By Sunayana Prabhu
RED BANK – For patients facing a cancer diagnosis, not only is access to timely coordinated care critical, but support while undergoing the most challenging phases of treatment can make all the difference in recovery. To meet that need, Hackensack Meridian Health Riverview Medical Center has expanded its existing cancer center at the Jane Booker Pavilion with a new inpatient oncology care unit.
The expansion adds 20 private patient rooms, increasing the total number of private inpatient beds at the specialized cancer center to 41.
The American Cancer Society estimates that cancer incidences will “increase by 50% over the next 20 years,” meaning hospitals will care for far more patients, said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of HMH at the unveiling of the new facility Jan. 29.
Addressing a group of HMH executives, physician specialists and elected officials, Garrett said there is reason for hope. Over the past generation, he said, the nation has reduced cancer mortality by over 30%, and there are now almost 20 million Americans who have survived cancer. With the establishment of the new unit at Riverview, he said, “We’re going to see many, many more cancer patients survive and thrive as they navigate this very complicated disease.”
Garrett was joined by Domenic DiPiero, treasurer, HMH Board of Trustees; Tim Hogan, president and chief hospital executive of RMC; Andre Goy, M.D., physician-in-chief for HMH Oncology Services; and Raghu Kunamneni, M.D., medical oncologist at RMC, among others.
Elected officials included Assemblymember Margie Donlon (D-11), Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone, County Commissioner Erik Anderson and Red Bank Councilmember Laura Jannone, who all joined to celebrate RMC’s milestone expansion.
HMH has invested about $14.5 million for the nearly 11,000-square-foot expansion. By keeping oncology patients on the same hospital wing, the new unit aims to support stronger continuity of care and reduce the burden of care coordination throughout treatment.
“As a medical oncologist, I see every day how deeply cancer affects patients and their families – not only physically, but in all the logistics of their lives,” Kunamneni said, noting the significance of coordination, clear communication and timely decisions. “This floor will be a site where we provide those services and really important therapies for our patients,” he said.
The cancer center offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient treatment, supported by nurse navigators who coordinate appointments, guide patients through their care plans, and connect them with supportive services.
A multidisciplinary oncology suite allows patients to be evaluated by a team of physicians in a single visit, and the center includes infusion and chemotherapy facilities, radiation, and surgery services, in addition to advanced tools such as the CyberKnife System, a robotic radiosurgery technology that provides noninvasive, highly precise radiation treatments for both malignant and benign tumors.
The center also offers family support resources.
Planned architectural enhancements feature a calming design and picturesque views of the Navesink River. The expansion, undertaken by BKT Architects and general contractor Torcon, required a full interior demolition of the existing space, extensive mechanical upgrades to support the new patient rooms and additional improvements to the exterior façade. The new space includes an oversized family waiting room and a centrally located nursing station with enhanced technology for improved communication.
The expansion complements Riverview’s existing cancer services, including the Larkin Stillwell-Hansen Infusion Center and Booker 3, the inpatient oncology unit with 21 private rooms.
“Riverview Medical Center has long been a leader in oncology care, and for nearly 100 years we’ve been proud to serve this community with the expertise and compassion our patients deserve,” Hogan said. “This expansion builds on that legacy, strengthening inpatient capacity, improving continuity of care, and ensuring more patients can receive high-quality cancer treatment close to home.”
Access to health care in the region has been a hot topic of discussion following Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health’s (RWJ) recent move to relocate Monmouth Medical Center to the Vogel Medical Campus in Tinton Falls, where RWJ is also currently constructing its Specialty and Cancer Care Center. The cancer facility is scheduled to open later this year.
Riverview’s plan for its new unit has been in development for some time and aligns with its goal of providing access to underserved communities. “This hospital will always be a place where all patients, all members of the community can access care and we’re really proud of that,” said Garrett.
Riverview has also been jointly treating patients in partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center. MSK treats the majority of its patients at a satellite outpatient facility in Middletown, but when those patients require inpatient care, “they trust Riverview,” Garrett said.
The article originally appeared in the February 5 – 11, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
