ROME — Rome Health has completed two components of its capital project with its new, 9-bed intensive-care unit (ICU) and the opening of the new Kaplan Center for Surgical Services. The new surgery center opened ahead of schedule, following final approval from the New York State Department of Health (DOH) on July 3. Rome Health […]
ROME — Rome Health has completed two components of its capital project with its new, 9-bed intensive-care unit (ICU) and the opening of the new Kaplan Center for Surgical Services.
The new surgery center opened ahead of schedule, following final approval from the New York State Department of Health (DOH) on July 3. Rome Health also received final approval from the DOH to open its new ICU on June 18.
Phases II and III of the capital project — which include the renovation of former operating rooms and construction of modern clinical support areas — remain on track for completion in 2026, Rome Health said in the June 18 announcement about opening the ICU.
The health-care provider saw the opening of the ICU as “marking a major milestone in the hospital’s continued transformation of community-based healthcare.”
The new ICU is part of the hospital’s $45.7 million capital-improvement project to modernize surgical and critical care services. The new main entrance also opened June 18 with expanded parking for patients and visitors.
About the ICU
All patients were successfully transitioned June 18 from the hospital’s previous ICU —constructed in 1969 — into the “modern, purpose-built” facility designed to support advanced critical care, Rome Health said. The health system conducted a tabletop exercise in advance to ensure a smooth transition for patients and team members.
“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,” AnneMarie Czyz, president and CEO of Rome Health, said in the 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.”
Besides her role as CEO, Czyz is also a registered nurse.
The new ICU has private rooms equipped with the latest critical-care technology, including ventilators, IV pumps, monitoring systems, and specialty beds to reduce the risk of pressure injuries.
Each room has “family-friendly” accommodations, including sleeper sofas and seating to encourage family involvement, which research shows can “significantly improve patient outcomes,” Rome Health contended.
The unit also has private, handicapped-accessible restrooms in each room, which is an upgrade from the shared facilities in the previous ICU, per the announcement.
The new ICU also has specialty rooms to meet the needs of patients of size and those with behavioral-health challenges, along with advanced ventilation systems to support infection control and protect vulnerable patients.
In addition, Rome Health says the new unit has natural daylight and “thoughtful design to support a comfortable and calming healing environment that may reduce length of stay.”
“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 said.
About the Kaplan Center
The Kaplan Center complements the hospital’s new 9-bed ICU, Rome Health said in a July 7 announcement.
The Kaplan Center for Surgical Services is named in honor of Charles and Florence Kaplan, whose landmark
$5 million gift stands as the largest donation in Rome Health’s history.
“This is more than just a new space — it’s a major investment in the health and wellbeing of our community,” Czyz said. “The Kaplan Center for Surgical Services is built for the future of surgery, combining clinical excellence, innovative technology, and a healing environment that puts patients first.”
The new center is part of Rome Health’s $45.7 million capital-improvement project to modernize surgical and critical-care services.
Rome Health sees the new facility as “ensuring that patients in the Mohawk Valley have access to high-quality care in a state-of-the-art setting close to home.”
“Thanks to the close collaboration between our construction team, the New York State Department of Health, and the incredible agility and flexibility of our staff, we were able to accelerate the transition to our new facility,” Ashley Edwards, chief nursing officer and VP of clinical services at Rome Health, said. “This move comes at a critical time, as we’ve recently experienced inconsistencies with heating and humidity in the existing ORs that have disrupted case flow. Transitioning sooner ensures we continue caring for our patients in the safest possible environment.”
Rome Health says it funded the new surgical center through a mix of public support and private philanthropy. The public support included a $26 million New York State Healthcare Facility Transformation Grant, $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the City of Rome for the ICU and $500,000 in ARPA funds from Oneida County.
The campaign also received “enthusiastic” support from more than 400 donors, Rome Health said.
Designed to improve both patient experience and staff efficiency, the Kaplan Center includes four operating rooms designed to accommodate advanced surgical procedures, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgeries, and two procedure rooms.
