Greenwich Hospital Emergency Department celebrates multi-million dollar renovation

Greenwich Hospital on Wednesday celebrated the completion of a multi-million dollar Emergency Department renovation designed to deliver critical and life-saving care to area residents more quickly and efficiently. 

Led by Greenwich Hospital's Norman Roth, president, and Christopher Davison, MD, medical director of the Emergency Department, staff and volunteers paused to celebrate with a ribbon cutting in front of the new centralized nursing station. 

"This is a major accomplishment when you consider that we renovated every corner of the Emergency Department and never once shut our doors," said Roth. 

The renovations will help accommodate the increasing number of Connecticut and New York residents using Greenwich Hospital's Emergency Department. Last year, the hospital handled more than 40,000 emergency visits – that's about 110 patients a day. Children account for nearly a quarter of these patients.

"The additional examination rooms and other enhancements will improve privacy and likely lead to decreased waiting times for patients to be evaluated and treated," said Dr. Davison. 

Highlights include the addition of four exam rooms (for a total of 25 rooms and 27 beds), including four rooms in the "fast track" area to treat patients with less complex conditions; new centrally located nursing station and two smaller satellite nursing working stations for easier and quicker access to patients; expansion of a Behavioral Health Unit for patients with mental health issues; the addition of a bereavement room; and technology upgrades in every exam room.    Wednesday's celebration was the second to mark the end of the construction project. On Tuesday, the hospital hosted a reception with board of trustee members and several donors, including Carl Bennett, a major benefactor of the Emergency Department renovation. 

Future plans for enhancing the Emergency Department include constructing a pediatric-friendly waiting room and exam rooms specially designed for children and their families. Plans are also underway to add emergency medicine physicians who specialize in pediatric care. 

Greenwich Hospital's state-of-the-art emergency department is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians, physician assistants, nurses and nurse practitioners trained to handle medical conditions from stroke and heart attacks to broken bones and sprains. A CT scan and radiology suite are embedded in the ED to allow fast care, even when patients require high-tech diagnostic services. Experts to provide specialized medical services, such as primary angioplasty and emergency surgical care, are available at a moment's notice.

Greenwich Hospital is a member of Yale New Haven Health. Greenwich is a 206-bed (includes 32 isolettes) community hospital serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. It is a academic affiliate of Yale School of Medicine. Since opening in 1903, Greenwich Hospital has evolved into a progressive medical center and teaching institution representing all medical specialties and offering a wide range of medical, surgical, diagnostic and wellness programs. Greenwich Hospital is recognized throughout the healthcare industry as a leader in service and patient satisfaction excellence. Greenwich Hospital has the prestigious Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. www.greenwichhospital.org