Santa Rosa Medical Center Begins Emergency Department Expansion
7/16/2015
Santa Rosa Medical Center broke ground recently on an expansion project that will more than double the size of the hospital’s Emergency Department. The expansion will be constructed adjacent to the current Emergency Department.
Construction will take place over the next 12 months. The newly-constructed space is expected to open for patient care in February 2016 and the renovation of the current space should be complete and operational by July 2016.
The project will add an additional 13,000 square feet of space to the hospital. It will include 17 all-private exam rooms – four designated for “fast track” patients with minor injuries or illness – three private triage rooms, and a consultation and bereavement room. A negative-pressure isolation room for highly contagious patients and a decontamination room for hazardous materials exposure treatment are also among the rooms slated for construction. A nurse-first centralized check-in desk and four private patient discharge areas designed to free beds quicker for incoming patients will provide more streamlined patient care with less waiting. The expansion will also create medication and nutrition rooms, a physician dictation room, EMS lounge, and a spacious waiting room.
“This is an exciting project for our hospital,” said Doug Sills, CEO of Santa Rosa Medical Center. “We are focused on providing an excellent patient experience so we're delighted to make this investment to better serve our patients. The project fulfills a need for additional beds in our busy Emergency Department and will improve the environment in which we treat the more than 33,000 patients who visit us each year for emergency care.”
Beyond the additional beds and square footage needed at Santa Rosa Medical Center, the $7.3 million project will boost the local economy. The expansion will provide work for more than 100 construction personnel from many local building contractors and will lead to additional health care jobs when the project is complete.
During the 12-month construction, parking closest to the job site will be lost. To offset that, Santa Rosa Medical Center will expand the front parking lot closest to the ER for employee parking closer to Berryhill Road in an effort to make more spaces available for visitors near the Emergency Department.
Questions and Answers about the Santa Rosa Medical Center ER Expansion Project
When will the project be completed?
Construction will take place in two phases. The additional square footage will be completed by February 2016. The renovation of the current ER space will be complete and fully operational by July 2016.
Will the Emergency Department close at any time during construction?
We will be building the new Emergency Department in two phases so that we can continue 24/7 operations throughout the entire construction period. At no time will we stop seeing patients.
How many square feet of space are being added?
More than 13,000 square feet will be added to the hospital.
How many square feet of space is the current Emergency Department?
We currently operate out of approximately 7,400 square feet of space.
How large will the Emergency Department be when construction is complete?
The Emergency Department will be expanded to approximately 17,500 square feet with 17 all-private exam rooms, three triage rooms and four private patient discharge areas designed to free beds quicker for incoming patients will provide more streamlined patient care with less waiting.
How many rooms will be available for patient care?
The new Emergency Department will provide 17 all-private exam rooms – four of which are designated for “fast track” patients with minor illnesses and injuries.
How much will the expansion project cost?
The project is estimated to cost $7.3 million.
How will patient parking be impacted?
The hospital will expand one of the front parking lots for employee parking in an effort to open up parking spaces closest to the ER for patients and visitors.
How many construction workers will be employed as a result of the project?
At the height of construction, it is estimated that 100 construction workers will be working on the project.
How else will the local economy benefit from the ER expansion project?
Most of the supplies and equipment will be purchased from local vendors selected by the general contractor, M.J. Harris Construction Services. Landscaping, flooring installation, electrical work, masonry, roofing and all other finishing services will be provided by local contractors and their employees.
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