- Details
- Category: Past Issues
caption:
Taking Tour
Congressman Joe Courtney, left, takes a tour of Day Kimball Hospital’s emergency department with Ralph Miro, RN, CEN, MPH, EMT-P, director of Nursing in the Emergency Department and Emergency Medical Services Coordinator. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM — As part of a recent visit to northeast Connecticut, U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney met with Day Kimball Healthcare leadership to learn more about its hospital’s $10 million expansion project to rebuild the emergency department.
Courtney said, “Day Kimball has long provided high-quality care to the residents of Windham County and surrounding areas. Visits like this one are a valuable reminder of their commitment to care and to the community.”
Day Kimball shared preliminary architectural renderings of the emergency department capital improvement project expected to begin construction later this year. A tour of the department followed to demonstrate the space constraints of a facility last renovated in 1990 to treat 18,000 patients per year and now serving 30,000.
The design and construction plans include a new entrance and covered canopy to provide a comfortable, spacious, functional drop-off and waiting area.
The addition of 4,950 square feet for a total of 18,000 square feet will allow for 24 private patient rooms, double the current capacity, with enhanced safety, efficiency, and privacy. Additionally, four separate patient wings have been designed into the floor plan: a general care unit, a trauma center, a behavioral health center and a prompt care center. Each may be cordoned off as required to better manage patient flow based on visitor volume and type of health issues being treated.
To partially fund the project, Day Kimball embarked on a capital campaign this past spring. Today, the organization is nearing the $3 million dollar goal of its “Care in a Heartbeat” Capital Campaign, just short less than $60,000. To date 563 community members and Day Kimball Healthcare employees have made pledges and donations, with Steven and Marjolaine Townsend of Brooklyn making the largest contribution of $500,000. The new emergency department will be named, The Townsend Emergency Medical Center.
“The outpouring of support from the community and the Day Kimball family has been unprecedented. For me it confirms Day Kimball Healthcare’s role to provide medical services for Northeast Connecticut is seen as vital,” said Robert E. Smanik, president and CEO.