CentraState Healthcare System was honored with the Community Wellness Award at the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council’s Silver Gull awards dinner on May 1, 2025. The event took place at South Gate Manor in Freehold. This recognition highlights CentraState’s efforts alongside other New Jersey hospitals and state legislators to amend legislation, enabling community hospitals to provide crucial cardiac services.
In 2021, Governor Phil Murphy enacted legislation, supported by state Senator Vin Gopal and state Senator Joseph Vitale, which allowed CentraState and other qualified facilities to seek licensing for elective angioplasty procedures. This procedure involves inserting a small balloon to open a blocked artery and restore blood flow to the heart. The treatment is minimally invasive and can be life-saving for those with cardiac disease, allowing them access to care close to home.
Following the legislative change, CentraState opened a new cardiac suite in 2022 and received approval from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) to perform emergency angioplasty for heart attack patients. This development ensures that patients in cardiac crisis receive timely treatment without needing risky transfers to other institutions.
Vin Gopal’s Civic Association also received a Silver Gull award as a Changemaker. CentraState collaborated with him and his office to bring the elective angioplasty program to their area.
