Kimball Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center to Merge

Barnabas Health, based in West Orange, N.J., has announced plans to merge Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood, N.J., with Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J.

Under the integrated, two-campus partnership, Kimball will be renamed Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, according to a news release. Barnabas owns both facilities.

The merger will expand access to Monmouth's specialty services including geriatrics, oncology and neurology, according to a news release. Barnabas will also invest $11 million in capital improvements for Kimball. As part of becoming Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, Kimball will be renovated, and inpatient care will transition to all private patient rooms. Other changes will include improved care coordination among primary and specialty care physicians and enhanced care in the 24/7 emergency department through the addition of a new geriatric medicine unit and advanced protocols for emergency medicine.

The Monmouth and Kimball boards of trustees have approved the merger, according to the release. Both hospitals will keep their individual licenses with separate medical staffs, although a single board will oversee both campuses. Barnabas expects the merger to become effective in the second quarter of 2014, pending regulatory approvals.

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