CharterCARE announces $17.5M investment at RWMC, Fatima

PROVIDENCE – CharterCARE Health Partners, at a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, celebrated $17.5 million in facility improvements at Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital intended to improve patient care.
Officials including Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, U.S. Reps. James R. Langevin and David N. Cicilline attended the event at RWMC, along with Michael Sabitoni, president of the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades and hospital employees.
“At a time when the Rhode Island economy continues to struggle, we are proud to be making this significant capital investment,” Lester P. Schindel, CEO of CharterCARE, said in a statement. “These projects will enhance our facility infrastructure and allow us to serve our patients and their families in a more efficient and modern way.”
Schindel, in a follow-up interview, said the projects will create approximately 200 union building trades and an undetermined number of new hospital positions. He said the projects are part of an “ambitious” initiative to improve patient care and access, and that major improvements have not been made at either hospital since the mid-2000s. Both facilities date back to the 1950s, he said.
Roger Williams will have its emergency department expanded and renovated, a 23,000-square-foot project that will increase the department’s capacity and provide new emergency medical technology to the staff. This project requires state approval through the Health Services Council and Certificate of Need process, and is expected to be received sometime this year, Schindel said.
The emergency department at Fatima Hospital also will be renovated and modernized. While Schindel said this department has enough space, it needs to be reconfigured and modernized. More treatment space for behavioral health patients will be created, as well as separate access for both patients and EMS professionals.
Roger Williams also will receive a new lobby and entrance. This project will feature a covered entrance and a new elevator connecting the new lobby with the diagnostic wing of the hospital, and is designed to improve accessibility.
Fatima also will receive a new main entrance, as the project will relocate the main hospital entrance to the southern side of the facility to provide more convenient access and parking for patients and visitors.

CharterCARE is a joint venture company that owns and operates Roger Williams Medical Center, Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, Elmhurst Extended Care, a network of physician practices in CharterCARE Medical Associates and an independent practice association, Prospect Provider Group of RI.
Schindel said construction should be completed by the end of next year.

He said that since the joint venture with California-based Prospect Medical Holdings occurred last year, CharterCARE has been focused on operational efficiencies, productivity improvements and strategic planning. During that time, the hospital has also spent more than $7 million in new equipment for surgical and patient care services while achieving several quality distinctions and awards, bringing the total investment to approximately $25 million.
CharterCARE Health Partners employs approximately 2,800 medical professionals and staff, and has annual operating revenue of approximately $330 million.

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