Governor Hochul Announces $26 Million to Expand and Modernize Emergency Department in Binghamton

Funding will Help United Health Services Construct New Emergency Department at Binghamton General Hospital

Project will also Relocate and Significantly Expand Existing Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that United Health Services has been awarded a total of $26 million to conduct a massive overhaul of the emergency department at Binghamton General Hospital that will also modernize and expand its behavioral health facilities to meet the evolving needs of the community. The project will relocate the existing Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) to the second floor of the hospital, which will allow it to triple in size from its existing configuration.

“All New Yorkers deserve access to high-quality medical care, and this investment will transform the way Binghamton General Hospital provides both physical and behavioral health treatment in the Southern Tier,” Governor Hochul said. “This project represents our full commitment to modernize our healthcare services and to ensure these facilities also have space to provide top-notch services to anyone experiencing a behavioral health crisis.”

The $25 million in capital funding will help United Health Services construct a new 27,650-square-foot emergency department that will include 30 beds in private rooms and a greatly expanded waiting area. The modernization project will also build two resuscitation bays and a flex area for behavioral health evaluation and treatment.

The Office of Mental Health previously awarded the project $1 million in capital funding to improve the milieu of the existing CPEP and expand capacity. The unit provides psychiatric emergency services to more than 5,500 children and adults annually from an eight-county region.

The project will also relocate the existing CPEP from its location in the emergency department to a separate space on the second floor of the building, tripling its size and incorporating a large waiting area that is lacking in the existing unit. The new 14,400-square-foot space will feature a new, private entrance separate from the emergency department, 12 extended observation beds, and separated spaces for voluntary and involuntary patients.

Binghamton General’s CPEP is among 21 programs and three satellites operating statewide. These programs provide treatment in a safe and comfortable environment for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis, including those with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, intellectual and development disabilities, and medical conditions.