Latest Construction News

February 2007

“Topping Off” Ceremony Today at Hudson Valley Hospital Center

Crane Lifts Highest Beam into Place
The Good News Is That This $100-Million Construction Project Goes On Despite a Sour Economic Climate

(Cortlandt Manor, NY)…. Today’s “topping off” ceremony — when the highest beam in Hudson Valley Hospital Center’s $100-million expansion project is lifted into place — signals a milestone in the hospital’s extensive construction project. It also signals HVHC’s commitment to building a state-of-the-art hospital despite one of the worst economic downturns many of us have ever witnessed.

“As projects around the State, and for that matter this country, are put on hold, our project and its many important components forges forward,” noted Edward B. MacDonald Jr., Chairman of the hospital’s Board of Directors, in remarks at the event. “We could not have done this without the generous support of donors to the hospital’s Building on Excellence Campaign.”

The beam, painted white for the occasion, will be placed atop the four-story Patient Tower, the cornerstone of the building project. It has signatures of all members of the hospital community, including board members, administrators, nurses, staff, volunteers and donors. “All those who signed the beam over the past few weeks share a sense of togetherness now; it’s permanent and sealed within the structure of this building,” said John C. Federspiel, President and CEO of the hospital, in his opening remarks. “We are committed to building a new breed of hospital, offering our patients the most advanced technology available and the best care in this area.”

And, according to Kathy Webster, Vice President of Patient Care Services, the project is needed even more today than when it was first approved because of growing patient needs. “We can use the beds the minute they’re built and available,” she said.

“The completion of the steel structure means that now the exterior walls will go up,” Chuck Tatosian, Assistant Vice President, Barr & Barr Builders, Inc., told the audience. “Workers will now turn their focus to the highly complex interior work of the building.”

Ambulance sirens blared, Hudson Valley Hospital Center’s banner was unfurled and swung from the beam, and constructions workers raised a 4-by-6-foot American flag on to the beam, at which point vocalist Tommy Dabbs led guests in singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Phase 1 of the building project is complete and includes:

• A two-story 8,000-square-foot addition, dubbed the “West Wing” by the hospital staff, was the all-important first phase of the building project because it is the temporary main hospital entrance until construction is completed in 2010. The second floor expanded the current No-Wait Emergency Department, and features a family waiting room, triage rooms, offices, nursing station and conference room
• A Progressive Care Unit, adjacent to the hospital’s current PCU/ICU, the expansion (over an existing rooftop), added five new private rooms, bringing the total to 12 PCU rooms. PCU and ICU are part of the critical care unit at the hospital. Some important features of the new PCU include two rooms outfitted for obese patients; a Telemetry Command Center centrally located in its own room to monitor patient statistics in the PCU, the Intensive Care Unit, and the Emergency Department; and built-in bedside computers for staff to input patient data; WiFi for patients, families and visitors to use; and extra-wide door frames for easy access in and out of the rooms.
• A new parking lot, across from the temporary entrance, which will eventually serve as the first floor of a new multi-tiered 450-space parking garage (expected to be completed January, 2009).

Phase 2 begins with the Topping Off ceremony and will include the major hospital expansion and renovation.

• This spring, the state-of-the-art Institute for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine opens on the ground level of the West Wing. It will offer patients suffering from chronic, non-healing wounds the comprehensive care they need, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
• This summer, the 2,300-square-foot Pataki Conference Center opens, featuring a large meeting space and two smaller spaces. Adjacent to the conference center is the 2,700-square-foot Dempsey House. This building was completely renovated and features additional conference space and staff office space.
• The first week in August, the new Rehabilitation Center and Ambulatory Surgery wing opens in the North Building, at the rear of the hospital. There is a separate entrance into the North Building so patients will not have to go through the main hospital for surgery or physical and occupational therapy.
• The Surgery Center opens Oct. 9, completing the construction of the North Building. It includes two new state-of-the-art operating rooms, 50 percent larger than typical operating rooms, affording space for new technology such as robotic surgery and a post-anesthesia care unit, from which patients will be able to see the outdoors from their beds. And the traditional windowless recovery room will be replaced with a post anesthesia care unit, in which every patient can see the outdoors from their beds. The view: Lush woods on Hudson Valley Hospital Center’s 12-acre campus. Included in this section is a new rehabilitation therapy suite. The North Building will have 15,935 square feet of new space.
• In January, 2010, the multi-level parking garage will open with 450 parking spaces.
• June, 2010, the project’s cornerstone, the 88,120-square-foot four-story Patient Tower opens, featuring the hospital’s main entrance, lobby and coffee shop; an expanded Emergency Department, doubling the number of treatment rooms to 33; and 84 private patient rooms on the top three floors. Plans call for more natural light, better views to the outside, and a soft, calming color scheme, which benefits patients, families and staff.
• July, 2010, the project ends when the 45,000 square-foot Medical Office Building opens. Included in this building is the Comprehensive Cancer Center.
  For more information about Hudson Valley Hospital Center, visit www.hvhc.org.

Hudson Valley Hospital Center is dedicated to serving the health care needs of the community and to providing quality, comprehensive medical care in a compassionate, professional, respectful manner, without regard to race, religion, national origin or disease category. "Offering state-of-the-art diagnostic treatment, education and preventive services, the Hospital is committed to improving the quality of life in the community." In fulfilling this mission, the Hospital will strive to continuously improve the care provided and develop and offer programs, facilities, systems and alliances that most effectively respond to community health care needs. Hudson Valley Hospital Center is located on Route 202 (1980 Crompond Road) in Cortlandt Manor, New York. Call 914-737-9000 or visit www.hvhc.org.

Hudson Valley Hospital Center’s Wellness Club and Medical Fitness Center is a medical fitness facility that offers the tools and support needed to achieve optimal wellness. By including exercise and healthy changes in lifestyle behavior, members can reduce their risk of disease as well as experience the benefits of a more active and conscious lifestyle.