Our History
Hunterdon was the only county in New Jersey without a hospital...until the neighbors got involved.
Our story begins in 1946, when Rose Angell, the county’s welfare director, found it unacceptable that Hunterdon was the only county in New Jersey without a hospital. Together with Louise Leicester, a public relations specialist, they approached the Hunterdon County Board of Agriculture and began the process of building a hospital in our county. The residents of Hunterdon quickly rallied in support and, through a tremendous grassroots effort, raised the necessary funds to support the construction of a comprehensive medical facility. In 1953, Hunterdon Medical Center opened its doors, drawing national attention for its focus on wellness and primary care.
Today, our commitment to healthcare remains rooted within our 178-bed teaching hospital and our growing network of more than 30 primary and specialty practices throughout Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer, Warren and Morris counties. As we continue to evolve and grow to meet the needs of an expanding and vibrant community, you will always be at the center of our care.
• Rose Angell, Hunterdon County’s welfare director, and Louise Leicester approach Hunterdon County Board of Agriculture with a proposal to build a hospital in Hunterdon, the only county in NJ without a comprehensive medical facility.
• Hunterdon Medical Center Corporation is formed. Clifford E. Snyder, previously president of the county Board of Agriculture, is named first president of the Board of Trustees.
• Hunterdon Medical Center Corporation establishes a teaching affiliation with New York University-Bellevue Medical Center.
• First capital campaign is launched to raise $1.2 million to build the hospital.
• Dr. Ray Trussell is named Hunterdon Medical Center’s first Director.
• Lloyd Wescott becomes chairman of the Board of Trustees, succeeding Clifford Snyder.
• Groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital.
• On July 3, 1953, Hunterdon Medical Center opens its doors. The first patient was Henry Potopowitz, an 11-year old boy from Annandale with an acute case of appendicitis.
• In its first decade, Hunterdon Medical Center becomes one of the first hospitals in the nation to allow fathers in the delivery room, expands its residency program to two years, and pioneers a home care program.
• Three floors are added to hospital.
• Intensive Care Unit opens.
• Residency program expands to three years.
• Phillips-Barber Family Health Center opens in Lambertville.
• Community Mental Health Center opens.
• Teaching affiliation with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ-Rutgers Medical School begins.
• Child Development Center opens.
• Delaware Valley Family Health Center in Milford opens.
• New addition to hospital constructed.
• New telemetry system installed to monitor cardiac patients.
• Same-day surgery and endoscopy lab opens.
• Hunterdon Health Services Corporation becomes new parent organization.
• Hunterdon Medical Center Auxiliary forms.
• Groundbreaking ceremony for the Hunterdon Medical Center Doctor’s Office Building.
• First Mobile Intensive Care Unit hits the road.
• Helipad constructed adjacent to the Emergency Department.
• New mammography facility is constructed.
• $4 million Capital Campaign launched for major building and renovation projects.
• Robert P. Wise named President and CEO.
• New MRI facility brought latest imaging technology to Hunterdon County.
• Bright Tomorrows Child Care Center opened.
• Hunterdon Health Services Corporation renamed Hunterdon Healthcare System.
• Hunterdon Medical Center affiliates with Fox Chase Cancer Center to form Hunterdon Regional Cancer Program.
• Mobile Intensive Care Unit expands into Warren County.
• Sleep disorders program established.
• Occupational health services established.
• The Cardiac Catheterization lab opens.
• Surgical robotics introduced in the operating room.
• The Hunterdon Health and Wellness Center opens in Whitehouse Station.
• The Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center opens.
• Hunterdon Imaging Associates opens county’s first Open Air MRI.
• Neonatology services enables HMC to care for babies born as early as 32 weeks.
• Mobile Intensive Care Unit added in Lambertville.
• Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program opens.
• Diabetes Health Center opens.
• Hunterdon Medical Pavilion opens.
• Cardiac Catheterization lab receives designation as a full-service facility.
• Groundbreaking ceremony for the Emergency Department renovation and expansion project.
• Hunterdon Medical Center marks its 50th Anniversary.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner is installed.
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) offered at Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center.
• Renovated Emergency Department expands to handle 40,000 patient visits annually.
• Intensive Care Unit expanded.
• Cardiovascular services expand to include interventional cardiology and carotid stenting.
• Hunterdon Medical Center introduces emergency angioplasty and updated Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.
• Community Nutrition Department creates an adolescent weight management program.
• Hunterdon Healthcare System invests $500,000 for a new CT Simulator.
• Hunterdon Regional Autism Center is established.
• Renovation and expansion of special care nursery and the well-baby nursery.
• Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center opens the Radiation Oncology wing.
• Hunterdon Center for Dermatology opens.
• Center for Advanced Weight Loss opens at the Clinton Health Campus.
• Center for Bone & Joint Health established.
• Hunterdon Pulmonary and Critical Care becomes a part of Hunterdon Health.
• Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center expands to 4,751 square feet.
• Hunterdon Medical Center introduces Robotic Surgery.
• Alliance between Atlantic Health System and Hunterdon Healthcare brings satellite office of Goryeb Children’s Hospital to Flemington.
• The Norman and Denise Guilloud Cardiovascular Center opens.
• Hunterdon Medical Center’s Laboratory introduces House Call visits.
• President and CEO, Robert P. Wise, retires from Hunterdon Healthcare System.
• Patrick J. Gavin named the new President and CEO of Hunterdon Healthcare System.
• Hunterdon Healthcare System and Atlantic Health System announce a joint partnership with shared ownership of Bridgewater Physical and Occupational Therapy, Advanced Imaging at Bridgewater and Bridgewater Ambulatory Surgery Center.
• Hospital rapidly increases bed capacity by 93% to meet the unprecedented influx of COVID-19 patients.
• 500 individuals admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 and over 50,000 tests performed in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.
• Hunterdon Healthcare receives the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).
• Hunterdon Medical Center approved to perform elective angioplasty by Senate Health Committee.
• Hunterdon Medical Associates at Long Valley becomes a practice of Hunterdon Healthcare.
• Hunterdon Healthcare is Certified™ by Great Place to Work®.
• Hunterdon Healthcare and MidJersey Orthopaedics opens a dedicated inpatient care unit to help provide state-of-the-art care for total joint and spine patients.
• Hunterdon Medical Center received the 2021 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus and Honor Roll Elite Quality Achievement Award.
• Hunterdon Medical Center was reaccredited by The Joint Commission.
• Hunterdon Medical Center's stroke program earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check Mark for Primary Stroke Center Certification.
• Between January 2021 and March of 2022, Hunterdon Healthcare organized and staffed 79 COVID-19 vaccination clinics administering 43,807 shots to individuals aged 5 years and older.
• Hunterdon Medical Center once again receives NICHE designation (Nurses Improving Care to Healthsystem Elders), one of only 519 hospitals in North America.
• Hunterdon Healthcare receives the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).
• Hunterdon Healthcare launches a five-year strategic plan and introduces a new logo and name, Hunterdon Health.
• In August 2022, Hunterdon Health unveiled a new website, hunterdonhealth.org. The new website was designed with the patient in mind. There you can find important information regarding our services, providers, careers and so much more!
• Hunterdon Health offers nitrous oxide as a pain relief option to expectant mothers during labor.
• Hunterdon Health is Certified™ by Great Place to Work® for the 2nd year in a row.
• Hunterdon Medical Center and the Hunterdon Medical Group offices were recognized for their Antimicrobial Stewardship practices. Hunterdon Medical Center also received the 2022 Gold Steward Award for the 2nd year in a row for its ongoing antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Hunterdon Health also received the 2022 Bronze Steward Award for its stewardship initiatives in the Outpatient Setting.
• On November 15th, Hunterdon Health employees, providers, and local officials gathered to mark the beginning of construction for Hunterdon Advanced Imaging at Clinton. The new imaging suite will offer patients the latest technology in medical imaging including: mammography, Dexa Scan, X-ray, CAT scan, Ultrasound and MRI (3T).
• The American Heart Association recognized Hunterdon Medical Center’s Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) with the Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of a heart attack, ultimately saving lives.
- Hunterdon Medical Center once again receives NICHE designation (Nurses Improving Care to Healthsystem Elders), one of only 519 hospitals in North America.
- Hunterdon Health received its fourth Magnet recognition, reinforcing a continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice.
- Hunterdon Medical Center received five stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The overall star rating is based on how well a hospital performs across different areas of quality, such as treating heart attacks and pneumonia, readmission rates, and safety of care.
- Hunterdon Advanced Imaging at Clinton opens.
- Hunterdon Family Medicine in Phillipsburg opened in December.
- Hunterdon Medical Associates at Long Valley moved to new office.
- The Joint Commission (TJC) for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations sets the standards by which healthcare quality is measured in America and around the world. It is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies over 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs. To maintain and earn accreditation, organizations must have an extensive on-site review by a team of TJC healthcare professionals, at least once every three years. In 2024, Hunterdon Medical Center, Hunterdon Behavioral Health, and Home Health Services were accredited.