Jefferson Washington Township Hospital cut the ribbon Tuesday on the $184 million Silvestri Tower, a seven-story, 240,000-square-foot expansion that will add 90 private rooms to the facility.
The 90 new private rooms include 30 in a new Intensive Care Unit on the third floor and 60 on the fourth and fifth floors that will serve acute care patients. All have full bathrooms and give patients complete control of room environment: temperature, lighting and window shades.
Patients also will be given tablets to provide immediate access to patient information and include electronic signage to keep families and patients informed.
The second floor will include a same-day surgery pre- and post-op unit and a GI/endoscopy suite, with spacious waiting areas.
The tower also includes a state-of-the-art kitchen for personalized patient room service.
Brian Sweeney, president and chief operating officer of Jefferson Health – New Jersey, said the expansion shows a commitment to the community.
“The Silvestri Tower is the physical symbol of our commitment to the people of South Jersey to deliver the high level of safe, compassionate care this community has come to expect from Jefferson Health,” he said. “Every aspect is designed to fulfill not only the current needs of our patients and their families, but to meet future needs and future growth.”
The Silvestri Tower was named in honor of board member John Silvestri and his family. Other aspects of the tower include:
- A new 850-space parking garage that features electric vehicle charging stations. All parking will be free;
- A new front entrance with covered drop-off:
- A new two-story, light-filled lobby — featuring natural light with comfortable sitting areas throughout the entire pavilion for patients and visitors;
- Registration, pre-admission testing, gift shop & Orchard Coffee Shop — conveniently located off the new lobby;
- Family space in room and waiting areas, in addition to private family consult areas on each patient care floor;
- Modern Atrium Café dining, with access to outdoor dining terrace and amphitheater seating.
The tower’s opening marks the conclusion of the final phase of an overall $222 million construction project at the hospital. The first phase, completed in 2019, included a new eight-level, enclosed parking facility.
Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, who attended the ribbon-cutting, said it was a big day for health care in South Jersey.
“People deserve to be close to home,” she said. “They deserve to have the technology to take care of complex cases close to home, so you can be with your family and loved ones, and that makes all the difference.”
