Rochester General Health System
RGH Announces Expansion and Modernization Project
(2008)
Officials from Rochester General Hospital announced on January 16th plans for major improvements to the Portland Avenue campus that will further enhance the level of care offered to patients. The plan calls for a new six-story building located on the southeast side of the campus which will house: an additional 36 medical/surgical beds; the restoration of 34 beds currently on the RGH license; the modernization of existing beds bringing the complement of private rooms to 90%; and the creation of an Ambulatory Services Pavilion and accompanying parking that would provide a more centralized environment, convenience and accessibility for ambulatory patients.
Rochester General is currently licensed for 528 beds, and the new plan would raise that number to 564. Representatives from Rochester General have been working collaboratively since early 2007 with the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, as well as representatives of other area healthcare systems, on a capacity-planning project to anticipate and plan for the communityﾒs future healthcare needs.
The current average age of plant for Rochester General is 13.1 years, which is well beyond current standards for similar hospitals in the nation. Despite that, RGH is consistently recognized, both within the state and nationally, for its exceptional clinical outcomes and quality. The new plan would significantly reduce the age of plant, and help RGH attract to the community and retain great physicians, deliver care more efficiently, and fulfill its commitment to providing exceptional care and service to patients.
This plan represents Phase II of a long range planning process initiated over five years ago, and reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of care and service for our patients,ﾔ said Mark Clement, President and CEO of ViaHealth and President of Rochester General Hospital. ﾓThe opening of our Carter Street Garage, the Eugene Polisseni Pavilion and the current construction of our new B. Thomas Golisano Pavilion and Emergency Center represent the first steps in our journey to create a hospital campus of the future that will meet the growing needs of our community. Phase II is the next logical step in that journey through which the exceptional medicine practiced in our facility will be matched by an environment that provides easy access, convenience and comfort for those who entrust their care to us.
"This announcement follows nearly a year of analysis of need by outside experts as well as representatives of the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency," Clement continued. "And we believe the plan is responsive to and consistent with defined community need and demand."
Because of extremely high occupancy rates of existing medical/surgical beds at RGH and other area hospitals, emergency department and other patients requiring inpatient services regularly encounter long waits for a bed to become available. Despite this, Rochester General has the shortest average length of stay in the region, and the addition of 36 and the restoration of 34 currently licensed beds to the RGH campus will provide for improved patient access and flow, resulting in an even better patient experience and greater efficiency.
The additional beds will also enable the hospital to provide a significantly greater percentage of private rooms, a preference of the vast majority of patients. The new project will increase the number of private rooms to 90% and alleviate concerns related to higher patient acuity, comfort, preference and privacy, while addressing national concerns to further enhance infection control.
"We believe this to be a fiscally responsible approach that will allow us to create an environment of care that is highly valued and sought after by both patients and physicians," said Rob Sands, Chair of the ViaHealth Board of Directors. "The plan is affordable and forward thinking in that it puts in place innovative strategies to improve patient access, flow and privacy."
Rochester General leaders estimate the project will cost approximately $134 million, which will be financed by a combination of operating funds, philanthropy and borrowing. A Certificate of Need (CON) was filed with the State Department of Health in late December. Pending approval, the project would most likely begin in the 3rd quarter of 2009, and take an estimated three years to complete.
