CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The brand new state-of-the-art CAMC Memorial Emergency Department will start accepting patients at the Charleston hospital next month. CAMC opened the doors to the 22,000 square foot project for a sneak peak Wednesday.
Emergency Department Director Fran Brooks said the project has been under construction for the past two years and she said the entire staff can’t wait to start working in the space.
“The physicians have a place to work. The nurses have a place to work. There’s more privacy,” explained Brooks.
The current ER is crowded and curtains are all that separates the examination rooms. The new ER has 25 private rooms with a bath and nine triage rooms for those brought in by ambulance to Memorial. Gone will be the days when you could hear what the doctors and nurses were doing to the patient one bed over.
“This is something we’ve needed in the community for a long time,” according to Brooks.
From x-ray machines to beds to glide scopes, there won’t be an outdated or worn item in the new space. The emergency department will also have its own radiology and electrocardiogram rooms, a lab and direct access to a CT scanner.
“The only thing that we’re bringing over to this department with us is the old staff. The rest is all new!”
With up to date equipment, more space and privacy, Brooks said everyone benefits.
“We should be able to turn patients around a lot quicker in here than we did before,” stressed the director.
The cost of the new ER added up to $8.5 million. Memorial will begin accepting patients into its new ER at 7 a.m. Oct. 29.