KINGSTON, N.Y. (Oct. 24, 2019) — New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul joined community influencers and hospital leadership as HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), broke ground on a $92.9 million, 127,000-square-foot expansion and enhancement of its hospital on Mary's Avenue in the City of Kingston.
The groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction of a new hospital building, along with an extensive renovation of the existing hospital that will evolve HealthAlliance Hospital into a 21st century, single-campus model of first-class healthcare delivery.
HealthAlliance currently has two hospital campuses in Kingston, on Mary's Avenue and Broadway. Redeveloping the Mary's Avenue campus is the first component of a major, two-phase healthcare-advancement project. The effort includes the consolidation of all hospital services to the Mary's Avenue Campus and the conversion of the Broadway Campus into a walkable health village. HealthAlliance will collaborate with community partners in the Broadway Campus health village to support the community's physical and mental well-being through preventative and primary healthcare services, as well as healthy lifestyle counseling, in one convenient location.
The combined construction on the two HealthAlliance campuses is expected to cost $134.9 million, with $88.8 million coming from the New York State Capital Restructuring Financing Program. The balance will from come from WMCHealth, HealthAlliance and a capital fundraising campaign.
"We want to make sure all New Yorkers have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare," said Hochul, who spoke at the Thursday morning event. "This significant expansion project at HealthAlliance will upgrade the Mary's Avenue hospital campus to provide a more modern facility with advanced technology, including a new emergency care center, intensive care unit and family maternity center. The Broadway campus will also house critical primary and social care for patients in the area. The development will generate good jobs and continue the momentum of growth in the City of Kingston. Thank you to HealthAlliance and the Westchester Medical Center Health Network for your investment and strong partnership."
"Governor Andrew Cuomo, Lieutenant Governor Hochul and the State of New York share our vision for a healthier community, and we are grateful for the support of this important project," said Michael Israel, President and CEO, WMCHealth. "The upgraded and expanded HealthAlliance Hospital on Mary's Avenue will deliver the highest and most innovative care to each patient through acclaimed integrated clinical practices supported by enhanced diagnostic and treatment facilities."
"The Mary's Avenue and Broadway projects will deliver advanced technologies, enhanced patient experiences and expanded services to meet the future healthcare needs of our community," said Robert S. Ross, Executive Vice President, Northern Region, WMCHealth. "Local leaders such as New York State Assembly member Kevin Cahill, New York State Senator George Amedore, Ulster County Executive Patrick Ryan and City of Kingston Mayor Steve Noble have been instrumental in getting ‘shovels in the ground' for this vital effort and we thank them for their collaboration."
"The groundbreaking today represents the beginning of a new chapter for HealthAlliance, WMCHealth and our community," said Cahill. "The investment of nearly $93 million to create a state-of-the-art gateway to care also provides an opportunity for stakeholders to create a 21st century health-delivery system here in the mid-Hudson Valley. Consolidating the hospital on Mary's Avenue will ensure a better use of resources, attract professionals and allow for comprehensive, coordinated care of patients. I salute WMCHealth and HealthAlliance management, our healthcare professionals and our community for bringing us to this great new day."
"Today is an exciting day as HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley breaks ground to expand and renovate their Mary's Avenue faculty to ensure access to state-of-the-art health care services for residents throughout the Hudson Valley," said Amedore.
"HealthAlliance is an anchor institution for Ulster County and a critical partner in keeping our community healthy. This project is going to bring a new level of care to the residents of our county and help ensure their health and well-being for years to come. Today is the groundbreaking, and I am looking forward to the ribbon-cutting event when the project is complete," said Ryan.
"Congratulations to HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, for advancing this tremendous project forward," said Noble. "This ambitious redevelopment is a testament to WMCHealth's commitment to the long-term well-being of our community. This campus has served our residents' healthcare needs for well over a century and thanks to this multimillion-dollar investment, it will continue to be one of our community's greatest resources for the next one hundred years."
A Reimagined HealthAlliance Hospital
The development project combines the most advanced medical facilities and technology to promote healing and well-being for the hospital's patients. The advancements include:
- A new, two-story, 79,000-square-foot building adjoining the current facility, as well as a full renovation of 48,000 square feet of space within the existing hospital. In total, there will be 175 beds and nearly all patient rooms will be private.
- A newly constructed 25,000-square-foot emergency care center that will incorporate cardiac observation and behavioral health services. The center's expanded capacity will offer an unprecedented level of readiness to care for a full range of emergency visits.
- A newly constructed intensive care unit for efficient, coordinated care of the hospital's sickest patients, along with a medical "stepdown" unit, providing an intermediate level of care between the ICU and the hospital's medical-surgical unit.
- Enhanced surgical suites equipped with the latest diagnostic and surgical equipment.
- A newly constructed family maternity center with ultramodern labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms.
- A new imaging department with today's latest and most advance technologies, sourced via WMCHealth's landmark agreement with Philips.
- Fully remodeled centers for ambulatory surgery, infusion therapy and endoscopy.
- New laboratory and pharmacy facilities designed to maximize safety and efficiency.
- A new, welcoming hospital lobby with central registration and admitting, financial counseling, family support services, a gift shop and comfortable waiting areas.
"I have no doubt the expanded and refurbished HealthAlliance Hospital will be one of the Northeast's most advanced community hospitals," said Michael E. Doyle, MD, Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer, HealthAlliance Hospitals. "Our vision is for HealthAlliance to be the region's hospital of choice — known for its convenience and personal touch, recognized for its high patient satisfaction, awarded for its exceptional clinical outcomes and patient safety, and privileged to have the finest physicians and employees."
The project is slated for completion in the latter half of 2021.
Investing in the Health of the Hudson Valley
The HealthAlliance Hospital project is one of several significant investments by WMCHealth into the health and well-being of Hudson Valley residents. A $40 million expansion and enhancement of Bon Secours Community Hospital, a member of WMCHealth, in Port Jervis is underway and a new $230 million, 280,000-square-foot Ambulatory Care Pavilion adjacent to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, the flagship of WMCHealth, opened this summer.
From left: Ulster County Executive Patrick Ryan, HealthAlliance board Chairman Thomas Collins, state Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, WMCHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Israel and Kingston Mayor Steve Noble ceremonially break ground for the new HealthAlliance Hospital on Mary's Avenue in Kingston, N.Y., while Father Louis Yaya sprinkles holy water.