More than $70 million has been invested in the renovation and expansion of Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton and the sensitivity to details that can make a difficult time more civilized and supportive is obvious everywhere.

Nowhere is this more obvious than in the new emergency department that officially opened this month. From the tall, expansive curve of windows that bring the mountains crisply into view to the palette of pale blues, leaf greens and ash violets, and the mix of blond and dark woods, the context created provides a handsome, calm and confident space where the many fears and crises an emergency department must absorb can be addressed in a positive, customer-centered environment. Chairman of the Emergency Department Dr. Joseph G. Servideo is justifiably proud of the new facility. "We wanted make our concern and commitment obvious to our patients and their families," he explained. "The space is designed to facilitate both privacy and staff communication, both are essential for good emergency care, but without careful planning, they are not always complementary." The hospital's Bistro Restaurant already attracts guests from way beyond the hospital's walls, and, as one of five Planetree Hospitals in the country, patients may enjoy room service from the restaurant. Additional services related to the Planetree "patient-centered care" philosophy include concierge services, flowers for each patient courtesy of the hospital, large rooms with lots of windows and soft lighting, a dog therapy program and many other amenities. Fauquier Hospital serves 33,000 patients a year and the emergency facility has gone from three beds to thirty-three. Although Fauquier is not positioned to compete with the major hospitals in the region, they intend to give their patients the very best experience possible at a community hospital. They are finding that top staff are drawn to the beauty of the Piedmont and the completely renovated, modern and beautiful facility in Warrenton. "We have integrated technology to our services from the bedside to surgery to comprehensive support," Dr. Servideo said. "We have a tremendous team at Fauquier Hospital, and now our facility offers the same level of care and service."