Gov. Kathy Hochul faces growing pressure to fund a $450 million annex for Upstate University Hospital to address its overcrowded and outdated emergency room, burn center, and operating facilities.
State lawmakers and SUNY trustees highlight Upstate’s critical role as Central New York’s only Level 1 trauma center and burn unit. With some of the nation’s longest ER wait times and rising ambulance traffic, lawmakers argue the hospital’s infrastructure cannot meet regional healthcare demands.
The proposal includes doubling ER capacity, adding burn unit beds, and expanding operating rooms. Advocates stress that without this funding, quality healthcare access in the region will remain unsustainable.
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