The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) announced plans for a $640 million expansion of Strong Memorial Hospital, adding more than 650,000 square feet of new hospital space. The expansion will include the construction of a 175,000 square foot emergency room, over 100 private inpatient rooms, and increased access to clinical space.
Currently, Strong Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department is the region’s only level 1 trauma center, but it has been struggling to keep up with the high patient volume. In 2021, the ED treated over 110,000 patients, despite being designed to handle only 55,000 to 60,000 visits per year. The expansion aims to address this issue by increasing the available space for providers and patients.
The project will also include the construction of a new tower west of the current hospital entrance, which will be used primarily for intensive care units and inpatient rooms for cardiovascular care. The consolidation of these services is expected to improve efficiency for patients, families, and providers.
URMC Director of Special Projects, Van Yannas, said, “With our new ED, we’ll be able to create the space for our providers – who are so talented – to meet the needs of our community.” The Chair of URMC Emergency Medicine, Dr. Michael Kamali, added, “For doctors and nurses, it allows them to take care of patient in adequate space- not having to see people in chairs, hallways, or the waiting room. But to see them in an actual room will be very beneficial for everybody.”
The expansion is expected to be completed by 2027, and URMC plans to maintain access for patients throughout the entire construction process. The expansion project also includes a temporary shift of all emergency department operations into the new space while the current ED is renovated.
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