More Beds, Faster Care: Bergen New Bridge Expands Emergency Room

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus cut the ribbon for its redeveloped
emergency room on Tuesday. Owned by Bergen County, New Bridge Medical Center is the
largest hospital in New Jersey and the fourth-largest publicly owned hospital in the United States.

Since transitioning to new management as a nonprofit in 2017, Bergen New Bridge has been
recognized for providing equitable health care to the public. It has been certified in self-harm
prevention and providing care for individuals living with substance use disorders, depression,
and autism.

Deborah Visconi, Bergen New Bridge’s president and CEO, said that the expanded emergency department will increase the community’s access to high-quality emergency care.

“As Bergen County’s safety net hospital, we proudly care for everyone who comes through our doors,” Visconi stated at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The expansion of Bergen New Bridge’s emergency department began in May 2024, with the hospital receiving aid from community partners. These supporters include elected officials such as Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco, along with other health care nonprofits like CarePlus New Jersey.

Bergen New Bridge more than doubled its emergency department’s capacity, bringing the total number of beds up from 19 to a reported 47. The hospital has also added specialized areas designed for patients in need of mental health services.

Specifically, the emergency department now features areas that utilize the EmPATH model of care (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing), designed to prevent isolation and provide individualized mental and behavioral health care.

“So the EmPATH room has a room where we have mental health professionals in a nursing station to observe, to help, but if somebody wants to get a bite to eat, if they want to take a shower, if they just need some Zen time, they can do some group therapy within the EmPATH room, Tracy Schoenberg, Bergen New Bridge’s public relations director.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness,, nearly 1.4 million adults in New Jersey have a mental health condition, while 366,000 of these adults have a serious mental illness. However, over 265,000 New Jerseyans live in a community without enough mental health professionals.

In addition, a 2025 study published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science stated that health care professionals have experienced multiple barriers and challenges in providing “immediate and efficient care” to patients in emergency departments. Factors such as overcrowding, inadequate staff and triage training, and a lack of available beds have contributed to this problem.

New Jersey Lt. Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell stated that the expanded emergency department at Bergen New  Bridge is the “solution” to the increasing behavioral needs of people in New Jersey, providing “the right care at the right setting at the right time.”

“This space was intentionally designed to better support individuals experiencing mental health emergencies, to create appropriate environments for children and older adults, and to meet the needs of the neurodivergent community. That kind of design reflects values. It reflects the belief that equity in healthcare is essential for all,” added Caldwell.

One of Bergen New Bridge’s board trustees, Michelle Dilorgi, also endorsed its new emergency department as someone whose family has received care from the hospital.

“[This new emergency department] brings innovative, state-of-the-art care to our residents while remaining grounded in the values that have defined the hospital for generations: safety, compassion, and excellence,” Dilorgi said in a statement.

There’s more on the horizon from Bergen New Bridge, as the emergency department will undergo more renovations within the next few years, according to Schoenberg. Bergen New Bridge also looks forward to partnering and supporting outreach programs, such as Arrive Together, that provide mental health care to state residents.

As the hospital continues to pursue improvements in the quality of care it provides to the public, Robert Brown, the chair of the Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Foundation, presented a check for $500,000 in donations put toward their goal.

Though this hospital was nearly sold a decade ago, Bergen New Bridge continues to expand and improve the care and services it provides to state residents.

“We will continue to provide services that the people of Bergen County and northern New Jersey need and want,” said Tedesco, “because it’s important for us to make sure that we don’t leave anyone behind and that we care for everyone.”