The future of the emergency department

Improved environment means enhanced patient experience

New construction of the expanded and enhanced Emergency Department will provide two important benefits that will result from the rebuilding of the emergency department (ED): increased space and modernization. This will be accomplished through the following, which includes the critical features of all-private treatment rooms and a dedicated psychiatric area:

• Construction of a new entrance and covered canopy to provide a comfortable, spacious and functional waiting area for families as their loved ones receive care.

• Renovation of the waiting room to provide a safe, comfortable, and calm environment for patients awaiting ED care.

• Registration at patient’s bedside to accelerate care and make the ED process more efficient.

• Doubling the number of patient rooms to accommodate increasing volume and to enhance safety, efficiency, and patient privacy.

• Establishment of all-private treatment rooms, which is considered perhaps the most significant improvement. These spacious rooms will offer privacy, confidentiality, and dignity for individuals, plus will reduce the noise level and shield patients from the rapid-paced environment inherent to a busy ED.

• Purchase of additional cardiac monitoring equipment so that each patient room has this critical monitoring equipment.

• Construction of a state-of-the-art resuscitation room, which is where the most critically ill ED patients receive priority care for immediate stabilization and treatment.

• Purchase of specialty equipment – including special beds and bariatric equipment – to meet the wide range of needs and physical challenges of patients.

• Construction of dedicated and discreet psychiatric treatment rooms, which also will be equipped to serve ED patients when not being used for Behavioral Health Services emergencies.

• Improvement to the existing “PromptCare” suite, which enables quicker access to treatment for patients with minor injuries and illnesses.

• Construction of a family/meditation room designed to provide a private, comfortable area for families of critically-ill patients.

• Establishment of staff-support areas consisting of work stations and equipment storage space to reduce congestion.

• Construction of a separate, covered ambulance entrance that will be equipped to easily convert to a hazardous decontamination zone or to receive mass casualties. 
  

Read more about our capital campaign and emergency department renovation in our case statement or view renderings of the future of the department.