Breaking new ground - Westfair Communications

The management of Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt Manor believes that the design of a hospital plays a major role in patient care.

That”™s why the hospital”™s expansion project, which is scheduled to break ground Friday, will feature private rooms throughout the building that will be designed to let in more natural light, better views and additional foliage.

“It”™s going be great for the community,” said John Federspiel, the hospital”™s president and chief executive officer. “It”™s the most aggressive modernization and renovation project in the New York metro area.”

Of course, the $80 million project isn”™t all about adding more plants. The expansion will replace 100 percent of the existing medical/surgical patient rooms; add satellite nursing stations that would be closer to the patient rooms, and expansions to the emergency room and operating room.

Federspiel said the ER expansions will allow it to become a “no-wait” emergency room.

“That is pretty rare to find in this area,” he said.

The new expansion project includes a four-story free-standing building that will house the new patient rooms, in addition to the additions to the existing ER and OR. Also, the hospital”™s progressive care unit will be expanded.

One of the aspects of the project that Federspiel is most excited about is the construction of a boardwalk throughout the woods surrounding the hospital.

“Families who are waiting for patients to come out of surgery can walk through the area and relax,” he said. “And patients themselves can walk there and convalesce.”

He said the new building would be designed to reduce noise and minimize distractions for hospital staff.

“Long halls, the positioning of rooms, the light-friendly windows and doors all play a significant role,” he said.

The firms Perkins Eastman and Barr & Barr Inc., both in New York City, are designing the 133,000-square-foot expansion.

Federspiel said both the hospital and the architects want to use as much environmentally friendly materials as possible.

While it would be too expensive for the hospital to be completely designed with “green” materials, Federspiel requested that materials used for curtains, flooring, and walls be environmentally friendly.

As part of the project, Hudson Valley Hospital Center will also be updating its electronic medical records.

The new system will allow doctors to access patient charts easier and minimize the amount of paper records used. The hospital can also share information with other physicians who have treated a patient.

Federspiel said the electronic system is completely confidential and has an “extraordinary” password system to protect patient information.

To pay for the project, the hospital is putting $8 million down from its equity and taking out a mortgage for the remaining $72 million. Federspiel said the hospital is embarking on “a major capital campaign” to help defray the cost.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.