RWJ Hamilton Opens New Lakefront Tower Patient Building
Ribbon-Cutting Pays Tribute to Those Who Planned Patient-Focused, Family-Friendly Expansion

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of its new Lakefront Tower patient building. The new four-story building, which features 64 private patient rooms, opens to the community on April 1.

"The timing for opening our Lakefront Tower is absolutely perfect," says RWJ Hamilton President and CEO Ellen Guarnieri. "Our community is growing rapidly and turning to us more often for care. We are humbled by the trust they've shown in us."

Local dignitaries along with members of the RWJ Hamilton Healthcare Corp. Board join Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton CEO Ellen Guarnieri to cut the ribbon designating the hospital's new Lakefront Tower open. Pictured are (left to right) Maurice Perilli, Executive Vice President of Roma Bank; Rudolph Palombi, Emeritus Trustee; Hamilton Township Mayor Glen D. Gilmore; Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes; State Senator Peter Inverso (R, District 14) who is Chairman of the Board as well as President and CEO of Roma Bank; Mahmoud Ghusson, MD, RWJ Hamilton Chief of Medical Staff; Ellen Guarnieri, RWJ Hamilton President and CEO; Johnny Morris, President of Morris Broadcasting (WIMG-AM) and Emeritus Trustee; Christy Stephenson, former President and CEO of RWJ Hamilton; William Rue, President of Rue Insurance; Steve Jones, Interim President of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

The leading-edge design of the Lakefront Tower incorporates the power of nature to improve healing. All windows have been angled to maximize exposure to sunlight and elements of nature, including bright photographs of plants, have been placed throughout the facility. Most rooms have soothing views of the adjacent lake in Hamilton Veterans Park or the newest Grounds For HealingTM, the hospital's fourth on-campus garden devoted to peaceful reflection. The Grounds For Healing is being designed in partnership with Hamilton's Grounds For Sculpture, the internationally know organization devoted to promotion of the art form.

The new building allows RWJ Hamilton to expand its maternity unit from 14 to 30 rooms and provide a large, state-of-the-art nursery. Other new rooms are devoted to medical/surgical and orthopedic nursing units. Materials used in patient rooms have been selected based on their contribution to a quiet environment. Quieter floors, wall coverings and ceiling tiles all play a role in reducing noise and helping patients heal.

The input of the RWJ Hamilton's physicians, nurses and employees was sought during the process of designing patient rooms. A patient mock-up room was built in the hospital's existing facility and all groups were asked for feedback. Results from this process resulted in ergonomic rooms that enhance patient care and interaction between, physicians, nurses patients and their families. Each room also has comfortable areas designated for families to stay with their loved ones.

The Lakefront Tower will have expanded clinical and service areas as well as an atrium cafeteria with a two-story window that overlooks the new Grounds For Healing and outdoor dining facilities.

Groundbreaking for the Lakefront Tower began in October 2005 and planning for the new building began in 2003 under past RWJ Hamilton CEO Christy Stephenson, now a member of the RWJ Health Care Corp. Hamilton Board of Directors. The decision to expand was driven by trends and forecasts of growth in greater Mercer County. At the time of groundbreaking, RWJ Hamilton was experiencing a patient occupancy rate of 95 percent; that rate has continued to rise. The new building has space to accommodate 32 additional private patient rooms.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.