Classes & Events News Get
Updates

Chilton History

A Tradition of Health Care Excellence

The first chapter of Chilton Medical Center's history was written in 1947. Forrest S. Chilton II, MD, and his wife, Elizabeth, an RN, donated a tract of land on Newark-Pompton Turnpike to build a hospital in memory of their son whose life was lost in World War II. 

Their action sparked a successful drive to build a facility that would serve the health needs of the community and became a reality with a 50-bed facility in 1954, and expanded to 119 beds in 1961.

In August 1968, a 40-acre tract was purchased one mile west of the Newark-Pompton Turnpike site and another building, the West Parkway facility, was dedicated November 20, 1971. The next goal was to combine the two buildings on West Parkway and construction of an expanded hospital began in 1981. This included a new patient wing, new ground floor facility, and a complete remodeling of the original building. The "new" Chilton Memorial Hospital was dedicated in June 1984 and renamed Chilton Hospital in November 2010. The hospital merged with Atlantic Health System in January 2014 and became Chilton Medical Center.

Today, Chilton Medical Center is a 260-bed, acute-care, non-profit community hospital with approximately 1,350 employees. It features some of the most sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic equipment available. Our compassionate health care professionals provide advanced, cost-effective care, and all of our resources, including the staff you will meet, as well as those you may not, are dedicated to one purpose - returning you to the best possible health.

More than 550 physicians representing more than 60 different specialties hold staff privileges at Chilton Medical Center. They are supported by allied health professionals who utilize the most current technologies and on-going education in treatment, while never losing sight of the importance and dignity of each individual patient. Our hospital serves residents from more than 33 communities and provides care for people of all ages. It has been recognized for excellence for programs from obstetrics to geriatrics.

The hospital is licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and is a member of the Voluntary Hospital Association of America, American Hospital Association, and New Jersey Hospital Association.