ROME, N.Y. — Rome Health received final approval from the New York State Department of Health to open its new nine-bed intensive care unit (ICU) on June 18. “Replacing our aging ICU was the next capital investment needed to ensure local access to high-quality critical care services for patients and their families,” Rome Health President/CEO […]
ROME, N.Y. — Rome Health received final approval from the New York State Department of Health to open its new nine-bed intensive care unit (ICU) on June 18.
“Replacing our aging ICU was the next capital investment needed to ensure local access to high-quality critical care services for patients and their families,” Rome Health President/CEO AnneMarie Czyz said in an announcement. “We are incredibly grateful to the City of Rome and the generous donors whose support brought this vision to life. Together, we are delivering the best care out there, right here.”
All patients were successfully transferred that day from the hospital’s old ICU, constructed in 1969, to the new unit, which was designed to support advanced critical care. Rome Health conducted a tabletop exercise in advance to ensure a smooth transition.
The new ICU features private rooms equipped with the latest critical-care technology including ventilators, IV pumps, monitoring systems, and specialty beds that reduce the risk of pressure injuries. Advanced ventilation systems help support infection control and protect vulnerable patients.
The rooms also offer family-friendly accommodations including sleeper sofas and seating to help encourage family involvement, which research shows can have a significant impact on patient outcomes, per Rome Health.
Each room includes a private ADA-compliant restroom instead of shared facilities in the previous ICU. The rooms are also designed to meet the needs of patients of size and those with behavioral-health challenges to enhance both patient and staff safety.
Natural daylight and room design help support a calming healing environment that may reduce length of stay, and bedside charting pods support patient-centered care by keeping the care team close at hand.
“At Rome Health, we are transforming community-based healthcare to ensure that patients have convenient access to the highest level of care in facilities that match the exceptional quality our team delivers,” Czyz contended.
The new ICU is part of Rome Health’s $45.7 million capital-improvement project to modernize surgical and critical-care services. The hospital also opened its new main entrance on June 18 with expanded parking for patients and visitors.
Construction of the new Kaplan Center for Surgical Services is nearing completion with an anticipated July opening date, pending final approval from the New York State Department of Health.
The next phases of the project include renovating the former operating rooms and constructing modern clinical-support areas, and are on track for completion in 2026.
Rome Health is a nonprofit health system that is an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Health and an affiliated clinical site of New York Medical College.
