The S/L/A/M Collaborative-designed $12 million Emergency Department at New Milford Hospital opens

On June 9th, the Arnhold Emergency Department at New Milford Hospital, part of the Western CT Health Network, opened a $12 million, 11,000 s/f renovation and expansion project designed by The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM) and constructed by O&G Industries CM. Patients arriving after 7:00 a.m. were registered, triaged and treated in the new facility. Supported by a generous gift from the Arnhold family for which the facility is named, the new emergency department features eco-friendly design and offers New Milford's community every advantage in life-saving emergency care including a larger and more efficient triage area where nurses can start medical treatments, set up X-rays, and complete additional tests to expedite treatment. Other features include private patient rooms, a centralized nursing station, specialty care rooms, and enhanced parking and vehicular circulation. The new Emergency Department represents the largest expansion in the hospital's history as it has doubled in size and is expected to serve more than 20,000 patients each year from Connecticut and Eastern New York State. New Milford Hospital's talented team of emergency medicine physicians, nurses, PA's and staff, can now deliver life-saving care in this family-friendly, state-of-the-art space. The former emergency department entrance located off of Rte. 202 on East St. is now available for ambulance access only, providing much safer access by car from Elm St. With a dedicated new entrance, patients and families arriving by car should enter and park via the Elm St. or Treadwell Ave. entrances. "This is a transformative project for New Milford Hospital and its community. The new emergency department will provide a front door for improved patient access, dramatically enhance patient and family experience, provide staff with the latest technology and offer greater flexibility for future growth," said Steven Ansel, AIA, ACHA, SLAM principal. "For the Western Connecticut Health Network it will provide a key component of a larger integrated emergency service serving the western region of the state. This is a much needed facility that will have a positive effect for New Milford and the surrounding communities." On Friday, May 8, 500 people including hospital officials, business leaders, local residents and dignitaries gathered at New Milford Hospital for the ribbon cutting celebration of the Arnhold Emergency Department. Among the speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Dr. Tom Koobatian, the hospital's executive director, chief of staff and director of emergency services, and Daniel DeBarba, president of New Milford and Danbury Hospitals. The 11-month project was completed in late April