Woodland Street Renovations: New Entrance, Ground-floor Lobby Now Open

STORY UPDATED March 16, 2020: A new entrance to Wheeler’s Hartford community health center and new ground-floor lobby are now open for patients and other visitors, part of a year-long renovation project to increase accessibility and safety at the 43-49 Woodland Street campus. Many of Wheeler’s Adult Outpatient Recovery Services have been relocated to the first floor, and Genoa Pharmacy and Quest laboratory services also can be accessed from the new lobby. All other services, including medical, dental, and pediatric care, as well as community-based programs, remain in current locations within this building.

Since July 2019, several renovations have enhanced Wheeler’s Hartford flagship location at 43-49 Woodland Street and better serve local individuals and families. These refurbishments are made possible through a $465,000 grant from the State of Connecticut Nonprofit Grant Program. (Read related story from the Winter 2019 issue of Positive Change).

“We are grateful to the State of Connecticut for its generous support of our mission and our commitment to delivering whole-person care to patients in Hartford and surrounding communities,” said Sabrina Trocchi, PhD, MPA, president and chief executive officer, Wheeler. “Woodland Street is now an even more convenient health care destination where patients can safely and efficiently access an entire range of services in one visit.”

Later this year, in honor of retired Wheeler President and Chief Executive Officer, Susan Walkama, LCSW, and her vision for delivering integrated care in this location, the five-story building at 43 Woodland Street will officially be renamed the Susan Walkama Family Health & Wellness Center. (More details and the renaming announcement are here).

The project includes:

• Ground floor renovations and new additions at 43 Woodland Street. The ground floor will serve as this building’s main entrance and includes a new front desk, waiting room, Genoa Pharmacy, and Quest Lab, as well as group rooms and other service spaces.
• Completion of renovations on the third floor of 49 Woodland Street, the Center for Prevention & Community Engagement. This Center addresses social determinants of health that create barriers to care for low-income and underserved populations. The site includes office space for community health workers and meeting rooms for community education and related activities.
• Upper and lower parking lot resurfacing to increase accessibility and safety for health center patients and staff.

In January 2018, Wheeler opened the Hartford Family Health & Wellness Center campus at 43–49 Woodland Street, providing primary care, pediatric care, behavioral health, dental services, nutrition services, and alternative and complementary medicine. Several substantial renovations were made to the property since its 2015 purchase, including Phase II renovations that include structural enhancements to 43 Woodland. The Nonprofit Grant Program funds have helped to increase site safety, access to services, and cost efficiencies for the campus.