UHS unveils expanded Wilson Medical Center Emergency Department

On the morning of Thursday, July 17, UHS held a ribbon cutting to mark the opening of 19 new private patient rooms at UHS Wilson Medical Center Decker Emergency Department and to celebrate the final phase of the UHS Wilson Main Tower project. The event featured a great crowd, excited to celebrate this significant milestone. 

With the completion of this expansion, the new ED at the UHS Wilson Main Tower will feature 45 private rooms, four trauma bays and two surge areas – bringing the total bed count to 66. 

This expansion will be critical to allowing UHS to continue providing high-quality, compassionate care to patients as the need for emergency care in our community increases. “The new Wilson Main Tower Emergency Department has already proven to be a vital asset to our community,” said Mark Medina, director of nursing at UHS. “While we initially anticipated a short-term increase in patient volume, we have instead experienced a sustained rise of nearly 20% since opening.”

While patient volume at the emergency department is on the rise since the opening of the UHS Wilson Main Tower last year, so too are patient experience scores. UHS is seeing significant improvement – indicating that the Wilson Main Tower is the preferred emergency department for patients seeking care locally. 

“Based on the continuous growth of volumes that we see, UHS is the provider of choice within our community,” said Peggy Thomas, vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer at UHS. “With that comes a significant level of responsibility to provide a high level of care that encompasses quality outcomes and best-in-class experience.” 

The ED is dedicated to the Dr. G. Clifford & Florence B. Decker Foundation. The Decker Foundation is a longstanding supporter of UHS, and we are deeply grateful for their continued generosity and commitment, which helped make this project a reality.

At the event, UHS President and CEO John Carrigg remarked the opening of the expanded Decker ED represents a culmination of the years of hard work that has gone into the Wilson Main Tower project. The project went through numerous phases, from planning and development, construction, and finally, welcoming the community into our new hospital.  

“In reflecting on all the hard work that brought us to this milestone, I want to take a moment to appreciate all we’ve accomplished as a product of teamwork – everyone collaborating toward a shared vision of a new era in healthcare for our community,” said Mr. Carrigg.

In just 12 months, the Wilson Main Tower has redefined healthcare expectations in Greater Binghamton — and its impact continues to grow.

From easier access and improved comfort to groundbreaking medical innovation and expanded community services, the Tower reflects a bold, long-term vision: advancing patient-centered healthcare in Greater Binghamton.

As UHS celebrates this significant milestone, we remain committed to enhancing patient care, supporting our community and serving generations to come.