Meghan Hunscher currently serves as the President and CEO of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, a 501(c)6 membership organization, and a premiere regional membership business association in north central New Jersey representing over 750 organizations and thousands of their employees. – Morris County Chamber of Commerce
One of the great draws of Morris County for businesses and residents is the high-quality of health care. In 2024, U.S. News & World Report listed Morris County as the 16th “healthiest community,” ranked nationally in overall health and wellness. As a key contributor to this ranking, Morristown Medical Center is striving to meet both current and growing needs of the community.
From rising patient numbers to the complexity of modern medical treatments, MMC is planning for both current and future demand through a proposed $1 billion expansion. This expansion is not just a matter of convenience; it is an urgent necessity. Expanding the hospital is not only critical to the welfare of patients, it also drives economic growth by providing access to health care for the workforce and their families, as well as through the creation of jobs.
Patients expect timely, high-quality care and health care professionals need resources to do their jobs effectively. In 2024, MMC supported more than 43,000 admissions and 100,000 emergency room visits. The hospital also provides a wide array of outpatient care essential to a community’s wellbeing. The expansion will have 176 new, ICU-capable beds, 20 state-of-the-art operating rooms and an imaging suite, and a new parking deck to accommodate guests and visitors.
As president of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, I know that businesses in the county consider access to high-quality health care a draw for both recruiting and retaining a quality workforce. We need to ensure that this remains so. Hundreds of businesses locate or expand in Morris County every year. Not having to travel to other areas for treatment or out-patient procedures saves time, money and reduces stress. In addition to the 500 new permanent positions and 1,500 construction jobs anticipated to be created by the expansion, the hospital currently has 9,000 employees. More than 1,000 employees of the Atlantic Health System live in Morristown, paying taxes and contributing to the local economy.
To maintain the quality of care and meet the variety of needs of patients, our health care infrastructure must evolve. The new MMC expansion plan is well thought out and hospital leadership has taken great care to consider the concerns of local residents, including stepping back the design of the parking deck, placing the new health pavilion adjacent to the highway and improving traffic flow. MMC is vital to both the health and economic wellbeing of the community and the Chamber supports this planned expansion for the benefit of all.
Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent the official position of ROI-NJ.
