In 2013, Saint John Hospital nearly doubled the number of patients seen each month in its Emergency Services Department. To meet the community’s growing demand for emergency care, renovation is now underway on the ground floor of the Saint John Pavilion, previously known as the Medical Plaza, located at 3550 S. Fourth Street.
“Our new Emergency Services Department will still feature the same personalized patient care from our experienced staff, but in a state-of-the-art facility that will be much more accessible for our patients and EMS,” says Leah Huss, R.N., nurse manager of the hospital’s Emergency Services Department.
“All of the services we need to provide best practices in emergency medicine have been incorporated into our plans,” explains Christian Tanner, R.N., Director of the hospital’s Emergency Services Department. “We’re very excited about what this means for emergency medical care for the Leavenworth community.”
Work to renovate the ground floor of the Saint John Medical Plaza began in July. Completion is anticipated by winter of 2015. The new Emergency Services Department includes:
- Ten private patient rooms, and one private resuscitation/trauma room, two with negative air flow to reduce the risk of airborne infections.
- Two rooms equipped for psychiatric safety.
- Two triage areas, which also can be used for fast-track care.
- Dedicated decontamination room.
- Updated lounge area for staff, physicians and local EMS where they can complete reports and update charts.
- State-of-the-art 64-slice CT scanner and ultrasound machine to aid in quicker diagnosis and treatment.
- New waiting area with security enhancements, including controlled access designed to keep patients and staff safe.
- Covered drop-off area for patients transported by ambulance, and a separate entrance for walk-in patients.
- Convenient parking near the entrance with easier access.
- Additional staffing to accommodate the increase in patients, including paramedics, physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists.
“Saint John has reached out to Leavenworth EMS and has incorporated several of our suggestions into their plans for the new ER,” says Jamie Miller, paramedic and director of the Leavenworth County Health Department and EMS. “Our partnership with the hospital ensures the best care for patients in our community.”