Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown, Ky., completed a $15 million emergency department expansion to better serve the 70,000 patients who visit its ER each year, according to The News-Enterprise.
The 300-bed hospital has the state's fourth busiest ER, according to Steve White, assistant vice president of operations for HMH. "With the expansion, we can see more patients — and the volume has been growing for quite some time," said Deanna Parker, HMH's assistant vice president for emergency services.
The expanded ED increased the number of exam rooms from 27 to 65, Mr. White said.
Exam rooms are designed to treat trauma patients, sexual assault victims, bariatric patients and patients with behavioral health needs. These specially designed exam rooms will allow the hospital to provide a higher level of safety for patients and staff, Ms. Parker added.
HMH's ER expansion also increased the ambulance bay's capacity from two ambulances to six and the ER now includes its own CT scanner and digital X-ray technology. Patients previously had to move to a different area of the hospital for CT scans.
The hospital had to cancel the ribbon cutting ceremony for the ED due to anticipated winter weather.