Not just a new ER, a new era in ER care

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Learn more about our Emergency Department

Phases one and two of Altoona Regional's $10 million Emergency department expansion/consolidation project are completed. There are now 29 bays, plus four trauma bays, ready for patient use.

The project is about 60 percent complete, and the full ER is expected to be completed and seeing patients by March 1. When completed and campuses consolidated, the ER will have 51 beds. This will result in an increase of 13 beds.

The Emergency department sees about 70,000 patients a year. Registration has been streamlined so patients are assessed by a medical professional and prioritized according to their medical need-to-be-seen.

In addition to physical changes, patients will also see a culture shift among the staff that will result in more efficient care in a quieter and less chaotic atmosphere. This was modeled after the best ERs in the U.S. for patient satisfaction and combines their best practices with Altoona Regional's for an upgraded, patient-friendly system of emergency care.

The result is private and more spacious rooms where family members can visit with patients. The rooms are divided by walls to increase patient privacy.

Also, a "small ER feel" is created by dividing both the physical space and the caregivers into teams. The new area, for example, has two teams. Each team consists of a physician, PAs, nurses, technicians and secretaries who are assigned to a select number of patients.

Another change to patients is bedside registration. This increases the efficiency of having a patient seen and eliminates multiple steps in the old process.

Check back often for more details.