Hundreds Attend Opening of Chelsea Community Hospital E.R. Facility

Hundreds of visitors got a glimpse of the new state-of-the-art Chelsea Community Hospital expansion on Sunday.

The hospital's newest building features 54 private patient rooms, an expanded emergency department, diagnostic imaging areas, outpatient rehabilitation/therapy, a café, gift shop, and meeting rooms.

This is a monumental time in the history of our hospital,” said Nancy Graebner, the hopsital's president and CEO. “This facility is the largest project ever for our hospital and the entire city."

Graebner said the $60-million project is being funded through the hospital’s 2009 merger with Saint Joseph Mercy Health System.

"The key purpose of this expansion was to provide our patients with more privacy and more comfort during their stay at the hospital," Graebner said.

In addition to the updated rooms, patients and families will enjoy specially selected local artwork in rooms and halls, wooded views from the windows throughout the building, and a courtyard with sculptures, benches, and a variety of flowers and trees.

"It's beautiful," Lydia Weid of Chelsea said. "I really like all the artwork on the walls."

Jay Graebner agreed, stating that the new building resembles a cruise ship.

"I'm amazed," he said. "It doesn't feel like you're in a hospital."

In 2013, the hospital will begin renovations to its existing facility, as well as an addition for a comprehensive Cancer Center that will include radiation oncology. The hospital opened its new Infusion Center in November 2010, and the Cancer Center will allow hospital staff to expand services and provide a full spectrum of cancer care.

In order to provide uninterrupted care and minimal disruption, the hospital will move its departments in stages spread out over several weeks. The emergency department, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation departments will each move into their new spaces beginning in December. The inpatient rooms will move in January 2013.

“One of the things we hear so often is that our campus is so beautiful and peaceful, helping patients and families with healing,” Graebner said. “From the beginning of this project, we knew we had to preserve that feeling of peace and serenity that has been part of our culture for 40 years. I believe we have done that with our new facility. It allows us to continue doing what we do best – providing exceptional medical care to our communities – while in a state-of-the-art environment. In the end, that is what it’s all about.”