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Hospital opens new ER
Part two of a three-stage renovation is finished, and the Emergency Department at Fauquier Hospital has a new look, with expanded space for new equipment, more patients and more staff.The newly designed department now has 33 patient rooms, including six for minor care, formerly known as Fast Track. There are more dictation stations for physicians and more desk space for ER staff and volunteers.
Two well-equipped trauma rooms can be divided into four sections for major events. Two negative pressure rooms for infectious patients have been added so that when the doors are open, contaminated air does not come out of the patient's room into the larger emergency department unit.
While there is a big change in the flow of traffic patterns in the unit, Ina Bowman, the Emergency Deparment director, said, “We can get the patients through a lot faster.”
This is also due to the equipment now installed in the unit. The most advanced 16-scan computed tomography scanner offers greater diagnostic capabilities that enable patients to avoid invasive medical procedures while remaining in the Emergency Department.
The Toshiba Aquilion 16 provides higher-quality images with speed and accuracy for increased patient comfort.
And the addition of a mobile Canon Digital Radiography system reduces ER patient transportation time within the hospital.
Housed in the Emergency Department, as well, it can be taken from room to room so that patients don't have to. Not only does its use increase workflow productivity, the direct digital image results in improved processing and captured images. The x-ray image is available for immediate review in three seconds at the mobile unit, critical for the urgent-care physician.
The first stage of this long-term project began in June 2005, with an expansion from nine beds to 20. The renovation just completed began in January 2007.
While the Emergency Department is complete, the emergency room entrance has been temporarily relocated to an attached mobile unit. A new entrance, stage three, will be completed by October.
At that time, the previous waiting room and registration area will be renovated to include a special section for children. Two triage rooms will also be in place after the final phase of the Emergency Department construction.
E-mail the reporter: afelts@timespapers.com.
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