewer interruptions.

Valley will use Inspiren’s award-winning AUGi platform, an AI-driven technology developed to prevent patient falls, in each room, too. Using a combination of hybrid sensors, artificial intelligence, computer vision, an app and integrated smart lanyard, AUGi observes patient behavior. When bed and chair exits are detected, the technology sends alerts directly to staff so they can use a “live view” function of a stick figure rendering of patients to coordinate their response.

The emergency department has 80 private exam rooms, including a rapid decision unit, compared to Ridgewood’s 40 exam rooms. Every room also has a glass door with blinds to ensure patient privacy.

The new hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit has also undergone a change. Instead of an open-bay care environment, the facility is using single-patient rooms. Each unit is designed with ample space for twins or to be converted into double rooms, according to Valley.

The facility is a candidate for designation as a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Healthcare Project by the U.S. Green Building Council. In addition, best practices for energy efficiency, space utilization, water consumption and use of natural light have been incorporated into the operation and maintenance of the building.

There are also electric vehicle chargers in the parking area, two green roofs and a cogeneration plant that will produce 30% to 40% of power, depending on the season, making it 14% more efficient than other hospitals.

Pandemic changes

Since construction occurred during the COVID-19 crisis, hospital officials said the public health emergency prompted them to modify plans so that the facility is prepared to cope with future pandemics.

Changes included increasing isolation rooms and installing IV tube pass-throughs that allow staff to bring equipment out into the hallway, providing safe distance from a COVID-positive patient, if needed.

Every patient room has been designed with the ability to be quickly converted into a critical care room, if needed. Each features double the number of oxygen outlets, medical air and medical vacuum outlets, as well as normal and emergency power electrical outlets.

Valley has also set aside more than 30% of the campus to serve as open green space featuring gardens, lawns and walking paths.

Additionally, several panels from the famed mural on the exterior of the long-closed Alexander’s department store in Paramus have found a new home at Valley. Created by Polish-born artist Stefan Knapp, the 200-foot-long, 280-panel was dismantled just before Alexander’s was demolished in 1998.

The artwork then reportedly made its way to various locations in North Jersey, including a former warehouse and public works yard, before Valley acquired the panels in 2021 to decorate the new campus. Valley now proudly displays 24 panels in its gardens, allowing visitors to stroll along walking paths and admire the artwork up close.

Additionally, panels that feature Knapp’s signature are located inside the hospital near the conference center, steps from the front entrance. There’s also plans to incorporate 48 other panels throughout various Valley Health System office locations.

Virtual tours of the new hospital are available online here.

Meyers said, “While much will change for Valley Health System in the months and years ahead, what will remain the same is our commitment to embracing our missions of enhancing lives by healing, caring and inspiring wellness. The same ideals that paved the road to our new hospital here in Paramus will continue to guide the care that is provided within its needs. I know I speak on behalf of our leadership team, our physicians and our staff when I said that we are honored to care for you and your loved ones in this new facility.”

After congratulating hospital leaders on the opening, Murphy said, “This was already named one of the top 100 hospitals in the United States. Can you imagine how that will be propelled even higher with this extraordinary facility? This will become not just one of the premier hospitals in the state and in the Northeast, but in the United States.

“And that’s really important for Bergen County … and for New Jersey, where increasingly families plant their flags in places with a high quality of life,” the governor said. “When you drill down, you figure out why people have such a thirst and appetite to get in communities that we have in the state, especially in this county. It’s high-quality education, it’s transportation and quality of health care and value.”

The event also drew several local elected officials, including state Sen. Holly Schepisi, R–39th District; state Sen. Joseph Lagana, D–38th District; and state Sen. Gordon Johnson, D–37th District.

Assemblymembers Robert Auth and John Azzariti Jr., both R–39th District; Lisa Swain and Chris Tully, both D–38th District; and Shama Haider, D–37th District, were in attendance, too, along with Bergen County Commissioners Germaine Ortiz, Mary Amoroso, Rafael Marte, Steven Tanelli and Tracy Zur.

As the first new hospital to open in New Jersey since Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill unveiled its $356 million facility in December 2019, Valley’s ribbon-cutting ceremony also included well-wishes sent from Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D- 5th District.

Booker, who grew up in Harrington Park and said his family has received care from Valley over the years, described the network as a “long-standing pillar in the community for generations.”

“I commend your efforts in putting patients first and ensuring that comprehensive quality health care is accessible to all,” said Booker, who pledged to “continue to fight for federal health funding for our hospitals, for our neighbors and all of our communities.”

“I look forward to working with the new Valley Hospital to better serve Bergen County for years,” he added.

Gottheimer called the opening “a great win for Northern New Jersey and for all of the incredible medical professionals who work here” and said the “new center of innovation” will be a place that will give patients “incredible care.”