Providing critical care when and where it matters most is of the utmost importance to Frederick Health. Out of 47 hospitals in the state of Maryland, the ED at Frederick Health Hospital is the seventh busiest. And Frederick County is the fastest-growing county in Maryland, with significant growth in those over age 65.

“The planned changes will help prepare the hospital to meet our community’s growth and changing needs,” said Cheryl Cioffi, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, FACHE, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer. “When you or a loved one experience a medical emergency, we want to make sure you have access to the critical care services you need, right here in Frederick.”

The Critical Care Project will involve three floors in one wing of the hospital, where the ED is currently located. It includes the following three components:

• Completion of redesign and expansion of the Emergency Department
• Renovation and expansion of the Intensive Care Unit
• Enhancing Interventional Cardiology services

Rendering of Frederick Health Hospital following the completion of the Critical Care Project.

All three components of the project share a common goal: to make the environment at Frederick Health Hospital even more comfortable, convenient, and patient-centered. Most importantly, these enhancements will help Frederick Health Hospital deliver the best quality care for those who need emergency services.

The Emergency Department (ED) cares for those with a serious or life-threatening illness or injury. It includes specialized areas for treating adult and pediatric patients, as well as emergency behavioral health issues. On average the ED cares for 200 adults and 40 children every day. In FY2019 this included a total of nearly 66,000 adults and 14,000 children. Plus, the emergency behavioral health unit supported approximately 2,600 patients annually.

The goals of the redesign and expansion to the ED are to integrate care, improve access, and increase the number of patient care spaces. In 2015, 40 percent of the ED was renovated with a focus on where patients arrive by ambulance. The remaining parts of the ED will now be renovated and the space will be expanded to care for more patients. Enhancements to the ED will include:

• A new triage area with frosted transparent walls for patient privacy.
• A new pediatric unit located on the first floor. This distinct unit will provide care for both pediatric patients in need of emergency and inpatient care. It will be next to the Adult ED, for ease of access.
• An expanded emergency behavioral health unit to serve both adult and pediatric patients in need of psychiatric care. During the expansion, windows will be added to the treatment spaces. The natural light from the windows will promote healing and create a therapeutic environment for patients.
• A larger check in area with more patient privacy to support the adult ED, pediatric unit, and behavioral health unit.

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) provides advanced care and patient monitoring. This includes care for patients who experience heart attacks, blood infections, strokes, and respiratory failure which may need a respirator. Last renovated nearly 20 years ago, the ICU is often at capacity during periods of high demand. In FY2019, the ICU cared for just over 3,500 individuals (8 to 18 patients per day).

The ICU renovation and expansion will improve facilities and provide capacity to serve more patients. It will remain on the second floor of the hospital. The updated treatment spaces will be larger to meet current guidelines. They will each include a full private bathroom and a dedicated space for visitors and family to stay overnight with their loved ones. The ICU waiting room will also be expanded and redesigned to provide separate spaces for families to wait and eat meals together.

Interventional Cardiology provides minimally invasive procedures for heart and valve conditions. Chest pain is one of the top reasons for adult ED visits, and those patients often need these services. In FY2019, we cared for more than 2,000 patients with chest pain, plaque build-up in their arteries, irregular heartbeat, and other cardiology issues.

The new unit will be built as a third-floor expansion, above the ED and ICU. This new floor will allow the hospital to increase capacity of its existing cardiology services and prepare for future growth. The proximity of the new unit to the ICU and ED will help with speed of access.

Thanks to generous community donations Frederick Health is able to embark on this project, continue to evolve as a health system, and positively impact the well-being of every individual in our community.

Frederick Health will make every effort to minimize any disruption to patients and families receiving care inside the hospital during this project. All phases of the project are expected to be completed by December 2023.

You can help bring this vision to life by supporting the ReEnvisioning Critical Care campaign! The goal of this campaign is to raise $14.75 million in support of this exciting renovation and expansion project. Thanks to early donors to the campaign, we are well on our way to reaching this goal - but still need your help!

Charitable support always has, and always will, be vital to assuring that our community continues to have access to the very best healthcare services, technology and programs available. Click here to view our Case for Support for the ReEnvisioning Critical Care campaign, or click below to make a gift today.

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To learn more about how you can make a contribution in support of the ReEnvisioning Critical Care campaign, please contact the Development Office at donate@frederick.health or call 240.566.3478.