Jan. 14, Emerson Hospital Emergency Department: On a tour of the hospital’s Emergency Department, the Exchange found fifteen of the total sixteen critical care rooms filled, mostly due to the surge of the flu virus (see the Jan. 18 Acton Exchange article that shows the increase in flu visits compared to last year). And on some days, according to our host, Amanda, up to 20 patients have to wait in chairs set up in the halls. But change is coming.
Emerson’s $100 million Transforming Health campaign, a major expansion of the hospital, calls for a new, 18,000 sq. foot E.R., with more work stations, in-room equipment, and easier access, with a front entrance replacing the current rear one. There will also be separate patient and ambulance entrances, more single rooms, and a dedicated secure behavioral unit with additional beds, according to the brochure. Amanda also stressed the need for a larger supplies and linens area, and more bathrooms (only two now). The traditional term, “E.R.” for “Emergency Room,” is still in use, although Emerson’s Emergency Department is far larger than a “room.”
After the tour, Leah Lesser, Senior Manager of Marketing Communications, who arranged today’s visit, set up a Zoom interview with Emerson’s CEO, Christine Schuster, RN, MBA. Ms. Schuster spoke about the new Cardiac Rehab Center, which opened on Jan. 5 after moving from the old “White House” building, which is soon to be razed for the new E.R. location. She raved about the ten-week cardiac rehab program, which addresses nutrition, exercise, and stress relief, and currently has a waiting list of eighty people. (The Exchange is scheduled for a tour of the new center in February, National Heart Month). Ms. Schuster also extolled Emerson’s wellness programs, such as for weight loss and its new parent class, which now addresses post-partum depression.
On our question regarding the impact on the hospital’s patient load from competing stand-alone clinics, such as those for colonoscopies or day surgery, Ms. Schuster said it was negligible, since Emerson has its own satellite locations for urgent care in Hudson, Littleton, and Maynard, and an endoscopy center nearby on Baker Ave. On a question about Fallon Health Care’s pending merger with Mass. General Brigham, she said she anticipated no major influx of patients, since most of Fallon’s members currently live in the Worcester area.
Our final stop on the tour was the Olsen Center, the on-site urgent care room. Amanda said the renovations will provide a level walk to the room, with new adjacent parking. Additional staff will enable more efficient triage, as will the addition of more chairs to provide “vertical care”, meaning a non-critical patient can be treated while sitting up, freeing up stretchers for the emergency room.
The Transforming Health initiative aims to also improve access to community-based care for cancer, women’s health, sports medicine, urology, and more.
For more information, see the previous Acton Exchange article: Emerson Health launches $60 million fundraising campaign.
James Conboy is the Acton Exchange sports beat reporter, and writes about other topics of community interest as well.
