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When the S. Prestley and Helen Blake Ambulatory Care Center opened on the Johnson Memorial Hospital campus in Enfield in 2025, it marked a major milestone in how outpatient care is delivered in the region. Designed with both patients and providers in mind, the new facility reflects a growing shift toward convenient, high-quality care outside of traditional hospital walls.
“With its opening in 2025, the S. Prestley and Helen Blake Ambulatory Care Center is unique because it provided an opportunity for Trinity Health Of New England, in partnership with Johnson Memorial Hospital, to design a state-of-the-art facility where the care environment matches the care experience,” said Robert Roose, MD, MPH, president of Mercy Medical Center, Johnson Memorial Hospital, and Saint Mary’s Hospital. “This beautiful new space complements the excellent care delivered by our physicians and providers.”
Located at 140 Hazard Ave., the 42,000-square-foot ambulatory access center consolidates advanced diagnostic imaging and outpatient surgical services into a single, easily accessible location. The facility brings together technology, thoughtful design, and expanded capacity to better serve patients throughout northern Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.
The Ambulatory Surgery Center within the building is a significant upgrade from previous offerings, featuring four operating rooms, two procedure rooms, and 20 pre- and post-operative bays. Designed specifically for outpatient care, the center supports same-day surgeries as well as procedures such as endoscopies and colonoscopies in a setting optimized for efficiency and patient comfort.
In addition to surgical services, the center offers a full suite of diagnostic imaging, including CT scans, x-rays, mammography, bone density scans, and ultrasounds. Some of the imaging technology is new to the campus, allowing for faster diagnostics and improved care coordination.
“The key goals in designing and opening this facility were to provide a state-of-the-art facility that creates convenience and improved access to care — all in concert with a space that lends itself to delivering a great patient experience,” Roose said. “By offering outpatient surgical services outside of a traditional hospital setting, we can provide value to the community while delivering that same high-quality care at a lower cost to patients and insurers.”
The building’s design reflects that focus on experience. Natural light fills the interior through large windows and high ceilings, creating a welcoming atmosphere more akin to a modern wellness center than a traditional medical facility. Easy highway access near Interstate 91 and ample nearby parking further reduce stress for patients and families.
As part of the expansion, Trinity Health Of New England has also broadened the range of services available on the Enfield campus. Some outpatient services that had previously been offered elsewhere in town are now consolidated within the ambulatory care center, simplifying care for patients who previously had to travel between locations.
“We have enhanced our services at the new ambulatory care center by bringing other outpatient services that were available elsewhere in Enfield together in one location,” Roose said. “Our diagnostic services include a new CT scanner, and we provide some surgical services not previously offered, such as urology.”
That consolidation, combined with expanded capacity, has already translated into improved access for patients.
“We have been able to improve patient access because we have more capacity for both surgical and imaging care — and that opens more available appointment times for these services,” Roose said. “With more operating rooms and more procedure rooms, we can provide care to more patients than we previously could.”
The ambulatory care center is also complemented by the recently expanded and renovated Karen Davis Krzynowek Cancer Center, located on the same campus. The $6 million project added 5,500 square feet and unified Johnson Memorial Hospital’s outpatient cancer services — including radiation oncology, medical oncology, and physician offices — under one roof.
In addition to improved access to physician appointments, the cancer center features new medical oncology infusion bays designed with patient comfort in mind. The bays include privacy screening, personal televisions, and space for a family member or friend to remain with the patient during treatment.
Behind the scenes, the ambulatory care center represents a broad collaboration across healthcare, government, and philanthropy.
“The success of this project is the result of a partnership among Johnson Memorial Hospital, Trinity Health Of New England, Trinity Health, our construction and capital management partners, the Town of Enfield, and our local physicians and surgeons who are our partners in delivering care,” Roose said.
Philanthropy played a particularly pivotal role. The project began with a landmark $10 million donation from longtime hospital supporters S. Prestley Blake and his wife Helen. Their gift — the largest single contribution dedicated specifically to Johnson Memorial Hospital — led to the center being named in their honor.
Looking ahead, Roose said the ambulatory care center positions Trinity Health Of New England to continue evolving alongside community needs.
“Trinity Health Of New England is committed to being our patients’ trusted health partner for life,” he said. “This commitment speaks to our core value of reverence, where we inherently honor the dignity of every person by creating welcoming spaces for clinical care. This project reflects a significant investment and thereby, a commitment to improving the health of our communities.”
Future opportunities may include new programs, expanded technology, and additional services, particularly in surgical and imaging care. But Roose emphasized that growth will always be guided by patient experience.
“The new ambulatory care center is a tangible example of our efforts to put our patients at the center of everything we do,” he said. “This facility allows us to better serve residents of northern Connecticut and western Massachusetts by improving access to excellent care in a convenient location to help us provide exceptional patient experience.”
THE S. PRESTLEY AND HELEN BLAKE AMBULATORY CARE CENTER IS OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CENTER AND ITS OFFERINGS, VISIT TRINITYHEALTHOFNE.ORG.
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