The emergency room of Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch is getting a $500,000 refurbishment thanks to a generous benefactor. 

The benefactor, Morgan E. Cline, has named the area Ben’s Place 24/7 in memory of Benjamin R. D'Onofrio - who died in 2009. Cline and D’Onofrio made a $3 million donation to the hospital in 2007 to benefit the emergency department, which was named the Cline-D'Onofrio Emergency Services Pavilion of Monmouth Medical Center. 

"Thanks to another very generous donation by Morgan E. Cline, we were able to upgrade the original Emergency Department to match the Cline-D'Onofrio Emergency Services Pavilion, which was completed in November 2009," said Dr. Frank J. Vozos, executive director of Monmouth Medical Center.

The new donation also has allowed the hospital to create a separate observation/chest pain and stroke clinical decision-making unit for rapid assessment.

The refurbishment also includes new floor and ceiling tiles and a new ambulance entrance. The improvements also include a new nursing station, cabinetry and counters in all treatment areas, as well as upgraded lighting and new flat screen televisions. 

The existing cubicle curtain track system also will be replaced with the On The Right Track cubicle curtain system. The new system operates without any hooks, chains or carriers, and its split-ring design allow the curtains to quietly slide silently along the rail and allows doctors or nurses to easily access the patient.

The new area of the emergency department will be unveiled at 3 p.m. April 4 with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony.