The new emergency department at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center is progressing quite well. Everything from parking to the registration process to checking out and prescription filling has been designed with patients and safety as priorities.
Patients will find a canopy covered parking area before walking into the automatic door. There are two sliding glass doors that will help control temperature with a longer space between.
The main entrance is lined with large glass windows. The windows will allow natural light in, minimizing the need for interior lighting during daylight hours. There is also a new area near the main entrance for security personnel.
A special feature of the new emergency department is a medication dispensing machine specifically for emergency room patients. This machine will allow patients to fill prescriptions they receive before leaving the hospital. The service will accept insurance and is ideal for after pharmacy hours or holidays. A patient won’t have to wait to get their medicines.
“It is going to be a great service to our patients. We don’t have a 24 hour pharmacy here. With this service they can get medications on holidays and late nights. It is just another way we are helping our patients feel better quicker,” said Loretta Schmidt, President of SJRMC Plymouth Campus.
The emergency department will feature a total of 13 treatment rooms. There are two smaller rooms, three major trauma rooms and special rooms. One room is designed with OB/GYN equipment for medical care and other is designed for geriatric care. There are two rooms with special ventilation systems for those patients that might have a highly contagious condition. Yet another room is designed for bariatric care. There is also a room for patients that might be a danger to themselves or others
Radiology and ultrasound equipment in the emergency department will help minimize the need to move a patient. That can be critical for a patient that is injured or otherwise uncomfortable.
Within the new emergency department is a separate waiting area. This space will be utilized for patients that are waiting lab test results. By creating the secondary waiting area it allows patient flow to be smoother as someone waiting for test results often no longer needs an exam room.
On one side of the department are two trauma rooms that are separated by a sliding glass door. The door can be open for special circumstances.
Schmidt said, “The room would be ideal in a situation where several members of a family were injured. To be able to open the door so the family can see each other can help the patients during treatment.”
The new emergency department will utilize the previous ambulance bay with a few touch ups. The hazardous materials showering area will be redesigned for better decontamination.
The new design has also incorporated a family bereavement room into the plans. This room will be used for bereavement of a lost loved one. The room isn’t only for the emergency department. Other departments can use it as needed.
When construction began on the new facility the hospital made a commitment to minimize the disruption of care. The addition will be finished and services transferred over then remodeling the old space will begin. The old emergency area will be repurposed with offices and storage areas.
Every part of the new emergency department has been designed to keep the patient flow steady while providing quality care to a wide variety of emergency medical needs.
The new emergency department is expected to be online by the end of summer.
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