HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), reached the next milestone in its plan to transform healthcare delivery in Ulster County with the submission of architectural renderings and construction drawings to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) for its $92 million advancement of HealthAlliance Hospital: Mary's Avenue Campus in Kingston.
The submission of plans by HealthAlliance is a component of the DOH's project approval process. The next milestones for the HealthAlliance Hospital project are the DOH's review and final approval of submitted plans and the presentation of the plans to the City of Kingston's Planning Board December 17.
"A construction project of this breadth, complexity and community importance requires careful and extensive planning, and the HealthAlliance Hospital: Mary's Avenue Campus enhancement project continues to trend in a positive direction," said David Scarpino, President and CEO of HealthAlliance. "When completed, the new HealthAlliance Hospital will be a comprehensive healthcare facility replete with the latest diagnostic technologies and clinical services that best meet the acute medical needs of local residents, in one convenient location."
Key project components outlined in the submitted plans include: a newly-constructed birthing center for the region with ultra-modern labor, delivery and post-partum rooms; a newly-constructed, 10-bed intensive care unit along with a six-bed medical "step-down" unit; a newly-constructed 25,000-square-foot emergency care center that will include services concentrating on cardiac observation and behavioral health; a new imaging department; and fully-remodeled ambulatory surgery, infusion therapy and endoscopy units.
A new, welcoming hospital lobby with central registration/admissions, financial counseling, family support services, retail pharmacy, gift shop and comfortable waiting area highlights the list of additional amenities.
The new HealthAlliance Hospital effort on Mary's Avenue and the planned consolidation of all Kingston-based, HealthAlliance inpatient and emergency services into one building are the first part of a multi-year, $133.6 million Healthy Neighborhood Initiative project. The project will also redevelop the current HealthAlliance Hospital: Broadway Campus into a "medical village" -- an innovative focal point for the city's health and related needs.
Of the $133.6 million, $88.8 million of the multi-phased project's funding will come from the New York State Capital Restructuring Financing Program, with the balance coming from WMCHealth, HealthAlliance and a capital fundraising campaign. (The application to convert HealthAlliance Hospital: Broadway Campus into a medical village awaits state approval.)
The consolidation of services into one hospital will be achieved through the construction of a new, two-story 79,000-square-foot building adjoining the current HealthAlliance Hospital on Mary's Avenue as well as the extensive renovation of 48,000 square feet of space within the existing hospital. Original plans for a four-story building that would bring the HealthAlliance Hospital: Mary's Avenue Campus bed-count to over 200 was amended, after additional evaluations of community need. The updated plans call for 175 beds, most of which will be single occupancy, enhancing patient comfort and privacy.
"This project demonstrates WMCHealth's continuing commitment to the Kingston community and the delivery of advanced care to the region," said Robert S. Ross, Executive Vice President, Northern Region, WMCHealth. "The Mary's Avenue project has evolved to meet the needs of the community and in combination with the strength of our larger network, we will be able to provide more services than originally planned in the new HealthAlliance Hospital, conduct additional renovation of existing space, and leave room for future expansion.
"The effort to bring a new level of healthcare to Kingston, Ulster County and the surrounding communities is moving forward and this is an exciting time for our region," continued Ross. "This is the largest healthcare construction project in Ulster County in some time and when complete, the project will transform the consolidated HealthAlliance Hospital into one of most progressive community hospitals in the country."
Artist Rendering of New HealthAlliance Hospital (Lobby Entrance)
Artist Rendering of New HealthAlliance Hospital (Emergency Department Entrance)