Boston-area hospitals tailor projects to the times

At a time when many hospital expansion and improvement projects are on hold, the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Woburn, MA, debuted a renovation to keep business up and patients confident in its services. While the $1.1-million project didn't expand the facility, increase services, or replace medical equipment, the upgrade to the cardiopulmonary wing has created a more comfortable place for patients to stay and a more efficient workspace for hospital staff. Hallmark Health System, which has hospitals in two Boston-area communities, has no planned improvements for 2009 or 2010, rather it will invest in its quality of care such as through recruiting and retraining healthcare professionals.