A new emergency unit is part of a $175 million expansion project underway. The renovations were designed with the goal of improving patient care in the borough, according to hospital directors.

Construction crews are putting finishing touches on the new emergency department at Mount Sinai Queens in Astoria.

“I think Queens, historically, has been disadvantaged in terms of health care," said Caryn Schwab, executive director at Mount Sinai Queens. "So not only are we going to be able to expand the number of patients we see but importantly, we'll be able to give them a lot of privacy and comfort."

According to Schwab, more than 50,000 patients came through the hospital’s old ER in 2015.

The old emergency room was five times smaller than the new 20,000 square-foot facility.

"That often times meant patients had to wait in the hallway and may not have immediate access to a bed," said Schwab. 

"Patients would often have to go to a tertiary care facility in Manhattan," said Dr. Brian Radbill, chief medical officer at Mount Sinai Queens.

The entire $175 million expansion project broke ground in 2013 and also includes the addition of a new ambulance driveway.

Schwab adds that changes are also coming to the way ER patients are treated.

There will be a new focus of getting patients primary and preventive care as well. 

"We'll have internal medicine, family practice, OBGYN, we'll be able to take care of all the medical needs of a single family," said Schwab. 

Those services will be available when the entire project wraps up in the fall.

Hospital executives say tech upgrades at the hospital will also help improve care for Queens residents.  

"The entire facility is wireless, so Wi-Fi works, there are TVs at every bedside," said Schwab.

"Robotic surgery will allow us to do things in Queens that were not possible previously," said Dr. Radbill.  

The hospital is also unveiling a separate ER for kids.

Hospital officials say they plan to install PlayStations and other tech-savvy amenities in the special pediatric waiting room. 

"There will be age specific activities within that area to keep them busy and happy," according to Mary Godineaux, the director of nursing at the Emergency Department. 

The emergency department will open later this month.