Norwalk Hospital dedicates Bauer Center for Emergency Care

Norwalk Hospital will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday for the soon-to-be opened Bauer Center for Emergency Care.

The 32,000-square-foot center at 34 Maple St. is double the size of the hospital’s former emergency treatment space.  It includes 40 new private treatment rooms to enhance patient comfort, safety and confidentiality. It also includes a five-bed triage area for patients with less severe conditions and a pediatric-friendly treatment area. The facility has a Level II Trauma Center, which contains a new rooftop helipad and other advanced technology.

The Bauer Center is part of the Anne P. and Harold W. McGraw Jr. Center, a project comprising 95,000 square feet of new construction and 35,000 square feet of renovations. The center will open to the public in the next several weeks, with its newly constructed spaces opening first and renovated spaces opening in the summer.

Longtime Norwalk Hospital supporters George and Carol Bauer of Wilton donated $2.5 million to renovate and expand the emergency center.

Hospital officials said in a press release the expansion will increase the number of exam rooms, offer flexible space to accommodate surges in patient volumes, enhance patient privacy and offer dedicated space for pediatric, behavioral health and urgent care patients.

According to the press release, the former emergency department was renovated about 15 years ago to handle 25,000 patients a year. The hospital now sees more than 50,000 patients in need of emergency care annually, and the upgraded Bauer Center is equipped to handle 65,000.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. and feature tours, remarks and refreshments.