Enhancing Community Access: The Newly Designed Patient Access Emergency Center

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Innovation. Evolution. Excellence.

The Campaign for The Richard and Donna Smetzer Family P.A.E.C. at Wooster Community Hospital.

For WCH, innovation has always been about delivering great health care here in Wayne County. Continuous quality improvement has been at the core of that effort, and one major reason why WCH stands today in the top 2% of all hospitals nationwide.

Question is, how do you design a hospital for continuous improvement today... and tomorrow? To ensure WCH can maintain that quality of care – and access to it – as populations grow and age, economic challenges abound, and the health care landscape around us continue to evolve?

On April 22, 2024, we broke ground which is the answer to the questions.

The New Patient Access and Emergency Center (PAEC).

The PAEC project encompasses a brand-new, state-of-the-art Emergency Department, a new Main Hospital Entrance, and relocation of key Hospital departments.

This new “gateway” to WCH will be much more than a larger Emergency Department and new façade. The design will provide a far better “first contact” for patients, visitors, and EMT first responders... and vastly improve the way patients, visitors, physicians and staff move throughout the Hospital.

It will incorporate evidence-based design and best practices as it allows the Emergency Department to respond more effectively to increased patient traffic generated by our status as a Certified Chest Pain Center and Certified Stroke Center. And, of course, provide a far more comfortable ER experience for patients and families.

At a cost of approximately $34.2 million and targeted to open in early 2026, the PAEC will revolutionize the ways we can fulfill our mission, vision and values.

• New Emergency Center
  • Located closer in proximity to surgery, obstetrics, and patient tower.
  • Dedicated behavioral health space.
  • Improved patient and family waiting space.
  • Results and discharge lounges: space used for patients who no longer need an emergency department room.
  • Improved support for pediatric patients.
• Enhanced Main Entrance
  • Main entrance patient hub will provide convenient access to outpatient registration, medical records, and customer service.
  • Outpatient lab services will be conveniently located near the main entrance.
  • Improved security and controlled access to the main hospital.
• Convenient Emergency Medical Services (EMS) space
  • Larger, dedicated ambulance entrance with canopy.
  • Better access to the new helipad.

Keep PAEC with us.

With the pandemic behind us and our mission in clear focus, now is the time to build boldly for the future.

The need for new facilities to fulfill our promise to all our communities continues to demand action. Philanthropic support is absolutely necessary to meet future needs and assure that we can continue to offer best-in-class health care right here, without compromise.

We need your help in this cause. There are a number of opportunities which may align with your interests. We invite you to join us in making Wooster Community Hospital’s latest and boldest innovation a reality.

To learn more, please call Angela Rincon, Director of Philanthropy at (330)263-8701, or email arincon@wchosp.org.

Support the P.A.E.C Campaign!