The next major milestone in the $100M investment to modernize ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah has been reached as the new Emergency Department space opens.
Since the groundbreaking in spring 2022, construction crews have been working on multiple areas of the transformation that supports ThedaCare’s mission to improve health and well-being of the communities served. The modernization will allow the health care system to enhance and expand services.
In this phase, care teams will now begin to provide care in the newly constructed portion of the Emergency Department (ED) on Monday, March 20, 2023. The new space includes a designated ED entrance, spacious waiting room, eight additional emergency care rooms and three triage rooms. The existing Emergency Department remained open during the initial construction process, and construction teams will now focus on modernizing that space.
“The Inspired Past; Healthier Future Modernization will transform health care for all those living in the region, and allow ThedaCare to continue its commitment to keeping care local in the Fox Cities,” said Lynn Detterman, Senior Vice President of ThedaCare South Region.
“We designed our constructions phases to ensure our teams could continue providing critical services for our patients and families. We are proud to celebrate this milestone in our Modernization Project.”
In this first major phase, ThedaCare expanded the ED, doubling the previous care space. When all ED construction is complete, there will be 20 exams rooms, including specialized rooms for trauma and behavioral health, with the latest technology, equipment and space to provide patients with the best care experience.
To ensure the ability to rapidly adjust and plan for the future of health care needs, the design plan also includes an increased number of negative pressure rooms, also called isolation rooms, which provide a safe space to care for those with an infectious illness.
The ED layout is focused on patient safety and quality of care.
“The health care team’s workstation will be located in the center of the area, with treatment rooms on the perimeter, giving teams a direct line of sight into each room,” said Detterman. “As we strive to understand the unique needs of the communities we serve, we recognized there is an increased demand for behavioral health support in the ED. The new space includes designated rooms for behavioral health services, keeping the safety of patients top of mind.”
As the Modernization work continues at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, patients and community members can access the updated ED space by entering Door #4.
Accessing the Right Care
ThedaCare hospitals, including ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, are staffed 24/7 by full-time doctors and nurses who specialize in emergency medicine, offering a full range of emergency care options and support.
Community Members should go to an Emergency Department if they are experiencing a life-threatening emergency. Medical issues like severe chest pain, severe burns, signs of a stroke, severe shortness of breath, or blue-colored lips/skin should be seen by a medical provider quickly. At ThedaCare, the top priority is providing immediate care to the patients who need it most.
To learn more about choosing the best care options, including virtual, in-person, urgent and emergency care, please visit www.thedacare.org/get-care-now.
Construction Continues
The next areas of focus for construction crews include the following:
- Relocate ThedaStar Air Medical Program Helipad adjacent to the ED entrance, allowing patients to be rapidly transferred for Trauma Services once they arrive, when time is critical.
- Create spacious, modern Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy suite to help patients improve ability to move and perform daily activities.
- Develop a new Women’s Center, which includes mammography, diagnostics and imaging, and bone density testing. The space will be a comfortable area where women can feel confident in their personalized, proactive health care decisions.
- Build a modern Cardiac Catherization Laboratory (cath lab) and Special Procedure Suite that is integrated into the Surgery Department. A cath lab is an area with diagnostic imaging equipment and technology that can be used to care for cardiovascular and stroke conditions. Plans also include the addition of a biplane to support comprehensive stroke services.
- Improve and expand access for Behavioral Health services by redesigning the inpatient space.
- Create “Main Street”, where key diagnostic outpatient services will be located on the first floor of the hospital to ensure easier patient access.
- Design a new dining area on the main floor for the convenience of visitors and team members.
- Update the Family Birth Center, allowing families to welcome little ones into the world in a modern, comfortable and soothing environment.
“We appreciate the community’s understanding as we work through construction at the Neenah campus,” said Detterman. “It is exciting to see the enhancements taking shape with new areas that will advance coordinated care throughout the ThedaCare service area.”
The full modernization is expected to be complete in early 2024.
Generous Community Support
Enhancements to better the patient experience through the Modernization Project at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah were funded in part through donors who support the ThedaCare Foundation-Neenah.
The Foundation worked with generous donors within the community to raise more than $15M of philanthropic support. In addition, the Foundation released $25M from existing assets to provide a total of $40M in support of this Modernization Project.
“ThedaCare is grateful to have caring, generous community members who support our mission of health and well-being,” said Detterman. “This project was made possible in part through their kind donations, and we are fortunate that they have joined us in building a healthier future for all.”
About ThedaCare
For more than 110 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 600,000 residents in 17 counties and employs approximately 7,000 health care professionals. ThedaCare has 180 points of care, including eight hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, finding solutions together, and encouraging health awareness and action. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts about a patient’s care. ThedaCare is proud to partner with Children’s Wisconsin and Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network to enhance convenient access to the most advanced levels of specialty care. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care.
