West Hospital Emergency Department Completes Expansion Project to Accommodate Growth in Patient Numbers

To accommodate continued growth, Mercy Health — West Hospital completed a $586,000 project to expand the waiting area in its emergency department. Construction is complete, and it has expanded the waiting area by more than 70 percent.

Since it opened in 2013, patient volumes have grown steadily at West Hospital. The emergency department now cares for about 45,000 patients annually and in peak hours and during flu season, the waiting area can become full.

“When you come to the emergency department, you are not feeling your best and a crowded waiting area can add to your discomfort,” said West Hospital President Michael Kramer. “We recognized that we needed to expand our emergency department waiting area so that we’re providing patients with thoughtful, quality care from the moment they enter our doors.”

The project expanded the waiting area into spaces that served previously as a consult room and an office.

The renovated emergency department waiting room is a more comfortable, private environment that provides patients with the ability to separate while also accommodating the growth in the number of emergency patients West Hospital treats.