Albany Medical Center, Glens Falls Hospital to Expand Emergency Departments

Albany Medical Center and Glens Falls Hospital have announced expansion projects for their Emergency Departments to improve patient experience, patient flow, and patient outcomes.

“Our Emergency Departments play an outsized role in the health of our region—providing the highest level of specialized services, trauma response, and safety net care for our most vulnerable,” said Dennis P. McKenna, MD, president and CEO of the Albany Med Health System. “By expanding and reconfiguring these vital spaces, we are ensuring our facilities are equipped to meet the growing and changing needs of our region. These transformations represent our deep commitment to providing exceptional care—today, tomorrow, and well into the future.”

Albany Medical Center’s $25 million project is expected to add 7,000 square feet to the adult Emergency Department, including more than 20 patient care rooms, an area for the most critically ill and complex patients, a redesigned triage area, more trauma bays, and plans for a dedicated geriatric care space.

“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 Pauzé, MD, chair of Albany Medical Center’s Department of Emergency Medicine. “We are the busiest trauma center in New York State and the region’s only Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center. This update will ensure we are readily accessible at all times to care for our community.”

Emergency patient visits have increased in the 20 years since the last expansion, from 57,000 to 85,000 annually, including 17,000 transfers from other health care facilities.

“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 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.”

In addition to structural enhancements, Albany Medical Center has already implemented changes to care delivery and patient flow that have resulted in success, including decreased wait times.