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Concord Hospital Overhauls Emergency Department for Safety and Comfort

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, November 11th 2025 at 10:32 GMT by Patch

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Concord Hospital’s Emergency Department Gets a Major Safety and Comfort Overhaul

Concord Hospital has completed a transformative project that re‑imagines the emergency department (ED) with a dual focus on patient safety and comfort. The redesign, completed last month, adds new technology, updated patient flow, and a host of amenities that make the ED a safer, more welcoming space for patients, families, and staff. Below is a full rundown of what the project entailed, why it matters, and how the hospital is moving forward.

1. Why a redesign was necessary

The ED at Concord Hospital has served the New Hampshire and Maine communities for decades. By 2019, the building’s original layout—built in the early 1990s—no longer matched the demands of a modern, high‑volume trauma and acute care center. Patients were often shuffled through cramped triage zones, and staff had to navigate a maze of narrow corridors that increased the risk of infection transmission.

“Patient safety is the cornerstone of emergency care,” said Dr. Maria Santos, Director of Emergency Medicine. “The old layout made it difficult to maintain clean zones, especially during a pandemic. We needed to create a space that could handle surge capacity without compromising safety.”

2. Funding and partners

The $4.5 million project was financed through a mix of public and private contributions:

Concord Hospital worked closely with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, ensuring the redesign met state safety regulations and national quality benchmarks.

3. Design and layout changes

a. Modern triage and observation

A brand‑new triage area was added, featuring a “fast‑track” corner for non‑critical patients. This space uses real‑time digital check‑in kiosks, reducing wait times by 15 % on average. Observation rooms were expanded to accommodate two additional beds, allowing staff to keep patients in care for longer without moving them out of the ED.

b. Patient‑centric comfort

The redesign introduced a new patient lounge with recliners, free Wi‑Fi, and a dedicated family waiting area complete with a kitchenette. The hospital also installed “calming” wall panels—soft blues and greens—based on research that links color to reduced anxiety. In addition, each patient room now has a bedside tablet that streams local news, music, or movies.

c. Safety upgrades

The biggest safety gains came from improved lighting, hand‑washing stations, and an upgraded HVAC system that reduces airborne pathogen spread. A new “contamination isolation” bay was added, featuring a separate entrance and dedicated PPE storage to minimize cross‑contamination.

The ED now also includes a dedicated COVID‑19 triage zone, with its own ventilation system. All these changes are documented in the hospital’s official Emergency Department Safety and Comfort Plan (PDF linked in the original article).

4. Technology enhancements

The upgrade introduced a new patient monitoring platform that links vital signs directly to the hospital’s electronic health record (EHR). Nurses can view a patient’s heart rate, oxygen saturation, and other metrics on handheld devices while moving through the corridor. Additionally, a digital signage system displays real‑time wait times and educational information.

5. Impact on staff and workflow

The redesign streamlined staff workflows. According to an internal survey, 82 % of ED nurses reported that the new layout reduced “time wasted searching for equipment” by at least 20 %. The updated signage and color‑coded zones also improved situational awareness, leading to a 10 % drop in patient misplacement incidents.

Dr. Santos emphasized that safety begins with training: “We rolled out a comprehensive hand‑off protocol and emergency drills right after the completion of the project. The technology alone isn’t enough; people need to know how to use it.”

6. Community reaction

Community members praised the project. “It feels like Concord Hospital is finally catching up with modern standards,” said resident Michael Thompson, who was recently treated in the ED for a minor injury. “The new lounge was a game‑changer for my wife; she could rest comfortably while waiting for us.”

A local nonprofit that supports healthcare advocacy highlighted the role of community funds: “This project shows how local philanthropy can have a measurable impact on public health infrastructure.”

7. Future plans

While the ED’s safety and comfort upgrades are complete, Concord Hospital plans to continue investing in patient care. The next phase involves adding a tele‑medicine corner to connect patients with specialists in real time, and further expanding the observation wing.

“We are committed to continuous improvement,” said Hospital CEO James Lee. “This redesign is a milestone, but it’s part of a larger vision to make Concord Hospital the safest, most patient‑friendly emergency care provider in the region.”

Links for Further Reading

• Concord Hospital’s official Emergency Department Safety and Comfort Plan (PDF)
• New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services – Capital Improvement Guidelines
• Concord Community Foundation – Grant Overview

Concord Hospital’s upgraded emergency department sets a new benchmark for safety and patient comfort, proving that thoughtful design, modern technology, and community support can transform a critical healthcare space into a place where patients feel cared for—and staff feel empowered.