Jersey Shore University on track to open advanced cardiovascular suite by end of year

Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s $45 million cardiovascular service expansion project in the NorthWest Pavilion — one that will provide approximately 30,000 square feet of additional space — could be completed by the end of the year, hospital officials said.

The suite will enhance the growing community’s access to minimally invasive interventional, electrophysiology and structural heart expertise, technologies and treatment. It features 10 new diagnostic and treatment spaces, including;

  • Four dedicated cardiac catheterization labs;
  • Four electrophysiology labs;
  • Two hybrid operating rooms;
  • A 28-bay patient prep and recovery area that nearly triples current patient capacity.

The design and functionality of the suite was thoughtfully created with input from JSUMC’s cardiologists, nurses, technicians and other hands-on experts, with spaces structured to promote efficiency and provide the best experience for patients and families.

Vito Buccellato, the chief hospital executive at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, said he is excited.

“We are meeting the needs of the community we serve with this expansion, from eight clinical treatment spaces to 10, and giving our cardiologists, nurses and team members a convenient, centralized, dedicated space and leading-edge tools so they can continue to provide our patients with world-class cardiovascular care,” he said.

Hackensack University Jersey Shore Medical Center.

“The volume of patients treated by our teams has steadily increased in recent years. We are now the third-busiest New Jersey hospital, and, as of 2022, we provide the second-most diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures in our state.”

Buccellato said the increase in use is because of the hospital’s increase in national rankings.

“The increase in patient volume has been a result of Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s reputation as a top hospital, with consistent Top 10 rankings in New Jersey from U.S. News & World Report, ranking in the Top 5% of hospitals nationally from Healthgrades and six-time Magnet designation recognizing nursing excellence, as well as the recent population increase in Monmouth and Ocean counties,” he said.

Buccellato said JSUMC is Monmouth and Ocean counties’ only open heart and minimally invasive cardiac surgery center and as an academic medical center — and provides patients with advanced structural heart, electrophysiology and emergency heart attack and stroke treatment options, as well as groundbreaking clinical trials and newly-approved cardiovascular devices.