NEW HAVEN - The Yale-New Haven Shoreline Medical Center (YNHSMC) emergency department at 111 Goose Lane in Guilford will expand its hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, starting Thursday, July 6.

"Since the Shoreline Medical Center opened two years ago, we have seen a steady increase in patient volume to nearly 14,000 visits," said Dr. Harry Moscovitz, director, emergency department at YNHSMC. "In order to better serve the community, provide the shoreline with the exceptional, convenient care they have come to expect and meet the needs of emergent care, we are now able to extend the service hours."

The YNHSMC emergency department triages and cares for adults and children with emergency illnesses or injuries. However, patients with severe trauma, acute psychiatric symptoms, patients who are about to give birth or victims of sexual assault should still go directly to the YNHH emergency department in New Haven.

"The expanded hours come at an optimal time particularly since we anticipate summer volume to increase with the influx of shoreline visitors and more injuries from outdoor activities and sports," noted Dr. Moscovitz. "Many community doctors have evening hours, particularly pediatricians, so the public is encouraged to check with their doctor's office first when the problem is non-urgent before coming to the emergency department."

The Yale-New Haven Shoreline Medical Center located off of Exit 59 on I-95 in Guilford, is affiliated with Yale-New Haven Hospital, a 944-bed not-for-profit hospital which serves as the primary teaching hospital of the Yale School of Medicine. The new state-of-the-art 80,000 square foot facility makes the high-quality ambulatory care, for which Yale-New Haven has long been known, easily accessible to Shoreline residents. In addition to the emergency department, operating rooms, endoscopy suites, radiation therapy and diagnostic imaging, the center houses a number of independent physician practices. See www.ynhh.org/shoreline for additional information.

Reporters: For more information on this release, contact Mark D'Antonio, (203) 688-2493

Artworks now color Shoreline Medical Center

The two-year-old Yale-New Haven Shoreline Medical Center is an even more pleasant place now that it is home to art works created by Shoreline artists and photographers. The art works, which adorn the corridors, reception areas and staircase landing, will change every six months. Called the Art Place on the Shoreline, the first exhibit was unveiled last month with a festive reception for the artists and Shoreline community that included a poetry reading.

The reception also included the dedication of a quilt approximately 100” x 100” that will hang permanently in the stairwell between the first and second floors. Called “Blossoming Journey,” the quilt was commissioned by Steve Bencivengo, director, Shoreline Medical Center Services, in memory of his sister, Angel, who died in 2002 at the age of 56 of leukemia. The Art Place Quilters @ Yale, a group of quilters, many of whom work at Yale University, Yale School of Medicine and YNHH, designed the quilt, chose, bought and cut the cotton fabric, and sewed the top. It was then machine quilted by one of its members, Connie White.

“My sister wasn’t a quilter, but she was interested in quilting and I think this beautiful quilt will help remember her in such a special way,” said Bencivengo. “Art in all its forms can provide comfort to those who are sick and I hope our patients and visitors feel comfort and warmth when they see Angel’s quilt in the stairwell as well as the other art works on our walls.”

Photo: Some of the employees who helped Art Place on the Shoreline become reality stood in front of Blossoming Journey after its unveiling. Shown (l-r) are: Holly Mulvey, SMC administrative services coordinator; Lorraine F. Roseman, operations manager, Yale School of Medicine; Steve Bencivengo; Pat Harvey, SMC community and provider relations coordinator; Kathleen Bell, manager, Radiation Oncology; and Gayle Capozzalo, executive vice president, Strategy and System Development, Yale New Haven Health System.