Those experiencing emergency medical situations in the St. Joseph area will soon have better facilities to be treated at.
Officials at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph unveiled its new emergency department to members of the media Thursday, and set its official opening date for Monday, June 12.
The new facility was part of a 10-year process that included nearly $200 million in renovations, including a new pavilion and an overhaul of many of the hospital’s facilities.
According to Corewell Health South President Dr. Loren Hamel, the new emergency room is about 12,000 square feet bigger than the previous emergency room. New features include a short stay medical unit and a crisis intervention area.
“Often, in the middle of a crisis, we will have 10, 15, 20 people show up that need care and attention and love and support – we’ve never had that kind of facility,” Hamel said. “You’ll see in here a really nice area where we can provide that kind of crisis intervention.”
Hamel gave a tour of the emergency facility, which includes an improved waiting room, better triage and a connection between the ER and the rest of the hospital.
“If you’ve ever been in our emergency room and wanted a sandwich, I apologize because you had to walk a quarter of a mile,” Hamel said. “Now, you can walk about 50 feet.”
The ambulance entrance has been moved directly into the new ER facility, and includes an area for decontamination in the event of a nuclear or other dangerous chemical situation. There are now more exam rooms, and increased capacity all around.
“We just think this is what our community needs,” Hamel said. “I think it’s going to really serve our next generation of guests very well.”
