Master Plan & Transformation

Following an intensive, multi-day vision session with system leadership, the "Transformation" project emerged. The result?  A patient care pavilion with 144 private rooms, an innovative nursing model, and a new emergency department and Level 1 trauma center capable of treating over 100,000 patients annually. A state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment building housing the latest surgical suites, imaging technology, and a dedicated 12-bed cardiac care unit redefines the hospital’s future.

In addition to revitalizing existing buildings and delivering a new central utility plant, broader campus improvements enhance connectivity, optimize traffic flow, and elevate the healing environment—creating a future-ready medical campus built for innovation and community impact.

In 2006, Jersey Shore University Medical Center launched a $300 million expansion and renovation with a bold vision: to transform healthcare delivery for a community it had served for over a century. As part of the Center for Health Design’s “Pebble Project,” the hospital committed to leveraging evidence-based design (EBD), advanced technology, and exceptional service to elevate patient safety, experience, and outcomes.

In collaboration with hospital leadership, physicians, and staff, Page developed a nursing neighborhood model informed by existing evidence. The team then studied how decentralized nursing units influenced communication, care quality, and safety—linking physical design directly to clinical performance.
This research-driven approach positioned JSUMC to innovate beyond physical space. It became a strategic process to align design with organizational goals, improve interdisciplinary collaboration, and enable long-term operational efficiency.

The project illustrates how healthcare environments can serve as platforms for systemic change. By embedding research and evaluation into every stage of design and implementation, JSUMC redefined what a hospital expansion could achieve.

The overwhelmingly positive response from patients, staff, and the broader community underscores the impact of EBD—not just in improving environments, but in transforming how care is delivered.