Work is under way on a temporary Emergency Department annex, scheduled to open at the West Pavilion (WP) entrance in the next several weeks and operate for six months.
The WP entrance closed Dec. 17 for construction of the Emergency Department (ED) annex. Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital patients and visitors are being directed to the North Pavilion Smilow Cancer Hospital entrance. A separate information desk and staff are there 24/7 to assist YNHCH patients and visitors, including patients in active labor or with obstetrical emergencies.
Yale New Haven Hospital leaders have worked with the state, city of New Haven and an internal, multi-disciplinary team to plan for and build the ED annex. Once complete, it will be used for six months to ease ED overcrowding, particularly during a surge in COVID and flu patients.
The annex will accommodate 35 emergency patients with less-serious illnesses or injuries who will likely be discharged from the ED after treatment. The current YSC ED space would be used for patients with more serious conditions.
