In 1895, the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, under the guidance of a young German priest, Father Joseph Joch, established the Saint Francis Health Resort in Denville, N.J.  After caring for the health needs of the region for several decades, the Sisters began to recognize the need for an acute care hospital and broke ground for what would become Saint Clare’s in Denville in 1950.  In 1985, 1990 and 1994 respectively, Riverside Hospital in Boonton Township, N.J., Walkill Valley Hospital in Sussex, N.J., and Dover General Hospital in Dover, N.J. joined with us to create the Saint Clare’s Health System, northwestern New Jersey’s most comprehensive community healthcare system.

Throughout our history, there has been a strong bond between our community and Saint Clare’s. Today, patients can access an impressive array of services such as emergency services, behavioral health (New Jersey’s largest private system), general surgery, an in-hospital hospice, and our Centers of Excellence in cancer care, women’s health, maternal/child care, and cardiovascular care.

The measure of a successful, responsible, and passionate healthcare provider can be found in its dogged pursuit of the best and most contemporary services for its communities in the face of extraordinary challenges.  Saint Clare’s Health System has turned challenges into opportunity with a $200 million initiative that is changing the scope and quality of healthcare in Morris and Sussex Counties. 

The aging population and migration of new residents to our region are producing an increasing demand for our services.  Increasing patient volume and the need to keep pace with continuously improving technology are the compelling factors behind the groundbreaking plan that will result in expanded facilities, new structures to house existing and planned services, and major technology enhancements.

Saint Clare’s Health System will fund the $200 million project through a combination of the traditional financing and philanthropy.