Highland District Hospital has announced plans to expand its emergency room by more than double its current size.
Tim Parry, HDH vice president of operations, said the hospital hopes to break ground on the project by mid summer and to have it completed in less than a year after that.
The project will increase the emergency room from its current 4,222 square feet to 8,988 square feet.
The HDH emergency rooms see an average of about 19,000 patients a year, Parry said.
“It’s just based on our community and patient needs,” Parry said. “Expanding the emergency room will allow us to better serve community needs, increase privacy and security, help staff care for patients in a more efficient manner, and provide optimal care to our community.”
Most of the expansion will take place on the northeast corner of the hospital, or to the right of the current approach to the emergency room entrance.
Parry said the expansion will increase the number of beds in the ER from 11 to 14, and that the expansion will require some additional staffing.
Improvements to the department will include:
• Private patient rooms and a larger waiting area to provide a greater level of comfort to patients and their families.
• Designated behavioral health rooms to better treat mental health and substance abuse.
• Centralized nurses’ stations with access to treatment rooms for a more comfortable and efficient environment.
• New drive-up ambulance bay to improve emergency transport of patients and ensure quicker delivery of care.
• Increased floor space allows for more efficient care delivery and easier accessibility for all patients.
• Specialized decontamination rooms for patients with contagious diseases or exposure to hazardous materials.
• Designated trauma room with adequate space to care for the most critically ill or injured patients.
“Access to high-quality care is a priority for Highland District Hospital,” Parry said. “The renovation and expansion of the current emergency room is an essential community need and will enable local residents to continue to receive quality emergency care close to home.”
Reach Jeff Gilliland at 937-402-2522 or on Twitter @13gillilandj.
