The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center recently reached a major milestone in our 83,000 square-foot, $125 million “Gift of Love” hospital expansion and renovation project. We opened several new hospital wards, including our new intensive care unit (ICU), Medical-Surgical Unit (MSU) (formerly known as the Special Care Unit, or SCU), our expanded Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine Service and a new conference center. This blogpost will focus on the first two areas, ICU and MSU, and I will share more about the other exciting new spaces in a future blogpost.

AMC’s New Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

ICUs were first introduced in human medicine in the 1950s, and veterinary clinics soon followed suit. In fact, AMC’s original ICU was modeled after early human hospital ICUs. And just by coincidence, our new ICU has relocated to the same location of the building’s original ICU—but now with three times the footprint.

Our new ICU has all of the features you would expect from NYC’s only Level 1 Veterinary Trauma Center, including:

• Advanced monitoring equipment for minute-to-minute care of critically ill patients
• A crash cart for respiratory and cardiac emergencies
• Board-certified emergency and critical care veterinarians from the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
• Technician specialists certified by the North American Veterinary Technician Association

The expanded space improves both patient care and comfort. Separate areas for dogs and cats help reduce stress and promote healing, while an isolation room can quarantine pets who might pose an infection risk to other patients. The renovated ICU also features a wall of windows to allow for natural light, benefiting both patient recovery and staff well-being.

Most importantly, the larger ICU allows us to care for more pets—giving more pets access to the lifesaving miracles our ICU team makes possible every day.

AMC’s New Medical-Surgical Unit (MSU)

The MSU is our in-patient clinic for non-critical patients. Now 30% larger, the new MSU accommodates 70 “beds” and is designed for comfort, efficiency and specialized care. Like the ICU, the MSU separates canine and feline patients to help reduce stress. Cats enjoy natural lighting to match their circadian rhythms, along with their own Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) and assistant to provide nursing care. Dogs benefit from spacious runs and, once construction is complete later this year, their own outdoor area for fresh air and bathroom breaks.

More New Spaces at AMC

AMC’s historic Gift of Love expansion and renovation campaign was first announced in 2019, with active construction delayed until late 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, major progress has been made:

• In 2022, our Radiation Oncology Service received a new, human-grade linear accelerator, enabling more precise cancer treatments.
• In January 2024, we opened the Denise and Michael Kellen Institute for Surgical Care, occupying the entire 7th floor of our building—from 61st to 62nd Street.
• In April 2023, we unveiled our newly redesigned lobby, creating a more welcoming experience for clients and patients alike.

Upgrades for more departments and services are on the way as we move toward the completion of our fully revitalized hospital later this year. Be sure to subscribe to our blog below for the latest updates delivered to your inbox as soon as they’re published.