Michael D. Israel, president and CEO of the Valhalla-based Westchester Medical Center Health Network, also known as WMCHealth, said the $92.9 million project to expand and enhance the HealthAlliance of the Hudson”™s hospital on Mary”™s Avenue in Kingston, which has just received approval from the New York State Department of Health, will benefit health care in the Hudson Valley. HealthAlliance is a member of the WMCHealth network.
“When completed, the transformation of the HealthAlliance Hospital on Mary”™s Avenue will enable HealthAlliance to deliver an even higher level of care, locally, through enhanced facilities and services, world-leading healthcare technologies and new programs. We”™re glad New York state shares our vision for a healthier community,” Israel said.
The Health Department approval of HealthAlliance”™s certificate of need application was the final administrative milestone for the project.
The project entails the addition of a 2-story, 79,000-square-foot building adjoining the current facility, as well as renovation of 48,000 square feet within the existing hospital. There will be 175 beds in the facility. A 25,000-square-foot emergency care center will incorporate special services for cardiac observation and behavioral health. Also on tap will be a newly constructed 10-bed intensive care unit, along with a six-bed medical stepdown unit providing an intermediate level of care between the ICU and the new hospital”™s medical-surgical wards. Almost all of the patient rooms will be private.
The hospital will also feature a new birthing center, an imaging department and remodeled centers for ambulatory surgery, infusion therapy and endoscopy.
The hospital lobby will be redone with central registration and admitting, financial counseling, family support services, a retail pharmacy, a gift shop and waiting areas.
“The design of the new, high-tech, HealthAlliance Hospital will focus on patients and families. In short, practically every design feature furthers the goal of providing the highest-quality medical treatment for patients and a highly functional environment for our medical providers and support staff,” said Robert S. Ross, executive vice president for the Northern Region at WMCHealth. “We are excited by the potential of this project and the positive impact it will have on our community.”
The construction starting date has yet to to be determined.
There also are plans to convert the HealthAlliance Hospital on Broadway in Kingston into a “health village,” a focal point for outpatient health care and related needs, after patient care services at Broadway are relocated to the new Mary”™s Avenue site. The “health village” will offer preventative and primary care services at one destination.
Both projects, together known as the Healthy Neighborhood Initiative, are expected to cost $134.9 million, with $88.8 million coming from the New York State Capital Restructuring Financing Program and the balance from WMCHealth, HealthAlliance and a capital fundraising campaign.
