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Final Contribution

Steven and Marjolaine Townsend, naming donors, right, make the final $75,000 contribution of a $500,000 pledge to Day Kimball Healthcare's Emergency Department last week. From left: Donald St. Onge, SVP and COO; Gary and Karen Osbrey, Care in a Heartbeat Capital Campaign Community co-chairs; Robert Smanik, president and CEO of Day Kimball Healthcare. The second of three phases of the new Emergency Department is expected to open this week, after state approval. Linda Lemmon photo.

 

 

 By Linda Lemmon

Town Crier Editor

PUTNAM --- Right on schedule, Day Kimball Healthcare officials last week, showed off the second of three phases of a modern, expanded and renovated Emergency Department.

The certificate from the state, allowing the hospital to open the second phase to patients, was expected to have been approved Oct. 15.

Phase Two adds nine more patient rooms including behavioral health wing, construction of temporary waiting room and entrance through December and demolition of existing waiting room for renovation. The third and final phase, expected to open next summer, will add six more patient rooms, a new patient reception area and new entrance with covered drop-off area.

In addition to the tour, healthcare officials received from Steven and Marjolaine Townsend the final $75,000 of the $500,000 the couple pledged to the project. The Townsends presented the final contribution two years early and called the project "exciting." 

Robert Smanik, president and CEO of Day Kimball Healthcare,  said clinical space was gained for Emergency Department use by moving administrative and office support staff to another part of the hospital. 

Donald St. Onge, senior vice president, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer, pointed out that a more efficient layout of the patient space is also a benefit.

In April Phase One opened with a new ambulance entrance, one of two nurses stations, the resuscitation room with two beds and eight private patient rooms. According to Marie Gauvin, project manager, reconfiguring walls and halls will merge the current emergency department space with the new space.  The entire project is 23,066 square feet and renovation of the current space.  Heathcare officials said that the state-of-the-art Emergency Department will allow registration at patient’s bedsides to accelerate care and make the ED process more efficient. They said the establishment of all-private treatment rooms “perhaps the most significant improvement.” It will offer privacy, confidentiality and dignity for individuals. The number of patient rooms will double.