NEENAH, Wis. – For more than a century, ThedaCare has proudly provided care for the people and families in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. In October 2021, system leaders announced a significant project, a $100M investment to modernize ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah’s campus, while enhancing and expanding services. 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.
ThedaCare is pleased to celebrate the groundbreaking of its Emergency Department to expand, redesign and create additional care space.
“This milestone in the investment at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah comes as our health system is reinventing health care,” said Imran A. Andrabi, MD, President and CEO of ThedaCare. “ThedaCare is proud to be a proactive partner in health – enriching the lives of all and creating value in everything we do. Through investments such as this, to our anchor hospital in Neenah, we can continue to prepare and respond to the needs of the communities we serve, keeping our patients and families safe and healthy, now and in the future.”
The enhancements of the Emergency Department (ED) at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah will advance coordinated care throughout the ThedaCare service area, including critical access hospitals, giving patients greater access to innovative and specialized care. The project advancements will be welcomed additions to the campus that currently provides critical care services, such as the region’s only Level II Trauma Center, certified Comprehensive Stroke Center and Emergency Department.
Coordinated Emergency Care During Construction
The groundbreaking highlights the first major phase of construction. Teams will be working to expand the ED, doubling the current care space. After completion, 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. Through the commitment to understanding unique needs of the communities served, leaders recognized increasing demand for behavioral health support in the ED. The new space includes designated rooms for behavioral health services, keeping the safety of patients and team members top of mind.
Current services, including care in the ED, will remain open during the construction process. “Our patients and families were our priority when we planned our intentional construction phases, allowing them to continue accessing critical services with ease,” said Lynn Detterman, Senior Vice President of ThedaCare South Region. “We appreciate the community’s understanding as we work through construction at the Neenah campus. Our team members are committed to helping patients and visitors navigate any changes they might experience during this time.”
Also, during this phase of construction, the ThedaStar Air Medical Program Helipad will be relocated to be adjacent to the Emergency Department entrance. The relocation will allow for patients to be rapidly transferred for Trauma Services once they arrive, when time is critical. There will also be a separate hallway for those patients experiencing a trauma, allowing them the privacy and dignity they deserve.
Modernization Made Possible with Community Generosity
Enhancements to better the patient experience at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-
Neenah were funded in part through generous donors who support the ThedaCare Foundation-Neenah. Donors have already graciously contributed more than $15M to date, and continue to work with our community to provide everyone an opportunity to invest in this historic campaign.
“We have a rich history of providing compassionate care to the people in this community, and are immensely fortunate to have caring, generous community members who support our mission of health and well-being ,” said Dr. Andrabi. “This project was made possible in part through their kind donations, and we are grateful they have joined us in building a healthier future for all.”
Groundbreaking Tied to Overall Modernization
The design of the enhancements is aimed to reduce cost, improve capacity, create sustained operational efficiency with more efficient work areas for health care teams and ultimately provide an exceptional patient experience. The design was created in partnership with physicians, clinicians and staff.
Additional highlights of the modernization include:
- Enhancing specialized space to care for stroke patients as the region’s only Comprehensive Stroke Center, a designation given to those hospitals that have specific abilities to care for the most complex stroke cases.
- Updating operating rooms to include advanced robotic surgical equipment, and creating four dedicated robotics suites to support better outcomes for patients, and develop an outstanding teaching environment as leaders in robotics surgery.
- Updating the Family Birth Center, allowing families to welcome little ones into the world in a modern, comfortable and soothing environment.
- Creating a new environment for the Women’s Center, which includes mammography, diagnostics and imaging, and bone density testing. The space will establish a comfortable area where women can feel confident in their personalized, proactive health care decisions.
- Improving and expanding access for Behavioral Health services by redesigning the inpatient space.
- Creating “Main Street”, where key diagnostic outpatient services will be located on the first floor of the hospital to ensure easier patient access.
- Designing a new dining area on the main floor for the convenience of visitors and team members.
Inside the hospital, some offices and departments have been relocated in order to begin work on the creation of “Main Street”, where key diagnostic outpatient services will be located on the first floor of the hospital to ensure easier patient access.
The next phase of construction, which will include work on the creation of “Main Street”, is scheduled to begin in fall 2022. The full modernization is expected to be complete in fall 2023.
