Upper Valley Medical Center starts 2020 expansion project
Upper Valley Medical Center this week started to build an addition on the south side of the hospital that will expand its cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program.
The hospital, based near Troy and operated by Dayton-based Premier Health, is also making other changes as part of a broader hospital renovation, that should be finished by the end of 2020.
The 7,600-square-foot addition that broke ground Wednesday will more than double the size of the existing cardiopulmonary rehab department and also will include space for exercise and wellness activities for hospital staff, according to a hospital statement.
“The cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program at UVMC has grown significantly over the years. This expansion will help us address the growing need for these services and make this much-needed, specialized care for our patients even more readily available, close to home,” Tom Parker, Upper Valley president, said in a statement.
Dr. Jennifer Clune, pulmonologist and critical care physician, stated “as with cardiac patients, rehabilitation and disease management is imperative for patients with chronic pulmonary disease.”
“The UVMC cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program makes patients’ heart and lungs stronger and healthier, restoring physical function. It can, at times, be even more beneficial than medication,” she said.
The hospital will move its retail pharmacy and gift shop closer to the main entrance, and the coffee bar will be moved to help with congestion and noise in the main lobby. The hospital will also be updating wayfinding signs on the first and second floors.
“In what we’re calling our patient flow project, we’ll reconfigure and update the main lobby and registration areas to provide improved comfort, convenience, ease of access, safety, and confidentiality for our patients and visitors,” Parker said.