Hackensack Meridian Health has opened its brand-new, expanded Carrier Behavioral Health at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy. The center, according to a Tuesday announcement from the health system, is part of Hackensack Meridian Health’s $24 million investment into the community.
“Raritan Bay Medical Center has provided high-quality, compassionate care to the Perth Amboy community for more than a century. The need for behavioral health services in our communities is greater than ever. This investment will serve our patients now and into the future,” Robert Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, said.
“We are excited to officially open our expanded 81-bed inpatient unit to the public,” Patricia Carroll, president and chief hospital executive, Raritan Bay and Old Bridge medical centers, said. “With the growing need for behavioral health services around the state, this will be a new soothing and healing environment for our patients, and the communities we serve.”
Over the summer, Carrier Behavioral Health at Raritan Bay Medical Center expanded its reach by offering electroconvulsive therapy, an option for people with treatment-resistant depression and other psychiatric disorders that have not been satisfactorily treated by medications and other therapies.
Raritan Bay, with the expertise of Carrier, is meeting a priority in the state in the mental health community. The expansion of this facility will provide more world-class care.
“New Jersey Human Services has long supported the goal of compassionate care close to home, recognizing how important it is for people experiencing a crisis to connect with support quickly and safely,” Department of Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said. “The state budget investment in this project is an example of the (Gov. Phil) Murphy administration’s commitment to increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and this expansion will help so many more residents of Perth Amboy and Middlesex County get excellent care in their own backyard.”
“The well-being of our county residents is crucial, and this 81-bed inpatient unit will make a tremendous difference for those who are struggling with behavioral health issues and substance use disorders,” Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald Rios said.
Carrier Behavioral Health at Raritan Bay Medical Center is a regional hub of the nationally recognized Hackensack Meridian Carrier Clinic. The behavioral health program at Raritan Bay Medical Center is the first in the Hackensack Meridian Health network to receive the Carrier Behavioral Health designation. The medical center’s behavioral health services include specialized programs and units for adults, older adults, neuromodulation services and care for individuals with both mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses.
