PARAMUS—Touting its continued commitment to providing top-notch medical care and to building a healthier community, The Valley Hospital broke ground on a state-of-the-art seven-story, 372-bed hospital in Paramus on Friday, Nov. 1.
Officials said the new hospital is expected to cost $800 million and employ 600 workers during construction.
Alongside Gov. Phil Murphy, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, U.S. Reps Josh Gottheimer and Bill Pascrell, Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera, hospital leaders, and a dozen major donors, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco II was on hand to show support.
At the event, LaBarbiera predicted Paramus would soon become not only the state’s retail hub but also its health-care hub.
Audrey Meyers, Valley Health’s president and CEO, said the groundbreaking is the start of a new chapter in the history of the hospital, which opened in 1951 in Ridgewood.
Murphy, noting that the day also was the first day of open enrollment for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, called for officials to ensure that residents have comprehensive health care coverage.
To that end, he said that over the next six weeks his administration would work to sign up as many qualified insurance applicants as possible.
In New Jersey, it’s the law to have health insurance. Failure to have health coverage or qualify for an exemption will result in a penalty. You may be eligible to receive financial help to lower the cost of your plan. Last year, about eight out of 10 New Jersey residents purchasing on the Marketplace received a tax credit to pay for their plan.
For more information and to apply visit getcovered.nj.gov.
‘A milestone day’
Tedesco said in a press release that the event was a milestone day for Bergen County and that Valley’s commitment to the community has been unwavering.
“This exciting project will not only provide greater access to healthcare for the residents of Bergen County, but will also strengthen our local economy by creating new jobs. Bergen County is well on its way to becoming the healthcare hub of the state,” he said.