RRMC begins phase two of emergency department expansion

RUTLAND—After seven months of construction, Rutland Regional Medical Center has completed phase 1 and has begun work on phase II of what is to be an expected 18-month long construction and renovation project involving the hospital’s emergency department (ED).
The first phase involved 1,840 sq. ft. of new construction and partial renovation of the existing 13,657 sq. ft. area of the ED. This new construction resulted in five new mental health/medical exam rooms.
Phase 2 involves temporarily shifting the ED main entrance area to the southeast corner of the hospital. Work was scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 22 and is expected to last approximately six months, with a completion goal of February 2017.
“The area in and around the emergency department entrance is clearly marked for patients needing access,” said Mary Nemeth, vice president of corporate support services. “We have signage and wayfinding at key points as well as an awning indicating the location of the temporary entrance. Parking will not be affected.”
Access to the main hospital areas will not be available via the emergency department during this construction phase. People may access other areas of the hospital, including the food court, through the Stratton Road and Allen Street entrances.
The renovated and reconfigured entrance is part of a multi-month construction project that began in February 2016. The main challenge was completing the renovations in a space that was used 24 hours a day without interrupting patient care and staff productivity.
The changes were designed with input from the hospital’s emergency department staff. The changes will improve efficiency, patient privacy, patient transportation, work flow and ease of collaboration among care team members. When phase 2 is complete, the number of exam rooms will increase to 26 from the current 19.
“We are pleased with the pace of these improvements and especially proud of what this means to our patients and broader community members who rely on a top notch emergency department,” said Tom Huebner, CEO and president of Rutland Regional Medical Center.
The emergency department at RRMC is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information on Rutland Regional Medical Center, visit rrmc.org.