Delivering Flexible Acuity Care at Boston Medical Center–Brighton
Boston Medical Center–Brighton (formerly St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center) is the flagship hospital of a 10-hospital system in Massachusetts. With growing demand for critical care and flexible acuity beds across the region, the hospital engaged HED to design a new medical-surgical telemetry unit that could expand capacity while providing adaptability for the future.
The result is a spacious, 16-bed unit located on the sixth floor of the Connell Building. Each patient room is private, with direct access to daylight and outdoor views, supporting healing and patient comfort. The rooms are also designed with flexibility in mind. HED implemented a prefabricated modular wall system at every patient headwall, integrating medical gases and electrical systems into factory-built panels that were installed on-site within days. This strategy significantly reduced construction time and provided a future-ready infrastructure that can be easily reconfigured as technology and care needs evolve.
The organization of the unit reflects careful consideration of patient experience, staff efficiency, and clinical safety. Circulation paths are clearly separated, with staff accessing clinical and support rooms from a dedicated core corridor. This planning approach keeps the patient-facing corridors along the exterior wall quieter and more peaceful, improving the environment for patients and families.
To enhance care delivery, five nurse stations are evenly distributed along the patient corridors, ensuring direct lines of sight into every room. The stations are also visually connected to one another, supporting collaboration and rapid communication between nursing teams. Family and visitor support areas are located at the perimeter of the unit, positioned to minimize noise and activity while providing convenient access from both the elevator vestibule and the unit itself.
The project was delivered as a fast-track renovation, responding quickly to the hospital’s need for additional flexible acuity beds. HED’s use of prefabricated systems, streamlined workflows, and careful phasing enabled Boston Medical Center–Brighton to bring new capacity online efficiently while maintaining quality and long-term flexibility.
By combining modular construction strategies with thoughtful unit organization, the new medical-surgical telemetry unit enhances patient care, improves staff workflow, and strengthens the hospital’s ability to respond to changing community needs. It is a timely and adaptable solution that positions Boston Medical Center–Brighton to continue serving as a vital healthcare resource for the region.
