MultiCare Allenmore Hospital begins expansion that will increase annual patient capacity by 10K
By MultiCare Health System
In response to Tacoma’s growing need for fast and efficient emergency services, leaders at MultiCare Allenmore Hospital broke ground Jan. 9 on a new and expanded emergency department that adds 14,600 square feet to the facility and enables it to care for up to 10,000 additional patients each year. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2019.
“Our number-one priority is the safety and care of each person in this community,” says Sharon Oxendale, President and COO of MultiCare Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital. “This $15 million investment in our emergency department is a tangible reflection of that commitment and just one of many new initiatives that we’re working on to elevate the level of care at the Allenmore Hospital campus.”
Once completed, the new and expanded emergency department will enable staff to see more than 40,000 patients a year – a 30 percent increase over the approximate 30,000 patients that the emergency department currently serves on an annual basis. The expansion will also focus on amenities and features that allow for faster access to care while at the same time helping improve patient experience, safety and flow.
“A visit to the emergency department can be stressful for patients and their families,” says Alden Bishop, Campus Administrator at MultiCare Allenmore Hospital. “Our goal is to alleviate that stress by delivering the highest levels of care in a setting that’s designed to quickly address all of their needs. Everyone on our staff is excited to be a part of this new expansion project that will secure Allenmore’s role as a trusted community asset in the years to come.”
The emergency department, located at 1901 South Union Avenue, will continue 24/7 operation during each phase of the expansion. All current emergency department beds will be maintained and the walk-in and ambulance entrances will be relocated. Parking is also being addressed to minimize inconvenience for patients, physicians and staff.
Phase one of construction will focus on the building of a 14,600-square-foot addition to the existing emergency department and is expected to be completed by this spring. The second phase of construction will begin with the demolition of the existing emergency department and is expected to be completed later this fall.
The new addition will include four exam rooms, two resuscitation rooms, four risk-reduction rooms, four triage rooms, an isolation room and eight results-pending bays.
In fall 2019, the newly constructed area that was previously the original emergency department will become operational with three additional exam rooms, one bariatric room and additional support and staff spaces.
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