[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING CHILTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 21, 2004

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Chilton 
Memorial Hospital of Pequannock Township, Morris County, New Jersey, in 
my congressional district. Chilton Memorial Hospital is celebrating 50 
years of providing excellence in community health care.
  Despite its humble beginnings, Chilton's history is a proud one. This 
256-bed hospital arose from the dream of Dr. Forrest Chilton II and his 
registered nurse wife, Betty. During World War II, when gasoline was 
being rationed and people in the area did not have enough for the drive 
to the hospital in the city of Paterson, Dr. and Mrs. Chilton set up a 
small maternity hospital above his office in Pompton Plains. Soon, as 
more and more of his thankful patients availed themselves of his 
services, it became clear that a full service hospital was desperately 
needed in this fast-growing area in northern New Jersey.
  In 1947, the good doctor and his wife donated 8 acres of land to 
build a hospital in memory of their son, Forrest Chilton III, and other 
heroes who served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice for 
American's in World War II. That same year, Dr. Chilton formed a board 
of directors to help prepare a building plan. Seven years later, in 
1954, thanks to the efforts of Dr. and Mrs. Chilton, the Board of 
Trustees, the 20 women who were the original members of the Chilton 
Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and 20,000 community volunteers who gave of 
their time and financial resources, the Chilton Memorial Hospital, with 
31 employees and 50 beds, opened its doors for the first time in 
Pompton Plains.
  Within 2 months the hospital was operating near capacity and 
expansion plans were already underway. In that first year, Chilton 
Memorial admitted 2,536 patients, delivered 787 babies and treated 
3,317 people in its emergency room.
  Fifty years later, Chilton Memorial's 1,400 employees and 575 
associated physicians admit more than 11,000 patients each year, 
deliver 1,200 newborn babies, perform nearly 6,000 same day surgeries, 
treat 36,000 people in its state-of-the-art emergency department, and 
treat an additional 81,000 citizens on an outpatient basis.
  Indeed, Chilton Memorial Hospital's tradition of caring and its 
commitment to the surrounding communities has made it one of New 
Jersey's best hospitals. Today, Mr. Speaker, Chilton Memorial Hospital 
is credited with being the first hospital in the State of New Jersey to 
be awarded a perfect score by the Joint Commission Accreditation of 
Healthcare Organizations, whose surveyors evaluate facilities and 
procedures at 18,000 healthcare facilities worldwide. Chilton's nursing 
staff has also won national acclaim for consistently receiving the 
highest ratings for their competence, compassion, response time, and 
teamwork.
  The future will be no different for Chilton as it continues following 
in the footsteps of its founder and provides state-of-the-art 
healthcare to a grateful community. Services like Chilton's family-
centered obstetrics program that features home-like labor, delivery and 
recovery rooms, its renowned pediatric care, free standing same day 
surgery center, and centers for pain management, endoscopy, cardiac 
care, sleeping disorders, sports medicine and cancer care, among 
others, and its strong commitment to health and wellness for older men 
and women, have helped build Chilton's lasting legacy as a premier 
quality healthcare provider.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives join with me in congratulating Chilton Memorial 
Hospital, and all of the hospital's outstanding staff, employees, and 
volunteers, upon celebrating its 50th anniversary.

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