Emergency Care Is About to Transform at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Emergency care is changing — and at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, a new era is about to begin.
In early 2026, our community will welcome a brand-new, expanded Emergency Department, thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving needs of patients and families across Bergen County. This transformation comes at a critical time, as emergency departments nationwide are seeing fewer minor visits and a sharp rise in patients arriving with serious medical conditions and urgent mental health needs.
Across the country, emergency rooms are caring for an aging population, more people living with chronic illness, and a growing number of individuals experiencing mental health crises — trends intensified by the pandemic. Children and teens have been especially affected, with more than one million emergency department visits each year related to mental health conditions. At Bergen New Bridge, we are seeing this need firsthand, across all ages.
As New Jersey’s largest public hospital and a vital safety-net provider, Bergen New Bridge does not turn anyone away. Our Emergency Department serves as the front door to care for medical emergencies, mental health crises, and substance use disorders, and demand continues to grow.
A Bigger, Better, More Compassionate Emergency Department
To meet this moment, Bergen New Bridge is undertaking a major expansion of its Emergency Department, increasing capacity from 19 beds to 49 total beds. This expansion will allow us to better care for patients with complex medical needs while creating specialized, supportive spaces for those experiencing behavioral health and substance use emergencies.
The new Emergency Department will include:
- 19 beds dedicated to acute medical care
- 30 beds dedicated to behavioral health and substance use services
- Specialized areas for pediatric and geriatric patients
- An innovative “living room” model for mental health emergencies that offers a calmer, more therapeutic alternative to a traditional emergency room
This new environment is intentionally designed to reduce stress, anxiety, and stigma, creating a space that promotes dignity, healing, and comfort for patients and their loved ones.
Leading the Way in Mental Health Emergency Care
Bergen New Bridge is nationally recognized for its Psychiatric Emergency Screening and Evaluation Program, and the new Emergency Department builds on that expertise. The expanded space will be staffed by professionals specially trained in behavioral health, ensuring patients in crisis receive timely, compassionate, expert care.
The new design also includes neurodivergent-
Care You Can Count On — When It Matters Most
No one plans for an emergency, but when one happens, knowing where to turn makes all the difference. Bergen New Bridge’s Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with an average wait time of just five to ten minutes.
This expansion is more than a renovation; it is a reflection of our mission to increase access, advance health equity, and serve our community with compassion and excellence. When the new Emergency Department opens in early 2026, emergency care at Bergen New Bridge will not just be larger, it will be calmer, more responsive, and more human-centered than ever before.
Emergency care is transforming — and it’s happening right here, for you and your family.
