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Dr. Kraig Melville, chief of emergency medical services at Calvert Memorial Hospital believes that the previous design of the Emergency Department was ideal for the late 70s, but we've gone far beyond what that space could handle.
CMH was facing a serious shortage of space for the number of people being treated. Built in 1978 to serve around 15,000, today CMH's Emergency Department (ED) treats some 32,000 people. The county's growth is expected to continue.
The first phase of construction of a new ED is complete, with the final design resulting in triple the size of the Emergency Department (11,790 square feet of new space is ready now - 5,911 square feet will be renovated during Phase II).
"Our goal (with the new ED) is to treat 90 percent of all non-critical patients in less than two hours," said CMH President and CEO, Jim Xinis.
The new Emergency Department will have 30 glass-fronted treatment rooms to maximize observation by staff – 19 have been completed during Phase I. "Visibility is key," said Melville. "We need to be able to see if a patient's condition changes." Additionally, all of the beds will be monitored.
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Other changes include digital radiography, which will replace conventional X-rays and a new tracking system to improve the flow of patients through the department. The new equipment will eliminate X-ray film and allow physicians to see images instantly and start treatment.
According to Xinis, the new Emergency Department represents a heightened focus on customer service. Each of the well-appointed private rooms, complete with TV and telephone, are wide enough to accommodate a family member in a comfortable chair.
Registration will be completed at the patient's bedside and there will be a café nearby with drinks and light snacks for family members. Xinis said that a lot of feedback from the community and the ED staff went into the design.
Other changes include a bereavement suite for staff to meet privately with families and a specialized pediatric suite and waiting area for parents. The added space will allow sub-waiting areas for acute (seriously ill) and non-acute patients (those waiting for extended care) as well as a dedicated area to treat sexual assault victims.
Adjacent to the ED, will be a "rapid decision unit," which will allow the staff to monitor patients up to six hours. "We need this time," Melville said, "to either rule out a heart attack or to complete the necessary tests before the patient is admitted to the hospital."
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Emergency Department (ED) need to expand?
CMH is facing a serious shortage of space for the number of people being treated. Built in 1978 to serve around 15,000, the Emergency Department treats some 32,000 people today.
Why is the additional space important?
CMH's highly trained staff will be able to care for you sooner and better because of the additional space.
Who was involved in planning the new layout?
A lot of feedback from the community went into the design. The staff was also actively involved in its development.
How will the design improve patient privacy, comfort?
All of the treatment rooms will be private and wide enough to accommodate a family member in a comfortable chair. Each will have a TV and telephone. Registration will be completed at the patient's bedside. There will be a nearby café‚ with drinks and light snacks for family members.
Waiting times have been a problem. How will this be addressed in the new Emergency Department?
The extra beds will mean significantly shorter waits. Other timesavers include digital radiography, which will replace conventional X-rays and a new tracking system that will improve the flow of patients through the department. The new equipment will eliminate X-ray film and allow physicians to see images instantly and start treatment.
What other special features have been added?
The new Emergency Department will dramatically increase the hospital's ability to deal with cardiac and trauma cases. The expanded ED facilities will include an orthopedic suite to treat complex fractures and two more trauma care rooms for a total of three.
Other changes include a bereavement suite for staff to meet privately with families and a specialized pediatric suite and waiting area for parents.
The added space will also allow sub-waiting areas for acute (seriously ill or injured) and non-acute patients (those waiting for extended care).
Another important feature will be the rapid decision unit. It will be located adjacent to the emergency department. This unit will allow the ED staff to monitor patients up to six hours. This time is needed to either rule out a heart attack or to complete the necessary tests before a patient is admitted.
Additionally, there will be a much larger decontamination area to handle victims of chemical, biological or radiation accidents and a new state-of-the-art helipad.
Expansion Benefits | Emergency Department | Intensive Care Unit | Laboratory Services
Parking | Current Progress
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