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Hudson Valley Hospital President Federspiel Outlines Details of New Building Project
New Patient Tower, Cancer Center, Additional Space for critical care, updated operating rooms are described
Hudson Valley Hospital Center is on a roll. After winning five awards in the last 12 months, the hospital will begin construction this month on the largest hospital building project north of New York City. "Our hospital will now look as good as we know it is," explained Hudson Valley Hospital Center President John C. Federspiel to members of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce at breakfast November 1 at Crystal Bay on the Hudson in Peekskill. "We are shaping history; when this multi-million dollar addition is completed, we will have the most modern facility in every aspect of care: architecturally, aesthetically, and medically."
Mr. Federspiel described the new 83,000-sq-ft, four-story patient tower being built in front of the existing hospital as a healing environment, featuring all private rooms, more natural light, reduced noise, increased patient privacy, and specially designed nursing pods located close to all rooms. He added that the $100 million construction project also includes the new Cheryl Lindenbaum Cancer Center, an expanded rehabilitation suite, additional space for critical care, and two new state-of-the art operating rooms, an increase of 50 percent in capacity. Furthermore, because the hospital's emergency department is the busiest in the region, its space will be enlarged by 35 percent so that there is a total of 30 private treatment rooms.
Visitors to the Cortlandt Manor hospital will notice changes beginning in January, when the hospital entrance will be moved to the emergency department entrance. Mr. Federspiel said the hospital expects next year there will be plans to widen Route 202 in front of the hospital and place traffic signals at the corners of Route 202 and Conklin and Lafayette Streets. Also, with parking space at a premium, the hospital already has added 150 parking spaces on the site where
three-tier garage will rise.
Parking will still be free," Mr. Federspiel explained to Chamber members and guests. "promised that parking will be free when I came to the hospital in 1987, and it will remain free as long as I'm here."
Mr. Federspiel also discussed the hospital's fundraising campaign has raised close to $12 million, including a number of sizable donations. The campaign has now entered the "Community Campaign" phase. Mr. Federspiel stressed, "The Community Campaign is not about large gifts; it's about many smaller gifts. We want to see everyone embrace their community hospital."
In addition to being the major provider of health services in the area, Hudson Valley Hospital Center is the largest employer, providing 1,700 jobs, a payroll of $80 million, and a commitment to buy as many local services as possible, including local contractors for the building project. "From a business standpoint, keeping hospitals healthy is important," Mr. Federspiel explained. "We are an economic engine for growth."
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