The expansion of Cobleskill Regional Hospital's Emergency Department is expected to finish this summer.
That means the $6 million project, which broke ground in September, is on schedule. Meanwhile, hospital officials are pleased with how the staff--and patients--are taking to the temporary emergency care.
The major project is not only expansion, but renovation, too. There will be more emergency care space--about 50 percent more than currently--more privacy and faster care, among other improvements.
A fund drive is under way (See story on front page.), but the project is in full swing.
Corey Williams of McCarthy Building Companies is managing the work. He said Friday that the only setback has been bitterly cold weather that prevented some outside work.
Nonetheless, the project is on time, Mr. Williams said
Hospital President and CEO Eric Stein outlined three phases:
•The first is new construction, including the new rooms, triage area, trauma room, waiting area, ambulance bay and entrance.
•The second is the registration area.
•The third is the remaining patient care section and the nurses' station.
"We expect phases one and two to be done in the spring, and we'll probably use them then," said Mr. Stein, adding that the parking lot by the ED will likely become available then.
"Overall, it's a fairly small project, but it's very complex--tying existing services in with the new and still keeping patient care going at the same time," Mr. Stein said.
And patient care is going well. Emergency patients enter through the main front door, which is staffed 'round the clock.
Attendants direct patients to nearby labs and treatment areas.
Also, clinical staff, management and hospital auxiliary members take shifts as ambassadors to meet patients.
"We try to make it as convenient as possible," Mr. Stein said, "and patients have made suggestions on how to ease flow."
Deb Dolan, regional marketing and community engagement manager, pointed to how well the staff has handled the temporary--but necessary--shift in services.
"I'm impressed with the way the staff stepped up to the plate," Ms. Dolan said
"It's temporary, but it gives staff another touch point with patients, especially staff that don't normally interact with patients."
Mr. Stein agreed.
"The attitude of the staff and patients is superb," he said. "It's another example of how our staff provides excellent patient care."