Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/40778
Celebrating 40 In 1971, after years of planning and fundraising, members of the Freehold community opened a local hospital to meet the need for advanced medical care close to home. When it admitted its first patients on September 20, the Greater Freehold Area Hospital—now known as CentraState Medical Center—had 120 beds, 11 physicians, and 200 employees. Over the past 40 years, it has thrived and evolved into CentraState Healthcare System, a regional healthcare organization offering comprehensive, state-of-the-art care for individuals at all stages in life. Today, CentraState is a teaching hospital with 284 beds, more than 500 physicians, 2,400 employees, care in 42 specialties, and New Jersey's ninth-busiest emergency department. Through its Star and Barry Tobias Health Awareness Center and Student Health Awareness Center (celebrating their 30-year and 20-year anniversaries, respectively, this year) and Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus, which opened in 2007, it also is redefining the role of a hospital from one that simply treats sickness to one that improves and maintains health and wellness. Along the way, CentraState has expanded its circle of care to include Applewood Estates, a LifeCare retirement community; The Manor Health and Rehabilitation Center, a skilled-nursing facility for short- and long- term stays; Monmouth Crossing, Freehold's first assisted-living community; and medical offices in Howell, Jackson, and Monroe. Milestones during the last four decades include: 1960—Planning begins for a hospital to serve Greater Freehold area 1968—Hospital groundbreaking ceremonies 1971—Greater Freehold Area Hospital opens 1977—Third floor added to existing North Wing, increasing number of beds to 165 1980—The Wellness Center (now the Star and Barry Tobias Health Awareness Center) created, first hospital-based health education program in New Jersey 4 '60s Groundbreaking for North Wing September/October 2011 1982—Two floors added to North Tower, increasing number of beds to 250 1992—The Family Medicine Center opens 1993—Hospital renamed CentraState Medical Center; East Tower opens, increasing number of beds to 271; Emergency Room expands; new labor and delivery suites and nursery added 1994—CentraState becomes affiliate of Robert Wood Johnson Health Network 2000—CentraState approved by Commission on Cancer as a Community Comprehensive Cancer Center; affiliation with Cancer Institute of New Jersey begins '90s 2002—Medical Arts Building opens (later named the Donna O'Donnell, RN Medical Arts Building); The Multiple Sclerosis Center opens (later named The Linda E. Cardinale Multiple Sclerosis Center) Healthy Directions "Anyone just moving into the area may take for granted that CentraState has been here forever," says attorney and longtime Freehold resident John Dawes, who was