Rowan University Approves Land Deal for Inspira Medical Center

On Feb 17, 2016

Rowan University’s Board of Trustees gave authorization to their administration to negotiate a letter of intent to sell 100 acres in Harrison Township to Inspira Health Network for the construction of a new medical center. During a meeting of the University’s Board, Inspira President and CEO John DiAngelo presented details about the proposed medical center, which will be located on Route 322 near Exit 50 of Route 55, across from the South Jersey Technology Park.

Rowan’s Board also requested details about future collaborations the two organizations could develop around the site and asked their leadership to negotiate the price of the property based on today’s appraised value.

The state-of-the-art medical center will feature more than 1,400 employees, all private patient rooms and a variety of modern amenities and technologies. The new facility will be approximately 350,000 square feet with a bed count between 175 and 200.

Inspira physicians, nurses, staff and patients are contributing their ideas to the planning process, ensuring that the design enhances the delivery of high quality care. Some of the key services the medical center will offer include:

• Modern, fully-equipped surgical suites;
• a home-like maternity center;
• a spacious emergency department with a dedicated Pediatric ER; and
• a cardiac catheterization lab with emergency angioplasty for heart attack patients.

“A modern medical center conveniently located in the heart of Gloucester County will be a great asset to the entire region,” said John DiAngelo, President and CEO of Inspira Health Network. “This facility will allow our physicians and staff to offer our neighbors easy access to an even higher level of quality health care.”

Inspira plans to implement leading-edge wireless and digital technologies in the medical center, including electronic medical record systems and smart room technology that provides patient comfort and enhances the coordination of care.

“A state-of-the-art facility will allow us to expand our digital technologies and enhance the care we provide our patients,” said DiAngelo. “Our design will also focus on green technologies that will provide energy efficiency and help us to reduce the cost of operations.”

After gaining state approval for the project, Inspira estimates that construction of the medical center will take approximately three years with a total project cost of approximately $350 million. The project will move hospital services from Inspira Medical Center Woodbury to the new site, with a variety of services remaining in Woodbury, including a satellite Emergency Room.

“Inspira remains committed to providing care in the city of Woodbury and a significant portion of this project will be dedicated to enhancing our current site,” said DiAngelo.

Locating Inspira’s medical center near the Rowan University campus also offers unique opportunities for both institutions. With the fastest growing medical residency program in the state and clinical rotation opportunities at all three of its medical centers, Inspira has a long history of training medical students in our region.

“Education and health care are not only important economic engines in our region, but they are both essential to improving the lives of our residents,” said DiAngelo. “Building close to the Rowan campus will allow us to explore the possibilities of offering students valuable medical education experiences in a modern hospital.”

Rowan University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine currently serves as the Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institution, or academic sponsor of Inspira’s residency programs in Vineland. Inspira is also a clinical rotation site for Rowan/SOM undergraduate medical students.

In addition to medical education experiences, Inspira hopes to form partnerships with Rowan to offer undergraduate internships and educational opportunities in business, health care management, information systems, bio-medical engineering, nursing and allied health. The size of the property allows for collaboration with other partners to build facilities that provide community wellness, population health initiatives and educational facilities.

Building a medical center next to the University also provides the opportunity for both organizations to collaborate on the design of the site and explore sharing support services such as purchasing, security and landscaping.

“Ultimately, we hope that by working with Rowan, we can help to build a more experienced and educated workforce, enhance economic growth in our region and improve the health and well-being of everyone we serve,” said DiAngelo.

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