Albany Medical Center Announces Emergency Department Expansion Plan
Officials from Albany Medical Center today announced plans to expand and enhance its adult emergency department. The $25 million project, slated to be completed by the end of 2026 pending state approval, aims to add 7,000 square feet—a 20 to 25 percent increase to its current footprint, which will, in turn, increase direct patient care space in the ED by 50 percent.
“Albany Medical Center is the busiest trauma center in New York State, and the region’s only Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center. As our population ages and requires more advanced care, demand for our services increases,” said Dennis P. McKenna, MD, president and CEO of the Albany Med Health System. “This project promises to transform how we deliver our expert care, and ensures we continue to meet the needs of our community in a state-of-the-art space that brings emergency care to the next level.”
The project is the first expansion to Albany Medical Center’s adult emergency department in more than 20 years.
“At the time of our last expansion, we saw an average of 57,000 patients per year. Now, we are approaching 85,000. Growing our emergency department allows us to continue meeting that need for our patients, and the other hospitals who rely on us, as well,” said Denis Pauze, MD, chair of Albany Medical Center’s Department of Emergency Medicine.
The expansion project is expected to include:
- More than 20 patient care rooms and an additional care zone for the most critically ill and complex patients, allowing for more seamless and appropriate care
- A redesigned triage area allowing faster assessment and prioritization of patients based on the severity of their conditions, resulting in enhanced patient safety
- An increase from two trauma bays to five, increasing capacity, improving efficiency, and enabling teams to treat multiple trauma patients
- Plans for dedicated geriatric care space
In addition to structural enhancements, Albany Medical Center has already implemented changes to care delivery that have resulted in success, including decreased wait times.
“Not only are we growing to meet our mission—we continuously strive to improve upon how we deliver our mission. Rethinking the blueprint for our emergency department and how patients move from their arrival through discharge or hospital admission will allow us to transform the patient experience,” said Jason Mouzakes, MD, executive vice president and hospital general director.
Other innovative changes to care delivery include a tiered triage response system deploying hospital wide nurses and doctors during peak volumes, and a strengthened workforce through strategic recruitment and retention efforts with local nursing schools like Maria College, Russell Sage College, Siena College, Hudson Valley Community College, and the University at Albany. A logistics center optimizes patient movement throughout the Albany Med Health System.
“What makes this project particularly important is that Albany Medical Center is also part of something greater: The Albany Med Health System,” said Ashley Telisky, DO, chief logistics officer for the Albany Med Health System and vice chair of emergency medicine integration. “When advanced evaluation and treatment is needed, this is where patients come. As the hospital’s hospital, caring for a 25-county service area, the emergency department on this campus ultimately serves the entire region, often the front door and entry point to specialty care that cannot be provided anywhere else, improving outcomes, and saving lives every day.”
Community support will be the primary source of funding for this project. Hyman Hayes Associates is the architect for the project.