The ER at Hudson Valley Hospital Center is usually empty. That, however, does not mean that times are tough at the hospital. In fact, just the opposite is true. The empty beds in the emergency department are a result of a series of charges intended to improve efficiency. Patients are moved directly to private rooms. Registration information is taken at bedside. Nurse practitioners provide care to non-critical cases. Similar upgrades are underway at other local hospitals. Neighboring White Plains Hospital plans a $10 million upgrade that will increase the size of its emergency department. Not far away, Sound Shore Medical center plans a similar upgrade. Article [1]
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[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/health/22weemer.html?pagewanted=all