Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth Opens New Clinical Decision Unit

New 25-Bed Unit Will Alleviate Wait Times in the Emergency Room

Plymouth, MA – Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth (BID Plymouth) has opened its new 7,000 square foot, 25-bed Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) which provides space for incoming, non-acute patients who can be admitted for observation and testing but do not require overnight hospitalization. This specialized unit will help improve throughput in the Emergency Department (ED) and make more inpatient beds available to individuals who need to stay longer in the hospital.

“Opening this unit is a major milestone for the hospital as we continue to expand our capacity to better serve the community,” said Kevin Coughlin, president, BID Plymouth. “This is one of several projects that we have planned to expand the number of patients we are able to accommodate, and we are extremely grateful to our supporters who help us provide high-level, quality care right here in our own community.’’

The CDU is the first of three capital projects planned for the next five years. Next, BID Plymouth plans to expand the Emergency Department by increasing its size and current footprint to nearly double its current capacity. BID Plymouth will also renovate existing space to allow for additional private rooms for medical and behavioral health patients. The third project is to expand access to Hematology-Oncology and infusion services to meet growing need. BID Plymouth will move the Hematology-Oncology and Infusion Clinic to a nearby, offsite location to allow for additional patient care space, program expansion and an improved patient experience.

“We see approximately 46,000 patients a year at the hospital, and it was imperative to create an innovative and comprehensive ED expansion plan. The realization of that plan is well underway, with a keen eye to serving BID Plymouth patients of today and tomorrow,” said Tenny Thomas, MD, chief medical officer, BID Plymouth. “Our goal is to provide superior care and a seamless patient experience in a space designed to accommodate our growing volume, well into the future.”

The CDU was made possible due to the generous philanthropic support of the community. Fundraising is already well underway for the Emergency Department renovation and expansion including a $1.5 million lead gift from a local family, and every member of the Hospital's Board of Trustees has made a gift to launch the effort. The hospital is committed to raising a total of $8.5 million in capital to complete the next phase of the project.

The new capital projects build on previous investments in the ED at the hospital. In 2021, the hospital expanded its emergency department with the addition of 12 new private rooms, two new nurses’ stations, and a new waiting room for patients and families.

About Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth (BID Plymouth) is a non-profit healthcare and hospice provider, serving 250,000 residents of 12 towns in Plymouth and Barnstable Counties. BID Plymouth is a full-service, 170-bed acute care community hospital accredited by The Joint Commission, the College of American Pathologists, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, and the American College of Radiology.

BID Plymouth is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.