Riverside Healthcare is launching the first complete remodel of its emergency department in nearly three decades. The 16-month construction project will better serve the community’s current and future needs, improve patient safety, and enhance the patient experience.

Some of the features of the new emergency department include:

• Increased use of negative pressure
• Improved treatment spaces, including an additional trauma room and more rapid treatment spaces
• Enhanced patient privacy
• Expanded behavioral health rooms
• Added technology, including a new command central for patient monitoring

On Wednesday, October 20, the emergency department moved into two adjoining spaces – Emergency Department North (ED North) and Emergency Department South (ED South) – to accommodate the next phase of construction.

ED South is where patients arriving by ambulance will enter the emergency department. Ambulances will continue to use the Ambulance Drive-Thru to drop off patients at ED South.

ED North was most recently the Interventional Recovery Unit space in the North end of Riverside Medical Center. Patients being dropped off by car should enter here to check in. Visitors are guided to the ED North for check-in and then directed to the patient they are visiting.

Attention has been given to exterior and interior signage to help our guests. Please be attentive to help navigate people to these locations throughout this process.

Administrative offices for emergency department staff members are now located in office #F104.

Now that there are two emergency department locations, it is critical to give extra attention to codes to know whether they apply to ED North or ED South.

If you have any questions, please contact Cris Langellier, Director of Emergency Services, at [email protected].