Lakeland HealthCare Breaks Ground in Niles for Emergency Department Expansion
(NILES) – A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for the expansion of the Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles Emergency Department. The new facility will include 16,000 square feet of space; the current Emergency Department is approximately 7,000 square feet. The cost of the project is $7.4 million; Lakeland expects to raise $1 million through fundraising efforts in the community. The project is expected to be completed in spring of 2013.
“Of all the things a community-owned healthcare organization must provide to its friends and neighbors, an exemplary emergency department with exemplary staff providing exemplary care likely tops the list,” said Loren B. Hamel, MD, President & CEO, Lakeland HealthCare. “Today, and together, we restate that commitment.”
Healthcare facility design has made dramatic strides in the past decade – all focused on improving clinical outcomes and the patient experience. Project architect FreemanWhite Inc. of Charlotte, North Carolina, specializes in the design and redesign of Emergency Departments with over 180 similar projects to date, more than any other architectural firm in the country.
The new Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, Emergency Department will offer many benefits to patients and their families, including:
More patient examination rooms – a total of 18 rooms with 21 beds. (The current Emergency Department has six patient examination rooms with 11 beds.)
Reduced wait times for patients and their families.
Enhanced collaboration and efficiency among healthcare professionals involved in emergency care.
Improved patient comfort with telephones and televisions in each examination room, and glass doors to help block out noise.
Improved experiences for patients’ loved ones by making the waiting area more comfortable and
home-like.
An environment that reduces stress and anxiety for patients and their families.
Improved patient satisfaction with Lakeland’s emergency care, as statistically tracked, measured, and reported in patient satisfaction surveys.
