Press Clips
Click on the newspaper below to read stories that appeared on September 29, 2006.
Press Release
Valley Hospital Announces ‘Renewal’ Initiative:
Project Will Modernize, Upgrade Hospital Facility Over Time 
Audrey Meyers, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Valley Hospital and the Valley Health System, announced that the hospital's Board of Trustees has approved a plan to move forward with the ‘Renewal’ initiative, which is designed to carefully replace some of the hospital's facilities, modernize operations over a period of years, and preserve the hospital's ability to provide high-quality healthcare.
“Two of the three Valley Hospital buildings are in the latter stages of their life span and will need to be replaced over time,” said Ms. Meyers. “We are faced with new healthcare facility standards, ever-increasing technological innovation, and new ways of delivering care. To ensure our tradition of meeting the needs of the community and the people we serve, Valley must renew.”
Generally accepted standards call for all newly constructed patient rooms to be single-patient rooms with accompanying space to heighten patient safety and comfort. Over the past 20 years, standards for operating room space have increased significantly, and improved space for the integration of technology is required. Valley already copes with undersized space for direct care personnel and uses every available space for support staff.
In Phase One, a one-story, open parking deck over the current parking area adjacent to Linwood Avenue would be constructed. The next step would be to construct a new North Building adjacent to the Cheel Building. It would have four stories above ground and two below. The next step in Phase One would be to remove the Phillips Building and in its place add both above and below grade parking, with a two-story open parking deck above ground and a two-story structure below.
The Second Phase of Renewal would take place years later after the completion of Phase One. It would include the completion of a new West Building, adjacent to the North and Cheel Buildings. It would house inpatient beds and diagnostic and treatment facilities. The addition of the West Building would then allow us to remove the Bergen Building and follow with a new, smaller South Building, which would house inpatient beds.
Following state and local approvals, construction of Phase One would take approximately three years.
This first phase of the initiative will be funded through long-term tax-exempt bonds, community philanthropy, and an equity contribution from the hospital.
Approval by the Board of Trustees authorizes Ms. Meyers to begin a formal dialogue and collaboration with the Village of Ridgewood to modernize the current hospital zone, a necessary and practical first step in the process. The Village is currently undergoing a master plan review, including evaluating development standards for the hospital zone.
“We look forward to our work with Village of Ridgewood officials to best meet the healthcare needs of the communities we serve,” said Meyers.
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223 N. Van Dien Avenue Ridgewood, NJ 07450
