Efficiency of Canopy Entrance Allows Closure of Flagpole Entrance

All patients and visitors entering Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) will use the “canopy entrance” starting on Sunday, July 17. The prominent tent-like structure and enclosed walkway is accessed using the second right turn for patients entering the hospital campus from Dewey Street. Parking for the Canopy Entrance is in the P lot, which is the next left-hand turn. Visit https://svhealthcare.org/patients-visitors/parking for a map. 

The canopy entrance opened in March for patients needing the emergency department, laboratory, imaging, surgery, endoscopy, sleep studies, and visitors to inpatient units. The flagpole entrance had been indicated as an entrance for renal dialysis and medical infusion patients and as a pick-up location for patients discharged from some inpatient services, including Medical-Surgical Units, the Intensive Care Unit, and Women’s and Children’s Services. The use of the Canopy Entrance for all pateints will continue for approximately 12 months, while the current main entrance and the adjacent Emergency Department undergo a significant renovation and expansion.

“The Canopy Entrance is operating very efficiently,” said Director of Hospitality Services Tiffany Tobin. “So it makes sense to streamline all of the entering and exiting through that point. It’s simpler for patients and staff and helps improve the experience for everyone.”

The area surrounding the Canopy Entrance is intended for patient pick-up and drop-off only. Patients and visitors are required to park and walk or take a shuttle that will circulate the campus 7 a.m. –7 p.m. Monday – Saturday. Shelters for patients waiting for a shuttle are located in the most frequently used lots. Prominently marked pedestrian walkways guide patients and visitors. As patients approach the canopy, they will find hospitality staff, who will guide them to services and appointments.

The Emergency Department Renovation and Expansion will nearly double the size of the current Emergency Department, which was designed to accommodate 14,000 patient visits a year but currently sees nearly 25,000 annually. The project will further enhance patient safety, infection prevention, and patient privacy. Vertical treatment areas will allow for highly efficient treatment of low-acuity conditions. The project also includes an expansion to the Emergency Crisis Area for those experiencing mental health distress and increased telehealth connectivity with Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

Outside the Emergency Department, the project includes renovations of the Main Entrance, outpatient registration area, the Imaging Department waiting area, and the phlebotomy and laboratory upgrades. A new connector will provide improved access to SVMC ExpressCare and the Respiratory Evaluation Center and the Medical Office Building to the hospital.

Regular updates on the project are available in SVHC’s weekly e-newsletter, on social media, and on the health system’s website, svhealthcare.org/EDRenovation.