Donation allowing Newton Hospital to care for area residents' hearts

NEWTON—Newton Memorial Hospital is once again adding to its repertory of services to better care for the health of area residents. Rain or shine, hot, cool or in-between, the groundbreaking for the Newton Memorial Hospital's new Charles L. Tice Heart Center for Diagnostic Services will take place today, Thursday, at 4 p.m. outside the building's main lobby area. The 15,000-square foot facility is slated as a cardiac diagnostic center. However, hospital officials expect that eventually the center to grow into a complete treatment facility for cardiovascular disease. According to hospital projections, some 10,000 in Sussex County and the surrounding communities suffer from some kind of heart disease. "It's a diagnostic center more than it is a heart center," explained Brian H. Grace, the hospital's director of marketing and public relations. "We are not doing open heart surgery. We are doing what they call low-risk catheterization. It's the beginning of more things to come with diagnostic heart ailments. We'll be able to do more down the road to keep people in the county." Tice, a former senior vice president and treasurer with Selective Insurance of Branchville, as well as a former Newton Memorial foundation board member, said his interest in the project came from his own personal heart ailments. "I started life out with rheumatic fever," explained Tice, 71, a Newton resident. "Since then, I've had five heart attacks, bypass surgery, valves replaced and an aorta rebuilt. So I thought I wanted to do something for Sussex County when I heard of this. "I hope with this new addition that the people in the community and in the surrounding areas will have better care, faster care. It's quite a trip to Morristown, especially for those with a heart condition. I just thought this would be a good cause to contribute to." Grace said the $7.4 million project would take "approximately one year. Expectations are from 12 to 18 months." Of the money raised for the project, Tice contributed $1.1 million and is expected to attend today's groundbreaking ceremony. The hospital representative also said invitations have been extended to political figures and other prominent people, and that a reception will follow indoors.