Remarkable Event Marks Advancement of Strong Memorial Hospital's Extensive Building Program
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is currently undergoing a significant transformation, with the largest capital project in its history, known as the Strong Expansion Project. The project, which includes a consolidation of cardiovascular services in the tower, is set to more than triple the size of Strong Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department and add a new, nine-story patient tower.
Funding for this expansion includes a $50 million state grant provided by the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program and a $1 million federal grant secured as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding process.
At the heart of this expansion is Golisano Children's Hospital (GCH), which is planning for its next phase of expansion. This includes adding new floors to its eight-story tower and constructing a pediatric emergency department. These enhancements aim to increase capacity and improve access to specialized care for children.
The hospital remains focused on equity, quality, and innovation, with an emphasis on community engagement and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. The proposed construction of a pediatric emergency department at GCH will improve timely access to specialized care for children, while the expansion of the patient tower will increase capacity and enhance the hospital's ability to provide family-centered care and advanced clinical services.
Beyond GCH, URMC is also making strides in broader healthcare initiatives. UR Medicine Hospital at Home is an initiative that combines advanced remote monitoring, telehealth technology, and in-home clinical visits to deliver hospital-level care outside the traditional hospital setting. This program aims to enhance patient experience and improve clinical outcomes.
The Primary Care Network and Strong Internal Medicine are working together to implement quality-based payment systems and address health disparities by examining clinical outcomes through an equity lens. Additionally, the Eastman Institute for Oral Health at URMC received a $2.1 million grant to expand dental care in underserved communities and public health initiatives.
The groundbreaking event for the Strong Expansion Project recognised the completion of enabling projects and excavation that prepared the site for the project, and the start of new construction. Speakers at the event included University of Rochester President Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, medical center CEO and Dean of the UR School of Medicine and Dentistry Mark B. Taubman, New York State Department of Health Commissioner James McDonald, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, and City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans.
NYS Senator Samra Brouk, as Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Mental Health, praised the expansion for addressing the urgent need to expand emergency departments and create spaces for psychiatric emergency care. NYS Assemblymember Jennifer Lunsford is proud to have helped secure $50 million state funding for the expansion, citing its importance to the health and well-being of New Yorkers across the Finger Lakes region.
The University of Rochester is grateful to Turner Pike Construction for their work and great attention to detail, ensuring minimal disruption to patients, families, and employees during the transformation. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
NYS Assemblymember Josh Jensen applauds the University of Rochester for their commitment to the project and their dedication to the community, patients, families, providers, and staff they serve. NYS Assemblymember Demond Meeks is honoured to be part of the groundbreaking and emphasizes the importance of improving healthcare services to the community.
County Executive Adam Bello and Rochester Mayor Malik Evans thank the University of Rochester and Governor Hochul for making the expansion a reality for the community. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans praises the expansion, stating it will transform the region for generations to come and bring invaluable healthcare and economic benefits.
- Due to the ongoing bed capacity shortage in certain medical-conditions, the consolidation of cardiovascular services at Strong Memorial Hospital, a part of the University of Rochester Medical Center's (URMC) Strong Expansion Project, will more than triple the size of the Emergency Department and add a new patient tower, enhancing emergency care services.
- The expansion projects at the Golisano Children's Hospital (GCH), such as adding new floors to the existing tower and constructing a pediatric emergency department, aim to increase capacity and improve access to specialized care for children, demonstrating a commitment to health-and-wellness and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.
- The innovative Science behind UR Medicine Hospital at Home initiative, combines advanced remote monitoring, telehealth technology, and in-home clinical visits to deliver hospital-level care outside the traditional hospital setting, revolutionizing health-and-wellness and medical-conditions care with an emphasis on patient experience and clinical outcomes.
