With a commitment to providing patients with individualized care that is delivered with compassion and increased safety and efficiency, Putnam Hospital Center broke ground Thursday on a $9 million project to expand and refurbish its emergency department.
“This project is a reaffirmation of Putnam Hospital Center’s commitment to provide accessible and convenient high-quality medical services to the residents of Putnam County and beyond,” hospital President Peter Kelly said.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place near the entrance of the existing Emergency Department, where approximately 100 community members, local leaders and employees joined Kelly, members of the Health Quest and Putnam Hospital Center boards of trustees, the Putnam Hospital Center Foundation and Putnam Hospital Center Auxiliary to celebrate the occasion.
"As a physician in the Putnam Hospital Center community since 2007, I am proud and excited to be involved with the expansion,” Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Keyur Ajbani said. “The commitment of resources this endeavor requires truly signifies the hospital’s commitment to providing Putnam County residents and neighboring communities with state-of-the-art medical facilities so they can experience medical care at its best. We strive for excellence in our emergency department, and this expansion will provide us with the platform to deliver that care."
In 2016, Putnam Hospital Center had 27,115 visits to its emergency department, a figure that is projected to reach close to 28,000 this year.
The enhancements and renovations are paid in part by contributions made by the auxiliary and other fundraising efforts.
Throughout the duration of construction, the emergency department will remain fully operational. The expanded and refurbished emergency department is expected to open for patient care in late 2019.