Riverside shows off hospital renovations
Gloucester facility boasts new entrance, surgical building
Riverside Walter Reed Hospital's $55 million renovation and expansion is expected to finish by the end of the year, and visitors will be able to use the new main entrance at Gloucester's Main Street and Medical Drive starting Feb. 4.
The most noticeable addition is a two-story surgical and inpatient services building next to the hospital's existing Medical Arts Building. Construction included a new drop-off and entryway leading to a lobby, waiting area and a coming gift shop.
“We're building a better place to heal,” said Riverside Health System construction project manager George Weidinger.
More than 60 parking spaces were added near the relocated main entrance, which frees up parking for the Emergency Department, said hospital spokeswoman Shannon Fedors.
The first floor of the new facility houses three operating rooms, two large procedure rooms, seven “pre-op” rooms for patients preparing to go into surgery and a larger recovery area with 13 post-surgery patient bays, Weidinger said. The operating rooms are 200 square feet larger than the current rooms and on average contain $200,000 worth of equipment, including high-definition video imaging and LED lighting that puts off less heat, said Riverside spokesman Peter Glagola.
A new centralized pharmacy on the first floor will become operational in the coming weeks, Fedors said. The new lobby will also have a coffee kiosk with grab-and-go food items, she said.
On the second floor are 36 private patient rooms for general medical, surgery and orthopedic patients. They offer private bathrooms and showers, sleeper sofas and recliners. All rooms are monitored by trained technicians at all times. Riverside Walter Reed remains a 67-bed hospital, Fedors said.
The existing emergency department was expanded from 11 beds to 18 beds and from roughly 6,000 square feet to 16,000 square feet. The department had been serving almost 22,000 patients a year and needed more space, Fedors said.
“We've essentially doubled the capacity of the emergency department,” Weidinger said.
Not all construction is finished yet, and the final phase this year will include moving administrative offices and completing the emergency department's registration and waiting areas. While the new facility is connected to the main hospital, a larger connection will be constructed later from the new main lobby, Fedors said.
The Riverside Foundation raised $100,000 from local donors for a family care room in the emergency area, Glagola said. Such a comfort room gives family privacy when hearing news from doctors or for simply gathering together, Fedors said.
The public can tour Riverside Walter Reed Hospital's new main entrance, lobby, surgical suite and patient rooms at 7547 Medical Drive during an open house noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Light refreshments will be available.