Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles has begun an emergency department expansion project that will add nearly 17,000 square feet to the space and increase the number of care spaces to 100.
The expansion will take three years to complete, according to a news release shared with Becker's on Nov. 7. The first phase of the project — which is to convert the patient drop-off section into an indoor-outdoor patient waiting and triage area — is slated to be completed in a few weeks. Additional features of the completed expansion will include a critical care suite and beds designated for patients requiring behavioral healthcare.
"In a time when we are still managing communicable diseases such as COVID-19, flu and RSV, patients often voice their concerns about sitting too close to others. The physical distancing that was practiced during the pandemic is now preferred by many people, and I think this indoor-outdoor space will help them feel more comfortable and protected," Claude Stang, RN, executive director of the emergency department, said in the release.
The new space is also expected to support more efficient care delivery models, such as the addition of a second physician-nurse triage team. The triage teams diagnose patients with less severe issues who can be treated and sent home, cutting down wait times.