The New York State Department of Health has given HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley the green light to go ahead with the $92.9 million expansion of its hospital on Mary’s Avenue in the City of Kingston.

A member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, HealthAlliance plans to build a two-story, 79,000-square-foot building to adjoin its current facility on Broadway in Kingston, which it plans to fully renovate, so that it can provide for the needs of residents in Ulster County and surrounding Hudson Valley communities on a greater scale.

“The design of the new, high-tech HealthAlliance Hospital will focus on patients and families. In short, practically every design feature furthers the goal of providing the highest-quality medical treatment for patients, and a highly functional environment for our medical providers and support staff,” said Robert S. Ross, executive vice president of the Northern Region for WMCHealth, in a statement. “We are excited by the potential of this project and the positive impact it will have on our community.”

The 175-bed facility will consist of a 25,000-square-foot emergency care center that will offer special services for cardiac observation and behavioral health. It will also have a 10-bed intensive care unit and a six-bed medical "stepdown" unit, to provide intermediate levels of care between the ICU and the hospital’s medical-surgical wards. Nearly all patient rooms will be private.

The facility will house a variety of innovations, including a birthing center with ultramodern labor, delivery and postpartum rooms, a new imaging department, and fully remodeled centers for ambulatory surgery, infusion therapy and endoscopy. Other additions include central registration and admitting, financial counseling, family support services, a retail pharmacy, a gift shop and waiting areas.

Following the transfer of patient care services from the Broadway in Kingston hospital to the location on Mary’s Avenue, AllianceHealth plans to convert the former into a medical or "health village" to act as a source for outpatient healthcare and related needs. The location will offer preventive and primary care services with the help of community partners.

The two projects make up what is known as the "Healthy Neighborhood Initiative", and are expected to cost $134.9 million. The New York State Capital Restructuring Financing Program will provide $88.8 million, with the balance divided among WMCHealth, HealthAlliance and a capital fundraising campaign.

“New York State’s endorsement of the Mary’s Avenue project puts Kingston and Ulster County on a course for an exciting healthcare future. This final approval of our plans will permit HealthAlliance to transform our community hospitals, currently on two campuses, into a 21st century single-campus model of first-class healthcare delivery,” Ross said.

Other projects in the works for WMCHealth include a $40 million expansion and enhancement of Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis; and a $230 million investment in an Ambulatory Care Pavilion for outpatient care at Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of WMCHealth.

Preparations for the Mary’s Avenue project are already underway, with a construction start date to be determined.

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