‘TogethER….Commitment to the Future’ will Improve Patient Experience
ThedaCare Foundation-New London is launching a $560,000 fundraising campaign to expand and renovate the emergency room at ThedaCare Medical Center-New London.
The Foundation launched its “TogethER…Commitment to the Future” campaign at its annual dinner Sept. 16. The project will help the emergency room better meet the needs of today’s patients and improve workflow for hospital staff members so they can provide the best care possible to the more than 9,000 people who use the department annually, said Heather Stern, executive director of ThedaCare Foundation-New London.
“The Foundation has always supported the hospital and its mission of providing the best possible healthcare close to home. This project will help patients feel more comfortable in a stressful situation and also help our staff members as they do their jobs,” she said.
The project includes adding three registration and triage rooms where patients can receive immediate care in a private setting when they arrive at the hospital; remodeling the current waiting area to make it more comfortable, including the addition of public restrooms; reconfiguring current space to create a family counseling area so staff members and family members can meet in a private setting to discuss sensitive matters; and other changes to improve employee workflow.
“The hospital is looking to improve patient privacy, improve patient flow, and accommodate families better and this project addresses all of those concerns,” said Kerry Griebenow, president of ThedaCare Foundation-New London’s Board of Directors. “This is our hospital’s main entrance and these changes will have a huge impact on the thousands of people who come through those doors every year.”
Griebnow said construction will hopefully start in late 2015, or when 75% of the financial gifts have been received.
Brian Van Den Langenberg, supervisor of emergency services at ThedaCare Medical Center-New London, said the Foundation is always supportive of the hospital’s projects and helping to improve patient care. “We appreciate the Foundation funding this important project. As the only local medical facility open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ThedaCare Medical Center-New London plays an essential role in the community and this project will help us to better meet the community’s needs,” he said.
People interested in donating to TogethER…Committed to the Future campaign or want to learn more can contact the ThedaCare Foundation-New London office at (920) 531-2066.
ThedaCare Medical Center-New London is a 25-bed, critical access hospital serving New London and nearby communities in Outagamie and Waupaca counties. The hospital, which has been in operation since 1930 and is part of ThedaCare, provides inpatient and outpatient surgery; a 24-hour emergency department; physical, occupational and speech therapies; diagnostic services including laboratory and imaging; pain management; transitional care; and a ThedaCare At Home retail store. The New London Birth Center features a warm and inviting atmosphere along with a process to help families create the ideal birth experience. ThedaCare Physicians-New London shares the campus of New London Family Medical Center. The medical office building integrates space for family physicians, a wide variety of visiting specialists, and new hospital services.
ThedaCare™ is a community health system consisting of seven hospitals: Appleton Medical Center, Theda Clark Medical Center, ThedaCare Medical Center-New London, Shawano Medical Center, Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca, CHN Berlin Memorial Hospital, and Wild Rose Community Memorial Hospital. ThedaCare also includes ThedaCare Physicians, ThedaCare Behavioral Health, and ThedaCare At Home. ThedaCare is one of the largest employers in Northeast Wisconsin with more than 6,175 employees. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
