The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is one step closer to building the Pediatric Replacement and Imaging Sciences Modernization tower, or PRISM, with the recent recommendation by a local health planning commission to New York state to allow Strong Memorial to add more beds to its license.
One of the Medical Center’s largest patient care expansions in its history, PRISM represents roughly half of all financial investments being made through the Strategic Plan, and is the centerpiece of our clinical strategy, as well as efforts to boost quality and safety. Upon completion, the PRISM tower would house 56 beds for Golisano Children's Hospital, an additional 56 adult beds for Strong Memorial, two floors for imaging sciences (radiology) including a dedicated area for pediatric patients, plus an expanded pharmacy and other support space.
On June 30, the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency’s (FLHSA) 2020 Commission, recommended that Strong Memorial be allowed to immediately add 71 beds, and provided a process by which Strong could obtain up to 52 additional beds by renovating the pediatrics floor once those beds are moved into the PRISM tower. In effect, with the necessary approval by New York State’s Department of Health, these recommendations effectively give the green light to build the PRISM tower.
Originally, the design featured a six-story tower, aligned in an L shape that would be located west of the emergency department, and built on space that is partly covered by parking lots, facilities’ shop space and administrative offices. While the location of the tower and its L-shaped footprint itself has not changed, the building’s layout and orientation of the two main patient floors have been redrawn.
The elevator core and entryway to the new patient care units are now closer to the main hospital, streamlining patient transportation between the hospital and the imaging areas. The tower itself has been reconfigured into two parallel floors, which decreases the height of the facility as it reaches out to Elmwood Avenue, and effectively adds open space and light to the building and the surrounding area.
A groundbreaking for PRISM in late spring of 2009 is tentatively planned, though many steps need to occur before this can happen. Occupants of the areas slated for demolition need to be moved into new areas; a new electrical transformer will be installed under the Middle Lot Drive Parking Lot; and the loading docks will be relocated to an area to be built between the Ambulatory Center Facility and the parking garage.
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