Press Release
CentraState awarded $5M+ federal grantCentraState Medical Center in Freehold, NJ has been awarded a $5.5 million federal grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to pay for the hospital’s extensive emergency measures taken during the COVID pandemic, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today. “I worked with the tireless staff at CentraState at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and learned firsthand how hard they cared for the sick even while putting themselves at risk,” said Rep. Smith who has assisted CentraState in obtaining access to medication, ventilators and PPE such as gloves and masks during the pandemic. “This federal grant, which follows up a $1.1 FEMA reimbursement in mid-March, will help reimburse the hospital for the protective equipment and measures it provided to help safeguard workers and patients threatened by COVID-19. “CentraState and many other hospitals in the Garden State were among the hardest-hit in the nation, but their professional, compassionate medical staff and hospital personnel stepped up to the challenge,” Smith said. “Their medical expertise and dedication to patients during this unprecedented national healthcare emergency has been a ray of sunshine during a storm. Their devotion to caring for others in our community is amazing and heartening.” Said John T. Gribbin, President and CEO, CentraState Healthcare System: “As we continue to care for COVID-19 patients and embark on a large scale vaccination effort in our community, we are very grateful to receive the FEMA reimbursement money and for all the support we have received from Congressman Chris Smith. This funding will help us recoup a substantial amount that we have spent to keep people safe—on personal protective equipment, ventilators, employee overtime, temporary workers, testing supplies and many other expenses unique to this pandemic.” The award provides $5,508,240 in federal funding for emergency protective measures that were the result of FEMA’s COVID-19 Pandemic disaster declaration. The funding comes from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which received supplemental funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 which Smith supported and spoke in favor of during the debate on the bill last year. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created an immediate threat to the health and safety of the public, requiring emergency response and protective measures throughout the State of New Jersey. CentraState provided patient monitoring systems, Vapotherm2 units, fluid removal machines, ventilators, infusion pumps, hypothermia management equipment, and filtration systems, as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and disinfectant supplies. The hospital also provided electrical services to expand morgue capacity to a refrigeration truck, expanded its ventilation exhaust system, and medical gas certification of outlets and alarms for expanded facility of the Intensive Care Unit and Coronary Care Unit. It also paid for additional contracted staff to support the high demand and increased Covid-19 population and corresponding support emergency protective measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. During the peak of the pandemic, CentraState reported handling a high number of 138 cases. The hospital and its outpatient and senior facilities and primary and specialty care offices used enhanced infection control and cleaning protocols and mandatory screenings to ensure safety. Acrylic glass and other physical distancing barriers were installed throughout the facilities along with signage to remind all who enter to wear masks, wash their hands routinely and maintain a safe distance from others. The federal grant was based on CentraState’s costs for medical equipment, material, rented equipment and contract services used in response to the emergency. ### |