[R]utland Regional Medical Center has completed the first phase of an expansion project and renovation of its emergency department designed to improve efficiency, patient privacy and access, and overall workflow between departments.
As part of the first phase of construction five new mental health and medical exam rooms were built.
Work on the second phase, which involves increasing the number of exam rooms in the emergency department from 19 to 26, will begin Monday and is expected to last another six months.
During that time access to the hospital’s main areas including the food court will not be available via the emergency department. Patients and visitors may access those areas of the hospital through the Stratton Road and Allen Street entrances.
“The area in and around the Emergency Department entrance is clearly marked for patients needing access,” Mary Nemeth, vice president of corporate support services at Rutland Regional, said in a press release. “We have signage and wayfinding at key points as well as an awning indicating the location of the temporary entrance. Parking will not be affected.”
Renovation of the emergency department entryway began in February and was conducted in a space used round the clock by patients and hospital staff, according to the press release. The emergency room provides care to more than 33,000 patients annually.
“From the beginning we committed ourselves to ensuring that every patient received the very best care from the entire emergency department team, regardless of the construction,” Todd Gregory, medical director of emergency services, said in the press release. “The construction crew has been incredibly gracious and caring for the needs of this department and our patients and that has led to our ability to continue to provide top quality emergency medicine to members of our community.”
Rutland Regional Medical Center announced in July that it was changing the name of the West Ridge Center for Addiction Recovery, one of a handful of methadone clinics in the state, to West Ridge Center.
The name change is part of an effort to better integrate behavioral health care with other parts of the medical center. “It was important to us that the West Ridge Center have the same look, feel, and identity as any other service at Rutland Regional,” Jeffrey McKee, vice president of community and behavioral health services, said at the time.
The current construction efforts are scheduled to be completed in February.
