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A Bergen County hospital is looking to expand after seeing record growth in births, admissions and emergency room visits.
The Valley Hospital in Paramus is seeking planning board approval to build a new patient care wing, which would add about 100 beds to the hospital, according to project plans.
The proposed expansion comes just two years after Valley Health System moved the hospital from its longtime home in Ridgewood to a new, 370-bed building in Paramus. The hospital offers emergency, inpatient and outpatient services for adults and children.
Executive leaders said Valley has seen record growth in patient volume since relocating, with significant increases across multiple areas in 2025 alone:
- Hospital births jumped nearly 15%, up to 4,459 babies.
- Hospital admissions climbed 6.1%, to 31,991 patients.
- ER visits increased 4.3%, up to 81,664.
“The continued growth in patient demand at Valley reflects the trust our communities place in us and reinforces the need to plan thoughtfully for the future,” said Dr. Robert Brenner, president and CEO for Valley Health System.
The preliminary plan calls for a patient care wing with a dedicated specialty inpatient pavilion designed to support high-demand clinical services.
Aside from the addition, the facade of the hospital is expected to remain largely the same. According to design plans, the proposed expansion would be integrated into the existing hospital structure and designed to complement its current architecture.
Valley did not provide a cost estimate for the project. Valley spokeswoman Erin McNamara said additional information, such as detailed cost estimates, will be available as planning and design progress.
McNamara added that Valley plans to keep community stakeholders informed throughout the review process.
The expansion project coincides with Valley’s upcoming 75th anniversary. The hospital first opened its doors on Aug. 8, 1951 — before there was a vaccine for measles, the introduction of insulin or the eradication of smallpox.
While a lot has changed in the past seven decades, Brenner said the hospital’s role remains the same.
“For 75 years, The Valley Hospital has served the community with a mission to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare. This mission remains unchanged,” Brenner said in a press release.
“The concepts presented to the Paramus Planning Board act upon this mission, ensuring that we can continue to accommodate future patient demand while providing our patients with the highest standards of care in a state-of-the-art facility.”
Construction on the expansion project has yet to begin. Pending all regulatory approvals and municipal review, work is expected to begin in 2027.
The Valley Health System consists of The Valley Hospital, Valley Home Care and Valley Medical Group. It serves the communities of northern New Jersey and southern New York.
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