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PORT JERVIS, NY (April 26, 2018) – The Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), along with the Bon Secours Charity Health System, welcomed local leaders and New York State officials to Bon Secours Community Hospital, a member of WMCHealth, for a special ceremony heralding the beginning of construction on a transformative $40 million hospital renovation project.
The Investing in a Healthier Community project is expected to usher in a new era of healthcare in the City of Port Jervis and its surrounding tristate-area community with facility and diagnostic equipment upgrades and the development of a "medical village" hub for local residents.
"We are excited to begin construction of this highly anticipated project, which will be at the forefront of a healthier community," said Mary P. Leahy, MD, CEO of Bon Secours Charity Health System. "Most importantly, we are proud to join forces with our community partners to effect real change in Port Jervis and surrounding areas."
"Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York has remained committed to transforming our health care system to improve the delivery of critical services and promote access to quality patient care. This funding will support Westchester Medical Center Health Network's goal of creating a fully integrated health care delivery system that will serve as the cornerstone of the Port Jervis "Medical Village" and the surrounding community," said Health Commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker.
The Bon Secours Community Hospital project will develop in four phases. The first phase will include the renovation and expansion of the hospital's emergency department, a vital area service that will be completed with minimal patient care disruption. Additionally, the unit housing the hospital's nationally-accredited bariatric program also will be refurbished to provide an enhanced level of care.
The second phase is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2018 and will include additional emergency department enhancements as well as the development of a new laboratory that will expedite care. Phase three's completion will result in a reimagined imaging suite and phase four will be the heart of the medical village with a wellness area, on-site pharmacy and additional emergency department growth and refinements.
At its completion, the Investing in a Healthier Community effort will bring to Port Jervis an expanded, state-of-the-art emergency department with 10,000 square feet of space; a new, welcoming entrance and expanded lounge for patients and family members; an upgraded imaging center replete with world-leading diagnostic technologies plus a redesigned bariatric center. Also, three-dozen semi-private rooms will be converted to private rooms for increased patient comfort and privacy.
Medical Village – The Heart of a Healthier Community
At the center of the transformation is the development of 43,000 square feet of space into the core of a Port Jervis "medical village" where Bon Secours Community Hospital will collaborate with community partners to provide health, wellness and other community services, such as women's health, mental health, pediatrics and overall wellness, in one convenient destination. Early partners in the medical village effort include Cornerstone Family Healthcare and the Orange County Department of Mental Health Services.
Support from the State
Caption: Celebrating the commencement of construction at Bon Secours Community Hospital are (l-r): Joanne Drake, Sen. John Bonacic's office; Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus; Michael Israel, President and CEO, Westchester Medical Center Health Network; Assemblyman Karl Brabenec; Mary Leahy, MD, CEO, Bon Secours Charity Health System; Megan Baldwin, Assistant Secretary for Health & Human Services, Ofice of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo; Deerpark Supervisor Gary Spears; and Orange County Legislator Thomas Faggione.
WMCHealth's Investing in a Healthier Community project was made possible by a $24.5 million grant from New York State through its Capital Restructuring Financing Program. The same state program is also supporting the $133.6 million Healthy Neighborhood Initiative in Kingston with an $88.8 million grant for the renovation and expansion of HealthAlliance Hospital: Mary's Avenue Campus and the conversion of HealthAlliance Hospital: Broadway Campus into a medical village. Both hospitals are members of WMCHealth.
"This project would not have been achievable without the support of New York State," said Dr. Leahy. "We would like to thank Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker, for understanding our vision for Port Jervis and for being a champion for this important project. We would also like to acknowledge Senator John Bonacic, Assemblyman Karl Brabenec, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, City of Port Jervis Mayor Kelly Decker and Council members, for their support in bringing this vital initiative forward."
WMCHealth: Investing in a Healthier Hudson Valley
The Bon Secours Community Hospital project is one of several such community investment initiatives across the WMCHealth Network. In addition to the aforementioned Kingston investment project, the network recently completed an $8 million renovation at MidHudson Regional Hospital, a member of WMCHealth, in Poughkeepsie, and is currently in the process of constructing an eight-floor, 280,000 square foot Ambulatory Care Pavilion on its flagship campus in Valhalla. The Ambulatory Care Pavilion project is Westchester County's largest healthcare construction project in decades.
"WMCHealth is not only a provider of healthcare services, but also a local partner advocating for the physical health and well-being of Hudson Valley residents as well as the economic health of Hudson Valley communities like Port Jervis," said Michael D. Israel, President and CEO, Westchester Medical Center Health Network. "We are excited to see the Investing in a Healthier Community project underway and I would like to join Dr. Leahy in thanking Governor Cuomo, the New York State Department of Health and other local advocates for being true community partners in this transformative project."