Merriam Hospital outlines 36‑month renovation to separate walk‑in entrance from ambulance bay, add private rooms and pursue carbon goals

David Brent, representing Merriam Hospital, presented the hospital’s planned renovation and expansion of its back building at the Jan. 15 North Main Street Tax Commission meeting. The project would replace a 1926 building with a new, low‑energy structure intended to improve patient flow, reduce the hospital’s carbon footprint and separate pedestrian walk‑in traffic from ambulance operations.

Brent said the hospital plans to retain the ambulance entrance in its current location but relocate the walk‑in entrance to reduce ‘‘near misses’’ between pedestrians and ambulance vehicle movements. He told the commission the revised layout would add canopy space and allow the ambulance bay to accommodate two additional ambulances, for a total of up to five in the ambulance area. Brent said the hospital does not intend the project to increase its licensed bed count (currently reported as 247) but is converting shared rooms…