Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson has opened a $78 million, 29,000-square-foot emergency department.
The new Frey Family Emergency Department is more than twice the size of the previous one, which was built more than 30 years ago.
The new space was designed to meet the needs of the region’s aging population and the rising occurrence of chronic and complex conditions. Mather, which is part of Northwell Health, is a designated Age-Friendly Hospital and holds a Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians.
“This project represents a major investment in the health and safety of our community,” Kevin McGeachy, president of Mather Hospital, said in a news release about the new emergency department. “We’re designing this space to provide faster, more efficient care in a setting that prioritizes patient comfort, privacy, and safety.”
The new department opens at a time when the number of older adults on Long Island continues to increase. Long Island has 113,670 more older adults than it did a decade ago, according to a 2023 report by the Center for an Urban Future.
At Mather, elements of the new emergency department aim to address the needs of Long Island’s increasing number of older adults.
Private patient rooms feature walls with sliding doors to enhance both privacy and comfort. A specially designated “super track” area serves patients with less critical needs, incorporating a mix of private rooms and a results waiting area outfitted with recliners to streamline care delivery.
The layout of the department supports a split-flow model, an approach shown to improve efficiency by directing lower-acuity patients to faster treatment areas, while expediting admissions for those with more serious conditions. This model is designed to reduce wait times, shorten emergency department stays and lower the number of patients who leave without receiving care.
Advanced imaging capabilities onsite include CT, X-ray and ultrasound equipment within the department. This integration allows clinicians to complete imaging studies more quickly, helping to improve both diagnostic speed and patient outcomes.
The department includes infrastructure that allows for a rapid conversion of a significant section into negative pressure rooms, helping to contain airborne infections and enhance infection-prevention protocols.
Larger patient exam rooms are designed to accommodate caregivers, fostering age-friendly emergency care. Additionally, a behavioral health area offers six specialized rooms for adolescents and adults in mental health crisis, and are designed to create a safe, compassionate and discreet environment for those in need.
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