Holyoke Medical Center Emergency Department

Following a master planning process, SMRT designed this new emergency department to maximize staff and optimize operational efficiencies at this busy community hospital on a constrained site.

The emergency department design addressed a number of challenges for the hospital, including severely constrained space, a high volume of visits, and an underserved psychiatric patient population. A central support core with open-sight lines to patient care areas facilitates observation, collaboration, and communication while increasing safety.

Doubling the size of its existing emergency department to 22,000 square feet, the space features 40 treatment spaces, including an embedded diagnostic imaging suite. A dedicated behavioral health unit provides a secure environment for staff and patients, featuring private rooms with windows, detox chairs, patient toilets, showers, and access to shared community/activity space for patients to decompress.

Client

Holyoke Medical Center

Location

Holyoke, MA

Square Feet

20,750

Completion Year

2017

Responding to a need to address the increased volume of outpatient services on a constrained, landlocked site, SMRT combined the new emergency department and a new medical office building into a two-story addition. The design solution addressed the need for clear, distinct traffic flows for medical office building patients, emergency department patients, and ambulance traffic alike

To maximize flexibility, the emergency department moved to a universal room design model utilizing case carts for specialty care supplies.

The emergency department's central clinical hub was designed to maximize visibility to the treatment bays. There are no solid walls above 42 inches, allowing for clear visibility across the entire department. This enables staff to respond quickly to urgent situations and have ready access to one another.

The emergency department waiting area features multilingual signage, a fish tank, ample sunlight, and child-friendly furnishings to create a warm and welcoming environment for all.

Secure holding rooms provide a safe place for treating behavioral health patients or a quiet place to decompress. Natural daylight supports circadian rhythms.

The behavioral health crisis unit is designed to reduce agitation and help patients start treatment as quickly as possible, away from the chaos of the emergency department.