ROME, N.Y. — Rome Health will open its new 18-bay Preoperative and Postoperative Procedure unit adjacent to the Kaplan Center for Surgical Services Monday, April 6, completing Phase II of the hospital’s $45.7 million capital improvement project.
Located just beyond a set of double doors from the operating rooms that opened in July, the new unit will significantly enhance the experience for patients and the surgical team.
The redesign eliminates the need for patients, surgeons and care teams to travel between floors before surgical or endoscopic procedures and improves efficiency, coordination and comfort.
Prior to the renovation, patients were prepared for surgery on the fourth floor before being transported to operating rooms on the first floor. Surgeons, anesthesiologists and care teams routinely traveled between floors multiple times a day to evaluate patients before procedures. With the new layout, the pre- and post-surgical space is now directly adjacent to the operating rooms, streamlining care and reducing delays.
“This is a transformational improvement for both patients and care teams,” said Rome Health President and Chief Executive Officer AnneMarie Czyz, RN, EdD. “Bringing pre-operative and recovery care next to our operating rooms improves communication, enhances patient comfort, and allows our teams to focus more time on care rather than moving between floors. It’s a smarter, more patient-centered design that supports the future of surgical care at Rome Health.”
The new unit includes 18 patient bays designed for both preoperative preparation and postoperative recovery. The combined staffing model allows greater flexibility to manage patient flow, reduce wait times and improve operational efficiency while supporting a more seamless patient experience.
“Opening a new clinical space requires extensive preparation to ensure a smooth transition for patients and team members,” said Chief Nursing Officer Ashley Edwards, DNP-ENL, RN, NE-BC. “As we prepared for the opening, interdisciplinary teams provided stakeholder input, participated in workflow mapping, and conducted Gemba walks to see how care would be delivered in the new environment. That work allowed us to refine processes and prepare our teams to occupy the space while enhancing the experience for both patients and team members. We engaged stakeholders early in the design process to create a space and workflow that enhances communication, improves efficiency, and ultimately delivers a better experience for our patients.”
The renovation modernizes space originally opened in 1967 as part of a hospital expansion that began in June 1965, when two additional wings and a new lobby facing North James Street were constructed at a cost of approximately $2 million. The newly redesigned space updates that footprint to support modern surgical care.
The 18-bay unit complements the Kaplan Center for Surgical Services, which opened in July with four state-of-the-art operating rooms and two procedure rooms designed to accommodate advanced surgical techniques, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures.
The investment is already expanding access to care. With the additional surgical capacity, Rome Health has recruited additional surgeons, and surgical and endoscopic volumes continue to grow—demonstrating increased access and the hospital’s ability to meet rising community demand while keeping care local.
Phase II is part of Rome Health’s $45.7 million capital improvement project to modernize surgical and critical care services. The initiative is funded through a combination of public support and private philanthropy, including a $26 million New York State Healthcare Facility Transformation Grant, $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the City of Rome for the ICU, and $500,000 in ARPA funds from Oneida County. More than 400 donors supported the campaign, including Charles and Florence Kaplan, whose $5 million gift—the largest in Rome Health’s history—named the Kaplan Center for Surgical Services.
The Kaplan Center also complements the hospital’s new nine-bed intensive care unit and redesigned Main Entrance, both of which opened June 18, improving patient access, comfort and care delivery.
Phase III of the capital project, focused on modern clinical support spaces, remains on track for completion in September 2026.
“Together, these improvements represent one of the most significant investments in Rome Health’s history and reinforce the hospital’s commitment to delivering advanced care close to home,” Czyz said.