Plans are on track to break ground on the new Bristol Hospital Ambulatory Care Center in Centre Square.
“As we look forward to 2018, what people are going to see and start to visualize downtown is a whole new point of reference at Riverside [Avenue] and Main [Street]. As they look at old mall site, there isn’t going to be just asphalf. There will be a structure by the end of the year,” said Kurt Barwis, president and CEO of Bristol Hospital.
The hospital anticipates to have the entire project completed in late 2019, and aspires for the ambulatory care center to be a catalyst to further development in downtown and Centre Square.
Additionally, the hospital’s new Senior Behavioral Health Unit has opened.
The unit features a new medical director.
“It’s really us responding to the needs of the community. The combination of senior health, senior care and behavioral health is a priority,” said Chris Boyle, public relations director. “There are not that many senior units in the area.”
The hospital will continue to increase its presence in surrounding towns this year to meet the needs of those communities, said Barwis. For example, he referenced the recently opened Bristol Hospital Multi-Specialty Group office in Southington, and how it makes services more accessible for Southington residents.
“We really need to bring the services and expertise of our doctors into the surrounding town. We will continue to explore opportunities to do that,” Boyle said. “We are going to continue to enhance our presence in the community, and really getting involved in health fairs and different wellness events to let everyone know about the extraordinary services that are available, and to improve the health and wellness of the community.”
Even after last year’s heavy recruiting cycle, Boyle said the multispecialty group will continue to recruit physicians this year based on services that the Bristol, and surrounding communities need, such as primary care physicians, psychologists and neurologists.
The hospital has many other projects that are in the works and will be further discussed once the legislative session begins, Boyle added.
“We are told by our colleagues how wonderful of a local delegation we have,” Boyle said. “They really support us. They really care about the hospital. We are grateful for all the assistance. We have a wonderful delegation and not every hospital in the country can say that.”