St. Joseph’s Hospital emergency department expansion begins

Customer service focus stays the same as hospital grows to meet changing needs of community

"St. Joseph's Hospital is a growing, vital part of health care not only in St. Paul but throughout the Upper Midwest. With this expansion, we're ensuring that the critical role of emergency medicine is fulfilled with the latest technology and leading-edge design to complement the clinical expertise of our staff," said Sara Criger, President and CEO of St. Joseph's.

Commitment to patient and family convenience is central to the renovation, according to hospital leaders. Customer service amenities available during construction include 24-hour-a-day valet parking and a new waiting room, as well as companionship provided by "Emergency Department Angels" volunteers during peak hours. The emergency department entrance remains on Tenth Street.

"We have seen that St. Joseph's is increasingly the destination of choice for those who need leading-edge emergency and hospital care," said St. Joseph's medical director Robert Moravec, MD. The department cared for more than 23,000 visitors last year - an 11-percent increase in the last five years. "Every person who is treated in our ED during this phase has our assurance that construction will not impact quality of care or access. Once the new facility opens, it will perfectly complement the rest of the hospital capabilities and outstanding services."

The 23,000-square foot completed expansion nearly triples the size of the existing facilities. Among the features incorporated in the $13 million investment:

• Twenty private patient care rooms, including six resuscitation rooms equipped with technology designed to meet the needs of patients in medical crisis and those with complex needs.
• Design that promotes flexible use of the rooms based on patient conditions, helping foster efficient use of staff and other resources.
• Features designed to meet the distinctive needs of at-risk patients with mental health concerns.

St. Joseph's staff also is working closely with emergency medical service providers to ensure safe, effective transportation of ambulance patients during the construction.

Moravec said the expansion not only reflects increased emergency department use, but sophistication of services hospital-wide. In 2008, St. Joseph's was named one of the 100 best heart care hospitals by Modern Healthcare Magazine. Its Level One process emphasizes the preferred treatment for heart attacks by reducing time between hospital arrival and angioplasty. St. Joseph's National Brain Aneurysm Center offers patients unparalleled experience and expertise in aneurysm treatment as well as advanced care for other brain-related diseases and injuries.

St. Joseph's reminds the community that anyone who experiences chest pain or symptoms of stroke (such as weakness, dizziness, confusion or numbness), should call 911 immediately.

Learn more about the emergency department at St. Joseph's.