Phelps' new emergency department will place an emphasis on patients' physical and emotional comfort. The absence of a patient waiting room is one of the most notable features. Instead of waiting in a public waiting room, patients will be brought directly into one of 32 private rooms with walls, sliding glass doors and curtains for privacy, where they will be registered, evaluated and treated. Each patient room will feature a television, a telephone and two chairs so that family members can remain comfortably nearby. Family members who do not wish to be present during an evaluation have the option of waiting in one of four family waiting areas.

"We believe that the new emergency department at Phelps is the most innovative ever built in New York State," says Keith Safian, president and CEO of Phelps. "We are proud to provide this optimal environment where our physicians and nurses can continue to offer superior medical care."

Over the past year, Phelps has been increasing the depth of pediatric services it offers to the community. As part of that commitment, the emergency department will have a dedicated child-friendly treatment area specially designed and decorated for pediatric patients, which will include an adjacent playroom with computer games.  The new emergency department will also feature designated treatment rooms for specialized services, including trauma; obstetrics/gynecology; psychiatry; orthopedics; dentistry; minor surgery; and ear, nose and throat.

Ten of the 32 treatment rooms are designated for the Prompt Care area, a modern fast-track service in the emergency department providing rapid assessment and treatment of less urgent medical problems. Conversely, if a patient is to be admitted to the hospital, he or she will remain in a private room situated in a separate, quiet area of the emergency department until a hospital bed is available.

Another example of enhanced patient service and comfort is that patients who require diagnostic imaging will no longer need to be transported to an inpatient radiology suite. The new department will have its own 24-hour radiology suite, complete with digital x-ray technology and a 64-slice CT scanner with cardiac capabilities, so that the wait for diagnostic tests and results will be significantly shorter. 

For patients with infectious conditions, or who require decontamination due to radiological, biological or chemical emergencies, the new emergency department will have dedicated isolation and decontamination units with the latest technology and protective equipment, as well as separate ventilation systems to prevent cross contamination.

To adequately staff the 18,000-square-foot department, the hospital is increasing full-time emergency department staff. In addition to emergency medicine physicians, two teams comprised of nurses, technicians and a transporter will be assigned to the department.  Also, hospitality representatives will circulate throughout the department to ensure that the needs of patients and their families are being met.

A five-year capital campaign at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center ended last May, raising $20 million, double the original $10 million goal set in 2003. More than half ($11.3 million) of the $20 million raised has gone towards the construction of the new emergency department. Last fall, Phelps opened a 100,000-square-foot Medical Services Building and a 750-space parking garage where visitors park for free. When the emergency department opens, the size of the hospital will have doubled.

"With the opening of the new emergency department, part of a $55 million expansion project at Phelps, our campus is being renewed and invigorated, allowing us to continue meeting the community's healthcare needs with an unmatched scope of services and programs," says Bard Buneaes, chairman of the board of directors at Phelps.

For a virtual tour of the new emergency department at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center, go to www.phelpshospital.org and click on the image at the top of the page.

Phelps Memorial Hospital Center

Phelps Memorial Hospital Center is a 235-bed community hospital with 450 medical staff, representing 34 clinical specialties. Phelps is the exclusive Westchester satellite for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a clinical affiliate of Mount Sinai Hospital, and a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System.  www.phelpshospital.org