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Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital Celebrates Accomplishments At Fifth Anniversary
State-of-the-art facility opened in July 2008 MORRIS PLAINS鈥� Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital today celebrated its fifth anniversary with staff and patients commemorating advances in treatment and burying a time capsule to be opened in 50 years.鈥淕reystone opened as a state-of-the-art facility five years ago and has become a model for focused, best-practices in treatment and recovery as well as preparation for discharge into the community,鈥� Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Jennifer Velez said. 鈥淭his celebration is a powerful symbol of the progress in inpatient care for people who need it.鈥�
Staff and patients gathered in the hospital鈥檚 large auditorium of the Koch Avenue facility and listened as Greystone CEO Janet Monroe cited the hospital鈥檚 many accomplishments, including treatment advances, staff training, the development of a self-help center, the lowest rate of patient restraint in the country, geriatric care, treatment for patients with co-occurring substance disorders, and a unique program for patients who are deaf or hard of hearing.
鈥淭his state-of-the-art facility has allowed consumers to receive state-of-the art care,鈥� Monroe said before putting her letter listing the accomplishments into the time capsule staff and patients buried in the hospital courtyard. 鈥淭his facility and its staff have provided a foundation in recovery for so many consumers. We are incredibly honored to have participated in this important step of their lives.鈥�
Former patients also spoke of their current success living in the community, attributing it to the quality treatment and care they received in the new hospital.
On July 16, 2008, patients moved into the new Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, a single, self-contained facility designed to provide improved, cohesive and concentrated treatment.
Construction began in November 2005. The $200 million hospital replaced five aging treatment buildings and a 131-year-old administration building.
It is a 450-bed facility with over 21 rooms for various activities, a self-help center, a large auditorium and a swimming pool. There are also on-site residential cottages that serve 60 additional patients transitioning to more independent, community living.
The construction project was a four-way partnership involving DHS and Treasury, the NJ Health Care Facilities Financing Authority (HCFFA), which arranged the financing, and the NJ Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), which managed the design and construction. The architect for the project was the Vitetta Group of Philadelphia. Torcon Inc. of Red Bank was the builder.
Former Governor Christie Whitman in 2000 ordered that Greystone be closed or 鈥渄ramatically reconfigured鈥� to better meet modern patient needs.
Upon the opening of the new hospital, the former main building and various other buildings on site became surplus with ownership transferred from DHS to the Department of Treasury.
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