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12 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 15, 2021 By Robert Storace rstorace@hartfordbusiness.com D espite many hospitals moving away from emergency room care toward community-based, urgent care-type facilities, Bristol Health is bucking the trend with a new and improved emergency department that's aimed at increasing patient service and efficiencies, while also providing state-of-the-art aesthetics such as lighting, finishes and temperature controls. The $16.1 million, 12,500-square- foot expansion is set to welcome its first patients Dec. 20, and will ultimately double the size of the hospital's emergency department to 25,000 square feet. The project's final stage will be renovating the old emergency facility, which will be completed by next fall. During a recent tour of the new emergency department, hospital officials discussed the new facility, what it means for patient care and how the global health pandemic played a pivotal role in many facets of the new complex. "For many years, the emergency department provided exceptional care and we all took pride in that," said Dr. Andrew Lim, who has run the emergency department for about a decade. "When I was recruited to work here — before I stepped foot in the building — our team of nurses and staff said 'don't look at the walls.' " More room, better efficiencies The emergency department's outdated look led the Bristol Hospital Foundation to begin looking into an expansion about four years ago. The foundation raised $5.5 million for the project with the rest being financed via bonding through the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority. "It's so important for this community hospital, which is the most valuable resource in the community, to be more welcoming and have a more comfortable environment," said Mary Lynn Gagnon, executive director of the hospital's foundation. The new emergency center will feature 21 private rooms; 10 behavioral health exam rooms; five pediatric patient rooms; three semi- private exam rooms; two patient isolation rooms; one dedicated compassion room for those who have lost a loved one; a cardiology triage room; and a trauma room with two bays. Officials said the current facility, which sees 40,000 patients annually, is outdated and worn and the new one will have built-in features that make care safer and give more privacy. "The biggest difference is the room size, which will be at least one-third larger," Lim said. "The rooms are bigger and give more privacy and comfort. It also provides more space for medical procedures." The expansion also aims to improve efficiencies. Lim, who said he anticipates adding more staff down the road, noted the new facility's glass doors and curved design will allow hospital staff to see more patient rooms from the emergency department's command center. "It's a safety aspect. It allows us to see more patients," which can lead to quicker help for things like accidental falls, Lim said. Lim also said the new emergency department fits into the hospital's overall strategic plan. Bristol Health is the parent company of Bristol Hospital, one of the few remaining independent hospitals in the state. In fiscal 2019, the latest data available, Bristol Hospital recorded $149.3 million in operating revenue and posted a $16.6 million loss, Pandemic's influence helps shape Bristol Hospital's $16.1M emergency department expansion HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER Dr. Andrew Lim, medical director of emergency services at Bristol Hospital, stands outside the care provider's new and expanded emergency department.