St. Joseph Emergency Department Expansion

As part of the addition, Lakeland expanded the ER from 23 to 40 private exam rooms to handle increasing volume. At the end of last year, the Emergency Department unveiled several spacious new rooms and a new nurses' station. The private rooms feature smoked glass doors that provide privacy, and televisions and phones for patients and their families.

"The purpose of the expansion is to meet our goals of shorter wait times, increased patient satisfaction, and increased comfort for patients and their families."

Even before the construction began, the team prepared by developing processes to improve the patient experience. Through the implementation of Rapid Medical Evaluation (RME), patients with certain conditions can be seen by a physician or a physician assistant quickly in one of the department's new front treatment rooms.

"If a patient has a sore throat or a fever, they can see someone up front and get on with their day," says Emergency Department Manager Kathy Effa. "Patients love it, because they're treated right away, often without even waiting to go back to a room."

The building project included a redesigned lobby, five triage rooms, two trauma bays, and a radiology room within the department.