Exciting Milestone Marks Progress in Strong Memorial Hospital's Expansion Plans
Strong Expansion Project Transforms Healthcare at University of Rochester Medical Center
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is embarking on a significant transformation with the Strong Expansion Project, the largest capital project in its history. This ambitious initiative aims to enhance clinical capacity, improve quality of care, and address chronic bed shortages and ED overcrowding issues.
The expansion has garnered support from various political figures, including New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney, who views it as a vital source of essential care, enhancing the quality of life for numerous Rochester families. New York State Assemblymember Josh Jensen and County Executive Adam Bello also applaud the University of Rochester for their commitment to the project, highlighting its transformative impact on the community.
NYS Assemblymember Jennifer Lunsford is particularly proud to have helped secure $50 million state funding for the expansion, considering it critical to the health and well-being of New Yorkers across the Finger Lakes region. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans shares this sentiment, viewing the expansion as transformative for the region, planting seeds of hope for the city's future.
The Strong Expansion Project will see the addition of a new, nine-story patient tower. This tower will more than triple the size of Strong Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department, addressing the pressing need for increased emergency medical care. The Emergency Department and the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) will also see significant expansion.
The University of Rochester Medical Center is grateful to Turner Pike Construction for their work and great attention to detail during the project. NYS Assemblymember Demond Meeks is honoured to be part of the groundbreaking for the Strong Memorial Hospital Expansion, aiming to enhance patient experiences and meet growing needs.
In addition to physical expansion, the Strong Expansion Project focuses on integrating care delivery, leveraging technology, and reaching underserved areas. Key features of the project include the deployment of innovative technology such as the Dragon Ambient Experience (DAX) to enhance clinical documentation using AI transcription. The project also aims to optimize staff structures for managing increased patient volumes, including expanded roles for advanced practice providers (APPs) in team-based settings.
The Strong Expansion Project is part of a broader strategic initiative through 2025 to enhance clinical capacity, research, and care quality, especially in internal medicine and primary care. While specific project timelines and detailed funding figures are not publicly detailed, the project emphasizes expanding clinical services, integrating care delivery, leveraging technology, and reaching underserved areas, supported by a fiscally stable health system preparing for future funding shifts.
The expansion is expected to result in 650,000 square feet of new, modern space, including more than 100 private inpatient rooms, future operating rooms, and treatment services. The project is a testament to the University of Rochester Medical Center's commitment to providing exceptional care to the community and beyond.
[1] URMC Strong Expansion Project Strategic Priorities, 2021 [2] URMC Psychiatry Courtyard Project, 2022 [3] URMC Financial Outlook, 2023
- The Strong Expansion Project at University of Rochester Medical Center will significantly improve emergency care by tripling the size of Strong Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department, addressing the bed shortage and overcrowding issues in the Emergency Department and Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program.
- To meet growing medical-conditions demands, the Strong Expansion Project is integrating care delivery, leveraging science and technology, such as the Dragon Ambient Experience (DAX), and optimizing staff structures, including expanded roles for advanced practice providers (APPs) in team-based settings.
- The University of Rochester Medical Center's Strong Expansion Project is expected to alleviate bed shortages with the addition of more than 100 private inpatient rooms and future operating rooms, aiming to provide excellent health-and-wellness to the community and beyond.
