Community Memorial in Hamilton opens renovated, expanded emergency department

HAMILTON, N.Y. — Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) says crews have completed work on the renovation its emergency department, which is now open for patient care.

The new emergency department (ED) has an expanded waiting room, private bays for patients, enhanced technology, and safety features, per a hospital news release.

The opening of the emergency department wraps up the second phase of Community Memorial’s capital project at the hospital. The facility is undergoing $31 million in renovation. The capital project seeks to improve the “outdated” facility and promote patient access and navigation. Community Memorial opened a newly renovated Med/Surg unit last January, completing the first phase of the project.

The new emergency department is located in the front of the hospital campus and has its own entrance.

The expansion includes three additional rooms, bringing the total number to 10 rooms, “increasing patient privacy and safety,” CMH said. The department also has enhanced technology, including a centralized telemetry system to monitor patient cardiac status and security features that restrict entrance to the ED to those with badge access.

CMH has added a decontamination room with private access through the outdoor showers. This will allow patients, EMS providers, and staff to rinse off any potentially hazardous chemicals before entering the building. The decontamination room has an ante room to give staff the space they need to safely don and doff personal protective equipment and minimize the transfer of any hazardous waste or airborne diseases with an enhanced heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system.

“The opening of the emergency department comes at an important time as we continue to serve the needs of residents in our community during the pandemic,” Jeffery Coakley, president and CEO of Community Memorial Hospital, said.

An increase of COVID, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus cases are “driving an increase” in patient visits to the emergency department, CMH said. The expanded space with enhanced features and technology allows the staff to care for patients “more effectively” and provide emergency medical services staff with the space and tools they need to deliver care to patients, the hospital contended.